Travelore Trends: Americans Spending Less On Future Travel, Domestic Travel Showing Early Signs of Optimism Recovering From The Coronavirus.

The data team at InsureMyTrip has launched a COVID-19 dashboard to track the buying behaviors of US-based travelers. The latest data trends are early indicators at how travelers are adjusting:

Americans Are Spending Less On Future Travel

• Prior to the pandemic, the average trip cost was around $5,800
• Now, the average trip cost is hovering around $3,600

American Will Take Shorter Trips

• Prior to the pandemic, the average trip length was around 11 days
• Now, the average trip length is down to eight days

Destinations On The Rise 

• United States 
• Mexico       
• Hawaii*         
• Jamaica         
• Bahamas       

Destinations With Largest Drop 

• Italy              
• France        
• Spain              
• Canada                      
• The United Kingdom

Methodology: Based on travel insurance purchases made on InsureMyTrip between March 15, 2020 - April 28, 2020 with YOY comparisons.

*InsureMyTrip tags Hawaii separately 

With The Summer 2018 Hurricane Season Approaching You Should Consider Travel Insurance

InsureMyTrip reports an increased demand for travel insurance for travel this summer. As the 2018 hurricane season begins, licensed travel insurance agents at InsureMyTrip expect a 20 percent jump in call volume from travelers seeking insurance protection. Agents say the top concern of summer travelers is bad weather affecting travel plans. Hurricane season officially runs June 1 through November 30.

 

Summary

• Travel insurance agents expect a jump in call volume due to hurricane fears
• Some plans enable travelers to cancel a trip when NOAA issues a hurricane warning*
• Once a storm starts forming, it's considered a foreseeable event and insurance coverage will no longer be available to cover losses related to that storm

According to InsureMyTrip, 75 percent of customers will choose a comprehensive travel insurance policy for summer travel. This policy provides a variety of benefits including medical coverage, emergency travel services, baggage protection, trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage.

 

Here are some examples how insurance enables travelers to cancel a trip due to severe weather-related concerns under the trip cancellation benefit:

 

Cancel trip due to weather: when common carriers such as airlines and cruise lines cease service due to weather.

Cancel due to a hurricane warning: when a destination is under a NOAA-issued Hurricane warning.*

Cancel because of storm damage at destination: when a hotel, resort, or vacation rental is devastated and made uninhabitable by a storm.

Cancel because home is destroyed by storm: when the home of a traveler sustains destructive storm damage.

Cancel trip for any reason: this is an optional time-sensitive benefit that allows travelers to cancel a trip for any reason. This benefit includes specific eligibility requirements.

 

"Travelers clearly have concerns about bad weather hampering their travel plans. Choosing to buy insurance early --- before a storm is named --- is a smart way to protect their trip investment," says InsureMyTrip CEO Jim Grace.

 

Tip: Travelers concerned about hurricanes should purchase travel insurance early. Once a storm starts forming, it's considered a foreseeable event and insurance coverage will no longer be available to cover losses related to that storm. Only a few plans offer coverage for a NOAA-issued hurricane warning.

 

Travelers interested in learning more about protection plans for travel during hurricane season can visit www.InsureMyTrip.com or call (800) 487-4722 to speak with a licensed travel insurance agent.

Alarming Data On Health Care Abroad For American Travelers, What You Need To Know.

A surprising number of Americans are unclear about the cost of medical care when traveling. A 2017 survey from InsureMyTrip, the authority on travel insurance, found  that many travelers are unclear whether their domestic health insurance works  outside the US.  Thirty-five percent polled were not sure whether their domestic health  insurance plan would cover any doctor or hospital visits while traveling  out of the country. Thirty-five percent said it would provide coverage, while thirty percent  believed their domestic health insurance plan would offer no coverage.  So, what's the right answer? It's complicated. Big insurance providers like Blue Cross and Blue Shield,  Cigna, Aetna may provide emergency and urgent care coverage abroad. However, the definition of emergency varies. Medicare will rarely pay for inpatient hospital, doctor, or ambulance services  you get in a foreign country. Travelers can request clarification of coverage prior to departure. Here’s how: Call your medical insurance provider Ask to review your certificate of coverage for explanation of benefits Ask for hospitals and doctors in area of travel (see a full list of detailed questions) What about emergency medical evacuations? According to the US State Department, very few health insurance companies will  pay for a medical evacuation back to the United States, which can easily cost  up to $100,000, or even more, depending on your condition and location. Travel smart In addition to seeking proper medical protection, travelers can also reduce health risks by learning about destination-specific medical concerns, including required vaccinations.  The US State Department is a helpful resource. The US Federal Consumer Action Handbook also provides travel insurance recommendations for travelers (Source: USAGov in Technology Transformation Service, General Services Administration).

