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How Does Travel Insurance Work?

How Does Travel Insurance Work

Travel insurance is a safety net that you can purchase to help you protect your travel investment in case of unexpected events that have a negative impact on your travel plans. It works quite similarly to other insurance policies in the following ways:

  1. Purchase travel insurance before anything actually happens to disrupt your trip. Once the event has occurred, like an act of terrorism, illness or severe weather, you can no longer purchase a plan to cover that or any related events.
  2. Read the chosen plan carefully before buying it. You’ll want to understand exactly what your insurance company will cover and what they won’t.
  3. Provide documentation of your issue while filing a claim. This documentation could be a medical bill, statement from the airline or a flight schedule depending on the situation.
  4. Pay your own costs up-front (most likely). Travel insurance primarily works in a reimbursement structure. You will get reimbursed from the travel insurance company if they approve your claim.

Travel insurance is available for a wide variety of concerns, from delays or cancellation of your trip to medical and evacuation services. Frequently, travelers who are looking for plans end up buying comprehensive travel insurance plans. The right comprehensive plan can provide coverage for a number of things and will include varying levels of coverage for trip cancellation and interruption, some baggage loss and medical emergencies. Some will also offer additional or optional coverage such as a waiver of pre-existing conditions, accidental death or the Cancel for Any Reason benefit.

Travel Insurance Quote Link

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.

How Does Age Affect Travel Insurance Rates?

How Age Affects Travel InsuranceWhen you begin entering information to obtain a quote, you will be prompted to enter the travelers’ ages. Regardless of how far away your trip is, enter your age as of the date of purchasing the insurance. This is one of the three pieces of information that will go into determining the cost of an insurance policy, along with trip cost and the length of your trip. Also, besides just affecting the cost, travelers ages may have an impact on the benefits offered by specific policies.

Typically, as your age goes up, so will the rates of insurance. This can work in reverse also. Some companies will offer a lower rate on comprehensive policies if you are traveling with minors.

When it comes to benefits, there usually won’t be much of a change in the comprehensive policies. On the single-trip medical plans though, travelers 80 years of age or older may be limited to $10,000 of medical coverage, and travelers in their 70’s may be limited to $50,000, depending on the company. On the other end of the spectrum, children who are insured under an Accidental Death policy may be limited to a death benefit of $25,000 as opposed to the more common $100,000 or higher for adults.

Travelers of all ages are encouraged to consider their itinerary, health, and family when choosing a travel insurance policy. In some cases, age can play a part in the way we plan a trip and the coverages we prioritize. Groups or families with travelers of all ages can often be covered with a single travel insurance plan. InsureMyTrip has thousands of policies for travelers to compare.

Travel Insurance for Over 50

Whether travelers over 50 are going abroad for business, seeking adventure activities, or want to relax while the kids play, rest assured that there are suitable coverages for many types of trips. Adventurous travelers planning a vacation that includes sporty activities like surfing or skiing might be inclined to add a hazardous sports rider to their plan. Travel medical plans need this rider to cover treatment for any injuries related to risky activities.

For golf trips, we highly recommend comprehensive travel insurance plans which may include coverage for medical expenses, trip cancellations, and lost or damaged luggage. These coverages do have their own limits, so be sure to review the details of your plan before purchasing. Special considerations should be taken for high-value items like expensive golf gear.

Some travelers in their 50s are empty nesters or have children at home. If you want to travel without your kids, certain travel insurance coverage like trip interruption can offer reimbursement for a trip if you need to return home early for covered medical reasons. Trip interruption can take affect whether something happens to a traveler on the trip or to an immediate family member back at home. The details of your policy will offer the most up-to-date information on these benefits.

Travel Insurance for Over 60

Travelers over 60 years old often prioritize travel medical insurance to address their personal health concerns while traveling. A comprehensive travel insurance plan may include health- and travel-related benefits alike to give travelers the greatest amount of protection during a trip. Mature travelers tend to plan their trips more carefully, but even the most well-planned trips may be subject to some unavoidable circumstances.

Cancellations are sometimes necessary for a variety of reasons. Whether it be due to family, weather, a medical event, or something else, travel insurance may include coverages to reimburse travelers who can’t attend their planned trip. Trip Cancellation and Cancel For Any Reason may be able to refund travelers for otherwise nonrefundable expenses. These coverages may prove to be especially useful for travelers in their 60s who plan to go abroad with their kids or older parents, or who have older parents back at home.

Historically, travelers over 60 are also more likely to travel at least twice annually. Recurring trips can be insured to save travelers time when they know they’ll be taking another trip in the future.

Travel Insurance for Over 70

At 65, U.S. passport-holders may be wondering whether Medicare can cover medical treatment in another country. Unfortunately, the answer is usually no. Supplemental plans with some additional coverage may be available from Medicare.gov, but these plans do still have limits for international travelers. Travelers over 65 are recommended to understand these limitations and fill in any gaps in healthcare coverage with travel medical insurance.

