Traveling to Guatemala

Travel Insurance

Tips of Choosing Travel Insurance, Medical and Trip Cancellation Policies

(Information from the website: EHOW.com)

Medical Policies

Planning your trip:

1. Check your existing insurance policies and credit card coverage before you buy travel insurance. You may already be covered for medical expenses, canceled tickets or lost luggage.
2. Decide which type of travel insurance is best suited for your destination (for example, terrorism insurance for your trip to Egypt, or emergency medical transportation insurance during your ocean cruise). Keep in mind that the cost varies widely, depending on your age, your health, and the cost and length of your trip.
3. Determine whether the following is included in your policy: international medical insurance, emergency medical evacuation (including helicopter transport), accidental death and dismemberment, repatriation of remains, and family travel benefits.
4. Have your travel agent purchase an insurance plan for you or shop commission-free online. You'll find a wide selection of reputable insurance companies on the Web.
5. Make sure your travel insurance provider offers 24-hour hotline service. Don't buy trip-cancellation insurance from the tour operator that may be responsible for the cancellation, and don't overbuy-- you won't be reimbursed for more than the cost of your trip.
6. Many travel-related injuries and thefts are not fully covered by your credit card company, home owners or medical insurance.
7. Read the fine print to make sure your cruise line or airline is on the list of carriers covered in case of bankruptcy.
8. Check for:
• Baggage loss/delay insurance
• Trip cancellation insurance
• International medical insurance
• Emergency medical evacuation
• Accidental death and dismemberment

Trip Cancellation Insurance

Trip cancellation insurance reimburses you for prepaid, nonrefundable expenses - such as airline tickets - if you are forced to cancel a trip due to an unforeseen emergency. Consider the following information carefully when evaluating the worth of such a policy.

1. Do some research. Look online, talk to friends and poll travel agents to find the insurance that best suits your travel needs. Read all parts of the policy carefully to make sure you are covered where it really matters.
2. Examine the types of flight, train or cruise cancellations covered by the policy. Often you can be covered if there is a strike, if you are hijacked or if your trip is delayed. Again, read the conditions of the coverage before you buy.
3. Look for policies with the broadest terms. Check the policy's definitions of terms such as "unforeseen," "close family member" and "traveling companion" to be sure they will cover your needs.
4. Check for expiration times and dates, after which the policy would not reimburse you. Policies generally expire after you have returned home, or at the end of the date specified on your travel itinerary.
5. Read exclusion clauses carefully. For instance, most policies do not cover preexisting health conditions.
6. Make sure that the policy covers you for the entire period of your trip.
7. If you do decide to purchase coverage, do so well in advance since the premium remains the same no matter when you buy; the sooner you buy insurance before your trip, the longer coverage time you'll have.
8. Trip cancellation insurance is useful in the event of an unforeseen emergency: the illness, death or injury of yourself or a close family member or traveling companion; the tour operator, cruise line or airline goes bankrupt before your trip; or if you are quarantined, hijacked, called to jury duty, subpoenaed or if your home is rendered uninhabitable. Policies differ, however, so read them carefully.
9. Some cancellation insurance may be available automatically through your credit card company if you book your trip using their credit card. Ask about this service before you purchase insurance elsewhere.

If you have purchased travel cancellation insurance for a trip that has been delayed, make sure the insurance will automatically cover the trip on the new dates.