How to Choose Travel Insurance
 f you're planning a vacation, chances are you're thinking about adventure, relaxation and fun, not accidents, illness and medical emergencies. You probably will never need travel insurance, but you should evaluate your personal coverage in advance as a precaution. A little planning prior to your trip could save you thousands of dollars if an emergency arises.
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- Find out what your existing health insurance policy covers.
- Weigh your needs against the types of travel insurance offered.
- Read all the fine print.
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Getting Started
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 Before you purchase travel insurance, do a little research. Find out what's covered by your homeowner's insurance, credit card provider or your existing health insurance policy. Homeowner's insurance might cover lost or stolen luggage, but it won't cover other travel-related incidents such as trip cancellation. It's likely your existing health insurance won't cover medical expenses outside of the country.
Once you've determined what coverage you already have, choose travel insurance to fill in the gaps.
Tip:A student or youth identity card (available from the budget travel agency Council Travel) includes basic travel insurance.
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Types of Travel Insurance
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Most travel insurance policies have a deductible. Premiums are based either on the length of your trip or a percentage of your trip's cost.
Types of Travel Insurance
Four basic types of travel insurance exist:
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Short-term or single tripcovers trips up to 90 days.
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Long-term or multi-tripcovers trips up to one year.
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Expatriatecovers people living overseas.
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Foreign nationalcovers non-U.S. citizens.
Elements of Travel Insurance
Policies can vary widely in the types of incidents they cover and the coverage amount. Here are some common features that can be included:
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Emergency medical careusually doesn't include routine exams or physicals.
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Emergency dental careusually doesn't include checkups or cleaning.
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Medical evacuationcovers the cost of transporting you to the nearest hospital equipped to handle your medical emergency, which could be in another country.
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Trip cancellation or delaycovers the cost of your trip if you need to cancel or delay due to an emergency or unforeseen circumstances such as a transportation strike.
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Lost or delayed baggagecovers up to a certain dollar amount.
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Repatriation of remainsassists with the cost and red tape of returning your remains.
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Legal aid, referral assistance, and multilingual helpcan be invaluable in an emergency.
Common Exclusions
Like most insurance policies, travel insurance has many exceptions. Here are some common ones:
- prior medical conditions
- pregnancy
- sports activities (including scuba diving, rock climbing and organized sports)
- self-inflicted injury
- suicide
- mental illness
- claims arising from war (declared or undeclared)
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Choosing a Policy
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Finding Travel Insurance
Here are some tips to get your search started:
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Researchyour current coverage by checking with your existing health insurance provider and your credit card provider. American Express offers travel insurance to card members.
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Askyour travel agent. REI Adventures recommends Travelex.
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Explorethe web.
Access Your Needs
Several factors will determine which insurance policy is best for you:
- the length of your trip
- your destination
- participation in high-risk sports (e.g., mountaineering, climbing)
- your general health
Compare Features
Weigh your needs against the types of coverage offered. Remember to read all the fine print. Consider:
- what's covered, and what isn't
- the cost
- the deductible
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