The Best Travel Insurance for You

There are many types of travel package plans, but the best travel insurance for you, comes down to two plan types, medical and basic packages.

The medical travel insurance translates better for overseas or cruise travel. A basic travel insurance package includes: trip cancellation, missed connections, lost/stolen or damaged baggage, baggage delay, trip delay, emergency medical treatment, medical evacuation, 24/7 assistance via a toll free number.

Firstly, identify your travel insurance category. Are you a one-time traveler or an annual traveler? For transcontinental travel, a basic travel package is for you, whether it's for business or leisure travel. Basic travel insurance helps to eliminate your travel concerns because it contains all the basic coverage you will need in a one-stop package.

Yes, there are different levels of travel packages that offer you high-end benefits, but if you read the "fine print," there are exclusions and limitations that undoubtedly affect exactly what you may need. Travel insurance, that is best for your needs, requires some preliminary research and comparison of travel insurers.

Medical travel insurance is best purchased for the purpose of international travel. Cruise ship travel also falls within this category, because cruise ships are foreign owned and operate, once at sea, on the maritime laws of their native country. Even though it seems convenient, buying medical travel insurance, through the cruise ship lines, can be very expensive.

If you have personal health insurance, read your policy to see if overseas travel is covered. If it is, chances are, it will be limited and you will still need to purchase supplemental medical travel insurance. As an American, in a developing country, if you were to take ill and are hospitalized, unfortunately, the State Department reminds travelers that you will more likely be requested to pay cash prior to your discharge.

Here is where a good medical travel insurance works for you. They will make sure that you will not be overcharged and can help speed payment. Also, check with your agent to make sure that the medical travel insurance you have chosen is accepted in the country where you have planned your travels.

In your foreign travels, always make sure that you are in touch with the U.S. Embassy and its consulars, whose responsiblity are to assist you in locating medical services and making evacuation arrangements. But, remember, you are still responsible for all incurred expenses.