Mexico was the top international destination for travel-insurance purchases in 2014, according to a report from InsureMyTrip, a travel insurance comparison shopping website.
This corresponds with an increase in travel to Mexico, says InsureMyTrip, citing U.S. Department of Commerce figures. “In 2014, roughly 25 million U.S. travelers visited the country, up 22% from 2013,” InsureMyTrip says in a blog post. U.S. air travel to Mexico was up 11%, InsureMyTrip adds.
InsureMyTrip’s insurance agents say the top concerns among those seeking coverage for their Mexico travels were:
- Bad weather affecting travel plans.
- Health and safety issues affecting travel plans.
- Medical care required abroad.
“It is no surprise that Mexico continues to be a popular destination for American tourists. However, financial and health concerns are a factor when planning trips to this country. In turn, more are purchasing travel insurance to mitigate the risks,” says InsureMyTrip CEO Jim Grace.
InsureMyTrip says most travel-insurance customers purchased a comprehensive policy for trips to Mexico, which covers trip cancellation, trip interruption, medical, and emergency evacuation coverage.
After Mexico, the top international destinations for travel insurance were:
- Italy.
- United Kingdom.
- France.
- Israel.
- Spain.
Summer Travelers
A separate InsureMyTrip blog post, based on a poll of its agents, states that summer travelers are purchasing coverage for the following reasons, in order of importance:
- Hurricanes or bad weather affecting travel plans.
- Concerns over coverage for a vacation rental.
- Health issues affecting travel plans.
InsureMyTrip points out those concerned about hurricanes should purchase travel insurance early. “Once a storm starts forming, insurance is no longer available,” InsureMyTrip notes.
