Is it more expensive to get travel insurance when going to certain countries? It may be difficult or more expensive to get travel insurance if traveling to certain countries - just as it is when participating...
It may be difficult or more expensive to get travel insurance if traveling to certain countries - just as it is when participating in certain "hazardous sports" while you are traveling. Most travel insurance policies are based on risk assessment and the insurance companies use this as one of several factors to assess your likelihood of actually needing the insurance coverage.
Some research has also been done on the most likely locations in which a traveler overseas is likely to be injured or involved in an accident. In order, these locations are: on the road, on the beach, at your hotel, at an isolated location, on the ski slope. It's perhaps difficult to understand why so many injuries occur in hotel rooms!
The US Department of State maintains a list of countries that have what are known as "travel advisories" meaning that a person may want to exercise caution if visiting those countries. Most of the countries on the list are obvious - Iran, Haiti and Pakistan are to be found there - but some are not so obvious.
Some countries find themselves on the list due to an isolated incident or situation. The usually stable Asian country of Nepal has found itself on the list due to recent civil unrest. You may find it more expensive to get travel insurance if you are traveling to one or more of these countries.
And you may find it difficult to obtain travel insurance if you are visiting the island of Cuba - American citizens are still forbidden by law to visit that country. The only exceptions are if you can prove that you are traveling there for legitimate charitable or research reasons. A reputable travel agent or airline will not assist you with booking your trip to Cuba unless you satisfy those conditions.
Perhaps nothing seems safer than a pre-arranged cruise ship excursion. Unfortunately though, some cruise ship excursions are to hazardous places, or with unlicensed drivers. Most notably, there was a recent tragic accident when several people died during a shore excursion in Chile. Always take care when booking shore excursions or activities which are not affiliated or recommended by the cruise company - this is one time you may need to purchase extra insurance.
If you are traveling to a country where strikes, civil disturbances, riots or other outbreaks are likely to affect your travel plans, look for travel insurance that specifically addresses those possibilities. Some insurance policies will cover acts of terrorism while other policies won't - make sure you read the policy carefully to determine what exactly an act of terrorism may be. Some travel insurance policies also have restrictions when it comes to natural disasters, such as earthquakes.
And if you are flying to an unsafe destination, the airlines also have plenty of small print to read through when it comes to coverage. Basically an airline reserves the right to cancel their flight and give you a full refund in the event of civil war, hostilities, riots or "acts of God" which can be interpreted in many different ways!
