Ask anyone who has recently claimed on their travel insurance what they wish they had known before actually buying their policy, and they will probably tell you immediately.
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| What You Should Know When Getting Travel Insurance in 2023 |
If only somebody had told them about the medical conditions they already had
A "pre-existing medical condition" is a health problem that a doctor had already helped you before you bought travel insurance. High blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease are some of the most common pre-existing conditions. When you file a claim, most travel insurance policies won't pay for health problems that were already there.
People who have COVID and other health problems have been hit the hardest.
Be aware of the limitations of your travel insurance in 2023
The exclusions may provide some difficulties. For example, a few years back, I worked on pre-existing condition claim for a reader who was otherwise healthy but had to postpone her trip because she needed to care for her father, who was approaching the end of his life. The travel insurance provider rejected her claim because he already had undiagnosed indications of the sickness when she made her reservation for her trip.
In 2023, it is more necessary than ever to purchase the appropriate coverage before going on a vacation. Customers who have purchased travel insurance this year have been hit with several unexpected limitations, the most notable of which is the exclusion of coverage for pre-existing ailments.
They are finding out that
Most things, including flights and medical treatment, are not covered by the restrictions and limits of travel insurance coverage.
Because some of the claims made by credit card issuers and firms that provide travel insurance might be deceiving, you need to be sure that you read the tiny print in your policy.
There are, however, situations in which purchasing travel insurance might pleasantly shock you. It may cover pre-existing ailments, be refundable, and give advantages that were not anticipated.
And different firms may have different rules. My comprehensive guide on travel insurance has further information.
Only some things are taken care of by travel insurance
Daniel Durazo, a spokesperson for Allianz Partners, says, "It's crucial to remember that travel insurance would cover unknown and unplanned events that could cause a customer to cancel or cut short their trip."
"People think that travel insurance would cover any reason for a trip to be cancelled," says Zego Insurance's marketing manager, Thomas Riley. "No, this is not true."
Most policies have "named perils" or encased reasons for trip cancellation. Some of them are diseases or natural disasters. He advises travellers to study the small print and understand what their insurance covers and what it does not. The same is true for other things that need insurance, such as lost or stolen luggage.
Experts say you need "cancel for any reason" travel insurance if you want everything to be taken care of.
There are many exceptions to this
The experts advise that you read all the small language on your policy since there is a lot of it. Kimberly Davis, a travel adviser with Trouvaille Travel International, which is linked with Brownell Travel, believes that the "gotcha" that occurs the most often includes adventure sports.
Other significant exceptions do not apply to air travel
It depends on the nature of the flight being canceled or delayed by the airline. According to Tim Dodge, vice president of marketing at Arch RoamRight, "trip cancellation may come into play if the reason the airline cancels is for a listed risk in the policy." "If the airline cancels before the day of your journey, trip cancellation may come into play."
According to him, the covered causes include things like the weather, issues with the equipment, or strikes. However, problems with airline technology or crew that result in a delay or cancellation are not covered under the terms of the trip cancellation or interruption policy.
You may need to pay for part of your costs out of pocket
Nicholas Wolver found this out when a family member died abroad, and he had to come home quickly. The insurance service did assist me in rescheduling my flights, but ultimately I was responsible for purchasing the replacement tickets and filing a claim. "When a strike at the Frankfurt airport added two days to my trip home, I had to pay for the expensive hotels myself—not the travel health insurer." A few new, innovative businesses have been adding quicker ways to pay claims, but Wolaver's situation is still possible for a long time.
Likely, more than the protection offered by your credit card is needed
Lauren Gumport, a representative for Faye Travel Insurance, advises that the protection that your credit card provides for your vacation will be different from the security that travels insurance offers. Credit card companies provide various travel coverage; however, the advantages of these precautions are limited compared to those offered by comprehensive travel insurance. Even platinum cards that are marketed to regular fliers are accepted here. In addition, there is one more need before you can be eligible for reimbursements: you have to charge everything to your credit card.
You may require more than insurance for your trip
A few policies come with extra features, like a helpline open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Terra Baykal, a high-ranking marketing manager at World Nomads, says this can be useful for specific trips. No matter where you travel, it's always a good idea to have coverage for emergencies like health benefits that are available around the clock, seven days a week.
You can buy insurance for your trip the night before you leave
Most travel people think you must buy it when booking your trip. But Stan Sandberg, who helped start the site TravelInsurance.com, says that's not true. "But remember that you can't buy travel insurance for something that has already happened, like a named storm or getting COVID."
Your travel advisor is not willing to take responsibility for your claim
Many travelers think that if a travel agent sold them an insurance policy, it is the agent's job to file a claim if something goes wrong. Not true. EMBARK Collective travel adviser Limor Decter says travelers must submit and manage insurance claims. Still, if you need to file a claim, many travel advisors will give you advice, and I've even seen some make a call for a customer. But Decter is right—in the end, it's all up to you.
Travel insurance can be tried out before you buy it
Almost no one outside the travel insurance business knows about the "free look" period, which gives you a certain amount of time to change your mind and get a full refund. Chris Carnicelli, CEO of Generali Global Assistance, says that free look periods are 30 days for people who live in Indiana and 10 to 15 days for people who live in all other states. The free look time provides travelers some opportunity to review the policy documentation, examine the specifics of the coverage, and ensure that the plan will fit their requirements once they purchase their insurance.
Is it thus still worthwhile to get travel insurance?
Travel professionals recommend it:
John Rose, ALTOUR's chief risk and security officer, believes that travel insurance will only assist with some things that may go wrong. However, it can help with many of the challenges that travelers experience, including some of the most expensive ones.
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