THIRDHOME
USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services

Republished with permission from USI Travel Insurance Services

Traveling to new destinations is a thrilling adventure, but ensuring your health and safety should always be priority number one. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or an extended vacation, taking proactive measures can make a difference in safeguarding your well-being throughout your vacation.

Before You Depart

Research Your Destination

Before leaving, it’s paramount to familiarize yourself with the health conditions of your destination. Take the time to delve into the local health codes, potential risks, and essential vaccinations needed for your travels. Checking travel advisories and gaining insights into prevalent diseases or health concerns specific to the area you’re visiting ensures that you’re well-prepared to proactively safeguard your health throughout your trip. This knowledge equips you to take preventive measures and make informed decisions to minimize health risks during your travels.

Man searching for travel information on laptop with notebook in hand

Get Vaccines

Before jetting off to your destination, a crucial step toward ensuring a healthy journey involves consulting a healthcare professional. This visit ensures that you’re not only up-to-date but also equipped with all the necessary vaccinations required for your specific destination. Many countries mandate specific immunizations as a prerequisite for entry, making it imperative to comply with these requirements. Seeking guidance from a healthcare provider allows you to navigate through the intricate web of necessary vaccinations, providing you protection against potential health risks at your travel destination.

man receiving vaccine shot

Pack Basic First Aid Supplies and Medication

A compact first aid kit is a traveler’s best companion, offering reassurance and preparedness for unforeseen situations on the road. Packing essentials such as band-aids, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, and any prescribed medications is a proactive step toward managing minor injuries or ailments during your journey. Ensure the kit contains an ample supply to cover the duration of your travels, allowing you to address minor health concerns swiftly and effectively. This simple yet vital precautionary measure can make a significant difference in managing unexpected health-related issues while you explore new destinations.

While You’re Away from Home

Know How to Find Medical Care

Before setting foot in a new destination, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the locations of medical facilities and emergency services. Research nearby hospitals, urgent care centers, and clinics to have a plan in place should you require medical attention during your travels. Equally important is saving emergency contact numbers, including local services and your country’s embassy or consulate. Being prepared with this crucial information ensures swift access to assistance if the need arises.

Be Mindful of Food and Transportation

Prioritizing food safety and secure transportation creates a healthy and secure travel experience. Choosing reputable restaurants reduces the likelihood of encountering foodborne illnesses, emphasizing hygiene standards and quality ingredients. Exercise caution with street food, particularly in areas where sanitation might be a concern. Additionally, relying on authorized transportation options, such as licensed taxis or recognized services, ensures safer travel, minimizes risks associated with unregulated modes of transportation, and enhances overall safety while navigating through unfamiliar locations.

Stay Vigilant and Aware

Maintaining awareness of your surroundings is important, particularly in bustling or unfamiliar settings. Stay vigilant by safeguarding your belongings and staying mindful of potential risks in crowded areas. For example, pickpockets can be an issue in very busy areas. They are very practiced and are able to swoop in, grab your valuables, and leave before you know anything is gone. Keeping valuables secure and considering carrying your backpack in front can deter theft in busy places, minimizing the possibility of incidents and allowing you to navigate through crowded spaces with greater peace of mind.

Buy Travel Insurance for Protection

Investing in travel insurance provides a safety net against unexpected events such as accidents or illnesses before or during your trip. USI Travel Insurance Services offers plans for every type of trip, giving you peace of mind while exploring new destinations. You can always visit our plan website, or contact the USI Travel Insurance Services Customer Service team for help selecting the best plan for your travel needs. Their representatives are available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time and can be reached at (855) 874-0156 or customercare@travelinsure.com. Be sure to mention you are traveling with ThirdHome, account #50054.

Republished with permission from USI Travel Insurance Services

When travelers are considering insurance for a trip, we often hear questions about travel insurance coverage provided with a credit card and how our plan differs. It’s a fair question. Why pay for something when you may already have access to a product or service? There are many differences, and there’s a reason so many people choose to buy a standalone travel insurance plan to protect their trip investment. While we can’t provide a specific comparison since all plans are different, we can point out some of the key differences to consider. For the purposes of this post, we’ll refer to a standalone travel insurance plan as a “comprehensive” travel insurance plan.

