Consumer Alert: Travel Insurance
As we enter
vacation season, Commissioner Miller is informing consumers about travel
insurance options. The summer months are popular vacation times, and many
Pennsylvanians will soon begin to make their travel plans for the year.
Many
consumers will have different kinds of protection through existing policies
when travelling. In many cases, your bags are covered by your homeowners or
renters policy if they are lost while travelling. You may also have some
medical coverage through your health insurance while travelling abroad, and
your life insurance policy may cover you in the event of accidental death, but
you should check with your insurance companies before travelling.
In the event
that your belongings are not covered by your homeowners or renters policy, you
can purchase travel insurance that will cover them if lost, stolen, or damaged.
Be sure to read your policy carefully before purchasing, as most policies will
not reimburse for items lost or damaged by an airline. You should also take
note of the value limits set by the policy, particularly if you plan to purchase
expensive items while travelling.
If your
policy doesn’t provide adequate coverage where you are travelling, you can also
purchase medical or accidental death insurance. This may especially apply to
consumers who are travelling overseas. Read the terms of coverage carefully, as
some companies may not cover pre-existing conditions, charge higher premiums
for pre-existing conditions, or have age limits.
The most
common type of travel insurance is for trip cancellation, delay, or
interruption. This can protect you from financial losses associated with
cancellations of airfare, hotel, tour, and other travel expenses. Trip
cancellation is usually only covered in certain situations, like illness or death
of you or a family member. Trip delay will reimburse you if your trip is
delayed because of severe weather, missed flight connections, etc. Trip
interruption will cover you if your trip is cut short, with reasons ranging
from bad weather to jury duty.
Talk to your
insurance agents or companies to review your existing policies before
travelling to see what coverage you already have, so that you can acquire any
additional coverage you need.
Safe travels!