Study-abroad and student travel programs are an incredible opportunity for young people to experience the wide world. But as any chaperone can tell you, there's always one student who misses the plane, loses their passport or ends up in the hospital after eating bad pineapple. What will you do if it's your son or daughter?

Three Things You Need To Know Before Buying Student Travel Insurance

School travel coordinators will do their best to help, but what you really need is a student travel insurance policy that includes emergency medical services coverage and trip cancellation coverage. Whether your student is embarking on domestic travel or a long international vacation, you need to get student travel insurance first. Here are the three reasons why.

1. Student travelers take more risks.

Sometimes, the thrill of studying abroad erases young travelers' good judgment. They may leave their bag on the beach while snorkeling, only to find someone has stolen their passport. Or they may sprain an ankle while learning to dance the Merengue. It's all part of the adventure - and it's okay, as long as they have student travel insurance.

Look for a student policy that includes things like medical coverage, trip interruption coverage, emergency medical evacuation coverage, 24/7 travel assistance services and more.

2. In an emergency, student travel insurance may provide valuable guidance.

For student travelers who have never left home before, traveling overseas can be scary because they don't know what to do in an emergency. That's when a student travel insurance policy with access to a 24-hour hotline can help. No matter where students are in the world, a multilingual specialist can offer guidance for all kinds of problems, from tracking down lost baggage to getting emergency medical care.

3. Student travel insurance gives you peace of mind.

It's hard enough to wave goodbye to your daughter before she boards an international flight for the first time. Do you really want to be worrying about her every minute she's overseas? A student travel insurance policy lets you know she's covered in case the unexpected happens. Look for a policy that offers coverage for illness, accidents, lost baggage, missed flights, theft or other international emergencies. Make sure you review your insurance plan carefully before you buy, because not all plans offer the same coverage.