The key to group coverage is that everyone in the group must participate in the plan in order to qualify for the coverage. Otherwise, group travel insurance is just like travel insurance for individuals, including the free look period to review the policy, the exclusions and conditions, and the process for making a claim. If one person in the group has to cancel their trip for a covered reason, the remaining travelers can continue with their travel plans.

The following is a list of plans that are specifically geared to group travelers:

• Group Go! from CSA – a package plan
• Worldwide Group Protector from Travel Insurance Services – a travel medical plan for groups of 3 to 100
• Travel Insured International offers Group Lite and Group Deluxe, two group coverage package plans with a full range of benefits, and Group Secure, a travel medical plan.
• Protect-a-Group from TravelSafe is also a package plan for groups of 10 or more.

If you’re interested in purchasing a group travel plan, be sure to review the group travel information page, which outlines the risks of group travel and the coverage you’ll need as a group traveler.

A young woman traveling with a group slipped and fell down some stairs at a train station. Since she was towards the rear of the group, it was not discovered until they were on the train and realized she was not with them.

The group was able to exit the train in time and find their friend. She was taken to a hospital for treatment, where she remained for two months.

Her distraught family flew to Japan to take care of her, where she remained unstable in a coma. After two months, the family paid $90,000 for a medical evacuation flight to take her home for further care.

After two additional months of care, she died last Wednesday. She had just turned 33 years old.

Even though money is of no importance to the family after such a tragedy, there is also no need for the additional stress. Their thoughts should be with each other in this difficult time. In the end, that is what is important.

This story truly illustrates that anything can happen.