Trip Insurance

Comprehensive travel policies typically cover trip-cancellation and interruption, letting you cancel or cut your trip short because of a personal emergency, illness, or, in some cases, acts of terrorism in your destination. Such policies also cover evacuation and medical care. Some also cover you for trip delays because of bad weather or mechanical problems as well as for lost or delayed baggage. Another type of coverage to look for is financial default—that is, when your trip is disrupted because a tour operator, airline, or cruise line goes out of business. Generally you must buy this when you book your trip or shortly thereafter, and it's only available to you if your operator isn't on a list of excluded companies.

If you're going abroad, consider buying medical-only coverage at the very least. Neither Medicare nor some private insurers cover medical expenses anywhere outside of the United States (including time aboard a cruise ship, even if it leaves from a U.S. port). Medical-only policies typically reimburse you for medical care (excluding that related to preexisting conditions) and hospitalization abroad, and provide for evacuation. You still have to pay the bills and await reimbursement from the insurer, though.

Expect comprehensive travel insurance policies to cost about 4% to 7% or 8% of the total price of your trip (it's more like 8%–12% if you're over age 70). A medical-only policy may or may not be cheaper than a comprehensive policy. Always read the fine print of your policy to make sure that you are covered for the risks that are of most concern to you. Compare several policies to make sure you're getting the best price and range of coverage available.

OK. You know you can save a bundle on trips to warm-weather destinations by traveling in rainy season. But there's also a chance that a severe storm will disrupt your plans. The solution? Look for hotels and resorts that offer storm/hurricane guarantees. Although they rarely allow refunds, most guarantees do let you rebook later if a storm strikes.

It's important to make certain that your health insurance has provisions for emergency evacuation. Medical treatment in French Polynesia is generally good, but severe cases may need to be airlifted elsewhere, which can be extremely expensive. Also, although credit cards and U.S. insurance are starting to be more widely accepted, cash is still usually expected for most treatments. Speak with your insurance company as how best to handle this situation.

Comprehensive Travel Insurers

Access America. 800/729–6021. www.accessamerica.com.

AIG Travel Guard. 800/826–4919. www.travelguard.com.

CSA Travel Protection. 800/873–9855. www.csatravelprotection.com.

HTH Worldwide. 610/254–8700. www.hthworldwide.com.

Travelex Insurance. 800/228–9792. www.travelex-insurance.com.

Travel Insured International. 800/243–3174. www.travelinsured.com.

Insurance Comparison Sites

Insure My Trip.com. 800/487–4722. www.insuremytrip.com.

Square Mouth.com. 800/240–0369 or 727/490–5803. www.squaremouth.com.

Medical Assistance Companies

AirMed International Medical Group. www.airmed.com.

International SOS. www.internationalsos.com.

Medical-Only Insurers

International Medical Group. 800/628–4664. www.imglobal.com.

Wallach & Company. 800/237–6615 or 540/687–3166. www.wallach.com.