TinaDe

Traveling with family of 5 from US to Germany, Austria and Czech Republic. Want advice on best travel insurance.

PalenQ

Do your credit cards provide any travel insurance as many do?

elberko

Travel Insurance usually has to be arranged within a short time of buying flights/lodging/etc. Your other post says this trip is in June, so assuming you've already bought tickets, it may be too late.

DebitNM

I "think" the need to buy travel insurance within a short time of buying trip [flights, hotels] is to include pre-existing conditions.

jan47ete

We always use squaremouth.com. They ask lots of questions that are very specific to you and your trip. Type of insurance we buy typically depends on where we are going, how much the trip costs and how long we will be gone. Take a like at squaremouth and I think you will find it interesting and get the fine print dcetails on insurance from your credit card company.

RM67

Think about buying a yearly policy that will cover you for any travel, not just a specific trip. Does your workplace offer any benefits like this? - if so it will probably be discounted. Even if not and you have to pay the full whack, it's still worth considering.

Pegontheroad

I use Travelguard. I agree with Debit that the restriction on buying within a short time is to include pre-existing conditions. I asked Travelguard if I could raise the amount covered at a later date, and they said yes.

My credit card does cover some costs, but not nearly as much as travel insurance.

The more expenses are covered, the more expensive the insurance. I would suggest that you buy insurance only for the expenses that are non-refundable. I'd certainly make sure that medical expenses, including a medical evacuation, are covered. Also repatriation of remains of anyone who should die on the trip.

Kind of a gruesome suggestion, but death happens, even on trip.

flpab

Allianz, call them

dwdvagamundo

bookmarking for squaremouth link

Christina

There is no need to buy travel insurance when you buy tickets except iof you want pre-existing conditions covered. If not, it actually might make sense to wait until later, if there ios any doubt you'll go.

There are many reputable companies, I've used Travelex, Allianz, CSA, and a few others, I just buy the cheapest with the coverage I want, it can varry a bit by trip. www.insuremytrip.com shows you their financial rating, that's the main thing I care about (and I do read customer comments).

PalenQ

I've never had any travel insurance until the last few years when I got older - never even dawned on me - well it did - is your health insurance valid in Europe - mine was and is though you get reimbursed once back home - and medical charges in Europe can be nil - I fell down in Naples and broke my knows with blood all over - ambulance took me to hosptial - X-rays of Head (showed nothng of course) - three docs looked at me - stitches, etc and when I asked what I owed - nothing - 'we have no provisions for charging' - often the case.

The real value of such insurance is if you get seriously ill and have to be evacuated home.

DebitNM

Evacuation insurance is important if you are going to be places where the medical care is less than good. Be sure you get enough as it is VERY expensive to evac.

Also - be sure that the evacuation allows YOU to chose where you want to be sent; many times the policy reads "to nearest medical facility" which may not be what YOU want or need.

DebitNM

Meant to include - if to nearest facility; insurance decides where you go.

travelhorizons

The deal with travel insurance - if you purchase the policy within 21 days of making your first deposit on the trip, pre-existing conditions will be covered (with Travelex). Your kids will also be covered free with Travelex.

While you might save a couple of dollars comparing policies, it's an apples-to-apples kind of thing. Travelex, for instance, has PRIMARY medical coverage. Others only refund what your health insurance at home does not.

flpab

We just bought insurance for our upcoming trip through Allianz. We got our four flights covered and some medical and our apartment that we rented. They were very good when I had trip interruption so go with them. 156.00 total for my husband and myself.

DebitNM

I also just bought an Annual Trip Insurance policy with Allianz. It was $498 for the 2 of us and includes: trip cancellation, pre-existing medical conditions and a host of other benefits. I did sever search with other insurers and Allianz had the best coverage for our needs and the best prices too.

The medical on this was secondary with no deductible, which works for us; but may not for you.

Pegontheroad

My cousin-in-law (cousin's husband) got the flu in New Zealand. It turned into pneumonia. He was in the hospital for quite a long time, finally was evacuated on a med-evac plane with medical help accompanying him. He used Travel Guard insurance.

My sister and I had paid the $500 deposit for a trip to China, ship on the Yankzee, etc. She had a heart attack, so we had to cancel. Travel Guard paid off the $500. Of course the insurance had cost $250 for each of us, but we lost only $250 each, the cost of the insurance.

jan47ete

Did you read the story the other day about the guy who rented from airbnb in Argentina as part of a year long trip from North America to South America? After living in the house for a couple of days, unbeknownst to him there was a dog on the property who bit him. He is now suing airbnb.

No info in the story that he had travel insurance--for a year long trip!!!