basic travel insurance

The best travel insurance policies and providers

It's easy to dismiss the value of travel insurance until you need it.

Many travelers have strong opinions about whether you should buy travel insurance . However, the purpose of this post isn't to determine whether it's worth investing in. Instead, it compares some of the top travel insurance providers and policies so you can determine which travel insurance option is best for you.

Of course, as the coronavirus remains an ongoing concern, it's important to understand whether travel insurance covers pandemics. Some policies will cover you if you're diagnosed with COVID-19 and have proof of illness from a doctor. Others will take coverage a step further, covering additional types of pandemic-related expenses and cancellations.

Know, though, that every policy will have exclusions and restrictions that may limit coverage. For example, fear of travel is generally not a covered reason for invoking trip cancellation or interruption coverage, while specific stipulations may apply to elevated travel warnings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Interested in travel insurance? Visit InsureMyTrip.com to shop for plans that may fit your travel needs.

So, before buying a specific policy, you must understand the full terms and any special notices the insurer has about COVID-19. You may even want to buy the optional cancel for any reason add-on that's available for some comprehensive policies. While you'll pay more for that protection, it allows you to cancel your trip for any reason and still get some of your costs back. Note that this benefit is time-sensitive and has other eligibility requirements, so not all travelers will qualify.

In this guide, we'll review several policies from top travel insurance providers so you have a better understanding of your options before picking the policy and provider that best address your wants and needs.

The best travel insurance providers

To put together this list of the best travel insurance providers, a number of details were considered: favorable ratings from TPG Lounge members, the availability of details about policies and the claims process online, positive online ratings and the ability to purchase policies in most U.S. states. You can also search for options from these (and other) providers through an insurance comparison site like InsureMyTrip .

When comparing insurance providers, I priced out a single-trip policy for each provider for a $2,000, one-week vacation to Istanbul . I used my actual age and state of residence when obtaining quotes. As a result, you may see a different price — or even additional policies due to regulations for travel insurance varying from state to state — when getting a quote.

AIG Travel Guard

AIG Travel Guard receives many positive reviews from readers in the TPG Lounge who have filed claims with the company. AIG offers three plans online, which you can compare side by side, and the ability to examine sample policies. Here are three plans for my sample trip to Turkey.

AIG Travel Guard also offers an annual travel plan. This plan is priced at $259 per year for one Florida resident.

Additionally, AIG Travel Guard offers several other policies, including a single-trip policy without trip cancellation protection . See AIG Travel Guard's COVID-19 notification and COVID-19 advisory for current details regarding COVID-19 coverage.

Preexisting conditions

Typically, AIG Travel Guard wouldn't cover you for any loss or expense due to a preexisting medical condition that existed within 180 days of the coverage effective date. However, AIG Travel Guard may waive the preexisting medical condition exclusion on some plans if you meet the following conditions:

• You purchase the plan within 15 days of your initial trip payment.
• The amount of coverage you purchase equals all trip costs at the time of purchase. You must update your coverage to insure the costs of any subsequent arrangements that you add to your trip within 15 days of paying the travel supplier for these additional arrangements.
• You must be medically able to travel when you purchase your plan.

Standout features

• The Deluxe and Preferred plans allow you to purchase an upgrade that lets you cancel your trip for any reason. However, reimbursement under this coverage will not exceed 50% or 75% of your covered trip cost.
• You can include one child (age 17 and younger) with each paying adult for no additional cost on most single-trip plans.
• Other optional upgrades, including an adventure sports bundle, a baggage bundle, an inconvenience bundle, a pet bundle, a security bundle and a wedding bundle, are available on some policies. So, an AIG Travel Guard plan may be a good choice if you know you want extra coverage in specific areas.

Purchase your policy here: AIG Travel Guard .

Allianz Travel Insurance

Allianz is one of the most highly regarded providers in the TPG Lounge, and many readers found the claim process reasonable. Allianz offers many plans, including the following single-trip plans for my sample trip to Turkey.

If you travel frequently, it may make sense to purchase an annual multi-trip policy. For this plan, all of the maximum coverage amounts in the table below are per trip (except for the trip cancellation and trip interruption amounts, which are an aggregate limit per policy). Trips typically must last no more than 45 days, although some plans may cover trips of up to 90 days.

See Allianz's coverage alert for current information on COVID-19 coverage.

Most Allianz travel insurance plans may cover preexisting medical conditions if you meet particular requirements. For the OneTrip Premier, Prime and Basic plans, the requirements are as follows:

• You purchased the policy within 14 days of the date of the first trip payment or deposit.
• You were a U.S. resident when you purchased the policy.
• You were medically able to travel when you purchased the policy.
• On the policy purchase date, you insured the total, nonrefundable cost of your trip (including arrangements that will become nonrefundable or subject to cancellation penalties before your departure date). If you incur additional nonrefundable trip expenses after purchasing this policy, you must insure them within 14 days of their purchase.
• Allianz offers reasonably priced annual policies for independent travelers and families who take multiple trips lasting up to 45 days (or 90 days for select plans) per year.
• Some Allianz plans provide the option of receiving a flat reimbursement amount without receipts for trip delay and baggage delay claims. Of course, you can also submit receipts to get up to the maximum refund.
• For emergency transportation coverage, you or someone on your behalf must contact Allianz, and Allianz must then make all transportation arrangements in advance. However, most Allianz policies provide an option if you cannot contact the company: Allianz will pay up to what it would have paid if it had made the arrangements.

Purchase your policy here: Allianz Travel Insurance .

American Express Travel Insurance

American Express Travel Insurance offers four different package plans and a build-your-own coverage option. You don't have to be an American Express cardholder to purchase this insurance. Here are the four package options for my sample weeklong trip to Turkey. Unlike some other providers, Amex won't ask for your travel destination on the initial quote (but will when you purchase the plan).

Amex's build-your-own coverage plan is unique because you can purchase just the coverage you need. For most types of protection, you can even select the coverage amount that works best for you.

The prices for the packages and the build-your-own plan don't increase for longer trips — as long as the trip cost remains constant. However, the emergency medical and dental benefit is only available for your first 60 days of travel.

Typically, Amex won't cover any loss you incur because of a preexisting medical condition that existed within 90 days of the coverage effective date. However, Amex may waive its preexisting-condition exclusion if you meet both of the following requirements:

• You must be medically able to travel at the time you pay the policy premium.
• You pay the policy premium within 14 days of making the first covered trip deposit.
• Amex's build-your-own coverage option allows you to only purchase — and pay for — the coverage you need.
• Coverage on long trips doesn't cost more than coverage for short trips, making this policy ideal for extended getaways. However, the emergency medical and dental benefit only covers your first 60 days of travel.
• American Express Travel Insurance can protect travel expenses you purchase with Amex Membership Rewards points in the Pay with Points program (as well as travel expenses bought with cash, debit or credit). However, travel expenses bought with other types of points and miles aren't covered.

Purchase your policy here: American Express Travel Insurance .

GeoBlue is different from most other providers described in this piece because it only provides medical coverage while you're traveling internationally and does not offer benefits to protect the cost of your trip. There are many different policies. Some require you to have primary health insurance in the U.S. (although it doesn't need to be provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield), but all of them only offer coverage while traveling outside the U.S.

Two single-trip plans are available if you're traveling for six months or less. The Voyager Choice policy provides coverage (including medical services and medical evacuation for a sudden recurrence of a preexisting condition) for trips outside the U.S. to travelers who are 95 or younger and already have a U.S. health insurance policy.

The Voyager Essential policy provides coverage (including medical evacuation for a sudden recurrence of a preexisting condition) for trips outside the U.S. to travelers who are 95 or younger, regardless of whether they have primary health insurance.

In addition to these options, two multi-trip plans cover trips of up to 70 days each for one year. Both policies provide coverage (including medical services and medical evacuation for preexisting conditions) to travelers with primary health insurance.

Be sure to check out GeoBlue's COVID-19 notices before buying a plan.

Most GeoBlue policies explicitly cover sudden recurrences of preexisting conditions for medical services and medical evacuation.

• GeoBlue can be an excellent option if you're mainly concerned about the medical side of travel insurance.
• GeoBlue provides single-trip, multi-trip and long-term medical travel insurance policies for many different types of travel.

Purchase your policy here: GeoBlue .

IMG offers various travel medical insurance policies for travelers, as well as comprehensive travel insurance policies. For a single trip of 90 days or less, there are five policy types available for vacation or holiday travelers. Although you must enter your gender, males and females received the same quote for my one-week search.

You can purchase an annual multi-trip travel medical insurance plan. Some only cover trips lasting up to 30 or 45 days, but others provide coverage for longer trips.

See IMG's page on COVID-19 for additional policy information as it relates to coronavirus-related claims.

Most plans may cover preexisting conditions under set parameters or up to specific amounts. For example, the iTravelInsured Travel LX travel insurance plan shown above may cover preexisting conditions if you purchase the insurance within 24 hours of making the final payment for your trip.

For the travel medical insurance plans shown above, preexisting conditions are covered for travelers younger than 70. However, coverage is capped based on your age and whether you have a primary health insurance policy.

• Some annual multi-trip plans are modestly priced.
• iTravelInsured Travel LX may offer optional cancel for any reason and interruption for any reason coverage, if eligible.

Purchase your policy here: IMG .

Travelex Insurance

Travelex offers three single-trip plans: Travel Basic, Travel Select and Travel America. However, only the Travel Basic and Travel Select plans would be applicable for my trip to Turkey.

See Travelex's COVID-19 coverage statement for coronavirus-specific information.

Typically, Travelex won't cover losses incurred because of a preexisting medical condition that existed within 60 days of the coverage effective date. However, the Travel Select plan may offer a preexisting condition exclusion waiver. To be eligible for this waiver, the insured traveler must meet all the following conditions:

• You purchase the plan within 15 days of the initial trip payment.
• The amount of coverage purchased equals all prepaid, nonrefundable payments or deposits applicable to the trip at the time of purchase. Additionally, you must insure the costs of any subsequent arrangements added to the same trip within 15 days of payment or deposit.
• All insured individuals are medically able to travel when they pay the plan cost.
• The trip cost does not exceed the maximum trip cost limit under trip cancellation as shown in the schedule per person (only applicable to trip cancellation, interruption and delay).
• Travelex's Travel Select policy can cover trips lasting up to 364 days, which is longer than many single-trip policies.
• Neither Travelex policy requires receipts for trip and baggage delay expenses less than $25.
• For emergency evacuation coverage, you or someone on your behalf must contact Travelex and have Travelex make all transportation arrangements in advance. However, both Travelex policies provide an option if you cannot contact Travelex: Travelex will pay up to what it would have paid if it had made the arrangements.

Purchase your policy here: Travelex Insurance .

Seven Corners

Seven Corners offers a wide variety of policies. Here are the policies that are most applicable to travelers on a single international trip.

Seven Corners also offers many other types of travel insurance, including an annual multi-trip plan. You can choose coverage for trips of up to 30, 45 or 60 days when purchasing an annual multi-trip plan.

See Seven Corner's page on COVID-19 for additional policy information as it relates to coronavirus-related claims.

