Navigating Travel Insurance
Blue Rim Tours works hard to create memorable trips of a lifetime. However, there are circumstances that are beyond our and your control. Travel insurance is intended to cover unforeseen events.
Travel insurance can cover medical expenses, trip cancellation, lost luggage, and other losses incurred while traveling.
If you are on the fence about getting travel insurance, ask yourself these questions:
Will I be traveling overseas?
Can I afford the cost of the trip back home if an emergency arises?
Can I afford medical care if I get sick or injured while traveling?
Does my credit card offer any travel insurance coverage?
Cost
The cost for travel insurance varies but generally falls between 4% and 12% of the tour price. Age, number of travelers, length of travel, and type of coverage will also change the amount for coverage.
Some credit cards offer certain coverage while traveling, like lost luggage. Also, your current medical insurance may offer international coverage as well. Be sure to check with both your credit card and insurance company for any coverage options. Medicare does not cover anything abroad.
Coverage can also be cherry picked to reimburse for specific things like lost, stolen, and delayed baggage.
Insurance Types and Coverage Options
Plans range in coverage from a single trip to annual coverage.
Per-Trip Coverage – Most common type of coverage. This provides protection for a single trip.
Multi-Trip Coverage – Provides protection for multiple trips under 30 days each per year.
Annual Coverage – This plan offers frequent travelers coverage for a year.
The two most popular types of travel insurance are vacation plans and travel medical plans.
Vacation plans will often include coverage for the five main categories of travel insurance. Trip cancellation, travel medication, major medical coverage, emergency medical evacuation, and accidental death and flight accident.
Travel medical plans focus on medical expenses and emergency evacuations.
Categories in Detail
Trip Cancellation – This is beneficial for tours where you are paying most of the money upfront like with any Blue Rim tour. The plan will reimburse you if the trip is cancelled before the departure date. Some companies may offer separate policies for trip cancellation and trip interruption. The difference between a trip cancellation and trip interruption is the cancellation has to happen before departure date while the trip interruption means the trip must be cut short.
There are several reasons why a trip may be cancelled or interrupted by the guest or tour operator. Here are a few examples:
Sudden business conflict
Change of mind
Delay in processing Visa or Passport
Illness or injury
Weather-related issues
Act of terrorism
Jury duty
Check with the travel insurance provider for acceptable reasons for cancellation.
Travel Medical and Major Medical - Both of these provide medical protection if the policy holder becomes ill or injured while traveling, but they are different. Travel medical only provides short-term medical coverage, and duration depends on policy. Major medical would be more for travelers who are planning six-month trips or longer. Both can help with medical expenses, locating doctors, hospitals, and healthcare facilities if you become ill or injured while traveling. Some policies exclude coverage for pre-existing medical conditions so be sure to check.
Emergency Medical Evacuation – This will cover medically necessary evacuation and transportation to medical facilities.
Accidental Death and Flight Accident – Benefits are paid out in the event of an accident resulting in death or serious injury.
Important Reminders
Read and understand the list of covered reasons for cancellation and interruption coverage in your plan
Medicare does not cover you abroad
Check for any pre-existing conditions that may not be covered by your travel insurance
Most plans, if not all, have exclusions. Know what exclusions your plan mentions.
Check limits for maximum amount that can be covered for trip cancellation, interruption, delay, lost baggage, etc.
Don’t wait too long to enroll
Most travel insurance providers have a refund policy. There is an allowed time period to return and must be done before any claim is filed and trip has begun.
Recommended Companies
The most commonly used travel insurance amongst our guests is Allianz Travel followed by www.insuremytrip.com and AAA/CAA. It is up to you to find the company and policy that best suits your needs.
Blue Rim Tours does not work with any travel insurance company and receives no benefit from any insurance company mentioned. Everything provided here are suggestions based off of information found from various sources.
