Spring temperatures have many of us thinking about travel plans. Maybe we’re thinking of a weekend getaway or perhaps a long summer vacation to an exotic destination. When you go to make your travel plans, you may be given the option of purchasing travel insurance.
Travel insurance generally covers unforeseen expenses resulting from a disruption of your trip.
Those disruptions can come from a local disaster at your destination, weather conditions or personal reasons, such as a sudden illness.
Make sure you understand what you’re buying.
You may buy travel insurance from a travel agent, tour operator, cruise line or property
management company. Before you buy it, check to make sure you need it. You may already have coverage from other sources.
For example, some health, homeowners’ or renters’ insurance policies include travel insurance provisions. Some credit cards also offer it. Check with your insurance agent or company, or with your bank or credit card company to find out what coverage you already have.
When shopping for travel insurance, make sure you understand:
- What is included and what is excluded in your policy. Claims paid due to weather conditions are contingent on mandatory evacuation orders. Travel insurance may not provide coverage for a storm that has already been named at the time you buy the policy.
- Special limitations and the list of property not covered in a baggage insurance policy. If you are traveling with valuables that exceed the limits of your policy, you may need to purchase additional coverage. Check with your insurance agent to see if you can get an endorsement to your homeowners’ or renters’ policy for coverage while you’re traveling.
- How pre-existing health conditions are defined in your travel policy.
Travel insurance policies generally have specific limitations. Make sure you pay attention to the fine print. Ask questions if you’re not sure what is and what is not covered.
Typical travel insurance policies include:
- Trip cancellation or interruption insurance. It reimburses you for any nonrefundable deposits you put down on a trip or cruise if you must cancel your insured trip because of sickness, death in the family or any other misfortune listed in the policy. You must first seek reimbursement from the trip provider before the insurance company will consider the claim. Some policies may reimburse you for the unused portion of a vacation if you or an immediate family member becomes seriously ill or injured while on a trip.
- Emergency medical assistance. This provides insurance for medical treatment if you become ill or have an injury while traveling. Some policies may pay for benefits that aren’t covered by a standard health insurance plan. Some of these policies may include a deductible that applies to each claim.
- Baggage insurance coverage. If your belongings are lost, stolen or damaged during a trip, you may want to find out if the airline or trip operator offers any type of insurance for your belongings.
- Accidental death benefits. This provides coverage if you or a family member does from a covered injury or accident while traveling.
If you have questions, you may get help from a consumer expert at the Department of Insurance by calling 855-408-1212 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Or you may visit www.ncdoi.gov
