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4 Best Long-Term Travel Insurance in 2024 (w/ Prices)

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Planning on taking an extended trip soon? Long-term travel insurance is the perfect choice for travelers who are embarking on a long-term trip and need medical- and travel-related coverage.

Of course, insurance for long-term travel isn’t necessary for every traveler, particularly if you don’t take trips that are longer than three months. However, long-stay travel insurance is useful for anyone who is studying abroad, working abroad temporarily, taking a gap year, or simply traveling for a long period of time.

When I first moved to the US, I wasn’t sure if I would stay permanently, so I purchased a long-term travel insurance policy from Heymondo , knowing that it would save me money and give me coverage if I experienced any medical emergencies. It was exactly what I needed at the time.

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As soon as I decided to live in the US permanently, I switched to insurance with more medical coverage beyond emergency situations since extended-trip travel insurance is not suitable for expats who want routine medical care.

If extended-stay travel insurance is what you need, keep reading, because we have compared the best long-term travel insurance plans (Heymondo, World Nomads, Travelex, and SafetyWing) and can help you choose which of these is best for your trip.

What is long-term travel insurance?

Long-stay travel insurance coverage comparison

• Long-stay travel insurance price comparison
• Best long-term travel insurance companies

Long-term travel insurance is insurance for anyone taking a long-term trip who needs medical expenses and trip-related coverage. Any trip that lasts a minimum of 90 days and a maximum of one or two years (depending on the long stay travel insurance company) is considered a long-term trip.

Like other travel insurance, insurance for long-term travel provides medical- and travel-related coverage for incidents like emergency medical care, trip delays, baggage loss, and repatriation. It is not suitable, however, for anyone who is permanently living abroad, especially because it only covers emergency medical expenses and not routine medical care.

Long-term travel insurance vs. annual, multi-trip travel insurance

So, is long-trip travel insurance the same thing as annual, multi-trip travel insurance ? They might sound similar, but actually, insurance for long-term travel and annual travel insurance is completely different.

Long-term travel insurance is insurance for long trips that last three months or more, while annual travel insurance covers multiple shorter trips that happen within one year. With annual travel insurance, trips are restricted to 30-90 days, so it’s not a useful option if your trip will last any longer than that. Annual travel insurance is also only helpful if you’ll be taking at least four or more trips a year.

If you are going on a single, long-term trip or are taking multiple trips within a year that will last longer than 90 days, long-stay travel insurance is the best choice for you.

Who is insurance for long-term travel for?

There are several reasons you might need insurance for long-term travel . You might be taking an extended trip, working abroad, embarking on a gap year, or more. Below are the most common and useful reasons for buying travel insurance for long-term travel :

Extended stay travel insurance for long trips

If you’re about to take a long trip that will last at least three months, you will definitely want to have travel insurance coverage, particularly for emergency medical expenses.

Long-term travel insurance will work out to be the most affordable option for your trip, especially if you don’t plan on returning to your home country before 90 days have elapsed. If you plan on going back home before 90 days have passed, then annual, multi-trip travel insurance might be more helpful for you.

Long stay travel insurance for working abroad

Are you about to be working from another country for an extended but temporary period? Having travel insurance for working overseas is a must, as it’s very possible that you’ll need emergency medical care at some point during your time abroad.

Remember to put your country of residence as your home country, not the country you will be working in temporarily. Otherwise, you will not be covered since long-term travel insurance usually does not provide coverage in your designated country of residence.

Travel insurance for expats

Although it may seem like a great idea to use long-term travel insurance as travel insurance when moving abroad , long-stay travel insurance is not intended for expats. Long-stay travel insurance only covers emergency medical expenses, so it’s not suitable for someone who lives abroad permanently and will need routine medical care and check-ups.

On top of that, whatever country you move to will now be your country of residence. Insurance for long-term travel does not generally provide coverage in your designated country of residence, so you may not be eligible for coverage anyway.

Long-stay travel insurance for students

It’s incredibly exciting to study abroad, but accidents and mishaps can and do happen, so avoid paying for emergency medical expenses and replacing stolen valuables with your own money by getting extended-stay travel insurance .

Having long-term travel insurance coverage will be especially useful if you plan on taking weekend trips to other countries that are close to the country where you are studying abroad; you can still receive the same coverage for those smaller trips (just make sure to select worldwide coverage or, if you’ll just be traveling in Europe, Europe/EU coverage).

Round-the-world trip insurance

Taking a long-term trip around the world is many people’s dream. If you are lucky enough to get to live out that dream, it’s easy to make sure your extended-stay travel insurance worldwide will cover you everywhere you want to visit.

Just make sure you select “worldwide” or “around the world” coverage when you purchase your extended-trip travel insurance . That way, you won’t have to buy individual long-term travel insurance policies for each country you visit. Best of all, you’ll be covered for any spontaneous stops you make while traveling the world.

One-way travel insurance, the best gap year travel insurance

If you’re planning on spending a full year traveling the world, travel insurance for long trips abroad is exactly what you need. You’ll benefit from worldwide emergency medical coverage, so you can receive treatment if you get injured or fall ill, as well as travel-related coverage for baggage loss and trip delays.

I recommend purchasing a one-way travel insurance plan from Heymondo or SafetyWing since both companies allow you to renew your plan from month to month. That way, if you end up coming home unexpectedly early, you won’t lose out on any money.

Insurance for digital nomads

ith so many jobs transitioning to working from home right now, it’s easier than ever to work remotely from anywhere in the world. If you have the opportunity to travel the world while working, take it, but make sure you purchase digital nomad travel insurance before you leave.

You’ll want your insurance coverage to include electronics (laptop, tablet, etc.) so that you can easily replace these crucial pieces of technology for working remotely if they get lost or stolen. Additionally, if you’ll be trying to check a lot of places off your travel bucket list, choose worldwide coverage so that you’ll have the freedom and insurance coverage to go wherever you want.

There can be many considerations to keep in mind when purchasing long-term travel insurance , but coverage is certainly the most important aspect to consider when selecting the long-stay travel insurance you want to buy.

Below, you’ll find a long-stay travel insurance comparison that shows you the differences in coverage among the Heymondo, World Nomads, Travelex, and SafetyWing plans.

Long-term travel insurance price comparison

If you want a better idea of how much long-term travel insurance costs based on the length of your trip and/or the specific coverage you choose, below is a chart comparing the prices of 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, 8-month, and 1-year long-term travel insurance as well as the prices of long-stay travel insurance, annual multi-trip travel insurance, and cancellation insurance.

The price of long-term travel insurance will be impacted by several different factors, including your age, nationality, and state of residence (if you live in the US).

To give you an idea of how much insurance for long-term travel costs, I’ve used the example of a 30-year-old American citizen who lives in Pennsylvania and needs worldwide coverage to generate quotes for this long-stay travel insurance price comparison .

Best long-term travel insurance

As you can see from the charts above, each of the four long-term travel insurance plans I compared has its merits.

Heymondo offers the highest emergency medical expense coverage, plus it’s the only insurance for long-term travel that pays your medical expenses upfront, so you don’t need to file a claim after your trip to get reimbursed. I will say, however, that it’s not the cheapest long-haul travel insurance and it does have a deductible of $100 for emergency medical expenses. Still, I do think it is the best long-term travel medical insurance if you want ease and convenience.

SafetyWing ’s Nomad Insurance also provides very good coverage, but their deductible for emergency medical expenses is $250. In spite of this slight drawback, SafetyWing stands out as the best insurance for digital nomads since you can sign up for a plan and it will automatically be renewed every four weeks.

Travelex , on the other hand, has the cheapest travel insurance for long-term travel (for trips of six months or more). For shorter trips, there are other, cheaper options. Travelex’s plan has no deductible, but its emergency medical coverage is also very limited, so I would think twice before going on a long-term trip with such a small amount of coverage.

Last but not least, World Nomads offers the best gap year travel insurance. The emergency medical expense coverage is perhaps a little low, but it is at least higher than Travelex’s medical coverage. There is no deductible for medical expenses, but you will need to pay out of pocket and then file a claim to get reimbursed if you receive emergency medical treatment.

As you can see, the best long-stay travel insurance for you will depend on your needs and type of trip, so keep reading to learn more about each plan.

1. Heymondo , the best long-term travel medical insurance

Personally, I consider Heymondo the best long-term travel medical insurance since its Top plan provides the highest amount of emergency medical expenses and evacuation and repatriation coverage. It’s also one of the only types of travel insurance with COVID coverage that covers COVID testing required by a doctor. Moreover, you can easily extend your plan by anything from two weeks to eight months whenever you want to.

Best of all, you won’t have to worry about waiting to get reimbursed for medical expenses since Heymondo pays your medical expenses directly and upfront for you, removing the hassle of the claim-filing process. Heymondo also makes it easy to tailor your insurance for long-term travel to fit your needs since you can add optional electronic and/or adventure sports coverage to your plan.

Heymondo’s Top plan does have its limitations, though. There is a $100 deductible for medical expenses, which means you’ll have to pay $100 towards any medical bills before Heymondo pays the rest for you. This long-stay travel insurance also lacks trip cancellation coverage; you will need to buy that coverage independently here.

If you want cheap long-term travel insurance , Heymondo is ideal; its plans already provide very good value for the money, plus you can save an extra 5% on their insurance with the discount link below.

Heymondo is also the best travel insurance company for single trips. We currently have their travel insurance and have used their assistance app more than once. Heymondo has always been there to help us when things go wrong during our trips.

2. World Nomads , the best gap year travel insurance

If you’re taking a gap year, you’re probably interested in breaking out of your comfort zone and having a real adventure. In that case, World Nomads is the perfect travel insurance for living abroad for a year and trying new things.

Its Standard plan includes adventure sports and activities coverage, so you can try everything from trekking and ice fishing to hockey and horseback riding and still be covered for accidents and injuries. Moreover, you’ll benefit from solid overall coverage for emergency medical expenses, evacuation and repatriation, trip cancellation, trip delay, and baggage loss.

Even better, there’s a $0 deductible for medical expenses, so you won’t have to pay a cent out of pocket toward your medical bills. However, World Nomads’ long-term travel insurance is the most expensive out of all the ones I compared, so if you want to save a lot of money and get similar or better coverage, Heymondo may work better for you.

3. Travelex , the best travel insurance for long-term travel

Travelex ’s Travel Select long-trip travel insurance has a lower amount of emergency medical coverage than the other insurance plans I have compared, and I personally wouldn’t feel protected traveling with such a low amount of medical coverage on a long-stay trip. However, Travelex is a viable option if you’re traveling on a budget for more than six months because it’s really cheap (and has a $0 deductible for medical expenses)!

Travel-related coverage is another story since Travelex has the highest amount of trip cancellation and trip delay coverage of all the plans I compared. It’s the best plan to choose if you anticipate experiencing any travel mishaps. You’ll also enjoy great baggage loss and evacuation and repatriation coverage.

If you would rather benefit from more medical coverage for a similar price, Heymondo is the best choice for you.

4. SafetyWing , the best insurance for digital nomads

SafetyWing ’s Nomad Insurance lives up to its name by being the best insurance for digital nomads . Not only is Nomad Insurance a cheap long-stay travel insurance , but it also provides a high amount of medical-related and baggage loss coverage.

On top of that, you can choose to have your insurance renew itself automatically every 28 days. Automatic renewal will save you time and money; ensure you don’t forget to renew so you’re always covered; and provide you with more flexibility if you haven’t decided when to end your trip yet. Just select a start date (but not an end date) when you buy Nomad Insurance and keep renewing until you want to go home, at which time you can select an end date.

