Basically, the carriers seem to be moving from a one size fits all model to a more a la carte approach. Ideally, this will allow more flexibility for consumers, enabling them to tailor coverage and cost to their individual tolerances for risk.

To illustrate costs between a few major carriers, the author used an example of a 65-year old couple taking a $6,000 one-week cruise, and came up with estimates from $278-$408. First of all, shoot me if I’m 65 and spending $6,000 on a 7-day cruise, because it sounds like a ridiculous waste of money.  It’s apparent the audience of the paper fits that demographic though.  Secondly, I don’t find those estimates to be budget-friendly.

As for me, I’m going to ensure my backpack fits in an overhead compartment, and I don’t intend to carry many valuables, so lost/stolen luggage is one option I’m not going to worry about. Medical, evacuation, and trip interruption are the key areas I will use to make my decision.

The article mentioned a web site I’m going to check out, which compares more than 100 travel insurance plans sold by more than 18 companies - InsureMyTrip.com.