Protect the parts of the trip you cannot afford to lose.
Travel insurance is not only about recovering the price of a canceled vacation. Its most important role may be helping with an illness, injury or evacuation far from home.
START WITH THE REAL RISKS
Review coverage for emergency medical care, medical evacuation, trip cancellation and interruption, delays, missed connections, and lost or delayed baggage. The right limits depend on the destination, trip cost, medical system, activities and distance from appropriate care.
KNOW WHAT YOUR CREDIT CARD COVERS
Premium cards may include useful protections, but coverage varies and usually applies only when eligible travel was paid with that card. Read the benefits guide. Do not assume that card protection replaces medical coverage or evacuation assistance.
READ THE EXCLUSIONS
Look for exclusions involving pre-existing conditions, alcohol, pandemics, political events, high-risk activities and destinations under official advisories. If the trip includes diving, trekking, remote safari, winter sports or another specialized activity, confirm that it is covered in writing.
ANNUAL OR SINGLE-TRIP?
An annual plan can make sense for frequent travelers, but compare the per-trip duration limit and maximum reimbursement with the cost of your largest trip. A single-trip plan may offer stronger cancellation coverage for one expensive journey.
BE READY TO USE THE POLICY
Save the policy number, emergency contact instructions and proof of coverage offline. Keep receipts, written delay notices, baggage reports and medical records. Insurers and credit cards reimburse documented losses; memory alone is not documentation.
Insurance cannot prevent disruption. It can keep an already difficult event from becoming a financial crisis.
CONTINUE PLANNING