Anyone here buy travel insurance, and why?

[tinksmygal]

I am debating whether to buy travel insurance or not. Can't decide if the extra money is worth it or not. I am flying Continental, which if you have to change your flight is $100 per person to change. Insurance for the flight is only 50-some odd dollars, which isn't much but still am trying to save money any way I can.

What do you frequent (or infrequent) travelers do? Insurance-yes or no?

 

[bicker]

Can you afford to cover the costs you may encounter from unforeseen schedule interruptions and such, from your own savings? If so, then there is little financial reason to buy travel insurance for a domestic trip, as far as I can see. For what it would cover, and as infrequently as you're likely to incur such losses, you'd probably save money just covering them from your own savings, if they occur (as long as you can afford to do so).

 

[Letsbgoofy]

The only time I buy travel insurance is for a cruise or when we travel outside of the US. Now with Disney's new Hurricane policy, I have even less of a reason to buy insurance. We have only had a travel issue once, when we got stuck overnight in Baltimore due to weather. The room cost us $200. Insurance for the 3 of us runs close to that anyways. My credit card gives me baggage protection, and our health insurance is good all across the US.

 

[freckles and boo]

I bought insurance for my Labor Day trip through insuremytrip.com. We have had a bit of upheaval in the last couple years so I feel better knowing if things don't go as planned I am not out several hundred dollars. You will have to weigh the risks, which may be minimal, against the cost of the insurance (also minimal).

 

[EEyorelover22]

Were you happy with insuremytrip.com?
I'm considering it for our trip.

 

[EEyorelover22]

I guess I need to ask more questions too.

I am concerned because we are flying in December from the midwest on an airlines that only flies two times a week to our city. I'm worried about snow of course. We have Cirque tickets already, we bought our airfare already and then there's the room at WDW.

Will insurance even cover these situations in the event of "an act of God?"

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Randman]

We've bought travel insurance the last few times we've travelled to Disney simply due to the fact that we have young kids that we've taken (and not taken) to WDW and we want to be covered in case of illness and the unforeseen emergency flight back home.

We've gone through TravelGuard each time. Their premiums are inexpensive and they cover a bunch of other things that we weren't even looking to cover. Small extra expense for piece of mind. Very easy process.

 

[bab31]

I am debating whether I want to do this or not. I have just under two weeks to decide. My father is ederly and not in good health, that would be the only reason I would take it out.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

We have used insuremytrip.com and have been happy with them. We have never had a problem, so I'm not sure how that would have worked out! They have many insurance suppliers and you can compare their policies. We went with Travelex.

 

[Cora]

I always buy trip insurance, I learned years ago from a trip my grandparents were taking. My grandparents were heading to Italy and my mom suffered a brain aneurysm. They cancelled their trip and lost nothing (other than the cost of the trip insurance). What I learned is that you need to look at ALL potential issues that could happen, not just having young children or elderly parents. It's amazing what can happen. For the small cost of the insurance, I find it worth it.

I generally book through insuremytrip.com I find Travelguard has the best coverage. Also, for those that may be facing layoffs, if you have been employed for 3 years (with the same company) you can get trip insurance that covers cancellation due to unemployment (some policies are 5 years).

 

[freckles and boo]

Were you happy with insuremytrip.com?
I'm considering it for our trip.

Well, it was definitely easy to use and very inexpensive. We purchased the Patriot T.R.I.P. package through International Medical Group - insuremytrip.com allows you to compare lots of different policy types. Because my certificate is in PDF it isn't allowing me to cut and paste (what's up with that??) but this policy does provide coverage for trip cancellation due to any number of situations for you or your travelling companion including illness, death in the family, jury duty, loss of employment, fire or flood to your home, etc. It also provides trip interruption insurance due to natural disaster, illness, injury, terrorism, etc. It provides emergency medical and emergency dental coverage, emergency evacuation, return of remains (ewww), etc. It covers lost or delayed baggage, to a point. There are a few exclusions (routine dental, etc.)

It was worth it to us!

 

[NancyIL]

I am debating whether I want to do this or not. I have just under two weeks to decide. My father is ederly and not in good health, that would be the only reason I would take it out.

Are you leaving in 2 weeks, or did you just pay your deposit and you have 2 weeks to get "pre-existing conditions" covered? If it's the former, depending on the company, your father's poor health at the time you buy your insurance would be a reason to NOT pay your claim if you do have to cancel.

I buy trip insurance for cruises, and I would buy it if I had to pre-pay for a travel package. For regular trips to WDW where my hotel and airfare are purchased separately, I take my chances.

 

[kimmar067]

I never do, but this year, because of the high frequency of hurricanes, I decided that the extra $112 would be WELL WORTH it...we are driving, so there is no air insurance involved....

 

[pouncingpluto]

I wouldn't bother with travel insurance for domestic travel, but I have had it the times I've traveled to former Soviet-bloc countries, and I recently purchased it for a trip to Cancun in November, only because it's hurricane season.

 

[EEyorelover22]

I think I will look further as I'm leaving during blizzard season

 

[Donald - my hero]

We always get travel insurance even when we cross the border for a short trip. Just not worth the hassle we might run into with your Medical system matching up with ours. Best deal I have found: CAA (AAA for you) Check it out!