Comparing Travel Insurance Plans: Which Is Right for Me?
Travel Team | Mar 23, 2023
With the variety of different types of travel insurance available, choosing the best plan for your needs can be tricky. That's why it's important to compare travel insurance plans before your trip, so you can find the one that offers the right level of coverage for you and your loved ones.
Why Buy Insurance?
As we dive into the different types of travel insurance, keep in mind the other types of insurance you have and what their purpose is.
You probably pay for at least a couple of these: health, dental, and vision insurance; car insurance; homeowners’ insurance; life insurance. And why is that? For starters, some of them are required by the U.S. government and mortgage lenders, but also, somewhere along the line, you recognized their importance in protecting you from unknown events that could adversely affect you. Travel insurance isn’t any different in that respect.
Is Travel Insurance Necessary?
With the events of the last few years, the perception of travel insurance has changed. It’s no longer seen as a luxury or merely as a bonus for travelers who can afford it. More people are realizing the advantages of travel insurance, even for the average traveler, and starting to think of it as a necessity.
Travel is getting more expensive, and we often invest a lot of money in our vacations. Travel insurance can help protect that investment. If you have to cancel your trip or something unexpected happens while you travel, that protection can help cover expenses. If you get sick or hurt during an international trip, again, travel insurance can help with medical expenses.
In each of these scenarios, traveling without insurance could mean you spend more money than you’d planned or, especially in the case of foreign medical care, more than you can afford on your own.
All travelers need to be mindful of the risks they face by taking a trip. Just as there are risks associated with owning a home and driving a car, traveling has unique risks. We're here to help mitigate those risks while you're exploring the world.
Types of Seven Corners Travel Insurance
Here's a breakdown of the major types of travel insurance. Use this list to compare travel insurance options and find what works best for you.
Trip protection
With a trip protection plan, you can be protected if you need to cancel, delay, or interrupt your trip for a covered reason such as illness or injury. You can be reimbursed for your nonrefundable, prepaid trip costs, as well as unused expenses and transportation costs if you need to return home early.
For example, if my appendix ruptures the week before my trip and my doctor tells me I cannot travel, I could be reimbursed for travel arrangements like nonrefundable flights, hotel reservations, and tours. Of course I’d be disappointed not to take my bucket list trip to Argentina, but at least I haven’t lost all the money I put into my trip, too. (Yes, I do dream of an adventure in Argentina, but this hypothetical scenario is for illustration purposes only.)
In addition, trip protection plans can reimburse you for the cost of replacing lost, stolen, or damaged luggage. It can also reimburse you for rental fees for specific types of sports equipment, like skis or golf clubs, if yours are lost, stolen, damaged, or delayed by a common carrier for six or more hours during your trip.
As another example, let’s say I do go to Argentina (no appendicitis!) where I plan to do some skiing. If my own skis were lost by the airline on my way there and I had to rent equipment instead, my trip protection could reimburse me for those rental fees. It would be a similar situation if the airline lost all my luggage and I needed to buy clothes just to decently walk around my resort for a few days. My trip protection could reimburse me for those necessary replacement items.
Finally, many plans offer medical coverage for injuries or illnesses that arise while you're traveling, as well as travel services such as 24/7 multilingual traveler assistance as a non-insurance benefit.
Different plans offer different levels of coverage, so be sure to review your options, learn how to read a travel insurance plan document, and choose a plan that offers the right protection for your needs.
Seven Corners trip protection plans are designed specifically for U.S. residents traveling inside the United States or internationally. We offer a range of plans that can be customized to fit your needs, budget, and trip style. Learn more and start your quick quote at SevenCorners.com.
Visitors’ health insurance (to the USA)
Seven Corners’ Travel Medical USA Visitor insurance for non-U.S. citizens and non-U.S. residents traveling to the United States. Millions of people who travel to the USA trust Seven Corners to provide emergency medical coverage for an affordable cost.
Travel Medical USA Visitor is a scheduled benefit plan, which means it pays a set amount for each type of medical service or treatment you receive. For example, if you break your leg during your trip, you may require multiple services or treatments, such as x-rays, surgery, and a brace. According to your scheduled benefit plan, we will pay a set amount for each of those after you’ve met your deductible.
So, in your plan document, you may see:
- X-rays: $500
- Surgery: $3,000
- Initial Orthopedic Prosthesis or Brace: $1,000
In this scenario, we would pay up to the amount listed. Anything over the dollar amount for each service, you would be responsible for paying.
Learn more about Travel Medical USA Visitor and start your quick quote.
International travel medical insurance
Travel medical plans are just what they sound like. They provide medical coverage for people traveling abroad. This is important because many domestic health insurance plans don't cover you when you travel internationally, which means you could have to pay the cost if you get sick or injured on your trip.
Also, if appropriate medical care is not available at your location, you may need to be medically evacuated to an area with appropriate care. A travel medical plan will cover the expense of an emergency medical evacuation. It also comes with a knowledgeable travel assistance team as part of your non-insurance benefits. Seven Corners will arrange the evacuation for you.
A travel medical plan can cover doctor and hospital fees, emergency transportation, accidental death, and more. As with any type of travel insurance, different plans offer different levels of coverage.
Deductibles, medical maximum options, coinsurance options, and other aspects of the plan can vary widely, so do your homework and purchase a plan that covers all your bases.
Seven Corners Travel Medical Insurance is available for U.S. and non-U.S. citizens traveling outside their home country. Learn more about your options with Seven Corners Travel Medical Insurance and start a quick quote today.
Questions?
If you have any questions about whether you need travel insurance and which plan is right for you, contact us at 317-575-2652 or sales@sevencorners.com.
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