Travel Insurance For Terrorism - Saving Your Wallet and Your Life

The occurrence of a politically motivated terroristnon-refundable land or sea travel not yet taken
attack grabs the immediate attention of travelers.before your trip was interrupted.
This is especially true when the attack takes place- Worldwide emergency travel assistance from a
in a country the traveler is scheduled to visit or isgood insurance company will help arrange to get
already visiting.you home, or to safety and then home. Medical
How can travelers protect their travel costs - andCoverage
ensure medical care and evacuation coverage - inConsider this situation: You are seriously injured
the case of a terrorist attack?during the same terrorist attack on the train going
Most insurance companies rely on the U.S. Stateinto Mumbai. You need immediate medical
Department to publicly declare an attack to beattention.
terrorism as the deciding factor that allows forHow does the travel insurance plan protect you?
coverage. Once that is established, there are two- Your emergency medical expenses and medical
separate time periods during which most travelevacuation expenses are normally covered.
insurance plans will cover insured travelers:- Your insurance company will provide a medical
- after they buy their insurance plan but beforeconsultant to arrange your medical transport,
they leave on their triptreatment and payment with healthcare providers.
- during the trip Insurance for Terrorism Before- A good insurance plan will pay to fly your
Your Trip Leavesdependant child or children home. It may pay for
Consider this situation: You are leaving on aan adult to fly to your bedside if no one is with
two-week tour of India next Wednesday. Youryou.
prepaid itinerary includes a scheduled visit to the- Your coverage will prepay or reimburse your
city of Mumbai. On Saturday before your trip aadditional expenses for transportation home not
bomb explodes in downtown Mumbai killing people.included in the prepaid trip cost.
The U.S. State Department publicly declares that- Worldwide emergency travel assistance will
this was an act of terrorism. When you bookedarrange to get you home, with a medical
your trip you bought a comprehensive travelattendant if needed, when you are able to travel.
insurance policy with terrorism coverage. Now youWhy Would You NOT be Covered for Terrorism?
want to cancel your trip to India.When does travel insurance not protect you for
How does the travel insurance plan protect you?terrorism and why?
- You may cancel the trip because the terrorism- You have already booked your trip to India and
occurred within a city on your pre-booked travelhear Mumbai might be a terrorist target. You
schedule, within 30 days of departure, and afterwant to cancel even though nothing happened
the effective date of your trip cancellationyet.
coverage.- You are scheduled to travel to Mumbai, India, on
- You will normally receive up to a full refund ofMay 15. The terrorist attack occurs on March 20.
your prepaid trip cost.You want to cancel. The attack did not occur
- Some plans, however, may only reimburse youwithin 30 days of your scheduled departure so
in the form of a credit allowing you to rebook athere is no coverage.
future trip.- You are scheduled to visit Mumbai, India, and a
- If you want a cash refund, you need to checkterrorist attack occurs in Goa, India. You are not
insurance plan terms before buying. But be sure itscheduled to visit Goa so there is no coverage.
provides a refund, not a travel credit.- Your prepaid itinerary does not include visiting
- Purchasing Tip: Usually a travel insurance planMumbai. During your trip you go there on your
you buy from a travel agent or from anown. A terrorist attack occurs while you are
insurance company will have stronger coveragethere. There is no coverage. You did not include
than a plan you buy directly from the travelMumbai in your prepaid plans.
company taking you on the trip. Insurance forTo cancel prior to your trip and obtain coverage
Terrorism During Your Tripthat might otherwise be denied, such as due to
Consider this situation: You are on your trip tofear an attack might happen, a "Cancel for Any
India. While riding the train into the city of Mumbai,Reason" upgrade is an option that most travel
a bomb goes off in the passenger car in front ofinsurance companies offer. It allows you to cancel
you. People are killed and you are rescuedup to two days prior to departure, usually for a
uninjured with others from the damaged train.partial refund of up to 75% of prepaid trip costs.
Now you want to return home from India asMost such plans must be purchased with 14 days
soon as possible.of your initial trip deposit.
How does the travel insurance plan protect you?How will travel insurance protect you in the face
- Trip Interruption coverage will reimburse yourof terrorist threats and actual acts of terrorism?
additional expenses for transportation home notIt pays to know the facts. If you purchase travel
included in the prepaid trip cost.insurance for terrorism coverage, make sure you
- It covers your prepaid costs of unused,fully understand your options.