Trip Insurance

Comprehensive trip insurance is valuable if you're booking a very expensive or complicated trip (particularly to an isolated region) or if you're booking far in advance. Comprehensive policies typically cover trip-cancellation and interruption, letting you cancel or cut your trip short because of illness, or, in some cases, acts of terrorism in your destination. Such policies might 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 luggage.

Another type of coverage to consider 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 available to you only if your operator isn't on a list of excluded companies.

Always read the fine print of your policy to make sure that you're covered for the risks that most concern you. Compare several policies to be sure you're getting the best price and range of coverage available.

Insurance Comparison Info

Insure My Trip (800/487-4722. www.insuremytrip.com.)

Square Mouth (800/240-0369 or 727/564-9203. www.squaremouth.com.)

Comprehensive Insurers

Allianz Global Assistance (800/284-8300. www.allianztravelinsurance.com.)

Travel Guard Chartis (800/826-4919. www.travelguard.com.)

CSA Travel Protection (800/348-9505. www.csatravelprotection.com.)

Travelex Insurance (888/228-9792. www.travelex-insurance.com.)

Travel Insured International (800/243-3174; 603/328-1707 emergency travel assistance. www.travelinsured.com.)