When traveling at 70 years old or above, it becomes increasingly important to know how to travel to another country with prescription medications.

Travel Insurance for Over 75

Lost baggage or travel delays can take a toll on travelers of any age but may be especially difficult for those over 75. It may become necessary to purchase meals, essential items, or a hotel room during a longer delay, and your travel insurance plan may be able to offer some reimbursement with necessary expenses when your delay meets the minimum requirements. Be sure to keep receipts from your purchases when planning to make a claim.

As for activities, laid-back leisures like wine tasting and river cruising are common among the itineraries of travelers over 75. Trips that include activities such as fishing with your own equipment may also benefit from travel insurance for lost and damaged luggage. Travel medical coverage is always recommended for trips away from home for the greatest peace of mind.

Travel Insurance for Over 80

The itinerary of a traveler over 80 years old may include fewer “high-risk” activities, but international travel is always made up of unpredictable elements and having sufficient coverage is vital. Though travel insurance coverage limits for travelers over 80 may be lower, some travel insurance companies can insure travelers up to 100 years old.

By entering your age and trip details into InsureMyTrip’s travel insurance quote generator, our systems will automatically filter through hundreds of plans by your input criteria to find the most relevant plans for your trip.

Travel Insurance for Over 85

As we get older, the importance of great healthcare coverage only increases. This is especially true when traveling, as there are so many variables involved even in recurring trips and things like sudden injury or illness may require emergency treatment or even evacuation. Travelers over 85 may be at greater risk of weakened immune systems and may consider plans that offer higher medical limits when going abroad.

Travelers over 85 years old who are going on a cruise may especially want to consider travel insurance due to the unique, multi-leg nature of traveling by ship. In fact, cruise travel insurance is highly recommended not only for travelers in their 80s, but for all age groups when traveling by sea.

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.

A.M. Best Ratings

AM Best Insurance Ratings

When we select to work with a travel insurance provider, we look closely at the financial stability of that provider’s underwriters, as measured by A.M. Best ratings. We display these financial ratings when you are comparing plans. We also include the A.M. Best rating scale in a list format on this page to help you make an easy, well-informed decision when selecting the right travel insurance plan. Take a look at the guide below to understand how each A.M. Best rating is derived, ranked, and sorted into the list. With a little research, you can feel more confident about the A.M. Best insurance rating system and your selected travel insurance.

Provider Underwriter A.M. Best Rating Effective Date
National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh A 01/26/2024
Generali US Branch A 12/08/2023
Arch Insurance Company A+ 03/11/2024
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company A 12/07/2023
Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection Logo Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company A++ 03/28/2024
United States Fire Insurance Company A 08/03/2023
Generali US Branch A 12/08/2023
4 Ever Life Insurance Company A 07/26/2023
C&F Cayman SPC for and on behalf of ITI SP A 08/03/2023
HDI Global Specialty SE A+ 12/20/2023
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company A 12/07/2023
C&F Cayman SPC for and on behalf of ITI SP A 08/03/2023
HDI Global Specialty SE A+ 12/20/2023
SiriusPoint Specialty Insurance Corporation (medical plans) A- 04/26/2024
United States Fire Insurance Company (comprehensive plans) A 08/03/2024
SiriusPoint America Insurance Company (comprehensive plans) A- 04/26/2024
Starr Indemnity & Liability Company A 12/13/2023
Manulife Logo The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company A+ 08/10/2023
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company A 12/07/2023
Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s (medical plans) A 07/21/2021
United States Specialty Insurance Company A 10/27/2023
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company A++ 03/28/2024
United States Fire Insurance Company A 08/03/2023
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company A 12/07/2023
Arch Insurance Company A+ 03/11/2024

MedjetAssist and International SOS are membership programs and not rated by A.M. Best scale:

MedjetAssist is a prepaid, air medical transportation membership program – not a travel insurance policy or healthcare plan. Lloyd’s of London underwrites the program to guarantee that a transport will be available to every MedjetAssist member in a time of need.
International SOS Logo International SOS is a global assistance company that specializes in emergency medical evacuation. In the event of an epidemic or security incident, International SOS will provide an immediate response for peace of mind.

FINANCIAL STRENGTH RATINGS

A.M. Best’s Financial Strength Rating (FSR) is an opinion of an insurer’s ability to meet its obligations to policyholders. The following list outlines A.M. Best’s rating scale and associated descriptions.

SECURE

A++, A+ (Superior)
A, A- (Excellent)
B++, B+ (Good)
B, B- (Fair)

VULNERABLE

C++, C+ (Marginal)
C, C- (Weak)
D (Poor)

For the latest rating, access www.ambest.com

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.

