How Travel Insurance Can Save Your Vacation: Real-Life Stories

Do you really need travel insurance? Almost every traveler has this concern while planning a trip. Is it really worth it when you have a tight budget and are not planning to do any extreme sports since it is a huge expense? Even though you are a careful person, there might be some incidents that you do not expect. Travel insurance will cover the big stuff that will not only end your trip but put you in serious debt after coming home. There are many people who have been in hospital or a situation that required them to use insurance. For some examples, we have compiled real-life stories where insurance saved their vacation and money. 

Medical Emergency and Travel Delay

A girl had a severe allergic reaction because of an insect bite while she was traveling in South Africa in November with her family. The situation required a trip to the emergency clinic. The girl was also stuck for an additional day in New York City on her return trip home due to a storm. She required a hotel room for a night’s stay and a few necessities as she was not able to recover her luggage. By the time the family got around to filing her claims, the pandemic was progressing. They were not sure if or when her case would be addressed. We were delighted to know that everything was being covered and done in a very organized manner. This was the third time they had to claim some sort of travel insurance. 

Flight Canceled Situation

“There was a person who purchased travel insurance for the first time, and it ended up being a wise decision. His flight got canceled because of the weather. The insurance policy helped him to cover the difference for the $600 one-way flight he had to book for the coming morning. The phone reps (multiple) were direct and kind. The claims policy was relatively clear, and he had no trouble getting the payment.” – Alex Taylor, Head of Marketing at CrownTV

Trip Cancellations and Interruptions

Sarah and her husband planned a dream vacation for themselves to Japan. Sarah’s father fell extremely ill just a few weeks before they needed to depart. Because of this, they had to cancel their trip to stay with him. Their travel insurance policy involved trip cancellation coverage. Their money was reimbursed for the non-refundable expenses. These included hotel bookings and flights. This financial relief helped them to focus on their family with no worries regarding the lost travel investment. 

Missed Cruise Departure

Tom was with his family en route to a cruise departure port, and their flight got delayed. It caused them to miss the departure of the ship. Fortunately, they had gotten travel insurance, which included coverage for any missed connections. This policy allowed them to reimburse for the cost to catch up with the cruise at the next port of call. Because of this, they allowed them to enjoy the remaining part of their cruise and prevented their vacation from being ruined.

Allergic to a Wasp Sting

A man was on a working holiday in Canada. He was walking around downtown Toronto when he got stung by a wasp. He instantly got an allergy and did not know what to do since it was his first time getting allergic reactions. His throat was closing up, and eventually, he passed out. Through an ambulance, he was transported to a hospital where they gave him a bunch of injections and tests. He stayed in the emergency room for a few hours, where they monitored his heart rate and everything to confirm he could leave. 

Pretty soon after, he got the bill with a fee for using the ambulance, for the drugs used, and for the emergency room. He owed over $1000 to the hospital. Luckily, he had travel insurance, so he could go forward it all on to the insurer. The whole reimbursement process was fuss-free, and the company paid the hospital directly on his behalf. Since then, he never traveled without travel insurance.

Baggage Problem

A guy, on his recent trip to Europe, had a TSA-approved lock on his luggage when his luggage was being transported between two different airlines. In between this route, someone cut off the lock, and the two zipper pulls that were attached to it. He had no way of knowing which airline had caused the damage. He filed a small claim for the cost of repairing the damaged luggage. He was paid promptly and in full.

Hurricane and Death in the Family

A family is habitual in purchasing insurance for their trips many times. They believe that it is a small price to pay for peace of mind. They had to use this policy in 2018 due to a mandatory evacuation because of a Hurricane Florence. Recently, they had an unexpected death in the family and had to use the insurance. The company was very understanding, and the family received their refund in a timely manner.

A Life-Saving Decision in Thailand

Jane experienced extreme abdominal pain during a family vacation in Thailand. She was instantly rushed to a local hospital. The doctors diagnosed her with acute appendicitis. The hospital needed immediate payment before they performed surgery. Luckily, Jane had detailed travel insurance covering medical emergencies. The insurance agency arranged for the payment, and the surgery was performed without delay. Because of the travel insurance, Jane’s life was saved and spared her family from any financial distress.

Stolen Passport in South America

David went on backpacking in South Africa, where his backpack was stolen. It contained his passport and other valuables. His travel insurance covered the cost and replaced his passport and the stolen items. Furthermore, they also offered assistance in negotiating with the local bureaucracy to get a temporary travel document. If there had been no coverage, David’s trip could have been a disaster and significantly delayed.

Conclusion

President of International Citizens Insurance, Joe Cronin, said, “These real-life stories address the key role travel insurance plays in safeguarding your vacation against unexpected events. From trip cancellations and medical emergencies to travel delays and lost luggage, travel insurance covers it all. They provide critical financial protection and peace of mind. Invest in a detailed travel insurance policy and make sure that you are always prepared for the unexpected. Allow yourself to enjoy your trip with confidence with the best travel insurance policy.