Nothing’s perfect, however, and unfortunately, SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance is no exception. There’s a $250 deductible for medical expenses, which means you’ll have to pay $250 out of pocket for medical treatment before SafetyWing will cover medical expenses for you.

SafetyWing also lacks trip cancellation coverage, which can be very useful if you have to cancel a trip due to weather, illness, injury, or many other reasons. If you want a lower deductible, go with Heymondo instead, and if trip cancellation coverage is important to you, choose World Nomads or Travelex .

What does long-term travel insurance cover?

The best travel insurance for long-term travel will usually include the following types of coverage:

• Emergency medical expenses : This is probably the most important type of coverage as well as the coverage you are most likely to need while traveling. Accidents, injuries, and illnesses can happen at any time, so having emergency medical expense coverage will ensure that you don’t have to pay out of pocket for hospitalization or medical transportation.
• Evacuation and repatriation : Hopefully, you’ll never have to use evacuation and repatriation coverage, but it is useful to have. Insurance for long-term travel with evacuation and repatriation coverage will pay for the transportation costs of taking you from a remote area to the nearest hospital or sending you back to your home country if you fall seriously ill or have an accident.
• Trip delay : Unfortunately, travel does not always go smoothly; your flight could be delayed due to inclement weather or an airline issue. If that does happen, long-stay travel insurance ’s trip delay coverage will cover expenses, such as meals and accommodation, that are incurred because of a several-hour delay.
• Baggage loss : Even when you take precautions to keep your belongings safe, there’s still a chance an airline could lose or damage your bags, or a pickpocket could take your purse. In any case, long-term travel insurance with baggage loss coverage will reimburse you for any valuables that are lost or damaged, so you won’t have to replace them with your own money.

Is long-term travel insurance worth it?

Ultimately, yes, long-term travel insurance is worth it for extended trips, working abroad temporarily, and taking a gap year. It’s also a great alternative for international student insurance . In all of these situations, insurance for long-term travel will ensure that you get the medical- and travel-related coverage you need without having to break the bank.

As you’ve seen in the long-term travel insurance comparison chart above, Heymondo is the best long-stay travel insurance in terms of medical coverage. It offers the highest amount of emergency medical expense and evacuation and repatriation coverage.

Heymondo’s extended-stay travel insurance also provides the convenient flexibility of being able to renew your policy for periods from two weeks to eight months, which is perfect if you haven’t yet decided when you’ll end your trip. To top it all off, you can even get 5% off their insurance just for being a Capture the Atlas reader.

If you’ll be traveling for more than six months and you’re looking for the cheapest long-stay travel insurance, then Travelex may be better for you. Just be aware of their plan’s lower amount of medical coverage.

If you have any questions about long-term travel insurance, feel free to comment below and I will happily help you out!

Ascen Aynat

22 replies on “ 4 Best Long-Term Travel Insurance in 2024 (w/ Prices) ”

Hi Ascen, we are US citizens and plan to spend about 6 months of the year in California and 6 months abroad. We have lived in California and in the past had insurance with our jobs which will now be no more. So the question is when we are are in California what is our insurance option so we can visit doctors, dentists etc. Thank you

Hi Sonu, you need standard health insurance for California and travel insurance for traveling out of the States. Travel insurance won’t cover routinary medical appointments.

Let me know if you have any questions, Ascen

Good day. Could I get overlapping coverages to address different issues? Does any of these cover rental car collision insurance during any portion of the stay? If not, what do you recommend for that?

Yes, you can hire different travel insurance to get different coverages. That is no problem.

Hi my husband was diagnosed with mestatic melonma in 2021, Weve been traveling back and forth to Moffitt overvs year now. Weve paid out over $7000 just in lodging. Do you have a plan for this??

I’m sorry about that but there is no insurance that can cover that. That is not an unforeseen issue that occurred during a trip that is mostly what travel insurance cover.

Hi There is an age limit on Heymondo 49+ not included. I am 60. Can you recommend any long stay travel insurance for this age group? Thanks Karan

Hi Karan, I recommend checking our article on senior travel insurance for the best options for you.

Hi! Do you know if you need basic medical coverage from your home country before purchasing any of these insurance plans presented above? My situation is a bit complex. I am a Canadian citizen currently living abroad (non-resident of Canada), therefore I have no basic Canadian health coverage. I am currently covered by the country I reside in (Qatar), however, once I leave, I will no longer have a residency permit and therefore no coverage here either. So when I leave, I won’t have coverage anywhere. I am planning on leaving to travel for a year, so I need long-term travel and medical coverage.

Hi Marisas, please take into account that these long-term travel insurance are travel insurance. That means that they don’t cover routine health checks or chronic diseases. They only cover you under unforeseen problems. For example, if you hire one of these long-term travel insurance and have a car accident during a trip and need surgery, the travel insurance will cover but it won’t cover cancer treatment, for example.

Hi can you recommend a travel insurance for a 7 month European trip for wife and self age 59 CA residents- many thanks

Please check the coverage for the insurance recommended in this article and choose the one that is best for you.

Hi Were planning to travel continuously for one year to Europe, Asia & med cruise. Is there a travel insurance that can cover this? Most insurances will require you to go back to your home country (US) after 60 to 90 days. Thanks

Hi Nate, I don’t believe you need to get back to the US with the Heymondo Long-Term Travel Insurance. Have you checked it out?

Hi Ascen We are a male 57years and female 58 years and we are travelling to south Africa to include Botswana Namibia Mozambique,Angola Zambia and Lesotho, we are shipping our car from Australia into south africa and will be travelling for two years we both hold Australian and UK passports Could you please recommend a medical insurance for this trip , we are not to bothered about trip cancellation baggage etc any help would be appreciated We have used world nomads previously but would consider others as well Thank you ag and rg

Hi Antony, that trip sounds amazing! If you’re doing a long-term trip like that one, I recommend Heymondo since they pay all medical expenses in advance. Just be aware of the 100$ deductible per claim.

Said that their price is very competitive and they have very high coverage.

Looking for long term insurance for cancel for any reason plus Covid coverage.

I recommend purchasing separately a long term travel insurance with Covid Coverage (I recommend this one ), and a cancel for any reason policy.

Interesting that this features Travelex and then notes: “Can get similar or better coverage for a more affordable price” From whom?

As you can see in the different comparison charts (coverage comparison chart and price comparison chart), Travelex is the one with the lower coverage, by far, and it’s only worth checking for 6-month insurance or more.

Let me know if you have any questions,

Hi! Do you know if you need basic medical coverage from your home country before purchasing any of these insurance plans presented above? My situation is a bit complex. I am a Canadian citizen currently living abroad (non-resident of Canada), therefore I have no basic Canadian health coverage. I am currently covered by the country I reside in (Qatar), however, once I leave, I will no longer have a residency permit and therefore no coverage here either. So when I leave, I won’t have coverage anywhere. I am planning on leaving to travel for a year, so I need long-term travel and medical coverage. Thanks!

Hi Melanie, no you don’t need it. You will need just long-term travel insurance and you will be covered wherever you go. Also in your home country as long that you’re traveling there and use the insurance just for emergencies (not regular checks, ongoing problems, chronic diseases, and things like that). In your situation, I think the long-term travel insurance of MONDO is your best bet.

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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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Travel Insurance

Best travel insurance companies of April 2024

Amy Fontinelle

Heidi Gollub

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

Updated 3:40 a.m. UTC April 1, 2024

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

WorldTrips is the best travel insurance company of 2024, based on our analysis of cost and coverage options. Use this rating to compare top travel insurance plans and find the best match for your next trip.

Best travel insurance companies of 2024

• WorldTrips: Best travel insurance .
• Travel Insured: Best for emergency evacuation .
• TravelSafe: Best for missed connections .
• Aegis: Best for traveling with a pet .
• Travelex: Best for traveling with kids .
• AIG: Best for add-on coverage options .
• Nationwide: Best for cruise itinerary changes .

Why trust our travel insurance experts

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

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

Travel insurance quotes comparison

Top-rated travel insurance companies , best travel insurance.

Top-scoring plans

Medical limit per person, medical evacuation limit per person, what you should know.

Two WorldTrips plans top our rating of the best travel insurance: Atlas Journey Preferred and Atlas Journey Premier.

The Preferred plan is more affordable and provides $100,000 per person in emergency medical benefits as secondary coverage, with an optional upgrade to primary coverage. Atlas Journey Preferred is also the best travel insurance for cruises .

For a little extra, you can buy the Premier plan, which gives you $150,000 in travel medical insurance with primary coverage. This is a good option if health insurance for international travel is a priority.

Pros and cons

• Atlas Journey Preferred is the cheapest of the 5-star travel insurance plans.
• Atlas Journey Premier has $150,000 in primary medical coverage.
• Both plans have top-notch $1 million per person in medical evacuation coverage.
• Each plan includes travel inconvenience coverage of $750 per person.
• 12 optional upgrades, including destination wedding and rental car damage and theft.
• No non-medical evacuation coverage.

Best for emergency evacuation

Travel insured.

Top-scoring plan

Travel Insured Worldwide Trip Protector travel insurance offers $1 million in emergency evacuation coverage per person and $150,000 in non-medical evacuation per person. It also has primary coverage for travel medical insurance benefits. If you’re looking for the best travel insurance for international travel, consider the Worldwide Trip Protector plan.

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

Best for missed connections

If you’re worried that missed connections could disrupt your trip, it’s worth considering TravelSafe. Some travel insurance companies only provide missed connection coverage for cruises and tours, but TravelSafe doesn’t impose that restriction.

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

Best for traveling with a pet

Go Ready Choice by Aegis has the most affordable travel insurance of the top-scoring companies in our rating. It offers basic coverage limits with optional add-ons, such as a Pet Bundle that includes pet medical, pet kennel and pet return benefits.

• Cheapest of the top-scoring travel insurance plans.
• Optional pet bundle adds pet medical expense and pet return benefits.
• Low emergency medical and evacuation limits.
• Low missed connection benefit of $500 per person for cruises and tours only.
• Low baggage and personal items loss benefit of $500 per person.

Best for traveling with kids

If you’re traveling with children age 17 or younger, you’ll appreciate not having to pay extra for their coverage when you buy a Travel Select plan from Travelex Insurance Services.

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

Best for add-on coverage options

Travel Guard Preferred from AIG allows you to customize your policy with a host of optional upgrades. These include “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage , rental vehicle damage coverage and bundles that offer additional benefits for adventure sports, travel inconvenience, quarantine, pets, security and weddings.

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

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

Best for cruise itinerary changes

Evacuation limit per person

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

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

Compare the best travel insurance companies of 2024

Methodology

Our travel insurance experts reviewed 1,855 coverage details and 567 rates to determine the best travel insurance of 2024. For companies with more than one travel insurance plan, we shared information about the highest-scoring plan.

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

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

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

What does travel insurance cover?

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

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

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

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

Trip cancellation insurance 

As soon as you buy a travel insurance plan that includes trip cancellation insurance , you’re covered if you need to call off your trip because of a reason listed in your policy. These reasons generally include unexpected illness, injury or death of you, a family member or a travel companion, severe weather, jury duty and your travel supplier going out of business. 

If you cancel your trip for a covered reason, you can expect to be reimbursed for 100% of your prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses. 

For even greater flexibility, some travel insurance plans offer a “ cancel for any reason ” (CFAR) upgrade. This optional coverage allows you to pull the plug on your trip for any reason at all, as long as you do so at least 48 hours before your scheduled departure. 

Adding CFAR coverage will increase the cost of your plan and it’s important to note that this coverage typically only reimburses 50% or 75% of your expenses, depending on the policy. 

