WHY TRAVEL AGENTS HIGHLY RECOMMEND TRAVEL INSURANCE

Imagine going on your trip and something actually happens. That saying "you rather have it and not need it, then need it and not have it", definitely applies to having travel insurance.

Here are top reasons why travel agents highly recommend travel insurance like pre-departure trip protection and/or during travel protection. The main difference is giving you financial protection from cancellations or trip interruptions due to "covered reasons" to name a few, with the latter covering during travel medical emergencies and medical transportation, especially when traveling overseas. Some will even offer "cancel for any reason" policy. Believe me, that has come in handy several times because my clients have been able to get a full refund minus the cost of the trip protection without any reason or having to fill out a claim. In some cases, a few of them got a full credit that they have been able to rebook within the year. For those who have opted out, when they actually need it, some have lost their deposits and in some instances, have even lost thousands of dollars. Having trip protection means you're protecting yourself against possible financial risks and losses that can occur while traveling.

1. UNFORESEEABLE EVENTS: Think about things that may occur that you did not expect to happen or within your control....like job loss, car accident, or health reasons before taking your trip. How about an accident that happens while you're in destination? Pick the right plan that covers these common situations or conditions, because you just never know.

2. TRIP CANCELLATION/ CHANGES/ DELAYS: When booking a trip, you're either going to pay a deposit or pay in full for your reservation. Unless, it's refundable, if you cancel you will lose your investment. In the case of non-refundable bookings, with trip protection, most of the time depending on the policy, you can get reimbursed for your prepaid costs. Some protection will allow changes without paying a penalty. If you experience delays, you may even get $100 a day without proof of receipt.

3. MEDICAL NEEDS DURING TRAVEL: You may start out feeling great until you don't while in destination. You may need medical treatment or emergency transportation. With during travel medical coverage, they may even pay expenses upfront to help get what you need. They can even arrange medical experts to assess your situation, arrange treatment, serve as interpreters, and monitor your care. It's like having your own medical assistant.

4. 24/7 CONCIERGE SERVICE: Unless you speak 5 different languages and only traveling to those countries you're fluent in, having a service that is available 24/7 that is able to communicate on your behalf is important. You can call your collect call line and get immediate service. What if you lost your passport? No worries, they will guide you to help you with that. How about you don't know what to do in the case of a medical scare? They have "air doctors" that can assess you virtually. Basically, having this while traveling overseas offer peace of mind.

In short, get trip insurance so you can ensure, for the most part, you are protected. Read the terms and conditions of each policy. While travel agents highly recommend the purchase of trip protection, we are not licensed insurance agents. You are advised to read and understand what policy is best for your travel needs. Always call the insurance company directly to get all your questions answered.

Is it worth it? Well, many times it's not needed until it's needed. One scenario has happened like this. A family of four were enjoying the holidays in Japan. I received a message about one of their kids experiencing a medical emergency, and they could not find the recommended hospital on the map. I called the concierge service, within minutes gave me a case number and provided clients with an "air doctor" who could virtually assess them. Thankfully the client was ok, but it gave them what they needed during a time of crisis. THIS is one of the reasons why I believe it's important to have trip insurance.

Another scenario: A client was wanting to celebrate her 50th birthday in Jamaica. Four rooms were booked with payment plans. One of her roommates decided not to go, then the rest of the group decided to cancel. Because I had advised on purchasing pre-departure protection on the package, the entire group got a full refund within 10 days without filing a claim. They each only lost $90 instead of thousands that were already paid into their reservation.

Trust me. It's totally worth it.

Tell me what you think. Share stories of when having travel insurance has helped you or your clients.

For more information, read this article: https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/travel/planning/how-travel-insurance-works.htm