With all of the uncertainties in the world right now, it’s essential to protect yourself and take extra precautions. This is especially true when it comes to traveling. Travel has changed during COVID, and so has the need for travel insurance. Getting travel insurance for your next trip could help prevent you from losing money in the chance that something unexpected comes about and hinders your plans. If you haven’t gotten travel insurance before or still have some questions about it, here are the top 5 things that you should know about travel insurance during COVID:
1. There Are Different Types of Travel Insurance
There are many different types of travel insurance that you can obtain. This is why it’s important to do your research and shop around to see what best fits your needs. Different travel insurance coverages will protect you from various unforeseen circumstances. So, think about why you want to get travel insurance and make a list of what areas you want to be protected in before pulling the trigger.
You can learn about some of the different items that a travel insurance plan might cover here.
2. There Are Circumstances in Which You Should Get Travel Insurance
Traveling during COVID can be a little nerve-racking as the world is constantly changing. One minute you have an amazing trip planned, and the next minute you may have to cancel it altogether. Travel insurance can help protect you if unexpected circumstances end up hindering your travel plans.
We recommend getting travel insurance during COVID if:
- Your total travel costs are over $1,000.
- You had to pay a large portion of your travel costs in advance.
- You plan to participate in “risky” activities in which you could get injured, such as mountain climbing, bungee jumping, or riding an ATV.
- You’re traveling to an area considered by the CDC to be a “high” or “very high” risk for contracting COVID-19.
- You plan on traveling in a large group.
3. And There Are Times When You Can Skip Getting Travel Insurance
With all the uncertainties that could come with traveling during COVID, you might assume that you should always get travel insurance. Well, the truth is, there are times when you can skip purchasing travel insurance. Depending on where you plan on traveling, what activities you plan to do while there, and how much your trip costs, purchasing travel insurance may not benefit you.
You may want to skip purchasing travel insurance during COVID if:
- Your total travel costs are under $500.
- You did not have to pay a large portion of your travel costs in advance.
- You are traveling to an area considered by the CDC to be a “low” risk for contracting COVID-19.
4. Take Your Time and Shop Around
When looking to purchase travel insurance, it’s crucial that you take your time and shop around. You want to look for a plan that gives you the coverage you need at a reasonable cost. Many companies will offer similar travel insurance coverage but the fine print and cost of the coverage may vary from company to company. If you aren’t sure where to begin when it comes to looking around for travel insurance, the website InsureMy Trip can help you easily compare travel insurance plans, help you decide what plan fits your needs, and will compare the costs of plans across multiple companies.
5. Make Sure That You ALWAYS Read the Fine Print
Take your time when looking for travel insurance and ALWAYS read the fine print. There are a lot of times that you may think you know what your travel insurance will cover, but the fine print could contain some details that surprise you. For example, when reading the fine print of your travel insurance, you may find out that you’ll only get a partial refund if your trip gets canceled or that your insurance won’t cover any pre-existing medical conditions. Take your time and read through the entire travel insurance policy. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
Overall, take your time and understand all of your options when it comes to obtaining travel insurance for your next trip. Though purchasing travel insurance during COVID can be a good idea (especially for more expensive trips) you don’t necessarily always need it. Weigh out your options, and decide what’s going to be best for your situation. If you’re ready to begin searching for travel insurance for your next trip, you can do so on the InsureMy Trip website.
If you plan to travel in the near future and need to obtain a passport or visa for your trip, you can do so on the Swift website. If you have any questions about getting a passport or visa for your next trip, please contact us. We’d be happy to help! And as always, no matter where you plan on going, we’ll get you there!
