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Travel insurance

Best travel insurance companies of September 2024

Amy Fontinelle

Heidi Gollub

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Updated 5:55 a.m. UTC Sep. 2, 2024

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Editorial Note: Blueprint may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured here on our site. This commission does not influence our editors' opinions or evaluations. Please view our full advertiser disclosure policy .

WorldTrips is the best travel insurance company of 2024 , based on our in-depth analysis of travel insurance policies. Its Atlas Journey Elevate plan gets the top score in our rating because of the extensive coverage it provides for the price. It offers best-in-class emergency medical and evacuation benefits, as well as high limits for baggage insurance.

Best travel insurance of 2024

• WorldTrips : Best travel insurance.
• Travel Insured International : Best for emergency evacuation.
• TravelSafe : Best for missed connections.
• Aegis : Cheapest travel insurance.
• PrimeCover : Best for trip interruption coverage.
• Travelex : Best for families.
• AIG : Best for add-on coverage options.
• Nationwide : Best for cruise itinerary changes.

Why trust our travel insurance experts

Our travel insurance experts evaluate hundreds of insurance products and analyze thousands of data points to help you find the best trip insurance for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content . You can read more about our methodology below.

• 1,918 coverage details evaluated.
• 588 rates reviewed.
• 5 levels of fact-checking.

Best travel insurance companies

Best travel insurance.

Top travel insurance plans

Average cost, medical limit per person, why it’s the best.

If you’re looking for the best travel insurance for international travel , WorldTrips’ Atlas Journey Elevate plan gives you $250,000 in travel medical insurance with primary coverage. This plan is a good option if health insurance for international travel is a priority. It also has $1 million in emergency evacuation coverage. 

See our full WorldTrips travel insurance review .

Pros and cons

• $250,000 in primary medical coverage.
• $1 million per person in medical evacuation coverage.
• Primary damage or loss baggage coverage of $500 per item, up to $2,500.
• 5 optional upgrades, including pet care, adventure sports and rental car damage and theft.
• No non-medical evacuation coverage.

Customer reviews

WorldTrips has a rating of 4.27 stars out of 5 on Squaremouth, based on 428 reviews of policies purchased through the travel insurance comparison site since 2008. 

Heidi’s expert take:   “WorldTrips offers primary coverage for emergency medical benefits and for baggage damage or loss. This means the travel insurance company will pay your claim first and then seek recovery from any responsible third party. Plans with secondary coverage may be cheaper, but for the amount of hassle you can save when filing a claim, I recommend looking for a plan with primary coverage.” Heidi Gollub, Managing Editor of Insurance, USA TODAY Blueprint

Best travel insurance for emergency evacuation

Travel insured international.

Top travel insurance plan

If you’re traveling to a remote area, consider Travel Insured International’s Worldwide Trip Protector. It has the best travel insurance for emergency evacuation of travel insurance policies in our rating. This top travel insurance plan provides up to $1 million in emergency evacuation coverage per person and $150,000 in non-medical evacuation per person. It also has primary coverage for travel medical insurance benefits.

• Only plan in our rating that offers $150,000 in non-medical evacuation coverage.
• $500 per person baggage delay benefit only requires a 3-hour delay.
• Optional rental car damage benefit up to $50,000.
• Missed connection benefit of $500 per person is only available for cruises and tours.

Travel Insured International has a rating of 4.39 stars out of 5 on Squaremouth, based on 3,402 reviews of policies purchased on the travel insurance comparison site since 2004.

Heidi’s expert take:   “The Worldwide Trip Protector plan provides rare non-medical evacuation benefits of up to $150,000. If you’re traveling to an area at risk of a political, security or national disaster, this emergency evacuation coverage could help get you back to safety.” Heidi Gollub, Managing Editor of Insurance, USA TODAY Blueprint

Best travel insurance for missed connections

TravelSafe offers good travel insurance for missed connections , with $2,500 in missed connection coverage for each person on the plan.

• Best-in-class $2,500 per person in missed connection coverage.
• $1 million per person in medical evacuation and $25,000 in non-medical evacuation coverage.
• Generous $2,500 per person baggage and personal items loss benefit.
• No “interruption for any reason” coverage option.
• Weak baggage delay coverage of $250 per person after 12 hours.

TravelSafe has a rating of 4.3 stars out of 5 on Squaremouth, based on 1,506 reviews of policies purchased on the travel insurance comparison site since 2004.

Heidi’s expert take:   “If you want missed connections coverage for any trip, I recommend buying a plan like TravelSafe Classic. It offers up to $2,500 in missed connection coverage and doesn’t restrict this benefit to cruises and tours like many policies do.” Heidi Gollub, Managing Editor of Insurance, USA TODAY Blueprint

Cheapest travel insurance

Go Ready Choice by Aegis has the most affordable travel insurance of the best-rated travel insurance companies in our rating. This is based on the average cost of seven international trips of varying lengths and values for travelers of different ages.

See our full Aegis travel insurance review .

• Cheapest of our best trip insurance plans.
• Pet care benefit of $500 under travel delay benefits.
• Low emergency medical and evacuation limits.
• Low missed connection benefit of $500 per person for cruises and tours only.
• Low baggage and personal items loss benefit of $500 per person.

Aegis has a rating of 4.06 stars out of 5 on Squaremouth, based on 1,111 reviews of policies purchased on the travel insurance comparison site since 2013.

Heidi’s expert take:   “If you’re looking for a  budget travel insurance policy , Go Ready Choice may fit the bill. It has comparably low coverage limits, but if you have health insurance that will cover you on your trip, its $50,000 in secondary medical coverage may be sufficient.” Heidi Gollub, Managing Editor of Insurance, USA TODAY Blueprint

Best for trip interruption coverage

Why it’s the best

If you need to cut your trip short and head home early for a covered reason, PrimeCover Luxe has the best trip interruption coverage of all our top-rated plans. This top-tier travel insurance plan offers trip interruption coverage of up to 200% of your trip cost. You also have the option to add a rare “interruption for any reason” (IFAR) coverage upgrade for even more flexibility with your travel plans.

• Trip interruption coverage of up to 200% of total trip cost.
• Excellent $1 million emergency medical evacuation and $100,000 in non-medical evacuation coverage.
• Pre-existing medical condition waiver available if you buy travel insurance within 21 days of first trip deposit.
• Good primary medical coverage of $250,000.
• Luxe plan is the most expensive of our best-rated travel insurance plans.

There are no reviews online for PrimeCover yet as it is a relatively new product offering.

Heidi’s expert take: “PrimeCover Luxe is on the high end of cost in our rating, but it does offer robust coverage for the price. If you’re concerned about the money you’d lose if you had to end your trip early, it offers an “interruption for any reason” (IFAR) coverage option, which I don’t see very often. With IFAR, you can pull the plug on your trip for any reason and seek up to 60% reimbursement for any prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses you’ll lose.” Heidi Gollub, Managing Editor of Insurance, USA TODAY Blueprint

Best travel insurance for families

Top-scoring plan

Travelex Insurance Services has the best travel insurance for families because you can add kids aged 17 and younger to your Travel Select plan at no additional charge.

See our full Travelex travel insurance review .

• Free coverage for children 17 and under on the same policy.
• Robust travel delay coverage of $2,000 per person ($250 per day) after 5 hours.
• Hurricane and weather coverage after a common carrier delay of any amount of time.
• Low emergency medical coverage of $50,000 per person.
• Non-medical evacuation is not included.
• Low baggage delay coverage of $200 requires a 12-hour delay.

Travelex has a rating of 4.43 stars out of 5 on Squaremouth, based on 2,048 reviews of policies purchased on the travel insurance comparison site since 2004.

Heidi’s expert take:   “If you’re traveling with kids, I recommend looking for a plan that will cover them for free, like Travelex. The number of children you can add to a Travelex policy is unlimited and they’ll get travel protection at no additional cost.” Heidi Gollub, Managing Editor of Insurance, USA TODAY Blueprint

Best travel insurance for add-on coverage options

Travel Guard Preferred from AIG allows you to customize your policy with a host of available upgrades, making it the best traveler insurance for add-on options . These include “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage , rental vehicle damage coverage and bundles that offer additional benefits for adventure sports, travel inconvenience, quarantine, pets, security and weddings.

There’s also a medical bundle that increases the travel medical benefit to $100,000 and emergency evacuation to $1 million. This is a good option if you’re looking for foreign travel health insurance.

See our full AIG travel insurance review .

• Bundle upgrades allow you to customize your travel insurance policy.
• Emergency medical and evacuation limits can be doubled with optional upgrade.
• Base travel insurance policy has relatively low medical limits.
• $300 baggage delay benefit requires a 12-hour delay.
• Optional CFAR upgrade only reimburses up to 50% of trip cost.

Heidi’s expert take: “You can add riders to your AIG travel insurance policy to maximize your coverage. Choose from these bundles: adventure sports, medical, pet, quarantine, security and wedding. You may also want to add “cancel for any reason” coverage and rental vehicle damage coverage.”  Heidi Gollub, Managing Editor of Insurance, USA TODAY Blueprint

Best travel insurance for cruise itinerary changes

Nationwide’s Choice Cruise is good travel insurance for cruises . It has a $500 per person benefit if a cruise itinerary change causes you to miss a prepaid excursion.

Choice Cruise also has a missed connections benefit of $1,500 per person after only a 3-hour delay when you’re taking a cruise or tour. But note that this coverage is secondary coverage to any compensation provided by a common carrier.

See our full Nationwide travel insurance review .

• Benefits for cruise itinerary changes, ship-based mechanical breakdowns and covered shipboard service disruptions.
• Non-medical evacuation benefit of $25,000 per person.
• Missed connection coverage of $1,500 per person for tours and cruises, after a 3-hour delay.
• Baggage loss benefits of $2,500 per person.
• Travel medical coverage is secondary.
• Trip cancellation benefit for losing your job requires three years of continuous employment.
• No “cancel for any reason” upgrade available.

Nationwide has a rating of 4.02 stars out of 5 on Squaremouth, based on 570 reviews of policies purchased on the travel insurance comparison site since 2018.

  Heidi’s expert take: “Nationwide Choice Cruise has protections for cruisers when it comes to prepaid expenses. But its emergency medical coverage is secondary, which means you’d have to file medical claims with your health insurance first. Since your health insurance won’t help you at sea, I recommend cruisers look for cruise travel insurance with primary medical coverage instead.” Heidi Gollub, Managing Editor of Insurance, USA TODAY Blueprint

Compare the best travel insurance plans

Via Compare Coverage’s website

Heidi’s expert take: “Here are my tips on how to buy travel insurance that gets you the most coverage for the lowest price: Buy early . Getting travel insurance within two weeks of making your first trip deposit may qualify you for coverage of pre-existing medical conditions, and it won’t cost you any extra.  Look for primary emergency medical coverage . If you buy a plan with secondary coverage, you’ll have to file a claim with your health insurance first, even if you know it will be denied.  Don’t overinsure . Calculate the value of only your prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses that are not already covered by other insurance (like credit card travel insurance or health insurance, if your coverage extends to where you are traveling). Even if this value is $0, you can still buy travel insurance for the travel medical insurance benefits, and you’ll only be paying for the insurance you need.  Understand exclusions . If you are planning to go scuba diving, for instance, make sure this adventure activity is not excluded from a policy’s coverage. If so, you may need to pay for a rider or shop for another plan that offers the coverage you need.” Heidi Gollub, Managing Editor of Insurance, USA TODAY Blueprint

What is the best travel insurance?

The best travel insurance for international travel is sold by WorldTrips, according to our in-depth trip insurance comparison.

The best travel insurance plan for you will depend on the trip you are planning and the coverage areas that are most important to you.

• Best cruise travel insurance
• Best COVID travel insurance
• Best “cancel for any reason” travel insurance
• Best senior travel insurance

Best travel insurance for cruises

The best cruise travel insurance is Atlas Journey Preferred sold by WorldTrips . This plan offers solid travel insurance for cruises for a low rate.

Best travel insurance for COVID-19

The best COVID travel insurance is the Trip Protection Basic plan sold by Seven Corners . It is a relatively low cost travel insurance plan with optional “cancel for any reason” coverage that reimburses up to 75% of your prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses.

Best travel insurance for “cancel for any reason” 

The best “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) travel insurance is Seven Corners’ Trip Protection Basic. Adding CFAR coverage to a RoundTrip Basic plan only increases the cost by about 40%, which is lower than other plans we analyzed. For the extra cost, you get coverage of 75% of your prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses, as long as you cancel at least 48 hours before your scheduled departure.

Best travel insurance for seniors

The best senior travel insurance is the Gold plan sold by Tin Leg . It is an affordable travel insurance plan with travel medical primary coverage of $500,000 and a pre-existing conditions waiver if you insure the full amount of your trip within 14 days of your first trip deposit.

How much is travel insurance?

The average cost of travel insurance is 5% to 6% of your prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs . 

How much you pay for travel insurance will depend on:

• The cost of your trip.
• Your destination.
• The length of your trip. 
• The ages of travelers being insured.
• Your state of residence.
• The travel insurance policy you choose.
• The total coverage amounts in your policy.
• Any travel insurance add-ons you select. 

Here are average travel insurance rates for a 30-year-old female who is insuring a 14-day trip to Mexico.

Looking to save? Discover cheap travel insurance options.

How much travel insurance should I buy?

Travel insurance companies typically offer several plans with varying maximum limits. The higher the coverage limits, the more you’ll pay for travel insurance. 

Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison site, recommends the following coverage limits for international travel: 

• Emergency medical coverage: At least $50,000. 
• Medical evacuation coverage: At least $100,000. 

If you’re going on a cruise, or to a remote location, Squaremouth recommends: 

• Emergency medical coverage: At least $100,000. 
• Medical evacuation coverage: At least $250,000.

When evaluating travel insurance plans, our team of insurance analysts considered the best medical travel insurance policies to have at least $250,000 in emergency medical coverage and at least $500,000 in medical evacuation coverage. 

When should I buy travel insurance?

The best time to buy travel insurance is within two weeks of making your first nonrefundable travel payment, whether it’s for a plane ticket, hotel stay, cruise or excursion. 

Travel insurance costs the same whether you buy it early or last minute, and buying it early has added benefits: 

• You may be able to add on “ cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage , an upgrade that is typically only available for a limited time after you’ve started paying for your trip. 
• You may qualify for a pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver , meaning your pre-existing conditions will be covered by travel insurance. This waiver is generally added to your policy automatically, provided you buy the travel insurance within a certain window after your first trip deposit.
• You will be covered over a longer period of time for unforeseen events that could cause you to cancel your trip, such as medical emergencies, inclement weather and natural disasters. 

Expert tip: You can buy travel insurance up to the day before you leave on your trip, but waiting may cost you the opportunity to qualify for a pre-existing conditions exclusion waiver or to buy a “cancel for any reason” upgrade.

Where can I buy travel insurance?

