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Best Annual Travel Insurance in 2024

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

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

Factors we considered when picking travel insurance companies

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

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

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

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

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

» Learn more: What does travel insurance cover?

An overview of the best annual travel insurance

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

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

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

1. Allianz Travel

What makes Allianz travel insurance great:

Lower than average cost.

Provides health care and travel insurance benefits.

Includes rental car insurance up to $45,000. 

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

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

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

2. Seven Corners

What makes Seven Corners great:

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

Includes up to $1 million for emergency medical evacuation. 

Optional add-on for adventure sport activities.

$0 deductible available. 

Here’s a snippet from our Seven Corners review :

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

What makes IMG great:

Good customizability with medical evacuations and sports coverage. 

Low $250 deductible.

Includes coverage for semi-private hospital rooms. 

Here’s a snippet from our IMG review:

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

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

4. Trawick International

What makes Trawick International great:

100% coverage for trip cancellation and trip interruption. 

Emergency medical evacuation included. 

Trip delay reimbursement coverage. 

Here’s a snippet from our Trawick International review :

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

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

What does travel insurance cover?

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

Accidental death insurance .

Baggage delay and lost luggage insurance .

Cancel for Any Reason insurance .

Emergency evacuation insurance .

Medical insurance .

Rental car insurance .

Trip cancellation insurance .

Trip delay insurance .

Trip interruption insurance .

How to choose the best annual travel insurance policy

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

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

Many credit cards come with complimentary travel insurance .

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

» Learn more: How to find the best travel insurance

If you want to buy annual travel insurance

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

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

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

How to maximize your rewards

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

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

No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

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

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

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

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

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

Best Overall Travel Insurance

Best travel insurance runner-up, best travel insurance for cruises, best travel insurance for reputation, best travel insurance for pre-existing conditions, best travel insurance for digital nomads, best travel insurance for affordability, best travel insurance for road trips, best for adventure traveling, get travel insurance quotes, how we reviewed the best travel insurance companies, ultimate guide to choosing the best travel insurance.

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.

Traveling is an adventure, a leap into the unknown, a story waiting to unfold. But every story needs a safety net, and that's where travel insurance comes in. In this guide to the best travel insurance, we'll embark on a journey to help you better understand travel insurance and uncover the benefits that make it an indispensable companion for any traveler.

Best Travel Insurance Companies of 2024

• Best Overall: Nationwide Travel Insurance
• Runner-Up: AXA Assistance USA
• Best for Cruises: Travel Guard
• Best Reputation:  C&F Travel Insured
• Best for Pre-existing Conditions:   Tin Leg Travel Insurance
• Best for Digital Nomads:   WorldTrips Travel Insurance
• Best Low-Cost Option:   Trawick International Travel Insurance
• Best for Road Trips: Travelex Travel Insurance
• Best for Adventure Sports :  World Nomads Travel Insurance

Best Travel Insurance Companies

The best travel insurance companies offer comprehensive coverage options for a wide range of people and needs. For this guide, we looked at coverage options, customizability, and the best companies for specific situations, such as pre-existing conditions.

Here are Business Insider's picks for the best travel insurance companies in 2024. 

Nationwide Travel Insurance

Nationwide is of the largest players in the travel insurance space, offering nearly endless options for any customer on the travel spectrum, including annual travel insurance plans which can offer frequent travelers the flexibility to "set it and forget it" on their travel insurance coverage.

Nationwide Essential also offers some of the most affordable policies in the market compared to similar plans from competitors, which makes it a great pick for just about anyone. Buyers can discuss bundling options as Nationwide also sells homeowners, auto, pet, and other insurance products. Its travel insurance quoting is just as easy as it has been with other Nationwide insurance products.

Read our Nationwide travel insurance review .

AXA Assistance USA

AXA offers consumers a great option for no-stress travel insurance: low-priced plans, generous coverage limits on key categories including primary insurance on lost luggage, and up to 150% reimbursement for qualifying trip cancellations.

While add-ons are limited and rental car coverage is not included by default on cheaper plans, AXA is a perfect fit for travelers who don't plan to drive (or who already hold a travel credit card with rental car coverage), and don't need any additional bells and whistles.

Read our AXA Assistance USA travel insurance review .

Travel Guard

AIG is well-known insurance provider, and a great fit for travelers who want to ensure that they can get their money back in the event of canceled or interrupted travel plans.

While the company's policies can be pricey compared to its competitors, the high medical and evacuation limits make AIG a solid choice for older travelers who value peace of mind and simplicity over highly customizable plans that may be bolstered with medical upgrades.

Read our AIG Travel Guard travel insurance review .

C&F Travel Insured

While every travel insurance company has negative reviews about its claims process, C&F Travel Insured 's claims process has a consistent stream of positive reviews. One customer wrote that C&F processed a claim within 48 hours. Additionally, C&F regularly responds to customer reviews within one business week, making reviews a consistent way to reach the company.

Additionally, in C&F's fine print, it mentions that any claims that take more than 30 days to pay out will begin to accrue interest at 9% APY.

C&F's reputation isn't the only thing to speak highly of. It offers an array of add-ons uncommon in the travel insurance industry, such as Interruption for Any Reason insurance and CFAR coverage for annual plans. C&F also offers discounts for children on its Protector Edge plan and free coverage on its Protector plan.  

Read our C&F Travel Insured review . 

Tin Leg Travel Insurance

Tin Leg is a great fit for travelers with medical issues in particular. Seven of Tin Leg's eight travel plans include coverage for pre-existing conditions as long as you purchase your policy within 15 days of your initial trip payment.

Thanks to coverage for pre-existing medical conditions as well as for potential COVID-19 infection while traveling, this company offers some of the best financial investment options for travelers who are or will be exposed to higher health risks and issues.

Read our Tin Leg travel insurance review .

WorldTrips Travel Insurance

WorldTrips has affordable premiums, highly customizable add-ons, and generous coverage for core categories of travel insurance. All this makes it a great option for digital nomads, students studying abroad and backpackers.

However, travelers should keep in mind that plans are not particularly flexible, and coverage amounts are limited unless you plan ahead to pay for the areas and amounts that you need.

Read our WorldTrips travel insurance review .

Trawick International Travel Insurance

Trawick offers low premiums across its five plans, most of which offer coverage for pre-existing conditions. You'll find robust medical travel insurance that can help higher-risk and anxious travelers find peace of mind while on the road. This company also offers high medical evacuation coverage limits, up to $1,000,000.

Read our Trawick travel insurance review .

Travelex Travel Insurance

Travelex offers three plans:

• Travel Basic
• Travel Select
• Travel America

The Travelex America plan is meant for trips limited to the U.S., but it has the highest coverage limits in many areas compared to its other programs. If you're flying somewhere, the lost baggage limits are higher. Its natural strengths shine for road trippers, though. Travelex America adds coverage for roadside service and rental car coverage for unexpected accidents. It also covers pets should you be involved in an accident while on the road.

While your standard auto insurance does extend to car rentals within the U.S. for a limited time, any accident would affect future rates. Travelex would eliminate the risk of reporting to your auto insurance provider for minor incidents within its purview.

Read our Travelex Travel Insurance review .

World Nomads Travel Insurance

World Nomads distinguishes itself from others by covering over 300 sports and activities, from skydiving to golf. Additionally, its one of the few travel insurance companies that allow you to purchase after departing for your destination. However, you'll have a 72-hour waiting period before coverage kicks in.

That said, World Nomads doesn't have the highest coverage limits compared to its competitors on this list, travel medical insurance capping out at $100,000. It also isn't the most flexible provider, only providing two plans to choose from with no options for pre-existing condition coverage. Yet, World Nomads still stands out for its sports coverage and post-departure coverage.

Read our World Nomads travel insurance review .

Introduction to Travel Insurance

Why travel insurance is a must-have.

The unpredictable nature of traveling – from flight cancellations to medical emergencies – can turn your dream vacation into a nightmare. Travel insurance acts as a personal safeguard, ensuring that unexpected events don't drain your wallet or ruin your trip.

Understanding Different Types of Travel Insurance

Not all travel insurance policies are created equal. From single-trip travel insurance policies to annual travel insurance plans , from minimal coverage to comprehensive protection, understanding the spectrum of options is your first step in finding the right fit for your journey.

Key Features to Look for in Travel Insurance Coverage

Travel insurance for medical emergencies.

Imagine falling ill in a foreign country; daunting, right? A robust travel insurance plan ensures you don't have to worry about how much emergency medical care while traveling will cost, even in the most remote corners of the globe. This coverage will often come in tandem with emergency medical evacuation coverage.

Trip Cancellation and Interruption Benefits

Life is full of surprises, some less pleasant than others. Trip cancellation and interruption coverage ensures that you're not left out of pocket if unforeseen circumstances force you to cancel or cut your trip short. You may also look for cancel for any reason and interruption for any reason options, which will reimburse you for a percentage of your nonrefundable fees, but expands the covered reasons you can cancel a trip. You can find our guide on the best CFAR travel insurance companies here.

Coverage for Personal Belongings and Baggage Loss

Losing your belongings is more than an inconvenience; it's losing a piece of your world. Insurance that covers personal belongings and baggage loss ensures that you're compensated for your loss, helping you to rebound and continue your adventure.

Support and Assistance Services

In times of trouble, having a lifeline can make all the difference. Look for insurance that offers 24/7 support and assistance services, giving you peace of mind that help is just a phone call away. Also, check websites that field customer reviews like Trustpilot, the Better Business Bureau, and InsureMyTrip , to see how well a company responds to customer requests.

Choosing the Best Travel Insurance

Reputation and reliability of the travel insurance provider.

A provider's reputation is not just about being well-known; it's about reliability, customer satisfaction, and the ability to deliver on promises. Researching and choosing a reputable provider is a cornerstone in ensuring your safety and satisfaction.

Understanding the Policy's Fine Print

The devil is in the details, and understanding the fine print of what your travel insurance policy covers is crucial. Be aware of coverage limits, exclusions, and the process for filing a claim to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

For example, to get coverage for a canceled trip due to work, many travel insurance companies require that you've been with that company for at least a year. 

Customer Reviews and Feedback

In the age of information, customer reviews and feedback are goldmines of insight. Learn from the experiences of others to gauge the reliability and customer service of the insurance provider you're considering. While the ratings are important, you should also look at whether or not a company responds to customer complaints.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Travel Insurance

Knowing your policy inside out.

Familiarize yourself with every aspect of your policy — what it covers, what it doesn't, how to file a claim, and who to contact in an emergency. Being informed means being prepared. At the very least, you should have the terms readily available while you're on your trip.

Steps to Take When a Problem Arises

If you face an issue during your travels, knowing the immediate steps to take can make all the difference. Your insurance company may even have a 24/7 assistance hotline that can walk you through an emergency during your trip, even issues that don't involve claims. 

When a problem arises. you'll want to document as much as possible, in case you need proof when filing a claim. Ask for receipts and invoices when possible.

How to Pick the Best Travel Insurance Company for You

There isn't a one-size-fits-all policy that works perfectly for every traveler. Young, healthy solo travelers can opt for much cheaper plans that offer bare-bones coverage, while families juggling complex itineraries will do best by investing in a robust policy that can help defray any costs associated with lost baggage, delayed transportation or other trip-impeding obstacles.

That being said, you can't go wrong with a travel insurance provider that boasts a reputable history and offers a wide range of customizable plans. In some cases, you may be comparing plans that are only a few dollars' apart from each other. In such situations, you should generally opt for the insurance company that offers the strongest customer service. It's also worth considering whether or not the travel insurance provider has been reviewed by other travelers with similar itineraries to your own. 

An insurance aggregator like InsureMyTrip or Squaremouth is one of the best tools for searching travel insurance policies. Once you input the specifics of your travel itinerary, you'll be able to see hundreds of search results to compare the ones that catch your eye. If the options are too overwhelming, use the filters to the left of your search page to eliminate as many irrelevant plans as possible.

To come up with our list of the best travel insurance companies, Business Insider evaluated each insurer based on the following factors:

Guide Methodology: What We Considered

Policy Types

Travel insurance is essential, but often underused partly because people aren't getting what they want. Business Insider's 2023 travel study showed 10.65% of travelers surveyed bought cancel for any reason insurance. Cost may be a factor, but in many cases, the coverage is more affordable than you might think. Regardless, companies must offer a diverse range of coverage options. We award five stars to companies offering all standard coverages and additional options like pet and sports equipment protection.

Our 2023 travel study indicated the majority of purchases were made through the travel provider (ex: flight protection insurance when you're purchasing your airline tickets). While these may be sufficient for some customers, we look for companies offering a more comprehensive range of services.

According to the U.S. Travel Insurance Association, the average cost of travel insurance will be between 4% and 8% of total travel expenses. Anything beyond that price point should include additional benefits beyond the standard inclusions, such as CFAR protection or upgraded medical coverage. Anything below that 4% threshold may leave you lacking important or sufficient coverage in an emergency.

Convenience and Flexibility

Whether you're an infrequent traveler or a suitcase warrior, a good travel insurance company should have you covered. In many cases, you might not even have to talk to a person in order to purchase your policy.

Many people think of travel insurance in context with specific trips, but most of these top contenders sell both single-trip and multi-trip policies, also known as annual travel insurance. Some companies also offer plans specifically designed for cruisers, students abroad, and business travelers. (Read our guide to the best cruise travel insurance companies for more details.) Finally, all of these providers offer multiple options for getting the specific areas and amounts of coverage that you want.

Claims Handling

Most travelers never have a large claim. Premiums are low, and it provides peace of mind for the just in case situations. So they leave reviews based on their reduced stress levels. But what happens if you lose your luggage or have to stay a few extra days due to an unexpected accident? Will your insurance carrier cover your claim without all the hassle? We check real customer reviews to sort this out for you.

Ease of Use and Support

When purchasing, during your trip, and throughout the claims process, you may need extra support. Does the company have a 24/7 help line? Does it have an online or mobile system allowing you to self-manage? Essentially, what are the options when you need help? We look at the big picture to evaluate the average customer experience with each company.

You can read more about how Business Insider rates travel insurance  for even more details.

Best Travel Insurance FAQs

There isn't one best travel insurance company; there are many great providers on the travel insurance market today. Our overall winner was Nationwide for its breadth of coverage options. AIG Travel Guard, AXA, Berkshire Hathaway, Tin Leg, WorldTrips and Trawick also made the cut. The best pick for you will depend on what features you value the most, like a low premium or high coverage limits.

While coverage varies by policy, common exclusions often include pre-existing medical conditions (unless you have purchased a waiver), accidents caused by high-risk activities if not specifically covered (e.g., skydiving, scuba diving), travel for medical procedures, and events known before purchasing the policy (e.g., traveling during a pandemic). Always read your policy carefully to understand the exclusions.

The average cost of travel insurance is 4% to 8% of your total trip cost, so it could vary widely depending on where you're traveling and the length of your trip. Your age, the number of people in your group, and other factors can also influence how much you'll pay.

Yes, travel insurance typically offers some coverage of canceled flights, but if this benefit is important to you, make sure you read the fine print of your policy to make sure it offers adequate reimbursement. If you think you may need to cancel your travel plans, you should consider purchasing cancel for any reason (CFAR) travel insurance .

The right amount of travel insurance depends on your trip, but $100,000 should be sufficient for most travel plans. You may want more coverage for travel medical insurance and emergency medical evacuation coverage.

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The Ultimate Guide to Buying the Best Travel Insurance [For You]

Christine Krzyszton

Senior Finance Contributor

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Table of Contents

Why you need travel insurance, you may already have coverage — here’s where to look, where to buy travel insurance, single/multiple trip policies vs. annual policy: which is better, travel insurance for special situations, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Whether you’re traveling with family or solo, on an epic adventure or a weekend getaway , travel insurance can go a long way toward providing peace of mind during your trip. And if things should go wrong, you’ll find consolation in being financially covered.

With all that’s at stake, you’ve probably seriously considered purchasing travel insurance, just like I have. There have certainly been times when I’ve needed it, including severe flight delays, a parasailing accident in Mexico, and when my luggage took its own trip!

Unfortunately, it’s also easy to become overwhelmed by the vast travel insurance options available. We’ve created this guide to help you sort through the confusion and demystify the process.

In this article, we’ll cover all the information you need to:

• Determine the type of coverage you need
• Find out if you currently have any travel coverage
• Narrow your options to just a few policies that fit
• Select a reputable travel insurance company

Let’s get started with helping you find the best travel insurance policy for your situation.

Situations Where Travel Insurance Can Help

If you travel frequently, you’ve probably experienced an event where travel insurance would have helped.

Whether it was a severely delayed flight, illness abroad, stolen possessions, or a canceled trip due to an unforeseen event — travel insurance could have made the situation better.

