Tips for Purchasing a Travel Insurance Policy

05/13/2010

Individuals traveling both domestically and internationally may have a lot of considerations on their plate.

One of these should be travel insurance, according to a recent release by the United States Travel Insurance Association. The organization offered advice on purchasing such a policy from a reliable insurance agency.

First, consumers may want to evaluate their needs. For some, this means insuring their personal luggage or protecting against losses if their travel is canceled.

Coverage may also pay for emergency medical evacuations or health care, according to the release. The latter might overlap a health insurance policy, so it's important to know what's included in both. Consumers should also review their assets and maintain thorough documentation of expenses incurred during travel.

"When you travel, don't assume that you have the coverage you need from your credit cards, homeowners insurance, airlines or other sources," the release said. "Only comprehensive travel insurance offers full protection under a single umbrella."

When choosing a travel insurance provider, consumers can verify their legitimacy by visiting UStiA's website or checking with A.M. Best. A report released last year by UStiA showed that trip cancellation or interruption coverage accounts for 90 percent of travel insurance policies.

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