Did travel insurance work if you were on the Concordia?

If you had travel insurance and were one of the unlucky (but lucky to be alive) people to have been on the sunken cruise ship Concordia would your insurance plan have worked?   The short answer, YES.  

Leading travel insurance provider, Travel Guard, which had at least three customers on the Concordia, defiantly took care of their members.

While thousands of evacuated Concordia passengers waited for Costa Cruise Lines to offer assistance, the insurance company helped its customers with their individual requests to relay messages back home, replace ID (for those who left their passports on the ship) and get quickly on flights back home, Mueller says.

Travel Guard's most common Gold policy – priced at 5-7% of your trip cost – bundles coverage for trip cancellation and interruption, baggage protection, medical expenses and emergency evacuation.

If any of the Travel Guard customers on Concordia had been injured, reimbursement of medical expenses and emergency medical evacuation would have kicked in, Mueller says. The policy also includes $10,000 accidental death and dismemberment insurance.

I'm even going to give them a free link:  Travel Guard, jeez I'm nice.

Will travel insurance cover the Japan 'quake?

With the recent events in Japan I wonder.  Will travel insurance cover the Japan 'quake?  What's more is the radiation that continues to leak from the failed nuclear power plants, would you be covered if you couldn't travel in those areas due to the radiation? 

Insurers are already struggling with these questions, with different outcomes.   But most trip insurance plans do agree on one point:  Unless you had added a so called 'cancel-for-any-reason' rider to your policy, you won’t be reimbursed for your trip deposits and other costs if you cancel your Japan trip solely because you worry that you might encounter radiation.

(road damage in Japan after the massive 2011 earthquake)

Travel insurance provided by way cool Virgin (Richard Bronson's empire) are considering situations on a case-by-case basis.  They even have a website to help their customers out, Virgin Travel Insurance Help.  Here in the states you can buy Virgin's travel insurance here:  TravelGuard.

Virgin, you're welcome for the free plug.  :-)

Snowed in at the airport? Your rights...

Oh the joy of winter travel.  Maybe you're getting the hell out of the snowy Midwest and are heading for the Caribbean.  Perhaps holiday travel has you jumping form state to state.  Whatever the case, know your right if you find yourself stuck at the airport due to weather.  Since the big blizzard has kicked in this week almost 10,000 flights in the US alone have been canceled.  And at least 1,335 flights were canceled on Tuesday as airports cleaned up from the snowy mess.

 I can't even reach the airport, am I covered?

This depends. If you cannot reach the airport because your train or bus is delayed, for example, then you should be able to claim on your insurance.  However, if you take your car and miss your flight then it becomes a bit more difficult, as the insurer will want to know that you left enough time for your journey.  Aim to get proof of any issues that held you up, for example, if you had to call out roadside rescue then keep the paperwork to show your insurer.

 

 Delays while you're AT the airport

Most travel insurance policies pay out for delays at snowbound airports, although you usually have to be delayed by a specific period of time, often between eight and 12 hours.  Most policies will then pay a set cash amount, typically $50, for each subsequent 8/12 hour delay. It will usually be enough to buy you some hot drinks and food, but not to put you up in a hotel.

Snow means my flight is canceled, will my insurer pay?

Your travel insurer will not need to pay out if your flight is canceled due to poor weather as the airline will cover the cost.  However, depending on the level of cover you have purchased, you should be able to claim for other expenses and losses.  For example, if you cannot get a refund on hotels and other holiday expenses, such as booked day trips or car hire, a comprehensive policy should reimburse you for these irredeemable costs. Check your policy carefully as they all differ.

For more reads about travel insurance check our past posts here:  Travel Insurance Posts.   

Do you really need that extra car rental insurance?

Business traveler Rey Manes often times declines the extra car insurance when he travels.  He has thought at times the extra care could have come in handy even tho he estimates he's saved thousands of dollars over the years.

What are you REALLY getting when you purchase the extra protection?  If you have car insurance, the type of coverage you bought, along with its deductibles, usually applies to rental cars as well.

 Assuming you purchased collision coverage, it will cover damage you cause to any car that you're driving. However, many auto insurance policies say that your collision insurance is "excess" to any other coverage, meaning that any coverage you buy from the rental car company kicks in first. Don't forget that your own collision insurance requires you to pay a deductible before the insurance company picks up the tab.

If you cause an accident, your liability insurance will pay for the damages you cause to someone else, plus any medical expenses that arise from your negligence. Your liability insurance will cover you up to the limits of your policy, and if you were driving a rental at the time of the accident, your personal auto liability insurance, like your comprehensive and collision, will likely be excess coverage.

BONUS LINK:  Dollar Rental Insurance FAQ's
 

 A lot of car rental companies do offer the extra protection that really allows you to be 100% worry free.  We paid an extra $15 per day for insurance from Enterprise Car Rentals that allowed us to "bring back the car with damage and pay nothing."

 So should you buy the protection?   Some things to remember...

If you don't have collision and comprehensive insurance and you're renting a car, it's a good idea to purchase the LDW or CDW, whichever your rental company offers. You might want to buy the waiver that offers you the broadest protection in this situation. Rental companies have several levels of damage waivers.

