brad.segel@insuremytrip.com, Author at InsureMyTrip

How Can I Find The Right Travel Insurance Plan?

Posted on October 13, 2015July 23, 2025 by [email protected]

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.

Time Sensitive Travel Insurance Benefits

Posted on September 28, 2015February 6, 2025 by [email protected]

When Do I Need Travel Insurance?

This is a common question our customers ask us, and usually we answer the same way: as soon as you book and make any payment towards your trip. It may seem like overkill, but your trip investment will be the most protected if you purchase your travel insurance plan as soon as you make your first payment on your trip.

Here’s why: time-sensitive benefits. Many travel insurance plans offer additional coverages to travelers who protect their trip within the first 10-30 days after making their first trip payment. While this time period will vary per plan, it’s important to purchase your plan soon after making your first trip payment so that your concerns will most likely be covered. Travelers will find many plans with two main time-sensitive benefits: Cancel for Any Reason and a pre-existing condition waiver.

Cancel for Any Reason Coverage

Depending on the plan you purchase, this benefit may be included in the plan or it may be available as an upgrade. Essentially, if you have Cancel for Any Reason coverage included in your travel insurance plan, you typically have up to 48-72 hours before you depart on your trip to cancel – no questions asked.

All comprehensive travel insurance plans include a list of covered perils under trip cancellation coverage. These covered reasons for cancellation will vary per plan and, while they may meet many traveler’s needs, they may not cover everyone’s main concerns. By adding Cancel for Any Reason coverage to your plan, you are extending your ability to be reimbursed (usually up to 75% of your pre-paid non-refundable trip cost) for cancellation of your trip due to ANY reason. The sky’s the limit here.

Pre-Existing Condition Waivers

These waivers are specific to comprehensive plans, and if all requirements are met, it waives the pre-existing condition exclusion. Many plans have a lookback period that allows the company to take a peek into medical records if a claim is filed due to medical reasons. Depending on the plan, this could apply to both those that are traveling as well as non-traveling family members.

If the travel insurance plan doesn’t include a pre-existing condition waiver, any prior medical event (diagnosis, test results or change in prescriptions) could prohibit reimbursement for emergency medical care during the trip, trip cancellation or trip interruption costs. As long as all eligibility requirements are met, the waiver can help to ensure that claims are not denied, even if due to a pre-existing condition.

Be sure to read the plan details to understand who is included in a pre-existing condition waiver. While some plans will only include the travelers in the waiver, other plans may include non-traveling family members as well. For instance, if you must cancel your trip due to a death or illness in the family, some plans, in the absence of a waiver, may only reimburse if it was due to an unforeseen condition. If you are traveling away from family members that may have had health conditions in the past, you may want to consider a waiver to fully protect your trip investment.

Additional Reasons to Consider Purchasing Travel Insurance Early

Not all benefits are subject to a time-period but do become more useful the earlier you purchase a travel insurance plan. For instance, cancellation due to a hurricane warning. While not all travel insurance plans will list this as a covered reason for cancellation, if they do, it will have stipulations. Such as, the plan must be purchased prior to the hurricane being named.

Similarly, if your tour operator, cruise line, airline or hotel files for bankruptcy or financial default, the plan must have been purchased before any indication the company was in economic trouble. If the plan is purchased after the public was warned about the potential default, the plan will not provide reimbursement. Not all plans provide these benefits, so if you are concerned be sure to look for a plan that covers financial default specifically.

Trip Insurance for Weekends Away

Posted on September 28, 2015July 28, 2025 by [email protected]

As we always say, trip insurance is not the right choice for every traveler. Most of you may not consider a weekend travel insurance plan for a short trip or vacation, which can make sense if your investment in the trip is on the smaller side. In other cases, the details of your weekend trip may make finding the right plan very beneficial.

A Quick Guide to Needing Weekend Trip Insurance

Are you traveling 100-150 miles from home?
Are you renting a house or a car?
Is your hotel room non-refundable?
Are you attending an event with prepaid tickets?
Are you taking part in an activity that may cause an injury?

A ‘yes’ to any of these questions means you’ll want to consider trip insurance for your getaway. Below we are going to dive in a little deeper to why.

How Far are You Traveling?

Most trip insurance will have a minimum number of miles that you must be traveling away from your home. While some plans have minimums as low as 50 miles, more often the plans will require you to travel more than 100 miles away from your home. And although it is rare, some plans do require you to travel more than 150 miles from your home to be insured.