Typically, Seven Corners won't cover losses incurred because of a preexisting medical condition. However, the RoundTrip Choice plan offers a preexisting condition exclusion waiver. To be eligible for this waiver, you must meet all of the following conditions:

• You buy this plan within 20 days of making your initial trip payment or deposit.
• You or your travel companion are medically able and not disabled from travel when you pay for this plan or upgrade your plan.
• You update the coverage to include the additional cost of subsequent travel arrangements within 15 days of paying your travel supplier for them.
• Seven Corners offers the ability to purchase optional sports and golf equipment coverage. If purchased, this extra insurance will reimburse you for the cost of renting sports or golf equipment if yours is lost, stolen, damaged or delayed by a common carrier for six or more hours. However, Seven Corners must authorize the expenses in advance.
• You can add cancel for any reason coverage or trip interruption for any reason coverage to RoundTrip plans. Although some other providers offer cancel for any reason coverage, trip interruption for any reason coverage is less common.
• Seven Corners' RoundTrip Choice policy offers a political or security evacuation benefit that will transport you to the nearest safe place or your residence under specific conditions. You can also add optional event ticket registration fee protection to the RoundTrip Choice policy.

Purchase your policy here: Seven Corners .

World Nomads

World Nomads is popular with younger, active travelers because of its flexibility and adventure-activities coverage on the Explorer plan. Unlike many policies offered by other providers, you don't need to estimate prepaid costs when purchasing the insurance to have access to trip interruption and cancellation insurance.

World Nomads offers two single-trip plans.

World Nomads has a page dedicated to coronavirus coverage , so be sure to view it before buying a policy.

World Nomads won't cover losses incurred because of a preexisting medical condition (except emergency evacuation and repatriation of remains) that existed within 90 days of the coverage effective date. Unlike many other providers, World Nomads doesn't offer a waiver.

• World Nomads' policies cover more adventure sports than most providers, so activities such as bungee jumping are included. The Explorer policy covers almost any adventure sport, including skydiving, stunt flying and caving. So, if you partake in adventure sports while traveling, the Explorer policy may be a good fit.
• World Nomads' policies provide nonmedical evacuation coverage for transportation expenses if there is civil or political unrest in the country you are visiting. The coverage may also transport you home if there is an eligible natural disaster or a government expels you.

Purchase your policy here: World Nomads .

Other options for buying travel insurance

This guide details the policies of eight providers with the information available at the time of publication. There are many options when it comes to travel insurance, though. To compare different policies quickly, you can use a travel insurance aggregator like InsureMyTrip to search. Just note that these search engines won't show every policy and every provider, and you should still research the provided policies to ensure the coverage fits your trip and needs.

You can also purchase a plan through various membership associations, such as USAA, AAA or Costco. Typically, these organizations partner with a specific provider, so if you are a member of any of these associations, you may want to compare the policies offered through the organization with other policies to get the best coverage for your trip.

Related: Should you get travel insurance if you have credit card protection?

Is travel insurance worth getting?

Whether you should purchase travel insurance is a personal decision. Suppose you use a credit card that provides travel insurance for most of your expenses and have medical insurance that provides adequate coverage abroad. In that case, you may be covered enough on most trips to forgo purchasing travel insurance.

However, suppose your medical insurance won't cover you at your destination and you can't comfortably cover a sizable medical evacuation bill or last-minute flight home . In that case, you should consider purchasing travel insurance. If you travel frequently, buying an annual multi-trip policy may be worth it.

What is the best COVID-19 travel insurance?

There are various aspects to keep in mind in the age of COVID-19. Consider booking travel plans that are fully refundable or have modest change or cancellation fees so you don't need to worry about whether your policy will cover trip cancellation. This is important since many standard comprehensive insurance policies won't reimburse your insured expenses in the event of cancellation if it's related to the fear of traveling due to COVID-19.

However, if you book a nonrefundable trip and want to maintain the ability to get reimbursed (up to 75% of your insured costs) if you choose to cancel, you should consider buying a comprehensive travel insurance policy and then adding optional cancel for any reason protection. Just note that this benefit is time-sensitive and has eligibility requirements, so not all travelers will qualify.

Providers will often require CFAR purchasers insure the entire dollar amount of their travels to receive the coverage. Also, many CFAR policies mandate that you must cancel your plans and notify all travel suppliers at least 48 hours before your scheduled departure.

Likewise, if your primary health insurance won't cover you while on your trip, it's essential to consider whether medical expenses related to COVID-19 treatment are covered. You may also want to consider a MedJet medical transport membership if your trip is to a covered destination for coronavirus-related evacuation.

Ultimately, the best pandemic travel insurance policy will depend on your trip details, travel concerns and your willingness to self-insure. Just be sure to thoroughly read and understand any terms or exclusions before purchasing.

What are the different types of travel insurance?

Whether you purchase a comprehensive travel insurance policy or rely on the protections offered by select credit cards, you may have access to the following types of coverage:

• Baggage delay protection may reimburse for essential items and clothing when a common carrier (such as an airline) fails to deliver your checked bag within a set time of your arrival at a destination. Typically, you may be reimbursed up to a particular amount per incident or per day.
• Lost/damaged baggage protection may provide reimbursement to replace lost or damaged luggage and items inside that luggage. However, valuables and electronics usually have a relatively low maximum benefit.
• Trip delay reimbursement may provide reimbursement for necessary items, food, lodging and sometimes transportation when you're delayed for a substantial time while traveling on a common carrier such as an airline. This insurance may be beneficial if weather issues (or other covered reasons for which the airline usually won't provide compensation) delay you.
• Trip cancellation and interruption protection may provide reimbursement if you need to cancel or interrupt your trip for a covered reason, such as a death in your family or jury duty.
• Medical evacuation insurance can arrange and pay for medical evacuation if deemed necessary by the insurance provider and a medical professional. This coverage can be particularly valuable if you're traveling to a region with subpar medical facilities.
• Travel accident insurance may provide a payment to you or your beneficiary in the case of your death or dismemberment.
• Emergency medical insurance may provide payment or reimburse you if you must seek medical care while traveling. Some plans only cover emergency medical care, but some also cover other types of medical care. You may need to pay a deductible or copay.
• Rental car coverage may provide a collision damage waiver when renting a car. This waiver may reimburse for collision damage or theft up to a set amount. Some policies also cover loss-of-use charges assessed by the rental company and towing charges to take the vehicle to the nearest qualified repair facility. You generally need to decline the rental company's collision damage waiver or similar provision to be covered.

Should I buy travel health insurance?

If you purchase travel with credit cards that provide various trip protections, you may not see much need for additional travel insurance. However, you may still wonder whether you should buy travel medical insurance.

If your primary health insurance covers you on your trip, you may not need travel health insurance. Your domestic policy may not cover you outside the U.S., though, so it's worth calling the number on your health insurance card if you have coverage questions. If your primary health insurance wouldn't cover you, it's likely worth purchasing travel medical insurance. After all, as you can see above, travel medical insurance is often very modestly priced.

How much does travel insurance cost?

Travel insurance costs depend on various factors, including the provider, the type of coverage, your trip cost, your destination, your age, your residency and how many travelers you want to insure. That said, a standard travel insurance plan will generally set you back somewhere between 4% and 10% of your total trip cost. However, this can get lower for more basic protections or become even higher if you include add-ons like cancel for any reason protection.

The best way to determine how much travel insurance will cost is to price out your trip with a few providers discussed in the guide. Or, visit an insurance aggregator like InsureMyTrip to quickly compare options across multiple providers.

When and how to get travel insurance

For the most robust selection of available travel insurance benefits — including time-sensitive add-ons like CFAR protection and waivers of preexisting conditions for eligible travelers — you should ideally purchase travel insurance on the same day you make your first payment toward your trip.

However, many plans may still offer a preexisting conditions waiver for those who qualify if you buy your travel insurance within 14 to 21 days of your first trip expense or deposit (this time frame may vary by provider). If you don't need a preexisting conditions waiver or aren't interested in CFAR coverage, you can purchase travel insurance once your departure date nears.

You must purchase coverage before it's needed. Some travel medical plans are available for purchase after you have departed, but comprehensive plans that include medical coverage must be purchased before departing.

Additionally, you can't buy any medical coverage once you require medical attention. The same applies to all travel insurance coverage. Once you recognize the need, it's too late to protect your trip.

Once you've shopped around and decided upon the best travel insurance plan for your trip, you should be able to complete your purchase online. You'll usually be able to download your insurance card and the complete policy shortly after the transaction is complete.

Related: 7 times your credit card's travel insurance might not cover you

Bottom line

Not all travel insurance policies and providers are equal. Before buying a plan, read and understand the policy documents. By doing so, you can choose a plan that's appropriate for you and your trip — including the features that matter most to you.

For example, if you plan to go skiing or rock climbing, make sure the policy you buy doesn't contain exclusions for these activities. Likewise, if you're making two back-to-back trips during which you'll be returning home for a short time in between, be sure the plan doesn't terminate coverage at the end of your first trip.

If you're looking to cover a sudden recurrence of a preexisting condition, select a policy with a preexisting condition waiver and fulfill the requirements for the waiver. After all, buying insurance won't help if your policy doesn't cover your losses.

Disclaimer : This information is provided by IMT Services, LLC ( InsureMyTrip.com ), a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 5119217) and a member of the Tokio Marine HCC group of companies. IMT's services are only available in states where it is licensed to do business and the products provided through InsureMyTrip.com may not be available in all states. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not create or modify any insurance policy terms in any way. For more information, please visit www.insuremytrip.com .

June 1, 2020

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AllTrips Basic

Get year-long protection for one low rate, wherever you may roam. The AllTrips Basic plan includes benefits for baggage coverage, travel delays, covered emergency medical care, emergency medical transportation, and rental car damage and theft coverage (available to residents of most states). Virtually any kind of trip is covered: weekend getaways, cross-country road trips, business travel, etc. AllTrips Basic does not include trip cancellation/interruption coverage.

All benefits are  per insured  unless otherwise noted. All benefits are  per trip . Trips longer than  45 days  are excluded from coverage.

Benefits/Coverage

Benefits/Coverage may vary by state, and sublimits may apply. Please see your plan for full details.

Epidemic Coverage Endorsement

Adds certain epidemic-related covered reasons for Travel Delay; Emergency Medical Care; and Emergency Transportation benefits. For example, if you are diagnosed with an epidemic disease such as COVID-19 and require emergency medical care, you may be reimbursed for costs up to your plan’s maximum limit for the Emergency Medical Care benefit. For more information, look for the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement page within your plan details.

Not available in all jurisdictions. For plans without this endorsement, certain limited-time COVID-19 claim accommodations may be available. Read our Coverage Alert for details.

Emergency Medical

Provides benefits for losses due to covered medical and dental emergencies that occur during your trip (with no deductible). There is a $750 maximum for all covered dental expenses.

Benefit is  per insured ,  per trip .

Emergency Medical Transportation

Provides reimbursement for medically necessary transportation to the nearest hospital or appropriate facility following a covered illness or injury.

Benefit is per insured , per trip .

Baggage Loss/Damage

Covers loss, damage or theft of baggage and personal effects.

Baggage Delay

Reimburses the reasonable additional purchase of essential items during your trip if your baggage is delayed or misdirected by a common carrier for 12 hours or more. Receipts for emergency purchases are required.

Travel Delay

$600 (Daily Limit $200)

Reimburses you for eligible, additional expenses due to a covered delay of six hours or more.

Rental Car Damage and Theft Coverage*

Covers costs if a car you're renting is stolen or is damaged in an accident or while it's left unattended (not available to residents of KS, TX, NY and WA).

