We are more mobile now than ever, traveling frequently and throughout the world. Are you prepared for an emergency away from home, such as an unexpected death? Most of us aren’t, and the emotional and financial aspects of such an incident can be devastating. A travel plan provides an extra measure of protection in the event of an untimely death.

What is a travel plan?

Designed to give peace of mind when a death takes place more than 100 miles from the legal residence, a travel plan takes care of all the travel details involved in bringing a loved one back home. With one call, they will be returned from anywhere in the world.

Why would you want a travel plan?

It’s difficult enough for a family to deal with the emotional and financial stress that the death of a loved one brings, but when the death occurs away from home, the loss is complicated by the need to bring them back. Most people don’t realize that the expense involved in transportation services can easily run from $1,500 to over $15,000. If a loved one dies in another country, the difficulty of arranging transportation can be very traumatic. This is all at a time when the family is already dealing with grief and distress. A travel plan is a way to ensure that your family will be shielded from any unexpected death care expenses during your travels.

How does the plan work?

The plan is simple and covers the complete cost of transportation services. You are given an identification card with instructions and if a death occurs, a traveling companion or survivor makes one phone call and the travel plan company coordinates all of the details, including:

• Contacting a licensed funeral home or mortuary near the place of death
• Transporting the deceased from the place of death to the funeral home or mortuary
• Preparation of the deceased for transport
• Securing all documentation for shipping including one death certificate
• Arranging and paying to transport the deceased to an airport capable of receiving human remains, closest to their legal residence

How expensive is a travel plan?

There is a nominal, one-time fee for an individual plan. Coverage for additional persons, such as a spouse, child, relative or companion living at the same address, is at a slightly reduced rate per person. Once the plan is established, you will receive:

• Information about the plan
• A copy of your application
• A permanent identification card with instructions for contacting the travel plan company when assistance is needed. This card should be kept in your wallet or purse to allow easy access to the information if it is needed while you are traveling.

Who would need a travel protection plan?

If you travel around the country visiting family or travel internationally even just a few times a year, a travel protection plan is a good thing to consider. None of us like thinking about the potential hazards of travel, but it is good to be prepared ahead of time.

Another consideration is whether your family members are equipped to cover costs of transportation if an emergency occurs to you away from home. These transportation services can range between $1,500 to over $15,000. Any point within that range would be significant unexpected expense to most of us. If a loved one dies in another country, the difficulty of arranging transportation can be very traumatic. Your survivors may have to work with foreign medical and government agencies, funeral providers and transportation services. If there is a language barrier, it is even more difficult. 

The single fee for a travel plan is small and well worth it when you consider the financial and emotional stress your family may face if a death occurs away from home. You can take comfort in knowing your wishes will be handled with care. We are available to explain all of the details to you; simply give us a call.