Do you need travel insurance?
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To buy, or not to buy?
Compare the cost of the trip versus the cost of the policy. If you just bought a $200 airline ticket, is that worth covering? If you paid for it with a credit card, and the airline ceases to operate before your flight, you're already covered - under federal credit laws - by your own credit card company, since you bought or contracted for a service which you didn't get.
Look for a policy with a travel insurer that is independent from your tour operator and is licensed by your state. Many cruise lines and tour operators offer insurance, often at lower premiums than those charged by outside insurers. But if the cruise line or tour company goes out of business, there may not be money to cover your claim.
If flight or cruise delays make you want to cancel, you may be out of luck. Read the fine print, as with some policies, more than half of your vacation has to be delayed before you can cancel and be covered.
Resources
Insuremytrip.com allows you to compare national plans, based on what they cost, what they cover and payouts.
TripInsuranceStore.com offers comparisons and testimonials from users, and you can also sign up for a plan though the site.
Access America 1-800-729-6021.
Travel Guard International: 1-800-826-4919.
Travelex Insurance Services: 1-800-228-9792.
HTH Worldwide: 1-888-243-2358.
Travel Insured International: 1-800-243-3174.
Global Travel Insurance: 1-800-232-9415.
Travelsafe: 1-888-885-7233.
Medjet Assistance: $250 per year, $350 for families. 7, 14, 21 and 30-day options available as well. 1-800-963-3538.
Air Ambulance Card: $195 per year for individuals and $295 per year for families.
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