Planning a vacation feels like a job. It’s well worth it, though – once you reach your destination you can kick back and relax for a week or two. Protect yourself even more with travel insurance. That way, you really won’t have to worry about a thing as you lounge in the sun or visit museums in Europe.

Many people don’t opt for travel insurance because they don’t expect anything bad to happen during their time away. This is exactly why you need travel insurance, though. You really can’t plan for the unexpected, but you can make sure you’re protected in case the worst happens. Learn the basics of travel insurance to decide if it’s a good option for you. 

Types of Travel Insurance

There are various types of travel insurance to choose from. Trip Cancellation and Interruption Coverage are the two most popular types of travel insurance. You’ll be covered whether you have to cancel your trip, come down with an illness, experience a death in the family, have to repot to jury duty or emergency military duty, or even if the airline or cruise line goes bankrupt. You’ll even be protected if you have non-refundable travel tickets.

Baggage Insurance

When traveling overseas, Baggage Insurance is practically a must-have. Whether your luggage is lost or stolen, chances are you’ll never see it again. When this happens, many people don’t realize that the airline is only responsible for a very small part of the mishap. You’ll never get your belongings back and you’ll barely be compensated for your loss. If you have Baggage Insurance, you’ll be reimbursed for your losses.

Medical Emergency Coverage

Medical Emergency Coverage is ideal if you’re traveling to an under-developed country. It’s also beneficial if you’re traveling anywhere and get sick while on vacation. If you need medical attention, Medical Emergency Coverage will reimburse you for whatever money you spend on medication, doctor visits or medical evacuation. Plus, if you’re traveling with medication, Medical Emergency Coverage will provide insurance if your luggage gets lost.

More Types of Insurance

Some types of travel insurance will offer protection in case you lose your passport or wallet, or in case these items are stolen. The last thing you want is to be stuck in a foreign country without money, identification or a way to get back home.

Comprehensive insurance packages are ideal for people who travel often. You can choose the different types of insurance you need to create a totally unique and personalized coverage package. You’ll be covered for various types of mishaps that could happen while away.

Is It Worth It?

Most people would say that buying travel insurance is definitely worth it, especially if they’ve experienced a problem while on vacation and didn’t have the insurance to help them out of a jam. In the end, the money you spend on insurance is probably much less than you would have to spend to deal with an issue. While you always hope that nothing goes wrong, if it does, you’ll be protected.

Darcy Moffat is an insurance claims officer based in Melbourne Australia.  She is a part of the front line team dealing with sick or injured travellers and can’t stress enough how important it is to have adequate travellers insurance.