Travel Insurance recommendations

Question

Not sure where to post this exactly but am looking for recommendations on travel insurance for a solo traveler (although I don't know if that matters or not whether it's solo or with a group)?

I didn't book any when I booked my airfare since I've been told that sometimes those are not the best deals so i decided to skip it and try to find something else elsewhere.  My upcoming trip will be to Europe for a little over a week and was thinking either just getting insurance for this one trip, or on a per-trip basis (separate insurance plan for each trip I take) or if there is a way to get set up with an insurance company where I can turn "on/off" travel insurance (and thus pay as I go, ie. pay per trip without the hassle of filling out new documentation every time, as I may start traveling more overseas, moving forward).

Suggestions for insurance companies and what the best route is to make future travel insurance easier to deal with?

r c · Accepted Answer

welcome

note. Solo traveler here. Been doing so since 2012. Only started to get any insurance since im 62 y/o now and been picking up horseback rides here and there.

insurance for solo/group. I dont know. But if you travel with a group, are you just joining one therer, or are you doing it from day 1 -at home?

some groups/travel agents may add that as a package deal. But you need to ask them. Chances are if you just join some group over there, you wont be.

buying for whole year or turning off/on at will. So far, i have not done this, and i wouldnt want to either. I only travel for 1 month per year - so far - and dont want to pay for a whole year. when you decide to do some reseach and start adding info try changing the duration from 1 week to 1 month..ect and see what happens. TRy changing locations too. Then try changing how much your trip costs...try changing the data and see what happens.

what will you do if you find a place that does this and you do pay for 1 year. Only to find out later, you hate traveling?

for this trip, buckup and buy what you need where they offer what you want.

"... without the hassle of filling out new documentation every time....." Dont be lazy. you have to do what you need to do. If you are going to travel, you have to do some work to make things happen. Unless you are the 1% and doubt it since you are on here. What are you going to do when you need to apply for a VISA someplace?

here are some hints...take or leave...

1. talk to your heath-care provider about this. when i talked to my HMO, they said im covered on my travels, BUT i must keep ALL receipts and THEN get REIMBURSED. Meaning i MUST pay out of pocket first.

Note that NO ONE on TA is VETTED !

2. look at insuremytrip.com. There are others too. break out your google fu and start using it. There is alot of info on the web if you are to do the work! And you dont have to buy anything until you hit that final enter.

3. if you own a home chance are you have insurance. you can ask them about what they may cover too. Why pay for something twice? but ask question TO THEM about whats covered and how much.

4. If you are a renter, you may have renters insurance. Again, ask them.

5. If you are employed by someone ask them. As a perk, they may offer something just for you as an employee.

6. note there is MEDIVAC insurance too. Consider if you need it.

7. some insurance will void or not cover certain activities, so you will want to read up on activities are covered.

8. some credit cards will have some basic insurance, but you will need to check with your card bank/credit union..ect.

9. If you are a student and in between terms..ect, you maybe covered, but again, ask them. It maybe basic coverage, but again, ask them.

from what i have been reading, most of the times, you have to buy insurance from where you live such as the USA. There are exceptions to this, but something else to consider is the exchange difference. If you happen to find something in the UK, for example, and happen to do your due diligence and note the exchange rate favored the GBP by 0.20 per dollar, meaning you for every 1 GBP, you would have to pay 1.20 USD, in the end, you may end up spending more. For what?

and note, you can try and look for reviews if you want. But from my research, you can do your own and suggest you do anyway,. is that its like car insurance or worse. Its better to have and not need, then to need and not have. Also, you wont know how your car insurance will work until you need to file a claim. I have yet done soon any trip.. I may need to do so this year, but until the time happens, wont.

if you are lucky, someone will chime in with their experience.

good luck

bk_t1 · Answer

I know this is not related to being solo, but I'll offer comments and a couple links. As a longtime business traveler, I read FlyerTalk forums pretty closely. I saw 2 threads in their Travel Products section, specifically on EU travel for US residents. Some really good info. because some commenters actually did the analyses. Not just referred to a comparison site. But I do agree that insuremytrip might also be worth a look. Good Luck.

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-products/2106950-2023-travel-insurance-recommendations.html

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-products/2155520-traveling-europe-month.html

hr459 · Answer

I guess the solor part is not that relevant for the sake of insurance (as I wouldn't be seeking insurance for others anyway, just myself).

As an update I did talk to my insurance companies. My homeowner's would cover lost items (but it caps at some amount, but I'd also have to prove a police report was filed, which may be harder in a foreign country so maybe I'll include personal items on travel insurance). For medical, my medical insurance does cover most things, but I'd have to pay up front and then make a claim (and send in a bill) when I get home, but I'd have to pay out of pocket and get reimbursed when Iget home, so I will probably also just get a reasonable level of insruance for that, although I'm not really doing much hiking (at least in forests or mountains, just around a populated city).

So for this upcoming trip and pobably future trips, I'll probably just buy travel insurance as needed (per-trip) basis (having continual insurance over the course of a year for travel doesn't make sense actually since I'd maybe spend a total of one month traveling overseas). Within the US my other insurance will cover me so travel insurance would only be for outside of the US. I mainly jsut want to make sure I'm not working with a company that is perhaps known to deny the majority of claims that people make (legit claims) and/or that they are not severely overcharging people for something I could get from someone else, but cheaper, and just as good (with a good reputation of taking care of the person if they need to make a claim; that's my biggest fear in this regard).

