travler's insurance
Apr 19th, 2004, 10:22 AM
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travler's insurance
Does it pay to get travler's insurance? How much does such a thing usually cost? If one were to cancel a trip at the last minute, would there be a way to rebook or use the ticket at another time or would all money be lost? I realize this may depend on the airline, but is there a usual or general rule?
Apr 19th, 2004, 10:26 AM
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Hi
I've previously compiled this information and hope it is still accurate:
Travel insurance costs average about 6% of the cost of your trip, according to Consumer Reports magazine, Nov 02. If the plane tickets, rental car, and hotel can be cancelled without incurring a large, or any penalty, then you might not want coverage. Rule of thumb: if your losses would be less than $500, you might not want the expense of the insurance. Larger losses often apply to cruises and packaged vacations.
Consumer Reports recommended buying insurance if: your trip is particularly expensive, if you are taking a multileg journey, if you have a pre-existing medical condition, or if you are traveling to an area of unrest.
Trip cancellation/trip interruption provision refunds money if your trip is cancelled or cut short for a reason allowed under the policy. Examples include a death in your immediate family, your own health problem, or the tour operator going out of business. Many companies will waive exclusions for pre-existing medical conditions (in other words, you would be covered even if you have a pre-existing medical problem) if you buy the policy within a specifed amount of time after putting down the deposit for your trip.
Read the fine print concerning exclusions.
The death or illnesses of your stepchildren, stepparents, grandparents, siblings-in-law,
fiance(e)s,
aunts, uncles, friends, etc are usually not covered if you have to interrupt or cancel your trip.
The policy should include both ?supplier default? which insures you if the company goes out of business, and terrorism coverage..
A policy called Insure-a-Flight was put on the market to cover purchases of non-refundable airline tickets sold by travel agents using computer reservation systems. The policy also includes accidental death coverage. The claimable reasons for cancellation of the ticket include illness or death of the traveler, a traveling companion, or an immediate family member. The contact phone number for Insure-a-Flight is 866 467 2358.
Emergency Medical insurance pays the cost of treatment if you get sick while you are on your trip. If emergency medical transportation is included, you may also be covered for an emergency evacuation by airplane or other means, and sometimes your companion?s costs may also be covered if he/she has to accompany you home. Check your own policy at home first.
Baggage Loss: Your homeowner?s or renter?s insurance is likely to already provide this. Airline liability is limited to $2500 per person for domestic travel and $9.07 per pound for international travel, but there are requirements and exceptions.
www.insuremytrip.com allows you to compare policies and quotes from up to five companies simultaneously. Site also has currency conversion and packing tips.
New site as of Sept 03 which allows you to compare more than 40 travel insurance plans: www.travelinsurance.com
World Travel Center is a broker handling a variety of travel insurance policies. They can provide policies for "special needs" or circumstances. Call 800 786 5566 or www.worldtravelcenter.com
Divers Alert Network primarily insures scuba divers, but I had read that anyone can join and be supplied with emergency medical evacuation insurance; a year's coverage for one person is $29 (Dec 01). There are family plans.
800 446 2671, www.diversalertnetwork.org
I've previously compiled this information and hope it is still accurate:
Travel insurance costs average about 6% of the cost of your trip, according to Consumer Reports magazine, Nov 02. If the plane tickets, rental car, and hotel can be cancelled without incurring a large, or any penalty, then you might not want coverage. Rule of thumb: if your losses would be less than $500, you might not want the expense of the insurance. Larger losses often apply to cruises and packaged vacations.
Consumer Reports recommended buying insurance if: your trip is particularly expensive, if you are taking a multileg journey, if you have a pre-existing medical condition, or if you are traveling to an area of unrest.
Trip cancellation/trip interruption provision refunds money if your trip is cancelled or cut short for a reason allowed under the policy. Examples include a death in your immediate family, your own health problem, or the tour operator going out of business. Many companies will waive exclusions for pre-existing medical conditions (in other words, you would be covered even if you have a pre-existing medical problem) if you buy the policy within a specifed amount of time after putting down the deposit for your trip.
Read the fine print concerning exclusions.
The death or illnesses of your stepchildren, stepparents, grandparents, siblings-in-law,
fiance(e)s,
aunts, uncles, friends, etc are usually not covered if you have to interrupt or cancel your trip.
The policy should include both ?supplier default? which insures you if the company goes out of business, and terrorism coverage..
A policy called Insure-a-Flight was put on the market to cover purchases of non-refundable airline tickets sold by travel agents using computer reservation systems. The policy also includes accidental death coverage. The claimable reasons for cancellation of the ticket include illness or death of the traveler, a traveling companion, or an immediate family member. The contact phone number for Insure-a-Flight is 866 467 2358.
Emergency Medical insurance pays the cost of treatment if you get sick while you are on your trip. If emergency medical transportation is included, you may also be covered for an emergency evacuation by airplane or other means, and sometimes your companion?s costs may also be covered if he/she has to accompany you home. Check your own policy at home first.
