separate tickets travel insurance

Do I Need Travel Insurance for Flights? And Should I Buy Separate Insurance for Each Part of My Trip?

• Car Insurance
• Health Insurance
• Homeowners Insurance
• Life Insurance

Planning a trip involves lots of unknowns and unpredictability including weather, family emergencies, job requirements and more. No one wants to save all year for a vacation only to have to cancel — much less lose every dollar you’ve spent in the process.

That’s where travel insurance comes into play.

But what does travel insurance cover, exactly? Do you need travel insurance for flights? And should you secure multiple policies for different portions of your trip?

That’s what a listener of the  Clark Howard Podcast  recently asked.

Do I Need Travel Insurance for Flights?

Should I get travel insurance for my flights? And do I need to buy separate trip insurance for each piece of my trip?

That’s what a listener asked on the Aug. 22 podcast episode .

Asked Sue in Wisconsin: “We are planning to book a tour to Ireland. If we pay with our Chase Preferred card for the tour and book airfare separately, does Clark recommend we buy separate travel insurance for the tour portion of our trip?”

Let’s start with the plane tickets first. They’re often the most expensive part of a big trip along with the hotel room(s). Fortunately, the way that airlines are set up now, you probably don’t need coverage for your flights.

“With airfare, you usually don’t need travel insurance. And you notice when you go to book airfare on most any airline, they’re now pushing you to buy insurance for that flight,” Clark says. “But remember, with airlines now, in most cases, you don’t pay a penalty if you need to cancel. It’s just like you have gift certificate money moving forward. “So you don’t want to insure an airline ticket unless you look at it as a once-in-a-lifetime trip and you’d never have an opportunity to use the money again.”

Should I Book Separate Travel Insurance Policies for Separate Portions of My Trip?

In most cases, Clark prefers that you buy separate trip insurance policies for each aspect of the trip. Although there may be an occasional exception.

“I would want you to buy separately for each aspect unless a trip policy would easily cover both events,” Clark says. “I like it to be linear. That you have one for the flight, if you buy a policy, and a second definitely for the tour.”

Clark also warned that trip insurance is notorious for finding reasons not to pay out a policy. So you should strongly consider adding a “cancel for any reason” rider to the policy.

“If there was an unexpected event like terrorism or something like that, that would make you not want to take the trip, know that the trip insurance is not going to cover that,” Clark says.

“The only way you cover that is if you add on a rider that includes cancel for any reason . You pay more for the trip insurance if you do that. But the cancel for any reason usually will pay you back 50 to 75%, depending on the policy, of the money you paid in.

“They have to have some amount that you lose. Otherwise, people would just flippantly cancel the trip.

“But I hear from so many people who have reasons the insurance claim is denied. And they lose all the money. But if they paid more for the unexpected, you’d get back, again, 50 to 75% of the money.”

Final Thoughts

Clark recommends against buying travel insurance for flights in 2023. But he does think it’s a good idea for certain types of trips — especially if you pay extra for the “cancel for any reason” policies.

Our Daily Newsletter

Join more than 330,000 people who get our must-have money tips every day

Watch / Listen

Check out our top-rated money podcast.

Need money help? Call us for free advice . You can also email us .

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 .

• Auto Insurance Best Car Insurance Cheapest Car Insurance Compare Car Insurance Quotes Best Car Insurance For Young Drivers Best Auto & Home Bundles Cheapest Cars To Insure
• Home Insurance Best Home Insurance Best Renters Insurance Cheapest Homeowners Insurance Types Of Homeowners Insurance
• Life Insurance Best Life Insurance Best Term Life Insurance Best Senior Life Insurance Best Whole Life Insurance Best No Exam Life Insurance
• Pet Insurance Best Pet Insurance Cheap Pet Insurance Pet Insurance Costs Compare Pet Insurance Quotes
• Travel Insurance Best Travel Insurance Cancel For Any Reason Travel Insurance Best Cruise Travel Insurance Best Senior Travel Insurance
• Health Insurance Best Health Insurance Plans Best Affordable Health Insurance Best Dental Insurance Best Vision Insurance Best Disability Insurance
• Credit Cards Best Credit Cards 2024 Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards Best Rewards Credit Cards Best Cash Back Credit Cards Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards Best 0% APR Credit Cards Best Business Credit Cards Best Credit Cards for Startups Best Credit Cards For Bad Credit Best Cards for Students without Credit
• Credit Card Reviews Chase Sapphire Preferred Wells Fargo Active Cash® Chase Sapphire Reserve Citi Double Cash Citi Diamond Preferred Chase Ink Business Unlimited American Express Blue Business Plus
• Credit Card by Issuer Best Chase Credit Cards Best American Express Credit Cards Best Bank of America Credit Cards Best Visa Credit Cards
• Credit Score Best Credit Monitoring Services Best Identity Theft Protection
• CDs Best CD Rates Best No Penalty CDs Best Jumbo CD Rates Best 3 Month CD Rates Best 6 Month CD Rates Best 9 Month CD Rates Best 1 Year CD Rates Best 2 Year CD Rates Best 5 Year CD Rates
• Checking Best High-Yield Checking Accounts Best Checking Accounts Best No Fee Checking Accounts Best Teen Checking Accounts Best Student Checking Accounts Best Joint Checking Accounts Best Business Checking Accounts Best Free Checking Accounts
• Savings Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Best Free No-Fee Savings Accounts Simple Savings Calculator Monthly Budget Calculator: 50/30/20
• Mortgages Best Mortgage Lenders Best Online Mortgage Lenders Current Mortgage Rates Best HELOC Rates Best Mortgage Refinance Lenders Best Home Equity Loan Lenders Best VA Mortgage Lenders Mortgage Refinance Rates Mortgage Interest Rate Forecast
• Personal Loans Best Personal Loans Best Debt Consolidation Loans Best Emergency Loans Best Home Improvement Loans Best Bad Credit Loans Best Installment Loans For Bad Credit Best Personal Loans For Fair Credit Best Low Interest Personal Loans
• Student Loans Best Student Loans Best Student Loan Refinance Best Student Loans for Bad or No Credit Best Low-Interest Student Loans
• Business Loans Best Business Loans Best Business Lines of Credit Apply For A Business Loan Business Loan vs. Business Line Of Credit What Is An SBA Loan?
• Investing Best Online Brokers Top 10 Cryptocurrencies Best Low-Risk Investments Best Cheap Stocks To Buy Now Best S&P 500 Index Funds Best Stocks For Beginners How To Make Money From Investing In Stocks
• Retirement Best Roth IRAs Best Gold IRAs Best Investments for a Roth IRA Best Bitcoin IRAs Protecting Your 401(k) In a Recession Types of IRAs Roth vs Traditional IRA How To Open A Roth IRA
• Business Formation Best LLC Services Best Registered Agent Services How To Start An LLC How To Start A Business
• Web Design & Hosting Best Website Builders Best E-commerce Platforms Best Domain Registrar
• HR & Payroll Best Payroll Software Best HR Software Best HRIS Systems Best Recruiting Software Best Applicant Tracking Systems
• Payment Processing Best Credit Card Processing Companies Best POS Systems Best Merchant Services Best Credit Card Readers How To Accept Credit Cards
• More Business Solutions Best VPNs Best VoIP Services Best Project Management Software Best CRM Software Best Accounting Software
• Debt relief Best debt management Best debt settlement Do you need a debt management plan? What is debt settlement? Debt consolidation vs. debt settlement Should you settle your debt or pay in full? How to negotiate a debt settlement on your own
• Debt collection Can a debt collector garnish my bank account or my wages? Can credit card companies garnish your wages? What is the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act?
• Bankruptcy How much does it cost to file for bankruptcy? What is Chapter 7 bankruptcy? What is Chapter 13 bankruptcy? Can medical bankruptcy help with medical bills?
• More payoff strategies Tips to get rid of your debt in a year Don't make these mistakes when climbing out of debt How credit counseling can help you get out of debt What is the debt avalanche method? What is the debt snowball method?
• Manage Topics
• Investigations
• Visual Explainers
• Newsletters
• Abortion news
• Climate Change
• Corrections Policy
• Sports Betting
• Coach Salaries
• College Basketball (M)
• College Basketball (W)
• College Football
• Concacaf Champions Cup
• For The Win
• High School Sports
• H.S. Sports Awards
• Scores + Odds
• Sports Pulse
• Sports Seriously
• Women's Sports
• Youth Sports
• Celebrities
• Entertainment This!
• Celebrity Deaths
• Policing the USA
• Women of the Century
• Problem Solved
• Personal Finance
• Consumer Recalls
• Video Games
• Product Reviews
• Home Internet
• Destinations
• Airline News
• Experience America
• Great American Vacation
• Ingrid Jacques
• Nicole Russell
• Meet the Opinion team
• How to Submit
• Obituaries Obituaries
• Contributor Content Contributor Content

Personal Loans

Best personal loans

Auto Insurance

Best car insurance

Best high-yield savings

CREDIT CARDS

Best credit cards

Advertiser Disclosure

Blueprint is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service focused on helping readers make smarter decisions. We receive compensation from the companies that advertise on Blueprint which may impact how and where products appear on this site. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impact any of the editorial content on Blueprint. Blueprint does not include all companies, products or offers that may be available to you within the market. A list of selected affiliate partners is available here .

