My friend Julie goes on truly ­envy-inspiring vacations: a dog-sledding expedition in Canada, for example, or a safari in Africa. Still, even with her sophisticated travel-planning skills, Julie recently had a question: Is trip insurance really necessary?

To answer the question, let’s first look at what trip insurance actually does. These policies cover financial losses for health-related trip cancellations, lost luggage, delays caused by weather, damage to rental cars, and other travel troubles. Trip insurance companies such as Allianz Travel Insurance, Travel Guard, and TravelSafe Insurance generally offer a range of packages that allow travelers to choose the coverage most appropriate to their personal needs.

As many as 17 percent of Americans say their travel plans have been disrupted by illness, weather, or mechanical problems, according to the US Travel Insurance Association. In theory, trip coverage could help minimize financial losses from these sorts of problems.

Whether such coverage is truly a good idea, however, depends on a combination of personal and financial factors: What activities do you have planned for your travels? How much money have you committed already? Do you have any medical issues that could require last-minute cancellation or hospitalization while abroad? Travelers planning mountaineering adventures or a jaunt in the Caribbean during hurricane season might have compelling reasons to buy insurance.

Often, however, those looking for more basic coverage need look no further than their wallets to get the protection they want. Though they rarely tout these benefits, many of the most popular credit cards offer travel insurance as part of their standard features.

By paying for a journey with the Capital One Visa Signature card, for example, travelers receive up to $3,000 of coverage for lost or stolen luggage, access to emergency assistance services, and travel accident insurance. The Chase Freedom card will reimburse travelers up to $5,000 when a trip charged to the card is canceled or interrupted by weather or illness.

Before deciding to rely on card-provided coverage, however, don’t forget to read the fine print. Some cards cover lost luggage but will not reimburse for electronics, for example. Cards may insure only trips shorter than 30 days, and each card has its own definition of what family members are covered by its benefits. As always, it is essential to check terms and conditions before choosing to depend on your credit card’s coverage over a separate trip policy.

Have a consumer question or complaint? Reach Sarah Shemkus at seshemkus@gmail.com.