THE QUICK GUIDE TO
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Table of Contents
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
Table of Contents ........................................ 1- 2
Introduction ................................................ 3 - 4
How to Use This Book .......................................... 5
Why You Need Travel Insurance ..................... 6
How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost? .......... 7
When You Don’t Need Travel Insurance .......... 8 - 9
Where to Buy Travel Insurance ..................... 10
Buying Travel Insurance
Step 1: Book a Trip
................................... 11
Step 2: Determine Your Trip’s Cost
............... 11
Step 3: Research Your Options
.................... 12
Step 4: Decide the Type of Plan You Need
..... 13
Step 5: Request a Free Quote
..................... 13 - 18
Step 6: Buy the Right Plan
.......................... 19
If Something Happens During Your Trip
There’s an Emergency
.............................. 20
Help with a Travel Itinerary
....................... 20
Emergency Medical Evacuation
.................. 21
Filing a Claim
.............................................. 22 - 23
If a Claim is Denied ..................................... 24
1
Travel Insurance Plans in Detail
Comprehensive
......................................................... 26 - 30
Cancelling for Any Reason
............................................ 31
Pre-Existing Conditions
............................................... 32 - 33
Travel Medical
........................................................... 34 - 35
Medical Evacuation
..................................................... 36
Accidental Death and Dismemberment
........................... 37
Group
..................................................................... 37
Travel Visa
................................................................ 38
A Case Study ................................................................... 39 - 44
Top Questions from Travelers ........................................... 45 - 48
Key Terms Found in a Travel Insurance Policy ....................... 49 - 50
Travel Insurance Glossary ................................................. 51 - 59
Table of Contents
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
2
Introduction
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
“And it was how much?”
I recently learned about a young man who got into a horrific bike
accident while vacationing in Europe.
Luckily, he survived.
But while he was on the mend he got another shock: a six-figure medical bill.
Thankfully, he didn’t have to pay a dime.
That’s because his mom purchased a $200 travel insurance policy for his trip. It came with
emergency medical coverage. It paid for the ENTIRE bill. And it was a good thing she bought it
to supplement his major medical policy. It turns out, his domestic health insurance policy
provided NO coverage outside of the United States. The travel insurance policy for $200
came with the emergency medical coverage he needed. It paid for the ENTIRE bill.
$150,000 in medical bills. $150,000!
This wasn’t the first time I’ve heard about the advantage of having a good travel insurance
plan. My mother-in-law bought insurance for a trip to Italy. She never thought she’d need it.
Then she broke her ankle one week before her expected departure. She was pretty
disappointed to have to cancel the entire vacation, but she was thankful she had purchased
insurance: her $10,000 trip deposit was reimbursed.
While these stories may make a good case for purchasing travel insurance, let’s be real;
travel insurance doesn’t cover every possible scenario for a trip gone wrong. And oftentimes
travelers buy a policy and never file a claim. Then, on occasion, claims are denied.
So, do we really need travel insurance?
There is no international law that requires you to have it.
Most people buy travel insurance because they don’t want two things to happen:
LOSE money after canceling a trip.
SPEND money on bills received for emergency medical care while traveling.
3
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
Introduction
But even for those who think travel insurance is a good idea, it’s easy to get frazzled when it’s
time to buy. With so many choices, it can feel overwhelming. The confusing insurance
language doesn’t help, either.
So, the team at InsureMyTrip wanted to cut through all the clutter and insurance speak to
create an easy — and honest — guide to help travelers feel more confident about their
choice to buy travel insurance (or not).
Hopefully the information in this book will allow travelers to then spend more time focusing
on what really matters — their trip.
— InsureMyTrip News Editor
4
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
This book is intended to provide travelers with some basic information regarding travel
insurance so that they will feel more confident before making a decision to purchase travel
insurance.
Travel insurance is complex.
This book is only a general overview of travel insurance. It does not provide detailed
information or any interpretation of specific insurance contracts or
policies, and it is not designed to be a substitute for such information.
Travelers should always contact a licensed travel insurance agent to obtain
information about travel insurance.
The authors of this book make no representations or warranties about the quality or
effectiveness of any travel insurance policies or a traveler's ability to make and collect upon a
claim under any travel insurance policies, nor do such authors recommend or endorse any
particular type of travel insurance or any insurance company that provides travel insurance
products.
5
Introduction
Why You Need Travel Insurance
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
There’s a reason why top news publications — such as The New York Times
or Consumer Reports — have written about travel insurance benefits.
There are many reasons why travelers might need it:
If a traveler gets sick and the trip must be cancelled, travel insurance allows for the
reimbursement of the prepaid, non-refundable trip cost.
Many travel insurance plans offer coverage if the travelers need to cancel a trip due to
severe weather.
Many policies allow for reimbursement of covered items if baggage is lost, damaged or
stolen.
Travel insurance can help reimburse a traveler for emergency medical care while
traveling.
If a traveler needs help with hospital and doctor recommendations, arranging
evacuations, or assistance in getting out of a country in time of crisis, travel insurance
can provide emergency assistance.
Benefits can help fill gaps in a traveler’s primary health coverage for emergency medical
care while traveling.
6
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost
After planning a trip, spending more money on something like travel
insurance may feel like another costly purchase. The good news? It’s actually
pretty affordable.
A comprehensive travel insurance plan (which we talk about primarily in this book) generally
costs 4 to 8 percent of your total trip cost. But aside from it being a good value, travel insur-
ance benefits are designed to protect your trip investment and help travelers avoid huge
losses for unexpected medical bills.
Here’s an example: For a $5,000 two week vacation to Aruba, a standard comprehensive
travel insurance plan may cost a couple in their 50s around $200.
A comprehensive travel plan will typically cover:
Up to $50,000 reimbursement (per person) for covered emergency medical care.
Up to $250,000 (per person) for a covered medical evacuation.
The reimbursement of their entire $5,000 trip cost if they cancel their trip to Aruba for a
valid reason outlined in their insurance policy.
7
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
When You Don’t Need Travel Insurance
Travel insurance may not make sense for every trip. For example, it may
not be worth purchasing a plan for an inexpensive trip or local getaway.
Here are examples of when a traveler may be more likely to pass on a plan:
The traveler is staying close to home and not spending much money
on a vacation.
If a trip is cancelled, the traveler is comfortable with losing any amount of
money.
If a trip is cut short, the traveler is comfortable with spending money on travel
expenses to get back home.
The traveler is confident that his or her domestic health insurance will provide
coverage for emergency medical care while traveling abroad and isn’t concerned
about the potential cost of an emergency medical evacuation abroad.
The traveler is comfortable with the risk of having luggage lost or stolen.
The traveler is confident about traveling without 24/7 emergency assistance.
While having travel insurance can minimize the potential financial risks of traveling, each
traveler may see the threat differently. Evaluating your personal risk threshold is a good way
to decide whether to purchase travel insurance.
For example, ask yourself: How much money am I okay with losing if I ever have to cancel my
trip?
a) None. I don’t want to lose any money.
b) No more than $500.
c) No more than $1000.
d) I don’t care.
8
The top reasons that people purchase travel insurance is to have at least one of
the following coverages:
Trip cancellation coverage that provides reimbursement if a traveler must
cancel a trip prior to departure for a reason in his or her policy.
Emergency medical coverage that reimburses for covered emergency
medical care. It can help a traveler potentially save hundreds of thousands
of dollars (see page 25 for more information).
Emergency medical evacuation coverage that pays and arranges an
emergency medical evacuation. If a traveler is hospitalized during a trip
and the attending physician and the assistance company determine that he
or she needs to be treated at a better equipped hospital, this benefit can
help arrange and cover the cost. It can help travelers potentially save
hundreds of thousands of dollars (see page 25 for more information).
When You Don’t Need Travel Insurance
If you answered (a) you prefer to travel with no risk; you will likely always buy a
comprehensive travel insurance plan for eligible trips where you stand to lose any
money in the event of a covered cancellation.
If you answered (b) you prefer to travel with very low risk; you will likely buy a
comprehensive travel insurance plan for any trip that costs more than $500.
If you answered (c) your risk threshold is $1000; you will likely buy a comprehensive
travel insurance plan for any trip that costs more than $1000.