BONUS LINK:  American Express Rental Car Protection
 

As a summary:  Before you rent a vehicle, check your auto and homeowners or renters policy to get an idea of what coverage you have while in the rented vehicle. And while at the rental car company, take some time to find out exactly what they offer. Compare those coverages to the ones you already have. That way, you can avoid buying coverage you don't need.   But if you got the extra cash and seek peace of mind, you can always just buy the extra coverage and cruise down the road to worry about other things, such as where to book your hotel that night.

Another volcano sparks travel chaos!

First it was Eyjafjallajökull, Volcano in April, causing problems now we got another temperamental mountain causing us problems in Indonesia - Mount Merapi.  At the time of this posting it's already canceled at least 44 flights and worse yet, killed 128 people (locals).   Yikes.

(Mount Merapi blowing it's top, get it?  haha, bad joke)

I keep preaching the value of travel insurance.   These plans might cost you a few hundred bucks but if the unexpected, like these volcano things, happen you might have protection depending on how decent of a policy you bought.  

I did a sample quote, www.travelguard.com, for 2 adults traveling to Jamaica in May of 2011.  I tossed in all the extra stuff including "cancel for any reason" and "optional flight guard" on a $4,000 vacation and got a quote of $291.  It's like all things in life, everything comes down to money.  If you can afford the extra bucks you'd have much better peace of mind. 

The world goes to hell and trip insurance rises!

The U.S. Travel Insurance Association held its quarterly meeting last week in South Carolina.  President Jim Grace said between the devastating earthquake in Haiti in January and the Icelandic volcano eruption in April, travel insurance became more popular this year than in the months following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.  The insurance covers travelers against natural and man-made disasters, as well as financial problems, such as a cruise line filing for bankruptcy or an airline stopping service. 

 Before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, about 8 percent of travelers purchased insurance, according to Grace.  That number settled in at about 25 percent but fluctuates with news of a disaster, such as a hurricane. 

Grace also serves as president and chief executive of leading travel insurance comparison website www.InsureMyTrip.com his company launched a decade ago and, at the time, searched three insurers for the best rates. Today it uses 22 providers in the U.S. and Canada.

Standard travel insurance NOT covering the oil spill in the Gulf!

We've covered the topic of travel insurance a few times here at Vacation Barefoot, travel insurance and a volcano, and I feel that if you can afford it, get it.  This way you can relax if the unthinking should happen.  Sickness, natural disaters or otherwise.  But what about the oil problems in the Gulf?  

NOT COVERED!

The problem is is that travel insurance only covers "natural disasters" and BP's big problem was a man made problem.  So when booking your travel insurance we recommend that consumers consider buy "cancel for any reason" travel insurance as an alternative to more restrictive standard policies.

 Visitors to Florida, Texas, Louisiana or Alabama who are thinking of canceling their trips might want to double check that insurance plan to see if they're even covered.

Travel Insurance and a Volcano

If you bought travel insurance before the volcanic ash in Iceland started messing up flights, you might be wondering what travel expenses it will cover.  If you haven't bought travel insurance you might be seriously thinking about it in wake of this natural phenomenon.



Americans spent $1.6 billion on travel insurance, compared with $578 billion on life insurance premiums in 2008. Roughly three in 10 travelers buy coverage for their trip, and many of them have been calling in to file claims this week.

Want to compare trip insurance plans?   Check out these guys:   HTH Worldwide

'Trip Cancellation Package Policies', the most comprehensive type of  travel insurance plans, offer the greatest benefits for travelers forced to cancel their trips prior to leaving   Additionally, these policies include coverage for the travel delays that are heavily impacting travelers everywhere and provide reimbursement for hotel accommodations, meals, and transportation needs due to cancelled flights caused by the volcanic event. Coverage varies by company and plan however.

Watch TV reports just TRY and pronounce "Eyjafjallajokull"

Travel Insurance FAQ's

What is trip insurance? Trip insurance is used to help alleviate some of the financial loss that may be incurred because your trip is interrupted, delayed, or cancelled by unforeseen events.

What is travel insurance? Travel insurance usually provides broader coverage than just trip insurance alone. In addition to providing trip insurance for trip delays, trip interruptions, trip cancellations and related problems, it may also cover additional travel-related expenses such as those incurred for medical and health emergencies that may arise during your trip.

Some plans also provide services such as travel-related advice, evacuation to your home or hospital in case of a medical emergency, emergency cash or help in the event of the loss or theft of your money, valuables or travel documents.

How much does travel insurance cost? The cost of travel insurance depends on the insurance company and the details of coverage. Frequently, the cost will be in the neighborhood of 5% to 12% of the cost of the trip.

Do I need something other than my normal health insurance plan for traveling outside the U.S.? To answer this question, you need to check with your own health insurance company. Many health insurers do not cover international health coverage. A spokesperson for the Health Insurance Association of America has been quoted as saying that only about 5% of American travelers have health insurance coverage while traveling abroad. Even when traveling within the United States or to U.S. territories like Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, etc., full coverage may not be available under many plans.

For business-related travel, you should check with your employer to find out if you are covered under a travel insurance plan for employees.

How can I be sure what is covered? Look carefully at the policy. Reading an insurance policy is not most people’s idea of fun, but it could save you from later grief should you suffer a loss and need to file a claim.

Is travel insurance from a specific provider uniform from state to state? Not always. Be sure to read the coverage literature and policy thoroughly. Some provisions in a brochure may have asterisks with modifications or limitations concerning what applies in certain states.

What if I have personal items stolen while on vacation? Homeowner’s (or renter’s) policies very often include some coverage for stolen personal items.