Many people travel close to home for weekend trips, so a travel insurance plan may not even cover their trip. All of the plans will state this minimum in the full certificate. Your weekend away may be further than you think – so double check those miles. For instance, if you are traveling from Boston, MA to Stowe, VT, you’d qualify for 3 day travel insurance under this provision. With expanding airline offerings, it’s easy to travel abroad during a long weekend! If you have to pack your passport, you should always bring travel insurance with you too!

Are You Renting a Car?

If you are driving to your destination and are worried about the wear and tear on your vehicle, renting a car may be the best way to arrive at your destination safe and sound. Several travel insurance plans have an optional benefit for rental car collision coverage.

We always recommend contacting the rental car company to verify that they will allow a third party insurance to cover any mishaps with the car. Cover your bases and do this prior to purchasing the travel insurance plan in order to avoid under or overpaying for insurance coverage.

Are Your Accommodations Refundable?

These days hotel accommodations come in all shapes and sizes. Are you staying at a traditional hotel? An Airbnb? A vacation rental? Most importantly, is this accommodation refundable? A weekend trip insurance plan will only cover any pre-paid, non-refundable costs associated with your trip. If you have opted for accommodations without refund options, you can cover the cost of your accommodations to a temporary travel insurance plan.

Did You Purchase Event Tickets for Your Weekend Trip?

More often than not, any event tickets that you purchase will be non-refundable. If you are traveling for the weekend to cheer on your favorite sports team, run a road race, or see your favorite musician at an amphitheater; you should consider finding a plan that will cover those costs. Some short term travel insurance plans will allow you to include the cost of the event tickets in the trip cost. This may help you be reimbursed for the cost in the event that your trip is canceled or interrupted due to a covered reason.

Not all plans have this option, however, so be sure to read the plan details fully. Also, you can call our Customer Care center. Our licensed representatives can help you choose the plan that best fits your needs.

Are You Taking Part in a Once-in-a-lifetime Event?

If you are taking a weekend trip to the mountains for winter skiing, playing nine holes at an exclusive golf course, or for your once-in-a-lifetime skydiving experience, you may want to consider travel insurance with optional adventure sports benefits. Although not available with all plans, your plan could include specific add-on coverage for sports equipment, like golf clubs or skis. Other plans have riders and waivers that extend reasons for emergency medical care to include injuries due to adventure sports.

6 Tips for Traveling with Your Grandkids

Posted on July 29, 2015March 12, 2025 by [email protected]

Visiting with your grandkids is the perfect chance to build life long memories. They’ll feel special just having the chance to be with you, no matter what you have planned. But, as we all know, the key to a successful trip with your grandkiddos is preparation. Gone are the days of magnetized travel games, “I Spy” and the license plate game. Today, kids find digital entertainment at their fingertips, try to take the best vacation photos to share on SnapChat, and use their selfie stick to capture their best angle. It’s a new age of travel, but InsureMyTrip has the tips you need to be prepared for your next trip with your grandkids.

1. Keep Technology Handy

No matter the age of your grandkids, chances are they understand technology. Your toddler grandson probably has a favorite tablet game, and your 15-year-old granddaughter will probably take a selfie at every stop and she thinks her hair looks perfect.

If you are truly going to be ready for anything this trip, remember the device chargers. Technology could also help distract them from air pressure during a plane take off or give them additional fun facts while navigating through an unknown city.

2. Schedule Everything (or Almost Everything)

You are probably used to a little spontaneity on your trips, so this could be a change for you. But you may be thanking us in the long run. When planning your trip, take into account the age of your grandkids. While older kids may “go-with-the-flow” better than the younger, they will always look for something exciting and new. Try to include events that you all will love, like theme parks or biking tours.

If the kids are younger, keep in mind you’ll want to schedule around their naps. This will help you avoid an amazing day of events followed by a day of worn out little ones, too tired to enjoy all you have planned.

3. Stock Your Survival Kit

What goes into a survival kit? Depends on the children’s age. If you have toddlers with whom you are traveling, you’ll already have that diaper bag stocked with extra diapers, toys, snacks and juice boxes. It’s always advisable to bring an extra outfit (or two). If your grandkids are older, you may just need food, chargers for their devices and their cell phone numbers.

Keep in mind any allergies the kids may have to ensure you have the right medicine, and extra doses. Make sure that your older grandkids have your cell phone numbers too!

