Do I Need Travel Insurance?
You may need travel insurance to get protection if you cancel an expensive, nonrefundable vacation or cover for medical emergencies or baggage loss.
About Travel Insurance
You don’t want to be the passenger left staring at an increasingly empty baggage carousel that still hasn’t delivered your checked suitcase. Or to board a plane that departs so late that no matter how fast you sprint, the gate for your connecting flight is closed by the time you get there. Or to find that your itinerary will include an unplanned visit to the local hospital’s emergency room.
But these things can happen. How helpful will travel insurance coverage be for you in those scenarios? That depends on your risk tolerance, how well prepared you feel to handle problems on your own and whether you’d prefer to have backup from someone who deals with these issues on a daily basis. What’s right for you may depend on many factors, such as whether you’re an experienced or novice traveler, whether you’re visiting a domestic or unfamiliar international destination and whether you’re traveling solo or with a group.
- Am I required to buy travel insurance?
- Do my travel plans merit travel insurance?
- Am I willing to risk losing my cost contribution for this trip?
- What protection do I already have from my airline carrier or credit card?
- Do I have a pre-existing medical condition? How Does Travel Insurance Work?
- What does AXA Travel Protection cover?
What’s Your Personal Risk Assessment?
The potential loss in case of unfavourable event during the trip varies for each traveler. It would depend upon factors like how much of the trip is prepaid, the refundability of the flight or cruise tickets, value of the luggage, your destination or what coverage you already have like health insurance or renters insurance. To help you make the best decision if you need travel insurance for your trip, consider:
Am I required to buy travel insurance?
Cruise lines and tour operators may require you to buy travel insurance as a condition of participating in the cruise or tour. It’s important for you to choose a policy that provides the right amount of coverage for your circumstances (including, for example, any independent travel you may have planned for before or after the packaged tour) so you can relax and enjoy your holiday.
Do my travel plans merit travel insurance?
Factors for you to consider: Will your health insurance cover medical emergencies while you’re away from home? Will you check baggage on a flight? Are you renting a car at your destination? Do your plans include engaging in adventure sports? Are you traveling to a country or region where the State Department urges taking extra precautions? Think about your travel plans and any specific risks that may be involved.
Am I willing to risk losing my cost contribution for this trip?
How much have you pre-paid for your travels, and how much of money would you lose if you had to cancel unexpectedly? Don’t forget to include nonrefundable costs like hotel accommodations that provided a rate reduction in return for payment in advance. If you have significant non-refundable costs, travel insurance can offer a way to recover those expenses (depending upon the policy limit) in case of trip cancellation or interruption.
What protection do I already have from my airline carrier or credit card?
If you’ve purchased new luggage or camera equipment for this trip, your credit card may provide extended coverage against damage, loss or theft. You may get complimentary credit card travel insurance when they use their card to book travel-related expenses. Your airline carrier may have certain obligations to you in the event of certain flight delays or cancelations. Check your agreements to learn the limits of those protections and avoid unpleasant surprises once you’re on your trip.
What if a have a pre-existing medical condition?
You may qualify for protection that enables you to travel without worrying about how you’ll manage if you need medical assistance for that condition while you’re traveling.
So if next time you find yourself wondering, 'Do I need travel insurance?' take a moment to evaluate the potential risks of your journey and the value of protecting your costs. Travel insurance is designed to minimize your stress while you’re away from home. Whether you’re dealing with major disruptions or minor inconveniences, you can travel with greater confidence knowing you have a travel insurance policy and a team of professionals backing you up.
What does travel insurance not cover?
If you are involved in an accident or incident while participating in illegal activities, such as driving without a valid license or using illegal drugs, your travel insurance will not be liable to provide coverage. Routine check-ups, vaccinations, and other preventive medical services are typically not covered by travel insurance policies. Also, if you are traveling in a large group, check if you may need to take out separate travel insurance for some members. So it is advised to carefully review the exclusions and limitations of any travel insurance policy before purchasing.
How Does Travel Insurance Work?
Vacations are called “getaways” because they give us a break from the strains of our everyday lives. You have a chance to explore a faraway destination, enjoy favorite activities and hit “pause” on stress for a week or two.
But travel isn’t just private beaches, adventure sports and exciting nightlife — it can come with its own brand of stress.
In case you experience unexpected issues while traveling like miss a connection or fall ill on your vacation, travel insurance can offer assistance and guidance to help you get your trip back on track. So how does the whole process go about exactly? Here is a simple explanation. When you buy a travel insurance plan, you pay a premium to the travel insurance provider in exchange for coverage for certain situations. If something covered by your travel insurance policy happens during your trip, you can file a claim with the travel insurance provider for the expenses you incurred.
Travel insurance gives you a tool for mitigating risks that could create negative experiences while you’re away from home. Is it the right tool for you and your vacation plans? To answer that question, you need to understand the types of travel insurance covers available to you and the prospective benefits they offer.
What does AXA Travel Protection cover?
This overview of travel insurance coverage areas will introduce you to the types of concerns that an AXA Travel Insurance plan may help you to address. It includes certain specialized protections that you can opt to add to your policy, depending on your needs. Please review the terms and conditions of the policy you select for a complete explanation of the policy you purchase and the requirements and procedures related to that coverage.
Medical Benefits:
- Emergency Medical Expenses: Should you fall ill or have an accident during your trip, your policy may offer coverage for medical expenses, including hospital stays and doctor's fees.
- Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation: In case of a serious medical emergency, your policy may include provisions for evacuation to the nearest adequate medical facility or repatriation.
- Non-Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation: In non-medical crises (e.g., political unrest), your policy may cover evacuation or repatriation, subject to policy terms.
Pre-Departure Travel Benefits:
- Trip Cancellation: You may be eligible for reimbursement if you cancel your trip due to a sudden illness or injury.
- COVID-19 Travel Insurance: Coverage is available for trip cancellation and medical expenses related to COVID-19, subject to policy terms and conditions.
Post-Departure Travel Benefits
- Trip Interruption: In case of an unexpected event, you could be eligible for reimbursement for the unused portion of your trip.
- Missed Connection: If you miss a connecting flight due to delays or cancellations, this coverage may help with expenses like rebooking fees and accommodations.
- Trip Delay: If your flight faces delays due to unforeseen circumstances, you may have coverage for additional expenses such as meals and accommodations.
Baggage Benefits:
- Luggage Delay: If the airline delays your checked baggage, your policy might offer reimbursement for essential items like clothing and toiletries.
- Lost or Stolen Luggage: In the unfortunate event of permanent loss or theft of your luggage, your policy may offer reimbursement for its value, assisting you in replacing your belongings.
Additional Optional Travel Benefits:
- Rental Car (Collision Damage Waiver): Exclusive to Gold & Platinum plan policy holders, this optional benefit gives travelers extra coverage on their rental car against damage and theft.
- Cancel for Any Reason: Exclusive to Platinum plan policy holders; this optional benefit gives travelers more flexibility to cancel their trip for any reason outside of their standard policy.
When you’re planning a trip, you don’t want to focus on potential problems. You want to think about what a good time you’re going to have. AXA Travel Insurance Plans let you entrust the stress and problem-solving to a team that works on these issues every day, all around the world, so you can sit back and enjoy the ride.
Disclaimer: Welcome to the AXA Assistance USA Travel Insurance Blog! The Travel on Blog is intended to provide you with entertaining and educational information of a general nature. The articles are for editorial purposes only and are not intended to replace the advice of a qualified professional. Please contact AXA Assistance USA if you have any questions.
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