Updated November 2024--Is travel insurance something you typically purchase when you travel to domestic and/or international destinations?
This post contains affiliate links and I may earn compensation when you click on the links at no additional cost to you.
Most people never bother with it, assuming everything will go as planned while they’re traveling away from home.
But as we all know, the unexpected can happen — and if Covid-19 has taught us anything, it’s that we should be prepared.
If you’re thinking of purchasing a policy before your next trip abroad or you’re just curious to learn more, then keep reading.
What is Travel Insurance?
Not to be confused with the travel insurance that you can purchase as an additional cost on top of your airfare, independent travel insurance is different in several ways.
An airline’s protection coverage is often provided by the airline through a third-party insurer like AIG, for example.
It is considered a “light” type of insurance coverage as opposed to purchasing an independent travel insurance policy.
Flight protection plans usually cover flight delays, trip cancellations, or trip disruptions, as well as lost, damaged, or stolen luggage (the reimbursement will be based on the plan’s limit).
It will also cover you if you are unable to fly due to a medical reason.
Recent Dept. of Transportation rules now stipulate that airlines are automatically mandated to provide a cash refund to consumers whose flights are significantly delayed or canceled, provided that they do not accept the significantly changed flight, rebooking on an alternative flight, or accept different compensation.
This makes the refund process much easier than before. This does not mean that travelers can get both a refund and a new flight, since the regulation only covers one or the other.
It's worth noting that airlines have now clearly defined what constitutes a significant delay – three hours or more for a domestic flight and six hours or more for international flights.
For those of you traveling to Ireland on American Airlines, it's good to know that American will keep the four-plus hours as their international refund threshold.
Travelers who file a mishandled baggage report are now entitled to a refund of their checked baggage fee if the bag is not delivered within 12 hours of the passenger's domestic flight arriving at the gate.
International travelers, like those who are going to Ireland, will receive a refund if the bag is not delivered within 15 or 30 hours of the passenger's international flight arriving at the gate, depending on the length of that flight.
A word of caution: if you fly to Ireland on Delta, United or JetBlue, the new three-plus refund threshold for significant delays is longer now than what they had in place before.
Under the new federal directive, airlines must provide a 24-hour customer service option for affected travelers. Check out the Dept. of Transport's airline cancellation and delay dashboard.
Want to know what airlines fly from North America to Ireland? Check out this handy graphic and be sure to save it for future reference.
Read More: Tips for Travel to Ireland: Picking the Right Credit Card
Why Take Out Comprehensive Travel Insurance?
Most comprehensive plans offer more than the regular airline coverage.
The benefits include medical, dental, and general emergency evacuation procedures, 24-hour traveler assistance, and accidental death benefits, to name a few.
Michelle Green, the founder and travel advisor of Conversational Traveler, a New York City-based full-service boutique travel agency specializing in customized luxury bucket list and celebration travel, advises her clients to purchase insurance for both their flights and accommodation.
“Often, travelers book these separately and potentially miss opportunities to select travel insurance tailored to their needs and planned experiences,” Green explains.
Since comprehensive travel insurance plans can vary per plan and are based on the company offering them, it’s a good idea to look at the fine print before you sign on the dotted line.
For example, some offer additional coverage for rental car damage and adventure sports while others give you the option of adding on additional premiums to your policy.
In fact, Green says you don’t need to be planning an adventure trip to consider travel insurance coverage.
“Travel insurance may cover the cost of missed connections, cancellation because of illnesses, and Cancel for Any Reason, which may suit a client’s personal situation. These are not limited to international travel.”
Travel Insurance in a Post-Covid World
Since Covid will most likely be with us in the long term — albeit much more manageable in most patients — it's not surprising that many tourists may be thinking of purchasing coverage.
Green says that Allianz Travel offers coverage for epidemic-related illnesses, but your plan must include the emergency medical care benefit.
Squaremouth, an industry comparison provider, recommends that you purchase a policy with at least $50,000 in coverage for international travel.
