Summer Vacation Travel Insurance: What You Should Know Before You Go

Travel insurance is on the rise, providing travelers with the peace of mind they need for their summer vacations. Leslie Wahlgren, a seasoned travel advisor, has witnessed a significant increase in client interest in travel insurance, with five policies sold just recently.

Today, travelers are not only concerned about COVID-19 but also worry about flight delays, cancellations, missed connections, and lost baggage. Squaremouth, an insurance comparison site, reports that travel insurance covers not only trip cancellations but also various other mishaps.

Even affordable plans from major providers like AIG Travel, Allianz Partners USA, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, Nationwide, and Seven Corners offer coverage for common air-travel nightmares. Depending on the policy, these plans can refund prepaid expenses for situations such as predeparture injuries or flights missed due to unexpected storms.

To ensure sufficient protection, experts advise against skimping on coverage and recommend checking policy limits. Full-coverage policies are more expensive but provide substantial payouts, making them ideal for high-value trips like safaris and luxury cruises.

Riskline, a company that collaborates with organizations such as American Express Global Business Travel and TripIt, emphasizes that everyone has a different risk threshold and having travel insurance in place alleviates concerns when things go wrong.

For those seeking the utmost assurance, “cancel for any reason” policies offer flexibility, typically allowing cancellations up until 48 hours before departure. These policies refund most expenses, including prepaid hotel rooms and nonrefundable costs incurred before departure.

Some insurers cater to niche interests. World Nomads specializes in adventure trips, covering activities such as rock climbing, scuba diving, hang gliding, and snowmobiling, often excluded from standard policies. On the other hand, Medjet focuses on medical evacuations, offering coverage for policyholders over 150 miles away from home. The MedjetAssist plan even covers the cost of flying travelers home for hospital treatment. Additionally, MedjetHorizon includes crisis response services, including evacuation during natural disasters, crime incidents, or civil unrest.

Travelers have benefited from travel insurance, as highlighted by Wahlgren’s client who required medical attention. The policy facilitated his hospital transfer, including the presence of a doctor on the plane, with all expenses covered.

Before embarking on your summer vacation, make sure you consider the right travel insurance to safeguard your trip and ease any worries along the way.