If you’re a U.S. resident traveling domestically within the country’s 50 states, you may not be thinking about trip insurance. However, trip insurance can be a great addition to your travels, insuring crucial investments before you hit the road, set sail, or take flight.
Travel Insurance for US Citizens
There are many different types of trip insurance available for U.S. residents, but before we go into more detail, let’s talk about basic trip insurance. Basic trip insurance is short-term insurance that covers certain non-refundable expenses should you need to cancel or change your travel plans.
Now that you have an idea of what trip insurance is, let’s be clear about what it’s not. Trip insurance is not medical insurance. While trip insurance may offer some coverage if you get sick and need to cancel your plans prior to your departure date, it generally won’t cover any costs related to illnesses, injuries, or hospital bills incurred during your trip. This is because your US health insurance should mainly cover you while you are traveling from state to state.
But that doesn’t mean that basic trip insurance isn’t worth adding to your packing list. Now more than ever, travelers need to be prepared for the unexpected. And that’s exactly what a good trip insurance plan does. With trip insurance, you can book your travel accommodations with confidence knowing you may recoup eligible financial costs should your plans suddenly change.
What Does Domestic Travel Insurance Cover?
Domestic travel insurance, often referred to as trip insurance, offers coverage for nonrefundable prepaid travel expenses for your specific trip. The definition of prepaid travel expenses will vary from plan to plan, but it often refers to certain expenses in which you prepaid for your specific travel plans that are nonrefundable.
Here are some of the nonrefundable fees a trip insurance plan might cover:
- Non-refundable airline tickets
- Prepaid hotel or vacation home rental costs
- Lost, damaged or delayed luggage
- Plane change costs if you miss your flight or your flight is delayed
- Lost ski days or golf rounds related to a missed connection or flight delay
- Equipment rental fees associated with missed events, like golf clubs, or skis
For more clarity on what may be covered under your trip insurance plan, be sure to read your policy’s description of coverage and exclusions.
US Trip Insurance Riders/Add-Ons
Aside from basic trip insurance which will benefit every traveler, there are some travel insurance riders or add-ons that can provide coverage for specific activities you might participate in as you travel the country.
Cancel For Any Reason Coverage
If you want even more flexibility than standard trip insurance can offer, consider adding Cancel For Any Reason coverage. This extra coverage allows you to cancel for any reason, not just the ones specified in your basic trip insurance coverage. With a CFAR add-on, you can get reimbursed for certain prepaid travel expenses, even if you decide you just don’t feel like going.
Hazardous or Adventurous Sports Coverage
Looking for adventure? We’ve got trip insurance coverage for you. Say you’re headed off to Hawaii, you might be looking forward to some activities like scuba diving or snorkeling. Hiking enthusiasts will want to add hiking and mountaineering insurance to their backpacks before they set off on the PCT or climb the Rockies. If you’re planning on engaging in strenuous activities like these, you may have limited options but some trip insurance plans may include an adventure sports or hazardous rider that can give you some protection.
Cruise Insurance
If you’re going on a cruise, you’ll need cruise insurance. With this kind of insurance, cruise-goers can stay financially protected if they need to cancel their plans for a covered reason. Beyond that, cruise insurance may offer emergency evacuation coverage, which will help keep you safe should the ship need to be evacuated.
Car Rental Insurance
If you’re planning a road trip, one thing you might think about is car rental insurance. Adding rental car collision insurance to your trip insurance usually gives you more comprehensive coverage than if you were to get car insurance directly from the rental place. Likewise, travelers flying to another state or city can find peace of mind with flight accident insurance.
In these uncertain times, insuring your travels with trip insurance can save you from the financial and mental stress that so often comes with trip planning. Paying a small amount up front for coverage can literally save you thousands should you need to cancel or change your trip plans.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When should I buy travel insurance?
Ideally, you should buy travel insurance as soon as you book your trip to make sure you have strong coverage and benefits. You can buy it after you’ve booked your trip, but if you want certain optional add-ons, such as Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) and pre-existing condition waivers, you’ll want to purchase trip insurance as soon as possible. Typically, you have to buy such add-ons within 14-21 days after your initial trip deposit.
Does travel insurance cover weather-related trip cancellations?
Travel insurance can cover weather-related trip cancellations if the weather event makes it unsafe or impossible to travel. This typically includes natural disasters such as blizzards, hurricanes, and other severe weather-related events that prevent you from traveling. If you are mainly worried about the forecast at your destination, that would not be covered unless you had Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage.
Does insurance reimburse me for delayed or stolen baggage on a domestic flight?
Yes, trip insurance could reimburse you to a certain amount if your baggage is significantly delayed or stolen while traveling domestically. It can also help cover items such as toiletries and clothing that you may need while waiting to get your bag back.
Are adventure activities like zip lining or skiing covered on domestic trips?
It depends from plan to plan, but most of the time, adventure activities like zip lining or skiing can be covered if a plan has an optional adventure sports travel add-on to your trip insurance policy. The adventure sports travel add-on can allow you to cancel or interrupt your trip if you injure yourself while participating in a high-risk activity.
Does travel insurance cover delays at TSA?
It mostly depends on what your policy says, but in general, many trip insurance policies do not cover missed flights due to long TSA lines. Most trip insurance plans cover “unforeseeable events,” and TSA lines are generally considered to be a foreseeable part of travel.
Can I get rental car coverage with a trip insurance policy?
Yes, a trip insurance policy may have an optional car rental protection add-on which is often cheaper to add onto your trip insurance than buying it directly from the rental car dealer. With rental car coverage, you are protected from damage or theft of the vehicle and costs related to the damage and injury sustained by other people if the policyholder gets into an accident.
Can trip insurance cover me if I want to cancel my trip due to a fear of flying?
Trip insurance will not cover you if you decide to change your mind and cancel your trip. However, you can add Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance, that way you can cancel for any reason that is not covered by your insurance. CFAR will still recoup up to 75% of your prepaid, nonrefundable expenses, making sure you are covered if you do decide to cancel your trip for an uncovered reason.
Can I insure only part of my trip?
Yes, you can insure any expenses you wish to protect on your policy. All you need to do is enter specifically the amount you want coverage for. For example, if your hotel costs $1,000 and your flight costs $200, and your primary concern is the cost of your hotel, you can just enter $1,000 in the cost that the quote tool will ask for. From there, the insurance options you will get will be specialized to a $1,000 coverage protection.
However, there are certain plans and companies that require you to disclose the full cost of your trip so it’s good to glance at your policy details or call your insurance company to understand what their requirements are.