Travel Insurance can cover a variety of situations. Here is just a sampling of those you can easily purchase coverage for:

• You have an accident and need medical evacuation to a nearby hospital: According to travel insurance company Allianz, the estimated cost of medical evacuation ranges from $15,000-$20,000 in Mexico to over $200,000 in Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.
• You miss your cruise because your flight is severely delayed or canceled: Catching up with your cruise once it has departed can be costly!
• You can’t take a planned trip due to illness: The entire cost of your trip and any pre-paid arrangements could be at risk if you become ill and unable to travel. Coverage is even available when travel companions become ill and you must forego your trip.
• You become ill while abroad: The cost of medical attention abroad can be expensive, and it can result in increased costs to rearrange your itinerary.
• Your baggage is lost or delayed: After your bags have been delayed a minimum amount of time, usually 12-24 hours, coverage kicks in and provides money for essentials.

Bottom Line: It’s prudent to buy travel insurance for expensive trips. You may go several years without using the coverage you’ve purchased, but one incident could cause you to incur thousands of dollars in expenses, far exceeding the cost of insuring multiple trips. 

Covering Your Major Concerns

If money is no object, you can purchase a lot of travel insurance to make sure you’re covered for nearly every situation you’ll encounter. In reality, you’ll probably want to balance cost with the coverages that are most important to you.

For some travelers, their greatest concern is the huge cost of an emergency medical evacuation. For others it can be the risk of getting ill and not being able to travel on a trip they’ve paid thousands of dollars for already.

But don’t fret: there’s a travel insurance plan for just about any travel concern that can cost you money if things go wrong.

Here are some of the plan types available:

• Emergency Medical Evacuation: Pays to get you to the nearest hospital, even in remote areas
• Travel Medical Insurance : Provides medical care if you get sick or injured while traveling
• Annual Travel Insurance: Covers you for multiple trips taken throughout the year
• Comprehensive Package Travel Insurance: Conveniently groups many travel insurance coverages together in one policy
• Cancel for Any Reason Rider ( CFAR ): When certain conditions are met, this coverage lets you cancel your trip for any reason and receive reimbursement
• Policies that Cover Families: Comprehensive travel policies that cover all family members/domestic partners before and during your trip.

When to Buy Travel Insurance

Most travel insurance policies can be purchased up until the day of your departure. However, some policies contain pre-departure benefits, so you’ll want to buy your policy as soon as possible.

For example, you may have coverage that covers you getting ill and not being able to take your trip.

The general advice is to buy your policy when you make your first payment on the trip.

Since policies can be priced according to how much your total trip costs, you can take out the insurance based on what you’ve already paid and call the company to raise the amount of the policy once you’ve made additional payments.

Read our guide to find out more on when to buy travel insurance .

Hot Tip:  Travel insurance policies include a free-look period, where you can review your policy once you’ve received it and decide if it’s right for you. This free-look period is usually 10-15 days depending on the company and type of policy. 

Before you purchase a travel insurance policy, you should check these 4 places where you may have some current coverage.

You may find that you have a credit card with travel insurance , with your employer-sponsored health plan, with club/organization memberships, and on Medicare gap policies.

It is helpful to know which types of coverage you currently have so you can select a comprehensive travel insurance policy without paying extra for duplicate coverage.

Credit Cards

Credit cards commonly carry travel insurance benefits, but whether they’re included and the level of coverage provided will vary depending on which card you carry.

Let’s take a look at some of the most popular credit card issuers and the types of travel insurance/protection they provide.

American Express offers several travel insurance benefits on their cards.

• Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance: Secondary coverage is included on various American Express cards . Primary Car Rental Protection is available to purchase for one low fee that covers the entire rental period.
• Travel Accident Insurance: Limits of $250,000-$500,000 depending on the card.
• Baggage Insurance: Provides coverage for lost, stolen, or damaged checked or carry on baggage. Included on various American Express cards. 
• The Global Assist Hotline: Included on various American Express cards . Premium cards such as the Platinum Card ® from American Express and Business Platinum Card ®  from American Express  include premium versions of the Global Assist Hotline that provide support before, during, and after your trip.
• Roadside Assistance: While Amex has removed roadside assistance from many of its cards, there are still several Amex cards with the coverage. Coverage includes assistance with jump starts, gas, towing, and lockout.

Chase is another major card issuer that includes various travel insurance coverages on their credit cards.

Citi credit cards have recently had several travel benefits removed,  similar to other credit card issuers. Your exact coverage benefits will depend on which Citi card you have. To learn the details of Citi’s credit card travel protections, you can access Citi’s credit card guide to benefits  here .

Hot Tip: To receive coverage from any credit card, you must meet the purchase requirements. Some credit cards require you to charge the entire purchase, while some grant coverage if you pay for just a portion of the purchase with your card. You may also be able to receive coverage by using points for your purchase.

Requirements vary, but you can call the number on the back of your credit card for questions on coverage specific to the card you’re using.

See our article for information on additional credit card travel insurance coverage .

Bottom Line: Credit cards may offer incidental travel protections and benefits, but they should not be considered a replacement for a comprehensive travel insurance policy. 

Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance

You’ll first want to check your current health insurance policy to see if it might cover you while traveling. Many do not extend health insurance benefits while traveling, but there may be ancillary travel insurance coverages included in your policy.

For example, some employer-sponsored health insurance plans contain travel insurance coverage that can be quite significant. Unum is one of the most common group insurance companies offering employers travel insurance for their employees through Assist America .

The employee is provided a 24/7 phone number that can be called for immediate assistance when traveling more than 100 miles from home.

Here is a sample of coverage provided:

• Hospital admission assistance
• Emergency medical evacuation
• Prescription replacement assistance
• Transportation for a friend or family member to join a hospitalized patient
• Care and transport of unattended minor children
• Referrals to Western-trained, English-speaking medical providers
• Legal and interpreter referrals
• Passport replacement assistance

There is no charge for any of these services when the coverage is included on an employer-sponsored healthcare plan, so you’ll want to check your current employer-sponsored health plan to see if you have this coverage.

Club Memberships

If you’re a member of any club or organization, you’ll want to ask about travel insurance benefits.

Here are just a few clubs where membership includes various types of travel insurance benefits.

Divers Alert Network — Membership is $35/year for singles, $55/year for families

• DAN members receive $100,000 of emergency medical evacuation assistance coverage . Evacuation is covered for diving and non-diving medical emergencies when you are more than 50 miles from home.
• Membership also includes TravelAssist , a 24/7 access to prescription assistance, medical monitoring, emergency messaging, and much more.

American Alpine Club — Membership is $80 per year and includes search and rescue insurance. The insurance applies to any land-based activity.

• Up to $7,500 of Global Rescue Trailhead Rescue Services (available worldwide)
• Up to $5,000 of Domestic Rescue Benefits (available in the U.S. only)

Gold Wing Road Riders Association  ($55/year) and the American Motorcycle Association ($49/year)

• Members receive FREE emergency roadside assistance and 24/7 towing up to 35 miles per disablement for their motorcycle or any motorcycle they are riding, even as a passenger.
• Gold Wing Coverage is limited to motorcycles; American Motorcycle Association members receive coverage for motorcycles, cars, trucks, trailers and RVs.

Family Motor Coach Association — Membership costs $60/year and includes discounted worldwide travel assistance insurance plus several other travel benefits.

Hot Tip: Club memberships can include travel insurance coverage at no additional cost or at a discounted price. Checking your current memberships and seeking out organizations you can join for cost-effective coverage may result in travel insurance coverage you can use.

Medicare Supplements and Advantage Plans

With rare exceptions, Medicare does not extend coverage to another country outside the United States. However, some supplement and advantage insurance plans do include coverage when traveling.

These supplemental policies, called Medigap plans, pay 80% of medical emergency care outside the U.S. after a $250 deductible. The expense must not be covered by Medicare, and it must be incurred within the first 60 days of your travel. There is also a lifetime limit of $50,000.

Medigap plans C, D, F, G, H, I, J, M, and N contain this coverage. Visit Medicare.gov for a complete explanation of the coverage and information on out-of-country coverage for Medicare Advantage plans.

Remember, these are plans that you purchase in addition to your base Medicare Plans A and B. Medicare does not cover you out of the country except in rare circumstances detailed here .

Bottom Line:  It’s important to know the travel insurance coverages you have currently, as you may save money not duplicating those coverages when purchasing a travel insurance policy. You’ll also want to be able to take advantage of and use these existing coverages if you experience a covered event. 

All insurance companies are rated based on their financial stability; A.M. Best is the oldest, most recognized provider of ratings in the global insurance industry. We’ll include only those companies with excellent or above ratings.

Before we discuss specific travel insurance companies, however, we’ll cover a few great travel insurance comparison sites that can help narrow your choices before selecting a specific company and travel insurance policy.

Travel Insurance Comparison Tools/Websites

Purchasing travel insurance is a balancing act between getting the coverage you need without spending above your budget . That’s why comparison sites can ease the pain of searching hundreds of policies and dozens of companies individually.

Another benefit of using these sites is that your information is entered just once, and their search engines will quickly find the best fit for your budget and coverage requirements.

Here are 3 comparison sites to help you get started:

1. Travelinsurance.com (recommended)

• Easy-to-use online comparison tool
• Instant coverage
• Best price guarantee; this means you won’t find a lower price anywhere else for a plan that’s found on TravelInsurance.com.

2. Squaremouth

• Award-winning customer service team
• 20 travel insurance companies and 116 different policies
• Over 60,000 customer reviews

3. InsureMyTrip

• Licensed agents to help you with questions and claims
• 21 providers; both large and boutique highly-rated companies
• Glossary and articles explaining coverage and plans

Once you’ve completed a few easy comparisons, you’ll have an idea of the type of policy you want, a range of costs, and what options are available.

You’ll find most of the major travel insurance providers on these comparison sites, but not all carriers participate.

Hot Tip:  Don’t miss our dedicated article on the Best Travel Insurance Companies For All Travelers !

Let’s take a look at some specific travel insurance providers you’ll want to consider:

World Nomads — Best for Comprehensive Coverage and Adventure Activities (Recommended)

Included in the top 10 travel insurance companies by  Consumer Advocate , World Nomads offers a comprehensive portfolio of travel insurance products including medical/evacuation insurance, 24-hour emergency assistance, trip delay/cancellation, and coverage for a long list of adventure activities.

There are several reasons to purchase travel insurance with World Nomads.

• Backed by established, reputable, highly-rated companies such as AIG Insurance Company , Lloyds, and Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
• Understand world travel and the associated risks
• Single-trip, multiple-trip, and annual policies are available
• Good for active travelers, as most activities/sports are covered
• Plans include standard to comprehensive coverages
• Ability to purchase or extend coverage while traveling
• Available for travelers through age 69

Sample Pricing

Click to get a quote with World Nomads >>

Hot Tip: If you participate in sports and adventure activities when traveling (even dangerous ones), World Nomad’s travel insurance is a perfect fit with over 150 travel activities covered.

Travelex /Berkshire Hathaway Travel Insurance — Family Protection for Children at No Extra Cost

The family Travel Select plan covers children 17 and under for no additional cost. This comprehensive plan includes protection for trip interruption/cancellation/delay, medical and evacuation, baggage and personal effects, and travel assistance. For more information check out our Travelex review.

GeoBlue — Affordable Annual Medical Travel Insurance

If you currently have health insurance that does not cover you outside of the United States, you’ll find GeoBlue an affordable option for medical coverage while you’re traveling.

Their Trekker Choice policy covers unlimited international trips up to 70 days in length for a 12-month policy period. The cost for an annual plan for a 40-year-old was $175 for the Trekker Choice policy, but even less expensive plans are available!

USAA — Travel Insurance for Military and Families

Active military, their families, and post-military USAA members receive exclusive rates for travel insurance that includes these coverages. Children are included on most plans at no additional cost.

• Lost/delayed baggage
• Trip delays
• Trip interruption/cancellation
• Trip interruption/cancellation due to accident or illness
• Medical expenses
• Interruptions due to weather
• Emergency assistance and evacuation

Allianz — Affordable Annual Travel Insurance

With nearly a dozen awards so far in 2018, highly-rated Allianz is a trusted company in the travel insurance arena.

I was particularly impressed with their annual travel insurance policy offerings that are surprisingly affordable. The prices listed above are for an annual policy for travelers ages 30-80, and it covers unlimited trips of 45 days or less during the 12-month period.

It’s not just a medical policy either. In the top 2 plans above you’ll find trip cancellation/interruption, change fee coverage, collision damage waiver, and even business equipment coverage.

For coverage details and a specific quote, visit their website .

Expedia — An Impulse Buy You Can Prepare For

Expedia is the world’s leading travel provider, so a mention of their  Expedia ® Package Protection plan seems appropriate.

Pricing varies from $49 per person for travel within the continental U.S. to $89 per person for multiple international destinations.

The trip insurance includes trip cancellation/interruption coverage even for bad weather, mechanical failure, or strike. Medical emergencies/transportation and lost/stolen baggage coverage are also included. You can review details and additional coverages here . You may only purchase the package at the time of booking.

Before purchasing the Expedia Package Protection plan, you should price and compare a policy from one of the major providers. You may be able to find more coverage for a lower cost.

Other Travel Insurance Companies

The U.S. Department of State publishes a list of travel insurance companies that provide coverage overseas; you can access it here .

Hot Tip:  Some travel insurance policies require you to be outside the United States for coverage, but others will cover you as few as 50 miles from home. Since travel insurance is widely available (and in many cases affordable), it may make sense to purchase a policy for medical and other valuable coverage even if you’re traveling domestically. 

Single Trip Policies

• If you take 1 major trip annually, purchasing a single trip policy is the way to go. If it’s a trip you put together yourself, utilizing one of the providers mentioned in this article to purchase an individual travel insurance policy can be a simple solution and cover your trip appropriately.
• If your trip is a packaged tour, there’s nothing wrong with selecting insurance offered by the tour provider, but arm yourself first by doing some research. You’ll want to be sure you’re not overpaying, and that you’re purchasing travel insurance coverages that take care of  your  personal concerns, not just those of the tour provider.

Multiple Trip or Multi-Destination Policies

• If you’re taking 2 trips a year, you can purchase a separate policy for each trip. If you’re taking 3 or more trips, you should consider an annual policy.
• If you’re going on an extended trip and visiting several countries (say 3 months in length), companies such as World Nomads can issue a policy that covers your entire trip.

Annual Policies

• Taking a year off and traveling the world or just taking frequent international trips? You may want to consider a comprehensive annual travel insurance policy that covers multiple trips.
• Pricing can vary widely, so it’s important to compare prices and select the coverage that’s most important to you.

Hot Tip: The best way to determine if a multiple-trip or annual travel policy is better is to simply price each option, compare coverage, and review any terms/conditions. You may find that insuring 2 or 3 trips could cost as much as an annual trip insurance policy. 

Travel Insurance for Seniors

In your late 60s, your options for purchasing travel insurance start to diminish (but they don’t disappear!). There are still several travel insurance companies where you can purchase great coverage.

• Allianz and Berkshire Hathaway each allowed me to quote a policy up to age 99
• GeoBlue medical travel insurance covers through age 84
• “Silver Nomads” age 70 and above can purchase coverage with World Nomad partner TripAssure

Special Needs and Travel Insurance for Those With Disabilities

If a person is healthy enough to travel, they’re usually able to purchase travel insurance from many providers.

Allianz Global Assistance comes highly recommended by Wheelchair Travel.org for travelers with disabilities. Their policy for a 45-year-old traveling on a 2-week trip costing $2,200 quoted between $76-$143 depending on the coverages I selected.

Group Travel Insurance

When you have 10 or more travelers in a group, you might consider group travel insurance as an affordable option.

For a group of 10 traveling to Mexico for a 2-week trip that cost $2,200 per person, the lowest quote according to a search on Squaremouth.com was $838, or $83.80 per person.

Coverage per person included:

• Trip cancellation ($2,200)
• Trip interruption ($2,200)
• Good medical coverage ($20,000)
• Good medical evacuation coverage ($100,000)
• Trip delay ($150/day $500 max)
• Baggage delay/personal effects ($700)

Pet Travel Insurance

If you’re a traveling pet owner, you’ve probably considered insuring your pet during your travels .

While some travel insurance policies include coverage for pets, separate policies for medical/veterinarian care for your pet can also be purchased.

Here are a couple of options for purchasing pet insurance that cover your pet while traveling.

• PetPlan – PetPlan insurance covers your pet in the United States and Canada and costs as little $8/month for $20,000 in annual coverage.
• Travelex Travel Max  – The policy provides $1,000 in emergency medical treatment for your pet. If you are hospitalized while traveling and cannot take care of your pet, the policy will also pay to return your pet back home (up to $10,000).

Insurance is an intangible; we can’t see it or hold it in our hands. Unless you have a claim, you’re simply buying the peace of mind that comes from knowing you’re covered if things go wrong.

Travel insurance is a bit different than home or auto insurance, however — if you travel frequently, you know it’s common to experience delays, illness, lost baggage, and other travel disruptions where travel insurance could be useful.

