frequently asked questions

You've saved, you've waited, and now you're all set to go on the vacation of your life - a Trafalgar trip. Preparing for your tour includes protecting yourself from unfortunate occurrences that threaten to interfere with even your best-laid plans. By purchasing the Trafalgar Travel Protection Plan, you can help protect yourself against cancellation penalties, medical costs, baggage loss and delays, as well as gain access to a wide range of traveler's assistance services.

Did you know that the Trafalgar Travel Protection Plan could protect you if:

• You become ill and can't travel
• Someone in your immediate family (as defined in the plan) has an illness or injury, even if they aren't scheduled to travel with you
• Your child comes down with an illness and is unable to travel
• Your house becomes flooded due to a hurricane
• A family member back home passes away and you must return from your Trafalgar vacation early
• Your luggage is lost by the airlines
• You twist your ankle and must visit a doctor while traveling
• Many other unforeseeable events as listed in the Travel Protection Plan

The Trafalgar Travel Protection Plan includes pre-trip cancellation protection and post-departure coverage for the following:

Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption

If you must cancel or interrupt your travel programs for a covered reason, the Trafalgar Travel Protection Plan provides coverage up to your TOTAL TOUR COST.

Covered reasons include illness, injury or death to you, a traveling companion or a covered family member. Additional covered reasons for cancellation include jury duty, subpoena, having a home made uninhabitable by a natural disaster, hijacking and being involved in a documented traffic accident en route to departure. Please refer to the Travel Protection Plan for full details.

Trip Delay

If you should miss the departure of your vacation due to carrier-caused delays or other covered reasons, the plan reimburses you for additional accommodations, meals and "catch up" transportation expenses. The plan provides reimbursement up to C$150 per day, up to the maximum C$1,000 limit.

Medical Protection

If you become ill or are injured while on your trip, the Trafalgar Travel Protection Plan will cover up to C$1,000,000 in medical expenses.

* Note:  The Medical Expense benefits of this plan are subject to a maximum benefit limit of C$30,000 for those persons who at the time of a covered injury or sickness do not have valid hospital and medical insurance under a Government Health Insurance Plan of a province or territory of Canada.

Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains

If an injury or illness requires emergency medical transportation to the nearest appropriate medical facility, the plan will pre-pay up to C$50,000 for covered transportation expenses. In addition, in the event of your death, the plan pays up to C$50,000 toward the expenses associated with transporting your remains.

Baggage Protection

Reimburses expenses up to C$2,500 for the covered loss, damage, or theft of baggage and/or personal effects during or while in transit to or from your vacation. This benefit also includes baggage delay protection, covering you for the purchase of necessary items up to C$500 in the event your luggage is delayed by a common carrier for more then 24 hours en route to your tour.

24 Hour Worldwide Emergency Assistance

24-hour emergency telephone assistance hotline for medical and travel-related problems, emergencies ranging from cash transfer, legal, dental, or medical referral, lost travel documents assistance as well as medical consultation and monitoring.

No. The plan covers penalties for airfare purchased through Trafalgar, but does not provide benefits for airfare you book on your own.

Due to territory restrictions, many other insurance policies may not offer any coverage while you travel. Still others may offer partial protection, but due to benefit limits, co-insurance and deductibles, you may not be reimbursed for the full amount incurred. Most people do not have any insurance coverage that covers the cost of their vacation if they must cancel their trip. The Trafalgar Travel Protection Plan has a wide range of travel benefits that credit card, homeowners and renters insurance policies most likely do not offer.

One of the valued benefits offered in the Trafalgar Travel Protection Plan is the 24 Hour Emergency Assistance Service. On Call International is a leader in this field. With On Call International you have access to the services of a highly trained, multi-lingual staff around the clock to assist you with such emergencies as cash transfers, lost documents, medical or legal monitoring or referrals. They are also equipped to respond to many unexpected circumstances, such as providing potentially costly air ambulance transportation in medical emergencies. If an emergency should arise during your vacation, call On Call International immediately and give the details of your problem or medical emergency.

