Spring storms throughout the country recently show that Mother Nature can change things at any time, including our travel plans. Many families are heading on spring trips or simply get home. Others are already planning their summer vacations.
Either way, is it worth travel insurance? Obtaining a coupon for future trips on an airline is quite easy, but getting a complete refund in an airbnb or a cruise can be much more difficult. That’s where travel insurance can be worth the price.
According to Nerdwallet, there are two types of insurance, and it is worth considering both:
Travel insurance: covers lost luggage, medical treatment and emergency medical evaluation. Travel cancellation insurance: it refunds if cancels due to weather, disease or loss of employment. What happens if you lose a vacation rental?
The automatic “book with confidence” of VRBO and the “Airbnb air cover” will cover it if the property is no longer available, but not if it is withdrawn. It may be the best idea to pay the additional one hundred more or less for insurance, just to ensure that all your bases are covered. As Pesach approaches, many in our community are preparing to travel abroad, either to Eretz Yisroel, Europe or other places.
With so many mobile parts to organize (lights, hotels and meals, it is easy to forget one of the most important things: travelers’ health insurance. There are two very different types of traveler insurance, and it is important to understand the distinction. Travel insurance is what will sometimes be offered by reserving a flight or through your credit card.
Usually, it covers things like cancellations, lost luggage or delays. And although some credit cards offer limited medical coverage, they are usually only a few thousand dollars, which barely scratches the surface into a real emergency. What really needs when leaving the country is travel health insurance: a separate policy that covers doctors, hospital stays, emergency surgeries and even medical evacuations while it is outside the United States and this is the key: you must buy it before leaving.
Insurance for unpredictable spring storms
We have seen what can happen when people travel without the correct coverage. A young member of our community was in Southeast Asia last summer when he suffered a serious medical emergency and had to be emptied to another country with a more advanced medical infrastructure.
He did not have travel health insurance, and his family struggled with his main insurer of the United States to cover costs. The situation was deeply stressful, drastor financially, and completely avoidable. Another member of the community had long dreamed to take his family on his first trip to Eretz Yisroel.
At the beginning of the trip, while he was in Tzfas, his wife slipped with ice and was injured. In addition to the interruption of their plans, they had a significant medical invoice, none of which was covered by their regular insurance. What should have been a significant and stimulating trip became a great financial headache, all because they did not realize that they needed separate coverage for attention abroad.
On the other hand, we all remember the heartbreaking History of the medical emergency of Shlomy Greenwald in Türkiye. Baruch Hashem had the forecast to buy comprehensive business travel insurance that provided coverage while I was abroad. His medical bills were astronomical, and without insurance coverage, the financial burden would have been an unsurpassed obstacle.
His message is clear: do not risk it. Whether for business or leisure, adequate travel insurance is not a mere suggestion, it is an absolute need. After working in so many of these situations, we have discovered that Geoblue/Hth Worldwide offers a reliable and affordable option.
The plan provides up to $ 1 million in medical coverage, connects to the Blue Cross Blue Shield network and costs only a few dollars per day. In many cases, Geoblue/Hth will directly deal with hospitals and suppliers from all over the world, which means that it is not possible to expose any money in advance, or even complete a claim form. The registration process is fast and coverage begins at the time you leave the country.
Before finishing your travel plans, take a moment to protect yourself and your family. Whether Bochurim goes to Merkos Shlichus, families who go to Pesach programs, or travelers who pass to Yom Tov in Eretz Yisroel, everyone must make sure that their whole family is covered.
Photo of; Nicole Geri in Unspash