Insurance is meant to protect you from disaster and major financial setbacks. Insuring yourself against losing money on an expensive trip or having a major medical event when traveling makes sense, especially since travel insurance is widely available and affordable.

Whether you should purchase travel insurance will depend on your risk tolerance level for what you could lose personally if things go wrong during your travels.

All information and content provided by Upgraded Points is intended as general information and for educational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as medical advice or legal advice. For more information, see our  Medical & Legal Disclaimers .

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Best travel insurance companies for 2024.

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Planning to travel in 2024? You're not alone. According to the U.S Travel Association , a trade group, travel has bounced back after the pandemic, with Americans forecasted to spend a staggering $1.09 trillion on domestic and international travel this year. This surge, however, comes with its challenges, as travel costs have soared to unprecedented heights, fueled by increased demand and price inflation.

In this era of heightened travel expenses, safeguarding your journey is paramount. Enter travel insurance, a crucial shield against the uncertainties that may arise during your adventures. To help you navigate this crucial decision, we've compiled a list of the best travel insurance companies. Join us as we explore these top choices, ensuring your travels are not only memorable but also financially protected.

Compare the best travel insurance companies 2024

Which travel insurance coverages are available.

Travel insurance policies typically include the following coverages.

• Emergency medical expenses . This helps cover the cost of care if you or anyone insured by the policy has a medical emergency during your trip.
• Trip cancellation . This covers the cost of your trip if it's canceled due to one of the reasons listed on the policy contract. You may also have an option for "cancel for any reason," which provides coverage if the trip is canceled, regardless of the reason why.
• Trip interruption . This covers costs related to a shortening of your trip. These costs might include reimbursement of prepaid hotel bookings, airline change fees, or extra accommodations needed during your trip home.
• Emergency medical transport . This covers the cost of transportation to the nearest medical facility if you have a medical emergency during your travel.
• Luggage damage . This provides coverage if your luggage is damaged or lost during travel.
• Travel delay . This covers costs associated with a significant delay to your travel, including additional accommodations and meals.

Our recommendations for the best travel insurance companies

Best for adventure enthusiasts: travelex.

Travelex Travel Insurance

The Travelex “Basic” plan provides $15,000 of medical and $10,000 of trip cancellation coverage. These coverage amounts are lower than those offered by other companies in our review. However, higher limits are available by selecting the company’s “Select” plan.

Among its upgrade options, Travelex offers adventure sports coverage for those whose itinerary includes such adrenaline-rush activities as zip lining, skydiving, or mountain climbing. This coverage can be added to any Travelex plan.

It’s also worth noting that Travelex is one of the highest-rated travel insurance providers on Trustpilot , having earned 4.1 out of five stars (as of Feb. 14, 2024). One recent reviewer noted, "I've always been skeptical of trip insurance and all the promises of straightforward claim processes, but I was blown away with how responsive, simple, and logical the Travelex was. I decline all trip insurance for any travel booking I do now and only use Travelex. Cheaper, more efficient, less red tape. What's not to love?”

Best standard coverage package: Generali Global Assistance

Generali Global Assistance

Generali Global Assistance is a European company with insurance services focusing on travel and identity protection. Its “Standard” plan for travel insurance provides $50,000 of medical expense coverage and trip cancellation coverage for 100% of the insured value.

The plan also includes travel delay, baggage damage, baggage delay, and missed connection coverage. Options such as rental car collision damage and upgrade plans allow you to travel with even more coverage.

Generali has 3.4 out of five stars with Trustpilot (accessed Feb. 14, 2024).

Best for “cancel for any reason” coverage: AXA Travel Insurance

AXA Travel Insurance

Many American consumers may not immediately recognize AXA Travel Insurance , but the company is a multinational financial services giant headquartered in France. Its “Silver” plan—AXA’s entry-level travel insurance offering—includes coverage for $25,000 of emergency medical expenses and 100% of the insured trip cost if the trip is canceled. Additional coverages include trip delay, missed connection, medical evacuation, and baggage coverage.

The company’s “Platinum” plan provides “cancel for any reason” trip cancellation coverage. This means you can cancel your trip for any reason—personal, professional, medical, family, or other—and expect to receive reimbursement. This contrasts with standard trip cancellation coverage, in which the cancellation must be for one of the specific reasons stated in the policy contract. The “Platinum” plan also includes higher amounts of emergency medical expenses and other coverages.

AXA has 2.9 out of 5 stars in its Trustpilot rating (accessed Feb. 14, 2024).

Best for spontaneous travelers: AIG Travelguard

AIG Travel Guard

AIG is a leading global provider of insurance for both individuals and businesses. Its Travelguard “Essential” plan offers $15,000 of emergency medical coverage and trip cancellation coverage for 100% of the insured cost of the trip. Higher coverage amounts are available with the company’s “Preferred” and “Deluxe” plans.

AIG Travelguard also offers its unusual “Pack N’ Go” plan, designed for last-minute travelers who don't need trip cancellation coverage. This plan includes up to $1,000 of trip interruption and $25,000 of medical expense coverage, along with coverages for trip delays, missed connections, and lost luggage.

AIG promises quotes on its website in less than two minutes, making it easy to include Travelguard in your comparison shopping. Travelguard has 1.7 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot , though this is based on only 64 reviews (accessed Feb. 14, 2024).

Best for international travel: Allianz

Allianz Travel Insurance

Traveling outside of the U.S.? You’ll want to work with an insurer that offers not only robust coverage, but a variety of plans and options that can fit your needs. Allianz Global Assistance (Allianz Travel) is one such company.

Its “Basic” plan includes $10,000 of both trip interruption and emergency medical expense coverage. The company offers several plans with higher coverage, along with an “Emergency Medical” plan focused primarily on medical coverage. Allianz also offers several annual policy plans for those who intend to travel multiple times a year. And if you’re considering renting a car during your international trip, you can add an optional damage and theft coverage.

The company’s “OneTrip Prime” plan extends coverage for free to children under age 17 who are traveling with a parent or grandparent, making it ideal for international family vacations. Allianz claims the plan is its most popular, with up to $100,000 of trip cancellation and $50,000 of emergency medical coverage.

Allianz earns 4.4 out of five stars in its Trustpilot rating (accessed Feb. 14, 2024), including 75% five-star reviews.

Best for medical coverage: Seven Corners

Seven Corners

Medical expense coverage is an important feature of travel insurance. This is especially true if you journey outside of the U.S., where your personal health insurance may not provide coverage.

Seven Corners is an excellent choice for those seeking generous medical coverage in a travel insurance plan. Its Basic policy provides up to $100,000 of emergency medical expenses, which is more than any other plan in our review. It also provides up to $250,000 of coverage for emergency evacuation, which helps reimburse your costs of transportation to a qualified medical facility if you have a serious illness or injury during your trip.

Seven Corners has a Trustpilot rating of 4.2 out of 5.0 stars (accessed Feb. 14, 2024).

Best for luxury travel: Berkshire Hathaway

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Insurance

Berkshire Hathaway is one of the country’s largest companies (currently seventh on the Fortune 500). It’s also the parent company of auto insurance giant GEICO.

Berkshire Hathaway’s “ExactCare Value” policy plan includes $15,000 of medical coverage and trip cancellation coverage of 100% of the insured value of the trip. The plan also includes coverage for lost baggage, baggage delay, trip delay, and emergency evacuation.

Berkshire Hathaway offers a specialized insurance plan for luxury travel. This plan features higher medical and trip cancellation coverage limits, $2,500 worth of lost baggage coverage, $35,000 of car rental collision coverage, and 24/7 worldwide travel assistance.

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Insurance does not currently have a Trustpilot rating (accessed Feb. 14, 2024).

Best for cruises: Nationwide

Nationwide Travel Insurance

Nationwide is one of the country's most recognizable insurance brands, with policies available for homes, cars, and businesses. The company also offers travel insurance.

Its “Single-trip Essential” travel insurance plan provides $75,000 in medical emergency coverage. This is the most coverage of any of the companies in our review. Nationwide’s $10,000 limit for trip cancellation is lower than that of other plans, however.

Higher limits are available with its “Prime” plan, along with a cancel-for-any-reason option that pays 75% of the insured trip cost. The plan also includes a variety of additional coverages, such as trip delay, baggage delay, emergency medical evacuation, and optional rental car coverage.

Nationwide also offers a separate, specialized travel insurance policy for those embarking on cruises . Besides expected coverages such as trip cancellation and emergency medical, it covers itinerary changes, mechanical breakdown, and missed connections.

Nationwide has earned 1.5 out of 5 stars in its Trustpilot rating, based on only 42 reviews (accessed Feb. 14, 2024).

Best for amateur athletes: Tin Leg

Tin Leg Travel Insurance

Tin Leg travel insurance policy plans are underwritten by Berkshire Hathaway and other companies. Its “Economy” plan includes trip cancellation coverage at 100% of the insured cost and $20,000 of emergency medical coverage. The company offers a variety of additional travel insurance plans with varying levels of coverage.

If you’re traveling to participate in a sports event and bringing your expensive gear, Tin Leg could be a great choice. Its “Economy” plan includes coverage for loss of, or damage to, sporting equipment (such as a bicycle or skis). It also reimburses your event registration fees if your trip is canceled or interrupted.

Tin Leg has a Trustpilot rating of 1.5 out of 5 stars (accessed Feb. 14, 2024), though this is based on only 26 reviews.

Methodology

To develop our recommendations, we gathered information about several leading travel insurance providers from their websites and third-party reviews, where available. We focused on the range of essential coverages, including emergency medical coverage and trip cancellation coverage, along with the availability of 24/7 customer support during travel. Where it existed, we noted each company’s policy cancellation terms.

We reviewed the most economical plan for each company that included both medical and trip cancellation coverage. We also noted optional coverages and upgraded plans that provide higher levels of coverage or specialty coverages for niche travel.

Policy cost information is based on a party of two U.S. travelers, age 30, traveling to the United Kingdom for seven days, and a total trip cost of $6,000. Quotes were obtained on each company’s website.

This information is for comparison purposes only. Please verify policy details before purchasing.

How to select the best travel insurance company

Follow these tips to choose the best travel insurance company for your needs.

Determine your needs

Your travel insurance needs for a Caribbean cruise may differ significantly from those for a backpacking trip through the Swiss Alps. Your first step should be to outline your travel expense budget and list the activities in which you plan to participate (note that some policies include optional coverage for certain activities, such as adventure sports). Also, consider your health status, as some policies require you to pay extra for certain pre-existing health conditions.

Investigate your travel insurance options

Check if you might already have some travel insurance readily available to you. Some credit card companies offer coverage if you use their card to pay for your trip. Coverage may also be available from a tour operator or an airline. You can also get recommendations from a travel agent or an independent insurance agent.

Compare available features and coverage amounts

You'll discover that each travel insurance provider offers varying levels of standard coverage, such as trip cancellation and emergency medical expense, along with optional coverages. They typically also offer multiple plans (think "good," "better," and "best"). Review these and select a few providers that offer the coverages you need.

Get quotes from multiple companies

As with any other type of insurance, travel insurance costs vary among companies. Check with at least three or four to ensure that you're getting the coverage you want at a price you can afford.

How do I file a travel insurance claim?

If you need to file a travel insurance claim, call the insurance company. Each company has its own process for claim filing. You'll want to be sure you have the proper claim forms and understand what supporting documentation the company requires. Be sure to follow the company's instructions for submitting your claim request.

It can take several weeks for a travel insurance claim to be paid. Be sure to watch for any follow-up requests from your insurer (such as requests for additional documentation) and respond promptly to avoid unnecessary delays.

Time STAMP: Travel is more expensive than ever. Protect your trip with travel insurance

Business and pleasure travel alike have bounced back from the pandemic. However, traveling has also become much more expensive, thanks to inflation and increased demand. If you plan to head to some far-off destination—whether by air, road, rail, or ship—consider buying travel insurance. A policy reimburses covered medical costs, trip interruption, and other snags that may befall your trip.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

How is your travel insurance cost determined.

Your travel insurance cost will vary based on the amount of coverage purchased, the number of travelers, the age of the travelers, and your trip destination. Travel insurance costs also vary by insurance company, underscoring the need to shop around for coverage.

I’m concerned about getting sick while traveling. What insurance should I look for?

If you’re concerned about getting sick, be sure to choose a policy that includes coverages such as emergency medical (which helps pay for your medical expenses) and emergency medical transport (which helps pay for transportation to a hospital).

Do I need travel insurance for a cruise?

Travel insurance is worth considering for a cruise. As insurer Allianz notes, a policy can help you recoup costs if you need to cancel at the last minute, have a medical emergency while on board or at a stop (regular health insurance may not provide coverage outside of the U.S.), or if you miss the ship all together due to a delay by your airline.

Is there travel insurance for multiple trips?

If you’re planning to take multiple trips in a single year, you might want to consider multi-trip insurance (also called “annual” travel insurance). This type of policy typically provides trip interruption, emergency medical expense, trip delay, and other coverages at a price that’s less than buying a policy for each trip.

Does my credit card offer travel insurance?

Some credit cards do offer varying levels of travel insurance, including trip interruption, medical expense, trip delay, and emergency evacuation coverage. Check your credit card terms and conditions or benefits statement to understand what coverage may be provided.

The card_name card offers one of the best portfolios of travel insurance benefits, including $100,000 of emergency transportation coverage, $2,500 of emergency medical and dental coverage, and up to $20,000 of trip interruption coverage.

The information presented here is created by TIME Stamped and overseen by TIME editorial staff. To learn more, see our About Us page .

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The best travel insurance policies and providers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The best travel insurance providers

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

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

AIG Travel Guard

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

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

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

Preexisting conditions

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

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

Standout features

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

Purchase your policy here: AIG Travel Guard .

Allianz Travel Insurance

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

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

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

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

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

Purchase your policy here: Allianz Travel Insurance .

American Express Travel Insurance

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

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

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

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

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

Purchase your policy here: American Express Travel Insurance .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Purchase your policy here: GeoBlue .

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

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

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

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

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

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

Purchase your policy here: IMG .

Travelex Insurance

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

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

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

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

Purchase your policy here: Travelex Insurance .

Seven Corners

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

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

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

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

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

Purchase your policy here: Seven Corners .

World Nomads

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

World Nomads offers two single-trip plans.

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

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

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

Purchase your policy here: World Nomads .

Other options for buying travel insurance

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

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

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

Is travel insurance worth getting?

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

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

What is the best COVID-19 travel insurance?

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

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

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

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

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

What are the different types of travel insurance?

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

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

Should I buy travel health insurance?

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

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

How much does travel insurance cost?

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

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

When and how to get travel insurance

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bottom line

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

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

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

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

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A Practical Guide to Buying Travel Insurance

Travel insurance could be the difference between a huge medical bill or a modest copay. use these tips to find the best policy for your trip..

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It’s far better to buy travel insurance and never use it than to not be covered in an emergency.

Courtesy of Shutterstock

For many, travel insurance seems like an unnecessary additional expense. But if you get stuck in a costly situation—a medical emergency, a canceled trip due to a pandemic , a stolen camera—it suddenly becomes a totally worthwhile investment that saves, not costs, you money.

This was the case for writer Chris Ciolli. After years of traveling without a safety net, she invested in travel insurance on a recent trip during which she was rushed to the hospital at 3 a.m. for a slew of just-in-case tests. She ended up with an underwhelming diagnosis of gastritis, but also a slow trickle of medical bills—a few hundred dollars here, a thousand there—that totaled nearly $6,000. Fortunately, her monthlong $185 World Nomads policy covered everything after an initial $80 copay.

But even if you understand the benefits and you’re committed to buying travel insurance, choosing the right policy for your needs—and even knowing what those needs are—can be tricky. To help you choose the best travel insurance for your trip, we’ve consulted a number of travel agents, insurance industry professionals, and lifelong travelers for advice. In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know, from travel insurance reviews and comparisons to common questions answered, to pick the best policy for your next trip.

What is travel insurance?

Travel insurance is a plan, similar to health or auto insurance, that protects you from expenses incurred during unforeseen mishaps while traveling, such as lost luggage, trip cancellations, or medical emergencies.

Although your current homeowner’s, renter’s, auto, or health insurance may cover you for certain things while traveling, it usually doesn’t cover everything—especially on international trips. A good travel insurance plan will cover the gaps.

Where do you get travel insurance?

Some very basic forms of travel insurance are included if you booked your trip with a credit card such as World MasterCard, Capital One Venture Rewards, and Chase Ink and Sapphire cards. With these plans, you may be protected regarding some delay, luggage, and travel accident expenses, but the coverage is usually pretty basic.

