Travel insurance is an essential part of planning any trip. We're finding that for travelers on small group tours with The Traveling Professor, It provides peace of mind and protection for your investment, covering unexpected events that could otherwise derail your travel plans. Here’s a guide to the basic types of travel insurance coverage you should consider.
1. Medical Coverage
Medical travel insurance covers the costs of care for illness or injury while traveling. Most domestic insurance plans do not cover medical expenses overseas, and even if they do, the coverage may be limited to out-of-network rates. Importantly, Medicare does not cover overseas medical expenses. Having proper medical travel insurance ensures you can access the care you need without incurring significant out-of-pocket costs. For instance, on a small group tour to Scotland, we had a traveler sprain her ankle. She had a medical professional treat her at no cost.
2. Trip Interruption and Cancellation
Trip interruption and cancellation insurance reimburses non-refundable trip payments and deposits if you need to cancel or delay your trip due to covered reasons, such as illness, injury, or the illness/death of a family member. Some policies even cover unexpected events like jury duty or a job change.
Trip interruption coverage also reimburses for increased transportation costs if you must return home or continue your trip due to a covered event. For example, one traveler on a recent Peru tour lost their passport and needed to travel immediately from Cusco to Lima to replace it. Travel insurance covered all related costs, including flights, hotels, and concierge services.
Even flight delays due to weather can be costly. On a trip to Iceland, a bad-weather delay required an overnight hotel stay, which was fully reimbursed by trip interruption insurance, including meals—expenses not covered by airlines.
Pro Tip: If a flight is cancelled and you need a hotel overnight, book the hotel first, then contact the airline. Hotels fill up quickly in these situations, and prompt action can make all the difference.
3. Emergency Evacuation Insurance
Emergency medical evacuation insurance covers the cost of transporting a traveler back to the U.S. or Canada for urgent medical treatment, which can easily exceed $100,000. Domestic insurance plans rarely cover this, and Medicare does not. A dedicated emergency evacuation policy ensures you are not financially burdened in a crisis abroad.
Combining Policies for Maximum Protection
Travelers can purchase medical and emergency evacuation policies separately, but these are often included with trip interruption/cancellation insurance. While purchasing full trip cancellation/interruption coverage is optional, traveling without medical or emergency evacuation coverage carries significant risk, particularly when visiting overseas destinations.
Final Thoughts
Travel insurance may seem like an extra expense, but it protects your investment in your trip and ensures peace of mind when traveling abroad. Whether it’s a medical emergency, lost passport, or unexpected delay, proper coverage can save you thousands and let you enjoy your journey with confidence.