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Best Cruise Insurance Plans

Best cruise insurance plans of september 2024.

Updated: Sep 2, 2024, 2:41am

WorldTrips, Nationwide and PrimeCover are the best cruise insurance companies in our analysis.

If you need cruise insurance, you’ll want to look at policies that provide generous coverage for medical expenses, trip interruption and trip cancellation at a good price. We rated 40 travel insurance policies on those factors to help you find the best options.

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Summary: Best Cruise Insurance Ratings

What is cruise insurance and how does it work, what does cruise insurance cover, how much does cruise insurance cost, where and when to buy cruise insurance, what are the travel insurance requirements of different cruise lines, is cruise insurance worth it, case study: cruise insurance saves the day, again, methodology, best cruise insurance frequently asked questions (faqs), how we chose the best cruise insurance.

We evaluated policies on cost and coverage for missed connections, trip interruption, trip cancellation, medical expenses and evacuation, and more. Our editors are committed to bringing you unbiased ratings and information. Our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and the methodology for the ratings below.

• 40 travel insurance plans evaluated
• 1,560 coverage details analyzed
• 280 rates scored
• 102 years insurance experience on the editorial team

GREAT FOR ADD-ON COVERAGE

Top-scoring plan

Atlas Journey Elevate

Average cost

Medical & evacuation limits per person

$250,000/$1 million

The Atlas Journey Elevate policy stands out for its excellent medical evacuation benefits. We also like its wide range of add-on benefits. These include “cancel for any reason,” “interruption for any reason” and extra coverage for pets traveling with you, adventure sports, medical expenses and more.

More:   WorldTrips Travel Insurance Review

• One of the lowest average costs among top-rated policies evaluated.
• Very good travel delay benefits of $2,000 per person after only 5 hours.
• Very good missed connection coverage of $1,500 per person after 3 hours.
• Medical coverage level is low compared to some competitors evaluated.
• Baggage delay benefits have a 12-hour waiting period.

Here’s a look at top coverage types that are included in the WorldTrips Atlas Elevate policy.

Also included:

• Travel inconvenience benefits of $750 for specified problems. These include if your arrival home is delayed due to a transportation delay and you can’t work for at least two days, your flight lands at a different airport than scheduled, your passport is stolen and can’t be reissued, and more.

Optional add-ons offered:

• Adventure sports add-on to extend coverage to safaris, bungee jumping and more.
• “Cancel for any reason” and “interruption for any reason” coverage.
• Rental car theft and damage coverage of $50,000.
• School activities coverage if trip has to be canceled due a test, sporting event, etc.

BEST FOR POLICY PERKS

Cruise Luxury

$150,000/$1 million

We recommend Nationwide’s Cruise Luxury plan because it provides an array of extensive benefits such as “interruption for any reason” and “cancel for work reasons.” Some competitors don’t offer any of those perks. We also like that it includes benefits for delays in your ship’s arrival to the next port of call, superior missed connection coverage and evacuation benefits—all at a decent price.

More:   Nationwide Travel Insurance Review

• Includes $25,000 in non-medical evacuation benefits.
• Pretty good baggage delay benefits of $1,000 per person.
• Good travel delay benefits of $1,000 per person covered after only a 6-hour delay.
• Medical coverage is lower than some other top-rated plans but might be sufficient for your needs.
• 24-hour delay required for hurricane and weather coverage, compared to some competitor policies with only a 6- or 12-hour delay requirement.

Here’s a look at whether top coverage types are included in Nationwide’s Cruise Luxury policy.

• Coverage if the CDC issues a health warning at your destination.
• Coverage for extension of the school year, terrorism in an itinerary city, work-related emergency issues.
• “Interruption for any reason” up to $1,000.
• Inconvenience benefit of $250 per person if your cruise ship’s arrival at the next port of call is delayed for two or more hours due to mechanical breakdown or fire.

Optional add-on offered:

• If you cancel two or more days prior to your departure for a reason not listed in the base policy, CFAR provides 75% compensation of your insured trip cost.

Best for Evacuation

The Luxe policy stood out in our analysis because it has superior benefit limits across the board. We also liked its generous evacuation coverage, short waiting periods for delays and wide range of optional benefits.

• You can buy a “cancel for any reason” upgrade within 21 days of your initial trip deposit, compared to 15 days for many other top-rated companies.
• Non-medical evacuation benefits of $100,000.
• Provides “hospital of choice” in its medical evacuation coverage, meaning you choose the medical facility rather than being transported to the nearest adequate treatment center.
• Top-notch trip interruption reimbursement of 200%, which is twice as much as many competitors.

More:   PrimeCover Travel Insurance Review

• Medical expense limits of $250,000 per person is great but some competitors provide twice as much travel medical insurance.

Here’s a look at whether top coverage types are included in the PrimeCover Luxe policy.

• Benefits of $300 for changing original travel arrangements, such as transferring airlines.
• Benefits of $500 for itinerary change.
• Benefits of $500 for lost golf fees and $150 lost ski/snowboard.
• Benefits of $1,500 for rental property damage liability.
• Benefits of $5,000 for search and rescue.
• Coverage of $1,000 for sports equipment rental.
• Travel inconvenience coverage of $100 each for closed attractions and flight diversions.

Optional add-on coverage includes:

• Choices of $100,000, $250,000 and $500,000 for AD&D flight-only coverage.
• “Cancel for any reason” upgrade.
• Increased coverage choices of $4,000 or $7,000 for trip delay.
• “Interruption for any reason” upgrade.
• Rental car damage coverage of $50,000.

BEST FOR MISSED CONNECTIONS

Travelsafe insurance.

Classic Plus Plan

$100,000/$1 million

We like TravelSafe’s Classic because it provides superior missed connection and evacuation benefits. It also has very good trip interruption and hurricane and weather coverage at a competitive price.

More:   TravelSafe Travel Insurance Review

• Provides coverage for non-medical evacuation at $25,000 per person.
• “Cancel for any reason” upgrade available.
• Excellent baggage loss coverage limits of $2,500 per person.
• $100,000 in medical benefits is on the low side compared to top competitors but might be sufficient for your needs.
• Baggage delay coverage is a little skimpy at $250 per person after a 12-hour delay.

Here’s a look at whether top coverage types are included in the Classic Plus policy.

• Compensates $300 for fees if you have to redeposit frequent traveler awards for reasons covered by your trip cancellation insurance.
• If your return home is delayed by 24 hours or more due to a reason covered in your policy, the policy includes $100 of pet kennel coverage.
• If your travel supplier makes a change that forces you to lose non-refundable costs for missed activities, you’re eligible for $250 per person for itinerary changes.
• Accidental death and dismemberment for flights, up to $500,000 per person.
• Business equipment and sports equipment coverage of $1,000 if lost, stolen or damaged.
• “Cancel for any reason” coverage of 75% of lost trip costs.
• Up to $35,000 in rental car damage and theft.

BEST FOR BAGGAGE

Axa assistance usa.

AXA’s Platinum plan stood out in our analysis because it hits all the high points for coverage that you’ll want if you’re looking for top-notch protection, including non-medical evacuation coverage and baggage insurance.

More:   AXA Assistance USA Travel Insurance Review

• Generous medical and evacuation limits.
• Baggage loss coverage of $3,000 per person is among the highest of plans we reviewed.
• Provides excellent non-medical evacuation coverage of $100,000 per person.
• Travel delay and baggage coverage kicks in only after a 12-hour delay.
• “Interruption for any reason” upgrade not available.

Here’s a look at whether top coverage types are included in AXA’s Platinum policy.

• “Cancel for any reason” coverage.
• Lost golf rounds.
• Lost ski days.

GREAT FOR MEDICAL EXPENSE AND MEDICAL EVACUATION

Seven corners.

Trip Protection Choice

$500,000/$1 million

We like Seven Corners’ Trip Protection Choice plan because of its great upgrade options and excellent benefits. These include unrivaled medical coverage limits, non-medical evacuation and very good missed connection benefits.

More:   Seven Corners Travel Insurance Review

• Highest medical expenses and medical evacuation coverage limits among top-rated plans.
• “Cancel for any reason” and “interruption for any reason” upgrades available.
• Very good travel delay coverage of $2,000 per person.
• Includes $20,000 for non-medical evacuation.
• Hurricane and weather coverage has a 48-hour delay, compared to some competitors’ plans that require only 6-, 12- or 24-hour delays.

Here’s a look at whether top coverage types are included in the Seven Corners Trip Protection Choice policy.

• Accidental death and dismemberment coverage of $40,000 per person for qualifying common carrier events.
• Change fee compensation of $300 per person if you have to change your flight or original travel arrangements due to qualifying events.
• Coverage of $500 for pet kennel benefits if your return home is delayed by six hours or more due to qualifying missed connection, interruption or delay problems.
• Frequent traveler coverage of $500 to pay for the cost to redeposit awards due to a trip cancellation caused by a reason listed in your policy.
• Event ticket fee registration coverage of $15,000 if you can’t attend an event due to unforeseen reasons listed in trip cancellation and interruption coverage.
• Coverage of $35,000 for rental car damage.
• Golf and sports equipment rental coverage up to $5,000.
• “Interruption for any reason” coverage.

GREAT FOR PRICE

Trawick international.

Safe Travels First Class

We picked Trawick’s Safe Travels First Class policy because it provides solid benefits at a great average cost—it’s the fourth cheapest among the 12 top-rated plans we evaluated. We also like that it includes high medical evacuation limits and good missed connection coverage.

More:  Trawick Travel Insurance Review

• Offers “cancel for any reason” upgrade.
• Top-level medical evacuation coverage of $1 million.
• Excellent baggage loss coverage of $2,000 per person.
• Medical coverage is lower than most other top-rated plans but might be sufficient for your needs.

Here’s a look at whether top coverage types are included in Trawick’s Safe Travels First Class policy.

• Common carrier accidental death and dismemberment coverage of $25,000.
• Coverage for sports fees.
• Coverage of $50,000 for rental car damage.
• “Cancel for any reason” upgrade that allows you to recoup 75% of insured trip costs if you cancel at least 48 hours prior to departure.

BEST FOR PRE-EXISTING MEDICAL CONDITION COVERAGE

Generali global assistance.

Premium plan

Medical and evacuation limits per person

Generali’s Premium policy got our attention because of its very good benefits at a decent average price. We like the Premium policy’s generous time frame for getting coverage for pre-existing conditions, excellent trip interruption insurance and medical coverage. It also includes and includes generous benefits for rental car damage and accidental death.

More:   Generali Global Assistance Travel Insurance Review

• You can qualify for coverage of pre-existing medical conditions if you buy the policy prior to or within 24 hours of making your final trip payment, as opposed to a deadline of 10 to 20 days after making your first trip deposit, which is typical from top competitors.
• Excellent hurricane and weather coverage with no waiting period.
• Top-notch emergency evacuation coverage of $1 million per person.
• If you want “cancel for any reason” coverage you must buy it within 24 hours of making your initial trip deposit, compared to 10 to 20 days from top competitors.

Here’s a look at whether top coverage types are included in the Generali Premium policy.

• Coverage of $52,000 for rental car theft and damage.
• Coverage of $2,000 for sporting equipment.
• Coverage of $500 for sporting equipment delay.
• “Cancel for any reason” upgrade that compensates you 60% of your insured trip cost if you cancel at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled departure.

BEST FOR AD&D

John hancock insurance agency.

Average Cost

We recommend John Hancock’s Gold policy if you want a short travel delay waiting period and high medical and evacuation limits. The Gold plan also has the highest limits ($100,000) for accidental death and dismemberment of the plans we reviewed. It also stands out because it  includes very good trip interruption, baggage and missed connection coverage.

More:   John Hancock Travel Insurance Review

• Good missed connection coverage of $1,000 per person after 3-hour delay.
• Travel delay benefits kick in after only a 3-hour delay.
• Pricey among the plans we analyzed but you buy top-tier benefits.
• Baggage delay benefits require a 12-hour delay.

Here’s a look at whether top coverage types are included in the John Hancock Gold policy.

• Coverage for sports fees and equipment loss.
• Coverage of $200 for ticket change fees if delayed by one hour or more.

Optional add-ons:

• Coverage of $300,000 or $500,000 for flight-only accidental death and dismemberment.
• Rental car collision coverage of $50,000.
• “Cancel for any reason” upgrade providing 75% of insured trip costs if you cancel at least 48 hours before your departure.

GREAT FOR TRAVEL DELAY WAITING PERIOD

Usi affinity travel insurance services.

While pricing is higher than most other top plans, we chose USI’s Diamond plan for its solid range of top-level benefits, including first-rate medical and evacuation benefits and very good missed connection coverage. It also has a short waiting period for travel delays—six hours compared to 12 hours for some top-rated competitors.

More:   USI Affinity Travel Insurance Review

• Superior coverage levels for medical expenses and evacuation.
• Very good travel delay coverage of $1,500 per person.
• High baggage loss coverage of $2,500 per person.
• Baggage delay coverage is good at $500 per person but requires a 12-hour delay for benefits to start.
• Has the second-highest average cost among top-scoring plans.

Here’s a look at whether top coverage types are included in the USI Affinity Diamond policy.

• Rental car damage benefits of $1,000.
• Flight-only accidental death and dismemberment coverage of $10,000.
• “Cancel for any reason” upgrade providing reimbursement of 75% of prepaid, non-refundable trip costs if you cancel at least 48 hours before departure.

BEST FOR CUSTOMIZATION

Travel Guard Preferred

$50,000/$500,000

AIG’s Travel Guard Preferred plan is one of our favorites because it provides solid benefits at a very low average price. Optional pet, wedding, security, baggage, medical, adventures sports and travel inconvenience upgrades allow you to customize a policy to fit your needs.

Additionally, the Travel Guard Preferred plan includes benefits if (under certain conditions) you must start your trip earlier than planned—a feature not found in all policies.

More:   AIG Travel Insurance Review

• Provides up to $750 for “travel inconveniences,” such as flight delay to your return destination, runway delays and cruise diversions.
• Reimburses up to $2,500 for meals, accommodations and transportation if you must begin your trip earlier than scheduled due to inclement weather or common carrier changes.
• Very low travel medical insurance limits compared to other policies we evaluated, but you can increase coverage with an upgrade.
• Missed connection benefits of $1,000 are low compared to some competitors.

Here’s a look at whether top coverage types are included in AIG’s Travel Guard Preferred policy.

• Ancillary evacuation benefits up to $5,000 for expenses related to return of children, bedside visits, baggage return and more.
• Flight accidental death and dismemberment coverage of $100,000 per person.
• Travel inconvenience benefits of $750 total ($250 per problem) if you encounter issues such as closed attractions, cruise diversion, hotel infestation, hotel construction and more.
• Trip exchange benefits of 50% of your trip cost that pay the difference in price between your original reservation and the new one.
• Adventure Sports Bundle for adventure and extreme activities.
• Boarding and medical expenses for illness or injury of dog or cat while traveling is covered with the Pet Bundle. Includes trip cancellation or trip interruption if your pet is in critical condition or dies within seven days before your departure.
• “Cancel for any reason” upgrade that reimburses 50% of insured trip costs.
• Rental vehicle damage coverage of $50,000.
• Wedding Bundle to cover trip cancellation due to wedding cancellation. Note that brides and grooms are excluded from this benefit.
• You’re allowed to add a person to your policy who will qualify for family member-related unforeseen events that can apply to claims for trip cancellation and interruption with the “Name Your Family” upgrade.

BEST FOR HURRICANE AND WEATHER

Hth worldwide.

TripProtector Preferred Plan

We were impressed byHTH’s TripProtector Preferred policy which is packed with luxury-level benefits and has a short waiting period for hurricane and weather. It also stands out for its superior medical and evacuation benefits and trip interruption coverage, but it also comes with a high average price.

More:   HTH Worldwide Travel Insurance Review

• Waiting period of only six hours for hurricane and weather, compared to most competitors that have 12 or 48.
• Excellent trip interruption coverage of 200% of the trip cost.
• Very good travel delay coverage of $2,000 per person after a 6-hour delay.
• Highest average cost among top-rated companies, but you’re getting robust benefits.
• Baggage delay coverage requires a 12-hour delay.

Here’s a look at whether top coverage types are included in the HTH Worldwide TripProtector Preferred policy.

• Coverage of $35,000 for rental car damage and theft.
• Coverage of $250 for pet medical expenses if your dog or cat traveling with you gets injured or sick during your trip.
• “Cancel for any reason” upgrade that compensates you 75% reimbursement of trip costs if you cancel at least two days prior to your scheduled departure.

Cruise insurance can be any travel insurance policy that has the coverage features you want. It does not have to be a travel insurance policy with “cruise” in the policy name.

Travel insurance for cruises works the same as standard travel insurance. You pay for a policy that compensates you for problems that can disrupt your cruise. It’s helpful to have missed connection coverage included in a cruise insurance policy, as the cost of catching up to a cruise can be significant.

Cruise insurance generally covers the following—up to your policy limits— if the expense is caused by a reason listed in your policy or not excluded from coverage:

Travel Medical Insurance

This pays for medical expenses associated with injuries and illness you get while on the trip. The top travel insurance plans have $500,000 in travel medical insurance , but you might find $150,000 to be sufficient for a cruise. If you’re a senior, good travel medical coverage is crucial.

U.S. health plans may have very limited or no coverage when you’re outside the U.S. And Medicare doesn’t cover medical care outside the U.S., with only very narrow exceptions .

Emergency Medical Evacuation Coverage

Medical evacuation travel insurance covers the costs to get you to the nearest adequate medical facility or even back home if it’s medically required. Your travel insurer’s emergency assistance team can also help arrange for the medevac.

Coverage for Pre-existing Medical Conditions

You can also get a pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver if you buy coverage within a certain period, usually within 14 to 21 days of your initial trip deposit. This means medical expenses related to pre-existing conditions that arise during your trip will be covered.

Trip Cancellation Insurance

Trip cancellation insurance reimburses you 100% for the pre-paid and non-refundable deposits you lose if you have to cancel for a reason covered by the policy .

Trip Interruption Coverage

This will reimburse you for unused trip costs if your trip is cut short because of illness, injury, death, a family emergency back home or other reasons. Trip interruption insurance can also pay for the extra expenses of a trip interruption, such as a one-way plane ticket home on short notice. The reason for the interruption has to be listed in the policy.

“Cancel for Any Reason” (CFAR) Travel Insurance

Canceling for reasons that aren’t listed in the policy isn’t covered, unless you have already purchased a CFAR upgrade. This typically reimburses you 75% of trip costs, as long as you cancel at least 48 hours before your departure. Adding it increases a policy cost by an average of 50%.

For example, you could make a “cancel for any reason” claim if you’re worried about being seasick—a reason not covered by standard trip cancellation insurance. Buy this coverage shortly after you make your first trip deposit or the purchase window for it will close.

“Interruption for Any Reason” Travel Insurance

Cutting a trip short for reasons that aren’t listed in the policy aren’t covered, unless you have already purchased “interruption for any reason” travel insurance . This coverage typically reimburses you 75% of trip costs. It usually adds 3% to 10% to your travel insurance cost. You generally must buy it within 15 to 20 days of making your first trip deposit. Benefits don’t kick in until you are a specified amount of time into your trip, for example 48 or 72 hours.

Travel insurance companies currently offering “interruption for any reason” coverage include PrimeCover, Nationwide, Seven Corners, Travel Insured International and WorldTrips.

Additional Types of Travel Insurance for Cruises

A comprehensive travel insurance plan will package additional benefits such as travel delay insurance , baggage insurance and missed connection insurance .

The best travel insurance plans offer high levels of reimbursement and short waiting periods for benefits to go into effect when things go wrong. A travel insurance agent can help you match your concerns to the right travel insurance package.

A cruise travel insurance policy may also compensate you if your cruise ship is disabled and you’re stuck on board without power, food or water for a specified amount of time listed in your policy. For example, the WaveCare plan from Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection provides a flat $500 reimbursement for cruise disablement if you’re stuck on the ship for five hours or more without one of these: power, food, water or a restroom.

Typically, cruise insurance also provides a 24/7 hotline for travel emergencies.

The average cost of cruise insurance is $453 per trip, based on our analysis of rates for 40 cruise travel insurance plans.

Cruise insurance costs will generally depend on your age and the cost and length of your trip. Below are examples of cruise insurance costs for the top-rated companies in our analysis.

You can buy cruise insurance from your cruise line, through a travel agent or from a travel insurance agent or company.

Although you can purchase a policy right up to your departure, there are advantages to buying travel insurance right after booking your trip . One is that you can maximize the length of your trip cancellation coverage. For example, if you buy a travel insurance policy three months before your departure and get seriously injured a week before you leave, you can file a trip cancellation claim.

Buying cruise insurance within the first two weeks or so of making your first trip deposit also qualifies you for additional coverage. This can include a pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver or a “cancel for any reason” travel insurance (CFAR) upgrade, depending on the policy.

CFAR allows you to recoup 50% or 75% of your forfeited, non-refundable trip costs, depending on your policy. You must cancel at least 48 hours prior to your departure. CFAR increases your travel insurance cost by about 50%.

If the dates of your trip change, your travel insurance company should allow you to change the dates of your policy to match the new travel dates. You can also add items to your itinerary later—such as shore excursions—and then add them to your travel insurance coverage.

Cruise lines departing from the U.S. generally do not require travel insurance. But it’s a good idea to buy a policy that includes travel medical insurance and emergency evacuation insurance. That’s because U.S. health insurance is unlikely to cover you if you travel outside of the United States.