You can also purchase it as an add-on while booking flights, cruises, or hotels. These plans are also limited and will only cover you in the event of an unavoidable cancellation due to events such as a natural disaster or a death in your family. “While it may seem less expensive, it may not cover all of the components of your trip,” says Andrew David Harris, vice president and COO of Harris Travel Service . While both of these are better than nothing, the most comprehensive and best travel insurance policies are sold by providers such as World Nomads, Allianz Global Assistance, Seven Corners, or TravelEx. You can purchase these plans through your travel agent, but it’s often less expensive to book directly with the travel insurance provider or through a comparison website, like SquareMouth .

What does travel insurance cover?

Every traveler and trip is different, which is reflected by the variety of travel insurance plans on the market. No matter what plan or provider you choose, below are some common things travel insurance covers. Experts agree that before you buy, you should absolutely look for specific exclusions in the fine print on potential policies. If you’re unsure about something, reach out. A good insurance company will be responsive and willing to clarify your questions.

Trip cancellation and interruption

Most travel insurance policies will include some form of trip cancellation and interruption coverage to reimburse you for nonrefundable expenses, like a prepaid hotel or plane ticket. Unless you add cancel for any reason (CFAR) insurance to your plan, there will be a limited set of acceptable reasons to claim this. Illness, death of an immediate family member, and weather are commonly accepted reasons.

Trip delays and missed connections

Also common is reimbursement for additional expenses incurred if a trip is delayed and meets criteria set out by the provider. With World Nomads, your flight must be delayed by at least six hours to qualify.

Baggage and personal effects

Most plans will cover the cost of lost or damaged luggage and personal belongings as well as the cost of purchasing additional items if your luggage is delayed.

Emergency medical and dental care

This covers the cost of medical care when you get sick or have an accident in another country and usually includes medical evacuation. However, travel insurance isn’t a substitute for regular health insurance so nonemergency medical expenses (physicals, anything cosmetic, eye exams) aren’t covered. Childbirth isn’t covered either, even for pregnant travelers who go into labor prematurely.

Shannon O’Donnell, 2013 National Geographic Traveler of the Year and blogger at A Little Adrift , mentions another coverage gap travelers miss: “You’re only covered for what you’re licensed to do back home—if you don’t have a permit for a motorbike and you drive one in Southeast Asia, you might not be covered in an accident.”

Emergency medical evacuation

This covers the cost of an emergency transfer (in an ambulance or helicopter, for example) from an area with inadequate medical care to the nearest medical center with the services you need. It’s costlier but essential in isolated and politically unstable parts of the world.

Accidental death and dismemberment and repatriation

Experts say that “truckloads of coverage for hospital costs and medical repatriation home” are the most important things to look for. “The rest is just window dressing.” A lot of basic plans won’t include this in their coverage, but you can easily add this on with an upgrade to a more premium tier.

Concierge and 24/7 service

Daniel Durazo, director of Marketing and Communications for Allianz Global Assistance , says that “a good policy includes a 24/7 contact line for both medical and travel emergencies.”

Common travel insurance add-ons to consider

A basic plan is usually enough for most travelers, but it may not cover everything you need if you’re older, have pre-existing medical conditions, participate in sports while traveling, book an expensive trip, or travel with expensive gear (such as a high-end camera). If you fall into any of these categories, consider an add-on or upgrade.

Upgrade lost luggage, trip delay, and cancellation amounts

“Standard travel insurance levels cover more modest belongings and lodging,” advises Annette Stellhorn, president and Group Luxury Travel designer at Accent on Travel . If you’re traveling with expensive gear or spending a lot on your trip, consider upgrading to a tier that covers your costs adequately.

Additional coverage for adventure and high-risk travel

Stellhorn also notes that adventure and high-risk travel “require higher benefit amounts for medical evacuation, which can run more than $250,000.” And Judy Perl at Judy Perl Worldwide Travel says that “most insurance companies will not insure high-risk travel at all, with the exception of big companies like First Allied and Travelex .” Even fewer risky activities and sports may only be covered to a limit: that is, climbing to certain heights and diving to certain depths.

Most sports are covered up to a certain level of intensity; any higher and you may have to purchase a different tier of insurance. World Nomads, for example, will cover a slew of adventure travel activities and sports, but at an additional cost on top of its basic insurance.

Cancel for any reason (CFAR) insurance

It’s important to read the fine print of any insurance plan because, even if it includes trip cancellation coverage, this often only kicks in under certain circumstances. As many travelers found out recently, trips canceled due to the recent coronavirus pandemic were not covered unless they had a CFAR add-on .

Jennifer Wilson-Buttigieg, co-owner and copresident at Valerie Wilson Travel , explains that these plans “only cover 75 percent of trip expenses [and only] if travelers cancel their trips at least 48 hours in advance.”

Does travel insurance cover pandemics?

No. “Once actual events have unfolded, such as the coronavirus outbreak, they are considered known or foreseeable events and are no longer covered by most travel insurance policies,” says Afar’s Michelle Baran . The exception is if you chose to upgrade your plan to include a CFAR add-on.

What are the best travel insurance policies?

The best travel insurance policy will depend on you and your trip. You’ll want to make sure you have a plan that covers the cost of your entire trip and the activities you want to do and won’t leave you in the dark if you have preexisting conditions. The following are some of the best travel insurance partners to consider:

Best for: Older travelers and those with preexisting conditions.

While Allianz provides great travel insurance for any traveler, it’s especially appropriate for those with pre-existing conditions, since those are covered in every one of its plans. However, its basic coverage only covers up to $500 in lost or damaged baggage, so consider an upgrade if you’re traveling with more expensive equipment.

Get a quote: allianztravelinsurance.com

Best for: Medical coverage only

GeoBlue’s Voyager basic medical coverage is not a comprehensive travel insurance plan that covers a slew of scenarios; rather it provides travelers with basic medical travel insurance. The deductible is a high $500, but at $19 to $35 per trip, it’s an inexpensive way to protect yourself in case something catastrophic happens. If you’re adequately covered for travel mishaps like lost luggage or stolen goods by other insurance (like your credit card or homeowner’s insurance), this might be the plan for you.

Get a quote: geobluetravelinsurance.com

Best for: Traveling with kids

With TravelEx, travelers can choose between a basic or select travel insurance package with options to customize it according to their needs. Both plans cover standard things like trip cancellation and emergency medical services and are an all-around comprehensive option. However, its Travel Select plan also includes free coverage for any children under 17 traveling with you. For families, TravelEx Select is a great money-saving option.

Get a quote: travelexinsurance.com

How much does travel insurance cost?

Complete travel insurance packages can cost as little as $8 per day but vary depending on the length of the trip, destination(s), and the tier of travel insurance you choose. Some, but not all, travel insurance may also cost more for travelers with pre-existing conditions or older adults.

As a comparison, here are some examples of travel insurance costs for a 45-year-old traveler on a $5,000, one-week trip to Mexico:

• $138 for an explorer plan with World Nomads
• $179 for a basic plan with Allianz
• $248 for an essential plan with AIG
• $261 for a basic plan with Travelex

While some of these plans may seem expensive, keep in mind that if they provide you the coverage you need, they can be a huge money saver. Insurer World Nomads says that its average claim amount for 2017 was $1,634, and its most expensive claim—a medical evacuation of a child from Sitka, Alaska, to Seattle—was nearly $200,000. Suddenly, that $8 per day makes travel insurance worth it . But, as Michael Holtz, founder and CEO of the travel agency SmartFlyer , says, “People don’t think they need it until they need it.”

How do I buy travel insurance?

You should always buy travel insurance from an official, reputable provider or website, such as purchasing directly through the insurance provider, a travel agent, or a comparison website; these “offer a way to search, compare, and purchase from a wide array of plans,” says Stan Sandberg, cofounder of TravelInsurance.com .

Comparison sites to buy travel insurance include:

• Travelinsurance.com
• SquareMouth
• Insuremytrip

Sandberg strongly recommends consumers speak with a licensed agent when they are unsure about benefits. The website Elliott Report is another good resource and features a list of reputable travel insurance companies compiled by consumer advocate Christopher Elliott.

When to buy travel insurance

Generally, you should book your travel insurance as soon as you can after booking your flights and hotels. If you’re traveling to a destination affected by hurricanes , book sooner rather than later, because you can’t buy insurance to cover delays or cancellations related to a storm that already has a name.

People with preexisting conditions need to consider other factors. Most insurers will cover only expenses related to prior illnesses in very specific circumstances; travelers with preexisting conditions must book coverage within a specific time frame, usually between 14 and 21 days, following their initial trip reservation, and they must be medically able to travel on the date they purchase the insurance.

Your travel insurance policy period should be for the duration of your trip from door to door (no gaps or shortcuts, please) and cover you for every place you plan to visit, whether it’s in-state, out-of-state, or international. Some destinations are at higher risk than others, so insurers don’t offer the same coverage for the same price everywhere.

What does your existing insurance cover while traveling?

While your existing health, auto, renter’s, or homeowner’s insurance may cover a few things while you’re traveling, it likely doesn’t cover everything.

• Health insurance: Many U.S. health-care policies, including Medicare, don’t cover travelers on international trips. Some plans will cover you abroad, so check with your provider. If your health insurance only covers you domestically, both the Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. State Department recommend purchasing medical travel insurance.
• Travel insurance: Credit cards can provide limited coverage of some delay, luggage, and travel accident expenses, as well as part of your rental car insurance.
• Homeowner’s and renter’s insurance: Home contents or rental insurance may cover some lost, stolen, or damaged valuables or even offer a reasonably priced floater policy (an add-on to your regular policy that covers easily moveable property) if you travel with expensive equipment.
• Auto insurance: Within the United States, your primary auto insurance will almost always cover rental vehicles. There are a few exceptions for domestic rentals, like if your current auto insurance has low coverage limits. International car rentals are a different story. In Mexico, for example, rental car insurance is mandatory , even if you have insurance at home. Always be sure to check local rules before you reserve a rental car.

Tips for filing claims and getting reimbursed

Unlike most domestic health insurance policies, travel insurance doesn’t typically have a deductible. Some inexpensive policies will require you to pay a small, nonrefundable, initial policy excess amount before further costs up to the benefit limit are covered. Many policies work on a reimbursement plan: You pay upfront, save your receipts, and file a claim, then after processing, your insurance company pays you back for covered expenses.

Most policies require you pay non-emergency expenses out of pocket and submit your claim for reimbursement afterward. In a non-life-threatening emergency, call your insurer for instruction if you’re able; it will make the claims process easier, and the insurer may be able to direct you to a hospital or medical center where your care can be billed directly to it.

Hannah Logan, of the blog Eat Sleep Breathe Travel , says this step is especially important because the small print on many policies “reads that calling the contact number [may be] a requirement for coverage.”

No matter what, document everything. Whether it’s lost baggage, a medical expense, or damage to your rental car, gather and keep anything that can help your claims case: your original rental car agreement, receipts, photos, medical paperwork, a copy of your boarding pass.

Buying travel insurance is a little like packing a suitcase: It can seem overwhelming at first, but eventually it becomes routine and a necessary part of every trip. Once it does, you can travel worry-free, secure in the knowledge that you’ve saved yourself from a possible $6,000 mistake.

This article originally appeared online in 2018; it was updated on June 19, 2020, and on May 15, 2024, to include current information.

World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

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Seven Corners Travel Insurance Review 2024: Diverse Plans and High Coverage Limits

Contributor

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

Mariah Ackary

Mariah is a freelance contributor to Newsweek’s personal finance team. After putting herself through college, Mariah became interested in using personal finance to achieve financial freedom—whether that means paying down debt or using credit card points to take a dream vacation. She’s written and edited hundreds of articles about the topic and feels passionately about helping other millennial and Gen Z women live their best lives.

Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The TODAY Show, The Wall Street Journal, Business Insider and many more top media outlets.

Updated August 29, 2024 at 3:28 pm

Seven Corners Travel Insurance provides a bounty of travel insurance packages and travel medical plans for both United States residents going abroad and U.S. visitors.

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

Seven Corners Travel Insurance

Vault Verified

Expert Take

Seven Corners Protection Choice may be a good fit if you’re booking a high-value trip and want the option to buy optional cancel for any reason and interruption for any reason coverage. Seven Corners also offers domestic travel coverage and cruise coverage that landed it on our best travel insurance list for 2024 .

Pros and Cons

• Offers a wide range of plans for different traveler types
• High coverage limits available for expensive trips
• Interruption for any reason coverage available
• Sports and adventure coverage may only be available on multi-trip or U.S.-only plans
• Other valuable optional coverage upgrades only available with certain plans
• Choosing between options and coverages can be confusing to a first-time buyer

Vault’s Viewpoint on Seven Corners Travel Insurance

Seven Corners Travel Insurance offers more than six plans for U.S.-based, international and group travelers. The provider’s highest-tier plan, Seven Corners Trip Protection Choice , offers travelers higher-than-average limits, covering up to $100,000 in canceled travel expenses for a covered reason. An Annual Multi-Trip plan can cover multiple trips abroad of up to 40 days each. However, reimbursement tops out at $10,000

The insurer’s U.S.-based travel insurance only insures up to $20,000 and allows you to customize coverage based on whether or not you’re taking a flight or need medical coverage. The plan’s auto rental coverage includes RVs, which is relatively unique.

About Seven Corners Travel Insurance

Altogether, Seven Corners plan options include:

• Protection Basic and Choice: One-trip travel insurance
• Trip Protection Annual Multi-Trip: Multi-trip travel insurance
• Trip Protection USA: For domestic travel
• Cruise Insurance: For cruise vacations of 30 days or less
• Medical insurance: Various travel medical plans for non-U.S. citizens and residents traveling abroad, including medical evacuation and repatriation

The travel medical insurance is primarily for visitors, expats, students and others visiting the U.S. who are not U.S. residents or citizens. For U.S.-based J-Visa holders , Seven Corners offers health insurance, medical evacuation and repatriation insurance.

What Does Seven Corners Travel Insurance Cover?

For U.S. residents, Seven Corners provides a bevy of insurance options. Coverage types and limits change based on the type of trip you’re taking—single-trip, multi-trip or a trip based in the U.S. only.

Single-Trip Plans

If you’re going abroad on one trip, Seven Corners Travel Insurance offers two plan options, Basic and Choice . Seven Corners Trip Protection Basic is a less-expensive plan with lower limits and fewer coverages. Coverage includes:

• Trip cancellation: Up to 100% of nonrefundable trip costs of up to $30,000 per person
• Trip interruptions, delays and missed connections
• Emergency accident and sickness expenses (up to $100,000; secondary coverage)
• Emergency evacuation coverage (up to $250,000)
• Change fees (up to $75)

Seven Corners Trip Protection Choice offers the above but with expanded coverage and limits. For example:

• Pre-existing medical condition waiver included
• Passport, visa or other travel document replacement
• Pet kennelling
• Accident death and dismemberment coverage between $20,000 and $40,000
• Ability to purchase Optional Event Ticket Registration Fee Protection

Multi-Trip Plan

A multi-trip plan is designed for people frequently traveling abroad for leisure or business. Seven Corners Trip Protection Multi-Trip covers both trip concerns (cancellation, interruption, delay, missed connection, baggage delay and loss) and health (medical expenses, emergency evacuation) concerns.

Limits are generally lower for cancellation coverage ($10,000 maximum), but can be generous otherwise. The Multi-Trip plan can also integrate an Adventure Activities, Winter Activities and Extreme Activities waiver. However, if you’re planning to take several trips that cost more than $10,000 each, Seven Corners recommends using single-trip plan coverage instead.

Trip Protection USA

For travelers planning domestic travel of 90 days or fewer, the Trip Protection USA plan offers a basic level of cancellation and interruption coverage. Then, you can add other coverages you need, such as an air travel bundle (trip delay, inconvenience, baggage delay and loss), medical bundle (including emergency medical evacuation and coverage), or cancel or interrupt for any reason and rental car coverage that includes RVs.

Optional Upgrades

You can upgrade the plans using optional benefits. While upgrade availability with any insurer varies by plan level and by state of residency, these upgrades generally include:

• Cancel for any reason
• Trip interruption for any reason
• Rental car damage
• Event ticket registration protection (TripProtection Choice Plan only)
• Sports and golf equipment rental (TripProtection only)

Limits can vary quite a bit. Here’s a sampling of limit differences between the plans.

Who Is Seven Corners Travel Insurance Best for?

The Seven Corners Choice plan is among the best travel insurance for families , especially those planning high-cost, multi-member trips. The plan covers up to 100% of cancellation costs for a journey of up to $100,000.

Seven Corners Choice may also be a good option if you are a traveler who:

• Seeks high-dollar protection for event tickets, due to up to $15,000 optional protection
• Has pre-existing conditions, as the plan offers a waiver if you meet certain conditions
• Is traveling with a large group, as it can cover ten or more travelers

TripProtection America may be a good fit for travelers who are only exploring the U.S. The multi-trip plan offers a generous medical evacuation benefit ($500,000) and includes an adventure sports waiver.

Seven Corners Cruise Insurance is explicitly customized for cruise-related issues and may be a better option than a cruise line’s coverage.

