Going on a vacation is a great time of year for everyone. It’s a time to explore the world, visit family, relax from work and try new things. While you may be taking a break from work, you aren’t taking a break from life. You are still subject to life’s unexpected surprises that can take your life, leave you disabled, or you lose money on something you paid for.
As a licensed Insurance Agent in Florida #G167289, I am here to help guide you through a checklist of products you should consider prior to leaving for your trip.
1. Life Insurance
Life insurance is top of the list because should something occur for some unforeseen and it costs you your life, you could be leaving a massive financial burden for your loved ones to clean up. Life insurance helps you pay off your debts, mortgage, bills, and provides income replacement for X amount of years for your family. Additionally it pays for your funeral costs. It doesn’t matter if you have whole life or term life, what’s important is the policy is current. If you don’t have life insurance, it would be a good thing to invest in prior to your vacation. You may also want to make sure you have your will completed to tell your loved ones what the money should be used for, what you want for your remains, and to specify who gets what of your possessions.
2. Health Insurance
You will be going to places and susceptible to illnesses; which that risk is even higher if you leave the country. Making sure your premiums are paid up will be so important should you have an illness or injury. Make sure you know what your policy allows, most HMO’s require you to only use your in network prescribers and hospitals; which also require a referral for your insurance to pay. If you have a PPO you can go to out of network providers you just have a higher co-pay. Medicare will not be a problem if you go to a hospital for your care, or a PPO plan but an HMO won’t let you see any specialist or provider not in your network. Also, like your Life Insurance, make sure your premiums are paid so the coverage is active and take your cards with you.
3. Travel Insurance
If you book your trips yourself, you may not know about travel insurance. This is a one time fee and it’s designed to reimburse any losses that occur. For instance, a flight is cancelled and won’t fly out for two days. Your rental car isn’t there, lost luggage, and even passports and money being lost or stolen. Being reimbursed for any losses you incur is a great way to help lessen the blow from the interruption and/or loss. If you use a travel planner, you may want to inquire about travel insurance or you can go to any insurance company that sells travel insurance.
Having these coverages when you leave can help give you that peace of mind you are searching for, the reason for the trip in the first place. Nobody wants to think the worst, but truth be told, it can happen. Being prepared will lessen any blow in an already chaotic time.
