They make distinctions between which scenarios qualify for coverage and which don’t based on the severity of your condition.
Does Travel Insurance Replace My Health Insurance?
Travel insurance often covers medical events.
This leads some to believe that travel insurance can serve as a replacement for regular health insurance.
This is a misconception.
The key differences between travel and regular health insurance are outlined below:
- Regular Health Insurance – Covers routine check-ups, medicine costs, emergency medical events
- Travel Insurance – Gives coverage specifically for those traveling. Travel insurance is only applicable to what happens while on a trip
If you are traveling, check to see if your regular health insurance gives full coverage for traveling. If not, you most likely need to purchase and maintain both forms of coverage.
COVID-19 Considerations
Finding a good travel insurance plan is never easy. With the current presence of the COVID-19 pandemic, that process is even more challenging.
With health risks related to COVID-19 at the forefront of many people’s minds, many insurance companies have responded accordingly.
You will find plans on the following list that offer specific coverage for COVID-19 related medical events.
Remember that these come with limitations. So, make sure you read carefully before deciding on a plan.
Likewise, given the pandemic, it is vital to consult your doctor before traveling.
This is even more necessary for seniors, who are considered to be at risk of serious cases of COVID-19.
Travel Insurance Options
Now you have some familiarity with different aspects of travel insurance plans. It’s time to start looking at some of the most popular providers and some of the plans that they offer.
These plans all vary in pricing and coverage. Only by careful evaluation will you be able to find the plan that matches your needs.
Keep in mind your current medical condition as well as your financial situation. By doing so, you can find a travel insurance plan that is perfect for you.
Travel Guard
Travel Guard is one of the leading travel insurance providers. They offer many different plan options for you to consider.
The three main plan options they feature are:
- Deluxe Plan
- Preferred Plan
- Essential Plan
Each plan comes with its own benefits.
The offerings of these options give consumers more flexibility as they choose their plan.
Below are some details about each one. But before we proceed, there is one limitation to this provider that must be mentioned.
These three travel guard plans are available to residents of any of the United States except those living in New York. New York residents will have to opt for one of the other insurance providers on our list.
Deluxe Plan
The Deluxe Plan is the premium plan offered by Travel Guard. This plan has the highest level of medical expense coverage. In addition to that, it also offers the following forms of coverage:
- Up to 100% of trip cancellation fees
- Trip interruption coverage up to $225,000
- Baggage coverage up to $2,500
- Emergency evacuation
- Remains repatriation
This list represents only a few of the coverage types included in this plan. In fact, there are many more additional features you will enjoy.
One of the most valuable aspects of this plan is the pre-existing conditions waiver.
This waiver is included in your plan if you purchase the plan within 15 days of your initial trip payment.
Preferred Plan
For seniors who travel with family members, the Preferred Plan may be the best option for you. This plan has special elements for those who travel with children.
This includes coverage for one child under 17 at no additional cost. However, to qualify for that deal, the cost of the child’s trip must be less than the cost for their adult relative.
So if you are a grandparent traveling with a grandchild, this plan may save you some money. Beyond this family coverage, this plan includes similar coverage to what is listed for the deluxe plan.
Essential Plan
As you might expect, the Essential plan is the most economical option of the three plans Travel Guard offers.
For seniors with a limited budget, this may be a good option that will save money. But be warned that reduced cost naturally leads to reductions in coverage.
The Essential plan places little emphasis on pre-existing conditions. Instead, it boasts its 24/7 assistance service. The plan also has the same family deal as the Preferred Plan.
Allianz Travel
Allianz Travel has at least ten travel insurance plans for you to choose from. These plans are divided into categories. Those categories are:
- Single Trips
- Annual/Multi-Trips
- Rental Car
We will focus on a few plans in the single trip and annual/multi-trip categories for our purposes.
OneTrip Prime
OneTrip Prime is a single trip insurance plan.
Allianz Travel claims it to be their most popular plan. Let’s look at the reasons why.
- Up to $1000,000 trip cancellation reimbursement
- $500,000 of emergency medical transportation costs
- Up to $1,000 for baggage loss or theft
- Rental car damage protection
- Complimentary concierge service
Also, this plan includes a loyalty program. This is a $500 value for frequent flyer miles.
