Travel Insurance Reality

When to ALWAYS buy

• Cruise — cancellation rules are brutal. Pre-existing conditions are big risk for seniors.
• International trips over $3,000.
• Travel outside US — Medicare doesn't cover overseas. Get medical evac coverage.
• You're 70+ and traveling far — health emergencies happen.
• Trip with a tight schedule (wedding, funeral, missed-event consequences).

When to skip

• Domestic flight under $500.
• Refundable hotel + flexible flight already.
• You have a credit card with built-in trip protection (see below).
• Trip is short, healthy traveler, no upfront non-refundable costs.

Credit cards with built-in coverage

• Chase Sapphire Preferred ($95/yr) — trip cancellation up to $10,000, baggage, rental car.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve ($550/yr) — same plus medical evac, trip delay.
• AmEx Platinum ($695/yr) — premium trip and medical coverage.
• Capital One Venture X ($395/yr) — trip cancellation, lost luggage.

Catch — you must pay for the trip with that card. Read the benefits guide BEFORE the trip.

Best policies (if you do buy)

• Allianz Travel — biggest. Annual plan good for frequent travelers.
• Travel Guard (AIG) — strong cruise coverage.
• World Nomads — best for adventure trips.
• SquareMouth.com — comparison site. Shop by trip.
• Costs roughly 4-10% of trip cost.

"Cancel for any reason" rider

Standard insurance only covers listed reasons (illness, weather, etc.). "CFAR" (Cancel For Any Reason) lets you cancel for ANY reason and get 50-75% back. Adds 40-50% to premium. Worth it for big trips when you're unsure.