Travel insurance plans are meant to protect travelers from the moment they leave home until they return. Typically, adjustments to a policy cannot be made once the traveler has begun their journey. Many travelers, however, wonder if their insurance will pay them if an unforeseen occurrence, such as a flight delay or illness, prevents them from reaching home on time.
Many travel insurance policies will automatically renew if a journey is extended beyond the coverage period due to circumstances beyond the traveler’s control. Coverage will typically last seven days or until the tourist returns home, whichever comes first.
Unless a traveler’s insurance is renewable, they may not be able to extend their coverage if they want to prolong their holiday beyond the initially scheduled return date. This is usually only offered through international health insurance coverage.
Renewable plans allow passengers to increase their coverage amounts as long as they do so before the policy’s expiration date. However, travelers should be aware that some plans have a minimum initial purchase term and/or a maximum amount of time for which coverage can be obtained. For instance, the Trawick International Safe Travels International plan allows travelers who acquire at least three months of coverage to renew their policies as long as the total duration of coverage does not exceed 24 months.
To find out if their policies can be extended or renewed, travelers should consult their unique policy’s explanation of coverage. Travelers should also be aware of any requirements that may apply.
Can you extend a travel insurance?
A travel insurance coverage is often extendable for up to 180 days at a cost of an additional premium paid through internet banking. You should also be aware that extending your vacation is not assured; the insurance must authorize the extension depending on their underwriting.
Can I extend my travel insurance while abroad?
Big Cat can extend your travel insurance cover up to a maximum of 24 months, regardless of whether you are presently traveling or if you purchased your original travel insurance from another business. Furthermore, it may all be completed in a matter of minutes online.
Simply fill out the form to the right if you purchased your initial travel insurance from Big Cat and wish to extend it or add activities that aren’t covered in your current policy. We’ll respond as soon as possible with our best price quote and instructions on how to pay online. Remember that the maximum term of your travel insurance is 24 months from the commencement of your coverage.
If you bought your insurance from another company,
Extending your travel insurance while you’re on vacation is simple with Big Cat, and it allows you to spend more time enjoying your vacation.
How do I extend my travel policy?
To extend your travel insurance, you must first have a valid travel insurance coverage that was purchased prior to the start of your vacation. You will not be able to get travel insurance once you arrive at your destination if you do not have one. You’ll need an official paperwork from the airline detailing the date and reason for the flight cancellation if you need an extension. You may be required to give a medical certificate for any medical reasons that arise.
What is the maximum duration for travel insurance?
Despite the fact that yearly multi-trip travel insurance policies cover you for a year, you’ll usually discover that the number of days you can travel in a row is limited. This is normally limited to 31 days. If you plan on staying longer than this, you might consider purchasing long-term travel insurance.
Can you stack travel insurance?
Travelers rarely buy travel insurance because they feel their credit card already covers them.
Your credit card’s travel benefits simply do not compare to the level of safety provided by a travel insurance plan from a travel insurance company.
Travel insurance ‘protections’ advertised by credit cards
Not all credit cards offer all of the following travel benefits, and getting these benefits may involve paying a higher annual credit card fee.
Annual fees levied by credit cards are frequently higher than the cost of a basic travel insurance package. In order for the coverage to be effective, you must charge all travel expenses to the card that offers travel benefits, and your trip must be shorter than 30 days long.
Ways credit card travel ‘protection’ is not as good as real travel insurance
Travelers rely on credit card ‘protection’ to cover their trips in the same way that they rely on travel insurance, but it simply does not work.
No medical or evacuation coverage
Credit card insurance does not provide the same level of emergency medical or evacuation coverage as travel insurance.
If you are hurt or have an accident while traveling abroad and require medical attention, the credit card protection may be able to assist you in arranging care, but they will not automatically cover medical bills.
Trip cancellation coverage is very limited
Typically, trip cancellation insurance through your credit card is limited to illness, injury, or death of you, a close family member, or your traveling partner.
See the list of covered causes for trip cancellation with travel insurance for a comparison.
When you use your credit card to file a trip cancellation claim, we discovered that the maximum trip charges are highly limited. Here are some specific examples:
If you take several trips throughout a year, or even just one big vacation, you could quickly exhaust your benefit restrictions. With travel insurance, the maximum trip expenditures are frequently substantially greater.
Trip interruption coverage is very limited
Trip interruption coverage is for situations where you must immediately cancel your trip and return home, for as when your daughter is admitted to the hospital, an earthquake strikes your destination (or residence), or a family member passes away unexpectedly.
Sickness, injury, or death of you, a close family member, or a traveling partner resulting in medically prescribed restrictions are the only covered grounds for trip interruption with your credit card. In contrast, bankruptcy, natural disasters at your home or destination, jury duty, terrorism, and other causes for trip interruption are covered by travel insurance (depending on the plan).
These are desperate situations that result in unanticipated (and often exorbitant) airline, accommodation, and transportation expenditures, as well as the loss of nonrefundable trip costs.