4. Have the Proper Documents

Typically, if you are flying you will need special documentation to get a boarding pass for the kids that are under the age of 16 (or don’t have a license). If you are traveling domestically, a birth certificate will probably be the only thing you need. Always check with the airline to double check. If you are flying internationally, you will need a passport and possibly proof you have permission to remove the children from the country. You can check with the FAA on the lastest flight infomation or your airline to verify this.

We also strongly recommend you do not travel (whether by plane, train, ship or automobile) without notarized documentation that you are allowed to make medical decisions on behalf of the child. This can save a lot of stress if something should happen while you are traveling and you cannot get a hold of the parents.

Lastly, if you purchase insurance for your trip, make sure you have copy of your plan! Some plans do allow you to include grandchildren on the same plan, but be sure to read the details of the plan prior to purchase. This will eliminate any claims process issues if you should need to use the plan.

5. Set Realistic Ground Rules

We know that some grandparents keep the rules a little loose, that’s half the fun! However, this may not be the best plan while traveling. Make sure your grandchildren understand the ground rules. Is there a curfew for the older kids? Do they need to keep their cell phone on them at all times? Do they need to have dinner with you every night? Set these rules before you leave for your trip and your time together will most likely be stress-free.

6. Spoil Them Rotten

Obviously. You are most likely traveling with them to do just that! Buy them that funnel cake at the fair. Get them that insanely expensive glow stick that will stop working in a few hours. Take tons of pictures and watch their smile light up the room. Because ultimately, that’s what traveling is all about – moments of happiness that you, and your grandkids, will never forget!

‘Meet Your Cruise’ Coverage

Posted on July 21, 2015January 14, 2026 by [email protected]

Okay – technically this coverage is called missed connection travel insurance coverage, but honestly “Meet Your Cruise” coverage sounds so much cooler. Essentially, if you choose a travel insurance plan with missed connection coverage, you may be eligible for reimbursement up to the stated amount and help reaching your cruise.

The reason for missing the launch of the cruise ship must be due to a covered reason, such as inclement weather that delays your flight for a certain number of hours (usually 3 hours). Each travel insurance plan varies the covered reasons so you’ll want to read the plan details to understand if you’ll qualify for reimbursement.

What is Covered for Missed Cruise Connections?

Sometimes other factors contribute to whether or not a travel insurance plan covers your missed connection for a cruise. You’ll want to make sure you factored in enough time to reach your cruise when scheduling your itinerary.

If your cruise launches at 4:00pm from the shores of Florida, you most likely want to be landing sometime early morning the same day. We always recommend giving yourself a day (or even two!) as extra cushion if you are traveling during a weather stricken season, like the winter or hurricane season.

Did You Exhaust Your Options?

The travel insurance company may want to have proof you tried your hardest to get to the cruise another way. Did you look into renting a car to drive there? Could the airline rebook you immediately? These things factor into reimbursement if you do need to file a claim for a missed connection. Also, most plans will ask if you have been reimbursed at all by the travel supplier, and this may factor into the reimbursement amount.

So worst case scenario: you’ve tried everything. All the flights are booked and you even gave yourself an extra day to meet the cruise on time, but you are still going to miss the launch. Contact your travel insurance company. They will be able to direct you through the best next steps. Some may allow you to choose how to reach your cruise, but others may book accommodations and connections for you to reach the next port of call. This all depends on your travel insurance plan and company.

Credit Card Trip Protection vs. Comprehensive Travel Insurance

Posted on July 16, 2015April 23, 2025 by [email protected]

InsureMyTrip researchers evaluated over 100 personal credit cards and found while many cards offer basic travel insurance perks, few offer emergency medical coverage or robust trip cancellation protection.

The findings suggest that travelers should review their credit card travel insurance policy to understand what exactly it covers — and what it doesn’t. “One big concern is when travelers assume their credit card offers trip protection coverage but do not check in advance of a trip,” says InsureMyTrip Director of Product Meghan Walch.

Does My Credit Card Have Travel Insurance?

Some credit cards do provide some travel insurance benefits. To find out whether your credit card provides any trip protection, contact the card company directly or check your credit card policy documents. Details regarding any potential refunds in the event of a canceled trip or other benefits, like baggage protection, should be stated in the benefits guide.

Credit Cards with Trip Cancellation & Travel Benefits

To help inform consumers, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most popular credit cards offering travel benefits, like trip cancellation & delay, baggage coverage, medical coverage, and more. This way, customers can easily compare benefits with traditional travel insurance plans.