If you answered (d) you have a high-risk threshold when you travel; you will likely
pass on a comprehensive travel insurance policy for all trips.
This kind of cost-benefit analysis is a good exercise for those considering whether to buy
travel insurance for the trip cancellation benefits.
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
9
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
Where to Buy Travel Insurance
Travel insurance seems to be available through many different
channels. You may be asked to purchase some kind of insurance or
protection plan when you book a cruise or purchase airline tickets. It may also
be offered when you book a tour or a trip online. What all travelers should know is there
could be some significant differences in where you purchase travel insurance.
Oftentimes, a traveler will purchase a well-advertised, low-priced travel insurance plan
offered by a cruise line or tour company, but it could be missing some key benefits. For
example, it may not include medical coverage or it may only provide travel vouchers and not
cash reimbursement.
That’s why more travelers are choosing to purchase travel insurance from comparison
website InsureMyTrip. The unbiased site enables travelers to compare all the top providers in
one place.
When shopping for travel insurance, be sure to:
Compare providers and products.
Evaluate the coverage, not just the price.
Buy only from a licensed travel insurance expert.
10
Buying Travel Insurance
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
If you’ve come this far, chances are you understand the value of travel
insurance and may want to purchase a policy. Here’s how:
Step 1: Book a Trip
Booking a trip is the first step. This may seem pretty obvious, but you should have a trip
planned before you buy travel insurance.
Step 2: Determine Your Trip’s Cost
Adding up travel expenses is important because you need the estimated final cost in order to
get an accurate quote for any comprehensive travel insurance plan.
To get the most out of a comprehensive plan, you should insure all of your prepaid,
non-refundable travel expenses.
Think of it this way: if you had to cancel the morning of your departure, what money would
you lose? That answer would be the total trip cost amount that you should insure.
(See worksheet for how to calculate this amount on page 18).
So before requesting a travel insurance quote, add up all your trip costs. Be sure to include
all prepaid, non-refundable expenses such as hotel, airfare, cruise, tickets, tour package fees
or booked excursions. Use only this amount during a quote.
Question:
What if I don’t yet know my total trip cost?
Answer:
You should still purchase a comprehensive travel insurance policy. When you
purchase the plan, you will insure for the amount you have paid so far. You are able to
adjust the insured trip cost as you incur them. In order to be eligible for all time
sensitive benefits, you should purchase a policy as soon as possible.
11
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
Buying Travel Insurance
Step 3: Research Your Options
Once the trip is planned, and the trip cost is determined, here’s what to do next:
Compare travel insurance providers on InsureMyTrip or contact a licensed travel
insurance agent at InsureMyTrip for advice.
Read reviews to gain insight on available plans and providers.
Reviews can be found here:
AM Best
Better Business Bureau
InsureMyTrip Reviews
Plan to buy travel insurance as soon as you book a trip. Why? Some insurance options
are only available when purchased soon after your first payment towards your trip,
well in advance of your departure date. That’s because travel insurance is meant to
only cover “unforeseen” events (for example, you can’t buy travel insurance to cancel
your trip due to a hurricane that has already been forecasted or named).
Take advantage of “time sensitive benefits.” These benefits are only available within a set
period of time (typically 15-21 days) from making your first trip payment.
Here are some examples of time sensitive benefits offered with comprehensive travel
insurance:
Pre-existing Medical Conditions Waiver (See page 32 for more information)
Hurricane coverage
Cancel for Any Reason
Financial Default
Cancel for Work Reasons
12
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
Buying Travel Insurance
Step 4: Decide the Type of Insurance Plan You Need
Seventy-five percent of InsureMyTrip customers choose a comprehensive plan because
it typically offers the most coverage at the best value. But there are other types of travel
insurance you may want to consider. Here’s a quick list of types of travel insurance plans
available:
Comprehensive
Travel medical
Medical evacuation
Accidental death
Group
Travel visa
(To learn more about these plans and other benefits in detail, go to page 25)
Step 5: Request a Free Quote
After doing some research and deciding what type of plan is the right choice for your
upcoming trip, the next step is to request a quick online quote to see available plans in
more detail. This, perhaps, is the part that intimidates most people. The truth is, it
shouldn’t. It only takes a few simple steps.
Begin by filling out the travel insurance quote form. You probably noticed a quote form
on the InsureMyTrip homepage. This form must be filled out in order to receive an
accurate quote and for you to compare benefits between plans. The form requires
travelers to fill out some basic trip information. Here are examples of what you must
provide to receive a correct quote and why the information is necessary:
Destination: This is the primary country you’ll be visiting.
What to enter: For this field on a quote form, enter the country where you will be
spending the most time, or the first country you are visiting outside of the United States.
Travel insurance providers understand that travelers often visit more than one
destination during a trip. It’s okay. You can buy one plan to cover many stops during a
trip. If you are taking a cruise, select the first port of arrival as your destination.
13
Buying Travel Insurance
Why the destination is important: Some travel insurance plans may be limited for select
countries (like those sanctioned by The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US
Department of the Treasury). For specific questions about the country you are visiting,
contact a travel insurance agent.
Departure Date: This is the day you leave your home to begin your trip.
What to enter:
Enter the exact date you leave your home. For example, if you are
leaving before your cruise ship departs, select the day you leave your home (not the day
the cruise ship departs). Travel insurance providers understand that travelers often
leave a day early for a cruise departure or stay overnight at an airport hotel to catch an
early flight.
Why the departure date is important:
This will help calculate prices for plans. Many com-
prehensive policies require that you insure your trip from doorstep to doorstep, and can
deny you coverage if you do not do so.
Return Date: This is the day you return home.
What to enter: The date you are expected to arrive at your home.
Why the return date is important: This will help calculate prices for plans. During the
quote process, ensure information like travel dates is accurate. Incorrect information
could result in a claim denial.
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
Some providers offer multi-trip, annual travel medical
plans, which can be purchased to cover several
international trips taken during one year’s time.
For these plans, enter the travel dates of your first trip.
14
Buying Travel Insurance
Age: This includes the ages of the travelers at the time you purchase the policy.
What to enter: Most providers request the current age of each person at the time they
purchase the policy. Medical plans require that you list the age of the traveler as of
departure.
Why age is important: Age is considered a risk factor. Older travelers may see an
increase in price on some plans.
Residence: This is the state in which you currently reside in.
What to enter: Select your home state, territory, or province.
Why residence is important: There may be some differences in the wording of coverage
based on where you live. This is because travel insurance laws may vary by state.
Citizenship: This is the country that you are a citizen of.
What to enter: The country of which you are a citizen. If you are a citizen of more than
one country, select the citizenship for the passport you will be traveling with.
Why citizenship is important: Eligibility requirements for some travel insurance plans
may vary based on citizenship.
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
A separate policy is needed for anyone in your travel party
who lives in a different state.
Some comprehensive policies require that all insured travelers
reside in the same household in order to be on the same policy.
15
Buying Travel Insurance
Trip Cost: This is the amount of money you invested in your trip and how much you want to
insure for a trip.
What to enter: All prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses. (See page 18 for your trip cost
worksheet)
Why trip cost is important: This amount is used to calculate reimbursement amounts for trip
cancellation and trip interruption benefits.
Initial Trip Payment: This is the first date that any amount was paid for any trip related
cost.
What to enter: The exact day you first paid for any trip related costs, such as: airline tickets,
hotel deposit, car rental, excursions, or tours.
Why the initial trip payment date is important: Initial trip payment date affects eligibility for
time sensitive benefits. This is an optional field.
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
Cruisers who take part in a future cruise deposit program may
want to speak with a licensed travel insurance agent at
InsureMyTrip for clarification on what would be an accurate
initial trip payment date.
16
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
Buying Travel Insurance
Once the quote form is complete, available plans will appear for your consideration.
How to compare travel insurance plans:
Use filters or comparison tools to evaluate plan options,
side by side.
Read the coverage and evaluate what is important to you.
Read all policy exclusions.
If you get stuck along the way, contact a licensed travel
insurance agent at InsureMyTrip for help.