1. Number of benefits on the plan

Typically, a comprehensive travel insurance plan offers a longer list of benefits than a plan provided through a credit card. Review the full list of benefits offered by your credit card coverage to ensure it covers everything you think it will.

2. Coverage maximums

Many credit cards cap their Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption benefits at lower limits than might be found on comprehensive travel plans. Some credit cards may offer coverage up to $2,000 per trip, while others might offer up to $10,000 per trip. This may be sufficient, but many of our customers take trips in excess of this value. Our plan offers Trip Cancellation coverage for trip costs up to $25,000 and more. And keep in mind that the Trip Interruption benefit on USI’s plan may reimburse up to 200% of the trip cost.

When it comes to Trip Delay, our team found that most credit cards will only reimburse up to $500 per trip for lodging and other necessary travel. On the other hand, comprehensive travel insurance plans like our plan from USI may reimburse up to $2,500 in coverage for Trip Delay, depending on the plan and level purchased.

3. Covered reasons

Travel insurance offered through a credit card tends to include fewer covered reasons for Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption. This means that should something unexpected happen that causes you to cancel or interrupt your trip, it’s less likely that you’ll be covered in the event of a claim. Comprehensive travel insurance includes a long list of covered reasons. Read the policy for the full list.

4. Medical Expense and Emergency Medical Evacuation

Credit cards offering travel insurance benefits may not provide full medical protection required for your needs. Often, the benefits for medical expense coverage and evacuation on credit card plans are lower than those found on a comprehensive travel insurance plan. For example, USI’s comprehensive trip cancellation plan includes medical protection coverage up to $500,000 and Emergency Medical Evacuation coverage up to $1,000,000.

5. Optional Cancel For Any Reason upgrade

Credit card travel insurance generally does not offer the option to include the Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) upgrade. This is an important benefit that many travelers seek, especially now when travel can feel more unpredictable. Our comprehensive travel insurance plans offer this upgrade option, which gives many of our customers the added flexibility they need for more peace of mind. Just be sure to buy your plan early – CFAR is only available if you buy your plan within 14 days of your initial trip deposit. Don’t miss your opportunity!

6. Coverage for all trip costs

An important point to note is that credit card travel insurance only covers eligible travel expenses when the full amount of each expense was purchased with the credit card. On the other hand, with a comprehensive travel insurance plan, travelers can cover all of their expenses, no matter how they were paid.

7. Customer Service and Claims Assistance

Have you ever tried to call those huge credit card companies? Chances are, it may be difficult to get through to a person, let alone someone who is familiar with the travel insurance plan and can advise you on the coverage that best suits your needs. With USI Travel Insurance Services, you have access to knowledgeable support when you need it. The USI Customer Service staff are all non-commissioned, licensed insurance agents who focus entirely on travel insurance and helping travelers protect their trips.

If you need to file a claim, the USI Customer Service team can assist you with that, too. As a broker, USI acts as advocates for travelers during the claims process, and can help you navigate the process and any challenges with the claims administrator.

With this information in mind, hopefully next time you plan a trip it will be easier to know what to look for when researching travel insurance options. You can always visit our plan website, or contact the USI Travel Insurance Services Customer Service team for help selecting the best plan for your travel needs. Their representatives are available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time and can be reached at (855) 874-0156 or customercare@travelinsure.com. Be sure to mention you are traveling with ThirdHome, account #50054.

Planning a trip? Here are a few timely reasons to consider travel insurance:

Baggage Delay

As evidenced by multiple news articles, baggage woes are still a reality for travelers. While travel insurance can’t solve everything, you may appreciate the peace of mind offered by the Baggage Delay benefit on our plans. The benefit takes effect once the checked baggage has been delayed or misdirected by the common carrier for 12 hours or more on the way to or during your trip. The benefit on the plan designed for THIRDHOME travelers may be reimbursed up to $500 for delayed baggage.

