I spent some time at last week’s conference in a travel protection session with Arch RoamRight and I walked out rethinking how I explain insurance to clients. A few things stood out that I think are worth sharing:
- Third-party insurance (a plan like RoamRight, not the one the cruise line or airline sells you at checkout) usually beats supplier coverage. Supplier plans often price kids the same as adults, cap medical evacuation around $25,000, and only cover the piece of the trip you booked through them. A real comparison from the session: $400+ for a family of four on a supplier plan versus $184 for a comparable third-party plan with the same family & same trip.
- Primary versus secondary coverage is important to understand, and most people have no idea which one they have. Secondary coverage means your own health insurance has to deny the claim first, that’s an extra step, before travel insurance kicks in. Single-trip plans are usually primary (they pay first, no denial needed). Annual and multi-trip plans are usually secondary.
- Timing is everything, and this is the one that gets people. A lot of the best benefits, the pre-existing conditions waiver (this one covers cancelling because of an immediate family member’s health event too, even if they’re not traveling with you), coverage for jury duty, coverage for military leave, only apply if you buy your protection within 14 to 21 days of your deposit. Miss that window and those options are just gone.
Quick answer if you’re short on time: buy your protection within two to three weeks of your deposit, know whether your plan is primary or secondary, and don’t assume your credit card has you covered without actually checking 🙂
A couple things I get asked a lot
Does travel insurance cover pre-existing conditions? Only if you buy within the window (usually 14-21 days of your deposit) and only with a plan that includes the pre-existing conditions waiver.
Is my credit card’s travel protection enough? Usually not on its own but it really depends on your personal risk profile. It typically only covers the cardholder, may require the whole trip on that card, and doesn’t include 24/7 coordination if something goes wrong overseas.
If you’ve got a trip coming up and aren’t sure what you’re actually covered for, send me your dates. I’ll walk you through it, no pressure, just information.
You may also like this article: Travel Protection Explained: Supplier Insurance vs Third Party vs Cancel For Any Reason