Call it revenge travel. Call it self-care. Call it plain old wanderlust. Whatever the reason, younger people are traveling again — and, for the first time, travel insurance is a must-have.

Traditionally, older travelers were the primary purchasers of insurance, because they were more likely to worry about medical emergencies and losing their travel investment. Trip insurance comparison site Squaremouth says its customers are now 10 years younger than the historic average, and that people in their early 40s are driving travel insurance purchases.¹

After many people experienced unplanned trip cancellations last year, they’ve learned that travel is just too unpredictable, and insurance provides peace of mind. Here’s why younger travelers need it.

1. COVID is making every trip more challenging.

Quarantine. Travel restrictions. Travel delays. Lockdowns. By this point, most everyone has had their travel plans ruined by COVID-19 in some way. And having to change or cancel a trip last-minute can get really expensive.

Travel insurance can help. Most plans from Allianz Global Assistance now include the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement, which adds covered reasons to select benefits for certain losses related to COVID-19 and any future epidemic.

For plans with the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement, your plan may include epidemic-related covered reasons under some or all of the following benefits:

• Trip cancellation, if for example you must cancel your trip after being diagnosed with COVID-19.
• Trip interruption, if for example you get sick during your trip, or if you are specifically named and individually ordered to quarantine (not including generally or broadly applicable quarantines).
• Travel delay, if for example you are denied boarding based on a suspicion that you are ill with an epidemic disease such as COVID-19.
• Emergency medical care, if for example you are diagnosed with COVID-19 and need to be hospitalized while traveling.

Please understand, however, that the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement doesn’t cover every possible loss related to COVID-19. Your insurance will not cover your losses if you:

• Cancel your trip because you’re afraid of getting infected with COVID-19
• Cancel your trip because a travel warning or advisory was issued for your destination
• Are unable to travel because you didn’t meet your destination’s vaccination and/or testing requirements

To see if your plan includes this endorsement, please look for “Epidemic Coverage Endorsement” on your Declarations of Coverage or Letter of Confirmation. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply.

2. Travel has gotten more expensive.

The average daily cost of hotels was up 18% in early 2022 compared with the same time last year, according to Priceline. Average airfares were up 32%.² While we’ve learned that COVID variants can abruptly change travel trends, Priceline expects the cost of travel to keep increasing due to inflation and increased demand.

If you’re paying more for your vacation, you really, really don’t want to lose that investment! Trip cancellation benefits can reimburse you for prepaid, non-refundable trip costs when you must cancel for a covered reason.

3. Travel insurance is really affordable for younger travelers.

Did you know that the cost of a single-trip plan is typically determined by just two factors: your trip cost and your age? Because younger travelers tend to be healthier and lower-risk, their travel insurance costs a lot less. See for yourself — get a quote!

If you’re on a tight travel budget, there are plenty of inexpensive travel insurance options. The low-priced OneTrip Cancellation Plus Plan is perfect for those who are traveling within the U.S. and mainly need trip cancellation/interruption and travel delay benefits. On the flip side, if you’re heading overseas and only want emergency medical and emergency medical transportation benefits, the OneTrip Emergency Medical Plan could be a good fit.

If you’re planning to take more than two trips in a year, you’ll save a lot with a multi-trip plan that can cover you for 365 days. Most plans include rental car damage protection, too, which is a money-saving bonus.

Read more: What Factors Affect the Cost of Travel Insurance?

4. Cancellation policies change constantly.

The good news is that many airlines have stayed flexible, removing change fees (at least temporarily) and allowing changes in flight plans (unless you’re booking the economy or saver fare).³ However, these policies change often, and hotels/flights booked on third-party sites can be tougher to change or cancel.

Traditionally, cruise lines have had the strictest cancellation policies, with zero or fractional refunds if you canceled less than 14-30 days ahead of sailing. In 2022, cruise cancellation policies are more forgiving. Many now allow passengers to cancel as late as 48 hours before embarkation. They won’t give you a refund, however! In most cases, you’ll get a credit for a future cruise, which must be used by a certain date.⁴ If you’re unable to use that credit, you’re out of luck…. unless you have trip cancellation benefits.

5. Many destinations now require travel insurance.

As countries open their borders to travelers, some are making insurance mandatory. Why? Because they don’t want to bear the burden of care for COVID-related medical expenses. Some popular destinations that require travel insurance (as of early 2022) include the British Virgin Islands, Turks & Caicos, Costa Rica and Thailand.

Learn more: Which Countries Require Travel Insurance for Entry?

6. Travel insurance can cover your kids for free.

You want to give your children the best memories of family vacations… but what if something goes awry? Travel insurance gives you peace of mind by protecting your kids. With OneTrip Prime and OneTrip Premier, you don’t have to pay extra for that protection: Kids 17 and under are covered for free when traveling with a parent or grandparent (not available on policies issued to Pennsylvania residents).

7. Assistance is priceless.

Picture this: You’re exploring the tiny island of Donousa in Greece, on a dreamy 10^th-anniversary getaway, when your partner feels a sudden, unbearable pain in their side. They need to go to the emergency room — but is the local medical center the right place to go?  If it is, how will you get there? What if they need to be airlifted to a larger island? How much is this going to cost?

When you have Allianz Travel Insurance, you don’t have to panic. Contact 24-hour assistance, either by phone or with a tap on the Allyz® TravelSmart app. Our dedicated team of multilingual problem solvers can identify the nearest appropriate medical facility, arrange emergency transportation, provide interpretation services to help you communicate with healthcare providers, monitor your partner’s care, arrange payment for covered medical care, and more. It’s all part of your travel insurance protection.

Find the plan that’s right for you.

Related Articles

• Your Guide to Choosing the Best Travel Insurance for Your Trip
• When's the Best Time to Buy Travel Insurance?
• 24/7 Help is At Your Fingertips with the Allyz TravelSmart App