primelink travel insurance reviews

Universal Prime-Link travel medical insurance

Po box 62 station a,, windsor, ontario, canada, n9a 6j5, universal prime-link travel medical insurance reviews ( %countitem ).

Below is what I wrote to the company. RE: Prime Link Travel Medical Insurance *** To Whom It May Concern, I want to bring your attention to a matter of unfairness on the part of your company. I have just returned from a vacation in the USA. When I was purchasing travel insurance I discussed with the agent that I may return on the Friday or Saturday and she advised me that I could get a refund for the Saturday if I returned early and told me what number to call on my return. IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME LISTEN TO THE TAPE! I debated if I should pay until Friday and add the extra day if necessary but when I was told that I could get the extra day refunded, I decided to pay for the Saturday. Last night (Friday) the first thing I did after getting in the house was to phone that number only to find out that the office was closed so I phoned the other number and spoke to *** who offered to connect me to the other department but advised me that they were closed. First thing this morning I called only to be told that the credit for the one day for both of these policies was not enough for them make a refund. HERE IS THE THING. YOUR AGENT SHOULD HAVE ADVISED ME THAT NO REFUND WOULD BE MADE BECAUSE OF SOME RULE ABOUT THE MINIMUM AMOUNT THAT WILL BE REFUNDED INSTEAD OF MISLEADING ME. OBVIOUSLY, HAD I BEEN GIVEN THE PROPER INFORMATION, I WOULD HAVE ADDED THE EXTRA DAY LATER IF I NEEDED IT. This leaves a very bad taste. I am asking you to refund the amount due for the extra day for both of these policies and I am asking you to advise your agents to stop misleading your customers by giving the wrong information. Looking forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely, *** Product_Or_Service: *** Account_Number:

Refund Refund the amount owing for both policies and advise your Prime Link agents not to tell customers that a refund will be made for extra days not used if in fact no refund will be made because of some minimum requirement that was not disclosed at the time of the discussion with the agent. It is not helpful if this missing information is buried in the fine print that is received AFTER the point of sale.

Customer made complaint to us over weekend, we spoke to him on the next Monday the 17th of December and resolved his complaint.

(The consumer indicated he/she ACCEPTED the response from the business.) I was pleased with the professional way that my complaint was handled. It was swift and reasonable and the person who contacted me took responsibility for the problem and solved it without making me jump through hoops. I have not actually checked to see if the refund has been made to my credit card but I expect it will be fine. I do hope that they have also informed their agents that they should give more accurate information - namely that when they promise that there will be a refund of unused days that there is a minimum requirement. I am very impressed with the actions taken by the Revdex.com too. I was not really expecting that my little issue would even get a reply. Bravo! Many Thanks

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Address: PO Box 62 Station A,, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, N9A 6J5

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11 Best Travel Insurance Companies in June 2024

Sean Cudahy is a freelance reporter specializing in coverage of airlines, travel, loyalty programs and public policy. A journalist of nine years, Sean most recently served as a general assignment reporter at The Points Guy, following an eight-year run as a local television news reporter. He lives with his wife and their French Bulldog outside Raleigh, North Carolina.

Giselle M. Cancio is an editor for the travel rewards team at NerdWallet. She has traveled to over 30 states and 20 countries, redeeming points and miles for almost a decade. She has over eight years of experience in journalism and content development across many topics.

She has juggled many roles in her career: writer, editor, social media manager, producer, on-camera host, videographer and photographer. She has been published in several media outlets and was selected to report from the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

She frequents national parks and is on her way to checking all 30 Major League Baseball parks off her list. When she's not on a plane or planning her next trip, she's crafting, reading, playing board games, watching sports or trying new recipes.

She is based in Miami.

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

If the past few years have shown us anything, it’s that travelers need to be prepared for the unexpected — from a pandemic to flight troubles to the crowded airport terminals so many of us have encountered.

If you don't have sufficient travel insurance coverage via your credit card , you can supplement your policies with third-party plans.

Whether you’re looking for an international travel insurance plan, emergency medical care or a policy that includes extreme sports, these are the best travel insurance providers to get you covered.

How we found the best travel insurance

We looked at quotes from various companies for a 10-day trip to Mexico in September 2024. The traveler was a 55-year-old woman from Florida who spent $3,000 total on the trip, including airfare.

On average, the price of each company’s most basic coverage plan was $126.53. The costs displayed below do not include optional add-ons, such as Cancel For Any Reason coverage or pre-existing medical condition coverage.

Read our full analysis about the average cost of travel insurance so you can budget better for your next trip.

However, depending on the plan, you may be able to customize at an added cost.

As we continue to evaluate more travel insurance companies and receive fresh market data, this collection of best travel insurance companies is likely to change. See our full methodology for more details.

Best insurance companies

Types of travel insurance

What does travel insurance cover, what’s not covered, how much does it cost, do i need travel insurance, how to choose the best travel insurance policy, what are the top travel destinations in 2024, more resources for travel insurance shoppers.

Top credit cards with travel insurance

Methodology

Best travel insurance overall: berkshire hathaway travel protection.

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection

• ExactCare Value (basic) plan is among the least expensive we surveyed.
• Speciality plans available for road trips, luxury travel, adventure activities, flights and cruises.
• Company may reimburse claimants faster than average, including possible same-day compensation.
• Multiple "Trip Delay" coverage types might make claims confusing.
• Cheapest plan only includes fixed amounts for its coverage.

Under the direction of chair and CEO Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection has been around since 2014. Its plans provide numerous opportunities for travelers to customize coverage to their needs.

At $135 for our sample trip, the ExactCare Value (basic) plan from Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection offers protection roughly $10 above the average price.

Want something cheaper? Air travelers looking for inexpensive, less comprehensive protections might opt for a basic AirCare plan that includes fixed amounts for its coverage .

Read our full review of Berkshire Hathaway .

What else makes Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection great:

Pre-existing medical condition exclusion waivers available at nearly all plan levels. 

Plans available for travelers going on a cruise, participating in extreme sports or taking a luxury trip.

ExactCare Value (basic) plan was among the least expensive we surveyed.

Best for emergency medical coverage: Allianz Global Assistance

Annual or single-trip policies are available.

• Multiple types of insurance available.
• All plans include access to a 24/7 assistance hotline.
• More expensive than average.
• CFAR upgrades are not available.
• Rental car protection is only available by adding the One Trip Rental Car protector to your plan or by purchasing a standalone rental car plan.

Allianz Global Assistance is a reputable travel insurance company offering plans for over 25 years. Customers can choose from a variety of single and annual policies to fit their needs. On top of comprehensive coverage, some travelers might opt for the more affordable OneTrip Cancellation Plus, which is geared toward domestic travelers looking for trip protections but don’t need post-departure benefits like emergency medical or baggage lost.

For our test trip, Allianz Global Assistance’s basic coverage cost $149, about $22 above average.

What else makes Allianz Global Assistance great:

Annual and single-trip plans.

Plans are available for international and domestic trips.

Stand-alone and add-on rental car damage product available.

Read our full review of Allianz Global Assistance .

Best for travelers with pre-existing medical conditions: Travel Guard by AIG

Travel Guard by AIG

• Offers last-minute coverage.
• Pre-Existing Medical Conditions Exclusion Waiver available at all plan levels.
• Plan available for business travelers.
• Cancel For Any reason coverage only available for higher-level plans, and only reimburses up to 50% of the trip cost.
• Trip interruption coverage doesn't apply to trips paid for with points and miles.

Travel Guard by AIG offers a variety of plans and coverages to fit travelers’ needs. On top of more standard trip protections like trip cancellation, interruption, baggage and medical coverage, the Cancel For Any Reason upgrade is available on certain Travel Guard plans, which allows you to cancel a trip for any reason and get 50% of your nonrefundable deposit back as long as the trip is canceled at least two days before the scheduled departure date.

At $107 for our sample trip, the Essential plan was below average, saving roughly $20.

What else makes Travel Guard by AIG great:

Three comprehensive plans and a Pack N' Go plan for last-minute travelers who don't need cancellation benefits.

Flight protection, car rental, and medical evacuation coverage, as well as annual plans available.

Pre-existing medical conditions exclusion waiver available on all plan levels, as long as it's purchased within 15 days.

Read our full review of Travel Guard by AIG .

Best for those who pack expensive equipment: Travel Insured International

Travel Insured International

• Higher-level plan include optional add-ons for event tickets and for electronic equipment
• Rental car protection add-on for just $8 per day, even on lower-level plan.
• Many of the customizations are only available on the higher-tier plan.
• Coverage cost comes in above average in our latest analysis.

Travel Insured International offers several customization options. For instance, those going to see a show may want to add on event ticket registration fee protection. Traveling with expensive gear?Consider adding on coverage for electronic equipment for up to $2,000 in coverage.

Be sure to check which policies are available in your state. You will need to input your destination, residence, trip dates and the number of travelers to get a quote and see coverages.

What else makes Travel Insured International great:

Comprehensive plans include medical expense reimbursement accidents, sickness, evacuation and pre-existing conditions, depending on the plan.

Flight plans include coverage for missed and canceled flights and lost or stolen baggage.

Read our full review of Travel Insured International .

Best for adventurous travelers: World Nomads

World Nomads

• Travelers can extend coverage mid-trip.
• The standard plan covers up to $300,000 in emergency evacuation costs.
• Plans automatically cover 200+ adventurous activities.
• No Cancel For Any Reason upgrades are available.
• No pre-existing medical condition waivers are available.

Many travel insurance plans contain exclusions for adventure sports activities. If you plan to ski, bungee jump, windsurf or parasail, this might be a plan to consider.

Note that the Standard plan ($72 for our sample trip), while the most affordable, provides less coverage than other plans. But it can be a good choice for travelers who are satisfied with trip cancellation and interruption coverage of $2,500 or less, do not need rental car damage protection, find the limits to be sufficient and do not need coverage for certain more adventurous activities.

What else makes World Nomads great:

Comprehensive international travel insurance plans.

Coverage available for adventure activities, such as trekking, mountain biking and scuba diving.

Read our full review of World Nomads .

Best for medical coverage: Travelex Insurance Services

Travelex Insurance Services

• Top-tier plan doesn’t break the bank and provides more customization opportunities.
• Offers a plan specifically for domestic travel.
• Sells a post-departure medical coverage plan.
• Fewer customization opportunities on the Basic plan.
• Though perhaps a plus for domestic travelers, keep in mind the Travel America plan only covers domestic trips.

For starters, basic coverage from Travelex Insurance Services came in at $125, almost exactly average for our sample trip.

Travelex’s plans focus heavily on providing protections that are personalized to your travel style and trip type.

While the company does offer comprehensive plans that include medical benefits, you can also choose between cheaper plans that don’t provide cancellation coverage but do offer protections during your travels.

Read our full review of Travelex Insurance Services .

What else makes Travelex Insurance Services great:

Three comprehensive plans available, two of which cover international trips.

Offers a post-departure plan geared exclusively toward disruptions after you leave home.

Two flight insurance plans available.

Best if you have travel credit card coverage: Seven Corners

Seven Corners

• Annual, medical-only and backpacker plans are available.
• Cancel For Any Reason upgrade is available for the cheapest plan.
• Cheapest plan also features a much less costly Interruption for Any Reason add-on.
• Offers only one annual policy option.

Each Seven Corners plan offers several optional add-ons. Among the more unique is a Trip Interruption for Any Reason, which allows you to interrupt a trip 48 hours after the scheduled departure date (for any reason) and receive a refund of up to 75% of your unused nonrefundable deposits.

» Jump to the best cards with travel insurance

The basic coverage plan for our trip to Mexico costs $124 — right around the average.

What else makes Seven Corners great:

Comprehensive plans for U.S. residents and foreigners, including travelers visiting the U.S.

Cheap add-ons for rental car damage, sporting equipment rental or trip interruption for any reason.

Read our full review of Seven Corners .

Best for long-term travelers: IMG

• Coverage available for adventure travelers.
• Offers direct billing.
• Claim approval can be lengthy.

While some travel insurance companies offer just a handful of plans, with IMG, you’ll really have your pick. Though this requires a bit more research, it allows you to search for coverage that fits your travel needs.

However, travelers will want to be aware that IMG’s iTravelInsured Travel Lite is expensive. Coming in at $149.85, it’s the costliest plan on our list.

Read our full review of IMG .

What else makes IMG great:

More affordable than average.

Many plans to choose from to fit your needs.

