How Airport Security Measures Have Impacted The Travel Insurance Industry

New airport security measures including the full-body scanner are almost universally reviled by Americans traveling to foreign and domestic destinations. While the TSA is doing their best to ensure that flying is as safe as possible for all travelers as well as airline employees and the general public, many of the new airport security measures can be invasive and give travelers the feeling that they stand accused of crimes they have not committed. These new measures also present a challenge for the travel insurance industry, and have had a number of effects on the price and functionality of basic travel insurance to a number of destinations around the globe.

Travel insurance is intended to provide protection for travelers on both foreign soil and before they leave the country in order to ensure that their trip proceeds as smoothly as possible. While the cost for travel insurance can be fairly costly, it is often an excellent investment if an incident occurs that is beyond the control of travelers, such as a medical emergency or natural disaster. One of the main functions of travel insurance is also to assist travelers in reaching their destination on time, and if that is not possible, to cover their expenses while new travel options can be secured. When it comes to airport security measures, travel insurance does have a potential role to play.

If a traveler is stopped by security personnel for an unjustified reason or is singled out in a way that is unfair, it is possible that travel insurance will pay for the cost of a hotel room, new flight and other expenses related to a delay. However, travelers must be aware that with the new level of security measures in place, the travel insurance industry cannot grant claims if they choose to defy or ignore security rules that are in place. If a traveler is carrying contraband material or chooses to ignore the direction of security personnel, any claim with a travel insurance company will likely be denied, and a traveler will be on their own when it comes to covering expenses.

In order to deal with the delays and possible problems presented by new airport security measures, many travel insurance policies have become more robust and also increased in price. While these new policies often offer a higher level of service and broader range of coverage, they cannot protect those who do not protect themselves. Any reasonable security request must be followed, and travelers must ensure that they abide by all rules set out by the security agency in the country they are in. Failure to do so could result in a lack of support from any travel insurance provider.