There are so many travel insurance plans available, you might be wondering — how do you know when you’re selecting the right travel insurance on top of your trip costs? Everyone’s situation is a bit different when it’s time to buy travel insurance coverage, so you’ll have to weigh different coverages side by side to make sure you’re selecting the best plan for you or you and your family.
There are a number of questions you’ll need to answer for yourself when selecting coverage such as: are you traveling alone or with a family member? Is your destination within the United States? Are you traveling with children? Does anyone in your group have any pre-existing conditions?
In order to make sure you walk away with the proper protection for your trip, we’ve broken down all of your available options for you.
Solo Traveler FAQs
As an individual traveler, you’re in a unique situation when it comes to travel assistance from a travel insurance provider like us. Many people travel alone, but few consider the real dangers of doing so.
Travel insurance products are designed to protect you from these dangers and give you some peace of mind while you experience the world in your way. Here are a few things you need to keep in mind when traveling alone.
There’s No Buddy System
When you set out alone, especially if it’s to another country, you’ll quickly realize just how lonely it can be navigating an unfamiliar place without any support. This is not to say you shouldn’t travel alone, but that you should be prepared. As a traveler with Insured Nomads travel medical insurance, you’ll have access to quality health coverage and a multilingual support team, no matter where you find yourself in the world.
Even if you’re alone, if you need assistance, you’ll be able to arrange an emergency medical evacuation at no cost to you. Your emergency medical expenses are insured for up to $2 million through your insurance benefits, so you’ll be able to be reimbursed for any covered healthcare costs you accrue during your trip.
If you’re traveling to a country where you don’t speak the language, it’s a good idea to get familiar with the basics before you go. There are a number of free or low-cost language learning apps that are very easy to use. Taking the time to get comfortable with the language, even just a little, will go a long way in regard to your overall experience.
If you find yourself needing a translator at any time, our dedicated support team at Insured Nomads is multilingual and will be happy to assist you with anything you might need or connect you to the proper resources.
Does Your Insurance Cover a Pre-Existing Condition?
If you have an existing medical condition, not only will you not have someone to look out for you, but medical care outside of the city you reside in can cost you quite a bit out of pocket. Travel insurance guarantees that you’ll be covered in the event of a medical emergency, anywhere in the world.
Normally, you can use your health insurance in any state (within the USA) for emergency situations, and they are typically covered under your plan. If you’re a U.S. resident on an international trip, your medical coverage is not valid, even for emergencies. In the case of an international travel exclusion like this, you would need to pay out of pocket for any associated costs or assistance services that aren’t included in your travel protection plan.
You should be able to receive the care you need anywhere you are, and anytime you need it. Get a quote today!
Keep Your Belongings Close
When you’re all by yourself on your next trip, thieves may see you as an easy target, especially if you don’t seem to be familiar with your surroundings. Keep your possessions close, and if you need to set some things down, make sure they’re within your eyesight at all times. Keep personal and valuable items tucked away in your bag until you get to where you’re staying, and if you need to go to the bathroom, take everything with you.
If you are a victim of theft, you can be reimbursed for that under your travel insurance plan, even on a non-refundable trip. Before you set out to travel, do some research on safety trends in the area you’re going. This will help you learn how to spot red flags around you. You’ll also learn which areas are the safest and which areas to steer clear of.
Avoid planning activities and booking living accommodations without fully understanding where you’re going to end up once you’re there. If you want to take more precautions, a travel safe could be a worthwhile investment.
Don’t Forget the Fun Parts
As important as it is to take the proper precautions before setting out alone, don’t forget to enjoy the experience of traveling. Take it all in; you likely won’t get to experience something like that very often. Traveling to a new state, or even out of the country, gives you the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in a new culture or lifestyle.
Here are some things you can do to immerse yourself on your journey:
- Reach out to the people who live there. The best way to learn everything about a place you’re traveling to is through the eyes of a local. Don’t be afraid to discover local clubs or workout classes you can join. You can even just walk up to someone and say hello! When you’re traveling alone, you don’t have anyone to entertain you on a regular basis, so seeking out human interaction is a great way to ensure your trip doesn’t end up falling short of your expectations.
- Pick up a new hobby. Learning a new skill is a great way to make your vacation fun. Sign up for a class, or ask around about what types of things you should try. Go for something that you wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to take part in; you might discover something you really love.
- Try the local food. What do the people in this city love to eat for lunch or snack on? Go out of your way to experience different types of foods that are available to you. You might just be surprised by what you discover. If you need recommendations on places to eat, skip the Google search and ask a local. They will definitely know where all of the best spots are.
