7 Travel Insurance Myths That Could Ruin Your Trip
Let's be honest - nobody gets excited about buying travel insurance. It's not Instagram-worthy, it's not fun to research, and most of us would rather spend that money on literally anything else. But after talking with Erin Fish from Wanderwell Travel Insurance and witnessing countless travel disasters with my own groups, I'm here to set the record straight on what you actually need to know.
Myth #1: "I'm covered through my credit card"
The Reality: Maybe, but probably not completely.
Credit card coverage can be sufficient for some things, but here's what I see most often: it's missing the medical piece. Your fancy travel credit card might cover trip delays and lost baggage, but what happens when you're in a hospital in rural Mexico and need emergency evacuation to Mexico City?
The real question to ask: Does your credit card provide 24/7 emergency assistance that can arrange medical evacuation internationally? Can they guarantee payment directly to foreign hospitals? Most can't.
Pro tip: If you're convinced your credit card has you covered, actually read the policy. I had one traveler send me hers, and it was comparable to our travel insurance. But that's rare - and she was the exception, not the rule.
Myth #2: "Travel insurance is just another way for companies to steal my money"
The Reality: Good travel insurance pays out when you need it.
Here's the thing - I've partnered with Wanderwell specifically because I don't hear insurance horror stories from my travelers. When they submit claims, they typically get approved and reimbursed without having to fight for it. That's what good travel insurance should do.
Erin shared a story about a traveler who was held in a foreign hospital until they could pay tens of thousands of dollars. The insurance company, Wanderwell, and the 24/7 assistance company worked together to get this person released and fully reimbursed. That's the difference between good insurance and cheap insurance.
Myth #3: "Medical care is cheaper abroad, so I'll just pay out of pocket"
The Reality: Not if you're an American in a tourist area.
Erin mentioned that Americans often get charged significantly more in tourist-heavy destinations. What you think might cost a few hundred dollars could easily become tens of thousands. And your credit card company might not even authorize a charge that large.
Plus, it's not just about the money - it's about the coordination. When you're dealing with a medical emergency abroad, do you really want to be figuring out logistics while you're sick or injured?
Myth #4: "I only need insurance for 'dangerous' destinations"
The Reality: Most travel insurance claims happen in places you'd consider "safe."
I always tell people that the places I take groups to - the ones people think are "scary" - often have fewer tourist-targeted crimes than major European cities. You're more likely to get pickpocketed in Barcelona or Rome than in many of the destinations I visit.
Some of the most common claims Erin sees? Trip delays due to weather (hello, winter travel to sunny climates) and medical emergencies that can happen anywhere.
Myth #5: "I can buy insurance anytime before my trip"
The Reality: The sooner you buy, the more you're covered.
This is huge: many benefits are time-sensitive. Want coverage for pre-existing medical conditions? You typically need to buy insurance within a certain timeframe of making your initial trip payment. Want "Cancel for Any Reason" coverage? Same deal.
The rule: Buy insurance within 14-21 days of your first trip payment for maximum coverage options.
Myth #6: "Cancel for Any Reason coverage means I get all my money back"
The Reality: It's typically 50-75% reimbursement, and there are rules.
Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) is exactly what it sounds like - you can cancel because you just don't feel like going. But:
You typically get 50-75% of your money back, not 100%
You must cancel at least 2 days before departure
You must actually cancel the trip (not just decide not to show up)
It's usually only available within a certain timeframe of your first trip payment
Myth #7: "I travel so much, I don't need to worry about insurance"
The Reality: Frequent travelers often become less prepared, not more.
I'll admit it - the more I travel, the more irresponsible I get about trip planning. I'm packing last minute, forgetting to get travel insurance until it's too late, and making assumptions because "I do this all the time."
But here's the thing: the more you travel, the more likely you are to eventually need insurance. It's just math. And when you're leading groups like I do, you see everything that can go wrong.
What You Actually Need to Know
For any international trip, get at minimum post-departure coverage. This covers you from the day you leave until you return for:
Medical emergencies and evacuation
Trip delays and interruptions
Lost or damaged baggage
24/7 emergency assistance
The pre-departure question is personal: Are you willing to forfeit the cost of your trip if something prevents you from going? If the answer is no, get comprehensive coverage that includes trip cancellation.
The Bottom Line
Travel insurance isn't sexy, but neither is being stranded abroad without coverage. I require minimum coverage for all my group travelers because I've seen too many situations where people wished they had it.
The goal isn't to scare you out of traveling - it's to help you travel with confidence instead of that constant background anxiety of "what if something goes wrong?"
Because here's the truth: things do go wrong. I've had travelers deal with medical emergencies, family deaths, job losses, natural disasters, and yes, someone even had to deal with blankets stuffed down airplane toilets (don't ask).
But the travelers who had good insurance? They handled these situations, got reimbursed, and went on to book their next adventure. The ones who didn't... well, some of them are still dealing with the financial consequences.
Want to learn more about travel insurance? Listen to the full conversation with Erin Fish on the Type 2 Travel podcast, or check out Wanderwell Travel Insurance.
