Insurance FAQs - US Travellers

Having proper travel insurance is essential for any trip. It gives you the freedom to focus on enjoying your trip, knowing that you’re covered in case of the unforeseen.

One coverage option used by our travellers is AIG’s Travel Guard.*

Whatever provider you use for your travel insurance, here’s why it matters, and the most important things to look out for in your policy.

* AIG will advise that you look for the policy that suits your own needs. Please note that we may receive a small commission if you choose to purchase via this link.

1) Illness

Picture the scene: shortly before your dream vacation, which you’re all set and excited for, a loved one falls ill. You’re unable to travel, and the trip has been fully paid for already. It’s a stressful time but good travel insurance should cover the cost of rearranging or cancelling the trip.

2) Natural disasters

From hurricanes to snowstorms to floods to volcanic ash clouds, Mother Nature can unexpectedly hamper any travel plans. Travel insurance will provide peace of mind that your vacation is safe.

3) Airlines

Love them or hate them, they help us get from A to B, and back again. Sometimes flights can get cancelled, rescheduled or delayed – with or without notice. Occasionally, planes, routes or airlines can stop operating. Staff can go on strike. Good travel insurance will help cover the impact of these incidents for you, meaning that you’re not out of pocket.

4) Medical costs

Whether you’re hiking in the Andes mountains or enjoying a Safari in Africa, while abroad medical costs can get very high very quickly. While travelling you’ll enjoy peace of mind that should you fall ill, that the medical costs will be covered, wherever you are.

5) Lost or stolen items

Baggage, equipment, passports and technical gear. All valuable items, and can be covered by trip insurance. Whether lost or stolen, a good policy will cover these items for you.

Your insurance must cover you for both local and international medical repatriation, cancellation and curtailment cover as well as the more standard cover (i.e. money, delayed flights, lost passports etc). Please provide us with either a copy of your insurance or the following details:

• Name of the Insurer
• Your Policy Number
• Insurer’s 24 Hour Emergency Contact Number

Your policy should cover you from the point of booking and for the duration of your trip and should include the following:

• Medical and health cover for an injury or sudden illness abroad
• 24 hour emergency service and assistance
• Lost and stolen possessions cover
• Cancellation and curtailment (cutting short your trip) cover
• Extra cover for activities that are commonly excluded from standard policies, such as Scuba Diving

A good insurance policy will cover you for cancelling or cutting your trip short (cancellation and curtailment cover). Check carefully to see if you are covered for the following:

• Accident
• Illness
• Pregnancy (unknown when you buy the policy)
• Jury service or witness summons
• Home emergency (fire, storm or flood, burglary)
• Redundancy
• Strikes
• Bad weather – affects the departure of flights and ships

It’s really important that in the event that you actually need to use your insurance, that your policy can help you. Your insurance company should therefore do the following:

• Refund the full cost of your holiday
• Pay out if you need to cancel or cut short a trip because you fall ill
• Cover pre-paid expenses such as excursions
• Covers extra costs incurred to get you back home