Benefit is  for all insured, per trip .

Travel Accident Coverage

Provides cash payment for covered losses due to death, loss of limb(s) or sight as a result of a covered travel accident.

24-Hr Hotline Assistance

With Allianz Global Assistance, you'll never travel alone. Our multilingual assistance team is available 24 hours a day to help you handle all kinds of travel emergencies. We can help you find local medical and legal professionals, arrange to send a message home, help with missed connections and lost/stolen travel documents, and much more.

Provides personalized information about your destination and assists you with obtaining restaurant reservations, tee times and tickets to events.

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Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Please see your plan for full details. Benefits/Coverage may vary by state, and sublimits may apply.

Insurance benefits underwritten by BCS Insurance Company (OH, Administrative Office: 2 Mid America Plaza, Suite 200, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181), rated “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best Co., under BCS Form No. 52.201 series or 52.401 series, or Jefferson Insurance Company (NY, Administrative Office: 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233), rated “A+” (Superior) by A.M. Best Co., under Jefferson Form No. 101-C series or 101-P series, depending on your state of residence and plan chosen. A+ (Superior) and A (Excellent) are the 2nd and 3rd highest, respectively, of A.M. Best's 13 Financial Strength Ratings. Plans only available to U.S. residents and may not be available in all jurisdictions. Allianz Global Assistance and Allianz Travel Insurance are marks of AGA Service Company dba Allianz Global Assistance or its affiliates. Allianz Travel Insurance products are distributed by Allianz Global Assistance, the licensed producer and administrator of these plans and an affiliate of Jefferson Insurance Company. The insured shall not receive any special benefit or advantage due to the affiliation between AGA Service Company and Jefferson Insurance Company. Plans include insurance benefits and assistance services. Any Non-Insurance Assistance services purchased are provided through AGA Service Company. Except as expressly provided under your plan, you are responsible for charges you incur from third parties. Contact AGA Service Company at  800-284-8300 or 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233 or [email protected] .

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For nearly a decade, Tin Leg has helped travelers of all ages find the best travel insurance coverage for their trips. Tin Leg offers a wide-range of plans with comprehensive coverage for the most common travel disruptions, including benefits for medical emergencies, cancellations, travel delays, and more.

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Tin Leg’s internationally-recognized customer service department always works to save travelers money. We guarantee an honest interaction with every customer, and we never push a sale. If a traveler won’t be covered, we will advise they don’t buy a policy.

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Tin Leg Economy, our cost-effective base product, offers travel insurance coverage for most common concerns.

Tin Leg Standard offers higher medical coverage amounts and additional cancellation benefits to Tin Leg Economy.

Tin Leg Luxury is built for those seeking high Primary medical coverage with more comprehensive cancellation options.

Tin Leg Adventure is designed for active travelers, with comprehensive coverage for adventurous activities and high medical benefits.

Tin Leg Gold offers comprehensive cancellation benefits and the highest Primary medical coverage of all Tin Leg policies.

Tin Leg Silver provides comprehensive cancellation coverage and high medical benefits, with extensive Trip Delay coverage.

Tin Leg Basic was built to provide entry level, comprehensive coverage for the most common traveler concerns at a competitive premium.

Tin Leg Platinum is a mid-level, comprehensive policy with higher cancellation coverage and medical benefits than Tin Leg Basic.

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Tin leg travel insurance policies are designed with travelers’ top priorities in mind..

Safeguard your wallet with trip cancellation insurance should you cancel your trip unexpectedly. Protect yourself with medical expense and evacuation if an emergency occurs while traveling. Finally, have peace of mind with Tin Leg’s baggage loss coverage, in the event that your belongings become permanently lost, damaged or stolen during your trip.

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True Claim Stories

Around-the-world cruise turns into $70,000 claim.

"I had never bought travel insurance before this trip," said William. "But my brother said, 'You're going to be gone a long time, going to some strange places, and you're getting older.' So I bought travel insurance."

Basic & Less Expensive Trip Cancellation Travel Insurance Plans

Want basic trip cancellation travel insurance without paying extra for a lot of medical and other coverages, if so, you’ll find three different plans (two can waive the pre-existing medical condition exclusion).

• The Travel Guard Essential has a pre-existing condition waiver if you buy no later than 14 days after your initial trip deposit date
• The Travel Insured Edge doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions

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Best Travel Insurance Companies

• Based on the MarketWatch Guides team’s comprehensive review of over two dozen travel insurers and 49 different policies, the best travel insurance company is Travelex.
•  Travel insurance policies offer reimbursement if your trip gets canceled for a covered reason, you incur emergency medical bills, and for other situations such as missed flights or baggage delays.
•  According to our research, the average cost for a single-trip travel insurance policy is $206 , but pricing varies depending on trip destination and duration, number of travelers, traveler ages and more.

Alex Carver is a writer and researcher based in Charlotte, N.C. A contributor to major news websites such as Automoblog and USA Today, she’s written content in sectors such as insurance, warranties, shipping, real estate and more.

Tori Addison is an editor who has worked in the digital marketing industry for over five years. Her experience includes communications and marketing work in the nonprofit, governmental and academic sectors. A journalist by trade, she started her career covering politics and news in New York’s Hudson Valley. Her work included coverage of local and state budgets, federal financial regulations and health care legislation.

Here’s a breakdown of how we reviewed and rated the best travel insurance companies

The Best Travel Insurance Companies of 2024

After reviewing dozens of providers operating throughout the U.S., the following are our best travel insurance recommendations:

• Travelex Insurance: Our top pick
• Nationwide Travel Insurance : Best for baggage coverage
• AIG Travel Guard : Best for families
• Faye : Best cancel for any reason coverage
• WorldTrips : Most affordable comprehensive coverage
• Generali Global Assistance : Best for trip interruption coverage
• Seven Corners : Best for visitors to the U.S.
• AEGIS : Best for immediate reimbursement
• Travel Insured International: Best for evacuation coverage

How We Ranked the Best Travel Insurance Providers

To rank the best travel insurance providers, we took a closer look at each provider’s ratings calculated using our comprehensive travel insurance methodology . This process involved considering the cost, coverage timelines and amounts, and customer service and reviews. We also awarded each provider a superlative based on key strengths identified by our team.

Read more about the providers we’ve chosen as best in the sections below.

Best Travel Insurance Companies in Detail

Why We Picked Travelex

We chose Travelex as our overall pick for the best travel insurance company thanks to its above-average scores in all rating categories across our methodology. In addition, the provider has made several of our top travel insurance lists. This includes best travel insurance for families , as Travelex includes children under 17 for free with the purchase of an adult policy. However, note that the provider’s Travel Basic plan lacks this extended coverage for children.

Travelex also topped our list of best long-term travel insurance providers with its Travel Select policy, which can cover travelers for up to a year abroad with no primary health insurance requirement. While our research found that most providers with long-term policies don’t offer trip cancellation or cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage, Travelex’s Travel Select plan does, making it stand out compared to other insurers with this type of travel insurance plan.

Pros and Cons

Flat-rate policies available from $60 per person

Includes emergency evacuation as a standard coverage

Offers an adventure sports waiver

Includes a $15,000 medical limit on the lowest coverage tier

Only offers up to 50% in cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage

Customer Reviews and Ratings

Travelex holds a 4.4 out of 5-star rating on Squaremouth with over 2,000 confirmed customer reviews.

How Travelex Scored in Our Methodology:

Coverage and Cost

Travelex’s base plan, the Travel Basic coverage, includes 100% protection for both trip cancellation and interruption. It also includes $15,000 worth of emergency medical coverage, $100,000 in emergency evacuation coverage and $500 for lost baggage. Travelex’s Travel Select plan extends additional coverage, such as sporting equipment delay benefits of $200 and you can include kids with your policy.

Travelex offers the following add-ons for the Travel Select policy:

• CFAR coverage (50% reimbursement)
• Medical expense extension (extends coverage to $50,000)
• Adventure sports waiver for medical expenses coverage
• Accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) extension (extends coverage to $25,000)

*Higher medical and evacuation coverage limits are available on other policies. Contact the company to learn more. 

Our research team obtained premium costs for eight unique traveler profiles and found that Travelex’s average trip cost is $202.

Nationwide Travel Insurance

Why we picked nationwide.

We named Nationwide as the best for baggage coverage thanks to its generous limits across several plans. It offers $2,000 for lost or damaged baggage and $600 for delayed luggage through its most comprehensive standard plan. It also provides $2,500 for lost or damaged baggage and $1,000 for baggage delays through its cruise-specific Luxury Cruise policy.

Nationwide’s unique cruise insurance policies is why the company tops our list of best cruise insurers . Few providers offer plans tailored explicitly for cruises, but Nationwide offers three to fit various budgets and traveler needs. Some standout coverages for cruises with these plans include missed prepaid excursion coverage, itinerary change coverage and more.

Offers specific coverage for cruise vacations

CFAR upgrade offers up to 75% reimbursement

Provides multiple levels of annual plan coverage and multi-destination, single-trip plans

More expensive premiums on average

Enforces a longer waiting period before baggage delay benefits begin

Nationwide has a 4 out of 5-star rating from 600 verified customers on Squaremouth .

How Nationwide Scored in Our Methodology:

Nationwide offers three levels of cruise coverage: the Universal, Choice and Luxury cruise policies. As the names suggest, each tier covers varying levels of cruise expenses. For example, the Universal policy covers $500 worth of expenses related to missed connections while the Luxury policy offers $2,000.

Nationwide offers the following add-ons for its cruise coverage:

• AD&D benefits
• CFAR coverage (up to 75% of trip costs)
• Vendor financial default coverage
• Interruption for any reason (IFAR) coverage
• Pre-existing conditions waiver
• Rental car collision damage

In addition to cruise coverage, Nationwide also offers the following two travel insurance plans, which include standard baggage and cancellation insurance.

After gathering quotes from Nationwide using our sample traveler profiles, we found the average cost of a policy is $206.

AIG Travel Guard

Why we picked aig.

We chose AIG Travel Guard as the provider best for families, as it offers free coverage to children under 17 with the purchase of an adult policy. Our research shows the cost of a policy from AIG is $237, around 16% more than the average overall cost calculated by our team. However, the free coverage for children can make it a better value overall for some travelers.

We appreciate how AIG provides a unique Medevac plan with up to $5 million in medical evacuation coverage, which could benefit adventurers traveling to remote locations lacking medical infrastructure. It also provides coverage for last-minute travels through its Pack N’ Go policy, providing immediate trip and medical protections alongside 24-hour emergency travel services.

Medevac plan can provide up to $5 million in medical evacuation coverage

The Deluxe policy includes “Travel Inconvenience Benefits” for situations such as runway delays

Offers immediate coverage with the Pack-N-Go plan for last-minute trips

Charges higher premiums on average, based on our review

Only offers 50% in CFAR coverage

While AIG Travel Guard lacks customer ratings through Squaremouth, the provider holds accreditation and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). However, it also has a 1 out of 5-star customer review rating.

How AIG Scored in Our Methodology:

AIG’s primary travel insurance product is its international travel plans, which provide 100% trip cancellation insurance, up to $1,000 in trip delay coverage, up to $1 million in medical evacuation coverage and other benefits commonly found with competitors. It also offers two unique policy options: the quick approval Pack-N-Go plan and an annual plan for frequent flyers.

