Before You Go: Travel Insurance 101 for International Trips
Medical bills abroad can be crushing. Here's what travel insurance covers and why you need it.
Travel insurance feels like an add-on until you need it. A broken leg abroad, a missed flight, or a medical evacuation can cost tens of thousands. Travel insurance protects you against these risks. Most policies cover medical expenses, emergency evacuation, trip cancellation, and lost baggage—the big-ticket items that can wreck a holiday or worse.
What to look for in a policy
- Medical coverage of at least USD 100,000 for international trips.
- Emergency evacuation coverage (airlifts can cost USD 50,000+).
- Trip cancellation protection (covers refunds if you need to cancel before departure).
- Pre-existing condition clauses: check whether your health conditions are covered.
Buy insurance when you book your trip, not the night before departure. Many policies don't cover pre-existing conditions if you buy after travel is booked. It's unglamorous paperwork, but it's the difference between a smooth recovery and financial disaster if something goes wrong.
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