Best for travelers with unpredictable work demands: Tin Leg

• In addition Cancel For Any Reason, some plans offer cancel for work reason coverage.
• Adventure sports-specific coverage is available.
• Plans have overlap that can be hard to distinguish.
• Only one plan includes Rental Car Damage coverage available as an add-on.

Tin Leg’s Basic plan came in at $134 for our sample trip, adding about $8 onto the average basic policy cost. Note that you’ll pay a lot more if you shop for the most comprehensive coverage, and there are eight plans to choose from for trips abroad.

The multitude of plans can help you find coverage that fits your needs, but with so many to choose from, deciding can be daunting.

The only real way to figure out your ideal plan is to compare them all, look at the plan details and decide which features and coverage suit you and your travel style best.

Read our full Tin Leg review .

Best for booking travel with points and miles: TravelSafe

• Covers up to $300 redepositing points and miles on eligible canceled award flights.
• Optional add-on protection for business equipment or sports rentals.
• Multi-trip or year-long plans aren’t available.

Selecting your travel insurance plan with TravelSafe is a fairly straightforward process. The company’s website also makes it easy to visualize how optional add-on elements influence the total cost, displaying the final price as soon as you click the coverage.

However, at $136, the Basic plan was among the more expensive for our trip to Mexico.

What else makes TravelSafe great:

Rental car damage coverage add-on is available on both plans.

Cancel For Any Reason coverage available on the TravelSafe Classic plan.

Read our full TravelSafe review .

Best for group travel insurance: HTH Insurance

HTH Travel Insurance

• Covers travelers up to 95 years old.
• Includes direct pay option so members can avoid having to pay up front for services.
• A 24-hour delay is required for baggage delay coverage on the TripProtector Economy plan.
• No waivers for pre-existing conditions on the lower-level plan.

HTH offers single-trip and multitrip medical insurance coverage as well as trip protection plans.

At around $125, the Trip Protector Economy policy is at the average mark for plans we reviewed.

You can choose to insure group trips for educators, crew, religious missionaries and corporate travelers.

What else makes HTH Insurance great:

Medical-only coverage and trip protection coverage.

Lots of options for group travelers.

Read our full review of HTH Insurance .

As you shop for travel insurance, you’ll find many of the same coverage categories across numerous plans.

Trip cancellation

This covers the prepaid costs you make for your trip in cases when you need to cancel for a covered reason. This coverage helps you recoup upfront costs paid for flights and nonrefundable hotel reservations.

Trip interruption

Trip interruption benefits generally involve disruptions after you depart. It helps reimburse costs incurred for flight delays, cancellations and plenty of other covered disruptions you might encounter during your travels.

This coverage can cover the costs for you to return home or reimburse unexpected expenses like an extra hotel stay, meals and ground transportation.

Trip delay coverage helps cover unexpected costs when your trip is delayed. This is another coverage that helps offset the costs of flight trouble or other travel disruptions.

Note that many policies have a total amount a traveler can claim, with caps on per diem benefits, too.

Cancel For Any Reason

Cancel For Any Reason coverage allows you to recoup some of the upfront costs you paid for a trip even if you’re canceling for a reason not otherwise covered by your standard travel insurance policy.

Typically, adding this protection to your plan costs extra.

Baggage delay

This coverage helps cover the costs of essential items you might need when your luggage is delayed. Think toiletries, clothing and other immediate items you might need if your luggage didn’t make it on your flight.

Many travel insurance plans with baggage delay protection will specify how long (six, 12, 24 hours, etc.) your luggage must be delayed before you can make a claim.

Lost baggage

Used for travelers whose luggage is lost or stolen, this helps recoup the lost value of the items in your bag.

You’ll want to make sure you closely follow the correct procedures for your plan. Many plans include a maximum total amount you can claim under this coverage and a per-item cap.

Travel medical insurance

This covers out-of-pocket medical costs when travelers run into an emergency.

Because many travelers’ health insurance plans don’t cover medical care overseas, travel medical insurance can help offset out-of-pocket health care costs.

In addition to emergency medical coverage, many plans have medical evacuation or repatriation coverage for costs incurred when you must be taken to a hospital or return to your home country because of a medical situation.

Most travel insurance plans cover many trip protections that can help you be prepared for unexpected travel disruptions and expenses.

These coverages are generally aimed at protecting the money you put into your trip, expenses you incur because of travel trouble and costs incurred if you have a medical emergency overseas.

On top of core coverages like trip cancellation and interruption and travel medical coverage, some plans offer add-on options like waivers for pre-existing conditions, rental car collision damage waivers or adventure sports riders. These usually cost extra or must be added within a specified timeframe.

Typical travel insurance policies offer coverage for many unforeseen events, but as you research to select a plan, consider your needs. Though every plan differs, there are some commonly excluded coverages.

For instance, you typically can’t get coverage for a named storm if you bought the coverage after the storm was named. In other words, if you have a trip to the Caribbean booked for Sept. 25 and on Sept. 20 a hurricane develops and is named, you generally won’t be able to buy a travel insurance plan Sept. 21 in hopes of getting your money back.

Many plans also don’t cover activities performed under the influence of drugs or alcohol or any extreme sports. If the latter applies to you, you might want to consider a plan with specific coverages for adventure-seekers.

For numerous plans, a few other situations don’t qualify as an acceptable reason to cancel and make a claim, such as fear of travel, medical tourism or pregnancies (unless you booked a trip and bought insurance before you became pregnant or there are complications with the pregnancy). This is where a Cancel For Any Reason add-on to your coverage can be helpful.

You can also run into trouble if you give up on a trip too soon: a minor (or even multihour) flight delay likely isn’t sufficient to cancel your entire trip and get reimbursed through your plan. Be sure to review what requirements your specific plan has when it comes to canceling a trip, claiming trip interruption, etc.

Travel insurance costs vary widely. The final price of your plan will fluctuate based on your age, length of trip and destination.

It will also depend on how much coverage you need, whether you add on specialized policies (like Cancel For Any Reason or pre-existing conditions coverage), whether you plan to participate in extreme sports and other factors.

In our examples above, for instance, the 35-year-old traveler taking a $2,000 trip to Italy would have spent an average $76 for a basic plan to get coverage for things like trip cancellation and interruption, baggage protection, etc. That’s a little less than 4% of the total trip cost — lower than average.

If there were multiple members in a traveling party or if they were going on, say, a rock-climbing or bungee-jumping excursion, the costs would go up.

On average, travel insurance comes to about 5% to 10% of the trip cost. However, considering many of the plans reimburse up to 100% of the trip cost (or more) for disruptions like trip cancellation or interruption, it can be a worthwhile expense if something goes wrong.

It depends. Consider the following factors that might affect your decision: You’re young and healthy, all your bookings are refundable or cancelable without a penalty, your flights are nonstop, you’re not checking bags and a credit card you carry offers some travel protections . In that case, travel insurance might not be necessary.

On the other hand, if you prepaid a large chunk of money for a nonrefundable African safari, you’re going on a Caribbean cruise in the middle of a hurricane season or you’re going somewhere where the cost of health care is high, it’s not a bad idea to buy a travel insurance plan. Here’s how to find the best travel insurance coverage for you.

If you’re thinking of booking a trip and not planning to buy travel insurance, you may want to consider at least booking refundable airfare and not prepaying for hotel, rental car and activity reservations. That way, if something goes wrong, you can cancel without losing any money.

Selecting the best travel insurance policy comes down to your needs, concerns, preferences and budget.

As you book, take a few minutes to consider what most concerns you. Is it getting stranded because of flight trouble? Having the ability to cancel for any reason you see fit without losing money? Getting sick or injured right before departure and needing to postpone the trip? Injuring yourself or falling ill while overseas?

Ultimately, you want a plan that protects you, your money and the large investment in your trip — but doesn’t cost too much, either.

Medical coverage. If your priority is having adequate medical coverage abroad, you might want to look for plans with high limits for medical emergencies and medical evacuation.

Complex travel itinerary. If your itinerary has lots of flight connections, prepaid hotels and deposits for activities you can’t get back, prioritizing a plan with the best coverage for trip cancellations or interruptions may land at the top of your list.

Travel uncertainty. If you’re on the fence about a trip and have nonrefundable reservations, you may want to select a plan with a Cancel For Any Reason coverage option, which can help you recoup about 50% to 75% of the costs. This helps provide peace of mind, placing the decision on whether to travel entirely in your hands.

Car rentals. If you’re renting a car, a collision damage waiver is often worth looking into.

The following destinations are the top insured destinations in 2024, according to Squaremouth (a NerdWallet partner).

The Bahamas.

Costa Rica.

Antarctica.

In 2022, travelers spent about 25.53% more on trips than they did before the pandemic.

As of December, NerdWallet analysis determined travel prices are 10% higher than pre-pandemic. Each statistic makes a strong case for protecting your travel investment as you plan your next trip.

Bookmark these resources to help you make smart money moves as you shop for travel insurance.

What is travel insurance?

CFAR explained.

Is travel insurance worth getting?

10 credit cards that provide travel insurance.

We used the following factors to choose insurance providers to highlight:

Breadth of coverage: We looked at how many plans each company offered plus the range of their standard plans. 

Depth of coverage: We considered two data points to get a sense of how much each company pays out for common travel issues — the maximum caps for trip cancellation and trip interruption claims.

Cost: By looking at the costs for basic coverage across multiple companies, we determined an average cost for shoppers to benchmark plan prices against.

Customizability: While standard plans can cover a lot of ground, sometimes you need something a little more personal.

Customer satisfaction. Using data from Squaremouth when available, and Google Reviews as a backup, we can give kudos to companies with better track records from their clients.

No, it doesn’t necessarily get more expensive the longer you wait to purchase. However, as you put off buying insurance, you may lose access to potential plans and coverage options.

In general, buying travel insurance within a few days to two weeks of prepaying or making an initial deposit for your trip is your best bet. Assuming you’re not booking last-minute, this will provide you with access to the widest possible range of coverage options. It also helps prevent any medical conditions or storms that pop up between booking and buying a plan from ending up as excluded situations, which won’t be covered by your plan.

But, generally, many plans do allow you to buy coverage quite close to your departure date.

To get the most out of your travel insurance plan, buy it soon after making your initial prepayment or deposit to ensure you have access to the biggest menu of plans possible.

Select a plan that’s comprehensive enough to cover the travel scenarios you’re most concerned about or likely to encounter but not too expensive or laden with protections you’d never likely need.

Whatever your coverage, thoroughly review the plan so you understand what’s covered and what’s not, plus how to adhere to the plan’s rules for making a claim.

Travelers frequently use phrases like “trip insurance” and “travel insurance,” as well as “trip protection,” interchangeably, but they do mean different things, according to Stan Sandberg, founder of insurance comparison site TravelInsurance.com.

Trip insurance, or trip protection, generally refers to predeparture (or preevent) coverage if you need to cancel. You may see these plans sold by airlines, online travel agencies or even ticketed event sellers.

“You could refer to it as the portion that protects the investment in the trip,” Sandberg says.

A travel insurance plan typically includes that — plus more comprehensive benefits to protect you during your trip, from medical coverage to trip delay and lost baggage protections, and many more elements, depending on the plan.

Though travel insurance is typically not required for international trips, your personal circumstances will play a key role in whether it’s a good investment.

For instance, young, healthy travelers with few prepaid trip expenses embarking on a relatively risk-free trip may not see a need to buy a plan.

Older travelers with complicated itineraries who are visiting destinations where they could potentially fall ill or get injured — or who could encounter bad weather or some other disrupting factor along the way — may want to buy coverage.

Consider a few key questions:

How well would your health insurance plan cover you if you needed to visit a hospital overseas?

How much did you prepay for a hotel or rental car?

How much money would you be out if weather or some other flight issue derailed your itinerary?

Could you afford an unexpected night in a city where you have a connecting flight?

Do you already have a credit card that provides some travel protections?

Your answers to these questions can help you decide whether you need travel insurance for your international trip.

In general, buying travel insurance

within a few days to two weeks of prepaying or making an initial deposit

for your trip is your best bet. Assuming you’re not booking last-minute, this will provide you with access to the widest possible range of coverage options. It also helps prevent any medical conditions or storms that pop up between booking and buying a plan from ending up as excluded situations, which won’t be covered by your plan.

How to maximize your rewards

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

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

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

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

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

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

On a similar note...

Coverage You Can Count On

The universal plan.

