Summer is prime time for beach getaways, family road trips and mountain adventures. But unexpected events—sudden illness, flight cancellations or lost baggage—can quickly turn your dream vacation into a nightmare. That’s where travel insurance steps in, protecting your wallet and your peace of mind. Here’s everything you need to know about what travel insurance typically covers (and what it doesn’t) when you’re planning your next summer escape.

Why You Need Travel Insurance for Summer Vacations

1. Rising Costs of Emergency Care
2. Medical expenses abroad can run into the tens of thousands of dollars. Travel insurance helps cover emergency treatment and evacuation.
3. Unpredictable Summer Weather
4. Hurricanes, wildfires or floods can force trip delays or cancellations. Insurance can reimburse non-refundable costs if your plans are derailed by weather.
5. Protection Against Travel Disruptions
6. From airline strikes to mechanical failures, delays and missed connections are more common in peak season. Policies often cover additional accommodation, meals and rebooking fees.
7. Peace of Mind
8. Knowing you’re covered for the unexpected means you can relax and enjoy your vacation—without worrying about the “what-ifs.”

What Does Travel Insurance Cover?

1. Trip Cancellation & Interruption

• Cancellation reimburses your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs (hotels, flights, tours) if you have to cancel for a covered reason—illness, family emergency or severe weather.
• Interruption reimburses the unused portion of your trip plus any extra expenses to return home early.

2. Emergency Medical & Dental

• Covers sudden illness or injury abroad, including hospital stays, physician fees and prescription medications.
• Dental, for acute issues like a broken tooth, is often included up to a specified limit.

3. Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation

• Pays for air or ground ambulance transfers to the nearest adequate facility, and, if necessary, repatriation back to Canada.

4. Baggage Loss, Damage & Delay

• Reimburses you for lost, stolen or damaged luggage and personal items.
• Delay coverage provides a daily allowance for essentials (toiletries, clothing) if your bags are delayed by more than a set number of hours.

5. Trip Delay

• Covers additional accommodation, meals and transportation if you’re delayed due to a covered event (e.g., airline mechanical breakdown or severe weather).

6. Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)

• Pays a lump sum to you or your beneficiaries in the event of death or serious injury during your trip.

7. Rental Vehicle Coverage

• Optional collision damage waiver for rental cars, covering repair or replacement costs after an accident.

What Doesn’t Travel Insurance Usually Cover

1. Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

• Claims arising from known health issues often require a waiver or special endorsement at purchase.

2. High-Risk or Extreme Activities

• Unless you add adventure-sports coverage, activities like skydiving, scuba diving beyond recreational limits or heli-skiing are excluded.

3. Pandemics & Epidemics (Unless Specified)

• Many plans exclude cancellations or medical costs related to declared pandemics—look for COVID-19 coverage add-ons if needed.

4. Travel Delays from Non-Covered Carriers

• Delays or cancellations on charter flights, cruise-line disruptions or privately arranged transportation may not be covered.

5. Lost Valuables & Cash

• Jewelry, cameras or money often have sub-limits or may be excluded. Declare high-value items in advance if your policy allows.

6. Normal Wear & Tear or Manufacturer Defects

• Damage due to gradual deterioration of your gear or appliances is not a covered peril.

Tips for Choosing the Right Policy

1. Compare Coverage Limits
2. Review maximum payouts for medical, baggage and cancellation—make sure they meet the real costs you could incur overseas.
3. Check the Fine Print
4. Read exclusions carefully: look for hidden clauses on pandemics, adventure sports or “cancel for any reason” options.
5. Buy Early
6. Purchase within 10–21 days of your first trip deposit to qualify for pre-existing condition waivers and full cancellation benefits.
7. Consider Add-Ons
8. Adventure sports, enhanced trip-cancellation, “cancel for any reason” and rental-car coverage can be valuable depending on your itinerary.
9. Verify Emergency Assistance Services
10. Ensure 24/7 hotline access to multilingual help, direct billing arrangements with hospitals, and global evacuation coordination.

Ready to Insure Your Summer Escape?

At Astro Insurance & Registry, our travel experts help Lethbridge and Southern Alberta residents find the right summer-vacation coverage—from basic medical plans to comprehensive packages with trip-cancellation, baggage and adventure-sports options. Don’t let the unknown spoil your getaway:

Contact us today to compare quotes, customize your policy and travel with confidence this summer!