5 things you may not know about travel insurance

Travel insurance is like any other insurance--you hope you never need it, but if you do, you'll be so grateful that you have it. We don't like to think about things that can go wrong when planning a trip, but if you experience delays, canceled flights that must be rebooked, or medical problems, you'll find that travel insurance was well worth the cost. If you've put off buying insurance, considering these points may change your mind:

It can cover road trips. Often we think of travel insurance for long flights to exotic places; however, insurance can be valuable in many travel situations, including road trips. If any part of your trip has prepaid, non-refundable components, you should consider travel insurance.

In addition, if your health insurance doesn’t cover you or your family while out of network, travel insurance with medical emergency coverage may be a good option. And if you are still confused by the Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) option with a car rental, many travel insurance plans offer optional car rental coverage which may be more cost effective than what the car rental companies offer.

Rental car coverage may be included in trip insurance.

It can cover expenses due to pilot strikes. In most cases, airlines will not reimburse you for a flight that is cancelled or severely delayed due to an airline strike. Most travel insurance plans, however, include unforeseen or unexpected labor strike within their trip cancellation or trip delay benefits. It's important to remember, however, that if you purchase a flight after a potential strike is announced, in most cases travel insurance will no longer cover that strike. 

 
It can provide reimbursement if you have to cancel your trip because of work. While most plans will cover you in the event you or your travel companion are laid off, many will also cover for reasons that go beyond this drastic life event. This could include being relocated, an important work requirement (notarized by your employer), if your organization is a participant in a merger or acquisition (that you are directly involved in), or if your office is damaged by a natural disaster.
 
You can give it as a gift.

Worried about your aging parents taking off for a seven-day cruise to the Caribbean? Or your sister planning her off-the-grid honeymoon? Travel Insurance can be a great way to take care of those you love, and ensure they travel worry-free.

 
Comparing policies can be an easy process. Finding the right travel insurance plan doesn’t have to mean sifting through hundreds of offers. Consolidators like www.travelinsurance.com choose the best providers  and share details to help you compare plans, so you can make the best decisions for everyone who is traveling.

Information courtesy of Sarah Mann at Percepture on behalf of TravelInsurance.com

Here's another resource for the best policies for different kinds of  travel: https://www.reviews.com/travel-insurance/  

Photos from free sources