17
Calculating Trip Cost
Use this worksheet to calculate your total trip cost.
Remember to only include prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses when calculating your
total trip cost.
Do NOT include visa/passport costs, expected meals, gas, or any other expense that you
will incur after departure.
EXAMPLE:
NOW, YOU TRY:
Airfare:
Cruise:
Hotel:
Excursions:
Car Rental:
Total Trip Cost:
$2,188
$3,210
$329
$0
$826
$6,755
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
18
Airfare:
Cruise:
Hotel:
Excursions:
Car Rental:
Total Trip Cost:
Other Prepaid,
Non-Refundable
Expenses:
$202
Use this amount for quote.
Other Prepaid,
Non-Refundable
Expenses:
Buying Travel Insurance
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
Buy this plan
1. Click the buy or purchase button
Do this once you have selected a plan that meets your needs.
2. Fill out the online purchase form
The payment form will require more information about each traveler, such as
date of birth and residence.
3. Review confirmation and plan details
Once the form is complete, expect to receive a full copy of policy details and a
transaction confirmation. You will also receive a policy certificate, which details
the entire terms and conditions of the plan. It is important to read this document
to fully understand the policy.
Once you’ve decided on a travel insurance plan, it is time to make a purchase.
Here’s How:
Step 6: Buy the Right Plan
Question:
Can I cancel a policy after I purchase it?
Answer:
Almost every policy has what is referred to as a Review Period. This is a specified
period of time after you purchase your policy in which you can cancel the insurance
for a refund. Review periods vary depending on the insurance company, but are
generally between 10 and 14 days for comprehensive policies.
19
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
If Something Happens During Your Trip
You’re finally ready to take that dream vacation. But what happens if
something doesn’t go according to plan?
There’s an emergency
Most comprehensive and travel medical plans offer something called 24/7 emergency
assistance. This allows travelers to call or e-mail their provider if something goes wrong
during their trip.
Here are some ways your provider can assist you:
Find a doctor, dentist or medical facility.
Assist with replacing lost travel tickets or documents.
Provide translator services to talk with a nurse or doctor.
Help notify family or a doctor back home of illness or injury.
Find local legal advice.
Arrange transfer of funds to pay for legal fees.
Issues with travel itinerary
Travel insurance coverage can be extremely beneficial when there’s an unexpected
disruption in your travel plans.
Here are some examples of how travelers use this service:
To research arrival and departure times for other flights if there is a covered
interruption and an emergency flight home is needed.
To arrange transfer of funds if cash is lost or stolen.
To arrange an emergency evacuation due to an earthquake, tsunami, hurricane,
mudslide or other natural disaster when evacuation is required. Some providers also
arrange transportation to a safe location because of natural disaster or political
evacuation.
To send urgent messages to someone back home.
To arrange a hotel stay if a flight is cancelled.
20
If Something Happens During Your Trip
Emergency medical evacuation
Travel insurance can provide emergency medical evacuations. That means if a traveler is
seriously ill or injured during a trip and is initially taken to a medical facility that can’t
properly treat them, transportation can be arranged to take a patient to the nearest
appropriate medical facility or back home for further care.
Here are some other benefits of emergency medical evacuation:
Some travel insurance companies will offer benefits to fly a family member to stay
with the sick patient if they are traveling alone and will be hospitalized for a certain
amount of time.
Some travel insurance companies will also offer benefits to transport
children of sick patient back home or to another location.
There are a variety of requirements that must be met in order to receive emergency
medical transportation under a travel insurance policy. Check the emergency medical
evacuation benefit on your policy to learn more.
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
21
Some travel insurance companies will offer benefits to
transport remains to a funeral home in the insured’s
home country.
Check the repatriation of remains benefit to learn more.
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
Filing a Claim
It’s always a good idea to become familiar with the claim process before
your trip to be better prepared if something goes wrong. While every claim is
unique, here are a few things to help make the claims process as smooth as possible:
Save all of your travel documents.
Translate any foreign police or medical records to English before returning to the
United States.
Photos can be useful evidence and used as documentation for a claim. For example,
take a photo of the items in your luggage prior to a trip.
Save all of your receipts! This could be for necessities purchased during a covered
baggage delay, a meal purchased during a covered travel delay, and for items that
you’ll be traveling with.
If you or a covered traveling companion become sick or injured, be sure to see a
doctor in the country you are visiting. If you wait until you get home or after your trip
to seek medical treatment, a claim will likely be denied. There must be proof it
happened while your trip was underway.
Travelers should also contact the insurance provider listed on the plan or policy as soon as a
situation occurs.
Here’s how to start a claim:
Go online:
1. Go to the travel insurance provider’s website.
2. Look for a link or tab for instructions on filing a claim.
A claim is a formal request to an insurance company asking for
payment or reimbursement. If approved, the insurance company will
make a payment to the requesting party.
22
Filing a Claim
Or call:
1. Call the claims hotline for the travel insurance company as soon as
possible. The phone number is typically found on the confirmation of
coverage.
2. The claims representative will email out the proper claim form.
There may be a specific claim form for each benefit within a policy. For example, if a
hurricane forced a traveler to cancel a trip, that traveler would then fill out a “trip
cancellation” claim NOT a trip delay or trip interruption claim.
Things to remember when filing a claim:
Submit the claim form within the allotted time frame. For example, some
providers may require forms submitted 90 days from date of incident.
Documentation is a top reason why a claim is denied. Always keep track of your
documents.
Request any copies of police or hospital records before you return home. Some
travel insurance companies may require documents to be translated into English.
For a medical claim, be aware that some states may require a traveler to submit a
claim with his or her primary domestic health insurance company before seeking
reimbursement from his or her travel insurance provider.
Never file a claim with false information. This is insurance fraud.
Save all receipts in the event of a covered travel or baggage delay. The company
will need proof of the meals or necessities that you had to purchase.
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
23
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
If a Claim is Denied
There are still some things you can do if a claim was denied. For
those who purchased from a travel insurance provider directly, contact
the claims department to express any concerns over a denied claim. A request
can also be made to go to arbitration through the American Arbitration Association.
If you purchased the policy from InsureMyTrip, there are additional options. Contact one of
their Anytime Advocates for help. These advocates are trained to review denied claims and
work on behalf of the customer to get their issue resolved or clarified with their travel insur-
ance provider. These advocates will:
Review denied claims.
Clarify or explain the claims process to customers.
Contact the customer’s travel insurance provider to request a reconsideration on the
customer’s behalf, when appropriate.
24
Travel Insurance Plan Types
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
At this point you likely feel confident about how to purchase travel
insurance and file a claim. But what if you are still unsure what plan type is
best for your trip? This section will provide more insight on all the plan options
available, including:
Comprehensive (most popular)
Travel medical
Medical evacuation
Accidental death
Group
Travel visa
25
Option 1: The Comprehensive Plan
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
BENEFIT SCENARIO WHAT IT MEANS
Trip
Cancellation
Trip is cancelled due
to a covered reason
before you leave
your home.
Prepaid non-refundable trip cost
reimbursed up to the stated limit.
Trip
Interruption
Trip is interrupted
due to a covered
reason after you
leave your home.
Unused prepaid, non-refundable
trip cost reimbursement up to the
stated limit. Some plans offer
additional coverage to help defray
the high cost of a last minute
one-way ticket home.
Travel Delay
Reimburses up to the listed limit
for additional expenses such as
meals or necessary
accommodations.
COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE
Travel is delayed
due to a covered
reason for a specific
amount of time.
As we’ve already mentioned, the majority of travelers choose a
comprehensive travel insurance plan. Why? It offers the most protection
for travelers. Especially for those who don’t want to lose their investment if a trip
is cancelled or cut short for a covered reason. It also offers coverage for emergency medical
care while traveling.
In the following table, here's a list of coverage typically available in a comprehensive travel
insurance plan.
Baggage
Delay
Reimburses up to the listed limit
for additional expenses such as
changes of clothing or toiletries.
Luggage is delayed
by your common
carrier for a specific
amount of time.
26
27
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
Option 1: The Comprehensive Plan
BENEFIT SCENARIO WHAT IT MEANS
Baggage
Loss
Luggage is lost,
stolen, or damaged.
