Travel Insurance:
What It Is and Why You Need It
Meg Green,
Consumer Editor

When Mary and Joe Pribyl of Glenview, Ill., booked a Russian river cruise, they purchased travel insurance just in case they had to cancel due to a family emergency. They never suspected they would end up staying longer than expected — so Joe could have heart surgery in another country.
At the time, Joe, 63, was in perfect health. On their last day in St. Petersburg, he suffered a heart attack.
Instead of flying home as planned, Joe was taken by ambulance to an American medical clinic in St. Petersburg, with Mary staying by his side.
After three or four extra days being treated at the clinic in St. Petersburg, Joe started to have symptoms again. He was told he needed to have heart surgery — beyond what the hospital there was capable of performing.
An air ambulance with medical staff on board flew the couple to a private hospital in Helsinki, Finland, where the surgery was performed. Ten days later, with Joe well on the way to recovery, the couple were able to fly home.
Travel insurance covered the cost of everything — both hospital stays, the surgery,
food and housing and even the upgrade to business class for the long flight home.

More American Travelers
Are Buying Trip Insurance
Source: U.S. Travel Insurance Association Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8