Travel medical insurance is not an option. Travel medical insurance is not a luxury when you travel. You may think or rationalize – if it comes between the choice of a couple of nice meals on my vacation or travels or purchasing “optional” travel health medical insurance “I know that I will need/ enjoy that meal” , or better accommodations but not the “medical , health , travel insurance”.

Yet not taking out, purchasing the plan or be underinsured can make your travels not only not as pleasant but change your whole life and financial situation for the worst.

Whether you are traveling for pleasure, for business or even for medical treatment itself – that is “medical tourism”, travel medical insurance is essential for yourself, your family and traveling companions.

Even if you are young you may encounter an accidental injury or illness. No one is immune. Say for example you are on a skiing trip in Canada and you suffer an injury or accident on the slopes. Health care may be “free “for Canadians but not for an out of country, American tourist. You will pay full bore, back at home, American medical care rates. Imagine being uninsured and having to pay these bills. Imagine a bank loan or charge card loan to pay off for many years to come. All with horrendous interest rates.

Imagine you are a tourist from the U.K. and you are visiting New York City – perhaps to view the famous Dakota of Beatles rock star John Lennon fame. Imagine you have one too many New York City famous Hot Dog vendor's products that land you in the hospital with a severe case of food poisoning. Again your U.K. national health care is not going to pay your medical care bills while traveling in the states. While at least only a small portion of that medical treatment bill. You will be left with the lion's share of that large medical bill to pay off – over time most likely. Who needs such lingering memories of your “wonderful” vacation?

Even if you are traveling overseas for more reasonable or prompt medical care as a “medical tourist”, one of your families or traveling companions may take ill. You may be the one going offshore for medical or health care treatment yet it may become their emergency that may become the focal point and perhaps the cost factor – not your own treatment. Again, who is going for the necessary and most likely medical care on the spot and how?

Hence purchasing and providing for travel medical insurance is not an option.

It is not an add on but rather an essential component of travel and travel health plans in this day and age.

Have proper coverage and ask questions. Does your health care coverage from work or your own purchase cover your travel health needs? What is covered, what is not? How long will that coverage last? Is this coverage adequate or show supplementary coverage be afforded and purchased as well?

If you have to or decide to purchase travel medical coverage again asks questions. Do not assume. Is the coverage adequate both in terms of coverage and the time duration of your trip? Can the time length be increased if need be or required? What is covered, what is not by the health care travel medical insurance? Is the underwriting firm well known, reputable and have either a toll free number or even better offices in the geographic areas of your travels. Do you need to get approval before medical treatment begins? Do the medical care providers get paid and reimbursed directly from the insurance company or is it a case of the cash being paid from your pocket directly with reimbursement to yourself at a later date by the insurance firm? Again ask questions on the spot not later. If the clerk is uncertain of the answer then await a direct answer or if needed contact their superior or “head office”.

In the end when it comes to travel and travel health care concerns and coverage a penny spent in effort and preparation is worth a ton of cure as well as prevented costs and aggravations. Pleasant travels.