We’re often asked about the ins and outs of travel insurance. And we get it! Travel is an investment, and it’s important to make informed decisions before you go. Fontaine Travel is not an insurance broker and therefore, we can’t provide personalized recommendations for travel insurance. However, there are a few key things we encourage every traveler to consider when deciding whether or not travel insurance is right for you and if so, what kind of coverage you need.

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Medical coverage
Does your current health insurance policy cover anything outside the US? If it’s limited, consider how much additional coverage you want.  Do you want coverage for emergency evacuation, repatriation of remains and other potentially life threatening situations? Are you comfortable paying the cost if you should need additional care? These are some of the questions to consider as you look at the medical aspects of the policy. 

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Credit card coverage
If you think your credit card provides insurance, don’t assume it covers everything! Benefits vary widely and medical coverage is often limited. It’s worth calling your credit card provider to confirm exactly what’s included especially if you are traveling outside the US. Additionally, if you are renting a car outside the US, ask the car rental company if they provide coverage.

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Trip protection (delays, interruptions, missed connections)
How much coverage do you want for travel disruptions? Decide whether you’re comfortable paying out of pocket for some of these situations like lost luggage or missed connections or if you prefer more comprehensive protection that covers the entirety of your trip. 

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Emergency evacuation
Consider the destination and type of travel. Emergency evacuation insurance may be more crucial for remote places, countries with less established medical infrastructure, or adventure travel. If you decide emergency evacuation coverage is necessary, decide how much coverage would feel sufficient and read the exclusions to make sure evacuation would actually be covered.

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Cancellation flexibility
Are you looking for the ability to cancel and rebook the same trip or would you want the flexibility to choose an entirely different trip? Some policies offer credits instead of cash refunds. Either way, make sure the policy aligns with your preferences.

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“Cancel for Any Reason” (CFAR)
This is typically the highest coverage policy and most expensive option. Without CFAR coverage, refunds or credits are only available for specific covered reasons listed in the policy. While some types of insurance can be purchased any time before the trip, CFAR typically must be purchased within 14-21 days of your initial trip deposit, depending on the policy, in order to secure coverage. If there is a force majeure, an extraordinary, unforeseen events such as natural disasters, war, or pandemic, a CFAR policy would allow the most flexibility. But even with CFAR, most policies do not offer a 100% refund. If you’re booking parts of your trip at different times, you can purchase insurance for what’s currently reserved to secure CFAR coverage, then increase the coverage amount later by contacting the insurance provider and paying any additional costs. 

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What to insure
You don’t have to insure the full cost of your trip. Consider covering only the non-refundable portions of your trip or any expenses you wouldn’t realistically use again if a credit were issued. Just be sure you understand each provider’s cancellation policies!

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Cost vs. coverage
In general, the more coverage you select, the higher the premium. Much of the decision really comes down to how much of a loss you would be willing to take if travel is disrupted or canceled. Also, children under 18 are almost always free unless you add a CFAR rider. Many people insure only those items that are non-refundable or become non-refundable before your date of travel.

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Supplier coverage vs private coverage

Nearly all of our suppliers also offer travel insurance, and you are welcome to buy directly through them. Supplier policies are not typically priced according to your age so as you get older, you may find that supplier-based policies are less expensive than buying a private policy. However, keep in mind that supplier coverage will differ greatly from what you can get on the private market where you have the flexibility to choose only the pieces you want. You also may find that supplier coverage isn't as broad so you will need to carefully weigh cost vs coverage.​

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Exclusions
Even with travel insurance, events such as acts of war, TSA staffing shortages, fuel shortages and anything  else considered a force majeure, are typically excluded from coverage. Always review the policy details so there are no surprises.

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How can we help?

While we can’t advise on specific policies, we can help you navigate cancellation policies and talk through pros and cons of a policy. At the end of the day, travel insurance is a safety net. It’s there to protect you if something goes wrong, even though you hope you’ll never need to use it!​