Do You Need Travel Insurance for an Ireland Vacation

“Do I need travel insurance for an Ireland vacation?” It's a question I receive often, and one that doesn't have the same answer for everyone as it has to do with risk, as well as figuring out the coverage you may already have. Since the question is on the table, lets delve into it piece by piece. This article is also available as the Traveling in Ireland podcast, episode 278. Use the player below to listen or scroll to continue reading the article and get resource links. Why You Might Need Travel Insurance for an Ireland Vacation It's helpful to begin by simply pointing out the purpose of insurance, which is to provide you with a form of protection against a possible risk. How Much Risk Are You Willing to Take? This varies from person to person, family to family. What is your threshold? Some people may say $1000, while others say $5000. Another way to think of it is, “If my family couldn't go on our vacation, how would it affect us financially to lose the money we spent?” That last question puts a bit different spin on it, yes? Would you want to reschedule the trip? Or replace it with something else? If so, purchasing travel insurance would be a good idea. What Does Travel Insurance Cover? Packaged policies will cost from 4-8% of your trip cost and often include coverage for trip cancellation and delay, interruption (in case you have to return home suddenly), medical costs, and lost or delayed baggage. Additional options include medical coverage, medical evacuation coverage, and ‘cancel for any reason'. Adding these options will raise the cost of your travel insurance. It's important to remember that not all policies are created equal, so thoroughly read the policy details and compare before purchasing travel insurance for an Ireland vacation. Check your credit card for coverage when used to book your trip. But first… Figure Out the Coverage You Already Have! You may have quite a bit of travel insurance that you aren't aware of! Did you use a credit card to book your travel? You may have trip cancellation, trip interruption, or even medical coverage. For example, World Mastercard offers lost or delayed baggage coverage, trip cancellation or curtailment coverage, trip delay and missed connection coverage, accident, medical, hospital, and emergency evacuation coverage when the trip is paid for using this credit card. Travel Assist services are also offered (but are not insurance). Do you have homeowners or renters' insurance? Your property might be covered for theft or loss, and you might have liability coverage. Be sure to talk to your insurance agent before leaving home to confirm any coverage. If you travel with expensive electronic equipment, be sure to mention that as an inexpensive rider on your policy could cover those items for theft during travel. What Else Do You Need? If I am planning a trip far in advance, if things are uncertain, or if a member of my family is not well, I will book “cancel for any reason” coverage. With the pandemic firmly in mind as well as recent travel warnings and restrictions, ‘cancel for any reason' coverage, as well as policies that specifically cover terrorism, are never a bad thing to consider. While this type of coverage may not reimburse 100% of your trip costs, it helped us save our trip a few years ago when a planned 5-week journey fell apart and became a 10-day jaunt. Note: Cancel for Any Reason coverage is a time-sensitive coverage. In most cases it needs to be purchased 7-21 days after the first vacation payment has been made (time limits vary based on insurance company). I Recommend Purchasing Travel Insurance for an Ireland Vacation Package Any time you purchase a vacation package or work with a tour operator you should strongly consider purchasing travel insurance. As we have seen in the past, unexpected closure of any travel company leaves many travelers without any support system. Pro Tip: How to determine if an Ireland vacation package is right for you Many times these travelers arrive at their destination unaware of any issues- until they attempt to pick up a rental car, board a train, or check in to their first accommodation. A good travel insurance policy will not only provide the support necessary to continue the vacation, but will soften the financial blow of the additional costs for transportation, accommodation, and other loses. But… you may not want to purchase the coverage offered by the tour operator, airline, or cruise company. Where Should I Buy Travel Insurance? Trip operators, airlines, cruise companies, even travel agents, offer travel insurance plans. Often these policies coverage just isn't as good as an independent insurer. Some may only offer vouchers for future travel as opposed to cash. Be sure to do your homework, read all terms & conditions, and compare policies before purchasing any travel insurance. Tour operators usually don't offer ‘cancel for any reason‘ coverage, which is what I look for...