Before you leave for any sort of international travel, you will need to make sure you have a travel insurance policy that is appropriate for you, your destination, and the duration of your trip. There are so many options for travel insurance that finding the right policy can be a confusing process.  In order to find the policy that works for you and your budget, follow four simple steps:

1. Figure out what sort of coverage you need
2. Figure out what coverage you already have
3. Go shopping
4. Buy the insurance

Buying insurance always requires reading fine print and can be tedious, but keep in mind that you will profit from having a clear understanding of what you are covered for and how to use the insurance if it becomes necessary.

What Coverage do You Need?

Travel insurance can include many different options, so it is important to consider what is necessary for you and what coverages might be nice options to have. At the absolute minimum, you should be covered for the following:

• Medical Emergency-in case you get injured or become seriously ill. This coverage will reimburse you for any medical expenses. Be sure to keep all your paperwork from the hospital and submit it properly as soon as possible after your return. 

• Repatriation-In case the very worst happens and you need to be flown home. This particular coverage covers the cost of flying your remains home. This can cost your family more than $100,000 if you do not have adequate insurance. 

Additional coverage you may want to consider including in your insurance policy:

• Trip Cancellation-reimburses you if you end up cancelling your trip

• Lost Baggage or Baggage Delay-reimburses you for expenses due to the airline losing your baggage completely or delaying the arrival (most people can side step needing baggage delay insurance by putting an extra pair of underwear and socks in their carry on bag)

• Travel Delay-reimburses you for any costs associated with delays in your trip.

• Flight Insurance-a form of accidental death coverage that only covers you during your time on an airplane

• Emergency Evacuation Insurance-gets you home in case of medical, political, or personal emergency

• Baggage and Personal Effects-Lost Baggage and Baggage Delay Coverage usually only covers flights. This coverage will cover the rest of your trip. If you are traveling with a laptop, make sure you back up any important information and password protect any private information in case your laptop is stolen.

What Coverage Do You Already Have?

Check with your current insurance carriers to see if you already have coverage for some of the travel insurance options. For example, some health insurance policies will reimburse you for medical expenses while abroad or car insurance policies will cover your rental car (if you rent one).

Go Shopping

This isn’t necessarily fun shopping, but be sure to compare coverage levels and prices to make sure you get the best deal that works for you. A great place to start is to call an insurance company you already use and ask about any travel insurance plans they might offer—most car insurance companies can recommend travel plans that may be a really great deal, depending on your needs. Here are some other places to look:

www.statravel.com

www.myisic.com

www.insuremytrip.com

www.worldwiderisk.com

www.mnui.com

www.internationalstudentinsurance.com

www.travelinsurance-quotes.com

Please note that these are just suggestions for companies to ask about travel insurance. We do not recommend any one of these companies over another.

Buy the Insurance

This might be the easiest part of the process, but make sure you have read all the fine print and understand exactly what coverage you have and how to make use of the insurance just in case anything comes up that would be covered by your travel insurance plan. If you have any questions, be sure to ask the insurance provider. It is in your best interest to understand how to effectively use your insurance policy. Don’t forget to take a copy of the insurance policy with you and also leave a copy with someone at home while you are traveling.