When traveling to a different country is it wise to get travelers insurance?

If you can't afford to pay for the financial losses you could incur on your trip, it's worth having travel insurance. Since you live in the USA, you can get Trip Cancellation / Interruption Insurance plans that include emergency medical / evacuation coverage plus they will reimburse you for the money you lose if your doctor advises you against travel because of a sickness or injury. You can also cover pre-existing conditions. Not all plans are the same, nor do they all cover things the same way. It's worth comparing a few choices. Go here for more information: http://www.tripinsurancestore.com

I am a travel agent and have been selling vacations for 30 years. There are 2 types (actually more, but 2 important types) of insurance. One is trip cancellation and interruption. This is the one I sell most of the time because it covers EVERYTHING pre and post departure. If an airline or tour operator goes bankrupt, if your hous burns down and you need to cancel before, if someone gets sick or dies, if a terrorist hits, you can get your money back on non refundable packages. This also includes post departure (you can purchase post alone). Post means Medical coverage up to 50000.00 (that your insurance may not cover in a different country) If you need to be flown home for an emergency (either you or a family member) it pays for unused days of your trip (cost of hotels paid for and any other expences) The flight back to you origination is covered if you have to return early or reroute from somewhere other than where your ticket was ticketed from. Could be a lot of money on this alone. There are dozens of additional things that are covered by a good insurance carrier. I suggest you ask your local travel agent for more information. Travel Insured is who I use, but many agencies use Travel Guard. I have used Travel Insured for 30 years, and have nothing negative to say. PS...I do not accept business from this site. I suggest you contact a local travel agency. Your trip is a very important item that you have saved for. The cost of insurance is minimal to protect yourself.

If you're going to be gone a long time or in a remote place, I would get it. For example, if you are going to remote Central America or Africa or Asia, yes. If you get seriously ill in these areas (which can happen, if you get malaria or TB or another infectious disease), you will probably want to be treated in a modern medical center and can get airlifted home or somewhere comparable. If you'll be somewhere with top-notch medical care, like Western Europe, I wouldn't worry so much if you are healthy. If you have any chronic medical problems (and get hospitalized--i.e. if you have to go to the ER for asthma treatments, or something), I would also get it. The above applies if you are American. Some EU citizens get reciprocity (i.e. free health coverage) in a lot of countries. If you can't afford the travel insurance for whatever reason, at LEAST get a tetanus booster and antimalarials (if you are going to an area where there are malaria mosquitoes). Go to the Passport Health or Centers for Disease Control websites to see what other vaccines you also may need.

i'm originally from japan and live in Illinois now. I don't get insurance when i go home, but when i travel other countries, i do. my dad went to South Africa last week, and his digital camera was stolen at the ariport after checking in. Someone (i guess employees work at the security) opened the suitcase and stole it.. but he had a travelers insurance, so he'll get money back at least.. i think it's good to have one

ummm its really up to you. If something happens you do want to have insurance to make sure you will be taken care of but most likely nothing will happen and it is purely profit for the travel company.

Yes it is worth it and it usually is very reasonable. :)

Depends for how long you are going and where. Usually your medical insurance should be valid worldwide. Your belongings may be insured under your home insurance policy or credit card. Also depends on what you are carrying... Personally you should travel light and skip the insurance!