TRIP AND TRAVEL INSURANCE

Sh*t Happens

We all know that, but still we seem to be surprised when it happens to us. 

This is why travel insurance is super important: You MUST have travel insurance before your trip starts if you are traveling internationally and we HIGHLY recommend that you have insurance for domestic travel. 

Think of travel insurance in two parts––pre-trip coverage, also called trip protection coverage, and on-trip coverage, which is mainly for international travel and will pay for medical expenses and getting you home if anything happens during the trip.  

We can’t require you to have this coverage, but we assume you do because we have a no-refund policy and though we are often asked to make exceptions, we cannot. We prepay for hotels, activities and most ground transportation expenses for each trip and most of the time these expenses are not refundable  to us within the 90-day time frame. 

Both types of coverage are important, especially at our age, and happily you can find them in the same policy if you know what you’re looking for. 

It breaks our hearts, but please understand that once we enter the non-refundable phase of a trip, we CANNOT give money back. We’ve already paid hotels and vendors. So make like a girl scout and be prepared!

What is Pre-Trip Insurance?

Pre-trip coverage (also called trip-protection insurance) will reimburse you if you have to cancel within our 90-day no-refund period (60 days for domestic trips) or if you have to delay the trip or if airline problems make you incur additional expense getting to the trip or getting home. 

Sometimes our bodies rebel and we have to cry uncle. Or sometimes a loved one–a spouse, a parent–requires care. Several travelers have had to cancel trips; one woman was on the way out the door to the airport when she sprained her ankle seriously. These examples are times when trip protection comes into play because we cannot issue refunds within our clear no-refund period. 

Please discuss terms with your insurance representative.

What is On-Trip Coverage?

This kind of insurance covers you for medical or health issues WHILE you’re on a trip. That means if you get sick or have an accident (God forbid), your medical costs are covered. Usually your return transportation home is as well. It doesn’t necessarily refund you for days you missed on the trip, but it makes sure you’re taken care of medically while you’re away from home. 

We’ve had travelers get sick on our trips and have to leave. We hate this, but this is when this type of travel insurance comes into play. 

Do Your Due Diligence

Many travelers buy annual travel insurance, but please check the terms. Annual plans often only cover medical expenses and evacuation during a trip, but trip cancellation and interruption are not included. Also, some premium credit cards offer trip cancellation and interruption coverage. Check with your credit card company. 

You’re responsible for understanding your policy and making sure it covers everything you’ll be doing on the trip. Any medical costs during the trip are your responsibility. Please consult with health authorities about destination-specific health information and get any necessary vaccinations.

When Should I Buy Insurance?

The sooner you purchase a trip protection or travel insurance plan, the more it can cover! We recommend purchasing within 14 days of making your initial trip payment of any kind, and prior to making your final pre-trip payment. Please ensure that all the activities you plan on participating in are covered by your travel insurance. 

When you purchase it within 14 days of booking (and before your final payment) you can get better coverage

Can You Help Me Buy Insurance?

We partner with Wanderwell because they have a plan that covers medical expenses during travel as well as trip cancellation and trip interruption. We also love that there is someone you can talk to! What a concept!!

Of course, you are free to choose another company. 

You may have coverage from other sources that provides you with similar
benefits but may be subject to different restrictions depending upon your other coverages.

You may wish to compare the terms of this policy with your existing life, health, home, and automobile insurance policies.

If you have any questions about your current coverage, call your insurer or
insurance agent or broker.

And Keep in Mind…

Since we are not licensed insurance agents or brokers, we are not allowed to:
*Answer technical questions about the benefits, exclusions, and conditions of any of the insurance offered by the travel retailer.
*Evaluate the adequacy of the prospective insured’s existing insurance coverage. 

Talk to a licensed agent for all the details.