Why You Need Travel Insurance More Than Ever

Sure, we’ve all been quarantined and it’s hard to think about when we’ll ever take a great vacation. But eventually, we will be traveling again. And for those of you planning a honeymoon, restrictions and conditions are changing every day. That’s why you need travel insurance more than ever. We spoke to Travel Designer Hillary Ogle from Paradise Wedding & Travel, to tell us more.

FLUIDITY MEANS UNCERTAINTY

As Ogle tells us, “Purchasing travel insurance for your honeymoon or destination wedding package is one way to protect your investment. We are living in a very fluid environment right now so things are constantly changing. This allows you to have some added flexibility when it comes to your vacation planning needs. But be aware, not all insurance plans are created equally!” This brings up a good point. Yes, there are several types of plans. 

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF

Ogle suggests you ask yourself these questions to help figure out which plan is right for you:

• What are the covered reasons under the plan you’ve selected?
• What might come up between now and the end of your trip? 
• Would you potentially need this type of coverage, thinking about your life right now, and what might come up between now and the end of your trip?

TRAVEL AGENTS CAN HELP

It’s important to make sure you understand the insurance plan you pick, and your travel agent can go over this with you so you understand what you’re choosing. “We’re here to help you make the best decision based on your personal needs. We provide the cost and some basic understanding of the policy. Travel Advisors can give you some real list examples of why you might want to purchase this coverage. We see all sorts of situations as to why a traveler needs to cancel. With the recent global pandemic, we’ve also learned so much more about how to advise you with your future travel. We realize travel is such a personal decision and we take the time to get you to know your needs. For specific plan coverage, we do need to defer to the insurance company as we are not certified to answer specific questions about insurance coverage.” Ogle says.

Always look at the fine print: Ogle advises, “Some plans will offer what they call a “cancel for any reason” policy (for short CFAR). In the case of the pandemic, people were having to utilize this part of the plan to receive money back. Every CFAR plan is a little different. Some reimburse clients up to 50% of their trip cost, where some reimburse up to 75%. It should be noted that the actual cost of an insurance plan is always non-refundable.”

“There are lots of different reasons that insurance could be in your best interest. Working with a travel advisor will help you sort through those scenarios that are specific to you! That personal service is what sets us apart from booking your vacation online. If you are purchasing something online, such as airfare, you might be eligible for an upgraded version of their coverage offered online. You can call the airline within 7 days of purchase to see what upgraded plans are available. The basic offering might not be very useful. Travel insurance varies in cost based on the age of the travelers and the destination. The cost is about 5-10% of the total cost of your trip.” It is these and other facts that an agent can help you with when planning your trip.

WHY YOU NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE: DESTINATION WEDDINGS

With the wedding landscape changing these days and some couples considering a smallish, destination wedding, Ogle explains why you need travel insurance for these instances. “It’s a good idea to consider coverage for any type of travel. Weigh your pros/cons. In rare cases, the wedding couple might break up or have another reason they need to postpone or cancel the wedding abroad. This is a way to protect your investment,” Hillary advises. “You might also consider any pre-existing conditions you might have or the need for medical coverage if you are traveling to another country. Most health insurance plans do not cover you while traveling abroad. Accidents can happen, even on vacation. Some plans even include coverage towards a medical evacuation flight if needed. This could cost around $10,000 out of pocket if you don’t have insurance.”

And if none of that convinced you of the benefits of hiring a travel agent, maybe Ogle’s final tip will: “the best insurance is always purchased at the time of booking. You can add insurance at a later date but you usually lose that ‘cancel for any reason’ portion of the policy and this will exclude any pre-existing conditions.” Whether you hire a travel agent or not, realize in these complicated times, it might be your best bet at ensuring you’re covered should there be a change of plans. For a more in-depth look at choosing the best travel insurance for you, check out Money’s Best Travel Insurance of 2020.