Travel Insurance

What is Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance provides reimbursement for certain financial losses associated with a trip. These losses can range from minor inconveniences (like a delayed suitcase) to major emergencies (like a medical evacuation).

Where Can I Buy Travel Insurance?

• Charter companies (like Atlantis)

• Insurance brokers (such as some online insurance comparison websites)

• Directly from insurance companies (many have online quoting and purchasing)

• Some credit cards provide travel insurance (contact your card issuer for details)

Why Does JustJoeyTravels Recommend Travel Insurance?

If you get injured during a trip, if you can’t go on a trip (for a covered reason), if your baggage is lost, etc., then in my opinion it makes sense to have insurance for these things. I strongly recommend it especially for people who are taking a cruise or will be traveling outside of their home country.

When Should I Buy It?

Ideally, within 1-3 weeks of putting down your initial trip deposit or payment. It does not cost more to buy travel insurance early, and the sooner you buy it, the better, because some types of coverage are time-sensitive. For example:

• Pre-existing condition waiver: Usually requires purchasing the policy within 1-3 weeks of your initial trip deposit/payment.

• Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR): This optional add-on will only be available during a similar early purchase window.

• Unforeseen events: A big storm that might impact your trip won’t be covered if you purchase the policy after the storm has been forecasted.

What Can Travel Insurance Cover?

Here some common types of coverage provided by travel insurance. Note that coverage varies depending on the provider and plan.

• Trip Cancellation: Reimbursement for qualified prepaid, non-refundable expenses if you must cancel your trip due to a covered reason.

• Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR): Usually an optional add-on that provides reimbursement for qualified prepaid, non-refundable expenses for almost any cancellation reason.

• Trip Interruption: Reimbursement for unused portions of qualified prepaid, non-refundable expenses if your trip is interrupted by a covered reason.

• Trip Delay: Reimbursement for certain expenses if your trip is substantially delayed by a covered reason.

• Emergency Medical Expenses: Cover the cost due to a covered medical emergency that occurs during your trip. Many domestic US health insurance plans do not coverage outside of the country.

• Emergency Evacuation: Covers the cost of transporting you to the nearest appropriate medical facility for a covered medical emergency that occurs during your trip.

• Baggage & Personal Effects: Reimbursement if lost or damaged.

Coverage is usually subject to the following:

• Policy Limits: This is the maximum reimbursement amount of a plan. For example, if a plan advertises $1,000 for trip delay, then that is the maximum amount the plan will allow you to claim for trip delay expenses.

• Covered Reasons : Coverage may only be valid for certain reasons or causes. For example, trip delay coverage may only kick in if your trip is delayed by a certain number of hours, or if the delay if caused by passport or visa issues.

• Exclusions: Coverage may also have exclusions. For example, injuries from extreme sports may not be covered.

• Coverage Requirements: You may also need to take certain steps to qualify for coverage, such as reporting loss or theft to the police, or seeing a doctor if you need to cancel a trip due to illness.