travel insurance masterWhether you’re enjoying a fall break, planning a holiday vacation, or winter getaway, destinations are booking up and travel insurance is more important than ever, and sometimes required. Accommodations, like hotels, resorts, and short-term rentals like Airbnb and VRBO, are now booking into 2022. A travel checklist and being up to date on the latest travel trends will keep you organized and prepared for wherever the season takes you!
The biggest thing to remember as you start to plan your next adventure is to be flexible and protect your trip. As we have seen in the last year, restrictions and requirements can change quickly. Costa Rica continues to be a popular destination and requires tourists not vaccinated, with incomplete vaccination, or vaccinated with a serum other that those admitted by the Costa Rican authorities to purchase mandatory travel insurance. The travel insurance must cover lodging in case of quarantine and medical expenses due to COVID-19. It’s simple to find the right coverage though on TravelInsuranceMaster.com. Simply filter by the Minimum $50,000 Emergency Medical Coverage, and minimum $2,000 Trip Delay coverage. Be sure to review your destination’s official Entry Requirements for the most up to date details. Other popular destinations include Mexico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Dominican Republic.
Flexibility can also be useful if you are able to move your travel dates slightly. The resort you’d like to stay at may be fully booked for the popular holiday travel dates but if you are able to move your arrival/departure dates a little, you may find more availability and better rates. Start planning your trip early to take advantage of discounts too. Oftentimes prices jump up after Halloween. Still can’t find dates that work? Consider booking in advance for 2022!
Finally, a travel advisor may be your best resource and advocate to keep track of new developments – from airline cancellations, to new COVID restrictions. If something happens before or during your trip, a seasoned travel advisor will be able to help you navigate them with less stress and expert knowledge. They may even have more exclusive options when you run into fully booked accommodations. Your travel insurance policy also oftentimes includes 24 Hour Assistance Services which may offer Travel Medical and Emergency Assistance, Concierge Services, and more if you run into the unexpected during your trip.
Be sure your travel checklist includes purchasing travel insurance after you put down your initial trip deposit to take advantage of time sensitive benefits like Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) and the Pre-existing Medical Conditions Waiver. The CFAR benefit allows you to cancel for any reason whatsoever usually up to 2 days before departure for a reimbursement up to 75% of prepaid non-refundable trip expenses, depending on your specific plan. To take advantage of CFAR, be sure to purchase your insurance early, usually within 1-21 days of initial trip deposit. It’s important to note CFAR is an additional benefit and does not replace your regular Trip Cancellation benefit that covers you 100% percent for covered cancellation reasons, most commonly when you, your family member, or travel companion gets sick. You will also want to purchase your insurance early, usually same day or within a set number of days of initial deposit, to take advantage of the Pre-existing Medical Conditions Waiver. Without it, normally a medical condition prior to your travel insurance policy’s effective date would not be covered. Most plans have a look-back period where the plan investigates your medical history, usually 2 to 18 months, to see if your condition appeared or was treated during that time. If you or someone you are buying insurance for has a pre-existing health condition, you should seriously consider the likelihood of it flaring up or reoccurring before or during your trip. If so, look for plans with the Pre-existing Medical Conditions Waiver – it usually doesn’t add to the cost of your plan. If you wait too long to buy insurance this benefit may no longer be available and you will want to find a plan with a shorter look-back period than when you last registered your medical condition with your doctor. For example, if the last time you called your doctor was 63 days ago and you purchase a plan with a look-back period of 60 days or less, then you do not have a pre-existing condition at all and therefore do not need the waiver. Even if you have not paid for your trip in full yet, you can shop for and purchase travel insurance on TravelInsuranceMaster.com. Although we recommend purchasing early in the travel planning process, some plans do allow you to purchase coverage up until the day before departure.
Even if you decide to take a domestic trip over an international one, travel insurance should be on your list. Travel insurance is beneficial on any trip that takes you 100 miles or more from home, including road trips! If you have to cancel or shorten your trip due to a covered reason, travel insurance can reimburse non-refundable prepaid trip expenses like RV rental and campground reservations. Taking advantage of the increasingly popular pet friendly accommodations by taking along your four-legged friend on your next adventure? Look for the Pet Bundle which adds coverage for a domestic dog or cat, offered with select AIG Travel Guard Plans. It’s an add-on you will be able to select on the Plan Purchase page if available.
With a new outlook on the world due to the pandemic, many travelers are looking for more ways to experience their destination’s beauty. Hiking, Scuba Diving, Hot Air Ballooning, and other outdoor adventure activities, as well as National Park trips, are becoming increasingly popular. With these riskier activities, ensure your travel insurance plans includes the proper coverage. You can filter on TravelInsuranceMaster.com by Hazardous and Amateur Sports to narrow down plans with these benefits. See your specific plan details for coverages.
With all the changes in travel, one thing remains – the demand to explore and experience someplace new. Before you hit the road, set sail, or take flight on your next domestic or international trip, protect your trip and investment in 3 easy steps with Travel Insurance Master.