Travelers Inquire About Travel Insurance Coverage In Response To The Failed Coup In Turkey And Terror Attacks.

The leading travel insurance comparison site InsureMyTrip has an

 increase in calls of travelers concerned about future travel plans

 and inquiring about their travel insurance coverage. The

 inquiries come only days after a failed coup occurred in Turkey

 and a subsequent

 FAA ban on United States air travel directly to and from the nation.

"The situation in Turkey highlights the variations between travel

 insurance plans. Every plan is different, making it challenging to

 produce a blanket response to the situation in Turkey," said

 InsureMyTrip CEO Jim Grace. "It's important that travelers

 review their travel insurance coverage and call us to best

 understand their plan and how they operate in these circumstances."

The political unrest in Turkey, as well as terrorist events across Europe in recent weeks, will affect

 travelers differently depending on the time being spent in the nation as well as the type of travel

 insurance coverage they have.

Coverage is available for insured travelers already overseas.

Every travel insurance plan offers different benefits and coverages. InsureMyTrip compares hundreds

 of plans from 28 top providers in the industry, but all offer varying level of coverage for political

 unrest and terrorism.

For travelers overseas already, they should be particularly interested in any coverage that would

 allow them to return home before their anticipated return date or coverage for flight change fees,

 if affected by the FAA air travel ban.

Travelers with questions can contact InsureMyTrip through the international customer care line,

 at 00 1-401-773-9330.

Coverage may be available for future travelers who already have a travel insurance plan.

Travelers who have a pending departure date should be most interested in travel delay coverage,

 trip cancellation coverage and travel medical coverage while abroad.

The licensed travel insurance representatives at InsureMyTrip report an increase of travelers calling

 to inquire about their travel insurance plan in regards to a future trip to Turkey.  Many are interested

 in whether their plan covers trip cancellation.

Travel insurance coverage is not the same for every plan or provider. Any future traveler who has

 questions on their travel insurance plan,whether they purchased their plan from InsureMyTrip or not,

 should call InsureMyTrip licensed representatives to answer any and all questions. The toll-free

 number is 800-487-4722.

Coverage very limited for travelers who do not yet have a travel insurance plan.

Purchasing a travel insurance plan now for a trip to Turkey, or any location with a recent terrorism

 event, will yield very limited coverage. Most travel insurance plans will only cover terrorism and

 political unrest in cases of unforeseen events.

Purchasing a plan now can be beneficial for travelers' needing trip cancellation, travel delay or trip

 interruption coverage due to for any covered reason unrelated to the previous event.  It would

 still allow travelers benefits due to covered reasons of baggage loss, delay or damage; emergency

 medical care; and emergency medical evacuation.

Safety while traveling is a concern.

Every traveler should be vigilant while traveling abroad, no matter the destination. The

 U.S. State Department lists tips for all travelers:

• Avoid travel to southeastern Turkey, particularly near the Syrian border.  
• Stay away from large crowds, including at popular tourist destinations. 
• Exercise heightened vigilance and caution when visiting public access areas
• , especially those heavily frequented by tourists.  
• Stay away from political gatherings and rallies.
• Follow the instructions of local authorities in an emergency. 
• Stay at hotels with identifiable security measures in place.
• Monitor local media.

These uncertain times heighten the need for adding Cancel for Any Reason coverage to a travel 

insurance plan. This coverage will typically cost the traveler an added premium, but provides a

 level of comfort that a trip can be canceled whether or not a terrorist event or political unrest is

 listed as a covered reason on the plan. 

Cancel for Any Reason is a time-sensitive benefit, not available with every plan, and must be

 purchased within a certain window of purchasing travel.

About InsureMyTrip 

InsureMyTrip compares travel insurance products from the most trusted providers in the industry.

InsureMyTrip's powerful unbiased comparison engine enables travelers to quote and buy the right

 travel insurance plan. The site offers the most travel insurance reviews on the planet. Supported

 by award winning customer service and travel insurance agents licensed in all 50 states.

Featured by Consumer Reports, and listed as a helpful website by the US Federal Consumer

 Information Center.

InsureMyTrip travel insurance experts are featured in national publications including Los Angeles

 Times, New York Times, Washington Post, and Travel + Leisure. 

Travelore Tips: How To Prepare For Travel During The Hurricane Season

The Atlantic Hurricane Season is officially from June 1 to November 30 each year. Because of the many possible disruptions bad weather can cause for travelers, it's always a good idea to consider whether or not you may need travel insurance coverage if you're planning a trip during this time of year. Even travelers who aren't going to a hurricane-prone destination may need insurance to protect them from delays or damages.

