Jazz Essence

Few decades back buying travel insurance was not even a point of consideration while preparing for a vacation. Even travel agents would not mention it due to its negative implications. But post 9/11 world is different and less naïve. People understand the need to be insured even when on vacation and are more aware of the options available to them. The percentage of US travelers buying travel insurance post 9/11 has gone up by 10% from the previous years.
But knowing what is right for you is as important as knowing what is available. This is especially true for travelers to foreign lands as they will not have anyone to depend upon in case of any problem, accident or illness. Even today majority are unaware of baggage coverage, medical evacuation insurance and travel health insurance and very few are aware of the travel cancellation insurance. Even airlines do not do much publicity of travel insurance services like excess valuation. In spite of their desire for peace of mind and financial protection during travel, some 30% of the international travelers do not have proper travel insurance.
You can and should, if required buy travel insurance to protect against the following scenarios:
1. Flight cancellation: With expansion of tourism and reduction in ticket prices, it is a more frequent phenomenon these days.
2. Loss of baggage and medication inside: The expense of getting an emergency prescription can be fairly high.
3. Loss of passport and wallet: You will not only need emergency cash but will also need money for a replacement passport which does not come cheap.
4. Medical evacuation: In case there is not adequate medical treatment available locally in case of an accident or illness, you may have to be moved to another city or state.
5. Cancellation of trip due to illness or accident
6. Insolvency of your airline, tour operator or cruise line: You will lose the booking expenses they cannot refund and will need to make new loading and travel arrangements
7. Medical Emergency: when your normal medical insurance will not work as you are outside your country
8. Terrorist incident: you have to cancel the trip or modify it due to a terrorist incident at the destination city
9. Evacuation due to natural disaster: something like a hurricane forces you to move out of your destination resort or hotel or even the city.