	Trip Cancellation	Baggage Loss	Baggage Delay	Emergency Medical	Medical Evacuation	Trip Delay	Annual Credit Card Fee
IMG iTravelInsured Choice View Plan >>	100% Trip Cost	$1,000	6+ hours $300 max	$100,000 w/option to increase	$500,000 w/option to increase	6+ hours $1,000 max	n/a
John Hancock Silver View Plan >>	100% Trip Cost	$1,000	12+ hours $500 max	$100,000	$500,000	3+ hours $750 max	n/a
Chase Sapphire Preferred^®	$5,000	$3,000	6+ hours $500 max	X	X	12+ hours $500 max	$95
Chase Sapphire Reserve^®	$10,000	$3,000	6+ hours $500 max	$2,500	$100,000	6+ hours $500 max	$550
Chase Ink Business Preferred^®	$5,000	$3,000	6+ hours $500 max	X	X	12+ hours $500 max	$95
American Express Platinum^®	$10,000	$2,000	X	X	?	6+ hours $500 max	$695
American Express Business Platinum^®	$10,000	$3,000	X	X	?	6+ hours $500 max	$695
Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express	$10,000	$1,750	X	X	?	6+ hours $500 max	$550
Bank of America Premium Rewards^®	$2,500	?	6+ hours $500 max	?	?	12+ hours $500 max	$95
United Club^SM Infinite	$10,000	$3,000	6+ hours $300 max	X	X	12+ hours $500 max	$525

The above credit card travel benefits and limits are listed per person. In some cases the issuing bank does not specify the limits of the coverage, which is denoted by “?”. Hover for more information to see per person vs. per trip limits and annual limits as well as maximums for specific items and scenarios. This information is up to date as of publication, however, credit card companies may update, change, or remove benefits at any time.

Some premium credit cards may offer trip cancellation benefits. However, benefits vary significantly, and card users may have difficulty evaluating the scope of coverage.

How to find out: check your credit card policy for details on trip cancellation coverage. If you can’t find it, your card likely doesn’t offer it. You can also contact your card company and ask these types of questions to get clarification on limitations and other requirements:

What is the reimbursement limit per trip, per occurrence, and maximum benefit per year?
What are the covered reasons, restrictions, limitations, and exclusions?
Does the credit card travel insurance coverage extend to my family?
Do you cover longer trips? (most don’t)

Cardholders must also use the card for travel purchases in order to be eligible for coverage.

What is the Best Credit Card for Travel Insurance?

According to a recent Business Insider article – some premier cards like Chase Sapphire Reserve and Capital One Venture X Reward cards offer travel insurance for trip cancellation and baggage loss. However, there may still be significant coverage limits and limitations that travelers should be aware of. To learn more, travelers should compare benefits and coverage for a variety of charge cards before selecting the right one. Credit card review sites are a good resource for comparison research.

Credit Card Travel Insurance vs. Travel Insurance

Bottom line — your credit card may offer some protection. However, it will not provide the same amount of coverage available from traditional travel insurance.

A comprehensive travel insurance plan purchased from InsureMyTrip can cover the entire trip cost in addition to providing key benefits including emergency medical coverage, emergency medical evacuation, trip interruption, trip delay, baggage coverage, and 24/7 emergency assistance. Typically, these plans will run 4-8 percent of a total trip cost.

Travelers seeking additional assistance when evaluating their travel insurance options can contact a licensed travel insurance agent for help.

Domestic Travel Insurance

Posted on June 30, 2015July 30, 2025 by [email protected]

I bet you are asking yourself: Why do I need travel insurance when I’m traveling in the United States? Maybe you thought travel insurance was just for overseas trips.

Honestly, you may not need to insure every trip within the continental United States. If you’re taking a 2-hour drive to your family beach house, you are probably not worried about trip delays due to weather or losing a bag along the way. Some trips just don’t call for travel insurance.

A travel insurance plan may be beneficial any time you travel more than 100 miles away from home AND have a travel investment you’d like to protect. Many benefits would be useful even if you aren’t traveling internationally. Why 100 miles? Some plans only provide coverage for trips that are a specific distance away from your home – this requirement varies by domestic travel insurance plan, so check out the plan certificate if your destination is fewer than 200 miles away from your residence.

Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption

The benefits of trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage should not be ignored. The covered reasons for canceling a trip can range from severe weather that renders your accommodations uninhabitable, to unforeseen illness or injury of a traveler or non-traveling family member. These same circumstances may cause you to need to end your trip early and return home. Trip interruption coverage can make that process less stressful. Even if you’re only flying to another part of the country, these mishaps can affect your trip. Domestic travel insurance can reimburse your pre-paid, non-refundable trip cost if you have to cancel or interrupt your trip due to unforeseen reasons covered within the plan.

