International travel health insurance may seem like a luxury, but you never know when the unexpected may become your reality. What would happen if you got hit by a bus or a car in London, or if you fell off an elephant while on safari. Did you remember to check with your insurance provider before you left on your vacation? Will they cover for you to be air lifted to the nearest hospital because the roads are too bad to drive?

Knowing what your current medical insurance plan will cover is key, but most likely, you will need to follow that up with an international travel health insurance plan to cover any gaps. You can find simple basic international travel health insurance, or you can go all out with premium benefits and coverage.

To make the most of available international travel health insurance resources:

1. Start by finding international travel health insurance information to help you understand why you need coverage. Look at area specific information as well as industry specific facts.

2. Run a price comparison to find an international travel health insurance provider.

3. Look at major international travel health insurance provider companies.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Understand why you need international travel health insurance

International travel health insurance is vital to those traveling, and understanding the whys and the hows are your first step. Follow that up with a search of the particular country you'll be staying in for a greater understanding of what specific coverage you might be needing.

I recommend: Look at reasons you should purchase international travel health insurance from AIG. Read from InternationalPlan.com why international travel health insurance is so critical to planning an international trip. Check out travelers' health alerts for the country or countries you will be visiting thanks to up-to-date information posted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Consider looking at the information updated daily at MDtravelhealth.com.

Compare international travel health insurance prices

Use one of the independent international travel health insurance search engines to get an overall comparison of the many brands available.

I recommend: Run a comparison to find a International Travel Health Insurance provider through InsureMyTrip.com. Use the quote finder from Total Travel Insurance. Their work has been reviewed by Yahoo, CNN, the New York Times, the Washington Post and more. Compare Travel Medical Insurance features through BootsnAll Travel Network. Compare all of the major providers through Squaremouth.

Find international travel health insurance from one of the many providers

Make a international travel health insurance list of potential providers. Compare coverage and cost, and weigh out which fits your particular needs.

I recommend: Find global protection for travelers and expatriates from HealthCare International. They come to you with over 35 years of experience. Check out the low cost international health insurance from Insurance Services of America. Check out the traveler, visitor, missionary and mariner plans from eGlobalHealth Insurers Agency. Find short term, long term, corporate and tour groups traveling health insurance from All Aboard Benefits. They even have emergency medical evacuation back to United States coverage.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  International travel health insurance should not only be considered for illnesses abroad, but also injuries. Stay informed as to potential political conflicts in the countries that you are visiting to make sure that you are not put in harms way by fighting factions. The insurance will be there if you need it, but why put it to good use if you can help it.