How much travel insurance is enough?

[tplyons]

Hi all,

Booked a trip to the Red Sea in October. Will be flying into and staying in Egypt when we're not at sea.

I'm looking into trip insurance through DAN. I'm a big DAN fan (peace of mind) but have never bought trip insurance. For trips under $1,000 I'm okay taking my chances. For trips over $2,500, I definitely want insurance, so this is a first time for me.

Basic Trip Insurance covers 100% for trip cancellation, or interruption. $500 for return air only or trip delay. $1,000 for lost gear, $25,000 medical (on top of existing dive insurance) -- This is $166 or 3.7% of the trip's cost.

Premium Insurance covers 100% for cancellation, 150% for interruption. $1,500 for return air only or trip delay. -- This is $189 or 4.3% of the trip's cost.

Elite Insurance is similar to premium, with $2,500 for return air only, trip delay, or missed connection. $3,000 for lost gear. $100,000 for medical. -- this is $214 or 4.8% of the trip's cost.

Looking at the differences, any would cover the cost of the trip. Only differences are once I'm over there and my gear isn't, or I have to toy around with my flights. Being that they're anywhere between 3.7% and 4.7% of my trip's cost (difference is only $50) I'm inclined to go with the Elite Insurance but won't utilize car rental collision coverage, and the additional medical expenses is on top of my existing DAN Diving Accident Insurance.

Also keeping in mind the unrest in the area, I'm inclined to go with the best possible, but don't want to be wasting money.

Is Elite Insurance overkill? Is basic not enough? How would you go?

 

[Doc]

You're already paying for a $4000 trip to the Red Sea.

I appreciate that you worked out the percentage that each level would cost against the total.

A better consideration- you're talking about a difference of $48 (not even the $50 you mention) between basic and Elite.

If it adds to your peace of mind, this isn't much to pay for that.

 

[Insta-Gator]

My wife and I have the Dan Premium. We bought it for the medical/evacuation coverage, not the trip insurance. Trip insurance is a bonus for us. Basically, if we're bent/injured the trip is done and we want to get the heck out and back home as quickly and effectively as possible. All the reviews I've read regarding DAN in these situations makes me a happy member. If I continue to pay for the insurance but never use it, I will be a happy man.

 

[tplyons]

You're already paying for a $4000 trip to the Red Sea.

I appreciate that you worked out the percentage that each level would cost against the total.

A better consideration- you're talking about a difference of $48 (not even the $50 you mention) between basic and Elite.

If it adds to your peace of mind, this isn't much to pay for that.

Thanks, this is pretty much my train of thought. It's 1% of the cost of the trip difference. I might as well spend the extra to sleep better at night.