mommybryant

We are going to Grand Tetons/Yellowstone for about nine days. I am wondering whether I should purchase travel insurance and which company I should use in case we have to come back early due to sickness in the family. Nothing in my immediate family, but another family member that might be hospitalized. I have tried reading through the policies online, but most appear to be for the family traveling, not for relatives back home. Does anyone have any experience with travel insurance for this reason?? I would hate to lose all our hotel deposits and new airfare fees for four of us.

longhorn55

I have never had to use this provision, but I have always found travel insurance that provided trip cancellation/interruption for illness/death of family members not traveling with me. These policies cover trip cancellation or trip interruption for illness of a family member not traveling with you, but the illness generally has to be very serious (i.e.life-threatening). Here's some language from a typical policy:
"If the Insured must cancel or interrupt his/her Trip due to Injury or Sickness of a Family Member not traveling with the Insured, it must be because their condition is life-threatening, as certified by a Physician or because they require the Insured's care."
You would also need to check the policy to see which family members are covered. For example, serious illness of mother-in-law would likely be covered, but not serious illness of a cousin.
If you have not already done so, I would check out InsureMyTrip.com for various policies which offer the coverage you seek. You can chat with representatives online or call them in person if you have questions. I have had good experiences with this website.

Dayenu

Be aware, not all insurances cover pre-existing conditions - if somebody can be hospitalized, s/he has been sick for a while, right?

emalloy

Check the cancellation policies of the hotels and airlines. Many hotels will let you cancel 48 hours before travel without any penalty and sometimes re booking a flight only costs $ 75 or $100 so if the total costs without insurance are less than the insurance, it would not be worth it. Otherwise, read the fine print very carefully.

RoamsAround

One other thing to consider, many Trip Insurance Policies have to be purchased within a certain number of days (usually 7 to 10 days) from the time your booked your "first" ticket or reservation for the trip so factor that into your decision.

mommybryant

Okay..thanks for your helpful responses! I will check out the website longhorn recommended. And also check the cost to rebook. I was thinking we would have to pay the full fare for a last minute trip home. You all have given me some things to think about that I didnt find when I was looking on my own. My Dad is 92 yrs old and I just started to get worried about taking this long of a trip. He is fine right now..... I appreciate your comments.

1JAR

Delta has been very helpful to me a couple of times when I have had to change airline dates due to my Dad's illness. I called the Delta FF # and tehy graciously waived the 50.00 rebook feee...not that they could do taht for everyone but I am POA and I was staying w/Dad as caregiver...