When it comes to travel, often the more the merrier. If you\u2019re traveling as part of a large group, it\u2019s wise to research the benefits of buying one policy that covers everyone.<\/p>\n
Group travel policies are good for:<\/p>\n
\u201cGroup travel insurance may be convenient for groups traveling to volunteer, study abroad, attend a reunion or participate in a business trip,\u201d says Jeremy Murchland, president of\u00a0Seven Corners<\/a>, a travel insurance company. \u201cWhile there may not always be many noticeable differences between a provider\u2019s individual and group plans, the benefit of purchasing as a group is the convenience of the purchase process.\u201d<\/p>\n Related:<\/strong>\u00a0Is Travel Insurance Necessary for Studying Abroad?<\/a><\/p>\n Murchland says choosing to purchase travel insurance as a group allows each traveler to get the same level of coverage through a streamlined policy.<\/p>\n To help shield your group from losing money put down for the trip due to unexpected events, it\u2019s prudent to purchase a comprehensive\u00a0travel insurance<\/a>\u00a0plan that covers the following.<\/p>\n Trip cancellation insurance<\/a>\u00a0can reimburse you 100% for prepaid, non-refundable outlays if you can\u2019t go on the trip due to a problem covered by the policy.<\/p>\n For example, if you suffer a serious injury before your trip and need to cancel, you would be refunded 100% of your prepaid trip costs, such as airfare, hotel accommodations or activities, like a sightseeing tour.<\/p>\n Trip delay travel insurance<\/a>\u00a0can provide compensation for hotels, meals and transportation if your flight is delayed due to unforeseen events. Your policy will have a specified length of time for trip delay coverage to kick in, such as three hours.<\/p>\n For example, if mechanical failure causes your flight to be delayed for more than three hours, you can be reimbursed for a restaurant meal at the airport.<\/p>\n Trip interruption travel insurance<\/a>\u00a0can pay for a flight home and to recoup prepaid, non-refundable money put down for activities you\u2019ll miss if you have to return home during a trip due to an emergency.<\/p>\n For example, if a sudden injury cuts your vacation short, you\u2019ll be covered for your expenses to rebook an early flight home as well as any prepaid expenses, such as a scuba diving excursion.<\/p>\n Travel medical insurance<\/a>\u00a0can help pay for medical costs if you become ill or are injured while on your trip.<\/p>\n For example, if you slip and sprain your ankle while strolling through Paris, you\u2019ll be covered for medical expenses like doctor bills and X-rays. Make sure to check the limit for medical expenses in the policy.<\/p>\n Medical evacuation travel insurance<\/a>\u00a0can pay for medevac charges, up to your policy limits. For example, if you get a serious illness while on a cruise ship, this can cover a medical evacuation to a medical facility.<\/p>\n Baggage insurance<\/a>\u00a0can reimburse you the depreciated value of lost, stolen or damaged luggage and personal items, up to the amount listed in your policy.<\/p>\n You can also buy coverage for baggage delays. Your policy will have a specified length of time for baggage delay coverage to kick in. For example, if your luggage is delayed by twelve hours, you can submit a claim for expenses like toiletries and other necessities, such as a change of clothes.<\/p>\n Group travel insurance usually allows parties of 10 or more to purchase one travel insurance policy to cover the entire group on a trip, says Megan Moncrief, spokesperson with Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison provider.<\/p>\n \u201cIn order for a group to be eligible for a group travel insurance policy, there must be at least 1.<\/p>\n Group travel insurance offers similar basic benefits to individual travel insurance policies. This includes coverage for trip cancellation, trip interruption, trip delay, emergency medical expense and medical evacuation costs. Not all group policies include coverage for lost, stolen or damaged baggage and possessions, but some do.<\/p>\n Group travel insurance policies can be a more convenient and economical option for organized groups traveling together, including large families, company retreats, destination weddings and reunions, says Moncrief.<\/p>\n \u201cIf the group is just looking for general coverage, with no specific needs, for instance benefit limits above the industry standard, a group policy can be a great option,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n The benefits included in a group policy are per-person limits. \u201cSo for example, if a policy has a $50,000 emergency medical limit, that would be $50,000 per traveler,\u201d says Moncrief.<\/p>\n Group travel insurance policies function similar to individual plans in that each traveler is insured, and can make a claim as a one-off if needed, says Moncrief. For example, if one member of the group is unable to travel, their trip cancellation claim does not necessarily impact the rest of the group.<\/p>\n Individual policies typically offer more options, including higher benefit limits and upgrades, says Moncrief. For this reason, if you have specific coverage needs and requirements, an individual travel insurance policy might be a better fit for you.<\/p>\n \u201cFor example, depending on the travelers and destination, it may be beneficial to purchase high limits of medical evacuation coverage or travel delay coverage,\u201d syas Moncrief at Squaremouth. \u201cMost group plans don\u2019t offer optional benefit limit increases.\u201d<\/p>\n She also says \u201ccancel for any reason\u201d upgrades are not commonly offered in group travel insurance policies.<\/p>\nTrip cancellation insurance<\/h3>\n
Trip delay travel insurance<\/h3>\n
Trip interruption travel insurance<\/h3>\n
Travel medical insurance<\/h3>\n
Emergency medical evacuation insurance<\/h3>\n
Travel insurance for baggage<\/h3>\n
Criteria for Group Travel Insurance<\/h2>\n
Pack Mentality: Advantages of Group Travel Insurance<\/h2>\n
Coverage is relatively similar to individual plans<\/h3>\n
Coverage can be streamlined<\/h3>\n
You can still make individual claims<\/h3>\n
When Are Individual Plans Better than Group Travel Insurance?<\/h2>\n