We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again – not every trip will need travel insurance. But most will. Finding the right travel insurance plan for you and that specific trip can sometimes be tricky. InsureMyTrip prides itself on finding the right plan for every traveler without any bias or hidden agenda. We know travel insurance and how to choose it, so let’s start at the beginning.
What Type of Trip are You Taking?
If you are going up the road to visit Grandma this holiday season, you are most likely not going to need a travel insurance plan. However, if you are flying at any point during this trip to see Grandma, say across the country or to a neighboring region, you should strongly consider insurance. Trips that involve flights increase the risk of travel mishaps, such as delays and lost baggage, which can end up costing you money. Comprehensive plans offer benefits to help reimburse costs associated with covered travel and baggage delays as well as lost or damaged baggage.
If you are going on a weekend road trip with the kids and staying in a refundable hotel room, you are not really looking at any trip costs that would need to be insured. But if your weekend trip with the kids involves a quick flight to the city where you are you are staying two nights and going to see an expensive show, you may want to consider insuring your investment.
Regardless of the trip, you can insure any trip you are taking more than 100 miles away from home which includes pre-paid expenses that are subject to cancellation penalties. If you are worried about the possibility of losing money due to unexpected changes or travel mishaps, insure the trip!
How Much of Your Trip is Pre-paid and Non-refundable?
Travel insurance is only going to cover trip costs that are paid prior to your departure which is subject to cancellation penalties. Any pre-paid expense that would not be fully refundable in the event you have to cancel or interrupt your trip needs to be insured, or it may invalidate some coverages on the plans. Before you purchase a travel insurance plan, consider your trip costs. Add up all the costs that are non-refundable to determine the insurable amount.
Typically, travelers will insure flights, hotel stays, all-inclusive vacation packages, tour packages and even event tickets at their destination. While some of these things can sometimes be refundable, many times they aren’t. The key is to know that travel insurance will only cover anything pre-paid and non-refundable. You’ll only be reimbursed for the money that you lose.
Have You Fully Compared Plans Before Purchasing?
We don’t recommend just picking the first travel insurance plan listed in your quote results – first, figure out what your main concerns are, what your budget will allow and select the plans that fit those criteria. Our site is built to allow travelers to pick several plans to compare all at once. Take advantage of that! You can filter and compare based on the benefits that mean the most to you.
Most comprehensive travel insurance plans will be similar – offering coverage for trip cancellation up to 100% and trip interruption up to 100-150% of your pre-paid non-refundable trip cost. But when you start looking at travel delay benefits, baggage protection limits and emergency medical coverage, you will see that there is a wide range of benefit limits.
By using the comparing engine with InsureMyTrip, you can truly find the right travel insurance plan for you and your traveling companions.
Is This Price Right for What I’m Purchasing?
Every plan, whether comprehensive, travel medical or something else, comes with their own unique coverage that affects the premium. Also, it’s important to recognize that not only the cost of your trip but the age of the travelers, the destination and the length of the trip often affects the premium as well. A lot goes into the price of the travel insurance plan you chose.
Truth is, InsureMyTrip guarantees that the plans on our site are the best price available for that plan. You will not find a better price for the plan you choose, anywhere. So you can rest easy when you purchase a plan from InsureMyTrip. You can insure your trip so you’re comfortable without worrying about saving money elsewhere.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article serves as a general overview of benefits and should only be used for informational purposes. Refer to your individual certificate of insurance for specific coverages, exclusions and benefits. When in doubt, please contact one of our licensed agents for additional assistance.
Ask a Question
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Question
My son is planning a trip to Europe where he will spend between 4 and 9 months traveling around. Is there a plan that ensures that he is covered for any medical emergencies that may arise during the course of his travels?
By EdwardA - July 26, 2018
Answer
Yes, we have single trip medical plans that provide coverage when traveling outside of your home country. Please fill out the quote form on our home page, www.insuremytrip.com with your trip details and once you arrive on the results page, please view the plans under the medical tab. Our medical plans provide medical and medical evacuation coverage for unforeseen illnesses or injuries.
By MattG - July 26, 2018
Question
I reserved and made the down payment on a Caribbean Cruise a few weeks ago, we will also spend a few days before at Disney World, we will be flying. I will not be able to make reservations for WDW and buy airline tickets until next year. What is the best way to insure this trip, one of the main reasons for considering insurance is my 11 year old (medical) in case of illness or accidents and also the high cost of the trip.
By SusanneW - October 25, 2018
Answer
You can purchase most policies up until the day before departure, however; you may not be eligible for some time sensitive benefits if you do not purchase within 10-21 days of the initial trip deposit/payment. Some time sensitive benefits are, but not limited to: Pre-Existing Condition Waiver, Financial Default, Terrorism, Cancel For Any Reason and Cancel For Work Reasons. You can insure what you have paid for to date and any known costs, and once you make subsequent payments towards the trip prior to departure, you can contact us and update your existing policy accordingly.
By MattG - October 27, 2018
Question
I am trying to get a quote for travel insurance and we are traveling to 3 countries but the choices only accepts one country. How do I list them all?
By Anita - March 23, 2019
Answer
If traveling outside the United States, enter the country where travelers will be spending the most time. If spending equal time in multiple countries, choose your first international destination. If taking a cruise, enter the first international port of arrival as your destination.
By MattG - March 23, 2019
Question
I am planning vacations for two people to Italy and Peru between September 2021 and May 2022. My impression is that most (all?) travel insurance plans cover only single trips. Are there plans that, for example, offer coverage for a full year?
By HaroldK - July 13, 2021
Answer
We do provide annual medical policies for trips that take place outside of your home country. Typically, the trips cannot be longer than 70 days per trip with most plans. To obtain a quote, please fill out the quote form with your very first trip's details and once you arrive on the results page, please click on the button labeled “medical” on the bottom left and view our plans that are labeled “multi trip". Our multi-trip medical plans provide both medical and medical evacuation coverage. If you wanted trip cancellation coverage and other travel protection benefits, that has to be purchased on a per trip basis.
By MattG - July 15, 2021
Question
Do all plans cover cancellation due to death of a parent?
By GregoryS - June 25, 2023
Answer
Yes, this is covered with all Comprehensive policies offered on our website. The number one covered reason for Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption is the unforeseen illness or injury of you or a traveling companion that deems you unfit to travel, by order of a licensed physician; or the unforeseen hospitalization or death of a family member. To see all of the covered reasons to cancel or interrupt your trip, please click on the dollar amount that appears under the words "Trip Cancellation" when viewing a quote. Trip Cancellation reimburses 100%.
By MattG - June 27, 2023