The U.S. Travel Insurance Association (UStiA) website, ustia.org, and travel insurance aggregator websites, including insuremytrip.com and quotewright.com, spell out the ABC"s of buying travel insurance. UStiA's site also provides a list of reputable insurance providers.

A few of our favorites include:
Access America (accessamerica.com)
AIG Travel Guard (travelguard.com)
IMG (imglobal.com)
Travelex (www.travelex-insurance.com/consumer/welcome.aspx)

Also peruse columns by consumer advocate Ed Perkins on Smartertravel.com and you"ll turn you into a bona fide expert on travel insurance overnight.