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If you're going overseas, travel insurance is just as essential as your passport. Use our free comparison tool to narrow down international single trip and annual multi-trip policies from 27 insurers, offering cover for COVID-19, existing medical conditions, car rental and more.

Travel insurance is a portable version of health, home, contents, life, public liability, and car rental excess insurance all packaged in one to take on holidays with you. But with all those insurances piled into one product, navigating your way through the terms and conditions to find the loopholes can be very challenging.

Use our travel insurance comparison to narrow down your options and make sure you're getting the best cover for your needs when on holiday.

List of brands we tested in this review.

• Battleface 2
• Cover-More 5
• FastCover 4
• Flight Centre 4
• Go Insurance 4
• InsureandGo 3
• Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) 3
• Tick Travel Insurance 4
• Travel Insurance Direct 3
• Virgin Australia 5
• WAS Insurance 2
• World Nomads 2
• World2Cover 4

The average cost of the policy compared to other policies of the same type (single trip or annual multi-trip). One $ sign is the cheapest through to five $$$$$ the most expensive. NA means the policy wasn't included in the price rating.

enter value/s in increments of 1 between 0 and 0

Policy type

• One trip 65
• Policy age limit

In years (up to and including the number stated). For policies listed as '100+', there is no age limit.

Does the policy cover international cruises?

• Optional 71

Medical expenses for COVID-19

Whether the policy covers you for medical and emergency evacuation and repatriation expenses for claims arising directly or indirectly from COVID-19. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Cancellation expenses for mental health

Whether the policy covers you for cancellation expenses for claims arising directly from recognised mental health disorders experienced for the first time such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or PTSD. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

• Cancellation for insolvency of a travel services provider

Whether the policy covers you for losses arising out of insolvency of a travel services provider (e.g. airline, accomodation provider, bus line, shipping line, railway company, motor vehicle rental agency). Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Cancellation expenses for a natural disaster

Whether the policy covers you for cancellation expenses for claims arising directly or indirectly from a natural disaster. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Cancellation expenses for civil unrest

Whether the policy covers you for cancellation expenses for claims arising directly or indirectly from civil unrest such as political protests, riots and strikes. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

• Baggage cover

Are stolen or damaged personal belongings covered

• Limit for baggage expenses

The overall limit for stolen or damaged personal belongings.

• Limit for a smartphone

Limit for a smartphone. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

• Limit for a laptop or tablet

Limit for a laptop or tablet. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

• Limit for rental car excess

Limit for collision damage excess for a hire car. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

• Scuba diving

Does the policy cover scuba diving if you are appropriately certified or diving with a qualified instructor?

Skiing and snowboarding on-piste

Does the policy cover skiing and snowboarding on-piste?

• Optional 82

Skiing and snowboarding off-piste

Does the policy cover skiing and snowboarding off-piste withing the resort boundaries?

• Optional 72

Tobogganing

Does the policy cover tobogganing on snow?

• Optional 50

Does the policy cover riding a moped with an engine capacity 50cc or below, with a helmet and driving license valid in the country the policy holder is in, but without an Australian motorcycle license

• Optional 32

Moped 125cc

Does the policy cover riding a moped with an engine capacity 125cc or below, with a helmet and driving license valid in the country the policy holder is in, but without an Australian motorcycle license

• Optional 28

Does the policy cover riding a motorcycle with an engine capacity above 125cc with an Australian motorcycle license and a helmet?

• Optional 34

Included in this comparison

• Price rating
• Dependant age limit
• Cancellation
• Pregnancy stage covered
• Childbirth costs
• Pre-existing conditions covered without application
• Pre-existing conditions covered on application
• Time period for existing conditions
• Medical expenses
• Expenses for a person to accompany a sick policyholder
• Daily hospital cash allowance
• Hours of hospitalisation before receiving allowance
• Dental expenses for accident or injury
• Dental expenses for acute pain
• Overseas funeral costs
• Additional travel expenses for injury or sickness
• Additional expenses for interrupted travel
• Travel insurance extension for a delayed trip
• Additional expenses for a lost passport
• Additional expenses for a sick relative
• Additional expenses for resumption of journey interrupted for a relative
• Cancellation covered
• Cancellation expenses
• Cancellation for frequent flyer points
• Cancellation expenses for travel agent fees
• Cancellation for insolvency of a travel agent
• Cancellation expenses for redundancy
• Cancellation expenses for defence and emergency workers
• Cancellation expenses for cancellation of work leave
• Cover for transport incidents
• Cover for strikes
• Cover for mental health
• Cover for COVID-19
• Cover for pandemics
• Cover for natural disasters
• Cover for civil unrest
• Cover for terrorism
• Cover for war
• Additional expenses for a special event
• Additional expenses for pre-paid travel arrangements
• Limit for travel delay expenses
• Hours before travel delay covered
• Limit per 24 hours for travel delay
• Limit for a single unspecified item
• Limit for a video or photo camera
• Limit for prescribed medications
• Overall limit for specified items
• Cover for baggage in a car during the day
• Cover for baggage in a car overnight
• Cover for valuables in a car
• Cover for lost or stolen cash
• Limit for baggage lost temporarily
• Hours before cover applies for baggage lost temporarily
• Rental car excess
• Snow sports
• Mopeds and motorcycles
• Bungee jumping
• Horse riding
• High altitude hiking
• White water rafting
• Paragliding
• Hot air ballooning
• Hang gliding

Displaying all 91 products

• Brand (A-Z)

Limit for additional meal and accommodation expenses if scheduled transport is delayed.

