I will try to explain the basics of travel insurance cover and then point you towards some reliable travel insurance companies.
The cheapest and easiest place to find reliable travel insurance is online. It is much cheaper than insuring though a travel agent as they will routinely charge up to 100% commission on a travel insurance quote. Online you can complete a few pages, pay with your credit card and you are ready to go. Also you have the added benefit of having access to your policy details anytime online.
Types of travel insurance
The two main types are annual and single trip insurance. If you travel a lot annual insurance will work out cheaper and if you only need cover once or twice a year, I recommend single trip cover. Another important consideration is where you are traveling to. If you stay in your own country it will be much cheaper than if you go abroad.
Here is a quick tip: Buying travel insurance for your family is cheaper than doing so for each member separately.
What travel insurance covers
You need to look for your policy, policy summary and/or schedule of benefits documents on the site. This will tell you how much of what is covered under the different policies.
Not all policies cover the same risks. Below we look at some of the most important ones that most insurance companies will cover, as standard or as an optional extra.
Medical expenses: Medical expenses is the most important part of travel insurance. Because, your medical cover probably doesn't cover any expenses you incur outside your country.
Overseas medical bills can mount really quickly. I recommend you pick a policy with at least $1 million of medical cover.
Cancellation/Interruption: If you are unable to take advantage of whole vacation you are likely to face cancellation fees, this part of the policy covers you for up to a certain amount.
Loss/delay of baggage and documents: We have all had airlines lose our baggage. This covers costs linked to the loss or delay of these items.
Accidental death or dismemberment benefit: This is a payment made in case you die or are seriously injured.
Winter sports cover(optional): This is usually an optional extra which will cover your equipment and your self for a skiing or snowboarding vacation.
Golf cover(optional): This is usually an optional extra with business travel. It covers your golfing equipment from damage and theft.
Some travel insurance sites:
TravelSafe
Travel Guard
Travel Ex
MH Ross
You should really submit your details to a few of these and see who has the best package. If you are lazy you can try a comparison engine like SquareMouth. They take your details and submit it to several web sites, then they return the best quotes for you to pick from.