by Savannah White

Created on: May 19, 2009

Travel insurance may not be high on your priority list but if you're planning a vacation it may be one of the most important things you can do to ensure a good holiday. Just like health insurance, travel insurance is there for your protection when you need it most.

There are many benefits of getting travel insurance, such as financial reimbursement. If you have booked a flight or a cruise, for example, and your travel plans are changed because of illness, insurance will get your money back. What if you are injured or become ill during your holiday? The health insurance you have at home may not cover you on vacation. If you are in the same country, most likely you are covered, but what if you have traveled abroad? Some health insurance does not cover your medical emergencies, or may only cover part of your expense, when you are in a foreign country. By selecting a travel insurance policy, your medical costs will be covered. Plus, your travel policy may say you time by offering around-the-clock assistance in finding medical treatment in your area. This may include finding English-speaking health care workers. Unforeseen circumstances can put a damper on your plans, and your pocket. Travel insurance provides a financial safety net.

In some cases, travel changes occur because of problems with transportation carriers, such as airlines. If your carrier stops doing business, or is unable to continue doing business, for whatever reason, travel insurance can help. It is unlikely your carrier will give you a refund immediately, if ever, but cancellation or interruption insurance coverage can rescue you. You can also be reimbursed if your carrier loses your luggage. That reimbursement money will allow you to buy clothes or personal items you need during your vacation.

In the event your wallet, money or important documents, such as a passport, are lost or stolen, a quick call to your travel insurer can help. The insurer will help you notify the proper agencies or authorities as well as assist you with getting emergency cash. This also applies to cameras or other valuables. If those items or lost or stolen they may be covered under your homeowner's insurance policy, but that coverage may be limited to a partial value of the items lost. Travel insurance can provide complete coverage when things don't go as planned.

You may think buying insurance for a week or two is not a wise investment, but the policy is actually a protection of an investment you have already made. You invested time and effort in planning a holiday. You invested money in a place to stay, money for transportation costs, money for things you need for the trip, such as clothes, and money for other things related to your vacation. While it may add a few hundred dollars to your vacation costs, the benefits of travel insurance far outweigh the cost of purchasing a policy. Just one trip without protection when you need it and you will agree that travel insurance is a great way to ensure that unexpected circumstances do not ruin a good time.

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