I ended up going for temporary coverage in the US through a regular insurance carrier. It only covers emergencies and nothing travel related, but I didn’t want to find out too late that we’re not really covered by our policy.

As always, it’s vital to read the small print and check it against your own needs. As everyone knows, Linda and I use WorldNomads, but they’re not the right fit for everyone. Make sure you do your research, as you don’t want to assume anything is covered.

You make great points, and here’s a couple more. A good insurance plan can cover your Trip Cancellation if you lose your job (after 1 year on the job)between booking and departure, or even during the trip, or the boss says you can’t go because of work. You get Trip Cancellation coverage with 3rd-party travel insurance if your tour company or airline goes bust before your trip and leaves your tickets worthless. And just this week there are reports of potential airline union strikes looming as the carriers return to profitability (see AA, for example). A good travel insurance plan covers you for strikes as long as you buy it before the union votes to confirm a strike date. Plus in hurricane season you are covered if a ‘cane prevents you from flying to your destination as long as you buy the plan before the storm is ID’s and given a name by the U.S. Weather Service. All valauble against potential screwups……John