Travel insurance

Best travel insurance companies of June 2024

Amy Fontinelle

Heidi Gollub

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

Updated 2:16 p.m. UTC June 7, 2024

• path]:fill-[#49619B]" alt="Facebook" width="18" height="18" viewBox="0 0 18 18" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
• path]:fill-[#202020]" alt="Email" width="19" height="14" viewBox="0 0 19 14" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">

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.
• 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.

• 1,855 coverage details evaluated.
• 567 rates reviewed.
• 5 levels of fact-checking.

Travel insurance quotes comparison

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 expense and for baggage damage or loss. This means the insurer will pay for your claim first and then seek recovery from any responsible third party, such as your health insurance provider, airline or homeowners insurance company (if your belongings are stolen). Travel insurance with secondary medical coverage might be cheaper, but then you’d have to file claims with third parties yourself, before you could turn to your travel insurance for help.” 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.
• Most expensive of our best-rated travel insurance plans.
• 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 miss out on prepaid vacation plans because you didn’t make a connecting flight, you’ll be glad for the $2,500 missed connection coverage. Some policies only provide missed connection coverage for cruises and tours, but TravelSafe Classic doesn’t impose that restriction.” 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 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, a Travelex policy will cover them, too. The number of children you can add to your 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: “This plan 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 company first. Since U.S. health insurance won’t help you at sea, you may want to 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 conditions 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 April 28 to May 28, 2024.

Methodology

Our insurance experts reviewed 1,855 coverage details and 567 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. 

The best time to buy travel insurance is immediately after booking your trip and making a nonrefundable payment — in other words, as soon as you’re at risk of losing money. This way, you’ll know the total cost that you need to insure and you’ll have the longest window to take advantage of your policy’s benefits if something goes wrong.

You can’t wait until something goes wrong and then buy travel insurance to get reimbursed for your loss. Travel insurance only covers unexpected losses.

Travel insurance companies can decline to cover travel to certain countries. For example, you may find that some trip insurance companies don’t offer coverage to countries with a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory from the U.S. State Department. 

Travel insurance policies also frequently exclude certain risks that you’re more likely to encounter in Level 4 or Level 3 countries. For example, your policy may not cover losses related to declared or undeclared wars or acts of war or losses related to known or foreseeable conditions or events. 

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.

Cruise travel insurance can help protect you financially if you need emergency medical care in a remote location, or if a delayed flight causes you to miss embarkation and you need to pay extra to catch up to your cruise.

Experts caution that travel insurance you buy through a cruise line may not be as comprehensive as plans you can buy directly from travel insurance companies.

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.

Travel insurance may be required, depending on the country you plan to visit. But it’s smart to consider buying a travel insurance policy for international travel, even when it is not required. A good travel insurance policy can protect you financially if you need emergency medical assistance when traveling, or if you need to cut your trip short and buy a last-minute plane ticket home because an immediate family member is ill. 

Wondering if travel insurance is worth it? What travel insurance covers

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.

10 worst US airports for flight cancellations this week

Travel insurance Heidi Gollub

10 worst US airports for flight cancellations last week

Our travel insurance ratings methodology

AXA Assistance USA travel insurance review 2024

Travel insurance Jennifer Simonson

Cheapest travel insurance of June 2024

Travel insurance Mandy Sleight

Average flight costs: Travel, airfare and flight statistics 2024

Travel insurance Timothy Moore

John Hancock travel insurance review 2024

HTH Worldwide travel insurance review 2024

Airfare at major airports is up 29% since 2021

USI Affinity travel insurance review 2024

Trawick International travel insurance review 2024

Travel insurance for Canada

Travelex travel insurance review 2024

Best travel insurance for a Disney World vacation in 2024

World Nomads travel insurance review 2024

June 1, 2020

Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with travel dates on or after

Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with effective start dates on or after

Ukraine; Belarus; Moldova; North Korea; Russia; Israel

This is a test environment. Please proceed to AllianzTravelInsurance.com and remove all bookmarks or references to this site.

Use this tool to calculate all purchases like ski-lift passes, show tickets, or even rental equipment.

How Does Travel Insurance Cover Your Travel Companion? 

Get a Quote

{{travelBanText}} {{travelBanDateFormatted}}.

{{annualTravelBanText}} {{travelBanDateFormatted}}.

If your trip involves multiple destinations, please enter the destination where you’ll be spending the most time. It is not required to list all destinations on your policy.

Age of Traveler

Ages: {{quote.travelers_ages}}

If you were referred by a travel agent, enter the ACCAM number provided by your agent.

Travel Dates

{{quote.travel_dates ? quote.travel_dates : "Departure - Return" | formatDates}}

Plan Start Date

{{quote.start_date ? quote.start_date : "Date"}}

Share this Page

• {{errorMsgSendSocialEmail}}

Your browser does not support iframes.

Popular Travel Insurance Plans

• Annual Travel Insurance
• Cruise Insurance
• Domestic Travel Insurance
• International Travel Insurance
• Rental Car Insurance

View all of our travel insurance products

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

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

Return To Log In

Your session has expired. We are redirecting you to our sign-in page.

Get Daily Travel Tips & Deals!

By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use .

Does Travel Insurance Cover a Missed Connection Involving Two Airlines?

A nationally recognized reporter, writer, and consumer advocate, Ed Perkins focuses on how travelers can find the best deals and avoid scams.

He is the author of "Online Travel" (2000) and "Business Travel: When It's Your Money" (2004), the first step-by-step guide specifically written for small business and self-employed professional travelers. He was also the co-author of the annual "Best Travel Deals" series from Consumers Union.

Perkins' advice for business travelers is featured on MyBusinessTravel.com , a website devoted to helping small business and self-employed professional travelers find the best value for their travel dollars.

Perkins was founding editor of Consumer Reports Travel Letter, one of the country's most influential travel publications, from which he retired in 1998. He has also written for Business Traveller magazine (London).

Perkins' travel expertise has led to frequent television appearances, including ABC's "Good Morning America" and "This Week with David Brinkley," "The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather," CNN, and numerous local TV and radio stations.

Before editing Consumer Reports Travel Letter, Perkins spent 25 years in travel research and consulting with assignments ranging from national tourism development strategies to the design of computer-based tourism models.

Born in Evanston, Illinois, Perkins lives in Ashland, Oregon with his wife.

Travel Smarter! Sign up for our free newsletter.

Despite all the technical advances, air travel remains subject to occasional sudden delays, a situation not likely to change very fast. And unless you get a single flight from your starting point to your final destination, delays of more than a few minutes can sometimes cause you to miss a connecting flight . But there are some conditions that can complicate things.

A reader once asked, for example, if it’s smart to buy the cheapest fare when it’s two separate tickets on two different airlines:

“If I buy two separate tickets, on two different airlines, and the first flight arrives too late to make my connection, would travel insurance cover the costs of re-arranging my trip?”

The short answer: It’s unlikely. While no insurance companies seem to specifically cover this kind of missed connection, some policy protections could apply. Here’s what you need to know.

The Two-Ticket Problem

Let’s say that, on a connecting itinerary, your first flight is delayed so much that you miss your connection. On a through ticket, you’d have no problem—your connecting airline would put you on the next available flight without added charge. And, depending on the circumstances, one of the airlines might even pick up the tab for meals or an overnight accommodation.

But if you have two separate tickets on two different airlines, neither airlines is responsible for the other’s delay, and therefore not responsible for rebooking you. Over the years, I’ve heard from quite a few readers who faced such a problem. Yet as the airline system continues to fragment, it’s more likely than ever to find that the lowest airfare is two separate tickets.

Unfortunately, for various reasons, several important airlines do not interline and write through tickets with any others, or they may interline with only one or two other lines. That includes airlines carrying significant numbers of travelers both in the U.S. (Southwest) and Europe (Ryanair and EasyJet), along with such smaller lines as Allegiant, Frontier, Spirit, and many, smaller European and Asian lines. If you want to connect to or from these lines, you’ll have to buy two tickets.

Nor can you count on the airline that caused the delay to help you, either. Contracts specifically say that an airline isn’t responsible for scheduled arrival or bears no financial liability for any loss you suffer because of a late arrival.

Does Insurance Help?

Travel insurance companies haven’t yet developed a standard “solution” to missed two-ticket connections. QuoteWright , a leading online travel insurance agency, confirmed as much.

Typically, travel insurance policies cover missed connections under either “interruption” or “delay.” But policies differ in their definitions and limitations on which “perils” apply. Some policies kick in only if the delay extends more than a set period, anywhere from a few hours to as much as 12 hours.

Some bundled-package policies include a separate “missed connection” benefit, but that benefit is, at best, problematic in the case of a missed two-airline connection. Many of those policies specifically limit the missed connection benefit to missed cruise departures. And dollar limits can be as low as $250. According to QuoteWright, insurance companies adopted special missed connection coverage as a way to limit liability under the broader interruption or delay coverages.

Policies that do cover airline-to-airline connections limit application to connections that adhere to the minimum “legal connection times,” an obviously meaningless concept in two-ticket connections.

All in all, as far as I can tell, missed airline-to-airline connection coverage is a coverage that the insurance industry has largely missed.

