Do you need family travel insurance

Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest

Before I started researching this idea, I did not think so. But after researching it and giving it some thought. I have changed my mind. I am now one of the reformed when it comes to the subject of family insurance. After reading this, I hope you are, too.

I had previously held this image of people who bought travel insurance as uptight, nerdy worriers who ended up not using it because they never went anywhere exciting, anyway. Now that I am a parent, however, I have had time and experience to hold a somewhat different view. I have come to realize there is no such thing as the perfect holiday, and traveling with children can be an accident or illness waiting to happen. I also thought my own health and/or auto insurance would cover us in the event that something happened. I was wrong.

One very important thing I learned is that most health insurances, HMOs PPOs, etc. do not cover you outside of the country there were issued in. That mean, if you leave the U.S. and you or your child gets hurt, you are in serious trouble. If you are traveling with grandparents, Medicare does not pay for care outside of the U.S. either. One of the benefits of travel insurance is that with most plans, there is no co-pay or deductible, and it pays primary, meaning that it pays first before other plans kick in, if in fact they do. I know that if one of my children were injured in a foreign country, I would want the best health care possible, as quickly as possible and I would prefer it was covered by insurance. After, all its a vacation, not a lifetime investment. Travel insurance also pays for medical evacuation in an emergency. Without insurance, emergency medical evacuation could cost you a small fortune.

Travel insurance also covers things that could happen even before you went on vacation. Of course, it varies from company to company and by policy, but these are some of the basic things you can get coverage for. It covers you if a family member gets sick and no one can go on the trip. In the event that Great Aunt Agnes passes away suddenly, and you cant go on your trip because you are going to the funeral services instead, travel insurance will cover that. If there is an act of terrorism in the area you are planning to visit, you can usually get a refund. If one of the parents suddenly loses their job and a vacation becomes a luxury you cannot afford, you are not out all the money you have spent on your trip ahead of time. As a matter of fact, if (heaven forbid) you get stuck with jury duty when you are supposed to be enjoying sun and sand instead, at least you wont have to kiss the money you spent on your trip goodbye. Unlike you, who will be sweating it out wondering if Miss Scarlet really did do it in the library with a candlestick instead of sipping drinks with those little umbrellas in them.

Travel insurance is almost a necessity these days. It covers a lot of different kinds of trip interruptions, as well. It covers travel delays dues to missed connections, delayed flights, lost luggage or travel documents, and the costs associated with these interruptions. This is a good thing! I have almost never traveled by plane when there wasnt a delay of some kind. If you have travel insurance, you can relax and not tear your hair out if this happens. You are covered.

Travel insurance comes in all shapes and sizes, too. You can get it for a single trip, or if you travel a lot, you can get it annually, which is a better value if you have a lot of trips planned. You can even get it for your college student that is backpacking in Europe before starting their senior year of college. Most companies are willing to tailor it to your needs.

Travel insurance is not overly expensive, either. Most travel agencies suggest you figure it into the cost of your vacation like any other expense such as lodging or food. As for me, life is full of surprises, good and bad. Unexpected things can happen on the best vacation, and it never hurts to be prepared for the worst while expecting the best. Family Travel insurance is one of those things you hope you never have to use, but are really glad it is available if you need it.