What Does Spirit Travel Insurance Cover? A Complete Guide

Booking a trip with Spirit Airlines? Getting travel insurance can protect you against financial losses if something unexpected happens before or during your travels. But what exactly does Spirit’s offered travel insurance through TravelGuard cover? This comprehensive guide will explain all the key benefits and coverage details.

Overview of Spirit Travel Insurance

Spirit Airlines provides travelers the option to purchase travel insurance through TravelGuard when booking on their website. There are two main plans offered:

Travel Guard Basic Policy: This is a more affordable plan that provides basic trip cancellation/interruption coverage plus some extras.

Travel Guard Deluxe Policy: The deluxe plan is more comprehensive with additional benefits like emergency medical coverage, baggage delay, and more.

Both policies are underwritten by National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh. You can get a quote for the exact rate during booking based on your trip details like destination, length of travel, and age of travelers.

What Does the Basic Spirit Travel Insurance Plan Include?

Here are the key benefits and coverage included in the Travel Guard basic policy offered by Spirit Airlines:

• Trip Cancellation: Get reimbursed for 100% of your insured prepaid, non-refundable trip expenses if you need to cancel for a covered reason such as illness, injury, or death of you, a traveling companion or family member.

• Trip Interruption: Get reimbursed for 100% of covered costs if you need to cut a trip short for a covered reason. Also includes reimbursement for additional transportation costs to return home.

• Travel Delay: Provides benefit of $200 per person ($600 max) if your common carrier transportation is delayed for 5+ hours for a covered reason.

• Missed Connection: Get reimbursed for unused, non-refundable expenses as well as additional transportation to join your trip if you miss a connection due to a delay of 3+ hours for a covered reason.

• Baggage Delay: Receive $100 per day ($300 max) to cover purchase of essential items if your baggage is delayed by a common carrier for 12+ hours.

• 24 Hour AD&D: Pays $10,000 for accidental death and dismemberment that occurs during your trip.

Key Exclusions: Pre-existing medical conditions, mental/nervous disorders, pregnancy, and extreme/hazardous sports are excluded.

What’s Included in the Deluxe Travel Insurance Plan?

In addition to all of the basic plan benefits above, here are the key additions covered by the Travel Guard deluxe policy:

• Emergency Medical/Dental: Covers emergency medical treatment if you become sick or injured on your trip. Pays up to $25,000. Dental care for relief of sudden pain is covered up to $500.

• Emergency Medical Evacuation: Provides coverage up to $100,000 if you need to be transported to the nearest adequate medical facility for treatment during your trip.

• Baggage & Personal Effects: Reimburses you up to $500 if your luggage or personal effects are lost, damaged or stolen during your trip.

• Baggage Delay Increased Benefit: Baggage delay coverage increased to up to $200 per day ($600 max).

• Accident Sickness Medical Expense: Provides an additional $25,000 coverage for medical treatment of an injury or illness that occurs during your trip.

• Travel Medical Assistance: Gives you access to 24/7 travel medical assistance services during your travels.

Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion Waiver: For an extra cost, this waiver can be added to cover cancellation/interruption/medical claims related to pre-existing medical conditions.

What’s Not Covered by Spirit Travel Insurance?

As with any travel insurance policy, there are exclusions. Some key things that are not covered include:

• Pre-existing medical conditions (unless waiver is purchased)
• Mental health disorders, pregnancy, and childbirth
• High risk/extreme sports like skydiving, hang-gliding, rock climbing, etc.
• Self-inflicted injuries or suicide
• Drug/alcohol related injuries or illnesses
• Anything illegal or criminal acts
• War, civil disorder, unrest
• Care provided by a family member
• Normal pregnancy or childbirth
• Pandemics

It’s important to understand exclusions before buying a policy. Also note that Spirit’s offered plans do not include coverage like:

• Cancel for any reason
• Rental car damage
• Trip cancellation due to work reasons or obligations

When Should I Buy Spirit Travel Insurance?

Spirit recommends purchasing travel insurance at the time of your initial trip booking for maximum coverage. However, you can add it up until the final payment due date for your reservation to still get cancellation/interruption protections.

Just keep in mind that pre-existing conditions that arise after the policy is purchased will not be covered. Buying earlier ensures you’re covered for any issues that may come up leading up to your travels.

Does Spirit Travel Insurance Cover COVID?

Unfortunately, Spirit’s offered travel insurance plans do not cover claims related to COVID-19 or other pandemics.

Cancellations due to you or a family member testing positive for COVID would not be covered. However, if you need to cancel for another covered reason defined in the policy like an injury or illness unrelated to COVID, you’d still be covered.

Interruption claims due to an unexpected positive COVID test during travel would also not be covered.

What Does Travel Insurance Cost on Spirit Airlines?

Travel insurance rates when booking with Spirit will vary based on the cost of your trip, length of travel, ages of travelers, and specific plan selected. The deluxe plan costs more than the basic plan.

Here are some sample rates for a $500 roundtrip flight from Los Angeles to Las Vegas for 2 adults ages 30-34:

• Basic Plan: $28
• Deluxe Plan: $52

For a 10-day $3,000 trip to Europe for a 50 year old:

• Basic Plan: $144
• Deluxe Plan: $252

The best way to see actual pricing is to get a free personalized quote during the online booking process. Rates are presented before you complete a purchase.

Do I Get Travel Insurance from Spirit Airlines?

Spirit Airlines only offers TravelGuard insurance plans during the booking process online. Travel insurance is optional – you are not required to purchase it.

Some key factors to consider:

• Review what is and isn’t covered and exclusions.
• Evaluate the total trip cost and how much potential financial risk you want to take on.
• Consider your personal health and family medical history.
• Determine if you have coverage from other sources like credit cards, existing insurance plans, etc.

For expensive or international trips, travel insurance can provide valuable financial protections. But for domestic economy flights, the extra expense may not be worth it depending on your situation. Assess your specific needs.

Can I Buy Travel Insurance Separately?

Yes, you can certainly buy travel insurance for your Spirit flight or vacation from a source other than Spirit Airlines directly. Some options include:

• Directly through another insurer like TravelGuard, Allianz, Travelex, etc.

• Using an online insurance comparison site like SquareMouth or InsureMyTrip to get quotes from multiple providers.

• From a travel agent or third party booking site.

Shopping around is wise to compare plans and pricing. Just make sure to purchase shortly after booking to get maximum pre-departure benefits.

Key Tips for Spirit Travel Insurance

• Read the full policy document to understand coverage details and exclusions.

• Consider travel medical coverage for international trips or if you have health concerns.

• Look into “cancel for any reason” upgrade if you want the most flexibility.

• Compare Spirit’s plans to other insurer rates for potential savings.

• Purchase insurance right after booking your flight and hotel for optimal coverage.

• Understand COVID-19 is not covered before buying a policy.

Getting travel insurance for Spirit Airlines reservations can provide valuable financial protection. Just make sure to evaluate your specific needs and compare all available options before purchasing a plan.