Most travelers know that purchasing trip cancellation insurance is a wise thing to do. However, buying the plan that is right for their particular situation may pose a challenge. There are several kinds of insurance that are related to travel: trip cancellation insurance, travel insurance, evacuation insurance, and flight insurance, to name just a few.
You may research the travel insurance that your friend purchased when he visited Spain, but remember that his situation might have been vastly different from yours. Although the most oft-purchased insurance plans are trip cancellation and travel medical insurance, consider your specific needs and purchase the plan that works for you.
As soon as you finalize your tickets, you might want to purchase trip cancellation insurance. This plan usually also comprises trip interruption insurance, which covers the financial loss if you need to return earlier than planned. Generally, the plan covers specific reasons and you are reimbursed if the cancellation or interruption is due to an approved reason.
The reasons that are covered (for both trip cancellation insurance and trip interruption insurance) are usually the death or illness of the traveler, traveling companion or immediate family member, the destruction of the insured’s primary residence, the call of jury duty, military service or a subpoena, termination of employment and often, inclement weather.
It is best to purchase trip cancellation insurance as soon as the travel tickets are purchased, to maximize coverage. Also, last-minute trips are less prone to cancellations and itinerary changes. Trip cancellation insurance is imperative for expensive trips with large non-refundable costs.
Travel medical insurance is the other main type of travel insurance, protecting the plan holder from the costs of medical care when traveling. The common benefits offered by travel medical insurance plans are emergency services, inpatient and outpatient care, surgery, consultation, medical tests, and limited prescription medication.
Your travel insurance plan is likely to cover emergency medical evacuation or, in some cases, emergency political evacuation. Your plan benefits will also include some AD&D and repatriation of mortal remains.
Apart from these benefits, many plans offer additional coverage for an extra cost. Some of these include cover for injuries arising from adventurous sports, and trip cancellation due to “any reason”. Other travel insurance benefits include baggage loss and delay, and identity theft. Many plans also offer travel advisory services. However, to know the exact nature of the coverage offered, it is best to consult the plan schedule of benefits.