3 Steps to Protect Your Travel Investment

Written by www.travelinsurancecenter.com

Many travelers are under the misconception that they don't need travel insurance and that their credit cards or medical insurance will cover them if anything goes wrong.

This mistaken belief could potentially cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars, should you find yourself in any number of situations. Here are three steps to help determine how best to protect yourself and your travel investment.

Step 1: Assess Your Needs

To help make an informed decision, ask yourself the following five questions:

1. Does my health insurance cover me away from home and in foreign countries if I become ill or am injured while traveling?

2. If I become injured abroad, can I afford the cost of a medical evacuation?

3. Can I afford the financial risk of losing my vacation investment if something goes wrong due to illness, weather, or other unforeseen circumstances?

4. If I have to cut my trip short because of an emergency, can I afford the cost of a return airline trip home?

5. If my bags are lost or I have to spend an extra night because of weather-related problems, can I afford to buy replacement necessities and pay for extra lodging?

Step 2: Evaluate Your Current Coverage

Find out what your coverage really is. Will your credit card and/or health insurance cover you if you need to cancel or interrupt a trip because of illness, if you need to be hospitalized abroad, or if you have to pay for an extra hotel night because of bad weather? Many travelers mistakenly believe that that their credit cards, health and home insurance will cover any situation that arises.

Most credit cards don't provide trip cancellation or built-in medical coverage, nor will credit cards reimburse for inconveniences caused by travel delays. Your credit card may cover some costs associated with baggage delay or damage, but only if you purchased your trip with that credit card.

Most traditional domestic health insurance plans limit coverage for international medical expenses to emergency-related costs. They typically have high deductibles and co-pays for emergency treatment abroad and don't cover out-of-country emergency medical transportation—even in cases of life threatening illness where medical evacuation may be required. A medical evacuation alone can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

U.S. airlines are not required to provide accommodations or reimbursement and have limited refund policies for delays that are beyond their control, such as weather or natural events including floods or volcanic eruptions. Nor are they required to reimburse expenses due to baggage delays.

Homeowner's insurance does not reimburse for the cost of purchasing replacement items if bags are delayed. Read your policy carefully and understand the coverage. If the policy doesn't meet your needs, travel insurance policies typically include a refundable grace period. During that time if the policy does not meet your needs, the cost is refunded.

Step 3: Compare Travel Insurance

Standard comprehensive travel insurance policies provide coverage for trip cancellation and interruption, medical, travel delay, and assistance services under one umbrella. In fact, no other single source provides the full spectrum of coverage and services that comprehensive travel insurance does.

In addition to comprehensive travel insurance, travelers can also find medical only policies, assistance policies and travel insurance that covers special circumstances.

Travel insurance can be purchased from a variety of sources. These include travel agencies, airlines, tour operators, hotels and resorts, and insurance brokers, as well as through the Internet.

Seek out travel insurance providers who:

• Provide travel insurance products and services that represent value and high quality
• Present products, benefits, conditions, exclusions and prices clearly and accurately
• Refrain from making false, misleading or exaggerated claims in statements or advertisements
• Pay all valid claims fairly, promptly, accurately and courteously