AIG offers three travel insurance plans, all of which include family coverage:

It also offers the following add-ons:

• CFAR coverage (up to 50% reimbursement)
• Missed connection benefit ($150)

*Higher medical and evacuation coverage limits are available on other policies. Contact the company to learn more.

According to our research on travel insurance costs across dozens of providers, we found the average price of a travel policy from AIG Travel Guard is $237.

We chose Faye as the best option for CFAR coverage because it offers 75% reimbursement of total trip costs at a budget-friendly price for many travelers. After gathering quotes for a $4,000 weeklong trip to France, we found that adding CFAR coverage only cost an additional 31% of our Faye policy premium. Our research has found that most providers charge 50% or more of your premium to add this protection.

Faye tops several of our best travel insurance lists, such as best travel insurance for seniors and best group travel insurance . It provides $250,000 worth of primary medical coverage and a pre-existing conditions waiver that can benefit seniors with chronic illnesses. In addition, its convenient and quick online process makes it easy to sign up for a group travel policy in less than 10 minutes.

Offers quick, all-online quotes and enrollment

Can provide $200 if your bags get delayed for six hours or more

Optional cancel-for-any-reason (CFAR) add-on covers up to 75% of trip costs

Be reimbursed on approved claims to your phone’s wallet

Only offers one plan option

Does not offer add-on coverage for accidental death and dismemberment

Faye lacks customer reviews and a customer rating through Squaremouth. However, it holds a 4.7 out of 5-star rating from over 800 customer reviews on Trustpilot.

How Faye scored in our methodology:

Faye offers one plan with several optional add-on options.

Optional Add-Ons 

• Cancel for any reason (CFAR) 
• Rental car damage or theft
• Adventure and extreme sports protection 
• Vacation rental damage protection

*Coverage limits and availability may vary by state of residence.

We obtained quotes for various trips and sample traveler profiles as outlined in our review methodology, and Faye’s average trip cost is $256.

WorldTrips Travel Insurance

WorldTrips earned the designation of most affordable comprehensive coverage from our research team. We gathered quotes for each of the provider’s three plans and found that the highest tier, Elevate, was 17% cheaper than the average cost of a policy calculated using our sample traveler profiles. This plan includes perks such as $250,000 in emergency medical coverage, $1 million in medical evacuation protection, $50,000 in accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage, and more.

Additional coverage add-ons offered by WorldTrips include CFAR, interruption for any reason (IFAR), adventure sports, rental car damage and pet care, further rounding out the provider’s comprehensive trip and medical benefits.

Offers cheap comprehensive coverage, according to our research

Provides 50% in add-on IFAR protection

Allows your choice of 50% or 75% in CFAR add-on coverage

Provides AD&D insurance as standard with each policy

Adding the 75% CFAR coverage option almost doubles your policy costs

Only provides secondary medical coverage through its lowest plan tier

WorldTrips currently holds a 4.3 out of 5-star rating from over 400 verified customers on Squaremouth .

How WorldTrips Scored in Our Methodology:

WorldTrips offers the Escape, Explore and Elevate plans through its Atlas Journey line, which are single-trip, comprehensive insurance policies. The provider also has specialized plans for group travel, travelers looking for an annual policy, digital nomads and more.

WorldTrips provides the following options as add-ons with most plans:

• CFAR coverage
• Adventure sports coverage
• IFAR coverage
• Rental car damage and theft

After gathering quotes from WorldTrips using our sample trips and traveler profiles, we found the average cost of a policy is $157.

Generali Global Assistance

We named Generali Global Assistance as the best provider for trip interruption coverage. It provides up to 175% reimbursement for trip interruptions through its Premium plan, whereas most insurers only offer up to 150% in their highest plan tiers. While Generali isn’t the cheapest provider out of our top provider picks, it still comes in at less than the average cost of travel insurance by a few dollars.

Generali Global Assistance also offers 24/7 concierge-level services from multilingual representatives, which may prove helpful if you travel to an area where you cannot speak the primary language. In addition, you’ll find rental car and sports equipment coverage as standard through the provider’s higher-tier plans — coverage that most providers only offer as add-ons.

All plans include 24/7 concierge emergency assistance

No dental sub-maximum included under medical coverage

Extends up to 175% trip interruption coverage

Offers less delay compensation than other providers

Optional CFAR coverage capped at 60%

Generali Global Assistance has a 4.3 out of 5-star rating from over 4,500 reviews on Squaremouth .

How Generali Global Assistance Scored in Our Methodology:

Generali offers three plan tiers: Standard, Preferred and Premium. The Standard Plan includes a variety of benefits, including 125% trip interruption coverage, $150 per day toward delay-related expenses, $250,000 in medical evacuation coverage, $50,000 worth of medical coverage and more. Preferred and Premium plans extend benefits included with the Standard Plan and add some extras — like sports equipment coverage and rental car collision insurance.

Generali offers the following add-on options:

• Rental car damage
• CFAR coverage (up to 60% reimbursement)

Based on cost data calculated using sample trips and various traveler profiles, we found the average cost of a travel insurance policy from Generali Global Assistance is $201.

Seven Corners Travel Insurance

Seven Corners earned the superlative of best for visitors to the U.S., including for visitors to the country and parents . The Travel Medical Basic plan can cover groups of up to 10 non-U.S. residents and non-U.S. citizens, making it ideal for families and solo travelers alike. With coverage extendable up to a year and a medical maximum of $1 million for travelers up to 69, this plan is ideal for those hosting parents from abroad.

Note that maximum medical coverage levels drop to $100,000 for travelers aged 70 to 79 and $10,000 for those 80 years or older. In addition, coverage for pre-existing conditions isn’t available for travelers 80 years and older. Despite this, many providers won’t cover senior travelers beyond a certain age, so we appreciate that Seven Corners has no age limit.

Includes trip interruption coverage up to 150% of your outlined limit

Customizable trip cancellation coverage limits of up to $10,000

Offers pre-existing condition coverage

Limits travel medical coverage to $50,000 for New Hampshire residents

Only covers pre-existing conditions for 60 days into your plan term

Seven Corners currently holds a 4.4 out of 5-star rating from almost 4,000 customer reviews through Squaremouth .

How Seven Corners Scored in Our Methodology:

Seven Corners doesn’t just offer travel medical plans for travelers visiting the U.S. — it also offers an annual plan that provides a wide range of coverages, including:

• $5,000 in trip interruption protection
• $1 million in medical and healthcare coverage
• $25,000 worth of AD&D coverage
• $100 per day in trip delay benefits (with a maximum of two days)
• $50 worth of coverage for each lost bag, up to $500

It also includes extra benefits for items such as lost travel documents and baggage delays but does not cover trips within the U.S. Policies include a range of deductibles between $0 and $500. However, selecting a lower deductible will come with a higher premium.

Seven Corners also offers coverage for single trips in the U.S. and abroad, known as its RoundTrip Basic and RoundTrip Choice plans.

You can purchase the following add-ons to enhance travel insurance coverage with Seven Corners:

• Event ticket registration fee protection
• Sports and golf equipment rental
• IFAR coverage (up to 75% of trip costs)

Based on quotes gathered using several sample traveler profiles, the average cost of a travel insurance policy from Seven Corners is $206 — on par with the overall average cost calculated by our team.

Aegis Travel Insurance

Why we picked aegis.

We named AEGIS as best for immediate reimbursement thanks to its short claims processing time. You can open a claim easily by phone, email, live chat or web form, and you can check the status online without contacting a customer service representative. AEGIS states that most claims take about a week or so to process fully.

AEGIS offers seven different policies to suit a variety of traveler needs. These include a policy solely offering trip cancellation and interruption benefits, a plan for travelers taking a cruise, and two annual, multi-trip policies. We also found that plans through AEGIS cost around 32% less than the average travel insurance cost calculated by our team.

Cheaper than other top insurers, based on our research

Provides standalone trip cancellation and interruption insurance

Processes most claims within a week or so

Offers seven different policies to choose from

Some multi-trip plans limit trips to 31 days

Multi-trip Preferred Plan only provides secondary medical coverage

AEGIS has a 4.1 out of 5-star overall review rating from over 1,000 customer reviews on Squaremouth .

How AEGIS Scored in Our Methodology:

We appreciate how AEGIS offers a variety of plans to suit different traveler needs. Its Pandemic Travel Insurance Plus Plan provides primary medical coverage, comprehensive trip benefits and CFAR coverage as a standard protection — not an add-on. You’ll also find coverage that exclusively provides trip cancellation and interruption benefits.

In addition, AEGIS offers a plan tailored to travelers taking a cruise, with missed connection benefits and itinerary change coverage. If you’re looking for annual multi-trip coverage, AEGIS provides two plans that cover multiple trips over the course of a year.

Single-trip policies sold by AEGIS include the Go Ready Choice Plan and VIP Travel Plan.

Add-on coverages provided through an AEGIS policy include:

• Increased maximum limit for medical coverages
• Increased limit for evacuation and repatriation
• Additional AD&D coverage
• Pre-existing condition waiver
• Higher baggage compensation limits

After averaging the cost of a travel insurance policy through AEGIS using our sample traveler profiles, we found the average cost of a policy with the company is $155.

Travel Insured International

Why we picked travel insured international.

Based on our comprehensive review, we named Travel Insured International as the best provider for evacuation coverage. While most travel insurance companies offer coverage for emergency medical evacuations and repatriation, this provider takes its protection one step further by providing up to $150,000 for political, security and natural disaster evacuations. However, note that Travel Insured International only includes this coverage through its highest plan tier.

Travel Insured International provides two single-trip policies and one annual, multi-trip plan for travelers to choose from. We appreciate how the insurer’s multi-trip policies start at a flat rate of $94 for adults and $64 for children for a year’s worth of coverage, which may benefit frequent world travelers who’d like to bring their family along on trips.

Does not base plan costs on your travel destination

Provides optional pet kennel and rental car coverage

Includes political, security and natural disaster evacuation coverage

No pre-existing medical condition coverage waiver

Offers a low travel delay coverage amount compared to other providers

Travel Insured International earned a 4.4 out of 5-star rating from almost 3,500 reviews on Squaremouth .

How Travel Insured International Scored in Our Methodology:

Travel Insured International offers two comprehensive single-trip insurance plans — Worldwide Trip Protector and Worldwide Trip Protector Edge. The provider also offers one annual, multi-trip policy.

Add-on protections offered by Travel Insured International include the following:

• Travel inconvenience benefits
• Optional electronic equipment protection
• Flight AD&D
• Pet kennel coverage

Based on quotes gathered using several different trip and traveler profiles, the average cost of a policy from Travel Insured International is $199.

Compare The Best Travel Insurance For International Trips

Comparing the costs of coverage offered by different providers can help you find the most affordable option for your travel insurance needs. See the table below for a direct cost comparison between the companies we’ve chosen as our top picks, as well as BBB ratings and notable coverage limits.

“When comparing plans across the same or various insurers, pay close attention to the benefits limits offered and make sure they offer the right amount of coverage you are looking for regarding certain unexpected events. For instance, if you invest $10,000 into a tour package, you may want to consider a trip cancellation limit that meets the value of the non-refundable trip cost.”

What Is the Best Travel Insurance?

The best travel insurance for you depends on factors such as your destination, travel needs and coverages that you deem most important in a policy. Read on to learn more about our top travel insurance picks for CFAR coverage, cruise protection, senior travelers and more.