EXPERT TIPS

How to Get Travel Insurance for a Cruise

Penny Gusner

Insurance Senior Writer

Insurance Lead Editor

Michelle Megna

Ashlee Valentine

Insurance Editor

Les Masterson

Understand What Cruise Insurance Covers

I suggest you read sample policies online while you’re shopping around. You can learn the finer details and become familiar with how much you’ll be compensated for if you file a travel insurance claim. That way you won’t get any unpleasant surprises about what’s covered and what isn’t.

Assess Your Needs

I think it’s smart to think about your personal circumstances before you start shopping. For example, If you’re worried about a problem at home potentially escalating before or after your departure, you should look for policies that offer “cancel for any reason” and “interruption for any reason” upgrades.

Buy Travel Medical Insurance

I don’t think many people realize that cruise companies generally don’t accept your health insurance coverage if you get sick or injured while on your trip. Medicare Parts A and B may provide coverage in limited cases—for example, if you’re in a U.S. port or no more than six hours away from one. That’s why it’s important to buy travel medical insurance with ample benefits when you purchase a policy for a cruise.

Get An Annual Plan for Frequent Travelers

My advice for those planning on taking multiple trips is to consider an annual travel insurance plan . It’s more affordable than buying multiple policies during one year and all your trips will be covered.

Compare Cruise Insurance Policies

I recommend shopping around and comparing policies from multiple travel insurance companies. The price can vary from one company to another for similar benefits.

Cruise insurance is worth it if you don’t want to risk losing the non-refundable money you invested in your trip if the unexpected happens. For example, let’s say you missed the boat. Cruise insurance can pay for you to rejoin the cruise if you can’t board on time because of an issue covered by the policy, such as severe weather.

The average cost of travel insurance is 5% to 6% of your trip cost, according to our analysis of travel insurance rates. That means cruise insurance might be worth it if:

• Your non-refundable trip costs are much more than you can afford to lose.
• You are traveling internationally and your U.S. health plan has limited coverage abroad.
• You are traveling to a remote area with limited health care facilities and want insurance that will pay for medical transportation to an adequate medical facility.
• You are traveling to a hurricane-prone area where your trip could be scuttled due to weather.
• Your trip involves connecting flights or multiple destinations, which increase the chances of travel delays and lost baggage.
• You want to be partially reimbursed if you decide to cancel your trip or return home early for any reason.

I’ve unfortunately filed several cruise insurance claims in recent years, but I’m so grateful I had coverage. When my father passed away on the day we were set to depart, insurance reimbursed us over $3,000 for the trip cancellation. Later, my wife and I tested positive for Covid-19 in Paris right before our river cruise. We had to cancel and pay for a week’s stay in a pricey hotel, but insurance covered the entire $12,000 claim. Most recently, I was diagnosed with cancer before a cruise and had to cancel for surgery. The documentation was complex, but our policy paid the remaining $2,000 to $3,000 after refunds without hesitation. Travel insurance gave us peace of mind through it all.

– David R., Texas

To find the best cruise insurance, Forbes Advisor analyzed travel insurance data to score travel insurance policies based on the following factors. We include only travel insurance policies that include missed connection coverage.

Read more: How Forbes Advisor Rates Travel Insurance Companies

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

Get Forbes Advisor’s ratings of the best insurance companies and helpful information on how to find the best travel, auto, home, health, life, pet, and small business coverage for your needs.

If I cancel my cruise without insurance can I get a refund?

You may qualify for a refund if you cancel a cruise without travel insurance, but the specifics depend on the refund rules outlined by the cruise company. Typically, the closer to the departure date, the less likely it is you’ll get a refund. For example,  if you cancel your cruise 90 days or more before departure, you may get a refund, minus the non-refundable deposit. But if you cancel 30 days or less, you may not get any of your money back.

Even if you have travel insurance, you wouldn’t be eligible to file a cancellation claim if your cruise company provides refunds. Travel insurance only compensates you for prepaid, non-refundable trip costs.

How do I buy cruise insurance for a long-duration cruise?

The coverage in many travel insurance policies will max out at 90 days, so you’ll need to look for a travel insurance policy that can provide coverage for a long trip length.

For example, Allianz Global Assistance ’s OneTrip Premier Plan can cover a trip up to 366 days and includes $200,000 in trip cancellation coverage and $1 million in emergency medical evacuation benefits. It also provides trip cancellation coverage in the event that there is an NOAA hurricane warning at your destination.

How do I buy insurance for cruise shore excursions?

If your shore excursions are pricey, insure the non-refundable deposits for the excursions and the cruise. If your excursions are included in the cruise cost, you would simply insure the cruise trip cost.

Travel medical insurance can cover medical expenses you incur while on and off the ship. But if your excursions involve adventure activities or extreme sports, be aware that many travel policies exclude these from coverage. Still, there are adventure travel policies and optional upgrades that will cover injuries due to activities such as mountain climbing, parasailing, skydiving and hot air ballooning.

Review your policy to be sure the plan you’re buying will cover your adventurous fun. If it doesn’t, ask about an adventure sports add-on, or consider a company such as World Nomads that caters to the adventurous traveler.

Do I need a special cruise insurance plan?

You don’t need a travel insurance plan that’s specifically for cruises. Any good travel insurance policy with generous medical coverage and the other benefits you want can be the best cruise insurance for you.

Can you buy cruise insurance after booking?

You can buy cruise insurance after booking your trip, right up until just before departure. The downside to waiting is that you likely won’t be able to cover pre-existing medical conditions, and you’ll lose the option to add “cancel for any reason” coverage .

Buying right after you book also lets you lock in trip cancellation coverage right away.

Can I cancel a cruise without insurance?

You can cancel a cruise, but you may have to pay a cancellation penalty. You could also lose the cost of pre-paid shore excursions. If you don’t have travel insurance for these losses, check the credit card you used for booking. Some credit cards include trip cancellation coverage .

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Michelle is a lead editor at Forbes Advisor. She has been a journalist for over 35 years, writing about insurance for consumers for the last decade. Prior to covering insurance, Michelle was a lifestyle reporter at the New York Daily News, a magazine editor covering consumer technology, a foreign correspondent for Time and various newswires and local newspaper reporter.

June 1, 2020

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Travel Insurance for Cruises

When experienced cruisers are about to set sail, they choose Allianz Travel Insurance to protect their cruise. Why? Because when you’re at sea, small mishaps quickly become major problems. Travel insurance can help make things right.

If the ship sails without you because your flight to Miami was delayed, travel delay benefits can help you catch up. If you break your leg and have to cancel your trip, the cruise line won't reimburse you—but travel insurance can. And if you suffer a medical crisis on board, travel insurance can cover your evacuation and emergency medical care.

Here’s the best part: Allianz Travel Insurance is much more than cruise travel insurance. Our plans can protect your flights, hotel stays, cruise excursions, and just about any other kind of travel. Learn about the options and insure your next cruise, so you can leave your worries at the dock.

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Cruise Line Insurance Plan Comparison

Every cruise line offers some kind of protection plan to it passengers. Should you buy it?...

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

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

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Cruise Insurance: Why You Need It + 4 Best Options for 2024

Seven Corners »

Travelex Insurance Services »

AXA Assistance USA »

Berkshire hathaway travel protection ».

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 Best Cruise Insurance Plans.

Table of Contents

• Seven Corners
• Travelex Insurance Services

Cruise vacations come with the same considerations as any other trip, including the potential for trip cancellations, trip interruptions, unforeseen medical expenses and even a need for emergency medical evacuation. Add in the potential for unruly weather during hurricane season , and it's easy to see why cruise insurance plans are so popular and recommended.

Read on to find out which cruise travel insurance plans U.S. News recommends and how they can protect the investment you made in a cruise when something goes wrong.

Frequently Asked Questions:

All cruise insurance plans are unique, and some have different coverages than others. However, most travel insurance plans for cruises cover the following:

• Trip delays, interruptions and cancellations: This kind of coverage is essential any time of the year, but especially during hurricane season when storms can impact your travel plans. 
• Protection for medical emergencies: This type of coverage can help pay for unexpected medical bills if you're injured on board the ship or hurt during a shore excursion. You can also choose a cruise insurance plan that covers emergency medical evacuation from the ship or to the nearest hospital.
• Coverage for lost or delayed baggage: Coverage for baggage is important for cruises just like any other trip. This type of insurance can pay for essential items you need to buy if your bags are lost or stolen and don't make it on the ship. 

With each of these protections, a coverage limit is listed with your plan. This means you may get reimbursed for your losses or prepaid travel expenses up to this limit, but only when a covered reason applies to your claim.

One of the main reasons to buy cruise insurance is for medical emergencies. Note that, once you're on a cruise ship or visiting a destination outside the United States, your own U.S. health insurance plan will not apply. The same truth applies if you have government health coverage like Medicare.

You can purchase cruise insurance through your cruise line, but these plans are often very basic with low limits for medical expenses and other coverages. For example, cruise line travel insurance policies often come with just $25,000 in coverage for emergency medical expenses and up to $50,000 in coverage for emergency medical evacuation, which may not be enough.

Fortunately, you can buy cruise insurance from any travel insurance provider when planning this type of trip. By buying coverage from an independent travel insurance provider instead of your cruise line, you get to select the exact coverages and limits you need for the best protection possible.

• Seven Corners: Best Overall
• Travelex Insurance Services: Best for Families
• AXA Assistance USA: Best for Medical Emergencies
• Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection: Best Cost

Plan is cruise-specific

Get coverage for missed cruise connections and tours

Medical expense coverage is secondary if you opt for lower-tier Basic plan

• Up to 150% in reimbursement for trip interruption
• Up to $250 per person, per day in trip delay coverage ($2,000 maximum)
• Up to $250 per day in missed tour or cruise connection coverage ($1,500 maximum)
• Primary emergency medical expense coverage worth up to $500,000
• Medical evacuation and repatriation of remains coverage worth up to $1 million
• Political and security evacuation coverage worth up to $20,000
• Up to $2,500 in protection for baggage and personal effects (limit per item of $250)
• Up to $100 per day ($500 maximum) in coverage for baggage delays of six hours or more

SEE FULL REVIEW »

Travel Select plan offers coverage with pricing for kids included

Customize your plan with additional medical coverage, adventure sports coverage and more

Only $1,000 in coverage for baggage and personal effects

$200 maximum coverage for baggage delays

• Trip cancellation coverage worth up to 100% of total trip cost (maximum $50,000)
• Trip interruption coverage worth up to 150% of trip cost (maximum $75,000)
• $2,000 in trip delay coverage for a delay of at least five hours ($250 per day)
• $750 in coverage for missed connections (delay of at least three hours required)
• Emergency medical expense coverage worth up to $50,000 (dental emergency sublimit of $500 included)
• Emergency medical evacuation coverage worth up to $500,000
• $1,000 in protection for baggage and personal effects
• Up to $200 in coverage for baggage delays (at least 12-hour delay required)
• Travel assistance services

Provides comprehensive coverage for all aspects of cruising

High policy limits for medical expenses and emergency evacuation

Does not offer cruise-specific travel insurance

• Trip cancellation coverage up to 100%
• Trip interruption protection up to 150%
• $1,250 in travel delay coverage ($300 per day)
• $1,500 in protection for missed connections
• Emergency accident and sickness coverage up to $250,000
• Emergency medical evacuation coverage up to $1 million
• Nonmedical emergency evacuation coverage up to $100,000
• $50,000 in accidental death and dismemberment coverage
• Baggage and personal item coverage up to $3,000
• Baggage delay coverage worth up to $600

Comes with enhanced medical and luggage benefits, protections for cruise ship disablement, and more

Cruise delay coverage kicks in after five hours

Baggage delay coverage is only for $200 and doesn't kick in for 24 hours

No option to purchase CFAR coverage

• Up to $75,000 in protection for emergency medical care
• Emergency evacuation and repatriation of remains coverage worth up to $750,000
• Cruise cancellation coverage for 100% of trip cost up to $25,000 per person
• Cruise interruption coverage for 150% of trip cost up to $37,500 per person
• Cruise delay coverage worth up to $1,000 ($200 per day for delays of five hours or more)
• Missed connection coverage worth up to $500 (for delay of three hours or more)
• Cruise ship disablement coverage worth up to $500
• Up to $1,500 in coverage for baggage and personal effects

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is a professional travel writer who has covered international travel, travel insurance and cruises for more than a decade. Johnson has researched and compared all the top travel insurance options for her own family for trips to more than 50 countries, some of which have included cruises all over the world. Johnson lives in Indiana with her two children and her husband, Greg – a travel agent who has been licensed to sell travel insurance in 50 states.

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• Best overall
• Best for affordability
• Best for seniors
• Best for expensive trips
• Best for exotic locations
• Why You Should Trust Us

Best Cruise Travel Insurance of September 2024: Top Coverage Tips for Cruises

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

A cruise vacation can take much of the stress out of planning a vacation. With a pre-set itinerary on the high seas, you don't have to worry about how you're getting to your destination and what you're going to do there. However, an unexpected emergency can take the wind out of your sails and money out of your travel budget. So you'll want to ensure you have the best cruise insurance plan that won't leave you high and dry in an emergency.

Best Cruise Insurance Plans of 2024 Summary

• Best overall: Nationwide Travel Insurance
• Best for affordability: AXA Assistance USA
• Best for seniors: Seven Corners Travel Insurance
• Best for expensive trips: HTH Worldwide Travel Insurance
• Best for exotic locations: World Nomads Travel Insurance

Top Cruise Travel Insurance Company Comparison

While booking a cruise takes off much of the pressure when coming up with itineraries, your trip can still encounter several hitches, which is where cruise travel comes in. The best cruise travel insurance will have high coverage limits on emergency medical evacuations, as sea to land evacuations can be expensive. They'll offer coverage for baggage delay, trip interruption, and it might be a good idea to have some adventure sports coverage if you plan on participating in any outdoor activities like snorkeling or scuba diving. 

Here are our picks for the best cruise travel insurance companies in 2024.

Best Cruise Insurance Overall

Nationwide travel insurance.

Nationwide is a long-standing and reputable brand within the insurance marketplace that offers cruise insurance plans with solid coverage and reasonable rates.

It has three cruise insurance options: Universal, Choice, and Luxury. The Nationwide Choice plan, for example, offers $100,000 in emergency medical coverage and $500,000 in emergency medical evacuation coverage. It also offers $250 for itinerary changes that caused you to miss pre-paid excursions, from $250 up to $1,000 depending on the plan.

The right plan for you depends on your budget and coverage needs. But each plan offers cruise-specific coverages like ship-based mechanical breakdowns, coverage for missed prepaid excursions if your cruise itinerary changes, and covered service disruptions aboard the cruise ship.

Read our Nationwide Travel Insurance review .

Best Cruise Insurance for Affordability

Axa assistance usa.

AXA offers three comprehensive coverage plans: Gold, Silver, and Platinum. Each of these plans offers coverage for issues like missed flights, medical emergencies, lost luggage, and more.

The highest-tier Platinum plan provides $250,000 in medical emergency coverage and $1 million in medical evacuation coverage. The baggage loss coverage is $3,000 per person, and their missed connection coverage is $1,500 per person for cruises and tours.

In addition, travelers can take advantage of AXA's concierge service, which provides an extensive network of international service providers. They'll be able to assist you with things like restaurant reservations and referrals, golf course information, and more. This service could come in handy if you're stopping at a variety of unfamiliar destinations during your cruise.

The coverage limits on AXA's policies are on the higher end compared to other providers. And you can buy coverage for a little as 4% of your trip cost depending on your age, travel destination, and state of residence.

Read our AXA Travel Insurance review .

Best Cruise Insurance for Seniors

Seven corners travel insurance.

Seven Corners Travel Insurance lets cruisers enjoy traveling in their golden years with the knowledge they're covered in the event of an accident or emergency. While other providers do offer coverage to those 80+ years old, Seven Corners is known for its affordable premiums while offering above-average medical expenses and medical evacuation coverage limits — two areas of travel insurance coverage that are even more important as we get older.

Seven Corners also offers the option of a pre-existing conditions waiver and CFAR insurance at an additional cost, plus "Trip Interruption for Any Reason" coverage, which you won't find on many policies.

You can choose between the Trip Protection Basic or Trip Protection Choice plans, with the higher-tier Choice plan costing more but providing more coverage.

Read our Seven Corners travel insurance review . 

Best Cruise Insurance for Expensive Trips

Hth worldwide travel insurance.

HTH Worldwide is one of the cheapest travel insurance companies . It offers three levels of trip protection: TripProtector Economy, Classic, and Preferred. The higher the tier, the more coverage you'll get for things like baggage delays, trip delays & cancellations, and medical expenses. But their premiums remain reasonable even at the highest tier of coverage.

Not only does the HTH Worldwide Trip Protector Preferred plan offer higher-than-average medical emergency and evacuation coverage limits ($500,000 and $1 million, respectively), but you'll also get a baggage loss coverage limit of $2,000 per person and coverage for trip interruption of up to 200% of the trip cost. You also have the option to add CFAR coverage for an additional cost, as long as you purchase within 21 days of your initial trip deposit.

Read our HTH Worldwide travel insurance review .

Best Cruise Insurance for Exotic Locations

World nomads travel insurance.

World Nomads has been a top choice for comprehensive travel insurance for many years now. And it's a great option when it comes to cruise coverage, too.

Even the most basic Standard Plan comes with $100,000 in medical emergency coverage and $300,000 in emergency evacuation coverage. And you'll get higher coverage limits with their Premium Plan. Plus, unlike many other providers, World Nomads trip cancellation and emergency medical coverage include COVID-19-related issues.

What sets World Nomads apart from many other insurance companies is that its policies cover 200+ adventure sports. This can be important for adventurous cruisers who plan to take part in activities like jet skiing, scuba diving, or parasailing during their cruise. Additionally, World Nomads is one of the few travel insurance providers that sells policies to people who have already departed for their trip. However, you'll have to wait 72 hours before the policy kicks in.

Read our World Nomads travel nsurance review .

Introduction to Cruise Insurance

Cruise insurance may offer unique coverage like missed port of call and medical evacuation coverage. You might not need the flight protections of a regular travel insurance plan if you're catching a cruise at a port near you, but medical and cancel for any reason coverage could be critical. The best travel insurance plans will provide flexibility to add coverage options to fit your travels needs.

Understanding the Basics of Cruise Insurance

At its core, cruise insurance is your financial lifeboat, designed to protect you from unforeseen events that could disrupt your sea voyage. Whether it's a sudden illness, adverse weather, or other unexpected occurrences, having the right insurance can make a world of difference.

Why Cruise Insurance is Important

Picture this: You're all set for your dream cruise, but a sudden family emergency means you can't set sail. Or worse, you fall ill in the middle of the ocean. Without cruise insurance, you're not just missing out on an adventure, but also facing potentially huge financial losses. That's why securing cruise insurance isn't just recommended; it's a crucial part of your cruise planning.

Types of Cruise Insurance Coverage

Cruise insurance isn't a one-size-fits-all life jacket. There are various types of coverage, each tailored to protect different aspects of your cruise experience.

Trip Cancellation and Interruption Coverage

This coverage is like your safety net, catching you financially if you need to cancel your trip last minute or cut it short due to emergencies, be it due to personal, health-related, or even certain work conflicts. Interruption coverage should also include coverage for missed stops on your cruise.

Medical Coverage

Being on a cruise shouldn't mean being adrift from medical care. Travel medical coverage ensures that if you fall ill or get injured, your medical expenses won't sink your finances. 

When you purchase travel medical insurance, be sure to note whether your coverage is primary or secondary. Secondary insurance means you'll need to file a claim with your primary insurance provider before filing with your travel insurance provider. 

Emergency Evacuation Coverage

In the rare case that you need to be evacuated from the ship due to a medical emergency or severe weather, this coverage ensures you're not left adrift in a sea of expenses. You'll want high coverage limits for emergency evacuation, as sea-to-land evacuations can be costly. 

Baggage and Personal Effects Coverage

Imagine reaching your dream destination only to find your luggage lost at sea. This coverage ensures that lost, stolen, or damaged baggage doesn't dampen your cruise experience. It'll reimburse you for any money you spent replacing items while traveling. 

Adventure Sports Coverage

Cruises often offer activities that can be classified as adventure sports, such as snorkeling and scuba diving. Medical treatment for injuries sustained while participating in these activities isn't normally covered under normal travel medical coverage. You'll want to ensure that your policy explicitly includes these policies or offers an add-on for adventure sports coverage. 

Tips for Buying Cruise Insurance

Securing the best cruise insurance isn't just about finding the best price; it's about ensuring it covers all your potential needs. 

When to Purchase Cruise Insurance

It's always best to purchase cruise insurance soon after placing the initial deposit on your cruise. The sooner you buy your insurance, the quicker your trip is protected against a sudden cancellation. Additionally, most travel insurance plans have optional riders you can add to your policy as long as you purchase your policy within a certain window.

For example, cancel for any reason coverage often needs to be purchased within a purchasing window, which can last anywhere between a few days to three weeks from your initial trip deposit. You can also get coverage if you're traveling with pre-existing medical conditions under the same conditions by purchasing your policy early, depending on your provider. 

That said, most companies will let you buy travel insurance up until the day before your departure. There are some limited policies that you can purchase after you've left for your trip, such as Allianz OneTrip Emergency Medical  policy.

How to Find the Best Deals on Cruise Insurance

Keep a lookout for deals, but remember, the cheapest option isn't always the best. Balance cost with coverage, and ensure you're getting the protection you need at a price that doesn't rock your financial boat. A travel insurance comparison site like VisitorsCoverage and InsureMyTrip are good places to compare multiple quotes from all of the major carriers at once.

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed Cruise Insurance Plans

When comparing cruise travel insurance providers, we evaluated them based on the following criteria to come up with our list of top picks:

Customer Satisfaction

We look at ratings from JD Power and other industry giants to see where a company ranks in customer satisfaction. We also look at customer review sites like Trustpilot, SquareMouth , and InsureMyTrip to see what customers have to say, particularly about claims experience.

