There are generic types of travel insurance which are designed for different types of financial loss. The most popular type of plan is the “Package Policy”. These policies vary from company to company but their common denominator is that they are designed for single trips and usually have some or all of the following coverages;
- Trip cancellation/interruption,
- Travel delay,
- Medical expense,
- Baggage loss or damage,
- Baggage delay,
- Emergency medical evacuation,
- Flight accident,
- Accidental death, and
- Rental car coverage.
The clearest indication of terrorism coverage is found in the trip cancellation/interruption and travel delay coverages. These coverages have specific covered reasons (named perils) that trigger their benefits. Most “Package Plans” will provide cancellation or interruption benefits in the event of a terrorist incident. However, coverage maybe limited in a number of ways:
- some plans require that you buy coverage within a specific time after your initial deposit ,
- some require that the Department of State issue a travel warning against travel to a country on your itinerary,
- some require that the “Terrorist Incident” occur within 30 days of your expected arrival at a city that is on your itinerary, and
- some exclude coverage if a “Terrorist Incident” has occurred within the city or country within 6 months.
- All plans require that the “Terrorist Incident” occur after you have purchased your coverage.
Like other forms of insurance, the terrorist incident must be unforeseen when you buy your
coverage.
What is less clear is whether terrorism is also covered under the other coverages found in “Package Policies”. In quite a few cases it isn’t. Many travel insurance plans have a general exclusion for terrorism the effects all coverages with the exception of trip cancellation/interruption or travel delay benefits. So when it comes to medical coverage or accidental death, or flight insurance you probably will not be covered.
As with everything else, it is best to be an informed consumer. The best advice that you can follow is to research the available travel insurance policies. And the best place to research travel insurance is on a web site like http://www.quotewright.com. Sites like QuoteWright, allow you to compare plans on a side-by-side basis and to view actual policy wording. Comparing policies and asking questions is the only way to find the policy that is best for you and your trip.