Pandemic Prompts More Americans To Buy Travel Insurance

Image: Travel insurance is an important part of vacation planning. (photo via iStock / Getty Images Plus / Andrei Sauko)
Image: Travel insurance is an important part of vacation planning. (photo via iStock / Getty Images Plus / Andrei Sauko)
Lacey Pfalz
by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 10:12 AM ET, Tue September 21, 2021

A new survey completed by AAA Travel has found that the pandemic has increased the necessity of travel insurance for Americans.

The survey found 55 percent of Americans are planning a vacation of at least one night before the end of next year, while 31 percent of travelers said they'd purchase travel insurance for their trips through the end of 2022 due to the pandemic.

Almost three-fourths of travelers cited refunds as the biggest reason why they'd purchase travel insurance, at 69 percent. "Cancel at any time" policies offer more flexibility when it comes to planning and canceling travel, which can be crucial when the pandemic is still uncertain and ever-changing.

Some travel insurance providers are also beginning to cover pandemic-related travel expenses or emergencies, like mandatory quarantines or medical care, in certain policies. Check with a trusted travel advisor or contact that insurance provider's customer service line to find the correct policy for you and your travel group.

"Travel insurance is relatively inexpensive for the large amount of peace of mind it affords, and that's more valuable than ever in light of the pandemic," said Paula Twidale, senior vice president, AAA Travel. "Americans have seen how important travel insurance is to protect their vacation investment and are prioritizing this purchase at the start, now more than ever."

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Lacey Pfalz

Lacey Pfalz

Senior Editor, News & Features

Lacey Pfalz is Associate Editor at TravelPulse. She's a passionate advocate of responsible travel and believes the best travel experiences happen outside of a planned itinerary. Lacey currently lives in rural Wisconsin. She can be reached at [email protected].

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