Travel documents
are stolen.
Reimburses for estimated
replacement value for items up to
the listed limit.
Emergency
Medical Care
You experience an
unforeseen illness
or injury during your
trip and must see a
doctor.
Reimburses for medical bills up to
maximum amount, due to
covered medical emergencies
while traveling.
Emergency
Medical
Evacuation
Pays for emergency medical
transportation. All medical
evacuations must be approved
and arranged by the travel provider.
COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE
Must require
transportation to a
better equipped
hospital or back
home for further
care.
24 Hour
Emergency
Assistance
Require assistance
finding a doctor or
help with language
translation.
Assists travelers with medical
related emergencies. Many other
services are available too.
Accidental
Death and
Dismemberment
Traveler suffers
serious injury that
results in
dismemberment or
loss of life while
traveling.
This is not the same as life
insurance. This coverage is for an
accidental death while on a trip
(for example, car accident NOT
illness). This plan offers continuous
coverage for the entire trip.
Dental
Chip or break a real
tooth.
This covers emergency treatment to
sound, natural teeth.
28
BENEFIT SCENARIO WHAT IT MEANS
Cancel for
Any Reason
No longer want
to go on the trip for
a reason NOT listed
under general trip
cancellation.
Reimbursement up to 75% of total
trip cost. Each plan has specific
eligibility requirements.
See page 32 for more information.
Cancel for
Work
Reasons
Lost job or must
cancel due to work
related reasons,
such as previously
approved time off
being revoked.
Reimbursement up to 100% of total
trip cost, if required to cancel due to
work reason. Each plan has specific
eligibility requirements.
Missed
Connection
Reimburses up to the listed limit
for additional expenses such as a
flight to catch you up to your tour
or cruise.
ADDITIONAL COVERAGE
When an airline
delay causes a
missed cruise
or tour departure.
Additional Comprehensive Coverage
There is additional travel insurance coverages to help protect travelers and match their
unique needs.
Some of these benefits may be optional, while others may already be included in a
comprehensive travel insurance plan from certain providers. Check with a licensed travel
insurance agent from InsureMyTrip to learn more information on conditions and eligibility
requirements for these benefits:
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
Interruption
for Any
Reason
No longer want to
continue your trip
due to something
other than a covered
reason under
general trip
interruption.
Get back up to 75% of unused cost.
Each plan has specific eligibility
requirements.
29
BENEFIT SCENARIO WHAT IT MEANS
Adventure
and Extreme
Sports Rider
This upgrade may provide medical
and equipment coverage for
sports-related activities not
covered by standard comprehensive
travel insurance plans.
ADDITIONAL COVERAGE
Rental Car
Coverage
Additional Comprehensive Coverage
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
Injured while partici-
pating in activities
such as: parachuting,
scuba diving,
mountaineering
and other extreme
sports. Some offer
coverage for stolen
or lost equipment.
Damage to rental
car.
Covers the actual cash value or the
cost to repair damages done to a
vehicle that you rent, up to the
maximum limit stated. It may
cover charges imposed by the
rental company as well. Does not
cover liability. Alternative to
personal auto insurance and
expensive plans by rental car
companies.
Pre-Existing
Conditions
Waiver
Your trip is
disrupted due to a
pre-existing medical
condition.
Waiver enables traveler to be
eligible for travel insurance
benefits.
Reimbursement up to 100% of total
trip cost, if the US Goverment
deems an incident that occurs in
your itinerary city as a terrorist
event.
Intinerary city
experiences a
terrorist incident
within specified
time frame of
scheduled arrival.
Terrorism
in Itinerary
City
30
BENEFIT SCENARIO WHAT IT MEANS
Childcare
Delay
Reimbursement for an
extended babysitter or daycare up
to the amount listed.
ADDITIONAL COVERAGE
Lost Ski or
Golf Days
Additional Comprehensive Coverage
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
Incur additional
childcare expenses
due to a covered
flight delay.
Weather forces golf
game or ski
cancellation.
For golfers, reimbursement for
prepaid golf tickets or green fees
up to the stated amount. For skiers,
reimbursement for ski lift ticket up
to the stated amount.
Security
Evacuation
Must leave a
country due to civil
unrest, military
coup, or political
unrest.
This covers expenses, up to the
maximum amount listed, to
evacuate you from a country due to
extreme safety concerns. Providers
handle flight arrangements, and
logistics to get you to a country of
safety, as well as communication
with friends, family, and your
employer at home.
Pet Boarding
Fees
Incur additional pet
kennel fees due to
flight delay.
Reimbursement for additional
pet boarding fees up to the
amount listed.
Financial Default
Tour operator,
airline or cruise line
inable to provide
services due to
financial insolvency.
Reimbursement if trip is interrupted
or canceled due to financial default.
31
Cancelling for Any Reason
If you are familiar with travel insurance, you have likely heard about a special travel
insurance coverage called Cancel For Any Reason, or CFAR for short. CFAR coverage is
designed to enable travelers to cancel their trip for any reason and get a big chunk of
the prepaid, non-refundable trip cost back. Think of it like an upgrade or add-on to a
comprehensive travel insurance plan.
Unlike basic trip cancellation coverage, the CFAR benefit upgrade has a few
requirements:
It is a time sensitive benefit. It can only be purchased during a short window of
time after making an initial trip payment (usually 10 – 21 days).
All prepaid, non-refundable trip costs must be insured.
A trip cancellation with the travel supplier must occur more than 48 hours
prior to departure. This coverage is NOT available if you are within 48
hours of your scheduled departure date.
CFAR is a good option for those who want the flexibility to cancel their trip for a variety
of reasons, not just those included under trip cancellation. A traveler may be
reimbursed 50 to 75 percent of their prepaid, non-refundable trip cost if they must
cancel their trip for something other than a covered reason. The amount depends on
the plan.
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
32
Pre-existing Conditions
You may be thinking, “What if I have a pre-existing medical condition?”
It's possible to get travel insurance even if you or a loved one have a pre-existing
condition.
In some policies, a pre-existing conditions waiver is actually included as one of the
benefits as long as you purchase the policy within a specified time frame – usually
anywhere from within 10-30 days of making your initial trip payment. In such cases,
there is usually no additional paperwork required to obtain your travel insurance policy,
and no additional fee for the benefit. It's considered a part of the standard travel
insurance comprehensive policy when it is purchased this way. However, in other cases,
you'll need to look into getting coverage for your pre-existing condition separately, in
which case there may be additional fees or paperwork required.
With a pre-existing conditions waiver, you'll be eligible for travel insurance benefits
should something related to your condition (or your loved one's condition) disrupt your
trip.
For example, if you are traveling abroad and a family member at home who suffers from
a pre-existing condition suddenly takes a turn for the worse, making it necessary for you
to cut your trip short, your policy's trip interruption benefits would apply. If you were
traveling with a pre-existing condition of your own, and suddenly had a recurrence or
relapse that required you to seek medical attention, your expenses would be covered
under the guidelines set by your travel insurance provider. Without the waiver, you
would not be eligible for these benefits.
In general, most companies will consider you to have a pre-existing condition if you have
a diagnosed illness or medical concern that has not been "stable" within a defined period
of time prior to your travel insurance purchase.
The period of time that is specified will vary by plan and provider, but is usually
anywhere from 60-180 days. Stable typically means, in brief, that your condition has not
changed or worsened in any way – no new diagnoses or treatments, no new
medications, no treatments of any kind, and no pending or initiated treatments, scans,
or test results.
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
33
Step 4: Decide the Type of Insurance Plan You Need
Seventy-five percent of InsureMyTrip customers choose a comprehensive plan because
it typically offers the most coverage at the best value. But there are other types of travel
insurance you may want to consider. Here’s a quick list of types of travel insurance plans
available:
Comprehensive
Travel medical
Medical evacuation
Accidental death
Group
Travel visa
(To learn more about these plans and other benefits in detail, go to page 25)
Step 5: Request a Free Quote
After doing some research and deciding what type of plan is the right choice for your
upcoming trip, the next step is to request a quick online quote to see available plans in
more detail. This, perhaps, is the part that intimidates most people. The truth is, it
shouldn’t. It only takes a few simple steps.