Defending Yourself

When one-ticket travel doesn’t work, you can protect yourself, at least some of the time:

• Never book separate-ticket connections with less than a three-hour connecting time. Two-ticket trips can require reclaiming and rechecking your baggage, at a minimum. At worst, you may also have to exit and re-enter security at different terminal buildings.
• Buy insurance, but buy a policy that (1) has a broad coverage of interruption, delay, or missed connections, and (2) provides a benefit high enough to pay for a replacement ticket and possibly an overnight stay at your connecting airport.
• Even though you may look at insurance options and prices through an online agency, before you buy, speak with an agent—or exchange emails with an agent—who can confirm that the insurance provides coverage for your specific itinerary.

Clearly, the added risks are sufficiently great that you shouldn’t buy a two-ticket itinerary unless the cost difference between that and a through-ticket itinerary is excessive, or unless you just can’t buy a single-ticket trip. And if you have to buy two tickets, pad your schedule accordingly.

More from SmarterTravel:

• Tight Airport Connections: What You Need to Know About Making a Connecting Flight
• The Worst Cities for an Airport Connection, If You Want to Make Your Flight
• 10 Tips for Tight Airport Connections

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2010. It has been updated to reflect the most up to date information.

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

Top Fares From

Don't see a fare you like? View all flight deals from your city.

Today's top travel deals.

Brought to you by ShermansTravel

Southwest Ireland: 8-Night Trip, Incl. Guinness...

Specialized Travel Services

Luxe, 7-Night Caribbean & Mexico Cruise...

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Ohio: Daily Car Rentals from Cincinnati

Trending on SmarterTravel

• Compare the Best Credit Cards With Travel Insurance
• Best for Trip Delay Insurance
• Best for Rental Car Insurance
• Best for Trip Cancellation and Interruption
• Best for Lost Luggage Reimbursement
• Best for Travel Accident Insurance
• Best for Emergency Evacuation Coverage
• Why You Should Trust Us

The Best Credit Cards With Travel Insurance in 2024

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

The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.

A credit card's travel insurance feature may not sound as exciting as a 100,000-point sign-up bonus or a high earning rate on everyday spending — but when you find yourself in a bind, it can be significantly more valuable.

Here's everything you need to know about credit card travel insurance, along with the best credit cards offering the most comprehensive coverage.

Compare Credit Cards With Travel Insurance

Best credit cards for trip delay insurance.

Earn 5x 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 & 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

22.49% - 29.49% Variable

Earn 60,000 bonus points

Good to Excellent

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Annual travel credit can effectively shave $300 off the annual fee if you use it
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Strong travel insurance
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Strong bonus rewards on travel and dining
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Very high annual fee

If you're new to rewards credit cards you may want to start elsewhere, but if you know you want to earn Chase points and you spend a lot on travel and dining, the Sapphire Reserve is one of the most rewarding options.

• 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℠.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• 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
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Member FDIC

Earn unlimited 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2 miles on all other purchases.

19.99% - 29.99% variable

Earn 75,000 bonus miles

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Excellent welcome bonus and miles earning
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Premium perks including airport lounge access and credits for certain purchases
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Visa Infinite benefits including travel and shopping protections
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. High annual fee
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Annual travel credits only apply to Capital One Travel purchases

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is one of the best credit cards for frequent travelers, with top-notch benefits and a wide range of built-in protections. It comes with a generous welcome bonus and credits that can help offset the annual fee — which is much lower than similar premium cards.

• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
• Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®

Earn 1-5x points on purchases

21.24% - 28.24% Variable

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Substantial welcome bonus and great earning opportunities, especially with mobile wallets
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. $325 annual travel and dining credit can offset most of the $400 annual fee
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Top-notch travel insurance and protections
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. You must have an existing relationship with US Bank to be approved
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Limited to a 12-month complimentary Priority Pass membership with only four free visits for cardholder (plus a guest) included
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. No airline or hotel transfer partners

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card is a premium credit card with benefits that have no trouble offsetting the annual fee. One of its most unique (and valuable) qualities is its ability to earn 3x points on all purchases made through a mobile wallet, so if you use payment methods like Apple Pay or Samsung Pay, you'll have no problem accruing points in a hurry.

• The information related to the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card has been collected by Business Insider and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
• Earn 50,000 points worth $750 on travel after spending $4,500 in the first 90 days of account opening
• Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards
• Earn 3X points for every $1 on eligible travel purchases and mobile wallet
• Earn 1X point per $1 spent on all other eligible net purchases
• Use your mobile device to instantly redeem points for almost any purchase

Best Credit Cards for Rental Car Insurance

Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year) and on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1X Points on other purchases.

See Pay Over Time APR

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Long list of travel benefits, including airport lounge access and complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required)
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Annual statement credits with Saks and Uber
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Bonus categories leave something to be desired
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. One of the highest annual fees among premium travel cards

If you want as many premium travel perks as possible, The Platinum Card® from American Express could be the right card for you. The annual fee is high, but you get a long list of benefits such as airport lounge access, travel statement credits, complimentary hotel elite status, and more.

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck® official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Best Credit Cards for Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance

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

21.49% - 28.49% Variable

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. High intro bonus offer starts you off with lots of points
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Strong travel coverage
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Doesn't offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit

If you're new to travel rewards credit cards or just don't want to pay hundreds in annual fees, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a smart choice. It earns bonus points on a wide variety of travel and dining purchases and offers strong travel and purchase coverage, including primary car rental insurance.

• 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℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 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, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.

Best Credit Cards for Lost Luggage Reimbursement

Best credit cards for travel accident insurance.

Earn up to 14X total points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Earn 2X points for every $1 spent on other travel purchases (from airfare to taxis and trains). Earn 1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

Earn 30,000 bonus points

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No annual fee
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Cardholders get 15 elite night credits toward status
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Only offers strong rewards for Marriott purchases

The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card comes with an increased limited-time welcome bonus and good perks for a no-annual-fee card, but unless paying an annual fee is a dealbreaker for you, other Marriott cards — like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card , Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, or Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card — are a better deal.

Best Credit Cards for Emergency Evacuation Coverage

Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases. Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel and dining. Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.

21.99% - 28.99% Variable

Earn 90,000 bonus miles

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Great intro bonus offer
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. If you want United Club membership, this card gets you it for less than buying it outright
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Get two free checked bags on United
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Earns 4x miles on United® purchases
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Steep annual fee, especially for an airline credit card
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. The non-United bonus categories (travel and dining) only earn 2x miles

While a few of the best travel credit cards are great for United flyers, the United Club℠ Infinite Card is the most high-end of the bunch. Not only does it offer a full United Club airport lounge membership, but it can also help you rack up the miles for free trips quickly through everyday spending.

• Limited-time offer: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after qualifying purchases
• Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
• Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel and dining
• Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $360 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and Premier Access® travel services
• 10% United Economy Saver Award discount within the continental U.S. and Canada
• Earn up to 10,000 Premier qualifying points per calendar year (25 PQP for every $500 you spend on purchases)

Best Credit Cards With Trip Delay Insurance

Trip delay insurance covers you (and often family members traveling with you) for expenses like meals, transportation, lodging, medication, and toiletries. For example, if your flight is delayed by more than six hours, your card may reimburse you up to $500 in "reasonable expenses" such as:

• An Uber or taxi from the airport to a hotel
• A one-night hotel reservation
• Dinner at a nearby restaurant

I've used this benefit a handful of times, and it's saved me hundreds. Just note that you must use your qualifying card to pay for your fare — even if that means simply paying taxes and fees on an award flight.

Trip delay insurance applies to more than just flights. You're eligible for coverage whenever you book a "common carrier" — defined as "any land, water, or air conveyance that operates under a valid license to transport passengers for hire and requires purchasing a ticket before travel begins." As long as it's not a taxi, limo, commuter rail, bus, or rental car, you're likely covered.

Below are the top three credit cards for trip delay insurance. Even if you don't travel regularly, you should be using one of these cards to reserve your travel, because trip delay insurance will come in handy sooner or later.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the gold standard of trip delay insurance. After just six hours of delay — or any delay that requires an overnight stay — you're eligible for up to $500 in covered expenses per ticket. You and those traveling with you (a spouse and dependent children under 22) are covered.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve charges a $550 annual fee, but it also comes with valuable travel benefits such as:

• Up to $300 in annual travel credits (offsets the first $300 in travel you purchase each year with the card)
• Airport lounge access (Priority Pass Select, Chase Sapphire lounges , and the Chase Sapphire Terrace at Austin airport )
• Up to $100 NEXUS, Global Entry, or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
• Complimentary two-year Lyft Pink All Access membership

You'll also earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. That's worth $1,080 in travel, based on Personal Finance Insider's valuation of Chase Ultimate Rewards® points at 1.8 cents each.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card Review

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is Capital One's first premium travel credit card . It's a Visa Infinite card (similar to the Chase Sapphire Reserve®), and benefits from extremely generous trip delay insurance***. You'll get up to $500 per ticket in covered expenses after a delay of six hours or more. Those eligible for this insurance are your spouse and dependent children under age 22.