Policy Types

The most important part of any travel insurance company, we look at all the policies a company offers. While we looked at coverage limits, we also looked at options for multi-trip plans, travel medical insurance, and pre-existing condition coverage. We also considered policy flexibility and add ons that a company offers.

Average Premiums

We acquired quotes from various travel insurance companies using the same trip details. We compared these quotes side-by-side, taking into account the level of coverage each company offered for the price.

Claims Paid

We looked at how quickly a company processes and pays out on a claims. We also look at any favorable terms related to claims. For example, some companies will pay a claim with additional interest if they take longer than expected to pay out. 

We look at the company's overall behavior. Is it operating ethically? Companies can earn additional points for such behaviors.

You can read more about Business Insider's travel insurance rating methodology .

Best Cruise Travel Insurance FAQs

If you're booking a cruise, we recommend purchasing travel insurance when you make your first trip payment. That could be for the cruise itself or an expense like airfare to get you to your cruising destination. This way, if you have to cancel your trip, you'll have the most extended coverage period possible.

You can buy your own cruise insurance that isn't offered directly through the cruise line operator. In fact, this could be a better option if you want coverage for your travel to the cruise's departure point, not just for the cruise itself.

Your options for travel insurance is severely limited after your trip starts, but you still have a few options. World Nomads offers policies to people who have already departed on their cruise. However, once you buy coverage, you'll have to wait 72 hours before it kicks in.

The difference between traditional travel insurance and cruise insurance is that cruise insurance offers more specialized coverage, for situations such as missing a departure port and more coverage for medical evacuations, since it's more expensive to evacuate someone at sea than on land. 

Cruise insurance typically covers trip cancellations, interruptions, medical emergencies, emergency evacuations, and lost or damaged baggage, though coverage can vary based on the policy. You'll also find coverage for losses due to missed ports, such as prepaid excursions. 

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Smooth Sailing Ahead: Your Guide to Cruise Travel Insurance [2024]

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Table of Contents

The 5 best cruise travel insurance policies, what is cruise insurance, is cruise insurance worth it, cruise insurance costs, what cruise insurance covers, how to get cruise insurance, final thoughts.

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Taking a cruise is one of the easiest ways to travel, but cruising isn’t immune to unexpected hiccups. Sudden illness, travel delays, or other unforeseen events could cancel or interrupt your cruising plans — you might even need medical coverage. 

With cruise insurance, you’re covered for unexpected issues that can interfere with your travel plans . Read on to learn what cruise insurance is, how to get it, and how to find the best cruise insurance policies, whether you’re buying directly from the cruise line or a third-party insurance company.

The right cruise insurance policy offers the coverage you need at a good price, but policies aren’t one-size-fits-all. We’ve run quotes for various coverage scenarios — from seniors to adventure tours — to find the best cruise insurance policies . 

Consider these travel insurance policies for your next cruise:

Best Cruise Travel Insurance for Seniors: Seven Corners

Seniors cruising the world can get comprehensive coverage from Seven Corners Travel Insurance . We were quoted $89 for a 70-year-old cruising Mexico . The Seven Corners Trip Protection Basic policy offers trip cancellation and interruption, medical coverage, and medical evacuation, along with COVID-19 cancellation and medical coverage.

Comprehensive travel insurance, regardless of your age, is widely available and relatively affordable. Check out our complete guide to travel insurance for seniors .

Best Cruise Travel Insurance With COVID-19 Coverage: battleface

If you’re concerned about COVID-19 derailing your cruise travel plans, getting cruise travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage is essential. The battleface Discovery Plan covers COVID-19 cancellation and medical expenses, along with regular trip cancellation, medical evacuation, and medical emergency coverage. We were quoted $36.54 for a 35-year-old cruising Italy on this plan.

Best Cruise Travel Insurance for Young Travelers: Aegis

Young travelers often have the lowest-priced travel insurance policies. We got a quote for just $30.27 from Aegis for a 22-year-old cruising the Bahamas . The Aegis Go Ready Choice policy covers COVID-19 medical and cancellation, trip cancellation and interruption, medical evacuation, and medical expenses.

Best Cruise Travel Insurance for Adventure Tours: IMG

Are you planning adventurous excursions on your cruise? IMG’s iTravelInsured Travel Lite , with options for winter, adventure, and extreme sports, can give you the coverage you need. We were quoted $58.87 for a 40-year-old traveler cruising to Costa Rica with plans to zipline . It covers trip cancellation and interruption, medical expenses, medical evacuation, and adventure sports with some exclusions, such as diving and adventure races.

Your travel insurance might not cover everything you want to do — particularly if you plan on adventure activities. Here’s our complete guide to adventure and extreme sports travel insurance .

Best Cruise Travel Insurance, Cancel for Any Reason Coverage: John Hancock Insurance Agency

If you’re especially concerned you may need to cancel your cruise, Cancel for Any Reason coverage allows you to cancel your trip and receive partial reimbursement for nonrefundable trip expenses, even if you cancel for reasons not normally covered by trip cancellation coverage. We were quoted $100.50 for a 55-year-old cruising Alaska for John Hancock Insurance Agency’s Silver plan , which reimburses up to 75% of your trip cost under Cancel for Any Reason coverage. It also offers coverage for COVID-19 medical and cancellation, trip cancellation and interruption, and medical expenses and evacuation with primary coverage.

Cruise insurance is travel insurance that covers cruises . It can help you manage all the what-ifs on your cruise. What if you need to cancel your booking? What if your flight is late? What if you get sick or hurt? Travel insurance for cruises can cover you for all of these things. 

Many travel insurance policies cover cruises, but cruise insurance may be tailored to the risks of cruises, covering transportation, accommodations, and activities. Getting travel insurance for cruises can offer peace of mind if you’re concerned about losing nonrefundable trip payments, travel delays, or covering emergency medical care.

Cruise bookings can be unforgiving, and cruise insurance can help you minimize your risk of losing the money you’ve paid for your trip. Travel insurance coverage is often a good idea if you’re concerned about losing nonrefundable prepaid travel expenses or covering emergency medical expenses . 

Because cruises are often less flexible than other types of travel, it’s generally a good idea to get cruise travel insurance. For example, you might be able to rebook a flight or hotel room, but if you cancel your cruise, you could lose your deposit or more. Often, cruise lines won’t offer any refunds if you cancel within a certain period before your cruise, such as 14 or 30 days .

Additionally, you shouldn’t expect your U.S.-based health insurance plan to cover you on your cruise, especially if you’re on an international cruise. And it’s exceptionally expensive if you need to be evacuated for a medical condition.

While everyone hopes for smooth sailing, the reality is a lot of unexpected issues could pop up on your cruise. Your flight to the cruise port could be delayed, you might get sick or injured on your cruise, or you might have to cancel the whole thing if illness or obligations prevent you from going on your cruise. A hurricane could interfere with cruising in storm hotspots such as the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. 

Cruise insurance can offer financial support for many unexpected problems you might experience with a cruise. And with a 24-hour travel assistance hotline , you can get knowledgeable help whether you need to find a local pharmacy or coordinate the replacement of lost travel documents such as your passport.

That said, you might have travel insurance coverage available with a credit card . Some credit cards offer travel insurance benefits such as trip cancellation and interruption, emergency medical treatment and evacuation, and travel delay coverage. Still, you should check the details of your credit card’s coverage to ensure it’s enough for your needs. 

Looking for a credit card with travel protections? Read our guide to the best credit cards for travel insurance coverage and protection.

Generally, expect cruise insurance to cost between 5% to 10% of the total cost of your cruise . For a $3,000 cruise, you’ll typically pay between $150 to $300 for comprehensive travel insurance coverage. But keep in mind several factors influence the cost of cruise insurance, including:

• Add-ons, such as CFAR 
• Coverage options 
• Cruise cost 
• Deductibles and limits 
• Destination 
• Group policies 
• Traveler age 
• Trip duration

Learn more about travel insurance costs in our guide to the average cost of travel insurance .

Each travel insurance policy is unique, but travel insurance for cruise coverage typically includes:

• 24/7 Assistance: You can get 24/7 support for itinerary changes, rebooking, medical emergencies, and more.
• Baggage Protection: Your luggage is covered for loss, theft, or damage on your flight or during your cruise.
• Cabin Confinement: You may get reimbursement if you have to stay in your cabin during your cruise, such as a required quarantine due to COVID-19.
• Cancel for Any Reason: Usually available as an add-on, CFAR travel insurance allows you to cancel your cruise for any reason and receive a partial reimbursement of your nonrefundable travel expenses.
• Itinerary Changes: You can get covered for changes in your cruise’s itinerary, missed port calls, or extended delays beyond your control.
• Missed Connections: If you miss your cruise departure due to a flight delay or other covered reason, you can get reimbursed for your nonrefundable travel expenses.
• Medical Emergencies: Cruise insurance can cover medical treatment on the cruise and may offer coverage for medical evacuation.
• Trip Cancellation or Interruption: You can get reimbursed for your nonrefundable travel expenses if you cancel your cruise or end your trip early due to covered reasons such as illness or injury. You’re typically covered if the cruise line cancels due to mechanical issues, weather, or other unforeseen events.

Cruise-specific travel insurance may also offer reimbursement if your cruise ship is disabled. And if you want to cover shore excursions, be sure to include the cost of excursions in your total travel cost when you get quotes for cruise insurance.

While these coverage types are common among cruise insurance policies, checking the terms and conditions to confirm all coverage areas is a good idea.

Types of Cruise Insurance

There are many options for travel insurance, and you can generally choose as little or as much coverage as you’d like. You can opt for a comprehensive travel insurance policy, which may offer Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) coverage, or you might prefer to limit your costs and choose just the coverage you need. For example, you might choose standalone trip cancellation insurance or a travel medical insurance policy but decide you don’t need coverage for missed connections or baggage.

What To Look for in a Cruise Travel Insurance Policy

Consider these factors as you compare the best cruise travel insurance policies:

• Cancellation Window: Understand how many days before your cruise departure you must cancel to qualify for reimbursement.
• Coverage Availability: Travel insurance policies typically offer cruise coverage, but it’s best to confirm that a policy specifically covers cruises before you purchase it. Also, consider availability for coverages that may be important to you, such as CFAR or adventure sports. 
• Customer Reviews and Reputation: You can get insight into the insurance provider and how claims and customer service work by reading customer reviews and ratings.
• Eligibility Criteria: Cruise insurance policies may have eligibility criteria such as limits on age or trip duration and preexisting conditions. For example, some travel insurance policies max out at 90 days.
• Exclusions and Limitations: Read the policy to understand what’s excluded or limited specifically to cruise-related coverage, such as reimbursements for port closures, itinerary changes, or medical incidents on the cruise.
• Policy Cost: Get multiple quotes and compare each cost and coverage value to ensure you get a good value for your cruise insurance policy.
• Purchase Timeline: You’ll usually need to purchase your cruise insurance within a certain period of booking your trip, so be sure you’re buying your policy within that timeframe.
• Reimbursement Structure: Review the cruise insurance policy to confirm how much you can be reimbursed for under qualifying circumstances, such as if you need to cancel or interrupt your trip.

You can buy cruise insurance from the cruise line when you book, or a travel agent may offer cruise insurance plans. You also have the option to purchase cruise trip insurance independently. It’s a good idea to get multiple quotes to compare your costs and coverage and get the best deal on cruise insurance.

You should buy cruise insurance when you make your first deposit so you’re immediately covered for trip cancellation. Here are some of the options and coverages if you purchase cruise insurance directly from the cruise line:

Before you purchase cruise insurance from a cruise line, compare your third-party options. You can get quotes from multiple travel insurance companies at once using a travel insurance aggregator such as Squaremouth .

Even a meticulously planned cruise can run into unforeseen disruptions — and cruise insurance can come in handy for the unexpected.

Cruise insurance covers you for sudden illnesses, travel delays, and more, offering financial protection so you’re safeguarded against uncertainties. Whether you get cruise insurance from the cruise line or third–party insurance providers, understand your coverage and how it protects your investment in cruise travel.

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Top 6 Best Cruise Insurance Plans of September 2024

• Based on the  MarketWatch  Guides industry-wide review of the travel insurance policies,  Nationwide, Faye and Allianz offer the best cruise insurance.
• Cruise insurance can help protect your vacation by reimbursing prepaid, nonrefundable expenses in unexpected situations such as emergency medical bills and costs related to baggage loss.
• Our team evaluated 64 cruise plans to identify the top options for your next cruise. We score plans based on cruise-specific options, average cost, policy coverage, medical coverage and evacuation limits.

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

Kelly Larson is a senior editor with 14 years of experience creating and optimizing data-driven, reader-focused digital content. Kelly enjoys running and exploring the outdoors with his sons.

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

The Best Cruise Insurance Plans for 2024

To determine the best cruise insurance options for our review, we collected several sample quotes, carefully examined policy and coverage details, and evaluated providers with specialized cruising plans. Our thorough research found that the following travel insurance companies provide the best cruise insurance plans in the industry.

Here are our top picks for the best cruise insurance companies:

• Nationwide Travel Insurance: Our top pick
• Allianz Global Assistance: Best for concierge services
• AIG Travel Guard: Best for families
• Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection : Best for luxury travelers
• Travelex Insurance : Best for budget travelers
• Trawick International : Best for student travel insurance

How We Picked the Best Cruise Insurance Companies

To recommend the best providers to our readers, we looked for the following factors when evaluating coverage options for cruise insurance:

• Cruise-specific plan options: Our team sought out travel insurance providers that offer cruise-specific plans with coverages not found on standard policies, such as shipboard service disruption coverage, prepaid excursion reimbursement and more.
• Medical coverage: This protection helps pay for medical care at a local facility if you’re injured on your cruise. Companies with more generous medical coverage limits ranked higher in our roundup.
• Medical evacuation: We prioritized companies offering higher medical evacuation coverage, which can benefit you depending on how long and far you are from a port while on the cruise ship.
• Coverage maximums: We considered whether a provider offered higher-value coverage options for travelers planning longer trips or opting for an all-inclusive luxury package.
• Cost: We requested sample quotes from dozens of travel insurance providers and compared price and coverage options to determine the insurer offering the best values.

Nationwide Travel Insurance

Why We Picked Nationwide for Cruise Insurance

After earning 4.6 out of 5 stars when rated using our travel insurance methodology, we chose Nationwide as one of the best cruise insurance options for these reasons:

• Nationwide offers plans specifically for cruises with benefits such as shipboard service disruption, prepaid excursion reimbursement and missed connection benefits.
• Cruise-specific policies include medical and non-medical evacuation coverage.
• Nationwide covers up to 100% of your total trip costs for a covered cancellation and up to 150% of your total costs for trip interruption.

Pros and Cons

Allianz global assistance.

Why We Picked Allianz for Cruise Insurance

Allianz earned 4.1 out of 5 stars when rated using our travel insurance methodology, and we chose it as one of the best cruise insurance options for these reasons:

• Allianz extends free coverage for children 17 and under when you choose the OneTrip Prime plan, which can be ideal for families cruising together.
• Epidemic coverage includes trip cancellation, interruption, travel delays, emergency medical care and emergency transportation.
• Trip change protector coverage can reimburse you the fees or extra expenses incurred if you need to change your cruise itinerary for a reason listed in your policy.

AIG Travel Guard

Why We Picked AIG Travel Guard for Cruise Insurance

AIG Travel Guard earned 4.6 out of 5 stars when rated using our travel insurance methodology, and we chose it as one of the best cruise insurance options for these reasons:

• If you or your traveling companion lose your life or limbs during your cruise, AIG Travel Guard offers non-flight accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.
• AIG’s Preferred Plan includes one free child aged 17 and under with each paying adult on your policy.
•  You’ll find an array of policy add-ons with AIG such as CFAR coverage, adventure sports coverage, pet coverage and more that can offer you additional protection.

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection

Why We Picked Berkshire Hathaway for Cruise Insurance

Berkshire Hathaway earned 4.6 out of 5 stars when rated using our travel insurance methodology, landing a spot on our best cruise insurance due to the following:

• WaveCare® covers up to 100% of your total trip costs for covered cancellations and 150% of your total trip costs for covered interruptions.
• Berkshire Hathaway’s cruise-specific plan offers coverage beyond the norm, including cruise disablement, cruise diversion and river cruise diversion coverage.
• WaveCare® provides coverage for emergency evacuation and repatriation up to $750,000.

Why We Picked Travelex for Cruise Insurance

Travelex earned 4.7 out of 5 stars when rated using our travel insurance methodology — the highest score out of all providers we’ve reviewed. It landed a spot on our best cruise insurance list for the following reasons:

• Travelex offers some of the most affordable plans of the providers on our list, and allows parents to extend coverage to their children for a slightly higher rate.
• Add-on coverages available through the Travel Basic plan include car rental collision coverage and flight accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D).
• The Travel Basic policy has no deductible and is considered a primary coverage plan.

Trawick International

Why We Picked Trawick International for Cruise Insurance

We awarded AXA Assistance USA a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. We’ve included it on our list of the best cruise insurance providers for these reasons:

• The Safe Travels Voyager plan, marketed as Trawick’s most popular cruise insurance coverage, includes 30 covered reasons for trip cancellation.
• Trawick offers various optional add-on benefits, such as CFAR coverage, 24-hour AD&D, trip interruption for any reason (IFAR) coverage and more.
• Trawick provides a stipend for a hospital companion to evacuate with you during a medical emergency.

What To Look For in Cruise Insurance

According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) 2023 State of the Cruise Industry Report , cruising continues to be one of the fastest-growing sectors of tourism, with a projected 36 million people choosing a cruise vacation in 2024. While purchasing travel insurance to cover your cruise vacation is a personal decision, there are some coverages to look for that can enhance your policy.

• Travel medical insurance : If you’re worried about illnesses or potential injuries during your cruise, travel medical insurance covers medical expenses up to a maximum amount.
• Emergency medical evacuation coverage : If you suffer a medical emergency and require transport to a hospital while at sea, emergency medical evacuation coverage can help cover expenses associated with transport.
• Trip cancelation insurance : If you’d like to recoup any prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses if you need to cancel your trip, trip cancelation insurance can reimburse you if the event is covered under policy terms.
• Trip interruption insurance : If your trip is cut short for a reason covered with your travel insurance policy, trip interruption coverage can provide reimbursement for any unused travel expenses.
• Cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage : If you’re concerned about canceling your trip for a reason not listed under a policy’s coverage terms, consider cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage , which allows you to cancel your trip for virtually any reason.

Travel medical insurance is especially worth considering if you’re cruising abroad, as domestic healthcare may provide limited to no coverage out of the country.

If you’re looking at plans explicitly marketed for cruises, you may find unique benefits like cruise diversion, disablement and prepaid excursion reimbursement. Other benefits to look for with a cruise insurance policy include travel delay coverage, baggage insurance and missed connection coverage. If you’re worried about coverage for pre-existing conditions or COVID-19, check if a plan offers these protections as you shop around.

Compare The Best Cruise Insurance Plans

See the table below for a direct comparison of our picks for the top cruise insurance plans, including average costs, our recommended plan and CFAR coverage amounts.

What Is Cruise Insurance and How Does It Work?

Cruise insurance is synonymous with travel insurance, and it can be any policy that offers the coverage you’re looking for to protect your trip expenses. While some providers offer plans marketed toward cruisegoers, many standard, comprehensive travel insurance policies provide coverages worth considering for cruise protection.

A cruise insurance policy works just like travel insurance. Your policy will cover you for the duration of your cruise and can cover a single person or a whole family. When a covered event occurs, you’ll file a claim with your chosen provider for reimbursement of expenses or financial losses. Note that all cruise insurance policies have exclusions, so read the fine print of your plan before you purchase it.

What Does Cruise Insurance Cover?

Depending on your choice of plan, cruise insurance can provide the following coverages:

Created with Sketch Beta. Medical expense coverage : Travel medical insurance can cover your medical bills if you get ill or injured on your cruise and need medical attention.

Created with Sketch Beta. Emergency medical evacuation coverage : Emergency medical evacuation coverage can provide transportation or evacuation to a medical facility from your cruise ship.

Created with Sketch Beta. Trip cancellation protection : Trip cancellation coverage can compensate you for non-refundable expenses if you cancel your trip for a reason covered by your policy.

Created with Sketch Beta. Trip interruption coverage : If you need to cut your cruise short, trip interruption coverage can provide reimbursement for any unused, non-refundable expenses.

Created with Sketch Beta. Trip delay protection : If your travel carrier delays your trip, you can receive reimbursement up to a set amount as outlined in your policy. 

Created with Sketch Beta. Baggage loss and delay coverage : If your baggage is damaged, stolen, missing or delayed during your trip, baggage loss and delay coverage can reimburse you for the items you packed in your luggage.

In addition, some cruise insurance plans offer coverages exclusively tailored to cruisegoers, such as cruise disablement coverage, prepaid excursion reimbursement, missed connection benefits and non-medical evacuation coverage. 

According to our research, you’ll also likely have access to a 24/7 hotline for travel emergencies — we’ve found this is a standard provision among travel insurance companies. If you’re looking for pre-existing condition coverage, many providers offer a waiver if you buy your coverage within a specific time frame from your initial trip deposit.

Is Cruise Insurance Required?

While cruise insurance isn’t typically legally required, it can be worth considering if you don’t want to risk your investment in your cruise booking. However, it’s best practice to check with your specific cruise line about any outstanding requirements around travel insurance. Even if travel insurance isn’t required, having coverages such as travel medical, trip interruption and trip cancellation cruise insurance can give you the peace of mind to enjoy your cruise fully.