Travel delay insurance

Once your trip is underway, inconvenient delays can be expensive. Travel delay insurance reimburses you for unexpected expenses you incur after a certain waiting period, such as five hours. If your travel is delayed longer than that time because of a reason in your policy, such as severe weather, your benefits can cover needs like airport meals, transportation and even overnight accommodation. 

This coverage usually has daily limits as well as a maximum limit. For example, a travel insurance plan may provide trip delay coverage of up to $150 per day with a $2,000 maximum.

Trip interruption insurance

If you need to end your trip early — again, for a reason listed in your policy — trip interruption insurance comes into play. 

Say a close family member back home is involved in an accident and you need to rush back to be by their side. Trip interruption benefits can reimburse you for any prepaid, nonrefundable payments you’ll lose by leaving early. It can also pay for a last-minute one-way ticket home. 

Travel medical insurance

Emergency medical benefits are especially important if you need international health insurance for travel outside of the country. Your domestic health insurance may provide limited coverage once you leave the U.S. 

The best senior travel insurance provides ample travel medical coverage because Medicare does not cover health care outside of the U.S., except in very limited circumstances. 

The best travel medical insurance pays for ambulance service, doctor visits, hospital stays, X-rays, lab work and prescription medication you may require while traveling. 

Many travel insurance plans cover medical treatment for COVID-19, but not all do. The best COVID travel insurance has generous emergency medical and emergency medical evacuation benefits. 

When comparing plans to find the best medical travel insurance for international trips, check to see if the coverage is primary. If the travel medical insurance coverage is secondary, you will need to file a claim with your health insurance before you can file a travel insurance claim.

Emergency medical evacuation

If you’re traveling to a remote area, or planning excursions such as boating to an island, emergency medical evacuation coverage is a good idea. This coverage pays to transport you to the nearest adequate medical facility if you are injured or sick while traveling. 

Depending on your location and medical condition, emergency transportation could cost tens of thousands of dollars. Our top-scoring travel insurance plans all offer coverage of $1 million. 

Baggage delay coverage

If you arrive safely at your destination but your bags do not, this coverage can help. After a certain waiting period, such as six or 12 hours, this coverage will reimburse you for necessities you may need while waiting for your bags to arrive. Be sure to save your receipts and look at your coverage limit, as some caps are low, like $200. 

Baggage loss and personal effects coverage

Baggage insurance can reimburse you if your bag never arrives, or if your personal belongings are stolen during your travels. Coverage limits apply here, as well as exclusions for certain items such as electronics. If you’ll be traveling with your laptop or other valuables, read your policy carefully to make sure they’re covered. 

What travel insurance doesn't cover

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

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

Most travel insurance companies offer a free look period when you buy a policy. Take this time — which might be anywhere from 10 to 21 days — to carefully review the plan’s coverages and exclusions, and request a full refund if it doesn’t meet your needs.

“For trip cancellation coverage, travel insurance plans will only cover you for very specific covered reasons listed in a plan’s description of coverage,” said Stan Sandberg, co-founder and CEO of TravelInsurance.com. “If an event is not listed as a covered reason, it won’t be covered unless the consumer opts for a ‘cancel for any reason’ policy.”

“Cancel for any reason travel insurance” upgrade

For the greatest flexibility to cancel, consider adding “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage to your travel insurance plan. This will increase the cost of your policy, but will typically reimburse you for 75% of your trip expenses if you decide to cancel your trip. 

A CFAR upgrade also usually has a number of requirements, such as buying it within seven to 14 days of making your first trip payment and insuring the full amount of your travel costs. But, it will give you the freedom to cancel your trip for any reason, as long as you do so at least two days before your scheduled departure. 

Adding CFAR coverage typically increases the cost of your travel insurance plan by 50%.

Make sure you’re covered: Best COVID travel insurance  

How much travel insurance should I buy?

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

Squaremouth recommends the following coverage limits for international travel: 

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

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

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

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

What is the best travel insurance? 

The best travel insurance for international travel is sold by WorldTrips , according to our analysis. Two WorldTrips plans — Atlas Journey Preferred and Atlas Journey Premier — top our rating of the best travel insurance. But the best travel insurance for you depends on the trip you are planning and the coverage areas that are most important to you. 

Make sure you’re covered: WorldTrips travel insurance review

Best travel insurance for cruises

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

Best travel insurance for COVID

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

Best travel insurance for “cancel for any reason” 

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

Best travel insurance for seniors

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

How much is travel insurance?

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

Average cost of travel insurance is based on quotes for a 30-year-old female traveling from California to Mexico for a 14-day trip. Source: Squaremouth.

How much you pay for travel insurance will depend on how expensive your trip is, how many benefits the insurance provides and the age of the covered travelers.

Here are average costs per trip by travel insurance plan, based on our analysis of rates.

Travel insurance cost examples

Average travel insurance costs are based on rates for seven trips with a variety of traveler ages, trip costs and destinations. Travel insurance plans have different levels of included benefits, which can account for price differences.

What affects travel insurance costs?

How much you pay for travel insurance will depend on:

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

How travel insurance works

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

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

How to get travel insurance

To buy travel insurance, you’ll need to submit an online application with information about yourself and your trip, such as your name, age, permanent address, destination, travel dates and total trip cost per person. Since the application is simple, you can easily get quotes from multiple companies on your own. 

Even easier, you can get multiple quotes by submitting a single application online through a travel insurance comparison site like Squaremouth.

How to choose which travel insurance is best for you

When shopping for travel insurance, consider the coverages that are most important to you. For example:

• Travel medical insurance. If you need travel health insurance for international travel, you’ll want a high limit for medical expenses, such as doctor and hospital bills, ambulance, X-rays and medicine. The best travel insurance for seniors includes ample travel medical insurance because Medicare generally does not pay for health care outside of the U.S.
• Emergency medical evacuation. If you’re planning a trip to a remote destination, make sure your travel insurance plan has high limits for emergency evacuation. Squaremouth suggests $50,000 to $100,000 of medical evacuation coverage for most trips but recommends $250,000 for travel to remote locations.

You’ll also want to consider common exclusions , such as:

• Adventure sports. Many travel insurance plans exclude coverage for risky activities such as skiing and scuba diving. Read the fine print of a policy to see what is excluded, or look for a travel insurance company that specializes in covering adventure sports trips, such as World Nomads.
• Named storms. If a hurricane is named before you buy travel insurance, it’s too late to buy coverage and cancel your trip because of the storm.
• Normal pregnancy. Normal pregnancy typically isn’t covered by travel insurance. If you get pregnant after you buy travel insurance, you may be covered for pregnancy-related reasons, but you’ll need to provide medical proof that pregnancy started after your purchased travel insurance. 
• Pre-existing medical conditions. If you have dealt with a health issue — even allergies or asthma — look closely at this common exclusion. Travel insurance plans typically have look-back periods, which could be 60, 90 or 180 days before you bought the policy. If you had symptoms during that time, your claim could be denied if your condition flares up while you’re traveling. If you’re shopping for the best travel insurance for pre-existing conditions, look for plans that offer a pre-existing medical condition waiver. You’ll be eligible for this waiver if you meet specific terms, such as buying travel insurance within days of making your first trip deposit and insuring the full value of your trip.

When to buy travel insurance

The best time to buy travel insurance is immediately after making your first nonrefundable travel payment, whether it’s for a plane ticket, hotel stay, cruise or excursion. Like other types of insurance, your policy needs to be in place before something goes wrong. It won’t cost you any extra to buy travel insurance far in advance of your trip, and it will cover a longer period of time.

“Purchasing a travel insurance policy at the time of making an initial trip payment offers travelers the most peace of mind,” said James Clark, spokesperson for Squaremouth.

“Knowing they are protected if unforeseen events such as medical emergencies, inclement weather, natural disasters and other trip disruptions occur allows travelers to approach their trip with less worry and more confidence.”

You’d have a hard time buying travel insurance before booking anything because you’d have nothing to insure, Clark said. “With that said, travelers are able to purchase a policy and make modifications, such as updating travel dates or adding expenses to the insurance policy, as they continue to make their travel arrangements.” 

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

Where to buy travel insurance

You can buy a travel insurance plan:

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

Using a travel insurance marketplace that will give you quotes for multiple policies is a great way to compare coverage options and pricing to find the best policy for your trip. Buying a policy directly from a travel provider is convenient and might be fine, but it might not meet your needs. 

“If a traveler is heading to the Caribbean with the intention of going scuba diving, it’s unlikely that the policy offered by the airline would cover that activity,” Clark said. “Shopping around for insurance opens the door to other policy providers that may offer a policy that checks all of a traveler’s boxes.”

In addition, while flight insurance , which may be offered through a partnership with a travel insurance provider like AIG or Allianz, may cover travel delays and cancellations, it might not protect you if you get sick during your trip, Clark said. “We highly recommend travelers read the policy’s fine print before making a purchase so they know what’s covered,” he added.

Top 10 travel destinations

Americans are changing the way they travel and this includes buying travel insurance when they might have skipped it in the past.

Here are the top destinations travel insurance customers are traveling to — and how much they’re spending on these trips — according to Feb. 2024 data from Squaremouth.

Source: Squaremouth. Based on travel insurance purchased from Jan. 14 to Feb. 13, 2024.

Travel insurance trends in 2024

Here are some key travel insurance trends in 2024:

• As spending on trips continues to rise , so will the price of travel insurance policies.
• People are planning trips further in advance and purchasing 2024 travel insurance earlier, making them eligible for perks like cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage and a pre-existing conditions exclusion waiver.
• Emergency evacuation, medical coverage and trip interruption remain top concerns for travelers, increasing the search for comprehensive travel insurance plans with more robust coverage — even if it costs more.

“As Americans continue to spend more on vacations, they have more to lose if they need to cancel or return home early. A travel insurance policy is an efficient and cost-effective way to protect that financial investment for trips in 2024,” said InsureMyTrip senior vice president Suzanne Morrow.

Best travel insurance FAQs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Travel Insurance

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With long stay travel insurance from InsureandGo, your holiday doesn’t have to stop at a fortnight. We can cover trips of up to a whole year in length, whether you’re planning to travel the world or spend a season on the slopes.

What is long stay travel insurance?

Long stay travel insurance can cover your longer-than-average holiday, whether an extended 3 week stay or an epic round the world trip. If you’re going away for three or four weeks instead of the traditional one to two, then you’ll be pleased to know our standard   single trip policies will still cover you. In fact, they’ll cover a trip of up to 365 days!

This isn’t the same as annual travel insurance , which covers you for multiple trips during the year, rather than one long trip.

What does long stay travel insurance cover?

All of our long stay travel insurance policies include:

• Cover for cancellation of your trip
• Over   100 sports and activities covered (See   policy wording   for a full list)
• Emergency medical expenses
• Personal belongings and baggage cover
• Personal money, passports and travel documents cover
• Accommodation cover
• Legal expenses cover

The excess and cover limits will vary depending on the level of cover purchased. Find out more in our   policy wording . Further items and activities can be added to your travel insurance policy, making sure you are covered for any specific needs.

Who is long stay travel insurance suitable for?

Long stay travel insurance is suitable for anyone! Our single trip policies can cover trips of up to a year, and have no upper age limits . So if you’re planning to travel around Southeast Asia on your   gap year   or volunteering for some charity work abroad, you’re in the right place to get a quote.

Does long stay travel insurance cover several countries?

It can! Just let us know the countries you’ll be travelling through and we’ll quote you a price for the whole trip. To choose the right long stay travel insurance policy for you,   get a quote online .

Does long stay travel insurance cover multiple trips?

No, it covers one long trip, and ends when you get back to the UK. If you want cover that will cover multiple trips for a whole year, check out our annual travel insurance instead.

