Most travelers know that purchasing travel insurance is a wise thing to do.There are several types of travel insurance. Some of them are travel medical insurance, trip cancellation insurance, flight insurance, and evacuation insurance.

The travel insurance plan that makes most sense for one person may not be the best choice for another. The basic types of insurance are: trip cancellation insurance and travel health insurance. Other additional coverage can also be purchased, depending on the situation.

Trip cancellation insurance is cover for the occurrence of the trip—which means that you are insuring against the possibility of the trip being cancelled. In many cases, this includes coverage for the trip being cut short. Usually, trip cancellation insurance covers cancellations or interruptions in case they occur due to specific reasons.

Your trip cancellation insurance only reimburses you for covered reasons. You will likely be covered in case of the demise or serious illness of your traveling companion or an immediate family member, if your primary residence is destroyed, or if Uncle Sam calls upon you for jury duty or military duty. Some plans will also cover the trip if you lose your job or weather conditions force you to cancel your trip.

Definitely consider trip cancellation insurance if your trip is expensive, with significant non-refundable expenses.Also, last-minute trips are less prone to cancellations and itinerary changes. Trip cancellation insurance is imperative for expensive trips with large non-refundable costs.

The other common type of travel insurance that you’d want to purchase is travel medical insurance. This covers the medical costs of any sudden illness that occurs during your trip. This coverage usually includes inpatient and outpatient care, including prescription medicines, medical diagnostics, emergency services and consultation.

Your travel insurance plan is likely to cover emergency medical evacuation or, in some cases, emergency political evacuation. Accidental death and dismemberment is also covered by most plans.

Cancellation and medical care are not the only problems that you might face when traveling and so, your trip cancellation insurance plan will include other benefits—for example, in case your baggage is lost or delayed in arrival, or if your identity is stolen.Many plans also offer travel advisory services. However, to know the exact nature of the coverage offered, it is best to consult the plan schedule of benefits.

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