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Have Travel Insurance Questions in 2022? We're getting many from our clients and a few readers, particularly as more travelers start traveling again and look to protect their trip investment. Here are some of the ones we've answered recently for clients.
For Cruises, is it Better to Purchase Travel Insurance from the Cruise Line or a Third Party?
It's worthwhile to get a quote from both the cruise line and a third party provider and compare them. Generally we find that third party insurance, for example Allianz, provides greater coverage, particularly emergency transportation coverage, at lower cost compared to cruise line insurance. Particularly for cruises and travel in remoter areas, be sure to have adequate emergency transportation coverage, ideally at least $1 million. We've noticed that many cruise policies have weirdly low amounts of emergency transportation coverage, such as only $250,000, which could leave you on the hook for a hefty bill if such transport is needed.
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What is the Best Travel Insurance for Bringing Me Back Home if I Test Positive for COVID-19 While Abroad?
The best option is still Covac Global, although was we wrote in Covac Global Changes Coverage Due to Omicron, it's no longer sufficient to test positive for COVID-19 via a PCR test and have at least one symptom; the Covac Global medical team has to determine that evacuation is medically prudent to avoid hospitalization, so this coverage is not guaranteed to get you back home in time to get back to work or school just because you test positive. Still, Covac Global is better than MedJet or other coverage that requires one to be hospitalized abroad in order to be eligible for an air ambulance. Note that Covac Global has a Restricted Countries list, where they are unable to guarantee an evacuation from; the list includes popular destinations such as Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Polynesia, the Maldives, and South Africa.
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What if I or a Travel Companion Has a Pre-Existing Medical Condition? Can I Still Get Travel Insurance Coverage?
It depends. Your best shot at coverage is if you've been successfully managing your medical condition such that you're medically fit to travel at the time you purchase insurance, and you buy your insurance such that you're eligible for the insurance's “pre-existing medical condition waiver,” such that your plan includes coverage. We recommend that if this waiver is very important to you, that just before you book travel insurance, you obtain a note from your doctor stating that you're fine to travel. That note could be very helpful should you later file a claim, since the claim adjuster will want to review your medical records and determine your medical condition at the time you purchased insurance.
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We are Caregivers for a Member of Our Extended Family, and are Worried That We'll Need to Cancel Our Trip. Can We Get Insurance Coverage?
Most likely not for that scenario, since it's foreseeable at the time that you purchase insurance that the family member's condition could worsen. The time to buy insurance is before something like this becomes foreseeable, although you'll need to read the details of your policy to see if the family member in question is counted as a family member for purposes of coverage. Typically the family member (who was not ill at the time coverage was purchased) will need to have a life threatening illness or require hospitalization in order for you to be eligible for trip cancellation coverage.
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How Do I Get Travel Insurance Coverage for My Relative, Who Isn't a U.S. Resident?
Generally Travel Insurance policies are tied to the place the insured resides, and most U.S. insurers don't cover travelers who aren't resident in the U.S. Certain cruise lines such as Seabourn do provide insurance that can cover some international travelers. Non-U.S. residents should seek travel insurance from a reputable insurer in their country of residence. Another option is Arch, which offers the Roam Right Pro Plus plan for our clients who are not U.S. residents.
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Have you encountered a tricky travel insurance question or been surprised by a travel insurance issue? Let us know in the comments.
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That beach picture at the top is gorgeous. Where is that?
Glad you like it! It’s Anguilla.