by: Peter Shannon
Travel insurance is an important but often overlooked part of your vacation.
Whether you
are traveling to a foreign country or to the next state you should consider
travel insurance.
Some of the reasons to have insurance are to cover medical expenses, life
insurance for
your family, or trip insurance when something goes wrong.
If you have medical coverage, check with your insurer to find out the specifics
regarding
your planned destination. You can buy medical coverage for the duration of your
trip or for
longer periods. Some travel insurance policies cover multiple trips of specific
duration.
Some will cover you for travel up to a year. Planning a skiing or mountain
climbing vacation?
You may want to consider evacuation insurance. If you need to be rescued it is
quite possible
that the you will end up with a hefty bill to pay for the service.
If you are going on a cruise, taking an organized tour or just flying on an
airplane you may
want trip cancellation insurance. You or a family member may get sick at the
last minute or
your plans may change unexpectedly. Many companies do not offer refunds and you
could
be out thousands of dollars. There are many things out of your control that can
mess with
your plans. Refunds are tough to get sometimes. Other popular coverage is loss
of baggage,
baggage delay, travel delay, dental, 24 Hour Traveler Assistance, and accidental
death.
If you are driving out of the country definitely check with your auto insurer.
Purchase any extra
coverage needed. You may want to ask about an international roadside assistance
policy.
Auto breakdowns and accidents are bad enough at home but the problems are
compounded
abroad. Check with your credit card company. You may have some coverage if you
purchase
your vacation with their card. If you are traveling with a group you may be able
to get coverage
cheaper as a group rather than individually. Sometimes you will pay more for
less coverage if
you buy it through a travel agent who makes a nice commission. This is not
always the case
but it's your money. Shop around for the best deal on travel insurance.