(Yes—Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Skip It)
When you’re planning a trip within the U.S., travel insurance might not be the first thing on your list. After all, you’re not leaving the country, right? But here’s the truth: many of the same risks that can derail an international trip can happen right here at home—and they can still hit your wallet hard.
Whether you’re jetting off to Disney, exploring Hawaii, hiking in a national park, or visiting family across the country, travel insurance can protect your plans and your investment.
Here’s why it’s worth considering—even for domestic travel:
Trip Cancellation or Interruption
Life happens—sometimes at the worst possible moment. If you need to cancel or cut your trip short due to illness, injury, a family emergency, a job change, or even your tour company shutting down, travel insurance can help you recover non-refundable costs.
Real-life scenario:
You’ve booked flights, hotel or rental accommodations, park tickets, and tours for a family vacation to Florida or Hawaii. Then, just before takeoff, someone in your group gets sick and your doctor advises against traveling. Without insurance? That money’s gone. With it? You can file a claim and get reimbursed.
Emergency Medical Expense Coverage
Your health insurance might not go as far as you think when you’re out of state —especially if you’re outside your network or on a high-deductible plan. Medicare also doesn’t always cover care away from home.
What that looks like:
You’re sightseeing when you slip and fall, ending up in the ER. Or worse — you suffer a heart attack and need urgent medical care abroad. Without travel medical insurance, you’re on the hook for out-of-pocket expenses like deductibles, co-pays, and charges your regular health insurance may not cover — especially if you’re treated out-of-network. These costs can quickly add up to thousands of dollars. If your condition warrants ongoing treatment back home, your plan can also cover the cost of medical evacuation or repatriation — another potentially significant expense.
Lost, Delayed, or Stolen Luggage
Even domestic airlines lose or delay baggage. And theft can happen anywhere—whether you’re in a city or at a resort.
How insurance helps:
If your luggage is delayed for a few days, travel insurance can help pay for essentials until it arrives. If it’s stolen or permanently lost—like that expensive golf bag or hiking gear—you can be reimbursed for your losses that an airline may not cover.
One More Thing: Booking Platforms Don’t Cover Everything
When you buy insurance through an airline or hotel website, it usually only protects that one specific booking—not your entire trip. That means your tours, transfers, and other plans might be left out or even have gaps in coverage or when benefits are available. A standalone travel insurance policy can cover the whole trip, not just pieces of it.
Bottom Line
If you’re spending your hard-earned money on flights, hotels, and experiences—even just a few states away—it makes sense to protect that investment and protect your health. Travel insurance for domestic trips can help you avoid big losses, handle the unexpected, and travel with confidence…even if traveling domestically.
So yes—travel insurance is important for domestic trips as it is for international ones.
Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it!
Need help finding the right plan for your next trip?
You can review the various plan options on the TME Website or talk to your advisor to review your options for comprehensive trip protection and coverage or travel medical and medical evacuation plans (including multi-trip plans available in most states)