Tuesday, November 27, 2012

The No 1 Mistake When Buying Travel Insurance


You made those long awaited vacation plans and you know you need to think about travel insurance. The travel agent you used strongly suggested that you protect your investment with trip insurance. You know a lot of things could happen before you leave that might cause the trip to be canceled.

Maybe you've just booked that dream cruise. You've spent a lot of money. What if something happens? Somebody could get sick. Weather could cause flight delays and you'll miss your sailing time. You'll definitely want some kind of protection. It's the smart thing to do.

Well congratulations! At least you recognize the need to protect your investment. That's more than a lot of people who spend a lot of money on travel plans and never consider what could happen and how much they could lose. But when you go to buy that travel insurance don't make the #1 mistake that many people make.

So many people take the easy way out without thinking. They opt for the travel insurance their travel agent is recommending or they may see that when they booked their cruise the cruise line was offering travel insurance at a cost that seemed reasonable. Don't make this #1 mistake! This is the worse way possible for getting any kind of trip insurance.

Consider this. Your travel agent is offering a particular plan or plans from a particular insurance carrier. Now this may not be a bad plan but do you think it is being offered because it is the best value or has the best in coverage options for you? It's probably not. It's probably offered because your travel agent has a business relationship with that carrier and they get the best commissions when their clients buy it.

The same thing is true with any kind of travel insurance that is offered through any travel vendor like the cruise line you booked your trip on. This will almost certainly not be the best value for your money. Plus, why would you think that these travel policies would meet your specific needs? Sure they may have options you can select giving you a little flexibility but you can be sure you probably can do better in price and coverages.

Here's what you need to do. First take a minute and asses your own particular travel situation. Are there things at work that might get in the way of the trip? Are you traveling with children? Are there any health issues with elderly parents that could cause problems while you're away? You don't have to spend days doing this but be aware of potential situations that could come up.

Then do some comparative shopping online. There are several places where you can get comparative quotes and most importantly read the detail description of coverage. This will tell you what specific coverages and exclusions are included in the plan. Now this may not be the most enjoyable reading but it is necessary. Most plans have options and upgrades that you might want or need to give you adequate protection for your unique situation.

Be especially careful when you compare the medical travel insurance coverages and benefits. This after all is the most important reason for buying any form of travel insurance. Take your time, compare policies and you'll avoid making the biggest mistake people make and be able to find the best value for your money at the same time.

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