You can buy a travel insurance plan:

• Online. Visit a travel insurance company’s website to buy a policy directly or use a comparison website like Squaremouth or Travelinsurance.com to see your options and compare plans. You may also be able to purchase travel insurance online through an airline, cruise, hotel, rental car company or other provider you book a ticket with.
• In person. A travel agent or insurance agent may be able to assist you in buying travel insurance.

Travel insurance trends in 2024

Americans are changing the way they travel and this includes buying travel insurance when they might have skipped it in the past. As spending on trips continues to rise, travelers have more to lose if their plans are disrupted. 

Based on travel insurance quote requests on the Squaremouth website last month, these are the main benefits travelers are looking for in a travel insurance policy.

Source: Squaremouth.com. Travel insurance quote filter usage from July 28, 2024 to Aug 27, 2024.

Methodology

Our insurance experts reviewed 1,918 coverage details and 588 rates to determine the best travel insurance of 2024. For companies with more than one travel insurance plan, we shared information about the highest-scoring plan.

Insurers could score up to 100 points based on the following factors:

• $3,000, 8-day trip to Mexico for two travelers age 30.
• $3,000, 8-day trip to Mexico for two travelers age 70.
• $6,000, 17-day trip to Italy for two travelers age 40.
• $6,000, 17-day trip to Italy for two travelers age 65.
• $15,000, 17-day trip to Italy for four travelers ages 40, 40, 10 and 7.
• $15,000, 17-day trip to France for four travelers ages 40, 40, 10 and 7.
• $15,000, 17-day trip to the U.K. for four travelers ages 40, 40, 10 and 7.
• Medical expenses: 10 points. We scored travel medical insurance by the coverage amount available. Travel insurance policies with emergency medical expense benefits of $250,000 or more per person were given the highest score of 10 points.
• Medical evacuation: 10 points. We scored each plan’s emergency medical evacuation coverage by coverage amount. Travel insurance policies with medical evacuation expense benefits of $500,000 or more per person were given the highest score of 10 points.
• Pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver: 10 points. We gave full points to travel insurance policies that cover pre-existing medical conditions if certain conditions are met.
• Missed connection: 10 points. Travel insurance plans with missed connection benefits of $1,000 per person or more received full points.
• “Cancel for any reason” upgrade: 5 points. We gave points to travel insurance plans with optional “cancel for any reason” coverage that reimburses up to 75%.
• Travel delay required waiting time: 5 points. We gave 5 points to travel insurance policies with travel delay benefits that kick in after a delay of 6 hours or less.
• Cancel for work reasons: 5 points. If a travel insurance plan allows you to cancel your trip for work reasons, such as your boss requiring you to stay and work, we gave it 5 points.
• Hurricane and severe weather: 5 points. Travel insurance plans that have a required waiting period for hurricane and weather coverage of 12 hours or less received 5 points.

Some travel insurance companies may offer plans with additional benefits or lower prices than the plans that scored the highest, so make sure to compare travel insurance quotes to see your full range of options.

If you’d like to dig in deeper, head over to our travel insurance ratings methodology page.

Best travel insurance FAQs

According to our analysis, WorldTrips has the best trip insurance. Two of its plans — Atlas Journey Explore and Atlas Journey Elevate — get 5 stars in our rating.

The best travel insurance policy for you will depend on what type of coverage you need. With so many different policies and carriers, the policy that was best for your friend’s trip to California might not be ideal for your trip to Japan. If you’re looking for the best travel insurance for international travel, you may be willing to pay more for higher coverage levels.

A comprehensive travel insurance plan bundles several types of travel insurance coverage, each with its own limits. To ensure you have adequate financial protection for your trip, your travel insurance policy should include the following travel insurance coverages:

• Trip cancellation . With trip cancellation insurance , you’re covered if you need to call off your trip because of a reason listed in your policy, such as unexpected illness, injury or death of you, a family member or a travel companion, severe weather, jury duty and your travel supplier going out of business. 
• Travel delay. Once your trip has started, travel delay insurance reimburses you for unexpected expenses you incur after a minimum delay, such as five hours. It can cover needs like airport meals, transportation and even overnight accommodation. 
• Trip interruption. If you need to cut your trip early for a reason listed in your policy, trip interruption insurance can reimburse you for any prepaid, nonrefundable payments you’ll lose by leaving early. It can also pay for a last-minute one-way ticket home. 
• Travel medical . Emergency medical benefits are especially important if you need international health insurance for travel outside of the country. Your domestic health insurance may provide limited coverage once you leave the U.S. The best travel medical insurance pays for ambulance service, doctor visits, hospital stays, X-rays, lab work and prescription medication you may require while traveling. 
• Emergency medical evacuation. If you’re traveling to a remote area, or planning excursions such as boating to an island, emergency medical evacuation coverage is a good idea. This coverage pays to transport you to the nearest adequate medical facility if you are injured or sick while traveling. 
• Baggage delay. After a certain waiting period, such as six or 12 hours, this coverage will reimburse you for necessities you need to buy to tide you over while you wait for your bag to arrive. Be sure to save your receipts and look at your coverage limit, as some caps are low, like $200. 
• Baggage loss. Baggage insurance can reimburse you if your bag never arrives, or if your personal belongings are stolen during your travels. Coverage limits apply here, as well as exclusions for certain items such as electronics.  

“Typically, travelers are expected to pay their expenses out of pocket, and then file a claim for reimbursement,” said James Clark, spokesperson for Squaremouth. “However, there are medical situations in which a provider may be required to pre-authorize payment to make sure the policyholder receives the treatment they need.”

According to Clark, “Providers can pre-authorize payment for medical care and emergency evacuations. With that said, every circumstance is unique, and providers will handle each situation on a case-by-case basis.”

Travel insurance covers your prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs — as well as extra money you may need to spend due to unforeseen circumstances and emergencies — both before and during your trip.

Travel insurance coverage varies by plan, but in general travel insurance covers costs associated with these problems: 

• Bankruptcy of a travel insurance company, such as your airline or tour operator. 
• Dangerous weather conditions.
• Delayed and lost luggage.
• Illness or death in your family that requires you to stay home or cut your trip short.
• Illness that needs medical attention.
• Injury requiring medical evacuation.
• Jury duty. 
• Travel delays and missed connections.
• Theft of your personal belongings while traveling.
• Unexpected job loss. 

Travel insurance policies often exclude or limit “foreseeable” losses. Typical travel insurance exclusions include:

• Accidents or injuries caused by drinking or drug use.
• Canceling your trip because you changed your mind.
• Ending your trip early because you changed your mind.
• Losses caused by intentional self harm, including suicide.
• Losses due to war, civil disorder or riots.
• Medical tourism.
• Medical treatment for pre-existing conditions.
• Mental health care.
• Natural disasters that begin before you buy travel insurance.
• Non-medical evacuation.
• Normal pregnancy. 
• Medical treatment related to high-risk activities.
• Routine medical care, such as physicals or dental care.
• Search and rescue.

Your U.S. health insurance may provide little or no coverage in foreign countries. Check with your health insurance company to see if you have any global benefits and ask how they work. If your health care does extend across the border, the benefits it provides abroad may not be the same benefits it provides domestically. 

Medicare usually won’t pay for health care outside of the United States and its territories, so older travelers planning an international trip should look into the best senior travel insurance with robust medical benefits. 

Some credit cards , such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , offer benefits such as trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance and trip delay reimbursement when you use your card to pay for your trip.

Ask your credit card issuer for your card’s benefits guide to see what coverage you may have. Keep in mind that it may not cover all the risks you want to protect against, such as the cost of international health care or emergency medical evacuation .

Business travel insurance makes sense if you are self-employed and paying for your own travel expenses, or if you are traveling internationally and want medical coverage abroad.

You might also consider buying travel insurance for a business trip if your company won’t cover extra expenses if your flight is delayed or you need to head home early.

Some travel insurance plans cover rental cars as an optional upgrade, for an additional cost. The 5-star rated travel insurance companies in our rating offer these optional rental car benefits:

• Travel Insured International — Rental car damage and theft coverage of $50,000.
• WorldTrips — Rental car damage and theft coverage of $50,000 with a $250 deductible. 

Travel insurance typically only covers a single trip, although your insured trip can have multiple destinations. 

If you’re looking to insure several trips in the same year, annual travel insurance may be a good option for you.

Editor’s note: While our parent company has an interest in PrimeCover, this review was subjected to our team’s standard, rigorous editorial process, which remains independent of any influence from insurance companies, business relationships, affiliates or any other external parties.

Editor’s Note: This article contains updated information from previously published stories:

• Spirit Airlines scrubs 60% of its Wednesday flights, says cancellations will drop ‘in the days to come.’
• 'Just a parade of incompetency': Spirit Airlines passengers with 'nightmare' stories want more than apology, $50 vouchers
• ‘This is not our proudest moment’: Spirit Airlines CEO says more flight cancellations expected this weekend
• Hurricane Irma: Flight cancellations top 12,500; even more expected
• Is an annual travel insurance policy right for you?
• How 2020 and COVID-19 changed travel forever – and what that means for you
• COVID-19 or delta variant have you ready to scrap your trip? Here’s how to cancel like a pro
• Sunday: Snow is over, but flight cancellations top 12,000
• After nearly 13,000 Harvey cancellations, Irma is new threat to airline flights
• What’s the difference between travel insurance and trip ‘protection’?
• How to choose the right travel insurance for your next vacation
• Travel insurance can save the day
• Angry passengers brawl after Spirit cancels flights
• What to do when travel insurance doesn’t work
• How lockdowns, quarantines and COVID-19 testing will change summer travel in 2021
• Travelers will pay and worry more on summer vacation this year. But they won’t cancel
• How to find a hotel with COVID testing and quarantine facilities wherever you travel
• Yearning to travel in 2022? First, figure out your budget – then pick a destination
• Pro tips for surviving a long flight during a pandemic: Get the right mask, bring a pillow
• Want to steer clear of contracting COVID-19 on your next vacation? Follow these guidelines
• Post-pandemic travel: Is it OK to ask another passenger’s vaccine status or request they mask up?
• These days, forgetting these important travel items could cost you thousands of dollars
• International travel hacks: When to book flights and hotels, how to deal with COVID-19 rules
• Traveling post-coronavirus: How do you book your next trip when so much remains uncertain?
• The COVID-19 guide to holiday travel – and the case for why you shouldn’t go this year
• Should you travel during the holidays? Americans struggle with their decision
• ‘There’s still pent-up demand’: What you should know about fall travel
• Planning for life after coronavirus: When will we know it’s safe to travel again?
• ‘Busiest camping season’: Travelers choose outdoor recreation close to home amid COVID-19 pandemic
• Considering a camping trip this summer? Tips to make sure your gear is good to go
• RVing for the first time? 8 tips for newbies I wish I’d known during my first trip
• Five myths about travel agents
• Should I buy travel insurance?
• Is travel insurance stacked against you?
• Five myths about travel insurance and terrorism
• These eight things could get your travel insurance claims rejected
• There’s a good chance that your credit card already gives you some kind of travel insurance coverage
• How to avoid a hotel cancellation penalty
• Change fees and travel insurance continue to rise

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Amy Fontinelle has more than 15 years of experience helping people make informed decisions about their money, whether they’re refinancing a mortgage, buying insurance or choosing a credit card. As a freelance writer trained in journalism and specializing in personal finance, Amy digs into the details to explain the products and strategies that can help (or hurt) people seeking greater financial security and wealth. Her work has been published by Forbes Advisor, Capital One, MassMutual, Investopedia and many other outlets.

Heidi Gollub is the USA TODAY Blueprint managing editor of insurance. She was previously lead editor of insurance at Forbes Advisor and led the insurance team at U.S. News & World Report as assistant managing editor of 360 Reviews. Heidi has an MBA from Emporia State University and is a licensed property and casualty insurance expert.

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Best Travel Insurance Companies

Travel insurance provides financial protection and peace of mind for a nominal cost

Contributor, Buy Side from WSJ

Kat Tretina is a contributor to Buy Side from WSJ.

Updated May 28, 2024, 10:05 PM EDT

When it comes to travel , many things can go wrong that are outside your control. From missed flight connections—which airlines aren’t required to compensate passengers for—to injuries, these mishaps can derail your plans and cost you a lot of money.

Best overall

Best medical coverage, best for cruise vacations, best for specialty protection, best for road trips.

• Other companies we considered 

Travel insurance 101

How we picked.

Travel insurance can provide financial protection and peace of mind, often for a nominal cost. Americans who travel internationally spend an average of $3,580 per person per trip, and we found that coverage averages $155 for the four most common destinations: Canada, Mexico, France and the United Kingdom.

To help you find the right coverage for your upcoming trip, we researched 21 leading travel insurance companies and identified five standouts based on cost and coverage options.

Why we chose it: Purchasing travel insurance can be an overwhelming experience. Many travel insurance companies have complex sites with lots of fine print, making it difficult to choose the right policy.

Allianz works differently. It has a simple site that clearly specifies which of its plans best suits each type of traveler, making it easy to choose coverage that meets your needs and budget. For example, those looking for very basic, affordable coverage can choose Allianz’s OneTrip Cancellation Plus Policy, which provides trip cancellation and interruption protection. This form of coverage is suitable for those going on shorter trips or who have other medical coverage and only want insurance for the trip’s cost.

Those who want more robust coverage may prefer OneTrip Premier. This plan includes trip interruption and cancellation insurance along with emergency medical care and evacuation coverage. Under this plan, children 17 and under are covered at no charge when traveling with a parent or grandparent, a helpful benefit if you’re planning a family vacation . This is a comprehensive plan that is a good fit for both individuals and families that want the peace of mind that comes with both trip and medical coverage.

For frequent travelers, Allianz has annual and multitrip policies that allow you to purchase coverage that lasts an entire year. These options include added benefits such as a trip concierge and 24-hour hotline assistance.

If you have an existing health condition, typical travel insurance policies won’t cover medical treatments related to it. But Allianz provides coverage for pre-existing conditions if you add an optional rider to your policy for an additional fee. (All five of our winners offer pre-existing medical coverage, but only eight of the 21 companies we looked at do.)

With most policies, your trip is only covered if it is canceled for specific reasons, such as the death of an immediate family member or a natural disaster affecting your destination. If you cancel for other reasons, you don’t qualify for reimbursement. However, Allianz offers “cancel for any reason” coverage. Allianz will reimburse you 80% of your lost nonrefundable trip costs—a higher reimbursement percentage than other companies offer—if you cancel for other issues, such as a job loss or breakup.

The average cost for travel insurance for a single traveler taking a $3,500 trip was $169 with Allianz. That’s slightly higher in price than the $155 average cost across insurers we looked at, but we feel the strength of Allianz’s offerings made it worth the extra couple bucks.

Caveats: Allianz may not be the best choice for adventurous travelers. It excludes high-risk activities such as skydiving, bungee jumping, mountain climbing and scuba diving. That’s not uncommon for basic travel insurance plans, but many companies, such as Faye and Berkshire Hathaway, have optional coverage for those activities that you can purchase for an additional fee; Allianz does not.