How Reliable Is Seven Corners Travel Insurance?

Seven Corners has offered travel insurance plans for domestic and international travel since 1993. Overall, here’s how online reviews look.

With the Better Business Bureau , Seven Corners Travel Insurance is an accredited business with 30+ years of operation and an A+.

On Trustpilot , Seven Corners Travel Insurance has earned 4.2 out of 5 stars from 5,277 reviews. And on the travel insurance site Squaremouth , Seven Corners earned 4.38 stars out of 5 stars and 205,324 policies sold.

How Does Seven Corners Travel Insurance Stack Up to Its Competitors?

Seven Corners offers higher limits than some competitors but also lacks a few features some travelers might value.

Seven Corners Travel Insurance vs Travel Guard

Seven Corners Travel Insurance covers more traveler types, including international and U.S. residents with single-trip, multi-trip, medical and cruise plans. AIG Travel Guard offers three tiers of one-trip plans and one annual plan.

Comparing the two insurers’ highest-tier plans providing the highest dollar-limit coverage, Travel Guard Deluxe generally offers higher limits—but there are exceptions.

For example, while Seven Corners covers up to 100% of cancellation costs of prepaid expenses of up to $100,000, the Travel Guard Deluxe plan offers even more, at $150,000 worth of cancellation coverage.

A free pre-existing condition waiver is available for Travel Guard customers purchasing within 15 days of the initial trip deposit, while Seven Corners requires you to buy insurance within 20 days of the initial trip deposit.

Seven Corners Travel Insurance has higher limits in other ways, such as up to $500,000 in emergency medical coverage versus Travel Guard’s $100,000. You can get coverage for a baggage delay after just six hours, while Travel Guard requires a more standard 12-hour delay.

Where optional coverages are concerned, Seven Corners offers the less-common Trip Interruption for Any Reason. However, Travel Guard allows shoppers to add to single-trip plans an adventure and extreme sports waiver and a pet bundle with up to $2,500 in vet expense coverage. You may only be able to get a waiver for adventure and sports activities with the Seven Corners Travel America plan or multi-trip plan.

Seven Corners Travel Insurance vs. WorldTrips

Seven Corners and WorldTrips may appeal to the same market seeking coverage for high-value trips, with up to $100,000 in cancellation coverage available from both travel insurance companies for single-trip plans.

Both Seven Corners Travel and WorldTrips offer a single-trip optional upgrade of interruption for any reason (IFAR) coverage. This less-common coverage allows you to interrupt a trip already underway for any reason.

IFAR may appeal to some travelers who worry about the unexpected happening while abroad, although Seven Corners reimburses 75% of prepaid costs, while WorldTrips reimburses 50%.

Many other limits and coverages are similar, although Seven Corners allows baggage delay reimbursement after six hours and offers higher emergency medical coverage limits at $500,000. On the other hand, WorldTrips has an extremely expansive list of reasons for cancellation.

Seven Corners Travel Insurance vs. Nationwide

Both Seven Corners and Nationwide offer two single-trip plans (Essential and Prime for Nationwide). Both also offer annual trip coverage and cruise coverage.

Nationwide’s Essential and Prime plans are more limited, with lower cancellation limits. A significant difference with Nationwide is that coverage for baggage, accidents and medical expenses is secondary, which means the coverage only kicks in after any other coverage pays.

In comparison, Seven Corners Trip Protection Basic and Choice coverages are not secondary in most states (except in the case of a missed connection).

Nationwide’s highest-tier Prime Plan offers a maximum limit of $30,000 reimbursable for trip cancellation and $60,000 for trip interruption. Seven Corners’ highest-tier Choice provides up to $100,000 in cancellation coverage and up to 150% in interruption coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does seven corners travel insurance offer cancel for any reason coverage.

Yes, both of the insurer’s single-trip plans (Basic and Choice) offer cancel for any reason coverage as an add-on benefit to your base plan. The CFAR coverage covers up to 75% of nonrefundable prepaid trip costs. You must buy the benefit within 20 days of your initial trip deposit and 15 days of additional travel arrangement payments. To qualify, you must cancel your trip no later than two days before the trip’s scheduled departure date.

What Does Seven Corners Cruise Insurance Cover?

Cruise insurance covers trips of 30 days or less and situations similar to traditional travel insurance, including trip cancellation (up to 100% of up to $30,000). But Seven Corners Cruise Insurance also covers missed tours or cruise connections, cruise diversions and cruise disablement.

Is Travel Insurance Worth It?

Travel insurance may be worth it if you’re going on an expensive trip or feel concerned about surprises. Travel insurance can help cover unexpected costs due to trip cancellations and interruptions, as well as annoyances like lost bags or missed connections. Make sure you understand the policy you’re buying and what it covers. Travel insurance might not cover all reasons for a cancellation, for example. Compare travel insurance coverage to coverage you get from the best travel credit cards and your existing health, home, life and auto insurance policies.

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

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At ConsumersAdvocate.org, we take transparency seriously.

To that end, you should know that many advertisers pay us a fee if you purchase products after clicking links or calling phone numbers on our website.

The following companies are our partners in Travel Insurance:  Travel Guard Insurance ,  Allianz Global Assistance ,  Travelex ,  TravelInsurance.com ,  Seven Corners ,  Generali Global Assistance ,  Trawick International ,  Squaremouth ,  Tin Leg ,  Faye , and  Faye2 .

We sometimes offer premium or additional placements on our website and in our marketing materials to our advertising partners. Partners may influence their position on our website, including the order in which they appear on the page.

For example, when company ranking is subjective (meaning two companies are very close) our advertising partners may be ranked higher. If you have any specific questions while considering which product or service you may buy, feel free to reach out to us anytime.

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Best Travel Insurance Based on In-Depth Reviews

• 200+ Hours of research
• 60+ Sources used
• 15 Companies vetted
• 3 Research Criteria
• 6 Top Picks

• Look for customizable coverage
• How we analyzed the best Travel Insurance Companies
• Our Top Picks: Travel Insurance Reviews
• Travel Insurance and the Novel Coronavirus

In light of the current Covid-19 pandemic—and the accompanying social distancing and travel restriction measures implemented across the world—record numbers of flights, vacations, cruises, and other travel plans have been thrown into disarray. While the response from individual airlines  and hotel chains has been to relax their cancellation policies, travel insurance companies are a different story . The travel insurance policy types that would apply to most of those canceled plans are trip cancellation or trip interruption, both of which are usually named-peril plans. This means that they'll honor the coverage on the insurance policy, but ONLY IF the reason for cancellation is listed in the plan. And neither the fear of contracting coronavirus or the fact that there is a very real worldwide pandemic, are listed reasons. 

There is one notable, albeit more expensive option, if you purchase (or purchased) a Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) add-on policy, then you can do exactly that: change your travel plans entirely and practice social distancing at home. To qualify, you must have purchased the CFAR within the insurer's specified timeframe after making your first payment, and you must insure the totality of your trip costs. You should also know that even a CFAR only goes so far—you won't be fully reimbursed, even though you're insuring 100 percent of your costs—most travel insurance policies give you the option of a 50 or 75 percent reimbursement.

Given the situation, before booking any travel and purchasing travel insurance, we recommend that you follow the current Center for Disease Control ( CDC) recommendations . Ask yourself:

1. Are coronavirus cases surging or spreading at your destination?

2. Do you live with someone who at high risk of infection from the coronavirus?

3. Likewise, are you yourself at high risk of becoming gravely ill from coronavirus?

4. And finally, does your destination have any travel restrictions or requirements?

This fourth question is key since it can significantly derail your plans—many state, local, and territorial governments have implemented restrictions of varying degrees, from mandatory testing or quarantines to outright travel bans. The European Union, for instance, just extended its travel ban for U.S. citizens, while Ireland and Hawaii allow travel but require a two-week, in-country quarantine. In short, we recommend you take the time to verify if this is the case in your chosen destination, either on state or local public health websites if traveling within the continental U.S., or through the U.S. Department of State's Country Information page . 

• TravelInsurance.com review

Best for Travel Insurance Options

For consumers who want comparison shopping convenience,  TravelInsurance.com is a great choice since it allows you to compare many policies at the same time. 

Screenshot ravelinsurance.com, December 2019.

Customers are asked to fill in a simple web form that asks for the dates, destination, and total cost of an upcoming trip. The website instantly generates a list of available policies (26 of them for a hypothetical trip we described), their coverages, their costs, and their issuers’ financial strength ratings. The information is laid out on a single page in an easy-to-read format. Prospective travelers can do side-by-side comparisons of a smaller number of policies. 

TravelInsurance.com is not an insurer itself, but it partners with many of the insurers we recommend. Before purchasing any one travel insurance policy, it's a good idea to research the company issuing it to gather even more information about it. 

• Generali Global Assistance review

BEST FOR TRIP CANCELLATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

Generali provides great value for your buck. Generali’s 24/7, year round “Telemedicine" service connects you with a network of American doctors for non-emergency medical consultations, advice, and prescriptions. The Premium plan offers a million dollars in medevac coverage, and nice extras, like $500 for sports equipment delays and $1,000 for missed connections. This policy is perfectly suited for the well-to-do traveler with a lot of money invested in a trip.

Generali scored high with us because, as travel insurers go, they offer some of the most comprehensive coverages, highest payout maximums, and many additional policy features other providers don't. All standard trip interruption and cancelation reasons are provided for, and then some. Additionally, the company has generous provisions for baggage and trip delays. Generali really shines when it comes to its traveler assistance services. Along with all the usual customer assistance features, the company also makes provision for such things as specialty food delivery, an emergency cash advance of $500, and travel companion meet and greet services. Pound for pound, one of the most extensive offerings out there.

The company will cover up to a whopping $250,000 max for medical care, and up to $1 million for emergency medical transportation. There are three plan levels that, aside from a few items, only differ in maximum payouts for certain coverages.

Generali also stands out in the trip interruption/cancellation category. They will reimburse up to 175% the cost of the trip due to trip interruption, and also provide a generous $1,000 travel delay reimbursement. If you purchase the premium plan, the coverage kicks in after a mere 6-hour delay.

Generali boasts many more customer assistance services than standard among travel insurance providers. These include identity theft resolution services, personalized retail shopping assistance services, procurement of hard-to-find items, limousine pick up of friends and business partners, pre-trip assistance, specialty food delivery, and booking golf tee times just to name a few. Generali's 24-hour emergency hotline can be accessed from anywhere in the world and includes medical, travel, and concierge assistance services.

The company's services are accessible anywhere in the world and they maintain a BBB accreditation of A+. Generali Global Assistance operates as a subsidiary of Europe Assistance Holding S.A. and their travel insurance business evolved from CSA Travel Protection.

• World Nomads review

Best for the Young and the Restless

World Nomads offers a choice of two plans. The primary difference between the two, aprt from cost, of course, are the benefit limits associated with each. Both plans offer the same types of coverage, including trip cancellation, trip interruption, emergency medical, evacuation, repatriation, and personal property losses. We used a hypothetical $3,000 trip to France tWorld Nomads' policies to competitive plans.

World Nomad's Standard Plan has a benefit limit of $2500. It wouldn't cover the entire cost of our hypothetical trip to France, but it would certainly lessen the economic blow of cancellation or interruption. World Nomad's Explorer Plan has a benefit limit $10,000 for cancellation and interruption. It would fully reimburse the cost of our hypothetical trip. I's important to understand that you can't collect any more than your trip cost with trip cancellation or interruption coverage, no matter how high the benefit limit of your policy. Our hypothetical traveler would want to compare the premium difference between the two plans. If it were more than $500, then World Nomad's Explorer plan would probably not make good financial sense. 

Both of World Nomad's plans reimburse travelers for up to $100,000 in travel medical expenses. The Standard Plan covers up to $300,000 in medical evacuation costs while the Explorer Plan ups that figure to $500,000. The Standar plan offers up to $1000 reimbursement for baggage loss or theft, while the Explorer plan protects you for up $3000 for those losses. The more expensive of World Nomad's plans might make sense if you carry a lot of expensive gear when you travel, but again, travelers must weigh the cost of increased coverage against the benefits.  

Unlike many travel insurance providers, World Nomads covers a large number of sports in its Standard Plan (kite surfing, ice hockey, and that most dangerous of sports… air guitar ) and more extreme sports under the Explorer Plan (bull riding, cave diving up to 165 feet/ 50 meters, and mixed martial arts), making it a great choice for the adrenaline junkies. The full list of covered activities is well worth a read if only for entertainment purposes. Now that we know what ski joring is, we're raring to try it ourselves!

Screen shot of worldnomads.com, July 18, 2019.

Great Guides and Community

What truly differentiates World Nomads from a crowded field is the sense of community it cultivates with its customers. The website contains free travel guides to numerous worldwide destinations, as well as free downloadable educational material on travel writing, filmmaking and other topics.

There are also sections dedicated to fascinating true travel stories to inspire your next trip, and entertaining and bizarre testimonials from World Nomads insurance customers. We’ll warn you, some of these tales are not for the faint of heart.

In keeping with the community theme, World Nomads presents an option at checkout to donate a few dollars to one of three charities, including a program dedicated to sight-restoring surgery in Kenya. According to the website, 85% of World Nomads customers elect to donate.

World Nomad's Disclaimer

All of the information provided about travel insurance is a brief summary only. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions and termination provisions of the travel insurance plans described. Coverage may not be available for residents of all countries, states or provinces. Please carefully read your policy wording for a full description of coverage. 

• Medjet review

Best for the Vip Traveller

Strictly speaking, Medjet doesn’t provide travel insurance in the classic sense. For instance, there are no coverage options for trip cancellation, loss or delay of baggage, or many other standard travel medical insurance features. For those, you’ll have to purchase a standard travel insurance policy from another provider.

Medjet offers industry-leading global medical evacuation services to both private and corporate clients. With a network of hundreds of air ambulances and medical escorts located around the world, if you are hospitalized, Medjet provides transport to the home-country hospital of your choice aboard aircraft outfitted with state-of-the-art emergency medical equipment. Travel insurance typically requires you be treated and recover in the “nearest acceptable facility”, Medjet allows you get to a hospital at home.

Medjet operates on a membership model, with a number of programs calibrated to fit the needs of different types of travellers. Short term memberships for trips as short as 8 days are available, as are programs for students and professors and longer-term expatriates.

While there is no medical transport cost limit as long as your membership is current, Medjet does cap evacuations to two per member per year, or one for a member family. Though if you’re in need of more than two evacuations per year, you may want to reconsider your life choices.

Screen shot of medjetassist.com, July 18, 2019

Customers up to 75 years old can be covered under any of Medjet’s policies. Beyond that is a senior-specific Diamond membership which covers customers between the ages of 75 and 84.

In addition to medical evacuation, MedjetHorizon--the premium-tier option--provides professional crisis response assistance for victims of terrorism, natural disasters, kidnapping, hijacking, political threats, blackmail, and other events. If you are at risk for such hair-raising predicaments, standard travel insurance simply won’t suffice. These options are intended for VIP travellers such as high level corporate executives or high profile individuals--think C-suite execs and movie stars— but it’s also ideal for anyone who travels alone.

• AXA Travel Insurance review

Best for the Travelers on a Larger Budget

While a quick glance at AXA’s rather generic website might suggest that there’s nothing special about the company, the true value of its policies becomes apparent when you look at what’s covered. The Platinum plan for our $3,000 trip costs a quoted $125 and includes a remarkable suite of coverages. With medical expenses capped at $250,000 and medevac and repatriation capped at a cool million, the plan truly lives up to its precious metal namesake.

Screen shot of axatravelinsurance.com, July 18, 2019.

Trip cancellation and interruption pay out at an industry-standard 100% and 150% respectively, and baggage protection is well within the normal range as well. But the Platinum plan really shines when it comes to the little touches, such as a $25 a day (max of 5 days) pet boarding benefit for trip delays, $1,000 sports equipment rental, and $500 to lost golf rounds or skiing days. That’s a lot of value for 4.17% the price of our overall trip.

Identity theft protection, concierge services, a mobile app, and a blog featuring articles about various travel and travel-adjacent topics round out an above average policy. If you want high level, comprehensive coverage that won’t break the bank, AXA Platinum is a great option.

• Faye review

Faye is a travel insurance startup founded in 2019. The company offers domestic and international whole-trip travel insurance and provides comprehensive coverage for travelers. Some of the things covered by Faye’s travel insurance packages include baggage loss, trip cancellation and medical coverage.

The company helps the insured with most of a traveler’s usual woes when visiting another country, including unexpected cancellations and delays, natural disasters and even political turmoil. In light of the coronavirus pandemic, Faye also covers non-refundable medical and trip delay expenses if you become ill with COVID-19. Coverage includes emergency medical expenses, accomodation for quarantine and extension costs. 

