Comments on: Travel Insurance Can Protect Your Summer Vacation Plans

By: shajal

shajal — Mon, 28 May 2012 14:15:56 +0000

I learned then that travel insurance is essential for anyone whose own health insurance won’t cover them outside the U.S. – or, if you don’t have a regular health insurance policy.

Thanks for sharing your story.

By: Marlon

Marlon — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 02:26:30 +0000

Not just your summer vacation plans. I think having travel insurance today is very important because you'll never know what might happen during your trip, especially when abroad.

By: Ilyce

Ilyce — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 19:40:01 +0000

Eva - what a great story. I last bought travel insurance for a two-week trip to Morocco I took with my mother. We didn't need the insurance but it was nice to have.

When my mother-in-law got sick, and ultimately passed away, during a trip to Costa Rica several years ago, her travel insurance paid to medivac her from a remote beach to the capital, and ultimately paid all of her medical bills that would not have been covered by Medicare.

I learned then that travel insurance is essential for anyone whose own health insurance won't cover them outside the U.S. - or, if you don't have a regular health insurance policy.

Thanks for sharing your story. Linda, really helpful advice.

By: Eva Rosenberg, EA

Eva Rosenberg, EA — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 04:04:47 +0000

Back when I was a kid and travel was special and rare, whenever my father got on an airplane he went to one of those Travelers Insurance kiosks. He would buy a policy and mail it back to my mom.

We used to tease him, telling him that we didn't know whether to be delighted, or concerned. Did we want him to successfully complete the flight - or crash and have the policy pay out. Fortunately, we never had to find out.

Seriously though, when it comes to expensive trips planned well in advance, travel insurance is a great idea.

On a trip to Portugal, British Airways managed to leave our luggage in London. Then on the way back, we got so lost in Heathrow's ridiculously unclear signage (along with other people, some who said they were repeatedly going through the same security checkpoint) until we missed our flight. They were able to get us on a different flight on another airline, and ultimately, it all worked out.

But it would have been nice to have insurance.

And my friend's size -2 wife was generous enough to offer me some clothing until my luggage arrived. Her things may have fit over my right arm. Almost.

Fortunately, she could speak Portuguese and negotiated the delivery of our luggage to her concierge so we didn't have to waste a day waiting for it.

By: Linda Rey

Linda Rey — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:41:05 +0000

Comments from Facebook:

Thom: Travel plans. Who can travel when you are a real estate broker!

Angela: I think travel insurance is very important because you never know what unexpected circumstances could pop up that cause your travel plans to unravel. My business partner shared a story about one of her clients who couldn't make it to their own wedding because of passport issues. Those that hadn't bought travel insurance had to go to the wedding location anyway so they wouldn't lose their money. It was a sad story.

Dick: Now I have an idea for a new business - marriage insurance.

Linda: Dick, let me know if you find a carrier who will write that "risk".

By: Linda Rey

Linda Rey — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 18:58:48 +0000

Wow katie, thanks for sharing…exactly why this type of insurance can be vital!! accidents can & do happen! insurance is about leverage, you pay a small amount of money (premium) for a large sum of money (benefit).

By: Lisa Kaslyn

Lisa Kaslyn — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 18:43:57 +0000

My mother planned a trip to India two years ago and got sick right before. Thankfully, she had purchased travelers insurance and, although she had to cancel the trip, she did not lose any money. It could have cost her more than $3,000.

By: Katie Gear

Katie Gear — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 18:20:54 +0000

I never thought about getting travel insurance over the past few years… But after traveling to and from Europe and encountering lost luggage (for 3 weeks!), a stolen wallet AND getting very sick in Spain, the next time I go ANYWHERE out of the country I will not leave without some form of insurance. It may seem silly to think about, and people always assume nothing bad will happen to them but it can! If I had insurance at the time I lost all of my luggage and wallet, it would have made the end of those trips MUCH more enjoyable!