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A popular destination right now is Costa Rica, which offers adventure, white sand beaches and a tropical vibe.
If you’re planning a Costa Rica trip to experience the Arenal Volcano, the hanging bridges in Monteverde and the wonders of the La Fortuna Waterfall, consider buying travel insurance to compensate you for problems that may arise before or during your trip.
Medical Benefits from a Travel Insurance Policy
When you travel outside the U.S. it’s important to know that your domestic health insurance plan may provide no or very limited coverage. Unexpected illness or injury is always a possibility when you travel, so it’s smart to purchase a comprehensive travel insurance policy with a suite of benefits, including travel medical insurance.
“Costa Rica is an adventure sports haven where you can zip line through dense jungles, surf the waves on the Pacific Coast or go on volcanic treks through the cloud forests,” says Lisa Cheng, a spokesperson with travel insurer World Nomads.
Travel medical insurance compensates you for emergency medical expenses and is a crucial component of travel insurance.
“Whether you get into a surfing accident or you bump your head on a kayak, this coverage can help keep you from ending up paying an arm and a leg for medical bills and get you to a hospital even if you’re in a remote part of the country,” says Cheng.
In addition, beaches in Costa Rica can have dangerous rip currents and may not be supervised by lifeguards. Tour operators may not adhere to international safety regulations, says Cheng.
“That’s why we suggest emergency medical coverage for travelers to Costa Rica. Not only can it get you the treatment that you need, it will also prevent you from getting stuck with a mountain of medical bills,” she says.
Make sure your travel insurance plan covers the adventure sports you plan to participate in. Many have exclusions for risky activities such as zip lining. World Nomads covers more than 200 sports, including bungee jumping and surfing, on its Standard and Explorer plans. If you are an ultimate thrill-seeker, the Explorer plan covers a greater number of activities.
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Consider Medical Evacuation Coverage for Costa Rica
In a worst-case medical scenario you might need to travel for care. For example, if you end up in a location in Costa Rica that’s two hours from a major medical center and you develop an allergic reaction to an insect bite, medical evacuation insurance could literally save your life.
This coverage in a travel insurance plan will transport you to the nearest facility that can treat your condition. Without this type of coverage, it could cost you thousands in out-of-pocket expenses to get to an adequate facility.
Covering Expenses If Your Trip Is Delayed
Flying to Costa Rica may include a stop-over flight. If you miss your connecting flight because your airline has a mechanical issue or weather causes a cancellation, trip delay benefits will reimburse you if you need transportation, lodging, or personal care items to tide you over until you can continue on with your travel plans.
There is usually a minimum delay time requirement of three to 12 hours before travel delay benefits kick in. Each policy varies, so be sure to read your plan.
Trip Cancellation Insurance
When you purchase a travel insurance policy, you buy protection if you need to cancel the trip for reasons covered by the policy. These generally include:
- Injury or illness of you or a traveling companion
- A death in the immediate family
- Natural disasters or severe weather
- A national emergency in your destination
Trip cancellation insurance covers many reasons for canceling travel, but not everything. For example, if you have a fear of travel because you heard there’s a stomach virus circulating at your all-inclusive resort in Costa Rica, that would not be covered under standard trip cancellation.
If you’re worried that standard trip cancellation insurance isn’t enough, there’s “cancel for any reason” coverage. This upgrade adds about 40% to your travel insurance cost and allows you to cancel your trip up to two days before your departure, for any reason. With a “cancel for any reason” upgrade you can generally receive 50% or 75% reimbursement of your trip cost.
Travel Insurance for Trip Interruption
Costa Rica is in an active earthquake and volcano zone, so you may encounter flash floods and landslides, especially during the rainy season.
“Natural disaster coverage can come in handy in these case scenarios,” says Cheng at World Nomads. Many travel insurance plans offer trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage if your accommodations are destroyed by a natural disaster or if your flight schedule is disrupted, making it impossible to get to your destination.
Trip interruption insurance protects you beyond weather and natural disaster problems. For example, if you have pre-paid guided tours through the rain forest or a private helicopter tour of the rugged terrain, and you need to return home due to a family emergency like an unexpected death, trip interruption insurance can reimburse you for unused and pre-paid non-refundable deposits on tours, hotels and flights.
Getting Baggage Insurance
Traveling in Costa Rica offers an abundance of excitement and relaxation, but there is also the potential for inconvenience and crime. Petty crime can happen in any tourist destination.
“Take basic precautionary measures: Don’t leave valuables on the beach, keep your passport locked in a hotel safe, and avoid walking around alone at night, especially in San Jose,” says Cheng.
The baggage and personal belongings coverage within a travel insurance policy can pay to repair, replace or reimburse you for stolen belongings, factoring in depreciation. Check to see if your plan’s baggage coverage is secondary, meaning any other applicable insurance has to pay out first, such as your homeowners insurance.
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