Absolutely, purchasing travel insurance is a wise move. Travel insurance can provide peace of mind and financial protection in case of unexpected events such as trip cancellations, medical emergencies, or lost luggage. It’s a way to mitigate risks and ensure that you are covered no matter what happens during your trip. Plus, having travel insurance can potentially save you from significant financial losses or inconvenience if something goes wrong. It’s always better to be prepared for the unexpected when traveling.
I always purchase travel protection when I travel, and it has saved me more than once. Just recently I had a planned trip for my wife and I to Jamaica. As my wife and I were in line at security we received a notification that our flight was cancelled. The airline informed us that the earliest that they could get us to Jamaica was 3 days later. Our trip was for only 4 days! I contacted the resort, and they told me that the booking was no refundable. That was $5,000 that would not be refunded. However, I had purchased trip insurance and was able to submit the loss to the insurance due to the trip disruption caused by the airlines and received the entire amount. Without trip insurance, I would of had no way to recoup the loss.
In another example, I was on a Vietnamese cruise and had eaten at a restaurant in Saigon. That evening I became very sick. The next morning I went to the medical center on board and they needed to send me by ambulance to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment. Luckily the ship was in port overnight. The ambulance rushed me to the hospital, and I was diagnosed with severe food poisoning. They gave me an IV of antibiotics, and then sent me back to the ship with more antibiotics in tow. The bill for all of this was in the thousands of dollars!
Most health insurance and Medicare do not cover medical expenses outside of the US. The also do not cover getting you home if your sickness requires you to stay in the hospital and are not be able to continue your trip. Without trip insurance, these bills are your responsibility, and most of the time they have to be paid when the medical services are rendered.
DO YOU REALLY NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE? YES YOU DO!
An Ohio REAL ID.
(Courtesy Photo/Ohio BMV)
Beginning May 7, 2025, every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, state-issued enhanced driver’s license, or another acceptable form of ID to fly within the United States.
REAL ID-compliant cards are marked with a star at the top of the card. If you’re not sure, contact your state driver’s license agency on how to obtain a REAL ID compliant card.
For information by state, including where to obtain a REAL ID, visit the DHS REAL ID website and click your state on the map.
Passed by Congress in 2005, the REAL ID Act enacted the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the federal government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses.” The Act and implementing regulations establish minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards and prohibit federal agencies, like TSA, from accepting licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards for official purposes, such as getting through the airport security checkpoint to board a plane.