Cancel for Any Reason Gives You the Most Flexibility

Think you may need to cancel for a reason not covered in your plan? You should consider a plan that allows you to add optional Cancel for Any Reason coverage. This benefit gives you the flexibility to cancel for any reason at all up to 48 hours before the trip. This benefit reimburses up to 75% of your pre-paid, non-refundable trip cost, is time-sensitive and, depending on the plan, the benefit must be purchased within 10–21 days after your first trip payment. This type of coverage is something that must be considered nearly immediately upon booking any part of a trip. All pre-paid, non-refundable trip costs must be insured to be eligible for this benefit.

Baggage Coverage

If you are traveling with one or two stops along the way, it’s very possible your luggage won’t make it to your destination at the same time as you. Comprehensive travel insurance plans include baggage delay benefits if your luggage is delayed over a specific number of hours. This allows you to purchase the essentials when you arrive at your destination and submit a claim for reimbursement when you return. Hint: Save all your receipts, as these are essential for filing a successful claim!

Emergency Medical Coverage

Even when traveling domestically, we recommend contacting your health insurance company while you’re planning your trip to determine if you are covered in the location to which you are traveling to avoid surprises. Emergency medical coverage in a comprehensive travel insurance plan often acts as secondary health insurance. In many cases, you must file any emergency medical claim with your health insurance first. If this claim is denied, then you can file a claim with the travel insurance company for reimbursement for medical emergencies covered by your plan.

Cruise Specific Coverage

Some comprehensive plans will provide different coverage more specific for cruises, such as missed connection coverage if you should miss the initial departure of your cruise ship due to a covered reason. Travel insurance may offer reimbursement, up to the plan limit, for the additional cost it takes to meet up with your cruise.

For example, if you are cruising through the Hawaiian Islands and a covered flight delay causes you to miss the cruise departure, you may be able to book a puddle jumper to get you to the next island to meet your cruise and then file for reimbursement of the extra expense. Also, if your excursions are pre-paid and non-refundable before departure, you may be entitled to a limited compensation if your cruise itinerary is changed after departure by the cruise line and you are not able to participate in the activity at all.

Insuring Trips to the Caribbean

Posted on June 18, 2015July 30, 2025 by [email protected]

Our customers love the Caribbean! Year after year the region continues to be one of the most popular travel destinations for InsureMyTrip customers and why wouldn’t it be? Whether you’re looking for a resort nestled in the jungle, in the rocky cliffs of an island shore or stretched along a white sand beach, the Caribbean has a spot you can call your own. Travelers can get there easily, making it the perfect destination for a weekend getaway or an extended escape. Whatever your type of travel, there are many risks that you may face. You’ll want a comprehensive travel insurance plan that offers coverage for the unique needs of those traveling to this island region. Finding the right Caribbean travel insurance coverage for your trip doesn’t have to be stressful – you just need to know where to look.

Coverage for Caribbean Cruises

The task of choosing the best Caribbean travel insurance plan shouldn’t seem like a full-time job on its own. Pick a plan that offers coverage for the specific needs of this type of the journey. For instance, if you are cruising and miss the ship as it departs from the port of call due to a covered reason – the right Caribbean travel insurance plan may reimburse you for the costs of catching up with the ship at the next port.

Medical emergencies can become exponentially more expensive if you need an emergency medical evacuation during your trip. If your condition is too serious to be treated by the doctor on board the cruise ship, you may be brought to a hospital at a nearby port.

If the hospital can’t give you the proper care, the comprehensive travel plans offer assistance services that can help arrange an evacuation to the nearest hospital that can treat you properly. You’ll have peace of mind knowing that the assistance company can help you access proper care in the event you face a covered injury or illness.

Coverage for Hurricanes

The Caribbean Islands are the heart of Hurricane Alley. Between June 1st and November 30th every year, these islands experience a higher risk of hurricanes. Those dates are also the peak travel season for most vacationers.

A plan that offers trip cancellation and interruption is essential as there are many perils that you may face while traveling to the Caribbean, such as unexpected illness or injury to weather related delays causing complete cessation of your common carrier.

In the event a hurricane hits an area that your cruise is set to sail through, the ship will most likely be diverted or held at another port. In the event you have pre-paid, non-refundable excursions, some plans offer coverage that would reimburse (up to a specified amount) for events or activities that you miss if the cruise line to changes the itinerary.

