what does travel insurance cover for flights

Airline Travel Insurance

Is flight insurance worth it .

When we think of trips, words such as “enlightening,” “picturesque,” or “relaxing” may come to mind. But there’s no doubt that they’re “expensive,” too— and a good portion of travel costs usually apply to flight fees. More and more, travelers are considering flight insurance to protect their airline investment should things go wrong. But is it the right choice? Find out below:    

What is Flight Insurance?  

Flight insurance (also called airline travel insurance) is a type of insurance that covers your airline costs if your flight plans don’t go as expected. In a more literal sense, it’s an agreement you make with a travel insurance company, airline, or travel agency concerning any flight-related funds or assistance you’re due under specific circumstances.  

The point of flight insurance is to minimize stressors related to unforeseen situations caused by flight disruptions. Flight insurance coverage may vary widely from provider to provider and policy to policy.  

With typical flight insurance, you may be able to get compensation when your flight is significantly delayed or canceled.  

But it’s important to know that there are stipulations that govern your policy. For instance, weather-related flight cancellations may be covered, but those related to aircraft mechanical issues may not be. This is why it’s important to understand the levels of coverage.   Read here to learn about what AXA Travel Protection plans cover.  

Flight Insurance Comes in Several Forms 

Flight insurance won’t be identical across the board. It comes in multiple forms, depending on where you purchase it. Here are a couple of types of flight insurance you may come across:  

• A travel insurance policy that includes flight benefits. A travel insurance policy often includes nonrefundable airline expenses related to cancellations, delays, and interruptions - some portion of airline ticket costs are typically covered. You might get this policy from a company, like AXA Travel Insurance.       Let’s say you want to insure your entire trip with a travel insurance plan that covers general unexpected events and expenses. Some policies include trip cancellation and interruption benefits that reimburse you for nonrefundable expenses like airline tickets.    
• Third-party travel site or airline-provided flight insurance. When you purchase plane tickets, sometimes you can also buy flight insurance as an add-on. It’ll be billed on top of the ticket price.  

The Benefits Included in Trip Insurance for Flights 

  Flight insurance can offer a refund if you pay for a flight but are unable to board the plane due to a covered reason. This benefit is typically included in trip insurance for flights. 

You’re more inclined to receive flight insurance-related compensation if your flight interruption or cancellation is due to illness or an unforeseen circumstance (terror attack, inclement weather, death in the family, etc.). You will not be reimbursed if the situation isn’t covered by your policy. 

Usually, flight insurance only covers nonrefundable flight-related expenses. Aside from airfare refunds, some flight insurance coverage may also offer the following benefits:  

• Trip cancellation or interruption . If certain circumstances force you to cancel your trip or cut it short, you may be able to get a percentage of your pre-paid expenses back (outside of flights). This may include hotel deposits, cruise deposits, tour guide expenses, and more.  
• Baggage coverage . When your baggage goes missing, gets held up, or is damaged in transit, your flight insurance can help you. You’ll be issued a payout up to a pre-determined dollar amount per your policy specifics.  
• Trip delays . If your trip is delayed and you’re unable to find a transportation alternative, you may be eligible to receive compensation. This benefit is often paid in a daily allowance, depending on how long the delay lasts. 

AXA Travel Protection plans offers coverage in all of these areas .    

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Get covered against Trip Delays, Medical Emergencies, Lost Baggage, and more!

Things Airline Travel Insurance Does Not Cover 

Airline travel insurance coverage is by no means comprehensive, it’s not going to cover things like the following:  

Emergency medical services and evacuation .  This benefit kicks in if you get sick during your trip and need immediate medical care or evacuation. You may be reimbursed for covered expenses.  

Missed Connection Coverage. A benefit that covers you if you miss a connecting flight or another form of transportation. In covered situations, you may be eligible for a daily allowance up to your plan maximum.  

COVID-19 travel reimbursement. Coverage that allows for some combination of emergency medical evacuation, trip cancellation, and trip interruption due to contracting COVID-19.  

Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR ). An add-on enabling you to cancel a trip for any reason. You’ll be reimbursed for qualifying nonrefundable expenses.  

Accidental Death and Dismemberment . This benefit covers a portion or all of your expenses after suffering an accident that results in loss of life, limb, hearing, speech, and more.  

For these contingencies, you’ll need a traditional travel insurance policy to access benefits. AXA's Travel Protection plans cover all of the above, plus non-emergency medical coverage, rental car damage, lost golf and ski days, and more.  

How Much is Flight Insurance?  

On average, flight insurance costs around 6% to 7% of your flight cost. Just remember that the amount of money you’ll pay for an average flight insurance plan is dictated by the policy, your travel situation, the cost of your flight, and many other variables.   

Do You Need Flight Insurance? 

Considering that travel insurance offers much broader coverage than flight insurance, foregoing flight insurance may be best.  

Choosing travel insurance is incredibly important for anyone who is investing a substantial amount of money into their trip. Think about it - if you spend $15,000 in nonrefundable travel expenses for your trip, covering only your flight wouldn’t be the best decision from a risk or finance perspective. A travel insurance plan would be the better choice.  

Though this is the case, there are a few situations where flight insurance could be a viable option:   

• Your trip doesn’t involve any nonrefundable expenses other than your flight.  
• The airline you choose doesn’t offer refunds for flights.  
• You don’t have a credit card that offers flight-related perks that mimic flight insurance.  
• Your flight is a straight shot to your destination.  
• You won’t be paying for lodging - maybe you’re staying with a family member or friend.  
• You’re not flying out of the country.  
• Recouping your flight costs is of the utmost importance to you.  

If your trip doesn’t meet the above criteria, consider traditional travel insurance instead.    

Flight Insurance and Travel Insurance are Different 

There is some overlap between flight and travel insurance, but the two are not the same. To make the right decision for your trip, you need to understand the differences between the two.  

The main difference between flight insurance and travel insurance lies in benefits. Flight insurance benefits are targeted specifically toward air travel.  

Travel insurance, on the other hand, includes more comprehensive benefits that provide complete coverage for the traveler.  

Travel insurance coverage may include reimbursement for nonrefundable flight costs, but flight insurance won’t typically include emergency medical expense reimbursement or adventure sports perks.  

Is Flight Insurance Worth It?: Pros and Cons of Flight Insurance 

So, is flight insurance something you need for your trip? Let’s take a look at who flight insurance is for:  

Flight insurance may be for you if you:  

• Want protection from financial loss related to flight interruptions, delays, and cancellations.  
• Want extra coverage for select travel-related situations.  
• Prefer coverage tailored to fit your travel situation and risk profile.  
• Aren’t flying internationally and your flight is your biggest travel expense.   

Flight insurance may not be for you if you: 

• Need comprehensive insurance coverage. Airline travel coverage is typically very limited, leaving potential gaps that leave you financially vulnerable. Travel insurance offers much broader coverage.  
• Don’t have the funds available. Flight insurance is yet another cost you need to factor into your overall travel expenses.  
• Are covered under a travel insurance plan or have a credit card that includes flight insurance benefits.    

So, is flight insurance worth it? The answer is that it depends on your specific travel needs. Not sure if it’s for you? Contact AXA’s team by calling 855-327-1441 and pressing option 2. AXA’s knowledgeable agents are standing by to answer questions, help you compare your plan options, take payments, and more.  

Bon Voyage!  

Whether you opt for flight insurance or traditional travel insurance, we encourage you to read and understand all documentation so you can make a well-informed decision regarding your insurance needs. AXA’s Travel Protection plans all have pre-travel flight coverage, so no matter which plan you opt for, you can count your flight covered. To learn more, check out this benefit information page or browse frequently asked questions . Happy travels! 

Travel Assistance Wherever, Whenever

Speak with one of our licensed representatives or our 24/7 multilingual insurance advisors to find the coverage you need for your next trip. From Medical Coverage to Trip Cancellation Protection, our team of travel experts will help you choose the right coverage.

Make the most out of your travels. Get AXA Travel Insurance and travel worry free!

Accidental Death and Dismemberment Travel Insurance Benefits. (n.d.). AXA Travel Insurance. Retrieved March 4, 2024, from https://www.axatravelinsurance.com/our-plans/benefits/accidental-death-and-dismemberment  

Baggage Loss Insurance | Baggage Travel Insurance| AXA Travel Insurance. (n.d.). AXA Travel Insurance. Retrieved March 4, 2024, from /our-plans/benefits/baggage-lost

Emergency Medical Travel Insurance| AXA Travel Insurance. (n.d.). AXA Travel Insurance. Retrieved March 4, 2024, from https://www.axatravelinsurance.com/our-plans/benefits/emergency-medical  

Horvath, S. (2024, January 26). What Does Flight Insurance Cover? (2024). MarketWatch. https://www.marketwatch.com/guides/insurance-services/what-does-flight-insurance-cover/ 

International Medical Evacuation Insurance| Travel Insurance. (n.d.). AXA Travel Insurance. Retrieved March 4, 2024, from https://www.axatravelinsurance.com/our-plans/benefits/evacuation-repatriation  

Kilroy, A. (2024, January 9). What Is Flight Insurance and Is It Worth It? – Forbes Advisor. Www.forbes.com. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/travel-insurance/flight-insurance/ 

Simonson, J. (2024, January 24). What is flight insurance? USA TODAY. https://www.usatoday.com/money/blueprint/travel-insurance/flight-insurance/  

Travel Insurance Cancel for any reason| AXA Travel Insurance. (n.d.). AXA Travel Insurance. Retrieved March 4, 2024, from https://www.axatravelinsurance.com/our-plans/benefits/cfar  

Travel Insurance Covid| Covid Quarantine Coverage | AXA Travel Insurance. (n.d.). AXA Travel Insurance. Retrieved March 4, 2024, from https://www.axatravelinsurance.com/our-plans/benefits/covid-19  

Travel Insurance Plans | AXA Travel Insurance. (n.d.). AXA Travel Insurance. Retrieved March 4, 2024, from https://www.axatravelinsurance.com/our-plans  

Travel Insurance Plans| AXA Travel Insurance. (n.d.). AXA Travel Insurance. Retrieved March 4, 2024, from https://www.axatravelinsurance.com/our-plans/benefits  

Trip Cancellation Insurance| AXA Travel Insurance. (n.d.). AXA Travel Insurance. Retrieved March 4, 2024, from https://www.axatravelinsurance.com/our-plans/benefits/trip-cancellation 

Trip Delay Insurance| AXA Travel Insurance. (n.d.). AXA Travel Insurance. Retrieved March 4, 2024, from https://www.axatravelinsurance.com/our-plans/benefits/trip-delay 

What is Flight Insurance? Cancellation & Delay Protection Info. (2023, March 27). InsureMyTrip. https://www.insuremytrip.com/insuring-your-trip/flight-insurance/ 

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Is travel insurance worth it?

The right policy can protect your belongings, your bank account and your peace of mind..

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

In April 2024, the White House established new rules for airlines , mandating automatic and timely refunds for passengers whose flights had been changed, delayed or canceled . That's a big relief to travelers — but there are still many unexpected situations where travel insurance can be a lifesaver before or during your trip.

"Travel insurance is often an overlooked investment until the unforeseen happens," says Beth Godlin, president of Aon Affinity Travel Practice . "It's designed to give travelers peace of mind and financial protection against travel risks."

A policy doesn't have to be expensive, says Godlin, to add a layer of protection and security.

Getting travel insurance

What does travel insurance cover, how much does travel insurance cost, best travel insurance companies, alternatives to travel insurance.

Travel insurance generally covers your expenses, your belongings and your well-being. When shopping for a policy, look for these benefits:

Trip cancellation

If your trip is canceled for a covered reason, a policy will often reimburse airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, tours, cruises and other prepaid, non-refundable expenses. Covered situations can include illness or injury, the death of a family member or traveling companion, job loss, military deployment and even unplanned jury duty, according to Allianz's Daniel Durazo.

Cancellations can also be covered if a natural disaster, severe weather or airline strike prevents your carrier from getting you to your destination for at least 24 hours.

CFAR plans provide a lot more flexibility and typically reimburse 50% to 75% of your expenses. But they can bump up the cost by about 40%, said Durazo. Policyholders are also still usually required to cancel no later than 48 hours before their scheduled departure. 

Trip delay 

Should you experience a hiccup in your plans, your policy can provide some relief: Food, lodging and local transportation are usually covered if a delay is due to severe weather, airline maintenance or civil unrest.

"For a traveler to be eligible, they must be delayed for the minimum amount of time listed on their policy," said Squaremouth spokesperson Megan Moncrief. "Some policies are very lenient and provide benefits for any length delay, while others list a length requirement — usually somewhere between three to 12 hours."

Daily payout limits range from $150 to $250 per traveler, according to Moncrief, while the total policy limit can be anywhere from $500 to $2,000. Save any receipts to submit with your reimbursement claim.

Trip interruption

Should you need to cut your trip short due to illness or injury, or if there's a family emergency back home, your policy may reimburse non-refundable expenses you forfeited.

It may also cover the cost of a one-way economy airline ticket home.

Baggage loss

Airlines are required to compensate passengers for luggage lost in transit, but a travel insurance policy may have a higher benefit limit. It could also cover you if your bags, passport or other possessions are lost, damaged or stolen once you've gotten to your destination., Travel insurance doesn't cover every loss: Cash is not reimbursable and many policies won't reimburse for expensive jewelry or heirloom items. Read your policy carefully to see what is included.

Medical expenses and emergency evacuation

If you travel within the U.S., your health insurance should cover any illness or injury you sustain. If you're traveling abroad, though, your plan may provide little or no coverage. The right travel insurance should cover doctors' fees and hospital bills, Durazo said. 

The provider can also help coordinate care and ensure you're at a medical facility that's up to U.S. standards.

An emergency medical evacuation can cost anywhere from $15,000 to over $200,000, Durazo added.

A travel insurance policy typically costs between 4 and 10% of the overall price of your trip. The cost can vary:

• Plans with higher limits and more optional coverage cost more.
• A plan with a CFAR benefit can cost up to 40% more.
• Older travelers typically pay more because there's more of a likelihood of a claim being filed. 