Your filters

This overall score is based on our expert assessment of what the policy covers, price and how easy it is to understand and buy. A higher score is better.

1Cover Comprehensive

1Cover Frequent Traveller

1Cover Medical Only

AANT Annual Multi-Trip

AANT Basics

AANT Essentials

AANT Premium

AHM Comprehensive

AHM Comprehensive Multi-Trip

AHM Medical Only

Battleface Covid Essentials

Battleface Discovery

Cover-More Basic

Cover-More Comprehensive

Cover-More Comprehensive Multi-Trip

Cover-More Comprehensive Plus

Cover-More Comprehensive Plus Multi-Trip

FastCover Basics

FastCover Comprehensive

FastCover Frequent Traveller Saver

FastCover Standard Saver

Flight Centre Multi-Trip YourCover Essentials

Flight Centre Multi-Trip YourCover Plus

Flight Centre YourCover Essentials

Flight Centre YourCover Plus

Go Insurance Go Basic

Go Insurance Go Basic Annual Multi-Trip

Go Insurance Go Plus

Go Insurance Go Plus Annual Multi-Trip

InsureandGo Bare Essentials

InsureandGo Gold

InsureandGo Silver

Jetstar Comprehensive

Medibank Comprehensive

Medibank Medical Only

Medibank Multi-Trip Comprehensive

NIB Annual Multi-Trip

NIB Comprehensive

NIB Essentials

NRMA Comprehensive

NRMA Comprehensive Multi-Trip

NRMA Essentials

Qantas Annual Multi-Trip

Qantas International Comprehensive

RAA Essentials

RAA Multi-Trip

RAA Premium

RAC Annual Multi-Trip

RAC Comprehensive

RAC Essentials

RAC Medical Only

RACQ Annual Multi-Trip

RACQ Premium

RACQ Standard

RACT Annual Multi-Trip

RACT Comprehensive

RACT Essentials

RACV Annual Multi-Trip

RACV Basics

RACV Comprehensive

RACV Essentials

Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) Annual Multi-Trip

Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) Comprehensive

Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) Medical Only

Tick Travel Insurance Basic

Tick Travel Insurance Budget

Tick Travel Insurance Standard

Tick Travel Insurance Top

Travel Insurance Direct Annual Multi-Trip

Travel Insurance Direct Basics

Travel Insurance Direct The Works

Virgin Australia International Plan (bought with flight purchase)

Virgin Australia Travel Safe International

Virgin Australia Travel Safe International Multi-Trip

Virgin Australia Travel Safe Plus International

Virgin Australia Travel Safe Plus International Multi-Trip

WAS Insurance Covid Essentials

WAS Insurance Discovery

Webjet Travel Safe International

Webjet Travel Safe International Multi-Trip

Webjet Travel Safe Plus International

Webjet Travel Safe Plus International Multi-Trip

World Nomads Explorer

World Nomads Standard

World2Cover Annual Multi-Trip

World2Cover Basics

World2Cover Essentials

World2Cover Top

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Get a quote today., expedia travel insurance: plans, costs, reputation, & services.

Expedia markets itself as “the world’s travel platform.”

In business since 1996, the company has grown to be one of the biggest travel insurance providers in the world.

It has several plans with different coverage levels suitable for a variety of travelers, helping keep its spot as a leading travel insurance company in the industry.

Expedia’s plans can be customized with a variety of add-ons and extra benefits that let travelers make sure they get the best travel insurance for their needs and budget.

Travelers can find out more about the costs of an Expedia travel insurance plan by visiting its website and inputting their personal information, with the details of their planned trip.

The company routinely provides flights and hotels, bundling travel insurance as part of this main offering.

Expedia’s travel insurance is only available for purchase when you book your trip and accommodation with the company.

Aon Affinity Travel Practice, who administers Expedia’s travel insurance policies, has a rating of A+ from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

This is an indicator of the efficient way this company deals with complaints that are filed against it.

While it had 49 logged complaints within the last 12 months, according to the BBB, the company’s prompt response time is reflected in its A+ rating.

Expedia provides a mobile app which gives its customers the ability to file a claim from anywhere in the world.

It also offers 24/7 telephone support.

While this is a pretty standard offering in the travel insurance industry, it’s a great relief knowing that if you need to talk to your travel insurance provider from a different time zone, you’ll be able to.

An insurance company’s financial stability is regularly overlooked by potential customers, but can often be just as important as analyzing travel insurance reviews.

Expedia’s underwriting company, Stonebridge Casualty, has received a rating of “A” by A. M. Best through its parent organization Transamerica Casualty.

