Like most Americans they don’t realize that their regular health insurance may not cover them outside of the United States.

When you set your site on an exciting vacation filled with sun- splashed beaches, it’s not much fun to stop and consider the options that protect you against unforeseen events that may ruin your expensive getaway (not to mention the additional cost). But it’s time for a reality check. Whenever a problem occurs during a trip, it’s almost always you the traveler loses out. You lose either time or money, but most often you lose both.

When we the traveler book our travel plans we are just so excited to get away that we never think of the possibilities that may occur, like illness or accidents. Here are a few of some unforeseen encounters. You paid for your vacation 9 months out and a crisis hits: You’re down-sized out of a job, there’s a death in the family, or some other catastrophe strikes and you’re unable to travel.

Because travelers are always urged to get travelers insurance, they shut down when they hear the word “insurance; but you may get ripped off if you don’t get it. It is an extra cost, but it’s invaluable if you have a problem. When you don’t have it? That’s when it really can get expensive.”

Buying insurance doesn’t guarantee that your trip will be worry free, but it does help alleviate the enormous concerns that can arise when trouble before or during your vacation. For many it’s a small price to pay for Peace of Mind.