How to choose the best travel insurance policy for you

When you're planning a trip, travel insurance is one of the last things on your mind. But if something goes wrong, it can be a lifesaver. Here's how to choose the best policy for your needs.

There are quite a few options if you are looking for  travel insurance, ranging from basic coverage to comprehensive policies that cover a wide range of potential problems.

There are many types of travel insurance available, and it's important to choose the right one for your needs. Here are some of the most common types of coverages:

• Emergency travel medical coverage: This covers medical expenses in case you get sick or injured while traveling. It can also cover emergency medical evacuation and repatriation.

• Trip cancellation and interruption coverage: This type of coverage protects you if you have to cancel or interrupt your trip due to a covered event such as sickness, bad weather, or a family emergency.

• Baggage and personal belongings coverage: This type of insurance covers lost, damaged, or stolen baggage and personal belongings.

• Accidental death and dismemberment coverage: This type of insurance provides financial protection in the event of your death or dismemberment while traveling.

To get the most accurate quote possible, you can get a quote online and see which product fits your needs. To find the right travel insurance policy for you, it’s important to first identify what risks you want to be covered against. Then, compare different policies to see what coverage they provide and what their costs are. Be sure to read the fine print so that you know exactly what is and isn’t covered by your policy.

• The travel insurance excess (also known as a deductible) is the amount you may be required to pay towards a claim made on your travel insurance policy. So you don't have to pay the excess when you first buy your policy; you have to pay it if you need to make a claim.

• Anything exceeding that excess may be reimbursed by the insurer in case of a legitimate claim. The amount of your excess will be removed from the claim payout. Therefore the excess represents the number of charges for which you are accountable.