Whichever plan you select, read the fine print so you understand what you're paying for.

There are many options in the travel insurance market: Aggregator site SquareMouth lets you get price quotes from dozens of carriers. And, because it receives a commission from the insurance companies on its site, there's no markup or extra fees.

Squaremouth Travel Insurance

The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote

Policy highlights

While not an insurer itself, Squaremouth is a travel insurance marketplace that can help you quickly compare costs and coverage for a travel insurance policy. It offers annual and single trip policies from top providers including Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, Tin Leg, Generali and more.

24/7 assistance available

• Allows you to quickly and easily compare dozens of travel insurers
• Coverage from many top travel insurers is included
• Specialty coverage available for cruises and adventure sports
• Doesn't directly offer insurance policies since it's a marketplace

American Express has standalone travel insurance policies with coverage not available as part of its usual cardholder benefits — including emergency medical and dental coverage, medical evacuation and travel accident protection in cases of death or dismemberment. The company is known for its customizable policies, flexible rates and strong record of customer service.

American Express Travel Insurance

American Express Travel Insurance offers four standard plans and a "build your own" plan, with coverage options including travel interruption, trip cancellation and baggage protection. While American Express cardholders enjoy some travel protections , a standalone policy can also include emergency medical and dental coverage, medical evacuation and travel accident protection in cases of death or dismemberment while traveling.

Allianz has both single-trip and annual plans, with a Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) policy that reimburses up to 80% of prepaid, non-refundable expenses. That's more than most similar plans on the market.

In addition to trip cancellation, Allianz's popular OneTrip Prime plan includes travel interruption, emergency medical care and emergency transportation. Children 17 and under are covered for free when traveling with a parent or grandparent.

AIG's Travel Guard® plans are great if you need to customize coverage: The mid-range Travel Guard Preferred plan pays out 100% for trip cancellation and 150% for trip interruption, with up to $50,000 in coverage for medical expenses and up to $500,000 for emergency evacuation. There's even a payout of up to $1,000 if you miss your connection.

Travel Guard® Travel Insurance

Travel Guard offers a variety of plans to suit travel ranging from road trips to long cruises. For air travelers, Travel Guard can help assist with tracking baggage or covering lost or delayed baggage.

The Platinum plan from AXA Assistance USA has a $3,000 benefit limit for lost luggage, well beyond the $1,700 that airlines are required to provide on international flights. AXA has offices in more than 50 countries, with multilingual operators available 24 hours a day to help reschedule flights, book hotels and make other arrangements.

AXA Assistance USA Travel Insurance

AXA Assistance USA offers several travel insurance policies that include travel interruption, trip cancellation, and the option of cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage.

If you book with the right credit card , you may get built-in travel protections from the card provider: Chase Sapphire Preferred® , Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card and the  *American Express® Gold Card all come with trip cancellation and trip delay protections , among other benefits.

Keep in mind the coverage you get with your card may not be as robust as with a standalone policy. Many cards offer trip delay and cancellation protection, delayed/lost baggage insurance and car rental insurance, for example, but few cover medical treatment, emergency evacuation or travel accident protection.

Research your card's travel benefits before making any purchases related to your trip.

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Earn 5X total points on flights and 10X total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3X points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases plus, 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2025

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

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4X Membership Rewards® points at Restaurants (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 1X points on all other purchases

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While government regulations are becoming increasingly stringent about reimbursing travelers for delayed or canceled flights, that doesn't do you any good if it wasn't the airline that put a kink in your plans.

Travel insurance could be particularly useful if:

• You've spent a lot on prepaid, non-refundable expenses
• You're traveling internationally where your health insurance won't apply
• You're traveling to a remote area or for an extended period
• You have an existing health condition
• You've scheduled adventure activities such as skiing, bungee jumping or hang-gliding
• Your flight involves multiple connections or destinations

"When deciding if travel insurance is right for you, ask yourself how much you could stand to lose if you had to cancel at the last minute," said Godlin.

Policies vary, but most comprehensive plans cover travel cancellation and interruption, baggage loss, medical care and emergency transportation.

While the price for coverage varies, most policies cost between 4% and 10% of the trip's prepaid, non-refundable expenses.

When should I get travel insurance?

It's best to take out a policy within days of making your reservations.

Does travel insurance cover COVID-19?

If you contract COVID-19 before or on your trip, it may be covered by your policy's trip cancellation/interruption benefit . You'll likely have to confirm your test results with a diagnosis from a healthcare provider.

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Meet our experts

At CNBC Select, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority. For this story, we interviewed Beth Godlin, president of Aon, which provides custom travel insurance for tour operators, cruise lines, travel websites and others. We also spoke with former Squaremouth Megan Moncrief and Allianz communications director Daniel Durazo.

Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every insurance article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors . While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

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For rates and fees for the American Express® Gold Card , click here .

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How to Pick the Best Flight Insurance Policy for Your Next Trip

Here’s what you need to know about flight insurance before you buy.

Caroline Purser/Getty Images

From flight delays to damaged bags, air travel can be stressful. Thankfully, there’s a range of flight insurance options that will cover expenses in case something goes wrong and provide peace of mind, even if everything goes as planned. 

So, what is flight insurance? Flight insurance is a type of policy that only protects the cost of your flight and flight-related expenses. This type of insurance can include trip cancellation, trip interruption, flight delay , and lost or damaged baggage coverage. Unlike a comprehensive travel insurance policy, flight insurance doesn’t cover things like emergency medical coverage or emergency evacuation.

Here’s everything you need to know about flight insurance so you can decide which plan is best for you.

Chalabala/Getty Images

Pros of Flight Insurance 

The obvious benefit of buying flight insurance is that you’ll be protected financially if things go wrong. Even if your trip goes according to plan, the peace of mind you’ll have may be worth the relatively small cost of a basic insurance plan. In 2022, the average cost of a policy was just $266, while the average payout was $2,157, according to Squaremouth , a travel insurance comparison website.

Cons of Flight Insurance

Ironically, the biggest con of purchasing flight insurance occurs when your trip goes smoothly.  “If you have it, chances are you won't need it, “ says Faith Ann Liuzzo-Bartholomew, a travel advisor who is a member of the American Society of Travel Advisors. That’s what can make the decision to purchase flight insurance so difficult. 

“Flight insurance is a guarantee that your hard-earned dollars and trip plans are protected in case any problems or issues occur,” says Liuzzo-Bartholomew. However, If your trip ends up problem-free, the money spent on flight insurance can feel wasted.

Types of Flight Insurance

There are different types of flight insurance, and each type of policy covers different aspects of a trip.

Airline-issued Flight Insurance Policies

You can buy flight insurance directly from the airline when you’re purchasing a ticket. For example, American Airlines offers flight insurance policies through Allianz Travel that include trip cancellation and trip delay coverage, as well as lost and damaged bag protection. United Airlines offers policies through AIG that include coverage for flight cancellations, missed connections, and lost baggage.

These types of policies tend to offer bare-bones coverage, according to Liuzzo-Bartholomew. 

“If you add the insurance through the airlines with your flight purchase, it is more of a budget policy and includes the basics for delays, cancellations, luggage issues, and re-bookings.” 

Comprehensive Travel Insurance Policies

If you are planning an expensive trip or would rather pay a little more upfront for additional peace of mind, a comprehensive travel insurance policy may be a good option. This type of policy can still have many variables but will generally cover more than just a flight insurance policy. 

For even more flexibility, keep an eye out for a policy that includes the option to upgrade to “Cancel for Any Reason” insurance. A CFAR policy allows travelers to cancel a trip for reasons not covered in their base insurance policy. There are additional restrictions on when you can add CFAR insurance and when a trip needs to be canceled to qualify for reimbursement.

Credit Card Travel Insurance

Many credit cards come with complimentary flight insurance that can cover you in the event of disrupted travel plans. For some travelers, the coverage provided by their credit card may be enough.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a top-notch policy that includes trip cancellation and interruption coverage, lost and delayed baggage coverage, and trip delay insurance that kicks in just six hours after a flight’s scheduled departure time. Another premium credit card, The Platinum Card from American Express , includes trip cancellation, interruption, and trip delay insurance.

Since we’re talking about flight insurance, you may assume that all airline co-branded credit cards come with flight insurance. Unfortunately, that’s not true. Some, like the United Club Infinite Card , include trip cancellation/interruption coverage, while others, like the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard , don’t have any type of insurance.

Keep in mind that it’s important to purchase your flight with the card that has the insurance coverage for the policy to be valid.

Giselleflissak/Getty Images

How to Choose the Best Policy

There are different types of flight insurance policies, so you’ll want to do some research to find the one that best fits your needs.

Mitch Krayton, owner of Krayton Travel and a member of the American Society of Travel Advisors, advises his clients to think about what matters most to them. “Ask what risk you are most concerned about in your travels and what support and financial compensation you are willing to pay a premium for.”

The type of flight insurance policy you’ll need will depend largely on what type of traveler you are. A couple who enjoys weekend trips to different destinations in the U.S. might not need much more than what is offered by the airline or is available through a credit card. 

However, Pamela Holt, travel expert and host of “Me, Myself & The World: The Art of Solo Travel” on Amazon Prime, illustrates an opposite scenario.  “Someone like me, who is constantly traveling solo throughout the year to remote locations and requires some flexibility with travel dates, will likely upgrade to a more comprehensive travel insurance plan,” she says.

Virojt Changyencham/Getty Images

How to Use Flight Insurance 

Picture yourself right after your flight gets canceled. The airline rebooks you on the next flight out, but it’s not until the following morning, Even if a hotel voucher is provided, you’ll still end up with out-of-pocket costs. Flight insurance can reimburse you for those extra expenses like transportation to and from the hotel and meals that won’t be covered by the airline.

If you’re making a claim on your credit card’s travel insurance, you’ll need to charge any expenses on the card that has the insurance. Save all of your receipts and grab any relevant screenshots that show your flight was delayed or canceled.

If you need to file a claim for damaged baggage, act fast. Most airlines require you to submit a claim within 24 hours of landing. Airlines are required to cover some damage in certain situations, but having a flight insurance policy can fill in the gaps between what they cover and what your out-of-pocket expenses actually are.

If you purchased a flight insurance policy from your airline or a travel insurance company, you’ll need receipts for all of your unreimbursed expenses and proof of your disrupted travel plans. Be sure to file a claim as soon as you get home, as many policies have timing requirements.

Related Articles

Travel Insurance for Flights Explained

Travel insurance is used as financial reimbursement if you have to cancel your trip due to a covered illness, injury, jury duty, and more., flying staff.

Travel insurance covers a variety of unexpected changes in your travel plans. [Adobe Stock]

At the end of booking a flight on almost any airline or travel website, you are posed with the question of whether you want to protect your trip. The extra cost may help protect your travel plans if anything happens but most people are not exactly sure what travel insurance for flights does. Here FLYING discusses what travel insurance covers and helps you decide if you should purchase it. 

What Is Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance is a third-party product offered by an insurance company, such as Allianz. Travel insurance is most commonly used as financial reimbursement if you have to cancel or interrupt your trip due to a covered illness, injury, jury duty, and more. Travel insurance can be purchased on a per flight basis or, if you travel frequently, you can opt to be covered on a yearly basis, similar to other types of insurance. 

What Does Travel Insurance Cover?

Travel insurance for flights covers a variety of unexpected changes in your travel plans. 

Trip Delays

On average, more than 20 percent of domestic flights are canceled or delayed. If the type of flight insurance you purchase covers travel delays, it may reimburse you for eligible meals, accommodations, and transportation expenses during a covered delay.

Last Minute Cancellations 

If you have to cancel your flight for a covered reason, such as a covered illness, injury or jury duty, travel insurance may reimburse you for your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs.

Baggage Loss, Theft, and Delay

If your baggage is lost, stolen, damaged, or delayed, your flight insurance may reimburse you for the value of your lost possessions. Which can be a lifesaver if you check luxury luggage .

In the United States, the Department of Transportation (DOT) requires airlines to compensate flyers up to $3,300 for lost baggage and in foreign countries that amount is a maximum of $1,750. But to receive those maximum amounts, passengers must provide receipts proving the value of the lost bags and their contents. 

Most travel insurance covers healthcare expenses in the event something happens on your trip that your regular health insurance does not cover. The medical benefits covered by travel insurance is to protect you in case of an illness or injury outside your insurance carrier's plan. It provides benefits for losses due to covered medical and dental emergencies that occur during your trip. Depending on your plan, there may also be dental coverage. 

What Does Travel Insurance Cost?

The cost of travel insurance varies depending on a few factors such as the age of the traveler, country traveling to and from, and how much the overall trip costs. 

A domestic adult traveler within the continental United States can expect to pay between $40-$70 for travel insurance. This is based on a total trip cost of roughly $800. The same traveler traveling to India would likely spend twice as much on an airplane ticket. This means that their travel insurance would be roughly twice the cost as well, $80-$140.

The price of travel insurance will increase as the traveler ages, this is mostly due to the medical coverage attached to the plan.

Get Covered When Traveling

Now that you’re informed, consider purchasing travel insurance for your next trip. If you found this guide valuable, subscribe to FLYING Magazine to stay informed on all the latest aviation news. 

How much is travel insurance?

Travel insurance varies depending on your age, the countries you will visit, and the cost of the trip. On average, it costs between $30-$50 for domestic travel.

Does travel insurance cover lost bags?

Yes, travel insurance covers loss, damage, or theft of baggage and personal effects.

Do I need flight insurance?

Travel insurance can be a valuable benefit when traveling at any time. It can ensure you are protected in the case of unplanned illness, delays, or cancellations.

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Travel insurance

What does travel insurance cover?

Erica Lamberg

Heidi Gollub

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

Updated 10:49 a.m. UTC Feb. 23, 2024

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Mikhail Blavatskiy, Getty Images

• Travel insurance coverage can protect you from financial losses associated with a trip.
• Most travel insurance plans include trip cancellation insurance and travel medical insurance. 
• What is covered, and how much, varies by plan, so it’s important to read your policy and look for exclusions. 

Compare the best travel insurance offers

Travel insured.

