With the holidays quickly approaching and travel chaos, people are becoming increasingly interested in travel insurance and wondering about the best ones.
In the last month alone, Google searches for “best travel insurance 2022” have increased by over 200%.
To make this topic easier for you to understand, we have chatted with an expert over at AirAdvisor who reveals whether or not if it is worth it and the three things to check for in your travel insurance policy.
What Are The Benefits of Travel Insurance?
Travel insurance is meant to ensure that you don’t lose money if your bag is mishandled, your flights are canceled or delayed, or if any other accidents that may occur during your travels. Having travel insurance may help protect you from losing money associated with travel changes.
Additionally, knowing that you will be covered if anything happens can make planning more enjoyable. You may purchase it even after your flight has been purchased.
Disadvantages
While it has many benefits, it doesn’t cover everything that you might need if you are involved in a travel incident.
For example, travel insurance will not cover cancellations due to pre-existing medical conditions. Things like poor weather conditions or changing your mind about the trip may also not be covered.
Another disadvantage is that buying insurance may accrue additional costs to your travel budget that you may not have accounted for.
What Do You Need To Check For In Your Travel Insurance Policy?
- Make sure you understand what your policy covers.
Not all policies are the same, and you want to understand the exclusions. If you are not satisfied with it, you may be able to pay for additional benefits.
- Check for the best policy option for you.
While some insurances provide coverage per trip, some give you the option to have an annual plan. This may be advantageous to you if you travel frequently and can save you money rather than paying per-trip travel insurance.
Some plans offer family options rather than individual options for those who travel as a family. The more people who are getting insured, the higher the possibility of getting a discounted price. Some insurance companies even offer children’s insurance at no cost as long as the parents have insurance paid for.
- Find a policy that has good turnaround times on claims.
Filing a claim doesn’t have to be a daunting process. Be sure to do your research and find a company that offers an easy process that can be done online.
You might be able to find a policy that will refund you quickly before even submitting documents such as receipts. If they do, the process would be much quicker if your policy allows you to upload documents directly to their portal, so be sure to do your research!
Make sure that travel insurance is worth the expense
If you are traveling internationally, there are higher chances of running into connecting flights or lost luggage issues, and it might be worth the purchase.
Certain times of the year, like summers and holidays, tend to have more complications when traveling, so it would be beneficial to plan a trip during these times.
Additionally, if your trip costs you a significant amount, like an international flight would, it may be worth it since you have more money to lose.
Depending on your travel budget, insurance may cost you as much as your flight tickets and may not be worth the added expense.
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Having travel insurance can definitely be advantageous, but every situation is different! Be sure to do your research and find out what your situation is and whether or not it is beneficial to you.