Post-Departure Benefits: Did You Know Your Travel Insurance Does This?!

Oct 28, 2021 | Aon

When you think of travel insurance, you may first think of it as a product that can help you if you need to cancel your vacation. But there are so many other benefits to travel insurance that can provide some much-needed assistance and support once your travels begin.

“While some benefits may kick in before you leave, others – called post-departure benefits – can help after your trip begins. These benefits are designed to assist you if a last-minute, unforeseen event disrupts your vacation,” says Beth Godlin, president of the Aon Affinity Travel Practice. “So, take a close look at the terms and conditions. Your travel policy could include benefits and services that you may not realize exist.”

Here are some post-departure benefits that can be included in travel protection plans:

Trip Delay: If you’re a seasoned traveler, you understand trip delays are inevitable, and unfortunately, they can happen at the worst times for a multitude of reasons, from weather mishaps to mechanical and computer issues. The Trip Delay benefit exists to help you get through unexpected delays in your travel plans and is intended to help you catch up to your scheduled trip. Trip delay benefits that are included in travel protection plans can help offset extra costs due to a delay, including meals, lodging or transportation. Keep in mind, some terms may require a minimum length of delay (typically 4-12 hours) or specify what kind of delay is covered.

Trip Interruption: Even after your vacation starts, there are still risks to your investment. For example, if you become ill during your trip, you may be forced to come home early. Changing your flight means you will lose money from the unused portion of your vacation – not to mention, rack up new expenses based on change fees. This common scenario is called “trip interruption,” and it’s one of the most important benefits of travel insurance. When you’re forced to cancel your trip for an unexpected reason, trip interruption coverage can reimburse for non-refundable expenses. Some common covered reasons for interrupting your trip could include illness, death of a family member, jury duty, traffic accident, appearance in court or a home that’s rendered uninhabitable. As always, it’s important to read your plan documents carefully so you understand your coverage.

Medical Benefits: No one wants to imagine getting sick or injured in an accident. Unfortunately, it can happen, even while you’re on vacation. For most trips that are a few weeks or less, travel protection plans typically package medical benefits along with other key travel benefits and services. Depending on a travel insurance package, you could be eligible to receive medical benefits to cover medical expenses, emergency assistance to arrange local medical care, and in serious cases, even a medical evacuation to return home for additional treatment. It’s important to note that, if you’re traveling abroad or going to a remote location, you should determine what your health insurance will, or won’t, cover. With different medical systems and possible gaps in primary medical insurance, you may decide to obtain supplementary coverage.

Concierge Service: A popular non-insurance benefit, concierge service is included in some travel protection plans. This means you can get assistance with finding appropriate medical care, sourcing a pharmacy, obtaining travel information or locating a missing passport. In some cases, you can also use these services for less serious matters, such as help with making dinner reservations or planning entertainment during your vacation.

The Aon Travel Takeaway? “Terms may vary between different travel protection plans. Remember, pre-departure protection can differ from post-departure protection,” says Godlin. “As a consumer, you always need to read the details of your specific policy and ask your provider questions if you need clarity.”

All descriptions, summaries or highlights of coverage are for general informational purposes only and do not amend, alter or modify the actual terms or conditions of any insurance policy. Coverage is governed only by the terms and conditions of the relevant policy.

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