We are considering getting Travel Protection insurance for our trip to Eastern Europe in September. My husband and I have done our own trip planning in the past, and haven't felt the need to purchase the insurance. However, It seems that when taking a tour, most people advise getting a protection plan of some type. I started researching, and there are quite a few companies and plans offered. I'm wondering if anyone has some suggestions for companies that are reasonable, and have good coverage. Thanks in advance for your help!
Posted by
11647 posts
We buy travel insurance if paying for a tour or a house/apartment rental. We buy from TravelGuard as they paid a claim in full within one month when we had to cancel a trip due to a medical emergency.
Posted by
2545 posts
Posted by
Folsom
2739 posts
Insuremytrip.com will enable you to compare coverage, rates, rating on companies side by side and then buy the coverage you want. Have the costs of your trip, birthdates of travelers and a credit card and you'll be good to go. We've made two claims, saved us beaucoup bucks. Be sure you get medical and evacuation coverage. Tour or independent-traveling internationally without insurance is a roll of the dice. So far, you've been lucky.
Posted by
NYC area
3004 posts
We've been traveling to Europe fairly regularly for nearly 16 years now. Never bought insurance, until last year, as my wife has had some surgeries and issues the last few years. Winds up I get a bad hernia a month before leaving for Germany. Very trouble free experiences making and collecting the claim. We fisrt went to insuremytrip.com and bought an AIG Travel Guard plan. Here's my story if interested:
Paul
Posted by
Washington DC Region, USA
7054 posts
You're distinguishing between traveling independently vs on a tour....but what does that have to do with your risk profile? Do you assume your risk will increase on a tour? I'm asking because I'm interested what makes a person suddenly decide to get insurance when they haven't given it any thought before.
Posted by
362 posts
I always buy travel insurance when I leave the country, and I buy it for two reasons.
1 - The unexpected happens every, single day. You never know if you're going to be the person who trips over a curb and breaks a wrist. You could be the person out hiking who breaks an ankle. OR - heaven forbid - you could be part of an e. coli outbreak in a very fine restaurant while abroad. There are tons of other scenarios, but I think that explains it well enough.
2 - My health insurance does not cover expenses outside the US (It barely covers them IN the US), much less medical repatriation from abroad which can cost an insane amount of money.
I always buy trip insurance that covers basics like trip interruption, lost luggage, etc., as long as it includes medical coverage abroad and a return to the US.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
Agnes, the difference between independent travel and a group tour may be the total of expenses that are pre-paid and nonrefundable, but which insurance may reimburse in certain cases of cancellation or interruption. Hopefully little difference in medical risk.
Posted by
Portland, OR
1128 posts
We always buy trip insurance. Period.
A friend of mine flew to Europe a few days ago and got there a couple days in advance of her rick Steve's tour. On her first day there she crashed on a rented bike on a tour of the city and broke her arm. She had to miss her RS tour and fly home for surgery. Fortunately she could fly home first class and her travel insurance covered it. A worse injury could have necessitated a specially equipped jet and that can cost tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Money well spent regardless of group or independent travel.