Travel Insurance for Independent travellers

With the combination of natural disasters, financial troubles of major tour operators and airlines, and the prevalence of nonrefundable airline tickets, purchasing travel insurance to protect yourself against unforeseen events is often a wise choice. But which kind of travel insurance is right for you?

There are several different types of travel insurance policies available, ranging from trip cancellation insurance to emergency medical evacuation, all of which vary widely by company in what their coverage includes and how much it costs. Make sure you know exactly what your policy will and will not cover before you purchase anything, and always buy your insurance from a reputable company (check out our list of travel insurance providers at the end of this article).

If you're asking yourself whether you need to buy travel insurance for an upcoming trip, first look at the insurance policies you already have to see what they will cover. Some health insurance policies will cover medical emergencies overseas while others will not. Many homeowner's policies cover baggage loss. Also, many credit card companies (particularly gold cards) offer their members baggage loss, international medical assistance, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance if they simply charge their airline tickets on their credit card or for a small additional fee.

Since September 11, 2001, many are looking to travel insurance to safeguard their trip against any unforeseen terrorist attacks at their destination. Many policies now have an "Acts of Terrorism" clause that will reimburse you if you miss or are delayed in getting to your destination because of acts of terrorism. Check to make sure acts of terrorism are included before purchasing; some policies specifically exclude them.