When Should I Buy Travel Insurance?

Link to Receive Travel Insurance Quote

A common question we are asked is, “When should I buy travel insurance?” Our customers know a plan is important but aren’t sure of the “travel insurance sweet spot”. Do they purchase before a trip is booked? The same day it’s scheduled? After the trip is paid off? Before or after they depart?

There are only three “rules” about when to buy a travel insurance plan:

  1. After your first trip payment is made. If you want to purchase a comprehensive plan to cover trip cancellation, we recommend you do it after making at least one payment towards your trip, but some plans require you to have already put money down. You will want to have a good grasp of your total expected trip cost. This will allow you to get the most accurate quote for the right travel insurance plan.
  2. As close to that first payment as possible. If you need coverage for a pre-existing medical condition or are interested in optional Cancel for Any Reason coverage, you should be aware that both of these have time-sensitive eligibility requirements tied to your initial trip payment (among other requirements). In other words, once you’ve paid for a part of the trip (whether it’s airfare, accommodations or a down payment for a cruise) you have a limited amount of time to buy a plan to access these benefits.
  3. Prior to when the plan is needed. You must purchase travel insurance coverage before it is needed. Some travel medical plans are available for purchase after you have departed, but comprehensive plans that include medical coverage must be purchased before departing. However, you can’t buy any medical coverage once you recognize a need for medical attention. The same applies to all travel insurance coverage. Once you recognize the need, it is too late to protect your trip.

So, in reviewing the three rules, you may still be a little confused on that “travel insurance sweet spot.” We tell travelers to prepare early. As soon as you book and make an initial payment on your trip, start comparing travel insurance plans.

Last Minute Travel Insurance

Travel isn’t always meticulously planned. While many of us like to take the scrupulous approach of scheduling things months in advance, making sure each hotel is booked, each flight secured, each detail firmly in place well ahead of our anticipated departure, there’s no denying that some trips just don’t work that way. Sometimes travel opportunities sneak up on us quite unexpectedly – whether from sheer spontaneity or something more serious that requires us to make hasty arrangements. Just because the planning phase has to be shortened considerably doesn’t mean that travelers should be any less proactive about buying a last-minute travel insurance policy to cover them in the event something goes awry. We’re fond of reminding travelers to purchase their travel insurance immediately after making their first trip deposit, so they’ll have access to all the potential benefits and options available. But what happens if the initial trip deposit and the trip itself go practically hand-in-hand?

Don’t Worry About Fancy Benefits

While Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) policies are extremely popular with many travelers, for good reason, they’re probably not where you want to focus your search if you’re about to depart. CFAR is intended to help you out if you choose to cancel your trip for any reason that’s not stated as being covered on your travel insurance policy. However, if you’re putting together a last-minute itinerary, chances are you won’t be changing your mind. Also, since CFAR policies require you to cancel – and notify all of your travel suppliers of your decision – a minimum of two days prior to your departure, last-minute travelers may not have time on their sides.

Do Keep Up with the News

If you’re planning to depart quickly, you should scan the news and weather for any events that may disrupt your trip. It’s likely that anything you find will not be covered by your travel insurance policy; since travel insurance is only for unforeseen events, any hurricane threats, possible airline strikes, or other threats to your travel experience that are already being discussed in the media will more often than not be considered “known perils” and won’t be covered. Obviously, if you’re determined to travel, you should still purchase a last-minute travel insurance policy to possibly cover other disruptions, but it’s best to enter into your travel insurance purchase having a realistic expectation about what benefits are truly available to you.

Take Advantage of Time-Sensitive Benefits

The good news about being in a hurry is that, since you’ll be purchasing your last-minute travel insurance soon after you’ve made your first payment on the trip, you may be eligible for some very helpful benefits that aren’t offered to travelers who wait. Items like pre-existing conditions waivers offer valuable coverage, but are only available if you buy travel insurance within 10-21 days of your initial trip payment. That’s good news for last-minute travelers.

While some plans only offering post-departure benefits can be purchased last minute (single-trip travel medical, evacuation memberships or Accidental Death & Dismemberment plans), we advise not to wait when considering plans with pre-departure benefits like a comprehensive plan.

Travel Insurance Quote Link

WHEN TO PURCHASE COVERAGE FOR CANADIAN CUSTOMERS

Only a few travel insurance companies on InsureMyTrip offer plans that cover medical emergencies and evacuation as well as cancellation, delay, and baggage. Some companies offer cancellation-only plans as well. All plans available on InsureMyTrip must be purchased before you leave Canada, you cannot purchase any of these plans once you have departed. Importantly, you cannot purchase coverage for only a portion of your trip; you must fully insure it. If you do not, then the plan would be considered invalid and not provide coverage.

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.

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