If you’re planning to purchase travel insurance, don’t forget to find out all you can about the coverage. This is especially true if the insurance you’re purchasing is through a travel agency or online travel site. These tend to be less inclusive than those offered direct by the insurance companies. Some policies also commonly exclude pre-existing medical conditions, injuries or flight interruptions due to war or terrorism, pregnancy related expenses or injury or illness caused by alcohol or drug use. Also, some companies will only accept policies purchased during the purchase of the trip.
You should also determine what exactly is covered, and up to how much. For example, if your insurance covers emergency replacement of essential items, find out what constitutes essential items. Or if your insurance covers trip cancellation, there are usually factors that need to be present for your insurer to honor a refund, such as death, hospitalization or illness of a loved one. Canceling your trip because you felt like it is usually not a valid excuse.