Financial stability should always be something to consider when you’re looking at travel insurance providers .

Expedia Travel Insurance Coverage & Plans

Expedia travel insurance offers a wide variety of coverage plans to ensure protection across a variety of situations.

Each offering has several available levels of coverage, so there’s a big chance you can find something that’s right for you to protect you when you’re away from home.

Expedia travel insurance provides the following types of coverage:

• Comprehensive
• Trip Cancellation/ Interruption
• Accidental Death

Expedia Package Protection

This plan provides trip cancellation and interruption coverage.

It also includes reimbursement for any expenses incurred if your travel is delayed due to mechanical failure, strike, or adverse weather conditions.

This plan also protects you in the event of medical emergencies and can help with the costs of medical expenses and medical transportation.

Baggage and personal property is covered, so any lost, stolen, or damaged items during travel can be replaced.

If a hurricane warning has been issued and you need to change the specifics of your trip, the company may waive cancellation fees and liaise with its partnering companies to waive its associated fees as well.

You can also receive assistance with re-booking the entirety of your trip, including your flight and any activities you may have booked.

Though Expedia only offers one travel insurance plan, the company has a wide range of add-ons.

These include coverage for lost passport and document assistance, emergency cash, translation services, medical case management, and concierge services such as restaurant or event referrals and reservations.

While these add-ons may understandably increase the cost of your travel insurance, they also provide you with a greater degree of protection and offer added value.

Expedia Travel Insurance Costs

Travel insurance generally costs between 4 and 8 percent of the total trip.

While this is the industry standard, the actual costs of your travel insurance usually depend on the level of coverage you select and how comprehensive your plan is.

Travel insurance companies base their actuarial math on several factors.

The length of the trip is a significant determiner, as the longer you’re traveling, the more likely adverse calamities could occur. Destination dramatically impacts the price as well.

If you’re visiting an area with a high crime rates, political unrest, or poor infrastructure, to name just a few, insurance providers may view you as a higher risk. The age of the policyholder can also influence the price of the premium.

Generally, consumers aged 70 or over can expect to pay considerably more for their travel insurance.

The price of travel insurance is calculated based on risk, and the older you are, the more your risk increases in the eyes of the insurance providers.

Travelers can get a quote from Expedia by visiting its website and providing precise details of the trip that they plan on making.

Expedia doesn’t have annual options available, so it may not be possible to get a standard rate year in year out.

There’s no minimum age limit for insuring children via this company, though dependents are covered under their parents’ policy.

Expedia only refunds policies purchased ten days before the trip, provided no claims have been made.

Customer Reviews & Reputation

Before purchasing any travel insurance policy, it’s important to look at the insurer’s reviews, to gain insight into the company should you need its services on your trip.

Expedia (through Aon Affinity) has been awarded the Better Business Bureau’s highest rating of A+.

Though this rating is not uncommon, it is noteworthy that Aon Affinity has closed 49 complaints in the past 12 months.

This high volume of complaints can be attributed to the fact that this company is quite a large insurance provider.

Customer Assistance Services

When you take out a travel insurance plan with Expedia, you benefit from 24/7 support and access to its mobile app, with paperless claim filing available.

Choosing a travel insurance company that has modern interfaces is always a good choice, as instant access can significantly reduce your stress should something go wrong on your trip.

Another critical aspect to consider, and one which may not initially cross your mind, is whether the insurance company you choose has 24/7 support available.

This is particularly important for travel to far removed time zones from your own.

Expedia also provides additional concierge services such as ground transportation, up to the minute travel advice, and event or restaurant referrals and bookings.

Expedia Travel Insurance Financial Stability

Financial stability is an essential factor to consider when choosing an insurance company.

Dedicated credit rating agencies such as A.M Best, Standard and Poor’s, and Moody’s analyze insurance companies and report their findings, publishing results regularly.

Good ratings with any of these are generally indicative of a company’s ability to meet its obligations.

Expedia is underwritten by Stonebridge Casualty, a subsidiary of Transamerica Casualty, which has received a rating of A from A. M. Best.

This high rating shows that the backing company can meet its ongoing insurance obligations.

If there were any concerns with the quality of the coverage offered by this company, or of its ability to make good on claims, A. M. Best would have a lower rating.

Expedia Travel Insurance Phone Number & Contact Information

• Homepage URL : https://www.expedia.com/
• Provider Phone : (877) 227-7481
• Headquarters Address : 333 108th Ave NE Ste 300, Bellevue, WA 98004-5736
• Year Founded : 1996

Best Alternatives to Expedia Travel Insurance

Not satisfied with what Expedia has to offer? These companies provide great travel insurance alternatives:

Additional Providers

There are several other travel insurance providers that deserve consideration as well which you can see in our Best Travel Insurance Companies article.

