Travel Insurance for Today's Traveler
Updated January 30, 2024
In today's travel environment, we highly recommend travel insurance for all of your trips. For group travel with Detailed Journeys, we actually require it if you're traveling with us to a country you don't live in.
Let's dive in to why having travel insurance makes you a smarter traveler!
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Why should I buy travel insurance?
ANYTHING can happen! Between traveling extensively and working in travel since 2012, I have seen so many things happen that negatively impacts travelers, both pre-trip and onsite. As the saying goes: it's better to have it and not need it, then need it and not have it.
Below are just a few customer interactions I've had in the past. These aren't to scare you, but to show you the wide range what I mean when I say "Anything can happen".
"Our house sold faster than we thought it would and we have to move when the tour is taking place."
"Our daughter went into premature labor, and we need to stay home to support her and her household."
"I fell when getting out of the shower in Italy and badly broke my arm. I need surgery and will have to be in recovery for weeks. I don't want to stay in Italy to have this done, where I don't have any friends or family to visit, or speak the local language. In order to fly home, I've been advised I must book a medical flight, with a private nurse. It is going to cost me $35,000."
"My husband drowned while we were swimming. I need to repatriate his body."
"My flight is delayed and by the time I arrive onsite, the rest of the group will have already moved on to the second destination on the itinerary. I need to book a hotel room for my arrival because I get in so late, then transportation for meeting up with them."
"I was riding a Segway and caught the wheel on a fence. When I fell, I broke my wrist and chipped a tooth."
I'll take a moment to point out that all of those above examples happened prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. While today, most of the travel restrictions that were in place during the worst of the pandemic have been lifted, Covid-19 still impacts travel heavily.
You could test positive yourself and not feel well enough to travel to your destination or travel home. You also may feel a sense of responsibility to not travel while positive. In addition, travel services are still recovering from the impact the pandemic had. Short staffing and less daily flight departures on certain routes are exacerbated by a surge in the number of people traveling right now. This means longer lines for check-in and bag drop, border control, and security, plus less options to rebook a new flight quickly if you experience a flight delay or cancellation.
How do I afford travel insurance?
Here's a counter question... how do you afford to pay for emergency travel expenses? $85 for a plan now < $10,000 in medical bills if you break your leg while traveling.
I have personally seen more affordable plans in recent years, but cost is also impacted by a number of factors. Those include things like: age, destination, trip length, and pre-existing conditions. There can also be additional costs if you want to add on a supplement like "cancel for any reason". It's important to consider our financial risks as smart travelers.
You also cannot forget about the additional benefits you receive, in addition to the coverage you've purchased. Piece of mind. Assistance in an emergency situation when away from home. A good investment.
When should I buy travel insurance?
Timing is important when purchasing a plan. You also cannot wait until something happens to purchase it and then make a claim. Include researching travel insurance in your trip planning process so you don't forget about until after its too late.
Pre-existing conditions: If you have anything that is considered one, from an illness to an injury, you need to purchase your plan right away. The window for coverage of pre-existing conditions depends on the insurer (and sometimes the plan itself), so research them as part of your trip planning and be prepared to make the payment right after making your first payment.
In general: Most plans have a window by when you need to purchase them based off of when you made a payment on any aspect of your trip. To be clear, it isn't based off when you have paid in full, but when you first paid for anything, whether it be a hotel booking, a flight, an experience, etc. If you're booking last minute, they may also have a cut-off window for when you can purchase based on how close you are to departure.
What kind of travel insurance is there?
Complex/Comprehensive: These plans cover a myriad of travel-related concerns and are typically best.
Cancel For Any Reason: Complex plans often have an option to add-on, or included, this specific coverage. This type of plan is typically more expensive due to the nature of what it's covering. It is important to review how much of your trip you get reimbursed for as well, because it is not always 100%.
Covid-19: Not all plans cover Covid-19 related issues! When Covid-19 first came out, no plans did. Then a few started to offer it and were more exclusive. Now, close to four years later, many plans do. The coverage originally was important if you tested positive and weren't able to depart or mandatory quarantine hotels and flight changes if you couldn't fly home. Today, it's still crucial if you are too sick to fly, need hospitalization, or want to be respectful and wait to travel if you've tested positive.
Medical: These plans only cover medical issues onsite. Some plans may also have additional coverage for medical related cancelations and interruptions, or even coverage for a medical flight and/or nurse.
Long Term: Most travel insurance is for single trips. If you're planning to travel for an extended period, study abroad, or even work remotely from abroad, you'll want to look for a plan that provides long-term coverage.
Rental Car: many plans do not provide rental car coverage, even if they're complex.
Where can I research travel travel insurance options?
First and foremost, if you are paying for your trip with a credit card, check the benefits for included coverage. A number of cards do, especially for rental cars. More travel-focused cards often cover things like flights, travel delays, and lost luggage. This completely depends on your personal credit card AND what aspects of your trip you plan to pay for it with.
After that, it's time to do some research on what plan you should buy. A good starting point is to look up recent article that discuss the best coverage currently available for your demographic, trip-type, or that include coverage for specific things (i.e. Covid-19). Forbes and NerdWallet both publish some great reviews, here are just a few:
Now, compare plans on a personal level using one of the sites below. They'll populate a list based on the details you provide about yourself and the trip you're taking.
Who should I get my travel insurance from?
*Disclaimer: the information about providers and services contained on this website does not constitute endorsement or recommendation. None of the links included are affiliate links as of publication on 12/4/23.**
Complex/Comprehensive Plans:
SafetyWing (specifically for long-term travelers)
Medical Coverage:
In addition, when purchasing aspects of your trip (like a flight), you may get an offer to add-on travel insurance coverage. These plans are not provided by the company, but via an insurance company they've partnered with. When considering this option, make sure to review what it actually covers. Is it just for that one aspect of your trip, or does it cover more? Note - If you plan to rent a car, keep in mind that coverage is typically an entirely different basket. Again, check the benefits of the credit card you use to pay for the reservation. If not, or you want additional coverage, make sure to review the options that are available when confirming your vehicle.
I'm still not convinced...
Can I skip protecting myself and my travel funds with insurance?
Are you traveling on your own or with an operator that doesn't require it? While I hope this piece has helped show you how important coverage is and why we recommend it, it is ultimately up to you. Things to consider would be if:
your airline tickets are flexible.
you haven't purchased any activities that are non-refundable.
you've booked hotel rooms that allow for free cancellation.
you don't have any pre-existing conditions.
you can handle not staying home or rushing home if a family emergency occurs.
you are comfortable receiving medical care where you are traveling.
you have the financial capacity to handle any unexpected large cost that could arise prior to departing or while onsite.
Are you traveling with us on a Small Group Tour or Getaway? If yes, and you're going to be in a country (or countries) that you do not live, it is required. We still recommend it to all of our travelers, because something can happen even when traveling domestically.