Coverage for Baggage Loss or Delay

Did you know that federal regulation mandates that a passenger travels on the same airplane as their baggage? It prevents travelers from switching connecting flights when flying over the border, but it doesn’t always stop luggage from being lost, damaged or delayed.

If you arrive at your Caribbean destination and your baggage does not, your plan could cover, up to a specified amount, the cost of replacing items that you need (like necessary clothes or toiletries) until your baggage arrives. You’ll have to start the claims process when you return from your trip, so save your receipts!

Coverage for Medical Emergencies

No surprises here, Caribbean trip insurance can help to reimburse you for the cost of medical emergencies while abroad. We recommend you look closely at the medical deductibles, limits and coverage exclusions in your plan to ensure the coverage meets your needs.

It’s important to feel safe and secure when you’re traveling as accidents do happen. The last thing you want to do is end a dream vacation with the financial burden from a hospital stay or emergency medical evacuation.

Countries in the Caribbean

Antigua and Barbuda
The Bahamas
Barbados
Cuba
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Grenada
Haiti
Jamaica
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago

Territories in the Caribbean

Puerto Rico (U.S.)
Virgin Islands (U.S.)
Virgin Islands (U.K.)
Cayman Islands (U.K.)
Turks and Caicos Islands (U.K.)
Anguilla (U.K.)
Monserrat (U.K.)
Martinique (France)
Guadeloupe (France)
St. Bart’s (France)
Saint Martin (France)
Curaçao (Netherlands)
Aruba (Netherlands)
Sint Maarten (Netherlands)
Caribbean Netherlands (Netherlands)

Glossary

Posted on May 28, 2015February 5, 2025 by [email protected]

Definitions of travel insurance terms used in policy language and throughout the site. Jump to a specific letter below.

A

Accident: A sudden, unexpected, unusual, specific event that occurs at an identifiable
time and place, and may include exposure resulting from a mishap to a
transport in which you are traveling.
Accidental Injury: Bodily injury to a covered person as a direct result of an accident.
Accommodation: Accommodation.
Actual Cash Value: The purchase price of an item, less depreciation since purchase.

B

Baggage: Personal property you take on your trip and the containers used to carry it.
Bankruptcy: The filing of a petition for voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy in a court
of competent jurisdiction under Chapter 7 or Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
Bodily Injury: Identifiable physical injury caused by an accident, independent of disease or infirmity.
Business Partner: An individual in a legal partnership and/or actively involved in day-to-day management.

C

Common Carrier: Any land, sea, or air conveyance operating under a valid license for the transportation of passengers for hire.
Covered Reasons: The specific situations and events that are covered by a specific coverage or policy.

D

Deductible: The dollar amount you must contribute to the loss.
Default: A material failure or inability to provide contracted services due to financial insolvency.
Dependent: Your lawful spouse or unmarried children under 19 years of age.
Destination: A place more than 100 miles from your primary residence where you spend more than 24 hours of your trip.
Domestic Partner: A person who is at least eighteen years of age and you can show: 1) evidence of financial interdependence, such as joint bank accounts or credit cards, jointly owned property, and mutual life insurance or pension beneficiary designations; 2) evidence of cohabitation for at least the previous 6 months; and 3) an affidavit of domestic partnership if recognized by the jurisdiction within which they reside.

E

Economy Fare: The lowest published rate for an economy ticket.
Effective Date: The date and time your travel insurance coverage begins. This varies based on the type of plan purchased.
Elective Treatment and Procedures: Any medical treatment or surgical procedure that is not medically necessary including any service, treatment, or supplies that are deemed by the federal, or a state or local government authority, or by us to be research or experimental or that is not recognized as a generally accepted medical practice.
Epidemic: An outbreak of a contagious disease that spreads rapidly and widely and that is identified as an epidemic by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Exotic Vehicles: Expensive cars that may not be covered by a policy, including cars such as Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Auburn, Avanti, Bentley, Bertone, BMC/Leyland, BMW M Series, Bradley, Bricklin, Cosworth, Citroen, Clenet, De Lorean, Excalibre, Ferrari, Fiat, Iso, Jaguar, Jensen Healy, Lamborghini, Lancia, Lotus, Maserati, Morgan, Pantera, Panther, Pininfarina, Rolls Royce, Rover, Stutz, Sterling, Triumph, TVR, Yugo, Corvette, Mercedes Benz, Porsche, and MG. If you are renting a car on this list or similar to cars on this list, you should contact the provider before purchasing the policy.