For the everyday traveller

Emergency medical

Trip cancellation and interruption

Snowbird option available

Casual cross-border trips

The Universal plan from PrimeLink ™ provides medical travel insurance coverage for Canadian individuals and families travelling out of province or abroad. Coverage options are flexible and can be specified based on individual needs. The plan can be used for annual coverage, or for a single trip, and can provide either medical or all inclusive protection.

Primelink ™ provides competitive rates and offers discounts for domestic travel. claims can be filed with speed and ease over the phone or by using the travelaid ™ mobile app., applying for universal insurance coverage.

Getting Universal travel insurance from PrimeLink ™ is simple. You only need to answer some basic questions about yourself and your itinerary, and select the coverage you want. Once you’ve supplied your answers, you’ll receive a quote. The service is free and requires no obligation. If you have any questions you can give us a call.

Universal Features

• Single or Annual Plans: Whether you’re going south for the winter, taking regular trips throughout the year or spending the weekend away, the Universal plan has you covered.
• Choose Between All Inclusive or Medical: Choose which parts of your vacation you want to have covered.
• Emergency Protection: The Universal plan covers medical conditions experienced during your travels. For a policy that covers pre-existing conditions, select our TravelSense ™ plan .

Enjoy Your Trip

Travelling is enjoyable. Insurance isn’t. Get the latter out of the way with as little difficulty as possible so you can focus on the fun part.

The PrimeLink ™ Universal travel insurance plan provides thorough coverage at a great rate, and takes just a few minutes to acquire. Get in, get covered and get out. Then get out there and travel with confidence, knowing we’ve got your back if something unexpected happens.

An Actual Universal Plan Quote

Two adults and two children, seven day international trip, emergency medical coverage, universal policies cover incidents that occur after you book your trip. options include emergency medical, trip cancellation and all inclusive coverage..

This quote is for a family of four, including two adults in their 50s and two children. The policy costs $69.74, and covers emergency medical issues experienced by the family while they are outside Canada.

The quote you receive after completing the Universal insurance application will depend on your trip duration and destination. Travellers who take multiple trips within the same year can opt for an annual plan that provides continuous coverage each time their home province is left.

Bring peace of mind on your next vacation

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PrimeLink™ Insurance is owned and operated by CanAm Insurance Services (2018) Limited. Contact us by telephone at 1.877.884.8086 or by email at [email protected] .

PrimeLink™ Insurance is distributed by CanAm Insurance Services (2018) Limited and is underwritten by The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company and First North American Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Manulife.

Manulife coverage is underwritten by The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company and First North American Insurance Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Manulife, P.O. Box 670, Stn. Waterloo, Waterloo ON, N2J 4B8. Manulife and the Block design are trademarks of The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company and are used by its affiliates under license.

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• PrimeLink Plans

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APRIL International

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Reviews Report

• Reviews.com rates IMG as the best travel insurance company, earning a 4.75 out of 5.
• The best travel insurance companies have broad areas and limits of coverage and excellent service for the insured.
• Medical coverage and trip cancellation/interruption are must-haves when choosing the best travel insurance company.

Travel insurance is an often overlooked way to protect the investment in your vacation or trip abroad. It covers incidents such as canceling trips, medical evacuation, lost or delayed baggage, and more. However, picking the best travel insurance policy isn’t always easy — especially when COVID-19 has slowed travel and canceled trips outright.

In making our selections for the best travel insurance companies of 2021 we analyzed each company’s travel insurance offerings using a number of criteria like medical coverage limits, available add-on coverage options, and the number of plans to choose from.

The 6 Best Travel Insurance Companies of 2021

• IMG : Best Overall Travel Insurance
• John Hancock : Best Insurance for Travel Cost Reimbursement
• Allianz Global : Best Travel Insurance for Tailored Plans
• AXA : Best for Premier Travel Insurance Plans
• World Nomads Travel Insurance : Best Travel Insurance for Adventure Sports
• APRIL International : Best Travel Insurance for Group Travel

Compare the Best Travel Insurance Companies

Information accurate as of April 2021

Why we chose it

• 4.75 Reviews Score Score is based on company’s customer experience, financial stability, and coverage options.
• NR AM Best Rate AM Best rates insurance providers creditworthiness. Ratings are based on the provider’s ability to follow through with a payout when a consumer files a claim.
• $100K–$500K Medical Coverage Medical coverage is what the company will pay out to you if you were injured or ill on your trip and needed medical care abroad.
• 180 days Trip Length This is the maximum number of days the travel insurance company will cover your trip.
• Plans specifically for seniors available
• Additional add-on coverage available
• High medical coverage
• Number of plans is limited
• Lengthy wait to initiate claim for lost luggage
• Trip cancellation: $50K
• Trip interruption: 150% cost of trip
• Medical coverage: $500K
• Medical evacuation: $1M
• Sports/recreation: $500K
• Travel delay: $500 (Max $125/day)
• iTravelInsured Travel Lite
• iTravelInsured SE
• iTravelInsured LX
• Senior plan
• 4.2 Reviews Score Score is based on company’s customer experience, financial stability, and coverage options.
• A+ AM Best Rate AM Best rates insurance providers creditworthiness. Ratings are based on the provider’s ability to follow through with a payout when a consumer files a claim.
• $50K–$250K Medical Coverage Medical coverage is what the company will pay out to you if you were injured or ill on your trip and needed medical care abroad.
• 90 days Trip Length This is the maximum number of days the travel insurance company will cover your trip.
• Multiple plans
• 24/7 emergency travel assistance
• Up to $1K missed connection coverage
• Lower medical emergency coverage than competitors
• Few add-on coverage
• No free child traveler coverage
• Trip cancellation: Up to 100% of trip cost
• Trip interruption: Up to 150% of trip cost
• Emergency medical: Up to $250K
• Medical evacuation: Up to $1M
• Baggage delay: $500
• Lost baggage: $2,500
• Bronze: Basic plan with lower coverage limits than other two
• Silver: Intermediate plan with more value than Bronze 
• Gold: Premier plan with best coverage 

More John Hancock Insurance Reviews 

• John Hancock Travel Insurance Review
• 3.4 Reviews Score Score is based on company’s customer experience, financial stability, and coverage options.
• $25K–$50K Medical Coverage Medical coverage is what the company will pay out to you if you were injured or ill on your trip and needed medical care abroad.
• Multiple plans to choose from
• Children 17 and under, free
• Annual plan for multiple trips
• Relatively low medical limits
• Often difficult to compare multiple plan offerings
• Some plans are relatively expensive
• Trip cancellation: Up to $100,000
• Trip interruption: Up to $150,000
• Medical coverage: $50,000
• Emergency medical: $25,000
• Lost baggage: $1,000
• Change fee: $500
• Annual Plans
• One Trip Cancellation Plus
• One Trip Basic, Prime, Premier
• One Trip Emergency Medical

More Allianz Global Insurance Reviews

Allianz Travel Insurance Review

• 4 Reviews Score Score is based on company’s customer experience, financial stability, and coverage options.
• $25K–$250K Medical Coverage Medical coverage is what the company will pay out to you if you were injured or ill on your trip and needed medical care abroad.
• 60 days Trip Length This is the maximum number of days the travel insurance company will cover your trip.
• Very comprehensive top tier coverage
• Broad adventure travel coverage
• No deductible
• Limited coverage for lower tier plans
• Extensive exclusions for lost/damaged personal property
• Trip delay: Up to $300/day; $1,250 max
• Medical coverage: Up to $250K
• Medical evacuation: Up to $1M 
• Baggage delay: Up to $750 max
• Lost baggage: Up to $3K
• Silver Plan: Basic plan
• Gold Plan: Better value
• Platinum Plan: Premier coverage
• Adventure Product
• 2.75 Reviews Score Score is based on company’s customer experience, financial stability, and coverage options.
• Not Rated AM Best Rate AM Best rates insurance providers creditworthiness. Ratings are based on the provider’s ability to follow through with a payout when a consumer files a claim.
• Up to $100K Medical Coverage Medical coverage is what the company will pay out to you if you were injured or ill on your trip and needed medical care abroad.
• Adventure sports coverage
• Language apps for iPhones
• COVID-19 coverage
• No pre-existing med coverage
• Restricted civil unrest coverage
• Less extensive med coverage
• Emergency dental: $750
• Trip cancellation: $2,500 / $10K
• Trip interruption: $2,500 / $10K
• Medical evacuation: $300K / $500K
• Lost, damaged, stolen gear: $1K/$3K
• Standard Plan
• Explorer (Enhanced) Plan
• 4.25 Reviews Score Score is based on company’s customer experience, financial stability, and coverage options.
• 60-90 days Trip Length This is the maximum number of days the travel insurance company will cover your trip.
• High coverage for trip delay
• Group travel policies available
• Cancel for any reason available
• Low trip cost coverage
• Sports equipment coverage not automatic

Add-ons and Coverage

• Trip cancellation: 100% of cost
• Cancel for any reason: 75% of cost (only for Pandemic Plus plan)
• Trip interruption: 150%–175% of cost
• Medical evacuation: $500K (only for Pandemic Plus plan)
• Lost baggage: Up to $2,500
• APRIL Pandemic Plus
• APRIL Trip Cancellation
• APRIL Choice with Pre-Ex Waiver
• APRIL Cruise

Travel Insurance: What You Need to Know 

Travel insurance is an optional protection that most travelers should consider. Travel insurance helps people recover losses if travel plans are disrupted. This can include full recovery of prepaid expenses if the trip is canceled entirely as well as coverage for expenses incurred on a trip if facing problems such as a medical emergency or lost items.

A number of credit card companies provide some automatic travel insurance but coverage is limited and often doesn’t cover crisis situations such as the need to evacuate for a civil disturbance or natural disaster. The best travel insurance policies will provide full coverage, can be tailored to specific needs, and reimburse customers for losses and costs that will arise if plans go astray.

Purchasing travel insurance works much like buying other common coverage, such as home or auto insurance. The first step is to understand and list all of anticipated travel costs and potential risks, then contact several companies to obtain quotes to compare. 

What Travel Insurance Covers 

Medical care and evacuation.

The best travel insurance policies provide coverage for emergency medical expenses should a traveler be injured or become ill. Most policies will also offer coverage for the cost of evacuation due to a medical emergency.

Typically, plans reimburse for the cost of emergency care up to a limit set in the policy. It is important to review these limits carefully in light of personal medical risks and health concerns specific to the travel destination. Medical coverage will continue to be a vital part of any trip planning during the COVID-19 pandemic and post-pandemic environments.

Trip cancellation and interruption

Trip cancellation coverage is important if you need to completely cancel a trip because of personal reasons, weather-related incidents, or other covered events. You should review the coverage to assure that protection also applies when a trip is cut short for one of these same reasons.

This interruption coverage is designed to reimburse travelers for the unreimbursed costs incurred for the unused part of the trip. When searching for appropriate travel insurance policies, make sure to carefully forecast your costs for a trip Interruption or cancellation and ensure coverage limits are sufficient.

Delayed or lost baggage

Delayed baggage coverage reimburses travelers for the cost of obtaining toiletries and other basic necessities when baggage is delayed during a trip. On the other hand, lost baggage covers personal items and bags that are completely list and cannot be recovered.  In addition to reimbursement for items lost, many policies provide lost baggage tracking assistance. Be certain to read the fine print as usually each of these coverages come with some pretty stringent conditions. Also, compare this coverage with coverage offered by your credit card providers, as this is one area where these coverages may overlap.

Cancel for any reason

For an additional fee, many insurers will add a “Cancel for Any Reason” provision, which covers travelers in the event of a canceled trip, because of the risk of some disaster, such as a forecasted hurricane or civil unrest while traveling internationally .

The policy timeframe for canceling a trip will be critical so it is important to review the specific policy terms and understand just how close to departure you can cancel and be covered. Also, the extra cost of this coverage can be steep so be certain it is necessary.

How to Choose the Best Travel Insurance Company

Prior to buying travel insurance, it is important to determine the travel coverage you may already have from other sources such as your credit cards, existing health insurance, or homeowners insurance. Also, have your total prepaid and anticipated trip costs calculated and handy. 

Here are some tips on selecting the best travel insurance company policy for your needs:

• Review any home insurance, umbrella insurance, health insurance, and credit card coverage that may already apply to traveling. For example, some home insurance policies cover lost items no matter where you are and health insurance could apply to situations outside of the United States.
• Understand the factors that will guide you in selecting the best policy for you — length of trip, destination, your age and health condition and anticipated involvement in high risk sports or other activities.
• Compare the detailed features and prices of several plans — try to find the cheapest travel insurance company plan that will also cover everything you need.
• Understand all of the deductible options that are available.
• Read the fine print and don’t be afraid to ask questions of the insurance company when plans are confusing or you would like a modification to the plan offered.

