Travel Insurance Basics

Emergency medical is the single most important part. A broken leg in the US costs 15,000 to 60,000 dollars. In Switzerland, an air rescue from a hiking trail is 10,000 CHF. Basic policies cover this to at least 1 million dollars.

Medical evacuation - repatriation home if you can't be treated locally - is separate on some policies. Look for at least 500,000 dollars of cover, and higher if you're travelling to remote regions.

Trip cancellation cover has strict named perils - illness, jury duty, natural disaster. It does not cover changing your mind. Baggage cover is often capped so low it's cheaper to self-insure.

Rental car excess cover is worth buying separately from a company like iCarhireinsurance rather than at the car counter, where it can be 20 dollars a day.

Not declaring existing medical conditions is the top reason claims get rejected. Adventure activities - skiing, scuba, motorbikes - usually need a specific add-on.

Travelling under the influence of alcohol above local limits can also invalidate a claim, especially for accident cover.

Comparison sites (Squaremouth, InsureMyTrip) show multiple US options. In the UK, MoneySuperMarket and CompareTheMarket. Credit cards from Chase Sapphire Reserve, Amex Platinum, and some UK cards include comprehensive travel insurance if you paid for the trip on the card.