Can I buy long stay travel insurance after booking a trip?

Some travel operators may require you to buy your insurance at the same time as booking your trip. Others are more flexible as long as you obtain your travel insurance before you depart.

Long stay travel insurance with medical conditions

We cover a wide range of medical conditions on our Silver, Gold and Black level policies, however long you’re travelling for, and we will never refuse to cover a   pre-existing medical condition   without prior consideration. We can usually cover any medical conditions with an additional premium, and medical cover on your long stay holiday is no exception.

You can check through our insurance   policy documents  for further details on long stay travel insurance with medical conditions we cover, or  get in touch  today for more information.

Does a long stay travel insurance cover me while working abroad?

If you’re working with hand tools, then conservation or charity work is included as standard under all our policies. We can insure you for manual labour too, but you would need to add our hazardous activities cover to your policy.

• Unlimited emergency medical expenses available on Black level policies.
• Based on 2,050 responses, correct as of 22/01/2024

June 1, 2020

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

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Travel Insurance 101: How Travel Insurance Works

What is travel insurance?

Travel insurance is a plan you purchase that protects you from certain financial risks and losses that can occur while traveling. These losses can be minor, like a delayed suitcase, or significant, like a last-minute trip cancellation or a medical emergency overseas.

In addition to financial protection, the other huge benefit of travel insurance is access to assistance services , wherever you are in the world. Our elite team of travel and medical experts can arrange medical treatment in an emergency, monitor your care, serve as interpreters, help you replace lost passports and so much more. Sometimes, they even save travelers’ lives.

A few things you should know about travel insurance:

• Benefits vary by plan. It’s important to choose a plan that fits your needs, your budget and your travel plans. Here are definitions of all available travel insurance benefits.
• Travel insurance can’t cover every possible situation. Allianz Travel Insurance is  named perils  travel insurance, which means it covers only the specific situations, events, and losses included in your plan documents, and only under the conditions we describe.
• Travel insurance is designed to cover  unforeseeable events —not things you could easily see coming, or things within your control. If, for example,  you wait to buy insurance for your beach trip until after a named hurricane is hustling toward your destination, your losses wouldn’t be covered.

How does travel insurance work?

In most scenarios, travel insurance reimburses you for your covered financial losses after you file a claim and the claim is approved. Filing a claim means submitting proof of your loss to Allianz Global Assistance, so that we can verify what happened and reimburse you for your covered losses. You can  file a claim online , or do it on your phone with the  Allianz TravelSmart TM app .

How does this work in real life? Let’s say you purchase the OneTrip Prime Plan , which includes trip cancellation benefits, to protect your upcoming cruise to Cozumel. Two days before departure, you experience a high fever and chest pain. Your doctor diagnoses bacterial pneumonia and advises you to cancel the trip. When you notify the cruise line, they tell you it’s too late to receive a refund.

Without travel insurance, you’d lose the money you spent on your vacation. Fortunately, a serious, disabling illness can be considered a covered reason for trip cancellation , which means you can be reimbursed for your prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs. Once you’re feeling better, you gather the required documents—such as your airfare and cruise line receipts and information about any refunds you did or did not receive—and you file a claim . You can even choose to receive your reimbursement by direct deposit, to your debit card, or via check.

Sometimes, this process works a little differently. Travel insurance may pay your expenses upfront if you require emergency medical treatment or emergency transportation while traveling overseas. Or, with the  OneTrip Premier and OneTrip Prime plans, you may be eligible to receive a fixed payment of $100 per day for a covered travel delay or $100 for a covered baggage delay . No receipts for purchases are required; all you need is proof of your covered delay.

Many travelers are wondering: Can COVID-19 be considered a covered reason for trip cancellation? And can travel insurance help if you become seriously ill with COVID-19 while traveling? Most of our travel insurance plans now include epidemic-related covered reasons (benefits vary by plan and are not available in all jurisdictions). The Epidemic Coverage Endorsement adds covered reasons to select benefits for certain losses related to COVID-19 and any future epidemic. To see if your plan includes this endorsement and what it covers, please look for "Epidemic Coverage Endorsement" on your Declarations of Coverage or Letter of Confirmation. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Benefits may not cover the full cost of your loss. All benefits are subject to maximum limits of liability, which may in some cases be subject to sublimits and daily maximums.

> Learn more: Travel Insurance and COVID-19: The Epidemic Coverage Endorsement Explained

How to choose a travel insurance plan

There’s a wide range of Allianz Travel Insurance plans, each with different benefits and benefit limits. So how do you know which is best for you? To begin, get a quote for your upcoming trip. When you enter your age, trip costs and trip dates, we can recommend a few plans for you. Then, you can compare the costs and benefits of each.

If you’re a budget-conscious traveler who’s traveling in the U.S., you may like the OneTrip Cancellation Plus Plan . It includes trip cancellation, trip interruption and trip delay benefits.

If you want protection in case of medical emergencies overseas, but you have few pre-paid trip expenses, you may consider the OneTrip Emergency Medical Plan . This affordable plan includes emergency medical and emergency transportation benefits, as well as other post-departure benefits, but not trip cancellation/interruption.

If you want the reassurance of carrying substantial travel insurance benefits, the best fit may be the OneTrip Prime Plan . This plan also covers kids 17 and under for free when traveling with a parent or grandparent (not available on policies issued to Pennsylvania residents).

If you’re planning several trips in the next 12 months, consider annual travel insurance such as the AllTrips Prime Plan . It gives you affordable protection for a full year of travel, including benefits for trip cancellation and interruption; emergency medical care; lost/stolen or delayed baggage; and Rental Car Damage and theft protection (available to residents of most states).  

> Find the right travel insurance plan for you 

How to get the most from your travel insurance plan

Don’t wait too long to buy travel insurance! The best time to buy travel insurance is immediately after you’ve completed your travel arrangements. The earlier you buy insurance, the bigger your coverage window. Also, you must buy your plan within 14 days of making your initial trip deposit in order to be eligible for the pre-existing medical condition benefit (not available on all plans).

Read your plan documents before you leave. If you're not completely satisfied with your plan, you have 15 days (or more, depending on your state of residence) to request a refund, provided you haven't started your trip or initiated a claim. Premiums are non-refundable after this period.

Call us when you need help. If you have questions about how travel insurance works, or how to file a claim, or which benefits you need, please contact us ! Our representatives are available 24/7. If you’re already traveling, and you’re facing a travel crisis or just need some advice, call our emergency assistance hotline .

> Read more about how we can help

Related Articles

• What Does Travel Insurance Cover?
• How Travel Insurance Covers Family Members
• Trip Delay, Trip Interruption and Trip Cancellation Insurance Explained

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

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8 Cheapest Travel Insurance Companies Worth the Cost

Trawick International »

World Nomads Travel Insurance »

AXA Assistance USA »

Generali Global Assistance »

Seven Corners »

Allianz Travel Insurance »

IMG Travel Insurance »

WorldTrips »

Why Trust Us

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

Table of Contents

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

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

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

How We Chose the Cheapest Travel Insurance Companies

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

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

• Generali Global Assistance
• Seven Corners
• Allianz Travel Insurance
• IMG Travel Insurance
• Trip cancellation coverage (up to $30,000) for 100% of the insured vacation
• Trip interruption coverage (up to $30,000) for 100% of the insured vacation
• Trip delay coverage worth up to $1,000 ($150 per day for delays of 12 hours or more)
• $750 in coverage for lost and damaged luggage; $200 for baggage delays
• Up to $500 in coverage for missed connections of three hours or more
• Up to $50,000 in emergency medical coverage ($750 sublimit for emergency dental)
• Up to $200,000 in coverage for emergency medical evacuation
• Up to $2,500 of trip protection for cancellation or interruption
• Up to $1,000 in coverage of lost, stolen or damaged baggage; up to $750 for baggage delays on your outward journey
• Up to $100,000 in emergency medical insurance; $750 dental sublimit
• Up to $300,000 in coverage for emergency medical evacuation
• 24-hour travel assistance services
• Up to 100% coverage for trip cancellation and interruption
• Up to $500 in coverage for trip delays ($100 per day)
• Up to $500 in coverage for missed connections
• Up to $25,000 in coverage for emergency medical expenses
• Up to $100,000 in coverage for emergency medical evacuation
• Up to $750 in coverage for baggage and personal effects; $200 for baggage delays
• Up to $10,000 in coverage for accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D)
• Up to $25,000 in coverage for common carrier AD&D
• Coverage up to 100% of the insured vacation for trip cancellation
• Up to 125% of the insured vacation cost for trip interruption
• Travel delay coverage worth up to $1,000 per person ($150 per person daily limit)
• Up to $1,000 per person for lost, damaged or stolen bags; $200 per person for baggage delays
• Up to $500 per person for missed connections
• Up to $50,000 in emergency medical and dental coverage
• Up to $250,000 in coverage for emergency assistance and transportation
• AD&D coverage for air travel worth up to $50,000 per person ($100,000 per plan)
• Trip cancellation coverage up to $30,000
• Trip interruption coverage up to 100% of the cost of the trip
• Trip delay coverage worth up to $600 (for six-hour delays; $200 limit per person per day)
• Lost, stolen or damaged baggage coverage up to $500
• Baggage delay coverage worth up to $500 (for six-hour delays; $100 per day)
• Missed cruise or tour coverage worth up to $500 ($250 per day)
• Emergency accident and sickness medical coverage worth up to $100,000 (secondary coverage)
• Up to $750 in emergency dental coverage
• Up to $250,000 in protection for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation of remains
• Trip cancellation coverage worth up to $10,000 per traveler
• Trip interruption coverage worth up to $10,000 per traveler
• Travel delay coverage worth up to $300 ($150 per day)
• Luggage loss and damage protection up to $500 per traveler
• Baggage delay coverage worth up to $200 per day
• Emergency medical and dental coverage up to $10,000 ($500 for dental expenses)
• Emergency medical transportation coverage worth up to $50,000
• 24-hour hotline assistance
• Up to 100% in coverage for trip cancellation
• Trip interruption benefit worth up to 125% of the trip cost
• Up to $500 for travel delays per person ($125 daily maximum per person)
• Up to $750 for lost, damaged or stolen bags ($250 maximum per item)
• Up to $150 in luggage delay coverage
• Up to $100,000 in emergency medical coverage
• Up to $500,000 in coverage for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation of remains
• Trip cancellation coverage worth up to 100% of trip cost (up to $10,000)
• Trip interruption coverage up to 100% of trip cost
• Up to $500 in coverage for travel delays (five-hour delay required; $100 daily limit)
• Coverage worth up to $1,000 for lost, damaged or stolen baggage ($250 per item)
• Coverage worth up to $200 for baggage delays of 12 hours or more
• Up to $250 in coverage for airline reissue or cancellation fees
• Up to $250 in coverage for reinstatement of frequent traveler awards
• Emergency medical and illness coverage worth up to $10,000
• Up to $500 in coverage for emergency dental expenses
• Up to $250,000 in coverage for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation of remains
• AD&D coverage worth up to $10,000
• Travel assistance services

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

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

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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 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 our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

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

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

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

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

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

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

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

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

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

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

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

I'm a financial planner, and I'd recommend annual travel insurance to anyone who loves to travel abroad

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

• Frequent and spontaneous travelers will likely benefit from annual travel insurance policies.
• Your credit card may come with some travel protections, but it may not be enough.
• When choosing a policy, look at what it covers, not just what's cheapest.

Summer is just a few months away — and if you're planning a vacation this year, the last thing you want is an unexpected event to derail your plans (and cost you hundreds).