Via TravelInsurance.com’s website

Top-scoring plan

Worldwide Trip Protector

Covers COVID?

Medical & evacuation limits per person

$100,000/$1 million

Atlas Journey Preferred

Seven Corners

RoundTrip Basic

$500,000/$1 million

What is covered by travel insurance? 

The best travel insurance plans provide comprehensive benefits to protect your travel investment, both leading up to your trip and while you’re traveling. These trip protections typically include coverages for trip cancellation, delay or interruption, emergency medical and evacuation, baggage delay or loss, and other benefits like missed connection coverage. 

Trip cancellation insurance  

Trip cancellation insurance generally reimburses up to 100% of your unused, prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses, as long as you’re canceling your trip for a reason listed in your policy. 

Reasons typically covered include: 

• Inclement weather or a natural disaster. 
• Military orders.
• Travel supplier going out of business. 
• Unexpected job loss.
• Unforeseen illness or death of you, your travel companion or a family member.

If you want to be able to cancel your trip for reasons beyond those listed in your policy, consider adding “ cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage . This optional upgrade is available with many travel insurance plans, but it adds about 50% to the cost of your policy.

Travel delay insurance

Trip delay insurance reimburses you for unexpected expenses, such as meals, transportation and lodging, if your trip is delayed for a covered reason. For instance, if your flight is delayed or canceled because of plane maintenance or a blizzard, travel delay insurance may cover the cost of a hotel room while you wait for a new flight. 

There is generally a waiting period before your travel delay insurance kicks in, often six or 12 hours. This benefit typically has a per day and total maximum benefit, per person.  

Know more about flight cancellation: Flight cancellations

Trip interruption insurance

Trip interruption is coverage that can provide reimbursement if you have to end your trip earlier than planned. Common covered reasons for trip interruption are injury or sudden illness to you or a traveling companion, severe weather en route to or at your destination, a family death or a life-threatening emergency at your home. 

If your early departure is caused by a covered reason and you forfeit prepaid, unused and nonrefundable trip expenses, you can file a claim for reimbursement. Trip interruption benefits can also cover the cost of a one-way, economy airline ticket home and a taxi to the airport. 

Travel medical insurance 

Travel medical insurance can cover the cost of medical care, hospitalization, imaging, lab work and prescription medication if you get sick while traveling. 

Many U.S. health insurance plans do not provide benefits outside of the country, so travel medical insurance is a good idea when traveling abroad. It can cover your expenses if you experience a medical emergency during your trip. 

Medical insurance on travel insurance policies is different from your U.S. health care program in that it’s only intended for emergency care. Jason Schreier, CEO of GoReady Insurance

Emergency medical evacuation

“Should you suffer a major accident or sickness during your trip and need to be medically transported on an air ambulance, helicopter or other conveyance, [emergency medical evacuation benefits] can cover those expenses,” said Schreier. “Typically, those costs begin at over $10,000 and can grow into the $200,000 to $300,000 range depending on your location and condition.”

You won’t necessarily be transported back to the United States. “Medical evacuation is about transporting you to the closest adequate facility that can stabilize your condition,” said Schreier. 

“Typically, this is needed when your current location doesn’t have the adequate medical equipment or expertise to do the job. The benefit not only can cover the costs of the transportation conveyance but also the expense to have a doctor or nurse travel with you bringing oxygen tanks and any other necessary equipment. Once stabilized and fit to travel, most policies will then pay to return you home to the States.”

Baggage loss insurance coverage

Baggage loss insurance is a benefit in your travel insurance policy that can offer some monetary assistance if your personal belongings are lost, damaged or stolen while you’re traveling. 

For example, if your camera gets stolen, you can file a travel insurance claim to recover the depreciated value of this item. Just be sure to file a theft report with your hotel manager or the police because you will need to include this documentation with your claim.

Read your policy carefully, as there are usually per item and per person maximum reimbursement limits on baggage loss, such as $250 per item and $1,500 per person. There will also be exclusions like heirloom jewelry or cash. 

Note that this coverage is typically secondary to other types of insurance. So if an airline loses your bag, you’ll need to file a claim with the airline first, before you can turn to your travel insurance.

Baggage delay coverage

Baggage delay benefits can reimburse you for extra expenses, such as personal care items, if your luggage doesn’t arrive on schedule. Your policy will outline the waiting time before coverage begins, such as a delay of six, 12 or 24 hours. 

This coverage is designed to tide you over until you’re reunited with your luggage, not replace the entire contents of your bags. It will have a per-person limit, such as $300.

What does travel insurance typically not cover?

Travel insurance will not reimburse you if you file a claim for something not listed as a covered reason in your policy. 

“The policy also lists circumstances that are not covered, known as exclusions,” said Daniel Durazo, a spokesperson at Allianz Partners USA. “Exclusions include known or foreseeable events — for example, if a storm is named in the destination where you’re traveling to, but you haven’t yet purchased a policy, you can’t buy travel insurance to reimburse your non-refundable trip costs because it’s already a known event.” 

Common exclusions include:

• Fear of travel.
• High-risk activities like skydiving.
• Illegal activity. 
• Intoxication and drug use.
• Medical tourism.
• Natural disasters that began before you bought the policy.
• Normal pregnancy.
• Pre-existing medical conditions.

Optional travel insurance coverages

Coverage upgrades vary by travel insurance plan, but popular options include: 

• “ Cancel for any reason” (CFAR) .
• “Interruption for any reason” (IFAR).
• “Cancel for work reasons.”
• Adventure sports bundle. 
• Medical bundle. 
• Pet bundle.
• Rental vehicle damage coverage.
• Travel inconvenience.
• Wedding bundle.

Travel insurance coverage FAQs

Most comprehensive travel insurance plans can cover the cost of  flight if it’s canceled, but there may be a required waiting period — such as a 12-hour delay in your trip that is caused by your flight cancellation. 

Your flight will also need to be canceled for a reason listed in your policy in order for you to file a claim for reimbursement. These reasons could include mechanical issues, a strike or inclement weather.  

Borden of Seven Corners recommends you review your policy documents carefully so you know the covered reasons, as well as any exclusions. 

Only want to insure your airfare? Flight cancellation insurance

Although often used interchangeably, there is a difference between trip protection and travel insurance . 

Trip protection typically covers your prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses if you have to cancel, delay or interrupt your trip. It can also include financial protection for your belongings if your luggage is lost, delayed, damaged or destroyed by a common carrier such as the airline. 

Travel insurance provides more comprehensive coverage, including travel medical insurance and emergency medical evacuation . These benefits are especially important if you will be traveling outside of the country where your domestic health insurance may not cover you.

A comprehensive travel insurance plan will offer some degree of coverage for the major expenses related to your trip — from the time you book your travel to the time you return home, and all days in between — as long as the appropriate premium is paid for the covered trip costs, said Scott Adamski, a spokesperson with AIG Travel.

In all cases, Adamski cautions it’s important to read your travel insurance plan carefully to learn about any exclusions or limitations that might apply to your trip.

Trip cancellation is the most common reason for a claim among AIG Travel customers, according to Adamski of AIG Travel. 

Learn more: Trip cancellation insurance

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.

Erica Lamberg is a regular contributor to Fox News, Fox Business, Real Simple, Forbes Advisor, AAA and USA TODAY. She writes about business, travel, personal finance, health, travel insurance and work/life balance. She is based in suburban Philadelphia.

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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Is Flight Insurance Worth It? Protect Your Trip and Your Wallet

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Table of Contents

The 5 best flight insurance plans, what is flight insurance, is flight insurance worth it, what flight insurance covers, what flight insurance costs, how to get flight insurance, final thoughts.

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

Air travel can present unexpected circumstances, including cancellations, delays, missed connections, and lost or delayed baggage. At the same time, flights may be the most costly part of your trip budget. This can present a high-stakes scenario where you’ve spent a lot on airline tickets but risk situations that can interfere with your travel plans. 

Flight insurance protects you against unforeseen circumstances that could cost you, whether it’s cancellation or lost bags, generally offering reimbursement for your nonrefundable costs when air travel goes awry. You can get flight insurance when you book with an airline or online travel booking site or you can select a comprehensive travel insurance plan that includes air travel from a travel insurance company.

This guide explores options for the best flight insurance, how it works, when to buy it, and what to look for in a flight insurance policy. Whether you’re a frequent flyer or only occasionally take to the skies, read on to understand how flight insurance can offer financial protection and peace of mind.

Comprehensive travel insurance policies generally include flights, so you have extensive options for flight insurance. Consider these flight insurance plans that offer a good value for coverage, as quoted for a 40-year-old visiting Japan on a $2,500 trip:

Best Flight Insurance for Cancel for Any Reason: battleface

With the battleface Discovery Plan , you can get covered for trip cancellation, including Cancel for Any Reason coverage, which offers reimbursement of up to 75% of your trip cost if you need to cancel your travel plans (50% in Florida). Cancellation is all our quote included, but there are optional add-ons for trip interruption, medical emergencies, evacuation and repatriation, travel and baggage delays, and more. Our quote for this policy came to $61.82.

Best Flight Insurance for Travel Delays: Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection

A Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection ExactCare Value flight insurance policy covers up to 100% of your trip cost for trip cancellation and interruption, including COVID-19 coverage. That includes cancellations for getting laid off or medical reasons. You also get up to $15,000 for emergency medical treatment and $150,000 in medical evacuation and repatriation benefits. Travel delay benefits are up to $500 for delays after a 12-hour delay with a $100 daily limit, and baggage delays are for up to $200 per person after a 24-hour delay. If your baggage or personal items are lost, you can get reimbursed up to $750. We received a quote for $54 on this policy.

Best Flight Insurance for Missed Connections: Travelex

The Travelex Travel Basic flight insurance policy covers up to $500 for missed connections after a 3-hour delay and offers up to $500 for travel delays and $100 for baggage delays. Trip cancellation and interruption cover up to 100% of your trip cost, including employment layoff or medical reasons. You’ll get up to $15,000 in primary emergency medical coverage and up to $100,000 in medical evacuation and repatriation coverage. This policy was quoted at $87.

Best Flight Insurance for Baggage Protection: AXA Assistance USA

The AXA Assistance USA Silver plan can offer good coverage if baggage protection is a priority. It has up to $750 in baggage and personal item loss coverage and a $200 baggage delay benefit after a 24-hour delay. The policy also offers trip cancellation and interruption coverage, emergency medical, and medical evacuation and repatriation coverage. Travel delays are covered up to $500 after a 12-hour delay, as are missed connections for cruises and tours after a 3-hour delay. Our quote for this policy came to $78.

Best Flight Insurance for Accidental Death: Generali Global Assistance

If you’re concerned about a serious accident on your flight, a policy with an accidental death and dismemberment benefit could give you some peace of mind. The Generali Global Assistance policy offers $50,000 in accidental death and dismemberment benefits if you’re killed or seriously injured on your flight. Additional benefits include trip cancellation for up to 100% of your trip cost and trip interruption for up to 125% of your trip cost. There’s up to $50,000 in emergency medical benefits and up to $250,000 in medical evacuation and repatriation coverage. Additional benefits include travel and baggage delay, missed connections, and baggage and personal item loss. We were quoted $86.25 for this policy.

Flight insurance, also known as flight protection or flight cancellation insurance, provides coverage for the cost of your flight, offering reimbursement for nonrefundable flight costs if your flight plans are disrupted. Generally, flight insurance policies cover flight cancellations and delays, missed connections, diversions, and unexpected illness or injury before your departure.

You can purchase flight insurance as a standalone policy, usually from an airline’s travel insurance provider or third-party travel booking sites, or get a comprehensive travel insurance plan directly from a travel insurance company.

How Flight Insurance Works

Flight insurance offers coverage for flight-related disruptions and emergencies . Generally, the insurer will send you quotes and policy terms, after which you can purchase coverage and proceed with travel. If you don’t experience any issues, you won’t need to file a claim. But if you do need your flight insurance for an illness, flight delay, or cancellation, you can contact the insurance provider to file a claim. 

Though a canceled or delayed flight could cost you more than just the flight in nonrefundable hotel nights or missed tours, standalone flight insurance generally only reimburses you for up to the cost of your flight.

When To Buy Flight Insurance

You can generally buy flight insurance up to the day before departure, but it’s best to get your flight insurance as soon as you book your flight. The earlier you have flight insurance coverage, the better because unforeseen circumstances could interfere with your trip at any point.

You probably don’t need flight insurance if you’ve purchased a flight ticket that offers free changes or cancellations . And you won’t get much out of flight insurance if you’ve booked award flights using points or miles as currency. Also, consider your credit card benefits: You might not need to purchase flight insurance if your credit card offers adequate travel protection benefits.

Any of these are good reasons not to get flight insurance. But if you don’t have ticket flexibility or helpful credit card travel protections, getting flight insurance can offer major savings if you run into unexpected situations with your flight. 

Flight insurance can be particularly valuable if you have travel with multiple connections, expensive tickets, or you’re taking an international trip.

For example, if you get sick and need to cancel your trip, flight insurance can reimburse you for what’s probably a major cost of your travel: nonrefundable flight bookings. Or if flight delays cause you to miss a connection, you can get reimbursed if you have to pay to rebook a different flight.

While worth it, flight insurance is limited compared to comprehensive travel insurance plans that cover not just flights but nonrefundable payments on lodging, tours, and more, along with medical emergency coverage. Compare the costs, and you may find more value in getting comprehensive travel insurance to cover all of your nonrefundable travel expenses.

Booking with points or miles? Travel insurance policies typically only reimburse nonrefundable cash costs, so don’t count on using flight insurance to get your rewards reinstated.

