Student benefits from a real-life insurance lesson

0 Comments | USA TODAY, December, 2007 | by Linda Burbank

Question: I was on my way to catch my New York-Oslo flight to study abroad when the JFK AirTrain system broke down, causing me to miss the flight. LOT Polish Airlines told me it didn't have space for another week, and none of the airline's partners would take my student ticket.

I couldn't afford to miss a week of school, so I called my travel insurance company, Travelex. I had purchased the annual policy six months prior and didn't remember exactly what was covered, and in the confusion of the AirTrain evacuation, my carry-on bag containing my policy paperwork was stolen.

The Travelex agent told me I could book a new flight and be fully reimbursed. I had her double-check because, as a student, I could not afford $1,587 for the new ticket. She assured me I was...