Medical Sickness Benefit 

Besides coverage for Trip Cancellation, most travelers seek a travel insurance plan for emergency medical benefits in case of unexpected sickness or accident during the trip. During the summer months, for example, the heat has been top of mind as many regions have been experiencing extreme temperatures, and reports of heat-related illness are more common. As we head into fall and winter, cold and flu season becomes a concern. Travel insurance can alleviate some worries for your next trip, knowing you have coverage in case you unexpectedly become ill during your trip and require medical attention. The travel protection plan for THIRDHOME travelers offers Emergency Medical Expense benefits of up to $500,000 in coverage.

Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) Optional Upgrade

Cancel For Any Reason (or CFAR) is one of the most sought-after benefits of travel insurance now because of the flexibility it offers—but it’s not offered by every provider. Some plans offer a lower reimbursement benefit and have very restrictive time-sensitive purchase requirements. Our plan offers up to 75% reimbursement with the CFAR upgrade, which can be included if you buy your plan within 14 days of the initial trip deposit.

If you would like to learn more about the travel insurance plan for THIRDHOME members or to get a free quote, please visit the plan website. If you have questions about plan coverage or would like to speak with someone, please contact the USI Travel Insurance Services Customer Service team at customercare@travelinsure.com or 855.874.0156. Be sure to mention that you are traveling with THIRDHOME, account #50054.

Learn more about this important coverage option.

Is Cancel For Any Reason Coverage Right for You?

With travel demand still soaring, but with persistent unpredictability all around us, you may be wondering how you can book a trip with more peace of mind.

Travel insurance is designed to protect your trip investment in case of something unforeseen that may cost you–for example, if you must cancel your trip, interrupt your trip after it’s started, or if you need to seek medical care during your trip. Standard travel insurance plans provide coverage for specific reasons, as outlined in the policy document.

What if you want more flexibility to cancel your trip for reasons not included in your policy? In this case, CFAR coverage may be a good option for you.

The CFAR benefit gives you added flexibility and financial security for your trip. This benefit allows you to cancel your trip for literally any reason at all and still be reimbursed for most of your pre-paid, non-refundable trip expenses.

What reasons might CFAR cover?

While these reasons wouldn’t be covered in the standard plan, you would have the flexibility to cancel your trip and be reimbursed for most of your pre-paid, non-refundable trip expenses if you bought the CFAR coverage.

What you need to know to buy and use CFAR coverage:

  1. You must buy your plan within 14 days of your initial trip deposit.
  2. You must add CFAR coverage at the time of plan purchase, and you must insure all non-refundable trip costs.
  3. If you make subsequent travel arrangements after plan purchase, you must also insure those subsequent arrangements within 14 days of payment of deposit for those arrangements.
  4. You must cancel your trip with your travel supplier at least two days prior to your scheduled departure.
  5. Then, contact USI or your plan claims administrator to file the claim.
  6. When you make a claim, you may be reimbursed up to 75% of your total pre-paid, non-refundable trip cost.

Note: CFAR is not available to residents of NY state, per NY Dept. of Insurance regulations.

If you would like to learn more about the travel insurance plan for THIRDHOME Members or to get a free quote, please visit the plan website. If you have questions about plan coverage or would like to speak with someone, please contact the USI Travel Insurance Services Customer Service team at customercare@travelinsure.com or 855.874.0156. Be sure to mention that you are traveling with THIRDHOME, account #50054.

You’re all ready to book your next trip, or perhaps you’ve booked already… but when is the best time to buy a travel insurance plan to protect your trip? That likely depends on your specific situation and your needs, so we’ll break down the timing below.

Additional Benefits for Those Who Purchase Early

Almost all comprehensive travel insurance plans (single trip plans that include Trip Cancellation coverage) include some early purchase advantages if you buy your plan within a specified window after making your initial trip deposit. At THIRDHOME, we offer a travel protection plan to our members through USI Travel Insurance Services. If you purchase this plan within the early purchase timeframe (within 14 days of your initial trip deposit), you may have access to: 

What exactly does this early purchase timeframe mean? 