- Keep an open mind. As a human, anytime you enter into a new experience, there will often be a certain amount of hesitancy. In order to fully immerse yourself in a travel experience, you’ll need to be open-minded. It’s likely that you’ll have to undergo some sort of adjustment period as you settle into this new environment, but the more you’re willing to accept and try new things, the more fun you’ll have overall.
- Visit attractions. Not just the typical tourist attractions, but also the attractions no one else knows about. Dig deep into the place you’re in and absorb as much as you can. You can ask around to find out what you should see before you head back home.
Traveling alone brings positives and negatives. Be aware of the negatives, but focus your mind and energy on the positives. This is how you’ll have the best vacation possible, even when you’re going solo.
What Group Travelers Need To Know
Traveling with a group means you’ll all be able to look out for each other, and do more fun activities. It also means you’ll likely have someone around to call for help in an emergency situation. Group travel insurance will also be much cheaper if you divide it between your group (must be 10 or more people). Here are some things to keep in mind when traveling with a large group.
If They’re Your Family or Friends
When traveling with family or friends, you’ll want to maintain a healthy level of communication. Since you won’t be out on your own, you’ll need to learn everyone’s habits and hear their opinions on what types of things you should do. Poor communication can ruin a trip very quickly.
Figure out what everyone wants to do, and book that ahead of time. You should also plan for time away from them so everyone can do their own activities and then come back together later in the day. No matter what everyone decides to do with their time, group travel insurance will cover any medical incidents.
If They’re Your Colleagues
If you’re traveling for work, it’s likely your company is paying for travel costs, but they probably won’t pay for trip insurance. If they opt-out of this, get your own. You and your colleagues could even go all-in on a policy together to save money.
As long as there are at least 10 of you, and you’re all traveling to the same destination on the same travel dates, you’ll all be able to get on a policy together. A group policy can be much more cost-effective than an individual one and even include extra perks.
For instance, Insured Nomads offers 24/7 wellness counseling for groups who have difficulty adjusting when far away from home. This perk is exclusively for group travelers, and there are multiple language options as well.
If There Are Children or Elderly People
If you’re going to be traveling with young children or someone who is elderly, you’ll need to remember — traveler ages matter. Typically, elderly people (60 and over) pay much more for travel insurance.
The reason elderly people pay more is that they are much more likely to have pre-existing health conditions and a higher likelihood of needing medical attention when traveling, especially for extended periods of time. For young children, the risk isn’t the same. In fact, many travel insurance companies will insure children at a discounted rate, or even for free.
If you’re going to be traveling with older people in your group, make sure you’re prepared to pay more for coverage. You’ll also need to make sure you’re getting the proper coverage. If traveling with an elderly person, here are some protections that might be good to have.
- Medical emergency coverage. If there is an incident, or perhaps a complication due to a pre-existing condition, they will be covered under the policy. They can also have emergency transport to a local urgent care facility at no extra cost.
- COVID-19 coverage. This coverage protects you if your trip is delayed, interrupted, or canceled due to the pandemic. You’ll be reimbursed for any unused prepaid expenses like your hotel or airfare.
- Trip interruption insurance. Trip interruption or trip cancellation coverage allows you to be reimbursed for covered costs if your trip plans change at no fault of your own. This is good to have in case a medical emergency results in everyone having to leave the trip early. You can get multi-trip coverage to handle unexpected baggage delays and other trip details that change.
- Trip cancellation insurance. With trip cancellation insurance, you’re covered if you need to cancel the trip before it even starts due to a covered event. This is good to have if you’re traveling with an elderly person who often gets sick and has to miss out on plans.
No matter who you decide to travel with, we’ve got them all covered under our comprehensive travel insurance plans.
Why It’s More Fun as a Group
Traveling as a group is often more fun because there are so many more options as to what you’re able to do. There might be activities you couldn’t otherwise have participated in by yourself. You’ll also have more people to keep you company (and feeling secure) as opposed to being alone in an unfamiliar area.
You’ll also spend less on travel insurance when you split the costs with a group as opposed to purchasing an individual plan. Here are some other perks to traveling with a group instead of going solo.
- Relationship building. If you’re traveling with friends, family, or even coworkers, this could be a great opportunity to strengthen your relationships. With your friends and family, you can spend quality bonding time together and practice open and honest communication while having fun. You all can practice letting your guard down and just enjoying each other’s company.
- Create the photo album of a lifetime. Another perk to traveling with a group is that you can all take each other’s photos. Photo albums are such a great way to create long-lasting memories that you can look back on for years to come.
- Not as much social pressure. Traveling alone comes with the pressure of feeling like you have to be very talkative and get outside of your comfort zone to meet people, or spend your trip alone. Not everyone is great at reaching out to people they don’t know. If traveling in a group will make your trip less stressful for you, you should do it.
