Times You'll Wish You Had Travel Insurance

If you’ve never been in a situation where you’ve needed it, you might be wondering “is travel insurance worth it?” And, while many vacations go off without a hitch, you don’t want to find yourself scrambling for help in the unfortunate instance disaster does strike — whatever form that may take. From flight cancellations and lost luggage to medical emergencies and more, the below examples prove why travel insurance can be worth every penny.

When the Weather Turns

Did you know weather accounts for over 75% of all flight delays? That’s right, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, Mother Nature might be your worst enemy when trying to take to the skies in a timely fashion. Luckily, in situations where the weather is uncooperative, or downright dangerous, travel insurance can help by offering assistance for weather-related delays and weather-related trip cancellations.

While coverage varies from provider to provider, most plans reimburse travelers for eligible purchases like food, lodging, communication and transportation due to covered weather delays. Similarly, insurers often reimburse for lost, pre-paid expenses when travelers miss part of their trip in addition to covering “reasonable” transportation fees to help vacationers link up with fellow cruise or tour-goers in instances where they miss a scheduled departure.

Of course, there are instances where disastrous weather is cause for cancellation in and of itself, and that’s where travel insurance comes in really handy as it can reimburse you in situations where a flight is delayed for 24+ hours or if you decide to cancel a trip altogether due to severe weather. Again, coverage varies from provider to provider, but having the peace of mind that you won’t lose out on prepaid, nonrefundable costs like airfare, cruise tickets, tour bookings and hotel reservations is priceless.

When Your Bags Get Lost or Damaged

While we hope you will never be so unfortunate, the truth is baggage can get lost or damaged while in transit. And while the sting of a suitcase that can’t be tracked down or luggage that’s seen better days is always painful, vacationers who opt for travel insurance will feel it a little less as coverage often reimburses you for the actual price, actual cash value, repair or replacement of lost or damaged goods. Of course, it’s still in travelers’ best interest to do what they can to keep their baggage safe and to recover it in instances where it goes missing, and travelers might not be eligible to claim baggage loss or damage benefits if they fail to do so.

Learn More About Travel Insurance on The Compass on VAX

• How To Choose the Best Travel Insurance for Your Client
• What's Covered by Cruise Travel Insurance (and Do You Really Need It?)
• Survey Reveals Common Travel Mishaps (and How Travel Insurance Can Help)
• Who Needs Travel Insurance?

When Travel Is Delayed, Interrupted or Canceled

There are a myriad of reasons travel might be delayed, interrupted or canceled, and there’s a corresponding travel insurance plan to ensure you’re protected in each situation. Trip delays are defined as short, unexpected pauses in travel plans — think travel carrier delays or lost travel documents — and your insurance is likely to help foot the bill for things like meals, accommodations, transportation and more in these scenarios.

If you find yourself in a situation where you need to unexpectedly cut your trip short, you’re experiencing what most travel insurers refer to as a “trip interruption.” On the flip side, if you’re forced to stay in a destination longer than planned, that’s a trip interruption too, and travel insurance can help by refunding lost, prepaid costs and covering the price of extra accommodations and transport to get you back home.

Finally, trip cancellations are described as instances where a traveler must cancel their trip before they leave for a covered reason. Plans with trip cancellation benefits will often reimburse travelers for prepaid, nonrefundable costs including airfare, cruise tickets, tour bookings and hotel reservations.

When You Get Hurt, Sick or Injured

Getting hurt, sick or injured while away from home is a travel nightmare, but fret not, travel insurance is here to save the day. While not every sickness-related issue is covered, travel insurance can help protect you from unexpected losses caused by covered illnesses, injuries and medical conditions.

Not feeling well and toying with the idea of cancelling your trip? Travel insurance plans with trip cancellation or interruption benefits often provide coverage in instances where an illness, injury or condition are disabling enough to make a “reasonable person cancel their trip,” something many insurers require to be verified by a doctor. Alternatively, if you get sick while on the road, emergency medical benefits can be a literal lifesaver as they reimburse you for the cost of eligible medical care if you experience a covered illness during your travels.

As an added benefit, travel insurance often extends beyond the plan holder to include close family members back home who are impacted by a covered illness, allowing travelers to be reimbursed for canceled or interrupted trips due to the hospitalization or a life-threatening medical issue affecting an eligible loved one.

When You’re the Victim of a Crime

Pickpockets, scams, fraud, oh my! Tourists can be tempting targets for criminals across the globe. If you find yourself the victim of a crime, before or after your trip, travel insurance can help by reimbursing you for stolen times, covering the cost of emergency medical bills, replacing lost documents and more. In addition to helping you recover from financial losses, your insurance provider can assist with providing interpreting services between police and medical providers; referring you to a vetted hospital or medical provider; monitoring your condition and communicating with loved ones; making money arrangements between your bank or friends and family; expediting the replacement of important travel documents and more.