European Vacations|Travel Insurance

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Everyone has different needs, comfort levels and budgets when it comes to travel insurance. Unless you are very, very confident that your existing medical coverage will adequately cover you overseas (Hey, half the time they try and weasel out of paying our medical bills at home!), I recommend that you at least get some kind of travel medical coverage.

Depending on the health of loved ones at home, the volitility of your work responsibilities, and your own health you might want some vacation cancellation insurance. I personally recommend AIG Travel Guard. AIG is the industry's leading provider of travel insurance plans-covering more than 8 million travelers worldwide each year. They have plans that cover vacation and trip cancellation, travel interruptions and delays, emergency medical and health expenses, lost baggage and more: Free Travel Insurance Quotes from AIG Travel Guard.

Insurance Tips

Travel insurance is a way to minimize the considerable financial risks of traveling on your European trips. These risks include accidents, illness, missed flights, canceled tours, lost baggage, and emergency evacuation. Each traveler's risk and potential loss varies, depending on how much of the trip is prepaid, the kind of air ticket purchased, your state of health, the value of your luggage, where you're traveling, the financial health of the tour company or airline, and what coverage you already have (through your medical insurance, homeowners' or renters' insurance, or credit card). For some, travel insurance is a good deal; for others, it's not - click on the banner below to get insurance or for more information:.

The most complete version is called "comprehensive insurance." Insurance costs vary dramatically, but most packages are between 5 and 12 percent of the total trip cost. Two factors can increase this price: age at the time of purchase (rates increase dramatically for every decade over 50) and duration of trip (longer European trips cost more to insure). Coverage is generally inexpensive for children 17 and under.

Travel insurance policies typically include any or all of the following coverages

Medical expenses. When you're hit with a hospital, doctor, or dental bill overseas, the travel insurance company will pay instead of making you pay cash and seek reimbursement from your medical insurer back home. For my European vacations, this insurance is mandatory. Click on the banner below to get insurance or for more information:.

Emergency medical transportation. If you have a coronary or break your neck high in the Swiss Alps, the travel insurance company will pay for ambulances, medevac flights, etc. In many cases, it will also pay for your flight home. I always thought this insurance was a little over the top until my daughter got injured in a car accident and needed a medevac flight that my insurance didn’t cover. It’s a long-shot that you’ll need it, but it’s a back breaker if you aren’t covered.

Trip cancellation and interruption. If an emergency occurs right before or during your European trips, this coverage will pay for losses from non-refundable airline tickets, cruise and tour deposits, etc. I recommend this type of travel insurance if you have loved ones who are old or in bad health or there’s a possibility that a business or job emergency might force you to cancel or interrupt your European trip.

Trip delays. If you miss a flight, get sick in transit, etc., the insurance company pays your extra hotel and travel expenses. I accept trip delays as part of my European vacations. Usually the cost of them doesn’t justify getting the coverage.

Lost or damaged baggage. The travel insurance company pays the actual value of your missing bags or items (unlike airlines, which have limited liability). In most cases, the company will also pay for "essential items" (such as underwear and toiletries) purchased while waiting for delayed baggage to arrive. I don’t get this type of travel insurance. First of all, on my European vacations I keep some underwear and toiletries in my carry on bag. Also, I don’t like my baggage to be so bountiful or valuable that worrying about it detracts from my trip. On the other hand, others enjoy being well-equipped on their European trips and want all their finery about them. It’s a personal choice.

Default by a travel provider. If your travel agent, tour packager, or airline goes bankrupt and you can't get your money back, the insurance company will provide a refund. If you feel you need this coverage, I would seriously consider using different vendors.