California Travel Insurance
A trip with your family to California is a much cherished dream, not only of the Americans but for anyone interested in tourism. The state offers charms not seen in any other part of the world. Both man made tourist spots (like the amusement parks) and nature made scenic spots are in abundance in the state. However, the travel to this west coast state of the USA can be a costly affair. If you are used to flying only first class, staying in a hotel not lesser than five star and driving around in a luxury car, then the cost could be substantially high. Such a tour vouches for some kind of cover against any unforeseeable event like a natural disaster. Travel Insurance is one of the most common cover people opt for. The Bureau of Consular Affairs offers some general information on traveling and travel insurance.
Advantages of travel insurance
Irrespective of what is your mode of transport, a good Travel Insurance policy can reimburse you financially when a few things go completely wrong. At the very basic level, travel insurance in California would cover any cancellations due to specified reasons like illness or other similar emergency. These days if you are traveling in California and you purchase travel insurance, the insurance agent or company would offer to cover more things than just those mentioned above. These additional things would cover any loss of luggage due to the fault of the airline. If you were not able to take the flight (say from San Francisco to Los Angeles) or the cruise in California bay area, due to the blunder of a tour operator or an airline, then you will be reimbursed by the travel insurance provided your policy mentions the right clause. If an act of terrorism forces you to cancel your journey, travel insurance can help you reduce the financial damage. The Northerin Illinois University offers a factsheet about Travel in Uncertain Times - Airlines Policies and Travel Insurance.
Coverage of insurances
However, it is not always required to buy travel insurance. Often your other insurance covers, like health insurance, can cover some of the losses which are covered by separate travel insurance. For instance, if your airline ticket is refundable, then the airline itself will pay you the ticket cost if you opt to cancel your trip. However, it is worthwhile to keep in mind that refundable airline tickets are substantially higher priced then non-refundable ones. At the Consortium for International Education & Multicultural Studies you will find a short article and some useful links about travel insurance.
Choosing an insurance provider
Various sites in the internet offer California travel insurance. Once you key in your basic data like travel dates, travel cost, amount of cover required, age of those traveling, etc. these sites throw at you free quotes from several insurance providers. Often they promise that theirs is the lowest quote available. For instance, if a couple is in its early 30s and with a child and are touring California for 10 days by air only, the travel insurance premium for a cover of $50,000 can cost anywhere between $75 to $300. Every insurance company has subtle differences in their policy clauses. Before you buy one, carefully read and understand the clauses. Also note down the process of filing a claim, if any. At the California Department of Insurance you will find information on Travel Insurance Agents.
One can also buy a travel insurance policy after reaching California. All the major cities like San Francisco, Sacramento and Los Angeles have offices of major insurance companies. However, if you buy after arriving to California, you obviously won’t be insured for your travel into the state.