Protect Your Holiday Travel Plans
Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel times of the year. Millions of people take to the skies and roads to be with family, or to take a well-deserved vacation. But with crowded airports, unpredictable November weather, and the general chaos of holiday travel, there’s also a higher risk of something going wrong.
A sudden illness, a flight-canceling blizzard, or a lost passport can turn a holiday feast into a financial headache. That’s why travel insurance is so important.
But "travel insurance" is a broad term. The plan that’s right for your parents visiting you in the U.S. is completely different from the one you’d buy for a family vacation to Mexico. At Insubuy, we offer several different types of plans. Here’s a breakdown to help you choose the best one for your Thanksgiving travels.
The 4 Types of Travel Protection
Understanding the primary purpose of each plan is key to getting the right coverage.
1. Travel Insurance (Trip Cancellation)
Travel insurance is what most people think of as "vacation insurance."
- Who It’s For: U.S. residents who are traveling either domestically (within the U.S.) or internationally.
- What It Covers: The main purpose of this insurance is to protect your financial investment in your trip. It reimburses your prepaid, non-refundable costs if you have to cancel, interrupt, or are delayed for a covered reason.
- Key Features:
- Trip Cancellation: Reimburses you if you have to cancel your trip before it starts (e.g., you get sick, a family member passes away, or a storm grounds all flights).
- Trip Interruption: Covers you if you have to cut your trip short for a covered reason.
- Trip Delay: Reimburses you for extra expenses (like a hotel room or meals) if your flight is delayed.
- Medical Coverage: Includes coverage for emergency medical expenses during your trip.
- Baggage: Covers lost or delayed baggage.
2. Visitors Insurance
Visitors insurance is designed for one specific purpose: protecting non-U.S. citizens who are visiting the United States.
- Who It’s For: Non-U.S. citizens traveling to the U.S. This is the perfect plan for parents, in-laws, or other relatives visiting you from another country for Thanksgiving.
- What It Covers: This is travel health insurance. Its primary goal is to cover new, unexpected injuries or illnesses that occur during a visit to the U.S. Given the high cost of U.S. healthcare, this insurance is essential. It generally does not cover trip cancellation.
- Key Features:
- Emergency Medical Expenses: Covers doctor's visits, hospital stays, and other medical costs.
- Medical Evacuation: Can provide emergency transport if medically necessary.
- Acute Onset of Pre-existing Conditions: Many plans offer limited coverage for a sudden, unexpected emergency related to a pre-existing condition.
- Trip Interruption & Luggage Loss: Some plans offer these travel-related benefits as well.
3. Travel Medical Insurance
Travel medical insurance is also focused on protecting your health, but for those traveling outside their home country to locations other than the U.S.
- Who It’s For: Anyone traveling outside their home country when their main concern is health coverage. This includes U.S. citizens traveling abroad (whose U.S. health plan may not work) or non-U.S. citizens traveling to any country other than the U.S.
- What It Covers: This is a temporary health plan that covers medical emergencies abroad. It is typically less expensive than "Travel Insurance" because it does not include trip cancellation benefits. Its focus is on your health, not your prepaid trip costs.
- Key Features:
- Emergency Medical Expenses: The primary benefit, covering illness and injury.
- Medical Evacuation & Repatriation: Covers the cost of getting you to a proper medical facility or back home if necessary.
- Trip Interruption: Often included as an ancillary benefit.
4. Schengen Visa Insurance
Schengen visa insurance is specific coverage for a particular destination and group of travelers.
- Who It’s For: Anyone (of any nationality) who is required to obtain a visa to travel to one of the 29 countries in the European Schengen Area.
- What It Covers: This is travel medical coverage that meets the mandatory requirements of the Schengen visa application. These requirements include having at least €30,000 in medical coverage, as well as coverage for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation of remains.
- Note: Most U.S. citizens do not need a visa for short trips to the Schengen Area, so this type of coverage is unnecessary for Americans unless they’re visiting the Schengen are for more than three months. For shorter trips, standard travel medical insurance is sufficient.
Quick Comparison
| Insurance Type | Primary Goal | Ideal Traveler | Key Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel Insurance | Protects your trip cost | U.S. resident traveling (domestic or abroad) | Trip Cancellation, Interruption, Medical |
| Visitors Insurance | Protects your health in the U.S. | Non-U.S. citizen visiting the U.S. | Medical Expenses (in the U.S.) |
| Travel Medical | Protects your health abroad | Anyone traveling outside their home country | Medical Expenses (outside home country) |
| Schengen Visa | Meets visa requirements | Traveler needing a visa for Europe | Medical (min. €30k), Evacuation |
Which Thanksgiving Insurance Is Best for You?
Scenario 1: You're a U.S. resident flying from Chicago to Florida for Thanksgiving.
- Recommendation: Travel Insurance. Your main risk is a November snowstorm canceling your flight or getting the flu and being unable to go. This plan protects the money you spent on your non-refundable plane tickets and hotel.
Scenario 2: Your parents are flying from India to visit you in New Jersey for the holiday.
- Recommendation: Visitors Insurance. This is essential. Their domestic health plan won't cover them in the U.S. A simple fall or illness could lead to massive medical bills. This coverage is designed specifically for this situation.
Scenario 3: You're a U.S. resident taking a Thanksgiving cruise to the Caribbean.
- Recommendation: Travel Insurance or Travel Medical Insurance. If your main worry is a medical emergency on the ship or in a foreign port, Travel Medical Insurance is a great fit. If you also want to protect the thousands of dollars you spent on the cruise package in case you have to cancel, you need Travel Insurance (which also includes medical benefits).
Scenario 4: You're a student from Brazil studying in the U.S. and are flying to France for Thanksgiving break.
- Recommendation: Schengen Visa Insurance (if you need a visa) or Travel Medical Insurance (if you don't). Your U.S.-based student health plan may not cover you in Europe. A travel medical plan will. If you need a visa to enter France, a Schengen plan is mandatory.
No matter where your Thanksgiving plans take you, having the right insurance brings you peace of mind. Safe travels this holiday season!