If you travel without travel insurance, and something happens to you, you are alone.
If you have travel insurance and something happens to you on a trip, your insurance acts like another person, helping you out of the situation so that you are not alone.
If you are ill, especially, or need medical attention while you travel, travel insurance can help you get the best medical treatment possible. This is especially important since health costs away from home can amount to many thousands of dollars - and you will likely be expected to pay those costs up front as a foreign national.

Travel insurance can help protect you from the financial dangers of this situation. Some types of travel insurance can even help you in case of theft or crime.

With discount flights and airfares increasingly popular, many travelers choose not to get travel insurance, especially on short trips within the country. This can be a mistake for several reasons. Accidents can easily happen on even very small trips.

Secondly, regular medical insurance providers may not cover you outside of your state - you need to make sure by checking with your medical insurance provider. Travel insurance can give you a great deal of peace of mind and can protect both you and your family from astronomical expenses and a lot of stress.

Even if you are saving on airfare, those savings can be put towards a travel insurance policy that can cover you. Of course, if you are traveling outside the country or for extended periods, going without travel insurance is a terrible idea. Any good travel agent can tell you that you need travel insurance outside the country - this is not just a sales pitch. Travel agents have witnessed more than a few disasters experienced by travelers traveling abroad with no travel insurance.

One of the nicer things about travel insurance is that it is a one-time fee in most cases. You can purchase it through a travel site, through a travel agent, or from a private carrier and pay when you buy your plane ticket. No need to worry about monthly fees.

Before you sign for a travel insurance policy, just be sure to read what exactly is covered and how claims are made. It is best to opt for a policy that covers as much as possible and that allows you to contact the company easily 24-hours a day.