Is Travel Insurance Worth It?

Last Updated: 7/21/23 | July 21st, 2023

Travel insurance is probably the most boring topic to discuss when it comes to planning a trip. Dreaming up the perfect itinerary, finding cheap flights, buying gear — all of these things are much more glamorous!

For that reason, many budget travelers actually skip buying travel insurance. Unlike a flight, a travel backpack, or applying for a visa, travel insurance just doesn’t seem necessary.

And since it’s not always cheap, travel insurance is often tempting to jettison.

I mean, how often does something terrible happen when you travel?

Not often, right?

But that doesn’t mean it won’t happen.

Sure, over the years, I’ve rarely had to rely on travel insurance.

But I have still had to use it from time to time — like when I was stabbed in Colombia.

Remember: you’re fine until you aren’t, which is why you need travel insurance!

Yes, for most trips you won’t need your travel insurance. You’ll buy it, save the details in your phone, and never look at it again.

But a time might come when you need it. And if you don’t have it, things can get expensive fast.

I was thankful for having travel insurance when I needed to see a doctor in Argentina, when my camera broke in Italy, when my eardrum popped in Thailand, and when my luggage was stolen in South Africa.

It’s much better to be safe than sorry.

In this post, I’ll show you everything you need to know to help you make an informed decision about your travel insurance plan and whether or not travel insurance is a worthwhile purchase for your next trip.

 

 

What Does Travel Insurance Cover?

To illustrate why travel insurance is worth purchasing, here’s a quick list of what the best travel insurance plans cover (for most countries):

• Medical emergencies, sudden illnesses, and injuries
• Emergencies, strife in your destination, etc., that cause you to head home early
• Emergency evacuation
• Cancellations, such as hotel bookings, flights, and other transportation bookings, if you have a sudden illness, death in the family, or some other emergency
• Lost, damaged, or stolen possessions, like jewelry, baggage, etc. (Also, ideally there is some coverage for your electronics and an option for a higher coverage limit.)
• 24-hour emergency services and assistance (you don’t want to call to be told to call back later)
• Financial protection if any company you are using goes bankrupt and you are stuck in another country

Yes, robberies and natural disasters are rare. But things like canceled flights, minor illnesses, and petty theft happen often.

With a comprehensive travel insurance plan, you’ll be covered.
 

The Best Travel Insurance Companies for Travelers

 

How to Decide if Travel Insurance is for You

If you’re not sure if travel insurance is the best choice for you, here are some questions to ask yourself:

Do you have a lot of money saved up for emergencies?
If you have thousands of dollars lying around to cover you in case you get injured or delayed, or need to be evacuated (emergency evacuation can cost tens of thousands of dollars), or in case your items get lost or stolen, then maybe travel insurance isn’t necessary for you.

Are you traveling somewhere with expensive medical coverage?
Sure, a quick hospital visit in a budget-friendly country might not cost a lot. But in many countries, medical emergencies can cost hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars (especially if you need comprehensive care, emergency surgery, or evacuation).

Do you have a lot of money invested in your trip?
While none of us ever plan to have a trip canceled, the fact of the matter is that emergencies and surprises do happen (such as an illness, a death in the family, and work conflicts). Unless you’re comfortable losing out on that money, travel insurance might be a worthwhile purchase.

At the end of the day, unless you’ve got tons of extra cash just lying around that you can spend on emergencies, travel insurance is likely worth the money.

I know it’s not cheap (especially if you’re a budget traveler), but at the end of the day, it will be much, much cheaper than paying for an emergency — and I say that from personal experience!

While it can be tempting to go for a free insurance plan from your travel credit card, their plans are usually not that comprehensive and have minimal coverage and/or limited compensation (especially when it comes to medical mishaps). These free plans are best used as supplemental coverage in addition to a plan from one of the companies above.

 

Why Buying Travel Insurance is a Must

Can you say no one will steal your stuff while you’re backpacking Europe or that you won’t pop an eardrum diving in Thailand? Can you say your flights won’t get delayed or canceled?

No, you never really can.

And that’s why smart travelers get insurance.

Because, for just a couple of dollars a day, you’ll have all those eventualities covered.

I hope nothing bad happens to you on the road, but if it does, travel insurance will be there to help. It’s more than just health coverage — it’s “something bad happened to me” coverage.

Yes, it’s an extra expense. But if something goes wrong you’ll not only save hundreds — if not thousands — of dollars but you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you’re properly covered.

And don’t wait to get insurance, because it will only cover you for things that happen after you’ve purchased insurance.

So, be a smart traveler. As soon as you know you are going somewhere and have the dates, buy travel insurance!

Use the widget below to get a quick quote for your next trip: