Why you need travel insurance

Vacation can cost thousands of dollars and all of that can be lost if you can’t make it to your destination.

by Donnita Cagle Bassinger, CTC, MCC

Travel insurance is key to peace of mind on vacations. It’s not unusual to have flight cancellations caused

by severe weather force a delay for up to a week, as travelers miss prepaid vacations, cruises and tours. The airlines do not reimburse customers for non-airline travel costs. If delays are caused by the airline (not weather) they may cover the cost of a meal or an airport hotel overnight, but that is only in unusual cases. When hotels and cruise lines say non-refundable, they mean exactly that and do not budge.

Recent world events have also highlighted the need to have comprehensive coverage, as unexpected political situations can impact your vacation. There are different types of coverage to consider when looking at travel insur-ance policies, but the following are the most important.

Trip cancellation or interruption

This is usually the most important component of coverage, and prices are based on the total trip cost, destination, length of stay and age of guests. Most travel arrangements carry hefty fees or are completely non-refundable in the case of cancellation. Trip cancellation coverage can reimburse for pre-paid, non-refundable costs if you cancel for specific covered reasons (such as serious illness, death in the family, severe weather). Some policies allow you to cancel for any reason and receive a refund or a credit for future travel.

Trip interruption coverage applies when you are forced to return home before your scheduled return date due to emergency circumstances. If you change plans for covered reasons, it may reimburse for

the unused portion of your trip and the additional costs incurred to travel home.

Medical coverages

When traveling out of the U.S., most health insurance policies do not provide any cover-

age. It is imperative to make sure that you are covered for any medical or dental issues that may arise during your vacation.

The amount of coverage can range from $10,000 to $100,000 per person depending on the policy you choose. Many hospitals require prepayment of the estimated costs before they will admit you if you cannot provide proof of coverage. Emergency evacuation coverage can also be included, and coverages vary from $150,000 to $1,000,000. This is important to have when traveling by cruise ship as a medical emergency at sea could require evacuation via helicopter to the nearest hospital. It can also be needed for transportation from a remote location to a high-quality hospital or from overseas back to your home. Travel medical assistance coverage can include help with finding a local hospital, obtaining prescription drugs, getting referrals to local doctors and coordination of medical records.

Worldwide travel assistance

If you’re traveling to international destinations, it is important to have assistance

in an emergency. Some of the services offered include assistance contacting a local embassy or consulate, help with lost passports, emergency transfer of cash, legal referrals, arranging emergency evacuations, collaboration with local law enforcement and more. The insurance provider would help make these arrangements, but the cost of these services would be paid by the traveler.

Travel insurance policies may also include coverage for baggage loss or delay, trip delays, accidental death, concierge travel services and other features. Some policies include coverage for financial default of an airline, cruise line, hotel or tour company. It is usually better to purchase a comprehensive policy that covers your entire trip from when you leave your home until you return, as opposed to multiple policies that cover only flights or only a cruise.

A professional travel agent has access to different policies and can help you choose the best option for your needs. A high-quality insurance company has trained staff available 24 hours a day that can assist you in an emergency. They can help you rebook flights and hotels, contact an English-speaking doctor or attorney, find a qualified hospital and arrange for emergency evacuation flights.

This is just an overview of travel insurance features. The actual policies can be 50 pages long with lots of restrictions and exclusions. It’s best to buy your insurance soon after you make your travel arrangements. Having the right travel insurance can ease your mind and let you enjoy your well-deserved vacation.

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Meet Vacation MOM

Vacation MOM is brought to you in partnership with Eugene Airport

Donnita Bassinger has been a travel agent for four decades and a “vacation mom” for over 25 years. She has taken her family of five on numerous vacations: her favorites include Mexico, Costa Rica, Hawaii, cruises and all-inclusive resorts.

Contact Donnita at 541-913-5272 or on facebook@VacationMOM