These companies didn’t make our list of top providers but we have created some more detailed reviews  that you can view below:

• Allianz Travel Insurance Review
• Aon Travel Insurance Review
• Carnival Travel Insurance Review
• Chubb Travel Insurance Review
• CSA Travel Insurance Review
• Expedia Travel Insurance Review
• Hotwire Travel Insurance Review
• IMG Travel Insurance Review
• InsureMyTrip Travel Insurance Review
• JetBlue Travel Insurance Review
• John Hancock Travel Insurance Review
• Medjet Medical Transport Insurance Review
• Orbitz Travel Insurance Review
• Patriot Travel Insurance Review
• Priceline Travel Insurance Review
• Progressive Travel Insurance Review
• Red Sky Travel Insurance Review
• Ripcord Travel Insurance Review
• Travel Insured International
• Travelex Travel Insurance Review
• USAA Travel Insurance Review
• USI Affinity Travel Insurance Review 
• World Nomads Travel Insurance Review

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Expedia Travel Insurance - 2024 Review

Expedia travel insurance.

• Available at Check-Out
• Very Expensive
• Poor Coverage - Significant Gaps in Cover

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Expedia has grown to become one of the most dominant platforms in travel distribution. Its comparison engine has helped save customers millions of dollars on flights and hotels. At the end of each session, every customer is pushed to buy Expedia Travel Insurance.

Expedia Domestic Travel Insurance

Expedia's Domestic Insurance provides no Travel Delay cover. As in, zero. Expedia does not offer any Baggage cover in its domestic travel insurance. Lost bags are your problem.

Expedia International Travel Insurance

When traveling internationally, Expedia Flight Insurance offers only pitiful medical cover - $5k. We recommend no less than $100k of medical cover when overseas - Expedia's Flight Insurance level of protection is totally inadequate.

Check the cost and cover from Expedia Travel Insurance. Then run a quote with a Travel Insurance Marketplace like TravelDefenders . You will get a range of travel insurance quotes from the leading travel insurers in the USA.

We worry that customers who buy Expedia Travel Insurance will think that they have useful comprehensive cover, yet be dangerously short of travel protection. It only takes one minute to compare travel insurance. We strongly recommend that Expedia customers do this.

But, Is Expedia Travel Insurance Worth Buying?

Expedia customers traveling domestically within the USA who think that they are getting cheap Expedia Travel Insurance will have little or no cover. Expedia’s insurer, AIG Travel Guard, won’t even call it Travel Insurance – it is referred to as a ‘Flight Cancellation’ policy. The policy has so little in the way of travel cover we cannot think why the policy was created. It is nearly useless.

Should you buy Expedia Travel Insurance when traveling internationally you will have woefully weak protection. Again, AIG Travel Guard will not call it Travel Insurance on its policy documents. This time, it is known as a ‘Flight Total Protection Plan’. There are so many weaknesses in this policy. The international travel health protection is totally inadequate, in our opinion.

Please enjoy our comprehensive Expedia Travel Insurance Review. Please do not buy Expedia Travel Insurance until you have read the review.

Expedia Travel Insurance Highlights

• Expedia’s Flight Insurance is provided by AIG, a highly reputable travel insurer.
• Expedia Travel Insurance is incredibly expensive – twice the price of other policies.
• Expedia Travel Insurance has very weak levels of cover that are insufficient for most travelers.

We cannot recommend that you buy Expedia Travel Insurance.

There are a multitude of better trip insurance plans with better cover at a lower price.

Expedia Travel Insurance – Cover Provided by AIG Travel Guard

AIG Travel Guard is the underwriting partner for Expedia Travel Insurance. AIG is one of the most respected travel insurance carriers in the USA. Indeed, we are a partner of AIG’s, and host a number of its comprehensive travel insurance policies. However, the policies that AIG provides to Expedia are not Trip Insurance policies. They are described as ‘Flight Protection’ plans, and look nearly worthless to us.

Expedia’s International Travel Insurance Plan is called ‘Expedia Total Protection Plan’.

Expedia’s Domestic Travel Insurance Plan is called ‘Expedia Flight Cancellation Plan’.

We will first cover the Domestic Expedia Trip Insurance, followed by the International Expedia Trip Insurance.

Why Should I Buy Travel Insurance?

Before we jump into the policies that Expedia offers, it probably makes sense to cover the main reasons that people buy travel insurance in the first place.

Tragic Cancellation Cover We want to be able to cancel our trip if we are presented with terrible circumstances at home. If there is a death or serious illness in the family, for example.

Redundancy Protection If we lose our job, we would like to be able to cancel our trip and be compensated.

Vacation Cancellation Protection If our vacation is cancelled by our employer, we would like to be compensated for the cancelled vacation.

Medical Cover Whether we travel at home or abroad, we want health cover in case we get sick or involved in an accident.

Medical Evacuation Cover If we do get sick or injured, we want our travel insurance to take care of the costs involved in moving us to a medical facility.

Baggage Protection If our bags are lost by the airline, is there cover in place?

Now, there are more options than this in any trip protection policy, but these are the ones that people are most worried about. The ones we consider most critical are the travel health insurance elements, because these have costs that could bankrupt a traveler. Yes, it is annoying to lose a bag, and compensation is nice. But, a $75k medical bill after a serious injury is something that can destroy a person’s financial well-being. Big risks need to be covered, in our opinion.

