Hotels and Lodging Resource Guide

Travel Insurance: Is It Necessary?

You may need travel insurance for your honeymoon or other travel plans. There are surprising reasons why you can benefit from such an investment. You may not think it is necessary but when you learn the scenarios travel insurance will cover, you might think twice before deciding against it.

Honeymoon/Trip Cancellation

Travel insurance will reimburse you for prepaid travel expenses if certain issues arise preventing you from traveling. These issues include natural disasters, illness or injury preventing you from traveling, or a change in date or cancellation of your wedding or event. Trip coverage can be purchased on a listed causes basis or cancel-for-any-reason basis.

Sickness

Travel insurance offers medical and dental coverage while you are on your trip, and covers emergency medical transportation. Coverage may be provided in the U.S. and its territories by your personal health plan, but these expenses may not be covered while traveling out of the country. The policy also has a life insurance benefit if you are killed while on your trip, and will pay to send your body home.

Luggage

Travel insurance will cover some of your expenses if your luggage is lost or stolen. Airlines and other kinds of transportation services only cover baggage after it is checked, and the limit is generally $100 or less per bag. Limits per bag vary under travel insurance.

Considerations

Some travel insurance will reimburse you if your destination is the subject of a terrorist attack or experiences weather that makes it an unfit destination, or if you are laid off your job and can’t travel, or if your travel agent goes out of business before arrangements are complete.

Tips/Warnings

Some credit-card companies offer limited trip insurance as a benefit. Check with your company to see if it offers such benefits.