You can submit a claim through the company’s app or through email in an entirely digital process. Faye’s plans are underwritten by the United States Fire Insurance Company, which is rated A by the A.M. Best of 2021. The company’s non-insurance assistance is provided by Global Excel Management Inc., which deals with everything from 24/7 travel assistance to real-time flight alerts.

Pricing varies by the level of coverage, with insurance from its basic plan traveling to Europe for one customer for one week coming out to $135. Faye has a 4.6 rating on Trustpilot, with the majority of reviews rating the company “excellent”. The company is not yet rated on the Better Business Bureau’s website. 

Faye offers assistance 24/7 365 days a year, connecting you with real humans when you run into a problem in the middle of a trip. Faye can also be reached through email at [email protected]. All in all, Faye’s commitment to being there for travelers as well as its comprehensive coverage provided by an underwriter with a strong reputation make it easy to recommend. 

• Other Great Providers

Allianz Travel

Allianz is the largest insurance provider in the world, which in itself doesn’t mean that much. However, with that size comes a great deal of experience and an extremely diverse portfolio of policies including annual plans covering multiple trips, family plans, and policies that cover extended trips up to a year long. These specialized offerings are perfect for families traveling together or temporarily moving to another country.

Amex Travel

Long associated with international travel, American Express’s travel insurance wing provides four tiers of protection, from a bare-bones policy to comprehensive coverage. In addition, you can create your own policy, where you pick and choose your preferred areas of coverage. In a rare move, the website also provides a sample policy contract to read before you buy. This flexibility will appeal to travelers who know what coverage they need and don’t want to waste money on coverage they don’t.

An old standby and originally an arm of Mutual of Omaha, Travelex remains a popular choice for travel insurance. Travelex offers two levels of standard protection and a number of policy add-ons to build just the right insurance for your trip. A bit on the pricey side, the costs are more than offset by top-flight concierge services and decades of experience in the industry. With above average costumer comments, Travelex is a solid choice for anyone thinking of going on a trip.

• More insight into our methodology

We wish we could tell you that we went about researching this article by buying travel insurance ourselves and jetting off to the Maldives or Bora Bora to try it out. Unfortunately our killjoy editor quickly quashed that idea. [Note from killjoy editor: Your request for paid time off is denied. See me.] Instead we had to do this the old-fashioned way with a lot of legwork, research, and interviews. We even read an entire ten page travel insurance policy cover to cover. A page turner it was not.

When we started this article, we thought we’d spend a lot of time talking about loopholes, shady insurance providers, and tips on how to wring the money you deserve out of tight-fisted companies. Imagine our surprise to discover an industry that largely delivers on coverage promises and pays out a high percent of claims. Though the industry is not perfect, and many customer complaints are completely valid, we discovered that when the right steps are taken, travel insurance really can save your trip, your bank account, and even your life. And isn’t your peace of mind worth the average travel insurance policy price of 4-10% of the cost of your trip?

A recent survey of the British insurance industry claimed a travel insurance payout rate of 87%. Comparable, but by no means definitive rates are cited in America, where the industry is more protective of its data.

The trick, as with all insurance, is to always know what you’re buying. Sounds simple, right? Take it from a team that actually read a policy and we can assure you, it is not. But don’t panic: once you know what to look for and how to read one of these contracts, you can rest easy knowing exactly where your coverage begins and where it ends.

In order to find out how to do that, we talked to people on both sides of the travel insurance market. Megan Cruz is the Executive Director of the US Travel Insurance Association . The UStiA is a trade association whose mission is “to foster ethical and professional standards of industry conduct, cultivate effective state and federal government relations, inform and assist members, and educate consumers.” The organization serves as both the forum to create and improve standards within the industry, as well as the lobby for same.

“A lot of the complaints… …that are heard by UStiA members generally relate to people thinking something is covered that is not,” she told us.

Then we talked to Ellie von Wellsheim, the founder and CEO of The Mooncatcher Project --a non-profit that provides reusable menstrual pads to school-age girls in developing nations to help them continue their education. Part of her job entails frequent travel to the countries the organization services--countries that often have substandard medical facilities or experience a higher-than-average rate of natural disasters or political instability. Travel insurance is an essential and frequent purchase for her and the organization.

“I’m going to extremely poor places where medical hospitals are pretty bad,” she told us. “I want to know that I’m covered. Because something could happen to me. The airline offered insurance is only for your travel. It doesn’t cover you if you have to be medevaced out of the country.”

Finally, we constructed our own hypothetical trip based on one of our coworkers, and plugged his information into all the insurers we researched to see what his coverage would look like. We “sent” our imaginary 38-year-old colleague to France from Washington, D.C. on each of these sites, using the same travel dates and a projected cost of $3,000 for the trip. We tended to skip the bare bones policies in favor of more comprehensive options, since the price bump was generally less than $50. We figured that if you’re already paying for travel insurance, the small extra expense if well worth the extra peace of mind.

Though not a perfect predictor of value across demographics, destinations, or trip costs, it does provide a benchmark for coverage that we can work with.

Coverage is the undisputed king in the realm of travel insurance. The single most important thing to look at is your policy and what’s on it. As a travel insurance customer, you need to be crystal clear on how much protection you are buying, as well as what circumstances are not covered.

• Extra Benefits

Because many coverage options are fairly standard in the industry, varying mostly by dollar limits, insurers add extra benefits to plans to entice buyers. These benefits can range from concierge services in the event of a flight delay up to legal assistance in a foreign country. In the event of a crisis, you can’t put a dollar amount on the value of these vital services.

• Price & Reputation

Coming in at a distant third place is price. As typically a one-time expense, travel insurance is pretty affordably priced. However, high end, high risk policies can cost up to 10% of the price of a trip. But the savings or financial reimbursement in the event of calamity make it a bargain at twice the price.

• Introduction to Travel Insurance

Let’s be real, nobody likes insurance. Ask the next five people you talk to what they think about insurance and we guarantee you’ll get an earful. Ask five more and you’ll just hear more of the same. Go on, we’ll wait.

The reputation of insurance providers is so bad that a 2017 study on public perceptions of various industries and entities shows the insurance industry as a whole earned a net favorability rating of -32. That’s worse than such widely reviled bodies as Congress and Wall Street. To say the insurance industry has an image problem is putting it mildly.

Though there are some legitimate reasons for this widespread unpopularity, part of the issue is a fundamental misunderstanding of what insurance actually is. Many people think insurance--whether travel, health, auto, home, etc.--is like a big bucket of money you add to over time and can draw from for any reason when anything bad happens to you.

As fantastic as this “rainy day savings account” would be for the consumer, the simple fact of the matter is that such a system would collapse on itself overnight as hundreds of thousands of claimants all raided the kitty at the same time.

Insurance premiums are set based on a mathematical balance between an expected loss number and the total number of insured individuals so that the pool will be large enough to cover all claims. If it costs X amount of dollars to pay out a given type of claim, you need to set premiums based on the expected frequency of that event.

Pretty grim stuff, certainly, but the science of predicting the frequency of accidents, losses, or other calamitous events is essential to the entire process of insurance. And without insurance, there is no commerce, no economy, and no modern world. The commercial container ships that carry the food, clothing, electronics, and other consumer goods we all buy every day typically cost more than $100 million dollars, not including the cargo. Insurance makes that possible. Who among us can afford to risk that much money in the uncertain world we live in, full of storms, pirates, and mechanical failures? Insurance spreads out unmanageable risk; thinning it to a much more acceptable level.

Insurance policies are legal contracts that spell out exactly what is and what isn’t covered. We’ll talk a little about certain ambiguous words that leave room for interpretation later. For now, suffice it to say that for the most part you should be able to read a policy and know with 99% certainty what you can expect to be covered. If it isn’t expressly covered, or if it’s specifically not covered, you really shouldn’t get too bent out of shape if your claim is denied. In a sense, it’s like getting mad that the wrench you bought for a home project isn’t a very effective hammer.

• What is Travel Insurance?

We’ve discussed what insurance is generally, but have so far skirted around the main theme of this article: What exactly is travel insurance?

Travel insurance is both exactly what you’re thinking and so much more. Amazingly, while most people are pretty cautious in their regular lives, often having policies for homeowner’s or renter’s, health, auto, and sometimes life insurance, very few people-- only 7%! --regularly buy travel insurance. Considering that the average American spends 25-35 days a year travelling , and that Medicare and a lot of American health insurance policies don’t provide coverage overseas, that means there are literally millions of Americans who are entirely uninsured for a whole month out of the year.

We bring this up not to bring you down, but to illustrate how strange it is that we can be so concerned with one aspect of travel safety and take such massive risks in others.

Nor are we suggesting that travel insurance is all about bodily safety. Indeed medical coverage is but one aspect of travel insurance. In fact, the number one reason people purchase travel insurance is trip cancelation coverage. Eighty eight percent of respondents to an AAA Travel phone survey cited trip cancelation as their number one concern. Health concerns, by the way, rated 69%.

These concerns bring up a good question - what exactly does travel insurance cover?

What’s Covered?

Travel insurance, much like any other type of insurance, covers an agreed-upon set of circumstances as set forth in the insurance contract. Coverage options fall into roughly five unofficial categories, which include the previously mentioned cancellation and health coverage, auto insurance, and issues with baggage. The fifth bucket includes unusual types of coverages, such as hijacking insurance, extreme sports coverage, and other options in less common demand.

Under each of these coverage areas are a slew of options that may or may not be exactly what you need for an upcoming trip.

In addition to coverage options, it’s worth looking at extra benefits provided by travel insurance companies. UStiA Director Megan Cruz told us that these “non-insurance services can include legal assistance, they can include help with lost travel documents, 24-hour assistance to make alternate travel arrangements or even coordinate emergency medical care.”

This suite of “extras”--concierge customer service options--really make the difference between a good insurance provider and a great one.

• Your Policy

The Fine Print

People commonly think of insurers as miserly bureaucrats who get their kicks denying claims. Policies are almost thought of as “sell your soul” contracts riddled with devious loopholes and the type of fork-tongued language lawyers salivate over.

And while it’s true that these documents contain more than their fair share of legalese, there is a reason for that. An insurance policy is a contract. By definition it’s going to have the kind of “contract-y” language most of us skim-read with glazed eyes if we even bother to look at it at all. That’s the bad news. The good news is that with a little patience you can fully understand the contents of your policy to see what is and what isn’t covered.

Loopholes--as they’re commonly understood--do not exist in insurance policies. While coverage can be denied for a number of reasons (drug or excessive alcohol use, for instance), those reasons are clearly laid out in the policy contract. There is no “get out of paying all claims free” card cleverly hidden in the contract to give the insurer a universal out. Though insurance companies aren’t much trusted by consumers or even terribly well-liked, they obviously wouldn’t last very long as a business if they just swindled their clients.

Study your policy--we know, it has all the excitement you’d expect from the reading of the minutes of a school board meeting. Nonetheless, read the whole thing and make notes where you have questions or something isn’t clear. Travel insurance comes with a 10 or 15 day “free look” clause where you can cancel the policy for a full refund any time within that period. Use the time to call your insurer and ask questions specifically pertaining to your trip. If you don’t like the answers, ask for changes to be made, or cancel the policy. You can cancel at any time during the free look period for a full refund.

As far as legalese, probably the most basic thing you want to look out for is whether the language in the contract is exclusive or inclusive. What this means is that the policy will either expressly outline all covered circumstances (inclusive), or spell out everything that is not covered (exclusive). If, for instance, the contract uses exclusive language and a particular thing is not specifically named, you can expect that scenario to be covered. Conversely, unless an inclusive contract tells you something is covered, it’s not.

Exclusive contracts tend to be rarer because it’s harder to compile a comprehensive list of everything that wouldn’t be covered. This creates more risk for the insurer but is definitely more attractive to the customer. If, for instance, there ever was a real life sharknado, such an event is more likely to be covered in an exclusive contract--because who would ever think to list it among the exclusions?--than an inclusive one.

Another thing to look out for is modifiers like “reasonable.” Our killjoy editor recently bought travel insurance for a trip to South America and found the following under “Benefits” when reading over his policy:

What you deem “reasonable” might be pretty different from what we or this insurer does. While we can all agree that a common cold isn’t a valid reason to cancel a trip, what is? The flu? Losing a finger? Losing a hand?

A lot hinges on this one word. We’re not suggesting that the insurer would go so far as to determine that Ebola isn’t a reasonably disabling condition to cover. We just want you to know that if you have questions about something in your policy, you can and should call the provider to ask for clarification.

So, what can you expect to be covered by your insurance?

Let’s put together a hypothetical trip to find out. You and your younger brother saw a special on land diving in Vanuatu and decide you absolutely have to go try it. As we’re sure you’re aware, there are no direct flights to Vanuatu from any airports in America, so you buy a ticket through Fiji. On the flight over, your luggage somehow misses the connecting flight and gets delayed for two days. You guys pack light, so it normally wouldn’t be a big deal except that your brother is a diabetic and accidentally checked his insulin.

Hey, he was excited about the trip and wasn’t thinking clearly, ok? Everyone makes mistakes.

When you finally get to Vanuatu and see the 80 foot scaffold you’ll be diving from, you understandably have second thoughts. Unfortunately, the tour company you booked with does not offer refunds--turns out you’re not the first one to get cold feet.

As the younger sibling, your brother decides he has something to prove and goes ahead with the jump. Predictably, he breaks his collarbone and has to go to the hospital a couple hours away. While he’s getting patched up, you decide to have a few drinks to calm your nerves and end up twisting your ankle on the uneven bamboo floor of what turns out to be a very rustic bar in Port Vila.

Now you’re also in the hospital and you end up calling the airline to push your flight back a few hours, which means you end up missing your connecting flight in Fiji.

So what parts of this calamitous trip does your travel insurance pay for?

Well, that obviously depends on the policy you bought. Here are the things you’ll want to make sure are in the contract:

• The whole point of this trip is to go land diving, which is about as extreme an extreme sport as there is. Most policies will not cover activities like this, so you’ll have to purchase extra coverage, and that’s going to cost you. Without this option, it’s likely that your brother’s injury would not be covered by standard medical protection.
• Delayed luggage protection is pretty standard in travel insurance policies and prescription drug coverage is not uncommon. Still, double check that it’s in the contract and how much is covered. Delayed luggage protection doesn’t replace your valuables; it only pays for essentials you need in the gap between when your luggage gets delayed and when it finally reaches you.
• Even though reimbursements for non-refundable tours or activities is common in travel insurance, your claim will likely be denied because the reason you weren’t able to participate in the booked event is that you were too afraid to go through with it. We’re not judging--land diving looks terrifying!
• A Note On Alcohol Use

What about the rest of the trip? Your visit to the hospital for your twisted ankle? The missed flight in Fiji?

Unfortunately for you, you voided the rest of your coverage by being drunk. Standard in most travel insurance policies is a drug and alcohol exclusion that won’t pay out if you’re intoxicated. You were drunk when you twisted your ankle, which means that your hospital visit was not covered. And because your injury caused the delay which caused you to ultimately miss your connecting flight, that most likely wouldn’t be covered either.

This is the closest thing to that mythical “get out of paying all claims free” card as you’re likely to find in a travel insurance policy. And, to be frank, it makes sense not to cover incidents that happen while the insured is intoxicated. Of course there is some wiggle room in what constitutes intoxication. If you had a glass of wine with dinner and injured yourself somehow, your medical coverage will probably be honored. But if you sprain your throwing wrist by playing four straight hours of beer pong, you’re on your own.

For the final word on what to look for in a travel insurance policy, we asked Megan Cruz for an insider’s perspective of what she looks for when she buys travel insurance (yes, the Executive Director of the US Travel Insurance Association buys travel insurance almost every time she travels). She answered: “I’m going to look at what’s covered and I’m also going to look at the limits of the insurance offered by the carrier, and I always read the fine print. I know those coverage limits so I’m not surprised later. I think about other costs in addition to my flight.”

• Common Exclusions

Policies can vary greatly from insurer to insurer and based upon the circumstances of you, the insured. Just as there are some commonalities in coverage options, there are also a number of exclusions you’ll see popping up often.

The first of these exclusions--and one we feel comfortable stressing--is for claims for incidents that occurred when the insured was intoxicated due to drug or alcohol use. Besides common sense, there are a number of fundamental insurance principles that would be broken if such an exclusion were not made, but we’ll focus only on one. The insured event must not be under the control of the insured. And while it’s certainly true that intoxicated individuals are generally not in control of whatever situation they find themselves in, by becoming intoxicated, they have essentially made the decision to make bad decisions. For similar reasons, gambling is not covered by other types of insurance because the insurer is bringing unmanageable risk upon him or herself.

Similar to this is the exclusion for stolen baggage if you leave said baggage unattended. Flirting with disaster, or otherwise exercising poor judgment is generally not insurable. Which brings us to the next item on the list.

Extreme sports such as skydiving, bungee jumping, etc. are typically excluded from ordinary travel insurance policies. In fact, traveling to compete in ordinary sporting events, such as baseball and football is also usually excluded. Additional insurance can be purchased to cover these and many other otherwise excluded activities… at additional cost.