Allianz also has a surprisingly low maximum for emergency medical care. The maximum coverage limit on OneTrip Premier—the highest tier of coverage—is just $75,000. Other companies have coverage limits of $100,000 or more. While $75,000 is enough to cover most issues, it may be insufficient if you have a major health crisis and need surgery or other intensive care while traveling.

Generali Global Assistance

Why we chose it: With typical travel insurance policies, treatments for medical care related to pre-existing conditions are not covered. Some policies allow you to add optional waivers for pre-existing conditions, but the requirements are strict.

With Generali Global Assistance’s Premium plan, coverage for pre-existing conditions is included. The company also provides up to $250,000 in medical and dental coverage and $1 million in emergency assistance and transportation—higher limits than other companies offer.

Generali’s policies include coverage for telemedicine and give you access to a network of physicians who can provide medical consultations over the phone or via email. If you come down with the flu or forget a prescription and need a refill right away, having access to a telehealth provider in your destination country can be helpful.

Its coverage will also pay for your out-of-pocket medical costs. If you become ill or are injured during your trip, call the insurer’s emergency hotline. It will connect you with providers in its network, and it will guarantee payment to the physician up to a maximum of $1,000. This perk eliminates the need for you to have to pay the physician upfront at the time of your visit; the insurance company handles it for you.

Averaging just $127, Generali’s premiums were also consistently lower than the industry average.

Caveats: Generali Global Assistance has a shorter “free look” period than other companies. The free look period gives you time to review your policy and cancel it for a full refund. While most travel insurance companies have free look periods of 30 days from when you purchase your coverage, Generali’s is just 10 days. After that free look period ends, if you decide to cancel your coverage, you won’t be eligible for a refund of your premiums.

Travel Guard by AIG

Why we chose it: Cruising requires unique insurance protection. For example, if you have a medical emergency at sea, the cost to access care can be in the six figures.

Travel Guard by AIG is Buy Side’s choice for the best insurer for cruise vacations, because it offers several benefits and tiers of coverage that are useful for cruisers, including:

• Pack N’ Go plan : This plan is an excellent option for spontaneous travelers taking advantage of last-minute deals on cruises, a type of travel where discounts are common a few days before the ship’s departure date. It is more affordable than other plans because last-minute travelers don’t need trip cancellation coverage, but it provides full medical and interruption insurance. 
• Medical expenses: AIG’s plans have higher maximums for medical care than those of most other insurers. Its premium plan covers up to $1 million in evacuation costs, such as getting airlifted by helicopter to a hospital, and it will pay for up to $100,000 in medical expenses and $500 for dental work. 
• Baggage losses or delays: AIG offers a higher-than-usual coverage maximum for baggage losses or delays, making it a good option if you have to replace missing clothing or toiletries in a ship’s boutique, which will likely be quite expensive compared with your local shops. 
• Return transportation: If your trip is interrupted due to an illness, injury or the death of a family member, this benefit covers up to $1,000 in additional return transportation expenses. This benefit can help you cover the cost of last-minute flights from the ship’s port of call or car rentals so you can get home. 

Caveats: While AIG is a useful choice for cruise vacations, there are some drawbacks to keep in mind. On its basic plan, baggage delay coverage only kicks in after 24 hours; other insurers will reimburse you for delays as short as 12 hours. If your baggage is delayed after a flight and your ship is scheduled to leave port, that difference can be significant. And its basic plan has lower-than-usual limits for trip interruption or delay coverage.

Travel Guard by AIG features higher coverage limits than other policies, so expect to pay a higher premium. On average, TravelGuard by AIG costs $170.

Why we chose it: Through Faye, you get not only a comprehensive travel insurance policy but also access to a range of optional add-ons to meet your unique needs.

To be clear, Faye’s standard policy is solid, including coverage for trip cancellation or trip interruption, as well as for medical emergencies and evacuation. However, Faye’s standout features are its customizations, including:

• Pet care: If your pet joins you on your trip and becomes ill or injured, this rider provides reimbursement for up to $2,500 in veterinary expenses. Or if your return is delayed and your pet has to stay in a kennel for a few extra days, you can get up to $250 in reimbursement for boarding fees. 
• Vacation rental protection: For short-term rentals booked through sites like Airbnb and VRBO, this rider will pay for up to $3,000 in damages that you or your traveling companions cause to vacation rental properties during your stay. Generally, travel insurance doesn’t cover vacation rentals, so this is an unusual perk. 
• Adventure and extreme sports: For people who want to skydive or bungee jump while traveling, this rider provides up to $250,000 of medical coverage for international trips and up to $50,000 of medical coverage for domestic trips. 
• Nonmedical emergency evacuation: If you’re in an area where a sudden disaster occurs, this rider covers up to $100,000 of emergency evacuation costs. 

Caveats: Faye is also higher priced than some other companies, averaging $175 for a policy that includes trip cancellation and interruption, baggage loss or delay, and medical care and medical evacuation coverage—but before any specialty extras.

Although Faye offers robust coverage options, it was founded just a few years ago and isn’t available everywhere yet. Residents of Washington state or Missouri aren’t eligible for its travel insurance. And Faye doesn’t sell its policies to residents of U.S. territories including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam and American Samoa.

Berkshire Hathaway

Why we chose it: Like other travel insurance companies, Berkshire Hathaway offers comprehensive coverage for medical care and trip cancellations or interruptions. Where Berkshire Hathaway stands out is in its policies specifically designed for particular types of travel, like its ExactCare Lite policy for road trips.

Typical travel insurance policies are shaped—and priced—with the expectation that you’re flying or boarding a cruise ship. But Berkshire Hathaway’s policy covers issues that pop up while you’re driving within the United States. For example, if you get stuck in traffic and miss that concert you bought tickets for, the ExactCare Lite policy will cover up to $750 of your cost.

And while driving anywhere in the country, you may become sick or injured and need medical care. If that happens and the only available options are out of your primary health insurance provider’s network, this policy will cover your care. Depending on the tier you choose, the maximum amount of coverage will range between $10,000 and $25,000 for medical care.

Plus, Berkshire Hathaway’s road trip coverage is much lower-price than traditional travel insurance; policies that include trip interruption/cancellation insurance, medical expense coverage and emergency evacuation protection start at $33 for a two-week road trip.

Caveats: Berkshire Hathaway has policies designed for different profiles, such as budget-focused travelers or road-trippers. But its policies aren’t customizable, meaning you can’t add riders to your policy to adjust your coverage. Nor does Berkshire Hathaway offer “cancel for any reason” coverage on most of its policies. The only plan that allows you to cancel for any reason is its highest-price, luxury travel policy.

Other companies we considered

World nomads.

World Nomads is a well-known travel insurance company, and its policies are usually relatively inexpensive. However, it doesn’t offer coverage for pre-existing health conditions. While most travel insurance companies exclude pre-existing conditions in their base policies, coverage is often available as an optional add-on. Not having that option through World Nomads is a significant drawback.

Seven Corners

Seven Corners ’ coverage options include ones for people who will be in another country for several months and coverage for large groups. But its inclement weather policy only provides coverage if your trip is delayed by 48 hours or more with some exceptions for hurricane watches or warnings issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Hurricane Center; other companies require a delay of just 12 hours.

Whether you’re driving through the U.S. or taking an international cruise, travel insurance can provide critical protection when you’re on vacation. Understanding how travel insurance works can help you choose the right plan, so you get the appropriate coverage for your needs without overpaying.

What are the main types of travel insurance?

A comprehensive travel insurance policy includes the following coverages:

• Trip cancellation and interruption: If your vacation is canceled or interrupted by illness or bad weather, the insurer will reimburse you for a percentage of your trip cost. The insurers on our list reimburse at least 100% of the trip cost in cases of cancellation, and 150% of the trip cost for interruptions. 
• Trip delay: If your trip is delayed for reasons outside your control, such as a flight cancellation that causes you to miss a night at a hotel, trip delay insurance will reimburse you for some of your expenses. The companies on our list cover at least $300 a day of expenses. 
• Baggage loss: If your bags are lost or stolen, the insurer will reimburse you up to a specific amount per bag, such as $150 per bag, up to a total of $2,000. 
• Emergency medical care: If you need medical care for a health emergency, this benefit provides for your treatment. Because your U.S.-based health insurance won’t cover treatments that you receive outside the country, look for coverage amounts of at least $50,000. 
• Medical evacuation: If you have a medical emergency and need to be transported to a hospital or other healthcare facility, this coverage will pay for the cost up to the plan maximum. Because of how expensive evacuations can be, look for a policy that provides at least $100,000 in medical evacuation coverage. 

Depending on the vacation you’ve planned, you may need to add optional coverages to your policy. Common add-ons include:

• “ Cancel for any reason” coverage: Typical travel insurance policies only reimburse you if your trip is canceled for covered reasons, such as a death in the family. If you add “cancel for any reason” coverage to your policy, you can cancel and get reimbursed for a percentage of your trip no matter the reason. For example, if you switch jobs and want to change your travel dates, your insurer may reimburse you up to 80% of the total cost. 
• Baggage delay insurance: If your bags are delayed and you need to buy toiletries or clothing until they arrive, this add-on will reimburse you up to a specific amount, such as $300. 
• Car rental insurance: Car rental coverage provides insurance for damage, theft and injuries that occur while you’re driving a rental vehicle. 

Do I need other coverage if my credit card provides travel insurance?

Some travel credit cards offer insurance as a perk for cardholders. But even if you have a credit card that provides travel insurance, you may need to purchase additional coverage for the following reasons:

• Not everyone will be covered: Credit card travel insurance usually only covers the cardholder and their immediate family members, meaning spouse, children and parents. Significant others or friends are typically excluded. 
• Coverage only applies to certain expenses: Travel insurance through a credit card only applies to expenses that you paid for with your credit card. For example, if you book your flights with another card that doesn’t include travel insurance and your flight is canceled, you’re ineligible for coverage. 
• It may provide inadequate medical coverage: Many cards exclude medical emergency coverage, and even when cards do offer it, the maximum limit is often quite low. And some cards have travel assistance benefits and will help arrange for medical evacuation, but you’re responsible for the cost of the services provided. 

Below is a snapshot of how Allianz, our pick as the best overall provider for travel insurance, measures up to some of Buy Side’s favorite travel credit cards ’ insurance coverage.

What doesn’t travel insurance cover?

Policies differ by company, but travel insurance policies usually exclude the following:

• Pre-existing conditions: Basic travel insurance policies don’t provide coverage for medical treatments or losses that occurred due to a pre-existing health condition. However, there are some companies, including all of our top picks, that cover pre-existing conditions under certain plans or if you purchase coverage for pre-existing conditions as an optional rider. 
• High-risk activities: Standard policies won’t cover high-risk or adventurous activities such as skydiving. However, some companies offer optional riders you can purchase to get coverage for those activities. 
• Civil or political unrest: The majority of travel insurers exclude coverage for travelers visiting countries experiencing civil or political unrest, riots or acts of war. If you were to incur any losses, you would not be eligible for coverage. 
• Pregnancy and childbirth: Travel insurance policies typically exclude coverage for complications of pregnancy, childbirth and neonatal intensive care. 

How much does travel insurance cost?

Travel insurance for domestic and international travel generally costs between 4% to 8% of the total trip price for a policy that includes the following:

• Trip cancellation/interruption coverage
• Medical and emergency evacuation insurance
• 24-hour emergency assistance hotline

If your vacation costs $3,500, that means you should expect to pay between $140 and $280 for a travel insurance policy. Variables that affect your cost include the length of the trip, your selected destination and your age. Policies that include additional protections, such as car rental or baggage delay insurance, will be higher priced.

The rates listed throughout this story were for the policies that met the following minimums:

• $50,000 medical
• $100,000 emergency evacuation
• 100% trip cancellation
• 150% trip interruption

How does travel insurance work with Covid-19?

Coverage for issues related to the coronavirus, including medical treatments for coronavirus or trip interruptions or cancellations related to Covid-19, varies by insurer.

Many insurers have declared Covid-19 a “ foreseeable event .” That distinction means you should know about the risks of contracting the virus when traveling, so it won’t cover any treatments or losses you may incur due to Covid-19.

However, some companies will provide coverage for medical care or trip interruptions or cancellations related to Covid-19 if you test positive during a covered trip.

Before purchasing a policy, contact prospective insurers or check their exclusions to find out if medical care or losses related to Covid-19 are covered.

We chose Buy Side from WSJ’s Best Travel Insurance Companies based on available policies, coverage maximums, optional add-ons, financial stability ratings and cost. We also looked for companies that offered “cancel for any reason” coverage and insurance for pre-existing conditions.

We evaluated 21 leading insurers. Policies and coverage amounts were current as of March 7, 2023.

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7 Best Travel Insurance Companies of September 2024

Kat Tretina

Contributor

Kat is a freelance writer specializing in loans, credit and investing. After paying off $35,000 of student loan debt early, she was motivated to help others manage their finances and regain control over their debt. She has certifications in both student loan counseling and financial education, and has a master’s degree from West Chester University. She lives in Orlando, FL with her husband and three dogs.

Lora is a freelance contributor to Newsweek’s Vault team, specializing in articles on saving, investing, borrowing and making money. Lora has a master’s degree in library science, and is based in Seattle, Washington.

Updated August 29, 2024 at 4:02 am

Worry-proof your trip with a travel insurance policy

Whether you’re heading to the beaches of Aruba or the ski slopes of Switzerland, a vacation can be a significant expense. Between flights, hotel stays, and tours, a week-long vacation can cost thousands or tens of thousands of dollars. Travel insurance provides critical protection against the unexpected, such as trip cancellations or medical emergencies.

The best travel insurance companies offer affordable policies with multiple coverage options. We researched insurers’ plans, optional add-ons, customer service policies and pricing to help you find the right travel insurance company for your upcoming trip.

Our research is designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of small business services and products that best suit your needs. To help you in the decision-making process, our expert contributors compare common preferences and potential pain points, such as affordability, accessibility and credibility.

• Best Overall: Travel Guard by AIG
• Best for Pet Owners: Faye
• Best for Cruisers: Seven Corners
• Best for Extreme Sport Enthusiasts: Berkshire Hathaway
• Best for Frequent Travelers: Allianz
• Best for Travelers with Pre-Existing Conditions: Generali
• Best for Comparison Shoppers: Squaremouth

Best Travel Insurance Providers of 2024

Best overall.

Travel Guard by AIG

Vault Verified

Why We Chose It

Travel Guard by AIG’s coverage options include multiple annual and single-trip plans. The higher-priced single-trip tiers offer a broader-than-usual variety of optional add-ons and upgrades, including coverage for extreme sports, pets and even weddings. The Deluxe plan can help reimburse for qualifying pre-paid luxury trip costs incurred with cancellation of up to $150,000 and interruption of up to 150% of costs, or $225,000.

