Real Travel Insurance Stories That Might Save Your Trip

You don’t think you’ll need travel insurance—until you do. These real-world travel insurance stories from my clients (and my own life!) show just how valuable coverage can be when the unexpected happens.

Our Family’s COVID Curveball – Reimbursed $8,000

I was days away from a dream trip to Ireland and Scotland with my two kids when all three of us tested positive for COVID. We had to cancel everything—flights, hotels, tours. Thankfully, we had insurance. We were fully reimbursed over $8,000. Without it, that money would have been gone.

Heart Surgery Changed Everything – But Not Their Wallet

One of my clients was booked on a two-week cruise to Hawaii. A month before departure, he needed emergency heart bypass surgery, followed by months of recovery. The trip was clearly off the table—but because they had purchased travel insurance early, they got every penny back.

Canceled Flight, Extra Costs—Fully Reimbursed

One of my clients had their flight canceled at the last minute from our local airport. The only way to stay on schedule was to drive three hours to a different airport and book new flights on their own dime.

They were stressed—but insured. Their travel insurance covered the cost of the new tickets, gas, airport parking, and even meals along the way. Without it, they would’ve been out hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars just to avoid missing their trip entirely.

Fentanyl Exposure in Mexico – No Insurance, No Options

Another client wasn’t so lucky. While in Mexico, they were unknowingly exposed to fentanyl and had to be rushed to the hospital. They didn’t have travel insurance. They ended up maxing out every credit card, borrowing money from family, and draining their savings just to access basic care. Once the money ran out, they were discharged. Thankfully, my client was just stable enough to fly home and were met by EMS upon landing. If they hadn’t had access to thousands of dollars up front, the outcome could’ve been tragic.

These stories aren’t meant to scare you—but to show you that insurance isn’t just a checkbox. It’s the safety net that can protect your health, your finances, and your peace of mind when life doesn’t go according to plan. I break it all down on my blog post.