Domestic Expedia Trip Insurance

In order to highlight the benefits and protection that Expedia offers on its domestic plans, we ran a full quote. Our traveler is heading from San Francisco to New York, spending a week with friends before heading home.

Our flight has a total price of $460. Note that we are encouraged to buy Expedia Travel Insurance - after all, over 40,000 people have bought a policy in the last week.

Expedia recommends that we buy flight protection. They highlight the ‘Buy’ area of the screen. Expedia insists that we make a selection to protect our trip, or risk our funds.

This cheap Expedia Travel Insurance is only $33.

Expedia's Scary Language

Here is how the language is presented to a traveler.

Protect your flight (recommended) Avoid change fees. Protect your trip. Expedia Cancellation Plan

3 reasons you might need travel protection:

• Your ticket is non-refundable and you're too sick to travel
• You get injured and can't make your flight home
• Your traveling companion has a covered medical emergency and can't travel

Yes , I want Cancellation Protection for my trip to New York. 41,856 customers protected their flight in the last 7 days $33

No, I'm willing to risk my $460.38 trip.

Mary got $468 back when she cancelled her flight to ... Read more

Because we are naturally curious, we decided to read more. After all, it sounds as though ‘Mary’ can cancel her trip and get her money back. Well, actually she can only get compensation on this Expedia Travel Protection Plan for a tiny number of reasons.

When we expand the statement from ‘Mary’, we understand that she was only able to receive compensation for an unusually tragic reason:

Mary got $468 back when she cancelled her flight to care for her sick husband.

“I didn't know I would get a refund, thought I would get a credit with the same airline. It will make booking the trip easier, when my husband gets better.”

-Mary C., Gloucester, VA

Domestic Expedia Travel Insurance Benefit

Here is the exhaustive list of benefits that a traveler will get from this cheap Expedia Travel Insurance…

AIG Travel Guard Flight Cancellation Plan

SCHEDULE OF BENEFITS Maximum Limit Per Person

• Trip Cancellation - Trip Cost (up to a maximum of $100,000)
• Trip Interruption - up to 100% of Trip Cost (up to a maximum of $100,000)

As in, this nearly worthless policy has protection for cancellation and interruption only. That’s it. And, of course, the reasons that count as being covered are extreme.

It covers disabling injuries or illnesses that make travel impossible, as certified by a doctor. If you are hi-jacked or quarantined or called to jury duty. If you are made redundant.

Now, we recognize that these are risks worth protecting, but surely most of us would expect far higher levels of trip insurance cover? We have never seen a trip protection policy with so little useful cover for a traveler.

What is Missing from Domestic Expedia Travel Insurance?

Travel health insurance.

Most people associate travel insurance with health cover. This is as true for domestic travel as it is for international. Although many of us will have some type of health insurance, there are often restrictions if we travel away from our home state. We should be aware of any additional costs by using out-of-state medical facilities, or out-of-network costs.

Every single travel insurance policy that we offer through TravelDefenders has travel health insurance embedded in. It is standard – every travel insurer seems to offer this on their travel insurance policies. Travelers assume that health cover will be in any policy they buy. We can only assume that most travelers would not even think to check the Expedia Trip Protection policy document. If they did, we assume that they would be shocked by the lack of travel protection.

We cannot recommend Expedia Travel Insurance if it does not include this most basic of travel health insurance provisions.

Travel Evacuation Insurance

In the event that you get seriously injured or very ill, you will need to be moved to the nearest medical facility. The costs of this type of medical transfer can be very high. That’s why we expect to see it in any travel insurance plan. Again, we cannot understand why Expedia does not include it.

Vacation Cancellation Insurance

In the event that our employer cancels our work vacation, it would be great if travel insurance could support us. This type of protection is not available on all policies, but we see it on the more comprehensive plans that we offer.

Now, we think that these are pretty important basic trip insurance benefits. We like to see some, if not all of them, on plans that we promote. By far and away, the travel medical insurance and evacuation benefits are most important. These are the ones that offer the most financial protection.

The best Expedia Travel Insurance that you could find would have these policy elements included. Expedia does not include them. Its policy is incredibly weak. Look for better options, please.

Alternatives to Domestic Expedia Travel Insurance

TravelDefenders is a travel insurance marketplace. We make comparisons of travel insurance policies. We only work with the USA’s leading travel insurance providers.

Our insurers are licensed and regulated in all 50 US states and D.C. Every one of our insurance carriers has many different policy options for our travelers to choose from. Our carriers are happy to have their policies compared against those of their competitors. Every one of our Travel Insurance partners has an A.M. Best rating of at least an ‘A’.

Why is this important to an Expedia customer?

Expedia will only offer you one option for travel insurance. What they offer you is awful. So, instead of that, we offer you a dozen or so. We do not share your contact information with the insurance carriers. So, our insurance carriers give you binding insurance quotes, but do not then bombard you with marketing. Your quote is anonymous. You receive the best possible insurance rates available.

Best possible rates?