Flight insurance generally covers financial risks related to air travel, particularly cancellations, delays, missed connections, and baggage loss or delay. Comprehensive plans usually cover medical emergencies and accidents. Let’s look more at these coverage areas:

• Accidents: Flight insurance can offer a benefit payment if there’s an accident that results in death or serious injuries to the insured on your flight.
• Baggage Delay or Loss: You can get reimbursed for expenses related to lost, damaged, or delayed baggage with flight insurance.
• Medical Coverage: Flight insurance can cover medical expenses and emergency medical evacuation if you become sick or injured on a flight.
• Missed Connection: Flight insurance can reimburse you for the cost of rebooking a flight after you miss a connection due to circumstances beyond your control.
• Trip Cancellation: Flight insurance can reimburse you if you need to cancel a nonrefundable flight for covered reasons such as illness, injury, or a death in the family.
• Trip Delay: If you experience a significant flight delay or cancellation, flight insurance can cover expenses for transportation, accommodations, and meals.
• Trip Interruption: If you unexpectedly need to fly home early, flight insurance can cover additional return trip costs and refund the unused portion of your nonrefundable flights.

Types of Flight Insurance

You can purchase standalone flight insurance , which usually just covers your flight. This type of flight insurance is often available from airlines or third-party travel booking sites. Another option is comprehensive travel insurance , which covers flights and other nonrefundable travel expenses, generally available directly from travel insurance companies.

Annual Travel Insurance

Purchasing an annual travel insurance policy may be cost-effective if you fly frequently. With annual travel insurance, you can pay once to get covered for all the flights and other travel you do within the coverage period.

What To Look For in a Flight Insurance Policy

As you compare flight insurance policies, consider key factors that can help you determine which insurance policy offers the most value for your needs:

• Costs: Compare how much each policy is and weigh coverage and benefits against costs.
• Coverage: Compare coverage areas, including trip cancellation and interruption, medical, baggage, and flight accident coverage.
• Coverage Limits: Understand the maximum benefit for coverage, particularly medical and trip cancellation expenses.
• Customer Reviews and Ratings: Read reviews to learn about a provider and how the insurance company handles claims, customer service, and support.
• Deductibles: Find out whether there are deductibles for any coverage areas where you’ll have to pay out of pocket before your insurance coverage kicks in.
• Exclusions: Be clear about what is and isn’t covered, checking the policy’s exclusions, such as preexisting medical conditions or certain trip cancellation reasons.

Plan to pay between 5% to 10% of your insured costs for flight insurance. For example, if your flight costs $1,000, you’ll pay between $50 and $100 for flight insurance. 

The cost of flight insurance can vary depending on several factors, including your age, how much your flight costs, how much coverage you want, how long your trip is, the insurance provider, and add-ons such as being able to cancel for any reason.

Credit Cards With Flight Insurance

Flight protection could be free depending on which credit cards you have. Many credit cards offer trip protection benefits for no additional cost. Credit card travel protection benefits often include coverage for trip cancellations and interruptions , trip delays , lost or delayed baggage , and travel accidents . That could cover you if you need to cancel or adjust your flight, experience delays, or have lost or delayed baggage issues.

Whether you book directly with the airline or a third-party travel booking site, you may be offered flight insurance when you book your flight. You’ll generally see flight protection as an add-on at checkout . It depends on the airline and insurance provider whether the flight insurance you’re offered at booking is standalone flight insurance or comprehensive travel insurance.

You can also shop for flight insurance or comprehensive travel insurance directly from travel insurance companies or get quotes from travel insurance aggregator sites such as Squaremouth . Using an insurance comparison site, you can more easily compare policies and find the best coverage for your needs.

An insurance broker or agent can also help you compare and select travel insurance policies.

Remember that you may have flight protection coverage available through your credit card benefits . If your credit card offers travel protection, you must book your flight with that credit card for the coverage to be valid. Be sure you understand the coverage and limitations of your credit card travel protection.

These are some of your options if you purchase flight insurance from the airline or an online travel booking site:

Curious how flight insurance from airlines compares to buying directly from travel insurance companies? You can easily get quotes from multiple insurance companies at once using comparison sites such as Squaremouth .

If you’ve laid out a lot of cash for upcoming air travel, flight insurance can provide you with a financial safety net if you need to cancel or interrupt your trip or run into snags along the way. Whether you get standalone flight insurance or a comprehensive travel insurance policy, including flights, flight insurance can protect you from the significant costs of travel disruptions. Consider whether you need flight insurance, and if you decide you do, do your research to find the best policy for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does flight insurance cover cancellation.

Flight insurance generally covers flight cancellations for specific reasons that the policy will list. For example, you can get reimbursed for your nonrefundable flight costs if you experience an illness, injury, or death in the family.

Does travel insurance cover missed flights?

Travel insurance covers missed flights only for reasons such as severe weather, transportation breakdowns, accidents, or missed connections. Be sure to read the terms of the policy to see what’s covered.

Can I add insurance to my flight after booking?

Yes, you can add insurance to your flight when you book it or after you complete your booking. Airlines and online travel booking sites may offer flight insurance when you book your flight, or you can get quotes from travel insurance companies after you’ve booked.

How much money will I lose if I cancel my flight?

How much you’ll lose if you cancel your flight depends on whether you have a refundable ticket and flexibility in rebooking. You could lose the entire booking cost if you’re traveling on a nonrefundable fare that doesn’t allow you to rebook using credit from your canceled flight.

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What Is Travel Insurance?

Understanding travel insurance, how travel insurance works, comprehensive travel insurance.

• Trip Cancellation or Interruption

Damage and Baggage Losses Coverage

Rental insurance, travel health insurance.

• AD&D Coverage

Other Travel Insurance Coverage

How to get travel insurance, the bottom line.

• Personal Finance

What Is Travel Insurance, and What Does It Cover?

Julia Kagan is a financial/consumer journalist and former senior editor, personal finance, of Investopedia.

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Travel insurance is a type of insurance covering financial losses associated with traveling, and it can be useful protection for domestic or international travel. Whether you missed your flight to Florida, lost your bags in Berlin, or broke your ankle in Ankara, the best travel insurance companies can help remedy all kinds of travel mishap costs.

Key Takeaways

• Travel insurance can be purchased online, from your tour operator, or from other sources.
• The main categories of travel insurance include trip cancellation or interruption coverage, baggage and personal effects coverage, rental property and rental car coverage, medical coverage, and accidental death coverage.
• Coverage often includes 24/7 emergency services, such as replacing lost passports, cash wire assistance, and rebooking canceled flights. 
• It's important to understand what's covered and what's not, and any limitations on coverage amounts and coverage requirements.

Travel insurance helps cover financial losses associated with surprise circumstances that could ruin a trip, including illness, injury, accidents, flight or other transportation delays, and other issues. This insurance costs 4% to 10% of a trip's price. So, for a $10,000 trip, trip insurance could cost between $400 and $1,000.

Premiums—or the price you pay for coverage—are based on the coverage type, your age, destination, trip cost, and more. Specialized policy riders focus on the needs of business travelers, athletes, and expatriates .

You may already have travel insurance coverage from your homeowners or renters insurance or your credit cards. Call your insurance agent to find out about your current travel coverage, and your credit card company to find out about any benefits you get when you purchase air or train tickets, rent a car, or book a hotel using the card. Many travel rewards cards come with built-in travel insurance and other travel benefits.

Travel insurance may be sold online by travel agents, travel suppliers (airlines, cruise lines), private insurance companies, or insurance brokers when booking your flight, accommodations, or car.  Travel insurance companies include AIG Travel, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, Generali Global Assistance, GeoBlue, Nationwide, and more.

Typically, you'll purchase coverage shortly after initial bookings for lodging, flights, or other transportation, activities, and rental cars. Some policies may require you to do so to retain full coverage. Here are some terms to know for travel insurance.

Primary and Secondary Coverage

If you buy travel insurance, you may have concurrent insurance coverage , meaning you're covered under more than one policy. When the travel coverage is primary, the travel insurance reimburses you first without needing to make a claim through another company—and sparing you potentially increased policy rates.

If the travel insurance coverage is secondary, you'll first need to attempt to file a claim with other coverage, such as an airline (lost baggage) or your own auto insurance (damaged car).

Coverage Requirements

There are usually stipulations spelled out on how you qualify for coverage. Your claim must fall under the types of coverage offered. For example, lost baggage insurance might include coverage for personal items, prescriptions, credit cards, and your passport or visa. You may also need to take extra steps to qualify for coverage, such as reporting the loss or theft to the police.

Policy Coverage Limits

This is the maximum amount you can receive for the claim. For example, you might only receive $500 per bag. You may not even receive more for expensive items such as jewelry or electronic devices. You might need to provide receipts for items over a certain amount. Without receipts, the insurer may only pay for repairs.

Some coverage might require you to pay a deductible, or flat amount, before covering the remainder of your claim up to the limit.

These are the conditions under which your coverage will not cover the loss. Each policy differs. For example, your baggage damage coverage may not cover losses caused by animals. It may exclude coverage of bicycles, hearing aids or other medical devices, keys, and tickets, or seizure by a government or customs official.

Pre-existing conditions may not be covered by travel medical insurance, or may only be covered if you buy a travel insurance plan within one to two weeks of booking your trip.

Comprehensive travel insurance includes many types of coverage listed below, bundled into one plan. Most commonly, comprehensive travel insurance bundles a 24-hour assistance line to help find doctors or get assistance in an emergency, reimburse you for trip cancellation , interruption and delay, baggage loss or delay, and medical expense and medical evacuation coverage.

Alternatively, you can purchase each coverage type separately. This may be wise if you already have coverage through other insurance or can cover your losses in many cases.

Trip Cancellation or Interruption Coverage

This insurance reimburses a traveler for some or all prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses, and comes in the following forms:

• Trip cancellation : Reimburses you for paid travel expenses if you can't travel for a preapproved reason.
• Travel delay : Reimburses you for expenses if you can't travel because of a delay.
• Trip interruption : Reimburses you for travel costs if your trip is cut short.
• Cancel for any reason (CFAR) : Reimburses you for a portion of costs if you cancel the trip for any reason; typically more expensive than the other types listed above.

With most of the above, acceptable cancellation and interruption causes and reimbursement amounts vary by provider. Acceptable reasons for a claim might include the following:  

• Your illness
• Illness or death in your immediate family
• Sudden business conflicts
• Weather-related issues
• Legal obligations such as jury duty

You may need to pay more or meet more requirements to file a claim for a cancellation due to financial default, terrorism in your destination city, or work reasons.

When traveling, register your travel plans with the State Department through its free  travel registration website , the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). The nearest embassy or consulate can contact you if there is a family, state, or national emergency.

Baggage and personal belongings being lost, stolen, or damaged is a frequent travel problem—and can quickly ruin a trip as you must shop for replacements. Baggage and personal effects coverage protects lost, stolen, or damaged belongings during travel to, in, and from a destination.

However, many travel insurance policies pay for belongings only after you exhaust all other available claims. Baggage coverage may have many restrictions and exclusions, such as only covering up to $500 per item and $250 for each additional item. You may be able to increase or decrease amounts, shop around for coverage, or increase limits by paying more.

For example, the insurance may not pay for lost and damaged luggage due to airline fault. Most carriers, such as airlines, reimburse travelers if baggage is lost or destroyed due to the airline's error. However, there may be limitations on reimbursement amounts, so baggage and personal effects coverage provide an additional layer of protection.

Vacation rental insurance covers costs from accidental damage to a vacation rental property. Some plans also offer trip cancellation and interruption to help reimburse costs when you can't use your vacation rental. Some of these reasons could include the following:

• Lost or stolen keys
• Unsanitary or unsafe vacation property
• Vacation rental wasn't as advertised
• The company oversold your vacation rental

Rental car insurance covers a rental car's damage or loss while on a trip, taking the place of the rental agency's collision damage waiver (CDW) or your regular car insurance policy. Policies vary and may cover collisions, theft, vandalism, and other incidents. Rental car insurance may be a secondary policy to your own car insurance. However, it doesn't cover your liability or legal responsibility for damage or injury you cause to others.

Medical coverage can help with unexpected international medical and dental expenses, and help with locating doctors and healthcare facilities abroad. As with other policies, coverage will vary by price and provider.

• Foreign travel medical coverage : These policies range from five days to one year or longer, and cover costs arising from illness and injuries while traveling.
• Medical evacuation: May cover airlift travel to a medical facility and medical evacuation to receive care.

Consult with your current medical insurers before purchasing a policy to determine whether a policy extends its coverage outside the country. Most health insurance companies pay “customary and reasonable” hospital costs if you become sick or injured while traveling, but few will pay for a medical evacuation.

The U.S. government doesn't insure citizens or pay for medical expenses abroad . Before purchasing a policy, read the provisions to see what exclusions, such as preexisting medical conditions, apply. Don't assume that the new coverage mirrors that of your existing plan. Routine medical care is typically excluded unless you buy a long-term medical plan intended for expatriates, missionaries, maritime crew members, or others abroad for extended periods.

Medicare or Medicaid generally don't cover medical costs overseas unless you have specific Medicare Advantage or Medigap plans covering emergency overseas care.

Accidental Death and Dismembership (AD&D) Coverage

If an accident results in death or serious injury, an AD&D policy pays a lump sum to surviving beneficiaries or you for an injury. The insurance usually offers three parts, providing coverage for accidents and fatalities:

• Flight accident insurance: Occurring during flights on a licensed commercial airliner. 
• Common carrier: Resulting from public transportation such as train, ferry, or bus travel.
• General travel: Occurring at any point during a trip.

Exclusions that may apply include death caused by drug overdose or sickness. In addition, only some injuries may be covered, specifically hand, foot, limb, or eyesight. There are stated amount limits per injury.

Accidental death coverage may not be necessary if you already have a  life insurance  policy. However, benefits paid by your travel insurance coverage may be in addition to those paid by your life insurance policy, leaving more money to your beneficiaries. 

Depending on your plan or package selected, you may be able to add the following travel insurance types:

• Identity theft resolution services
• School activity coverage
• Destination wedding coverage
• Adventure sports coverage
• Pet health as a reason for cancellation or delay
• Hunting or fishing activities as a reason for cancellation or delay
• Missed flight connections

Travel insurance varies in cost, exclusions, and coverage. Coverage is available for single, multiple, and yearly trips. To get travel insurance, you fill out an insurance company's application about your trip, including the following:

• Travelers going
• Destination
• Travel dates
• Date of first payment toward your trip

The insurance company reviews the information using underwriting guidelines to guide issuing a policy and the rate. If it accepts your application, the company will issue a policy covering your trip. If the company rejects your application, you can apply with another insurer.