When You Should Buy Cruise Insurance

If you plan on purchasing cruise insurance, it’s worth considering as soon as possible. For example, if you’d like emergency medical coverage through your cruise insurance policy to cover any pre-existing conditions, most travel insurance providers require you to purchase a policy within a certain number of days from when you make your first payment toward the cruise. You may not qualify for this waiver if you wait until the last minute to purchase your plan.

If your cruise is fast approaching and you’d still like to buy a policy, our research has found that some providers offer plans that can be purchased as late as 24 hours before your trip.

How Much Does Cruise Insurance Cost?

According to our analysis, the average cost of cruise insurance is $242. However, we found that the cost ranges from $81 to $500 and heavily depends on the total trip cost and age of the traveler.

The cost of cruise insurance can vary between customers. Your age, trip length, trip cost, plan type, number of travelers and destination all impact the overall premium you will pay. According to our research, trip cost, and age impact cost the most, with older travelers typically paying much more than younger travelers for the same trip.

The best way to determine what you will pay for your coverage is to get a quote. According to data from Berkshire Hathaway, you can expect to pay between 5% and 10% of your total cruise vacation price for insurance.

To help you get a better idea of what you might pay for cruise insurance, we requested multiple quotes from the providers in our review using various sample traveler profiles. The table below summarizes our findings:

To calculate costs, we collected quotes for each of the following trips and traveler profiles:

• 70-year-old couple taking a $3,000, seven-day cruise in Mexico
• 65-year-old taking a $1,200, five-day cruise in the Bahamas
• 34-year-old couple taking a $6,000, seven-day cruise in Greece
• 21-year-old taking a $900, five-day cruise in the Caribbean

How To Buy Cruise Insurance

You can purchase cruise insurance online and at your convenience. If you’d like to speak with a customer service representative about any questions or concerns about a policy, most travel insurance companies provide a phone number and contact information at the top of their website.

To start gathering quotes, head online to the quote portal of the company of your choice. For this example, we’ll walk you through getting a quote with Nationwide, our top pick for cruise insurance. We were asked to provide some trip details and personal information right away, such as our cruise line, destination, travel dates, total trip costs and more.

Once you’ve provided the information needed, you’ll be taken to your plan choices and their associated costs. Like many other cruise insurers, Nationwide offers a sample plan contract for you to read through, as well as coverage details to help you fully understand what’s covered or excluded with your policy.

After making your plan choice, you’ll need to provide more information on you and your traveling companions. From there, you’ll be able to finalize your purchase and be ready to cruise with protections in place that can help you navigate unexpected situations. While every cruise insurer’s purchasing process won’t look exactly the same, most follow the same format and will require the same information to purchase a policy.

Can You Buy Cancel For Any Reason Insurance for Cruises?

In short, yes, you can purchase travel insurance with cancel for any reason (CFAR) add-ons for a variety of travel insurance companies and plans. Cancel for any reason, coverage often time won’t cover the full value or price of your trip, but if you need to cancel for whatever reason, it is better to have some degree of coverage and get a partial refund than have to lose out on a trip and the monetary value behind it. Below is a list of CFAR coverage amounts for our recommended cruise travel insurance providers.

Is Cruise Insurance Worth It?

Determining whether cruise insurance is worth it is a personal decision. Cruises can get expensive quickly, so if you’re embarking on a 14-day international cruise that you’ve spent months saving up for, you may prefer to protect your investment. Spending a fraction of your total cruise expenses on insurance can help prevent you from forfeiting the entire cost of a non-refundable trip should the worst happen.

According to our 2024 travel insurance survey, of the 165 respondents who bought a policy for an upcoming cruise, 97% claim that travel insurance is worth it, with the majority citing peace of mind as the reason.

Angela Borden, a product marketing specialist at Seven Corners, noted that “When you’ve made a financial investment in your trip or need to protect your health when you travel, travel insurance is 100% worth it.” She also pointed out that coverage can help you recoup your expenses if the unexpected happens. 

“Travel insurance can also reimburse you if your belongings are lost, stolen, or damaged and you need to replace them during your trip,” she added. “Again, that’s a financial savings you would have missed out on if you didn’t have travel insurance.”

If you are unsure whether cruise insurance is worth it, we recommend getting a quote from our highlighted insurance providers before you set sail.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cruise Insurance

What should cruise insurance cover.

Cruise insurance should provide you with 100% coverage for trip cancellation and at least 100% trip interruption coverage. Your policy should also include baggage loss, trip delay coverage, medical care and emergency evacuations. 

When should I buy trip insurance for a cruise?

While your trip insurance cost might not increase if you buy a policy at the last minute, it’s best to buy coverage as soon as you make your initial trip deposit. Most insurance companies only allow you to add CFAR coverage a few days after you make your first trip payment. If you’re considering this insurance add-on, buy coverage as soon as possible. 

Do I need special insurance for a cruise?

Whether you need travel insurance specifically for cruises depends on the provider. While some travel insurance companies specify that policies provide coverage even if you’re on a cruise, others may exclude cruises from standard travel plans. For this reason, it’s best to check the terms of your coverage before purchasing a policy. 

Some companies, like Nationwide and Berkshire Hathaway, offer cruise-specific protection plans in addition to standalone travel insurance policies.  

What are the benefits of cruise insurance?

There are multiple benefits to investing in a cruise insurance policy. Cruise insurance provides you with money back for nonrefundable trip expenses, which can help you recoup a portion of your costs if you need to cancel at the last minute. Cruise insurance also provides protection when you’re on a boat and visiting international ports of call, with medical insurance coverage and compensation for travel expenses if you’re forced to evacuate during your vacation.

Does cruise insurance include COVID-19 coverage?

Travel insurance policy purchases have spiked since the COVID-19 pandemic. Most travel policies consider COVID-19 the same as any other illness, which means you may be entitled to use your insurance benefits if you’re hospitalized or cannot travel due to COVID-19. However, this also means that the fear of catching a new COVID strain will not entitle you to use your cruise insurance. 

If you’re concerned about the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on your vacation plan, consider upgrading to CFAR coverage.

More Travel Insurance Guides

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

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

MarketWatch Guides may receive compensation from companies that appear on this page.
The compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear, but it does not influence the recommendations the editorial team provides. Not all companies, products, or offers were reviewed.

• Cruise Insurance

Find the Best Cruise Travel Insurance

Compare cruise travel insurance plans from top providers that offer cancellation, medical, and delay coverage.

Compare Cruise Insurance Quotes

• Protection Before the Cruise
• Protection While at Sea
• Cruise Information FAQs
• Recent Articles

What to Look for in a Cruise Travel Insurance Policy

Don't let unexpected events disrupt your dream cruise! Compare plans from the best cruise insurance companies and get coverage for your entire vacation, whether you're relaxing on the beach, exploring a port of call, or unwinding on the ship.

Coverage Before Your Cruise

Travel insurance can offer peace of mind heading into a cruise vacation, and protect against unforeseen events that may prevent you from reaching your port of call. This may include cancellations, trip delays, and missed connections that occur as you reach your ship.

• Trip Cancellation Coverage: Offers reimbursement if you cancel your cruise for a covered reason, such as an unforeseen illness, injury, or death of a family member.
• Hurricane & Extreme Weather Protection: Reimburses a traveler in the event they must cancel or interrupt their trip due to inclement weather or natural disasters.
• Trip Delay Benefits: Protects against financial loss if you encounter significant delays or miss a connecting flight enroute to your cruise ship.
• Baggage Delay: Can reimburse you for toiletry, clothes, and other essential items if your baggage is delayed during transit.

Travel Protection At Sea

While we all hope for smooth sailing when taking a cruise, it’s not always the case. The main reason cruisers purchase travel insurance coverage is to protect against unforeseen itinerary changes, injuries, illnesses, and other events that may disrupt a trip.

Make sure the plan you choose includes strong coverage for the benefits below:

• Medical Coverage: Since most primary health insurance plans, like Medicare or an employer-sponsored policy, don’t offer coverage outside the USA, most travel insurance companies offer benefits to the costs of medical care while traveling.
• Interruption Insurance: If you are forced to end your trip early for a covered reason, you may be reimbursed your unused trip costs.
• Baggage Loss Protection: Provides reimbursement for items that were lost, stolen, or damaged at any point during your cruise.

Best Cruise Insurance Companies

Due to an increase in demand for travel protection while at sea, many travel insurance providers offer plans specifically built for cruisers.

Squaremouth ranks the five best travel insurance companies for cruisers based on policies sold:

• Seven Corners
• Generali Global Assistance

Click here for a full breakdown of the top cruise insurance providers.

If you already have a policy and have any questions for your travel insurance provider or would like to file a claim, please contact your provider directly. Click here to find your provider's contact information .

We're here to help!

Have questions about travel insurance coverage? Call us! 1-800-240-0369 Our Customer Service Team is available everyday from 8AM to 10PM ET.

Best Cruise Insurance Benefits

Cruise insurance tips and information.

Squaremouth shares their tips and recommendations based on the most frequently asked questions from passengers.

How Much Does Cruise Insurance Cost?

Cruisers can expect to pay between 5-10% of their insured trip costs on a comprehensive travel insurance plan. Costs and coverage limits can vary significantly from one policy to the next, so it's best to compare plans before making a purchase decision.

The cost of cruise travel insurance varies based on a variety of factors:

• Total Trip Cost: The sum of your prepaid, non-refundable trip expenses that you plan to insure.
• Length of Your Trip: The amount of days you will be traveling, starting from the day you leave home for your trip.
• Traveler Age: In general, older travelers experience higher travel insurance premiums.
• Coverage Amounts: Policies with higher coverage limits may result in more expensive premiums.

Get a quote today to see pricing for your specific cruise.

What Does Cruise Insurance Cover?

Cruise insurance provides financial protection for travelers if their travel plans are impacted before or during their cruise. Most comprehensive travel insurance policies provide coverage for common travel disruptions, including cancellations, medical emergencies, travel delays, missed connections, and personal items. Coverage limits, exclusions, and premiums differ by policy.

Is Cruise Travel Insurance Worth It?

For many cruisers, travel insurance is worth it for the peace of mind alone. If things don't go according to plan, travel insurance can protect you from serious financial loss. In addition to well-rounded benefits, most cruise insurance plans also include 24 Hour Travel Assistance and other insurance services to support you before and during your cruise.

Do I Need Travel Medical Insurance For My Cruise?

While medical insurance is rarely a requirement for cruises, it is almost always recommended.

Most primary health insurance plans won’t cover medical emergencies that occur outside of the United States of America. For cruisers especially, this can result in extremely high out of pocket expenses if an unforeseen injury or illness occurs if they don’t have a travel medical insurance policy.

For the best coverage, Squaremouth recommends comprehensive travel insurance plans that include at least $100,000 in Emergency Medical coverage and at least $250,000 in Medical Evacuation coverage. Those with pre-existing medical conditions should also consider plans that offer Pre-Existing Condition waivers .

When Should I Buy Insurance For My Cruise?

While you can buy travel insurance up until the day before you leave for their cruise, Squaremouth recommends buying a policy directly after making your initial first trip deposit. For most cruisers, their first trip payment will likely be their cruise reservation, flights, or hotel accommodations.

This approach offers the most coverage, and allows you to purchase time-sensitive benefits and add-ons like Cancel For Any Reason coverage (CFAR) coverage and Pre-Existing Condition waivers. Purchasing cruise travel insurance early does not necessarily impact your premium.

How Do I Find the Best Travel Insurance Plan?

Travelers can find cruise insurance from a wide-range of sources, including credit cards , cruise lines, travel agents, and third party travel insurance providers. To find the best travel insurance protection for your trip, we recommend taking the time to compare multiple cruise insurance plans that meet your budget and travel needs. Start by using a travel insurance comparison site like Squaremouth.

Can I Cancel My Cruise at the Last Minute?

Yes, many comprehensive travel insurance policies cover trip cancellations under specified circumstances, such as sudden illness, injury, or death of the insured or a family member, natural disasters, or unexpected work obligations. Most policies that include the Trip Cancellation benefit offer 100% reimbursement for all prepaid, non-refundable trip costs.

Does Travel Insurance Cover Excursions?

From scuba diving in the Caribbean sea to riding ATVs through the mainland, excursions offer a chance to experience destinations included in your itinerary. Travel insurance can cover these expenses through the Trip Cancellation, CFAR, or Trip Interruption benefits should you need to cancel your plans. If you plan on partaking in more extreme excursions, you will need to find a policy that explicitly includes Sports & Activities coverage.

Cruise  News Articles

January 12, 2024 — With wave season upon us, cruise lines brace themselves for a potentially record-breaking year on the high seas.  This maritime momentum has been building over the past three years. New data from Squaremouth, the nation’s leading travel insurance marketplace, reveals that the cruise industry is poised to make...

October 26, 2022 — While most travel sectors have made a strong post-pandemic recovery, cruise lines have been slower to rebound. Cruise lines have lessened restrictions in recent weeks, however many still require a negative COVID-19 test prior to embarkation. Despite the continued requirements, travel insurtech Squaremouth.com reports cruisers are now more...

July 28, 2021 — Countries and cruise lines are turning to travel insurance as a resource to regain tourism. Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, 18 countries have begun requiring visitors travel with insurance for Covid-19. Recently, Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Disney cruise lines announced similar requirements of non-vaccinated travelers. Travel...

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Table of Contents

What is cruise travel insurance?

What does cruise travel insurance cover typically, how much is travel insurance for a cruise, do i need it if i have other travel protections, is cruise travel insurance worth it.

Cruise travel insurance covers the cruise itself, not related travel.

It's usually purchased through the cruise operator, typically before booking.

Check to make sure your credit card doesn't offer similar insurance before buying cruise insurance.

Cruising is one of America's favorite travel experiences. According to a 2021 report from Cruise Lines International Association, an industry trade association, 82% of cruisers will cruise again. As well, 62% of non-cruisers are open to the idea.

And why not? Cruises often give travelers the chance to experience multiple destinations plus enjoy onboard entertainment, activities and dining for a set, all-inclusive price . Cruises simplify budgeting in a year when travel prices have been hard hit by inflation .

But what happens if something goes wrong with your ship, or you can’t make it onboard because of health concerns? Cruise travel insurance might be the answer. It protects your payment and covers you against illness or injury.

Before you pay for a cruise travel insurance policy, here's a look at what it is, how it works and if it's worth it.

Cruise travel insurance is add-on insurance coverage that — just like travel insurance — will reimburse you for delays, interruptions, medical situations or other problems during the cruise.

Depending on which cruise line you're traveling with, you might be able to buy a travel insurance policy when booking your trip (through the cruise line directly) or at a later date (either through the cruise line or separately from a third party).

Protecting travel costs can be a smart money move. A September 2022 survey of 737 past cruisers by InsureMyTrip found that the average trip cost for an insured cruise vacation so far this year is $6,367, an increase of nearly 15% from before the pandemic.

Can you buy travel insurance after booking a cruise? It depends. Some cruise lines require the purchase of a travel insurance policy before the final payment date when charges become nonrefundable. Others require the purchase of coverage a certain number of days before departure. Read the fine print to find out the deadline to purchase and the specifics of its coverage.

Circumstances covered by cruise travel insurance vary by policy and by issuer. Many cruise lines partner with an insurance company to underwrite its policy benefits.

Some common benefits available as part of travel insurance from a cruise line include:

Trip cancellation and interruption . If you cancel your trip or unexpectedly cut it short for an eligible reason, such as severe weather or illness, you'll get back some or all of the upfront costs, depending on the policy.

Cancel For Any Reason . This coverage tends to be more flexible, forgiving and expensive at time of purchase. Policyholders can cancel for any reason not listed in the policy and still receive a portion of their trip cost back, either as cash or as a future cruise credit (assuming they meet other eligibility requirements).

Trip delay . Cruise delay insurance protection protects expenses if your trip is delayed beyond a set number of hours.

Baggage protection . This insures your luggage if it is lost, stolen, damaged or delayed, and gives money to buy necessary items until bags are recovered.

Medical coverage . If you get sick or injured during the trip, the policy covers treatment and related expenses up to a limit.

Emergency evacuation . When emergency evacuation is necessary, the policy covers the transport cost up to a limit.

COVID coverage . If your trip is canceled or interrupted due to COVID, the policy covers the unused prepaid expenses, medical treatment and emergency evacuation, up to policy limits.

When comparing policies, choose a policy that includes all of the benefits, protections and coverage limits that are important to you. While you may be tempted to choose the lowest-priced option, that policy may not have the coverage you need.

We examined cruise insurance prices for a seven-day trip in February 2023 from the U.S. to Mexico. The example traveler was 35 years old, from Georgia, and planned to spend $2,500 on the trip, including airfare.

The average price of each company’s most basic coverage plan was $124. These policies didn't include optional add-ons, such as Cancel for Any Reason coverage or coverage for pre-existing medical conditions .

Separately, we looked at five different cruise insurance add-ons for a similar trip. With this option, the average cost of basic coverage was cheaper than a standalone policy at $111.20. Keep in mind that cruise insurance policies offered by cruise lines typically cover the cruise portion of the trip only, but do include some Cancel For Any Reason coverage.

If you already have a standalone travel insurance policy or a credit card with travel protections, you may wonder if you need to purchase a cruise travel insurance policy.

Credit card travel insurance

Many travel credit cards include travel protections such as trip cancellation, interruption, delayed or lost luggage reimbursement, and emergency evacuation benefits. Before buying a cruise travel policy, compare the coverage benefits and limits to determine if you already have coverage with a credit card.

One benefit that cruise travel insurance policies offer that credit cards don't is the ability to cancel for any reason. Although you may not get back 100% of the cruise price, these policies allow you to cancel for any reason and get a portion of the price back as a credit toward a future trip. If the policy is priced low enough, it may be worth buying the insurance offered through your cruise line for that benefit alone.

Travel insurance policy

Standalone travel insurance policies can be purchased to cover one person or a family for a specific trip or multiple trips within a period of time. These policies are available at a variety of price points to meet a traveler's budget. When comparing policy options, you can balance price versus coverage options.

If you're traveling multiple times within a short period of time, it may be more economical to buy a more comprehensive travel insurance policy instead of separate policies for each trip.

Cruise travel insurance can be worth it to address your concerns about traveling and protect your investments. These policies offer numerous protections that will cover your expenses in case your trip is canceled, interrupted or delayed, or if you get sick during the trip.

Before buying this coverage, compare your options against your credit card benefits. You might also shop for general travel insurance policies to see if you can get a better deal than what’s offered through your cruise line.

If you’re not covered by your credit card, cruise travel insurance can be worth the added cost. It will give you peace of mind before setting sail, when signing up for that adventurous land excursion and when clicking "Book" for an expensive vacation in the COVID travel landscape.

How to maximize your rewards

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

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

No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

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

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

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

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

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

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

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

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

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

1 (800) 605-2282

• Member Portal (Travel Medical)
• CBP Portal (Trip Protection)

+1 (800) 605-2282 Outside US: +1 (317) 262-2132

[email protected]

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• Cruise Insurance
• Trip Insurance

Prepare Before You Sail

Before you set sail for your cruise, make sure you’re equipped with cruise insurance. Many potential issues could spoil your cruise. Whether it’s missing your flight to the port, getting sick during, or inclement weather cutting your trip short, cruise insurance could help with recouping your losses from a cancellation or illness.

WorldTrips Travel Insurance offers our Atlas Journey® series of trip cancellation insurance plans that are ideal for cruise passengers. 

What Is Cruise Insurance?

Often referred to as "trip cancellation insurance," cruise insurance can reimburse you if your cruise is unexpectedly delayed, canceled, or interrupted due to a covered reason. WorldTrips’ cruise travel insurance plans feature a Trip Cancellation benefit as well as other benefits like Baggage Damage or Loss, Trip Interruption, Emergency Accident and Sickness Medical Expense, and more. 

All of our Atlas Journey® plans include travel assistance services as well. Our team is available 24/7 to help you with travel arrangements, lost luggage assistance, and more!

We have three tiers of our Atlas Journey trip cancellation insurance plans to choose from. Each provides different benefits and premiums to best meet our customers’ travel plans. 

Why Do I Need Cruise Insurance?

While cruises are a great way to see the world, passengers are not in control of the itinerary, weather, or other factors that can alter your vacation. Having cruise insurance provides you with trip protection in many vacation-altering situations. 

Cruise delays due to bad weather can be fairly common, and there's no guarantee your cruise line will compensate you for meals and accommodations.

Flight delays or a missed connection could make you late for your cruise’s departure.

Stomach bugs may spread through cruise ships quickly. Gastrointestinal illnesses like norovirus and also COVID-19 could spread rapidly among passengers. 

Recreational activities on excursions may result in injury.

Your regular health insurance may not provide international coverage if you’re injured outside of your country’s territory. 

Why Should I Get Cruise Insurance From WorldTrips?

WorldTrips has been a reliable trip insurance provider for over 25 years. We help travelers worldwide travel confidently with comprehensive travel insurance coverage. Our U.S.-based customer service team is available 24/7 to respond to travel emergencies and handle claims. We have team members who can speak various languages and are available to help you with immediate assistance, regardless of what time zone you’re in. 

WorldTrips has been recognized for its reliability and superior customer service by several reputable websites and travel insurance review experts including Forbes, CNBC, CNN Underscored, Condé Nast Traveler, USA Today, and NerdWallet. 

"Of the top eight travel insurance companies in our review, WorldTrips’ underwriting company is the only one to have an A++ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best."

“WorldTrips is the best travel insurance company of 2024, based on our analysis of cost and coverage options.” 

Compare Cruise Insurance Plans

Many cruise lines offer their own cruise insurance plans, but they often provide limited benefits, especially when compared to the three available Atlas Journey plans.