The price of each insurance we share with you is identical to the price if you went to each and every travel insurer directly.

So, rather than wasting an hour searching and comparing for our insurers directly, you can do it through us in a minute.

Here is what we found when we went to find travel insurance to compete against the awful Expedia Travel Insurance policy.

Here is the same trip that we ran through our system. It took less than one minute to generate the quote options. All details were passed to our Travel Insurance Carriers anonymously.

Here is what happens when travel insurance carriers get to compete with one another – the customer wins. Our customer was able to compare 17 different plans, with varying levels of cover and cost. As always, plans are shown with the least expensive first. There is no desire to oversell to a customer cover that they do not need. Travel insurance for seniors is available from all of our carriers. We have travelers in their late 90's still exploring the world, and doing so having compared travel insurance rates with us.

One plan immediately stands out – the IMG Travel Lite plan. It is one of our most popular trip insurance plans for international travel.

Note that at $35, this is $2 more than the expedia plan, yet, look at the powerful benefits available to a customer.

IMG Travel Lite

Standard Cancellation Benefit

• Covered Cancellation: 100% refund

Medical Benefits

• Medical Cover: Secondary
• Medical Sickness: $100,000
• Medical Evacuation: $500,000
• Free Look Period: 10 days

Extra Cancellation Benefit

• Cancel for Work Reason: 100% Refund
• Cancel for Any Reason: N/A
• Time-Sensitive Period: N/A

Pre-Existing Condition Benefit

• Look-Back Period: 60 days
• Waiver of Look-Back: No

A.M. Best Rating: A

Here is a cheap travel insurance policy for an Expedia customer, that has 20 times the level of Travel Medical Insurance cover, yet is just $2 more expensive than that which Expedia suggests to its customers.

If seeking a cheap plan which also contains a strong Pre-Existing Medical Condition Exclusion Waiver , the plan that stands out is the TravelDefenders recommended plan - the IMG Travel SE which has a massive $250,000 of medical cover, cancel for work reasons, and a pre-existing condition waiver added in for free if the plan is bought within 20 days of your initial trip payment. All this for just $40.

Remember that this Travel Insurance policy needs to be booked within 20 days of your initial trip deposit to qualify for the free Medical Waiver .

Cancel for Any Reason Travel Insurance

There are times when we would like the flexibility to cancel our trip without any reason at all and still receive compensation. This type of cover is known as Cancel for Any Reason Travel Insurance , and is embedded in only the most comprehensive of plans.

It is a really useful option for those people who are unsure if their plans will remain consistent, and want the option to cancel, and be compensated. We have long been advocates of the use of this cover to run what we call the Airline Ticket Hack .

Essentially, we book a non-refundable airline ticket. Then we add Cancel for Any Reason Travel Insurance. If we need to cancel the flight, we call in the insurance, and get a 75% refund. It’s the smartest way to get low cost, near-refundable tickets that we know of. We love it. Airlines hate it.

International Expedia Trip Insurance

As terrible as Expedia’s Travel Insurance is, its International Protection is actually worse. When traveling domestically, we may have medical cover from home that works for us on the road. If we do not buy domestic travel insurance we will have co-pays and out-of-pocket expenses, but hopefully this will only be thousands of dollars.

Now think about traveling internationally. A serious accident or illness can take us into hospital. International state-sponsored public health programs are not going to be available to us. We will need to pay the full cost of any medical treatment we receive. Our recommendation is to have at least $100k of medical cover when traveling internationally. With day rates at international private hospitals hitting $3k to $4k per day, any less seems to create too much financial risk.

When overseas, medical evacuation can be critically important as well. Here, we like to see $100k of cover if on a trip close to the USA, and $250k of cover if much further away.

International Expedia Travel Insurance – Example

We ran a quote for a flight from San Francisco to London, finding a trip that cost $865.

Again, at check-out Expedia encourages us to buy its flight insurance. We get slightly different language from them this time, because the trip insurance policy has changed.

Instead of an 'Expedia Flight Cancellation' plan, which we saw when traveling domestically, we get the 'Expedia Flight Total Protection Plan.' Now, that sounds comprehensive, doesn’t it? Anything that is called a ‘Total Protection Plan’ ought to be all-encompassing, you would think.

Taking a look, we see the following.

The same message that 2 million people buy Expedia Travel Insurance each year.

An overview of the benefits that ‘total protection’ buys us for $56.

Then we see a similar type of language to scare/nudge our traveler into buying this awful cover.

Yes, I want to add the Total Protection Plan to my trip to London. 27,912 customers protected their flight in the last 7 days $56

No, I'm willing to risk my $865.60 trip.

AIG Travel Guard Flight Total Protection Plan

• Baggage & Personal Effects - $1,000
• Accident Sickness Medical Expense - $5,000
• Emergency Evacuation - $15,000
• Repatriation of Remains - $15,000
• Flight Guard® - $50,000

Protect your flight (recommended)

Avoid change fees. Protect your trip. Expedia Cancellation Plan

Select Yes or No to continue booking

Now, there are a few more benefits on this Expedia ‘total protection’ policy than we saw for the domestic trip. But did you check the cover levels?