Flights get delayed or canceled constantly. Luggage disappears into the ether. Medical emergencies occur in remote destinations. Yet many jetsetters simply cross their fingers and hope for the best rather than prepare for the worst.

That's why, as a financial planner, I believe it's crucial to consider protecting your trips with the right insurance coverage. One option often overlooked, particularly by frequent travelers, is annual travel insurance .

Annual travel insurance covers all your trips within 365 days. Unlike stand-alone travel insurance, which only covers you for a specific trip, an annual policy covers any trips you take within the year.

That's why I tell clients who travel frequently that an annual policy is a good choice for their needs. By opting for an annual plan, you don't have to go through the hassle of booking multiple policies and potentially save money compared to purchasing individual trip coverage. Here's how it works.

What to look for in a policy

While specifics may vary depending on the insurer and plan tier, most include the following key benefits:

• Trip cancellations or interruptions: You may be able to get reimbursed for expenses (even nonrefundable ones!) related to an illness, injury, or natural disaster that forced you to cancel or cut your trip short.
• Emergency medical and dental care: If you fall ill or get injured while traveling, your insurance can help cover the cost of medical treatment.
• Emergency evacuation: In a serious medical emergency or security situation, your policy will arrange and pay for transportation to a hospital or back to your home country.
• Lost, delayed, or damaged baggage: If your luggage is lost, delayed, or damaged during your trip, you can get financial coverage for essential items while you wait for your stuff to be recovered or replaced.
• Trip delays and missed connections: When your travel plans are disrupted due to issues like mechanical problems or severe weather, you may get reimbursement for additional expenses incurred, like meals, lodging, and transportation.

It's important to note that annual travel insurance plans have limitations. Certain high-risk activities, pre-existing medical conditions, and travel to specific regions may be restricted or require additional coverage.

Some travelers may assume that their credit card's built-in travel protections are enough. While many travel rewards credit cards offer perks like rental car insurance, trip cancellation, and baggage reimbursement, the coverage limits are often much lower than a dedicated annual travel insurance plan.

Credit card coverage for emergency medical care is also particularly limited — capped at a few thousand dollars — which may not be enough in the face of a major international medical emergency.

How much travel justifies an annual plan?

For the occasional traveler who takes one or two trips a year, single-trip policies will probably work for you. But if you fall into any of these buckets, you may want to consider an annual policy:

• Regular international travelers (three or more trips abroad yearly)
• Road warriors frequently away for work
• Adventurers engaging in high-risk activities like heli-skiing, scuba diving, or mountain climbing
• Cruisers and tour group travelers
• Students or retirees taking extended trips throughout the year
• Those visiting developing countries with limited medical care

Annual plans cover all of your trips within a 365-day period after purchasing. They're basically a bundle of multiple policies into one package deal. This means you only have to buy one policy to manage, locking in your coverage for the year.

How to decide if an annual policy makes sense for you

Start by reviewing your travel plans this year — and your risk tolerance. Calculate how much buying individual travel insurance policies would cost you over the next year and compare it to the price of an annual plan.

Don't just focus on the premium — carefully evaluate coverage limits, exclusions, and deductibles to ensure you have enough protection for your needs.

An annual policy gives you the flexibility to take spontaneous trips without the hassle of obtaining last-minute insurance. More importantly, it provides peace of mind, knowing that you're covered for a wide range of travel disruptions and emergencies.

As the busy summer travel season ramps up, definitely explore protecting your trips with insurance, especially if you're jetting off internationally. Spending hours on the phone trying to rebook canceled flights or worrying about affording an overseas medical emergency is no way to vacation.

• Main content

Understanding What Travel Insurance Covers

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The offers and details on this page may have updated or changed since the time of publication. See our article on Business Insider for current information.

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 insurance products to write unbiased product reviews.

The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Chase Freedom Flex℠. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.

• Travel insurance is intended to cover risks and financial losses associated with traveling.
• Coverage can include trip cancellation, baggage protection, medical care, and emergency evacuation.
• When filing a claim, be specific and comprehensive in your documentation to ease the process.

Whether it's a trip across the world or a trip across the state, having travel insurance provides major relief if things go awry. Flight delays, lost baggage, illness, injuries, and other unforeseen events can disrupt even the best-laid plans. With a major disruption comes the potential for unanticipated expenses.

Travel insurance and the coverage it offers can help keep you protected and save you money in the long run.

Overview of Travel Insurance Coverage

Travel insurance policies protect travelers from financial losses should something go wrong during their trip. You can customize which coverages you want to include, and there are several to choose from.

"Common types of coverage include trip cancellation, trip interruption, baggage protection, coverage for medical care if you get sick or hurt during your trip, and emergency medical evacuation," says Angela Borden, a travel insurance expert and product strategist for travel insurance company Seven Corners.

Travel insurance plans offer nonrefundable payments and other trip-related expenses. While monetary compensation is a primary benefit, there is another valuable perk of travel insurance. It can provide peace of mind.

What does travel insurance cover?

Your specific travel insurance plan (and its terms and conditions) will determine the minutia and specifics of what is covered. As with most other forms of insurance, a general rule of thumb is the more you spend, the better your coverage.

"Travel insurance can be confusing, so it's best to research a reputable company that specializes in travel insurance and has a long history of successfully helping travelers all over the world," says Borden.

Trip cancellation and interruptions

A travel insurance policy can reimburse you for a prepaid, nonrefundable trip if it is canceled for a covered event, such as a natural disaster or a global pandemic.

Trip interruption insurance covers you if you're already on your trip and you get sick, there's a natural disaster, or something else happens. Make sure to check with your travel insurance providers to discuss any inclusions, coverage, and more.

Travel delays and missed connections

Travel delay insurance coverage provides reimbursement for any expenses you incur when you experience a delay in transit over a minimum time. Reimbursements can include hotels, airfare, food, and other related expenses.

Medical emergencies and evacuations

Typically, US healthcare plans are not accepted in other countries. So travel insurance with medical coverage can be particularly beneficial when you are abroad. Medical coverage can also help with locating doctors and healthcare facilities.

Medical transportation coverage will also pay for emergency evacuation expenses such as airlifts and medically-equipped flights back to the US. Out of pocket, these expenses can easily amount to tens of thousands of dollars. Certain plans may even transport you to a hospital of choice for care.

Travel insurance generally does not include coverage for pre-existing conditions. That said, you can obtain a pre-existing condition waiver, which we will talk about later.  

Baggage and personal belongings

Most airlines will reimburse travelers for lost or destroyed baggage, but be prepared for limitations. Travel insurance plans will typically cover stolen items, such as those stolen out of a hotel room. This may not include expensive jewelry, antiques, or heirloom items. Typically, airlines have a few days to recover your bag.

In the meantime, you can make a claim to pay for items like certain toiletries and other items you need to pick up. If your bag is truly lost or you don't get it for an extended period, you can file a true lost baggage claim.

What does credit card travel insurance cover?

A major perk on several travel credit cards is embedded credit card travel insurance . Typically, you will need to use the specific card for the transaction (at least with partial payment) for travel coverage to kick in.

Each card has specific rules on what exactly is covered. But one of the industry leaders is the $550-per-year Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card. Here's a snapshot of what is covered with this specific card:

• Baggage delay: up to $100 reimbursed per day for up to five days if a passenger carrier delays your baggage by more than six hours.
• Lost and damaged baggage: up to $3,000 per passenger per trip, but only up to $500 per passenger for jewelry and watches and up to $500 per passenger for cameras and other electronic equipment.
• Trip delay reimbursement: up to $500 per ticket if you're delayed more than six hours or require an overnight stay.
• Trip cancellation and interruption protection: up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses.
• Medical evacuation benefit: up to $100,000 for necessary emergency evacuation and transportation when on a trip of five to 60 days and traveling more than 100 miles from home.
• Travel accident insurance: accidental death or dismemberment coverage of up to $100,000 (up to $1,000,000 for common carrier travel).
• Emergency medical and dental benefits: up to $2,500 for medical expenses (subject to a $50 deductible) when on a trip arranged by a travel agency and traveling more than 100 miles from home.
• Rental car coverage: primary coverage for damages caused by theft or collision up to $75,000 on rentals of 31 days or fewer

More protections are included with cards with an annual fee, but there are exceptions. The no-annual-fee Chase Freedom Flex , for instance, includes up to $1,500 per person (and up to $6,000 per trip) in trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage.

However, there are some differences between credit card travel coverage and obtaining coverage from a third party.

"Credit card coverage does not typically provide travel medical benefits," Borden says. "For protection if you get sick or hurt while traveling, you'll want a travel insurance plan with medical coverage."

Whether you get your travel insurance in a standalone policy or through a credit card, it's important to review your plan details carefully. In either case, there may be exclusions and other requirements such as deadlines when filing a claim, Borden notes.

What travel insurance coverage do you need to pay more for?

Knowing what travel insurance doesn't cover is as important as knowing what it does cover.

"Travelers should understand that travel insurance benefits come into play only if a covered reason occurs," Borden says. Most standard travel insurance plans won't reimburse you for the following:

Cancel for any reason (CFAR)

Cancel-for-any-reason travel insurance covers a trip cancellation for any reason, not just a covered event. your standard benefits won't kick in unless it's a covered event. For instance, you'll be reimbursed simply for changing your mind about taking a trip.

That said, CFAR travel insurance is not without its downsides. For one, it's more expensive than traditional insurance, and most CFAR policies will only reimburse you for a percentage of your travel expenses. Additionally, CFAR policies aren't available for annual travel insurance . 

You can find our guide on the best CFAR travel insurance here.

Foreseen weather events

Sudden storms or unforeseen weather events are typically covered by standard travel insurance plans. There are exceptions to be aware of. For example, an anticipated and named hurricane will not be covered.

Medical tourism

If you're going to travel internationally for a medical procedure or doctor's visit, your travel insurance plan will not cover the procedure itself. Most medical travel plans also won't cover you if something goes wrong with your procedure.

Pre-existing conditions and pregnancy

Those with specific pre-existing conditions, such as someone with diabetes and needing more insulin, will not be covered by most plans. In addition, pregnancy-related expenses will likely not be covered under most plans.

That said, you can obtain a pre-existing condition waiver for stable conditions. In order to obtain a wavier, you will need to purchase travel insurance within a certain time frame from when you booked your trip, usually two to three weeks, depending on your policy.

Extreme sports and activities

Accidents occurring while participating in extreme sports like skydiving and paragliding will typically not be covered under most plans. However, many plans offer the ability to upgrade to a higher-priced version with extended coverage.

Navigating claims and assistance

When a trip goes awry, the first thing you should do is document everything and be as specific as possible with documentation. This will make the claims process easier, as you can substantiate and quantify your financial losses due to the delay.

For example, your flight home has been delayed long enough to be covered under your policy, you'll want to keep any receipts from purchases made while waiting. For instances where your luggage is lost, you will need to file a report with local authorities and document all the items you packed.

Cancellation protection also requires meticulous attention to detail. If you're too sick to fly, you may need to see a doctor to prove your eligibility. If an airline cancels a flight, you'll also need to document any refunds you received as travel insurance isn't going to reimburse you for money you've already gotten back. 

Part of the benefit of CFAR insurance is the reduced paperwork necessary to file a claim. You'll still need to document your nonrefundable losses, but you won't have to substantiate why you're canceling a trip.

Choosing the right travel insurance

Each plan should be personalized to meet the insured party's needs. Some travelers prefer to stick to the bare minimum (flight cancellation benefits through the airline). Others want a comprehensive plan with every coverage possible. Before you buy anything, set your destination. Are there any travel restrictions or changes pending? Does your destination country require emergency or other medical coverage?

