Traveling this summer? Protect yourself with insurance

As many people dive into travel, you can see it’s more daunting than a few years ago. Inflation has hit airfare, lodging, rental cars and cruises. Likewise, COVID-19 has added protocol risks. Which brings up travel insurance.

Generally, travel insurance covers trip cancellation and prepaid reservations on planes, ships and hotels. It also covers inconveniences such as lost luggage, missed connections and trip delays. Finally, it can cover most medical expenses.

Keep in mind that many credit cards offer travel-related benefits that can cover you if your flight is delayed or canceled, if your rental car is damaged or if your luggage is lost. American Express, Chase, Capital One and Bank of America travel cards all offer varying levels of protection that could serve as an alternative to trip cancellation insurance. However, if you become sick or injured during your trip, travel credit cards typically do not provide coverage. Health insurance policies are the ones that step up with coverage anywhere in the U.S. It is important to investigate what coverages these resources provide and under what conditions or exclusions.

ROGERS

The argument in favor of buying travel insurance becomes stronger when leaving America. Medicare likely won’t cover you abroad. Even if you do have private health insurance that covers you outside the U.S., foreign doctors often demand payment upfront. It is also important to note that…