Do you need travel inisurance?
You may never have needed travel insurance before, but travel comes with risks that can become very expensive very quickly.
If you have to cancel your trip — even for a completely valid reason — refunds are often very limited or non-existent as departure dates get closer. If your flight is delayed, your luggage is lost, or you miss part of your trip because of travel disruptions, you could be paying those costs yourself.
Medical coverage is an even bigger concern. Most U.S. health insurance provides limited or no coverage outside the country, and Medicare does not cover overseas medical expenses at all. Some supplemental or Advantage plans may offer limited benefits, but you should confirm exactly what is covered before you travel.
Medical evacuation is another major reason many people purchase insurance. If you become seriously ill or injured and need transportation to a hospital — or back to the U.S. — the cost can be tens of thousands of dollars, and payment is often required upfront.
Travel insurance may seem unnecessary until something goes wrong. Then it can make a very big difference.
Below are some options to consider.
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OPTION 1 - Independent Policies
OVSC does not provide travel insurance. You can purchase independent travel insurance at the provider of your choosing. These website are useful for locating various available plans: insuremytrip.com and squaremouth.com
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OPTION 2 - Credit Card Policies
There are a limited number of credit cards that offer travel insurance if you charge your trip on their card. Some tour operators may charge a surcharge for using a credit card. The fee may be significantly less than the cost of insurance AND the points or cash back you earn may mitigate those fees. Here's an article that may help: 10 best credit cards with travel insurance
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OPTION 3 - Annual Policies
If you take more than one trip per year, you may want to consider an annual policy. Several members currently carry the Allianz annual policy. There are other companies that also offer a similar package. For more information on annual policies this article may be useful: Best Annual Travel Insurance Companies
USAA also provides good annual insurance for medical and evacuation along with other benefits but for comprehensive trip insurance, each trip is considered an add-on. If you are only looking for medical coverage, GeoBlue, a division of Blue Cross, has excellent coverage. |
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OPTION 4 - Travel Agency Referral Policy
We use several different travel agencies for trips. Each may have single trip policies available through their companies. For these policies refer to brochures provided, event listing, or check with your trip leader.
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IN ALL CASES, PLEASE CHECK THE COVERAGE CAREFULLY BEFORE PURCHASING. MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR POLICY.
IF YOU WILL BE SKIING, MAKE SURE THAT IS A COVERED ACTIVITY. SOME POLICIES MAY CONSIDER SKIING AN EXCEPTION. |