Begin by filling out the travel insurance quote form. You probably noticed a quote form
on the InsureMyTrip homepage. This form must be filled out in order to receive an
accurate quote and for you to compare benefits between plans. The form requires
travelers to fill out some basic trip information. Here are examples of what you must
provide to receive a correct quote and why the information is necessary:
Destination: This is the primary country you’ll be visiting.
What to enter: For this field on a quote form, enter the country where you will be
spending the most time, or the first country you are visiting outside of the United States.
Travel insurance providers understand that travelers often visit more than one
destination during a trip. It’s okay. You can buy one plan to cover many stops during a
trip. If you are taking a cruise, select the first port of arrival as your destination.
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
Pre-existing Conditions
Your travel insurance company will have the right, should you file a claim, to look back
into your medical history – or the medical history of pertinent family members – up to
the defined period of time stated in your policy and determine whether or not they
believe the incident for which you've filed the claim is related in any way to a pre-existing
condition.
If they determine that you are, in fact, filing a claim for something related to a pre-exist-
ing condition, they might decide to deny your claim. That's why understanding pre-exist-
ing conditions waivers and making sure that you purchase a policy that suits your needs
is so important.
To make sure that you've done everything you can to protect yourself and your trip, do
your research; be up-front with your insurance company about any conditions you think
might apply; purchase your travel insurance policy as soon after paying your initial trip
deposit as possible; and familiarize yourself with all the details of your policy before you
depart.
34
Option 2: Travel Medical
This is a plan option geared towards travelers who only want medical-related
insurance while traveling abroad.
This coverage is ideal for travelers not looking to insure a trip cost.
Here is what a travel medical plan offers:
BENEFIT SCENARIO WHAT IT MEANS
Emergency
Medical Care
Must visit a doctor
or hospital during a
trip for an
unforeseen illness
or injury.
Reimburses for medical bills up to
the maximum listed amount for
covered medical emergencies
while traveling.
Emergency
Medical
Evacuation
Pays for emergency medical
transportation. All medical
evacuations must be approved
and arranged by the provider.
TRAVEL MEDICAL COVERAGE
Must require
transportation to a
better equipped
hospital or back
home for further
care.
24 Hour
Emergency
Assistance
Assistance is
required to find a
doctor or help with
translation.
Assists travelers with medical
related emergencies. Many other
services are available, as well.
Trip
Interruption
Need to head home
early due to a
covered reason.
Only provides reimbursement for
return flight home due to limited
covered reasons.
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
35
BENEFIT SCENARIO WHAT IT MEANS
TRAVEL MEDICAL COVERAGE
Sudden
Recurrence
of a
Pre-existing
Condition
Experience a sudden
and unexpected
outbreak or
“recurrence” of a
pre-existing
condition that occurs
spontaneously and
without advanced
warning.
Covers medical expenses in the
event of an unexpected recurrence
of a health issue that is related to a
pre-existing condition. A chronic
condition would not be considered
a sudden recurrence. This coverage
allows reimbursement up to a
stated amount, which may vary by
age.
Option 2: Travel Medical
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
Dental
Chip or break
a real tooth.
This covers emergency
treatment to sound, natural teeth.
Question:
Does my primary healthcare insurance cover me overseas?
Answer:
If it does, it may be limited. Few domestic health insurance companies pay for medical
evacuation. Most Medicare plans do not cover medical care for travelers outside the US.
Contact your healthcare insurance to understand the limits of your policy for traveling.
Even if covered, domestic health insurers may also not provide the level of assistance
that is available with travel insurance.
36
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
Option 3: Medical Evacuation
In addition to medical transportation, most plans also include coverage for repatriation of
mortal remains. This means if a patient dies while on vacation, it would cover the
transportation costs (which can cost upwards of $10,000) to return the body home to the
United States, typically by air. If you purchase a comprehensive travel insurance plan, you
already have medical evacuation coverage and do not need to purchase an additional plan.
Many evacuation memberships require you to be hospitalized before an evacuation can be
arranged.
These plans ONLY cover emergency medical evacuation and repatriation;
they do NOT cover medical care. If you are hospitalized during your trip and
the doctors as well as the medical evacuation company determine you need to be
moved to a more appropriate hospital, this plan covers the transportation. Some plans may
be considered memberships.
When warranted, it can also cover additional transportation (such as via air ambulance) for
the patient to return home to the United States for further care. Depending on where the
patient is located, the cost for this type of transportation can run into the hundreds of
thousand of dollars.
SCENARIO
OUTCOME
Traveler suffers a heart attack while
vacationing in Europe and the closest
hospital is unable to perform surgery.
Evacuation company arranges and
covers the cost of transportation
(such as an ambulance) to a better
hospital so patient can receive
necessary care.
Options 4 and 5: AD&D and Group Plans
Option 4:
Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D)
Accidental death and dismemberment plans only pay benefits if you should suffer a serious
injury that results in dismemberment or loss of life when traveling. Accidental Death and
Dismemberment is not the same as life insurance.
Loss of life benefits paid by these plans is in addition to any benefits paid by your existing life
insurance plans.AD&D plans either provide continuous 24/7 coverage or coverage specifically
for flights.
Some travelers will purchase an accidental death plan separately, in addition to a compre-
hensive or travel medical plan.
Option 5:
Group Plan
If you need to purchase travel insurance for a large number of people (over 10 individuals),
you have to quote a group travel insurance plan. For these plans, travelers should contact a
licensed travel insurance agent directly for more information.
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
37
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
Option 6: Travel Visa
A travel visa medical plan is only required to obtain a Schengen Visa. For
example, if you are a foreign national currently living in the United States
(but not a citizen) you will be required to obtain a Schengen Visa for travel into
some European countries via a US departure.
A specific travel insurance plan is needed to satisfy foreign embassy requirements. It must
include the following:
Emergency medical coverage
Medical limits must be at least $30,000 with $0 deductible.
Emergency medical evacuation
This covers transportation to an appropriate hospital if the initial facility can’t treat you
properly, or back home for further care (for example, by air ambulance).
Repatriation coverage
This pays for the travelers’ deceased body to be transported home.
A letter listing coverages necessary to obtain a Schengen Visa
This must be presented when applying for your visa at the embassy.
Question:
What is the Schengen Area?
Answer:
All European Union countries, except Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and
the United Kingdom, are members of the Schengen Borders Agreement. In addition,
Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein are also members of the Schengen
Borders Agreement, but they are not European Union members.
If you are a United States citizen with a valid US passport and you are traveling for
tourism or business, you can apply to enter the Schengen area without a visa for a
period of three months within each six-month period.
(Source: U.S. State Department)
38
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
So, how do you find the right plan with so many options?
In this section, we will follow along as a couple compares travel
insurance for an upcoming trip.
Meet Tammy and Doug
Tammy and Doug are booking a seven-day cruise to the Caribbean and then staying a few
extra days in Puerto Rico. Here’s what we know about the couple:
They are recently retired
They are on a fixed income
Both are Medicare subscribers
They think travel insurance is a good idea
When discussing their upcoming trip, Tammy and Doug are most concerned about:
Weather or an illness forcing a trip cancellation
Missing a cruise departure because of a flight delay
Medical issues during the trip. (Medicare doesn’t cover emergency medical care for
travelers out of the United States)
Emergency medical evacuation coverage
Here’s a recap of their travel situation:
Trip Cost
The couple expects to spend $5,000 in prepaid, non-refundable expenses.
Early Bird
The couple wants to buy travel insurance early so they can take advantage of some time-sen-
sitive benefits.
Medical Issue
Tammy suffers from diabetes. But she can still get medical coverage during her trip for that
pre-existing medical condition IF she buys early and the plan offers a pre-existing medical
condition waiver (more on that later).
How to Compare
39
How to Compare
So now that we know about Tammy and Doug’s travel situation, let’s follow along as they
compare different travel insurance plans.
Search
Let’s pretend there is a company called TRAVEL COMPANY XYZ and the couple decides to
check out the plans in more detail.
TRAVEL COMPANY XYZ offers three different levels of comprehensive travel insurance
plans: basic, better, and best. How can Tammy and Doug decide what is right for their
trip?