• Among the highest single-trip cancellation coverage amounts available
• Competitive rates
• Wide variety of add-ons and upgrades for most plans
• Medical coverage may vary quite a bit by state
• 50% reimbursement rate for optional cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage
• Lowest-priced single-trip plans don’t offer many add-on options

Policy Highlights

• Annual and single-trip policies to protect every price point
• Most diverse array of optional add-ons

Best for Pet Owners

Faye Optional Pet Parent Bundle

If your pet or service animal is a frequent travel companion, you may experience emergency vet bills. Faye’s optional Pet Parent Bundle reimburses up to $2,500 for either vet expenses or quarantine kenneling. Not all pet plans offer this benefit or cover service animals and pets. The plan also covers standard home kenneling (if you’re late to return from a trip) or pet-return costs (if you’re sick or unable to return on time) of up to $250.

• Covers pets and service animals traveling with you or at home
• Multiple coverage upgrades and add-ons include vacation rental coverage
• No deductibles as with some other travel insurance pet plans
• Not available in U.S. territories
• Some insurers cover higher kenneling costs
• Critical condition or death of a pet not a covered cancellation or interruption reason
• Optional coverage to add to a Faye travel insurance plan
• Covers pets and service animals
• Covers qualifying kenneling costs and vet care

Best for Cruise Enthusiasts

Seven Corners Cruise Insurance

Seven Corners has a policy specifically designed for cruises of 30 days or less. It provides extra coverage over a basic policy, reimbursing you for events such as missed ports of call and inconveniences if your cruise ship cannot dock at a port of call due to weather, natural disaster or mechanical breakdown or has to change its itinerary.

• Coverage options for port of call or itinerary changes
• Pre-existing condition waiver if you buy within 20 days of initial deposit
• High emergency dental benefit of up to $1,000
• Cruise plans not available in some states, including New York
• Cruises longer than 30 days not covered
• Missed tour or cruise connection coverage
• Itinerary change protection
• Travel inconvenience protection

Best for Sports Enthusiasts

Berkshire Hathaway AdrenalineCare

Most travel insurance policies don’t cover medical treatment or reimbursement for injuries earned while engaging in extreme sports, such as whitewater rafting or skydiving. Berkshire Hathaway’s AdrenalineCare plans provide emergency travel and medical evacuation coverage and will reimburse you for delayed, lost or damaged sports equipment. But read the policy carefully, as some sports exclusions include professional athletic events, some mountain climbing excursions, and motor racing.

• Medical evacuation limit of $750,000 higher than some competitors
• Unique coverage includes reimbursement of hunting and fishing license fees
• Extra coverages available if purchased within 15 days of initial deposit
• Bicycles may not be covered under sporting equipment coverage
• Some adventure sports exclusions still apply
• Must buy the plan as an add-on
• Optional coverage to add to a Berkshire Hathaway insurance plan
• Specifically designed for sports and adventure enthusiasts

Best for Frequent Travelers

Allianz AllTrips

Allianz offers a mix of single-trip (One Trip) and multi-trip plans (AllTrip). If you take several trips a year, Allianz offers four annual plans. You can customize your coverage with rental car damage and theft coverage and epidemic endorsements for all. Lower-cost annual coverage plans do not include cancellation or interruption coverage.

• Pre-existing condition waivers available under specific conditions for some plans
• Annual plan covers most frequent-traveler concerns
• AllTrips Premier’s annual cancellation and interruption limits are higher than some competitors
• Trips can’t last longer than 90 days
• Up to $15,000 maximum in cancellation and interruption coverage limits
• Can’t be used for round-the-world trips (unless completed in under three months)
• Mutliple annual plans for varying price points and concerns
• Annual plan includes $500,000 in emergency transportation and $50,000 in emergency medical

Best for Travelers with Pre-Existing Conditions

Generali Premium

Many travel insurance policies exclude treatments for pre-existing conditions or provide waivers only when you purchase the plan within 14 to 15 days of your first trip deposit. Generali’s Premium plan’s coverage is more generous, as you can buy the plan before or within 24 hours of your final trip payment and still get a waiver for pre-existing conditions.

• Coverage for pre-existing conditions included
• Trip interruption coverage of up to 175% of prepaid trip costs
• Reimburses for telemedicine visits
• Look-back period for pre-existing conditions is 180 days
• Can’t buy coverage with pre-paid trip expenses of more than $50,000
• Premium plans provide coverage for pre-existing conditions
• Telemedicine visits included
• Cancel for any reason coverage available for an additional cost

Best for Comparison Shoppers

Squaremouth

Comparison shopping is key to finding the best travel insurance company at the lowest rate. But manually requesting quotes can be time-consuming. Squaremouth simplifies the process by allowing you to compare quotes from over 20 partner insurers. Through Squaremouth, you can request quotes for various policy types.

• Compares rates from several insurers at once
• Shop for single trips and annual plans, cruise, medical-only, flight, and other policies
• Doesn’t include all major insurers
• Doesn’t allow you to compare travel types, such as student or volunteer travelers
• The platform compares rates from over 20 insurers
• Specialized policies for cruises, extreme sports and other trip types

Is Getting Travel Insurance Worth It?

Travel insurance does require an added cost; according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners ( NAIC ), a policy will usually cost 4% to 10% of your total trip’s price. Despite the added cost, travel insurance—particularly trip cancellation and interruption—is increasingly popular as people look for peace of mind and protection for their travel plans.

Travel insurance can be worth the expense if you travel outside the country or spend significant money on your vacation. Travel insurance can reimburse you for qualifying nonrefundable costs if your trip is canceled, interrupted or delayed. And if you have a medical emergency during your trip, travel insurance ensures you can get the care you need and be reimbursed for part or all of the resulting bills.

Pros and Cons of Travel Insurance Plans

• Reduces your potential financial losses: A vacation is a significant expense, and illness or bad weather can cause you to lose thousands. Travel insurance offsets some of those costs.
• Provides assistance with emergency medical care: If you become ill or injured during your trip and your coverage doesn’t extend beyond the U.S., travel medical insurance prevents you from wholly covering the cost of emergency caret.
• Travel assistance: If you become ill, miss your flight in another country or miss your cruise ship, your travel insurer may be able to provide critical assistance to get you back on track (or home) safely.
• Must be purchased in advance: To gain maximum benefits, you must plan ahead, and travel insurance must be purchased within a few days or weeks of your initial trip deposit.
• Travel insurance can be expensive. Depending on your trip’s cost and the desired coverage level, it can cost hundreds up to a thousand or more per person.
• Policies feature exclusions, limits, and other fine print: Travel insurance policies don’t cover all circumstances or all expenses beyond the stated limits; policies often feature exclusions for pre-existing conditions and specific activities.

When Can You Skip or Forgo Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance isn’t always necessary. For example:

• Other plans cover you: Check your health insurance, homeowners’ and auto insurance, and credit card policies. Many of these policies feature coverage that may duplicate travel insurance coverage.
• You’re traveling domestically or affordably: If you’re traveling within the U.S., returning home will likely be less expensive so you may have fewer non-refundable expenses. If you’re going on a short trip, you may also be willing to risk losing your nonrefundable expenses without insurance.
• Your reservation has a flexible cancellation policy: If your cruise or hotel accommodation has a flexible cancellation policy that allows you to cancel with a full refund or reschedule without penalty, travel insurance is less needed.

What Does Travel Insurance Cover, and What Does Travel Insurance Not Cover?

Travel insurance provides coverage for a variety of issues. Most policies typically include the following core coverages:

• Trip cancellation: If you must cancel your trip for a qualifying reason, trip cancellation coverage will reimburse you for a portion of your nonrefundable expenses.
• Trip interruption: If your trip is interrupted due to a family emergency and you need to end your trip early, this coverage will reimburse you for nonrefundable expenses and extra travel costs you incur to get home.
• Baggage loss or delays: If your luggage is lost, stolen or delayed, this coverage will reimburse you for replacing your toiletries, clothing and other essentials.
• Medical emergency: This form of coverage pays for emergency medical and dental care you receive during your trip for injuries or illnesses.
• Medical evacuation: Depending on where you’re traveling, the cost of medical evacuation — transporting you to a medical facility for treatment or returning you to the U.S. — can be as high as $250,000. Medical evacuation coverage will pay for some or all of the cost, saving you thousands.
• Accidental death and dismemberment: Provides a flat reimbursement for loss of life or limb while traveling if due to a covered incident.

You can also add optional coverage to your policy to adjust your coverage. Common endorsements include:

• Cancel for any reason (CFAR): This rider allows you to qualify for reimbursement of your expenses if you need to cancel your policy for reasons that aren’t covered by traditional policies.
• Extreme sports: These riders provide additional medical coverage and medical evacuation protection for those planning to participate in whitewater rafting, bungee jumping, or cave diving during their vacation.
• Rental car coverage: Rental car coverage is essential if you plan on driving during your vacation; your personal car insurance likely only covers rentals in the U.S. Rental damage protection helps reimburse you for damage and theft.

Travel insurance typically excludes the following:

• Pre-existing health conditions (if you don’t get a waiver)
• Trip cancellations or interruptions due to pandemics and some natural disasters
• When the State Department issues a warning regarding a country
• Medical expenses related to pregnancy and childbirth
• Medical costs related to injuries due to risky activities, such as skydiving

However, some plans may offer optional coverage for pre-existing conditions, pandemics, and unrest or bundle it into existing plans under certain conditions.

Why Would You Need Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance can provide critical protection, particularly when traveling to another country. Travel insurance offers peace of mind and financial protection when the unexpected occurs. If you experience one of the following scenarios, you may find that travel insurance is essential:

• You have a heart attack while traveling: If you have a heart attack while abroad and need to go to a hospital, your personal health insurance may not cover your treatment. Travel insurance can help cover the cost.
• A loved one is in a car accident during your trip: During your vacation abroad, your immediate family member requires emergency surgery after a car accident. Trip interruption insurance helps reimburse you for unplanned trip back and nonrefundable vacation expenses.
• You lost your job pre-trip: Before departure, your company eliminated your position, leaving you unemployed. If you have cancel for any reason (CFAR) insurance or coverage that includes job loss, some prepaid expenses are reimbursable.
• Political riots break out: Unfortunately, political and civil unrest can happen. If riots or military action occur during your vacation, travel insurance may pay for emergency evacuations in some circumstances.

How To Choose the Best Travel Insurance Company for You

There are many travel insurance companies, ranging from policies that provide barebones coverage for emergencies to those that cater to those taking luxury vacations. When deciding which plan is right for you, consider these variables:

Prices vary significantly between companies, coverage types and limits, so it pays to shop around. Some insurers won’t cover plans that cover more than a specified amount, such as $50,000, or for more than a specific number of days. Compare providers closely if you’re planning a months-long or costly trip. If you’re booking a weekend trip or inexpensive U.S.-based vacation, costs may not run as high.

Reimbursement Limits

When you purchase a policy, familiarize yourself with several different types of coverage and reimbursement levels, including:

• Trip cancellation: Depending on the policy, you could receive up to 100% of the trip cost, but there may be a maximum limit, such as $10,000 per person.
• Trip interruption: Typically, companies will reimburse 75% to 200% of the trip cost, but only up to a specified limit.
• Medical emergency: Depending on your chosen policy and coverage level, the medical emergency limit may be as low as $50,000 or as high as $2 million.
• Medical evacuation: Medical evacuations can cost well in the six figures. Policies can have maximums ranging from $50,000 to $2 million.
• Cancel for any reason: Cancel for any reason coverage will usually reimburse you for 50% to 75% of the trip’s cost.

Secondary vs. Primary Coverage

When shopping for insurance, you may see that some coverage is primary or secondary. With primary travel insurance, you can file a claim directly with the insurer, which may speed up the claims process and not impact your future premiums.

With secondary coverage, you must exhaust your primary coverage first, which can take longer to receive reimbursement. Filing claims with some insurance (such as auto insurance) could impact your future premiums.

For example, you have a medical travel insurance policy offering secondary coverage. You become ill while traveling and need to visit an emergency room. Your bill is $5,000. Your employer’s medical insurance coverage covers $1,000 of the bill. Then, you’d submit a claim with your travel insurer for the remaining $4,000 expense.

Pre-Existing Conditions

Standard travel insurance policies may exclude emergency medical treatments resulting from pre-existing conditions. However, companies often offer existing medical condition exclusion waivers in certain situations that could include:

• Purchasing the plan within a specific timeframe (usually 14-15 days) after the initial trip deposit
• Having a U.S.-based primary health plan
• Being certified by a physician that your condition is medically stable
• You’re medically able to travel when purchasing your plan

Frequently Asked Questions

Which company’s travel insurance is best.

Our pick for the best overall travel insurer was Travel Guard by AIG due to its competitive rates and coverage options. But depending on your travel plans, you may prefer another company. Seven Corners could be a better choice for cruisers. At the same time, those who travel frequently may find that the annual plans from Allianz are a more cost-effective option than purchasing single-trip policies for each vacation, although coverage may differ.

Where Is the Best Place To Get Travel Insurance?

While most travel insurance companies allow you to get quotes and purchase coverage through their websites, a comparison shopping site like Squaremouth may simplify the process. You can compare rates and coverage options from several insurers simultaneously, helping you find the best prices.

What Is a Good Rate for Travel Insurance?

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, travel insurance will cost between 4% and 10% of your trip’s total cost. The average price of a week-long vacation for two people was about $4,000 in 2024, so you should expect to spend $160 to $400 on travel insurance.

Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. We may earn a commission from partner links on Newsweek, but commissions do not affect our editors’ opinions or evaluations.

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 .

We research all brands listed and may earn a fee from our partners. Research and financial considerations may influence how brands are displayed. Not all brands are included. Learn more .

• Travel Insurance

https://money.com/best-travel-insurance/

9 Best Travel Insurance Companies of 2024

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Best Travel Insurance Main Takeaways

• Travel insurance can reimburse you for lost luggage, missed flights, trip cancellations and emergency medical expenses.
• Purchase travel insurance right after booking the trip to ensure the best coverage.
• Our top picks include Seven Corners, Generali Global Assistance and TravelInsured.com.

Travel Insurance Made Easy™ - Compare and buy from trusted providers in just a few minutes

Gain access to policies from all major insurers, including COVID-19 coverage

• 24/7 Emergency Assistance Worldwide
• Licensed in all 50 states and Member of the US Travel Insurance Association (UStiA)

COVID-19 coverage is available and/or may be included as an add-on

• “Cancel For Any Reason” (CFAR) availability 
• Includes trip cancellation, baggage delay/loss, and flight delays
• Emergency medical expenses coverage are included in the coverage

Largest selection of policies with Covid-19 coverage

• Coverage for Trip Cancellation/Interruption, Travel Delay, Medical Emergency & Evacuation and Pre-Existing Conditions
• Award-winning customer service with an A+ BBB rating
• Reviewed by 47,691 customers with an average rating of 5 stars

Trip cancellation insurance for U.S. and non-U.S. residents

• Coverage for trip cancellations, delays, medical emergencies, and more
• Group travel products available 
• Top-rated cruise insurance plans, adventure travel insurance and International Student Insurance available   
• Medical, cancellation, and baggage coverage
• Travel concierge services with premium plans
• Emergency evacuation and medical repatriation
• Offers cancellation coverage due to terrorism and natural disasters

Coverage for trip cancellations, interruptions, medical emergencies, and more

• Lost, stolen, damaged, or delayed baggage costs
• 'Cancel for any reason' policy available
• Travel Accident Insurance for non-US citizens

Over 190 years of experience – Travel Smarter™  with Generali Group

• Enjoy quick resolutions with your own global 24/7 travel assistance team
• Coverage for all types of trips: domestic, international, cruises, vacation rentals, and more
• Covid-19 illness coverage including lodging
• Up to $250,000 in medical coverage and $1 million in evacuation  

Why Trust Us?

