Travel insurance may be an important consideration if you are planning a big trip. About 30 percent of Americans purchase travel insurance, up from just 10 percent before 9/11. And among cruisers, that figure is nearly 70 percent.

Many types of policies available, but you should buy a policy from a licensed insurer who is independent from your tour operator. Remember, if the tour company goes down the drain, their insurance coverage may go down the drain, too.

 What about your standard credit card coverage? You may already have very limited coverage for flight accident insurance, rental car insurance, or baggage insurance. If the airline ceases to operate before your flight, you're already covered under federal credit laws, since you contracted for a service which you did not receive.

  Here are the basic types of travel insurance, and my advice on whether to buy or not:

 1. Flight insurance: No. If the plane crashes, you get a payout. This is not necessary.

 2. Trip Cancellation and Interruption insurance: Maybe. If it's a cheap regional flight, forget it. But if this is the once-in-a-lifetime cruise vacation, buy it. You will be protected if you get sick or miss your trip for almost any reason.

 3. Health Care and Medical Evacuation insurance: Absolutely yes. You may think you're covered by your existing health care insurance in the U.S., but it probably doesn't cover you outside the country. It may not even cover you if you're traveling on a foreign-flagged vessel in U.S. waters. Additionally, your current health insurance probably will not cover the cost to repatriate you back to the U.S. Evacuation insurance can also act as your advocate in what could be a delicate negotiation in a foreign country.

 4. Baggage insurance: Yes, if you're going overseas. Often, standard trip cancellation/interruption policies provide coverage for lost, damaged, delayed, or stolen bags. If not, buy this as a separate insurance. That's because international law limits liability to about $9 per pound for checked baggage and $400 per passenger for unchecked baggage, and that's not much.

 5. Excess Valuation insurance: Yes, if you're carrying expensive items. In the U.S., airline liability for lost or damaged luggage is limited to $3,000 per passenger (not per bag) and excludes a long list of valuable items such as furs, jewels, negotiable financial documents, etc. And all this is all based on depreciated value. So, ask the counter agent at the airport for an option called "excess valuation." This option provides up to $5,000 additional coverage, at a rate of about $1 per $100 in value.

 6. Non-refundable insurance: Yes, if your plans are shakey. Some policies offer straight coverage if you buy the non-refundable airline ticket and then can't use it and don't want to be hit with the minimum $100 change fee. They premium is a tad expensive but worth it if you think you might have to change your trip after you purchase your ticket.

 7. Adventure/extreme sports travel: Yes, but it will cost you. Basic travel insurance excludes much of what constitutes adventure travel and extreme sports However, we can offer insurance to supplement the traditional plans.

 So here's the bottom line: A lot can happen between the time you book your trip and the time you complete it. Better be safe than sorry.