Finally, once you have purchased a policy and before departing on your trip, make sure you understand the process for filing a claim and seeking emergency assistance should the need arise. You do not want to face a crisis on the other side of the world and not be able to put your hands on the number to call for help.

Travel Insurance FAQ 

Can you buy travel insurance after booking a flight or hotel.

Yes, you can purchase travel insurance after you book your trip. In fact, it can be desirable as you will better understand all costs at that point. Do not wait too long though and miss out on some features.

Can you be refused travel insurance?

Unfortunately, yes. Travel insurance companies often take specific medical conditions into account and can refuse coverage if they determine the risk is too high. This is another good reason to explore various coverage options with different companies.

Is travel insurance worth getting?

Spending 5%–7% of the total cost of your trip to assure that you are not forced to spend perhaps several hundred thousand dollars for a serious medical problem and related expenses is worth getting travel insurance. 

Methodology 

We evaluated travel insurance providers based on coverage, number of plans, optional coverage, medical coverage limits, and AM Best ratings to determine Reviews.com scores and create our best travel insurance provider reviews. To compare travel insurance providers with other brands across the board, we calculate each Reviews.com score based on the following:

• Essential Coverage: When comparing travel insurance providers, we considered essential coverage to be 24/7 assistance, trip cancellation/interruption, medical evacuation and more. Providers with more points of essential coverage scored higher. 
• Number of Plans: Flexibility and having options is important which is why Reviews.com awarded travel insurance providers with higher scores if they presented more plans. 
• Add-on Coverage: Travel insurance providers with more optional coverage add-ons scored higher in this metric — higher flexibility and customization in travel insurance is an indicator of the best travel insurance companies.
• Medical Coverage Limit: We compared the medical coverage limits of the best travel insurance companies and awarded providers with higher scores if they had higher medical coverage limits. 
• AM Best: Reviews.com utilized AM Best ratings to assign a score based on each home insurance company’s financial stability.

About the Authors

Rick Hoel Contributing Writer

Rick Hoel is an international business attorney and legal and insurance writer for Reviews.com. Over the last several years, he has covered topics dealing with personal and commercial insurance and technology and the law.

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Travel insurance

Best travel insurance companies of June 2024

Amy Fontinelle

Heidi Gollub

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

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

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

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

Best travel insurance of 2024

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

Why trust our travel insurance experts

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

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

Best travel insurance companies

Best travel insurance.

Top travel insurance plans

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

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

See our full WorldTrips travel insurance review .

Pros and cons

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

Customer reviews

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

Heidi’s expert take:   “WorldTrips offers primary coverage for emergency medical expense and for baggage damage or loss. This means the insurer will pay for your claim first and then seek recovery from any responsible third party, such as your health insurance provider, airline or homeowners insurance company (if your belongings are stolen). Travel insurance with secondary medical coverage might be cheaper, but then you’d have to file claims with third parties yourself, before you could turn to your travel insurance for help.” Heidi Gollub, Managing Editor of Insurance, USA TODAY Blueprint

Best travel insurance for emergency evacuation

Travel insured international.

Top travel insurance plan

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

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

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

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

Best travel insurance for missed connections

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

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

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

Heidi’s expert take:   “If you miss out on prepaid vacation plans because you didn’t make a connecting flight, you’ll be glad for the $2,500 missed connection coverage. Some policies only provide missed connection coverage for cruises and tours, but TravelSafe Classic doesn’t impose that restriction.” Heidi Gollub, Managing Editor of Insurance, USA TODAY Blueprint

Cheapest travel insurance

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

See our full Aegis travel insurance review .

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

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

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

Best travel insurance for families

Top-scoring plan

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

See our full Travelex travel insurance review .

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

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

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

Best travel insurance for add-on coverage options

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

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

See our full AIG travel insurance review .

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

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

Best travel insurance for cruise itinerary changes

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

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

See our full Nationwide travel insurance review .

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

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

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

Compare the best travel insurance plans

Via Compare Coverage’s website

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

What is the best travel insurance?

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

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

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

Best travel insurance for cruises

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

Best travel insurance for COVID-19

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

Best travel insurance for “cancel for any reason” 

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

Best travel insurance for seniors

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

How much is travel insurance?

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

How much you pay for travel insurance will depend on:

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

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

Looking to save? Discover cheap travel insurance options.

How much travel insurance should I buy?

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

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

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

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

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

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

When should I buy travel insurance?

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

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

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

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

Where can I buy travel insurance?

You can buy a travel insurance plan:

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

Travel insurance trends in 2024

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

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

*Source: Squaremouth.com. Travel insurance quote filter usage from April 28 to May 28, 2024.

Methodology

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

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

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

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

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

Best travel insurance FAQs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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9 Best Travel Insurance Companies of 2024

According to our analysis of more than 50 travel insurance companies and hundreds of different travel insurance plans, the best travel insurance company is Travelex Insurance Services. In our best travel insurance ratings, we take into account traveler reviews, credit ratings and industry awards. The best travel insurance companies offer robust coverage and excellent customer service, and many offer customizable add-ons.

Travelex Insurance Services »

Allianz Travel Insurance »

HTH Travel Insurance »

Tin Leg »

AIG Travel Guard »

Nationwide Insurance »

Seven Corners »

Generali Global Assistance »

Berkshire hathaway travel protection ».

Why Trust Us

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

Table of Contents

• Travelex Insurance Services
• Allianz Travel Insurance

Travel insurance can help you protect the financial investment you made in your vacation when unexpected issues arise. Find the best travel insurance for the type of trip(s) you're taking and the coverages that matter most to you – from interruptions and misplaced belongings to illness and injury.

• Travelex Insurance Services: Best Overall
• Allianz Travel Insurance: Best for Trip Interruptions
• HTH Travel Insurance: Best for Groups
• Tin Leg: Best Cost
• AIG Travel Guard: Best for Families
• Nationwide Insurance: Best for Last-Minute Travel Insurance
• Seven Corners: Best for 24/7 Support When Traveling
• Generali Global Assistance: Best for Medical Emergencies
• Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection: Best for Specialized Coverage

Customizable upgrades are available, including car rental coverage, additional medical insurance and adventure sports coverage

Medical and trip cancellation maximum are not as high as some other companies

• 100% of the insured trip cost for trip cancellation; 150% for trip interruption
• Up to $1,000 in coverage for lost, damaged or stolen bags and personal items; $200 for luggage delays
• $750 in missed connection coverage
• $50,000 in emergency medical and dental coverage
• Up to $500,000 in emergency medical evacuation and repatriation coverage

SEE FULL REVIEW »

Annual and multitrip policies are available

Distinguishing between the company's 10 travel insurance plans can be challenging

• Up to $200,000 in trip cancellation coverage; $300,000 in trip interruption coverage
• $2,000 for lost, damaged or stolen luggage and personal effects; $600 for bag delays
• Up to $1,600 for travel delays
• Emergency medical coverage of up to $75,000
• Epidemic coverage

Generous coverage at the mid- and high-tier levels, and great group discounts

Preexisting conditions coverage is only available at mid- and high-tier plans

• 100% trip cancellation coverage (up to $50,000); 200% trip interruption coverage
• Up to $2,000 in coverage for baggage and personal effects; $400 in baggage delay coverage
• Up to $2,000 in coverage for trip delays; $1,000 for missed connections
• $500,000 in coverage per person for sickness and accidents

Variety of plans to choose from, including two budget-friendly policies and several more premium options

More limited coverage for baggage issues than other companies

• 100% trip cancellation protection; 150% trip interruption
• $500 per person for lost, stolen or damaged baggage and personal items
• Up to $2,000 per person in travel delay coverage ($150 per day); $100 per person for missed connections
• $100,000 per person in emergency medical coverage, including issues related to COVID-19

Travel insurance policy coverage is tailored to your specific trip

Information about policy coverage inclusions is not readily available without first obtaining a quote

• Trip cancellation coverage for up to 100% of your trip's cost; trip interruption coverage for up to 150% of the trip cost
• Up to $2,500 in coverage for lost, stolen or damaged baggage; $500 related to luggage delays
• Up to $1,000 in missed connection and trip delay coverage
• $100,000 in emergency medical coverage

Variety of plans to choose from and coverage available up to a day before you leave on your trip

Limited trip cancellation coverage even at the highest tier

• Trip cancellation coverage up to $30,000; trip interruption coverage worth up to 200% of the trip cost (maximum of $60,000)
• $2,000 for lost, damaged or stolen baggage; $600 for baggage delays
• Up to $2,000 for trip delays; missed connection and itinerary change coverage of $500 each
• $150,000 for emergency medical and dental issues

Customer service available 24/7 via text, Whatsapp, email and phone

Cancel for any reason coverage costs extra

• 100% trip cancellation coverage (up to between $30,000 and $100,000 depending on your state of residence); interruption coverage for up to 150% of the trip cost 
• Lost, stolen or damaged baggage coverage up to $2,500; up to $600 for luggage delays
• Trip delay and missed connection coverage worth up to $1,500
• Emergency medical coverage worth up to between $250,000 and $500,000 (depending on where you live)

Generous emergency medical and emergency evacuation coverage

Coverage for those with preexisting conditions is only available on the Premium plan

• 100% reimbursement for trip cancellation; 175% reimbursement for trip interruption
• $2,000 in coverage for loss of baggage per person
• $1,000 per person in travel delay and missed connection coverage
• $250,000 in medical and dental coverage per person

In addition to single-trip plans, company offers specific road trip, adventure travel, flight and cruise insurance coverage

Coverage for missed connections or accidental death and dismemberment is not part of the most basic plan

• Trip cancellation coverage worth up to 100% of the trip cost; interruption coverage worth up to 150% of the trip cost
• $500 in coverage for lost, stolen or damaged bags and personal items; bag delay coverage worth $200
• Trip delay coverage worth up to $1,000; missed connection coverage worth up to $100
• Medical coverage worth up to $50,000

To help you better understand the costs associated with travel insurance, we requested quotes for a weeklong June 2024 trip to Spain for a solo traveler, a couple and a family. These rates should help you get a rough estimate for about how much you can expect to spend on travel insurance. For additional details on specific coverage from each travel insurance plan and to input your trip information for a quote, see our comparison table below.

Travel Insurance Types: Which One Is Right for You?

There are several types of travel insurance you'll want to evaluate before choosing the policy that's right for you. A few of the most popular types of travel insurance include:

COVID travel insurance Select insurance plans offer some or a combination of the following COVID-19-related protections: coverage for rapid or PCR testing; accommodations if you're required to quarantine during your trip if you test positive for coronavirus; health care; and trip cancellations due to you or a family member testing positive for COVID-19. Read more about the best COVID-19 travel insurance options .

Cancel for any reason insurance Cancel for any reason travel insurance works exactly how it sounds. This type of travel insurance lets you cancel your trip for any reason you want – even if your reason is that you simply decide you no longer want to go. Cancel for any reason travel insurance is typically an add-on you can purchase to go along with other types of travel insurance. For that reason, you will pay more to have this kind of coverage added to your policy.

Also note that this type of coverage typically only reimburses 50% to 80% of your nonrefundable prepaid travel expenses. You'll want to make sure you know exactly how much reimbursement you could qualify for before you invest in this type of policy. Compare the best cancel for any reason travel insurance options here .

International travel insurance Travel insurance is especially useful when traveling internationally, as it can provide medical coverage for emergencies (in some cases for COVID-19) when you're far from home. Depending which international travel insurance plan you choose, this type of travel insurance can also cover lost or delayed luggage, rental cars, travel interruptions or cancellations, and more.

Cheap travel insurance If you want travel insurance but don't want to spend a lot of money, there are plenty of cheap travel insurance options that will offer at least some protections (and peace of mind). These are typically called a company's basic or standard plan; many travel insurance companies even allow you to customize your coverage, spending as little or as much as you want. Explore your options for the cheapest travel insurance here .

Trip cancellation, interruption and delay insurance Trip cancellation coverage can help you get reimbursement for prepaid travel expenses, such as your airfare and cruise fare, if your trip is ultimately canceled for a covered reason. Trip interruption insurance, on the other hand, kicks in to reimburse you if your trip is derailed after it starts. For instance, if you arrived at your destination and became gravely ill, it would cover the cost if you had to cut your trip short.