The card has a welcome bonus offer of 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. That's worth $1,275 in travel, based on our valuation of Capital One miles. In addition, it also comes with travel perks like:

• $300 per year in credits toward Capital One Travel bookings
• Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, and Capital One airport lounge access
• 10,000-mile bonus each account anniversary
• Access to the Capital One Premier Collection luxury hotel booking program
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Review

U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card is another one of the few Visa Infinite cards on the market. As you'd expect, it's got excellent trip delay insurance. You'll receive up to $500 per ticket in coverage for expenses like meals and lodging (that aren't reimbursed by the airline or other "common carrier") when your trip is delayed more than six hours or requires an overnight stay.

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card comes with 50,000 points after you spend $4,500 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. These points are worth 1.5 cents each when you use them toward travel. That means this bonus is worth $750. You'll also get benefits like:

• Up to $325 in annual travel credits
• Up to $100 in statement credits toward Global Entry and TSA PreCheck
• Up to 30% discount on Audi on Demand (formerly Silvercar) rentals

U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Review

You might already know that most travel credit cards offer some form of rental car insurance. It's a great benefit because it can save users significant money in the case of damage or theft to your rental. Even by renting a car for just a few days, you could save $50+ by waiving the rental agency's in-house insurance CDW and instead covering your rental by paying with this card.

Two kinds of rental car insurance come with many popular cards:

• Secondary insurance — Offers coverage benefits that are secondary to your personal auto insurance policy. In the event of damage due to theft or collision, car renters still have to file a claim through their personal auto insurance policy, and the secondary insurance is there to cover a portion of leftover costs. So, although this is a nice perk, it doesn't ease the sting of having to report to your personal insurance — often with resultant premium hikes.
• Primary insurance — Coverage for loss or damage will be taken care of by the credit card company without you having to make a claim with your personal policy. In the long run, this could save a car renter significantly on both CDW and LDW, and it could help avoid raising premiums on their personal auto policy.

Primary rental car insurance is what you want. You must pay for the entire transaction with the credit card you'd be filing the insurance under. Some cards even require that renters book the entire trip on the card, so read the fine print carefully.

Primary insurance also generally doesn't include liability, damage to other cars, damage to personal property, personal bodily injury, or injury to others. See Personal Finance Insider's guide to liability car insurance for more details on this type of coverage.

Below are the top three credit cards for car rental insurance.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® comes with up to $75,000 for theft and collision for rental cars in the U.S. and abroad.

You'll be extra motivated to make this card your dedicated car rental payment method because it earns 10 points per dollar for this expense when reserving through the Chase Travel ℠ Portal . Personal Finance Insider estimates Chase points value to be 1.8 cents each when used for travel — so earning 10x points equates to an 18% return.

When booking outside the portal, you'll earn 3 points per dollar for travel including rental cars.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is another rewards-earning monster when it comes to car rentals. Not only will you receive primary rental car insurance***, but you'll earn 10 miles per dollar on rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel Portal . You'll earn 2 miles per dollar for travel booked outside the portal.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

The Platinum Card® from American Express doesn't offer primary rental car insurance by default. However, you can receive primary premium car rental protection for a flat rate between $15.95 and $24.95 per rental period (not per day). It's not free like the other insurances on this list, but premium rental car benefits may fit your situation better:

• You'll be covered for up to 42 consecutive days, whereas most other cards won't allow your rental to exceed 31 consecutive days.
• You're insured for up to $100,000 of primary coverage against damage or theft — a higher number than several other cards.

You can enroll your Amex Platinum and automatically be covered whenever you rent a car. You'll be charged this flat rate whenever you pay for a rental with your card.

This card has a $695 annual fee — but it also offers 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership. That's worth $1,440 in travel per our valuation of Amex points. You'll also find travel perks such as:

• Up to $200 in airline fee credits each calendar year**
• Up to $100 in Saks Fifth Avenue credits each calendar year**
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit ($100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or up to $85 statement credit every 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck®)
• $189 per year in credits for CLEAR® Plus membership**
• Up to $200 in annual credits toward prepaid hotel bookings through Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts or The Hotel Collection (minimum two-night stay)

American Express Platinum Card Review

Trip cancellation/interruption insurance protects you if you're no longer able to go on a covered trip or your covered trip is interrupted mid-travel for reasons such as:

• Your airline declared bankruptcy and cancels your flight
• One of your immediate family members dies
• There's a terrorist incident

This coverage will reimburse you for prepaid nonrefundable travel such as airfare, hotel stays, activities, etc. which you can't use (or finish). Additionally, you may be reimbursed for an unexpected flight back home.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® will reimburse you for up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses like plane tickets, hotel reservations, cruises, etc. Chase states that if your name is embossed on the card, you and your immediate family are all covered under this benefit. That means authorized users can utilize this benefit, as well as the primary cardholder.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card can reimburse you, your spouse, and your children up to $2,000 each for prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses like plane tickets, hotel bookings, etc. This is a significantly smaller per-person payout than the Chase Sapphire Reserve® — but there doesn't appear to be a hard cap on how much you can earn.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers a trip cancellation/interruption reimbursement of up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses like plane tickets, hotel reservations, and hotels. That's part of what makes both Chase Sapphire cards excellent options for travel insurance.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the single best beginner points credit card. Its annual fee is reasonable at $95 per year, and it manages to offer many similar travel protections as much more expensive credit cards.

In terms of return rates, this card earns:

• 5 points per dollar on Lyft rides through March 2025
• 5 points per dollar on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
• 3 points per dollar on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out 
• 3 points per dollar on select streaming services
• 3 points per dollar on online grocery purchases  (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
• 2 points per dollar on other travel 
• 1 point per dollar on everything else

You'll also receive perks like up to $50 in annual statement credits toward hotel stays booked through Chase and a 10% anniversary point bonus (based on the dollar amount you spend).

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is currently offering a welcome bonus of  60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. That's worth an average of $1,080 in travel, based on Personal Finance Insider's points and miles valuations.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Review

If your carry-on or checked baggage goes missing — or if the airline, cruise ship, or other common carrier damages your belongings, this coverage could reimburse you up to a specified amount. Card issuers tend to price your belongings as the lesser of the following:

• The original purchase price of your items
• The actual cash value of your items when they were lost
• The cost to replace those items

You must pay for your trip with an eligible card to be covered. Below are the three best credit cards for lost luggage reimbursement.

This card will give you up to $3,000 per person if you or an immediate family member check or carry on luggage that is damaged or lost.

If you or an immediate family member's check or carry-on luggage is damaged or lost, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card will cover you for the difference between the "value of the amount claimed" and the common carrier's compensation, up to $3,000 per covered trip.

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card provides up to $3,000 per person if you or an immediate family member check or carry on luggage that is damaged or lost — again, calculated by the difference between the "value of the amount claimed" and the common carrier's payment.

Ideally, you'll never find occasion to use any  credit card travel insurance. But this is the one to really hope will never come in handy.

Travel accident insurance covers you for things like dismemberment and death during your trip (most commonly, while you're riding as a passenger in, or entering/exiting, a licensed common carrier like an airplane or a cruise ship). Some of the best cards will pay up to $1 million. The payout you'll receive depends on the severity of the accident.

Generally, you'll get 100% of the benefit amount for things like:

• Loss of life
• Loss of speech and hearing
• Loss of speech/hearing and loss of a hand, foot, or sight from one eye
• Loss of sight in both eyes
• Loss of a combination of any two of a loss of hand, foot, or sight of one eye

You'll get 50% of the benefit amount for things like:

• Loss of one hand
• Loss of one foot
• Loss of sight in one eye
• Loss of speech
• Loss of hearing

You may also get 25% of the benefit amount for the loss of a thumb and index finger of the same hand. Credit card benefits vary by product and issuer, so be sure to read all the fine print.

Below are the top three credit cards for travel accident insurance. Remember, you must pay the entire cash portion of your travel with these cards to be covered.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the few cards that will give you up to $1 million of accidental death or dismemberment coverage under this benefit. That's double the coverage of most other cards. You'll get:

• $1 million for common carrier travel accident insurance
• $100,000 for 24-hour travel accident insurance

If your name is embossed on the card you've used to pay for your travel, you and your immediate family are covered.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is another (rare) card that will cover you for up to $1 million of accidental death or dismemberment insurance.

It does not appear that immediate family traveling with you will receive this benefit — so while the potential payout is the best in the game, you may want to opt for a smaller benefit amount with more widespread coverage.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card incurs no annual fee, yet offers travel accident insurance with some of the best cards on the market. You'll get up to $500,000 in coverage:

• $500,000 for common carrier travel accident insurance

With this card, you'll earn: 

• 3x points* at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
• 2x points on other eligible travel purchases
• 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases

Other than that, the card doesn't offer an immense value proposition — its best benefit is the 15 Marriott elite night credits each calendar year, which can help you to achieve Marriott elite status much more quickly. But if you're looking for a no-annual-fee travel credit card with insurance, it's definitely worth a look.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card Review

If you're injured or otherwise incapacitated and need to be evacuated, this coverage would reimburse expenses such as:

• Any land, water, or air transportation you require
• Medical services
• Medical supplies that are necessary related to your emergency evacuation

The benefit often requires that you be at least 100 miles from home. Additionally, if you're hospitalized for a certain period of time (usually more than eight days), the benefit can reimburse a round-trip coach ticket for a friend or relative to come to see you. As ever, benefits vary from card to card.

Below are the three best credit cards for emergency evacuation and transportation coverage.