Let’s read as the couple spots the big differences between each plan.
BASIC PLAN - $90
Tammy and Doug first look at the BASIC plan. It’s the cheapest comprehensive travel
insurance plan available. But will it provide enough coverage? Tammy and Doug try to
find out by asking a few questions:
1. How can we cancel our trip and get our money back on the BASIC plan?
To find out, Tammy and Doug check out the section under trip cancellation coverage.
It looks like there are only a few reasons (like an unforeseen illness or injury) that would
enable them to cancel their trip and be reimbursed for their prepaid, non-refundable
trip cost. They could also cancel a trip if a family member suffered an unforeseen
illness.
Bottom line: While that coverage is good, the couple was hoping for some other covered
reasons if they needed to cancel their trip.
2. If we need to go to a hospital during our trip, what will the BASIC plan cover?
To find out, they read the section titled emergency medical.
Tammy and Doug look at the maximum number under the medical limit. It is only
$15,000 per person with a $50 deductible. That might not be enough if Tammy, who
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
40
How to Compare
suffers from diabetes and is also accident prone, requires a hospital stay during her trip.
The plan also includes $50,000 per person for medical evacuation coverage, if Tammy or
Doug was hospitalized and it was determined that either needed transportation to a
more appropriate medical facility or for further treatment.
There is also a note about this being secondary coverage. This means, Tammy and Doug
would have to submit a claim to Medicare first (which would get denied because they
are not traveling in the United States) and then submit it to the travel insurance
provider.
3. What other benefits are listed under the BASIC plan?
The other benefits are pretty standard, such as coverage if bags are lost or delayed, or if
there is a travel delay.
Bottom line: The cost is pretty inexpensive and provides some protection. But because of
Tammy’s medical history, the couple wants a higher medical limit.
BETTER PLAN - $175
BETTER offers a bit more than BASIC. Tammy and Doug try to spot the big differences by
comparing the plans and asking questions:
1. Does this BETTER plan offer more reasons to cancel a trip than BASIC?
Yes, it does. Tammy and Doug do have more options to cancel a trip and get their
money back than the BASIC plan including additional weather coverage. So, if a
hurricane makes their destination uninhabitable or grounds flights for 24-hours, they
could cancel.
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
41
How to Compare
2. If we need to go to the hospital, what will this BETTER plan cover?
The plan comes with higher emergency medical coverage than the basic plan. The
amount is $50,000 per person for emergency medical coverage. That’s $35,000 more
than the BASIC plan. Another bonus? There is no deductible. It also comes with $750 per
person limit for emergency dental treatment to sound, natural teeth.
3. If we need to utilize a medical evacuation, what will this BETTER plan cover?
This plan provides $250,000 per person for medical evacuation. That’s in case either
Tammy or Doug were hospitalized and it was determined by the attending physician that
they needed transportation to a more appropriate hospital or back home for further
care. The BASIC plan only had $50,000.
Bottom line: The plan costs more than BASIC, but may be worth it due to Tammy’s health
concerns when traveling abroad and lack of medical coverage.
BEST PLAN - $325
Finally, Tammy and Doug look at the best plan available from COMPANY XYZ. It is the
most expensive but offers the highest limits of the three plans for medical, emergency
medical evacuation, baggage, travel delay, missed connection and rental car.
Tammy and Doug again ask questions to figure out the big differences.
1. How can we cancel our trip and get money back on the BEST plan?
This plan has the most covered reasons for trip cancellation.
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
42
How to Compare
While each reason has requirements, here’s a basic overview of the reasons:
Unforeseen injury, illness or death to you, a traveling companion or family member.
Travelers are quarantined.
A tour operator, airline or cruise line ceases operation due to financial default,
Car accident while en route to destination.
A traveler has jury duty at time of scheduled trip.
A hurricane makes destination uninhabitable.
Severe weather forces flights to stop for 24-hours.
A terrorist event happens at the destination within 30 days before arrival.
Traveler lost a job or was terminated.
Tammy and Doug like this list because of the weather coverage, since they are going on a
cruise during hurricane season.
2. If we need medical care or a medical evacuation during our trip, what amount will be
covered under the BEST plan?
The plan comes with the highest emergency medical coverage and medical evacuation
coverage limits. The amount is $500,000 per person for emergency medical coverage. It
also provides $1,000,000 per person for medical evacuation, in case either Tammy or Doug
were hospitalized and it was determined by the attending physician that either needed
transportation to a more appropriate hospital or back home for further care.
3. If we miss our cruise departure, how will the BEST plan help?
This plan would enable Tammy and Doug to get their trip investment back if a covered
flight delay forced them to miss their cruise departure.
Bottom line: The cost is nearly 3x that of the BASIC plan, but it offers the most protection.
Tammy and Doug like the hurricane coverage because they’ll be in the Caribbean (an area
prone to tropical storms) but do not think they would ever need $1,000,000 for medical
evacuation.
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
43
How to Compare
WHAT DID THEY CHOOSE?
Tammy and Doug went with the BETTER plan because it helped ease their main concerns:
Weather or an illness forcing a trip cancellation.
Missing a cruise departure because of a flight delay.
Medical issues during the trip (since Medicare doesn’t cover medical care out of the
United States).
Since they were purchasing soon after their initial trip payment for the entire cost of their
trip, and they are both healthy enough to travel now, they were also eligible for the
pre-existing condition waiver.
This waives the pre-existing condition exclusion that is present on comprehensive plans.
Typically, a pre-existing condition is one that that you have received or have been
recommended treatment for, or have had a change in medication (up or down) in the past
3-12 months, depending on the plan. The good news is Tammy could be covered for
treatment related to her diabetes during the trip.
Tammy’s condition is stable now, but her doctor did lower her medication dosage last
month. Because of this change in medication, her diabetes would be considered a
pre-existing condition, and she would need the waiver to have any coverage for a claim
relating to this condition.
(For more information on pre-existing medical conditions, see page 32).
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
44
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
Question:
I’m still confused about time sensitive benefits, can you explain?
Answer:
If a policy is “time sensitive” it means that you have to purchase the plan
within a certain time frame after making your very first trip payment. Usually, you must
purchase the plan within 10-21 days after your first payment. You can purchase the
plan anytime up until the day before departure, but if you wait too long, you may not be
eligible for the specific time sensitive benefits.
A popular time sensitive benefit travelers often inquire about is Cancel For Any Reason.
Other time sensitive benefits may include the pre-existing condition waiver and
coverage for financial default. It is important to read the full details of coverage, as
there may be other eligibility requirements as well.
Question:
How do I get coverage for a pre-existing medical condition?
Answer:
It's possible to get travel insurance even if you or a loved one have a pre-existing
condition. In some policies, a pre-existing conditions waiver is actually included as one of
the benefits as long as you purchase the policy within a specified time frame – usually
anywhere from within 10-30 days of making your initial trip payment. In such cases,
there is usually no additional paperwork required to obtain your travel insurance policy,
and no additional fee for the benefit. It's considered a part of the standard travel
insurance comprehensive policy when it is purchased this way. However, in other cases,
you'll need to look into getting coverage for your pre-existing condition separately, in
which case there may be additional fees or paperwork required.
Top Questions From Travelers
45
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
Question:
How can I cancel a trip due to severe weather-related concerns under the trip
cancellation benefit?
Answer:
Here are a few examples how travel insurance can help:
Cancel trip for any reason (CFAR)
This is an optional time-sensitive benefit that allows travelers to cancel a trip for any
reason. So if you are concerned that a storm may hit your destination, and you don’t
feel safe traveling, this is where CFAR comes in handy. Most plans require that the
storm hits your destination and makes your accommodations uninhabitable, and some
will offer coverage if your destination is under a hurricane warning at the time you are
scheduled to depart and you decide to cancel your trip. Cancel for Any Reason allows
you to cancel your trip (up until two days prior to departure) if you just do not feel com-
fortable traveling.
Cancelling a trip due to weather
When common carriers such as airlines and cruise lines cease service due to weather.
Cancelling a trip due to a hurricane warning
When a destination is under a NOAA-issued hurricane warning at the time when you
are to depart.
