Travel Protection is extremely important for your trip, but all plans have different coverage and eligibility. USI trip cancellation plans cover any U.S. resident of any age. Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption coverage generally kicks in if you, an immediate family member or travel companion becomes sick (under the care of a physician) or dies. Some plans may cover sickness or death of a pet, but this coverage is less common – check with your plan if you need that coverage. WHAT Travel insurance provides coverage for unforeseen circumstances that may prevent a traveler from taking their trip or disrupt their trip after they’ve departed. Travel insurance plans cover specific “named perils” or covered reasons for which a benefit would apply. Circumstances outside of those covered reasons listed in the policy are not covered by the plan. When buying travel insurance, a traveler should plan to cover any pre-paid, non-refundable trip cost. WHEN Travel insurance can generally be purchased any time up to the day before departure, but the earlier a traveler purchases their plan, the better. The plan is effective the day after purchase, and Trip Cancellation coverage kicks in immediately in the event of a covered circumstance. Most plans also offer Early Purchase Advantages – most commonly a waiver of the Pre-Existing Medical Conditions exclusion and the optional Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) upgrade. The Early Purchase Advantages are only available if the plan is purchased within a short time after the initial trip deposit – travelers should check their plan for the Early Purchase time period, as all plans are different. WHERE Most travel insurance plans cover a traveler any time they are 100 or more miles from their home. Plans cover domestic travel within the U.S. and also international travel. Most plans exclude coverage to certain countries that may be experiencing war, unrest or other political issues, but the common travel destinations are available for coverage. WHY Travel is not inexpensive, and the cost should be viewed as an investment. Should something unexpected cause a traveler to cancel or interrupt their trip, or if the traveler experiences a medical emergency, travel insurance can provide important financial protection, not to mention peace of mind. Global Travel Medical Insurance More and more accounts are choosing to offer a travel medical insurance plan in addition to comprehensive trip cancellation plans to ensure coverage for travelers who may not want or need a comprehensive plan. These travel medical plans focus on coverage for emergency medical expenses and medical evacuations, and they do not include Trip Cancellation coverage. Because they do not include the Trip Cancellation benefit, these plans are less expensive than a comprehensive trip cancellation plan, so they may be a good alternative for more budget-conscious clients. We offer two travel Medical plans: InterMedical and WorldMed: The InterMedical plan can protect your travelers with medical benefits when traveling outside their home country, and outside the U.S. This coverage is ideal for travelers who don’t have a large upfront non-refundable trip investment to protect, or who otherwise do not want the full trip cancellation plan. The WorldMed plan is similar to InterMedical but offers higher benefit limits. WorldMed has narrower eligibility than InterMedical in that it only provides coverage for travelers up to age 64. Unlike the InterMedical plan, WorldMed can cover travel inbound to the U.S. or outbound to another country. Annual Travel Insurance Many of our accounts now offer annual travel insurance to their clients who seek it. This is not a full trip cancellation policy, but the plan includes medical and baggage benefits, and coverage is automatic any time the policy holder takes a covered trip 100+ miles from home during the plan year. Do you have clients that may be interested in annual travel insurance coverage? Ask us about the plan and request a proposal today.