Do You Really Need Travel Insurance? What Florida & New York Travelers Need to Know
You've booked the flights. Reserved the hotel. Planned every detail of your trip. But what happens if a hurricane forces you to cancel? What if you get sick abroad and need emergency medical care? What if your luggage gets lost or your flight gets cancelled at the last minute?
Travel insurance is the one thing most people don't think about until it's too late. At NextGuard Insurance, powered by Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, we make it easy for Florida and New York travelers to get comprehensive coverage before they leave home.
What Is Travel Insurance and What Does It Cover?
Travel insurance protects you financially when something goes wrong before or during your trip. A good travel insurance plan covers several key areas:
Trip Cancellation If you have to cancel your trip for a covered reason — illness, injury, death of a family member, severe weather, or other unexpected events — travel insurance reimburses your non-refundable trip costs. For Florida travelers, this is especially important given hurricane season runs from June through November.
Trip Interruption If your trip is cut short due to a covered event, travel insurance covers the unused portion of your trip and the cost of getting home early.
Emergency Medical Coverage This is arguably the most important benefit. Most domestic health insurance plans provide little to no coverage outside the United States. If you get sick or injured abroad, you could face enormous medical bills. Travel insurance covers emergency medical treatment, hospitalization, and doctor visits during your trip.
Emergency Medical Evacuation If you're seriously injured or ill in a remote location or a country with inadequate medical facilities, emergency evacuation can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Travel insurance covers the cost of getting you to the nearest appropriate medical facility — or back home.
Baggage Loss and Delay Covers lost, stolen, or damaged luggage. Also covers essential items you need to purchase if your bags are delayed.
Travel Delay If your flight is delayed for a covered reason, travel insurance reimburses meals, accommodations, and other expenses while you wait.
24/7 Worldwide Travel Assistance All plans include around-the-clock assistance services — whether you need help finding a doctor abroad, replacing a lost passport, or arranging emergency transportation.
Our Travel Insurance Plans
Through our partnership with Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection — an A-rated carrier — we offer three levels of coverage to fit every type of traveler and budget:
ExactCare Value® Complete coverage on a budget. Ideal for travelers who want solid protection at an affordable price. Covers trip cancellation, trip interruption, emergency medical, evacuation, and baggage.
ExactCare® (Most Popular) Our comprehensive traditional plan. Everything in ExactCare Value plus higher benefit limits and broader coverage. The right choice for most travelers taking international or cruise trips.
ExactCare Extra® Our most comprehensive plan. Everything in ExactCare plus flight protection — covering flight accidents, flight delays, and missed connections. Perfect for travelers with complex itineraries or expensive trips.
Why Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection?
Not all travel insurance is created equal. The carrier behind your policy matters enormously — especially when you need to file a claim.
Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection is backed by one of the most financially strong companies in the world. They're known for fast claims processing, transparent coverage, and outstanding customer service. When something goes wrong during your trip, you want a carrier that actually pays.
At NextGuard Insurance, we chose Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection specifically because of their reputation for delivering when it counts.
When Should You Buy Travel Insurance?
The best time to buy travel insurance is as soon as you book your trip. Here's why:
Pre-existing condition coverage — Many plans include a waiver for pre-existing medical conditions if you purchase within a certain window of your initial trip deposit, typically 14 to 21 days.
Cancel for any reason — Some upgrades require purchase shortly after booking to qualify.
Hurricane and storm coverage — You cannot buy travel insurance to cover a storm that has already been named. If you're traveling during Florida's hurricane season, buy your policy before the storm forms.
Waiting until the week before your trip may leave you without coverage for events that occurred before you purchased the policy.
Do You Need Travel Insurance If You Have a Credit Card?
Many travelers assume their credit card's travel benefits are enough. In most cases they are not. Credit card travel protections are typically limited, have strict eligibility requirements, and often exclude emergency medical coverage entirely.
A dedicated travel insurance policy from a licensed carrier like Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection provides broader coverage, higher benefit limits, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing you're properly protected.
Florida Travelers: Special Considerations
Florida residents face unique travel risks that make travel insurance especially important:
Hurricane season runs June through November. If a storm forces you to evacuate or cancels your trip, travel insurance reimburses your non-refundable costs.
Cruise travel is enormous in Florida with major ports in Miami, Port Everglades, Tampa, and Port Canaveral. Cruise trips involve significant upfront costs — travel insurance protects that investment.
International travel from Florida to the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe is common. Emergency medical coverage is essential for international trips where your domestic health plan won't apply.
New York Travelers: Special Considerations
New York City is one of the busiest travel hubs in the world. Whether you're departing from JFK, LaGuardia, or Newark, travel delays and cancellations are a reality of flying in and out of the New York metro area.
New York travelers also tend to take longer, more expensive international trips — making trip cancellation and interruption coverage especially valuable. And with harsh winter weather causing frequent flight disruptions, travel delay coverage can save you hundreds of dollars in unexpected hotel and meal costs.
How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost?
Travel insurance typically costs between 4% and 10% of your total trip cost. For a $5,000 trip, that's $200 to $500 for comprehensive coverage — a small price compared to losing your entire investment if something goes wrong.
The exact cost depends on your age, trip cost, destination, length of travel, and the plan you choose. Get a personalized quote in minutes through our travel insurance page.
How to Get Travel Insurance Through NextGuard
Getting covered is simple:
Visit our travel insurance page at nextguardinsurance.com
Choose your plan — ExactCare Value, ExactCare, or ExactCare Extra
Get your personalized quote in minutes
Purchase your policy and travel with confidence
You can also call us directly at 754-337-9710 and we'll walk you through the options and find the right plan for your trip.
Don't Travel Unprotected
Every year thousands of travelers face unexpected medical emergencies, trip cancellations, lost luggage, and flight disruptions that cost them thousands of dollars out of pocket. Travel insurance is not a luxury — it's a smart, affordable way to protect your investment and your health no matter where in the world you go.
NextGuard Insurance, powered by Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, is here to make sure you travel with complete confidence.
Ready to get covered?
📞 Call us at 754-337-9710 🌐 Visit nextguardinsurance.com 📍 Fort Lauderdale, FL · Licensed in FL & NY
Travel insurance plans underwritten by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company. Coverage may vary by state and plan selected.