When you receive your policy, you'll typically get a 10- to 15-day review period to review the contract's fine details. If you don't like the policy, you can return it for a refund. Read through the document and ensure the plan you purchased doesn't apply too many loopholes, and that it covers:

• Emergency medical care and transport back to the U.S.
• High enough limits to cover your costs or damages
• Regions you're traveling to
• Your trip duration or number of trips
• All activities you plan to enjoy
• Preexisting conditions and people of your age

Also, read through for any exclusions. For example, types of property covered, and whether property lost or damaged by the airline is covered, and how.

Do I Need Travel Insurance?

You might consider travel insurance if you can't afford to cancel and then rebook an expensive or long trip. You might also consider travel health insurance if your health insurance doesn't cover international costs. An alternative is to book an easily cancellable vacation—look for a pay-later hotel room and car rental options, flexible cancellation terms, and the ability to rebook without a fee.

What Is Not Covered by Travel Insurance?

Review the travel insurance policy to discover exclusions. According to NAIC, common travel policy exclusions are:

• A traveler's pre-existing health conditions
• Civil and political unrest at the traveler's destination
• Pregnancy and childbirth
• Coverage for those engaging in adventure or dangerous activities.

Pandemics may also be excluded from coverage.

How Can I Get Cheap Travel Insurance?

Your  homeowners  or renters insurance may provide some protection for personal belongings, and airlines and cruise lines are responsible for loss and damage to your baggage during transport. Also, credit cards may provide automatic protection for things like delays and luggage or rental car accidents if used for deposits or other trip-related expenses.

The main types of travel insurance include trip cancellation or interruption coverage, baggage and personal effects coverage, medical expense coverage, and accidental death or flight accident coverage. Before buying a policy, check to see if you already have coverage through your own health or car insurance or a credit card.

Mass.gov. " Travel Insurance. "

Minnesota Department of Commerce. " Travel Insurance ."

U.S. Travel Insurance Association. " Frequently Asked Questions ."

Texas Department of Insurance. " Should You Get Travel Insurance? "

National Association of Insurance Commissioners. “ Taking a Trip? Information about Travel Insurance You Should Know Before You Hit the Road .”

U.S. Department of State. “ Your Health Abroad. ”

Medicare.gov. " Medicare Coverage Outside the United States ." Page 4.

Medicare.gov. " Medigap & Travel. "

NAIC. " Travel Insurance ."

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Travel Insurance 101: How Travel Insurance Works

What is travel insurance?

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

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

A few things you should know about travel insurance:

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

How does travel insurance work?

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to choose a travel insurance plan

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

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

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

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

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

> Find the right travel insurance plan for you 

How to get the most from your travel insurance plan

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

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

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

> Read more about how we can help

Related Articles

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

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What does flight insurance cover?

Types of flight insurance, how to purchase flight insurance, factors to consider when choosing flight insurance, application process for flight insurance, managing your flight insurance policy, flight insurance faqs, step-by-step guide to getting flight insurance.

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

• Flight insurance only covers flight delays, diversions, missed connections, and cancellations. 
• While flight insurance isn't very thorough, it is far cheaper than comprehensive travel insurance.
• Flight insurance is best for international flights and trips where the flight is the highest expense.

Spend any time in one of the more than 5,000 commercial airports in the United States, and two things are abundantly clear: Air travel rates are soaring to new heights and the volatility of air travel is sky-high.

Flight delays and cancellations are rising, from perennial interruptions (including inclement weather and technical difficulties) to everyday mishaps (like runway collisions and baggage blunders). According to the Federal Aviation Administration data, a whopping 2.9 million individuals fly in and out of domestic airports daily on an average of 45,000 flights.

In other words, researching flight travel insurance (and picking the right one) is increasingly essential for today's savvy traveler. Flight insurance offers peace of mind and financial protection, whether you're taking off for a far-flung locale or a domestic weekend trip.

Introduction to flight insurance

Unlike travel insurance (intended to cover various nonrefundable prepaid costs), flight insurance only covers flight cancellations and delays. As a result, it's frequently offered for a nominal fee when booking airline flights, either directly from the airline or via a third-party site.

A general rule of thumb is flight insurance offers the least comprehensive limits and most gaps compared to other coverage options. However, it's also priced in proportion to your flight costs.

Most flight travel insurance covers unexpected events directly related to air travel. The most common coverage kicks in when:

• A flight is canceled unexpectedly due to inclement weather.
• A flight is delayed unexpectedly and causes a missed connection.
• A flight is diverted to an airport other than the scheduled destination.
• An unexpected illness or injury prevents your travel.
• A terrorist event occurs at your travel destination.

Basic flight insurance

Basic flight insurance includes trip cancellation and interruption. This benefit reimburses nonrefundable airline tickets or pays a set benefit if a flight is interrupted (for instance, due to a diversion to an airport other than your scheduled destination). It also covers flight cancellations for covered reasons.

The most common claims relate to the injury, illness, or death of you, your traveling companion, or a family member. You would need separate medical travel insurance to cover any injuries or illnesses during your trip. This benefit also covers canceling due to bad weather (at your point of origin or destination) as well as confirmed terrorist activity at your destination.

Comprehensive flight insurance

Lost or delayed baggage coverage.

This benefit pays a fixed dollar amount (intended to replace essential items) if your luggage is delayed in arriving at your destination as scheduled or is lost or stolen at any point during your travels.

Travel assistance coverage

This benefit offers professional assistance during an unexpected travel or medical emergency. It also provides access to non-emergency concierge services in some cases.

In rare cases, some flight insurance policies offer coverage for medical emergencies and/or accidental death and dismemberment during air travel. When in doubt, read the fine print. All benefits are subject to plan limits.

Flight delay coverage

This benefit reimburses the cost of unexpected meals and/or accommodations if your flight is delayed for a reason outside your control. Most flight delay benefits start when your flight delay extends beyond your plane's scheduled gate departure or on the tarmac. In case of a missed connection, this benefit reimburses unexpected travel expenses for covered reasons like bad weather or mechanical issues.

Buying through airlines and travel agencies

One way to purchase flight insurance is through your airline or travel agency. At the time of booking, you have the option to add travel insurance to your itinerary. Before adding this benefit, be sure to carefully review the plan's coverages and costs to ensure it meets your needs and fits your budget, as you may find a better plan elsewhere. 

Standalone flight insurance policies

You can also buy a standalone flight insurance policy from an insurance provider, which is separate from the booking process. Insurance companies typically offer online quotes and policy purchasing options. If not, call a representative at the company to see your rates and finalize your plan. Alternatively, you can use an online comparison website to review coverage options and prices from multiple carriers at once. 

Coverage limits and exclusions

When choosing a flight insurance policy, it's important to consider what it includes and doesn't. Flight insurance has limits for each type of coverage. For example, you may have a maximum and daily limit to cover expenses incurred during a flight interruption or delay.

You should also understand what a policy excludes. Insurance companies may have exclusions and limitations on coverage for pre-existing medical conditions , high-risk activities, or destinations with travel advisors. 

By understanding a policy's coverages and exclusions, you can choose the best travel insurance that aligns with you and your traveling member's needs at the best price. 

Cost vs. coverage benefits

Of course, travel insurance costs are a factor, especially for those on a limited budget. At the time of booking, a $10 plan has a certain appeal compared to a $50 flight insurance policy. Controlling for the price, savvy travelers aim for the highest limits.

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

Documentation and application steps

According to Travelex insurance , you'll need to provide the following information:

• Trip cost 
• Destination
• Initial trip deposit date
• Traveler information (names, date of birth, etc.) 
• Information about your health (if applicable) 
• Planned activities (if applicable) 

Tips for a smooth application

The insurance company will ask for information about you and your trip. So, for a hassle-free application process, be sure to prepare your: 

• Receipt of trip payment
• Medical records (if applicable)

Additionally, ensure you understand your policy's terms to select accurate coverages and limits. If you have any questions, you can call an insurance agent or broker to help you find the right policy for your travel needs. 

Accessing policy information and support

Keep your policy documents in arm's reach by carrying a physical or digital copy. If you get in an unexpected event that requires you to cut your trip short or need medical attention, you can access your insurance company's information. It's also important to save your insurers emergency hotline number in your contacts, in case you're in an emergency situation. 

Claim filing procedure

When you file a flight insurance claim, your insurer will ask you to provide the following:

• Details of the incident: The reason why your coverage needs to be enacted. For example, if a connecting flight is cancelled, causing you to miss majority of your trip. Each affected policyholder may be required to provide a detailed description of their experience. 
• Documentation : Proof that the event that required coverage occurred. This may include receipts of expenses incurred, an email from your airlines, police reports, or medical reports. 
• Your policy information: This includes your name, the names of any dependents traveling with you, and your policy number.

It takes about two weeks for your insurer to process your claim. However, this timeline can vary depending on other factors such as the extent of the incident, the number of affected parties, and how long it takes all parties to provide documentation. 

Flight insurance final considerations and tips

Choosing the right policy for your needs.

Finding the right travel insurance for your needs can be overwhelming. But understanding your policy's coverage details, knowing your travel needs, and comparing policies can help you find a flight insurance policy you're happy with. If you need a bit more help, don't hesitate to speak to an insurance agent or broker to help you understand your travel insurance policy. 

Flight insurance isn't necessary for all air travel, but you'll want it for expensive or international trips.

Yes, you can purchase flight insurance after booking a flight either through your airlines, travel agency, or a third-party insurer. While it's more convenient to buy it at the time of booking, booking it after your flight allows you to understand travel insurance benefits better and find the most suitable policy for your needs.

Most flight insurance policies cover cancellations due to inclement weather. However, it's important to check the policy's specific terms as your coverage may exclude foreseeable events (i.e., Travel advisory for forecasted storm issued before you purchase your insurance may not be covered.) 

If your flight is canceled or delayed, you'll want to notify your insurance provider as quickly as possible, as policies often limit the  your insurance provider and provide your policy details and associated documentation. You can do this by calling your insurance provider, but many providers offer an online form or app to make filing your claim easy.

Common exclusions in flight insurance policies include cancellations due to pre-existing conditions, civil unrest, or travel provider insolvency. Unless you get cancel for any reason coverage, you can't get flight insurance due to any known risks.

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Travel Insurance Coverage Details, Covered Reasons and Helpful Tips

Generali travel insurance covers many common unexpected events that could derail your travel plans, but doesn't cover everything that could happen. So, it's important that you understand what's included with the plan you choose and the specific events that are covered. On this page you can find explanations about all of the travel insurance coverages included with Generali's Standard, Preferred and Premium plans , including Covered Reasons and helpful tips.

If you're interested in learning more about important insurance terms used on this page, such as " accident " and " travel companion ", see our Travel Insurance Definitions page . And, if your question isn't answered here, check our FAQs page .

Please note that plans purchased in certain states include some differences to travel insurance coverage details. State-specific coverage details, as well as the the entire terms and conditions for each plan, can be seen in the  Plan Documents .

Jump to the coverage you're interested in

Trip cancellation, trip interruption, travel delay, sporting equipment, baggage delay, sporting equipment delay, missed connection.

• Medical & Dental
• Emergency Assistance & Transportation
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment–Air Flight Accident
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment–Travel Accident

Rental Car Damage

Trip cancellation for any reason, extension of coverage.

(Included with Standard, Preferred and Premium plans)

If you must cancel your Trip , there are often cancellation penalties tied to the arrangements that you’ve made and you may get only a portion of your Trip Costs back—or none at all. Such arrangements may include airfare, lodging, cruises, tours, event ticketing and more. Those cancellation penalties tend to get more severe as the departure date gets closer.

That’s where Trip Cancellation coverage can help.

Trip Cancellation is a coverage included with your plan that’s designed to make you "whole" again by reimbursing you up to 100% of your insured trip cost as shown in the Schedule of Benefits for unused, non-refundable, pre-paid travel expenses if you’re prevented from taking your trip due to a covered reason. 

Helpful Tips:

• Trip Cancellation doesn’t cover events that are considered Foreseeable . Foreseeable simply means reasonably known before purchase. For example, if the airline you are flying announces that they are going on strike, the event becomes foreseeable once they make the announcement.
• Flying with miles? Trip Cancellation can reimburse costs to have your frequent flyer miles reinstated if you have to cancel due to a covered reason.
• If your Traveling Companion has to cancel due to a covered event, you can also qualify for Trip Cancellation coverage. Trip Cancellation can provide reimbursement if you have to pay for changes in the per person occupancy rate of your travel arrangements. Or, the coverage can provide reimbursement if you decide to also cancel your trip.

Did You Know: You can also choose to reschedule your trip arrangements rather than canceling.   If you're prevented from taking your trip due to a covered reason, you may have the option to reschedule your trip instead of canceling it. In this case we will pay for the change fees charged by your travel supplier—airlines, cruise lines, tour operators, etc.—up to the amount shown in the Schedule of Benefits .

