Viva La Vacation

Planning your next vacation and don’t know where to start when it comes to travel insurance? Don’t get lost in all the options out there, let Travel Insurance Master recommend the best travel insurance plan and best value for you in just 3 easy steps. Still have questions? Check out our expert tips to get ready for take-off.

Travel insurance is truly more important than ever but it may seem unclear what options and benefits you need to protect your trip. At Travel Insurance Master, we do the work for you and narrow down the best plans from the world’s leading travel insurance providers. Now you can view clear side by side comparisons of multiple plans all on one website. Simply request a quote by entering your trip details in just 3 steps. Our trusted smart algorithm will recommend the best value and plan for your specific trip. By using the customizable filters, you can also narrow the plans down further by the benefits most important to you.

START PLANNING EARLY 

For the most options, purchase travel insurance early on in your travel planning process. You will usually want to request a quote the same day you put down your initial trip deposit or within a few days so you can take advantage of time sensitive benefits.

When you request a quote on TravelInsuranceMaster.com you will be required to input your initial deposit date. This is the earliest date a payment was made toward your trip. You’ll also find a field for your final payment date but if it hasn’t been made yet, you can select that box below. Don’t worry, you can still request a quote and purchase insurance before your trip is paid in full.

One of the most requested travel insurance benefits is Cancel for Any Reason or CFAR. To purchase this, you will need to buy your insurance usually within 1-21 days of initial trip deposit. As the name suggests, this benefit allows you to cancel for any reason whatsoever usually up to 2 days before departure for reimbursement up to 75% of non-refundable expenses.

CFAR does not replace your regular Trip Cancellation benefit that covers you 100% for covered reasons, most commonly when you, your family member, or travel companion gets sick.

PRE-EXISTING MEDICAL CONDITIONS

If you’re worried a pre-existing medical condition could flare up or reoccur before or during your trip, you will also want to purchase your travel insurance early. The Pre-existing Medical Conditions waiver is a time sensitive benefit usually available the same day or within a set number of days of your initial trip deposit. This benefit usually doesn’t add to the cost of your plan either! 

Without the Pre-existing Medical Conditions waiver, a medical condition present prior to your travel insurance policy’s effective date usually would not be covered. Most plans have a look-back period which investigates your medical history, anywhere from 2-18 months, to check if your condition appeared or was treated during that time. If you purchase insurance later in your planning process, this benefit may no longer be available. In this case, look for a plan with a look-back period that’s shorter than when you last registered your medical condition with a doctor. For example, the last time you called your doctor was 63 days ago. If 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 Pre-existing Medical Conditions waiver.

COVID-19 COVERAGE

At TravelInsuranceMaster.com all of our “Trip Cancellation” plans cover trip cancellation or interruption if you get sick or test positive for COVID-19.

It’s also important to note travel insurance treats COVID-19 the same as any other illness. If you’re diagnosed with COVID-19 before or during your travels, there are many benefits that provide useful coverage.

Trip Cancellation provides coverage if you or your traveling companion gets sick with COVID-19 before your trip can you cannot travel. There are some plans that cover cancellation if your family member or business partner contracts COVID-19. See your specific plan certificate for details. However, the fear of contracting COVID-19 is not a covered reason for cancellation and that’s where you will want to purchase the Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) benefit. 

Trip Interruption may provide reimbursement of non-refundable prepaid trip expenses for your return home if you or your travel companion are diagnosed with COVID-19 by a physician while on your trip. If this happens and you’re delayed due to quarantine required by a physician, Trip Delay provides coverage for additional hotel expenses and meals. Emergency Medical and Evacuation benefits provide coverage for medical expenses if you were to contract COVID-19 during your travels, and evacuation if medically necessary.

TRAVEL MEDICAL COVERAGE

Comprehensive plans, those that offer both Trip Cancellation and Travel Medical options, are the most popular travel insurance type. There are also Limited or Travel Medical plans that will provide coverage in the event of an illness or injury while traveling. Regular health insurance rarely offers coverage while you’re traveling outside your home country, and travel medical options fill that gap in coverage. 

Emergency Medical and Dental benefits provide coverage if you were to become sick or injured on your trip. You can even find AD&D, and Medical Evacuation for emergency medical, medical repatriation, return of remains, and trip interruption.

I THOUGHT MY CREDIT CARD OFFERS TRAVEL INSURANCE? 

With all this travel insurance information, you may still be wondering about the travel insurance you credit card provides.

Remember, although your credit card may offer travel insurance, it usually does not provide enough protection. Most cards provide minimal travel insurance benefits, if any. These are generally for smaller inconveniences like lost luggage and delays. 

A travel insurance plan from one of our trusted and vetted providers offers much broader coverage. The small investment for invaluable peace of mind can include trip cancellation, emergency medical coverage, employment layoff, hurricane and weather, and many more useful benefits. Trip Cancellation is rarely offered by credit cards, and is one of the most popular plan types. Emergency Medical, medical repatriation, and pre-existing conditions are generally not covered by your credit card benefits either.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

Travel insurance can seem complicated but it doesn’t have to be. Let Travel Insurance Master recommend the best plan for you in just 3 super easy steps. Don’t wait until the unexpected happens, protect yourself before your next getaway today. 

Not sure which destination is right for you? Use a travel agent for the best savings, access to their expert knowledge, and assistance before and during your trip. Yes We Travel, a brick and mortar travel agency, is ready to help travelers with all kinds of trips and needs. They specialize in tours, all-inclusive Caribbean vacations, or just plane tickets. They can also explain the necessity of travel insurance and answer any questions you may have. Call Yes We Travel at (617) 879-2644.