The Platinum Card® from American Express covers you, your spouse/domestic partner, and legally dependent children for emergency evacuation and related emergency medical services, no matter how much it costs. Your trip must not exceed 90 days.

If a child under 16 is unaccompanied as a result of the emergency, this benefit will pay for a coach flight to get them home — and even pay for them to be escorted if necessary.

This card will cover up to $100,000 for you, your spouse/domestic partner, and/or legally dependent children for emergency evacuation and related emergency medical services. If your name is embossed on the front of the card, you can take full advantage of this perk.

Also, if you die during your trip, you are covered for $1,000 for your remains to be repatriated to your home country.

United Club℠ Infinite Card

The United Club℠ Infinite Card will cover up to $100,000 for you, your spouse/domestic partner, and/or legally dependent children for emergency evacuation and related emergency medical services.

The United Club℠ Infinite Card comes with an annual fee of $525, but that's easily offset by its ongoing benefits, such as:

• Full-fledged United Club membership (worth $650 per year)
• Free first and second checked bags on United flights (when you pay any cash portion of your ticket with this card)
• Priority boarding on United flights
• Premier Access travel services
• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee credit
• Complimentary Premier upgrades
• Expanded access to United award flights

This card also earns:

• 4 miles per dollar on eligible United purchases
• 2 miles per dollar on travel
• 2 miles per dollar on dining
• 1 mile per dollar on everything else

United Club Infinite Card Review

Different Types of Credit Card Travel Insurance Coverage

Before we jump into the best credit cards with travel insurance, let's examine some important definitions. Several types of protections fall under the umbrella of travel insurance:

• Trip delay insurance — If your covered trip is delayed by a specified number of hours due to a covered reason,  this will cover expenses like meals and lodging (up to a specified maximum).
• Baggage delay insurance —  This coverage provides reimbursement for essentials like clothes and toiletries if your luggage is delayed on a covered trip. 
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance — This protects you if you're no longer able to go on a covered trip or your covered trip is interrupted mid-travel for reasons such as illness, injury, weather, or a terrorist incident. This is the type of coverage you'd invoke if you needed to adjust your travel plans due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
• Lost luggage insurance — If your carry-on or checked baggage goes missing, this coverage could reimburse you up to a specified amount.
• Rental car insurance — Many credit cards offer either primary or secondary car rental insurance, so you can waive the coverage offered for an additional fee when you rent a car. With primary car rental insurance, in the event of damage due to theft or collision, your credit card coverage will kick in before your personal insurance. With secondary insurance, the coverage kicks in after whatever other insurance is in place. Note that liability coverage isn't included in any credit card auto collision damage waiver.
• Travel accident insurance  — This is the kind of insurance you'll hopefully never have to use.
• Emergency evacuation insurance — If you're injured or otherwise incapacitated and need to be evacuated, this coverage would reimburse expenses such as a helicopter evacuation.

For these coverages to kick in, you'll have to pay for your travel with a card that offers trip insurance. In other words, if you book your flight and hotels with a debit card, you won't be eligible for coverage from your credit card.

On that same note, however, redeeming airline miles or bank points for your travel should not disqualify you from coverage — as long as you pay the taxes and fees with your eligible credit card.

Credit Card Travel Insurance Frequently Asked Questions

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® has the most comprehensive travel insurance, covering everything from trip cancellations and interruptions to delayed baggage.

Depending on the card, credit card travel insurance may cover non-refundable flights, delays, cancellations, missed connections, lost luggage, an illness that cuts your travel short, and various other misfortunes.

Most travel rewards credit cards offer some degree of travel insurance. For example, many American Express cards offer trip cancellation and interruption coverage. But the specifics can vary wildly from card to card. The big exception is Citi, which eliminated most elements of its travel coverage from cards several years ago. Don't reserve travel with a Citi card if you want any sort of insurance.

If you have one of the credit cards featured in this guide, you may not need an additional travel insurance policy. However, make sure you read the fine print of your credit card's benefits guides to make sure the travel coverage is sufficient for your needs — and so you don't have any unpleasant surprises like finding out you aren't eligible for coverage when it's too late. On the other hand, if you want some extra peace of mind, or if there's a good chance you may cancel your non-refundable trip, it's worth looking into supplementary travel insurance. 

As a general rule, credit card travel insurance applies to the cardholder and the cardholder's immediate family. Refer to your credit card's benefits guide for card-specific rules.

Each credit card travel insurance policy is different, so it's important to look at your specific card's benefits guide to make sure you know exactly what is and what is not covered. And when in doubt, don't be afraid to call the card issuer for clarification. Your credit card travel insurance won't cover a trip that you don't purchase with the card, though in some cases paying for a trip in full or in part with that card's rewards points will qualify you for coverage.

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Chose the Best Credit Cards for Travel Insurance

To come up with this list of the best credit cards for travel insurance, we first identified the different types of travel insurance benefits to focus on: trip delay insurance, rental car insurance, trip cancellation/interruption, lost luggage reimbursement, travel accident insurance, and emergency evacuation coverage. We selected the best credit card options for each type of travel insurance by looking through their specific benefits. 

Each credit card we review also has a numerical score out of 5. We arrive at each score by following our credit card rating methodology , which factors in rewards, the welcome bonus, annual fee, and more.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

**Enrollment required.

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Trip Delay Insurance, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, and Cell Phone Protection Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Global Assist Hotline Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, and Baggage Insurance Plan Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

***Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details. Travel Accident Insurance is not guaranteed, it depends on the level of benefits you get at application.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply

• Main content

U.S. News takes an unbiased approach to our recommendations. When you use our links to buy products, we may earn a commission but that in no way affects our editorial independence.

8 Cheapest Travel Insurance Companies Worth the Cost

Trawick International »

World Nomads Travel Insurance »

AXA Assistance USA »

Generali Global Assistance »

Seven Corners »

Allianz Travel Insurance »

IMG Travel Insurance »

WorldTrips »

Why Trust Us

U.S. News evaluates ratings, data and scores of more than 50 travel insurance companies from comparison websites like TravelInsurance.com, Squaremouth and InsureMyTrip, plus renowned credit rating agency AM Best, in addition to reviews and recommendations from top travel industry sources and consumers to determine the Cheapest Travel Insurance Companies.

Table of Contents

• Trawick International
• World Nomads Travel Insurance
• AXA Assistance USA

There are plenty of smart ways to save money on your travel plans, but refusing to buy travel insurance isn't necessarily one of them. Not having travel insurance can mean being on the hook for exorbitant medical bills or costs for emergency transportation if you become sick or injured during your trip. You could also face significant financial losses if your trip is delayed or your bags are lost or stolen, and without travel insurance you won't have a third party to rely on for assistance.

Buying affordable travel insurance makes more sense than skipping this coverage altogether, so read on to find out which companies offer the cheapest plans and all the protections you can get for a low cost.

How We Chose the Cheapest Travel Insurance Companies

To determine the cheapest travel insurance companies, U.S. News created sample traveler profiles for three separate eight-day trips to different destinations (the Cayman Islands, Spain and California) at a range of price points ($6,500, $10,500 and $8,500, respectively). We used that information to get quotes for the cheapest option for 100% trip cancellation coverage for each trip. We then calculated the average cost of the trips.

The travel insurance companies that made our ranking have a high credit rating and offer the lowest average cost, outlined below. (Note: The sample average costs are not price quotes from U.S. News. To find a travel insurance price quote, use the "View plans" link to enter your trip details and find more information.)

• Generali Global Assistance
• Seven Corners
• Allianz Travel Insurance
• IMG Travel Insurance
• Trip cancellation coverage (up to $30,000) for 100% of the insured vacation
• Trip interruption coverage (up to $30,000) for 100% of the insured vacation
• Trip delay coverage worth up to $1,000 ($150 per day for delays of 12 hours or more)
• $750 in coverage for lost and damaged luggage; $200 for baggage delays
• Up to $500 in coverage for missed connections of three hours or more
• Up to $50,000 in emergency medical coverage ($750 sublimit for emergency dental)
• Up to $200,000 in coverage for emergency medical evacuation
• Up to $2,500 of trip protection for cancellation or interruption
• Up to $1,000 in coverage of lost, stolen or damaged baggage; up to $750 for baggage delays on your outward journey
• Up to $100,000 in emergency medical insurance; $750 dental sublimit
• Up to $300,000 in coverage for emergency medical evacuation
• 24-hour travel assistance services

SEE FULL REVIEW »