To select our top picks, our team vetted 15 companies. We read the fine print on travel insurance plans and compared coverage options and prices to determine which insurers offer coverage that could meet the needs of specific groups. Read the full methodology to learn more.

• 15+ data points considered
• 13 insurers reviewed
• 1,000+ hours of research

Our Top Picks for the Best Travel Insurance

Note: The following companies are listed in alphabetical order.

• AIG Travel Guard - Best for Add-Ons
• Allianz Travel - Best for Business Travel
• Generali Global Assistance - Best for Emergency Support Services
• HTH Travel Insurance - Best for Long-Term Insurance for International Travel
• Nationwide - Best Cruise Travel Insurance
• Seven Corners - Best for Large Groups
• Travelex - Best for Families with Children
• TravelInsurance.com - Best for Comparing Travel Insurance Quotes
• World Nomads - Best for Adventure Sports Coverage

Best Travel Insurance Reviews

Best for add-ons: aig travel guard.

• Lodging expense benefit
• Trip saver and exchange specialized coverage included
• A child 17 and under is covered per insured
• Covers trips to Cuba if the traveler provides additional documentation
• High cost of premiums
• Most add-ons are not available for the basic plan

Why we chose it : We chose AIG Travel Guard as the best travel insurance for add-ons because it offers travelers a wide variety of coverage options to customize their plans.

AIG Travel Guard offers unique services such as MedEvac and Bag Trak® as well as coverage options few (if any) other insurers offer: a pet bundle, a wedding bundle (for canceled weddings) and an inconvenience bundle in the event any attractions you wanted to visit are closed.

Another of AIG's specialized insurance products is lodging expense coverage. This benefit is for travelers who test positive for COVID-19 and must remain abroad until they present a negative test result. There's also a Pack N’ GO Plan for last-minute trips which includes post-departure coverage and 24-hour emergency travel assistance.

Read AIG Travel Insurance Review

Best for Business Travel: Allianz Travel

• Epidemic coverage endorsement
• Allianz TravelSmart App
• Annual plan geared to business travelers
• 24-hour multilingual assistance hotline
• Low medical coverage
• No "cancel for any reason" benefit

Why we chose it : Allianz Travel is our choice for the best travel insurance for business trips because its annual plan offers comprehensive coverage that includes trip cancellation and interruption, emergency medical and transportation, rental car damage and theft, and business equipment protection.

Allianz offers 10 distinct travel insurance plans, ranging from basic cancellation coverage to comprehensive multi-trip protection. All plans include a 24-hour multilingual assistance hotline and the TravelSmart App, which gives quick access to travel advisories, local medical facilities, mobile claims filing and more.

Another one of Allianz’s highlights is its lack of age restrictions (most other insurers limit coverage by age). Some of its plans also cover kids 17 and under traveling with a parent or grandparent.

Read Allianz Travel Insurance Review

Best for Emergency Support Services: Generali Global Assistance

• Offers 24-hour emergency assistance services
• Up to $1K upfront payment for acute medical treatment
• Car rental damage add-on available
• Pre-existing condition coverage only available in the Premium plan
• High premium costs
• "Cancel for any reason" only available for Premium plan

Why we chose it : Generali Global Assistance is our choice for the best travel insurance for emergency support services because all of its policies include 24-hour Travel Support, which can provide immediate assistance for problems that might arise during a trip — from medical emergencies to identity theft.

Travelers can choose between three plans — Standard, Preferred and Premium — that cover trip cancellation, trip interruption, travel delay, and baggage damage, loss or theft. Each plan also covers medical and dental emergencies up to specific payout limits (from $50,000 to $250,000 per person).

Both its Preferred and Premium plans include trip cancellation benefits or trip interruption in case a travel supplier — say, a cruise company, hotel or rental car company — becomes insolvent and can no longer offer its services.

Read Generali Global Assistance Travel Insurance Review

Best for Long-Term International Travel Insurance: HTH Travel Insurance

• Travel medical insurance for groups of five or more
• International expatriate comprehensive coverage
• Passport app to find doctors, pharmacies, and translations of drug names
• Pet medical expense coverage
• 12-hour wait for bag delay coverage (24 hours under the economy plan)
• "Cancel for any reason" option only offered in the Preferred plan
• Participants must be enrolled in a primary health insurance plan to be eligible for the multi-trip plan

Why we chose it : HTH Travel Insurance is our choice for the best travel insurance for long-term international travel because it offers specialty coverage for expats and students. Its Xplorer Plan features no deductible for office visits, no waiting periods for preventive care services, and no waiting period for pre-existing conditions with proof of prior coverage.

HTH Travel Insurance also offers international health insurance for students with flexible trip duration options. This plan has unlimited annual and lifetime medical care maximums, includes supplies and prescriptions and covers medically necessary COVID-19 testing and treatment.

Other global health and safety services available through HTH Travel Insurance include 24/7 call assistance, access to elite international doctors and hospitals, and translated medical terms.

Read HTH Worldwide Travel Insurance Review

Best Cruise Travel Insurance: Nationwide

• Offers a pre-existing condition waiver
• 24-hour assistance
• Multi-trip plans
• Must wait 12 hours before bag delay coverage
• "Cancel for any reason" only available for premium plan
• Few options for additional coverage.

Why we chose it : We picked Nationwide as the best travel insurance for cruises because it offers three cruise insurance plans (Universal, Choice and Luxury) that fit different budgets and needs.

Nationwide's emergency medical coverage starts at $75,000, and all three plan tiers include “cancel for work reasons” coverage, a $500 return-home-early benefit, $200 in coverage for shipboard service disruption, and $25,000 for non-medical evacuations.

Nationwide also has two single-trip plans: Essential and Prime. In addition to industry-standard trip protection basics, these plans offer above-average medical coverage starting at $75,000 and a “cancel for any reason” add-on that reimburses 75% of non-refundable trip costs.

Read Nationwide Travel Insurance Review

Best for Large Groups: Seven Corners Travel Insurance

• Coverage from five up to 364 days
• Allows coverage extensions
• Website includes sample scenarios to illustrate how the coverage works
• Hazardous activities not included in coverage (add-on only)
• Different plan options for WA, NY, PA, and MO residents

Why we chose it : We chose Seven Corners as the best travel insurance for large groups because it insures parties of 10 or more travelers through comprehensive policies that cover medical expenses and evacuations.

Seven Corners’ simple and budget-friendly Trip Protection Choice plan covers trip cancellation, interruption or delays for specific reasons, including COVID-19 for groups of 10 or more. Its emergency medical protection goes up to $500,000 and offers up to $1,000,000 for medical evacuation and repatriation of remains.

In addition to its group trip travel insurance plans, Seven Corners has three travel medical plan tiers with comprehensive medical coverage for emergency room visits, hospital room and board, and onset of pre-existing medical conditions. These plans include 24/7 multilingual customer service.

Read Seven Corners Travel Insurance Review

Best for Families with Children: Travelex

• Flight insurance plans available
• Pre-existing conditions waiver
• Several upgrades available
• Upgrades not available for the Basic plan
• Customer service has limited operating hours

Why we chose it : Travelex is our choice as the best travel insurance for families with children because it offers two plans that cover family members under 17 at no additional cost.

Travelex Insurance Service features two main plans for international trips, Travel Basic and Travel Select — plus a Travel America plan for trips in the USA. Both plans include children 17 and under at no additional cost.

The Travel Basic is an affordable plan perfect for students, backpackers, small groups or those on a budget. These plans cover trip cancellation and interruption at 100% of the trip cost and offer up to $2,000 for trip delays or missed connections.

Read Travelex Insurance Services Review

Best for Comparing Travel Insurance Quotes: TravelInsurance.com

• Shows results from the top-rated insurers
• Offers helpful tips and articles
• Site only shows all add-ons available at checkout
• You may prefer a company that isn't on the marketplace

Why we chose it : We picked TravelInsurance.com as the best travel insurance for comparing quotes because users can quickly and easily view plan details and prices from some of the top travel insurance providers.

TravelInsurance.com is a travel insurance comparison platform that facilitates the shopping process by connecting users with top-rated carriers. It breaks down coverage options and presents policies in a simple table for easy comparison.

This marketplace simplifies the process for travelers to input their trip details and receive customized quotes based on factors such as trip cost, duration and traveler ages. The results page presents essential coverage information, reviews, ratings and a link to each provider's COVID-19 policy FAQs.

Read TravelInsurance.com Review

Best for Adventure Sports Coverage: World Nomads

• Emergency medical $100,000 (accident and sickness)
• Buy more while traveling
• 24/7 emergency support (Generali Global Assistance)
• Does not cover pre-existing conditions
• No "cancel for any reason" option offered
• Trip Cancellation/Interruption coverage low compared to other providers ($2.5K-$10K)

Why we chose it: World Nomads is the best travel insurance for travelers who enjoy adventure sports because it covers over 150+ sports and adventure activities, unlike most companies.

Its Standard and Explorer plans cover scuba diving, skiing, surfing and 150+ other sports and activities. Both plans include accident and illness coverage and 24/7 emergency support as well as emergency evacuation, trip cancellation, trip interruption, trip delay, accidental death and lost luggage or theft.

While most companies don't let you purchase or extend coverage during the trip, World Nomads offers a rare alternative; individuals who didn't purchase coverage before their trip can enroll in the company's "Buy While Traveling" plan. Those who already purchased a policy can also extend their coverage to keep exploring.

Read World Nomads Travel Insurance Review

Quote, compare and buy in a few minutes

Best Price Guarantee By Comparing Top Policies In A Single Platform

• Buy online and get instant coverage by email
• 24/7 emergency assistance worldwide
• Policies from trusted providers
• Over 100,000 verified customers with 5-star reviews and $3.5 billion in protected trip costs
• Includes coverage from theft, trip cancellations, baggage loss and delay, medical expenses for hospital treatments

Digital Travel Insurance

• Largest selection of 100+ policies
• Coverage for trip cancellation/interruption, travel delay, medical emergency & evacuation and pre-existing conditions
• Group travel products available
• International Student Insurance available
• Top-rated cruise insurance plans, and adventure travel insurance

Other travel insurance companies we considered

In this section, we feature popular companies that didn't make our top picks. The table below highlights the highest coverage available for each type of benefit. Check out the full reviews to learn more about each provider:

• Tin Leg Travel Insurance Review
• TravelSafe Insurance Review
• AXA Travel Insurance Review
• Faye Travel Insurance Review
• Trawick International insurance review
• John Hancock travel insurance review
• Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection

Trip cancellation insurance

Trip interruption insurance

Medical insurance

Baggage maximum/per item limit

Trawick International

100 to 150%

$2,000/$250

AXA Assistance USA

$3,000/$500

$2,500/$300

$1,000/$250

Berkshire Hathaway

$2,500/$250

$2,000/$500

Travel Insured International

John Hancock Insurance Agency

Travel Insurance Guide

Travel insurance reimburses you if you need to cancel or interrupt your trip early. It can also pay for stolen or lost baggage and medical expenses if you get sick or have an accident during the trip.

Read on to learn how travel insurance works and tips on how to select the right type of coverage.

What does travel insurance cover?

What does travel insurance not cover, how much does travel insurance cost, is travel insurance worth it, how to get travel insurance, how much travel insurance do i need, credit card travel insurance.

Comprehensive travel insurance covers common travel issues and mishaps, from accidents to baggage delays.

The following are standard coverage options and add-ons.

• Trip cancellation insurance refunds up to 100% of prepaid, non-refundable travel costs if you cancel an upcoming trip for eligible reasons.
• Trip interruption coverage reimburses you for the unused portion of the trip and any expenses you may incur to get back home. Covered events include natural disasters and medical emergencies. Insurers typically cap reimbursement at 150% of the cost of the trip.
• Travel delay coverage reimburses you (up to your policy limits) for extra expenses such as meals or lodgings during a flight delay. It may also cover airport delays and any flight change fees necessary to catch up on your travel plans.
• Emergency travel medical insurance reimburses you for medical expenses incurred during your trip under certain circumstances. Coverage amounts for medical expenses can range from $15,000 to $50,000. Coverage may apply even if you're pregnant while traveling .
• Emergency medical evacuation coverage reimburses you if you need to be evacuated to the nearest medical facility or to a facility in your country of origin. Maximum benefits usually range between $100,000 and $500,000 but can be as high as $1 million.
• Baggage and personal effects coverage refunds you the cost of replacement items if your luggage is lost or delayed during your trip, typically up to $2,500. You must wait a predetermined number of hours before filing a claim and submit purchase receipts or a list of items in your luggage. Coverage may be subject to a deductible.
• Worldwide assistance offers 24/7 customer service should you need assistance while traveling. This includes multilingual medical hotlines that can provide medical advice and refer you to local healthcare services.

Popular travel insurance add-ons

Here we explain a variety of add-ons or riders that allow you to increase benefit limits and cover activities that may be excluded from standard policies.

The most common exclusions in a travel insurance policy are:

• Pre-existing medical conditions
• Injuries caused by extreme sports
• Theft/loss of personal items such as electronic devices and jewelry
• Pregnancy-related conditions
• Injuries that happen while you’re intoxicated with drugs or alcohol, even if the intoxicating substance is legal to use at the destination
• Missed flights, where the traveler is at fault
• "Foreseeable events" such as epidemics and pandemics that are officially declared by federal or international health agencies. (Insurance claims related to COVID-19 illness may be covered)

The cost of travel insurance can range from 4% to 12% of the total cost of your trip and depend on:

• Your travel destination
• The length of your trip
• The types of travel insurance benefits and policy limits you select

Total trip cost

6% of trip cost (estimated travel insurance cost)

* Insurance for a $2,200 trip for a family of four ranged from $90 to over $300, based on 6% of trip costs.

Travel insurance could be worth it in specific situations. Before buying a policy, consider the following scenarios.

You may want travel insurance if:

You may not need travel insurance if:

You've pre-paid for high-cost, non-refundable expenses like tours, concerts or sporting events.

You're traveling domestically and have alternate coverage (car insurance, medical insurance that covers you across state lines, and a credit card that offers travel benefits).

You're traveling internationally and need coverage for medical emergencies and evacuation.

You can get reimbursed for trip expenses, especially costly ones.

You're visiting an area where weather is unpredictable or there is political unrest.

You're going on a short and relatively low-risk trip.

You plan to participate in high-risk activities such as skiing or scuba diving.

You can afford to cover emergency expenses out of pocket.

You can buy travel insurance after booking a flight . However, it's advisable not to delay obtaining a policy. The longer you wait between your initial trip payment and purchasing trip insurance, the greater the chance you'll miss out on valuable add-ons like coverage for pre-existing conditions and CFAR upgrades.