Even if you have a medical condition that would be considered pre-existing under the terms of the policy, you should still consider enrolling in the Travel Protection Plan because:

• if your claim is denied due to a pre-existing condition, you will be provided with a Trafalgar future travel credit equal to the cancellation penalty imposed;
• if you cancel for a reason unrelated to your known, pre-existing medical condition, Trafalgar Travel Protection Plan may still provide coverage. For example, if a family member who is not traveling with you becomes ill and you must cancel your trip, the plan will provide coverage.
• or, if you become ill or injured and it is unrelated to your pre-existing medical condition, the plan would still provide coverage;
• the plan will provide you with protection against loss of your bags; travel delays; and emergency medical evacuation.

Please keep in mind that some medical conditions would not be considered pre-existing under the terms of the policy. Please refer to the Travel Protection Plan for full terms of the Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion.

You can waive the pre-existing condition exclusion by simply purchasing the plan within 2 days of your initial trip deposit in conjunction with your Travel Protection Plan purchase. Doing so will remove the exclusion from the plan so that even pre-existing medical conditions can be covered. So long as you are medically able to travel at time of purchase, waiving the pre-existing condition exclusion is the easiest way to alleviate doubt as to chronic medical conditions.

You may call Aon, the plan administrator, at 1-(866) 580-4869 or 1-(516) 342-2720 with any questions regarding the Trafalgar Travel Protection Plan. Their Customer Care representatives will be happy to assist you.

Office Hours are: 8 AM - 10 PM (ET), Monday - Friday and 9 AM - 5 AM (ET), Saturday

For your convenience, we will add the plan cost on our tour invoice and include it in the balance due. Simply pay the amount indicated on your travel invoice inclusive of this plan cost. You are enrolled upon Trafalgar receipt of payment for the applicable plan cost, in addition to any required trip deposits and/or final balances.

Please be aware that it is in your best interest to purchase the program at time of deposit. Remember, if you purchase the plan within 2 days of your initial trip deposit/payment you will be covered for pre-existing conditions. The earlier effective date will protect you against unforeseen circumstances that may arise at a later date and the Pre-Existing Condition exclusion.

The Trip Cancellation coverage takes effect upon receipt of the required plan cost by Trafalgar. All other benefits will take effect at 12:01 A.M. on your scheduled departure date and location. Your coverage will remain valid until 11:59 P.M. of your scheduled completion date or your return to your origination point as stated on your tickets, whichever is earlier. Please see the Travel Protection Plan for detailed information.

Please contact your travel agent, Trafalgar and Aon as soon as possible in the event of a claim, as the plan will not pay benefits for any additional charges incurred due to a delay in notifying your agent or Trafalgar of your cancellation. Aon will then forward you the appropriate claim form in order to file a claim.

If your Traveling Companion cancels for a covered reason under the Trafalgar Travel Protection Plan and you are forced to pay a "change in occupancy" fee (or single supplement charge), the plan will reimburse you for this expense.

No. There is no coverage for trip cancellation due to weather predictions. However, the plan does provide trip cancellation coverage if your airline is delayed due to inclement weather, provided the originally scheduled flight connections were 90 minutes or longer and scheduled arrival at destination was at least 4 hours prior to the tour departure.

First, obtain verification from the appropriate authority to whom you reported the loss (for example, airline, cruise line, hotel, transportation official, police, etc.). Also be sure to save any store receipts you may have for the original purchases. Upon your return home, simply request a claim form by calling Aon or visiting www.travelclaim.com. You will be asked to complete the form and submit copies of this information along with your claim form, in addition to any response you may have received from your homeowners insurance, renters insurance, or the Air Common Carrier who may have been responsible for the insurance in regard to this loss. You will be reimbursed for items damaged/stolen/lost while traveling up to C$2,500 . The baggage portion of the plan will also reimburse the cost of repair or replacement for the luggage and covered contents inside the luggage.

