The 5 W’s of Travel Insurance

Republished with permission from USI Travel Insurance Services

WHO

Travel insurance plans are available for just about anyone taking any type of trip, but all plans have different coverage and eligibility. USI Travel Insurance Services’ trip cancellation plans cover any U.S. resident of any age. Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption coverage generally kicks in if you, an immediate family member, or a travel companion becomes sick or injured (under the care of a physician) or dies.

WHAT

Travel insurance provides coverage for unforeseen circumstances that may prevent a traveler from taking their trip or disrupt their trip after they’ve departed. Travel insurance plans cover specific “named perils” or covered reasons for which a benefit would apply, such as injury, illness, inclement weather, natural disasters, airplane mechanical problems and more. Circumstances outside of those covered reasons listed in the policy are not covered by the plan. To understand exactly “what” you’re plan covers, review the policy document. As for what to insure when buying a travel insurance plan, a traveler should plan to cover any pre-paid, non-refundable trip cost.

WHEN

Travel insurance can generally be purchased any time up to the day before departure, but the earlier a traveler purchases their plan, the better. The plan is effective the day after purchase, and Trip Cancellation coverage kicks in immediately in the event of a covered circumstance. Most plans also offer Early Purchase Advantages – most commonly a waiver of the Pre-Existing Medical Conditions exclusion and the optional Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) upgrade. The Early Purchase Advantages are only available if the plan is purchased within a short time after the initial trip deposit – travelers should check their plan for the Early Purchase time period, as all plans are different. For the ThirdHome plan, the Early Purchase Advantages are available if the plan is purchased within 14 days of the initial trip deposit.

WHERE

Most travel insurance plans cover a traveler any time they are 100 or more miles from their home. Plans cover domestic travel within the U.S. and also international travel. Most plans exclude coverage to certain countries that may be experiencing war, unrest or other political issues, but the common travel destinations are available for coverage.

WHY

Travel is not inexpensive, and the cost should be viewed as an investment. Should something unexpected cause a traveler to cancel or interrupt their trip, or if the traveler experiences a medical emergency, travel insurance can provide important financial protection, not to mention peace of mind.

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.

*CFAR available at an additional cost if plan is purchased within 14 days of initial trip deposit. Terms apply. Not available to residents of NY.