The best time to purchase travel insurance coverage is right after you've booked your trip’s costliest non-refundable expenses, such as flight tickets and lodging.

1. Define your travel insurance needs

Consider your reasons for traveling, taking into account who’s going with you as well as your planned activities. Note how long you'll be away, as well. You may need an annual travel insurance plan for long trips and that can narrow down your choice of providers.

Business travel insurance is suitable for frequent travelers who need coverage for items like work laptops and phones. Vacationers who booked a cruise may need a specialized policy such as Nationwide's cruise insurance plans , and students in overseas programs may want to look into a plan like Trawick International Insurance .

2. Review the policy limits

Each travel insurance benefit has a specific payout limit, which may or may not be enough for your particular situation. For example, individuals traveling with expensive personal belongings such as sports equipment, cameras or jewelry may want a higher payout limit for personal effects or riders for high-value items.

3. Check the policy's fine print

Before finalizing any document, make sure the trip insurance policy you're interested in covers the activities you have planned, especially if there are recreational sports involved.

Travelers with pre-existing medical conditions should also confirm whether those are covered under their policy. If not, they may need to look for a different provider or purchase supplemental medical coverage.

Take a moment to check if emergency assistance services are available 24/7 and what kind of assistance you can expect should you have a medical emergency or your belongings be stolen.

4. Compare travel insurance quotes

We recommend getting insurance quotes through comparison sites and marketplaces such as InsureMyTrip.com or SquareMouth Travel Insurance. Even if you're traveling on a tight budget, you can still find cheap travel insurance that will cover the essentials, such as medical expenses and personal effects.

Consider the following when comparing quotes:

• Affordability
• Maximum payout limits for baggage loss or theft
• Available add-ons such as "Cancel for Any Reason"
• Policy terms regarding pre-existing medical conditions
• Minimum wait time before you can file a claim for baggage loss and trip delays
• Maximum payout limits for medical expenses and emergency evacuation

Before buying travel insurance , consider what losses you would incur if unforeseen events forced you to cancel the trip or if you suffered an unexpected medical emergency.

• Non-refundable travel expenses: These include flight tickets, lodging reservations, pet care accommodations, travel activities like guided tours, and transportation expenses booked in advance.
• Potential medical emergencies: Travelers may need medical care abroad due to injuries, endemic illnesses and other health emergencies. Some travel insurers recommend a minimum of $50,000 in emergency medical coverage for international trips and $100,000 for cruises and trips to remote locations.
• Additional coverage needs: Travelers who engage in adventure sports may need a rider to ensure medical coverage if they get injured. These sports are usually excluded from most trip insurance policies.

Many credit cards offer flight insurance and travel protection for lodging and luggage if you use the card to pay for these trip expenses. That being said, if you compare credit card travel coverage with travel insurance , you'll see that most credit cards lack benefits such as medical expenses and emergency evacuation coverage.

Read our guide to the best travel credit cards for more information on how your credit card can help you travel smarter.

More on Travel Insurance

• What Is Schengen Travel Insurance?
• Pre-Existing Conditions and Travel Insurance
• Best Cancel For Any Reason Travel Insurance
• Best Places to Travel in Spring
• Best Places to Travel in the Summer
• Best Places to Travel in Fall
• Best Places to Travel in Winter

Travel Insurance FAQs

Do i need travel insurance, how does travel insurance work, when is it too late to buy travel insurance, what is a pre-existing condition for travel insurance, how we chose the best travel insurance companies.

As part of our methodology, we obtained travel insurance quotes from the online comparison site Travelinsurance.com using the following profile:

• Family of four traveling from New York City to London
• $2,200 on flight tickets for all four travelers

We then reviewed the available plans and looked at the following factors to evaluate and compare each company:

• Plans and coverage: We looked for insurers with a variety of plans and the ability to customize the policy with unique add-ons, such as coverage for extreme sports and lost gear or equipment.
• Ease of use: We considered how easily you could get a quote and understand the policy information. Most of our top picks offer just a few plans to keep things simple or provide a comparison page where you can quickly spot the differences in each plan.
• Customer service and support: We rated companies higher for having a 24/7 hotline, a global emergency network, mobile apps, multiple customer support options, and perks like concierge and translation services.
• Reputation : To gauge each company’s reputation, we evaluated factors such as customer feedback and ratings, years in business and financial stability as evidenced by AM Best financial strength ratings.

Summary of Money's 9 Best Travel Insurance Companies of 2024

12 Best Travel Insurance Policies and Why You Need Them

Condé Nast Traveler has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Condé Nast Traveler and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. We don't review or include all companies, or all available products. Moreover, the editorial content on this page was not provided by any of the companies mentioned, and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are entirely those of Condé Nast Traveler's editorial team.

You’ve purchased your flights and booked your hotel. Now, what about travel insurance? These days, it’s easy to add coverage to your trip, but what's the best travel insurance policy to buy? And is the extra cost always necessary?

When planning a trip, nobody loves imagining worst-case scenarios and everyone has a different risk tolerance. For a weekend road trip , you may be willing to cross your fingers and suck up your losses should something go awry. But what if you’re shelling out for a longer, more complex and more expensive trip? You’ll likely want peace of mind when your risk and financial investment are greater.

When do you need travel insurance?

There’s nothing like bad luck to turn you into an insurance evangelist. For travel writer Katherine Fan, the epiphany came after a thunderstorm disrupted her flight in Chicago . “My bags didn't make it to Italy for more than five days, and my travel insurance covered all the costs for replacement items as well as the alternative transportation I had to rebook because of the delay,” she says. “I'll never live without it now.”

In general, the older you are and the more remote your destination, the more crucial it is to buy travel insurance. Lou Desiderio, a communications executive from Long Island, New York, recalls the time his octogenarian father became ill during a European cruise , and doctors recommended that his parents return home immediately. His parents’ travel insurance covered the lion’s share of the $9,500 they subsequently racked up in medical costs, ground transportation, flights, hotel, and meals. “You always wonder if the cost of insurance is worth it,” says Desiderio. “In this instance, it was absolutely worth it.”

“Not all domestic health and medical insurance plans will follow you outside your home country,” says Justin Tysdal, CEO of Seven Corners , a travel insurance provider. “Something as simple as twisting your ankle in a foreign country may not be covered and could result in expensive medical bills.”

Simply having travel insurance can have side benefits, too. “One of the best hidden perks is the 24/7 global travel assistance provided by the plan,” says Stan Sandberg, CEO of TravelInsurance.com . The hotline can be helpful in dealing with a multitude of unexpected issues, from currency conversion or cash transfers to replacing passports or IDs to finding a local physician.

Where can you find a good policy?

Travel agencies, airlines, cruise lines, and tour operators often offer an optional insurance add-on, but these plans tend to have been run through the company’s legal team and contain more exclusions. Travel rewards credit cards also offer some built-in insurance benefits to their cardholders, like trip cancellation coverage, delayed baggage coverage, and trip interruption and delay coverage. But you’ll often be better served by a plan from a third-party insurer, which tend to offer more holistic plans.

The good news is that it has never been easier to buy exactly the type of travel insurance you need at a reasonable price. Most people buy comprehensive insurance for a single trip, but annual travel insurance plans that cover multiple trips in a one-year period are becoming more popular.

You can find some of the best travel insurance policies by visiting an insurance comparison site like TravelInsurance.com, InsureMyTrip.com or SquareMouth.com . Plug in your trip details and you’ll get instant quotes for multiple insurance plans that you can compare on price, coverage limitations, and other parameters. Be sure to read the policy details, as inclusions can vary from plan to plan but will end up making all the difference to your particular needs.

What’s it going to cost?

The cost of travel insurance depends on a variety of factors, including the price and length of the trip, your age, destination, and any optional add-ons. For your average domestic or international trip with flights and hotels , expect to pay anywhere from 3 to 7 percent of your trip’s cost, depending on inclusions.

So for a $2,000 trip, you might expect a typical comprehensive plan with trip cancellation, interruption, and delay, along with baggage loss and delay, and emergency medical coverage and evacuation to cost in the $100 ballpark. Some upgrades, like a “cancel for any reason” provision, will cost more.

When should you buy travel insurance?

Don’t procrastinate. “Some benefits and coverages are available only if you’ve purchased your policy within a short window, typically seven to 21 days from when you make the first payment towards your trip,” says Sandberg. Buy early and you may qualify for a pre-existing condition waiver or a ‘cancel for any reason’ upgrade.

It’s especially important not to delay buying travel insurance if you’re traveling to, say, the Caribbean during hurricane season. Once a major storm has been named, the window of opportunity slams shut, and you can no longer buy insurance for that hurricane. “If you purchase a policy after a storm is named, trip cancellation and trip interruption are excluded from coverage,” says Sandberg.

What’s not covered?

“Some people believe that a travel insurance plan is designed to give you the flexibility to cancel your trip for any reason whatsoever,” says Sandberg. “But the standard plan is not going to provide cancellation coverage for a change of heart or a relationship break-up or an outbreak of Zika in your destination.” If you need that flexibility, opt for the ‘cancel for any reason’ upgrade.

“As far as medical coverage, people often believe a travel insurance plan will cover preventative services such as immunizations and annual check-ups,” says Tysdal. “But travel insurance is intended to cover illnesses and injuries that originate during a trip, and that’s why it’s relatively inexpensive.” Be careful about overindulging, too. “If you injure yourself as a result of being intoxicated beyond a legal limit, your travel insurance policy will not likely cover you,” says Sandberg. Ditto for drug use.

How easy is it to file a claim?

“Documentation is key,” says Meghan Walch, product manager for InsureMyTrip. If luggage is lost or items are stolen, file a report with the airline or police. You may need to provide original receipts for the stolen items in order to receive reimbursement up to the policy limits.“ Also, be aware that baggage coverage only offers coverage up to a set amount,” says Walch. “So, if you are carrying, say, a fancy $3,000 Nikon or Canon camera , you’ll likely need to buy additional insurance elsewhere or cover it under a homeowner's policy.” Note, also, that many plans specifically exclude computers and electronics.

What about car rental insurance?

It’s often possible to add car rental insurance, also known as the Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), to a comprehensive travel insurance plan, which can save you from a serious headache should you get into an accident while driving. “But the biggest mistake people make when renting a car is to waste money on duplicate coverage,” says Jonathan Weinberg, CEO of AutoSlash , the car rental deal-finding site. “The reality is that if you own your own vehicle and have car insurance, you are likely already covered when renting in the U.S.”

And if you don’t own a car? “Your credit card may also cover you when renting,” says Weinberg. “It's always important to check to be sure, but why pay again for coverage you already have?” Indeed, paying for your rental with the right travel rewards credit card might cover your collision insurance, with some policies covering damage up to the value of the car. Travel outside the U.S. and Canada , though, and it’s a different story. “Most personal auto insurance policies will not cover a claim for damage to a rental outside the U.S. or Canada,” says Weinberg. “Likewise, different credit cards have different exclusions when it comes to covering damage to a rental car in a foreign country.”

Types of travel insurance

Most travelers opt for a comprehensive plan, but you should know what each type of coverage does, so you’ll know if a package truly fits your needs. Here’s a brief rundown of the main types of coverage.

Trip protection

Often known simply as “travel insurance,” this type of comprehensive package is the most common purchase.

Commonly covers: Reimbursement for money spent on your trip due to cancellations, interruptions, and delays; medical expenses if you become sick or injured and, if necessary, emergency medical evacuation and repatriation; and coverage for your belongings if lost, stolen, damaged, or delayed.

How to get it: Compare plans at Square Mouth , Seven Corners , InsureMyTrip.com , and TravelInsurance.com

Trip cancellation

This benefit can reimburse 100 percent of your trip cost—flights, hotels, cruises, and pre-paid activities—if you need to cancel for a covered reason.

Commonly covers: Unforeseen illness or injury; the death of you, a family member, or a traveling companion; terrorism; inclement weather; natural disasters.

Fine print: Some policies also include other covered reasons, such as jury duty or an employment layoff.

Trip interruption

You’ll be reimbursed for your costs if your trip is interrupted for a covered reason. The payout may exceed the total trip cost if you need to incur additional expenses to return home, but some policies limit coverage to a return flight home.

How to get it: Signing up for travel rewards cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve can automatically give you this coverage for all trips booked on the card.

Learn more about signing up for the Chase Sapphire Reserve here .

Cancel for any reason

This upgrade provides reimbursement for 50 to 75 percent of prepaid and non-refundable trip payments if you cancel a trip for any reason not otherwise covered by your policy.

Watch out: You’ll be required to insure your trip’s entire cost, which will typically increase your premium by roughly 40 percent.

Fine print: Typically available for purchase up to seven to 21 days from the date you make your initial trip deposit. You must cancel the entire trip at least two to three days before your departure date.

Travel delay

If your trip is unexpectedly delayed by a designated amount of time (typically three to 12 hours, depending on the policy), this benefit provides a per-diem dollar amount (typically $150 to $200) that can be used for meals, hotels, and other necessary expenses during the delay.

Commonly covers: Inclement weather and mechanical breakdowns of “common carriers,” meaning public transportation such as planes, trains, or buses.

How to get it: Signing up for travel rewards cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve can automatically give you this coverage for all trips booked on the card that meet the requirements.

Missed connection

You’ll be reimbursed for additional costs for you to catch up to your trip if you miss your departure due to a common carrier delay of a specified amount of time. It's usually an added feature of larger insurance packages.

Commonly covers: Inclement weather and mechanical breakdowns of common carriers.

Watch out: Some policies only reimburse if you need to catch up to a cruise or tour. Since the wording typically specifies public transportation delays, you would be out of luck if you’re driving and miss your connection because you got caught in traffic.

Baggage and personal items loss

You’ll be covered for lost, stolen, or damaged luggage. Expect limits in both overall coverage and per-item coverage. It's included with many travel rewards credit card benefits.

Watch out: While most policies cover your personal belongings throughout the entire trip, some will only cover luggage while it is checked with an airline or transportation carrier.

Baggage delay

If your luggage is delayed for a specified period of time—typically 12 or 24 hours—this coverage will reimburse you for any clothing, toiletries, and other essential items you need to purchase. Expect a maximum coverage amount per person, as well as a daily limit. It's also included as a cardholder benefit with many travel credit cards.

Emergency medical coverage

This covers the costs to treat a medical emergency, including treatment, hospitalization, and medication. This type of coverage is highly recommended for international trips and cruises.

Watch out: You would pay for medical care out-of-pocket, and then file a claim for reimbursement when you return home. In certain situations, an insurer might pre-authorize payment of medical bills, but it is not guaranteed.

How to get it: Browse medical coverage plans at Seven Corners .

Emergency evacuation coverage

This coverage is for transportation to the nearest medical facility in the event of a medical emergency during your trip. It's usually an add-on to larger medical coverage.

Commonly covers: If the treating physician recommends that you should return home for further medical attention, this benefit can also cover those transportation expenses. In the case of a death, repatriation can transport a traveler’s remains back home. It's usually an add-on to a larger travel insurance policy.