• Up to 100% coverage for trip cancellation and interruption
• Up to $500 in coverage for trip delays ($100 per day)
• Up to $500 in coverage for missed connections
• Up to $25,000 in coverage for emergency medical expenses
• Up to $100,000 in coverage for emergency medical evacuation
• Up to $750 in coverage for baggage and personal effects; $200 for baggage delays
• Up to $10,000 in coverage for accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D)
• Up to $25,000 in coverage for common carrier AD&D
• Coverage up to 100% of the insured vacation for trip cancellation
• Up to 125% of the insured vacation cost for trip interruption
• Travel delay coverage worth up to $1,000 per person ($150 per person daily limit)
• Up to $1,000 per person for lost, damaged or stolen bags; $200 per person for baggage delays
• Up to $500 per person for missed connections
• Up to $50,000 in emergency medical and dental coverage
• Up to $250,000 in coverage for emergency assistance and transportation
• AD&D coverage for air travel worth up to $50,000 per person ($100,000 per plan)
• Trip cancellation coverage up to $30,000
• Trip interruption coverage up to 100% of the cost of the trip
• Trip delay coverage worth up to $600 (for six-hour delays; $200 limit per person per day)
• Lost, stolen or damaged baggage coverage up to $500
• Baggage delay coverage worth up to $500 (for six-hour delays; $100 per day)
• Missed cruise or tour coverage worth up to $500 ($250 per day)
• Emergency accident and sickness medical coverage worth up to $100,000 (secondary coverage)
• Up to $750 in emergency dental coverage
• Up to $250,000 in protection for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation of remains
• Trip cancellation coverage worth up to $10,000 per traveler
• Trip interruption coverage worth up to $10,000 per traveler
• Travel delay coverage worth up to $300 ($150 per day)
• Luggage loss and damage protection up to $500 per traveler
• Baggage delay coverage worth up to $200 per day
• Emergency medical and dental coverage up to $10,000 ($500 for dental expenses)
• Emergency medical transportation coverage worth up to $50,000
• 24-hour hotline assistance
• Up to 100% in coverage for trip cancellation
• Trip interruption benefit worth up to 125% of the trip cost
• Up to $500 for travel delays per person ($125 daily maximum per person)
• Up to $750 for lost, damaged or stolen bags ($250 maximum per item)
• Up to $150 in luggage delay coverage
• Up to $100,000 in emergency medical coverage
• Up to $500,000 in coverage for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation of remains
• Trip cancellation coverage worth up to 100% of trip cost (up to $10,000)
• Trip interruption coverage up to 100% of trip cost
• Up to $500 in coverage for travel delays (five-hour delay required; $100 daily limit)
• Coverage worth up to $1,000 for lost, damaged or stolen baggage ($250 per item)
• Coverage worth up to $200 for baggage delays of 12 hours or more
• Up to $250 in coverage for airline reissue or cancellation fees
• Up to $250 in coverage for reinstatement of frequent traveler awards
• Emergency medical and illness coverage worth up to $10,000
• Up to $500 in coverage for emergency dental expenses
• Up to $250,000 in coverage for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation of remains
• AD&D coverage worth up to $10,000
• Travel assistance services

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is an award-winning content creator who has been writing about travel insurance and travel for more than a decade. She has researched travel insurance options for her own vacations and family trips to more than 50 countries around the world and has experience navigating the claims and reimbursement process. In fact, she has successfully filed several travel insurance claims for trip delays and trip cancellations over the years. Johnson also works alongside her husband, Greg, who has been licensed to sell travel insurance in 50 states, in their family media business.

You might also be interested in:

Is Travel Insurance Worth It? Yes, in These 3 Scenarios

Holly Johnson

These are the scenarios when travel insurance makes most sense.

9 Best Travel Insurance Companies of 2024

Find the best travel insurance for you with these U.S. News ratings, which factor in expert and consumer recommendations.

The 5 Best International Travel Insurance Companies for 2024

International travel insurance is a must-have for every trip abroad, and for more reasons than one.

Does My Health Insurance Cover International Travel?

Private health insurance typically doesn't cover international travel expenses.

FinanceBuzz

8 Reasons It’s Worth It To Buy Travel Insurance (And 6 Times To Skip It)

Posted: July 12, 2023 | Last updated: April 7, 2024

Life is full of unexpected events and complications, and that doesn’t stop just because you’re traveling. If anything, travel may have even more surprises than your day-to-day life at home.

Travel insurance can help you avoid wasting money if you have to cancel a trip due to illness, need medical coverage while you’re traveling, or send you home for medical reasons.

However, it may not always be necessary and can sometimes be a waste of money. Keep reading to learn when you should and shouldn’t opt for travel insurance.

Compare the best travel credit cards for nearly free travel

Safety net for international travel

The number one reason people buy travel insurance is to cover an expensive trip. And if you’re traveling overseas, chances are your travels will cost a lot of money.

In addition, there are potential complications when it comes to international travel, from losing luggage during connecting flights, missed or canceled flights, sickness, and more.

And if something catastrophic happens in a foreign country, travel insurance provides evacuation so you can get home safely.

Want to learn how to build wealth like the 1%? Sign up for Worthy to get ideas and advice delivered to your inbox.

Medical coverage

Getting sick or injured is unpleasant enough when you’re in the comfort of your home, but it’s a new beast entirely when you’re abroad.

Generally, you can expect basic medical expenses to be covered through your travel plan, often including dental. Medicare will not cover medical expenses in a foreign country. If you’re traveling overseas, travel insurance for potential medical costs is worthwhile.

Cover rental car mishaps

Renting a car is a great way to get around when traveling because you can explore a place on your own. Using taxis or ride-share services may cost more money. However, even the best drivers make mistakes, and no one can protect themselves from reckless drivers.

Your U.S. car insurance won’t cover you when driving in a foreign country. So choosing the car-rental insurance option when you buy travel insurance may be a good move.

Be aware that most travel insurance rental-car plans cover collisions and may not cover medical expenses, damages to other cars or property, or personal property damage or loss.

7 Nearly Secret Things to Do If You Fly Southwest

Pre-existing conditions often aren’t covered

Unfortunately, as with many health insurance plans, travel insurance often won’t cover pre-existing conditions. Travel health insurance is usually meant for unforeseen illnesses or injuries instead of complications due to an existing medical issue.

Even travel insurance companies that cover pre-existing issues often only cover physical maladies and exclude mental conditions and typical pregnancy-related symptoms and complications.

Protect lost luggage

A big fear for travelers is losing their luggage, either having it not arrive at the destination or stolen during their trip. Most airlines will offer reimbursement for luggage they lose, but it can take quite a while for this to process.

Travel insurance will cover the cost of replacing your clothing and other items while you wait for your luggage to be located and can also cover theft and damage.

Cover valuable items and gear

You should consider buying travel insurance if you’re traveling with valuables, including expensive jewelry, art, or even pricey sporting or adventure gear.

You’ll need to talk to the insurance agency specifically about covering your valuables, as they may need to be insured separately. Depending on your homeowners insurance policy, your jewelry may be covered even when you travel.

Sporting goods, including golf clubs, will not be covered by your homeowners insurance if you’re traveling, so you will need travel insurance to replace them if they’re lost, damaged, or stolen.

Pay no interest until nearly 2025 with these credit cards

Emergencies happen

While we do our best to prepare for the worst-case scenario, we can’t stop life from happening. Things like medical emergencies, a death in the family, or other catastrophes can halt your travel plans.

If you have travel insurance, rescheduling or cancellation fees will be covered, allowing you to deal with the emergency at your own pace. You won’t have to worry about losing the money spent on the trip and subsequent fees.

Natural disaster coverage

Are you planning a fall trip to the Gulf Coast or Florida? Consider your travel destination and the time of year you're going.

If you’re visiting someplace prone to natural disasters, especially seasonal occurrences like tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, and such, travel insurance can help you recoup your money should these events interrupt your travel plans.

Similarly, if a natural disaster occurs during your trip, often, insurance will pay to move you to a more secure location.

Extreme adventures may not be covered

Your insurance will most likely cover typical travel-related injuries but don't expect your medical bills to be covered if your itinerary involves extreme adventures or dangerous exploits.

Surfing, sailing, kayaking, bungee jumping, scuba diving, skiing, snowboarding, and other extreme sports do not fall into everyday illnesses or injuries. For these activities, consider getting a specific plan for adventure activities.

Earn up to 5% cash back when you shop with these leading credit cards

Shaky travel companies

If you booked your trip through a travel company and it goes bankrupt, travel insurance may provide a safety net to ensure you get your money back.

Airlines, cruise ships, travel companies, and other travel-related businesses suffered during the pandemic, and many may not be on solid financial ground yet.

This may not be covered in a basic insurance plan, so make sure your agent adds financial default coverage if you are concerned about the health of your travel provider. 

In the situation any company or organization closes or is otherwise inoperable during your trip, you’ll be covered.

Now let’s look at times you may not need travel insurance.

Your credit card offers travel protections

Before purchasing travel insurance, consider which credit card you have. Many of the top credit cards  offer travel protections.

Some protections you may already have include lost luggage, rental car insurance, trip delay, and trip interruption or cancellation.

Credit card programs often don’t cover medical or other interruptions, so consider your priorities before choosing this option.

You have a domestic trip

If you’re traveling within the U.S. and its territories, travel insurance may not be necessary. For example, you won’t need medical coverage as your health insurance should be honored nationwide.

Domestic travel is also usually much less expensive. If you’re taking a cheap, last-minute, or nonstop flight and staying at an inexpensive hotel or rental, the cost of travel insurance may not be worth it.

One exception might be a family trip to Disney World. The estimate for a trip for a family of four in 2023 is more than $6,000, so travel insurance might be money well spent in this case.

5 Signs You’re Doing Better Financially Than the Average American

Don’t add expense to cheap trips

Not all travel is planned. Whether traveling for work, a family emergency, or just a last-minute vacation, you likely don’t need insurance in these circumstances. Odds are, you’re packing light, and both your flight and hotel are relatively inexpensive.

