How travel insurance can protect you this winter

How travel insurance can protect you this winter

Planning a winter vacation is fun! However, it can be expensive. Don’t forget that there are insurance resources available to help protect your trip. That way, all you need to worry about is your drink order!

You can, in fact, use your homeowners insurance policy for protection while traveling. If an airline loses your luggage or if someone breaks into your hotel room and steals everything you brought, that homeowners policy may pay to replace the lost items since coverage for personal property is traditionally granted anywhere in the world. However, be mindful of whether your specific homeowners policy will limit the amount of that coverage and your deductibles. There are also specific limitations to alternate/secondary residences, and personal possessions in storage.

Travel insurance also is available to use; it was designed to cover various risks and unexpected events that might occur while traveling. Some people prefer having a separate travel insurance policy in place for their trips for the simple fact that any claims associated with such trip will not affect their homeowners policy and its premiums. It provides financial protection and peace of mind for many different scenarios, and some of the common types of coverage included in these policies include:

Trip cancellation/interruption, which provides reimbursement for prepaid, nonrefundable expenses if you must cancel or cut short your trip due to unforeseen circumstances, such as illness, a family emergency or other covered reasons.

Medical expenses, which covers medical costs due to illness or injury while traveling—especially in a location where your regular health insurance might not apply. Some policies also can include emergency evacuation coverage, which pays for transportation to the nearest medical facility or back home in case of a serious medical emergency.

Covered situations include:

Lost or delayed baggage, which provides compensation for lost, stolen or delayed luggage and personal items.
Travel delay, which can reimburse you for accommodations, meals and transportation expenses incurred due to delays.
Accidental death or dismemberment, which provides benefits to your beneficiaries if you suffer a severe injury or die because of an accident during your trip.
Rental car coverage, which offers travel insurance policies, can vary significantly in terms of coverage and cost. Therefore it’s important to read each policy carefully and choose one that meets your specific needs and travel plans.

Before you schedule your next trip, give our agency a call. We can help you review your options.