Pre-existing medical conditions waiver

Most policies have built-in exclusions for pre-existing conditions. So if you’ve been seriously ill in the past or need ongoing treatment, consider looking for a plan that offers a pre-existing condition exclusion waiver.

Fine print: You’ll need to purchase the plan within a few weeks from the date you make your initial trip payment.

Hazardous/adventure sports coverage

Are you an adrenaline junkie? Adventure activities such as heli-skiing, off-trail snowboarding, bungee jumping, wakeboarding, Jet Skiing, spelunking, rock climbing, and scuba diving are almost always excluded from coverage in most travel insurance plans.

Fine print: You can buy coverage as an optional upgrade, which is an especially smart bet if you’re planning an adventure trip outside the United States.

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Find the best country for you: », u.s. news releases ratings of the best travel insurance companies.

List includes insights into the top companies, cheapest plans and more.

USN Best Travel Insurance Companies

Washington, D.C. – U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in travel rankings and consumer advice, today announced the Best Travel Insurance Companies . With travel interest returning and more consumers starting to plan vacations, purchasing insurance to protect from unforeseen events, trip delays or interruptions and financial insolvency of tour operators or hotels is a high priority for those booking trips, whether planning in the next few months or the next year.

"As vaccine rollouts slowly allow for safe travel, purchasing travel insurance has become a must to protect both expensive, international trips and shorter, domestic excursions," said Erin Shields, managing editor, Travel at U.S. News. "The travel insurance company ratings from U.S. News offer travelers insights into choosing the right travel insurance company for their budget, itinerary and concerns."

The guide includes overviews of each top-rated insurance provider, plus pros and cons, and information on plan offerings and policy add-ons. The best travel insurance companies offer a variety of options for consumers to choose from and receive high praise from not only industry experts but also everyday travelers. The travel insurance plans from top providers include coverage for things like lost, stolen, damaged and delayed luggage; missed connections; medical and dental issues; emergency evacuation and repatriation; and trip interruption and cancellation, among other benefits.

Many companies have expanded their offerings to include medical coverage and treatment of the insured if they contract COVID-19, and trip cancellation coverage in some cases due to illness or quarantine restrictions. Others offer plans with an optional cancel for any reason benefit, which guarantees coverage for an event not specified in a comprehensive travel plan and allows travelers to recoup a percentage of costs if by the time their trip approaches they're still not comfortable traveling.

In addition to profiling the best travel insurance companies, U.S. News also analyzed various options to provide a list of companies that offer the cheapest travel insurance plans . With continuing uncertainty in the industry underscoring the importance of insurance, even budget travelers will want to consider their insurance options to protect their vacation investment.These affordable policies offer cost-effective trip cancellation and interruption coverage, among other perks.

Best Travel Insurance Companies

Allianz Travel Insurance Travelex Insurance Services World Nomads Travel Insurance AIG Travel Guard Seven Corners, Inc. Generali Global Assistance IMG Travel Insurance AXA Assistance USA Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection HTH Travel Insurance

To find the leading travel insurance companies, U.S. News evaluated ratings and scores from insurance websites, in addition to reviews and recommendations from travel industry sources and consumers. When analyzing companies for the cheapest plans, U.S. News compared quotes for trips to different destinations at a variety of price points to find those that offered the lowest price. Learn more about the methodologies here .

These ratings are part of the U.S. News Travel vertical, which also evaluates the Best Vacations , Best Cruise Lines , Best Hotels and Best Travel Rewards Programs .

Media Contact: Sarah Javors, [email protected] , 202-955-2153

About U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. A digital news and information company focused on Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars and News, USNews.com provides consumer advice, rankings and analysis to serve people making complex decisions throughout all stages of life. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

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The 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 survey of 1,000 travel insurance policyholders nationwide, 97% of respondents claim travel insurance is worth the cost.

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 of 2024

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Why We Picked Faye Travel Insurance

Why We Picked Faye

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.

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

Why We Picked WorldTrips

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.

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

Why We Picked 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.

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

Why We Picked Seven Corners

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.

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.

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.

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” 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.

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.

“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."

Ask The Experts

What is most important to consider when evaluating travel insurance options?

"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

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• 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?

If you have feedback or questions about this article, please email the MarketWatch Guides team at editors@marketwatchguides. com .

MarketWatch Guides may receive compensation from companies that appear on this page.
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.

• Best overall
• Best for exotic trips
• Best for trip interruption
• Best for medical-only coverage
• Best for family coverage
• Best for long trips
• Why You Should Trust Us

Best International Travel Insurance 2024: Your Ultimate Guide to Safe and Secure Adventures Abroad

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate travel insurance products to write unbiased product reviews.

If you're planning your next vacation or trip out of the country, be sure to factor in travel insurance. Unexpected medical emergencies when traveling can drain your bank account, especially when you're traveling internationally. The best travel insurance companies for international travel can step in to provide you with peace of mind and financial protection while you're abroad.

Best International Travel Insurance of 2024 Summary

• Best overall: Allianz Travel Insurance
• Best for exotic travel: World Nomads Travel Insurance
• Best for trip interruption coverage: C&F Travel Insured
• Best for medical-only coverage: GeoBlue Travel Insurance
• Best for families: Travelex Travel Insurance
• Best for long-term travel: Seven Corners Travel Insurance

Top International Travel Insurance Companies Comparison

As a general rule, the most important coverage to have in a foreign country is travel medical insurance , as most U.S. health insurance policies don't cover you while you're abroad. Without travel medical coverage, a medical emergency in a foreign country can cost you. You'll want trip cancellation and interruption coverage if your trip is particularly expensive. And if you're traveling for an extended period of time, you'll want to ensure that your policy is extendable. 

Here are our picks for the best travel insurance companies for international travel.

Best International Travel Insurance Overall

Allianz travel insurance.

Allianz offers the ultimate customizable coverage for international trips, whether you're a frequent jetsetter or an occasional traveler. You can choose from an a la carte of single or multi-trip plans, as well as add-ons, including rental car damage, cancel for any reason (CFAR) , adventure sport, and business travel coverage. And with affordable pricing compared to competitors, Allianz is a budget-friendly choice for your international travel insurance needs. 

The icing on the cake is Allyz TravelSmart, Allianz's highly-rated mobile app, which has an average rating of 4.4 out of five stars on the Google Play store across over 2,600 reviews and 4.8 out of five stars from over 22,000 reviews on the Apple app store. So, you can rest easy knowing that you can access your policy and file claims anywhere in the world without a hassle.

Read our Allianz travel insurance review .

Best International Travel Insurance for Exotic Trips

World nomads travel insurance.

World Nomads offers coverage for over 300 adventure activities and sports, so you can focus on the adventure without worrying about gaps in your coverage. Both its Standard and Explorer plans cover a wide array of sports. Most activities will be covered under the Standard plan, but extreme sports like skydiving and scuba diving below 165 feet are only covered in the Explorer plan.

Another added benefit of the World Nomads plan is that plans are available after departure. Though if you purchase a plan after you leave for your trip, you'll have to wait 72 days before your coverage kicks in. 

World Nomads offers 24/7 assistance, so you can confidently travel abroad, knowing that help is just a phone call away. 

Read our World Nomads travel insurance review .

Best International Travel Insurance for Trip Interruption

C&f travel insured.

C&F offers 100% coverage for trip cancellation, up to 150% for trip interruption, and reimbursement for up to 75% of your non-refundable travel costs with select plans. This means you don't have to worry about losing your hard-earned money on non-refundable travel costs if your trip ends prematurely. 

Travel Insured also stands out for its extensive "reasons for cancellation" coverage. Unlike many insurers, the company covers hurricane warnings from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Read our C&F Travel Insured review .

Best International Travel Insurance for Medical Coverage

Geoblue travel insurance.

GeoBlue offers policies that covers emergency medical treatments when you're abroad. While GeoBlue lacks trip cancellation coverage, that allows it to charge lower premiums than the other companies on this list. 

GeoBlue plans can cover medical expenses up to $1 million with several multi-trip annual plans available. It offers coinsurance plans for trips within the U.S. and 100% coverage for international trips. It also has a network of clinics in 180 countries, streamlining the claims process. It's worth noting that coverage for pre-existing conditions comes with additional costs. 

Read our GeoBlue travel insurance review .

Best International Travel Insurance for Family Coverage

Travelex travel insurance.

Travelex offers coverage for your whole crew, perfect for when you're planning a family trip. Its family plan insures all your children 17 and under at no additional cost. The travel insurance provider also offers add-ons like adventure sports and car rental collision coverage to protect your family under any circumstance.

Got pets? With Travelex's Travel Select plan, you can also get coverage for your furry friend's emergency medical and transportation expenses. 

Read our Travelex travel insurance review .

Best International Travel Insurance for Long Trips

Seven corners travel insurance.

Seven Corners offers specialized coverage that the standard short-term travel insurance policy won't provide, which is helpful if you're embarking on a long-term trip. You can choose from several plans, including the Annual Multi-Trip plan, which provides medical coverage for multiple international trips for up to 364 days. This policy also offers COVID-19 medical and evacuation coverage up to $1 million. 

You also get the added benefit of incidental expense coverage. This policy will cover remote health-related services and information, treatment of injury or illness, and live consultations via telecommunication. 

Read our Seven Corners travel insurance review .

How to Find the Right International Travel Insurance Company 

Different travelers and trips require different types of insurance coverage. So, consider these tips if you're in the market to insure your trip. 

Determine your needs 

Your needs for travel insurance will depend on the type of trip you're taking. You'll need to consider your destination and what you'll be doing there, either business, leisure, or adventure traveling. Policies covering adventure sports and activities will cost more. Longer, more expensive trips will also cost more. 

Research the reputation of the company 

When researching a company, you'll want to closely review the description of services. You'll want to see how claims are handled, any exceptions, and limitations.

You'll also want to look at the company's customer reviews on sites like Trustpilot, BBB, and Squaremouth, as this will provide insight on the quality of customer service and the claims process. You should also take note of whether companies respond to customer reviews.

Compare prices

You can get quotes through a company's website or travel insurance aggregators like InsureMyTrip and VisitorsCoverage. You'll need to be prepared to provide the following information about your trip:

• Trip destination(s)
• Travel dates
• Number of travelers
• Traveler(s) age/birthday
• State of residence
• Total trip cost

For companies that offer travel medical insurance, you'll also want to play around with the deductible options, as they can affect your policy premium. 

Understanding International Travel Insurance Coverage Options

Travel insurance can be confusing, but we're here to simplify it for you. We'll break down the industry's jargon to help you understand what travel insurance covers to help you decide what your policy needs. Bear in mind that exclusions and limitations for your age and destination may apply. 

Finding the Best Price for International Travel Insurance

Your policy cost will depend on several factors, such as the length of your trip, destination, coverage limits, and age. Typically, a comprehensive policy includes travel cancellation coverage costs between 5% and 10% of your total trip cost.

If you're planning an international trip that costs $4,500, you can expect to pay anywhere from $225 to $450 for your policy. Comparing quotes from multiple providers can help you find the cheapest travel insurance that still meets your needs.

You can use insurance aggregators like Squaremouth , InsureMyTrip , or VisitorsCoverage to directly compare rates.

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed International Travel Insurance Companies

We ranked and assigned superlatives to the best travel insurance companies based on several key factors, including: 

• Policy types: We analyzed company offerings such as coverage levels, exclusions, and policy upgrades, taking note of providers that offer a range of travel-related issues beyond the standard coverages. 
• Affordability: We recognize that cheap premiums don't necessarily equate to sufficient coverage. So, we seek providers that offer competitive rates with comprehensive policies and quality customer service. We also call out any discounts or special offers available. 
• Flexibility: Travel insurance isn't one-size-fits-all. We highlight providers that offer a wide array of coverage options, including single-trip, multi-trip, and long-term policies.
• Claims handling: The claims process should be pain-free for policyholders. We seek providers that offer a streamlined process via online claims filing and a track record of handling claims fairly and efficiently. 
• Quality customer service: Good customer service is as important as affordability and flexibility. We highlight companies that offer 24/7 assistance and have a strong record of customer service responsiveness. 

We consult user feedback and reviews to determine how each company fares in each category. We also check the provider's financial rating and volume of complaints via third-party rating agencies. 

Read more about how Business Insider rates travel insurance .

International Travel Insurance FAQ

The best insurance policy depends on your individual situation, including your destination and budget. However, popular options include Allianz Travel Insurance, World Nomads, and Travel Guard. 

International health insurance and travel insurance serve different purposes. While both may cover medical expenses, international health insurance provides long-term health insurance for working abroad. Meanwhile, travel insurance offers short-term coverage for the duration of your trip. 

Yes, you can travel to multiple countries under one travel insurance policy, but you should tell your insurance provider about your travel plans as it may change your premiums. 

Travel insurance is worth the price for international travel because they're generally more expensive, so you have more to lose. Additionally, your regular health insurance won't cover you in other countries, so without travel insurance, you'll end up paying out of pocket for any emergency medical care you receive out of the US.

You should purchase travel insurance as soon as possible after making payment on your trip. This makes you eligible for add-ons like coverage for pre-existing conditions and CFAR. It also mitigates the chance of any losses in the days leading up to your trip. 

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Table of Contents

What travel insurance covers

How much does travel insurance cost, types of travel insurance, how to get travel insurance, what to look for in travel insurance, best travel insurance comparison sites, which insurance company is best for travel insurance, when to skip travel insurance, travel insurance, recapped.

Travel insurance can cover medical expenses, emergencies, trip interruptions, baggage, rental cars and more.

Cost is affected by trip length, pre-existing medical conditions, depth of coverage, your age and add-ons.

You can get it through credit cards or third-party companies, & can shop on travel insurance comparison sites.

Before buying, evaluate risks, know existing coverage, obtain quotes online and review policy details warily.

Skip it if you buy flexible airfare and hotels, already have coverage or only book refundable activities.

Booking travel always carries some degree of uncertainty. Travel insurance provides a safety net so you can step out with confidence. You may not need travel insurance for inexpensive trips, but it can provide a sense of security when you prepay for pricey reservations, a big international trip or travel during cold and flu season, which can be unpredictable.

According to insurance comparison site Squaremouth, travelers in 2023 spent an average of $403 for comprehensive coverage, compared to $96 for medical-only policies. Comprehensive plans typically cost between 5% and 10% of the insured trip cost.

Since that price tag is no small amount, it helps to know how to shop smart for travel insurance. Here's how to find the right travel insurance plan for you and your next adventure.

Depending on the type of coverage you’re looking for, the chart below will help you determine what to look for when selecting a policy:

Depending on the policy, travel insurance reimburses you or offers services when something goes awry. There’s even coverage for the worst-case scenario: if you die in an accident while traveling. Accidental death coverage pays your beneficiary a lump sum in that case.

Before you buy, take a little time to get familiar with different types of travel insurance products, how it’s priced, and what it covers and excludes. If you’re traveling during these uncertain times, you’ll want to make sure that the policy you select covers coronavirus-related emergencies. Usually, the more thorough the coverage, the more it will cost.

