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The Bucket List Family sold everything to travel around the world. Here are their tips for traveling with children.
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If you’re planning to travel somewhere this summer, you’re probably thinking of buying travel insurance.
Kingsley Hopkins is. He’s headed to Portugal and Iceland with his girlfriend, and he wants to make sure he’s covered for things like medical emergencies or trip disruptions, “or if a volcano erupts,” he said.
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But getting the right travel insurance can be complicated. There’s no one-size-fits-all policy, and Hopkins, an assistant editor at a book publishing company in New York, has been spending a lot of time thinking about how to protect his summer vacation.
Chances are, so have you.
Most surveys suggest this will be a record summer for travel. How much of a record? Demand is so high that some airlines are afraid they will run out of planes. Now that’s busy.
At the same time, danger and uncertainty are lurking everywhere – wars in Europe and in the Middle East, the usual slate of natural disasters like hurricanes and maybe a volcano or two. It’s no wonder people are giving some serious thought to insurance.
Older travelers are particularly worried. And they should be, said PK Rao, CEO of INF Visitor Care. Claims by travelers over age 50 spike during the summer months.
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“According to our claim data, medical emergencies tend to uptick during the summer, especially for those going on trips that involve outdoor activities,” he said.
But there are so many choices out there, including credit card coverage, medical evacuation membership programs and standalone travel insurance. What should you get?
But don’t just reflexively start shopping for a travel insurance policy this summer. Instead, look for peace of mind – knowing that if something goes wrong, you’ll be taken care of.
“Knowing you’re protected from unforeseen travel mishaps – like delays, lost baggage and even medical emergencies – can make the trip that much more enjoyable,” said Daniel Durazo, a spokesman for Allianz Partners USA.
As it turns out, there are several ways to get the peace of mind you need. And there are times when you can safely skip travel insurance.
Here’s when you can skip travel insurance, according to experts:
So think twice before saying “yes” to optional travel insurance that your online travel agency may offer you when you’re booking a trip. You might not need it.
But most travelers should consider some kind of travel insurance coverage this summer. Here’s when you need the extra coverage:
One of the most common mistakes travelers make is assuming their credit card will cover them. For example, I found that my credit card only covered my rental car as secondary insurance, which made it completely useless when I rented a car in Tampa recently. I had to buy a standalone policy from Allianz to cover the vehicle.
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So, how did Hopkins handle his travel insurance needs? Well, as I mentioned – it’s complicated.
Hopkins said he always buys some travel insurance before he takes a trip, “but how much, and what I cover, varies,” he explained.
He decided that his path to peace of mind in this case was to spend a few extra dollars: He made fully refundable flight and hotel reservations, just in case something went wrong. That would eliminate a lengthy claim with his travel insurance company or credit card.
But he still needed at least $50,000 in medical coverage with emergency evacuation because of his active schedule.
“We’re going to be doing a lot of hiking in Iceland,” he said. “And you just never know.”
At the beginning of the year, he decided to buy an annual Medjet Horizon plan, a membership that would get him from a hospital in Portugal or Iceland to a hospital at home, in case something happened.
For insurance, Hopkins checked TravelInsurance.com to find an affordable travel insurance policy. He found coverage through Trawick International that pays up to $50,000 in medical expenses and up to $200,000 for an evacuation.
“I’ve heard good things about them,” he said. “Hopefully, we won’t need any of it.”
I’m on the road about 360 days a year, so I’m always thinking about peace of mind. I currently use a Wells Fargo credit card with lots of travel benefits, and I have long-term policies through Faye and Cigna, which have worked fairly well. I also am a long-time Medjet Horizon member. If I rent a car, I turn to Allianz for my primary coverage.
I know – that’s a lot of peace of mind.
But I’ve also run into trouble and had to use many of those benefits. Medjet got me back home during the pandemic. Cigna covered me after a serious ski accident in Switzerland. My old Allianz policy took care of my medical expenses when I had to see a doctor in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a few years ago.
Like I always say, when it comes to having enough insurance, better safe than sorry.
Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes Elliott Confidential, a travel newsletter, and the Elliott Report, a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can reach him here or email him at chris@elliott.org.