*New York policies: 1) Emergency Injury & Sickness Medical Expense coverage is primary for all plans. 2) The Cancel For Any Reason benefit is replaced with Cancel For Fortuitous Reason.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Coverage varies by plan and state of residency. Please review the policy documents specific to your plan and state of residency for a full list of covered reasons, conditions, and exclusions.

What Does Cruise Insurance Cover?

Cruise insurance can protect non-refundable investments related to your cruise. It reimburses you if, prior to your departure, you have to cancel your cruise unexpectedly due to a covered reason. It also includes trip protection benefits like reimbursement for a travel delay or lost or delayed baggage.

Cruise insurance also provides medical coverage for unexpected injuries and illnesses. Your Atlas Journey cruise insurance could cover eligible expenses such as physician services, ambulance services, a hospital stay, anesthetics, X-rays, and labs. 

Our Atlas Journey plans also include medical evacuation should the situation become dire, and you need to be transported to a hospital for medically necessary treatment. Plans also include repatriation of remains if you or your travel companion die while at sea and your body needs to be returned to your home country.

You can even opt into cruise travel insurance with Cancel for Any Reason coverage to make sure you’re covered if, for some reason, you decide to cancel your trip for any reason not already covered under your Trip Cancellation benefit. WorldTrips has a number of optional upgrades to choose from to customize your cruise insurance coverage. 

How Much Does Cruise Insurance cost?

The cost of your cruise travel insurance policy will depend on your age, total trip cost, and number of travelers. Trips over 30 days have an additional charge. Your state of residency could factor into your price too. 

Our three Atlas Journey plans provide varying coverage maximums at different price points to match your travel plans:

Atlas Journey Escape

The budget-friendly plan that offers lower coverage limits than the Elevate and Explore plans in exchange for a lower premium.

Atlas Journey Explore

Mid-level cost, mid-level benefit amounts that provides a balance between coverage and cost.

Atlas Journey Elevate

This plan has the highest cost and provides the highest coverage limits of the Atlas Journey plans.

At WorldTrips we hope to provide the cruise insurance coverage you desire for your upcoming trip. You’ll find that many of our trip insurance plans are budget-friendly and provide the confidence you need to travel fearlessly. Start your journey today with a free quote on cruise insurance.  

FAQs: WorldTrips' Trip Insurance Plans

How Do I Register for a Member Portal Account?

2. Under “Continue Sign In” click “First-time user? Register for an account.”

3. On the Register page, enter the email address you wish to use to sign into your account. This email does not need to match the email address associated with your policy. Enter your policy number and select whether or not you are the insured or the insured’s legal guardian. Enter the insured’s first and last name as entered on the policy. (You can see how the insured’s name was entered on your ID card and fulfillment documents that were sent to you upon purchase.) Enter the insured’s date of birth. Then choose a password. Follow the password instructions noted on the page.

Read and agree to the terms and conditions by checking the box. Then click the “Continue” button.

  4. You will be taken to the Sign In page. Enter the email address and password you used to register your account and click “Sign In.”

5. To add an additional layer of security when signing into your account, you will be prompted to choose your preferred multifactor authentication method.

Options Include: a.  Okta Verify  - Click "Setup" if you wish to use a push notification sent to the mobile app

b.  SMS Authentication*  - Click "Setup" if you wish to enter a single-use code that is sent to your mobile phone

c.  Voice Call Authentication*  - Click "Setup" if you wish to follow voice instructions via  phone

d.  Security Question  - Click "Setup" if you wish to answer a security question

  * Please be sure to use a method which you will have continual access to on your travels. Do not use phone numbers that will not work outside of your current service area.

  6. Follow the setup instructions of your chosen multifactor authentication method. Then click “Finish.”

  7. On the resulting page, choose a "Forgot Password" question. Make sure you select a question with only one correct answer that is easy to remember.

  Type the answer into the blank box below "Answer." You will need this answer to access your account if you ever forget your Member Portal password and need to reset it.

  You may also choose to add a phone number for resetting your password or unlocking your account using SMS text message or a voice call if you don’t have access to your email.

  Click "Create My Account."

How Do I Submit a Claim?

You must complete, sign, and submit a Claimant's Statement and Authorization form along with proof of claim (itemized bills, payment receipts, medical records, police reports, etc.) for every incident. ( Click here to download the form in Spanish ).

Filing a Claim on Behalf of Someone Else? If you are filing this claim on behalf of another person, you MUST fill out the section of the Claimant's Statement and Authorization form labeled "Supplement D - Authorization Form for Use and/or Disclosure of Protected Health Information " – also known as a HIPAA form. This section must be signed by the policyholder in order for us to speak with you regarding any of the policyholder's Protected Health Information (PHI). Without this signed form, we may only disclose to you the status of the claim.

You can complete and submit the Claimant's Statement and Authorization form along with supporting documents in one of the following ways:

Via DocuSign within Member Portal (Most Efficient Approach)

1. Go to Member Portal (formerly Client Zone / Student Zone). 2. Log in to your account. If this is your first time using Member Portal, please click here to view instructions for registering your new account .

If you already have a Client Zone / Student Zone account, you do not need to register for a Member Portal account. Simply log in to Member Portal using your Client Zone / Student Zone login details.

3. Click "Claims and Appeals" in the main navigation menu. 4. Click “Submit New Claim Via DocuSign” button under the “Claimant’s Statement and Authorization Form” subheader in the “File a Claim” section and follow the instructions.

For more extensive step-by-step instructions, including screenshots, please see our Claims Guide .

Don’t Have Access to the Claims and Appeals Page? If you noted that you are not the insured or the insured’s legal guardian, you will see the Protected Health Information Authorization page in place of the Claims and Appeals page. Enter the insured’s email address and click “Send Request.” Once the insured has completed and submitted our HIPAA form, you will gain access to the Claims and Appeals page and have the ability to submit a claim within 3-5 days.

Can I Submit a Claim on Behalf of Someone Else?

How Do I Submit the Authorization Form for Use and/or Disclosure of Protected Health Information (HIPPA Form) If I Did Not Complete This Section of the Claim Form?

If you have already submitted a claim on behalf of someone else and did not complete this section OR if WorldTrips has requested that you submit the Authorization Form for Use and/or Disclosure of Protected Health Information (HIPAA), you do not need to fill out another claim form. You can submit the HIPAA form separately in one of the following ways:

Electronically via Member Portal

• Go to Member Portal .
• Log in to your account. If this is your first time using Member Portal, please click here to view instructions for registering your new account. If you already have a Client Zone / Student Zone account, you do not need to register for a Member Portal account. Simply log in to Member Portal using your Client Zone / Student Zone login details.
• Click "Claims and Appeals" in the main navigation menu.

If You See the Protected Health Information Authorization Page:

- Because you selected that you are not the insured or the insured's legal guardian upon registering for Member Portal, you do not yet have access to the Claims and Appeals page. - Under the "Protected Health Information Authorization" header, enter the insured's email address and click the "Send Request" button. - The insured will receive an email with a link to complete, sign, and submit the HIPPA form via DocuSign. You will gain access to the Claims and Appeals page and will be able to see the status of any pending claims within 3-5 days of the date the policyholder completed and submitted the form.

If You See the Claims and Appeals Page:

- Click the "Fill Out and Submit Via DocuSign" button under the "Authorization Form for Use and/or Disclosure of Protected Health Information (HIPPA)" subheader in the "File a Claim" section. - Enter the insured's name and an email address and click the "Begin Signing" button. - Click the yellow "Continue" button, fill out the form and the required information (as noted by the red boxes); have the policyholder sign the form, and click the yellow "Finish" button. - Clicking "Finish" submits the document and sends a PDF of your signed Authorization Form for Use and/or Disclosure of Protected Health Information to the email address entered. Download or print a copy of your completed form for your records. If you do not receive a confirmation email with your completed form attached within 24 hours, please contact WorldTrips to make sure your form was properly submitted.

• Download the Authorization Form for Use and/or Disclosure of Protected Health Information .
• Print, complete, and have the policyholder sign the form.
• Mail to: WorldTrips Claims Department PO Box 240358 Apple Valley, MN 55124 U.S.A.

When and How Will I Receive My Fulfillment Documents?

During the checkout process, you will have the option to receive your ID cards and other fulfillment documents by:

• Email only OR by
• Email and hard copy

If you select “Email only,” you will receive your ID cards and fulfillment documents by email as soon as your application has been processed and your credit card has been approved. This typically takes a few minutes or less.

If you select “Email and hard copy,” you will receive your ID cards and fulfillment documents by email as soon as your application has been processed and your credit card has been approved. You will also receive hard copies of your ID cards and fulfillment documents by mail to the address you entered on your application.

How Long Do I Have to File a Claim?

What If I Do Not Agree with a Claim's Denial?

There may be situations when you choose to appeal how a claim was processed. You may appeal your claim decision using one of the following methods:

Submit the Claimant Appeal Request Form Via DocuSign within Member Portal:

• Sign into Member Portal . You will be presented with your Member Portal home page.
• Click “Claims and Appeals” in the main navigation menu at the top of the page. You will be presented with the Claims and Appeals page.
• Switch the toggle at the top of the page under the “Claims and Appeals” header from “Claims” to “Appeals.”
• To file an appeal via DocuSign, click the “Fill Out and Submit Via DocuSign” button under the “Claimant Appeal Request Form” subheader in the “File an Appeal” section.
• Enter your name and email address on the PowerForm Signer Information page and click the “Begin Signing” button.
• Click the yellow “Continue” button to the right.
• Fill in all the required information on the form (as indicated by the red text boxes) and sign everywhere a signature is required (as indicated by the yellow “Sign” boxes).
• Attach your supporting documents (medical records, receipts, itemized bills, etc.), if necessary, at the bottom righthand corner of the page via the yellow attachment boxes. If you have more than 3 attachments or exceed the 5MB attachment limit, see instructions for submitting additional documents here.
• When you are done, click the yellow “Finish” button at the bottom of the page. Clicking “Finish” submits your documents and sends a PDF of your signed Claimant Appeal Request Form to your email.
• Download or print a copy of your completed form for your records. If you do not receive a confirmation email with your completed form attached within 24 hours, please contact WorldTrips to make sure your form was properly submitted.

Want more detailed instructions including screenshots? See the “ Claimant Appeal Request Form Submitted Via DocuSign within Member Portal (Most Efficient Approach) ” section of our Claims Resource Center page .

• Download the Claimant Appeal Request Form. ( Click here to download the form in Spanish ).
• Fill out the form and email it, along with additional documentation that supports your reasoning and position (medical records, receipts, itemized bills, etc.), to [email protected] . OR Mail the form and supporting documents to: WorldTrips Appeals PO Box 240358 Apple Valley, MN 55124 U.S.A

Submit a Written Appeal Letter Via Email or Mail

• Write a letter of appeal following the appeal procedure instructions outlined in your policy documents/certificate of coverage.
• Email this written letter of appeal, along with additional documentation that supports your reasoning and position (medical records, receipts, etc.), to [email protected] . OR Mail the form and supporting documents to: WorldTrips Appeals PO Box 240358 Apple Valley, MN 55124 U.S.A

IMPORTANT! In order for our appeals department to review the appeal, you must provide additional documentation or information to support a reversal of the denial. Please note that submission of the appeal will lead to re-evaluation of your claim but does not guarantee that the initial benefit determination will be altered.

Why Am I Receiving So Many Letters?

What Is Included in the Fulfillment Documents?

Your fulfillment documents will include:

Instructional Information

• How to seek medical treatment
• How to file a medical claim
• How to access  Member Portal  (our online self-service portal where members can manage their policies)
• How to contact WorldTrips

Declaration Page

• Link to the Description of Coverage for your policy
• Name, address, ID number, and citizenship of the insured
• Policy start and end dates and length of coverage
• Certain policy details including plan name, overall maximum limit, maximum per injury/illness, deductible, and any optional coverage elected
• Purchase date, payment type, and amount paid
• Name and address of plan administrator

Policyholder/Certificate Holder Notice

• Important notice about OFAC sanctions

European Union GDPR Data Protection Notice  (Note that you will only receive this notice if you are a citizen or resident of the European Union OR if you are a visitor traveling to the European Union)

• Information about our privacy policy
• How we use your personal and sensitive information and who we may disclose it to
• Information about your data protection rights
• How to opt out of marketing communications or withdraw your consent
• Name of insured(s)
• Certificate/policy number and effective date of coverage
• Instructions on how to file a claim
• Name and logo of PPO network
• Instructions on how to find a provider

Learn more about your ID card here .

How Do I Access My Visa Letter?

What Information Is Included in the Visa Letter?

• Your home country and citizenship
• Your destination country or countries
• Your certificate (policy) number
• Your policy’s effective date
• Your policy’s termination date
• An overview of your policy details, including your overall policy maximum, maximum per injury/illness, and deductible
• An overview of important benefits and their coverage amounts
• WorldTrips contact information

How Does My Deductible Work?

Deductible means the dollar amount of eligible expenses, as specified in your policy’s Schedule of Benefits and Limits, that you must pay before eligible expenses are paid. You only have to pay your deductible one time during the period of time your policy is active.

For example, let’s say you have an Atlas Travel policy and you’ve chosen a $100 deductible. You break your leg while traveling abroad and need to have surgery, which requires a short hospital stay. You would need to pay your $100 deductible before your benefits, such as Hospital Room and Board, would kick in. Once your $100 deductible is paid, your Atlas Travel plan would begin to pay 100% of your eligible expenses up to your plan’s overall maximum limit.

Note that some benefits are not subject to the deductible, as specified in your policy’s Schedule of Benefits and Limits. This means you would not be required to pay the deductible before any benefits that are not subject to the deductible would be activated.

Am I Eligible for an Atlas Travel Insurance Plan?

When Does My Atlas Travel Coverage Become Effective and When Does it End?

Your Atlas Travel insurance coverage becomes effective on the latest of: - the moment we receive your application and correct premium (if application and payment is made online or by fax) - 12:01 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time on the date we receive your application and payment (if application and payment are made by mail) - the moment you depart from your home country - 12:01 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time on the date you request on your application if the correct premium is received

Your coverage will end on the earlier of: - 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the last day of the period for which you have paid a premium - 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the date requested on your application - the moment of your arrival upon return to your home country (unless you have started a benefit period or are eligible for home country coverage)

Does the Atlas Travel Plan Provide Any Home Country Coverage?

Atlas Travel does offer medical expense coverage in your home country in the following situations:

Benefit Period

While the certificate is in effect, the benefit period does not apply. Upon termination of the certificate, including when you return to your home country, the benefit period applies for up to 90 days only to eligible medical expenses directly related to an injury or illness that was diagnosed or treated while the certificate was in effect. The benefit period begins on the first day of diagnosis or treatment of a covered injury or illness made while you are outside your home country. The benefit period applies whether or not you return to your home country.

Incidental Home Country Coverage

You must have purchased three months of coverage for the Incidental Home Country Coverage to be in effect.

For individuals with the U.S. as a home country: For every three-month period during which you are covered hereunder, eligible medical expenses incurred in the U.S. are covered up to a maximum of 15 days.

For individuals with a home country other than the U.S.: For every three-month period during which you are covered hereunder, eligible medical expenses incurred in your home country are covered up to a maximum of 30 days.

Should you make a change to the location of your home country during the certificate period, you must notify us of such change within fifteen (15) days. Your new home country will govern the terms of any home country or incidental home country coverage. Any benefit accrued under a sin­gle three-month period does not accumulate to another period. Failure to continue your international trip or you returning to your home country for the sole purpose of obtaining treatment for an illness or injury that began while traveling shall void any incidental home country coverage.

Does the Atlas Travel Plan Include Any Coverage for Medical Expenses Related to COVID-19?

Policies purchased on or after July 15, 2020, do cover eligible medical expenses resulting from COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2. Eligible medical expenses are medically necessary expenses that are not subject to another plan exclusion.

What Are Atlas International and Atlas America?

Atlas Travel policyholders who are U.S. citizens or non-U.S. citizens traveling outside of the U.S. will be covered under Atlas International, which provides coverage outside of the United States.

Atlas Travel policyholders who are non-U.S. citizens (and home country is not the United States) traveling to the United States will be covered under Atlas America. (For the purpose of this American visitor insurance coverage, the United States also includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.)

The correct plan will be automatically selected for you when you purchase your Atlas Travel plan, depending on whether your trip includes coverage for the U.S. (You will only be covered for the U.S. if you are a non-U.S. citizen, your home country is not the United States, and all or part of your travel includes the U.S.)

What Is Covered Under the Atlas Travel Insurance Plan?

Does the Atlas Travel Insurance Plan Provide Any Trip Cancellation Coverage?

Does the Atlas Travel Insurance Plan Meet Schengen Visa Requirements?

Can I Extend or Renew My Atlas Travel Insurance Coverage?

How Do I Extend My Atlas Travel Insurance Coverage?

Follow the below instructions to EXTEND your Atlas Travel medical insurance plan:

• Log into your Member Portal .
• On your Member Portal home page, click the box labeled "Extend or Renew My Policy" under the "How Can We Help You Today?" header.
• If you are eligible to extend your policy ad do not need to contact a broker or plan administrator in order to do so, you will see the "Extend Policy" page.
• Use the dropdown arrow to insert your new coverage end date and click "Next."
• Fill in your payment information.
• Review the Terms and Conditions and click the checkbox to acknowledge that you have read and accepted them.
• Click the "Submit" button to submit your extension request. Your coverage confirmation will be sent to the email address you entered.

How Do I Cancel My Atlas Travel Insurance Coverage?

Most members are able to submit a cancellation request online in Member Portal . Note that only members who have no claims are eligible for a premium refund.

After you create your Member Portal account ( click here for registration instructions) , log in and select “Policy Information” in the top righthand corner. Then select the “Modify Coverage Dates” box. If you are not eligible to cancel via Member Portal, you will see a message prompting you to contact your agent for assistance. If you are eligible to cancel via Member Portal, select “No” under the “Would you like to change your coverage start date?” question. Then select “Shorten or cancel your coverage.”

If Your Policy Has Not Yet Started…

You are eligible for a full refund of your premium for free. On the “Shorten or Cancel Policy” page, select your coverage start date as your new coverage end date. Once you click “Submit,” you will be routed to a confirmation page. You will also receive a confirmation email. Your refund will be applied to the original payment method used within 3-5 business days.

If Your Policy Has Already Started…

A $25 cancellation fee will apply and only the prorated portion of your premium will be refunded. On the “Shorten or Cancel Policy” page, select your new coverage end date and click “Calculate Refund” to display the eligibility of the date selected and the amount that will be refunded. Once you click “Submit,” you will be routed to a confirmation page. You will also receive a confirmation email. Your refund will be applied to the original payment method used within 3-5 business days.

Is My Group Eligible for an Atlas Group Travel Plan?

Does the Atlas Group Travel Insurance Plan Provide Any Home Country Coverage?

Yes. Atlas Group will provide foreign visitors with limited home country coverage. However, there are two types of coverage in the home country, all of which are restricted to medical expenses only:

Does the Atlas Group Plan Include Any Coverage for Medical Expenses Related to COVID-19?

If You Purchased Your Atlas Group Policy on Or After July 15, 2020: Your plan will cover eligible medical expenses resulting from COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2. Eligible medical expenses are medically necessary expenses that are not subject to another plan exclusion.

If You Purchased Your Atlas Group Policy Before July 15, 2020: Your plan contains an applicable exclusion and will NOT cover medical expenses resulting from COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2. The full exclusion reads: Charges resulting from a disease outbreak in a country or location for which the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have issued a level 3 or higher travel warning are excluded if:

- the warning has been in effect within the 60 days immediately prior to your date of arrival, or - within 10 days following the date the warning was issued you have failed to depart the country or location. You can review the exclusion by reading through the “General Exclusions” section of your Description of Coverage (DOC).

You will find your DOC in Member Portal . Sign in to the portal, click "Policy Information" in the navigation menu, and then click the box labeled "Description of Coverage."

What Are Atlas Group International and Atlas Group America?

Atlas Group policyholders who are U.S. citizens or non-U.S. citizens (and home country is not the United States) traveling outside of the U.S. will be covered under Atlas Group International, which provides coverage outside of the United States.

Atlas Group policyholders who are non-U.S. citizens traveling to the United States will be covered under Atlas Group America. (For the purpose of this American visitor insurance coverage, the United States also includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.)

The correct plan will be automatically selected for you when you purchase your Atlas Group plan, depending on whether your trip includes coverage for the U.S. (You will only be covered for the U.S. if you are a non-U.S. citizen, your home country is not the United States, and all or part of your travel includes the U.S.)

What Medical Expenses are Covered Under an Atlas Group Travel Plan?

Am I Eligible for an Atlas Nomads Insurance Plan?

When Does My Atlas Nomads Coverage Become Effective and When Does it End?

Your Atlas Nomads insurance coverage becomes effective on the latest of: - the moment we receive your application and correct premium (if application and payment is made online or by fax) - 12:01 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time on the date we receive your application and payment (if application and payment are made by mail) - the moment you depart from your home country - 12:01 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time on the date you request on your application if the correct premium is received

Your coverage will end on the earliest of: - 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on the last day of the period for which you have paid a premium - 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on the date requested on your application - the moment of your arrival upon return to your home country (unless you have started a benefit period or are eligible for home country coverage)

Does the Atlas Nomads Plan Provide Any Home Country Coverage?

Atlas Nomads does offer medical expense coverage in your home country in the following situations:

While the certificate is in effect, the benefit period does not apply. Upon termination of the certificate, including when you return to your home country, the benefit period applies for up to 90 days only to eligible medical and dental expenses directly related to an injury or illness that was diagnosed or treated while the certificate was in effect. The benefit period begins on the first day of diagnosis or treatment of a covered injury or illness made while you are outside your home country. The benefit period applies whether or not you return to your home country.