Travel insurance costs vary depending on:

Length and cost of the trip: The longer and more expensive the trip, the higher the policy cost.

Cost of local health care: High health-care costs in your destination can drive up the price of trip insurance.

Medical conditions you want covered: Conditions you already have will increase the cost of travel insurance coverage.

Amount and breadth of coverage: The more risks a policy covers, the more it will cost.

Your age: Generally the older you are, the higher the price.

Any optional supplement you add to your policy : Cancel For Any Reason , Interrupt For Any Reason and more.

Keep these factors in mind when considering different travel insurance options.

You’ll find a wide selection of travel protection plans when you shop for a policy.

Typically, travel insurance is sold as a package, known as a comprehensive plan, which includes a variety of coverage.

Here are seven of the most common types of travel insurance:

Travel medical insurance

These plans provide health insurance while you’re away from home. Although in some ways these policies work like traditional health plans, generally you cannot use travel health insurance for routine medical events. For example, a routine medical checkup is usually not covered. In addition, these policies often include limitations on coverage and exclusions for pre-existing conditions.

Although most travel insurance plans cover many recreational activities, such as skiing and horseback riding, they often exclude adventure sports, such as skydiving or parasailing, or competition in organized sporting events. You may need to buy a special travel policy designed for adventure or competitive sports.

International travel insurance

Most likely, your U.S.-based medical insurance will not work while you’re traveling internationally, and Medicare does not provide any coverage once you leave the United States outside of a few very specific exemptions. If you plan on traveling abroad, purchasing travel medical insurance could make a lot of sense.

» Learn more: Travel medical insurance: Emergency coverage while you travel internationally

Trip cancellation, interruption and delay

Trip cancellation coverage reimburses you for prepaid, nonrefundable expenses if the tour operator goes out of business or you have to cancel the trip for one of the covered reasons outlined in the policy, such as:

Your own illness.

The illness or death of a family member who’s not traveling with you.

Natural disasters.

Trip interruption insurance covers the nonrefundable cost of the unused portion of the trip if it is interrupted due to a reason outlined in the policy.

Trip delay coverage reimburses you for expenses such as lodging and meals if you’re delayed during a trip (e.g., your flight gets canceled due to weather ).

Many package policies cover all three. These policies are different from the cancellation waivers that cruise lines and tour operators offer, the Insurance Information Institute says. Waivers are cheap, ranging from $40 to $60, and often include restrictions. For example, according to the institute, waivers might not refund your money if you cancel immediately before departure. Waivers are technically not insurance policies.

Some companies offer additional layers of coverage at extra cost. “Cancel For Any Reason” coverage will reimburse a large part of the trip cost, no matter why you back out. And some companies let you pay extra to cover pre-existing conditions if you cancel for medical reasons.

Some insurers and comparison sites let you customize a policy by choosing types of coverage a la carte. For example, TravelInsurance.com is a comparison site that provides quotes from different providers.

Baggage and personal belongings

How does lost luggage insurance work? This coverage reimburses you for baggage and personal belongings that are lost, stolen or damaged during the trip. Some plans also reimburse you for extra expenses if you experience a baggage delay for more than a certain period, such as 12 hours.

Your renters or homeowners insurance may cover personal belongings while you are traveling. It’s best to review your homeowners insurance policy to determine the level of coverage it provides so you do not end up paying for a benefit you already have.

» Learn more: Baggage insurance explained

Emergency medical assistance, evacuation and repatriation

This coverage pays medical expenses if you get sick or injured on a trip . Medical evacuation coverage pays for transporting you to the nearest hospital, and medical repatriation pays for flying you to your home country.

» Learn more: Can I get travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions?

24-hour assistance

This service is included with many package plans. The insurer provides a 24-hour hotline that you can call when you need help, such as booking a flight after a missed connection, finding lost luggage, or locating a doctor or lawyer.

Generally, travel insurance companies do not cover sports or any activity that can be deemed risky. If you’re thinking of incorporating adventurous activities into your vacation, choose a plan that includes adventure sports coverage.

Most travel insurers cover a wide array of services, but the specific options vary. Some plans include concierge services, providing help with restaurant referrals, tee time reservations and more. Many services also offer information before the trip, such as required vaccinations. The only way to know what’s included is to read the policy.

» Learn more: Should you insure your cruise?

Accidental death and dismemberment insurance

This coverage pays a lump sum to your beneficiary, such as a family member, if you die in an accident while on the trip. Accidental death and dismemberment insurance policies also pay a portion of the sum to you if you lose a hand, foot, limb, eyesight, speech or hearing. Some plans apply only to accidental death in a plane.

This coverage may be duplicative if you already have sufficient life insurance, which pays out whether you die in an accident or from an illness. You may also already have accidental death and dismemberment insurance through work, so it's best to check your policies to ensure you’re not overpaying.

» Learn more: NerdWallet's guide to life insurance

Rental car coverage

Rental car insurance pays for repairing your rental car if it’s damaged in a wreck, by vandals or in a natural disaster. The coverage doesn't include liability insurance, which pays for damage to other vehicles or for the medical treatment of others if you cause an accident and are held responsible.

Ask your car insurance company whether your policy will cover you when renting cars on the trip. U.S. car insurance policies generally don’t cover you when driving in other countries, except Canada.

Car insurance requirements are complex because they vary among countries. You can usually purchase liability insurance from the rental car company. Learn about car insurance requirements by searching for auto insurance by country on the U.S. Embassy website .

» Learn more: Best credit cards for rental car coverage

A note about single vs. long-term policies

Single trip insurance plans are a great option for those going on a single trip for a specific length of time (e.g., a two-week vacation) and then returning home. The price of the policy is usually determined by the cost of the trip.

Long-term travel policies cover you for multiple trips, but there are limitations to how long you can be away from home, if you can return home during your travels and how many trips you can take. In addition, trip cancellation and interruption coverage is either not offered or capped at a dollar amount that can be significantly below the total cost of all the trips taken during the covered period.

Long-term travel insurance plans — often called 'multi-trip' or 'annual travel insurance' — are a suitable option for those who travel often and are satisfied with the amount of trip cancellation coverage for all the trips they take over the duration of the policy.

» Learn more: How annual (multi-trip) travel insurance works

Below, we include how to obtain travel insurance, along with the pros and cons of each option.

Some credit cards offer trip cancellation and rental car insurance if you use the card to book the trip or car.

When you book a trip with your credit card, depending on the card you use, you may already receive trip cancellation and interruption coverage.

» Learn more: 10 credit cards that provide travel insurance

Here are a handful of credit cards that offer varying levels of travel insurance coverage for purchases made with the card.

on Chase's website

on American Express' website

• Trip delay: Up to $500 per ticket for delays more than 12 hours.

• Trip cancellation: Up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip. Maximum benefit of $40,000 per 12-month period.

• Trip interruption: Up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip. Maximum benefit of $40,000 per 12-month period.

• Baggage delay: Up to $100 per day for five days.

• Lost luggage: Up to $3,000 per passenger.

• Travel accident: Up to $500,000.

• Rental car insurance: Up to $75,000.

• Trip delay: Up to $500 per ticket for delays more than 6 hours.

• Travel accident: Up to $1 million.

• Rental car insurance: Up to the actual cash value of the car.

• Trip delay: Up to $500 per trip for delays more than 6 hours.

• Trip cancellation: Up to $10,000 per trip. Maximum benefit of $20,000 per 12-month period.

• Trip interruption: Up to $10,000 per trip. Maximum benefit of $20,000 per 12-month period.

Terms apply.

Pros: Coverage is free.

Cons: You can’t customize the insurance to meet your needs. Most credit cards offer secondary car rental insurance, which pays for the costs not covered by your regular car insurance plan.

Travel agents and travel reservation sites

You can buy travel insurance when you book your flight, hotel and car rental.

Pros: Buying is as quick and easy as clicking “yes” when you book reservations. Coverage is inexpensive.

Cons: You can’t customize the coverage.

» Learn more: Airline travel insurance vs. independent travel insurance

Travel insurance comparison sites

You can compare different policies and review quotes at once based on the trip search criteria you’ve input into the search form. Examples include marketplaces like Squaremouth or TravelInsurance.com.

Pros: You can choose a policy that fits your needs and compare policies and pricing in one place.

Cons: Comparing multiple policies takes time.

Travel insurance companies

You can purchase travel insurance directly from an insurance provider.

Pros: You can choose a policy that fits your needs. Many travel insurer websites also offer information to help you understand the coverage.

Cons: You’ll need to go to multiple websites to compare coverage and pricing.

» Learn more: The best travel insurance companies right now

Keep these tips in mind when you’re considering a trip insurance policy.

Evaluate the financial risks you face when traveling. Can you bear those costs yourself, or do you want insurance?

Examine what coverage you already have: Does your credit card offer travel insurance? Do you have renters or homeowners insurance to cover belongings? What is the deductible? Will your health plan cover you in all the locations where you travel?

Get quotes for trip insurance online. Choose a package of the benefits you need and compare prices for similar coverage among carriers.

Narrow your choices and then read the policy fine print to understand what’s covered, what’s excluded and the limits on coverage. You may find that the lowest-priced policy is too restrictive and that paying a little more gets you the coverage you need. Or you might find that the cheapest, most basic policy fits the bill.

If you don’t know which provider to go with, it makes sense to browse a list of plans on a travel insurance comparison site. These online marketplaces will often include plans from the best travel insurance companies along with customer reviews.

Squaremouth

Compare plans from more than 30 providers.

Over 86,000 customer reviews of insurers.

Under its Zero Complaint Guarantee, Squaremouth (a NerdWallet partner) will remove a provider if any customer complaint isn't resolved to its satisfaction.

Has a filter option to see policies that provide COVID-coverage.

TravelInsurance.com

Compare plans from 13 providers.

See good and poor customer ratings and reviews for each insurer when you receive quotes.

“Learning Center” includes travel insurance articles and travel tips, including important how-to information.

Quotes provided from each provider include a link to COVID-19 FAQs, making it easy for customers to review what’s covered or not.

InsureMyTrip

Compare plans from more than two dozen providers.

More than 70,000 customer reviews.

“Anytime Advocates” help customers navigate the claim process and will work on behalf of the customer to help with appealing a denied claim.

Includes a link to plans that offer COVID coverage.

Compare plans from 11 providers.

Search coverage by sporting activity, including ground, air and water sports.

Many types of plans available for students, visiting family members, new immigrants, those seeking COVID quarantine coverage and more.

Compare different insurance plans from 35 providers.

Over 5,600 customer reviews on Trustpilot, with an average 4.9 stars out of five.

Formerly known as AardvarkCompare, AARDY includes a “Travel Insurance 101” learning center to help customers understand various policies and benefits.

Quote search results page includes COVID-coverage highlighted in a different color to make it easier for customers to review related limits.

Whether you’re looking for an international travel insurance plan, emergency medical care, COVID coverage or a policy that includes extreme sports, these providers have you covered.

Our full analysis and more details about each organization can be found here: The Best Travel Insurance Companies Today .

Allianz Global Assistance .

Travel Guard by AIG .

USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services .

Travel Insured International .

World Nomads .

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection .

Travelex Insurance Services .

Seven Corners .

AXA Assistance USA .

There are a few scenarios when spending extra on travel insurance doesn't really make sense, like:

You booked flexible airline tickets.

Your hotel room has a good cancellation policy.

It's already included in your credit card.

You haven't booked any nonrefundable activities.

» Learn more: When you don't need travel insurance

Yes, especially for nonrefundable trips and travel during the COVID-era. Whether you purchase a comprehensive travel insurance policy or have travel insurance from your credit card, you shouldn't travel without having some sort of travel protection in place to safeguard you and your trip. Travel insurance can protect you in case of an unexpected emergency such as a canceled flight due to weather, a medical event that requires hospitalization, lost luggage and more.

There are many good travel insurance policies out there and a policy that may be great for you may not be good for someone else. Selecting the best plan depends on what coverage you would like and your trip details.

For example, World Nomads offers a comprehensive travel insurance policy that has excellent coverage for adventure sports. Allianz provides coverage for trips of varying lengths of time through its single trip plans and multi-trip plans. Some providers offer add-on options like Cancel For Any Reason travel insurance. If you’re not sure which plan to go with, consider looking at trip insurance comparison sites like Squaremouth or Insuremytrip.

Yes, you can. However, it's better to purchase it sooner rather than later, ideally right after booking your trip because the benefits begin as soon as you purchase a policy.

Let’s say you’re going on a trip in a month and a week before departure, you fall and break your leg. If you’ve purchased a travel insurance policy, you can use your trip cancellation benefits to get your nonrefundable deposit back.

Most comprehensive travel insurance plans offer trip cancellation, trip interruption, emergency medical and dental, medical evacuation, trip delay and lost luggage coverage. Many plans offer COVID coverage, but you’ll always want to check to ensure that the policy you choose provides that benefit if you’re traveling during these times. Some plans may also allow you to add features like Cancel For Any Reason travel insurance.

It depends which credit card you have. Premium travel cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and The Platinum Card® from American Express offer travel insurance benefits if you book a trip using your card or points.

However, the coverage provided by the credit cards is usually lower than if you purchased a standalone policy. Review the travel insurance benefits on your credit card and check that the limits are adequate before foregoing from purchasing a separate plan.

Let’s say you’re going on a trip in a month and a week before departure, you fall and break your leg. If you’ve purchased a travel insurance policy, you can use your

trip cancellation benefits

to get your nonrefundable deposit back.

It depends which credit card you have. Premium travel cards like the

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

The Platinum Card® from American Express

offer travel insurance benefits if you book a trip using your card or points.

Unpredictability is one of the mind-opening joys of travel, but travel insurance should contain no surprises. The time you spend to understand your options will be well worth the peace of mind as you embark on your next adventure.

Whether you’re seeking a single or a long-term policy, each travel insurance option offers different strengths and weaknesses. Choosing the right policy depends on your trip needs, your budget and how important various benefits are to you.

Keep reading

If you want to dig in deeper to world of travel insurance, these resources will point you in the right direction.

What is travel insurance?

How much is travel insurance?

Is travel insurance worth it?

What does travel insurance cover?

Does travel insurance cover COVID?

Insurance Benefit: Trip Delay Insurance

Up to $500 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.

Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Insurance Benefit: Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance

The maximum benefit amount for Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is $10,000 per Covered Trip and $20,000 per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.

Insurance Benefit: Baggage Insurance Plan

Baggage Insurance Plan coverage can be in effect for Covered Persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a Common Carrier Vehicle (e.g., plane, train, ship, or bus) when the Entire Fare for a ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an Eligible Card. Coverage can be provided for up to $2,000 for checked Baggage and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier. The coverage is also subject to a $3,000 aggregate limit per Covered Trip. For New York State residents, there is a $2,000 per bag/suitcase limit for each Covered Person with a $10,000 aggregate maximum for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip.

Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Insurance Benefit: Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance

Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply.

Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

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

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. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

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.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

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.

50,000 Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.