Travel is logistics dressed as romance. Travel insurance is Plan B printed on paper, a bundle of coverages that rescue itineraries from weather, illness, and bureaucracy. Not every trip needs it; knowing when and what to buy is the art.

Key coverages:

• Trip cancellation/interruption: reimburses prepaid, nonrefundable costs if you cancel or cut short for covered reasons (illness, injury, certain disasters). Read the list; “fear of travel” is not covered. “Cancel for any reason” (CFAR) is a pricier add-on that refunds a percentage (often 50–75%) if you cancel for reasons outside the standard list; it must be bought soon after initial trip payment and used within deadlines.
• Medical and evacuation: crucial when traveling abroad where your home insurance may not follow. Look for $50k–$100k in medical, $250k+ in evacuation. Pre-existing condition waivers exist if you buy soon after first deposit. Adventure sports may be excluded; add riders if you ski, dive, or climb.
• Baggage loss/delay: pays for essentials if luggage is late or lost. Keep receipts; policies have per-item and category caps. Airline reimbursements stack with insurance, but you must file promptly.
• Travel delay: covers meals and lodging during significant delays. Check required delay hours. Save all documentation; bureaucracies love paper.

Annual multi-trip policies suit frequent travelers; single-trip policies fit big once-a-year journeys. Credit cards sometimes include solid protections—read benefits guides to avoid duplicate purchases. Primary versus secondary coverage matters; primary pays first without requiring denial letters.

Buy from reputable insurers or aggregators that let you compare policies. Disclose accurate trip costs and dates; lying voids claims. Keep a digital and paper copy of the policy, emergency numbers, and your medical info. Tell a travel partner where it is.

Claims are time-sensitive. Notify insurers ASAP, collect doctor notes, police reports, airline letters. Take photos of delays on airport boards; evidence helps. Patience and politeness are currency with adjusters.

Travel insurance is not an amulet. It’s a refund mechanism and a medical lifeline. Use it when stakes are high: expensive trips, international travel, fragile health, hurricane seasons. For a weekend drive to see friends, skip it and carry optimism. For the trip of a decade, buy Plan B so Plan A can be enjoyed with a lighter heart.