Baggage Loss: Your homeowner?s or renter?s insurance is likely to already provide this. Airline liability is limited to $2500 per person for domestic travel and $9.07 per pound for international travel, but there are requirements and exceptions.
www.insuremytrip.com allows you to compare policies and quotes from up to five companies simultaneously. Site also has currency conversion and packing tips.
New site as of Sept 03 which allows you to compare more than 40 travel insurance plans: www.travelinsurance.com
World Travel Center is a broker handling a variety of travel insurance policies. They can provide policies for "special needs" or circumstances. Call 800 786 5566 or www.worldtravelcenter.com
Divers Alert Network primarily insures scuba divers, but I had read that anyone can join and be supplied with emergency medical evacuation insurance; a year's coverage for one person is $29 (Dec 01). There are family plans.
800 446 2671, www.diversalertnetwork.org
Apr 19th, 2004, 10:39 AM
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If you have prepaid with a US credit card and need to cancel, simply refuse to pay the charges!
Just be sure to cancel before the A/L departure times and arrival times at any hotels or auto rental agencies.
The insurance industry will certainly tell you otherwise, but it's always been easier to refuse charges than to collect from trip insurers. Cruises may be a bit different as many don't want payment in full with a credit card - small wonder!!
Just be sure to cancel before the A/L departure times and arrival times at any hotels or auto rental agencies.
The insurance industry will certainly tell you otherwise, but it's always been easier to refuse charges than to collect from trip insurers. Cruises may be a bit different as many don't want payment in full with a credit card - small wonder!!
Apr 19th, 2004, 10:50 AM
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Mikemo - you haven't thought about the fact that they might be on a cruise or taking an escorted tour. In that case, if the trip was cancelled at the last minute, the client might very well lose all their money, as there might not be time to resell the space. In addition, the companies make it quite clear that there are definite penalties for cancellation.
With regard to the airline tickets, there's usually a $100-$150. change fee for each of the tickets changed to another date if you didn't pay full fare coach (Y Class) to begin with. Most discounted tickets are non-refundable.
With regard to the airline tickets, there's usually a $100-$150. change fee for each of the tickets changed to another date if you didn't pay full fare coach (Y Class) to begin with. Most discounted tickets are non-refundable.
Apr 19th, 2004, 11:26 AM
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Never had a problem with my various CC providers when I refused payment for non performance or non delivery!
Full disclosure: I have a professional relationship with a major Litigation firm in DFW.
Full disclosure: I have a professional relationship with a major Litigation firm in DFW.
Apr 19th, 2004, 11:46 AM
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Beth23:
Check out insuremytrip.com for various quotes for various coverages.
Generally, its not a bad idea to cover any nonrefundable portions. I recently booked a nonrefundable flight with an airline consolidator for $58 to cover $750. You must order and pay generally within 15 days of first payment made on trip part that you want coverage for, in order to have pre-existing medical conditions waived.
I may be about to put TravelGuard to the test. My father has to have a heart catheterization just 12 days prior to my scheduled departure. If he needs surgery, I'll need to cancel my trip....
So trip insurance is not just for you, but takes immediate family members into consideration as well.
Check out insuremytrip.com for various quotes for various coverages.
Generally, its not a bad idea to cover any nonrefundable portions. I recently booked a nonrefundable flight with an airline consolidator for $58 to cover $750. You must order and pay generally within 15 days of first payment made on trip part that you want coverage for, in order to have pre-existing medical conditions waived.
I may be about to put TravelGuard to the test. My father has to have a heart catheterization just 12 days prior to my scheduled departure. If he needs surgery, I'll need to cancel my trip....
So trip insurance is not just for you, but takes immediate family members into consideration as well.
Apr 20th, 2004, 02:06 PM
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beth23 - if you're only talking about an airline ticket, it's not necessary to buy trip insurance. You can cancel the ticket and for a fee of $150/$200 (ddepending on airline) rebook for another time. Or you can buy a small policy to cover the price of the ticket which would cover (for covered reasons for cancelation) the costs not refundable.
If, however, you have prepaid for your hotels, tours, transfers, etc. then it pays to take out Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance. You can only buy insurance for that which is prepaid. But you can buy a policy to cover medical and evacuation only. If you have a homeowners or renters policy that will cover for your luggage and clothing if lost.
If, however, you have prepaid for your hotels, tours, transfers, etc. then it pays to take out Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance. You can only buy insurance for that which is prepaid. But you can buy a policy to cover medical and evacuation only. If you have a homeowners or renters policy that will cover for your luggage and clothing if lost.
Apr 21st, 2004, 04:37 AM
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If you are traveling with an escorted tour company, it is essential that you purchase traveller's insurance that offers reimbursement if the tour company goes bankrupt (supplier default). Many don't realize the insurance that tour companies push you to buy does not include this coverage and its important that you use an insurance company that is not affiliated with the tour company. Its also important to note that you must purchase your travel insurance within 7-14 days of making your down payment on your tour or the insurance company will not honor the supplier default clause.
