Trip cancellation/interruption insurance reimburses you for any nonrefundable deposits you put down on a trip or cruise if you have to cancel your insured trip due to sickness, death in the family or any other misfortune listed in the policy. You must first seek reimbursement from the trip provider before the insurance company will consider the claim. Some policies may also reimburse you for the unused portion of a vacation if you or an immediate family member becomes seriously ill or injured while on a trip.

An emergency medical assistance policy provides insurance for medical treatment if you become ill or have an injury while traveling. Some policies may pay for benefits that may not be covered by a standard health insurance plan.

Baggage insurance provides coverage if your belongings (luggage and personal possessions) are lost, stolen or damaged during a trip. You may also want to find out if the airline or trip operator offers any type of insurance for your belongings.

An accidental death policy provides coverage if you or a family member dies from a covered injury or accident while traveling.

Cruise and tour operators sometimes offer cancellation waivers — another form of trip cancellation coverage. A cancellation waiver is different from a trip cancellation insurance policy. Waivers are not insurance policies and although they may not be as expensive as insurance policies, they can have many restrictions. Waivers are not regulated by the Department of Insurance.

Pay close attention to special limitations and the list of property not covered in a baggage insurance policy. If you are traveling with valuables that exceed the limits of your policy, you may need to purchase additional coverage for the excess value of those specific items. An endorsement to your homeowners or renters policy may be an option.
 
Pay attention to the perils that are included and excluded in your trip cancellation policy. Although some conditions (weather, illness, etc.) may be covered, other events (i.e. war, terrorism) may be excluded. The cancellation or shortening of your trip due to injuries caused by high-risk activities, such as scuba diving or bungee jumping, may also be excluded.
 
Claims paid due to weather conditions are often contingent upon mandatory evacuation orders.

Check how pre-existing conditions are defined in your medical travel policy. There may be specified time periods when pre-existing health conditions are not covered.