I never fully realized how lucky I have been, being born in Canada. It is a beautiful country that still has so much natural beauty left in it. I also have never had to pay any kind of medical expense in my life (prescriptions excluded). Because of this and the fact that I'm fairly healthy I tend not to think too much about doctors' bills or insurance. I wish I had known about travel insurance last year before going to Florida Spring Break. My life would be much different if I had.

I decided to try parasailing - being pulled behind a boat while attached to a parachute - while I was in the south. That decision and my lack of knowledge have changed my life completely. I ended up crashing very badly and needing to be rushed to an area hospital. Looking back if that had been the worst of it, I would be happy. But no, my trusty health care system that I am so proud of, I learned, abandons its citizens as soon as they cross the border like a cheap one-night stand. There I was stranded in a foreign country stuck with a $15, 000 bill for medical services.

I have lived and learned, and if I ever pay off my debt enough to be able to travel again I will make sure I get insurance to protect against accidents. I hope that after reading this article you will think carefully about leaving the country without any coverage.

Before you think that you can't afford insurance you should know that a very basic single-trip plan can cost as little as $40. Can you really afford to NOT have insurance? Forty dollars upfront that you may or may not use, is a lot easier to swallow than a few thousand or tens of thousands later on.

A basic plan may be fine if you are taking a guided tour of a foreign land, but if you are planning on going on an adventure expedition you may not be fully safe-guarded. It is therefore, very important to make a list of all the things you THINK you might do while on vacation. This way you can custom tailor a plan that will protect you should something go wrong.

When you get your insurance package, take your time and read through the fine print. Don't allow yourself to be rushed into signing. Circle any articles you need clarified and make sure you understand what it means BEFORE you sign. Once you've signed, you have agreed and it's too late.

Other than medical costs, you will want to be covered against loss/theft of items. This will protect you if the airline loses your luggage or against been pick pocketed in the streets of Rome. A lot of people seem to neglect this, but think about how you're going to get home if you lose your ticket or pass port. What will you do if you have no money and your credit cards are in the hands of a thief?

I hope that you never go through what I did, but heed my advice. Insurance can be seen as a necessary expense; pay a little upfront to not pay a lot on the back end. And remember an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.