F

Family Member: Your dependent, son or daughter (including adopted and those who are in the process of becoming adopted, foster, step or in-law), domestic partner’s son or daughter (including adopted and those who are in the process of becoming adopted, foster, step or in-law), brother or sister (including step or in-law), parent (including step or in-law), grandparent (including step or in-law), grandchild (including adopted and those who are in the process of becoming adopted, foster or step), aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, guardian, or ward.
Financial Insolvency: The total cessation or complete suspension of operations due to insolvency, with or without the filing of a bankruptcy petition, whether voluntary or involuntary, by a tour operator, cruise line, airline, rental car company, hotel, condominium, railroad, motor coach company, or other supplier of travel services which is duly licensed in the state(s) of operation other than the entity or the person, organization, agency or firm from whom you directly purchased or paid for your covered trip. There is no coverage for the total cessation or complete suspension of operations for losses caused by fraud or negligent misrepresentation by the supplier of travel services.

H

Hazard: (a) Any delay of a common carrier (including inclement weather); (b) any delay by a traffic accident en route to a departure, in which you or a traveling companion is not directly involved; (c) any delay due to lost or stolen passports, travel documents or money, quarantine, hijacking, unannounced strike, natural disaster, civil commotion or riot; (d) a closed roadway causing cessation of travel to the destination of the trip (substantiated by the department of transportation, state police, etc.).
Hospital: A facility that (a) holds a valid license if it is required by the law; (b) operates primarily for the care and treatment of sick or injured persons as in-patients; (c) has a staff of one or more physicians available at all times; (d) provides twenty-four (24)-hour nursing service and has at least one registered professional nurse on duty or call; (e) has organized diagnostic and surgical facilities, either on the premises or in facilities available to the hospital on a prearranged basis; and (f) is not, except incidentally, a clinic, nursing home, rest home, or convalescent home for the aged, or similar institution.
Host at Destination: A person with whom you are sharing pre-arranged overnight accommodations at the host’s usual principal place of residence.

I

Illness: Sickness, infirmity or disease. It doesn’t include conditions you already had or knew about when you purchased your plan.
Inclement Weather: Any severe weather condition that delays the scheduled arrival or departure of a common carrier.
Injury: Bodily harm caused by an accident which: 1) occurs while your coverage is in effect under the plan; and 2) requires examination and treatment by a physician. The Injury must be the direct cause of loss and must be independent of all other causes and must not be caused by, or result from, sickness.
Insured: An eligible person who arranges a covered trip, and pays any required plan payment.
Inpatient: Someone who receives medical or dental treatment while registered as a bed patient in a hospital or other licensed provider. Room and board is charged for the patient’s stay, in addition to charges for medical treatment and care.

L

Land/Sea Arrangements: Any activities undertaken by you while in the individual coverage term.
Loss: Injury or damage sustained by you in consequence of happening of one or more of the occurrences against which the company has undertaken to indemnify you.

M

Maximum Benefit: The largest total amount of covered expenses that the company will pay for your covered losses.
Medical Condition: A physical condition you have, or have symptoms of, that you have seen or been advised to see a doctor about; have symptoms of that would cause a prudent person to see a doctor; and/or are taking prescribed medication for.
Medically Necessary: Treatment that’s appropriate for your illness or injury, consistent with your symptoms, and that can safely be provided to you. It meets the standards of good medical practice and isn’t for your convenience or the provider’s convenience.

N

Natural Disaster: A large-scale extreme weather or environmental event that damages property, disrupts transportation, or endangers people. Examples include: earthquake, fire, flood, hurricane or volcanic eruption.

O

Outpatient: Someone who receives medical or dental treatment but doesn’t have to stay at a hospital for overnight care.

P

Pandemic: An epidemic over a wide geographic area that affects a large portion of the population.
Physician: A licensed practitioner of medical, surgical or dental services acting within the scope of his or her license. The treating physician may not be you, a traveling companion, or a family member.
Pre-Existing Condition: Any injury, sickness or condition of you, or your traveling companion, your family member booked to travel with you for which within the 60-180 period prior to the effective date of Trip Cancellation coverage under the policy (a) first manifested itself or exhibited symptoms which would have caused one to seek diagnosis, care or treatment; (b) required taking prescribed drugs or medicine, unless the condition for which the prescribed drug or medicine is taken remains controlled without any change in the required prescription; or (c) required medical treatment or treatment was recommended by a physician. The Pre-Existing Conditions exclusion is waived for you if you enroll in the plan at the time you pay the deposit required for the trip (or within 10-30 days of the initial deposit) and you purchase the coverage under the plan for the full cost of the trip.