Covered Reasons for Trip Cancellation:

• Important Note: Your or your traveling companion’s sickness or injury must first occur after you purchase your plan in order to have coverage.  Pre-existing medical conditions are generally excluded from coverage. However, coverage is available with the Premium plan if you purchased your plan prior to or within 24 hours of making Final Payment for your trip, provided other requirements are also met. Review  Plan Documents for full details.
• Did You Know?   Common carriers can include scheduled flights, cruises, ferry rides, train rides, bus rides and more. See “Common Carrier” in our Travel Insurance Glossary for full details.
• Labor Strike: An organized labor strike affects public transportation and you have to cancel.
• Car Accident:  You’re directly involved in a documented traffic accident while en route to departure.
• Being Hijacked or Quarantined:  If you are hijacked or quarantined.
• Jury Duty:  You’re required to serve on a jury or required to appear as a witness in a legal action by a court order. Does not apply if you, a traveling companion or a non-traveling Family Member are a party to the legal action or appearing as a law enforcement officer.
• Home Uninhabitable:  A flood, fire or other natural disaster renders your home residence uninhabitable.
• Destination Uninhabitable:  A flood, fire or other natural disaster renders your hotel, resort, vacation rental or other lodging reservation at your destination uninhabitable. The onset of the disaster must take place within 30 days of your reservation. You qualify for a cancellation if you have 50% or less—or 4 days or less—of your reservation left when the destination becomes inhabitable again.
•   Travel Document Theft:  Your passports or visas are stolen and you report the theft.
•   Mandatory Evacuation:  Your destination is evacuated due to adverse weather or a natural disaster, such as a hurricane . The initial evacuation order must be issued within 30 days of your reservation. You qualify for a full cancellation if you have 50% or less—or 4 days or less—of your reservation left when the evacuation order is lifted, at your destination.
•   Military Duty:  Due to a natural disaster, you are called into active military service to provide aid or relief and must cancel your trip.
•   Military Leave Revoked:  You had approved military leave before purchasing travel insurance, but your leave is revoked and you have to cancel your trip. Be ready to provide an official revocation notice from your commanding officer with your claim packet.
• Job Loss:  After at least one year of employment with the same company you experience an involuntary termination and can't go on your trip. Coverage is unavailable to those who are self employed, temporary employees and independent contractors. Coverage is also unavailable if you're terminated within 14 days of buying your plan.
• Terrorist Act:  A Terrorist Act in the city you’re departing from or in a city you’re scheduled to travel to. The city must not have experienced a terrorist act in the 30 days before you bought travel insurance and the terrorist act must take place within 30 days of your scheduled date of departure.
• Host’s Life-threatening Sickness or Injury:  Your Host at your destination can no longer provide lodging due to a life-threatening sickness or injury. Or your host unexpectedly passes away.
• Extension of School Year:  A school that either you or a traveling companion attend must extend its operating session beyond the pre-defined school year and beyond the scheduled departure date of your trip. 
• Extension of Exams:  Your or a traveling companion’s academic exams are rescheduled after you buy travel insurance and are now scheduled during your trip dates.
• New Vaccination Requirements:  Your destination country announces and publishes a new vaccination requirement after you buy travel insurance, that you are medically unable to receive.
• Organ Match:  You’ve been waiting for a medically necessary organ transplant and receive official notification of an organ match that requires immediate transplant. Your physician must advise that your transplant or your recovery prevents your travel.
• Adoption:  You’re trying to adopt a child and receive a court notice to attend an adoption proceeding during your travel dates and have to cancel. Or, you were taking your trip to complete a confirmed adoption proceeding and the proceeding is cancelled.

Trip Interruption coverage is similar to  Trip Cancellation  in that it’s designed to help you recoup non-refundable travel costs. While Trip Cancellation can help if you have to cancel your Trip altogether, Trip Interruption can help if you’re still taking your trip but aren’t able to use all of your pre-paid arrangements.

Trip Interruption coverage goes into effect as soon as you depart on your trip. It can reimburse you up to the amount shown in the  Schedule of Benefits  for unused, non-refundable, pre-paid land and water arrangements. Trip Interruption can also reimburse for out-of-pocket transportation expenses to get you caught back up to your trip as planned, or to get you back home if you have to end your trip early.

Helpful Tip:  Reimbursable travel costs include the unused, non-refundable land arrangements that you’ve paid for your trip, such as accommodations, tours, train tickets or event admissions; water arrangements like a ferry ride or cruise, and airfare for any side trips you’d planned during your travel dates. 

Did You Know?  Trip Interruption coverage can also reimburse you for additional transportation expenses that you must pay when trying to get to your destination if you are delayed and you end up leaving after the scheduled departure date and time.

Like Trip Cancellation, your interruption must be caused by a covered reason in order to have coverage.

Covered Reasons:

• Important Note:   Your or your traveling companion’s sickness or injury must first occur during your trip in order to have coverage. Pre-existing medical conditions are generally excluded from coverage. However, coverage is available with the Premium plan if you purchased your plan prior to or within 24 hours of making  Final Payment for your trip, provided other requirements are also met. Review a  Plan Documents  for full details.
• Helpful Tip: Before you leave on your trip, download our physician statement.Should you have to interrupt your trip because of a sickness or injury, having this form on-hand will allow your treating physican to complete the form during your appointment.
• Did You Know?   Common carriers can include scheduled flights, cruises, ferry rides, train rides, bus rides and more. See  “Common Carrier” in our Travel Insurance Glossary  for full details.
• Labor Strike:  An organized labor strike affects public transportation and you have to cancel.
• Being Hijacked or Quarantined:  If you are hijacked or quarantined.
• Jury Duty:  You’re required to serve on a jury or required to appear as a witness in a legal action by a court order. Does not apply if you, a traveling companion or a non- traveling Family Member are a party to the legal action or appearing as a law enforcement officer.
• Destination Uninhabitable:  A flood, fire or other natural disaster renders your hotel, resort, vacation rental or other lodging reservation at your destination uninhabitable. The onset of the disaster must take place within 30 days of your reservation. You qualify for a full cancellation if you have 50% or less—or 4 days or less—of your reservation left when the destination becomes inhabitable again.
• Travel Document Theft:  Your passports or visas are stolen and you report the theft.
• Mandatory Evacuation:  Your destination is evacuated due to adverse weather or a natural disaster, such as a hurricane . The initial evacuation order must take place within 30 days of your reservation. You qualify for a full cancellation if you have 50% or less—or 4 days or less—of your reservation left when the evacuation order is lifted at your destination.
• Military Duty:  Due to a natural disaster, you are called into active military service to provide relief efforts and must cancel your trip.
• Military Leave Revoked:  You had approved military leave before purchasing travel insurance but your leave is revoked and you have to cancel your trip. Be ready to provide an official revocation notice from your commanding officer with your claim packet.
• Job Loss:  After at least one year of employment with the same company you are experience an involuntary termination and can't go on your trip. Coverage is unavailable to those who are self employed, temporary employees and independent contractors. Coverage is also unavailable if you're terminated within 14 days of buying your plan.
• Terrorist Act:  A  Terrorist Act in the city you’re departing from or in a city you’re scheduled to travel to. The city must not have experienced a terrorist act in the 30 days before you bought travel insurance and the terrorist act must take place within 30 days of your scheduled date of departure.
• Host’s Life-threatening Sickness or Injury:  Your Host at your destination can no longer provide lodging due to a life-threatening sickness or injury. Or your host unexpectedly passes away.
• Extension of Exams:  Your or a traveling companion’s academic exams are rescheduled after you buy travel insurance and are now scheduled during your trip dates.
• Organ Match:  You’ve been waiting for a medically necessary organ transplant and receive official notification of an organ match that requires immediate transplant. Your physician must advise that your transplant or your recovery prevents your travel.
• Adoption:  You’re trying to adopt a child and receive a court notice to attend an adoption proceeding during your travel dates and have to cancel. Or, you were taking your trip to complete a confirmed adoption proceeding and the proceeding is cancelled.

Traveling is prone to delays and sometimes those delays can become costly as travelers have to pay for unplanned purchases out of pocket. If you’re delayed during your Trip , Travel Delay can reimburse you up to the amount listed in the Schedule of Benefits for reasonable meals, telephone calls, additional parking charges, pet kennel fees, local transportation and even lodging during your delay.

Important Note: Travel Delay can only be used if your delay is for ten hours or more with the Standard plan, eight hours or more with the Preferred plan and six hours or more with the Premium plan.

Did You Know?  Travel Delay and Trip Interruption coverages can often be used in the same situation. If your trip is interrupted or delayed, Trip Interruption can reimburse you for additional transportation to catch up to your trip, unused lodging and missed cruise days, while Travel Delay reimburses for out of pocket costs like meals and overnight lodging while you are delayed.

• Common Carrier delay: for instance, a flight or cruise ship delay
• Adverse weather or natural disaster
• Loss or theft of your travel documents, passport or money
• Car Accident: You’re directly involved in a documented traffic accident while en route to departure
• Unannounced strike
• Civil disorder
• Sickness or injury of you or a Traveling Companion
• Death of a traveling companion

Your luggage and personal belongings are valuable, so it makes sense to get coverage for your Baggage when traveling, especially if you'll be away from home for a while. Baggage coverage is secondary to your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance.

Baggage coverage can reimburse you if your baggage is damaged, lost or stolen during your trip.

Did You Know? If you need to reissue a passport, visa or ticket because it was lost, damaged or stolen while traveling, Baggage Coverage can pay the fees.

Helpful Tip:  If you’re buying any new items for your Trip , keep the receipts. Items without receipts are reimbursed based upon 75% of the Actual Cash Value .

Important Note: Your insurance plan is unable to cover every item you might be traveling with. Some items, like eyeglasses and computer hardware are excluded. Read the full list of excluded items in  Plan Documents .

What if my baggage is damaged, lost or stolen? Immediately report what happened to your hotel manager, tour guide, or local authorities and obtain a written report. After reporting your loss, do your best to protect your items from any further damage. If you need to temporarily repair your luggage, we will reimburse you for those costs.

(Included with Preferred and Premium plans)

Sporting Equipment Coverage is very similar to Baggage Coverage , but specifically covers Sporting Equipment that you’re traveling with.

If your sporting equipment is damaged, lost or stolen during your trip, this coverage can reimburse you.

Helpful Tip:  If you’re buying any new Sporting Equipment for your Trip , keep the receipts. Items without receipts are reimbursed based upon 75% of the Actual Cash Value .

Important Note: Your insurance plan is unable to cover every item you might be traveling with. Some items, like sunglasses are excluded. Read the full list of excluded items in  Plan Documents .

What if my sporting equipment is damaged, lost or stolen? Immediately report what happened to your hotel manager, tour guide, or local authorities and obtain a written report. After reporting your loss, do your best to protect your items from any further damage. If you need to temporarily repair your equipment, we will reimburse you for those costs.  

Arriving at your destination and standing at the baggage claim waiting for luggage that never arrives is another common, stressful experience for travelers. You might find yourself stranded without essential personal items or clothing that you need to enjoy your trip as planned.

Baggage Delay can reimburse you for the reasonable cost of clothes and other personal items that you have to buy while your baggage is delayed.

Important Note: Baggage must be delayed for at least 24 hours with a Standard pan, 18 hours with a Preferred plan and 12 hours with a Premium plan. This coverage ends once you return home.

Did You Know? We can also reimburse you for the cost to retrieve your delayed baggage and have it returned to you.

If you arrive at your ski trip destination without your skis or your golf outing destination without your golf clubs, Sporting Equipment Delay can help.

Sporting Equipment Delay can reimburse you for the cost of locating your delayed Sporting Equipment and having it returned to you.

Coverage is included for skis, golf clubs, surfboards, mountain bikes and more.

Important Note: Sporting Equipment must be delayed for at least 18 hours with the Preferred plan and 12 hours with the Premium plan.

Taking a cruise or tour? Rigid itineraries can make cruise and tour travel especially risky, particularly if you’re flying to your port or city of departure.

If your flight is cancelled or delayed because of adverse weather for three hours or more and you miss your cruise or tour departure, Missed Connection coverage can help.

If this happens, you might miss part of your cruise or tour and assume additional transportation costs to catch up. You might also have to purchase overnight lodging or meals while you’re delayed. While  Trip Interruption  and  Travel Delay  coverages will often reimburse you for these costs, Missed Connection can help if coverage isn’t available.

Medical and Dental

Another important reason why travelers purchase insurance for their trips is to secure medical and dental coverage if they’re traveling out of the country or out of their primary health insurance provider’s network.

If you accidentally become sick or injured on your Trip , your primary or secondary insurance carriers might not be able to cover all of your expenses. Even if your health insurance can cover most of your costs, you might be held responsible for deductibles or copays.

Medical and Dental coverage included with Generali travel insurance can step in and reimburse you for costs that aren’t covered by your health insurance.

Covered medical costs include:

• Services of Physicians and registered nurses
• Hospital charges
• Local ambulance services
• Prescription drugs and medicines

Important Note: Your sickness or injury must first occur during your trip in order to have coverage. Pre-existing medical conditions are generally excluded from coverage. However, coverage is available with the Premium plan if you purchased your plan prior to or within 24 hours of making final payment for your trip, provided other requirements are also met. Review  Plan Documents   for full requirements.

Did you know? With our No Out-of-Pocket Medical Expenses coverage, we can schedule your doctor’s appointment and arrange upfront payment of up to $1,000 if you have an acute illness during your trip, while traveling in an area where this service is available.

Emergency Assistance and Transportation

Most travelers don’t think about needing to be medically evacuated during their Trip . Coverage for such a scenario can be valuable when cruising, traveling to a remote destination, or simply improving your peace of mind while away from home. Some countries and travel suppliers may even require you to have a minimum amount of emergency medical coverage in order to issue you a visa or allow you to board.

If you become critically sick or injured during your trip and no suitable local care is available, your Generali plan provides coverage for emergency medical evacuation to the nearest hospital that’s equipped to take care of you. For non-emergency situations, the plan provides coverage for medically necessary transportation to a hospital in the U.S. or to your place of residence in the U.S.

Coverage for the preparation and return of your remains to a funeral home in the U.S. or for a local burial if you die outside of the U.S. is also provided. Or, you may choose a local burial, if preferred.

For 24/7/365 Emergency Assistance on your trip, call:

US: 877-243-4135

Collect Worldwide: 240-330-1529

Helpful Tip: If you are undergoing a non-emergency medical evacuation and won’t be properly cared for in your city of residence, you may also decide to be medically transported to an alternative U.S. city where you’ll have access to the care you need.

Did You Know? If you’re traveling alone and hospitalized for more than seven days, coverage is included to fly one person of your choosing to come accompany you. The plan also provides coverage for their lodging, meals, local transportation and telephone calls during this time.

Accidental Death and Dismemberment– Air Flight Accident and Travel Accident

(AD&D- Air Flight Accident is included with Standard, Preferred and Premium plans) (AD&D-Travel Accident is included with the Preferred and Premium plans)

While rare, accidents happen. If you’re in an accident during your  Trip and suffer a loss of life, limb or sight, this coverage provides payment.

Important Note:  This coverage isn't available for losses due to sickness or service in the armed forces of any country.

Did You Know you can designate a beneficiary for your travel insurance plan? You can add a beneficiary during checkout.