In these scenarios, the things insurance covers won’t be relevant, including baggage loss, flight cancellations, hotel issues, and so on. 

Not only will these costs likely be minimal, but they can be disputed with your airline or hotel, although it may take a little while to get your money back.

The airline has a flexible rebooking policy

If you’re buying travel insurance to cover the cost of rescheduling a flight, you’re better off purchasing a refundable ticket at a higher price. And some airlines have more flexible policies now.

Many airlines allow last-minute ticket changes and will even help you reschedule your flight within a specific timeframe. The timeframe and policy vary by airline, and you may be subject to a nominal cancellation or rebooking fee, but it will be significantly less than insurance.

Insurance will not cover political unrest

One emergency situation insurance probably won’t cover is war or political unrest. If you’re visiting a location with political tensions and your trip is canceled as a result, don’t expect your insurance to cover the costs.

Insurance companies generally follow the travel advisories the U.S. State Department issued for medical and political situations.

Similarly, insurance won't cover these costs if you have to leave your trip early for safety concerns. Consider your destination's political environment before booking your travel or buying insurance.

9 Things You Must Do Before The Next Recession

Your hotel may cover cancellations

Many hotel cancellation policies have tiers depending on the booking you make. For example, some may have free cancellation within a specific period, while others charge different rates for rooms booked as non-refundable or partially refundable.

If your sole reason for purchasing insurance is hotel flexibility, consult with the hotel before you book. They may have a policy as flexible as your insurance or can work with you should something unexpected arise.

Penalty-free cancellations for major hotels tend to be around 24-48 hours prior to arrival.

Bottom line

Travel insurance may be pricey, but it’s a lifesaver in many situations. However, in others, it’s overkill and a waste of money.

Every travel situation is different, so consider your specific needs when purchasing. And, if you want more money to cover your insurance, consider these ways to make extra cash for travel funds.

More from FinanceBuzz:

• 7 things to do if you’re barely scraping by financially.
• 12 legit ways to earn extra cash.
• Can you retire early? Take this quiz and find out.
• 9 simple ways to make up to an extra $200/day

More for You

Donald Trump at Risk of Losing Florida, Recent Polls Suggest

Russell Crowe Says Costar Ryan Gosling Constantly Made Him Break Character in 'Nice Guys': 'Gets Me Every Time'

Secret Service to brief Congress on clash between agents protecting VP Harris

Taylor Swift unexpectedly covers Calvin Harris, Rihanna hit during Liverpool show

Repel Mice From Your Home With A Cleaning Product You Already Have On Hand

5 VHS Tapes Worth Way More Than You'd Think

Scientists Reveal Salmon May Not Be the Healthiest Fish To Eat

The Only Major Actors Still Alive From All In The Family

How to Attract Bluebirds to Your Yard: 10 Methods

Internet questions whether mother-of-the-bride’s dress upstages her daughter

Box Office Preview: Pixar's ‘Inside Out 2' Jumps on Tracking, Now Eyeing $90M U.S. Opening

The Supreme Court’s Make-or-Break Decision on Trump

I quit sugar for 6 months and this is what it did to my face and body

“I just vibe with the guy”: The Star Trek TNG Actor Brent Spiner Best Vibed With Was Never Patrick Stewart

The 14 Smells That Ants Absolutely Hate

Why You May Want To Throw A Few Citrus Peels Around Your Bird Feeder

How To Remove Your Personal Data From The Internet (And Why You Should)

12 Best Types of Fruit Trees To Grow in Your Backyard

Shrimp's impact on health and who should avoid them

Winter Storm Warning for One State as 12 Inches of Snow Expected

• Credit cards
• View all credit cards
• Banking guide
• Loans guide
• Insurance guide
• Personal finance
• View all personal finance
• Small business
• Small business guide
• View all taxes

Does Travel Insurance Cover Award Flights?

Elina Geller is a former Travel Writer at NerdWallet specializing in airline and hotel loyalty programs and travel insurance. Her passion for travel rewards began in 2011 when she flew first class to London and Amsterdam on British Airways and used hotel points to stay in both cities. In 2019, Elina founded TheMissMiles, a travel rewards coaching business. Elina's work has been featured by AwardWallet. She’s a certified public accountant with degrees from the London School of Economics and Fordham University.

Mary Flory leads NerdWallet's growing team of assigning editors at large. Before joining NerdWallet's content team, she had spent more than 12 years developing content strategies, managing newsrooms and mentoring writers and editors. Her previous experience includes being an executive editor at the American Marketing Association and an editor at news and feature syndicate Content That Works.

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Table of Contents

Type 1: Insurance offered by the airline

Type 2: travel insurance provided by your card, type 3: comprehensive travel insurance, which travel insurance type should you choose for your award trip.

Purchasing travel insurance before going on a trip is a great way to protect yourself against unexpected medical bills or the loss of a nonrefundable deposit if an unplanned emergency derails your vacation plans.

But how much protection do you get if you booked your trip with miles or points? The short answer is yes, but with some caveats.

Award flight travel insurance coverage can be a bit murky, so its wise to read through the fine print of the travel insurance policies you're considering.

Here's our best advice on how to protect your award ticket so you can book your trip with confidence.

First, three things to note:

Airlines and hotels loosened change/cancellation fees in recent years.

Domestic and foreign airlines (that have U.S. websites and market to U.S. customers) are required by the U.S. Department of Transportation to offer a full refund as long as the trip is cancelled within 24 hours of booking . The information below is about canceled trips beyond this timeframe. Standard hotel award bookings come with varying, but far more flexible, cancellation policies that are usually in the range of one to three days before arrival (for a refund of points).

To be eligible for reimbursement, the cancellation must fall into the insurer’s list of covered reasons. Covered reasons generally include terrorist attacks, medical emergencies, death, inclement weather that results in a flight cancellation, natural disasters that make your home uninhabitable and other extenuating circumstances.

There are several different types of travel insurance options that provide coverage for trips booked with miles/points:

Insurance offered by the airline.

Travel insurance provided by your credit card.

Comprehensive travel insurance.

The coverage provided by each of these policies will vary, and it's important to know the difference.

» Learn more: How to find the best travel insurance

Generally, standalone trip insurance plans won't reimburse you for any miles you used to book a flight because insurers don't assign a value to the miles. The only way to get your miles back is to purchase the travel insurance add-on that is offered by the airline on the checkout page when booking your flight with miles.

For example, United offers a travel insurance option for $27 with Travel Guard to cover your award trip.

If the trip is cancelled for a covered reason, the miles will be deposited back into your United MileagePlus account and you will receive a reimbursement for taxes and deposit fees.

Award redeposit fees and taxes vary by airline. Because taxes are also dependent on the country of origin and destination, we didn't include this information. However, here is an infographic showing several domestic and international airlines along with their redeposit fees:

Note: The award redeposit fee charged by Qantas is charged in points, not dollars (and was excluded from our chart). The airline's current redeposit fee is 12,700 points.

These fees reflect the maximum amount that you would pay to cancel and redeposit an award ticket. If you have elite status or cancel far enough in advance, you may be eligible for a reduced fee or no fee at all.

However, if you are a no-show, the airline may tack on additional fees to your award redeposit fee. If you need to cancel an award ticket, try to do it as soon as possible to avoid extra charges.

» Learn more: Booking flights with points or miles expands refund options

Premium travel cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and The Platinum Card® from American Express offer a variety of trip insurance benefits, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance. Because these cards earn points that can be transferred to airlines or used to book trips on travel portals, you get specific protections for trips paid with points.

When transferred to an airline/hotel partner

Chase Ultimate Rewards® points can be transferred to 14 partners (11 airlines, three hotels), while AmEx Membership Rewards includes 20 transfer partners (17 airlines, three hotels).

Once you transfer points to an airline or hotel, AmEx and Chase are removed from the equation. The miles or points are now with the airline or hotel and cannot be returned to AmEx or Chase in the event of a trip cancellation.

Similar to the United example, when you then book your award ticket, you can purchase the add-on travel insurance option at checkout so that you get your points back, directly from the airline, in the event of a cancellation.

If you don't purchase the add-on option and need to cancel your trip, Chase or AmEx will reimburse you for nonrefundable expenses and redeposit fees associated with the award ticket.

» Learn more: 9 credit cards that provide travel insurance

Chase trip cancellation and interruption coverage

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® , Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , United Club℠ Infinite Card and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card provide trip cancellation, interruption and delay coverage for eligible travel expenses, which include nonrefundable prepaid amounts charged by a travel supplier (i.e., airline, hotel, car rental company, etc.).

Any trips booked using points through Chase's travel portal are also included.

» Learn more: What to know about Chase trip delay insurance

Trips booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards®

If you paid for your trip using Chase Ultimate Rewards® points , you will be reimbursed in an amount that is equal to the monetary value of the points as long as the dollar amount is listed on your Chase booking confirmation. You won't get the points back.

Because holders of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® receive 1.5 cents per point when booking travel through Chase's travel portal, verify that your booking confirmation includes the dollar equivalent of the 1.5-cent-per-point redemption. For example, if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and you book a $750 United flight using 50,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards® points that you later need to cancel, you will be reimbursed $750 by Chase as long as the dollar and point values are shown on your booking confirmation.

