Finding The Right Student Travel Insurance Plan

Selecting the correct student travel insurance plan is of utmost importance if you or a student you know is preparing to travel for a study abroad program or a vacation. Many question the utility and importance of purchasing a student travel insurance plan for trip protection. Most people wouldn’t own a home or drive a car without insurance, so why travel without an insurance plan?

Trip Cancellation

A study abroad program is a sizeable investment for a student. Many fees that are part of the program cannot be refunded in the event that the student becomes ill or must cancel the trip for another reason. When selecting a trip protection plan, ensure that non-refundable purchases such as airplane tickets, tours, and hotels are covered.

Illness or Injury While Abroad

Injuries and illness do occur while traveling. Typically, a good health insurance policy will cover a portion of any incurred medical expenses while traveling abroad. It is a wise move to purchase a student travel insurance plan that will cover any expenses resulting from illness or injury.

Stolen Luggage/Passport

Unfortunately, theft while traveling abroad can be a common occurrence and completely wreck a trip. Additionally, if a traveler loses their passport, it can result in difficulties with moving throughout the country and long delays with their embassy or consulate. A good student trip protection plan will provide assistance in the event that a traveler’s passport is lost or stolen. Other than a student’s passport, luggage is another common target of thieves at airport and train terminals. A student’s luggage typically contains all of their clothes, electronics, and day-to-day essentials. A student travel insurance plan should provide coverage for luggage theft.

Baggage Delays

Even the most well-planned trips can run into delays. Extreme weather, mechanical problems, overbooking and late arrivals can cause a missed connecting flight and result in an expensive hotel stay. At times an airline or transit company may compensate these delays by providing a hotel for the night, but many times they do not. A trip protection plan should have coverage for delays as a bare minimum.

Security/Political Evacuation

Today’s world is in constant turmoil. Having a good grasp on the political and economic situation of where a trip may take you is a good step in preventing any potential security mishaps. Despite however diligent a traveler may be, it is a good idea to have an insurance policy that covers any security or evacuation costs in the event the traveler’s embassy is unable to provide assistance.