BAGGAGE AND PERSONAL ITEMS LOSS

Baggage Coverage Limitations

Every comprehensive policy provides coverage for lost, stolen or damaged baggage while you travel. You can of course view each package's baggage limitations by clicking on the dollar amount for baggage on any given policy, but here are a few things to keep in mind while you review your options:

• While a policy may say baggage is covered up to X amount, the amount of coverage will almost always have a per article limit, a specific amount they will cover for any one item. This will vary by policy, but is usually around $200 per article.
• Precious or valuable articles like watches, jewelry, furs, silver, gold, cameras and electronics, etc., will have a combined maximum of their own, typically up to a portion of the total baggage amount.
• As with any other benefit, baggage will have its own set of exclusions. This may include lists of items the policy will not cover, or circumstances of loss that will not be covered.
• Since documentation is always needed by insurance companies, it is recommended that you either have receipts for the articles you are taking with you (if possible, since this will not always be an option. It is always ideal however, as most companies pay actual cash value in the absence of proof of cost) or take a picture of your suitcase to serve as proof of what you are carrying with you on your trip.

Baggage Loss Coverage

Coverage for loss of your baggage and personal effects can be purchased as part of a travel insurance Comprehensive Plan, or in some cases, with specific travel medical plans and annual memberships. This type of travel insurance coverage provides reimbursement for luggage as well as for any items of yours that are lost or stolen while you're traveling. Baggage and personal effects coverage is typically secondary coverage, which means that it will act to supplement any reimbursements offered by a common carrier (such as an airline that loses your bags) or by your homeowner's insurance.

Important things to note when researching Baggage Loss Coverage include:

• LIMITS
  

  Typically, travel insurance policies that offer coverage for loss of baggage and/or personal effects will have stated limits on the amount of money to which you'll be entitled if you need to file a claim. There are three types of limits you'll need to look for: the Policy Limit, which states the total maximum amount of coverage you can receive; the Per-Item Limit, which sets the maximum amount of reimbursement you can seek per individual item; and the Specific Item Limit, which is listed in some policies and makes a clear allowance for the limits on particular special items like laptops and camera equipment.

• DOCUMENTATION
  

  You'll need to know what type of documentation your travel insurance company requires if you have to file a claim for loss of baggage and/or personal effects. In some cases, to receive reimbursement for higher-value items (generally $150 or more), you may have to provide the original receipt. Since you may not have receipts and detailed records of every item you pack in your luggage, one documentation technique that many travelers find useful is to take photos while packing and provide those pictures of the packed luggage and items to the insurance company along with an itemized list.

• ADDITIONAL COVERAGE OPTIONS
  

  Certain items, such as jewelry, expensive watches, and high-end technology, will likely be worth more than the per-item limits or even the specific item limits of a typical baggage policy. If you must travel with these items, it's generally advisable to contact your homeowner's insurance company to ask about scheduling those items. You can still benefit from the baggage loss coverage on your travel insurance for reimbursement and replacement of the other items you may have lost while traveling, but your homeowner's insurance would then be responsible for settling claims involving your valuables. This arrangement is the best way to be sure you're completely protected in case something happens to your belongings while you're on your trip.