The ocean breeze fills your nose as the sun begins to turn
you tanner – could this vacation be any sweeter? But suddenly, clouds block out
the rays and a thunderous bolt of lightning sends you scurrying to gather up
your towel and island drinks amidst drenching rain and pounding waves. The next
thing you hear: The island has been evacuated due to an oncoming storm.
Your vacation is ruined! It's a good thing you bought travel
insurance ... or is it? Did you get hurricane coverage? Or did you skip that
extra $20 amendment? Don't let a simple oversight destroy your vacation. In
this article, we'll show you why you should increase your policies before you
take your vacation, along with which coverage you should avoid.
Even the
Best Laid Plans Can Go Awry
Travel insurance provides a way to anticipate the
unexpected. It can help you protect against a myriad of events, including
weather-related issues, baggage loss, airline delays and cancellations,
accidents or illness, and much more. There are policies available to cover
every eventuality, including missing your tee time on the golf course. Some
policies even give you the option to cancel your trip for any reason at all.
In addition to protecting you against losing the money that
you spent on your trip, you can find policies that provide medical coverage.
Medical expenses can be a particularly important part of travel insurance
coverage, as many health insurance providers do not provide services if you're
outside of your country of origin. Is My Health Insurance Good Abroad? can give
you the details.
Ensuring
You're Insured
Nobody wants to think about the worst-case scenario when
planning a trip, but there are a whole host of reasons why you might need some
protection. Tropical storms, such as hurricanes, come immediately to mind.
Destinations in hurricane-prone areas may offer their own guarantees, ranging
from money-back offers to credit for a return trip. Travel agencies that book a
lot of trips to these areas may also offer some type of coverage, as do cruise
ships.
Floods, fires and other natural disasters either at home or
at your intended destination may also prevent you from making your trip. Less
severe, but also disruptive, is the prospect of a rainy weekend at the beach, a
broken-down car or traffic on the way to the airport that makes you miss you
plane. Personal injury, the need to attend a funeral, an unexpected job
interview or the illness of a travel companion could also cause you to cancel.
Terrorist activity, even in popular European destinations, could also force you
to change your travel plans.
Check Your
Existing Coverage
Before you shell out the equivalent of 5% to 8% of the cost
of your trip for insurance, be sure to check if you have existing coverage from
other sources. Hotels and cruise lines may offer at least some assistance with
the cost of your accommodations. Travel agencies may cover even more. If you
used a credit card to pay for your trip, the credit card company may even
provide similar insurance at no extra cost. Your homeowners or renter's
insurance policy may also cover lost luggage.
An existing life insurance policy should already cover you
in the event of death, and it may cover serious health issues as well.
Shop Around
Your existing coverage may not pay if you miss a flight and
need to change airlines and book new tickets. Likewise, the cost of a hotel
room may not be covered if you are stuck at the airport. Rental cars are
another potential cost if you need to find an alternate way home or to your
destination. Think through your trip carefully and put together a list of items
you would like to have just in case something doesn't work out as planned.
To get the coverage that you need, you can contact your
travel agent or shop online. Whatever you do, buy from a reputable insurer that
offers round-the-clock assistance. That internet bargain may not be such a
great deal if you are stuck in the path of an approaching storm and don't have
anyone to call for help. You'll also want to compare prices to make sure you
aren't overpaying. The most convenient source of insurance may not always be
the best priced.