The benefit limitations for trip interruption with your credit card are extremely low, according to our research. Here are some specific examples:
- Trip interruption benefits on the American Express Gold Rewards card are limited to $1,500 per person and a total of $6,000 for all insured people.
- The Discover EscapeSM Card’s trip interruption coverage is limited to $2,500 per 12-month period.
If you’re on a week-long vacation with your family and an emergency forces you to return home, you’ll pay far more than this credit card coverage allows. Check the maximum amount of trip interruption coverage given by your travel insurance.
Travel delay coverage is limited
While we found that credit card insurance provided similar minimum travel delays, the benefits are restricted to delays caused by inclement weather, common carrier equipment failure, and lost or stolen passports. See, on the other hand, the reasons for trip delays that are frequently covered by travel insurance.
Your credit card’s travel delay coverage is further limited in the following ways:
Where credit card travel protection is similar to travel insurance
The following credit card coverage is substantially comparable to that provided by a travel insurance policy:
These coverages have restrictions and limits that are quite comparable to those of travel insurance. For example, there are identical per-item restrictions for items in your luggage, some countries are banned from car rental coverage, and you can’t rent exotic or antique automobiles, but the criteria and exclusions are essentially the same as those mentioned in a travel insurance plan.
With your credit card, you’ll get identical travel assistance and concierge services as you would with travel insurance. Your credit card’s travel accident coverage, if it’s included, is automatic and you won’t have to pay more for it.
Credit Card exclusions are the same, but Travel Insurance gives you options
Many things that travel insurance plans omit are automatically excluded by credit card travel protection, such as terrorist activities, pre-existing medical conditions, underwater sports, and so on.
The issue is that, unlike credit cards, travel insurance plans frequently include optional riders to overcome these exclusions.
Price comparison for 4-person trip
Consider the following scenario. Consider the following scenario: A family of four from Texas is planning a week of skiing in Colorado for Spring Break, and the following are the details of their trip:
We get a lot of options when we run these trip data through our travel insurance comparison engine and rank the qualified policies by price. We went over the coverage covered in the two cheapest options on the list:
As you can see, travel insurance provides far more comprehensive coverage than your credit card for around the same price as the yearly charge. Of course, this is just one trip and two travel insurance alternatives; there are travel insurance options for each trip you can think of.
If one of the kids breaks an arm on the ski vacation, there is a significant difference between this family’s credit card travel protection and these travel insurance options.
The out-of-network emergency department charge will have to be paid with the family’s credit card, but the costs will not be reimbursed. A travel insurance policy with adequate coverage will suffice.
Is there a travel insurance that covers Covid-19?
If you’ve had all of your vaccinations, you’ll be able to go abroad without a visa starting November 1st. However, transit and destination countries may impose entrance limitations, such as quarantine requirements. Check sure you can purchase travel insurance for the destination you plan to visit before you depart.
When you book a ticket or trip with some tour operators or airlines, you may be eligible for free ‘COVID insurance.’ Always read your travel insurance coverage to make sure you’re aware of what it covers. It’s possible that free ‘COVID insurance’ just covers COVID-19 and nothing else. It may also be granted by an overseas insurance company, putting it under the jurisdiction of that country’s regulations. If this is the case, it is unlikely to be a suitable substitute for comprehensive Australian travel insurance.
Even if you are unable to obtain coverage for COVID-19, travel insurance is still required. Traveling does not always go as planned. If you become sick while traveling, have to cancel your plans, or your luggage and important documents are lost or stolen, and you don’t have travel insurance, you’ll have to cover the charges out of your own money. If you’re still not convinced, check out CHOICE’s explanation of why you should buy travel insurance.
Checklist
- Is the Smartraveller advise level for the countries you’ll be visiting covered by your insurance? Many destinations are currently classified as level three – ‘Reconsider your need to travel,’ and not all travel insurance companies cover them.
- Is evidence of insurance for COVID-19-related medical expenses required by your destination? Singapore, for example, demands a minimum of SGD $30,000 in coverage.
- Is your vacation covered for the entire duration? Can you, for example, extend your coverage if you have to stay in a foreign country longer than intended due to a flight cancellation?
- Are you protected for stopovers on your journey to your destination? Is there a time limit on how long you may stay at the stopover location? What happens if you’re stranded for a long time?
- Are you protected if you or a traveling companion tests positive for COVID-19 and you can’t travel or your stay is extended? What if you’re forced to isolate yourself because you’re in close proximity to someone who has tested positive?
- Are you reimbursed for cancellation charges if a business colleague or a family member back home gets COVID-19 and you have to leave sooner than planned?
- What if you were planning on staying with someone but they have COVID-19? Or is your hotel or tour company forced to close as a result of COVID-19? Are your out-of-pocket costs covered?
- If you’re going on a cruise, take extra precautions. For multi-night cruises, some travel insurers may not provide COVID-19 coverage.
- Are you protected in the event of a claim resulting from government travel bans, border closures, or enforced quarantine/self-isolation rules at your destination?
The Bradstone* family from Melbourne was planning a visit to Queenstown, New Zealand, to see relatives. However, due to a lockdown in Melbourne, they were forced to abandon their trip. Their claim for cancellation expenses was disallowed by their travel insurer.
