Is Travel Insurance Worth It? - Little Things Travel Blog (2024)

In short, yes, travel insurance is worth it. We all know the critics out there, and the confident travelers who believe they are so invincible that they don’t need travel insurance. While it is a personal decision (security won’t kick you off the plane if you don’t have it), buying travel insurance is smart and safe not only for your health but also for your wallet.Traveling internationally without a travel insurance plan is definitely not the same as opting-out of the insurance for the $300 iPad you just bought. The mentality of “it won’t happen to me” is not one you want to have when deciding on whether or not to purchase travel insurance.

Debunking Travel Insurance Myths

One of the most common myths is when people think they don’t need travel insurance because they never get sick. You may have a rockstar immune system, but that won’t help you if you get seriously injured when cliff jumping in Croatia or if your laptop gets stolen. Travel insurance covers you for so much more than just illness.

I also hear quite often, “I already have health insurance” as a reason to not purchase travel insurance. In most cases, your health insurance won’t cover you abroad. Even if it did,as I mentioned above it still won’t help cover situations specifically covered by travel insurance such as your personal valuables, emergency evacuation, or trip cancellation.

What to Look for in a Travel Insurance Policy

When purchasing travel insurance you always want to read through the details of the policy to make sure it includes everything you need for your trip.The followingare a few options you’ll want to look for:

  • Emergency accident and sickness expense
  • Emergency evacuation & repatriation
  • Trip cancellation – covers previously purchased items such as hotel and flight bookings
  • Trip interruption – if you suddenly need to return home due to death/illness in the family, or another emergency
  • Trip delay
  • Lost baggage and personal effects (including at least some coverage for your electronics)
    • Note that there typically are add-ons to cover you if you’re traveling with a lot of expensive equipment, like for photography or videography for example.
  • Baggage delay
  • 24-hour assistance – you never know when an emergency will occur!

Again, the most important part is to always make sure you read the policy wording so you know exactly what’s covered – and what’s not. There are different plan levels, such as higher coverageamounts or more “adventurous” activities like cliff jumping, hang gliding, or skydiving.

World Nomads travel insurance has been designed by travelers for travelers. If you leave home without travel insurance or your policy runs out, you can buy or extend while on the road.

Hiking in Colorado

Why Travel Insurance is Worthwhile

Think abouthow much it will save you if anything were to happen. Buying travel insurance is a small price to pay for a safety net that could save youhundreds of thousands of dollars if you experienced an unexpected emergency. The cost of an emergency trip evacuation could cost upwards of $100,000 without travel insurance, andthat is certainly not worth the risk for me to travel without insurance.

When planning your trip,include travel insurance in your trip expenses and don’t think about it as something you’ll maybe add on later. To receive the full benefits including trip cancellation coverage, make sure to buy it when purchasing the tickets for your trip.

Travel insurance is well worth it so you can travel feeling safe and confident knowing that you’re in good hands if anunexpected accident, theft, or illness were to happen along your journey.

Kayaking in Croatia

Why I Use World Nomads

Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more. It is a quick and easy process through their website, and they make their options clear so you can make a well-informed decision about the plan that is best for you. They have the most affordable options I have seen in the travel insurance industry, but they certainly do not sacrifice quality as their plans offer thorough coverage suited for the majority of travelers.

Why buy travel insurance?

  1. Backed by specialist insurers and global assistance partners
  2. Buy Online, even if you’ve already left home
  3. Extend and claim online while traveling
  4. Covers a range of adventure sports and activities
  5. Give a little back and support a community development project

Whether you are traveling now, tomorrow, or six months from now, buy your travel insurance today and don’t skimp on your health. Fill in your details hereto find a travel insurance plan that works for you!

Please note that some of the links on this pageare affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a small commission that will help support this site if you make a purchase. World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, I receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. I do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance. All opinions are my own. If you have any questions about the companies or products mentioned on this page, please reach out to meand I will happily answer them.

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Is Travel Insurance Worth It? - Little Things Travel Blog (2024)

FAQs

What are the disadvantages of travel insurance? ›

Important: While travel insurance policies may be more comprehensive than credit card protections, it has limitations. They typically won't cover non-essential medical expenses, high-risk sports or activities, or pre-existing conditions — at least without paying for add-on coverage.

Does travel insurance really pay? ›

If your trip is canceled for a covered reason, a policy will often reimburse airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, tours, cruises and other prepaid, non-refundable expenses.

What does travel insurance not cover? ›

Most travel insurance policies won't pay out if you're negligent while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and have an accident or have property stolen.

Is travel insurance necessary? ›

If you would lose the money you paid for your flights, accommodations, rental car, or activities if you had to cancel or go home early, travel insurance that specifically includes trip cancellation and trip interruption is probably a good idea.

Does a credit card count as travel insurance? ›

Many travel credit cards include international travel insurance. Some banks also offer paid coverage for those with more extensive needs. Before choosing a policy, you're best to check what is covered, any limits, excesses, and exclusions, and then discuss any pre-existing conditions.

What is a good rate for travel insurance? ›

The average cost of travel insurance is about 3% to 5% of a trip's total value, according to quotes gathered by our research team across different travel insurance providers for various traveler profiles.

What percent of trip should travel insurance cost? ›

Travel insurance is not one-size-fits-all, so the price and conditions of a plan will vary. However, it may be useful to understand pricing guidelines to plan your travel insurance purchase. In general, you should expect a plan will cost anywhere from 4%-10% of your total pre-paid, nonrefundable trip cost.

How much is enough travel insurance? ›

How much travel medical insurance do you need? Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison site, recommends buying at least $50,000 in emergency medical coverage for international travel. For travelers going on a cruise or to a remote destination, the site recommends at least $100,000 in coverage.

What is not covered by Allianz travel insurance? ›

Claims due to known, foreseeable, or expected events, epidemics, government prohibitions, warnings, or travel advisories or fear of travel are generally not covered (coverage can vary by state.)

Does travel insurance cover cancelled flights? ›

Cancellation cover is a common inclusion with most standard travel insurance policies, but you can take it out separately if it doesn't offer enough cover. Alternatively, if you only want cancellation cover to protect you against cancelled flights rather than baggage protection, you can get it for that.

Does travel insurance include cancellations? ›

Cancellation cover is often included in a standard travel insurance policy and protects you financially if your holiday can't go ahead. You typically get a lump sum paid back from your travel insurer if you have to abandon your trip.

Is Allianz good travel insurance? ›

We at the MarketWatch Guides team awarded Allianz Travel Insurance 4.1 out of 5 stars based on our provider review methodology. Named our pick for concierge services, Allianz offers 24/7 travel assistance through a multilingual team, which can help policyholders with travel and coverage issues while abroad.

What does travel insurance cover for flights? ›

A complete travel insurance plan may include protections such as medical coverage, compensation for baggage loss, emergency medical transportation services and more. It may also include compensation for extras such as travel assistance and protection for your rental car.

What is travel insurance good for? ›

Travel insurance is coverage designed to protect against risks and financial losses that could happen while traveling. The risks range from minor inconveniences such as missed airline connections and delayed luggage all the way to more serious issues including injuries or major illness.

How long is travel insurance good for? ›

Annual travel insurance policies provide Emergency Medical and Medical Evacuation coverage for multiple trips throughout one year. These policies last one year from the start date, which should be the departure date of your first trip. Annual policies are well-suited for frequent business or leisure travelers.

Does travel insurance cover health issues? ›

Comprehensive travel insurance: With a comprehensive travel insurance plan, travelers will have travel medical coverage as a part of their coverage. If you experience an unexpected illness or injury during your trip, you may file a claim for covered medical and dental expenses.

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