Hiring a travel agent or tour company can alleviate those burdens substantially. Still, one thing the advisers strongly recommend is purchasing trip insurance, including international health coverage, to provide some degree of protection. And at this volatile time, the list of risks keeps growing. Beyond protecting against unexpected sickness, hospitalization, and other emergencies, travel insurance offers peace of mind.

Some plans help recover nonrefundable, prepaid trip costs when canceling for a covered reason, including unexpected illness. And many travel insurance policies now cover COVID-related expenses in response to the pandemic, including costs for a mandatory quarantine.

“The pandemic has created a lot of unpredictability for travelers. As travel restrictions, entry requirements, and trip delays, interruptions, and cancellations become more common, it’s more important than ever for travelers to have suitable travel insurance,” says travel expert Rajeev Shrivastava of VisitorsCoverage.com. While inbound tourism to the U.S. remains low, the number of international travelers buying travel insurance for non-U.S. destinations has risen 186%.

World Nomads, another online travel insurance provider, endured swarms of cancellations and policy amendment requests during March and April of 2020. Although policy sales remain below pre-pandemic levels, those for July 2021 grew sixfold compared with the same period in 2020. From April to July of 2021, insurance purchases for Europe accounted for 25% of sales, and countries that opened borders early on, like Iceland, Greece, Italy, Croatia, and France, ranked as top destinations.

Over the past year, World Nomads adapted as needed, but its underlying approach stayed the same. By bundling in benefits that support travelers in medical emergencies, including COVID-related incidentals, it helps relieve some worries of “what if.” For example, if someone gets COVID or another illness during a trip, World Nomads could reimburse costs incurred by things like diagnostic tests.

Additionally, those with insurance have access to emergency assistance providers and travel assistance services, which help travelers with matters such as arranging for medical evacuations, finding testing locations and doctors, or rescheduling canceled flights, and more. 

Check if you’re already covered

If you’re going abroad, assess your health and current issuance to determine if you’ll need travel medical insurance. Many don’t realize domestic health insurance plans won’t cover medical costs incurred while abroad, including a quick trip to a local doctor or getting prescriptions. 

Choose flexibility and be flexible

To streamline policies during your initial flight and other planning, metasearch engine Kayak added a “flexible filter” that categorizes its partners’ change or cancellation fees. Soon, the option to purchase “cancel for any reason” coverage (in addition to offering the standard travel insurance already on the site) will be available.

Check if your destination requires mandated insurance

Monitor and make sure you’re comfortable with the destination’s travel restrictions and guidelines, including those from state and city officials, as many are now mandating travel insurance and, in some cases, proof of vaccination. Kayak launched its Travel Restrictions page in March 2020, which aggregates each country’s protocols and health-related paperwork required for entry. Most of its information comes from official government websites that Kayak checks daily and updates anytime there is new information. If traveling internationally, Shrivastava suggests checking the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs.

Trip insurance for medical coverage

According to Shrivastava, the type of travel insurance you should purchase depends on where you’re traveling. If you’re traveling domestically, health and accidents will most likely be covered by your health insurance or Medicare. Still, trip insurance can protect domestic travelers against financial losses associated with travel disruptions. So if you’re staying within the U.S., you may only need trip insurance, which provides coverage in the event of trip delays, flight cancellations, baggage damage, and more.

If traveling abroad, consider purchasing travel medical insurance in addition to your trip insurance. International travelers need travel medical insurance to ensure affordable, quality medical care if they contract COVID while abroad.

Seek out third-party insurance

Consider insurance from a third party versus the airline or your credit card so that nonrefundable costs, such as accommodations and entertainment, can be recouped if travel plans are interrupted. “Airlines will only offer refunds for a limited number of qualified cancellation reasons, which are approved by them and will only cover airfare,” says Shrivastava.

Purchase a ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ (CFAR) policy

CFAR policies give travelers more flexibility to cancel and still recoup some of the prepaid costs for any reason. “If you have a travel insurance policy for your trip, you may get reimbursed for the nonrefundable costs associated with airfare and other prepaid travel expenses if you’re canceling for a reason listed in your policy,” says Shrivastava. “But if you add CFAR insurance, you can cancel for any reason and receive reimbursement accordingly.”

Ultimately, everyone wants to get out again and see the world. And while it is indeed complicated, it’s a necessary part of life. “None of us have a crystal ball for what the next few months will look like,” says Giorgos Zacharia, president of Kayak. “But we do know that having a trip to look forward to offers mental health benefits that are often even greater than the trip itself.”