Any advice on trip/medical insurance? We will soon be considered seniors (don't feel like it though) and thought it prudent to get adequate insurance. Leaving soon so any advice will be greatly appreciated.

It's a good idea and not that expensive. Try this...

http://insuremytrip.com/p/myquotecal...&rid=40312

I would definitely get trip insurance. I don't have the name of the company we used but just secured medical insurance for Italy for around $64. our trip is an award so i didn't have to get air coverage, etc.

I don't think it's worth it unless you have some special situation making it more likely that you might need it. For example, some sort of special medical need or some situation increasing the likelihood that there will be a problem with your travel arrangements.

While it's not expensive for one particular trip, it adds up over the years if you travel a lot. It's akin to buying insurance for appliances and cars--not a very good buy over the long haul for most people.

Get Travel Insurance!

No one wants to think about these things, but you can get sick or you can have an accident (even if you are not a senior). Travel insurance can make the unthinkable just barely bearable.

I have a sad story to illustrate this. Nine years ago my father was in a tragic accident while sightseeing in Athens. The hospital bill in Athens was a small matter, but getting him home via air ambulance was more than $50,000. Without the travel insurance (which paid about half and helped us make the arrangements) we could not have brought him home to be cared for in an American hospital for two months until, to our great sorrow, he died.

The US Embassy person who helped us with advice and support through that ordeal told me that my father was the first US citizen during her tenure in that position who was evacuated via air-ambulance. The others could not afford it.

I am talking about a worst case scenario. May no one reading this ever have to go through what we did. But I not only got travel insurance for my upcoming trip, I upgraded it. It's worth it to me to pay an extra $50-$100 and know that if the unthinkable should happen, my family will be able to bring me and/or my daughter home.

I think it depends on your upfront trip costs that might not be returnable if your trip is interrupted. Also, it depends on where you are going. France, for example, has wonderful medical care, even for tourists/visitors. When we have travelled to China we get insurance and evacuation rider because that is not where you want to be hospatilized. The last time we were in France we got insurance because we were driving for a week and it just seemed prudent.

Travel insurance doesn't seem expensive when you're on a trip and actually have to use it.

And to RufusTFirefly, special situations occur more times without warning then you would believe. No one thinks they're going to get injured (or die) on vacation. Or like me, 3 days before I was scheduled to go to Egypt, my perfectly healthy mother had a stroke. I had insurance, and got all my money back. I never travel without insurance. And not to be gruesome, but the cost of repatriating remains is over $15,000.

Kama--no, they don't happen more often than I would believe. But they are very highly unlikely to happen to any individual unless, as I pointed out before, you have a special circumstance. It's a risk/reward ratio issue, and for most people the risk is so small as to make it a poor buy.

Hi nana,

If you already have coverage, find out if you are covered for your trip.

If you don't have coverage, why bother now?

PS

That was for medical insurance.

Trip insurance is iffy. The airlines will refund your money if you are seriously ill or injured.

Rufus, do you work in the travel industry, or for an insurance agency? If you don't work in either profession, where do you get your information?

Would you agree that trip insurance makes sense if you are paying for a tour or package? I'm not sure I'd bother for airfare or hotel, but with a lump sum on the line it seems more relevant.

Rufus, peace-of-mind has a value, especially to those who are (hopefully) enjoying themselves while on vacation.

A $100 policy for a $5000 trip comes to to 2%; it seems worthwhile to me...

Most of the evacuation insurance I have looked at seems to bring you to the nearest place where you can receive apporpriate medical care. Is there any evacuation insurance that actually covers returning to the U.S. (even if the local hospital is medically appropriate)? Thanks.

HBR...this is from my present policy;

"Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation - arranges and pre-pays the cost of emergency medical transportation should a serious illness or injury during your vacation require your medical evacuation --$15,000"

Thanks for all the help. I know it is not that likely but I do think it will add to the peace of mind.

If you will be renting a car during your trip, most of the better travel policies include vehicle coverage--a much better buy than what the rental agencies offer.