You must have purchased three months of coverage for the Incidental Home Country Coverage to be in effect. For every three-month period during which you are covered hereunder, eligible medical expenses incurred in your home country are covered up to a maximum of 30 days. Any benefit accrued under a sin­gle three-month period does not accumulate to another period. Failure to continue your international trip or you returning to your home country for the sole purpose of obtaining treatment for an illness or injury that began while traveling shall void any incidental home country coverage.

Does the Atlas Nomads Plan Include Any Coverage for Medical Expenses Related to COVID-19?

What Is Covered Under the Atlas Nomads Insurance Plan?

Does the Atlas Nomads Insurance Plan Provide Any Trip Cancellation Coverage?

Atlas Nomads does not provide any reimbursement if you must cancel your trip prior to departure. However, it does include a Trip Interruption benefit if you must end your trip early due to a covered reason. See “Trip Cancellation VS Trip Interruption: What Is the Difference?” for an explanation of the difference between trip cancellation coverage and trip interruption coverage.

Note that Atlas Nomads medical insurance has a lower premium than most travel insurance plans because it does not include a Trip Cancellation benefit. If you’re a U.S. citizen or resident looking for travel insurance with a Trip Cancellation benefit, you should consider Atlas Journey® trip cancellation insurance. Visit the Atlas Journey product page for details about this plan.

Does the Atlas Nomads Insurance Plan Meet Visa Requirements?

Can I Renew My Atlas Nomads Insurance Coverage?

Can I Extend My Atlas Nomads Insurance Coverage?

How Do I Cancel My Atlas Nomad Insurance Coverage?

On the “Shorten or Cancel Policy” page, select your coverage start date as your new coverage end date. Once you click “Submit,” you will be routed to a confirmation page. You will also receive a confirmation email. Your refund will be applied to the original payment method used within 3-5 business days.

Only premium for unused whole months (if paying in monthly installments) or unused days (if paid in full) will be refunded. On the “Shorten or Cancel Policy” page, select your new coverage end date and click “Calculate Refund” to display the eligibility of the date selected and the amount that will be refunded. Once you click “Submit,” you will be routed to a confirmation page. You will also receive a confirmation email. Your refund will be applied to the original payment method used within 3-5 business days. Please note that you cannot have filed any claims to be eligible for a premium refund.

Am I Eligible for a StudentSecure International Student Health Insurance Plan?

In order to be eligible for any of our StudentSecure international student health plans, you must meet the following requirements:

1. Must be:

1. a full-time student at a college or university, excluding online colleges and universities, or

2. within 31 days of being a full-time student at a college or university, or

3. a student under age 19 enrolled in a secondary school, or

4. a full-time scholar affiliated with an educational institution and performing work or research for at least 30 hours per week

The full-time student/scholar status requirement is waived for participants within the U.S. holding a valid F-1 visa or J-1 visa. Full-time status requirements remain in force for individuals holding M-1 or other category visas.

2. Must be residing outside home country for the purpose of pursuing international educational activities.

3. Must not have obtained residency status in the host country. Participants visiting the U.S. must hold a valid education-related visa. A copy of the I-20 or DS-2019 may be requested. For U.S. citizens and residents, the host country must be outside the U.S., including U.S. territories.

When Does Coverage Become Effective Once I Get a StudentSecure Plan?

When Does Coverage Terminate with a StudentSecure Plan?

Which Plan Should I Purchase, StudentSecure Elite, StudentSecure Select, StudentSecure Budget, or StudentSecure Smart?

Do StudentSecure Plans Provide Any Home Country Coverage?

Yes. StudentSecure will provide foreign visitors with limited home country coverage. You must have purchased three months of coverage for the incidental home country coverage to be in effect.

For every three-month period during which you are covered, eligible medical expenses are covered up to a maximum of 15 days. Any benefit accrued under a single three-month period does not accumulate to another period. Failure to continue your international trip or your return to your home country for the sole purpose of obtaining treatment for an illness or injury that began while traveling shall void any incidental home country coverage.

For all non-U.S. citizens electing coverage “excluding the U.S.” and for all U.S. citizens or residents, no coverage is provided within the U.S., except for U.S. citizens or residents during an eligible incidental home country visit or an eligible benefit period.

Does the StudentSecure Plan Include Any Coverage for Medical Expenses Related to COVID-19?

If You Purchased Your StudentSecure Policy on Or After May 15, 2020: Your plan  will cover  eligible medical expenses resulting from COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2. Eligible medical expenses are medically necessary expenses that are not subject to another plan exclusion.

If You Purchased Your StudentSecure Policy Before May 15, 2020: Your plan contains an applicable exclusion and  will NOT cover  medical expenses resulting from COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2.

The following is included in the Description of Coverage:

Charges resulting from a disease outbreak in a country or location for which the  U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  have issued a level 3 or higher travel warning are excluded if:

• the warning has been in effect within the 60 days immediately prior to your effective date, or
• within 10 days following the date the alert/warning was issued you have failed to depart the country or location.

You can review the exclusion by reading through the “General Exclusions” section of your Description of Coverage (DOC).You will find your DOC in Member Portal at  worldtrips.my.site.com/MemberPortal . Sign into the portal, click "Policy Information" in the navigation menu, and then click the box labeled "Description of Coverage."

What International Medical Benefits Are Covered in a StudentSecure Insurance Plan?

Does StudentSecure Cover Any Pre-Existing Conditions?

Charges resulting directly or indirectly from any *pre-existing condition are excluded from StudentSecure Elite and StudentSecure Select during the first 6 months of coverage and from StudentSecure Budget during the first 12 months of coverage.

All StudentSecure plans include **Acute Onset of Pre-existing Conditions (excluding chronic and congenital conditions) up to a lifetime maximum of $25,000 for eligible expenses. Note that StudentSecure Smart provides Acute Onset of Pre-existing Conditions coverage only.

*Pre-existing condition means any injury, illness, sickness, disease, or other physical, medical, mental, or nervous disorder, condition, or ailment that, with reasonable medical certainty, existed at the time of application or at any time during the 12 months prior to the effective date of this insurance, whether or not previously manifested, symptomatic or known, diagnosed, treated, or disclosed to us prior to the effective date, and including any and all subsequent, chronic or recurring complications or consequences related thereto or resulting or arising therefrom.

**An acute onset of a pre-existing condition is a sudden and unexpected outbreak or recurrence that is of short duration, is rapidly progressive, and requires urgent care. A pre-existing condition that is a chronic or congenital, or that gradually becomes worse over time, is not acute onset of a pre-existing condition.

The Acute Onset of Pre-existing Condition benefit will only apply if all of the following conditions are met:

• The acute onset of a pre-existing condition does not directly or indirectly relate to a chronic condition or congenital condition; and
• Treatment must be obtained within twenty-four (24) hours of the sudden and unexpected outbreak or reoccurrence; and
• You must not be traveling against or in disregard of the recommendations, established treatment programs, or medical advice of a physician or other healthcare provider; and
• You must not be traveling with the intent or purpose to seek or obtain treatment for the pre-existing condition; and
• You must be traveling outside your home country

Is There Any Maternity or Newborn Care Coverage with a StudentSecure Insurance Plan?

I Am Planning to Play a Team Sport When I Study Abroad. Am I Covered with a StudentSecure Plan?

StudentSecure Elite and Select provide coverage for medical expenses resulting from injuries or illnesses sustained while participating in intercollegiate, interscholastic, intramural, or club sports. This benefit covers up to a maximum of $5,000 per injury or illness. StudentSecure Budget and Smart do not provide coverage for organized sports activities.

To be eligible for coverage, the sports or athletics must be sanctioned by your school and cannot be performed for any wage, reward, or profit.

All four StudentSecure plans include coverage for eligible medical expenses resulting from injuries or illnesses sustained while participating in leisure, recreational, entertainment, or fitness activities. Eligible expenses are covered up to the overall maximum limit. Please review the StudentSecure Description of Coverage for a list of excluded sports and activities.

Is There Mental Health Coverage with a StudentSecure Plan?

StudentSecure provides benefits for mental health disorders as long as treatment is not obtained at a student health center.

Under StudentSecure Elite, physician office visit care is covered up to a maximum of 40 visits. Inpatient care is covered up to a maximum of 40 days.

Under StudentSecure Select and StudentSecure Budget, physician office visit care is covered up to a maximum of 30 visits. Inpatient care is covered up to a maximum of 30 days.

Under StudentSecure Smart, physician office visit care is covered up to a $500 lifetime maximum. Inpatient care is covered up to a $5,000 lifetime maximum. Drug abuse and alcohol abuse are excluded under StudentSecure Smart.

See your Description of Coverage for other important details of this benefit.

Am I Covered with a StudentSecure Plan if I Have an Accident that Involves Dental Injuries?

All four StudentSecure international student medical insurance plans provide emergency dental treatment by a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM), or other licensed dental practitioner, necessary to resolve pain or to restore or replace natural teeth lost or damaged in an accident (up to a $500 plan period maximum).

Does StudentSecure Provide Coverage for an Emergency Medical Evacuation?

All four StudentSecure plans provide coverage for:

• Emergency air transportation to a suitable airport nearest to the hospital where you will receive treatment; and
• Emergency ground transportation necessarily preceding emergency air transportation, and from the destination airport to the hospital where you will receive treatment.

The evacuation must be agreed upon by you or your relative and travel arrangements must be approved in advance and coordinated by WorldTrips. Your attending physician must recommend the evacuation and certify that it is medically necessary and that transportation by any other method would result in the loss of your life or limb.

Does StudentSecure Have Emergency Reunion Coverage?

Yes. If you experience a covered emergency medical evacuation or you are hospitalized as inpatient for at least 5 days due to a covered, life-threatening condition, you will be eligible for:

• An economy, roundtrip air or ground transportation ticket for one relative from their home country to the area where you are hospitalized, and
• Reasonable expenses for lodging and meals for the relative in the area where you are hospitalized (15-day maximum)

Emergency Reunion benefits that are not related to an emergency medical evacuation will be paid only following the end of the inpatient hospitalization.

How Can I Access My Personalized Product Links?

I'm Worried About Acts of Terrorism in My Host Country. Is There Coverage for That?

StudentSecure Elite, StudentSecure Select, and StudentSecure Budget provide medical coverage for injuries and illnesses resulting from an act of terrorism, subject to a $50,000 lifetime maximum, provided all the following conditions are met:

• The injury or illness does not result from the use of any biological, chemical, cyber, radioactive or nuclear agent, material, device or weapon.
• You have no direct or indirect involvement in the act of terrorism.
• The act of terrorism is not in a country or location where the U.S. Department of State has issued a level 3 “reconsider travel” or higher travel advisory within the 60 days prior to your date of arrival.
• You have not failed to depart a country or location within 10 days following the date a level 3 or higher travel advisory to leave that country or location is issued by the U.S. Department of State.

StudentSecure Smart does not provide coverage for medical expenses incurred due to an act of terrorism.

An Act of Terrorism Is Defined as: An act, including but not limited to, the use of force or violence and/or the threat thereof, of any person or group(s) of persons, whether acting alone or on behalf of or in connection with any organization(s) or government(s) committed for political, religious, ideological or similar purposes including the intention to influence any government and/or to put the public, or any section of the public, in fear.

Is There Any Accidental Death and Dismemberment Coverage Included with a StudentSecure Plan?

In the event of your accidental death or dismemberment resulting from a covered injury, StudentSecure Elite and StudentSecure Select will provide the following benefit:

• Accidental Death – Principal sum to the beneficiary designated on your application
• Loss of Sight in Both Eyes or Loss of Two or More Limbs – Principal sum to you
• Loss of Sight in One Eye or Loss of One Limb – One-half of the principal sum to you

Loss of Sight  – Defined as complete, permanent, and irrevocable loss of sight.

Loss of Limb  – Defined as the arm when the severance is at or above (toward the elbow) the wrist, or the leg when the severance is at or above (toward the knee) the ankle. StudentSecure Elite and StudentSecure Select offer an optional AD&D Rider for an additional $25,000 lifetime maximum. StudentSecure Budget and StudentSecure Smart do not provide an Accidental Death and Dismemberment benefit.

Note that the Accidental Death and Dismemberment benefit is not available for losses resulting from an act of terrorism.

Should Something Happen and Death Occurs, Do You Cover the Transportation of Remains Back Home?

What If I Have to Go to the Hospital on the Day My StudentSecure Plan Terminates?

Can I Extend or Renew My StudentSecure Insurance Coverage?

How Do I Extend My StudentSecure Insurance Coverage?

Follow the below instructions to EXTEND your StudentSecure insurance plan:

• Log into your Member Portal account.
• If you are eligible to extend your policy and you do not need to contact a broker or plan administrator in order to do so, you will see the "Extend Policy" page.

How Do I Cancel My StudentSecure Insurance Coverage?

After you create your Member Portal account ( click here for registration instructions ), log in and select “Policy Information” in the top righthand corner. Then select the “Modify or Cancel Coverage” box.

If you are not eligible to cancel via Member Portal, you will see a message prompting you to contact your agent for assistance. If you are eligible to cancel via Member Portal, select “No” under the “Would you like to change your coverage start date?” question. Then select “Shorten or cancel your coverage.”

If Your Policy Has Not Yet Started …

If Your Policy Has Already Started …

A $25 cancellation fee will apply. On the “Shorten or Cancel Policy” page, select your new coverage end date and click “Calculate Refund” to display the eligibility of the date selected and the amount that will be refunded.

If Paying in Monthly Installments…

• You may only cancel in whole month increments. If you select a date in the middle of a monthly installment period, the following installment period will not be drafted.
• Only premium for unused whole months will be refunded.

If Paid in Full…

• Only premium for unused days will be refunded.

Once you click “Submit,” you will be routed to a confirmation page. You will also receive a confirmation email. Your refund will be applied to the original payment method used within 3-5 business days. Please note that after 60 days, no refunds will be granted.

What Is Trip Insurance?

Trip insurance is designed to protect your trip’s financial investment as you travel domestically or abroad. Designed for U.S. residents, trip insurance provides you with reimbursement for lost and stolen baggage, reimbursement for a trip that’s unexpectedly cut short, and medical coverage for unexpected sickness or injury.

Trip insurance may also include a Trip Cancellation benefit that reimburses you for prepaid, nonrefundable expenses (cruise, tours, hotel accommodations, airfare, etc.) if you must cancel your trip due to a covered reason.

Atlas Journey Elevate, Atlas Journey Explore, and Atlas Journey Escape include a Trip Cancellation benefit, while Atlas On-The-Go does not. See the  Atlas Journey  or  Atlas On-The-Go  product page for more details.

What Are Covered Reasons for Trip Cancellation?

Some covered reasons for trip cancellation include:

• A physician recommending that you or your traveling companion cancel your trip due to sickness or accidental injury
• Sickness or injury of your family member, business partner, service animal, or your traveling companion that requires medical treatment by a physician
• Your death or the death of your traveling companion, family member, business partner, or service animal
• Severe weather, natural disaster, or strike that causes your common carrier to shut down for 12+ hours
• A terrorist incident in a city listed on your itinerary within 30 days of your planned arrival

This is not an exhaustive list. Please visit the  Atlas Journey Policy Documents page to view the policy documents for your plan and state of residency. These documents include a full list of covered reasons for trip cancellation as well as conditions and exclusions.

What Are Covered Reasons for Trip Interruption?

Some covered reasons for trip interruption include:

• A physician recommending that you or your traveling companion end your trip early due to sickness or accidental injury
• Sickness or injury of your family member, business partner, or service animal that requires medical treatment by a physician

This is not an exhaustive list. Please visit the Atlas Journey Policy Documents page page to view the policy documents for your plan and state of residency. These documents include a full list of covered reasons for trip interruption as well as conditions and exclusions.

What Is a Trip Cancellation for Any Reason (CFAR) Benefit?

The Trip Cancellation for Any Reason (CFAR) benefit is an optional benefit upgrade that could reimburse you for a percentage of the unused, nonrefundable, prepaid payments you made toward your trip if you must cancel for any reason not already covered by your Trip Cancellation benefit.

This benefit upgrade is available when you purchase an Atlas Journey Elevate or Atlas Journey Explore trip insurance plan within 21 days of the date your initial deposit for your trip is received. (It is not available for Atlas Journey Escape or Atlas On-The-Go.) You must cancel your trip at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled departure to receive reimbursement via the CFAR benefit.

Note that the percentage of your trip cost that will be reimbursed depends on your plan and the percentage you choose. Visit the State Disclosures page to view the policy documents for your plan and state of residency. These documents provide additional details specific to your plan.

*NOTE: Upgrade availability varies by plan level. An upgrade name and availability may vary by state of residence.

How Do I Purchase a Trip Cancellation for Any Reason (CFAR) Benefit?

Visit quote.worldtrips.com/ctp and enter your trip details under “Price My Plan.” Click the “View My Plans” button. On the next page labeled “Choose Your Plan,” click the “Select” button for the Atlas Journey plan you’d like to purchase. (Note that you must purchase an Atlas Journey Elevate or Atlas Journey Explore plan to add a Trip Cancellation for Any Reason (CFAR) benefit upgrade. The CFAR upgrade is not available for Atlas Journey Escape or Atlas On-The-Go.)

You will add your Trip Cancellation for Any Reason benefit upgrade on the following page labeled “Upgrade Your Plan.” Under the “Cancel for Any Reason” heading, select which percentage of your prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses (50% or 75%) you would like to be reimbursed if you cancel your trip for any reason 48 or more hours prior to your departure. Then click the “+” sign to add the upgrade to your plan.

Once this additional coverage is added, you will see it listed in the sidebar under “My Plan.” Note that your plan price will increase with each optional upgrade you add. Once you’ve selected all the upgrades you’d like to add to your plan, click the “Next Step” button toward the bottom of the page. Provide the information requested on the “Traveler Information” page and the “Trip Information” page. Then complete the checkout process to finish purchasing your plan.

Who Is Considered a "Traveling Companion" for Insurance Purposes?

Who Is Considered a "Family Member" for Insurance Purposes?

A family member means any of the following:

• Your or your traveling companion's legal spouse (or common-law spouse where legal)
• legal guardian, parent, or ward
• brother or sister - son or daughter
• grandparent or great-grandparent
• grandchild or great-grandchild
• aunt or uncle - niece or nephew
• domestic partner or civil union partner
• caregiver or child caregiver

Can I Buy Trip Insurance After Departing on My Trip?

What Is the Latest Date I Can Purchase Trip Insurance?

One day before your departure date is the latest date you can purchase Atlas Journey Elevate, Atlas Journey Explore, or Atlas Journey Escape trip protection insurance.

You can purchase Atlas On-The-Go trip interruption insurance the same day you depart for your trip.

If you need insurance coverage after you’ve departed on your trip and you are traveling outside of your home country, consider a travel medical insurance plan like  Atlas Travel ,  Atlas Premium ,  Atlas Group , Atlas Nomads , or  Atlas MultiTrip . These plans provide coverage for unexpected medical expenses (including COVID-19-related expenses) as well as some supplemental travel benefits. Note that coverage for these plans is only provided for eligible injuries, illnesses, and travel mishaps that occur after your coverage has gone into effect.

Can I Purchase Trip Insurance If I'm Not a U.S. Resident?

You must be a U.S. citizen or resident with a mailing address in the U.S. to purchase an Atlas Journey or Atlas On-The-Go trip protection insurance plan. If you’re not a U.S. resident and you are traveling outside of your home country, consider purchasing a travel medical insurance plan like Atlas Travel ,  Atlas Premium ,  Atlas Group , Atlas Nomads , or  Atlas MultiTrip . These plans provide coverage for unexpected medical expenses (including COVID-19-related expenses) as well as some supplemental travel benefits.

Note that there is no Trip Cancellation benefit included with travel medical insurance plans.

What Is a Pre-Existing Condition?

A pre-existing condition means an illness, disease, or other condition during the lookback period immediately prior to your effective date of coverage for which you: 1. received a test, examination, or medical treatment; 2. received a recommendation for a test, examination, or medical treatment; or 3. took or received a prescription for drugs or medicine.

Item (3) above does not apply to a condition which is treated or controlled solely through the taking of prescription medication and remains treated or controlled without any adjustment or *change in the required prescription throughout the lookback period before your coverage effective date.

*Change in required prescription means the dosage or frequency of a medication has been increased, reduced, stopped, and/or new medications have been prescribed due to the worsening of an underlying condition that’s being treated with the medication, unless the change is: 1. between a brand name and a generic medication with comparable dosage; or 2. an adjustment to insulin or anti-coagulant dosage. Your Atlas trip protection plan will not cover pre-existing conditions that existed during the lookback period, unless you qualify for a waiver of the pre-existing conditions exclusion. (Note that Atlas On-The-Go does not offer a waiver of the pre-existing conditions exclusion.) Review the policy documents for your plan and state of residency for specific coverage details.

What Is a "Lookback Period"?

How Do I Qualify to Have Pre-Existing Conditions Covered?

Atlas Journey will waive the pre-existing conditions exclusion if both the following apply:

• you purchase your plan within 21 days of the date you made your first payment toward your trip for Atlas Journey Elevate and Atlas Journey Explore or 14 days of the date you made your first payment toward your trip for Atlas Journey Escape; and
• you are medically able to travel on the date of purchase.

Atlas On-The-Go does not offer coverage for pre-existing conditions. 

Review the policy documents for your plan and state of residency for more details. Policy documents are located on the Atlas Journey Policy Documents page.

What Kinds of Travel Assistance Services Are Included with My Plan?

