Think of travel insurance the way you think of a seatbelt — you hope it never comes into play, but you’d never hit the road without one. For a relatively small upfront cost, it can shield you from the financial fallout of canceled flights, medical emergencies, lost luggage, and emergency evacuations that can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

But not all coverage is created equal. Many travelers make the mistake of assuming that buying a policy means their entire trip is protected — or that every plan on the market is essentially the same. That assumption can get expensive fast. Even when two plans appear to offer identical basics, like trip cancellation or medical coverage, the details beneath the surface can look very different. Take delays: one plan might kick in after six hours, another after twelve. “Bad weather” can mean something entirely different depending on the provider. Benefit limits, definitions, and exclusions vary widely across the industry — which is why skimming the highlights isn’t enough. Before you buy, read the fine print. It’s the only way to know what you’re actually getting.

 

Why Travel Insurance Is Important

 

Travel insurance is designed to protect you from the financial impact of unexpected events before and during your trip. Depending on the policy you choose, coverage may include:

• Trip cancellation or interruption — reimbursement if you need to cancel or cut your trip short due to illness, injury, severe weather, or other covered reasons.

• Emergency medical expenses — coverage for unexpected medical treatment while abroad, including hospital stays and doctor visits.

• Emergency evacuation — transportation to the nearest appropriate medical facility or back home if medically necessary, which can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars without coverage.

• Lost, stolen, or delayed baggage — compensation for missing or damaged belongings.

• Travel delays and missed connections — reimbursement for additional expenses like meals and accommodations caused by covered delays.

• COVID-related interruptions — some policies include coverage for trip disruptions tied to COVID-19, though terms vary widely by provider.

 

Many travelers assume their regular health insurance will protect them abroad — but that’s often not the case. Most domestic health insurance plans, including Medicare, provide little to no coverage outside your home country. Without a travel insurance policy, a medical emergency overseas could leave you facing significant out-of-pocket costs.

 

How to Purchase Travel Insurance

 

Travel insurance is generally available through two channels. You can purchase it through Skidmore Travel from one our partners, or you can buy it independently through a dedicated insurance provider. Shopping both options is a smart way to compare coverage and pricing before committing to a plan. Don’t forget, some credit cards provides travel insurance benefits so check those also.

 

The following are our Preferred Travel Insurance Partners

• Travel Insured WorldTrips

• WorldTrips

• Allianz (quote provided by me at your request)

Disclaimer: I am not a licensed insurance agent. This post is only for informational purposes and should not be taken as professional insurance advice. As your Travel Advisor, it’s our job to tell you how important and useful coverage is. We work with a number of travel insurance companies, but we don’t suggest one over the others. If you don’t buy travel insurance, you’ll have to pay for everything that comes up, like cancellations, medical emergencies, or other unexpected events. Always read the fine print of your travel insurance policy (know what you’re buying) and call the provider directly to double-check the details of your coverage.