When you book a trip, the last thing on your mind is getting sick or having an accident. Thinking about it can really bring your mood down. But, it is important that you do consider what would happen if you did get sick or injured when you are a long way from home. It happens more often than you think. Around 18% of Americans say that they have had to change their travel arrangements due to a medical issue. So, thinking it won’t happen to you is never wise. In most cases, those people would have benefited from having a good travel health insurance policy. If you have gotten into the habit of traveling without one, here are four reasons to think about changing that habit.

1. YOUR HEALTH IS IMPORTANT

If you were to have an accident or fall ill and not be able to get the proper medical help, you could be left with a lifelong disability. In many cases, prompt medical attention is essential if you want to make a full recovery. The last thing you need is for your treatment to be delayed because the hospital needs proof that you can pay. Many people do not believe that a medical facility would delay treatment because of this, but the sad truth is that they do. If your life is not in imminent danger, in many countries, getting treated immediately, even for something as serious as a broken bone, may not happen.

2. MEDICAL BILLS CAN SOON MOUNT UP

Regardless of where you are in the world, the costs of getting treatment can soon mount up. Even if you are traveling somewhere that has surprisingly cheap healthcare, like India, the bills can still be quite big. For example, if you were to need a heart bypass, you could easily have to pay $45,000. In some countries, the bill can easily top $100,000 for that type of operation, sometimes more. It really is not worth the risk to end up in that kind of debt.

3. THE COST OF MEDICAL EVACUATION CAN BE ASTRONOMICAL

Should you need to be transported to a medical facility in another part of the country or sent home using an air ambulance, you may face a bill that is going to change your life in a very bad way. The cost can easily reach $50,000, sometimes more. You don’t want to be left with a lifetime of debt, just because you did not buy a decent travel policy.

4. YOU NEED PEACE OF MIND

Buying the right policy will provide you with peace of mind. Without it, you will find it difficult to relax and enjoy your trip properly. Just be sure to read the terms and conditions of the policy before you buy. Make sure that the policy you are planning to buy covers all eventualities and offers you an adequate level of coverage for each of them. This short guide will help you to be able to read and understand virtually any health-related policy.