If the destination airport is known for lost or delayed luggage, travelers should keep important items in carry-ons. Lost or delayed luggage coverage protects insured parties in the event of a significant delay or total loss.

Second, check current credit card travel benefits to avoid redundancies. Savvy travelers don't need to pay for the same coverage twice.

Finally, consider your individual needs. Do you have a chronic medical condition, or do you feel safe with emergency-only medical coverage? Keep in mind, this does not include coverage for cosmetic surgery or other medical tourism. Do you have a budget limit for travel insurance? Asking and answering these important questions will help every traveler find the right product.

Most travel insurance plans are simple, and Business Insider's guide to the best travel insurance companies outlines our top picks. Remember, read your policy and its specifics closely to ensure it includes the items you need coverage for.

No one likes to dwell on how a trip might not go as planned before even leaving. However, at its core, travel insurance provides peace of mind as you go about your trip. While the upfront cost may seem significant, when you compare it to the potential expenses of a canceled flight, emergency evacuation, or a hefty medical bill, it's a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things.

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What does travel insurance cover frequently asked questions

Does travel insurance cover trip cancellations due to a pandemic like covid-19.

Coverage for pandemics vary from policy to policy. Some travel insurance companies have specific provisions for pandemic-related cancellations, while others may exclude them entirely.

Are sports injuries covered under travel insurance?

Sports injuries are often covered under travel insurance, but high-risk or adventure sports might require additional coverage or a special policy.

Can travel insurance provide coverage for travel advisories or warnings?

Travel advisories have different effects on your travel insurance depending on your policy. Traveling to a country already under travel advisory may invalidate your coverage, but if you're already traveling when a travel advisory is announced, you may be covered.

How does travel insurance handle emergency medical evacuations?

Travel insurance usually covers the cost of emergency medical evacuations to the nearest suitable medical facility, and sometimes back to your home country, if necessary.

Are lost or stolen passports covered by travel insurance?

Many travel insurance policies provide coverage for the cost of replacing lost or stolen passports during a trip.

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Best credit cards for travel insurance in 2024

Travel insurance benefits offered through credit cards can include trip cancellation and interruption insurance, travel delay coverage and lost luggage reimbursement. You must pay for travel with a common carrier with your respective card for complimentary travel insurance benefits to apply. While credit cards with travel insurance can help protect your trip, they come up short when it comes to protection for emergency medical expenses.

Our top recommendations

• card_name : Best travel insurance benefits overall.
• card_name : Best travel insurance benefits, runner-up.
• card_name : Best for premium benefits.
• card_name : Best for luxury travel.
• card_name : Best for food spending.
• card_name : Best for flat-rate rewards.
• card_name : Best with no annual fee.
• card_name : Best airline credit card for travel insurance.
• card_name : Best for Marriott Bonvoy.
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card : Best for Hilton Honors.

card_name : Best travel insurance benefits overall

Chase sapphire reserve®, why we like it.

• Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to airlines and hotels.
• Get 50% more value for travel booked through Chase.
• Comes with $300 travel credit each year.
• Includes airport lounge access.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Comes with generous travel insurance benefits.
• annual_fees annual fee.
• High variable APR.
• Requires very good or excellent credit.

Travel insurance benefits:

• Trip cancellation coverage worth up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip.
• Trip interruption coverage worth up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip.
• Trip delay coverage worth up to $500 per ticket (six-hour delay required).
• Baggage delay coverage worth up to $100 per day for five days.
• Lost luggage reimbursement worth up to $3,000 per passenger.
• Travel accident insurance worth up to $1 million.
• Primary rental car coverage worth up to $75,000.
• Emergency medical and dental benefits worth up to $2,500 when you're at least 100 miles from home.
• Emergency evacuation coverage worth up to $100,000.

The card_name Card has the best selection of travel insurance benefits of any credit card on the market today by far. Its coverage is broad and rewarding with included benefits for medical expenses and emergency evacuation you don't see from other travel credit cards.

This card also earns valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points that can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards, merchandise or travel through Chase with 50% more value. Points also transfer 1:1 to airline and hotel partners like British Airways, Southwest Rapid Rewards, United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt.

card_name : Best travel insurance benefits, runner-up

Chase sapphire preferred® card.

• Points transfer 1:1 to Chase airline and hotel partners.
• Get 25% more value for points when booking travel through Chase.
• Other flexible rewards options.
• Excellent earning rate for everyday purchases.
• Comes with a $50 annual hotel stay credit.
• Requires very good to excellent credit.
• No luxury travel benefits.
• Trip interruption insurance worth up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip.
• Trip delay insurance worth up to $500 per ticket (12-hour delay required).
• Baggage delay insurance worth up to $100 per day for five days.
• Travel accident insurance worth up to $500,000.
• Primary rental car insurance worth up to the actual cash value of the car.

The card_name offers similar travel insurance protections as the Reserve, but with fewer benefits and some lower coverage limits. However, the annual fee on this card is just annual_fees , and users still earn valuable and flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

This makes the card_name a good option for frequent travelers who want the chance to transfer their rewards to airline and hotel partners but want to keep costs down. Customers can also use their points to book travel through the Chase portal, or they can redeem for cash back, gift cards or merchandise.

card_name : Best for premium benefits

Capital one venture x rewards credit card.

• Earns flexible miles that transfer to Capital One airline and hotel partners.
• $300 annual travel credit.
• Airport lounge membership included.
• Excellent rewards rate for eligible travel purchases.
• Lower annual fee than other premium cards with airport lounge access.
• High APR if you carry a balance.
• Excellent credit required.
• Trip cancellation coverage worth up to $2,000 per person.
• Trip interruption coverage worth up to $2,000 per person.
• Lost luggage reimbursement worth up to $3,000 per covered trip ($2,000 per bag in New York).
• Trip delay insurance worth up to $500 per ticket (six-hour delay required).
• Primary auto rental coverage worth up to $75,000.

The card_name is a Visa Infinite card, so it includes a range of travel insurance protections you won't find with other cards. This flexible travel credit card also earns Capital One miles that can be used to book travel through Capital One or transferred to Capital One airline and hotel partners. Additional flexible redemption options include gift cards, statement credits, merchandise and more.

Other reasons to love this card include its $300 annual travel credit, airport lounge membership, cell phone protection and Hertz President's Circle status.

card_name : Best for luxury travel

The platinum card® from american express.

( Rates & Fees )

Insurance disclosures

• Trip Delay Insurance - Up to $500 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
• Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance - The maximum benefit amount for Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is $10,000 per Covered Trip and $20,000 per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
• Premium Global Assist Hotline - You can rely on Global Assist Hotline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for medical, legal, financial, or other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home. Plus, we may provide emergency medical transportation assistance and related services. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.
• Cell Phone Protection - Coverage for a Stolen or damaged Eligible Cellular Wireless Telephone is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions, and limits of liability of this benefit. The maximum liability is $800, per claim, per Eligible Card Account. Each claim is subject to a $50 deductible. Coverage is limited to two (2) claims per Eligible Card Account per 12 month period. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
• Extended Warranty – When an American Express® Card Member charges a Covered Purchase to an Eligible Card, Extended Warranty§ can provide up to one extra year added to the Original Manufacturer’s Warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your Card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
• Return Protection - With Return Protection, you may return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won’t take them back up to 90 days from the date of purchase. American Express may refund the full purchase price excluding shipping and handling, up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per Card account, if you purchased it entirely with your eligible American Express® Card. Purchases must be made in the U.S. or its territories. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
• Purchase Protection - Purchase Protection is an embedded benefit of your Card Membership and requires no enrollment. It can help protect Covered Purchases made on your Eligible Card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date. The coverage is limited to up to $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year. Coverage Limits Apply. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
• Baggage Insurance Plan - Baggage Insurance Plan coverage can be in effect for Covered Persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a Common Carrier Vehicle (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the Entire Fare for a ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an Eligible Card. Coverage can be provided for up to $2,000 for checked Baggage and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier. The coverage is also subject to a $3,000 aggregate limit per Covered Trip. For New York State residents, there is a $2,000 per bag/suitcase limit for each Covered Person with a $10,000 aggregate maximum for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
• Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance - Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
• Earns flexible Amex Membership Rewards points.
• $1,500+ in statement credits each year.
• Broadest airport lounge membership available today.
• Very good to excellent credit required.
• Statement credits can be difficult to use.
• Trip cancellation coverage worth up to $10,000 per trip (maximum benefit of $20,000 each 12-month period).
• Trip interruption coverage worth up to $10,000 per trip (maximum benefit of $20,000 each 12-month period).
• Trip delay coverage worth up to $500 per trip (six-hour delay required).
• Secondary rental car insurance worth up to $75,000.

‌ card_name doesn't offer as many travel insurance benefits as other premium travel credit cards on our list, but it does offer more statement credits and the broadest airport lounge membership available from a credit card. This card also earns flexible American Express Membership Rewards points that can be used for travel through Amex, point transfers to Amex airline and hotel partners, gift cards and other flexible options. Terms apply.

card_name : Best for food spending

American express® gold card.

Trip Delay Insurance - Up to $300 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 12 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.

• Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. 
• Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. 
• Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Global Assist Hotline - You can rely on Global Assist Hotline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility.

• Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
• Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
• Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

Extended Warranty - When an American Express® Card Member charges a Covered Purchase to an Eligible Card, Extended Warranty§ can provide up to one extra year added to the Original Manufacturer’s Warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your Card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year.

• Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Purchase Protection - Purchase Protection is an embedded benefit of your Card Membership and requires no enrollment. It can help protect Covered Purchases made on your Eligible Card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date. The coverage is limited up to $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year. Coverage Limits Apply. 

Baggage Insurance Plan - Baggage Insurance Plan coverage can be in effect for Eligible Persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the entire fare for a Common Carrier Vehicle ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible Account. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on Baggage and up to $500 for checked Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the Common Carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus). For New York State residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all Covered Persons per Covered Trip.

Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance - Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply.

• Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
• Points transfer to Amex airline and hotel partners.
• Comes with up to $240 in statement credits each year.
• Generous rewards for food spending and airfare.
• High APR can apply.
• Baggage insurance plan worth up to $1,250 for carry-on bags and up to $500 for checked bags ($10,000 aggregate coverage limit for residents of New York).
• Secondary auto rental coverage worth up to $50,000 per rental agreement.
• Trip delay insurance worth up to $300 per covered trip (up to two claims allowed per 12-month period).

The card_name offers a few important travel protections, plus generous rewards for big food spenders. In addition to its impressive rewards rates for purchases at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants worldwide, this card also comes with up to $240 in credits per year that can apply to select dining purchases and Uber rides or Uber Eats food deliveries.

Cardholders with the card_name also earn American Express Membership Rewards points that are highly flexible and valuable when it comes to travel redemptions.

card_name : Best for flat-rate rewards

Capital one® venture® rewards credit card.

• Earns flexible rewards with Capital One.
• Miles transfer to Capital One airline and hotel partners.
• Excellent flat rewards rate.
• Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership included.
• Primary auto rental coverage worth up to the actual cash value of a vehicle if you don't have your own insurance (secondary coverage if you have your own insurance)
• Lost luggage reimbursement worth up to $3,000 per trip ($2,000 per bag for New York residents)
• Travel accident insurance worth up to $250,000

The card_name offers a few travel insurance benefits that can help protect your trip. Cardholders also earn flexible Capital One miles that can be used to book travel through Capital One or transferred to airline and hotel partners. Rewards can also be used for statement credits, gift cards and other flexible options.

The annual_fees annual fee on this card makes it a steal when you consider the sign-up bonus you can earn, along with perks like a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership.

card_name : Best with no annual fee

Chase freedom unlimited®.