Trip delay insurance can help you qualify for reimbursement of any unexpected expenses you incur (think: lodging, transportation and food) in the event your trip is delayed for reasons beyond your control, such as your flight being canceled and rebooked for the next day. You will want to save your receipts to substantiate your claim if you have this coverage.

Lost, damaged, delayed or stolen bags or personal belongings Coverage for lost or stolen bags can come in handy if your checked luggage is lost by your airline or your luggage is delayed so long that you have to buy clothing and toiletries for your trip. This type of coverage can kick in to cover the cost to replace lost or stolen items you brought on your trip. It can also provide coverage for the baggage itself. It's even possible that your travel insurance policy will pay for your flight home if damages are caused to your residence and your belongings while you're away, forcing you to return home immediately.

Travel medical insurance If you find yourself sick or injured while you are on vacation, emergency medical coverage can pay for your medical expenses. With that in mind, however, you will need to find out whether the travel medical insurance you buy is primary or secondary. Where a primary policy can be used right away to cover medical bills incurred while you travel, secondary coverage only provides reimbursement after you have exhausted other medical policies you have.

You will also need to know how the travel medical coverage you purchase deals with any preexisting conditions you have, including whether you will have any coverage for preexisting conditions at all. Read more about the best travel medical insurance plans .

Evacuation insurance Imagine you break your leg while on the side of a mountain in some far-flung land without quality health care. Not only would you need travel medical insurance coverage in that case, but you would also need coverage for the exorbitant expense involved in getting you off the side of a mountain and flying you home where you can receive appropriate medical care.

Evacuation coverage can come in handy if you need it, but you will want to make sure any coverage you buy comes with incredibly high limits. According to Squaremouth, an emergency evacuation can easily cost $25,000 in North America and up to $50,000 in Europe, so the site typically suggests customers buy policies with $50,000 to $100,000 in emergency evacuation coverage.

Cruise insurance Travel delays; missed connections, tours or excursions; and cruise ship disablement (when a ship encounters a mechanical issue and is unable to continue on in the journey) are just a few examples why cruise insurance can be a useful protection if you've booked a cruise vacation. Learn more about the top cruise insurance plans here .

Credit card travel insurance It is not uncommon to find credit cards that include trip cancellation and interruption coverage , trip delay insurance, lost or delayed baggage coverage, travel accident insurance, and more. Cards that offer this coverage include popular options like the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card , the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card and The Platinum Card from American Express . 

Note that owning a credit card with travel insurance protection is not enough for your coverage to count: To take advantage of credit card travel insurance, you must pay for prepaid travel expenses like your airfare, hotel stay or cruise with that specific credit card. Also, note that credit cards with travel insurance have their own list of exclusions to watch out for. Many also require cardholders to pay an annual fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

The best time to buy travel insurance is normally within a few weeks of booking your trip since you may qualify for lower pricing if you book early. Keep in mind, some travel insurance providers allow you to purchase plans until the day before you depart.

Many times, you are given the option to purchase travel insurance when you book your airfare, accommodations or vacation package. Travel insurance and travel protection are frequently offered as add-ons for your trip, meaning you can pay for your vacation and some level of travel insurance at the same time.

However, many people choose to wait to buy travel insurance until after their entire vacation is booked and paid for. This helps travelers tally up all the underlying costs associated with a trip, and then choose their travel insurance provider and the level of coverage they want.

Figuring out where to buy travel insurance may be confusing but you can easily research and purchase travel insurance online these days. Some consumers prefer to shop around with a specific provider, such as Allianz or Travelex, but you can also shop and compare policies with a travel insurance platform. Popular options include:

• TravelInsurance.com: TravelInsurance.com offers travel insurance options from more than a dozen vetted insurance providers. Users can read reviews on the various travel insurance providers to find out more about previous travelers' experiences with them. Squaremouth: With Squaremouth, you can enter your trip details and compare more than 90 travel insurance plans from 20-plus providers.
• InsureMyTrip: InsureMyTrip works similarly, letting you shop around and compare plans from more than 20 travel insurance providers in one place. InsureMyTrip also offers several guarantees, including a Best Price Guarantee, a Best Plan Guarantee and a Money-Back Guarantee that promises a full refund if you decide you no longer need the plan you purchased.

Protect your trip: Search, compare and buy the best travel insurance plans for the lowest price. Get a quote .

When you need to file a travel insurance claim, you should plan on explaining to your provider what happened to your trip and why you think your policy applies. If you planned to go on a Caribbean cruise, but your husband fell gravely ill the night before you were set to depart, you would need to explain that situation to your travel insurance company. Information you should share with your provider includes the details of why you're making a claim, who was involved and the exact circumstances of your loss.

Documentation is important, and your travel insurance provider will ask for proof of what happened. Required documentation for travel insurance typically includes any proof of a delay, receipts, copies of medical bills and more.

Most travel insurance companies let you file a claim using an online form, but some also allow you to file a claim by phone or via fax. Some travel insurance providers, such as Allianz and Travel Insured International, offer their own mobile apps you can use to buy policies and upload information or documents that substantiate your claim. In any case, you will need to provide the company with proof of your claim and the circumstances that caused it.

If your claim is initially denied, you may also need to answer some questions or submit some additional information that can highlight why you do, in fact, qualify.

Whatever you do, be honest and forthcoming with all the information in your claim. Also, be willing to provide more information or answer any questions when asked.

Travel insurance claims typically take four to six weeks to process once you file with your insurance company. However, with various flight delays and cancellations due to things like extreme weather and pilot shortages, more travelers have begun purchasing travel insurance, encountering trip issues and having to submit claims. The higher volume of claims submitted has resulted in slower turnaround times at some insurance companies.

The longer you take to file your travel insurance claim after a loss, the longer you will be waiting for reimbursement. Also note that, with many travel insurance providers, there is a time limit on how long you can submit claims after a trip. For example, with Allianz Travel Insurance and Travelex Insurance Services, you have 90 days from the date of your loss to file a claim.

You may be able to expedite the claim if you provide all the required information upfront, whereas the process could drag on longer than it needs to if you delay filing a claim or the company has to follow up with you to get more information.

Travel insurance is never required, and only you can decide whether or not it's right for you. Check out Is Travel Insurance Worth It? to see some common situations where it does (and doesn't) make sense.

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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Our Review of the Top 10 Travel Insurance Providers for Any Destination

Reviews of the Top 10 Best Travel Insurance Companies

Quality Verified

Updated: October 27, 2022

• Top 10 Travel Insurance Providers

Our Methodology

Before you buy.

Advertising & Editorial Disclosure

Whether you're planning your honeymoon, a family trip to Hawaii or a business trip to meet new clients, travel insurance can provide protection when your plans go astray. There are generally three main types of travel insurance: travel cancellation and disruption; medical assistance and evacuation; and baggage loss and delay. We researched dozens of travel insurance companies to pick the best in the industry. The right plan for you may depend on the nature of your travels, who is traveling and your budget. But whatever your needs, these 10 picks are financially stable, reliable companies with a good track record and comprehensive coverage.

Our Top 10 Travel Insurance Providers

Best : Overall, and for families with kids Travelex Insurance Services is a leading travel insurance provider based in Omaha, Neb. Its parent company, Travelex, has been a worldwide leader in foreign currency exchange for decades, and Travelex Insurance was started in 1996. The company's travel insurance policies are underwritten by Old Republic Insurance Company and Transamerica Casualty Insurance company, which has a financial rating of A+ from A.M. Best, and TransAmerica Casualty Insurance Company, which has A.M. Best ratings of A. The company has won the international luxury travel network Virtuoso's Best Travel Insurance Provider award for eleven years in a row. It is accredited by the Better Business Bureau, which gives it an A+ rating.

Coverage: Travelex offers two main coverage plans - basic and select (family-friendly) - and two flight insurance opt-ins. They offer protection for both leisure and business travelers. Like many companies here, they cover younger children (17 and under) at no additional cost. The company boasts a high claims paid rate (previously reported at 94 percent).

Website/mobile apps: The Travelex mobile website allows you to shop and purchase policies, get emergency assistance, and access trip-related documents from your phone. You can initiate a claim and check the status of your claim online.

Sample online quote: Family of four, going on a 10-day, $10,000 trip: Basic $377, Select $333, Max $895

Best for : Frequent travelers Allianz Travel Insurance is part of the giant multinational corporation Allianz, which has over 140,000 employees on five continents. Allianz insures over 80 million customers worldwide. The company has been around for over 100 years. In fact, Allianz insured the Wright Brothers' first flight in 1903. Today Allianz is accredited with the Better Business Bureau, which gives them an A+ rating. Its financial rating from A.M. Best is A+.

Coverage: Allianz offers a handful of distinct plans including those for frequent travelers. If you travel for business, for example, it might be worth investing in an annual plan that covers both medical and lost baggage expenses for all your trips throughout the year.

Website/mobile apps: Back in 2013 Allianz won an award for its TravelSmart mobile app, which connects travelers to approved hospitals in over 120 countries. The app also allows travelers to check on flight statuses, get emergency international assistance, and access their policy while on the road.

Sample online quote: Family of four, going on a 10-day, $10,000 trip: $304.

Best for : Luxury Travel TravelGuard is a subsidiary of AIG. Its policies are underwritten by National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, which has an A.M. Best financial rating of A. The company is accredited with the Better Business Bureau and has a rating of A+.

Coverage: TravelGuard includes trip assistance - including dealing with lost bags, cancelled flights, or medical emergencies - via agents who are available 24 hours a day. They offer three basic plan levels - Deluxe, Preferred, Essential - as well as numerous additional upgrades and packages. Upgrades can cover things like last-minute trips where cancellation isn't a factor. TravelGuard stands out in its overage levels - it will insure a trip coverage up to $500,000, higher than the average industry coverage. All of its plans include concierge service and 24-hour emergency assistance.

Website/mobile apps: TravelGuard has an online Claims tool that allows clients to easily file a claim from a computer or mobile device. The tool speeds up the claims process while allowing users to upload photos and documents, electronically sign claims forms, and check the status of a claim from their phones.

Sample online quote: Family of four, going on a 10-day, $10,000 trip: Silver $252/Gold $309 / Platinum $655

Best for : Traveling with pets San Diego-based Generali Global Assistance has provided travel insurance since 1991. The insurance division has previously been known as CSA Travel Protection. Generali Global is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has an A+ rating and an A financial rating from A.M. Best.

Coverage: CSA offers three plans: Standard, Preferred and Premium. It covers telemedicine services with its plans and medical costs if a person becomes sick or injured during their trip. It also reimburses medical costs if you pay out of pocket. As with most travel insurance companies, CSA offers 24/7 emergency assistance, concierge services, identity theft resolution services and a 10-day "free look" period. If you change your mind within 30 days of purchasing the insurance and before you start your trip, the company will provide a full refund. It offers pet relocation services: If you have a medical emergency and cannot take care of your pet while on vacation, it will return your pet home. It also has a Pet Service Locator to help you find vets or other pet services on your travels. For pre-existing medical conditions, you would need to purchase the Premium plan before or at least 24 hours in advance of your final trip payment. You will also need to be medically able to travel, and your prepaid expenses are insured.

Website/mobile apps: They walk you through the claim-filing process step-by-step on their website .

Sample online quote: Family of four, going on a 10-day, $10,000 trip: $298.52 Standard / $346.28 Preferred / $398 Premium

Best for : Budget Adventure Travel World Nomads has targeted its insurance at independent travellers and adventure-seekers. If your vacation includes activities like kite sailing, snowboarding, or bungee jumping, this might be the company for you. The company is recommended by Lonely Planet and National Geographic Adventure... But you don't have to be an adventure seeker to benefit from the very competitive rates offered by World Nomads. The company's policies are underwritten by Lloyd's, which has an A financial rating from A.M. Best.

Coverage: World Nomad offers two levels of insurance plans, which include all of the typical coverage options. In addition, it offers coverage for cameras, laptops, digital gear, and all sorts of travel activities.

Website: World Nomads has an interactive website that allows you to ask questions related to travel and receive both informative articles and blog posts from fellow travelers. It has also developed language apps for iPhones. And you can purchase policies and file claims online from anywhere in the world.