Q

Quarantine: Mandatory isolation or restrictions on where you can go, intended to stop a contagious disease from spreading.

R

Reasonable and Customary Costs: What customers would usually be charged for a specific service in a particular geographic area. The charges are appropriate to the availability of the service, and of skilled and licensed service providers.
Refund: Cash or a credit or voucher for future travel that you get from a travel agent, tour operator, airline, cruise line or other travel supplier, or any credit, recovery or reimbursement you get from your employer, another insurance company, a credit card issuer or any other entity.

S

Scheduled Departure Date: The date on which you are originally scheduled to leave on the trip.
Scheduled Return Date: The date on which you are originally scheduled to return to the point of origin or to a different final destination.
Severe Weather: Hazardous weather conditions, like fog, a hailstorm or severe rainstorm, a blizzard, or an ice storm.
Sickness: An illness or disease which is diagnosed or treated by a physician after the effective date of insurance and while you are covered under the policy.
Strike: Any unannounced labor disagreement that interferes with the normal departure and arrival of a common carrier.
Subrogation: Steps the travel insurance company takes, after paying a claim, to collect from other available sources such as other insurance plans or travel suppliers.

T

Travel Supplier: A tour operator, airline, cruise line or other travel service provider.
Traveling Companion: A person booked to accompany you on your trip. A group or tour leader is not considered a traveling companion unless you are sharing room accommodations with the group or tour leader.
Trip: Prepaid land or sea arrangements and shall include flight connections to join or depart such land or sea arrangements provided such flights are scheduled to commence within one day of the land or sea arrangements.

U

Unlawful Acts: Felonies committed by you, a traveling companion, or a family member, even if the family member isn’t covered by your plan.
Uninhabitable: A natural disaster, fire, flood, burglary, or vandalism causes enough damage to make a reasonable person find their home unfit for use.

Who is Covered in My Travel Insurance Plan?

Posted on May 28, 2015July 23, 2025 by [email protected]

Are my kids included in this plan? What if my father is injured at home when I’m away? Can my girlfriend/boyfriend be on my plan too?

First, for the most part, you can insure all the travelers on one plan. The InsureMyTrip online quote tool allows you to insure up to 10 travelers under the age of 100. It is crucial you include the ages of all the travelers in the quoting process for them to be included in the coverage.

Each provider and each plan has a different way of addressing types of travelers and non-travelers. It’s crucial to understand how the plan covers each person. If you have to file a claim at any point, this information will help the process remain stress-free.

Children

Insuring your kids when you travel is worth it. Kids are wacky with wild imaginations that sometimes result in scrapes, bruises or even broken bones. Not to mention, they are germ magnets! Whether you are traveling domestically or internationally, adding your children to your travel insurance plan will add a level of security to your travel investment that may be the most at risk. Don’t let another ear infection cost you hundreds of dollars in rescheduling or cancellation fees!

Huge Benefit: Many providers have plans that cover your children at no additional cost.

Residing in Different States

If travelers live in different states, you’ll most likely need two plans. While some providers may have the ability to sell plans to residents of different states, it’s rare. Most states have their own regulations for travel insurance, meaning the plan details can be different for each traveler.

Huge Benefit: Any necessary claims process will be streamlined with two plans because you won’t need to gather documentation across state lines.

Domestic Partners

If you are traveling with a girlfriend or boyfriend that you live with, you can both be covered by the same policy. Most providers include a domestic partner as a family member. Typically, in the case of a claim, providers may request proof of cohabitation and financial interdependence (credit card statements, joint accounts or a shared lease agreement). In some cases, providers may want to see an affidavit of domestic partnership, if recognized by your state.

Huge Benefit: This documentation also can extend to benefits if a domestic partner is a non-traveler.

Non-Travelers

Remember, coverage and benefits extend to only travelers. Your travel medical coverage will not help a non-traveler and they cannot file a claim for lost baggage. Your travel insurance plan does, however, cover you for travel interruption, cancellation or delay in the case of a non-traveler causing this need. For example, if one of a parent falls and breaks a hip or a child becomes ill. It may be prudent to ask about how pre-existing conditions affect the plan as many providers look at this differently for travelers and non-travelers alike.

Huge Benefit: You can get home as soon as possible without worry about your travel costs if you are needed at home due to illness or death of a family member.