| It is something that we all need if we are | | | | State. American citizens are still forbidden |
| planning to take a trip overseas. Travel | | | | to travel to Cuba and obtaining travel |
| insurance will cover most costs in the event | | | | insurance to go there is almost impossible. |
| of a delayed or canceled trip, death or | | | | |
| illness and lost baggage. | | | | Some insurance policies will cover acts of |
| | | | terrorism while other policies won't - always |
| The situations that are commonly covered by | | | | check the small print or contact your |
| travel insurance are emergency medical | | | | insurance company if the policy isn't clear. |
| assistance, death, a canceled trip and | | | | Check whether your policy covers you in the |
| damaged baggage. You can generally take out | | | | event of natural disasters such as floods or |
| travel insurance for any or all of these | | | | earthquakes - especially if you are traveling |
| options, although it may not always be | | | | to certain parts of the world. |
| necessary. Make sure you understand exactly | | | | |
| what your policy does and does not cover. | | | | If you are traveling to a country where |
| | | | riots, civil disturbances, strikes or other |
| If you are traveling overseas, always check | | | | outbreaks are likely to affect your travel |
| your existing medical insurance to see | | | | plans, look for travel insurance that |
| whether it covers you away from home - you | | | | specifically covers those possibilities - |
| may not need to take out extra travel | | | | many policies exclude them. |
| insurance. And you may not need to take out | | | | |
| as much travel insurance if you have a major | | | | And airlines reserves the right to cancel |
| credit card - most credit cards include some | | | | your flight and offer you a full refund in |
| kind of basic travel or trip cancellation | | | | the event of civil war, hostilities, riots or |
| insurance. | | | | other things determined to be "acts of God". |
| | | | As far as lost luggage is concerned, airlines |
| So if you do need travel insurance, where do | | | | insure your luggage against loss or damage to |
| you get it from? Most cruise lines, travel | | | | some degree - you can take out extra |
| agents, airlines and tour companies will | | | | insurance if you want to. |
| provide adequate and comprehensive travel | | | | |
| insurance. If you are taking a cruise, it may | | | | If you are traveling as part of a group - |
| be easier to let the cruise line handle it - | | | | often defined in the travel industry as 10 |
| they may also be able to offer you a lower | | | | people or more - it is almost certainly |
| rate as they can buy group rate coverage. | | | | easier and cheaper to take out group travel |
| | | | insurance. As long as your group is traveling |
| Some insurance won't cover pre-existing | | | | together, it should qualify. |
| medical conditions or participation in | | | | |
| dangerous activities such as skiing or | | | | And so-called "family plans" are often less |
| mountaineering. Decide whether you need this | | | | expensive when it comes to travel insurance |
| type of insurance before you travel - most | | | | for families traveling together - family may |
| insurance companies won't allow you to add | | | | include extended family such as cousins, |
| so-called dangerous sports coverage to your | | | | grandparents and various in-laws. |
| policy once you are actually there. | | | | |
| | | | Like most insurance products - travel |
| The cost of travel insurance can be a lot | | | | insurance can be confusing. It's certainly |
| higher if you are traveling to certain | | | | worth taking out the right insurance - at the |
| countries that are considered to be risky or | | | | right price - so you can actually enjoy that |
| unsafe. These "travel advisories" are | | | | long awaited trip. |
| maintained on a list by the US Department of | | | | |