Be a Jet Setter! Your Complete Guide to Travel Insurance in 2022

This may seem like a no-brainer. But if this is a costly trip, travel insurance can keep it from becoming even costlier.

If you are traveling with expensive gear, such as camera equipment or a laptop, travel insurance can be vital. A policy can offset gear loss, within limits.

Are you travelling for a long while? If so, your travel costs are likely going to be steeper than if you were travelling for a weekend. The longer the trip, the greater the need for travel insurance.

You get the point: if you've made a serious investment in your upcoming travels, an insurance policy is vital.

Most travel insurance policies will cover 100% of trip cancellation costs, provided they are eligible costs. For example, the majority of policies will cover cancellation costs due to illness, injury, or death of you, a travelling companion or a family member.

They will also cover cancellation costs related to terrorist activity or severe weather at your destination.

If your trip is subject to change for any of these reasons, travel insurance is critical. Of course, you can't always predict when these things occur, but it is always better to be safe rather than sorry.

Is your travel destination risky? Don't forget travel insurance!

Risky destinations may simply be less-traveled locations. Others may be prone to violence, crime, and other unrest. If your destination isn't necessarily 100% safe, you'll want an insurance policy.

Check out current travel advisories to determine if your travel destination is considered "risky."

Plenty of wanderers venture out into the world on their own. That being said, solo travelers may be at greater risk for all kinds of things, especially medical emergencies. We've published an extensive piece on solo travelling. Check it out here.

If you are planning your upcoming trip solo, invest in travel insurance. Doing so can give you peace of mind while wandering, especially if you are traveling to high-risk or desolate locations.

At the end of the day, would you rather enjoy your trip or fret the entire time? Travel insurance can fend of travelling anxiety, especially if you are concerned about medical expenses, cancellations, and theft.

Give yourself the luxury of peace of mind by securing a travel insurance policy before you board that plane.

This is one of the most important things to keep in mind when shopping for traveller's insurance. If you buy your policy last minute, you may not be eligible for full coverage.

In fact, most providers require that you purchase a plan within a certain time period after you've booked your trip. This window can be as short as 15 days.

What does this mean? Buy your plan as soon as you have those plane tickets in hand. Better yet, know what plan you want before you even buy those plane tickets.

Some providers may also have some stipulations about last-minute trip cancellations. You may, for example, only be able to cancel your trip up to 72 hours before scheduled departure to be eligible for coverage.

All travel insurance policies come with a host of specifications. There are plenty of situations where your policy won't cover you. Thus, make sure you are 100% familiar with these before you buy a plan!

For example, most policies will be very clear about what qualifies as "medical emergencies." Some plans may only cover the cost of life-or-death situations. Others may also front the bill for non-emergency medical care, including exams, prescriptions, and hospital visits.

Most policies will also have deductibles of some kind. These are the amount of money you have to pay before receiving coverage.

That fine print can also tell you about certain timeframes, such as your window for cancellations or filing a claim. If you have any questions about a policy's stipulations, be sure to contact a customer service representative.

If you have an eligible financial loss, don't wait to file that claim. Do so as soon as possible. This is because some plans require members to submit claims within a certain timeframe.

For this reason, be sure to carry relevant traveller insurance ID cards and claim information with you.

The claim filing process is also likely to vary between providers. Make sure you know the ropes for filing claims before travelling.

There are scores of travel insurance providers out there. Plus, all of their policies differ widely.

For this reason, take your time when browsing potential plans. Do so preferably before you purchase your flight, train or bus tickets.

Inspect online reviews, but do not be dissuaded by negative ones. These may not be an accurate representation of the provider's services.

Instead, we recommend identifying providers through a reputable insurance marketplace like Insurdinary. Doing so enables you to compare plans and policies according to your travel needs, and all in one place.

Always request quotes from multiple providers. Compare costs wisely, and remember that a cheaper plan isn't necessarily the best option. Opt for coverage rather than cost!

Did you know that a lot of credit cards provide users with various travel protections? Depending on your credit card company, you may already be protected for things like rental car damage and trip cancellations.

Identify whether or not your current credit cards offer any kind of travel protection. Then, use a travel insurance plan to supplement these benefits.

We don't recommend relying solely on your credit card's protections, as these tend to be limited.