Best “Cancel for Any Reason” (CFAR) Travel Insurance

We chose Faye as the best CFAR coverage provider, with Seven Corners and Travelex also making our list of top picks. While all three offer reimbursement of up to 75% of your total trip costs if you need to cancel for virtually any reason, Faye’s add-on only cost us an additional 31% of our premium when we got a quote for a $4,000 weeklong trip to France. Most providers offer this coverage at an extra 50% of your policy cost.

Based on our research, CFAR coverage is a time-sensitive benefit. This means purchasing a travel policy as soon as possible after booking your trip is essential if you want to buy this coverage. If you wait to buy, you risk losing the opportunity.

Best Cruise Insurance

Nationwide, Allianz Global Assistance and AIG Travel Guard topped our list of the best cruise insurance providers. Nationwide offers three plans tailored explicitly to cruisers, with benefits such as shipboard service disruption, prepaid excursion reimbursement and more. Allianz provides free coverage for children under 17, which could benefit families cruising together. AIG Travel Guard also made our list with non-flight AD&D coverage that protects policyholders if they lose their life or a limb on a cruise.

Best Travel Insurance For Seniors

We chose Faye, Travelex and Nationwide as the best senior travel insurance companies. Faye offers seniors primary medical coverage and a pre-existing conditions waiver, while Travelex allows seniors to upgrade to a Travel Select plan with additional medical and evacuation coverage. Nationwide also offers a pre-existing condition waiver for up to 21 days after your initial trip deposit.

If you’re between 60 and 80 years old and are looking for travel coverage, expect to pay more than younger customers. Based on quotes we gathered from dozens of travel insurers, the cost of a policy for senior travelers increases anywhere from 80% to 303% from the price of a policy for a 20-year-old.

Best Travel Medical Insurance

We chose Faye, International Medical Group (IMG) and GeoBlue as our top picks for the best travel medical insurance providers. Faye offers high medical coverage limits coupled with robust trip benefits, while IMG provides a wide variety of medical plans to suit many types of travelers. GeoBlue offers budget-friendly medical-only policies for those looking to forgo trip coverage.

How To Choose the Best Travel Insurance

Knowing what to look for when comparing travel insurance providers can help you pick the best plan for your needs. We encourage you to compare brand pricing and policies between multiple providers to help narrow down your available coverage options.

Asking yourself a few key questions can help further simplify your search for travel insurance. 

• Is this an important or pricey trip?: The value and price of a trip play a major role in travel insurance pricing. If you’re insuring a higher-value vacation, you may want to look for policies with higher overall coverage limits and travel interruption reimbursements. If you’re taking a budget vacation, you might see more value in an insurer that specializes in low-cost, affordable policies.
• Where are you going?: It is also good practice to consider a location’s available amenities and your itinerary when shopping for coverage. For example, if you’re traveling to a remote area with a less robust medical system than a city with many options, you could face a higher chance of needing emergency medical evacuation if you end up seriously injured. In this case, we recommend a policy with higher coverage limits on medical evacuation services.
• How are you getting to your destination?: If you’re taking a cruise, consider getting a quote from a travel insurance provider that offers cruise-specific coverage, such as Nationwide. While most travel insurance providers design policies to cover the basic risks associated with flying — such as lost luggage, missed connections, etc. — it is worth comparing options that include coverage specific to your trip. For example, those traveling for work may prefer Allianz Global for its business-centered plans.
• Do you have any health concerns?: When planning to travel, consider whether you could need medical services based on your health history and travel itinerary. In addition, companies often include COVID-19 treatment under standard emergency medical coverage, but it is best to read through coverage terms and conditions to confirm. Angela Borden, a product marketing specialist at Seven Corners , says: “Contact your insurance provider to be sure you fully understand the pre-existing conditions coverage for the plan you choose.”

“I recommend that every traveler gets a strong medical evacuation policy. When the worst-case scenario happens, you can get to a hospital of your choice at home. I really push this coverage for folks traveling in Mexico because it’s a short trip to a home hospital.”

What Does Travel Insurance Cover?

The specifics of what is covered under your travel insurance policy will vary depending on the provider you select. The following are some of the most common types of coverage you are likely to find as you get quotes from the best travel insurance providers.

Is Travel Insurance Required?

In most cases, travel insurance is not required. However, some countries require visitors to have travel insurance due to visa requirements or diplomatic unrest. These countries typically only require proof that your policy covers emergency medical expenses. You can extend your coverage to also protect you against baggage loss, trip delays and cancellations.

Even if your destination does not mandate travel insurance, the U.S. Department of State recommends that U.S. citizens traveling overseas purchase a policy that covers unexpected medical bills while abroad.

Who Needs Travel Insurance?

While most people can benefit from some level of travel insurance coverage, consider a policy if you are planning any of the following:

International trips: Traveling internationally can expose you to unfamiliar healthcare systems, unpredictable events, and potential trip interruptions. Travel insurance offers financial protection for medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and unexpected expenses that may arise in foreign destinations.

Regular vacations: If you frequently travel for business or leisure, an annual travel insurance policy can be a cost-effective solution. This policy provides continuous coverage for multiple trips, saving you time purchasing separate policies.

Senior travelers: If you are a senior traveler with Medicare, your health insurance excludes most medical care outside of the country. Travel insurance with medical expenses and evacuation coverage can financially protect you if you need care while away from home.

Adventure sports: Adventure enthusiasts planning to engage in activities like hiking, skiing or scuba diving may find travel insurance with adventure sports coverage beneficial. These policies can cover potential injuries and equipment losses, which you may be more likely to run into due to your itinerary. However, not all standard travel medical insurance covers injuries related to adventure sports.

If you are considering travel insurance, we suggest getting a few sample quotes to compare coverage. Getting a quote is free, takes only a few minutes and can provide more personalized insights into the cost of your upcoming travel plan.that U.S. citizens traveling overseas purchase a policy that covers unexpected medical bills while abroad.

When To Buy Travel Insurance

You can typically purchase a travel insurance policy up until the date of your departure, with some providers offering specialty plans that can cover you after you leave the country. However, there are benefits to buying a travel insurance policy soon after you make your first trip deposit.

You can only purchase certain add-on coverages and riders, such as CFAR coverage and pre-existing condition waivers, within a specific time frame from your first trip payment. For example, many insurers only allow you to qualify for a pre-existing conditions waiver if you purchase your policy two weeks or less from your first trip purchase. If you’re looking for specialty coverage like this, buying your policy as soon as possible is best practice.

“There are benefits to travelers who purchase far in advance of their trip, as they can take advantage of pre-trip benefits like trip cancellation. You never know what kind of unexpected events may arise and derail your trip plans before you even take off. Specific events coverage varies based on the insurance policy booked, but generally trip cancellation can cover events such as natural disasters and severe weather-related events, illness or injury that prevent you from traveling, and unannounced airline strikes.”

When To Skip Travel Insurance

Travel insurance may only be worth it in some scenarios. For instance, if you booked your trip using a credit card that also offers travel insurance protection, you may not need coverage through an additional provider . We encourage you to check the details of your credit card coverage, if applicable, to ensure it aligns with your needs. If so, you can likely skip buying a separate travel insurance policy.

In addition, if you’ve booked your trip with flexible airline tickets or with a hotel that offers a flexible change or cancellation policy, you may not need a travel insurance policy. Also, travelers booking excursions or activities with refundable policies will likely not benefit from a travel insurance plan. 

Finally, note that if you’re a U.S. citizen traveling within the country and have insurance through a domestic provider, you likely will need travel insurance with medical coverage. However, your coverage may not extend abroad, notably if you have a government-issued plan. But if you have private insurance that covers emergency medical expenses abroad, you may not need to purchase a travel insurance plan.

Generally, we encourage you to consider your trip, the overall cost and the flexibility surrounding your reservations when deciding whether or not to skip purchasing a travel insurance policy.

“You don’t need to insure trip expenses if they’re already covered by someone else or if you are comfortable losing the money you paid for your trip if you must cancel or interrupt it.”

How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost?

In our comprehensive review of the travel insurance market, our team found the average cost of travel insurance was about 3% to 5% of a trip’s total value. Based on the quotes our team gathered from multiple providers, the average cost across eight different traveler profiles came out to $206, with the average traveler paying between $95 and $316 for most trips.

To further understand the average travel insurance cost in relation to total trip value, we gathered multiple quotes from various providers for a 30-year-old traveler taking a week-long trip to France. See the table below for the average travel insurance cost based on the total cost of trips ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.

Remember that your travel insurance costs will vary based on various factors. We encourage you to get a quote from at least three travel insurance providers before purchasing coverage to ensure you get the best price for your coverage needs.

The following chart outlines the average insurance cost for our top 10 companies from least to most expensive:

How We Found Our Cost Data

We calculated the average cost of travel insurance by gathering quotes from two dozen travel insurers using several unique trips and sample traveler profiles. This helped us to gain an understanding of costs for different people and scenarios. Weeklong trip details and sample profiles include:

After using each profile to gather quotes for different plans, we calculated the average cost of each provider and the individual policies offered. Note that your plan of choice may cost you more or less than our averages depending on factors unique to your travel needs. The best way to know how much a travel insurance policy will cost is to request quotes from multiple providers for your trip.

What Impacts the Cost of Trip Insurance?

Several factors can determine how much your travel insurance will cost, including age, total trip cost, plan type, add-ons, number of travelers, destination, company and trip length.

Where To Buy Travel Insurance: Best Travel Insurance Comparison Sites

Most travel insurers make buying a policy directly from their website simple, with many catering to a seamless online purchasing experience. For example, Faye lets you quickly buy a policy by answering a few simple questions about your trip and adjusting your coverage limit — checking out with a tailor-made plan in just a few minutes. You can also purchase a plan from aggregate sites that allow you to compare coverage from multiple providers simultaneously.

Travel insurance comparison sites are like a marketplace for travel insurance. You can compare multiple plans from competing providers all at once, making it easy for you to see the difference between coverage, cost, plan details and more. If you’d like to compare policies in this way, we recommend checking out travelinsurance.com and squaremouth.com .

TravelInsurance.com

Travelinsurance.com provides access to 14 travel insurance providers, allowing you to compare and contrast well-known brands such as Trawick International , World Nomads , Travelex, Generali Global Assistance and more. The aggregate site also promises to remove policies if its ratings drop below 4 out of 5 stars.

• Compare companies at once : No limit, but can only see five at a time
• Customer reviews : Over 100,000 5-star reviews
• Filter options : Price, insurance provider, customer ratings, number of reviews and more

Squaremouth

Squaremouth offers policies from 32 different travel insurance companies, including Tin Leg , GeoBlue , Berkshire Hathaway and more. The aggregator ensures that if you need to file a travel insurance claim, any provider you’ve purchased a plan from through Squaremouth will handle it fairly.

• Compare companies at once : No limit, but only can see five at a time
• Customer reviews : Over 150,000+ customer reviews
• Filter options : Emergency medical coverage, trip interruption, cruise, Schengen visa and more

Travel Trends for 2024

As the world continues to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the hospitality industry is slowly seeing a return to pre-pandemic levels. According to research from the U.S. Travel Association , domestic leisure travel is expected to fully return to pre-pandemic levels throughout 2024. Some of the factors contributing to travelers’ return to airports across the globe include:

• Easing international visa and travel restrictions
• Vaccine distribution and effectiveness
• Increased demand for travel following COVID-19 lockdowns

As the demand for travel increases, so has the sale of travel insurance. The travel insurance market size is estimated to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5% between 2022 and 2028 . Highly publicized stories of flight delays and cancellations occurring across the country are also contributing to public demand for travel insurance.