(Included with the Premium plan and optional add-on coverage with the Standard and Preferred plans)

Rental Car Damage coverage provides coverage if your rental car is damaged from collision, theft, vandalism, natural disasters or any other cause beyond your control.

Coverage is provided for either the cost of repairs and rental charges charged by the rental company while the vehicle is being repaired or the  Actual Cash Value  of the car, whichever is less.

Note: Trucks, trailers, motorcycles and other vehicles are not eligible for coverage. Review your Plan Document  for a full list of excluded vehicles.

Helpful Tip: If your  Traveling Companions  are licensed drivers and listed on the rental agreement, they also have coverage.  

What if my rental car is damaged? Do your best to protect the vehicle from further damage and report the incident to your rental car company and local authorities as soon as possible. Be sure to acquire all information such as insurance information and driver’s license numbers from any other party involved in the accident. Submit your information and other important documentation, including your rental car agreement, with your  claim .

This coverage is not available to residents of Texas.

(Optional add-on coverage with the Premium plan)

Trip Cancellation  coverage, unfortunately, can’t cover every reason that might cause you to cancel your trip. This is where Trip Cancellation For Any Reason coverage can help.

Optional Trip Cancellation For Any Reason can reimburse up to 60% of the penalty amount for your trip if you have to cancel. The reason for your cancellation doesn’t matter, but you will need to meet a few other requirements.

To be eligible for this coverage, make sure:

• You purchased Trip Cancellation For Any Reason within 24 hours of making initial deposit for your trip.
• You cancel your trip 48 hours or more before your scheduled departure.
• You insured all of your nonrefundable trip costs that are subject to cancellation penalties.
• You weren’t disabled from travel when you bought coverage.
• All insured travelers under the coverage need to cancel in order to use the coverage.
• The Trip cost per person is no more than $10,000.

This coverage is not available to residents of New York.

All travel insurance coverages will be extended if your entire trip is covered by the plan and your return is delayed by unavoidable circumstances beyond your control. If coverage is extended, coverage will end either on the date you reach your originally scheduled return destination or seven days after your scheduled return date, whichever comes first.

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How Much Is Travel Insurance in 2024?

After spending seven years in the U.S. Air Force as an Arabic linguist, Carissa is now a freelance writer using points and miles to fund a four-year (and counting!) adventure. She previously worked as a reporter for The Points Guy. Her writing has since been featured in numerous publications, including Forbes, Business Insider, and The Balance. When she's not flying, you'll usually find her in a Priority Pass lounge somewhere, sipping tea and cursing slow Wi-Fi.

Megan Lee joined the travel rewards team at NerdWallet with over 12 years of SEO, writing and content development experience, primarily in international education and nonprofit work. She has been published in U.S. News & World Report, USA Today and elsewhere, and has spoken at conferences like that of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Megan has built and directed remote content teams and editorial strategies for websites like GoAbroad and Go Overseas. When not traveling, Megan adventures around her Midwest home base where she likes to attend theme parties, ride her bike and cook Asian food.

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

Table of Contents

Average cost of travel insurance by trip cost

Factors that affect travel insurance cost, more example costs of travel insurance, types of travel insurance, how to buy travel insurance, credit cards with travel insurance, cost of travel insurance recapped.

According to NerdWallet analysis, the short answer to “How much does travel insurance cost?” is that it’s typically 7% of your overall trip cost. For example, travel insurance will cost you an additional $70 (roughly) for a $1,000 trip.

However, depending on your provider, travel insurance costs can range from 4%-16% of your trip cost. That means for that $1,000 trip, you might find coverage for as little as $40 or up $160 on the high end.

Costs vary across providers, level of coverage and factors like your age and destination. Let’s take a look at the different types of travel insurance, what influences its cost and the average cost of travel insurance.

The Nerds dove deep into over 50 real world coverage price points to get a clearer sense of typical travel insurance costs in 2024.

On average, travelers should expect to pay 6.87% of their total trip cost for travel insurance. The minimum you might expect to pay is 4.15%, but it can go as high as 15.8%.

How did we determine these ballpark travel insurance prices?

We broke it down by looking at four individual providers' cheapest basic plan and most expensive basic plan for two traveler age demographics: a 30 year old and a 60 year old.

The Texas-based travelers are taking a 10 day trip to Florida in the summer. Included providers in our analysis were:

Allianz Global Assistance .

Travel Guard by AIG .

USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services .

Travel Insured International .

World Nomads .

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection .

Travelex Insurance Services .

Seven Corners .

AXA Assistance USA .

TravelSafe .

HTH Insurance .

According to the U.S. Travel Insurance Association, a national association of insurance carriers, the amount you can expect to pay for travel insurance will vary between 4% to 8% of your overall trip. This falls in the general range of our analysis, too.

If your vacation was $5,000, you’d be looking at somewhere between $200 and $400 for insurance. NerdWallet findings corroborate this range, with the average travel insurance cost for a trip at this price point being about $350.

Of course, as we describe below, the type of coverage you choose can greatly affect the cost of your insurance.

» Learn more: What does travel insurance cover?

So, how much is travel insurance? Several factors will influence the cost, like:

Type and extent of coverage.

The length of your trip.

Your destination.

The age of the policyholder.

Total trip cost.

Let’s say that you chose to purchase an insurance policy to cover any health care expenses you incur while traveling. This will reimburse you in the event you need to see a doctor, require hospitalization or have a variety of needs related to health care.

However, let’s say that you also chose to insure some of your trip costs; this means that, if need be, the policy will reimburse you for nonrefundable trip costs in case of a covered event. This will drive up the price of your policy overall.

Another factor that will affect the cost of your travel insurance is the coverage limits of your policy. These limits dictate how much you’ll be reimbursed in the event you need to use your insurance; the higher the amount, the more expensive your insurance.

» Learn more: The best travel insurance companies

Here are some sample costs of travel insurance for a seven-day trip in the United States for two travelers ages 34 and 36. Full trip costs are estimated to be $2,000, and trip bookings have yet to be paid in full.

Policies include trip interruption coverage, travel delay coverage (up to $500) and emergency medical coverage.

In addition to the cost of travel insurance, we also need to talk about the different types of travel insurance. This is because the price you’ll pay will depend on the insurance you choose. Some policies — like those that allow you to cancel for any reason — can be more expensive than other, more limited, policies.

Common types of travel insurance include:

Lost luggage insurance .

Trip interruption insurance .

Trip cancellation insurance .

Rental car insurance .

Cancel For Any Reason insurance .

Health insurance .

Accidental death insurance .

Emergency evacuation insurance .

Different types of insurance will cover various things. Trip cancellation insurance, for example, will allow you to recoup a portion of nonrefundable costs when you’re forced to cancel your trip for a covered reason.

It’s simple to purchase travel insurance; you’ve probably seen dozens of ads for insurance whenever booking a flight or rental car.

However, it’s a better idea to get multiple quotes for policies. Insurance policy aggregators, such as Squaremouth, allow you to search a variety of different providers at once. You can then compare the coverage and price of each policy before choosing one that suits your needs.

» Learn more: What to know before buying travel insurance

If you’re looking into purchasing travel insurance, you may want to check which credit card you’re using to book your trip. Many of today’s popular travel credit cards offer complimentary travel insurance.

Cards such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offer primary rental car insurance; this means that the card will pay for any covered damage so that it doesn’t pass on to your personal insurance policy.

The types of insurance and total coverage vary according to the card, so you’ll want to check your individual policies.

Common coverage includes trip delay insurance, lost luggage insurance, rental car insurance and emergency medical insurance.

Popular cards that provide these types of coverage include:

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card .

Chase Sapphire Reserve® .

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card . (Benefits may change over time.)

The Platinum Card® from American Express . Terms apply.

United℠ Explorer Card .

In order to qualify for coverage, you’ll want to use your card to pay for any trip costs, including your airfare, lodging and rental cars.

The amount you’ll be reimbursed varies widely depending on which card you hold. For instance, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card provides coverage for up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses for covered trip cancellations.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

These include airfare, accommodations and even tours.

The United℠ Explorer Card , meanwhile, offers far less coverage at just $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip.

United℠ Explorer Card

$0 intro for the first year, then $95

Of course, your trip will need to fall under covered circumstances, including sickness and severe weather.

» Learn more: Does my Chase credit card have travel insurance?

It can make sense to purchase travel insurance, especially if you’re unsure about your vacation or worried about incurring expenses you can’t afford. Before buying a policy, you’ll first want to decide what type of insurance you’re looking to buy; some types of coverage cost much more than others.

You’ll also want to check to see if your credit card already provides complimentary travel insurance. Many popular travel cards offer this feature, though the limits may be lower than you might prefer.

Finally, do your homework before buying a policy. Gather quotes from multiple companies before making a decision, and remember the average price of trip insurance ranges from 4% to 8% of your total vacation costs.

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

Insurance Benefit: Trip Delay Insurance

Up to $500 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.

Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Insurance Benefit: Baggage Insurance Plan

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

Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Insurance Benefit: Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance

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

Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

How to maximize your rewards

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

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

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

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

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

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

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

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

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

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

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

What to Do When You Get Hurt or Sick on a Trip

If things go wrong on a trip, you need to know about insurance, air travel, and medical care options. here’s how to navigate the situation, who to call, and what to ask them..

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Comprehensive travel insurance plus a medical evacuation program are a key combination for travel safety.

Photo by Dmitriy Kuznietsov/Shutterstock

Sometimes things go wrong on a trip. Sometimes you break a leg, get sick, or have a severe medical emergency—and in some cases, you’ll have to go to a local medical facility or a hospital. Like most things in life, it’s best to be prepared in advance, because even with travel insurance, the process can be stressful and tricky. Here’s what you need to know, who to call, and what to do when you get hurt or sick on a trip.

What kind of insurance do you have?

What your travel insurance can do for you depends on what kind of travel insurance you purchased (and you should purchase travel insurance ). If you bought what’s referred to as a comprehensive policy, it’ll cover emergency medical bills, trip interruption, and trip cancellation, to some extent. However, if you opted for emergency medical coverage only, the policy will address medical bills, but it won’t reimburse you for lost hotel nights, changed flights, or the cost of canceling the trip altogether.

“By far, the most claims we get, and the most paid claims, are from illness and injury during a trip,” says Jenna Hummer, of Squaremouth , an online travel insurance marketplace with research and comparison tools. “[Travelers] want to file a trip interruption claim because they don’t want to pay for their resort or the rest of the trip. That’s where it can be very helpful to have the whole package. You want to be covered medically of course, because you don’t want a $50,000 medical bill, but you want to be covered for your trip costs too—and that’s where a comprehensive package comes in.”

What coverage does your insurance provide?

When it comes to medical coverage, they all kind of do the same thing, albeit to very different extents depending on the policy and coverage amount you purchase. “Point blank, get at least $50,000 in medical coverage and $100,000 in medical evacuation,” says Hummer. “The premiums can be low depending on your age.” If you’re taking a cruise or traveling to a remote location, Squaremouth recommends going even higher : at least $100,000 in emergency medical and $250,000 in medical evacuation.

Those numbers may sound intimidating, but remember that the coverage amount is not the policy cost. Squaremouth estimates that you can expect to pay between 5 and 10 percent of your insured trip costs on a travel insurance policy. Different companies use different algorithms to determine that price, but it is generally based on age, trip length, policy type, total trip costs, and total coverage amounts. Hummer wants travelers to know that a more expensive policy does not mean a better policy. “Many travelers will rule out a policy just because it’s the cheapest, but in many cases, the cheapest policy may have the same amount of coverage as a more expensive plan,” she says. “When shopping for a policy, first decide how much coverage you need for your trip, and then compare plans to select the least expensive policy with the best coverage for your needs.”

Whatever insurance you get, take the time to review coverage, requirements, exclusions, and emergency procedures before you travel (and call for clarification if you need to). Then carry a copy of the policy with you, either printed out or downloaded onto your phone so that you can access it without internet, and keep the policy number and 24/7 hotline number on a piece of paper in your wallet. Give a copy of the information to a travel companion and, if you’re on a guided trip or tour, to the company as well; if you’re the one injured, you may need someone else to be the communication point person with medical care and insurance.

What can your insurance do for you in the moment if you get hurt or sick on a trip?

As soon as you’re able, call your travel insurance, or have a companion do it. Hummer says: “All the policies we sell, and most good policies, come with a 24/7 emergency contact line that can help you in a number of ways—mostly medical emergencies, but some can also help if you lose your wallet or passport. Have your policy number ready, tell them what happened, and ask: what does my policy cover?”

The representatives will tell you what’s covered and the paperwork you’ll need to submit a claim. That usually includes statements from doctors about what happened to you, the care they provided, and the cost of the treatment; an accident or police report if the police were involved; and all receipts. That’s why it pays to call ASAP; it’s easier to get that information while you’re still in the clinic or hospital than after you’re home.

Some travel insurance companies have a network of recommended medical providers and/or a telemedicine feature.

What else can insurance help with, besides bills?

Money isn’t the only reason to call your travel insurance as soon as there’s an incident. Some companies have a network of recommended medical providers and/or a telemedicine feature. In an email, Daniel Durazo, director of external communications at Allianz Partners USA , explained that for Global Allianz customers, “Travel insurance medical assistance may include the Assistance team working directly with medical providers, assisting with transportation arrangements, and/or assisting in locating medical services at the customer’s destination. Concierge services may also be useful in finding lodging and transportation for customers while they, or a traveling companion, are being treated.”

Note that not all insurance companies have a network of recommended medical providers (and feel free to ask about that when you’re shopping), but almost all will have a 24/7 hotline that can give you help in the event of an emergency—don’t buy one that doesn’t.

When you call, also find out what’s covered. This information will already be in your policy, but representatives can help parse the small print and clear up any confusion. As Hummer explains, most policies have a set amount they’ll cover and set parameters for the kinds of things included. “So typically if you go to a hospital because you had an emergency reason, you should have an allotted amount that you should know beforehand.”

However, pre-existing conditions aren’t usually covered (unless you add that to your policy). And she adds: “There are things called ‘common exclusions,’ like if you’re drunk when you fall. If the doctor said it looks like you were drinking and they put it on the report, then that injury would not be covered. But if it’s a covered reason, it’s a covered reason.”