Sample online quote: Family of four, going on a 10-day, $10,000 trip: $185 to $255. World Nomad doesn't ask the cost of your trip for the online quote, or the number of travelers, but does distinguish between single, couple, and family groups. The quote tool offers an option to donate to a cause in your destination as well.

Best for : Workaholics In addition to providing travel insurance, AXA offers trip other assistance through its network of over 9,000 staff members in over 30 offices around the world. The company has a financial rating of A from A.M. Best. American Modern Home Insurance - which has an A+ financial rating from A.M. Best - underwrites AXA travel policies. AXA Assistance has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Coverage: AXA offers three plans (gold, silver, platinum). It offers an additional "cancel for any reason" policy, which will cover up to 75 percent of your pre-paid non-refundable trip costs. This option must be purchased within 14 days of your first trip payment, but it's a good option for people whose jobs are unpredictable.

Website/mobile app: The website provides a clear chart outlining the three levels of service and their coverage, and it is fast and easy to get an online quote.

Sample online quote: Family of four, going on a 10-day, $10,000 trip: $342 Silver / $395 Platinum / $492 Gold

Best for : Study abroad/Expats HTH Travel Insurance is a leader in providing medical coverage for international students and expatriates. The company's policies are underwritten by Nationwide, which has an A+ financial rating from A.M. Best. HTH is not rated by the Better Business Bureau, but it is a member of the U.S. Travel Insurance Association (USTIA) and has signed on to its Code of Ethics.

Coverage: In addition to providing traditional comprehensive trip insurance, HTH specializes in providing medical coverage for students, faculty, and expats living abroad. The long-term overseas coverage only covers medical issues, not trip cancellation or lost baggage. The plan will pay up to $1,000,000 for a medical evacuation and contains no lifetime limit.

Website/mobile apps: The website offers a lot of information about overseas travel and living and provides straightforward quotes. The mPassport app gives you access to thousands of doctors around the world who speak English.

Sample online quote: Family of four, going on a 10-day, $10,000 trip: Economy $389, Classic $456, Preferred $546.

Best for : Mobile app aficionados Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway is not known for travel insurance, but it is rapidly gaining recognition in the market for its technological advances in the field. It launched its travel protection program in 2014 and has been winning over customers with its fast claims payments. Berkshire Hathaway has an A.M. Best financial rating of A++. It is accredited with the Better Business Bureau and has an A+ rating.

Coverage: BHTP offers six distinct plans tailored to meet your specific travel needs. Options are available for adrenaline junkies, low-budget fliers, family vacationers, business travelers, and even those looking to relax on a cruise.

Website/mobile apps: Berkshire Hathaway is a leader in providing mobile apps to facilitate rapid claims and payments. You can file a claim online or via the mobile app, which also allows you to track flights, get help finding lost luggage, rebook flights and purchase policies. Getting an online quote is also possible, but the process isn't quite as smooth.

Sample online quote: Family of four, going on a 10-day, $10,000 trip: ExactCare Family: $249; ExactCare: $346.

Best for : International volunteers or employees The Indiana-based Seven Corners began offering international medical insurance in 1993. Today Seven Corners offers a wide range of travel insurance to U.S. residents and foreigners visiting the U.S. It also offers group plans to companies, non-profits and U.S. government agencies seeking to protect their staff and volunteers when traveling. It is the travel insurance provider for the Peace Corps and other U.S. government agencies. Different plans are underwritten by different companies. The popular RoundTrip comprehensive plans are underwritten by Nationwide, with an A+ financial rating from A.M. Best. Other plans are underwritten by Lloyds of London or U.S. Fire Insurance Company, both of which have A ratings from A.M. Best.

Plans: Seven Corners offers a wide range of plans for almost every conceivable coverage option. Its RoundTrip plans provide comprehensive trip coverage (including trip cancellation, medical treatment, and lost property). The RoundTrip Elite plan allows you to cancel for any reason (with 75% reimbursement) and covers pre-existing conditions as long as you purchase the plan within 20 days of your trip deposit and fully insure your trip.

Website/mobile app: In 2016, Seven Corners launched a new mobile website that allows consumers to purchase plans, get 24-assistance and learn about travel insurance from their smartphones.

Sample online quote: Family of four, going on a 10-day, $10,000 trip: Economy $416, Choice $441, Elite $462.

Best for : Hassle-free claims Founded in 1988 in France, April International now operates in 33 countries. April has an A+ financial rating from A.M. Best. Its U.S. travel insurance policies are underwritten by American Modern Home Insurance, which also has an A.M. Best rating of A+. The company is accredited with the Better Business Bureau and has an A+ rating, and it's a member of the U.S. Travel Insurance Association.

Coverage: April provides traditional comprehensive travel insurance, but it also offers an annual plan designed for people who travel at least three times per year. For fairly low prices, you can get basic coverage for trip interruption or delay, medical expenses, and baggage delay or loss. These are plans designed for frequent travelers who don't want to sweat the many small complications that can add up to big expenses. April prides itself on its Stress Less Benefits, which often allows policyholders to avoid a claims process and instead just call in their issue while traveling. If a claims report is needed, the company seeks to get it paid within 30 days.

Website/mobile apps: April has an easy to use website (though some reimbursements require the old-fashioned way) as well as a fully functional "Easy Claim" app.

Sample online quote: Family of four, going on a 10-day, $10,000 trip: $482.

We reviewed dozens of travel insurance providers to come up with this list of top companies. Our criteria for inclusion included:

Financial strength

With any insurance company, you want to be sure that your provider is financially secure and able to pay out on any potential claim you may have. We only included companies with a financial rating from A.M. Best of A or better.

Solid underwriter

Most travel insurance policies are underwritten by a third party, and often it is hard to figure this out. We made sure that the company ownership and underwriting were clearly stated and that underwriters also had a solid financial footing and reputation.

Good business reputation

Because of the industry's less-than-stellar reputation, we think it's important to look at a company's track record, including membership in professional associations. Most of our picks are accredited with the Better Business Bureau and have an A+ rating. Most are also members of the U.S. Travel Insurance Industry Association and have signed on to the group's Code of Ethics. We also looked for companies that are listed with the major travel insurance brokers.

Detailed, clear website

One of the biggest complaints about travel insurance providers is that they use complicated language and small print to trick consumers into believing that certain situations are covered when they aren't. We looked for companies with clear websites that are transparent about what is and isn't covered.

Claims satisfaction

Although the travel insurance industry does not have the level of scrutiny of the automobile or home insurance fields, we looked at reviews of consumer and claims satisfaction to rule out any with large numbers of complaints.

Excellent coverage

All of our picks offer comprehensive travel insurance that includes at least:

• Trip cancellation, interruption, delay
• Medical expenses/evacuation
• Lost/delayed baggage
• 24/7 assistance

In addition, most of these companies offer several different plans allowing you to expand coverage to include things like pre-existing conditions, "cancel for any reason," adventure travel and pets. These optional extras usually cost more and have conditions attached, so be sure to read the fine print.

We looked at the price range of each company's plans and provided a sample quote for a basic package. Experts say that travel insurance typically costs between 5 and 15 percent of the trip cost. Our quotes for basic coverage were usually less, but once you add on important features (like coverage for pre-existing conditions), the rate will increase.

Experts recommend you do your homework before buying a travel insurance policy. The industry is known for excessive exclusions and confusing language in small print. The National Consumer League recommends that you:

Check to see if you're already covered through another policy. Lots of insurance policies (including home, auto, and life) and credit cards offer partial coverage for trip interruption or medical emergencies.

Read the fine print - especially regarding exclusions. Things like pre-existing conditions, pregnancy-related issues, job loss or travel in a country that has reported a high threat of terrorism may be excluded.

Remember that you can get your money back. Lots of travel insurance companies allow you to get your money back if you cancel the plan within ten days (before travel).

Don't purchase travel insurance through airlines. Airlines aggressively push these cancellation insurance plans and pay commissions of 10 to 40 percent to the travel agents who sell them.

Consumer Reports recommends that you use an online travel insurance broker to search for a good match for your travel. Sites like Squaremouth , InsureMyTrip.com , or QuoteWright.com all allow you to shop and compare quotes. Even if you use such a service, however, Consumer Reports recommends contacting the carrier directly to go over the coverage and fine print before purchasing a policy.

U.S. Travel Insurance Association (USTIA) This professional association represents travel insurance companies and promotes ethical and professional industry standards. You can search its database for member organizations.

National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Provides information and advice for consumers regarding when and how to purchase travel insurance.

Insurance Information Institute (III) The III is dedicated to promoting a public understanding of insurance. It has a page providing travel insurance facts.

Your state Insurance Commissioner All insurance is regulated at the state level. NAIC provides an interactive map so that you can click on your state and be directed to your state's Insurance Commissioner.

Better Business Bureau (BBB) The BBB allows you to search its vast online database to check on the reputation and any complaints that have been filed against a company.

About Mary Purcell, MA

Mary Purcell is a freelance writer and health and finance researcher in Piedmont, Calif., with expertise in policy analysis. She is fluent in Spanish and has a master's degree in Latin American studies from Georgetown University. Her articles have appeared on LimeHealth, Narrative, Consumer Health Interactive, and other outlets.

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 .

Retired couple billed $50,000 despite travel insurance

Prime link refused to pay after misunderstanding over form.

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A B.C. couple on a fixed income is facing a $50,000 US hospital bill, despite buying travel health insurance for their last trip.

"What are we supposed to do?" said Artur Friesen, from Abbotsford, B.C. "We don't have anything. How am I supposed to pay that?"

Artur and Anna Friesen say they live modestly on government pensions. Every year for the last 20 years, they've driven their motor home to California to escape the winter.

"We buy insurance to be covered and be safe," said Artur.

Last year, they bought full medical coverage as usual, through their broker, from Prime Link Travel Medical Insurance. While in California, Anna had to go to hospital with a blood clot in her leg.

Records show the U.S. hospital checked with Prime Link, which is underwritten by Manulife, to see if she had insurance, and was told she did. Her bill for treatment was $10,000 a day, for five days.

The couple said they were shocked when the insurance company later refused to pay the bill, because of how Anna answered one question on her initial application form.

"I never would have gone into the hospital if I knew that would happen. Never. I would have went home," she says.

Answer not quite right

The Friesens struggle to understand English, so said they relied on broker Barrie Cartmell to fill out their application. He read them several questions from the form, including: "In the last 36 months, have you received treatment for kidney disorder (including stones)?"

Anna answered no. She's had weak kidneys for several years, but has not actively been treated. 

"I had no treatment and I just had weak kidneys, and that is what we talked about [with the broker]," said Anna. "I am not reading [the form] or anything, because I don't know how to read English.

"[The broker] was satisfied with the answer that we gave him, that she had no treatment and no [kidney] stones," said Artur.

Do you have faith in travel insurance?  Have your say .

Despite letters submitted since from doctors, insisting she is not receiving any treatment for her kidney condition, the insurance claim denial letter reads, "You do have a chronic kidney disease for which you have undergone investigations which is considered treatment."

Prime Link returned the $694 premium the couple paid for the policy, with a letter saying it's null and void because of "misstatements during the application period."

The Friesens are now getting calls from a U.S. collection agency and are afraid to go south for their usual trip. They check the mail every day, hoping the insurance company has considered their appeal and changed its position.

"I don't even lift up the phone anymore. I see it's a number from outside, I don't even lift up the phone anymore," said Anna. "Because [the collection agent] told me last time I am supposed to pay him $5,000 a month."

"We are stressed out. Really stressed," said Artur.

Afraid to go south

"We are not the same people [as we were] last year when we came home. Our friends they are leaving on Friday for California for four months again, and we have to stay home."

The broker, Barrie Cartmell, said he doesn't remember Anna mentioning her weak kidneys. Nevertheless, he said he believes she answered the question honestly and the insurance company is wrong.

"I don't think it is the client's fault. They just didn't understand," said Cartmell. "I think [the insurance company] has got to clean up their definitions and make them a lot clearer."

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Submit your story ideas to Kathy Tomlinson at Go Public

He insisted if Anna did tell him about her kidney condition, he would have advised her to consider a different answer. 

"I can't remember the exact conversation because I've got thousands of clients," said Cartmell. "When I go through the application, I ask the questions as they are."

He said he tried to go to bat for her with the claims department, but got nowhere.

"They do not discuss this. They will not discuss it," said Cartmell.

"Certainly if I was asked that question I would think that the word treat means exactly what it says, treatment, and I would say no," said Jim Bullock, an independent broker who helps lawyers who are going after insurance companies.