Top Purchased Travel Insurance Plans in 2024 So Far

We gathered data from travelinsurance.com from March 2024 to August 2024 to discover what plans were the most popular with travelers.  

Top Travel Destinations of 2024

To learn more about the top travel destinations of 2024 and the average price travelers paid for coverage, our team conducted a Pollfish survey in February 2024 consisting of 1,000 U.S.-based respondents.

Of those respondents, 46% said the last time they purchased travel insurance was for a domestic trip within the U.S. The remainder of our survey participants purchased a travel policy for an international vacation, with the following countries ranking among the most popular destinations:

Is Travel Insurance Worth It?

While travel insurance is not required to enter countries in most parts of the world, it can be worth the cost to purchase some level of coverage. In our review, we found the average cost of travel insurance is less than 7% of what you can expect to pay for your vacation — but may provide hundreds of thousands of dollars in reimbursements if you experience an unexpected cancellation or delay. The medical expense coverage included with travel insurance is also an invaluable protection, as many health insurance policies exclude care provided outside of the U.S.

“Like any insurance policy, it’s a lost cost until you really need it. Travel insurance offers narrow or broad range coverages that can really help when things don’t go as planned. From Medical Evacuations to trip cancellation, it’s worth investing in a policy.”

Survey Majority Say Travel Insurance Is Worth It

Over half of our survey respondents paid between $50 to $200 for their most recent travel insurance policy, with $200 to $300 being the second most commonly selected price range. In addition, 40% of respondents said they purchased travel insurance mainly to protect the cost of their trip. Trip cancellation coverage and medical were the next most popular reasons for buying a policy.

If you plan to travel in 2024, our team recommends purchasing a comprehensive travel insurance policy. Over 60% of survey participants agree with our sentiments, endorsing a policy that includes coverage for medical emergencies, trip cancellations, baggage and more.

Ask The Experts

“It’s essential the plans are well-defined including specific activities and regions a traveler will visit. For instance, a vacation spent relaxing at a nearby resort requires different insurance coverage compared to a trip involving various activities across multiple countries. Insurance premiums are inherently linked to the level of risk involved, so it’s wise for budget travelers to tailor their insurance based on their detailed travel plans. Moreover, the inherent risks of the destination must be considered. Higher-risk areas naturally have a greater likelihood of issues arising, and appropriate insurance should be in place to manage these risks. When assessing the risk factors of a destination, it’s crucial to go beyond common knowledge and actively seek out information to accurately gauge the safety level of the destination.”

“It’s important to understand what is not covered by a travel insurance policy. Most policies will not cover man-made disasters if your trip is canceled or interrupted. Other exclusions may include acts of war, participating in dangerous activities such as extreme sports, self-harm and foreseeable events. Read the policy carefully. One alternative to standard travel insurance is cancel-for-any-reason coverage.  However, the cancellation typically must occur within a preset number of days before the trip is to begin and is more expensive.”

Frequently Asked Questions About Travel Insurance

Does travel insurance get more expensive closer to the trip.

Unlike most other types of insurance, you won’t be penalized for buying your travel insurance closer to the dates you might use it. However, many travel insurance companies require that you purchase coverage within a limited time after booking your trip. Luckily, travel insurance prices do not increase as you get closer to your departure date. That being said, some options (like CFAR coverage) may only be available for a limited time before you travel.

When does travel insurance expire?

Your travel insurance policy will expire on the date you indicate when you purchase the plan. For most travelers, this will be the final day of your vacation. Frequent travelers might also have the option to buy annual travel insurance that protects them for a year.

What does international travel insurance cover?

International travel insurance provides you with a reimbursement for nonrefundable travel expenses if you’re forced to cancel your trip or leave your destination early. In addition, it may reimburse you for travel expenses like airfare and hotel costs if you cannot claim a refund from your vendors directly.

Does insurance still cover trips if you cancel right before your departure date?

That depends. Most travel insurance companies require canceling anywhere from 24 hours to a week or more before departure in order to be eligible for reimbursement.

Travel insurance premiums often increase as your departure date approaches, since the likelihood of last-minute interruptions or cancellations increases closer to your flight. It’s generally advisable to purchase travel insurance in advance to get access to the most favorable rates.

What is the most common type of travel insurance?

The most common type of travel insurance is trip cancellation and interruption coverage, which reimburses you if you’re forced to cancel your trip or go home early. These coverages are included on almost every travel insurance policy, except medical-only plans.

Methodology: Our System for Rating Travel Insurance Companies

Our team created a scoring system to assess travel insurance providers based on cost, coverage, quality and service. We also collect sample quotes from each company, both over the phone and on the internet, to simulate an authentic customer experience. 

Here are the factors we take into consideration when reviewing providers, which we use as a scoring basis to then determine a five-star rating:

• A 30-year-old couple taking a $5,000 vacation to Mexico.
• A family of four taking an $8,000 vacation to Mexico.
• A 65-year-old couple taking a $7,000 vacation to the United Kingdom.
• A 30-year-old couple taking a $7,000 trip to the United Kingdom.
• A 19-year-old taking a $2,000 trip to France.
• A 27-year-old taking a $1,800 trip to Greece.
• A 51-year-old taking a $2,000 trip to Spain.
• A 23-year-old taking a $4,000 trip to Europe (Italy, Spain, Ireland and Greece).
• Coverage Details (15%) : We review the baseline coverage each company offers in its cheapest comprehensive plan. A provider with robust travel protection earns full points, including coverage for baggage delay and loss, COVID-19, emergency evacuation and medical expenses, trip delays and cancellations, and more. Companies also receive points for featuring various add-ons such as accidental death and dismemberment, extreme sports, valuable items and more.
• Claim Eligibility and Time Constraints (12%) : Travel insurance providers enforce time constraints that outline when you can file a claim after a covered event. We give companies more points in this category for having shorter time limits for baggage and weather delays. 
• Cancellation and Interruption Coverage (12%) : Our team reads through each company’s coverage details and assigns points based on the coverage amount assigned to trip cancellations and interruptions. To earn full points in this category, a company must offer 100% or more coverage.
• Customer Service and Reviews (12%) : We look for indicators that a company is well-prepared to respond to customer needs. Companies with an established global resource network, 24/7 emergency hotline, mobile app, multiple ways to file a claim and concierge services score higher in this category. We assess reputation by evaluating consumer reviews and third-party financial strength and customer experience ratings, specifically from AM Best and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
• Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) Coverage (10%) : Companies earn points in this category for offering CFAR coverage, which allows you to cancel a trip for reasons outside your policy. In addition to offering coverage, companies received higher scores for meeting or exceeding the standard offering of 75% reimbursement. 
• Delay Coverage Amount (10%) : We also consider what a company offers for travel delays and baggage delays or loss, all of which can upend a trip. A company can earn 10% total between its travel and baggage delay coverage amounts.
• Credit Rating (5%) : Since credit ratings can help customers assess a company’s ability to meet financial obligations, our team considers AM Best ratings when scoring providers.
• Coverage Extras (4%) : In addition to standard coverage, we also research how many add-ons a company offers, which can help customers customize their plan. Companies can earn full points in this category for offering eight common travel insurance add-ons.

For more information about how we rate and review providers, read our full travel insurance methodology.

AM Best Disclaimer

More Travel Insurance Guides

• Best COVID-19 travel insurance companies
• Best cruise insurance plans
• Cheapest travel insurance
• Best group travel insurance companies
• Health insurance for visitors to USA
• Best senior travel insurance
• Best travel insurance for families
• Best student travel insurance plans
• Travel insurance for parents visiting USA
• Travel medical insurance plans
• How much does travel insurance cost?

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The compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear, but it does not influence the recommendations the editorial team provides. Not all companies, products, or offers were reviewed.

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Best Annual Travel Insurance in 2024

Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.

If you’re a frequent traveler, annual travel insurance may be something you’ve been considering. Unlike single-trip insurance, annual travel insurance plans can cover you for an entire year, no matter how often you’re on the road.

Let’s look at the best yearly travel insurance companies, why we choose them and the coverage you can expect.

Factors we considered when picking travel insurance companies

We used the following criteria when choosing which companies we thought were best:

Cost . Annual plans can be expensive — depending on the type of coverage you choose — so we wanted ensure that they stayed affordable. 

Types of coverage . Travel insurance for annual travelers can be limited in its coverage. We picked the ones with the broadest range of coverage for possible travel disruptions.

Coverage amounts . Annual trip insurance isn’t worth much if your limits are too low. Instead, we wanted plans with reasonable coverage amounts. 

Customizability . If your travels take you to different places, you’ll want the ability to customize your plan. The best annual travel insurance plans can provide this. 

» Learn more: What does travel insurance cover?

An overview of the best annual travel insurance

We gathered quotes from various travel insurance companies to determine the best annual travel insurance policies. In these examples, we used a year-long trip by a 22-year-old from Alabama. We indicated the main countries of travel as France and Malaysia, and when asked, put the total trip costs at $6,000.

The average cost for an annual travel insurance plan came out to $220. The plans ranged from $138-$386.

Let’s take a closer look at our top recommendations for annual travel insurance.

1. Allianz Travel

What makes Allianz travel insurance great:

Lower than average cost.

Provides health care and travel insurance benefits.

Includes rental car insurance up to $45,000. 

Here’s a snippet from our Allianz Travel insurance review :

“AllTrips Basic (annual plan) is suitable for those who would like emergency medical coverage while abroad but don't need trip cancellation and interruption benefits. The AllTrips Prime, Executive and Premier plans provide an entire year of comprehensive travel insurance benefits.

The Executive and Premier plans offer various levels of trip cancellation and interruption benefits. The Executive plan is specifically designed for business travelers since it offers protection for business equipment.”

2. Seven Corners

What makes Seven Corners great:

Offers up to $20,000 for acute coverage of pre-existing conditions. 

Includes up to $1 million for emergency medical evacuation. 

Optional add-on for adventure sport activities.

$0 deductible available. 

Here’s a snippet from our Seven Corners review :

“Seven Corners offers one annual policy called Travel Medical Annual Multi-Trip. The policy can be customized depending on how long you plan to be away from home for any one trip. You can travel as much as you like during the 364 days, so long as any one trip doesn’t exceed the option selected — 30, 45 or 60 days.”

What makes IMG great:

Good customizability with medical evacuations and sports coverage. 

Low $250 deductible.

Includes coverage for semi-private hospital rooms. 

Here’s a snippet from our IMG review:

“Some policies provide emergency medical evacuation coverage, while others skip this benefit entirely. This benefit may be more important to you if you travel to a remote location or engage in physical activity such as trekking.

More comprehensive plans may include other benefits such as assistance with acquiring a new passport, reimbursing reward mile redeposit fees or coverage for pre-existing conditions. If these are something you’re interested in, be sure to check that your policy includes these options.”

4. Trawick International

What makes Trawick International great:

100% coverage for trip cancellation and trip interruption. 

Emergency medical evacuation included. 

Trip delay reimbursement coverage. 

Here’s a snippet from our Trawick International review :

“Trawick International is a comprehensive travel insurance provider that offers trip delay and cancellation insurance, baggage delay coverage, medical coverage and medical evacuation, rental car damage protection, and even COVID-19 coverage among its various policies.

