Unexpected Reasons You Might Need Travel Insurance Even When You Think You Don’t.
We know, travel insurance feels like a tired topic. But hear us out: most trip components are non-refundable, and unexpected events happen! We've seen it all (the good, the bad, and the oh-so-ugly), and that's why we want to share why trip insurance can be a lifesaver. Before we dive into our war stories, let's explore some reasons vacations get canceled (even when you think only death could stop you).
Your appendix bursts the day before your flight and you need emergency surgery.
An immediate family member dies and the funeral is the day you’re supposed to leave.
Your traveling companion breaks their leg and can not travel.
You get in a car accident on the way to the airport and miss your flight.
Someone in your travel party is the victim of a felonious assault the week before your trip.
Or worse… and of course, we hope none of these things happen to you (ever) but no one ever expects anything bad to happen and sometimes bad things do happen to good people. With the proper paperwork, all of these situations could be a covered reason for cancellation and insurance would typically reimburse you for the cost of the trip if you could not go.
Now, here are some reasons you might not be able to get home from a trip as planned. This is called “Trip Interruption”. Everyone thinks the airlines are 100% responsible for getting you to and from your destination without issue and if something happens, they will make it right. Not always the case! If a pilot calls in sick or the plane has a mechanical issue, yes, they will pay for a hotel and put you on the next available flight but that flight might be a week later based on availability. If you want options to book a different airline or if you don’t like where they decided to put you up, you want to have a valid credit card with you and travel insurance to file a claim with to reimburse expenses. Without insurance, you are at the mercy of the airline and they don’t always care about your comfort or convenience in these situations.
Other things that may come up that could have you “on your own” during your travels are:
Hurricanes (or other inclement weather causing flight delays or cancellations) - Thousands of people are affected by weather delays every month and when a flight is canceled due to an act of God, the airlines have zero responsibility towards passengers and any added expenses.
Natural Disasters (fire, flood, earthquake, volcanic eruption, etc.) - We have had clients stranded on vacation for all of these reasons and since they are also acts of God, no one pays for your expenses but you.
Computer System Outages - This is a grey area and could be the responsibility of the airline depending on the situation but a global outage may not be and again, you don’t want to be at anyone’s mercy when all flights are canceled and you just need to get home.
Terrorist Attacks - If the week-long grounding of all flights after September 11th, 2001 doesn’t say enough, what will?
A Global Pandemic - 2020. No one expected a shutdown of epic proportions and thousands of people were stranded overseas when the United States temporarily closed its borders. This alone should be reason enough to purchase protection!
Strike (airline staff, maintenance, air traffic control, airport workers, etc) - It happens. And when it does, without travel insurance, you are truly on your own.
Financial Insolvency - Say what now? Yep. We have had it happen. If you book a cruise or a tour package or even a flight and the travel company declares bankruptcy before or during your trip, what happens? You don’t want to know! But with travel insurance, you are protected in most cases!
So let’s say you’re willing to risk all of this and hope for the best. Unforeseen medical emergencies can derail your dream vacation. Most health insurance plans do not cover overseas costs, leaving you responsible for potentially hefty bills upfront. Foreign hospitals may even deny treatment without a large credit limit. Travel insurance offers peace of mind. It guarantees payment to hospitals, allowing them to focus on your care. In critical situations, medical evacuation to a better-equipped facility could be lifesaving, a service many travel insurance plans include. Imagine facing a medical crisis abroad without this protection. Travel insurance ensures you get the treatment you need, when you need it. What would happen if you found yourself in this situation without protection? Remember, if you get hit by a car, have a heart attack or simply fracture a toe, those medical expenses are all on you.
Of course, there are so many other benefits that cover things like baggage and other minor issues that could occur but hopefully, we have enlightened you enough to realize that travel insurance is a must and that “credit card travel insurance” just won’t cut it.
Please do your homework and consider purchasing a policy from one of our preferred travel insurance companies found below or any company you prefer. As travel advisors, we can only advise you to purchase a plan but we have vetted many companies and have found these to offer the best coverage and customer service.
TRAVEL INSURED INTERNATIONAL
ALLIANZ TRAVEL INSURANCE COMPANY
Remember, while we can't provide specific insurance advice or handle claims ourselves (we're not licensed agents!), we're happy to connect you with our partners who can help. In case of emergencies, we can also direct you to the right department. Just remember, having your policy details readily available, especially outside business hours, can be a lifesaver!