Are you thinking about booking a Hawaii vacation for your family? Find out whether or not it’s worth investing in Hawaii travel insurance!
This post about Hawaii travel insurance was written by family travel expert Marcie Cheung and may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.
Are you wondering if you need travel insurance for your Hawaii vacation?
In 2019, Americans spent nearly $3.8 billion across all types of travel protection according to a survey by the US Travel Insurance Association. This represented a 41% increase when compared to 2018.
So when it comes to your Hawaiian vacation, do you need Hawaii Travel Insurance?
Today, we’ll look at some of the pros and cons of attaining travel insurance before your trip to the Aloha state.
If you have an accident or get sick while on vacation in Hawaii, medical bills can quickly add up and put a serious dent in your wallet – especially if there are any delays with flights or other transportation back home due to weather conditions or mechanical issues.
With proper coverage from a travel insurer, these costs will be covered so that you don’t have to worry about them during what should be one of the best times of your life!
Ok, so let’s dive into whether or not Hawaii travel insurance is worth it for your next Hawaiian vacation.
Want a Hawaii travel guide? I’ve got detailed guides and 7-day itineraries!
Hawaii Vacation Planning FAQs
For the cheapest prices and fewest crowds, try to visit Hawaii during the shoulder season. This is usually mid-April to June in the Spring and September to mid-December in the Fall.
It really depends on your Hawaii vacation goals. Oahu is a great first island to visit because it has a lot of top attractions (like Waikiki and Pearl Harbor). Maui is pretty popular for honeymoons and babymoons because of the fantastic resorts. Kauai is much more laid back and is perfect for adventurers and foodies. And the Big Island is a great place to fully unplug and explore and quieter pace of life.
Unless you are staying in Waikiki, it’s really helpful to have a rental car in Hawaii. There are tons of places to explore and their bus system can take awhile and might not go where you’d like. It’s also tricky to find reliable Uber/Lyft options and they are often pretty expensive.
What is Travel Insurance?
So what is travel insurance beyond an extra cost before your much-needed vacation?
Travel insurance is similar to health or home insurance and exists to help mitigate the financial risk of traveling.
Unfortunately, we must take on certain risks when traveling. Risks include delayed luggage and flight-altering weather among others.
Travel insurance plans help cover costs incurred when something goes off-plan.
Every travel insurance plan you consider for Hawaii or other locations will differ in coverage and price. It’s important to read carefully and speak with a representative about your next travel insurance plan before purchasing.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common types of coverage individuals look for when purchasing travel insurance plans.
Travel Cancellation Flexibility
One of the most prominent benefits of travel insurance is flexibility. Many formal travel insurance plans and simpler airline add-ons allow for travel cancellation flexibility.
This means that you would be able to cancel your flight or travel plans and receive a refund. These plans typically allow cancellations up to 24 hours before your travel date.
This is an extremely helpful benefit when you’re nabbing a flight deal or other vacation special for a later date.
If you fall ill at home or are unable to take time off from work, you’d be able to refund your travel costs for the low price of travel coverage in this instance.
Lost or Destroyed Baggage
Nothing makes a heart sink faster than arriving at your dream destination only to find that your checked bag is lost or damaged.
Travel insurance can also cover lost or damaged baggage and make it easier for you to be reimbursed for your belongings.
Airlines are typically required to reimburse you for lost or damaged bags. However, airline policies often exclude jewelry and fragile items.
You do have the right to file a claim with the US Department of Transportation if your airline doesn’t reimburse you. Even so, travel insurance claims are often easier to deal with in this scenario.
Book a Family Photo Shoot
Whenever we travel, we almost always book a family photo shoot with Flytographer. They are super easy, affordable, AND they guarantee that I’ll be in some photos. You can get $25 off if you book through this link or use the code HAWAIITRAVEL.
Dangerous Weather Coverage
It’s a huge headache when flights and travel plans are canceled by airlines.
While airlines must compensate you for flights canceled for mechanical issues, they don’t actually have to reimburse you for weather complications.
On the other hand, travel insurance coverage specializes in offering packages that cover costs when your travel is interrupted by weather conditions.
Some plans also cover horrible weather at your destination. This means that they may reimburse you for experiencing devastating hurricanes during what should be a sunny fun-filled vacation.
Health & Travel Insurance Coverage
Hawaii is often described as the world’s outdoor playground for its amazing nature walks, national parks, and hiking opportunities. Unfortunately, alongside outdoor fun activity comes the risk of injury and the cost of treatment.
Health insurance will always be your main fallback for unforeseen injuries. But some travel insurance coverages also cover accidents during your trip.
This can be a great option for those of us with weaker health insurance plans or fear of adventuring in unknown terrain.
If you’re interested in this coverage, in particular, be sure to determine what your current health insurance does and does not cover. Look into the cost of medical evaluations away from home as well.
Emergency Assistance in Hawaii
In even more unique circumstances, you might want to take a look into travel insurance that covers emergency assistance when visiting Hawaii.
Getting medical treatment away from home is already scary enough. But in a place as close to nature as Hawaii, you also have to consider how you plan to get back to a neighboring town if you get injured on a hike.
Many locations in the Aloha state are remote. Some even require helicopters when retrieving injured visitors to the state. Flights like this can be rather costly.
If you plan to take particularly remote exploration trips when visiting the Hawaiian islands, this is a cost you might want to insure for.
Cons of Hawaii Travel Insurance
It seems like acquiring Hawaii travel insurance is a good move for most vacation-goers.
So what are the cons of Hawaii travel insurance? The largest con is the cost of purchasing a travel insurance plan.
Travel insurance plans typically cost at least a few hundred dollars to cover a multi-thousand dollar domestic trip.
In the best-case scenario, your trip will go swimmingly well with no travel insurance reimbursements. In this case, your policy cost was spent for peace of mind and protection.
Another con of purchasing travel insurance is the amount of time that goes into finding a reputable insurance company. It also takes time to compare your current healthcare plan coverage to potential travel coverage.
Do You Need Hawaii Travel Insurance?
Whether or not you choose to purchase Hawaii Travel Insurance is a personal choice.
In general, we recommend purchasing at least a baseline insurance plan before traveling. This will protect you from weather and travel complications that can cost you losing out on on-location events and fun.
If you’re planning a large event like a destination wedding, travel insurance will be more costly. But it can also be even more invaluable to protect your investments into the rest of the event such as multiple hotel reservations and catering.
Want a Hawaii travel guide? I’ve got detailed guides and 7-day itineraries!