Travelers often buy insurance thinking about lost luggage, but the benefit that justifies the premium is emergency medical care abroad — where treatment for a serious accident can cost more than the trip itself many times over.
The core: emergency medical cover
This pays for treatment and hospitalization if you're injured or fall ill while traveling, and on many policies for medical evacuation when adequate local care isn't available. Check the cover limit, the emergency assistance process, and whether your destinations are included.
Cancellation and curtailment
Cancellation cover refunds non-refundable trip costs when a listed event — such as serious illness — forces you to cancel. Curtailment does the same when you must cut a trip short. The key word is 'listed': policies enumerate valid reasons, and a change of plans generally isn't one.
Baggage, delays, and the practical benefits
Baggage cover replaces lost or stolen belongings within per-item and total limits — valuables usually need receipts and sometimes separate declaration. Delay benefits pay defined amounts after defined waiting hours. These are useful, but read the limits so expectations match the policy.
The gaps that surprise travelers
- Adventure activities — diving, skiing, trekking at altitude — often need explicit add-ons
- Pre-existing medical conditions usually require disclosure to be covered
- Incidents involving alcohol or lawbreaking are commonly excluded
- Travel against official government advisories can void cover entirely
When to buy
Buy when you book, not when you fly. Cancellation protection only works if the policy is in force before the event that forces you to cancel — cover bought the night before departure protects the trip, but not the months of bookings behind it.