Bellissimo Travel Services :: Travel Insurance

Why do I need Travel Insurance?

We've teamed up with Travel Guard, and below you can read the most frequently asked questions that travelers like yourself often have:

Q. Why should a traveler buy travel insurance?
A. Travel insurance gives travelers coverage for unforeseen problems, from a cancelled flight to a serious illness—or in rare cases, even an act of terrorism or the financial default of a travel supplier. If an illness, accident, or other covered unforeseen circumstance forces a traveler to cancel or interrupt their plans, they face two major financial losses—money invested in nonrefundable pre-payments, and medical expenses that in many instances may not be covered by health insurance.

Q. What happens if a traveler must cancel their vacation?
A. Often a traveler will lose nonrefundable deposits and prepayments that can add up to hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars. A comprehensive travel insurance plan through AIG Travel Guard can provide trip cancellation coverage for the traveler's vacation investment—the insurance company reimburses the traveler for all pre-paid, nonrefundable expenses for a covered loss.

Q. How does trip cancellation and interruption coverage work?
A. It reimburses for forfeited, nonrefundable, unused payments or deposits if the traveler must cancel or interrupt their trip due to a covered reason.

Q. What other coverage is typically included in an AIG Travel Guard travel insurance plan?
A. In addition to trip cancellation and interruption, the more comprehensive travel insurance plans available today may also cover emergency medical expenses; emergency medical transportation, when ordered by a doctor, to the nearest adequate medical facility; reimbursement for accommodations and expenses incurred due to travel delays; reimbursement for the purchase of essential items if baggage is delayed; and coverage against lost, stolen or damaged baggage.

Q. Does travel insurance cover terrorism?
A. Many travel insurance policies do not cover terrorism, or only cover terrorist acts that occur on foreign soil. Travel insurance through AIG Travel Guard can cover terrorist incidents both in the United States and abroad.

Q. Is the financial default of an airline, cruise line or tour operator covered?
A. Many of AIG Travel Guard's retail insurance programs include financial default coverage if the program is purchased within 15 days of making the initial trip deposit.

Q. Does AIG Travel Guard offer travel insurance plans tailored to specific types of travel?
A. Yes. AIG Travel Guard offers travel insurance plans for an array of budgets, from modest trips to high-end luxury vacations. There are also products for last-minute getaways and extended trips, and specific coverage plans for cruise travelers, golf travelers, students, and sports travel.

Q. How much does travel insurance cost?
A. The cost of travel insurance is based, in most cases, on the value of the trip and the age of the traveler. Typically, the cost is five to seven percent of the trip cost.

Q. What else is offered with the purchase of an AIG Travel Guard plan?
A. To boost travelers' confidence when traveling, AIG Travel Guard has added LiveTravel® assistance, which provides 24-hour, "911" emergency travel agency-type services to all standard retail plans, in case a traveler has to change a flight or a hotel room. AIG Travel Guard has also added assistance with emergency cash transfers, pre-trip consultation services (travel advisories, passport requirements, inoculation information, etc.), and live messaging, which will relay any e-mail or phone message to family, friends or business associates.

Visit Travel Guard for more information, to get a quote and to purchase your Travel Insurance.