"The fact I was being monitored, in my mind, wouldn't mean I was being treated."

Deliberate tactic, says critic

Bullock says the forms are ambiguous, and he thinks that is intentional.

"I've come to the conclusion that it's a deliberate tactic," he said, citing several examples of what he calls "trivial" denials.

"A lady didn't disclose that she had an ear infection four years ago. Another lady didn't disclose that she had hemorrhoids during her pregnancy two years ago. A fellow didn't disclose that his brother had a heart attack. He didn't know his brother had a heart attack. That didn't matter. He didn't disclose it," said Bullock.

He would like to see provincial authorities hold insurance companies more accountable.

"For whatever reason, they have steadfastly refused to get involved with the issue of claims-paying practices. They won't even ask the companies in their annual reports how many claims were not paid," said Bullock.

"Frankly, I think governments are afraid of insurance companies. It appears that way."

David Hartman, of the Travel Health Insurance Industry Association of Canada, confirmed the industry doesn't release statistics on how many claims are denied, although he estimated it's less than five per cent.

"Not disclosing medical information is one of the top five reasons claims are denied," he said.

He also said the industry is working on making travel insurance questionnaires simpler.

"It is a concern," Hartman said, "Some companies are looking at plain language policies."

He said seniors should realize insurers can and will look at all medical records, so it's best to disclose everything, even if it costs more for coverage. He said some medical conditions trigger premium increases of 300%.

New decision coming

David Rivelis of Prime Link, the Friesens' insurance agent, said even when a customer's doctor states they are not being treated for a condition, the adjuster's interpretation can supersede that.

"The insurance company ultimately determines the term of the contract," said Rivelis. "How the doctor defines something may be different from how it's defined by an insurance company."

He advises every senior to read their whole policy, even when they are using a broker.

"Policy definitions are what governs the payment of claims," he says.

However, after CBC's Go Public got involved, Manulife, the underwriter, said another decision is forthcoming on the Friesens' claim.

"I understand a decision on the appeal of this case will be made shortly and should be communicated to the individual in the next couple of days," wrote Manulife spokesperson Michael May.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Host & Reporter

Kathy Tomlinson worked as an investigative reporter at CBC for more than a decade.

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• GO PUBLIC: Submit your story on another topic
• POV: Do you have faith in travel insurance?
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Snowbird Advisor Insurance   Reviews

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Reviews 4.8.

4,053 total

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Had travel insurance with you last year…

Had travel insurance with you last year but still compared pricing with others. Your still the best. And it was easy to answer the questions online, make a selection, and pay the premium. I printed off the policy which includes my plan information card-style for my travel.

Date of experience : June 10, 2024

Easy to purchase with online questions

Easy to purchase with online questions, no need to call someone, online page can be saved while you check previous pages before completing purchase

Date of experience : June 21, 2024

Lady I spoke to was very courteous and…

Lady I spoke to was very courteous and helped explain one of the questions I had a problem with

Had a couple of questions and called…

Had a couple of questions and called your number and Crystal was great to deal with. Very helpful and pleasant!

Date of experience : June 19, 2024

The Snowbird consultant was very…

The Snowbird consultant was very knowledgeable and helpful. The only problem we had was the breaking up of the connection. Not sure what the cause was.

Date of experience : June 14, 2024

When I called to asked for quote the…

When I called to asked for quote the representative who answered the call sounds tired and not in a enthusiastic mood anymore. It appears she doesn’t want to answer the call anymore specially if your not going to purchase the plan.

Date of experience : June 15, 2024

Easy to Access and is Comprehensive

This the second time we have used Snowbird Advisor Insurance for short jaunts to the US. As we have been fortunate to have not needed to make a claim, I can only speak to the ease of the online application process, and the coverage of all pre-existing, and fully declared, medical conditions. Both are the reasons for which we will continue to use this product.

Date of experience : May 28, 2024

Reply from Snowbird Advisor Insurance

Hi Ronald, Thank you for your kind words. Your review means a lot to us and we appreciate your repeat business. We pride ourselves on our customer service and are happy to hear that you had a positive experience with our team and found the process easy. We look forward to continuing to provide you with high-quality travel insurance coverage and service in the future. Rest assured that if you ever do need to make a claim, we will be here to assist you. And if you happen to know of anyone else who might require travel insurance, we would greatly appreciate you letting them know about us. Regards, The Snowbird Advisor Insurance Team

Efficient online service

So easy to use and get instant quote and purchase coverage quickly.

Crystal was simply excellent in helping…

Crystal was simply excellent in helping me with my travel insurance so thank you!!

Date of experience : June 13, 2024

Very professional experience

Very professional experience. Jean Marc presented clearly all elements of the questions asked. He made our experience less stressful.

The ability to speak with a real human…

The ability to speak with a real human being with the calls being answered quickly and courteously. A follow up correction of a mistake I made was handled quickly and, again, with courtesy.

Date of experience : May 31, 2024

Hi Derrick, Thank you for your kind words. Your review means a lot to us. We pride ourselves on our customer service and are happy to hear that you had a positive experience with our team. We look forward to continuing to provide you with high-quality travel insurance coverage and service in the future. And if you happen to know of anyone else who might require travel insurance, we would greatly appreciate you letting them know about us. Regards, The Snowbird Advisor Insurance Team

I've used Snowbird before when I've…

I've used Snowbird before when I've traveled. It's a wonderful company to deal with and very accommodating to everyone.

Date of experience : May 07, 2024

Hi Daniel, Thank you for your kind words. Your review means a lot to us and we appreciate your repeat business. We pride ourselves on our customer service and are happy to hear that you had a positive experience with our team. We look forward to continuing to provide you with high-quality travel insurance coverage and service in the future. And if you happen to know of anyone else who might require travel insurance, we would greatly appreciate you letting them know about us. Regards, The Snowbird Advisor Insurance Team

As always your rates are very…

As always your rates are very competitive, hence our continued use of your organization for the past several years. The service associated with your organization is excellent.

I felt this company was on my side

I felt this company was on my side. The previous company seemed to be trying to catch me in an untruth. I had direct questions requiring direct answers which made it easy. Every question I had was answered satisfactorily. The end result was very good.

Date of experience : May 17, 2024

Hi, Thank you for your kind words. Your review means a lot to us. We pride ourselves on our customer service and are happy to hear that you had a positive experience with our team and found the process easy. We look forward to continuing to provide you with high-quality travel insurance coverage and service in the future. And if you happen to know of anyone else who might require travel insurance, we would greatly appreciate you letting them know about us. Regards, The Snowbird Advisor Insurance Team

Pays to shop price!

I cancelled an extra 4 day coverage that I just purchased with TD Travel after I thought I would see if all companies were similar in rates. My coverage for over 65 with the Credit card drops from 21 to 4 days so I needed an additional 4 days coverage for a week holiday to the States. Snowbird was almost 1/2 the cost as the 4 day extended coverage with TD. Pays to shop.

Date of experience : June 07, 2024

We purchased policy online and the…

We purchased policy online and the website was very easy to navigate. We hope that we do not need to use this travel insurance while away and hope that if we do that process will be equally easy to navigate.

Date of experience : May 24, 2024

Hi Bud, Thank you for your kind words. Your review means a lot to us. We pride ourselves on our customer service and are happy to hear that you had a positive experience with our team and found the process easy. We look forward to continuing to provide you with high-quality travel insurance coverage and service in the future. Rest assured that if you ever do need to make a claim, we will be here to assist you. And if you happen to know of anyone else who might require travel insurance, we would greatly appreciate you letting them know about us. Regards, The Snowbird Advisor Insurance Team

Buying insurance is usually a hassle…

Buying insurance is usually a hassle but dealing with snowbird advisor insurance was easy, fast and no up sales. We got exactly what we wanted and the advisor was friendly and very helpful. It was a great experience.

Hi Richard, Thank you for your kind words. Your review means a lot to us. We pride ourselves on our customer service and are happy to hear that you had a positive experience with our team and found the process fast and easy. We look forward to continuing to provide you with high-quality travel insurance coverage and service in the future. And if you happen to know of anyone else who might require travel insurance, we would greatly appreciate you letting them know about us. Regards, The Snowbird Advisor Insurance Team

The sign up process was simple and…

The sign up process was simple and easy. The questionnaire was easy to complete and my medical condition was covered in the policy. Thank-you.

Hi Murray, Thank you for your kind words. Your review means a lot to us. We pride ourselves on our customer service and are happy to hear that you had a positive experience with our team and found the process simple and easy. We look forward to continuing to provide you with high-quality travel insurance coverage and service in the future. And if you happen to know of anyone else who might require travel insurance, we would greatly appreciate you letting them know about us. Regards, The Snowbird Advisor Insurance Team

One phone call

One phone call, got through to a representative who asked health questions and then our 6 day extension was done!

Date of experience : May 29, 2024

Hi Linda, Thank you for your kind words. Your review means a lot to us. We pride ourselves on our customer service and are happy to hear that you had a positive experience with our team. We look forward to continuing to provide you with high-quality travel insurance coverage and service in the future. And if you happen to know of anyone else who might require travel insurance, we would greatly appreciate you letting them know about us. Regards, The Snowbird Advisor Insurance Team

Easy access to insurance

The representative was friendly, patient and knowledgeable. I had filled out the online quote and was surprised to be able to speak with someone so quickly

Hi, Thank you for your kind words. Your review means a lot to us. We pride ourselves on our customer service and are happy to hear that you had a positive experience with our team and found the process quick and easy. We look forward to continuing to provide you with high-quality travel insurance coverage and service in the future. And if you happen to know of anyone else who might require travel insurance, we would greatly appreciate you letting them know about us. Regards, The Snowbird Advisor Insurance Team

• Primelink Travel Insurance

Primelink Travel Insurance – Insurance agency in Windsor, ON – 3600 Rhodes Drive, Windsor, Ontario. Read verified and trustworthy customer reviews for Primelink Travel Insurance or write your own review.

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Primelink Travel Insurance Reviews

Customer ratings and consumer reports on Primelink Travel Insurance – insurance agency in Windsor, ON.

Each review that comes in goes under comprehensive review moderation to avoid fraudulent/fake reviews.

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Allianz Travel Insurance Review

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• Why You Should Trust Us

Allianz Travel Insurance Review 2024

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.

While traveling can be a fun escape, it's an inherently risky activity with many variables to consider. So many worries can remove you from the joy of travel, which is where travel insurance can help.

Allianz Travel Insurance Global Assistance is a prominent leader in the travel insurance space that has been around in some form since 1890. Allianz offers a variety of travel insurance plans that can suit your individual needs. Read on to learn more about Allianz.

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Good option for frequent travelers thanks to its annual multi-trip policies
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Doesn't increase premium for trips longer than 30 days, meaning it could be one of the more affordable options for a long trip
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Some plans include free coverage for children 17 and under
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Concierge included with some plans
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Coverage for medical emergency is lower than some competitors' policies
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Plans don't include coverage contact sports and high-altitude activities
• Single and multi-trip plans available
• Trip cancellation and interruption coverage starting at up to $10,000 (higher limits with more expensive plans)
• Preexisting medical condition coverage available with some plans

Allianz is one of the leaders in the travel insurance industry, included in our guide on the best international travel insurance . With 10 plans split between single trip, annual, and rental car insurance, Allianz has its bases covered. It also provides specific insurance for particular needs, such as annual policies for business travelers and sports equipment coverage for athletes. 

While Allianz is one of the best international travel insurance providers, it also has great CFAR coverage for its Prime and Premier single-trip plans, covering 80% of nonrefundable travel expenses when most policies usually offer 75%. It's also great for families, with coverage for kids 17 and under in its OneTrip Prime and Premier plan.

Allianz is well-reviewed among customers, receiving an average of 4.3 stars out of five across nearly 70,000 reviews on Trustpilot. Its Better Business Bureau page fares a little worse, receiving 3.64 stars out of five across 1,600 reviews. Positive reviews mentioned an easy and quick claims process with a responsive customer service team. However, negative reviews often mentioned difficulty specifically with claims for ticketed events.

Allianz also has a highly rated mobile app called Allyz TravelSmart through which you can contact customer service, view your plan, and file a claim. It received an average rating of 4.4 out of five stars on the Google Play store across over 2,600 reviews and 4.8 out of five stars from over 22,000 reviews on the Apple app store. 

Coverage Options Offered by Allianz

Allianz travel insurance offers different policies, grouped under two types: single trips and annual multi-trip insurance .

