Due to the recent mass airline cancellation each travel insurance company is handling claims differently. We cannot pre-determine a claim, so we are strongly advising our clients to contact their respective insurance companies' claim department to discuss and to determine if you have a payable claim. Read this blog post Steve wrote to learn more |
Travel Insurance Frequently Asked Questions
Do you know how it feels to go to a website's FAQ section looking for helpful information and instead all you get is just a cleverly designed sales pitch in the guise of an unbiased Q & A format?
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You'll often find a link to a page on our website that explains the answer in greater detail
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Your deadline to get travel insurance is the day before your departure for Travel Guard, Travelex, Travel Insured and Travel Safe or the day of departure for CSA and HTH.
Before you read further, here's a little detail that's good to know: You probably will have to pay your medical bills yourself while on your trip. That's because travel insurance plans are "indemnification" plans (you will be reimbursed - indemnified) after your trip by the insurance company. Travel insurance is not a "pay on behalf of" plan. You don't just give the medical facility a card. In some cases, a few companies can guarantee payment to the medical facility, but it's on a case-by-case basis.
Common Questions - the links take you to the answer
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Q. How much does Travel Insurance cost?
A. Here are real life examples of a $3,000 trip (up to 30 days) for a 75 year young or a 35 year old traveler: (the links on the top line will open new windows that take you to pages that more fully describe each plan)
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What does Travel Insurance cover?
A.
Travel Insurance covers you or your group for Listed unforeseen events like:
Note: Some benefits (not medical) will only pay once on your trip. For example, if your trip's delayed twice, you'll only get reimbursed once.
Learn more about what is and isn't covered.
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Q. Is it too late to purchase trip insurance if today's past the date I made my first trip payment?
A. No, you're not too late to get trip insurance.
Your deadline to get travel insurance is the day before your departure for Travel Guard, Travelex, Travel Insured and Travel Safe or the day of departure for CSA and HTH.
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Q. When should you buy your Travel Insurance?
A. Buying Travel Insurance Now:
Benefits |
Drawbacks |
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- You have to pay for the Travel Insurance in full
- If you cancel your trip, you can't get a refund on the insurance after 10 - 20 days
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or
Waiting to buy Travel Insurance: (ie - buying later)
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Q. If I buy my insurance now, will the plane tickets that I purchase later for those parts of the trip be covered?
A. Yes, you can cover your plane tickets you purchase later. You can either estimate your total trip cost now and insure that much or cover your known costs today and increase the insurance later (when you incur higher trip costs).
If you want / need coverage for pre-existing medical conditions:
You need to cover your full prepaid non-refundable trip cost when you get your insurance. It's unlikely you'll know today what this trip cost is, so you're best option is to guess high on the cost and then, later when you find out exactly what the cost is, you can lower your insurance coverage. If you end up going to a lower trip cost bracket, you'll get a partial refund of the insurance premium.
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Q. If I arrange part or all of my trip through a travel agent, does the "supplier default" coverage cover us if the travel agent goes broke or doesn't deliver the purchased tickets?
A. No, the suppliers are the tour operator, cruise line or airline. travel agents should be bonded to protect their customers if they have financial problems.
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Q. What doesn't Travel Insurance cover?
A. Here are some of the things Travel Insurance never covers you for:
- War (whether declared or undeclared)
- Business, job-related or contractual obligations
- Mental, psychological or nervous disorders including anxiety, depression, neurosis or psychosis.
Click here to learn more about the exclusions.
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Q. Can I get Travel Insurance even if I don't have a travel agent?
A. Yes, you can get Travel Insurance even if you're an independent traveler making all your own travel arrangements.
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Q. What is a Pre-Existing Condition?
A. Any injury, illness, sickness or medical condition of an Insured or Family Member which either manifests itself or exists during the 60, 90 or 180 days immediately preceding the day you buy Travel Insurance, unless the condition is controlled through the taking of prescription drugs or medication and remains controlled throughout the 60, 90 or 180 day period. A pre-existing condition has manifested itself when medical care, treatment or diagnosis has been given. Any adjustment of a prescription causes a pre-existing condition to be manifested, too.
Learn More
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Q. When covering a pre-existing medical condition, do I need to buy enough insurance to cover all my prepaid trip arrangements? Is there a deadline?
A. Yes, if you want the pre-existing conditions exclusion waiver, you must:
- Purchase enough insurance to cover all of your prepaid trip arrangements, and
- Buy the insurance before the deadline, and
- Cover the entire length of your trip (the date you leave through the date you return home) and
- Be medically able to travel
Here is each provider's Waiver of the Pre-existing Medical Condition Exclusion deadline:
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Q. What do you mean by the Lookback Period?