$15k for Emergency Evacuation? $5k for Medical Expense?

These cover levels are pathetic as stand-alone insurance levels. They are woefully inadequate unless you have a strong secondary insurance policy that can pick up the vast majority of the costs. These benefit levels are totally insufficient for most international travelers.

TravelDefenders International Travel Insurance Options

Once again we run the trip through our travel insurance marketplace. Again, we quickly get more than a dozen different travel insurance options for a traveler to choose from.

Again, for a plan that includes a waiver of pre-existing conditions, we would opt for the IMG ravel SE plan at $67. This is $11 more than the Expedia plan but again, look at the coverage for our traveler.

Review – International Expedia Travel Insurance $56 Cover versus IMG Travel SE

Img travel se - time-sensitive benefits.

• Cancel for Work Reason: 100% refund
• Pre-Existing Waiver: Yes
• Time-Sensitive Period: 20 days
• Pre-Existing Look-Back: 60 days

IMG Travel SE - Regular Benefits

• Medical Cover: Primary
• Medical Sickness: $250,000

International Expedia Travel Insurance - Time-Sensitive Benefits

• Cancel for Work Reason: 0% refund
• Free Look Period: 15 days

International Expedia Travel Insurance - Regular Benefits

• Medical Sickness: $5,000
• Evacuation: $15,000

There is an embarrassing lack of cover in the Expedia policy. Here are where we think the most obvious cover gaps are.

Work Cancellation

• IMG Travel SE – Yes
• Expedia Insurance – No

Travel Medical Insurance

• IMG Travel SE - $250k Cover
• Expedia Insurance - $5k. Expedia has incredibly weak protection.
• IMG Travel SE - $500k cover
• Expedia Insurance - $15k. Woefully limited cover from Expedia.

Travelers should always consider their options when searching for travel insurance. We consistently see International Expedia Travel Insurance as one of the most expensive in the USA with some of the worst cover. There will almost certainly be a better option with more cover and a lower price.

TravelDefenders – Compare & Save

TravelDefenders is a travel insurance marketplace. We get binding insurance quotes, anonymously, from all of our major travel insurance carriers. We provide simple comparison for travel insurance in less than a minute.

Does TravelDefenders Charge More?

In the USA, insurance is regulated with anti-discrimination protection in place.

Identical travel insurance policies must be sold at the same price. We cannot mark up a policy. We cannot discount a policy. No one can. We offer a fuller explanation here: Travel Insurance Comparison

What does this mean to me as a travel insurance customer? If you went to each of our travel insurance partners and ran quotes with every one of them, you would see the exact same price as we quote. We do not charge a cent more. All that we do is compare insurance plans within the market. You no longer need to jump from insurer to insurer. You will see the best rates for each trip insurance policy.

All we need is one minute of your time. TravelDefenders is the leading travel insurance marketplace in the USA.

Safe travels.

This article has been written for review purposes only and does not suggest sponsorship or endorsement of AARDY by the trademark owner.

Recent AARDY Travel Insurance Customer Reviews

Yvonne McNamara

Very easy site to follow

Very easy site to follow. Have used this company for previous travel and they never disappoint.

Janet was super helpful

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Sign in to your account, travel protection plans, package protection plan.

Take travel woes into account with the Package Protection Plan. This plan covers you from the moment you book your vacation until you return home.

• Change or cancel your trip for any reason one time prior to departure
• Enjoy coverage from the time you book until you return home
• Provides reimbursement for emergency medical expenses, lost luggage, and more

For a pre-travel plan only, consider the Vacation Waiver

Please see Terms and Conditions for full terms, including limitations and exclusions.

• Plan Coverage
• What's Not Covered
• Claim Instructions
• Terms Of Coverage
• Definitions

Important: This program is valid only if the appropriate plan cost has been received by Expedia, Inc. Please keep this document as your record of coverage.

SECTION I: Expedia Vacation Waiver

IMPORTANT: Benefits under Section I are provided by Expedia, Inc. Details regarding cancellation penalties, terms and conditions are fully outlined here.

Change or cancel for any reason

The Expedia Vacation Waiver helps protect you against life's unexpected occurrences. Your group is allowed to change or cancel your trip for any reason one (1) time prior to the scheduled start time* of your trip without being charged any change or cancellation fees. If canceling, any monies paid will be returned to the customer who booked the travel except the cost of published airfare, which may be made available as a credit for future travel.**

Note: The waiver is valid once you have paid the appropriate waiver cost and your booking is confirmed.

*Scheduled Start Time is defined as the originally scheduled departure time of your flight or, if you haven’t booked a flight as part of your package, the scheduled check-in time of your hotel at the time of booking. Other terms and conditions apply. Please see Terms and Conditions below.

**For a published air ticket , credit may be issued per applicable airline policies less airline change fees and Expedia, Inc. will absorb the change fees. The actual airfare could be higher at the time of rebooking; in that event the price differential would be your responsibility. You are allowed to change or cancel your trip for any reason one (1) time prior to the start of your trip.