If you would like to have the early purchase benefits included in your plan, you’ll need to buy your travel insurance within 14 days of your initial trip deposit, even if you’re only making a small deposit upfront and paying the majority of your trip cost later. For example, if you put down a $200 deposit on a hotel but plan to book the rest of your trip later, the date you pay the $200 hotel deposit counts as your initial trip deposit. 

Once you buy your travel insurance plan, you will need to follow up with the USI Travel Insurance Services Customer Service team within the same early purchase timeframe for any subsequent trip payments (within 14 days of any subsequent payments) to adjust your travel insurance coverage accordingly. If you don’t add your subsequent trip costs to your plan within 14 days of payment, you will lose all of your early purchase benefits, so it’s important to stay on top of your travel insurance as you plan your trip! For example, if you book your flight for $1,500 after you make the $200 initial hotel deposit, you’ll need to call within 14 days of booking the flight to increase your insured trip cost amount to maintain your early purchase benefits, including CFAR coverage if selected. 

What if I’m already outside the early purchase window?

If you’re already past the early purchase timeframe based on when you paid your initial trip deposit, it’s still important to buy your travel insurance plan as soon as possible. Your plan is effective the day after purchase, and your Trip Cancellation benefit goes into effect immediately, meaning you could be reimbursed if you experience a covered event and need to cancel your trip. 

If you’re concerned about hurricanes impacting your travel, be sure to buy the plan before a storm might form. Once a hurricane becomes a named event, you can no longer have coverage for that hurricane if you buy your plan after that date, as the hurricane is then considered “foreseen.” 

And if you’re not one to plan ahead, keep in mind you can usually buy your plan up until a day before departure. 

If you have questions about when to buy your plan or questions about plan coverage, please contact the USI Travel Insurance Services Customer Service team at customercare@travelinsure.com or 855.874.0156. Be sure to mention that you are traveling with THIRDHOME, account #50054. You can also visit https://www.travelinsure.com/thirdhome/ to learn more and get a free quote today. 

*Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) is not available to residents of NY. CFAR is an optional upgrade offered at an additional premium. Terms and conditions apply. See plan for full details.

Planning travel in the era of COVID-19 can be difficult. Between restrictions, delays, emergencies, or cancellations of any kind, so much is out of our control as travelers. However, we can control whether or not our trips are protected.

COVID-19 is unfortunately not disappearing anytime soon, so it is more important than ever to be prepared for anything. Thus, THIRDHOME is now pleased to offer an exclusive Travel Insurance Program to all members via our trusted partners at USI Travel Insurance Services.

THIRDHOME’s comprehensive travel insurance plan includes coverage for:

Anything from terrible weather to a family emergency can derail your plans and bring your vacation to an end before it even begins. USI Travel Insurance Services includes coverage for many COVID-19-related disruptions. Please see below for all that is covered. Plans are offered to members at an exclusive rate and available for all your travel needs, regardless of whether you are traveling with THIRDHOME or planning a trip with accommodations outside the Club.

*Please note that THIRDHOME Keys are not covered by travel insurance providers, however Exchange fees are covered.

Protect your travel investment – and enjoy your adventures – with THIRDHOME’s Travel Insurance Program. To learn more about the travel insurance plan options for THIRDHOME travelers, click here.

*For the most flexibility, purchase your plan through USI Travel Insurance Services within 14 days of your initial trip payment to be eligible for the Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage upgrade. See website for policy Terms & Conditions, exclusions, and termination provisions.

Additional Resources:

*THIRDHOME strongly recommends a Trip Protection Plan for all reservations, especially while COVID-19 is prevalent. Exposure or illnesses related to COVID-19 do not qualify for a refund of Keys or Exchange fees under our Terms and Conditions.

Questions?

If you have any inquiries about travel insurance, please email Liz Bates at liz@thirdhome.com or call 615-997-3181. For any questions about THIRDHOME’s cancelation policy, reach out to your Member Experience Associate or email memberexperience@thirdhome.com.

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