I have saved up to go for a trip for a long time.  Working at McDonalds doesn’t pay a whole lot, but I had been putting money away for over a year.  I had bought my tickets to Mexico and booked the trip.  A week before I left, my dad had some advice to share with me.  He said: 

“Son, get some travel medical insurance.” 

I was a little confused, so I asked him about why I should purchase travel medical insurance when we had family health coverage. Dad said that even though our family medical insurance covered us throughout the United States, they don’t cover any of us outside of the U.S. He offered to pay the small premium for me to have coverage while on my trip. 

We visited an insurance broker and he explained that travel medical insurance is just like regular health insurance, but the policy takes car of you while you are outside the country.  These policies cover everything from supplemental insurance (covering you against some procedures abroad not covered by your standard health insurance) to full hospitalization. 

I feel better now that I know if I run into any medical difficulties while in Mexico, I will be covered.  My parents feel better about it too.