Many years ago I was wisely advised to purchase “homeowners” insurance for my rented apartment. I have been doing so ever since. The bonus is that I receive coverage for all my personal belongings even while traveling. Unfortunately I’ve experienced a few instances of theft, none of which were pleasant, but being insured undoubtedly eased the hardship. In each of these circumstances the value of my possessions was reimbursed graciously, with minimal difficulty, and maximum expediency. And when a water pipe broke in my apartment causing considerable damage I was thankfully covered for that too.

However, personal belongings fall a notch below the consideration of one’s personal well being. When I travel to foreign lands I always buy additional insurance to cover medical and dental assistance, lost luggage/documents, emergency evacuation, missed flights, etc.. Having both kinds of insurance is suggested since few, if any, policies cover all of the above.

I chose to buy the homeowners policy with Travelers. It is a decision I am extremely pleased with and over the years the premium has never exceeded a few hundred dollars annually. The customer service thus far has been outstanding.

While planning a two month trip, I bought a policy with Travelguard. For less than $100 it covered my primary concerns mentioned above. Fortunately I did not need any emergency assistance, so I cannot vouch for their services, but they did pay the deductible from the other policy easily and efficiently.

I encourage you to shop around and see what best suits your needs and budget and I strongly suggest that you take the necessary steps to be covered.