Cancellation due to weather can be excluded in certain cases. Most commonly this exclusion applies when traveling to a region prone to hurricanes once the storm has been given a name . This happens when the storm reaches wind speeds of 39 mph. Keep an eye on the weather where you’re traveling and plan accordingly. Unfortunately, storms are unpredictable things, so if you cancel your trip, there’s a chance that the storm will veer off course and miss your destination, or run out of steam. While this is certainly good news for those living in what would have been the path of the storm, it does mean that you’ve ultimately canceled your trip for no reason.

The broadest and probably most widespread exclusion is for pre-existing medical conditions. Pre-existing conditions don’t necessarily mean something you’ve struggled with for years. Instead, the insurer will investigate the last 60 to 180 days of your medical history in what’s called the “look back period” to see if you were “medically stable” i.e. you did not exhibit active symptoms. If there is an issue, you can purchase an exclusion waiver for pre-existing conditions. Of course, this comes with an additional cost.

Some exclusions can ultimately be covered with the purchase of additional insurance, while others cannot. When in doubt, consult your policy and call the insurer. Common sense will provide some answers as well. If the scenario you want to insure sounds ridiculous to you, it’s probably excluded.

• Medical Tourism

As healthcare costs in the US skyrocket, medical and dental tourism are becoming popular for travelers of all ages. Countries with safe, affordable, top-level medical care such as Mexico, Thailand, Costa Rica, and others are attracting visitors looking to have both elective and medically necessary procedures performed for a fraction of what they would cost back home.

Though medical care in other countries is typically very safe--particularly if you’ve done your research and chosen trusted clinics or doctors--travel insurance providers almost universally do not cover medical tourism. Remember, insurance exists to cover unforeseen events; planned events that increase risk and uncertainty are generally uninsurable.

In fact, undergoing an elective procedure while on an insured trip can cause the rest of your coverage to be terminated. If, for instance, you miss a flight or are robbed after undergoing elective surgery, it can (and will) be argued that whatever medications you are or were on contributed to the unfortunate event. In short, in your insurer's eyes, you’ve rendered yourself uninsurable.

A very few insurers do sometimes offer policies specifically tailored to medical tourists, but these seem to disappear off the market quickly. Other insurers sometimes cover the parts of your trip not immediately associated with whatever procedure you’re having done--but only sometimes.

Because medical tourism insurance is an emerging travel service and its availability is so unpredictable, we can’t in good conscience recommend a provider. But as more people opt for treatment overseas, it’s likely that the insurance market will adjust to meet the demand for this type of coverage.

• What to Do If You Need to File a Claim

Insurance is one of those things you buy in the hope of never having to use, much like a fire extinguisher or a snake bite kit. In the unfortunate event that you do have to make a claim, there are a few things you can do that will help ensure that your claim will be approved in a timely manner.

The first step, again, is to have read your policy to understand exactly what is and is not covered. If the circumstances of your injury or loss are expressly excluded from coverage in the text of your policy, the likelihood of your claim being approved is slightly less than that of being struck by lightning while winning the lottery. In other words: it ain’t gonna happen.

When filing a claim, your two best friends are speed and documentation. Time is definitely of the essence when filing a claim. The sooner you file, the better off you’ll be. Thorough, dated documentation, in the form of both receipts and--depending on the nature of your claim--a physician’s note or police report, is an absolute must. If something is stolen or you are attacked in some way, absolutely file a report--get it in writing and get a copy to give to your insurer.

If your claim is denied, don’t panic and don’t take that initial no for a final answer. Ask why, specifically, it was denied and find out the process for resubmitting the claim. Make sure to get the reason in writing. It might just mean that more documentation or evidence is necessary to validate your version of events, not that the event in question isn’t covered.

If after doing everything right and having your claim denied again, you feel that you’re entitled to restitution, you can always hire a lawyer to advocate on your behalf. There are, in fact, lawyers who specialize in advocating for clients who’ve had insurance claims denied. Yes, it’s annoying and time consuming, but it can mean the difference between getting the pay out you deserve, and walking away with nothing.

• Do You Need Travel Insurance?

Officially our answer is “absolutely you do.” If you choose not to insure your trip and something happens, don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Unofficially, it’s really up to you, except that entrance to certain countries requires travel insurance. Also, when traveling with certain groups or organizations, the administrators of the trip might require travel insurance in order to participate. Study abroad programs, for instance, often require a policy.

Travel is no different. Most of us wouldn’t insure a $130 flight from Philadelphia to Boston, for instance, because we’d consider $130 an acceptable loss in the event that something went wrong and we couldn’t go on the trip. We wouldn’t be happy about it, certainly, but it also wouldn’t be the end of the world.

If, however, you have a severe medical condition, it may make sense to insure yourself for even short weekend trips like this. People with certain medical conditions both live with a higher level of risk in their daily lives and have a lower threshold for what is an acceptable risk.

Even if you aren’t at greater risk for accident, injury, etc., you could decide you wanted to insure this hypothetical $130 trip. It’s entirely up to you how much risk you’re comfortable with.

An expensive, once-in-a-lifetime trip should definitely be insured. We looked into ticket prices for that hypothetical trip to Vanuatu and they were about $1,500 per person from Los Angeles. If you live on the east coast you’ll need to tack on another $400-800 to make the LA flight. Not many people can swallow such a loss and not feel it.

Even worse is that most American of trips: the family vacation to Disney World. With airfare, lodging, park passes and food, a family of four can expect to pay around $5,000 for a week long trip. That’s about 8% of the average annual household income in America--$62,000. That’s a lot of money to flush down the drain because you weren’t insured.

Again, we can’t tell you how much risk you should deem acceptable. If you’re comfortable rolling the dice and paying $1,000 to fly from New York to Warsaw without travel insurance, we won’t stand in your way. And if you feel like insuring that weekend trip to Boston against every possible eventuality, that’s your prerogative.

• Alternatives to Travel Insurance

It’s worth noting that there are some alternatives to travel insurance, though as ever, you’ll need to read the fine print.

What the Airline Can Do for You

Airlines will often reimburse you in part or in full if your flight is canceled or delayed if the problem is the airline’s fault. More commonly, they will book you a seat on the next outbound flight going to the same destination. If your flight was the last of the day, the airline will often provide you with lodging for the night, as well as a meal allowance. However, these policies vary depending on the airline --it’s a good idea to read up on your airline’s policies before your date of departure to see what they will and will not do for you in the event of a screwup.

Even if an airline offers little upfront assistance in the event of a cancellation or delay, you’d be surprised what you can get by simply asking for it. Airlines are, after all, in the service industry. And though they don’t have the best reputation for customer service, they are surprisingly responsive to direct complaints.

Meanwhile, if you’re bumped off of an overbooked flight, you might have just hit the jackpot. According to the US Department of Transportation, delays can earn you a nice chunk of change . If your travel plans allow for some wiggle room, it could be well worth your while, headaches aside.

Whatever happens, though, nothing says you have to accept the airline’s first offer. You can and should negotiate better reimbursement for yourself.

What Your Health Insurance Can Do for You

Your existing health insurance may provide coverage in the event of an emergency... or it may not. It’s worth a call to your insurance provider before you travel to see what kind of coverage you can expect, if any. Typically what happens, if you’re covered, is you’ll pay out of pocket at the hospital or clinic and then your insurance provider will reimburse you upon your return home. What it almost certainly won’t do is provide coverage for medical evacuation. Very few plans offer that kind of coverage.

Ellie von Wellsheim, who travels to developing countries with generally poor medical care, insists that all of her volunteers purchase travel insurance when traveling to areas The Moon Catcher Project services. “I do say that I would like them not to just have travel insurance, but to have health insurance,” she told us, noting that your domestic insurance doesn’t always work overseas. “Look into your insurance and find out if you’re covered for medical expenses, but understand that if something catastrophic happens, you need to get out of the country, and can you afford $10-$15,000 to do that?”

Further, she noted that Medicare does not work outside of the country. If you’re insured through Medicare and are traveling overseas, it would not be a good idea to forgo medical travel insurance.

What Your Credit Card Can Do for You

Certain credit cards cover some of the same territory as travel insurance. Typically these are not the fee-free cards most people have to pay for unexpected car repairs or to replace the washing machine when it dies. These are premium cards with high fees that require above average credit. But the benefits are certainly well worth the fees.

With medical, including evacuation, lost or delayed luggage, auto, trip cancellation coverage and more, some of these cards completely take the place of travel insurance. Though they are more expensive than travel insurance policies on a single trip basis, if you’re taking more than one international trip a year, they could easily end up saving you money.

• FAQs about Travel Insurance

Can I cancel the policy and get a refund if I change my mind?

Can coverage be denied due to a pre-existing medical condition, what does travel insurance cover, will my regular health insurance cover me overseas, how much does travel insurance cost, the website i buy plane tickets from lets me buy insurance when i check out. should i, does travel insurance apply to business trips, i see some insurers offer annual policies. are they better than buying insurance trip by trip.

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View Covid-19 Document

Single Trip Policy Benefits

Annual multi trip policy benefits, why choose fit4travel insurance.

See the table below for more information about what is covered in Bronze, Silver and Gold for Fit4Travel (excesses apply – limits subject to change – always check policy wording)

Cover Benefits

Up to £10,000,000 medical cover

Specialist cruise cover

How do I make a complaint?

If you wish to make a complaint then please contact our head office

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Justtravelcover.com is a trading style of Just Insurance Agents Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) number 610022 for General Insurance Distribution activities. Registered in England. Company No 05399196, Victoria House, Toward Road, Sunderland SR1 2QF. Our services are covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service. If you cannot settle a complaint with us, eligible complainants may be entitled to refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service for an independent assessment. The FOS Consumer Helpline is on 0800 023 4567 and their address is: Financial Ombudsman Service, Exchange Tower, London E14 9SR. Website: www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/

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Fit2travel   Reviews

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Reviews 2.7.

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Had to cancel hols due to coronavirus…

Had to cancel hols due to coronavirus restrictions and Fit2travel charged me 50% ,furthermore to add insult to injury they charged me £15 admin fee.They maybe legally right but with all that is happening I thought they might have a heart but alas NO would not reccomend them to ANYBODY at all. Heartless !!

Date of experience : 19 March 2020

Reply from Fit2travel

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We are very sorry to hear you were unhappy with the experience you have received on this occasion. The Fit2 Travel Team

Don't waste your money on these guys

Sure they're cheap but their policies are not worth the paper they are written on. There are so many exclusions that I cannot see any circumstances where they actually DO payout. Anyone (like me) who took out a policy long BEFORE the Covid-19 pandemic hit is going to be bitterly disappointed when they try to claim anything back. My recommendation is that you carefully read through the exclusions and smallprint of any travel insurance you take out in the future. Fit2travel have been very careful to exclude practically everything. Will never use again.

Date of experience : 05 April 2020

Avoid Fit2travel ( tifgroup) at all costs

Avoid Fit2travel at all costs. Avoid any company that is a branded face for tifgroup (which Fit2travel are). They are the worst type of travel insurer who put all their efforts into not paying out. I took out backpacking insurance for my daughter who needed to return to UK early due to COVID. They are refusing to cover any part of this curtailment cost despite my daughter having no option but to follow FCO guidance, otherwise the insurance policy would have been void. JUST AVOID THEM !! ( If in doubt, google tifgroup and FCO and see what heartbreaking situations they have contributed to)

Date of experience : 22 July 2020

Good morning,  Thank you for the feedback you have provided, which is valued and appreciated. We are very sorry to hear that you have had a negative experience on this occasion. The Fit 2 Travel Team

NOT THERE WHEN NEEDED

Tried calling them 30 or more times urgently whilst in Dubai to register a claim as holiday cut short and awful situation. I could not get through, tried them again when finally arrived back and still cannot get through to their offices.... I wish I had read these reviews prior to buying a policy... they are bad news!

Date of experience : 03 April 2020

worst travel insurance policy

I booked a platinum insurance family package as me and my husband was worried about the corona virus. we booked thinking it was good value for money and thought we was covered for cancelations relating to corona virus. This wasnt true they dont cover your holiday even if FCO advise you not to travel. so we had to cancel the policy and was only refunded half the money back. PLEASE DONT BOTHER WASTE OF MONEY....

Date of experience : 13 March 2020

Fit2travel don't recommend to anyone

Fit2travel don't recommend to anyone. All they care is to get your money. I needed to cancel my holiday because of death in the family, my sister suddenly died, sent them dead certificate and they still don't want to do refund. They don't care if someone died or not all they care is money to get from you. Disgusting insurance company. Even in case of death they don't do refunds what to expect for some other reasons? Rubbish, Disgusting people.

Date of experience : 22 September 2020

Thank you Mr Stoymilov for taking the time to provide us with feedback regarding your recent experience. To enable us to look into this matter further for you, please could you provide us with your policy number. Our email address is: [email protected] The Fit2 Travel Team

I fully endorse all the reviews for…

I fully endorse all the reviews for this Company. Please don't use them. We are supposed to be flying to USA today and rang them for advice on whether they would pay out if we cancelled. They were very unhelpful and just told us that under no circumstances would they be paying out because of the Covid-19. My husband is diabetic and we wanted to cancel the flight or delay it but couldn't. We have just wasted all our money on buying the Platinum package.

Date of experience : 15 March 2020

Total con! I lost my diamond earring while on holiday, I put a claim through, with all the supporting documentation, 4 months later they came back and said that they will pay £400 of the £525 I was claiming. I phoned to ask why as my paperwork from them says that I am covered up to £3000 for personal possessions, I was then told that the limit for jewellery is £400. Apparently this is stated in the terms and conditions which I never received. Surely jewellery is the most expensive item people will take with them on holiday???

Date of experience : 14 January 2020

Good Afternoon, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We are sorry to hear that you are unhappy with the product you have purchased and your experience when dealing with the claims team. In order for us to log your complaint and investigate this matter further please can you provide some additional information? If possible can you confirm your policy reference number, or the first line of your address and postcode? This information can be emailed to [email protected]. Many thanks, The Fit 2 Travel team.

Another sap thinking their top level…

Another sap thinking their top level insurance would cover cancellations of flights. Policy isn't worth the paper it's written on!! Avoid these rip off merchants at all costs!!!

Date of experience : 17 March 2020

Awful customer service

We used this insurance on a trip to the USA and it has been terrible. Our connecting flight was cancelled and we were left stranded with the airline taking no responsibility due to the cancellation being caused by bad weather. We checked the cancellation policy on our insurance before booking an airport hotel for the night and everything looked straight forward. However, after submitting the receipt for the hotel and having gone back and forth explaining the situation repeatedly for months it turns out connecting flights are not covered. At all. So if you have any issues with a connection you are on your own entirely. You are not covered for anything. Awful customer service has also made this situation doubly frustrating. We will never be using this company again!

Date of experience : 23 August 2019

I say AVOID - firm currently dealing with my complaint

Do not use this travel insurance company, they are absolutely terrible. I have a valid claim and they are being difficult and refusing to pay out!!! its only when you make a claim you realise what an insurance company is like and I have certainly realised what this one is like...AVOID. Firm are currently dealing with my complaint so will see what the outcome is. Antony

Date of experience : 25 September 2019

Shocking company!

Shocking company!! DO NOT USE!! I wish I read the reviews 1st. Refuse to pay out over cancellation even though it clearly states that I'm covered upto the value of £2500 for cancellations. I've made a complaint to the financial ombudsman

Date of experience : 01 March 2021

Thank you for taking the time to leave us your feedback Mr McMullan, We are very sorry to hear that you are unhappy with your policies cover. Our policies do provide cover for the cancellation of your trip, as a result of the reasons listed within your policy wording, in the event you are unable to travel. It is of course very important to us that our customers understand the cover they are purchasing, and in what scenarios a claim can be submitted. The policy wording is made available to you prior to purchase as well as being sent to you once your sale is complete. As always we offer a 14-day cooling off period to allow for time to review the documents to ensure you are happy with this cover. We are very sorry to hear that on this occasion you found the terms of your policy unclear, and that the policy's cover did not meet your expectations. As with all insurers we do not provide cover for every eventuality, and for this reason we clearly define each section of cover and confirm all of the scenarios in which you can make a claim. Our call centre team are available every weekday via chat, phone and email should you have any questions about your cover, and we are always happy to discuss the particulars of your policy. Should you wish you may raise this issue directly with the claims team, who you can email at: [email protected] Thank you again for taking the time to provide us with your feedback. The Fit 2 Travel team

I will never use this company again

Bought holiday insurance with this company, holiday cancelled by travel agent due to covid19, ( so cancellation not down to us ); but Fit2Travel will only refund 50%of our money and it will cost us £15 to get that back ! And they are not willing to transfer it to a holiday next year. I will NOT use this company again.