Chelsea Capwell of Travel Insurance Master says that the trip cancellation plans the company provides cover canceled trips if you get sick or test positive for Covid.
The company uses an algorithm that aims to make it easier for potential customers to find the right travel insurance plan for them that is not solely based on price
The new algorithm aims to make it easier for customers to find the right plan and help them make good decisions about travel insurance that aren’t based solely on price.
“Trip Delay provides coverage for additional hotel expenses and meals if you are delayed due to quarantine required by a physician on your trip,” says Capwell, referring to one of the company's Covid-19 cancellation plans.
“Every policy has different trip delay maximums and/or daily limits,” she adds.
There are other companies that also offer some form of travel insurance for Covid illnesses, but you will need to examine them carefully before purchasing.
In addition to Allianz Travel, others include AXA Assistance USA, Battleface, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, Cat 70, Generali Global Assistance, GeoBlue, Global Underwriters, HTH Travel Insurance, iTravelInsured, the John Hancock Insurance Agency, Inc., Nationwide Mutual Insurance, Seven Corners, Inc., Tin Leg, Travel Insured International, Travelex Insurance Services, TravelSafe, Trawick International, USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services, World Nomads, and WorldTrips.
What You Can Expect to Pay for Coverage
To give you an idea of what you can expect from an insurance provider, below you will find information on what a company like World Nomads, popular with younger travelers, and what Travel Insurance Master offers.
World Nomads
While World Nomads specializes in sports/activity-related coverage, the company’s coverage is good for anyone traveling abroad.
If you are planning adventure activities in Ireland such as mountain climbing, scuba diving, kayaking, rock climbing, diving, or sailing, to name a few, you’ll be covered by a World Nomads plan.
The company offers two plans, Standard and Explorer.
The Explorer plan offers higher limits and additional adventure sports coverage.
The price of your policy will depend on the length of your trip and the country you are visiting.
Here is an example of the kind of coverage an average tourist might expect to get with World Nomads.
Trip Cancellation – $2,500 coverage limit Standard Plan; $10,000 coverage limit Explorer Plan
Trip Delay – $500 coverage limit Standard; $1,500 coverage limit Explorer
Emergency Accident & Sickness Medical Expense – $100,000 Standard; $100,000 Explorer
Emergency Evacuation – $300,000 Standard; $500,000 Explorer
Repatriation of Remains – $300,000 Standard; $500,000 Explorer
Non-Medical Emergency Transportation – $25,000 Standard; $25,000 Explorer
Baggage & Personal Effects – $1,000 Standard; $3,000 Explorer
Baggage Delay – $750 Standard; $750 Explorer
Rental Car Damage – Not included on Standard Plan; $35,000 Explorer
Accidental Death & Dismemberment – $5,000 Standard; $10,000 Explorer
General Global Assistance 24/hour – Unlimited under both plans
Total Policy Cost – Standard $79; Explorer $142
For more detailed information, visit the World Nomads website.
Travel Insurance Master
Travel Insurance Master, a Massachusetts-based company, partners with some of the world’s leading travel insurance providers but more importantly, it uses a smart algorithm and easy-to-use filters that provide you with a policy that is the best one for your unique trip and needs.
When giving you a quote, Travel Insurance Master will give you a side-by-side comparison, making your decision so much easier, says Travel Insurance Master representative Chelsea Capwell.
All you have to do is enter the total cost of your trip, provide the number of insured travelers in your party and let Travel Insurance Master do the rest.
Below is an explanation of how easy it is to purchase travel insurance with this new and emerging travel insurance company.
What Kind of Policy is Right for Me?
This all depends on what you’ll be doing while on vacation in Ireland or any other destination.
If you have a premium credit card like The Business Platinum Card from American Express, which offers $10,000 insurance coverage per trip, you may just need minimum travel insurance coverage.
Whatever provider you choose, you will need to pay attention to what is and isn’t covered.
Some insurance companies do not cover pre-existing conditions, so check that before you pay.
Would you consider paying for such protection before you travel? Let me know in the comments below.