Edited: 06 August 2024, 14:01

bestcornishcat · Answer

“ I'd also have to prove a police report was filed, which may be harder in a foreign country so maybe I'll include personal items on travel insurance”

Most (all?) travel insurance providers will also require a police report. You can’t just submit a claim saying your wallet was stolen and not provide any proof.

mcpinder · Answer

Do any of your current insurance policies cover you for medical repatriation,

Iost, stolen or damaged personal property,

end supplier failure, cancellation or curtailment ,legal representation or ,

a dedicated 24 hour telephone service.

These are all elements of my travel insurance, all in one policy, which I can buy either as a single trip, or a multi destination annual policy. I prefer the simplicity of dealing with just one insurance company for travel.

If I undertook some sports or activities ( mountain climbing,skiing etc) I would be able to add specialist equipment at an extra premium, but I’d also be charged an extra premium for hazardous activities too.

comicman · Answer

"I'll include personal items on travel insurance)."

If you claim personal items that are covered on your homeowners insurance, your travel insurance might not pay. Depending on their terms , claiming might even be seen as fraud.

r c · Answer

welcome back.

congrats on doing your due diligence. I bet you were surprised at you were covered and for as much too.

But there are always limits and "buts".

on your stutf... some comments...

> dont bring anything you are not willing to lose. Dont just assume, but look at each thing you may want to bring and THINK about if you will really NEED it.

> then once you are back home, unpacking, Again, look at each thing and reflect - did you use it or could you have got by without it? THis will be different for every person and every trip and every destination.

> leave any BLINGZ at home. Look at watches, bracelets, necklaces...ect. No one cares about this stuff. If you are going to soem state dinner, then yes, you may need to have some fo that stuff, but on your travels, its not needed. And if you do bring, someone else may decide they want it more than you do. Dont make yourself anymore of a target than you will be.

> If you want, you can be PROACTIVE and have a packing list. You can have everything? you may need for any possible trip. Such as a trip to Antartica to the Sahara Desert to a Galapagos cruise. But while reviewing the packing, just be mindful you may not need your snorkel gear for the desert or Antartica.

> and if you do have a packing list, you can always add a price/value to those things just in case you need to file a police report. You can even PRINT it and have a copy stashed someplace and PDF it and email it and or put a PDF on your phone desktop.

> something to consider. I put more value on my travel clothes since they are a fashion item (unfortunately) and they maybe only available for a short time. They are lightweight and fast drying and take up less space than my jeans/cotton clothes i use and wear at home. So even if my clothes is stolen/lost..ect, chances are i wont be able to replace it with the same. And with inflation in the last couple of years, the money any insurance covers, wont cover the current replacement costs. Id rather have the clothes than cash.

> as with any insurance, you really wont know how good or bad they are until you need to file a claim. If you havent figured or experience this, then you will be in for some fun.

good luck.

Edited: 07 August 2024, 08:06

hr459 · Answer

If the Homeowner's insurance does in fact cover things abroad (internationally) then I may just get the medical insurance and perhaps trip interruption insurance (if I can find one that doesn't make me get an all-inclusive package). My biggest concern is mostly the medical should I get injured while traveling, as I've heard it can be expensive for foreigners in Europe (and Id have to pay out of pocket and then make a claim when I get home, if I decided to use my own insurance, which does technically cover travel, but it's a hassle it sounds like).

r c · Answer

welcoem back...

"..If the Homeowner's insurance does in fact cover things abroad (internationally) then I may just get the medical insurance and perhaps trip interruption insurance (if I can find one that doesn't make me get an all-inclusive package). My biggest concern is mostly the medical should I get injured while traveling, as I've heard it can be expensive for foreigners in Europe (and Id have to pay out of pocket and then make a claim when I get home, if I decided to use my own insurance, which does technically cover travel, but it's a hassle it sounds like)...."

something you need to keep in mind, the USA is suppose to have the HIGHEST insurance costs in the world, so if that is true or close to it, chances are anything will be less expensive away from there.

Depending on what your fears are and it appears you have some, then all you can do is to be prepared. Did you check/talk to your healthcare provider on what you need to submit for a claim? YOu could have them send the paperwork to you and review it if you want.

also, you seem to feel that paperwork is a "hassle". sorry, but a really small violin is playing in the background.

you may want to also keep in mind that travel is a PRIVILEGE !. there are so many people that would love to have that hassle.

good luck

hr459 · Answer

yes the US does have higher insurance costs than many countries as the US doesn't have universal healthcare like some countries do (with the exception of things like Medicare and Medicaid but those are mainly for people who are retired), so it is more expensive (as it has become a for-profit business, and citizens get an insurance policy from an insurance company basically). so yes the cost is higher, but the way people make it sound, emergency medial expenses for foreigners in Europe may be more expensive (like thousands of dollars, whereas in the US, a citizen with medical insurace may only have to pay out of pocket $1000 USD or less per incident, and insurance covers most or all of the rest of the cost). The way one post made it sound, I'd have to pay in full up front if I had to get medical service in a foreign country but could be reimbursed by my insurance company in the US if it's approved. I'll just get the medical and trip interruption portion of a travel insurance policy just to be safe and to limit my out-of-pocket expenses for both areas if they do become an issue.

Travel Insurance recommendations - Solo Travel Forum

Travel Insurance recommendations

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