Cancelling a trip because of storm damage at destination
When a hotel, resort, or vacation rental is devastated and made uninhabitable by a
storm.
Cancel because home is destroyed by storm
When the primary home of a traveler sustains destructive storm damage.
Top Questions From Travelers
Question:
What about a vacation rental home; what kind of coverage can I get for that?
Answer:
Most plans will cover the pre-paid non-refundable amount paid to rent a home. It is
important to note that plans will NOT cover costs and fees associated with timeshares.
46
Top Questions From Travelers
Question:
How does travel insurance cover terrorism?
Answer:
Most travel insurance comprehensive plans include some mention of coverage for
terrorist acts in their coverage for trip cancellation and interruption. With this
coverage, you would theoretically be able to cancel or interrupt your travel plans if an
act of terrorism occurred in your destination city within a certain number of days of
your scheduled arrival (this time frame varies by plan and provider, but in general, can
be anywhere from 7-30 days).
Definition of terrorism
While the definition may vary depending on which plan and provider you've chosen,
here is a typical definition of “Terrorism”:
Terrorism means an act of violence by any person acting on behalf of or in connection
with any organization which is generally recognized as having the intent to overthrow
or influence the control of any government, that is deemed terrorism by the United
States Government other than civil disorder or riot, that is not an act of war, declared
or undeclared, that results in Loss of life or major damage to property.
Policy restrictions
In order to be eligible for coverage against terrorist acts, you will likely have to meet
some policy requirements. For example, your travel insurance policy will likely state
that coverage only extends to terrorist acts that have occurred within a certain number
of days of your scheduled departure. Also, you may be required to purchase within a
set timeframe from your initial trip payment date. So, make sure to read your plan
details carefully.
Also, if a terrorist act has recently occurred in your destination city prior to your
purchase of a travel insurance policy, it will likely be considered a "foreseen event"
which would mean that you would not be eligible for coverage if you chose to cancel
your trip as a result of that terrorist incident. Lastly, depending upon the plan you've
purchased, you'll need to be familiar with whether the coverage applies only to a city
that is specifically on your itinerary, or whether it also extends to outlying regions.
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
47
Top Questions From Travelers
Question
:
Does my domestic health insurance pay for medical evacuations?
Answer:
According to the U.S. State Department, very few health insurance companies will pay
for a medical evacuation back to the United States, which can easily cost up to
$100,000, or even more, depending on a the condition and location of patient.
Question:
Can I use my credit card or homeowners insurance for coverage?
Answer:
Homeowners insurance could be used for lost baggage, but expect a high deductible.
Some credit cards may offer limited protection but lack the full benefits of travel
insurance. Comprehensive travel insurance is still the best option.
Question:
Why do most people buy travel insurance?
Answer:
According to a survey from InsureMyTrip, here are the top reasons:
1. Hurricanes or bad weather affecting travel plans
2. Concerns over coverage for a vacation rental
3. Health issues affecting travel plans
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
48
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
Key Travel Insurance Terms
Trip Cost
With regards to travel insurance, this means pre-paid, non-refundable trip
expenses only.
Travel Delay
A benefit that offers coverage for incidental expenses resulting from a travel delay of a
certain number of hours (for example: your flight gets delayed and you need an overnight
stay).
Trip Interruption
A benefit available while traveling that offers coverage for unused pre-paid, non-refundable
expenses should a traveler’s trip be unexpectedly cut short due to a covered reason. Some
plans offer additional benefits to help defray the cost of an emergency one way ticket home.
Trip Cancellation
A benefit that is available prior to departure and included in comprehensive travel insurance
plans. This benefit covers specific unforeseen perils that could cause you to cancel your trip.
(For example: you get the flu prior to departure or bad weather causes all flights to be
grounded for a certain number of hours).
24-hour Accidental Death
This is not the same as life insurance. In travel insurance, this coverage is for an accidental
death while on a trip (for example, car accident NOT illness). This plan offers continuous
coverage for the entire trip.
Emergency Medical Evacuation
In travel insurance, this term generally means once initially hospitalized, being evacuated to a
better equipped hospital at the discretion of the company and the attending physician. Some
plans allow you to choose where you will be taken, while most others get you to the nearest
appropriate hospital chosen by the assistance company.
Common Carrier
Any land, sea, or air conveyance operating under a valid license for the transportation of
passengers for hire. (For example: airline, cruise line)
49
Key Travel Insurance Terms
CFAR
Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) is a specific type of travel insurance coverage that offers
travelers the opportunity to cancel a trip for reasons other than those listed as “covered
reasons” on their travel insurance policies. Reimbursement is up to 75 percent of the insured
pre-paid non-refundable trip cost. Benefits are available if all eligibility requirements are met.
Date of Deposit
The earliest date a payment was made toward a trip, deposit or otherwise. Some companies
may consider a future cruise placeholder deposit to be the initial trip payment. If you are
considering a certain plan with time sensitive benefits, it is important to know exactly what the
company considers the initial trip payment.
Financial Default
This benefit provides coverage (up to the policy limit) if a travel supplier ceases business
operations due to financial reasons. Typically, this is a listed covered peril under trip
cancellation coverage.
Pre-existing medical condition: In travel insurance, a pre-existing medical condition
means any injury or illness which was contracted or which manifested itself, or for which
treatment or medication was prescribed or updated in the time period listed (usually 60-365
days) prior to the effective date.
Pre-existing medical condition waiver: The pre-existing condition waiver waives the
pre-existing condition exclusion that exists on comprehensive plans. There are certain
requirements that must be met to be eligible for this coverage. These requirements are,
being medically fit to travel when the plan is purchased and being within the time sensitive
period. Also, many companies require that you insure all trip costs that are pre-paid (prior to
departure) and are subject to cancellation penalties to be eligible for the waiver.
DISCLAIMER
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
These are general definitions that relate to comprehensive plans.
Customers should read the full details of any plan that they are
planning on purchasing as the wording may differ.
50
Glossary
A
Accident
A sudden, unexpected, unusual, specific event that occurs at an identifiable time and place,
but shall also include exposure resulting from a mishap to a conveyance in which you are
traveling.
Accidental Injury
Bodily injury to a covered person as a direct result of an accident.
Accommodation
Accommodation
Actual Cash Value
The purchase price of an item, less depreciation of the item's value since you bought it.
B
Baggage
Personal property you take on your trip and the suitcases or other kinds of containers you
use to carry them.
Bankruptcy
The filing of a petition for voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy in a court of competent
jurisdiction under Chapter 7 or Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code 11 L.S.C.
Subsection 101 et seq.
Bodily Injury
Identifiable physical injury which is caused by an accident and is independent of disease or
bodily infirmity.
Business Partner
An individual who: (a) is involved in a legal partnership; and/or (b) is actively involved in the
day-to-day management of the business.
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
51
Glossary
C
Common Carrier
Any land, sea, or air conveyance operating under a valid license for the transportation of
passengers for hire.
Covered Reasons
The specific situations and events that are covered by a specific coverage or policy.
D
Deductible
The dollar amount you must contribute to the loss.
Default
A material failure or inability to provide contracted services due to financial insolvency.
Dependent
Your lawful spouse or unmarried children under 19 years of age.
Destination
A place more than 100 miles from your primary residence where you spend more than 24
hours of your trip.
Domestic Partner
A person who is at least eighteen years of age and you can show:
1) evidence of financial interdependence, such as joint bank accounts or credit cards, jointly
owned property, and mutual life insurance or pension beneficiary designations;
2) evidence of cohabitation for at least the previous 6 months; and
3) an affidavit of domestic partnership if recognized by the jurisdiction within which they
reside.
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
52
Glossary
E
Economy Fare
The lowest published rate for an economy ticket.
Effective Date
The date and time your travel insurance coverage begins. This varies based on the type of
plan purchased.
Elective Treatment and Procedures
Any medical treatment or surgical procedure that is not medically necessary including any
service, treatment, or supplies that are deemed by the federal, or a state or local government
authority, or by us to be research or experimental or that is not recognized as a generally
accepted medical practice.