Follow these tips:

Plan Ahead. If you're traveling during the official season, consider buying travel insurance as soon as you book your trip. This will give you access to the greatest number of options, as well as help you secure coverage before anything happens.

Understand the "Unforeseen." Travel insurance generally only covers "unforeseen" events. In other words, if you see on the Weather Channel that a tropical storm is brewing near your destination, it's already too late to purchase travel insurance.

Know Your Options. A Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) policy may be a good investment during hurricane season. CFAR offers greater flexibility to travelers in choosing to cancel their plans, which can be extremely helpful when there's unpredictable weather to content with.

What to ask about buying travel insurance:

What will happen if my destination is made uninhabitable by a storm?
What if my own home is damaged by a storm, and I don't want to leave on a trip without repairing it?
What about delays and cancellations on both ends of my itinerary?
Is there any insurance policy available to me that will allow me to cancel my trip because of a hurricane warning?
Can I get Cancel For Any Reason coverage? Would it be wise for me to do so?
If I have to interrupt my trip because of bad weather, what kind of insurance will cover the cost of my missed travels?

Do you need travel insurance?

Because of the many possible disruptions bad weather can cause for travelers, it's always a good idea to consider whether or not you may need travel insurance coverage if you're planning a trip during this time of year.

Consider the following questions to determine if you need travel insurance for hurricane season:

Are you planning to travel between June 1 and November 30?
Are you traveling to or through any destination on the East Coast of the United States, or in the Atlantic region?
Do you live anywhere on the East Coast of the U.S., or in the Atlantic Region, or does your flight originate there?

For information about purchasing travel insurance please visit www.InsureMyTrip.Com 

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InsureMyTrip Reports Increase In Trip Cancellation Requests Due To Travel Alert

 InsureMyTrip, the leading online travel insurance comparison site, reported Tuesday an increase in the number of travelers seeking to postpone or cancel trips abroad in light of the worldwide travel alert. Earlier this week, the Department of State issued a terror alert, citing a continued potential for terrorist attacks, particularly in North Africa and in the Middle East and possibly the Arabian Peninsula.  As an additional security precaution, dozens of U.S. embassies and consulates remain closed till Saturday and travelers are cautioned to be vigilant.

"Travel safety is always our top priority and the InsureMyTrip customer care center is closely monitoring this situation and working to best assist travelers. Americans are clearly heeding the warnings issued and reevaluating travel plans in response to this latest terror alert," says CEO Jim Grace of InsureMyTrip. "Many Americans – even those planning to travel abroad after the travel alert expires -- are taking extra precautions and requesting travel insurance policies that can offer more protection."

InsureMyTrip recommends that travelers seek clarification on insurance policies prior to leaving the U.S. Travel insurance may not always apply as people expect it will in cases of political and civil unrest that cause instability in different regions around the world. Most basic policies do not cover trip cancellations in response to travel alerts or warnings.

Travelers seeking insurance protection may be eligible for a Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) option to enable cancellations until 48 hours prior to your scheduled departure. You can take greater personal responsibility for your safety with CFAR, because you will have more flexibility to change your mind about your travel plans for any reason. On average, most CFAR plans reimburse up to 75% of the insured trip cost.  Some offer more, and some offer less depending on the plan.  

For travelers interested in the CFAR plan, It is important to purchase the policy soon after you make a deposit for your trip to get the most benefits from the plan.  Customers need to purchase the CFAR plan usually within 10 to 21 days of their initial deposit and meet all eligibility requirements, to be eligible for the coverage.  

InsureMyTrip recommends all U.S. citizens traveling abroad to enroll in the Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for latest security updates. This program also makes it easier for the U.S. embassy or nearest U.S. consulate to contact you in an emergency. 

In addition, customer care representatives can also review a customer's policy, even if it was purchased elsewhere. 

About InsureMyTrip:

InsureMyTrip is the leading online travel insurance comparison site featuring top products from the most trusted providers in the industry. A trusted resource that serves millions of customers worldwide, our licensed insurance agents help travelers find the right insurance plan. InsureMyTrip offers one of the industry's largest customer ratings and reviews forum and a unique customer advocacy program that provides one-on-one assistance to travelers before, during, and after their trip. Established in 2000, InsureMyTrip is a division of IMT Services Corporation and headquartered in Warwick, R.I., with additional offices and data centers in Connecticut and Oregon. 

In addition to providing one-on-one support in our customer call center, travelers can visit the InsureMyTrip website to compare plans from 27 travel insurance providers.