Trawick covers trips for worldwide destinations, including for foreign nationals coming to the U.S.”

What does travel insurance cover?

You’ll find a wide variety of coverage types offered by travel insurance policies. This is true whether you're purchasing a single-trip or annual travel insurance plan. Here are some common types you can expect to find:

Accidental death insurance .

Baggage delay and lost luggage insurance .

Cancel for Any Reason insurance .

Emergency evacuation insurance .

Medical insurance .

Rental car insurance .

Trip cancellation insurance .

Trip delay insurance .

Trip interruption insurance .

How to choose the best annual travel insurance policy

While we’ve highlighted some of the best annual travel insurance companies, the truth is that the best plan for you isn’t going to be the best plan for someone else. If you’re interested in buying annual travel insurance, you’ll want to collect a variety of quotes to see which policy best fits your needs.

This may mean opting for a plan that covers pre-existing conditions or one that specifically includes high-risk activities. Or, if you’re in a country where health care is notoriously expensive, you may want to choose a policy with higher maximums.

Many credit cards come with complimentary travel insurance .

Whatever the case, do your research first and review all the plan details before making your purchase.

» Learn more: How to find the best travel insurance

If you want to buy annual travel insurance

Annual travel insurance can be a great option if you’re often out of town. With such a wide range of policies available, selecting a plan that fits your needs is easy. We’ve done some of the work for you by choosing the best annual travel insurance companies, all of which made the top of the list for their cost, customizability, types of coverage and plan maximums.

Like any travel insurance policy, the cost of your plan is going to vary. Factors that may affect the cost of your annual travel insurance include your age, where you’re going, how long you’ll be traveling, your policy maximums and whether preexisting conditions are included.

Although not all travel insurance providers offer annual travel insurance, many of them do. We’ve gathered together the five best, including Allianz Travel, World Nomads, Seven Corners, IMG and Trawick International.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-10x Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

1x-2x Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

85,000 Earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Protect Your Trip »

Is travel insurance worth it yes, in these 3 scenarios.

These are the scenarios when travel insurance makes most sense.

Is Travel Insurance Worth It?

Getty Images

Travel insurance can be useful, but it's not always necessary.

The key to knowing if you need travel insurance is figuring out your specific risks for any given vacation, then deciding if you can buy coverage that adequately protects you from any financial losses and pitfalls that might occur.

While insurance can be invaluable no matter the traveler and trip, these are the scenarios where it's especially useful:

• You're concerned about flight disruptions: Flight cancellations and delays are commonplace, especially during the holiday and summer travel seasons. Most trip insurance will reimburse you for incidental expenses that occur while you wait for your flight to depart or for your checked luggage to arrive. Examples include meals and hotel stays if your flight is delayed overnight, or clothing and toiletries you have to buy while you wait for your bags to show up at your destination. Limits apply to this coverage, but it can still pay off if you have to use it.
• You need the option to cancel your trip: Do you have a medical condition that might suddenly prevent you from traveling? What about young children who are prone to illness, or the possibility of your beach vacation getting rained out during hurricane season ? These are just some of the instances when cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage can help. Offered as an add-on to many insurance policies, this coverage lets you cancel your trip for a reason not covered within a typical trip cancellation benefit. If you need to use this coverage, you'll typically get 50% to 80% of your prepaid travel expenses refunded.
• You're traveling internationally: U.S. health insurance policies typically don't cover medical care or emergencies overseas, which is why so many people seek out travel medical insurance . According to Allianz Travel Insurance, the average costs of international medical evacuation can range from $15,000 in Mexico all the way up to $220,000 in Asia, Australia and the Middle East. Fortunately, many travel insurance policies offer up to $500,000 in medical evacuation coverage or potentially more.

The best travel insurance options

If one of the above applies and/or you're still curious about travel insurance, you can find the top-rated policies in a variety of categories below.

Any rates listed are for illustrative purposes only. You should contact the insurance company directly for applicable quotes.

What does travel insurance cover?

You'll quickly notice that each travel insurance policy is different from the next. Most plans offer coverage for trip cancellations and interruptions, lost or delayed baggage, medical emergencies, and other common perils; some let you add optional coverage for a rental car , sporting equipment and more.

To give you an overview of the way different travel insurance policies work, the chart below shows the included benefits in several plans from a travel insurance company called Travelex:

Compare Travelex plans and get a quote .

What does travel insurance not cover?

It's important to note that travel insurance policies cannot possibly cover every unexpected bill you encounter before, during or after a trip. That's because travel insurance is not meant to be used like other types of insurance, including traditional medical coverage you have for routine health care expenses.

According to Allianz Travel Insurance , travel insurance "does not cover losses that arise from expected or reasonably foreseeable events or problems." Here are some of the most common exclusions found in travel insurance policies:

• Civil unrest
• Epidemics (except COVID-19)
• Extreme, high-risk sports
• Government-issued travel bulletins or warnings
• Natural disasters
• Nuclear reaction, radiation or radioactive contamination
• Preexisting conditions (unless specifically covered by your plan)
• Pregnancy-related medical expenses that aren't an emergency (including regular labor and delivery)
• Terrorist events
• Travel to participate or train for a sporting event

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When should you skip travel insurance?

While the cost of a travel insurance policy can be worth it in the end, there are plenty of travel scenarios where you may not need to purchase a plan. Consider the following situations where buying insurance may not be worth the trouble:

• You're planning a short road trip within the U.S.: If you're planning a short trip within the U.S. where your own health insurance coverage will apply, you may not need trip insurance for medical expenses. The fact that you're not flying also means you don't have to worry about flight cancellations, and that your luggage will likely remain in your possession the entire trip.
• You plan to use credit card travel insurance: There may be instances where credit card travel insurance coverage is sufficient for your plans, although only you can make this decision. For example, the popular Chase Sapphire Reserve card comes with trip cancellation and interruption coverage worth up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip; primary rental car coverage for damage or theft worth up to $75,000; lost luggage reimbursement worth up to $3,000 per passenger; emergency evacuation and transportation coverage worth up to $100,000; and more.
• You bought insurance from your travel provider: There may be instances where the travel insurance coverage from your airline or cruise line is good enough. If you're flying within the U.S. to see a family member and staying in their home for free, for example, you'll likely just need protection against flight cancellations, eligible trip delays, and lost or delayed baggage.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is an award-winning writer who has extensive experience when it comes to researching and buying travel insurance for her own trips to more than 50 countries around the world. Johnson has interviewed top executives from many of the best travel insurance companies and has successfully filed several travel insurance claims for trip delays and trip cancellations over the years. Johnson also works alongside her husband, Greg, who has been licensed to sell travel insurance in 50 states, in their family media business.

You might also be interested in:

• The Easiest Way to Renew Your Passport
• Is a Travel Agent Worth It? The Pros & Cons
• TSA Precheck vs. Global Entry

Tags: Travel , Travel Insurance

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What is Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance is your last line of defense if something goes wrong on a trip—it pays for unexpected expenses like lost bags, cancelled flights, and medical emergencies. But not all policies are created equal.

So you’re planning a trip and someone asked you if you have travel insurance. Wait, what? Yes, at this point, it’s perfectly reasonable to ask yourself (and the internet): what is travel insurance?

For years, I didn’t know anything about travel insurance, and I went without it. Knowing what I do now, I’ve come to believe that if you can’t afford a travel insurance policy, you can’t afford to travel.

Essentially, travel insurance covers expenses from unforeseen events like a canceled trip, lost bag, or medical treatment.

It’s important to understand how it works so you can pick the right plan. Ready? Let’s dive right into the details of travel insurance.

How Does Travel Insurance Work?

If you’re just here for a quick and dirty answer, let’s get right down to it.

When you travel, you take on risk, whether you know it or not. You put down a lot of money on flights, hotels, rental cars, and more. But what if your trip gets canceled? Oops, looks like you’re out a lot of cash.

Plus, did you know that regular health insurance plans usually don’t provide any coverage outside your home country?

Travel insurance protects you from unexpected events like these. You pay a relatively small up-front fee to a company in exchange for a guarantee that they will pay for expenses that are covered by a specific policy.

Travel insurance policies typically include two different categories of protection: trip coverage and emergency medical coverage.

• Trip insurance includes protection for the expenses of your trip. If your trip is canceled or interrupted (for a covered reason), the company will reimburse you for the cost. Trip coverage can also include reimbursements for lost baggage, delayed flights, rental car damage, and more.
• Emergency medical insurance is exactly what it sounds like. If you are injured or become ill overseas, your regular health insurance may not pay for your care. Travel medical coverage includes overseas care or emergency medical evacuation if needed.

There you have it. That’s the basics of how travel insurance works, and no, it isn’t that complicated. If you want to get into more details, let’s keep going.

Different Types of Travel Insurance

Did you know that there’s more than one type of travel insurance?

Yep, it can be broken up into several categories, from single trip insurance to long-term healthcare designed for digital nomads. The type of insurance you need will depend entirely on your trip, your destination, how often you travel, and your personal preferences.

Single-trip comprehensive coverage is most often the best choice, but not always. Here are the most important types of travel insurance so you can pick the right coverage type for you.

• Comprehensive Travel Insurance covers every aspect of your travel, from luggage to trip cancellations to emergency medical bills. For most people most of the time, this is what I recommend. I’ll dive deeper into every aspect of comprehensive travel insurance soon.
• Travel Medical Insurance only covers medical expenses, so you don’t get any of the trip expense coverage. Travel medical plans range from emergency coverage to full-fledged health care for living abroad.
• Single Trip Travel Insurance Insurance is exactly what it sounds like: insurance for a single trip. You enter your destination and travel dates to get covered during your trip.
• Annual Travel Insurance is, again, pretty straightforward. Rather than covering a single trip, annual plans include all your travels for an entire year. Note that there are often limits on how many days abroad in the year are covered.
• Nomad Travel Insurance (like the Nomad Insurance Plan from SafetyWing) is designed for people living long-term outside their home country. It typically renews monthly.

What Does Travel Insurance Cover?

Any travel insurance policy has a lot of pieces to it, and sometimes the legalese terminology can be difficult to understand. The most important thing to understand is what is covered, and what isn’t. After all, you want to know what you’re paying for, right?

There are many varieties of travel insurance; essentially, they all just mix and match different coverages. Here are the most common things that a plan covers, and how that coverage works.

Trip Cancellation Coverage

If you have a lot of prepaid nonrefundable trip costs, the idea of having to cancel your trip can be scary. You’ve put hundreds or thousands of dollars into your upcoming trip, and you would lose all that money if your travel plans change.

Life happens though, and there’s always a chance that you get sick, a natural disaster happens, your house floods, you get called in for jury duty, or something else bad happens that causes you to cancel your trip.

That’s where trip cancellation coverage comes in. If you have a travel insurance plan, you can file a claim, and the company will refund the total trip cost.

Yep, that’s pretty cool.

It’s important to know that you can’t just cancel for any reason you want and expect to have your trip’s price refunded. Most insurance policies only pay out reimbursements for a “covered reason.” Covered reasons include things like serious illness to yourself or a family member, losing your job, a natural disaster or terrorist attack in your destination, or other unpredictable events.

Reasons that aren’t covered typically include things that could be predicted ahead of time, like ongoing civil and political unrest, severe weather due to a predicted tropical storm, or “because I want to.”

