As a rule of thumb, any trip abroad should involved buying an international insurance policy as part of the planning process. But this idea is especially true when the international trip in question is for volunteering purposes.

Why is this the case? There are two reasons. First, if you were doing work for a company overseas, then the company would probably offer you some sort of health insurance that would protect you from the high costs of healthcare if a problem arose. If you are volunteering though, you will need to provide your own protection.

Second, volunteering missions typically take place in areas that have been hit hard by violent struggles, natural disaster, or poverty. Those factors can lead to unsafe conditions including tainted water, faulty infrastructure, and poor air quality. Any of these factors can cause health problems, at which point you will be glad you are protected with visitors insurance.

Because the U.S. has a privatized healthcare system in which its citizens much purchase their own insurance, typically through their employer but also sometimes through insurance companies, visitors to the country will not be able to leverage any sort of government-sponsored plan. So if you find yourself injured or ill while visiting the U.S., you will have to pay the entire cost of medical care out of your own pocket.

That can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars depending on the severity of your medical problem.  And even if you are covered under a health insurance plan in your home country, it likely will not apply in the U.S. Most policies tend to only be good for the country in which they are issued.

Visitors insurance helps keep the cost of medical care down. Instead of paying those full prices for procedures, you will pay only a fraction of them. This way, you can get the same high quality care you would expect in your native country without spending an exorbitant sum. You will be able to enjoy your stay much more if the fear of high medical costs is not lurking in the back of your head.

According to MyOptumHealth.com, the average cost of an emergency room visit is $1,000! Do you have an extra $1,000 in your vacation budget to spend on this unforeseen expense? The answer is likely no.

And bear in mind that is only the average cost. If you have a severe issue that leads to surgery or a longer hospital stay, that number could increase rapidly. There is definitely a trade-off for the convenience of emergency room care, and that trade-off is high medical care fees.

Visitors insurance helps you manage that cost, absorbing the bulk of it and leaving you to pay only a fraction of it. You should always explore every possible alternative to making an emergency room trip, but just in case you have to go you should always be prepared with a visitors policy.

Have you had that conversation with yourself before? Many people take this approach, and unfortunately it is a rather uninformed one. First off, not all insurance policies cover incidents that occur internationally. In fact, most do not. So if you or a family member becomes sick or injured while you are traveling abroad, that great insurance policy that works so well domestically will essentially be useless.

Second, do not ever assume that just because your trip is of a short duration that nothing bad can happen to you. It only takes a moment for an injury to occur. From car accidents to catching a virus, injury and illness can attack when you least expect them to. So in reality, your chances of landing in the hospital are every bit as good abroad as they are at home.

International travel insurance is quite inexpensive, especially if you do the math and compare it to what you would pay for medical care without insurance. A simple doctor’s visit could cost you hundreds of dollars, and a more serious problem requiring surgery or an extended hospital stay will cost thousands. Don’t take chances with your family’s health or finances; make the smart, secure choice and invest in an insurance plan for your next vacation.