Is there any more dull question than, "Have you considered your insurance needs lately?" But if you're traveling this summer, you might want to take that question seriously. There's a long menu of travel insurance available, and The Savvy Traveler's Rudy Maxa helps us sort everything out.

Since Sept. 11th, almost three times as many travelers are buying what's called "trip cancellation and interruption insurance." If your trip is cancelled, any money you've paid toward it is refunded to you. If your trip is interrupted, you can get some of your money back, too. But that's just the beginning when it comes to insurance on the road.

For example, if the car you own is insured, or if you carry a credit card that offers rental car insurance, always decline the insurance offered at the rental car counter. But here's the catch: If you're going overseas, there are a few countries where you might not be covered by your own policies. One of my cards, for example, excludes coverage if I rent a car in Italy. Another won't cover rentals in Australia or Ireland. Make sure you read the fine print in your cardholder's agreement -- you know, that piece of paper you threw away years ago when you received your card. Call your card company for details.

Where you buy your insurance matters. For example, some cruise lines will sell you trip insurance along with your cruise ticket. But if the cruise line itself goes out of business before you've boarded, or completed, your sail, you may not be able to collect. Be certain the insurance you buy covers the cruise line you're sailing.

Lately, some insurers have begun excluding acts of terrorism from coverage. Since it's those acts that account for the sharp jump in the number of policies being bought, find out if the company you're buying from excludes terrorism-related events.

So how do you shop for a policy? Well, you can ask a travel agent. Or you can comparison shop by clicking on www.quotesmith.com. Then choose the word "travel." I asked for a sample quote for a family of four taking a trip costing $3,000. I received quotes instantly -- six companies quoting premiums ranging from $120 to $263. That's a pretty wide spread. But there are also varying degrees of coverage. For example, the cheapest firm didn't offer coverage if a travel provider went out of business. So shop and compare.

If you carry a premium credit card -- one of those gold or platinum jobs -- you may think you're covered for medical evacuation. In fact, you're only covered for transport to the nearest hospital. Depending on where you're traveling, you may not want to go to -- or at least stay for surgery at -- the nearest hospital. Most travel policies cover medical evacuation for a single trip, but if you roam from home regularly, consider buying coverage on an annual basis from a company like MedJet in Birmingham, Ala. For $175 a year -- $275 for families of up to five--- a medically equipped jet will fly you to the hospital of your choice.

Your homeowners or renters insurance normally covers expensive items stolen on the road -- things like computers and cameras -- but you must obtain a local police report to collect. And airlines will only reimburse you for lost luggage if you can prove the original cost of the items in your bags, so save receipts for all the clothing you buy.

From The Savvy Traveler, I'm Rudy Maxa for Marketplace.

Web site info:

For information about the medical evacuation service, MedJet:
http://www.medjetassistance.com.

For instant, online quotes for travel insurance:
http://www.quotesmith.com