- Make sure you’re protected if your leave is canceled due to a COVID-19 outbreak if you’re an important healthcare professional like a pharmacist, nurse, doctor, or paramedic.
Ask your travel insurer and read the product disclosure statement for answers to these questions (PDS). Read our tips on how to read the PDS for further information.
Can I get travel insurance during Covid-19?
With all this talk of the “traffic light system,” where does travel insurance fit in?
The first thing to keep in mind is that the traffic light system has nothing to do with travel insurance. Customers should always check their travel advise at the time of trip because travel insurance works in line with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). The good news is that the DFA’s travel recommendation for all EEA nations and the United Kingdom has been altered from ‘Avoid Non-Essential’ to ‘High Degree of Caution.’ When a country declares a ‘High Degree of Caution,’ customers with travel insurance will be covered if they visit that country/region.
‘High Degree of Caution’ = Covered under the terms and conditions of the insurance, including Covid-19 medical coverage abroad and cancellation coverage if diagnosed within 14 days of travel.
Are my medical expenditures reimbursed if I become ill with Covid-19 while traveling overseas and require medical treatment?
Please keep in mind that we will not cover Covid-19 claims if you traveled to an area where the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has warned against all but essential travel.
Prior to purchasing a policy and/or departing, all customers and partners should review the Travel Advice portion of the DFA’s website to confirm that the insurance offers the necessary coverage for their trip.
Is it covered if I get Covid-19 while traveling and need to be returned to Ireland or the United Kingdom?
Is it reimbursed for reasonable additional transportation or lodging expenses if I get Covid-19 while on a trip (with no symptoms and no medical bills) and am refused boarding owing to the positive diagnosis?
Is it covered if I get sick with Covid-19 while traveling and have to extend my stay as a result, incurring additional costs?
Is my trip partner and I insured for cancellation if we get Covid-19 at home and are unable to travel?
Unless the insurance is obtained within 48 hours of planning the trip, you will not be covered for any Covid-19 claim events occurring within 7 days on the date you purchased insurance.
Am I insured for cancellation if a member of my family is hospitalized with Covid-19 and you are unable to travel as a result?
Can I make a claim for any cancelled excursions if I’m diagnosed with Covid-19 while on vacation and have to self-isolate in my hotel?
Is my trip covered if I need to cut it short because a close relative has died from Covid-19?
The insured customer must contact our Emergency Assistance Service while away to obtain clearance before returning home, which is a particular condition of this coverage.
What am I covered for if I buy an insurance now and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) changes its recommendation on my country of travel to ‘Avoid Non-Essential Travel’ while I’m on vacation?
Are my flights and accommodations protected if I purchase a policy now and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) modifies their recommendation on my country of choice to ‘Avoid Non-Essential Travel’ before my trip?
Any claim resulting from a change in DFA guidance or a government lockdown is not covered.
Would travel insurance cover me if I had to cancel a vacation because my job or other obligations prevented me from restricting my movements when I returned home after a foreign trip?
Can I buy travel insurance after my trip has started?
Passport? Check. Visas? Check. Vaccinations for travel? Check. Your big trip is coming up in two weeks, and you’ve planned everything… until you remember you neglected to obtain travel insurance. No way! Is it already too late?
The quick answer is that it is still possible! You can acquire travel insurance after you’ve booked your trip. However, it’s always a good idea to get insurance as early as possible in the process. Certain advantages may be lost if you procrastinate. We’ll explain why further down.
Have you considered purchasing travel insurance in case COVID-19 has an impact on your trip? While epidemics are normally excluded from coverage, we are now providing temporary coverage for COVID-19-related claims. In addition, many of our travel insurance plans now include the new Pandemic Coverage Endorsement, which expands the list of covered causes to include losses due to COVID-19 and any subsequent epidemic. (Benefits vary per plan, and not all jurisdictions offer them.)
Look for “Epidemic Coverage Endorsement” on your Declarations of Coverage or Letter of Confirmation to determine if your plan contains this endorsement and what it covers. There are some restrictions and exclusions that apply. It’s possible that your benefits won’t cover the entire cost of your loss. All benefits are subject to maximum liability limits, which may include sublimits and daily maximums in some situations.
Do I need a return ticket for travel insurance?
There is no need to purchase a return ticket. To acquire coverage, you don’t need to know when you’ll be coming home. So if you’re going on an extended trip or emigrating, we’ve got you covered.
Can I buy travel insurance for 1 year?
Do you travel a lot? With the Annual Medical Plan, you can cross “travel insurance” off your packing list for a whole year.
If you travel twice or more per year, the Annual Medical Plan can help you save money on insurance by covering you for unlimited journeys within one year of purchase.
Travelers can choose between a 10-Day Annual Medical Plan, which covers unlimited visits of up to 10 days, and a 30-Day Annual Medical Plan, which covers unlimited trips of up to 30 days. These time limits can be extended for any single travel during the year by contacting Allianz Global Assistance.
Please see the plan for a complete list of coverage benefits and other information.