• Generous cash back rate for everyday purchases.
• Comes with intro APR offer.
• Rewards points are flexible.
• Points do not transfer to Chase airline and hotel partners.
• High variable APR after intro offer.
• Charges foreign transaction fees.
• Trip cancellation coverage worth up to $1,500 per passenger and $6,000 per covered trip.
• Trip interruption coverage worth up to $1,500 per passenger and $6,000 per covered trip.
• Secondary auto rental coverage.

The card_name is an excellent choice for infrequent travelers who want protection for trip cancellation and interruption first and foremost. This card doesn't charge an annual fee, and it features incredible cash back rates in several everyday spending categories. Users even get an intro_apr_rate,intro_apr_duration and balance_transfer_intro_apr,balance_transfer_intro_duration , which can help them save on interest payments for more than a year.

card_name : Best airline credit card for travel insurance

United quest℠ card.

• Earns United miles that are redeemable for flights with United and Star Alliance partners.
• Comes with frequent flyer benefits.
• Earn PQP toward elite status.
• annual_fees annual fee applies.
• Rewards inflexibility.
• Trip cancellation coverage worth up to $1,500 per traveler and up to $6,000 per covered trip.
• Trip interruption coverage worth up to $1,500 per traveler and up to $6,000 per covered trip.
• Baggage delay insurance worth up to $100 per day for three days (six-hour delay required).
• Trip delay reimbursement worth up to $500 per ticket (12-hour delay or overnight stay required).
• Primary auto rental coverage worth up to the cash value of the vehicle.

While the card_name requires a annual_fees annual fee, this card comes with a robust selection of travel insurance benefits and frequent-flyer perks. Users also earn United miles that can be used for flights with United and partners to more than 1,200 destinations in 186 countries around the world.

This card also gives members the chance to earn PQP toward elite status with the United MileagePlus program.

card_name : Best for Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott bonvoy brilliant® american express® card.

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

Premium Global Assist Hotline - You can rely on Global Assist Hotline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home. Plus, we may provide emergency medical transportation assistance and related services. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility.

• If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

Return Protection - With Return Protection, you may return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won't take them back up to 90 days from the date of purchase. American Express may refund the full purchase price excluding shipping and handling, up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per Card account, if you purchased it entirely with your eligible American Express® Card. Purchases must be made in the U.S. or its territories.

Purchase Protection - Purchase Protection is an embedded benefit of your Card Membership and requires no enrollment. It can help protect Covered Purchases made on your Eligible Card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date. The coverage is limited up to $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year. Coverage Limits Apply.

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

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

• Automatic Platinum Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy.
• Includes a range of travel benefits and statement credit offers.
• Comes with airport lounge membership.
• Generous welcome bonus and earning rates.
• Trip cancellation insurance worth up to $10,000 per covered trip and up to $20,000 per eligible card per 12-month period.
• Trip interruption insurance worth up to $10,000 per covered trip and up to $20,000 per eligible card per 12-month period.
• Trip delay insurance worth up to $500 per trip (six-hour delay required) with a maximum limit of two claims per 12-month period.
• Baggage insurance plan worth up to $2,000 for checked bags and up to $3,000 for both checked and carry-on luggage ($2,000 per bag in coverage for New York residents with aggregate limit of $10,000).

The card_name offers a suite of impressive benefits Marriott Bonvoy enthusiasts will love, including annual dining credits, automatic Platinum Elite status, and a $100 property credit. Other cardholder perks help justify the annual_fees annual fee, including Priority Pass Select membership and the credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership.

This card also includes more travel insurance benefits than many other hotel credit cards on the market today.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card : Best for Hilton Honors

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

• Comes with automatic Hilton Diamond status.
• Range of hotel benefits and statement credits included.
• Comes with Priority Pass Select membership.
• Free night award each year.
• Several flight benefits included.
• $550 annual fee.

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers a robust selection of benefits for air travel, airports and stays with the Hilton brand. While the $550 annual fee is high, perks like airport lounge membership, annual hotel stay credits and a free night award each year can more than make up for it. The included travel insurance benefits for this card are also generous, and they can be well worth having if you need to file a claim.

Best credit cards for travel insurance 2024: Comparison

How we chose the best credit cards for travel insurance.

To find the best credit cards for travel insurance, we looked at cards based on their included insurance benefits first and foremost. We gave preference to cards that offer trip cancellation and interruption coverage, as well as insurance for lost or delayed bags and travel delays.

We also looked for credit cards that offer the most lucrative rewards structures and welcome offers, as well as flexibility within their designated rewards programs. Other factors we took into consideration include annual fees and interest rates.

Choosing the best credit card for travel insurance: Where to begin

The best credit card for travel insurance can vary from person to person, and assessing each card based on the most important factors can help you in your search. Consider the following criteria as you select a credit card for your next trip.

Travel insurance benefits

The credit cards in this ranking offer complimentary travel insurance protections, although you have to pay for travel with your card for a trip to be covered. These benefits can include trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage delay coverage, lost luggage reimbursement, trip delay insurance, primary auto rental coverage and more. Some cards even offer limited coverage for emergency medical expenses and emergency medical evacuation.

Annual fees

Credit cards with the most benefits tend to charge annual fees of $395 to $695. Meanwhile, there are some credit cards with travel insurance that charge $0 to $95 per year.

Either way, you'll want to make sure any annual fee you pay is worth it based on the travel insurance benefits, rewards and other perks you receive.

Travel perks and features

Decide if you want premium travel benefits like airport lounge access, expedited airport security or annual travel credits. If you do want a travel credit card with all the bells and whistles, prepare to pay several hundred dollars in annual fees each year.

Customer satisfaction rankings

You can also look at customer service rankings from different card issuers to determine the quality of customer service you'll receive. Consider the customer service scores below from J.D. Power's 2023 U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study , which were assigned by using responses from 31,418 credit card customers from August 2022 through June 2023.

Eligibility by credit score

Note that the majority of credit cards with travel insurance require very good or excellent credit. If you have poor credit or fair credit, you should focus on improving your credit score and financial health before you apply.

Rewards programs

Finally, consider the rewards rates for cards you're looking at and the type of rewards you'll earn. You'll find that credit cards with travel insurance can earn cash back, flexible rewards for travel, airline miles or hotel points.

What does travel insurance from a credit card cover?

Credit cards with travel insurance can offer different protections with their own unique coverage limits and policy limitations. The most common types of travel insurance you can get with a credit card include:

• Trip cancellation coverage : This coverage can reimburse you for prepaid travel expenses when you must cancel a trip for a covered reason like the death of an immediate family member or a sudden illness.
• Trip interruption coverage : Interruption insurance can reimburse you for prepaid travel expenses when a trip must be interrupted for a covered reason, such as falling ill during your vacation.
• T rip delay coverage : This coverage can pay for sudden hotel bills or meals when a trip is delayed by at least six or 12 hours or a delay forces an overnight stay.
• Baggage delay insurance : Baggage delay coverage can pay for clothing, toiletries and other essentials when your bags are delayed by at least six or 12 hours.
• Lost luggage reimbursement : Insurance for lost luggage can reimburse you for your baggage and belongings when your luggage is lost in transit while in the care of a common carrier.
• Rental car coverage : This protection can be primary or secondary to your own insurance, and policy limits apply.
• Medical and dental expense coverage : This protection can pay for emergency medical and dental expenses you incur when traveling away from home.
• Medical evacuation coverage : This type of travel insurance can pay for transportation in a helicopter, an ambulance or a plane when you must be medically transported due to a health emergency.
• Travel accident insurance : This coverage can kick in if you lose your life or are accidentally dismembered during a covered trip.

Pros and cons of credit card travel insurance

Credit card travel insurance comes with its share of benefits that cannot be denied, but there are downsides that come with relying on a credit card for travel insurance protection as well.

Consider these pros and cons:

Pros of credit card travel insurance

• Complimentary coverage : The biggest upside of credit card travel insurance is the fact it's offered for free. You just have to pay for travel with your credit card (or your rewards points in some cases) for coverage to apply.
• Coverage limits can be high : Some credit card insurance protections come with high limits that are enough to cover most trips.
• Can apply to family members : The best coverages apply to the primary cardholder and other companions they're traveling with, including family members.

Cons of credit card travel insurance

• Low coverage limits in some cases : Some cards have relatively low travel insurance limits that may not provide enough protection when you need it most.
• Limited coverages with some cards : Some credit cards with travel insurance only have a few kinds, so they may leave you without important protections you need.
• Minimal protection for emergency medical expenses : Only one credit card offers travel insurance for emergency medical expenses (the card_name ), and this coverage is only worth up to $2,500 when you're traveling more than 100 miles from home.

Do you need additional travel insurance?

Whether you need to buy travel insurance that applies independently of what your credit card offers depends on the type of trip you're taking and how much it costs. If you're driving a few towns away to stay in a hotel, for example, you may be fine with credit card travel insurance. The same is true if you're flying to another state for a relatively inexpensive vacation.

If you're traveling internationally where your own health insurance won't apply, however, you'll likely want to purchase a travel insurance plan that includes robust protection for emergency medical expenses and emergency medical evacuation. Expensive trips may also need travel insurance with higher limits than you can get with credit card coverage.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Do credit card companies sell travel insurance.

Credit card companies do not sell travel insurance, but plenty of reputable travel insurance providers do. If you're ready to compare plans, you can check out companies like Allianz, Travelex and World Nomads.

Is travel insurance worth it for international travel?

Travel insurance is essential for international travel if you want to have coverage for emergency medical expenses and emergency medical evacuation. After all, U.S. health plans do not work overseas, nor do government healthcare programs like Medicare.

Does my Visa card cover travel insurance?

The travel insurance protections you get with a credit card depend on the exact card you have.

How do I know if my credit card covers travel insurance?

Read over your credit card's guide to benefits to find out which protections are already included. You can also call your card issuer to inquire about coverage, but make sure they send you the information in the mail.

For rates and fees of the card_name , please visit URL .

AP Buyline has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. AP Buyline and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

Money blog: Popular pub chain owner admits 'uncertainty' over future

The owner of Slug & Lettuce and Yates's bars has revealed concern over its future as it looks to refinance more than £2bn of debt. Read this and the rest of today's consumer and personal finance news in the Money blog, and listen to the latest Ian King Business Podcast as you scroll.

Tuesday 9 April 2024 19:48, UK

• Basically... Tax codes
• Popular pub chain owner admits 'uncertainty' over future
• Spain to scrap 'golden visa' scheme for non-EU citizens in blow to British emigrants
• Tories have stolen key Labour pledge - so how will they pay for promises now?
• Shell, the biggest company on the London Stock Exchange, looking at leaving for New York
• Money Problem : The monthly charge on my leasehold flat has gone up by more than £60 a month - what are my rights?
• Listen to the Ian King Business Podcast above and tap here to follow wherever you get your podcasts

Sky News is looking to speak with residents of shared ownership properties who have been impacted by rising service charges. 

Please reach out if you have been affected and are willing to tell us about your experience.  

Send us a message on WhatsApp or email [email protected] .

High mortgage costs have led a large chunk of UK homeowners to rent out their rooms in a bid to raise more cash.

More than one in 10 (12%) of people who own property in London have moved someone into their home to create additional income, according to a new report from Barclays.

The figure reveals the impact of the capital's soaring housing costs - across the UK as a whole, the proportion of people renting out rooms stands at 3%.

The Barclays report also reveals that 16% of people aren't confident they'll be able to meet their mortgage or rental payments.

Cost of living pressures and higher interest rates have taken a toll on borrowers in the past couple of years.