Epidemic
An outbreak of a contagious disease that spreads rapidly and widely and that is identified as
an epidemic by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Exotic Vehicles
Expensive cars that may not be covered by a policy, including cars such as Alfa Romeo, Aston
Martin, Auburn, Avanti, Bentley, Bertone, BMC/Leyland, BMW M Series, Bradley, Bricklin,
Cosworth, Citroen, Clenet, De Lorean, Excalibre, Ferrari, Fiat, Iso, Jaguar, Jensen Healy, Lam-
borghini, Lancia, Lotus, Maserati, Morgan, Pantera, Panther, Pininfarina, Rolls Royce, Rover,
Stutz, Sterling, Triumph, TVR, Yugo, Corvette, Mercedes Benz, Porsche, and MG. If you are
renting a car on this list or similar to cars on this list, you should contact the provider before
purchasing the policy.
F
Family Member
Your dependent, son or daughter (including adopted and those who are in the process of
becoming adopted, foster, step or in-law), domestic partner's son or daughter (including
adopted and those who are in the process of becoming adopted, foster, step or in-law),
brother or sister (including step or in-law), parent (including step or in-law), grandparent
(including step or in-law), grandchild (including adopted and those who are in the process of
becoming adopted, foster or step), aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, guardian, or ward.
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
53
Financial Insolvency
The total cessation or complete suspension of operations due to insolvency, with or without
the filing of a bankruptcy petition, whether voluntary or involuntary, by a tour operator,
cruise line, airline, rental car company, hotel, condominium, railroad, motor coach company,
or other supplier of travel services which is duly licensed in the state(s) of operation other
than the entity or the person, organization, agency or firm from whom you directly pur-
chased or paid for your covered trip. There is no coverage for the total cessation or complete
suspension of operations for losses caused by fraud or negligent misrepresentation by the
supplier of travel services.
H
Hazard
(a) Any delay of a common carrier (including inclement weather);
(b) any delay by a traffic accident en route to a departure, in which you or a traveling com-
panion is not directly involved;
(c) any delay due to lost or stolen passports, travel documents or money, quarantine, hijack-
ing, unannounced strike, natural disaster, civil commotion or riot;
(d) a closed roadway causing cessation of travel to the destination of the trip (substantiated
by the department of transportation, state police, etc.).
Hospital
A facility that
(a) holds a valid license if it is required by the law;
(b) operates primarily for the care and treatment of sick or injured persons as in-patients;
(c) has a staff of one or more physicians available at all times;
(d) provides twenty-four (24)-hour nursing service and has at least one registered profession-
al nurse on duty or call;
(e) has organized diagnostic and surgical facilities, either on the premises or in facilities avail-
able to the hospital on a prearranged basis; and
(f) is not, except incidentally, a clinic, nursing home, rest home, or convalescent home for the
aged, or similar institution.
Host at Destination
A person with whom you are sharing pre-arranged overnight accommodations at the host's
usual principal place of residence.
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
Glossary
54
Glossary
I
Illness
Sickness, infirmity or disease. It doesn't include conditions you already had or knew about
when you purchased your plan.
Inclement Weather
Any severe weather condition that delays the scheduled arrival or departure of a common
carrier.
Injury
Bodily harm caused by an accident which:
1) occurs while your coverage is in effect under the plan; and
2) requires examination and treatment by a physician. The Injury must be the direct cause of
loss and must be independent of all other causes and must not be caused by, or result from,
sickness.
Insured
An eligible person who arranges a covered trip, and pays any required plan payment.
Inpatient
Someone who receives medical or dental treatment while registered as a bed patient in a
hospital or other licensed provider. Room and board is charged for the patient's stay, in
addition to charges for medical treatment and care.
L
Land/Sea Arrangements
Any activities undertaken by you while in the individual coverage term.
Loss
Injury or damage sustained by you in consequence of happening of one or more of the
occurrences against which the company has undertaken to indemnify you.
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
55
Glossary
M
Maximum Benefit
The largest total amount of covered expenses that the company will pay for your covered
losses.
Medical Condition
A physical condition you have, or have symptoms of, that you have seen or been advised to
see a doctor about; have symptoms of that would cause a prudent person to see a doctor;
and/or are taking prescribed medication for.
Medically Necessary
Treatment that's appropriate for your illness or injury, consistent with your symptoms, and
that can safely be provided to you. It meets the standards of good medical practice and isn't
for your convenience or the provider's convenience.
N
Natural Disaster
A large-scale extreme weather or environmental event that damages property, disrupts
transportation, or endangers people. Examples include: earthquake, fire, flood, hurricane or
volcanic eruption.
O
Outpatient
Someone who receives medical or dental treatment but doesn't have to stay at a hospital for
overnight care.
P
Pandemic
An epidemic over a wide geographic area that affects a large portion of the population.
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
56
Physician
A licensed practitioner of medical, surgical or dental services acting within the scope of his or
her license. The treating physician may not be you, a traveling companion, or a family
member.
Pre- Existing Condition
Any injury, sickness or condition of you, or your traveling companion, your family member
booked to travel with you for which within the 60-180 period prior to the effective date of
Trip Cancellation coverage under the policy
(a) first manifested itself or exhibited symptoms which would have caused one to seek diag-
nosis, care or treatment;
(b) required taking prescribed drugs or medicine, unless the condition for which the pre-
scribed drug or medicine is taken remains controlled without any change in the required
prescription; or
(c) required medical treatment or treatment was recommended by a physician. On some
plans, the Pre-Existing Conditions exclusion is waived for you if you enroll in the plan at the
time you pay the deposit required for the trip (or within 10-30 days of the initial deposit) and
you purchase the coverage under the plan for the full cost of the trip.
Q
Quarantine
Mandatory isolation or restrictions on where you can go, intended to stop a contagious
disease from spreading.
R
Reasonable and Customary Costs
What customers would usually be charged for a specific service in a particular geographic
area. The charges are appropriate to the availability of the service, and of skilled and licensed
service providers.
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
Glossary
57
Glossary
Refund
Cash or a credit or voucher for future travel that you get from a travel agent, tour operator,
airline, cruise line or other travel supplier, or any credit, recovery or reimbursement you get
from your employer, another insurance company, a credit card issuer or any other entity.
S
Scheduled Departure Date
The date on which you are originally scheduled to leave on the trip.
Scheduled Return Date
The date on which you are originally scheduled to return to the point of origin or to a differ-
ent final destination.
Severe Weather
Hazardous weather conditions, like fog, a hailstorm or severe rainstorm, a blizzard, or an ice
storm.
Sickness
An illness or disease which is diagnosed or treated by a physician after the effective date of
insurance and while you are covered under the policy.
Strike
Any unannounced labor disagreement that interferes with the normal departure and arrival
of a common carrier.
Subrogation
Steps the travel insurance company takes, after paying a claim, to collect from other available
sources such as other insurance plans or travel suppliers.
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
58
Glossary
T
Travel Supplier
A travel agent, tour operator, airline, cruise line or other travel service provider.
Traveling Companion
A person booked to accompany you on your trip. A group or tour leader is not considered a
traveling companion unless you are sharing room accommodations with the group or tour
leader.
Trip
Prepaid land or sea arrangements and shall include flight connections to join or depart such
land or sea arrangements provided such flights are scheduled to commence within one day
of the land or sea arrangements.
U
Unlawful Acts
Felonies committed by you, a traveling companion, or a family member, even if the family
member isn't covered by your plan.
Uninhabitable
A person booked to accompany you on your trip. A group or tour leader is not considered a
traveling companion unless you are sharing room accommodations with the group or tour
leader.
Quick Guide to Travel Insurance by InsureMyTrip.
Note: If you have questions about coverage, contact a licensed travel insurance agent.
5
No matter how you travel,
find the right plan with InsureMyTrip.
Whether you are planning a cruise, a cross-country vacation or a trip overseas, a travel
insurance plan should be on your radar. When you find the right plan on InsureMyTrip, you
find protection from the unplanned mishaps that may take a toll on your travels. Explore
and compare travel insurance from the leading providers, and find the plan that's right for
you. Our licensed customer care representatives are available to help you make a decision.
With unparalleled and award winning customer service, we've been helping protect
travelers worldwide since 2000.
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