Arranging travel insurance online

When you're looking to buy travel insurance, it seems easier to buy it online than to tackle the automated phone service with the annoying hold music and the difficult representatives. And you're probably right that DYI is the easier option – just so long as you know what you're looking for. Here are our 5 top tips for getting what you want out of your online travel insurance.

Select a policy that suits your trip

Not all travel insurance policies are alike, and there will always be travel insurance that specifically addresses problems you might have in your travel destination. For example, if you're about to head on a cruise, coverage for damage to your hotel room is not going to help you. If your policy doesn't cover cruising, though, you're in trouble. Make sure the policy you choose specifically addresses any problems that are associated with your destination, including diseases, type of terrain and dangers, medical problems, emergency expenses, lost or stolen luggage, cancellation fees, and personal liability.

Make sure you have emergency assistance

Of all the possible inclusions in your travel insurance, emergency assistance is the one you should make the deal-breaker. You need to be covered in case of a serious accident or emergency, and you should have numbers that you can call if something happens. Make sure this is covered in your travel insurance policy and that you know exactly what the procedure should be in case of an emergency. If you're traveling to countries where you do not speak the language, make sure there is an English-speaking option available and that you know how to access it.

Read the entire policy

Yes, it's long and full of legalese. Do yourself a favor and use a highlighting tool to find the words that are especially important to you, including emergency coverage and any specific problems you think are likely. Read the entire policy from start to finish, and if you're unclear on anything, talk to a friend who understands insurance coverage better than you do. A lawyer friend may also be able to help you. If you're ever in doubt about whether something is covered, call the agency and ask them specifically if they cover the thing you're worried about and where in the policy that information is located. Don't take the agent's word for it: make sure it's written down in black and white before you agree to the policy.

Read the exemptions

There are always exceptions to any insurance policy, and in many cases, your travel insurance is null if you don't follow the directions exactly. If, for example, you need a copy of the police report if your luggage is stolen, your insurance may not cover you if you fail to get that report. Make sure you know exactly what you need to do in advance of any emergencies occurring – remember that some of the exemptions have time restrictions associated with them, so knowing in advance is key. If you forget what you're supposed to do, call your travel insurance company and ask them outright what you should do right when it happens.

Keep a copy of the policy with you

When you get your travel insurance policy, you'll have it in your email, but you may not have a printed copy. Be sure to print two out; one to keep in your luggage, the other to keep with you at all times. If need be, you can keep only the pages that are immediately relevant with you, or you can simply print it small. At the very least, make sure you carry the emergency numbers and the number of your travel insurance company with you at all times, and be sure you know how to dial those numbers from the country you're in. Nothing is worse than being in a foreign country, not able to speak the language, having just been in an accident, and be unable to get the phone to work.