Wherever you travel with your Atlas Journey trip protection coverage, you have access to multilingual travel assistance services 365 days a year. Some travel assistance services include:

• Worldwide travel, medical, emergency, and security assistance
• Pet assistance
• Concierge services
• Embassy and consular service
• Medical referrals
• Language interpretation
• Assistance with lost or stolen luggage and personal items
• Coordination of personal effects collection and return
• Search and rescue coordination
• Assistance with return of minor children
• Arrangements for aircraft and car return

See the full list of travel assistance services available to you.

What Should I Do if I Experience an Emergency While Traveling?

Contact us immediately, or as soon as possible, to report a cancellation, interruption, or delayed arrival. You can also contact us if you need assistance with a medical situation.

Call (866) 400-6090 (toll free) to reach us within the U.S. or +1 (603) 328-6387 (collect calls accepted) to reach us outside the U.S.

We recommend keeping your policy ID card on you at all times in case you need to provide proof of your insurance during a medical emergency. Ensure that you save all relevant documents regarding a travel mishap or medical emergency in the event you need to file a claim. Relevant documents could include receipts, itemized bills, medical records, police reports, reports of lost luggage, etc. Don’t hesitate to use your plan’s travel assistance services in the event of an emergency while you are traveling. See the travel assistance services available to you.

What Information Do I Have to Provide in Order to Purchase a Trip Cancellation Plan?

You will need the following trip information: - Total trip cost - Departure date - Return date - Primary destination - Initial trip payment date - Final trip payment date - Airline (optional) - Cruise line (optional) - Tour operator (optional)

You will need the following personal information for each traveler on your policy: - First and last name - Traveler(s) current age(s) and date of birth - Gender (optional) - Email address - Mailing address - City of residence - State of residence - Postal code - Phone number

What Do I Choose as My State of Residence?

How Do I Calculate My Total Trip Cost?

What Is Considered My Departure Date?

What Is Considered My Return Date?

Do I Enter My Current Age or My Age on My Departure Date?

What Is Considered the Initial Trip Payment Date?

What Destination Do I Choose if I'm Visiting Multiple Destinations?

When Will My Coverage Become Effective?

What Should I Do if I Need To Change the Details of My Insurance Plan After I Buy?

How Do I Access My Insurance and Policy Documents?

You will receive your plan documents via email as soon as your application has been processed and your credit card has been approved—this is typically within a few minutes of purchase. Your plan documents will explain your benefits and serve as proof of coverage for everyone insured under the policy.

The email will also include a link to your policy documents. Your policy documents explain each of your benefits in detail. They also include important information about policy exclusions and the free look period.

You can call us or email [email protected] at any time to request that we resend your insurance documents to your email. To reach us by phone within the U.S., call  (866) 400-6090  (toll free). To reach us by phone outside the U.S., call  +1 (603) 328-6387  (collect calls accepted). 

You can find sample policy documents for your plan and state of residency  on the Atlas Journey Policy Documents page .

Where Can I See My Coverage Limits?

How Do I Cancel My Trip Insurance Policy?

Atlas Journey Elevate, Atlas Journey Explore, Atlas Journey Escape, and Atlas On-The-Go each include a free-look period. This is the period after purchase in which you’re eligible for a refund if you decide to cancel your coverage.

Review the policy documents for your plan and state of residency to see how long your free-look period lasts. You can see sample policy documents for a specific plan by visiting the  Atlas Journey Policy Documents page .

If you have an Atlas Journey or Atlas On-The-Go plan and your policy number starts with a “T,” you may email us at [email protected] to cancel. Please include “Cancellation Request” in the subject line. If your policy number does  not  start with a “T,” this means you have a travel medical insurance plan, and you may submit a cancellation request online in Member Portal .

How Do I File a Claim?

What Supporting Documents Should I Include With My Claim?

Examples of supporting documents are as follows:

For a Trip Cancellation Claim :

• Itinerary/invoice for all trip arrangements
• Proof of payment for trip arrangements
• Proof of cancellation of all trip arrangements
• Documentation supporting your reason for cancellation (e.g., completed attending physician’s statement, death certificate and obituary, jury summons, etc.)

For a Trip Interruption/Travel Delay Claim:

• Documentation of the date you joined the trip and/or left the trip
• Receipts and proof of payment for any additional expenses claimed
• Documentation supporting your reason for interruption/delay (e.g., medical notes/records, death certificate, evidence of delay or cancellation by your common carrier including the reason for the delay or cancellation, etc.)

For an Emergency Accident & Sickness Medical Expense Claim:

• Itemized invoices
• Medical notes/records
• Proof of payment for medical expenses incurred during the trip
• Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from your primary health insurer (if coverage is excess)

NOTE: Benefit availability varies by plan. Any benefit name may vary by state of residency.

For a Baggage Damage or Loss Claim:

• A copy of your claim with the carrier that had possession of the items when they were lost/stolen
• A copy of the resolution of the claim with the carrier
• Itemized list of all items claimed, including the approximate age/date of purchase for each item claimed and proof of the replacement cost for a similar item from a retailer
• If loss was the result of theft, a copy of the police report filed at the time of loss

For a Baggage Delay Claim:

• Property Irregularity Report (PIR) issued by the common carrier (shows evidence of baggage delay)
• Documentation of the date your baggage was returned to you
• Receipts for personal articles purchased while your baggage was delayed

How Long Will It Take for You To Review My Claims?

How Do I Check the Status of a Claim I've Submitted?

How Do I Upload Supporting Documentation for a Claim?

How Long Will It Take To Receive Payment for an Approved Claim?

• If you choose to receive payment by ACH: You will be asked to enter your banking information. Payment will be deposited into your account immediately.
• If you choose to receive payment by paper check: We will mail your check within 3 business days via USPS first-class mail.

How Can I Appeal a Denied Claim?

There is no special form required to file an appeal. If you wish to appeal your claim, you may send us a letter explaining the reason you disagree with the denial of your claim. You will need to include your policy and/or claim number as well as documents that support your claim. Email or mail your reasoning, policy/claim number, and supporting documents to:

Mail: Attention: Co-ordinated Benefit Plans, LLC On Behalf of US Specialty Insurance Company P.O. Box 26222 Tampa, FL 33623

[email protected] (please include “Appeal” in the subject line)

Do I Have To Use a Doctor From a Specific List?

You are always free to use the medical providers of your choice. When seeking treatment within the U.S., however, you may reduce your out-of-pocket costs by visiting a provider within your preferred provider organization (PPO). A PPO is an organized network of hundreds of thousands of qualified medical practitioners and well-recognized hospitals in the U.S.

Refer to the "Schedule of Benefits and Limits" in the Description of Coverage for your plan to determine your coinsurance responsibility for in-network and out-of-network payments within the U.S., if applicable. Then visit our "Find a Doctor or Hospital" page to find U.S.-based providers within your PPO. Note that there is no PPO for traveling outside the U.S.

Do I Have To Pay the Doctor Up Front?

Many providers are willing to bill us directly, and we are happy to work directly with the provider. The provider should submit original itemized bills to WorldTrips. You, the patient, will still need to submit a completed Claimant's Statement and Authorization form to WorldTrips. If the provider requires you to pay for medical treatment at the time of service, you will need to file a claim for reimbursement. When seeking treatment, please ensure that you provide your name in the same format as provided for your insurance policy. You can check your name format on your fulfillment documents, ID card, or in Member Portal .

At the time of service, ask your medical provider for an itemized bill with the following information: 

• Provider name and address
• Provider tax ID (if U.S.-based)
• Your name, date of birth, and certificate ID number
• Itemized charges
• DX (diagnosis) code and CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) code
• Request your receipt for payment and complete medical records from the visit.

Can My Doctor Call if They Have Questions About What My Plan Covers?

What Happens if I Become Ill or Injured Over the Weekend and Need to Contact You?

What Is a Claimant's Statement and Authorization Form?

Where Do I Find the Claimant's Statement and Authorization Form?

- Click here to view the Claimant’s Statement and Authorization form. - You can fill out the form via DocuSign online in Member Portal . (See step-by-step instructions on how to file a claim via Member Portal.) - You can also contact us at 800-605-2282 to request a form by mail or fax.

How Do I Submit the Claimant's Statement and Authorization Form?

You can complete and submit the Claimant's Statement and Authorization form (along with supporting documents) in one of the following ways: Via DocuSign within Member Portal (Most Efficient Approach) 1. Go to Member Portal . 2. Log in to your account. If this is your first time using Member Portal, view instructions for registering your new account here.

NOTE: If you already have a Client Zone / Student Zone account, you do not need to register for a Member Portal account. Simply log in to Member Portal using your Client Zone / Student Zone login details.

3. Click "Claims and Appeals" in the main navigation menu. 4. Click the “Submit New Claim Via DocuSign” button under the “Claimant’s Statement and Authorization Form” subheader in the “File a Claim” section and follow the instructions. For more extensive step-by-step instructions, including screenshots, please see our “ How to File a Claim ” guide.

Don't Have Access to the Claims and Appeals Page? If you noted that you are not the insured or the insured’s legal guardian, you will see the Protected Health Information Authorization page in place of the Claims and Appeals page. Enter the insured’s email address and click “Send Request.” Once the insured has completed and submitted our HIPAA form, you will gain access to the Claims and Appeals page and have the ability to submit a claim within 3-5 days.

By Mail 1. Download the Claimant's Statement and Authorization form here. 2. Print, complete, and sign the form 3. Mail to: WorldTrips Claims Department PO Box 240358 Apple Valley, MN 55124 U.S.A. WorldTrips is also happy to fax, e-mail, or mail the form(s) to you upon request.

Important Note for Students: For eligibility purposes, you must submit the following along with a Claimant's Statement and Authorization form: - A copy of your education-related visa (F-1, J-1, OPT, etc.) or valid I-20/DS2019 - Proof of full-time student status (not necessary if submitting a valid F-1 visa including OPT, or J-1 visa)

Do I Need to Send a Completed Claimant's Statement and Authorization Form with Every Bill?

I Completed the Claimant's Statement and Authorization Form and You're Asking for It Again - Why?

What Is An Authorization Form for Use and/or Disclosure of Protected Health Information (Also Known as the HIPAA Form)?

How Do I Submit the Authorization Form for Use and/or Disclosure of Protected Health Information (Also Known as the HIPAA Form?

You may complete and submit the form to us in one of the following ways:

- Electronically via Member Portal

• Log in to your account. If this is your first time using Member Portal, please click here to view instructions for registering your new account.  If you already have a Client Zone / Student Zone account, you do not need to register for a Member Portal account. Simply log in to Member Portal using your Client Zone / Student Zone login details. 

If You See the Protected Health Information Authorization Page: - Because you selected that you are not the insured or the insured's legal guardian upon registering for Member Portal, you do not yet have access to the Claims and Appeals page. - Under the "Protected Health Information Authorization" header, enter the insured's email address and click the "Send Request" button. - The insured will receive an email with a link to complete, sign, and submit the HIPPA form via DocuSign. You will gain access to the Claims and Appeals page and will be able to see the status of any pending claims within 3-5 days of the date the policyholder completed and submitted the form.

If You See the Claims and Appeals Page: - Click the "Fill Out and Submit Via DocuSign" button under the "Authorization Form for Use and/or Disclosure of Protected Health Information (HIPPA)" subheader in the "File a Claim" section. - Enter the insured's name and an email address and click the "Begin Signing" button. - Click the yellow "Continue" button, fill out the form and the required information (as noted by the red boxes), have the policyholder sign the form, and click the yellow "Finish" button. - Clicking "Finish" submits the document and sends a PDF of your signed Authorization Form for Use and/or Disclosure of Protected Health Information to the email address entered. Download or print a copy of your completed form for your records. If you do not receive a confirmation email with your completed form attached within 24 hours, please contact WorldTrips to make sure your form was properly submitted.

• Mail to: WorldTrips Claims Department PO Box 240358 Apple Valley, MN 55124 U.S.A. 

How Long Will It Take for My Claim to Be Processed?

How Do I Find Out About the Status of Submitted Claims?

I Submitted Everything You've Requested - Why Are My Claims Still Not Processed?

Is the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) a Bill?

What Is Subrogation?

In health insurance, subrogation is the process through which an insurance company seeks to recover medical costs from another party’s insurance. For WorldTrips, it refers to those times when you or your family may have submitted a claim for medical care for which a third party is responsible. These types of claims could be car accidents, slip and fall claims, negligence claims, or product liability claims. In cases where a claim for services in the United States is in question, WorldTrips is responsible for administering the claim.

We use Equian, an independent company, to assist us with the investigation and recovery process for these subrogated claims. [equian logo?] - What Equian Will Do? As part of the investigation process, you may receive a letter or email directly from WorldTrips and Equian asking you to provide details regarding an incident or paid medical claim. The date of your consultation or treatment and the name of the healthcare provider will be listed on the letter and the investigation will be allocated an event number.

-What You Need to Do If you have been contacted by WorldTrips and Equian, you can fill out the online subrogation questionnaire at the following link: https://selfservice.troversolutions.com You will be asked to provide your event number, which was provided in the correspondence, so please have it ready to reference. You can also call the toll-free customer service number at +1 (800) 395-5568 to provide the information to an Equian customer service representative.

Customer service hours in the U.S. are as follows: - Monday through Thursday: 8:30 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time - Friday: 8:30 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time - How Helping Us Will Benefit You By providing WorldTrips and Equian with the requested accident-related information, you are able to take an active role in helping to control your healthcare costs. If Equian determines another party was responsible for your injuries, it may seek reimbursement from the responsible party or insurance.

With the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act (PPACA) Law, How Can You Deny Pre-Existing Conditions?

How Do I Become Contracted with WorldTrips?

Are There Any Contract Fees or Production Requirements?

Do I Have to Carry a Health Insurance License in Every State?

Can I Sell WorldTrips' Portfolio of Products on My Personal Website?

How Can I View My Production?

When and How Are Commissions Paid?

Commissions are paid each month on the third to the last business day of the month for all commissions owed for all sales since the last commissions received.  You may also be eligible for a second commission payment if you sign up to receive payment by EFT (ACH/Wire) and are owed over $100.00 on the second Wednesday of each month. 

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WorldTrips' Atlas Journey, Atlas Cruiser, and Atlas On-The-Go trip protection insurance products are underwritten by Tokio Marine HCC's U.S. Specialty Insurance Company (USSIC). USSIC is a Texas-domiciled insurance company operating on an admitted basis throughout the United States. Coverage is available to U.S. residents of the U.S. states and District of Columbia only. This plan provides insurance coverage that only applies during the covered trip. You may have coverage from other sources that provides you with similar benefits but may be subject to different restrictions depending upon your other coverages. You may wish to compare the terms of this policy with your existing life, health, home, and automobile insurance policies. Coverage may not be available in all states.

In the State of California, operating as WorldTrips Insurance Services. California Non-Resident Producer License Number: 0G39705

This is the announcement bar for Poornima to test the Close Button.  It will expire May 31 2024.

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Enjoy Even More Peace of Mind with Our New & Improved Princess Vacation Protection

Life can be unpredictable but you can rely on princess vacation protection.

One of the most common questions we hear from our guests is, ‘Should I buy travel protection?’ If you want to spend more time relaxing and less time worrying about the unexpected, the answer is ‘yes’. That’s why we offer Princess Vacation Protection (PVP), which provides a cancellation fee waiver1 plus travel insurance benefits2 and 24-hour worldwide CareFree™ Travel Assistance 3 . Help protect in the event of unforeseen illness, including COVID-19, trip delays, baggage issues and more. It’s a convenient way to help ease your worries before setting sail.

Your benefits just got better – and you can still enjoy low prices!

New improvements:.

• Increased benefits up to 150% of vacation cost for Trip Interruptions.
• Increased Emergency Evacuation benefits up to $50,000 for the standard plan and $75,000 for the platinum plan.*

Benefits at a Glance

Cancel for any reason 1.

Cancellation Fee Waiver 1  (Non-insurance features provided by Princess Cruises) Life is unpredictable… but you can rely on Princess Vacation Protection. If you need to cancel for specified reasons outlined in the Cancellation Fee Waiver section of the plan, you’ll receive a refund of your cancellation fees. If you need to cancel for any reason not listed in the plan, under the “Any Reason” Cancellation Enhancement feature, you’ll receive 75% of the cancellation fee amount in the form of future cruise credits under our Standard plan and 100% under the Platinum plan.

Trip Interruptions

If you need to interrupt your trip due to a covered reason such as an illness or injury, you are eligible for reimbursement of prepaid cruise/land arrangements made through Princess and/or the cost of one-way airfare to get you home.

Medical Evacuation

Princess Vacation Protection also provides coverage in case your medical condition requires emergency evacuation to an appropriate medical facility.

Medical Expenses

Most medical expenses are covered in case you become sick or injured during your trip.

Trip Delays

If you are delayed starting your trip or returning home, you may be reimbursed for expenses that were not arranged through Princess – including meals, hotel, and transportation.

Personal Belongings

Your baggage is also covered in the event it is damaged, lost, stolen, or delayed to your destination.

24/7 Support

Need help? You will have access to 24/7 worldwide assistance for travel, medical, and emergency services.

The plan terms, conditions and exclusions are available online:

Captain’s Circle Loyalty Benefit

Available in both a Standard and Platinum plan, choose the plan you want based on the coverage and plan price that works best for you. Captain’s Circle members who have achieved Ruby, Platinum or Elite status who elect to purchase Standard PVP automatically receive a complimentary upgrade to PVP Platinum; we’ll pay the difference in plan cost on your behalf.

3 Ways to Purchase Princess Vacation Protection

Princess Vacation Protection can be purchased at the time of booking or up until final payment. You are considered enrolled as soon as the plan cost has been paid.

• When you  Book your Cruise  on Princess.com
• Call 1-800-Princess or contact your Travel Advisor
• Already Booked Guests can purchase in  Manage Booking

Product Details

Cancellation Fee Waiver 1 (Non-insurance features provided by Princess Cruises)

Life is unpredictable… but you can rely on Princess Vacation Protection. If you need to cancel for specified reasons outlined in the Cancellation Fee Waiver section of the plan you’ll receive a refund of your cancellation fees. If you need to cancel for any reason not listed in the plan, under the “Any Reason” Cancellation Enhancement feature, you’ll receive 75% of the cancellation fee amount in the form of future cruise credits under our Standard plan and 100% under the Platinum plan.

Travel Insurance Benefits 2 (Underwritten by Nationwide®)

Sail through your vacation with less to worry about.

Trip Interruption:  Up to 150% total trip cost reimbursement for missed, prepaid cruise arrangements and/or the cost of one-way airfare if you must start your vacation late or need to come home early due to illness, injury and more.

Trip Delay:  Up to $500 for any pre-cruise trip delay expenses and/or post-cruise trip delay expenses up to $1,500 (not to exceed $1,500 for both pre- and post-cruise delays) for meals, hotel and transportation.

Baggage Delay:  Up to $500 if your luggage is delayed during travel.

Baggage/Personal Effects:  Up to $1,500 ($3,000 with the Platinum plan) if your stuff is lost, stolen or damaged.

Accidental Medical Expense:  Up to $10,000 ($20,000 with the Platinum plan) if you become injured while traveling.

Sickness Medical Expense:  Up to $10,000 ($20,000 with the Platinum plan) if you become sick while traveling.

Emergency Medical Evacuation/Repatriation: Up to $50,000 ($75,000 with the Platinum Plan) in the event your medical condition requires emergency medical transportation to an appropriate medical facility or in the event of your death, provides coverage to transport your mortal remains.

24/7 Worldwide Travel Assistance Services 3 (Non-insurance services provided by LiveTravel)

Need help while you travel?  Assistance is there for you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, anywhere in the world.

Princess Vacation Protection can be purchased while booking your next cruise vacation on princess.com, by contacting your travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS, or on Manage Booking. It is available for purchase up until final payment for your trip on all Princess Cruises, Princess Cruisetours, Princess Alaska Land Tours and Princess Canadian Rockies Land Tours, and is available at two levels: Standard or Platinum. Princess Vacation Protection is not in effect until the plan cost has been paid to Princess in addition to any required cruise deposits or payments.

1  Non-insurance feature provided by Princess. WA residents only, Trip Cancellation benefits are underwritten by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Affiliated Companies, Columbus, Ohio (NAIC #23787).

2  Travel Insurance Benefits are underwritten by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Affiliated Companies, Columbus, Ohio (NAIC #23787).

3  Travel Assistance services are non-insurance services provided by LiveTravel International.

This plan provides insurance coverage that applies only during the covered trip. You may have coverage from other sources that provides you with similar benefits but may be subject to different restrictions depending upon your other coverages. You may wish to compare the terms of this policy with your existing life, health, home and automobile policies. If you have any questions about your current coverage, call your insurer, insurance agent or broker.

Princess Vacation Protection – Standard  To obtain your state-specific Certificate of Insurance providing the terms, conditions and exclusions of the certificate, visit  PVP Standard .

Princess Vacation Protection – Platinum  To obtain your state-specific Certificate of Insurance providing the terms, conditions and exclusions of the certificate, visit  PVP Platinum .

Note that Princess Vacation Protection is not available to residents of the state of New York, British Columbia, Quebec, Puerto Rico, or Mexico.

Need to file a claim?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:  What happens if I test positive for COVID-19 and need to cancel the day before my cruise? A:  Like with any illness diagnosed and treated by a medical professional, if you test positive for COVID-19 after purchasing the plan, you will be eligible to receive a refund to your original form of payment. If you do not have an official medical diagnosis, but feel unwell, you will receive a Future Cruise Credit.

Q:  What if my spouse gets COVID-19 right before the cruise and we can no longer sail? A:  You will be eligible to file a claim for a cash refund if you, your traveling companion or a member of your immediate family is diagnosed and treated for COVID-19, which causes you to cancel your cruise.

