Travelling is one of life's greatest possibilities for adventure, but with adventure comes risk. So when you travel, you should make sure you have adequate travel health insurance or you may not make it back! The Centre for Disease Control claims that you are roughly 50% likely to encounter some kind of medical problem when travelling abroad. There are so many environmental conditions different from what you are used to, that your body has almost no chance of adapting quickly enough to keep you completely protected. The water is different, the air is different, the climate and altitude are all different from what you are used to, and this makes you far more susceptible to disease. Make sure that you will be able to get medical care without having to spend a small fortune.

First of all, let me just make this clear. Your standard health insurance will most likely not be accepted anywhere else in the world. Every country has their own health care system in place, and while there are individual providers who agree to provide service for foreign nationals, this is not the standard. If you are planning to travel, either check with your current medical insurance provider to see if they have any agreements with healthcare providers in the location you are travelling to, or make sure you obtain a supplemental travel health insurance plan for yourself. Travelling abroad implies an unavoidable risk of unexpected emergencies, so be sure that in the event of such an emergency you will be provided with medical care without bankrupting you.

One aspect of travel health insurance that is very important (that most people do not often think of) is that it takes into account the possible need for medical evacuation. There may be a situation where you cannot be treated locally, or that you will receive superior treatment if you are transferred to some other facility. Travel health insurance generally covers this transportation, whether it is by ambulance, helicopter or air rescue. This is especially needed if you are taking some type of wilderness vacation away from quick medical attention. This emergency medical evacuation can cost over $50,000. Wouldn't you prefer to have some travel health insurance to help cover that cost?

A slightly more morbid service, which goes along with the offer of medical evacuation, is repatriation. Imagine if, God forbid, you died while travelling abroad. Your travel health insurance would help cover the cost and arrangements for your body to be returned to the care of your loved ones for proper disposal. Would you really want to leave the expense and bureaucratic tangle to be dealt with solely by your bereaved family?

So remember that being properly insured is not only about taking care of your own health, but the well-being of your family as well. Make sure that you are fully covered by a good travel health insurance plan so that you can relax and enjoy your well-deserved vacation.