Why Do I Need Travel Insurance?

There are hundreds of circumstances that could cause you to cancel your trip, return home early or force you to seek emergency medical treatment while traveling. To demonstrate the importance of purchasing travel insurance, and emergency travel services, read about this real example experienced by a couple vacationing in the Caribbean. They learned the hard way why you should never travel without insurance.

Mr. Stewart fell and broke his hip and had to be evacuated to Miami in order to receive adequate treatment. Here are the expenses he incurred up while on vacation:

• Evacuation to Miami $ 8,000

• Medical bills in Miami $876

• Broken camera during fall $500

• Extra seats to lie down on flight home $828

TOTAL $10, 204

While many travelers think their health insurance, homeowners insurance or even credit card will provide adequate travel insurance protection, that's simply not the case. In the above example, only $541 was covered under his health insurance plan which meant Mr. Stewart was responsible for the remaining $9,663.

If Mr. Stewart had traveled with travel insurance, these expenses would have been covered 100 percent. It pays to buy travel insurance!

Here are 10 other common examples of what could go wrong.

1.      It's 10 p.m. and your family arrives at the airport for a connecting flight, only to find that your flight has been cancelled. How do you get your family home?

2.      Your traveling companion's bag was lost with his insulin inside. He needs help to locate his bag as soon as possible and his emergency prescription filled. Who do you call?

3.      Your first visit to Europe, and your passport and wallet are stolen. Where do you turn for emergency cash, and how will you get your passport replaced?

4.      Your spouse is involved in an accident and adequate medical treatment is not available. Who will help arrange and pay for a medical evacuation?

5.      If your sister-in-law becomes seriously ill and you choose to cancel your trip, what happens to your non-refundable deposits or pre-payments?

6.      You arrive in Jamaica and your luggage doesn't. If it's lost, who will help you find it? If it's delayed, who will pay for your necessities? If it's stolen, who will pay to replace it?

7.      Your cruise line, airline or tour operator goes bankrupt. Who will pay for your non-refundable expenses? Who will help get you to your destination?

8.      You're walking down a street in Rio and twist your ankle. Who can help you find an English-speaking physician?

9.      Three weeks before your scheduled arrival, a terrorist incident occurs in the city to which you are planning to visit. Who will pay if you want to cancel your trip?

10.  You are at a beach resort in North Carolina, and you are forced to evacuate due to an approaching hurricane. Who will help you evacuate and who will reimburse your lost vacation?

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