Comprehensive Plans
These plans combine standard travel medical benefits with trip cancellation benefits. On the medical side, you can expect to see coverage for injuries and sickness, emergency medical evacuation, and accidental death and dismemberment. Trip insurance benefits include coverage for baggage delay, missed connection, and trip cancellation or interruption. Comprehensive plans are a great choice for you’re looking to protect your trip investment and health in one package deal.
Trip Cancellation
Trip cancellation plans are available to help protect the investment you’ve made in your trip. These plans provide coverage should you lose your baggage, miss a flight or cruise, or even be forced to cancel your whole trip. They can greatly benefit your travels, but be sure to get all the plan details before purchasing, as many plans have limited benefits depending on when you first pay for your trip. Some plans may include an emergency medical benefit, but it will be more limited than on a comprehensive or travel medical plan.
Travel Medical
If medical coverage is the main concern for you when planning your trip, you will want to consider purchasing a travel medical plan, rather than a trip insurance or comprehensive plan. These plans will provide medical benefits in the case of sudden injury or illness, as well as medical evacuation coverage if you should need it. If you are planning to be overseas long-term, consider purchasing a major medical plan, designed to give you U.S.-style health coverage while you’re out of the country.
Additional Riders
All travel insurance policies have exclusions, so make sure you are familiar with what your plan covers and doesn’t cover. Many plans have additional coverage for specific items such as adventure sports, rental cars, or a pre-exisiting condition. Some comprehensive plans may offer an optional Cancel For Any Reason benefit. Even riders have exclusions, so read the policy to know what is covered and what isn’t.