- Group travel is safer. Traveling with a group of people you know and trust will always be safer than venturing out alone. You won’t ever be alone, and everyone can be each other’s extra set of eyes just in case. A group of people is less likely to become a target of theft, as thieves tend to select people that are alone and perhaps a bit unaware of their surroundings.
Weigh your options to decide what’s best for you, but if you’ve got a group who’s down for an adventure, it might just be worth it.
A Breakdown of Travel Insurance Offerings
We’ve briefly discussed some of the different layers of protection that can be provided under a travel insurance plan. Now that you’ve had time to consider the different factors that could influence the protections you need, we’ll explore the coverages more in-depth.
Trip Cancellation
If you need to cancel your trip due to a natural disaster that has prevented you from traveling, or a medical condition, this coverage will apply. Trip cancellation insurance is only applicable if you haven’t actually left for your trip yet. You’ll be able to get a refund for any prepaid expenses like a rental car, airfare, or hotel rooms. You can even be reimbursed for planned activities like a cooking class.
Trip Interruption
Trip interruption insurance is applicable if you find yourself needing to leave during your trip for a covered reason. This means you’ve already made it to your destination, but perhaps there was a local emergency, or you or someone in your group has become ill. Trip interruption coverage can reimburse you for your unused prepaid expenses for the cost it takes you to get back home as well.
Trip Delay
If your trip is delayed for any reason outside of your control, and you end up needing to pay for more nights in a hotel, or more meals as a result, you can have these expenses covered. If the delay results in you missing your trip altogether, you can file a claim to be reimbursed for any costs you paid upfront like your plane ticket or living accommodations.
Emergency Medical Coverage
Emergency medical coverage is included in every Insured Nomads travel insurance policy. You are covered for life-threatening and non-life-threatening medical situations. If you have a medical condition or are traveling with someone who does, this is a great protection to have. This is also great if you have children. Not every situation is urgent, but sometimes you just want to make sure that fever is no big deal.
Emergency Evacuation
In the event the destination you’ve traveled to becomes unsafe to the point that evacuation is mandated, we’ll make sure you and your loved ones get out safely. You’ll be transported back home and reimbursed for any prepaid costs on experiences you didn’t get to use.
Missing or Stolen Personal Items
If the airline loses your luggage or someone steals from you, you can have these things covered as well. If the airline is unable to locate your luggage, you can file a claim through your travel insurance for this. If someone steals your phone or wallet, you can file a claim to be reimbursed for these as well. Insured Nomads wants to make sure you are covered for all of the unexpected events.
COVID-19 Protection
We also offer COVID-19 coverage. This means if your trip is impacted by the pandemic, or you contract COVID-19 during your travels, you’re eligible for covered medical care. If your trip is canceled or postponed due to an update from the government on local safety protocols, you could also be eligible for reimbursement.
Insured Nomads Has Your Back
If you decide to work with us, we’ll make sure you have the coverage you need when you need it most. Whether your flight is delayed, you need emergency medical care, or you need to cancel or postpone your trip, we have coverage for that. It’s important that you understand which coverage best fits your situation.
There are so many offerings that you’ll need to spend some time weighing your options. Remember to account for the likelihood of medical need and the ages of your travelers. For group travelers, we offer 24/7 virtual counseling in the language you’re most comfortable speaking in for when the distance from home becomes overwhelming.
Here are some of the highlights of working with us:
- You can get a single trip covered for up to 364 days if you purchase a comprehensive annual plan.
- You can get multiple trips covered for up to a year with a comprehensive plan.
- Groups can get 24/7 wellness counseling.
- Emergency evacuation coverage is available.
- If you have a pre-existing medical condition, we’ll make sure you have the proper coverage.
There’s so much more you can get with Insured Nomads. Give us a shout — we’d love to cover your next big adventure.
About Insured Nomads
Insured Nomads is the first to take an integrated traveltech, fintech and insurtech solution to the world for remote workers, globally distributed teams, expats, and travelers. Their purpose is to make travel as safe and smart as staying at home. They do this by providing health insurance with exceptional medical benefits in tandem with wellbeing, safety, security, and advanced tech-enabled solutions for ease of payment for healthcare, emergency response and evacuation. Insured Nomads is available through affinity relationships, direct, embedded and through select brokers and partners for groups and individuals.
Information on integration, collaboration and partnership contact Brett Estep: brett@insurednomads.com
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Sources:
Best Senior Travel Insurance Of May 2022 | Forbes Advisor
Everything you need to know about travel insurance before you book your next trip | CNBC
Omicron and Travel: So, Now Do I Need Trip Insurance? | The New York Times