Q:  What if my mother, who isn’t sailing with us, gets COVID-19, and we may have been exposed? A:  Princess Vacation Protection has you covered! Even if they are not traveling with you, if someone in your immediate family is diagnosed and treated for an illness, you may request a refund to the original form of payment. If they are ill but are not diagnosed or treated, you may call us and receive a Future Cruise Credit for the cruise fare.

Q:  What if I find out I was exposed to someone either on my way to my cruise or during the cruise, and I end up being isolated in my cabin for part or all of the voyage? A:  PVP provides reimbursement for the days you are confined to your cabin if the confinement is ordered by a medical professional.

Q:  Does PVP cover my medical expenses if I get COVID-19 during my cruise? A:  Yes, PVP provides reimbursement for eligible medical expenses for any illness, including COVID-19.

Q:  What if I want to cancel my PVP coverage? How does that work? A:  PVP is refundable until final payment is due. For new bookings made within final payment, the PVP plan cost is only refundable within 10 days of purchase provided the person hasn't departed on the trip nor filed a claim.

Q:  Am I protected by my Princess Vacation Protection plan if my mother, who is not traveling with me, develops pneumonia and I have to cancel my trip to care for her? A:  Yes! Princess will refund the cancellation fees (up to the full value of the cruise vacation) if you have to cancel your trip because of a specified reason such as illness, injury or death of yourself, a traveling companion or either of your immediate family members.

Q:  If I have a heart condition and am on continuing medication, am I protected if my heart condition flares up during my vacation? A:  Yes! Princess Vacation Protection provides reimbursement for conditions that are stable during the 60-days prior to purchase, so if you have had no changes in your health (even if you are on continuous unchanged medication), you would be protected.

Q:  What if my condition did change prior to purchasing Princess Vacation Protection? A:  Rest assured, emergency evacuation benefits are still provided in the event of a medical emergency. Also, if you cancel your cruise vacation and do not qualify for cash reimbursement due to an unstable medical condition prior to purchase, you will have the benefit of cancel-for-any-reason protection from Princess.

Q:  If my pet becomes ill and I have to cancel my trip as a result, will Princess Vacation Protection reimburse me? A:  Although you would not qualify for cash reimbursement, as an added feature for purchasing Princess Vacation Protection, Princess will provide a credit toward a future cruise equal to 75% of the cancellation fees imposed (100% if Platinum Vacation Protection is purchased) if you choose to cancel for an ineligible reason. This benefit is provided by Princess Cruises and/or Princess Tours.

8 travel insurance mistakes to avoid before your next cruise

The potential for unexpected and disruptive mishaps during your cruise is not something to ignore. Flight delays can lead to missed embarkations . A sudden medical emergency can result in passengers getting abandoned during port stops. Cruise lines can go bankrupt and strand travelers abroad.

As a consumer advocate, I receive hundreds of help requests each year from distraught cruisers whose trips didn't go as planned. Each time, I'm struck by how different their situation might have been if they'd only purchased an insurance policy. Cruise travel insurance can often save the day if you get hit by a surprise calamity before or during your cruise.

Of course, though, that's only true if you have a policy with the correct type of insurance coverage. Travel insurance mistakes and misunderstandings are common among cruise ship passengers and can lead to travelers finding themselves uninsured or under-insured when they encounter a problem on their trip.

That's something TPG wants to help you avoid. Here are the most common cruise travel insurance mistakes I've encountered so you will know how to make better choices for your next vacation at sea.

Not buying travel insurance because you expect to take the cruise

Not even considering travel insurance is by far the top mistake I see made by cruise ship passengers. I'm always surprised when a cruiser tells me they didn't buy travel insurance because they didn't expect to cancel their trip.

This is a common defense offered by travelers caught in expensive situations that travel insurance would have easily covered.

The idea that you don't need travel insurance because you don't expect to cancel your cruise is flawed at its most basic level. The fact is, travel insurance is meant to protect you from unexpected events that cause you to cancel or interrupt your cruise.

Before you reject the idea of travel insurance to protect your next cruise, consider what will happen if:

• You get sick or injured before or during the trip.
• You lose your job and can't afford to go.
• You or a family member is hospitalized or dies.
• Your flight is canceled or delayed and you miss embarkation.
• The airline loses your bags on the way to the cruise ship.

That's just a sampling of surprise events that comprehensive travel insurance could cover (depending on the policy). However, if you don't have a policy protecting you and you're in your cruise contract's penalty zone, you will miss your vacation and won't get your money back.

Related: Is travel insurance worth it?

Not budgeting for travel insurance

Another frequent excuse I hear from cruise ship passengers about why they didn't purchase travel insurance is the cost. That can be a short-sighted decision, though; if something goes wrong, an uninsured traveler can end up owing far more than the price of a comprehensive travel insurance policy.

Consider what would happen if you had an accident during a shore excursion and needed to be medically evacuated. Those emergency services can easily cost $50,000 or more, depending on your location. During a recent cruise to Antarctica, I was required by Aurora Expeditions to have $250,000 of medical evacuation insurance. Traveling to remote locations — or even not-so-remote locations — without medical evacuation coverage could be life-altering if you end up in a catastrophic emergency.

If you intend to spend thousands of dollars to take a cruise, it's always a good idea to budget some of your vacation funds for a travel insurance policy that minimally covers medical care and evacuation home. If you don't, you leave yourself wide open to medical bills, cancellation penalties and more.

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

Buying travel 'protection' from your tour operator

A handful of tour operators and cruise lines sell something called "Travel Protection" or "Travel Waiver," which a sales rep will offer to you when you purchase your cruise. If you're booking online, a pop-up will appear before you complete your reservation. It will say something like "Warning! Protect your investment with our Travel Protection Plan" or "Get peace of mind with Travel Protection."

This product isn't called travel insurance because it isn't travel insurance — it's a hybrid product.

The travel insurance industry is highly regulated. If you buy a policy through an actual travel insurance company, you will be protected by specific laws and regulations. If you have a complaint about your travel insurance policy or claim, you can escalate your problem to your state's insurance board .

Most importantly, travel insurance companies have underwriters, so consumers have a safety net if something goes catastrophically wrong with the travel insurance company.

If you purchase travel protection instead, many safety protocols meant to protect consumers who buy travel insurance will not apply to you.

Before buying one of these policies, it's critical to understand what you're purchasing. Travel Protection has two parts:

Part A: This is predeparture cancellation protection (the passenger's cancellation) and is a self-insured product provided entirely by the cruise line or tour operator. There is no underwriter. This is often advertised as a "cancel for any reason" policy, but that moniker is often misunderstood by the travelers who buy this product. I'll explain further below.

Part B: This is post-departure protection and will be an actual travel insurance policy provided by a third-party insurance company. That part of the plan will provide medical coverage, emergency evacuation protection, trip interruption and more.

Because Part A is not a travel insurance product, passengers are putting their "investment" in a precarious situation should the cruise line or tour operator go out of business or become insolvent. If the operator has no money to pay the claims, there is no safety net without an underwriter. Thus, the customers will be left empty-handed.

That's the unfortunate situation that many Vantage Deluxe World Travel customers found themselves in last June. When the tour operator canceled all future tours and filed for bankruptcy , it owed $108 million to roughly 10,000 customers. Many of those would-be travelers had approved Part A (predeparture) Vantage Travel Protection claims and were waiting for payment when the company went belly-up.

Other Vantage customers erroneously believed that Part B of the pricey travel protection plan would protect them under all circumstances — including bankruptcy.

Far too late, these stunned travelers read through their policies and discovered the truth about that expensive protection: It was worthless if the company had no money to pay its bills, and neither part of the plan had an insolvency or bankruptcy clause.

Of course, that is an extreme case. A typical cruise ship passenger is much more likely to encounter a less dramatic issue with this type of travel protection, usually regarding "cancel for any reason" coverage .

Travel protection policies are often advertised as having "cancel for any reason" coverage, but the fine print reveals that only a few specific circumstances allow a traveler to cancel and receive a cash refund. For anything not listed as a legitimate reason to cancel for a monetary payment, the cruiser will receive a future travel voucher.

If you choose to buy a travel protection product instead of a travel insurance policy, make absolutely certain you read through the entire document and understand what you're buying.

Related: The 5 best cruise travel insurance plans

Assuming your health insurance will cover you on the ship

Hopefully, you'll never discover through experience that shipboard medical care can come at an astronomical cost. Many cruise passengers have learned this lesson only after falling ill during their trip. But the worst news comes after the bill arrives: Most domestic health insurance plans — including basic Medicare — do not provide international coverage.

That means as soon as your cruise ship sails into international waters, you're medically uninsured. Any healthcare bills you accrue during your trip will be your responsibility.

It's not hard to imagine just how expensive and devastating it could be for an uninsured cruiser who becomes sick or injured on vacation. To make matters worse, cruise lines and foreign hospitals expect payment at the time services are rendered. No matter the circumstances, you'll be expected to pay immediately.

And I do mean no matter what the circumstances. A widow once contacted me soon after her husband had suddenly died aboard Holland America 's Eurodam.

The shock of losing her spouse was made even worse by what she viewed as the callous attitude of the crew member who handed her a bill for her husband's failed treatment — and expected her to pay before she was disembarked at the next port of call.

Unfortunately, that couple had assumed their Medicare plan was protecting them during their Caribbean cruise. It wasn't. (Note: There are supplementary Medigap plans that can provide international health care benefits for Medicare beneficiaries. These policies come at an additional cost and have coverage limitations and caps. Before using one, travelers should review all the details of the plan.)

While this woman's situation was extreme, accidents and illnesses happen all the time on fun-filled cruises. You don't want a lack of insurance to make those events more catastrophic than they are.

A comprehensive travel insurance policy can provide not only healthcare coverage abroad but also medical evacuation and repatriation — services that can easily cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Related: What happens if you get sick on a cruise?

Not reading and understanding the travel insurance policy

Travel insurance policies are many pages long and often contain confusing terms. Many travelers buy policies that seem acceptable, and they gloss over the details. However, if you don't review and understand the travel insurance policy you've purchased, that mistake can have giant repercussions.

A one-size-fits-all travel insurance policy does not exist. The choices of travel insurance products available for cruise ship passengers are extensive, with options from basic to full coverage.

To know exactly which protections you've purchased, you must thoroughly read all the details of your plan. Each policy will have a list of named perils. If something on that list causes the cancellation or interruption of your trip, you can claim coverage. If the circumstances you're facing are not on that list, you're out of luck.

Not only should you pay attention to the named covered events, but equally important are the exclusions — conditions that can invalidate your policy. For instance, if you're planning on zip lining, bungee jumping, rock climbing or participating in any other extreme adventure, you'll want to make sure your policy doesn't exclude risky activities.

The travel insurance industry provides a generous lookover period, usually 10 to 15 days after purchase. Always use that two-week window to carefully review your policy. Do not skim over details you don't understand and hope for the best. If you need help understanding the fine print, contact the travel insurance company for clarification.

If you determine during that time that the policy doesn't provide the coverage you want and need, you can request a refund and continue your search. After that lookover period, your travel insurance policy is neither refundable nor changeable.

Related: The best travel insurance policies and providers

Waiting too long to purchase travel insurance for the cruise

A common mistake some cruise ship passengers make is waiting too long to buy travel insurance.

The general rule of thumb is that if you intend to insure your trip, you should purchase that protection at the same time you start to make prepaid, nonrefundable reservations. That includes airfare, excursions, pre- or post-cruise hotels and anything else for which you will not receive a refund if you need to cancel the trip.

Travel insurance coverage typically begins to protect you the day after you purchase the policy. So, at any time after that, if a covered event happens to you and causes you to cancel your trip, you'll be protected from financial penalties. Of course, if you wait too long to purchase your travel insurance for your cruise and an unexpected event occurs, you won't be able to buy a retroactive policy.

If you enter the cancellation penalty phase of your cruise contract, you've waited too long to buy travel insurance. In fact, some companies won't allow you to purchase travel insurance after that date.

Not disclosing a preexisting condition

Not disclosing a preexisting condition is a travel insurance mistake that can have devastating consequences. Although buying a policy that covers a preexisting condition is possible, it's a bit more complicated.

Cruise ship passengers with preexisting conditions should be aware that their window to purchase travel insurance is abbreviated. Most travel insurance companies require travelers with preexisting conditions to purchase travel insurance within 14 to 21 days after making their initial trip deposit.

If you've been diagnosed with any medical problems in the 12 months preceding your trip or have a persistent condition, you must be certain to:

• Buy a policy that specifically names coverage for preexisting conditions.
• Make your travel insurance purchase within the first 14 to 21 days after putting a deposit down on your trip.

Cruisers who file a travel insurance claim for a medical problem related to a preexisting condition will be at great risk of having that claim rejected.

Underinsuring the cost of the entire cruise package

Travel insurance can significantly increase the cost of your cruise vacation. Prices vary based on the level of protection you choose, the age of all travelers on the policy, the length of the trip and the state where you live. If you wish to be fully protected, it's critical not to undervalue your trip.

If you lowball the cost of your cruise and something goes wrong, your claim will only be paid based on the value of what you insured. Passengers who have purchased an annual insurance plan should pay careful attention to the limits on their policy. It can be easy to accidentally underinsure your cruise if you're relying on an annual travel insurance policy with a per-trip or per-year cap.

Cruise ship passengers should always insure every nonrefundable, prepaid part of their itinerary. That includes the cruise, airfare, hotels and third-party excursions.

Bottom line

Cruise travel insurance can provide peace of mind and protection from the repercussions of unexpected events that could ruin your vacation and wreck your wallet.

Purchasing travel insurance does not have to be a chore. Follow these easy steps for success:

• Use a website like InsureMyTrip or Squaremouth to compare various policies and cruise travel insurance providers.
• Read your policy and ensure you understand what's covered and how to file a claim if needed.
• Carry a copy of your travel insurance card during your cruise, which will have a toll-free number if you need help.
• Enjoy your cruise.

If you have a problem with a travel insurance company, cruise line, airline, car rental agency or hotel, send your request for help to [email protected] , and I'll be happy to investigate.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Travel insurance claims denials up 33%: Here are 5 reasons why you may not get reimbursed

Travel insurance can help mitigate some unforeseen financial losses when a trip goes awry, from having to book an airport hotel following a flight cancellation or seeking medical care abroad.

With air travel at its busiest, an increasing number of travelers are turning to travel insurance before heading out on their trips – and putting it to good use. Travel insurance claim submissions have risen by 22% compared to last year, according to data from Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison platform. And after a global tech outage that left thousands of air travelers stranded this summer, having travel insurance seems like a wise decision.

However, not all travel insurance claims are equal – or even accepted. Just having travel insurance is not a guarantee you'll get your money back for every travel mishap. "A lot of people go in with the understanding that everything bad that happened is covered by your travel insurance, but it’s not a catch-all," Jenna Hummer, public relations director at Squaremouth , told USA TODAY.

Not only have travel insurance claims increased, but so have the rates of denial. This year, travel insurance claim denials are up 33% over last year, according to Squaremouth data.

Having your claim accepted depends on a variety of factors, such as your coverage policy and having adequate proof of purchases, like all your receipts and notes from doctors. Hummer advises everyone to "know your policy" and be clear about what is covered.

Learn more: Best travel insurance

Here are the top five reasons your travel insurance claim could be denied:

Do I need travel insurance for a cruise? Here's how one cruise passenger got her $5,500 infirmary bill covered

Learn more:   Best travel insurance

1. You're inconvenienced but not interrupted

While it would be great if travel insurance covered everything negative on your trip, that's not how it typically works.

"Things like not having a good time or having it rain the whole week on your beach vacation that you spent a lot of money on, those things are typically not covered," Hummer said.

2. You don't have a paper trail

If something that's under the policy does happen – like you get the flu and need to cancel your upcoming trip using travel medical coverage – make sure you keep that doctor's note and receipt for the visit for speedy processing. Claims often won't be reimbursed if you can't prove the expenses you incurred and authenticate your claim.

It's also worthwhile to keep your travel expenses well-organized. "It becomes a huge hassle later on when they're wading through all these receipts trying to get it together," Hummer said. (If you really can't find a receipt, bank or credit card statements usually work.)

3. Your disruption is actually not covered by the policy you purchased

Flight delays are almost always a headache, and unfortunately, your eight-hour delay might not be covered by your travel insurance policy.

"It has to be listed on your policy to be covered," Hummer said. Some policies have a travel delay benefit that only includes missed connections or if your flight is delayed by a certain number of hours. Read the fine print or even call insurance providers to make sure you have a full understanding of what's covered before purchasing.

When a disruption does occur, call your insurance immediately. "Don’t wait, don’t call the airline, call the insurance provider ... and they'll give you everything you need to do in order to get the claim processed," she said.

While there is such a coverage option known as Cancel for Any Reason that lets you cancel up to a day before your trip, Hummer doesn't typically recommend this. "It is a very expensive add-on," she said. If someone has "something in their mind that they may need to cancel their trip," such as mental health-related or a fear of flying, then it could make sense.

4. You bought travel insurance too late

A comprehensive travel insurance policy will cover anything due to inclement weather, like if your hotel loses power in a storm. However, once severe weather, like a hurricane, is publicized, it's too late to purchase travel insurance.

If inclement weather is already underway, there's definitely no possibility of coverage. "Once it's occurred, it's considered foreseen," Hummer said.

A good rule of thumb: buy your insurance as soon as you book your trip for the most coverage possible.

5. A preexisting medical condition makes you ineligible for your policy

Unfortunately, some travelers with preexisting medical conditions or illnesses may learn they're ineligible for the policy they purchased after the fact – they're also the ones who often need this type of coverage the most.

Many travel medical insurance policies don't provide coverage if you have a chronic condition or illness like heart disease or previous injuries, are pregnant, or are traveling abroad for an opt-in medical procedure like a facelift. "That’s one of the biggest misconceptions that we’re constantly trying to educate travelers about," Hummer said. Even just visiting the doctor for a bad knee without an official diagnosis of a condition could render a preexisting medical condition by your provider.

Many providers will cover individuals with preexisting medical conditions, provided there haven't been symptoms, doctor visits, or worsening of the condition during the "look-back period," which generally ranges from 60 to 180 days but varies based on your provider. "You really have to make sure you have the coverage that you need," Hummer said. "The best way to do that is call the travel insurance provider and have them walk through your coverage."

It's also important to do this quickly once you book your trip since preexisting medical condition waivers are time-sensitive.

The Key Points at the top of this article were created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and reviewed by a journalist before publication. No other parts of the article were generated using AI. Learn more .

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ACT-Wazalendo calls for withdrawal of mandatory travel insurance in Zanzibar

ACT Wazalendo's Vice Chairman for Zanzibar, Ismail Jussa Ladhu speaks during a past event. PHOTO | COURTESY

By  Paul Owere

Mwananchi Communications Ltd

What you need to know:

• T here are reports that Western countries may retaliate by increasing visa fees for Tanzanians traveling to the EU, Britain, and the US.

Unguja. The opposition party ACT-Wazalendo in Zanzibar is urging the complete withdrawal of the newly introduced mandatory travel insurance policy, set to take effect in three weeks.

In an interview with The Citizen, ACT-Wazalendo's Vice Chairman, Ismail Jussa Ladhu, criticised the policy for lacking adequate stakeholder engagement and for potentially harming Zanzibar’s tourism industry.

“In my view, which reflects ACT-Wazalendo’s stance, this travel policy should be withdrawn due to its likely negative impact on the tourism sector,” Mr Jussa stated. “The policy, as it stands, will make Zanzibar a very expensive destination and has already received negative coverage in international media.”

Zanzibar tourism investors alarmed by travel insurance

Concerns mount over Zanzibar new $44 travel insurance fee

Mr Jussa expressed concern that the policy would deter tourists, who often choose destinations based on recommendations and current perceptions.

He noted that there has already been backlash from tourism stakeholders dissatisfied with how the policy was implemented.

He added that Zanzibar’s tourism sector, which has been a crucial part of the island's economy for the past 30 years, remains sensitive, as evidenced by the downturn during the pandemic.

He also pointed out that Zanzibar is not the only East African or Indian Ocean destination vying for visitors.

Mr Jussa criticised the authorities’ comparisons of Zanzibar’s situation to that of other markets, arguing that the local services and infrastructure do not match those of competing destinations.

He said, “You cannot compare the services in Zanzibar to those in Qatar, especially when our services are monopolistic and more expensive. The government seems focused on revenue collection without considering the broader implications.”

He further stated that reconsidering the policy in light of its negative reviews would demonstrate the government’s willingness to listen to diverse opinions.

He emphasized that Zanzibar is already an expensive destination, and many visitors come with their own travel insurance from their home countries.

“It’s as if we’re asking visitors to pay for the same thing twice,” Mr Jussa added. “Our local health services, both private and public, face similar challenges, often requiring people to seek treatment in Dar es Salaam.”

Mr Jussa also highlighted concerns for the Zanzibar and Tanzanian diaspora, whose remittances are vital to many families on the island. Unlike tourists, diaspora members usually stay with relatives, contributing to the local economy. He noted that discussions about supporting the diaspora have been insufficient.

Additionally, there are reports that Western countries may retaliate by increasing visa fees for Tanzanians traveling to the EU, Britain, and the US.

Starting October 1, all visitors to Zanzibar will be required to purchase a mandatory travel insurance policy costing $44 at the point of entry, regardless of existing coverage from their home country.

In July, Zanzibar Finance Minister, Dr Saada Mkuya Salum told The Citizen that the new policy aims to improve visitor services by covering health, baggage loss, accidents, emergency evacuation, passport loss, and repatriation in case of death.

The insurance will be provided by the government-owned Zanzibar Insurance Corporation and will not consider any existing travel insurance policies. Prior to this, travel insurance was not mandatory in Tanzania or other East African countries.

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