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Whether you’re going for European history, the hip excitement of Paris, the fantastic Mediterranean beaches, or the wonderful food and wine experiences, it’s smart to insure your trip to France by buying a comprehensive travel insurance policy.
For trips to France, and really any international destination, look for a travel insurance plan with coverage for trip cancellation, trip interruption, trip delay, medical expense, medical evacuation and baggage protection, says Scott Adamski, spokesperson with AIG Travel.
He says that travel insurance should ideally be purchased within 15 days of your initial deposit date. “Early-purchase provisions of the travel insurance policy—such as the waiver of the pre-existing medical condition exclusion—can apply,” but only within an initial time frame, Adamski says.
You can buy a travel insurance policy up to 24 hours prior to your scheduled departure date, but you won’t get access to the full perks of a policy.
The average travel insurance cost for a trip to France is $366, according to data from Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison provider. So it’s relatively inexpensive for the protection you get.
Trip Cancellation Insurance for France
You’ve likely got a lot of money riding on your trip to France, which is why trip cancellation insurance is a smart buy. For example, if four days before your trip your husband has a heart attack and needs bypass surgery, you will of course need to cancel your trip. Your policy will reimburse you for any prepaid expenses like tickets you purchased for Moulin Rouge or a private tour of the Eiffel Tower.
You can make a trip cancellation claim if your reason for canceling is listed in the policy. Other typical reasons that are covered for cancellation include death, illness or injury to you, your traveling companion or a family member; military deployment, loss of job, family emergencies; a national emergency like a transit strike; terrorist action and severe weather.
Not all reasons for canceling are covered by a standard insurance policy. For example, if you realized your daughter’s ballet recital conflicts with the date of your trip, this is not a covered reason to cancel.
If you want the highest degree of flexibility regarding your travel plans, opt for a plan with a “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) add-on. This upgrade to a standard cancellation policy adds about 50% to the cost. With this upgrade, you can literally cancel your trip for any reason, so long as you cancel no less than 48 hours before your scheduled departure. Under a CFAR claim you can usually recover 75% of your trip costs (not 100%).
Delays in Your French Travel
Trip delay coverage can prove to be very convenient. If you’re flying from New York to Paris and your flight is canceled due to severe weather like a blizzard, your travel insurance policy can reimburse you for any extra expenses you incur like a hotel room, meals and transportation.
It’s important to check the provisions of your policy as many have a waiting period of three to 12 hours before trip delay benefits kick in.
It’s common for U.S. flights to arrive in Paris. However, you may have to make a connection to a regional airport or by train to get to other provinces.
“Whenever you need to get from place to place, travel delay coverage could help support you whenever you experience a setback getting to a destination,” says Lisa Cheng, a spokesperson with travel insurer World Nomads.
“Basic expenses incurred because of that inconvenience such as hotels, taxis and food could be reimbursed by your travel insurance company. You may also be eligible to get reimbursed for prepaid trip expenses if your delay has caused you to miss out on segments of your trip,” says Cheng.
For example, if you prepaid for a private driver to show you Paris illuminated at night and miss the experience because you’re stuck in an airport, you can file a claim to recoup the cost.
Related: Can I Travel To France From The U.S.?
France, Interrupted
The last thing on anyone’s mind is being forced to cut a trip short and return home earlier than planned. Unfortunately, this type of situation is a possibility. Consider if you were in Provence celebrating a milestone anniversary with your spouse and you were notified your sister was in a horrible car accident and was hospitalized in intensive care. Your travel insurance plan’s trip interruption benefits would cover the cost of a last-minute one-way flight back to the U.S. It would also cover any non-refundable, unused and prepaid expenses you miss because you have to leave.
Not only would your transportation back home be covered, but also if you prepaid a special anniversary dinner at a vineyard, or an olive oil workshop led by a celebrity chef, these costs are also covered by a plan.
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Guarding Against Medical Expenses
Say you’re visiting Versailles and you twist your ankle while walking on uneven ground. This would be a case where travel medical insurance can help. Cheng at World Nomads says France has a quality health care system with universal coverage, but that doesn’t mean you have the same benefits as residents of France. Your U.S. health plan may have limited or no global coverage (be sure to check with your health insurer well before you depart). And Medicare won’t work in France.
With a robust travel insurance policy, you’re covered for medical expenses. Generous plans offer $500,000 in medical coverage, but you can buy less depending on your budget and level of risk tolerance.
“Your travel insurance plan can help with the costs of any medical emergencies during your trip, whether that is prescriptions at a pharmacy, visits to the doctor, or a ride to the hospital in an ambulance,” says Cheng.
Medical Evacuations in France
If you develop a severe medical issue, the local French clinic may not be adequate.
“Your treating physician may decide that treatment in a different facility or even back home would be the best place for your care and recovery, in which case medical evacuation coverage would be a useful benefit,” says Cheng.
You can find plans with $1 million in medical evacuation insurance, which may sound excessive but medevac costs can add up quickly.
Losing Your Bags
If your luggage goes on its own vacation in France, you can make a travel insurance claim. You can claim reimbursement for bags that never arrive. Or, with baggage delay coverage, you can claim the costs you incur when your bags are delayed, like a jacket and toiletries.
Like any big city packed with tourists, petty theft can be an issue in Paris and other French cities. To reduce the chance of pickpockets and thieves, don’t wear expensive jewelry and try not to draw attention to yourself as a tourist. When you visit the Louvre, put your money, credit cards and traveling documents in a concealed money belt.
But if your handbag is swiped while you’re browsing an outdoor bazaar in Nice, your travel insurance policy can reimburse you. Be sure to file a report of the loss or theft with the local authorities, a hotel manager or your tour leader. You will need this report as documentation when you file a claim.
Note that claims for lost, stolen or damaged baggage and belongings will be reimbursed for their depreciated value, not the cost to buy new items. Also, you may need to make a claim on your home insurance first before travel insurance will kick in.
Related: Travel Insurance: USA To Paris Trips
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via squaremouth.com
