by Scott Hayden

Created on: July 03, 2010   Last Updated: November 15, 2011

Travel insurance may be the last thing on your mind when planning a trip, but it's better to be safe than sorry. What would you do if your flight is canceled, your luggage is lost or you become ill? For many years, insurance was never mentioned by travel agents because they feared customers would change their minds and walk away. This isn't the case anymore. Insurance can be just as important as a passport. If you don't buy it more than just the trip can be ruined. Anything can happen these days.

Medical Insurance

When you're in a foreign country, even if it's a developing nation, health care costs can be higher than you bargained for. Insurance may not be much good for minor ailments, but it's worth the extra cost if an emergency comes up. For many two to three week trips, insurance would cost twenty to thirty dollars and that's not much in the grand scheme of things. Having insurance would provide peace of mind if something bad happens and you need to be evacuated. Imagine the trouble you'd be in if you had to pay these costs out of your own pocket.

Lost, Stolen or Damaged Luggage Insurance

Airlines lose people's bags and the next time you go on a trip, they might belong to you. A carefully planned vacation can fall apart spectacularly when you arrive somewhere without your luggage. There are items in your bags that you would need immediately, not in two or three days. Tell the staff at the lost luggage department what your situation is right away. When your belongings are recovered the airline should deliver them right to your door.

Cancellation and Interruption Insurance

Cancellation is when you don't take a trip at all. Interruption is when you begin a holiday but have to cut it short; in this case, you will be compensated for the portion of the trip you didn't finish. Purchasing cancellation insurance will be a good idea if the airline tickets you bought aren't refundable, or if you put down a sizeable deposit for an organized tour or cruise. These kinds of insurance coverage are usually meant for illness, injury or death suffered by the insured or a member of the insured's immediate family.

With the right kind of travel insurance, you would have the comfort of knowing that if something does go wrong you'll be covered. You wouldn't want to be facing bills you can't possibly pay or lose your possessions and not recover any money for them. Don't take those kinds of risks. You never know when your number could come up.         

Learn more about this author, Scott Hayden.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.