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Hurricane Emily put an end to my Cancun vacation. It was to be my first trip to Mexico, where I was meeting a childhood friend who I hadn't seen in a year. I had thought my biggest worry would be whether or not my husband could handle the kids without me. But a few days before my departure, Cancun was bracing for a category- four hurricane. This trip was not going to happen.

Last year, a friend of mine had booked a Disney vacation for his family over mid-winter break. February is the perfect time to get out of Michigan, but it's also prime cold and flu season. Two days before their departure, his children came down with the flu. His family vacation was over before it began.

What's the difference between these two stories? Travel insurance. I had it, my friend did not. I was able to change my travel destination to Cabo San Lucas, still take my vacation, and not lose a dime. My friend, well, his story didn't have such a happy ending. His family did not get a vacation, nor did they get reimbursed for their non-refundable airfare. You may think of travel insurance as an extra cost added on to an already expensive vacation, but unless you're a psychic blessed with the gift to foretell the future, it's a necessity. Unexpected emergencies can, and do, occur at any time whether you have vacation plans or not. And when an airline tells you that your ticket is non-transferrable and non-refundable, they mean it.

Trip cancellation coverage is only one part of travel insurance. Travel insurance also covers medical and dental emergencies. Will your medical insurance cover an emergency appendectomy while you're in Jamaica? Will it cover a doctor's visit for a sick child while your family is visiting your mother out of state? If not and many don't your travel insurance will.

Travel insurance can also be purchased to cover flight delay, trip interruption, and baggage loss. Your flight into Atlanta arrives late and you missed your connecting flight. The next available flight doesn't leave until the morning. Who covers the cost of a hotel room and meals? Your travel insurance does. Your travel insurance will reimburse you for these expenses keep your receipts if your flight is delayed for 5 hours or more. Your father has a heart attack while you're visiting your cousin in Arizona. Who pays for you to get on the next flight home, rather than your scheduled flight four days from now? If you don't have travel insurance, you pay. You're going to Vegas for a long weekend, but no one seems to know where your luggage went. The airline may be responsible to reimburse you for what was lost, but who will reimburse you for the clothes, toiletries, make-up, and curling iron you had to buy just so you'd be able to leave your room during your vacation? Again, that's where your travel insurance steps in. Your travel insurance will reimburse you these costs.

Travel insurance policies vary. You need to research what your policy covers and how to go about filing a claim, before you buy. Be sure you check the limits on claims, as these vary greatly between insurance companies. Also be sure your carrier offers 24 hour customer support to guide you through what to do in case an emergency does occur ensuring that you follow proper procedures to rectify your claim.

Travel insurance is your protection against Murphy's Law. Yes, it is an added expense . . . but not nearly as expensive as paying for one of life's little emergencies that just happens to occur during your vacation.

Learn more about this author, Tamara Iannello.
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