A. A period of 60, 90 to 180 days prior to the day you buy Travel Insurance. The Lookback Period may apply to you in two situations:
- If you don't insure the full prepaid, non-refundable cost of your trip or
- If today is past the deadline date to waive the pre-existing condition exclusion
Learn more
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Q. What day do I use for my initial deposit day?
A. Count the earliest day you paid any money, arranged for frequent flyer tickets or gave your credit card number. More
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Q. What do I use for my travel dates?
A. Day #1 is the day you leave your home. The last day is the day you return home. You have to cover the entire time you're away from home.
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Q. What kinds of trips does Travel Insurance cover?
A. Any pleasure or business trip can be covered as long as it takes you at least 100 miles from home and has fixed travel dates.
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Q. Where do I have to live to be able to buy one of these plans?
A.
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Q. What should I do if I get sick or hurt?
A.
- Make sure you seek medical help. In order to have your claim covered, you have to seek the initial medical treatment on your trip. If you, a family member or a traveling companion gets sick, hurt or dies, you have to have it corroborated by a physician. If your physician's a family member, make sure you go see a physician who isn't a part of your family.
- Call the insurance company collect (from anywhere in the world). You need to find out what else you should do right away. This is especially important because if you need emergency transportation, the insurance company has to arrange it for you. More
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Q. Who's considered your family member or a traveling companion?
A. Family Member usually means your spouse, child, spouse's child, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, brother, sister, mother, father, grandparents, grandchild, step-brother, step-sister, step-parents, parents-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, guardian, ward, significant other.
Be sure to check each insurance company's exact definition of a Family Member. A good rule of thumb is: "Family members are related by blood or marriage".
On the other hand, Traveling Companions are "related" by their accomodations and itineraries. More
Learn More
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Q. Do all of us have to purchase Travel Insurance?
A. No. The policy premium is based on the per person trip cost. You are covered by your own policy. Not everyone traveling together needs to take a policy.
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Q. What's a terrorism incident?
A. Terrorist Incident means an act of violence, other than civil disorder or riot (that is not an act of war, declared or undeclared), that results in loss of life or major damage to property, by any person acting on behalf of or in connection with any organization which is generally recognized as having the intent to overthrow or influence the control of any government. Learn More
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Q. Does my credit card, homeowner's or my regular medical insurance policy cover for me while I'm traveling?
A. You should always check these policies before you travel, because:
- Medicare does not currently provide coverage for those traveling outside the United States. This restriction applies to passengers on board cruise ships that are registered in a foreign country (almost all cruise ships have foreign registry).
- Your credit cards may cover you in some areas. Make sure you find out exactly what they cover.
- It's a good idea to have your camera, jewelery, sports equipment or any valuable personal possessions specially scheduled on your homeowner's policy. Travel Insurance limits what you can claim for certain personal belongings.
- Many health insurance plans do not guarantee payment directly to foreign hospitals, may have a deductible nor cover the cost of emergency medical transportation. Deductibles or co-payments frequently apply outside most plan service areas.
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Q. What do I get with the 24-Hour Emergency Hotline Services?
A. Travel Insurance plans give you assistance services including the use of a 24-Hour Emergency Hotline, which you can call collect from anywhere in the world. Here are those phone numbers.
Note: In some countries it may not be possible to call collect. If you must phone the hotline directly, give them your location and phone number so they can call you back.
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Q. How do medical evacuation / transportation and repatriation differ?
A. Medical evacuation / transportation is defined as you being transported to the nearest appropriate medical facility as a result of the insurance company's Consulting Physician and the local attending Physician's determination that adequate treatment is not available locally. If you want your doctor consulted make sure you give his / her contact information to the insurance company.
Repatriation means returning the body home in the event the insured dies on their trip.
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Q. What does Travel Delay cover?
A. Travel Delay provides benefits to help you defray the cost of additional accommodations and traveling expenses that you might incur if your trip is delayed for a covered reason.
Travel delay benefits are shown as a dollar amount, but the benefits are paid as a daily maximum. Learn More
Travel Delay covered reasons may include:
- You being delayed by a traffic accident while en route to a departure
- Lost or stolen passports, money, or travel documents
- Quarantine
- Hijacking
- Unannounced strikes
- Natural disaster
Want the right travel insurance plan for your trip? Make one easy toll free phone call to Steve, Tara, Deanna, Becky, Teresa or Mary at 1-888-407-3854 (US & Canada) or 507-214-3854. 8 am - 10 pm Eastern time. Fast service.
Ready to Order? It's easy (and safe) to do online or over the telephone - just call Steve, Tara, Deanna, Becky, Teresa or Mary toll free at 1-888-407-3854 (US & Canada) or 507-214-3854.
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PPS - Steve also has a blog called "Who Else Wants To Understand Travel Insurance? Read it here. Or, you can 
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