Call the tripinsurancestore.com— they give very good advice about when it makes sense and what it won’t cover and will recc specific policies.

Compare policies with

Insuremytrip.com
Squaremouth.com

Like others I get trip insurance for medical coverage and nonrefundable items. Purchase insurance within 10-14 days of booking the trip to get the waiver for any pre-existing health conditions.

Anonymous wrote:Yes! We get an annual policy.

Also very interested in this. Lots of travel in the next year and would appreciate an annual plan with good coverage. Thanks for showing specific details. TIA

Always get trip insurance that includes medical evac.

-- someone who got high altitude pulmonary edema and covid in Africa (didn't have to be evacuated, but it easily could have gone that way)

Anonymous wrote:I have always relied on the insurance provided by the credit card I book with, but not all cards offer good trip insurance.

I am becoming more wary about car rental—now wanting to add on riders for everything including tires and windscreens—and I understand some trip insurance offers extensive rental car coverage, so I’m interested in that.

I did some research. My credit card card rental car insurance (which might be Mastercard generic) doesn't cover cosmetic damage to tires and wheels. Which is the single most likely thing to happen when curb parking in cities. So now I sometimes buy it.

In your circumstance Op, yes I would. That's a lot of money. I second the recommendation of Allianz. Only time I bought, I bought insurance from them, in case I needed to be air lifted off the Alps.

We buy from Allianz before trips like this. I’ve never had to use them, but in my research, they are the company who give the least push back when a claim is filed. I hope I never have to find out myself!

Anonymous wrote:I do it when we have significant non-refundable expenses. I do price out what is refundable vs non-refundable and use that as the basis for how much to ensure for. So, for example, this summer I have a trip planned that will be about $14K for lodging, airfare, and tickets to attractions. But, a significant chunk of the lodging is refundable until the night before and even the "nonrefundable" plane tickets can be changed for a fee. So I bought about $8K of insurance.

I use Allianz. They're probably not the cheapest, but they aren't crazy expensive and the one time I had to use it (due to illness) they paid immediately and the process was super easy.

Agree with this strategy. I buy it to cover non-refundable AirBnBs and for extra health insurance including medevac. I have bought it more frequently since Covid. I have used several of the services recommended by Rick Steves at this link.

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/trip-planning/travel-insurance

"Travel Insurance Providers

For extensive travel insurance coverage, go with a big-name company. Avoid buying insurance from a no-name company you found online. Consider the package deals sold by:

Betins
Allianz
Travelex
Travel Guard
Travel Insured International
You can compare insurance policies and costs among various providers at SquareMouth and at Insuremytrip.com (both also sell insurance)."

I have always relied on the insurance provided by the credit card I book with, but not all cards offer good trip insurance.

I am becoming more wary about car rental—now wanting to add on riders for everything including tires and windscreens—and I understand some trip insurance offers extensive rental car coverage, so I’m interested in that.

Anonymous wrote:Yes! We get an annual policy.

Interested - where do you get yours from?

Yes! We get an annual policy.

I do it when we have significant non-refundable expenses. I do price out what is refundable vs non-refundable and use that as the basis for how much to ensure for. So, for example, this summer I have a trip planned that will be about $14K for lodging, airfare, and tickets to attractions. But, a significant chunk of the lodging is refundable until the night before and even the "nonrefundable" plane tickets can be changed for a fee. So I bought about $8K of insurance.

I use Allianz. They're probably not the cheapest, but they aren't crazy expensive and the one time I had to use it (due to illness) they paid immediately and the process was super easy.

Yes, buy it under most circumstances. But, it may not need to cover every possible cost. If, for example, you have refundable airline tickets, no need to cover those. If you can cancel hotel reservations before arrival, without penalties, no need to cover those costs, either. It's most useful when you're buying a package vacation, like a cruise or land tour, where you're not booking hotels and transportation yourself, and you're bound by the tour operator's cancellation policies.

It also may not make sense if the amount you stand to potentially lose is relatively modest, and losing it wouldn't pose much of a hardship. In that case you might choose to bear the risk yourself instead of shifting it to an insurance company.

Following this because we are going to Japan this year and I want to insure the trip. Last time we were overseas, DH ended up hospitalized. Luckily, it didn't wreck our trip or alter our plans that much (and he has great insurance that covered a 3 night hospital stay - he paid $25 out of pocket). So of course, I'm much more cautious now.

Do you usually buy it? I have hotel reservations for spring break that will charge me the entire $15k one week before the trip. I have never bought trip insurance before, but thinking about it for this trip. I have not bought airfare yet. What company do you usually use?