Travel insurance. Is it really necesarry?

YES.... Travel insurance is essential for any trip away from home especially when traveling abroad.  If the unthinkable happens you could be ruined financially.  Travel insurance is inexpensive and offers peace of mind.
Reasons to purchase travel insurance:
1. Trip delay -  If you miss a connection most travel insurance will pay for meals and lodging up to a certain limit.
2. Accident - If you are involved in accident while traveling abroad you want travel insurance to cover your hospital costs, med-evacuation if needed, and the worst case scenario to repatriate your remains.  These costs can be close or beyond the $100,000 mark depending on how far you are from home.

3. Illness while traveling - If you become ill and need care of a doctor or hospitalization most travel insurance will cover your costs.  Best to get a travel insurance that acts as primary coverage so you dont have to deal with your own insurance and whether you are in network or not.

4. Lost or stolen - passport, camera, personal effects. Most travel insurances will cover costs involved during your staying if the unfortunate happens.  Replacing a passport can be costly not to mention the extra nights you will be spending.

Here are 2 great articles on travel insurance if you would like more info.

see a great article from NBC with 9 reasons to purchase travel insurance
Cruise Critic article on the pros and cons of travel insurance


 WHEN BOOKING TRAVEL INSURANCE  YOU HAVE 2 OPTIONS -
 1. You can choose to cover the cost of your trip or not.  Covering the cost of your trip is more expensive but also gives you the luxury of a refund if you have to cancel prior departure if you or an immediate family member is hospitalized or passes away.  You are also covered while you are traveling in the event there is an accident, delayed flight, lost or stolen passport, camera,etc, illness that requires hospitalization, med-evacuation, life-flight, or repatriation of remains in the event of death.

2. If you are looking for a low cost travel insurance and don't need to cover the cost of your trip then put your trip cost as $0.  This way you get all the great coverage but without trip cancellation prior to departure.


GROUPS - if you are traveling with a group there are group insurance products that will benefit everyone in the group.  Normally a group consists of 10 or more people.  The benefit of booking group insurance is that age is not a factor for some travel insurance companies.   This can mean huge savings for the older people in the group.   Generally on individual policies the older you get the more expensive the trip gets.  As a group everyone pays the same rate!