What is medical evacuation coverage and how does it work?

Medical evacuation is an important piece of the insurance puzzle, and it’s something travelers need to pay attention to when putting together their insurance and emergency plans. The key thing to understand is that, in travel insurance speak, “medical evacuation” does not necessarily mean being evacuated to your home country—or even to a hospital of your choice in the destination where you were injured.

”Medical travel insurance is primarily responsible for getting you to a facility that can treat you,” says Sheri Howell, vice president of communications for Medjet , a global air medical transport and travel security membership program. “If that facility is in a foreign country, they’re only going to move you farther if you can prove that it’s medically necessary. So unless you can prove that your hospital at home is the only hospital capable of treating you, then they’re not going to pay to move you.”

That’s why MedjetAssist is a smart layer of protection to add to your travel safety kit. It’s a membership program, not insurance, that gets you home. In other words, if you are admitted to a hospital overseas (or anywhere more than 150 miles from home), they have a network of air ambulances and medical staff to transport you back to the home hospital of your choice. They’ll take care of all the logistics, paperwork, and communication between hospitals, and cover transport, including a companion.

The difference between Medjet and travel insurance is important to note. One does not replace the other, and they’re a good combo to have for any trip. Travel insurance covers medical treatments, trip interruption, and trip cancellation; it has a premium and claims and deductibles. Medjet is a membership program for getting you home—and once you pay the membership fee (starting at $315 for an annual individual membership; short-term options and family plans are also available), and there are no additional bills. As Howell, explains. “The ‘nearest acceptable facility and medical necessity’ language that is in most travel insurance policies in regards to their med-evac benefits is the reason you read about people stuck in foreign hospitals even though they’ve got perfectly great travel insurance. Their families are trying to raise a hundred to two hundred thousand dollars to hire an ambulance to get them home.”

According to Hummer, “Medical evacuation bills are typically between $100,000 to $1 million, and that’s the amount that is typically covered if you get med-evac coverage [in an insurance policy].” Squaremouth recommends travelers taking international trips purchase a travel insurance policy with at least $100,000 medical evacuation coverage; those taking a cruise or going to a remote destination should get at least $250,000 in coverage.

For travelers worried about security-related emergencies, Medjet offers an additional layer of coverage called MedjetHorizon , which adds 24/7 crisis response benefits, including evacuation in case of non-medical emergencies such as political threats, riots, natural disasters, or a pandemic.

Medical evacuation is an important piece of the insurance puzzle, and it’s something travelers need to pay attention to when putting together their insurance and emergency plans.

What does your credit card really cover?

Don’t make the assumption that your credit card has you covered for everything that may come up; look closely at the policy and ask questions before you travel. “If you have an emergency medical issue, travel insurance can cover up to a million dollars depending on what you want,” Hummer says. “If you have a credit card that offers medical coverage—and that’s more rare, they mostly do interruption—they have a limited amount of coverage, and $5,000 is currently the highest that I’ve seen in my research. And that’s very rare.”

Keep in mind that even for trip interruption coverage, credit cards likely only cover things bought on that card. Travel insurance, on the other hand, can cover up to 100 percent of your non refundable purchases and it doesn’t matter how many different cards you used.

“Cancellation because a family member is sick, or natural disasters—those are not covered by a credit card,” Hummer says. This is where comprehensive travel insurance, or an emergency-assistance membership like Medjet, can fill in the gaps.

What can your airline do?

If your illness or injury means you have to go home early, you’ll need to change your flight.

“In some cases, you may need to change the flight, but in others you may just be looking for extra space or another accommodation,” says Brett Sander, president of Cranky Concierge Travel Assistance , which specializes in urgent air travel assistance (think canceled, rerouted, or delayed flights).

“In general there isn’t a lot of flexibility on letting you change for free just because you had an injury or a circumstance,” he explains. “You can always try, and some airlines may have more flexibility than others, but for the most part, they’ll say sure, but here’s the change fee and fare difference.” If you’re injured and need extra space because of, say, a broken leg, you can ask if they have two free seats next to each other, but, Snyder says, don’t expect them just to give you that extra seat; you’ll likely have to pay for it.

The good news is that if you have trip interruption coverage through your travel insurance, that cost of changing or rebooking your flights may be covered. Independent of insurance, the airline might offer you pre-boarding, and you can always put in for a wheelchair request, so it’s worth calling the airline to see what’s available to you and what they can arrange.

Howell concurs: “If you have insurance (which you should), then trip interruption coverage is what would pay to cover your trip home, and they may send a nurse escort. That’s not the same as what Medjet does. If you require an air ambulance, we provide what’s basically a flying ICU. If we can repatriate someone on a commercial flight, we send a critical care nurse and book out a business class flatbed. We also pay for a spouse or travel companion in coach.”

What can your travel advisor do?

The person helping to plan your travel is another good resource in emergencies. And it should become part of your trip-prep routine to ask those planners how they handle medical issues. “I think it’s going to be an increasing concern moving forward. I don’t think many people are asking about that now, but I think it’s going to become more and more of an issue,” says Cari Gray, who crafts private, active trips as CEO and owner of Gray & Co. (Gray is also a member of the Afar Travel Advisory Council .) The best travel advisors and agents have a lot of connections in the places where they operate and should have information on emergency services and providers. “It falls to the company to decide how seriously they take their responsibility and to know the clinics and English-speaking doctors in their destinations. On our trips, we vet all that before anyone gets there—especially because we’re doing biking and hiking trips,” says Gray.

On a recent trip of my own to Argentina, a friend was injured and needed to go to a remote clinic where she didn’t speak the language. I immediately texted travel advisor Maita Barrenechea, founder of the Argentina-based luxury travel-planning company Mai10 , who was very familiar with the facilities in the region. She recommended one clinic over another, gave us the name of a doctor to ask for, and proceeded to get a second opinion from a specialist she knew in Buenos Aires.

To help make that assistance even easier, your travel advisor may ask for your insurance information and medical history before your trip, as Gray’s company does. Her advice: Share it. “Having your medical history is a big one, including what medications, supplements, and vitamins you’re on,” Gray says. “If you’re not able to speak for yourself or not with someone from your family, you want to make sure the people you’re traveling with have that information.”

And finally, look for the helpers, as Mister Rogers would say. When my friend wrecked her ankle so badly that she needed surgery—and had to spend a few days recovering and organizing before she was able to fly home—our Airbnb host transformed into an invaluable helper who went above and beyond. She served as a translator, drove my friends back and forth to the clinic, and kept in touch after we were all home to make sure everything went smoothly with my friend’s recovery.

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Jun 27, 2024

What are global health insurance cards (ghic), and do you need one.

Aneta Milanowska

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Planning your next European getaway? Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or taking on your first adventure abroad, there’s one essential item you shouldn’t leave without: the Global Health Insurance Card. 

This handy piece of plastic can be a real lifesaver, seriously. But what is it exactly? We’ll walk you through everything there is to know about GHIC in this guide.

What are Global Health Insurance Cards?

A Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) is your passport to proper healthcare when travelling in Europe. 

It’s a free card that ensures you receive any necessary medical treatment during a temporary stay within a European country — think of it as a safety net should anything happen to you when you’re abroad. 

The GHIC is a relatively new card introduced in 2021, replacing the old European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for UK residents following Brexit. Despite the change in name, the GHIC offers similar free benefits of cover to the EHIC, such as emergency medical treatment and visits to hospital A&E departments.

Who needs a GHIC?

If you’re a UK resident with plans to travel to Europe, getting a GHIC should be high on your pre-trip checklist. Whether you’re jetting off for a leisurely holiday , crossing borders for business, or studying abroad, a GHIC is a must-have. 

GHICs aren’t just for those rare, unforeseen medical emergencies but also for routine care. Imagine you have a pre-existing medical condition and need regular medication or treatment. With a GHIC, you can access necessary healthcare without worrying about hefty bills. 

Even if you don’t travel as much as you’d like to, the reassurance that comes with having a GHIC in your wallet or purse really can make all the difference!

What does a GHIC cover?

A GHIC is designed to cover necessary state-provided medical treatment that becomes essential during your stay. The NHS describes this as “healthcare that cannot reasonably wait until you come back to the UK”, and it includes things like:

• Routine maternity care as long as you’re not going abroad to give birth 
• Treatment or routine care for a long-term or pre-existing condition
• Emergency treatment and visits to A&E

In some cases, you’ll need to pre-arrange some treatments with the relevant healthcare provider in the country you’re visiting, such as if you need chemotherapy or kidney dialysis. 

Unfortunately, it’s not guaranteed that local healthcare facilities will always have the capacity to provide this care, so it’s best to arrange in advance.

What doesn't a GHIC cover?

While the GHIC does offer a lot of cover, it’s also important to understand that it comes with its limitations. 

One key aspect of the GHIC is that it doesn’t cover private healthcare, so if you choose or need to be treated in a private clinic or hospital, you will be responsible for those costs. 

The GHIC also won’t cover costs associated with adventurous activities. For example, if you’re skiing in the Alps and need mountain rescue, those expenses won’t be covered — you’d have to get specialist Ski Insurance. Similarly, if you need to be flown back to the UK for medical reasons, those costs would have to come out of your own pocket or be covered by your travel insurance.

Where can you use a GHIC?

The GHIC is valid in European Union countries, which include:

• Republic of Cyprus
• Netherlands

You can also use the GHIC when you’re visiting:

• Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man
• St Helena, Tristan and Ascension

The UK government is also negotiating with other countries to expand the use of the GHIC.

How do you use a GHIC?

Using your Global Health Insurance Card should be a straightforward and stress-free process. This is how a typical interaction would go:

• Seek out public healthcare providers — If you need medical assistance, make sure that it’s at a public hospital or clinic. Private facilities won’t accept GHIC, and you’ll be charged for any treatment received there.
• Present your GHIC — When you arrive, show your GHIC along with your identification. It’s a good idea to carry your passport or driving licence so you’ll have easy access should you need it.
• Understand the costs — Depending on the country, you might still need to pay for some services or medication upfront, but at a reduced rate. In Montenegro, for example, you can get free emergency treatment, but you’ll have to pay for any prescribed medicines. Keep all receipts and documentation, as you might be able to potentially claim these expenses back once you return.

How much does the GHIC cost?

Great news for travellers — the GHIC is completely free! There’s no charge to apply for or receive your card, making it accessible and essential for all UK residents planning to travel to Europe.

How do you apply for a GHIC?

Applying for a Global Health Insurance card is simple: You can apply online with just a few clicks.

• Visit the official NHS website — The only place you can apply for a GHIC is on the NHS website . Any other website advertising GHICs (especially for a fee) is a scam.
• Fill out the application form — Next, you’ll need to provide some personal details, including your name, address, date of birth and National Insurance number. Make sure all your information is correct to avoid delays.
• Submit your form — Once you’ve filled in all the necessary information, submit your application. The NHS will process your request, and you should receive your GHIC by post within a few weeks.

It's really as easy as that.

Are GHICs the same as EHICs?

The GHIC is essentially the post-Brexit replacement for the European Health Insurance Card for the UK. While both cards offer similar benefits, they differ slightly.

Before Brexit, the EHIC was also valid in Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Iceland. Since the introduction of the GHIC — and if you still have a valid EHIC — you won’t be able to receive free or reduced-cost treatment in these countries. 

Make sure to check the back of your EHIC for an expiry date, as it may still be valid and can be used until it runs out. After that, you’ll have to apply for a GHIC. 

While the name and some of the specifics might have changed, the core purpose remains the same: to provide travellers with necessary healthcare during their trips.

How long does a GHIC last?

A Global Health Insurance Card is valid for five years from the date of issue and is completely free. This generous validity period means you won’t have to worry about renewing your card every time you’re set to travel.

If your GHIC is nearing its expiration date, you’ll have to replace it with a new one before you travel, as it won’t be valid.

How long does it take to get a GHIC?

The processing time for a GHIC can vary, but you should generally expect to receive your card within 10 - 15 working days after applying. 

Make sure that you apply well before your travel dates. While 10 - 15 working days is the usual timeframe, during peak periods — such as the summer holidays — processing times might be a little longer due to high demand. Applying early helps avoid any last-minute stress.

Is a GHIC a replacement for travel insurance?

No, a GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance, and you’ll need this in addition. While the GHIC is incredibly useful, it doesn’t cover the full spectrum of situations that travel insurance does. It’s best to think of the GHIC as a complementary tool rather than a comprehensive solution. 

Travel insurance offers a much broader range of cover, such as protection against trip cancellations, lost or damaged luggage, delays and much more that GHIC doesn’t cover.

Another critical aspect of travel insurance cover is repatriation. If you’re seriously injured and fall ill and need to be flown back to the UK, the costs can be extortionate. Travel insurance ensures that these costs are covered, something which the GHIC doesn’t.

Does the GHIC cover existing medical conditions?

Yes, one of the best things about the GHIC is that it does cover pre-existing medical conditions. 

If you have a chronic illness or require regular medication, the GHIC ensures that you can access this without having to pay ridiculous costs. This means if you need a doctor’s visit, prescription refills, or even hospital treatment for your condition while abroad, you can receive these services under the same conditions as a resident in the country you’re visiting. 

It’s always a good idea to double-check the destination you’re heading to and make sure they have the medication and services you need.

What happens if you don't have your GHIC with you?

Don’t panic if you find yourself needing treatment but don’t have your GHIC with you. 

You can apply for a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC) online and you’ll need your email address, National Insurance number and OHS reference number (if you have one). 

You can also call to apply for free from outside the UK on +44 191 218 1999 Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm.

Get set for your travels with Trtl Travel

The Global Health Insurance Card is an indispensable tool for any UK resident travelling to Europe. However, it’s important to remember that the GHIC isn’t a replacement for travel insurance; the two go hand in hand.

If you’re looking for comfort on your journey to Europe, our Trtl Travel Pillow is essential. With complete head support and breathable, super-soft fabric, it's a must-have in your carry-on. 

Or, if you’re looking for more information on all things travel, head over to our blog page .

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