The feeling of booking your dream vacation is something that many people experience everyday across the world. For some, it is their chance to escape reality and take a break from their busy lives. For others, it’s all about crossing another destination off their bucket list. Regardless of the category you fit into, there are endless reasons for why you should go on a trip.
However, with that said, there are also many reasons that you should consider purchasing travel insurance ahead of that trip. We recently sat down with CAA Niagara’s Travel Insurance Representatives, Kristina Yungblut and Rachel Latour, to pick their brains and learn why finding the right protection for your travel investment should be at the top of your travel plans.
Why is it so important for people to purchase travel insurance before a trip?
Simply put – it’s all about the “what-ifs”. No matter where you are going, what you plan to do…anything can happen. While you hope to never have to use it, purchasing travel insurance can help save you a significant amount of money in the long run. You might find yourself counting down the days before takeoff with excitement and then something suddenly comes up and you have to cancel. Or you might already be on your way to your destination and a connecting flight is delayed a day or your luggage is misplaced. The list goes on and on.
What different types of travel insurance are available for purchase through CAA?
There’s a wide variety of products available to travellers. Emergency Medical Insurance is one of the most common. There are both single trip and multi-trip plans available1 – both providing protection on wide range of health and medical related concerns while out of province or the country. Additionally, there are Travel Insurance Vacation Packages – which will protect you on issues such as trip cancellation or interruption, lost or damaged luggage, lost travel documents, medical emergencies and much more. A full listing of available travel insurance plans can be reviewed at caaniagara.ca/travelinsurance.
Aside from protection, what other benefits are available with CAA’s Travel Insurance?
One of the great things that come with travel insurance is the fact that you have access to a 24-hour support line that you can call to discuss any issues that arise during your trip.2 This phone number can be found on the policy card and in the policy booklet that you receive when your purchase a plan or package. There are also some financial benefits available – such as a 10% savings for CAA Members3 or the discounts available when you have a plan on a family rate.
Is there any additional advice you’d give to someone who is considering purchasing travel insurance?
One thing is that you should never be intimidated to ask questions. Insurance can be quite confusing, so it’s always wise to reach out so you can learn more. For instance, you might have a credit card that has travel insurance, but what you might not know is that there are often limits to the coverage available to you. It’s always recommended to do a little bit of research to see what protection you have and if necessary, purchase an additional plan to give that extra peace of mind. There’s also a misconception about price. In many cases, travel insurance is quite affordable and is a small fee that you pay up front, but at the end of the day it can pay for itself should you need to make a claim.
If you have travel plans in the near future or even later this year, be sure to learn about the travel insurance products that are available to you. Should you have any questions, CAA Niagara’s Travel Insurance Representatives will help you get up to speed on everything you need to know so you can make an informed decision. Feel free to call them at 1-800-263-7272 or visit caaniagara.ca/travelinsurance to learn more and receive a no obligation quote.
1Up to $5 million CAD. Maximum $25,000 for all Emergency Medical Insurance benefits for Canadian residents without active Government Health Insurance Plan (GHIP); and/or without GHIP authorization to cover trip days in excess of 212 days in Ontario in a 12-month period.
Multi-Trips: Medical Multi-Trip Annual Plans cover 4, 8, 15, 30 or 60 days per trip depending on the plan you purchased. Top-Up coverage is available for longer trips. Coverage cannot extend beyond 365 days from departure date or effective date.
2CAA Assistance is provided by Global Excel Management.
3Applies to CAA Members in good standing (CAA Membership dues paid in full by Membership expiry date). 10 % savings applies to the premium excludes applicable taxes. Minimum premium applies. Excludes Visitors to Canada Insurance. CAA Travel Insurance is underwritten by Orion Travel Insurance Company. Certain exclusions, limitations and restrictions apply. Subject to change without notice. A Medical Questionnaire is required for travellers age 60 and over to purchase travel insurance. Quotes are valid for 30 days. Terms and conditions apply. See caaniagara.ca/travelinsurance for details.
Ontario