Travel insurance: 5 reasons to include it when you pack your bags!

1 - Accidents can happen while you’re on vacation

You don’t have to be an extreme sports enthusiast to suffer an injury while travelling. A simple fall could mean a hospital vsit. Take the story of Marina, a 28-year-old woman who fractured her wrist while hiking in New Hampshire: since the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec covers only a fraction of the cost of medical care in case of injury outside the country—Marina’s private insurer ended up paying the $6,600 that it cost her to receive proper care and return home without carrying a hefty financial burden. If you’re injured or involved in an accident, your insurer will take care of every little financial detail, so you won’t have to call a relative and ask for a loan. It’s a no-brainer!

2 - What if you have to cancel your trip?

Economy-class airfare, affordable rooms, quick eats, hiking in the great outdoors: you’ve planned your trip of a lifetime down to the last detail, even though you’ll be travelling on a shoestring budget. Then, a few days before your scheduled departure, you break your ankle during Zumba class. If you’ve taken out travel insurance that includes trip cancellation and interruption coverage, you’ll be able to recoup your investment and postpone your trip, instead of playing tourist on crutches. That should make your life easier! Plus, this kind of insurance also protects travellers in the event of a problem with an airline—like a last-minute flight change or cancellation, for example.

3 - Your things are protected

Eager to take along your digital camera and cellphone to capture all the wonderful sights you’ll see (and share your faves on social media), but worried about a hotel break-in? Good news: travel insurance will cover you against theft, defective electronic equipment and lost luggage. Of course, there are limitations on certain item categories, but at least the compensation you’ll receive will help you replace any lost or stolen goods. And if you fly to Bali but your bags take a detour through Iceland and only catch up to you three days later, you’ll be reimbursed for any emergency shopping that you have to do.

4 - Travel insurance costs less than you might think.

Whether you’ll be on a weekend shopping spree in New York City with your besties, or hiking in a Costa Rican forest, setting aside a small part of your budget for travel insurance is a must. An insurance policy starts at about $25 for a 3-4 day escapade and you will be protected against unforeseen events and injuries that could ruin your trip. Can you really afford to go without it?

5 - Insurance means reassurance for relatives and friends.

Are your parents going on and on about how careful you’ll need to be to avoid disaster during your trip? Is your girlfriend worried about the exotic destination you’ve chosen? Reassure your loved ones by choosing enough coverage to get you the help you need if ever there’s a problem. Travel insurance includes 24/7 emergency assistance by phone, so you’ll have a sympathetic (and efficient) ear to rely on if something goes wrong... and your family members will sleep soundly at night.