Also, cruises are not always covered under typical trip cancellation insurance, so make sure your plan covers cruise lines if that’s what you need.

Cancel For Any Reason

If you want the greatest peace of mind, you’ll want to look for Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage. CFAR is exactly what it sounds like, you can cancel your trip for any reason, and the insurance company will pay you for any non-refundable expenses from hotel stays, flights, and more.

Just know that CFAR insurance costs more.

Trip Interruption Coverage

Trip interruption is similar to trip cancellation insurance, but it covers travel expenses in case you have to cut your trip short after you’ve already departed (while trip cancelation is for before you leave).

Trip interruption coverage typically has similar rules and limits, so you can just think of it as an extension of trip cancellation.

Good trip interruption coverage also includes coverage for travel costs to return home. That’s a great benefit so you don’t have to pay your own way home if anything goes wrong.

Trip Delay Coverage

Beyond trip cancellation and interruption, comprehensive travel insurance policies also typically have coverage for trip delays. That means they’ll help pay for inconveniences and extra expenses caused by flight delays, cancellations, missed connections, and other delays.

Usually, this is a per-day amount while your trip is delayed to pay for unexpected hotel stays or transport costs to rejoin your trip itinerary.

Medical Emergency Coverage

No one wants to think about having a medical emergency overseas, but it’s always a good idea to be prepared.

In my opinion, emergency medical protection is the most important travel insurance coverage. If you have to pay for a canceled trip, that’s a bummer, but you’ll get over it. If you become seriously ill or get injured on your trip, having insurance to pay for emergency hospital costs can be life-saving. At the very least, it can save you tens of thousands of dollars in medical expenses.

Travel medical coverage will cover costs up to a specific dollar amount stated in the policy. I recommend getting at least $50,000 of coverage, though $100,000 or more is better.

And yes, pretty much every travel insurance policy covers COVID-19 just like any other illness.

Most plans also include accidental death or dismemberment protection. Essentially, this is a sort of life insurance policy that pays out a certain amount if you die or have a disabling injury on your trip. I don’t want to think too much about “accidental death or dismemberment” either, but it’s good to know it’s there.

Pre-Existing Conditions

Many travel insurance plans have strict limits regarding previously existing medical conditions. If you have a condition like diabetes, heart disease, or some other chronic illness, it may not cover related healthcare costs.

If you have a chronic condition, I recommend looking for a plan with a pre-existing condition waiver (like the Travelex Select Plan) to make sure you have full coverage.

Secondary vs Primary Coverage

If you’re looking to purchase travel insurance, you may have come across the terms secondary and primary coverage. Those terms sound confusing, but the difference is pretty simple.

• Primary coverage pays for medical bills before anything else.
• Secondary coverage only kicks in after your normal health insurance pays whatever they will cover.

Emergency Evacuation

For severe injuries or illnesses, travel insurance plans typically cover emergency medical evacuation. That can include transport costs to the nearest medical facility or evacuation to your home country for care.

Again, I’d look for the highest coverage limits possible here. Air ambulances can cost into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and you don’t want to be stuck with that bill.

Baggage Loss or Delay

I have recurring nightmares of losing my checked bag on a long international flight. It hasn’t happened to me yet, but I usually fly carry-on only anyway. Few things sound worse than getting stuck in a foreign country without my personal belongings.

Baggage loss coverage reimburses the cost of lost luggage—up to a specific dollar amount. You will just need to file a claim accounting for the value of the lost personal items.

Many policies will also include coverage for a baggage delay or damage to personal property.

Other Travel Insurance Benefits and Options

Beyond medical protection, trip cancellation insurance, and lost baggage coverage, most travel insurance coverage includes a range of other benefits that either come standard with your plan or that you can add on for an extra cost. Here are some of the most common benefits you may want to look for:

• Rental car insurance in case you scratch up that BMW you rented
• Adventure sports coverage so your medical expenses are still paid for even if you’re participating in “risky” activities like skydiving, skiing, or rock climbing.
• Vacation rental protection , because accidents happen
• Electronic equipment coverage for all you gear-laden photographers
• Cruise and tour operator cancellation coverage , because you don’t want to be stuck with that bill if your trip is canceled.

How Much Is Travel Insurance?

In general, plans from good travel insurance providers will cost about 5-6% of your total trip cost. It can seem annoying to pay for something you might not need to use, but it’s way better than losing tens of thousands of dollars if anything goes wrong. Standard plans range from well under $100 to a few hundred dollars depending on your trip.

Of course, the price will depend on the specific insurance provider and plan you choose. I recommend shopping around to find the best travel insurance for your money.

If you really can’t stomach paying for a full insurance policy (and aren’t worried about losing non-refundable expenses), at the very least you should buy a travel medical plan. Heymondo has a great medical plan that’s so cheap, it would be stupid not to get it. This insurance can help give you peace of mind on your travels.

One thing to note: some credit cards come with some form of travel insurance. It’s worth checking with your credit card company to see if any coverage comes with your credit card.

Is Travel Insurance Worth It?

I’ll make this answer short: yes, travel insurance is worth it.

For the peace of mind and financial protection you get, the cost of travel insurance is a low price to pay, especially when you consider what you could lose if something bad happens. I don’t like the idea of losing thousands in non-refundable costs or tens of thousands in medical bills.

Still not convinced? We’ve got a full article explaining why travel insurance is worth it . It’s worth a read if you’re still on the fence.

How Do You Buy Travel Insurance?

Fortunately purchasing travel insurance is easy—no need to deal with pushy travel agents. You just go to a travel provider’s website, enter your destination, travel dates, and age, and they will instantly give you a quote for different plans for your trip. It’s also worth checking with your credit card provider because some credit cards include trip insurance!

I highly recommend shopping around a bit to find the best travel insurance plan and price for you. SquareMouth is a fantastic website that gives you quotes from dozens of different providers so you can compare different plans all in one place. They don’t search every single company out there though, so it’s worth checking a few other places.

Our list of the best travel insurance companies is a great place to start. We’ve listed out what each company is best at to help you find the option that fits you best.

Travel Insurance FAQs

What is travel insurance and how does it work.

Travel insurance protects you from unexpected events while traveling like illness or a canceled flight.

What does travel insurance cover?

Travel insurance covers canceled trips, emergency medical costs, lost baggage, and more.

Why would I get travel insurance?

Travel insurance isn’t expensive and protects you from heavy costs if anything goes wrong.

What is not covered in travel insurance?

Travel insurance typically doesn’t cover cancellation due to foreseeable events.

Does travel insurance actually pay out?

Good travel insurance companies like Heymondo and Allianz have a reputation for paying out claims.

Jeremy Scott Foster

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Emergency evacuation & transportation with chase sapphire reserve.

Quick insights

• The Chase Sapphire Reserve ® credit card provides emergency evacuation and transportation insurance to help you get to the nearest medical facility should you suffer a serious qualifying illness or injury while traveling.
• Use of this coverage will be coordinated through the card’s claims benefit administrator and may cover up to $100,000 of qualifying transportation and evacuation costs.
• The benefit also covers eligible family members who are traveling with you. 

Suffering serious illness or injury while traveling is never a part of anyone’s itinerary, but it is a possibility. Should it happen, you may benefit from having emergency evacuation and transportation insurance if you’re not able to get to a location where you can receive care. In this article, we’ll cover what this insurance is and how to use it if you have a Chase Sapphire Reserve card and have charged any portion of your trip to your account or rewards program.

Breaking down emergency evacuation and transportation with Sapphire Reserve

In the event you need medical care and can’t get to a nearby hospital on your own, emergency evacuation and transportation insurance can provide coverage. In most instances, it will provide transportation to the nearest hospital or medical facility or if after being treated at a local hospital your medical condition warrants transportation to your residence to obtain further medical treatment or to recover.

It is important to note the medical care you receive for your injuries or illness is covered by a different part of your travel insurance included with the Sapphire card . Travel accident insurance covers the cost of medical care while traveling abroad, while evacuation and transportation insurance covers costs associated with getting you to a location where you can receive care. Both types of coverage are included with the Sapphire Reserve card and cover up to a specified amount.

For medical evacuation to be covered, transportation must be:

• Recommended by the attending physician 
• Arranged and approved in advance by the card’s benefit administrator

It’s recommended that you call the benefit administrator as soon as you can if you have an accident or other type of loss. The administrator will send the claim forms you need to submit, and you’ll be expected to return the completed forms within 180 days of the occurrence.

Also keep in mind that for any part of this coverage to kick in, you must book at least a portion of your trip using the Sapphire Reserve card.

What’s covered

This benefit covers the emergency transportation or evacuation of you or an eligible immediate family member to the nearest location that can treat you. Transportation can be by way of commercial air travel, air or land ambulance or a private motor vehicle. Insurance will cover eligible necessary expenses associated with your transportation up to $100,000.

There are other provisions to this coverage that you may not have considered. They include:

• If you are hospitalized for more than eight days, the card benefit administrator can arrange to have a friend or relative travel to be by your bedside.
• If your original plane tickets cannot be used for your return flight, you may receive reimbursement for the cost of your airfare back home.

Should the worst-case scenario happen, and you or an eligible immediate family member die while traveling, this insurance also covers the cost for repatriation of remains. It will cover up to $1,000 worth of expenses for returning your body or remains to your home country, as well as expenses for embalming, cremation or a coffin.

What isn’t covered

As with all insurance, you may want to read the terms and conditions because there are situations not covered by medical evacuation and transportation insurance. For example, the duration and location of your trip could matter. If your trip is less than five days, more than sixty days or takes place 100 miles or less from your residence unless you live in New York, it falls under the card’s coverage exclusions.

Other exclusions include:

• Medical care that is considered a non-emergency, experimental or investigative in nature or deemed not medically necessary
• Travel for the purpose of receiving medical treatment
• If you sustain injuries while participating extreme sports like auto racing, skydiving, scuba, hang gliding or parachuting
• Injuries sustained while traveling to certain countries which may be determined by the U.S. Government to be unsafe like Afghanistan, North Korea, El Salvador, Iraq or Vietnam

Consult with the card’s benefit administrator to help determine what will and will not be covered if you are unsure.

Additional travel benefits with Sapphire Reserve

Those who travel frequently may be enticed by the benefits that come with the Sapphire Reserve card beyond medical evacuation and emergency transportation coverage.

There are a host of other cardmember benefits that may appeal to the frequent or even occasional traveler, including:

• Travel insurance that covers baggage delay, lost luggage reimbursement, trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance
• A $300 annual travel credit 
• Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership priority-pass-memebership
• Reimbursement of the application fee for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS every four years

Please note that the Sapphire Reserve card has an annual fee.

How to get a Chase Sapphire Reserve card

The Sapphire Reserve credit card typically requires excellent credit history, so having a credit score of 750 or above may increase your approval odds. If you're considering applying, you can do so online, by phone or in person at a local Chase branch. As a reminder, if you apply, the card’s application process triggers a hard inquiry which may temporarily affect your credit score.

Accidents and illnesses happen. And because you can’t plan for these things, they can happen while you’re in the middle of the trip of a lifetime. Having a Sapphire Reserve credit card provides you with emergency evacuation and transportation insurance should you suffer an eligible qualifying serious illness or injury that requires medical attention while traveling. To get this coverage you must book all or part of your trip with the Sapphire card, but in doing so, you as well as your immediate family members can be covered.

• credit card benefits

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