Date of experience : 12 June 2020

Thank you for taking the time to leave us your feedback. To allow us to look into this further please could you provide your policy reference number? Please also feel free to email [email protected]. Many thanks, The Fit 2 Travel Team

Do not use this company. I paid £52 for travel insurance to cover a 4 day break, starting the 30th of March. When I asked if I could change the date on the policy to October they said no, which I understood. I then asked for a refund, and was offered £11 back as I’m “cancelling the policy“. After getting patronised by two members of staff I was finally offered £36 back as they advised they would be taking a £15 admin charge. I have asked for a breakdown of what this £15 includes, as no admin has taken place, two weeks later and I’m still waiting for a reply. How disappointing that a company is trying to profit off people during a pandemic.

Date of experience : 28 March 2020

Read the policy wording carefully!

I don’t normally write reviews but feel I should do so on this occasion to forewarn others to read insurance policy documents very carefully. We are due to go to Italy in September (booked in January this year). We’ve used Fit2Travel a number of times because of pre-existing medical conditions but recent events have caused me to look at the policy wording more carefully. Coronavirus aside, it’s just as well we’ve never had to make a claim as there are so many exclusions I doubt the previous policies would have paid out. I was quite shocked to see that we’re not even covered if the FCO advice is not to travel to a certain country. I shall certainly pay more attention in future and definitely won’t be using Fit2Travel, nor will I ever recommend them to anyone else.

Date of experience : 26 July 2020

Thank you for taking the time to provide to us with feedback regarding your recent experience. We are sorry to hear that you were unhappy that the policy would not provide cover if travelling against FCO advice. However non essential travel is not normally covered under travel insurance when the FCO advice is not to travel. The Fit2 Travel Team

AVOID ! fit2travel.co.uk

My suggestion on this insurance company is AVOID Fit2travel.co.uk!!!! We bought this cover for 45 days for my family fully comprehensive. On holiday my son had an accident (hips dislocated) I called to UK customer services more than 20 times to call me on foreign Hotel number but they never tried to call back… after all I couldn’t wait and called again why there is no responds on my calls … (the customer service officer calmly saying we tried to call to your hotel but there was no-answer (your number doesn’t exist …!?) Hotel receptionist was trying to connect me but they didn’t respond! After all three hours of waiting help from insurance company we had to go to Hospital. This insurance company absolutely scum! On arrival to UK we haven’t even apply to reimbursement hospital charges because we would told off anyway! Absolutely shocking

Date of experience : 21 September 2019

Fit2 travel insurance crooks

If I was able to give minus 10 then that would be my score, fit2 travel under writers BOOKSURE ,Are crooks why take out insurance that is not worth the paper it is written on. please don’t take out insurance with either of the above, as I have found out and am now out of pocket.

Date of experience : 08 April 2020

Just don't bother wasting your money

Just don't bother wasting your money, the premium insurance really isn't. I personally feel ripped off and would recommend reading the small print very carefully before you purchase, as you will find that your not really covered for anything.

Date of experience : 10 August 2020

Good Morning, Thank you for taking the time to provide us with this valuable feedback. In order for us to look into this further please could you provide us with your policy number, and further details regarding your concerns to [email protected] The Fit 2 Travel team

DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY !!

DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY !!! YOU WILL NOT BE COVERED !!! The only way that you can receive payment for cancelled holidays (Even by the FCO or WHO) is if a close relative dies. And even then it has to be something as "common" as instantaneous death because god forbid they have an underlying health condition that has caused the death they still will not pay out !!! Once again for those in the back who didn't hear the first time ... DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY !!! YOU WILL NOT BE COVERED !!!

Date of experience : 18 March 2020

A disgrace, will never use again

A disgrace, cancelled due to the lockdown, messaged & got no response m, phoned no answer. Then a reply email had can cancel on the portal so i did & they charged me £15 admin. Their reply below. ————— Good morning Jamie, Thank you for your response. We have looked into your query and can confirm that we did not put through your refund manually. Although we received your email on the 24th of March, which is inside the cooling off period, we can see that the cancellation was done online by yourself on the 28th of March, which is outside of it. For this reason, this is why we believe you have not received a full refund. The £15 administration fee has been deducted from your total amount.

Date of experience : 31 March 2020

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Reviews 2.7.

Most relevant

I will actually give you no stars but…

I will actually give you no stars but cannot do that. My son Henry, was on holiday in Cuba at the beginning of the month with the Fit 2 Travel Platinum Insurance. He fell ill in Cuba, was taken to hospital and diagnosed with pancreatitis. Trying to make a claim on his behalf has been nothing but a joke as the insurance company are doing everything possible to try and discredit him, finding all sorts of excuses why you don't have to pay out anything, largely based on completely wrong notes. Because drink is seen to be one of the main causes of pancreatitis, he was labelled an alcoholic by the hospital, and Fit 2 Travel are using this as the excuse for not making a payment for his illness. One thing he is NOT is an alcoholic. Currently my son is very unwell in the Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham an the consultants are not sure he will live. The pancreatitis has aslo damaged his brian in 3 places but the extent of this damage will not be known until he is fully awake. Currently, he is sedated for much of the time I have spent over £66,000 to repatriate him via air ambulance and will be getting a bill of around £25,000 for his hospital stay. I may also be faced with solicitors bills to try to get this put right. My next stop will be to discredit the company via the BBC programme Watchdog. Keith Ambrose.

Date of experience : February 10, 2019

Their policies are not worth the paper…

Their policies are not worth the paper they are written on. Honestly, spend a few more pounds and get insured by someone who actually will insure you.

Date of experience : March 28, 2020

Reply from Fit2travel

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We are very sorry to hear you were unhappy with the experience you have received on this occasion. The Fit2 Travel Team

awful company - avoid at all costs!

My partner has tried yet again to claim money back when his trip was cancelled. Why sell insurance if you are not prepared to pay out? They have awful reviews across the board - do not use!

Date of experience : January 20, 2021

We are sorry to hear you are unhappy with the outcome of your claim. If you wish to take this further please contact the claims team, [email protected] . The Fit2 Travel Team

do not use Fit2travel for holiday…

do not use Fit2travel for holiday insurance, where by some companys are being flexible around transfering booking due to covid 19 uncertanty, they are not, they do not care about good reviews and customer relations, I will be cancelling my policy but will be sure to spend my hard earned money with a more caring company and I hope the £58 they will take from me is worth the loss of future custom They offer 50% refund with a whopping £15 admin fee We are advised to take out holiday insurance as soon as you book your holiday beware the date you can amend is 12 months from when you take out cover not from when you travel

Date of experience : April 28, 2020

DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY

The buying of the insurance was easy and our insurance documents were sent to us quickly, we went for the platinum cover. Unfortunately we needed to make a claim our 9 month old baby was very unwell in Mexico, we had to see the emergency doctor at our hotel, we thought this might not be covered and were ok to pay what this cost (it wasn’t covered). The doctor said we needed to take our baby to hospital and to call the insurance company to see what one they recommended - the only hospital they would allow us to use was the state hospital in Cancun, the doctor said it was a hours drive and in a dangerous location. She also said it was the first time in all her years working there that an insurance company has said to use that hospital for a tourist. Make sure you read the small print, it says medical cover up to £10 million but only at a state hospital unless they give you authorisation and it they won’t authorise treatment for a 9 month old sick baby...I’m not sure what they would.

Date of experience : April 22, 2019

50%refund £15 admin charge

50%refund £15 admin charge, the same as the rest of the people who paid in good faith for holiday insurance,we are being ripped off, because of covid19, never use this company

Date of experience : July 07, 2020

Thank you for taking the time to leave us your feedback. To allow us to look into this further please could you provide your policy reference number? Please also feel free to email [email protected]. Many thanks, The Fit 2 Travel Team

Fit2travel what a joke

50% less £15 you are a joke fit2travel !!!! How can you sleep at night knowing you have ripped myself and others off ??? Give people there money back and save face here . No one wanted this but you are profiteering from peoples misery !!!

Date of experience : July 10, 2020

AVOID AVOID JUST WISH I WOULD HAVE READ THESE REVIEWS FIRST

They do not even deserve 1 star but had to put something to do the review.I wish I would have read these reviews before using this company! I took out the platinum policy for my holiday as didn't want to skimp if needed to claim not thinking that I would need to anyway.. but on our return journey home from the Greek islands due to high winds all ferrys were cancelled by the port authorities so we were unable to get off the island of ios to catch our connecting flight in santorini this led us to have to stay on the island till the boats were running again which wasn't till 2 days later so we were forced to pay out for 2 days accomadation and purchase new flights which fit2travel said we would be able to claim for ..however on our return our claim was declined saying that because ferrys are not classed as public transport we couldn't claim for anything and also told we were only insured for for our outbound journey and not back to the UK!! This is disgusting as who in there right mind would only want to be covered one way !! I will be taking this to a solicitor and am disgusted with the company so please please AVOID THIS COMPANY and save your money and go elsewhere..

Date of experience : October 10, 2019

Absolute s**t

Absolute s**t. Massive “admin fee” for cancelling a policy and small print in policy means they will not pay out even if FCO advises against travel! Con artists

Date of experience : April 14, 2020

Worst insurance Company

I searched for travel insurance on a comparison site and this Company was the cheapest for all my requirements so I took the plunge. I was extremely unlucky and discovered my wallet was either lost or stolen whilst at the airport and had to make a claim. I reported this immediately to the airport and Police then informed the insurance who told me to make a claim on my return. This is were it started to go wrong since then the following as happened. 1. I sent all the information in via email but was told to send it again as it was on the wrong form. 2. Sent all the information in again they told me they didn't receive part of it. 3. Wrote my email address down wrong despite confirming it was correct over the phone so I never received any communication. 4. Told me to get a report from the Police despite me giving them the reference number and informing them that the Police have said they have to get the report. 5. You can't talk to them directly and it's a one week turnaround after any request. You have to go through an agent so can never talk to the person who deals with your claim directly. It's now seven weeks since this happened and after numerous communication I am still waiting on a decision despite the Company advertising a 10-15 wait for a decision.

Date of experience : April 20, 2019

Do not use this company you won't be…

Do not use this company you won't be able to get anywhere with them, pay a little bit more and get a company you can trust!!!

Date of experience : March 29, 2020

Unfit2Travel-Insure - Don't Bother Booking Insurance With Fit2travel

As others have mentioned, offered a 50% refund minus £15 admin fee due to Covid-19 with customer service blaming the underlying insurance company for this. All I wanted was to move my insurance by 12 months due to moving the holiday. However I was told the policy could only be moved by 12 months from the date of purchase. Being pro-acvtive this was booked back in October (7 months before travel). Which means I would need to travel by the end of September (not happening). Have travelled with in the past and luckily never had to make a claim, otherwise probably wouldn't be a great experience. Lesson learnt, I (nor any of my friends/family who have booked with them off of the back of my recommendation) will not be booking any policies with them again. I will also bad mouth Fit2travel to anyone who wants to listen now - starting with Quidco who I will be logging a complaint with for recommending them in the first place through Quidco Compare. I pointed out the irony that every other element of the holiday has allowed us to cancel for a full refund or defer for 12 months (to coincide with new holiday), except for the travel insurance. UPDATE: No partial refund received so far, despite chasing & almost 3 months on. IN RESPONSE TO FIT2TRAVEL: I have emailed twice in the past week. Waiting to hear back on latest email. IN RESPONSE TO FIT2TRAVEL: You must have an inbox very busy with complaints from people that haven't received a refund for almost 3 months to not be able to locate mine. My point is, as a company you are happy to ignore the private emails, but very responsive with public reviews / comments.

Thank you for the update, we are very sorry to hear you have not received your refund please can you email your policy number to: [email protected] so we can fully investigate your complaint. The Fit2 Travel Team Thanks for coming back to us but we do need either a name , postcode or policy number to locate your information. The Fit2 Travel Team Thank you for your response we can confirm all our emails have been responded to. So to enable us to help you further and to look into your complaint, we would need you to contact us again our email address is [email protected] Alternatively we can arrange a call back if your email us with your contact details. The Fit2 Travel Team

Please find another insurance company

Please find another insurance company, just did not want to help me, lost all my money. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED

Date of experience : June 07, 2021

Thank you for taking the time to provide us with feedback regarding your recent experience. To enable us to look into this matter further for you, please could you provide us with your policy number. Our email address is: [email protected] The Fit2 Travel Team

Beware administration charges not shown…

Beware administration charges not shown in initial quote. Only saw them AFTER I paid.

Date of experience : April 30, 2019

Do not use this travel insurance…

Do not use this travel insurance company. Their platinum travel insurance policy doesn't even cover cancelled flights!

Date of experience : September 10, 2018

Avoid this insurance company...

This company's insurance policies are largely worthless. Their detailed terms and conditions exclude many unfortunate incidents that a traveller is likely to experience, including most forms of cancellation. To refuse all insurance payouts due to Covid-19 is terrible and just highlights what a dodgy operation this company is running.

Date of experience : May 19, 2020

PLATINUM COVER - BASICALLY NO MEDICAL COVER! DO NOT USE!!!

I spent around £80 to insure me and my girlfriend for a trip to Mexico, I was conscious not to by the cheapest insurance I could find and so went for the platinum cover which had a great defaqto rating and good amounts of cover. A few days into the holiday, my girlfriend had a blocked ear (we think from spending so much time in the water), it wasn't unblocking itself after a couple of days and we were worried about it becoming infected. This is when I pulled out the insurance documents and read a few finer details. Turns out that you're not covered for seeing a private doctor without ringing and getting permission from the insurance company. I rang them and it was quite obvious for the start there was no way they would authourise us to go to a private doctor. But what is a private doctor in Mexico? It's not the same as the UK. Every doctor within 2 hours was a 'private' doctor, including the one on our holiday complex - which if I remember correct was around £120 for a consultation. I spoke to our rep and she said that the only non private doctor she had known was for the very poorest people, she told me how one of her fellow reps had been there and that it was basically a room where people are sat all over the place and are quite literally dying. So there we are, in Mexico, with basically no medical cover, and no means of getting any other insurance as we were already on holiday. If one of us had of broken our leg, we would have had a huge bill on our hands and we spent the latter part of our holiday being a little more cautious with that in mind. Anyway, ear unblocked and we got away scot free. But NEVER again would I used Fit2travel, and I will always read the fine print.

Date of experience : May 06, 2020

Thank you Mr Stones for taking the time to leave feedback about your recent experience. We are investigating your complaint and will respond to you by email as soon as we have an update. The Fit2Travel Team

I've just checked my details and they…

I've just checked my details and they have covered me previously for this September but I changed it to next September as of not sure about COV19 they never carried it over and I have a policy for Christmas this year I've tried phoning today was getting told to leave a number and someone will be back to me I've now getting phone going dead I wished I read the reviews plus I have heard that they are going under please don't give them any money they are trying to cash in quickly before it happens guess what they contacted me about the policy my April 1 is fine I stupidly cancelled my September as it was going to go a head next September in between this am going away for my birthday in April I hold my hands ✋ due to the mixup with September I asked about getting discount as potentially I would have had 3 holidays insurance with them but nope she had tried her code for discount I knew when I said I will think about it all off a sudden my boss has just emailed me a code I was getting virtually nothing discounted plus they will charge me £2 for doing it. I am waiting on a couple of prices as I am going elsewhere for them and I will be staying away from them.

Date of experience : August 09, 2021

Thank you for taking the time to talk to us today. We are pleased to have been able to assist you, and provide some clarity, on this occasion. We hope we were able to put your mind at ease in confirming that we are not going under and your policy will remain valid and we are here to assist when required. The Fit2 Travel Team

Like many other people

Like many other people we were meant to be going on holiday last August but due to Covid we had to postpone it to this year we were told that we could only get a 50% refund and we would also have to pay £15 admin but could transfer it to this year at no extra cost so we opted for this unfortunately in July my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer i duly informed fit 2 travel and was told that I only needed to inform them once all treatment was finished all now done (good news cancer all gone) rang them today to tell them only to be told that there is now an extra £74.54 to be paid as it now an existing condition. Basically told if we didn’t want to pay it we could cancel the policy but we would only get 50% back less £15 admin fee. Needless to say not very happy with the company and wish I had seen all the bad reviews before purchasing the policy. Update fit 2travel rung my wife today and told her that they were sorry for the extra charge and agreed that now she is Cancer free that they had made a mistake and have said they will refund the extra payment can only congratulate them on their quick response and actions

Date of experience : March 15, 2021

Thank you for taking the time to leave us this review. We are very sorry to hear that you are unhappy on this occasion, and appreciate you bringing this to our attention. We do of course appreciate that any additional premium is never welcome, however when changes to the original cover are made, this can result in an increase in premium, as additional cover is being provided. Thank you for taking the time to talk to us today about your policy. We are pleased to have been able to resolve your issue, however should you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

Holiday cancelled

Holiday cancelled, nothing covered with Platinum cover, insurance is useless, do not use, waste of space, time and air!