The company's travel insurance policies can include the following coverage types:

• Trip interruption coverage , which can help recoup costs if you leave a trip early.
• Travel delay , which can cover some costs if you need additional accommodations due to a delay in travel.
• Emergency medical transportation , which covers transportation to a hospital for eligible illnesses and injuries.
• Emergency medical expenses in case of a dental or medical emergency.
• Baggage delay , which can cover some costs if you need to purchase required items due to your bags being delayed by a certain period of time. Must have receipts for this.
• Baggage loss or damage , which can help recoup some costs if your bag is lost, stolen, or damaged.
• Epidemic coverage endorsement, which can help recoup costs if you must cancel a nonrefundable trip due to an epidemic. It's important to note that there may be limitations and this isn't an option everywhere.
• Travel accident coverage , which can cover costs related to an injury that results in loss of vision, your hands or feet, as well as loss of life.
• Support via a 24-hour hotline

Single-Trip Plans

The general budget option is OneTrip Basic, which can offer various protections should something happen, if you file a claim for a qualified reason.

One step up is the OneTrip Prime policy, one of the most popular plans Allianz offers. It has higher coverage limits than the Basic plan, along with some additional perks.

A more complete option is OneTrip Premier, which includes more comprehensive protections should you need them. This policy is for more extensive, longer trips and includes extras like SmartBenefits—which up to $100 per day for a covered travel or baggage delay with no receipts necessary, only proof of delay—and sports equipment loss coverage.

The coverage limits available vary by plan. Here's an overview of what each policy covers:

Other OneTrip Premier benefits not mentioned in the table above include:

• Sports Traveler, reimbursement up to $1,000 in the event of a missed sports event for a qualified reason
• Sports Equipment Loss, reimbursement up to $1,000 to cover damaged or lost sports equipment
• Sports Equipment Rental, reimbursement up to $1,000 for the cost to rent sports equipment if your equipment is damaged or lost
• Vehicle return, up to $750 reimbursement to return your vehicle to your home if you can't drive it for a qualified reason
• Adventure and sports exclusions changes, which allows you to waive some losses in the event you participate in high-risk activities like free diving at 30 ft, scuba diving at 100 ft, caving, and more

There are two additional single-trip plans from Allianz that offer more specialized coverage: One Trip Emergency and OneTrip Cancellation Plus.

OneTrip Emergency Medical

OneTrip Emergency Medical is a budget option that exclusively offers post-departure benefits to cover you while you're on your trip. As such, the plan doesn't include pre-departure benefits such as trip cancellation or interruption.

• Travel delay, up to $200 per day per person for a maximum of $1000 for delays of six hours and beyond
• Travel accident coverage, up to $10,000
• Emergency medical transportation, up to $250,000
• Emergency medical expenses, up to $50,000 though dental emergencies have a maximum of $750
• Baggage delay, up to $750 with a delay of 12 hours or more
• Baggage loss or damage, up to $2000
• Epidemic coverage endorsement
• Concierge services included

OneTrip Cancellation Plus

The OneTrip Cancellation Plus policy by Allianz is its economical back-to-basics option that can recoup costs in the event of a travel delay, interruption, or cancellation for a qualified reason. This policy includes:

• Travel interruption coverage, up to $5,000
• Trip cancellation coverage, up to $5,000
• Travel delay, up to $150 with delays of six hours and beyond

Multi-Trip Plans

The aforementioned policies are for single trips, but with Allianz travel insurance it's possible to get an annual/multi-trip policy.

The starter annual plan is the AllTrips Basic policy which includes the most basic coverage, and it excludes both trip interruption and trip cancellation coverage.

The AllTrips Prime policy is geared toward travelers who take a minimum of three trips each year and comes with additional coverage compared to the basic plan.

Another annual plan is the AllTrips Premier policy, which is geared toward frequent travelers and includes higher coverage limits and choices.

AllTrips Executive

Additionally, there's the AllTrips Executive policy, which may be a good fit if you're a frequent business traveler. Under this plan, personal travel is also covered. This policy includes:

• Trip interruption coverage, up to $5,000, $7,500, or $10,000
• Trip cancellation coverage, up to $5,000, $7,500 or $10,000
• Travel delay, with a daily limit of $200 up to $1,600 for delays of six hours and beyond
• Travel accident coverage, up to $50,000
• Baggage delay, up to $1,000 with a delay of 12 hours or more
• Baggage loss or damage, up to $1,000
• Rental car damage and theft coverage, up to $45,000
• Business equipment coverage, up to $1,000 in the event your business equipment gets lost or damaged
• Business equipment rental coverage, up to $1,000 in the event you need to rent business equipment due to loss, damage, or theft
• Change fee coverage, up to $500 to recoup costs of changing a ticket for a qualified reason
• Loyalty program redeposit fee coverage, up to $500 to recover fees lost due to getting loyalty points back after a canceled trip
• Pre-existing condition coverage available when purchased within 15 days of first trip deposit

Additional Coverage Offered by Allianz

Aside from the travel insurance policies from Allianz listed above that help travelers prepare for interruptions and cancellations, there are additional add-ons that can cover more.

OneTrip Rental Car Protector

If you're looking for rental car coverage, Allianz offers the OneTrip Rental Car Protector policy for $11 per day. This policy includes:

• Trip interruption coverage, up to $1,000
• Collision damage waiver, up to $50,000 which helps cover costs in the event your rental car is damaged in an accident or stolen

On top of the rental car coverage plan, with the OneTrip Prime plan, there's an optional upgrade to get Required to Work coverage. If there is a work-related emergency and you need to cancel for a qualified reason, this coverage can help recover expenses.

Cancel For Any Reason

An optional upgrade for OneTrip Prime and OneTrip Premier, Allianz cancel for any reason policy covers 80% of nonrefundable costs when canceling a trip for any reason. Allianz stands out compared to the best CFAR travel insurance as most policies only offer 75% coverage. 

What's Not Included with Allianz Travel Insurance?

Allianz travel insurance covers the basics and more and has some high-risk activity exclusions in the OneTrip Premier plan. Aside from that, Allianz travel insurance excludes the following:

• Acts of violence, such as war, terrorism, and civil unrest
• Risky adventure sports
• Unexpected natural disasters (OneTrip Premier allows cancellation due to hurricane warnings)
• Any travel alerts or government regulations and more

If you're interested in coverage for activities like scuba diving, skiing, and more, consider World Nomads, which covers more than 200 activities.

Allianz Travel Insurance Cost

Allianz single trip travel insurance estimates.

How much travel insurance costs with Allianz will depend on a variety of factors, including the type of policy you purchase. To get a quote with Allianz, you'll need to provide the following:

• Your destination
• Travel dates
• The state you live in
• The total cost of the trip

As of 2024, a 23-year-old from Illinois taking a week-long, $3,000 budget trip to Italy would have the following Allianz travel insurance quotes:

• $102 for OneTrip Basic
• $151 for OneTrip Prime
• $184 for OneTrip Premier

A 30-year-old traveler from California is heading to Japan for two weeks, costing $4,000. The Allianz travel insurance quotes are:

• $153 for OneTrip Basic
• $195 for OneTrip Prime
• $270 for OneTrip Premier

A couple of 65-years of age looking to escape New York for Mexico for two weeks with a trip cost of $6,000 would have the following Allianz travel insurance quotes:

• $298 for OneTrip Basic (total for two travelers)
• $400 for OneTrip Prime (total for two travelers)
• $540 for OneTrip Premier (total for two travelers)

Allianz travel insurance premiums generally stack up favorably against the average cost of travel insurance  which is $248 per trip, but again, the specifics of your trip will largely determine how much you'll pay to insure it.

Allianz Annual Multi-Trip Estimates

To receive a quote on Allianz annual plans, you don't need nearly as much information. You just need the following:

• Insurance start date
• Your state of residence

A 30-year-old New York resident looking for travel insurance will pay the following prices for annual travel insurance with Allianz:

• Allianz Basic: $125
• Allianz Premier: $249
• Allianz Executive: $459

A 60-year-old couple from Texas will pay the following: 

• Allianz Basic: $63 per traveler, $126 total
• Allianz Premier: $217.50 per traveler, $435 total
• Allianz Executive: $485 per traveler, $970 total

Filing A Claim with Allianz Travel Insurance

If you purchase a travel insurance policy through Allianz and experience a qualifying event, you can file a claim on the company's website or via its TravelSmart app.

To file a claim with Allianz, you'll need to submit information on their website or app about the type of claim and provide supporting documentation, as well as payment information to get reimbursed. You'll need to select the plan and include your email or policy number as well as your departure date.

If you need assistance when filing a claim with Allianz, you can reach the company at 1-866-884-3556. To reach out to Allianz online, you can submit your request via its contact form.

The Allianz mailing address is:

Allianz Global Assistance

P.O. Box 71533

Richmond, VA 23255-1533

See how Allianz stacks up against the competition. 

Allianz Travel Insurance vs. AXA Travel Insurance

Competitor AXA travel insurance covers 75% of your nonrefundable costs if you choose to cancel, for any reason (as the name suggests) if you choose that as an upgrade and buy it two weeks before your first trip deposit. Allianz's CFAR policy covers 80% of nonrefundable costs.

That said, if we look at the travel insurance quotes based on a 30-year-old traveler from California going to Japan in the first two weeks of October paying a total of $4,000 for the trip, AXA travel insurance is more affordable. It's $97 for its Silver plan, which covers 100% trip cancellation and interruption. Compare this to $153 for the OneTrip Basic Plan through Allianz.

Read our AXA travel insurance review here.

Allianz Travel Insurance  vs. HTH Travel Insurance

Allianz is a good travel insurance option if you're looking for a variety of customized choices. Another competitor, HTH Worldwide Travel Insurance , has three trip protection options.

TripProtector Economy is HTH's budget option and may be a good fit if you're looking for higher medical coverage limits. This policy covers up to $75,000 in accident and sick benefits and $500 in dental benefits.

Plus, the policy covers up to $500,000 for an emergency evacuation. The OneTrip Basic policy from Allianz covers the same dental benefits but offers just $10,000 in medical expenses.

Read our HTH travel insurance review here.

Allianz vs. Credit Card Travel Insurance

A travel insurance policy can offer robust protections, but if you're looking for something basic for trip interruption or cancellation and rental car coverage, check your travel rewards credit card. If you experience illness, weather, or cancellations that affect your trip, you may be able to recoup costs.

Credit card travel insurance coverage may be a good fit for short trips where you don't have a ton of upfront prepaid costs. However, if you're going to be away for a while, have many prepaid expenses, and are concerned about medical coverage, traditional travel insurance may be your best bet.

Read our guide on the best credit cards with travel insurance here.

Allianz Travel Insurance Frequently Asked Questions

Allianz is a reputable and well-established travel insurance provider. The company offers various travel insurance policies for individual trips as well as annual plans. Coverage options may include trip interruption, trip cancellation, trip delay, emergency medical, and more. The company has mixed reviews from consumers but has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Nearly all travel insurance policies offered by Allianz cover COVID-19, aside from the OneTrip Rental Car Protector Plan. Through the Allianz Epidemic Coverage Endorsement, policyholders receive additional protections if they need to cancel a trip due to COVID. Unfortunately, while it's available in most plans it's not available in all jurisdictions, so be sure to read the fine print.

While the best plan is one best suited to your needs, Allianz's OneTrip Premier is the most robust policy, with high cancellation and interruption coverage. Additionally, kids 17 and under are included in coverage. This policy also includes unique benefits for athletes and adventurers thanks to sports equipment coverage.

If you need to file a claim, Allianz may require proof of incident in order to receive benefits. In cases of medical issues, you may need to provide a medical receipt or document. In other cases, you may need to provide other documentation for trip cancellation or trip interruption such as a death certificate, police report, or employment letter.

Allianz doesn't cover missed flights exactly but can help cover costs due to trip delays depending on your policy. So if you missed a connecting flight, you may be able to receive funds to recoup costs related to accommodations and transportation.

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed Allianz Travel Insurance

As part of this Allianz travel insurance review, we looked at the best travel insurance companies in the space. We reviewed the variety of options offered, coverage limits, benefits, add-ons, flexibility, protocols, claims process, and affordability.

Allianz succeeds in offering many different policies aimed at everyday travelers, business travelers, and athletes. To find the best travel insurance option for you, check out several companies, review the benefits, and compare quotes.

Read more about our travel insurance ratings methodology here.

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

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

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