Last month we reported how there had been a jump in the number of properties falling behind with mortgage payments.

The owner of Slug & Lettuce and Yates's bars has revealed concern over its future as it looks to refinance more than £2bn in debts due next year, The Telegraph reports .

Stonegate - the UK's biggest pub operator with 4,500 venues - said in its interim report that a "material uncertainty exists" over whether it can continue as a going concern (a term meaning a business has financial stability).

If the company is unable to refinance its debts, it said it "may be unable to realise its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business".

Stonegate is owned by the private equity firm TDR Capital, which jointly owns Asda.

It also runs the Be At One and Popworld chains and the Craft Union pub brand.

At the end of the financial year, its debts were more than £3bn.

Some of this is linked to its buyout of rival pub chain Ei Group in 2019.

David McDowall, chief executive of Stonegate, struck a more upbeat note in comments to the Money blog, saying: "I am really pleased with the performance of the business in 2023, which included a sector-leading Christmas trading period. 

"We have delivered a rise in revenue and a significant increase in profitability. Our all-round performance exemplifies the strength and depth of the Stonegate estate, with our outstanding Craft Union and L&T divisions continuing to lead the way. This is testament to the hard work of our people and partners, but also to the success of our ongoing initiatives to increase profitability across our portfolio of brands and venue formats. 

"Our performance gives me real confidence in the future and excitement in seeing our strategy come to fruition. Notably our asset optimisation plan which makes sure we have the right pub in the right location, further profit improvement initiatives, and above all our efforts to continue to support the Great British pub. 

"With a summer of sport on the horizon, and the Euro's and T20 World Cup fast approaching, we are looking forward to building on this momentum in the months ahead. We have been very clear that we continue to work towards achieving our long-term balance sheet goals, with the successful refinancing of a portion of our estate in December marking a significant strategic step towards this."

A record number of council bosses are earning salaries of at least £150,000 , according to new data from a pressure group.

The Taxpayers' Alliance annual Town Hall Rich List says at least 3,106 people employed in local authorities in 2022-23 received at least £100,000 - an increase of 347 on the previous year.

Of them, at least 829 received more than £150,000, the highest number since the list began in 2007.

John O'Connell, chief executive of the TPA, said residents "can use these figures to ask whether precious funds are really going towards frontline services, or whether town hall bosses can get better value for money".

M&S is investing £1m to change the diet of its milk-producing herd of cows and reduce the amount of methane they create.

The supermarket chain said it would work with 40 M&S dairy farmers to remove a projected 11,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere annually.

The move will cut the carbon footprint of M&S's fresh milk products by 8.4%, the company said.

Britons are being urged to "stop and think" before dipping into their retirement pot early during "peak" withdrawals season over the next few months.

Investment platform AJ Bell said people typically access their funds at the start of the tax year when allowances are refreshed.

Its director of public policy, Tom Selby, said this can be a "perfectly sensible thing to do" if there is a "thought-through withdrawal plan" in place.

However, he warned Britons not to make a "rash decision".

"Taking money out of your retirement pot early or withdrawing too much, too soon could have disastrous consequences over the long term," he said.

AJ Bell has listed five reasons why people should "stop and think" before accessing their retirement pot early:

• Early access increases the risk of running out of money in retirement and being left to rely solely on the state pension. For example, a healthy 55-year-old with a £100,000 pension pot who withdraws £5,000 a year could run out of funds by age 80 if their withdrawals increase with inflation;
• Accessing retirement cash early could also see savers miss out on investment growth;
• It will trigger the money purchase annual allowance (MPAA), which significantly reduces the amount you can save tax-free from £60,000 to £10,000;
• Hiking withdrawals could impact sustainability. Persistent high inflation could impact those with a laid-out withdrawal plan and risk them running out of funds early;
• Savers can pass on leftover pensions tax free if they die before the age of 75. AJ Bell says for those who wants to leave assets to loved ones, it makes sense to leave as much of your pension untouched as possible in order to minimise your tax bill.

Basically, a tax code is a series of numbers and letters used by employers or pension providers to work out how much tax should be deducted from your pay or pension at source.

Anyone in employment or with a private pension will have one.

Making sense of the letters and numbers

The number shows the amount you can earn tax-free - although you need to add a zero to get the actual figure. 

For example - the number 1257 means you can earn £12,570 a year tax-free.

The letters (which follow your tax code number) relate to your situation and how it alters your personal allowance.

For example,  L  means you are entitled to the tax-free personal allowance we outlined above. Therefore a tax code of 1257L (the most common tax code) means you are entitled to a personal allowance of £12,570 before any income tax is paid.

Here are what the other letters mean: 

• T  is similar to  L  in that if it follows numbers, you are entitled to that tax-free personal allowance. However, it also means HMRC will be taking a closer look at your tax affairs - usually the case if they are complicated;
• BR  means you aren't entitled to any personal allowance (usually because it's a second job etc) and will pay a flat rate of 20% tax. This is the same for  D0   but the rate is 40%, and  D1  where the rate is 45%.  SD2  is similar but only applicable in Scotland, where the top rate is 46%;
• K  means your personal allowance has been eroded down to less than nothing, meaning the number after the K is actually a negative personal allowance;
• 0T  means no personal allowance but you'll fall under the tax bands;
• NT  simply means "no tax";
• M  means your spouse or civil partner has transferred some of their personal allowance to you;
• N  means you've transferred it to your spouse/civil partner;
• If you have an  S  or a  C  ahead of any of the other letters, that just means you're living in Scotland or Wales. 

What happens when they're wrong?

Millions of Britons could be paying too much tax due to tax code issues, new data from Canada Life shows. 

A survey by the financial services provider found that 31% of adults have been on the wrong tax code at some point - with the average overpayment worth £689.

Over two thirds of those surveyed didn't know how to claim back overpaid tax.

The survey also found one in six UK adults did not know if they were on the right tax code and 39% were not aware what any of the letters or numbers on their tax code mean.

However, an HMRC spokesperson said: "We don't recognise these figures. 

"Tax codes are based on information provided by employers or pension providers. 

"People can check their code quickly and easily online and update any details that may be affecting it."

Why would my tax code be wrong?

There are any number of reasons HMRC could have the wrong tax code for you, including:

• A change in job 
• Having more than one source of income
• Retirement or having more than one pension
• Receiving employee benefits
• Starting your first job

How do I check my tax code?

You can check your tax code on your personal tax account online, or by looking at any payslip or via the HMRC app.

If you think it's wrong, you need to contact HMRC to tell them.

You can either phone 0300 200 3300, use their chat function or send them a letter. 

Emergency codes

W1 ,  M1  or  X are usually found after a regular tax code (eg 12570L W1).

This usually only happens if there's a delay in HMRC receiving details about a change in your circumstances, for example if you've just started a new job. 

SportsDirect.com, owned by Mike Ashley, is bringing a claim today against Newcastle United - the club Mr Ashley used to own.

It concerns a deal Newcastle has with JD Sports to offer exclusive kit sale rights.

The Competition and Appeals Tribunal will hear the case today - though it's not clear when a decision will come. 

Reports suggest Mr Ashley is seeking £1.5m in damages.

His company claims the club is abusing its dominant market position by refusing to supply its replica kit for the 2024-25 season.

Businesses are allowed to strike exclusivity deals unless they are in a dominant market position - for example, companies like Amazon or Google clearly have that status.

This case could rest on whether the tribunal deems Newcastle to hold such a position in the market.

By  Sarah Taaffe-Maguire , business reporter

As we mentioned below, there's possible bad news ahead for the London Stock Exchange (LSE) with talk of the biggest company in the FTSE 100, Shell, moving to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

There's been a run of bad news for the LSE over the past year or so. The world's largest building products manufacturer, CRH, moved to New York, while travel company Tui moved to Frankfurt. And despite the lobbying of numerous prime ministers, UK-based chip company Arm chose the NYSE.

It's been a good morning for Shell's fellow FTSE 100 constituent, the oil giant BP. It announced production higher in oil and slightly higher in gas and low carbon energy on Monday, which brought the share price to a five-month high.

Both companies are going to be boosted by the oil price, which is sticking around $90 as a barrel of the benchmark Brent crude is selling for $90.48.

On the currency market, one pound equals $1.2652 and €1.1652.

Shell is weighing up quitting the London Stock Exchange (LSE) for a move to New York over concerns its listing is currently "undervalued".

Chief executive Wael Sawan told Bloomberg that he was mulling "all options".

The British oil and gas giant is currently the largest company in the FTSE 100 index, and its departure from the LSE would be a significant blow to the UK stock market that is fighting to stay relevant.

Explaining the gap between Shell and its New York rivals Exxon Mobil Corp and and Chevron Corp, Mr Sawan told Bloomberg: "I have a location that clearly seems to be undervalued."

The oil boss said he was currently in the middle of a "sprint" of 10 quarters to cut costs.

He continued: "If we work through the sprint, and we are doing what we are doing, and we still don't see that the gap is closing, we have to look at all options."

The chancellor announced a scrapping of the non-dom status in his March budget, saying the decision would raise £2.7bn for a 2p cut in national insurance.

Labour have been committed to abolishing non-dom status for years - upon gaining power they planned to use the money to fund breakfast clubs for primary school children and additional appointments in the NHS.

The government has also adopted Labour's plans to extend the windfall tax on oil and gas companies

Facing questions about where funding would now come from for key policies, the party has today offered details for the first time.

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to announce the party's plans to raise £5bn a year by the end of the next parliament...

• Labour has said it will raise £2.6bn by closing "loopholes" in the government's non-doms plan - after certain exemptions were kept in place by Jeremy Hunt;
• Labour said the "tax gap" - the difference between the amount of money HMRC is owed and the amount it receives - had widened to £36bn in 2021-22 - £5bn more than it had been the previous year;
• To close the gap, Labour said it would invest up to £555m a year in boosting the number of compliance officers at HMRC, increasing productivity and improving the organisation's "dire" customer service;
• It will also consider requiring more tax schemes to be registered with HMRC to ensure they are legitimate, and renew the focus on offshore tax compliance.

It is understood that only £2bn of the £5bn raised per year will fund breakfast clubs and NHS appointments, with the rest of the money being kept back for other uses.

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to say: "I have been clear that everything in our manifesto will be fully costed and fully funded. There will be no exceptions."

The government has responded by saying: "The Conservatives have introduced over 200 measures to clamp down on tax non-compliance and we are sticking to the plan to strengthen the economy so we can cut taxes, putting £900 in the pockets of the average worker and helping families to build a brighter future."

Ted Baker is to shut 15 of its stores across the UK within weeks, the retailer's administrators have announced.

Around 245 staff will be made redundant.

It comes after  Sky News revealed  that hundreds of jobs were at risk after the company behind the brand's UK shops, No Ordinary Designer Label Limited (NODL), collapsed last month.

In a statement, the administrators confirmed 11 UK stores will close by 19 April, resulting in the loss of about 120 roles.

A further four stores will also shut "in the coming weeks", resulting in 100 additional redundancies.

These shops had already been earmarked for closure prior to the firm's collapse, it has been revealed.

Around 25 head office jobs will also be axed as part of cost-cutting plans, administrators Teneo Financial Advisory said.

The 11 branches which will close as part of the administration process include:

• Birmingham Bullring • Bristol • Bromley • Cambridge • Exeter • Leeds • Liverpool One • London Bridge • Milton Keynes • Nottingham • Oxford

Administrators said the shops were "all currently loss-making" and had "no prospect of being returned to profitability, even with material rent reductions".

They added: "As such, their closure is believed to be a constructive and necessary step in ensuring the business can deliver a profitable trading performance in the future."

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