Travel Tips

Questions to Ask When Buying Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is something that you hope you never need, but that can really save the day. But do you know what questions you should ask before buying a policy?

First, there’s this rule of thumb: never buy insurance from the travel provider, or cruise line that’s booking your travel.

If they go belly-up, you’re out of luck.

Get the name of the insurance company that’s underwriting the policy.

It should be a no-brainer, but if you can’t get that information, stay away.

Check out that company’s credentials. An agency called A.M. Best is a great resource for checking an insurance company’s ratings.

And the US Travel Insurance Association has a list of member companies that adhere to strict rules and ethics.

Make sure you understand the language: some companies will use vague terms like “travel protection” which CAN be insurance, but has also been interpreted as a “travel waiver.”

Translation: you’re paying the company for the option to get credit on a future trip should you have to cancel.

Find out if the provider has a global presence, with staff that can be your advocate if there’s a language barrier.

And, if you’re buying medical coverage, make sure they have people on the ground checking out the hospital facilities and clinics they may be sending you to.

Bottom line: Like anything else that requires upfront payment, do your due diligence before handing over your credit card.

Get more information in our Travel Insurance section.

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