| Is travel insurance a rip-off? That is a simple question | | | | a big help. If you suspect you might run into one or |
| with a complicated answer. To properly understand | | | | more of these problems during your trip, then |
| this issue, you should first understand what travel | | | | traveler's insurance is probably a good idea. |
| insurance is. The definition of it is fairly | | | | Your flight is cancelled. If you are flying during a very |
| straightforward -it's short term insurance that covers | | | | high-volume holiday season and the weather is |
| you while you are on vacation. Travel insurance | | | | predicted to be particularly bad, traveler's insurance |
| coverage depends on the parameters of the policy, | | | | might come in handy. |
| but in general it extends to lost or broken luggage, | | | | Your bags are lost and you have prescription |
| thefts that happen during your vacation, medical | | | | medication. You need to have an emergency |
| needs that might arise during your vacation and lost | | | | prescription filled. If you have critical medical needs, |
| personal items. | | | | then traveler's insurance is absolutely a good idea. |
| There have been many documented occasions of | | | | You will want to be sure and have a quality, proven |
| travel insurers being downright fraudulent. The | | | | insurer with strong medical coverage. Regardless, you |
| internet is rife with examples. Many people have | | | | will want to put any prescription medications in your |
| complained about this that travel agencies or airlines | | | | carry-on in case your luggage is lost. |
| recommend for them being absurdly expensive, | | | | Your passport and wallet are stolen and you need |
| difficult or impossible to use, or even non-existent. In | | | | emergency cash and a new passport. It isn't easy to |
| some cases, class-action lawsuits have been filed and | | | | predict a theft, but if you are traveling to an area |
| have been paid to fraud victims. Many people have | | | | where you are at greater risk of having your wallet |
| claimed that exploitative travel agents offered them | | | | stolen, insurance is a good idea. |
| vacation packages at seemingly steep discounts, only | | | | A hurricane forces you to evacuate your hotel, |
| to force them to purchase overpriced travel | | | | resort or cruise. Certain areas of the world are more |
| insurance packages. | | | | susceptible to hurricanes, especially during a few |
| That said, not all travel insurers are bad, and buying | | | | months of the year. If you are traveling to one of |
| travel insurance is not always a bad idea. There are | | | | these volatile locations during hurricane season, |
| many reputable, well-organized, established travel | | | | insurance could bail you out if a storm comes. |
| insurers out there. The best thing you can do if you | | | | A terrorist incident occurs in the city you're planning |
| are considering this is do your homework. Compare | | | | to visit and you want to cancel your trip. Terrorism is |
| different travel insurers' rates and coverage | | | | a horrific, tremendously unfortunate reality in today's |
| packages. Read the fine print. Check consumer | | | | complicated world. It's horrible to think about, but if |
| reports and fraud awareness websites. | | | | you are traveling in a particularly volatile part of the |
| Here is a brief list of circumstances in which you | | | | world, travel insurance might ease your mind. |
| might find yourself where traveler's insurance can be | | | | |