Yes. The plan will reimburse your co-payments or deductibles, up to C$1,000,000 for a covered accident or for a covered sickness, if you purchased the Travel Protection Plan. Please note that the plan provides coverage for illness or injury that first occurs during your vacation. What's more, the plan still works for you upon your return home, as there is coverage for up to one year for follow up care, treatment or office visits related to your covered illness or injury. Upon your return home, please contact Aon to file a claim and forward copies of your medical bills and any explanation of benefit forms that you may have received from your regular health insurer(s).

Yes. The Accident and Sickness Medical and Dental Expense portion of the Trafalgar Travel Protection Plan is excess of all other valid and collectible insurance. The plan provides reimbursement, up to the maximum shown on the Schedule, for all covered medical expenses not covered under your regular health insurance policy. The plan will provide reimbursement to you for deductibles and co-pays that may be imposed by your health insurance.

Please see the plan's Travel Protection Plan for complete terms regarding covered medical expenses.

In the event of a claim please contact Aon, our Plan Administrator, at 1-(866) 580-4869 between Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 10:00 pm ET. If you plan to cancel your trip due to a covered reason call Trafalgar and Aon immediately to initiate the claims process and to avoid additional expenses due to late notification. You can also file a claim by logging onto www.travelclaim.com and completing the Claim Information Request Form.

Please note that you may want to have a copy of your Trafalgar invoice handy when you call (or go online) as there are some details that will be needed in order to initiate your claim. This information includes your travel dates, date of cancellation, Trafalgar booking or reservation number, and some brief information regarding your reason for cancellation, or other type of loss (i.e., trip delays, baggage loss or delay, medical claims, etc.). Important: If you are canceling your vacation, be sure to also contact your travel agent and/or Trafalgar to notify them of the cancellation, as well as to avoid additional expenses due to late reporting.

Claim forms will be mailed to you within two to three business days. For covered emergencies during your trip which require evacuation or interruption, promptly call On Call International, the assistance company, with your policy number and emergency details.

Once Aon receives full documentation, payment for a covered claim can be generated within five business days.

To check the status of your claim you can contact Aon at 1-(866) 580-4869.

Our definition of immediate family is quite broad. It's not just family members who reside with you. Instead, immediate family includes: mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, brother, sister, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, children, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews among others. See the Definitions section of the Travel Protection Plan for a full listing.

The Trafalgar Travel Protection Plan provides coverage for a vast array of medical expenses which could be incurred as a result of a sickness or injury. The plan provides Accident and Sickness Medical and Dental Expense benefits for necessary services and supplies which are recommended by the attending physician. Covered medical expenses include the services of a legally qualified physician, surgeon, graduate nurse, dentist or osteopath; charges for hospital confinement and use of operating rooms; charges for anesthetics (including administration); x-ray examinations or treatments and laboratory tests; ambulance service; drugs, medicines, and therapeutic services and supplies.

In order to provide this package of benefits, certain restrictions do apply. For example, the plan does not provide duplicate payments if there are other sources of reimbursement available. Exclusions are standard in most insurance products. Please see the Travel Protection Plan for a full list of exclusions.

While the Trafalgar Travel Protection Plan does have a pre-existing condition exclusion, the plan's terms are extensive. The pre-existing condition exclusion precludes coverage only for those medical conditions that manifested themselves, became acute, or were being treated in the 60 days before coverage goes into effect (the date coverage is purchased). You may have a chronic condition that requires you to take medication and still be covered by the plan. Only if you received or were recommended to receive a diagnostic test, examination, or medical treatment and/or if there has been a change in the required prescription would your condition be considered "pre-existing".

In other words, unless you, your traveling companion or a family member booked to travel with you has a new medical condition or one that has recently "flared-up" right before you enroll in the plan, or you have had a change in your required medication, the plan should provide coverage. Please see the Travel Protection Plan for complete details or contact Aon, the plan administrator, at 1-866-580-4869 should you have any questions regarding this exclusion.

PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU PURCHASE THE PLAN WITHIN 2 DAYS OF YOUR INITIAL TOUR DEPOSIT OR PAYMENT, THE PRE-EXISTING CONDITION EXCLUSION WILL NOT APPLY.