Travel Insurance Policies

* Comprehensive travel insurance to cover medical expenses for people who do not have medical insurance, even at home. As most people who can afford it, they have health care coverage in their country of origin, often through their employer, extensive travel medical insurance is particularly important for the long term travellers who have left their jobs and lost their insurance at home, or who live and work outside their country of nationality or permanent residence.

* Emergency travel medical insurance is for people who have medical coverage at home, but whose health plan at home does not cover them, while they travel. Emergency travel medical insurance only covers emergency services abroad, once your home, you’re on your own (or presumably, back under your regular home coverage) for the necessary follow-up treatment or permanent care. Most health insurance plans and health maintenance organizations in the U.S. including their own facilities for first aid abroad, at least for trips of less than 30 days. Please contact your current insurer or HMO before you money on an emergency travel medical plan that duplicates of your existing coverage.

* Medical evacuation (medevac) insurance covers the cost of an air ambulance, doctor and nurse, etc. if you so badly injured, or are so ill that you do not come home (or get on an appropriate medical facility) on a scheduled commercial passenger flight. Medical evacuations can cost tens of thousands of dollars, but rarely necessary. Even very badly injured passengers usually can come home on regular flights after no more than a few weeks of treatment and emergency stabilization abroad. Some of the activities of most lead to a need for medical evacuation, such as diving and extreme sports are often excluded from coverage medevac. Read the fine print.

* Travel cancellation and interruption insurance covers the cancellation or refund penalties and the cost of coming home if you cancel your trip or cut it short, for specified reasons. The reasons vary fall (read the small print), but usually include injury or illness to you, a travelling theatre, or a member of your immediate family. War and terrorism may or may not be included, or it may be covered only at extra cost.

* Supplier default insurance covers any money you lose as a result of the bankruptcy of an airline, cruise line, tour operator or another service provider. Supplier default coverage is cut drastically since 11 september 2001. Some travel insurance companies no longer offer at all, while others choose which travel suppliers. Read the fine print.

* Rental car insurance covers damage to or theft of a vehicle hires you (usually referred to as “collision” insurance) and / or liability for other persons or vehicles that you injure or damage. Many credit cards include rental car collision insurance, but not liability. If you have a vehicle, your insurnace may or may not provide liability when you dirving a rented vehicle. Read the fine print. Your liability if someone is slain or injured in an accident can be much greater than the value of the vehicle.

I hope this article could help you choosing your travel insurance.

Happy adventure!