Wary About Travel Insurance? These 5 Situations Prove You Need It
It’s common to obsess over things like itinerary, hotels and sightseeing when booking travel plans. But what about being prepared for the unexpected? An astounding 78% of Americans opt out of travel insurance policies when booking their flights. Most American travelers consider travel coverage confusing, a waste of money or just entirely useless. With so many companies offering a wide range of policies and travelers being unclear of what is travel insurance, it’s no wonder only 21% of people actually buy coverage.
So do you really need travel insurance? Let’s break down the main reasons travel insurance may be the smartest decision for your upcoming vacations.
5. Less Worry About The Unpredictability of Travel
The No. 1 reason you need travel insurance is because you never know what could go wrong, and once you familiarize yourself with exactly what benefits can provide, you can decide which policy would work best for you.
With the amount of money that we spend on trips, not purchasing travel insurance is just too great of a risk. The amount of money spent on a trip could be doubled by a simple accident or mishap, and, most times, these things are out of your control.
Every day, flights are canceled and delayed, which can cause a myriad of problems and cost you a lot of money. Nowadays you can’t rely on an airline to take care of you, so instead of leaving your travels up to fate, getting insured will give you the ultimate peace of mind so you can fully enjoy your trip the way you’re supposed to.
4. You’ll Be Prepared for When Accidents Happen
Thinking about accidents and medical emergencies may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you’re booking your vacation, but being prepared for the worst is always better. There is nothing worse than having to spend an extra thousands of dollars in medical bills because of an unforeseen injury from you or your travel partners.
Every travel insurance company is different and offers distinct packages that you can choose from. From deductibles, emergency medical evacuation coverages, to trip cancellation due to sudden illness, you won’t have to worry about losing thousands of dollars when you’re insured.
For adventure travelers, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with medical coverage for extreme sports or activities that you may do. Companies like World Nomad offer coverage for extreme sports like bungee jumping and skydiving for the more adventurous types out there.
Click Here for: Top 5 Travel Insurance Companies
3. Flight Delays and Cancellations Are All Too Common
Anyone who has traveled has most likely had at least one terrible experience with an airline. Flight cancellations, major delays and missed connections are all apart of the less-pretty side of travel, and during peak travel months, it’s more than likely to happen. What is travel insurance for, if not for instances like these?
Travel insurance can compensate you for your missed connections or major flight delays, or even reimburse you for the inconveniences experienced as a result of airline issues or even issues leading up to the flight.
2. You Could Lose Pricey Items or, Worse, They Could Be Stolen
Anete Lusiña
The great (and overwhelming) thing about travel insurance is that you can choose a plan that is catered to your needs. When most people travel, they bring along expensive electronics or belongings. With the amount of popular destinations that are known for pick pocketing and hotel room theft, it’s important to have coverage for any items that may be lost or stolen on your travels.
While shopping for the right travel insurance, you can find a policy that will reimburse or compensate you with theft or lost items on your trip.
1. The Airline Could Lose or Mishandle Your Luggage
While the number of lost baggage continues to decrease each year, airlines still mishandled about 21.8 million bags in the past year. It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your valuables while traveling, even if the airline doesn’t lose your luggage. After all, the chances of losing your luggage may be slim, but there’s a higher chance of mishandling or delayed arrival. Travel insurance policies can compensate for additional purchases made while waiting for your bags to be delivered if they’re lost or delayed.
Click Here for: Top 5 Travel Insurance Companies
Do you have a better handle now on what is travel insurance? Has it saved you in the past, or is there a time you wish you had it? Share your experience in the comments below!