The refund cashes out your points at 1.5 cents each, so if you value Chase points at more than that, you’re out of luck. If the dollar equivalent of the points isn't listed on your booking confirmation, you will be reimbursed 1 cent per point.

» Learn more: Your guide to Chase Sapphire Reserve's trip cancellation and travel insurance

AmEx trip cancellation and interruption coverage

Many premium American Express cards offer trip cancellation and interruption insurance, which also cover trips booked with Membership Rewards points. The following cards offer these protections:

The Platinum Card® from American Express .

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express .

Centurion® Card from American Express.

Business Centurion® Card from American Express.

The Corporate Centurion® Card from American Express.

The Platinum Card® from American Express for Ameriprise Financial.

The American Express Platinum Card® for Schwab.

The Platinum Card® from American Express for Goldman Sachs.

The Platinum Card® from American Express for Morgan Stanley.

Corporate Platinum Card®.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card .

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card .

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card.

Terms apply.

Trips booked through American Express Membership Rewards

Similar to Chase, American Express has the Membership Rewards travel booking site. With the exception of the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express , which has a redemption rate of 1.35 cents per point, the redemption rate on all other cards is 1 cent per point.

If you cancel travel booked through the Membership Rewards site, you will be reimbursed in cash (regardless of whether you paid with cash or points). To be eligible for coverage, the trip must include round-trip travel to a city that isn't the cardmember’s city of residence and cannot exceed 365 days away from home at the time of departure.

If you book a nonrefundable flight through the AmEx Travel portal , you can purchase Trip Cancel Guard as an add-on. Trip Cancel Guard will get you a reimbursement up to 75% on nonrefundable airfare costs — regardless of your reasons for canceling your trip — so long as you do so at least two days before departure.

» Learn more: Your guide to AmEx trip cancellation and travel insurance

If you don't have travel insurance through a premium travel credit card and/or you did not insure your award ticket on the airline’s website, consider a standalone travel insurance policy.

Although comprehensive travel insurance plans don't reimburse miles directly, they will reimburse you for any taxes you paid for the award ticket, mileage redeposit fees you pay to get your miles back, checked bag fees and upgrade fees.

In addition, these plans offer other protections including emergency medical coverage , emergency repatriation and evacuation, baggage loss, car rental coverage and much more.

Each travel insurance policy is different and the reimbursement limits vary by state, so review the fine print to find out what coverage is provided for canceled award tickets. If you’re not finding the information you need in the policy, call the insurer.

The answer depends on how you booked the trip.

If you have one of the premium travel credit cards mentioned above and cancel a trip booked with points through the American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards® travel portal, you will receive a cash reimbursement for the points.

If you use airline points to book your award travel and want to get your points back in the event of a cancellation, it makes sense to purchase the add-on travel insurance option that is offered by the airline on the checkout page. Those who would like to get a refund of airline miles (in addition to any taxes/redeposit fees) should strongly consider this add-on when booking the award ticket.

If you don’t have credit card-offered protection (or the coverage amounts aren't sufficient) and you don’t purchase the airline-offered add-on, your remaining option is a comprehensive travel insurance policy, which will often reimburse you for fees associated with getting your miles back (but always read the fine print). If you want additional protections as well, a comprehensive travel insurance policy is the way to go.

Using your hard-earned miles and points to travel can be a great experience. If you want to protect your award ticket in the event that a covered reason derails your vacation plans, consider purchasing travel insurance.

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: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

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

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

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

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

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

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

Supplemental insurance

Explore our supplemental plans, like dental, vision or cash-benefit insurance plans, 1 that can help you get coverage for medical expenses not covered by your medical plan.

Questions? Call 1-866-487-9299 , TTY 711

These plans, underwritten by Golden Rule Insurance Company, a UnitedHealthcare company, help round out your other health insurance coverage.

View supplemental health plans for you and your family

Dental insurance.

Dental insurance plans offer coverage for basic dental care, like general dental screenings and preventive care or you can choose coverage for major care, such as dental implants.

Accident insurance

Accident insurance coverage (also called supplemental accident insurance or personal accident insurance) offers benefits that help with expenses in the case of an accidental injury.

Explore more supplemental plans to complete your coverage

Hospital and doctor fixed indemnity insurance.

Plans that pay a cash benefit for specific medical services that may not be covered by a traditional health insurance plan.

Vision insurance

Vision insurance plans can help you cover and budget for vision care expenses like routine eye exams, prescription glasses and contact lenses.

Critical illness insurance

Insurance plans that offer cash benefits to help cover expenses related to qualifying serious illnesses. 

Hospitalization insurance

Plans that help with the costs of hospitalization by paying a fixed cash benefit amount per day for hospital stays.

International travel insurance

Plans that offer travel insurance for medical emergencies or illnesses, lost passports or baggage, travel assistance and more.

Term life insurance

Insurance that helps prepare your family financially by paying a cash benefit in the event of your death.

What is supplemental insurance?

Supplemental health insurance typically covers services that your other health plan does not — such as dental or vision costs. Because chances are, your medical insurance plan isn’t going to cover everything. Completing your coverage with supplemental plans can save you money and help protect against unexpected costs.

Why choose supplemental insurance?

No one expects something major to happen to their health, but when it does, supplemental plans can help protect you and your family. Here are a few reasons why these plans may be a smart decision.

Get complete coverage

Filling in your coverage with supplemental plans means you’ll have help to pay for out-of-pocket costs not covered by your regular medical plan.

Protect your finances

Choosing cash benefit plans that pay a lump sum can give you peace of mind that you’re protected if an unexpected medical event happens — like a critical illness or accident.

Customize for your needs

With a variety of supplemental plans available, you can choose coverage that matches your age, family and situation so you have coverage that’s right for your life.

Find supplemental insurance plans in your state

You have a variety of insurance options with UnitedHealthcare. Explore the insurance plans available in your state and get fast, free quotes on coverage now.

For New York residents : No plans are currently available. Call 1-800-980-5213 for more information.

Frequently asked questions about supplemental plans

When can i buy supplemental insurance.

You can enroll in a supplemental insurance plan at any time. There may be a waiting period for your coverage to begin or before some benefits can be accessed, so be sure to check the benefit details when you choose your plan.

You may think about choosing supplemental coverage when:

• Your coverage through your employer doesn’t include coverage for dental or vision
• You’re buying your own medical plan and want to fill in your coverage, like dental or vision
• You want cash-benefit coverage to protect yourself in case of unexpected medical bills
• You have a Medicare plan and want to add supplemental plans to complete your coverage

Can I buy supplemental insurance without having health insurance?

A supplemental plan is not a replacement for a medical health insurance plan. It’s coverage that’s meant to be added to a health insurance plan.

A medical health insurance plan is important to cover most of your health needs, like yearly checkups with your primary doctor or routine medical care. A supplemental plan is coverage you can add to help protect you from paying costs your medical plan won’t cover.

Why buy insurance bundles?

Insurance bundles are a way to combine your coverage, so you can choose the right mix of plans to meet your unique needs. Everyone’s lifestyle and coverage needs are different, so bundling the plans you need can help ensure you’re choosing the right level of coverage for you. Depending on how plans are bundled, you could save money compared to buying these plans separately.

For example, if you have a health plan that doesn’t include dental or vision coverage, you could choose to bundle a dental plan with a vision plan. Together, a dental and vision plan would likely include coverage for your routine dental and eye exams, helping you save money. And in some cases, there’s no waiting period for coverage to start.

Is there a waiting period for services once I’m covered?

Some plans may have what’s called a “waiting period” before some benefits become available.

Certain plans, like dental or vision plans, may have no waiting period for some care. For example, sometimes routine dental visits or vision exams will be covered right away. But within those same plans, there could be waiting periods for major procedures related to your dental or vision care.

It’s a good idea to check the coverage details before you enroll in a plan to understand what the waiting period may be.

What if I need to drop my coverage?

If you have a change in your situation, such as finding a new job that offers insurance or if your life circumstances change, you may decide you need to drop or cancel your supplemental coverage.

When you choose UnitedHealthcare supplemental plans, underwritten by Golden Rule insurance company, you will not have a penalty for cancelling your coverage.

As you shop around, be sure to check on this detail to be sure you understand how the plan benefits work.

If you find you need to drop or cancel your coverage, call the number on your member ID card to learn more.

Find more UnitedHealthcare plans

Dental, vision and supplemental coverage may be included with some Medicare plans, like Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement plans (Medigap).

Medicare Supplement plans

These plans work with Original Medicare to help with out-of-pocket costs not covered by Parts A and B.

Medicaid plans

Dental, vision and other extra benefits are included with some, but not all Medicaid plans. Medicaid is for those with low income or special needs. 

Employer supplemental plans

Specialty plans like dental, vision and supplemental options are available for employers to offer added benefits to their employees.  

Learn more about health insurance and supplemental plans

Browse the topics below to get familiar with health and supplemental plans and how to find coverage that’s right for you.

What does insurance cost?

See how to pay for insurance and learn what the cost terms mean when you’re choosing a plan.

Why buy dental insurance?

Find answers to your questions about dental coverage and costs.

How does health insurance work?

Having health insurance can help protect your health, your family and your finances.

Looking for more help with finding a plan?

Get help finding a plan

Answer a few questions to see plans in your area.

Already a member?

Sign in to view your plan details.