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As the epicenter of religious history, Israel is a popular year-round travel destination. Many of the hotels, tours and excursions must be paid for in advance. These travel deposits and expenses are often non-refundable. Faith alone cannot prevent unexpected travel problems, so it is advisable to purchase travel insurance to protect the money you have invested in your trip to Israel.
“Israel is a country of religious importance, offering travelers natural beauty as well as wonderful museums, temples and religious tours that all can appreciate,” said Scott Adamski, spokesman for AIG Travel Guard. “Gather a pair of comfortable shoes and explore the many wonders that make Israel an important and enjoyable travel destination.”
The best travel insurance companies offer policies with trip cancellation, trip delay and interruption, travel medical expenses, and baggage coverage. Consider these benefits when looking for travel insurance.
Compare & Buy Travel Insurance Trip cancellation insurance to put the Holy City on hold
It can take months to plan a trip to Israel and years to save, and yet something could happen that prevents you from going there. Trip cancellation benefits apply if you have to cancel your trip for unforeseen reasons detailed in the policy, such as illness, injury or death of a close family member. Travel cancellation insurance reimburses you for 100% of prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses.
Not all reasons for trip cancellation are covered by basic travel insurance. For example, if you decide to stay home because your grandchild will star in the high school play, you are not eligible to file a trip cancellation claim.
Cancel for any reason travel insurance.
To make a trip cancellation claim for any reason, add Travel Cancellation For Any Reason (CFAR) to your policy. This upgrade generally increases 50% of your travel insurance costs. But CFAR allows you to cancel anything and any claim as long as you cancel at least 48 hours before your scheduled departure. CFAR insurance typically reimburses 75% of your insured travel expenses and you must normally purchase it within 14 days of booking your trip.
Security Considerations in Israel and the Middle East
Civil unrest — a concern for many visitors to Israel — isn’t typically covered by travel insurance, says Meghan Walch, spokeswoman for InsureMyTrip, a travel insurance comparison provider. If you’re worried about reports of civil unrest unnerving you, Walch says buying a CFAR upgrade might be a good idea. “CFAR offers the most flexibility to cancel a trip at least two days in advance for a reason other than a covered reason,” says Walch.
Terrorist attacks are covered by most travel insurance policies as long as you bought the policy before the incident became foreseeable. This is one of the benefits of purchasing travel insurance when booking your trip. You receive the maximum duration of the cancellation benefits. You also don’t miss the window allotted for purchasing CFAR and other time-sensitive benefits.
Oy Vey! Travel delay insurance for trips to Israel
Travel delay insurance within a comprehensive travel insurance policy can cover the cost of a hotel, meals and other additional expenses if your flight is delayed by an unexpected event such as bad weather or mechanical problems with the aircraft. You can also get non-refundable travel expenses for the parts of your trip that you miss. Let’s say a delay results in you arriving in Israel a day late. If you prepaid for a Tel Aviv tour, you can file a claim to get the money back.
Note that travel delay benefits have a required waiting time, which is specified in the policy. For example, you may need to be six or 12 hours late for late penalties to apply. In addition, there is an insured sum per day and a maximum total benefit limit per person for travel delays.
Trip Interruption Insurance for a Golan Heights Interruption
No one goes on a trip expecting to return earlier than planned, but an emergency at home could cause you to cut short a trip. Then travel interruption insurance can be a blessing. You will find this protection in a comprehensive travel insurance policy.
Trip interruption travel insurance can pay for a last-minute flight home from Israel if you have to depart early for a reason covered by your policy. For example, the illness, injury or death of a traveling companion or immediate family member is covered by most policies. You can also claim prepaid non-refundable travel expenses that you will lose.
Not all problems and incidents are covered by standard trip interruption insurance. For example, if you find that there is ongoing clashes between protesters on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and you decide to skip that portion of your excursion, you are not eligible to file a travel disruption claim.
Travel Insurance “Interruption for any reason”.
If you want the freedom to shorten your trip at any cost, you can purchase an Interruption for Any Reason (IFAR) travel insurance upgrade. Purchasing an IFAR upgrade will increase your travel insurance costs by 3% to 10% but will reimburse 50% or 75% of your insured travel costs depending on the policy. IFAR benefits generally apply after 48 or 72 hours from the start of your trip. Not all travel insurance companies offer an IFAR upgrade.
Medical issues while traveling to Israel
Travel health insurance is one of the most important considerations when traveling abroad. Your US-based health insurer may not be traveling with you, so it’s best to contact your health insurer to verify what global coverage you have. Older travelers should know that Medicare is not accepted outside of the United States
That is why it is very important to take out travel health insurance. It pays up to the policy limits for medical and hospital expenses, laboratory work, medication and x-rays, and other medically necessary expenses due to illness or injury. The best travel insurance plans have $500,000 worth of coverage, but many plans offer less if you think you don’t need that much.
Emergency Evacuation Travel Insurance
AIG Travel’s Adamski says that while there is adequate medical care in Israel’s larger cities, your travels may take you to more remote regions of the country. If you get injured there or become very ill, you may need immediate air transport to reach a properly equipped medical center.
According to Adamski, medical evacuations can be expensive — from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on location and condition. For this reason, it is advisable to take out travel insurance that includes medical evacuation insurance. It pays up to your policy limits for medevac benefits to the nearest eligible treatment center.
Non-medical evacuation travel insurance
What if political or civil unrest breaks out during your stay in Israel and you feel unsafe? Some travel insurance policies include non-medical evacuation services to get you to safety, says Megan Moncrief, spokeswoman for travel insurance comparison provider Squaremouth.
If you’re concerned about civil unrest, consider purchasing a policy with non-medical evacuation coverage. For example, AIG Travel’s Travel Guard Deluxe includes security evacuation insurance up to $100,000.
Baggage Insurance for Israel Travel
If your luggage is lost or stolen, luggage insurance can reimburse you for the diminished value of your suitcases and their contents up to the limits of your policy. Be sure to read your policy for per-item coverage limits and exclusions.
Also check if your luggage insurance is primary or secondary. If it is primary insurance, submit a baggage insurance claim first. If it’s secondary, file a claim with your home or renters insurance first, then your travel insurance company.
Baggage insurance also extends to your personal belongings when you are at your destination. If your backpack is stolen, you can claim a refund. Make sure you get a theft report from local law enforcement or your tour guide. You will need this report when making a claim.
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How much does travel insurance cost for a trip to Israel?
The average cost of travel insurance for a trip to Israel is $456 based on Squaremouth data. Travelers insure an average of $6,349 for trips to Israel.
In general, according to Forbes Advisor, the average travel insurance cost is 6% of your travel expenses. The cost of travel insurance is usually based primarily on your travel expenses and your age.
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