Refund Instructions

When your group purchases Expedia Vacation Waiver you will be asked to print your voucher. Please keep your voucher handy as a reference. You do not need to redeem your voucher at any time. You will also be able to access your information from the voucher in your online itinerary once your booking is confirmed. The Expedia Vacation Waiver is valid for redemption only by the person(s) named on the voucher. The waiver is not transferable, has no cash value, and may be redeemed only once. Once the voucher has been utilized it cannot be reused. The Expedia Vacation Waiver must be purchased at the time of booking; waivers cannot be purchased after booking.

You must call contact Expedia at 1-800-675-4318 to cancel or change your vacation package.

Terms & Conditions

The Expedia Vacation Waiver is valid for redemption only by the person(s) named on the voucher. It is not transferable, has no cash value, and may be redeemed only once. The Expedia Vacation Waiver must be purchased at the time of booking; waivers cannot be purchased after booking. The Vacation Waiver excludes the price of the Expedia Vacation Waiver.

If you change or cancel your trip for ANY REASON prior to the scheduled start time* of your trip, all package cancellation fees imposed by the Booking Agent will be waived, except the cost of Published Air.

SECTION II: Coverages offered by Insurer

Stonebridge Casualty Insurance Company Travel Insurance Certificate Policy Number MZ0911076H0002A

DESCRIPTION OF COVERAGE

• Schedule: Expedia, Inc Maximum Benefit Amount

PART A. TRAVEL ARRANGEMENT PROTECTION

• Trip Cancellation Up to Total Vacation Cost
• Trip Interruption Up to Total Vacation Cost
• Trip Delay $500, Up to $100/day

PART B. MEDICAL PROTECTION

• Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation of Remains $15,000
• Accident Medical Expense $5,000
• Sickness Medical Expense $5,000

PART C. BAGGAGE PROTECTION

• Baggage/Personal Effects $1,000
• Baggage Delay $500

PART D. TRAVEL ACCIDENT PROTECTION

• Accidental Death & Dismemberment Air Common Carrier $50,000

PART E. WORLDWIDE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE (On Call International)

• CareFree™ Travel Assistance 24/7
• Medical Assistance 24/7
• Emergency Services 24/7

The benefits provided in this program are subject to certain restrictions and exclusions. Important: Please read this brochure in its entirety for a complete description of all coverage terms and conditions. Note: Words beginning with capital letters are defined in this text.

SUMMARY OF COVERAGES

Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Benefits

Pre-Departure Trip Cancellation

We will pay a Pre-Departure Trip Cancellation Benefit, up to the amount in the Schedule for non-refundable cancellation charges imposed by Expedia, Inc. if you are prevented from taking your Covered Vacation due to your, an Immediate Family Member’s, Traveling Companion’s, or Business Partner’s Sickness, Injury or death or Other Covered Events as defined, that occur(s) before departure on your Covered Vacation.

The Sickness or Injury must: a) commence while your coverage is in effect under the plan; b) require the examination and treatment by a Physician at the time the Covered Vacation is canceled; and c) in the written opinion of the treating Physician, be so disabling as to prevent you from taking your Covered Vacation.

Pre-Departure Trip Cancellation Benefits

We will reimburse you, up to the amount in the Schedule for the amount of prepaid, non-refundable, and unused Payments or Deposits that you paid for your Covered Vacation. We will pay your additional cost as a result of a change in the per person occupancy rate for prepaid travel arrangements if a Traveling Companion’s Covered Vacation is canceled and your Covered Vacation is not canceled.

Note: As respects air cancellation penalties, you will be covered only for air arrangements booked through Expedia, Inc. and flights connecting to such air arrangements booked through Expedia, Inc. We will not pay benefits for cancellation charges imposed on any other air arrangements you may book on your own.

Post-Departure Trip Interruption

We will pay a Post-Departure Trip Interruption Benefit, up to the amount in the Schedule, if: 1) your arrival on your Covered Vacation is delayed; or 2) you are unable to continue on your Covered Vacation after you have departed on your Covered Vacation due to your, an Immediate Family Member’s, Traveling Companion’s, or Business Partner’s, Sickness, Injury or death or Other Covered Events as defined.

For item 1) above, the Sickness or Injury must: a) commence while your coverage is in effect under the plan; b) for item 2) above, commence while you are on your Covered Vacation and your coverage is in effect under the plan; and c) for both items 1) and 2) above, require the examination and treatment by a Physician at the time the Covered Vacation is interrupted or delayed; and d) in the written opinion of the treating Physician, be so disabling as to delay your arrival on your Covered Vacation or to prevent you from continuing your Covered Vacation.

Post-Departure Trip Interruption Benefits

We will reimburse you, less any refund paid or payable, for unused land or water travel arrangements, and/or the following:

• the additional transportation expenses by the most direct route from the point you interrupted your Covered Vacation: a) to the next scheduled destination where you can catch up
• the additional transportation expenses incurred by you by the most direct route to reach your original Covered Vacation destination if you are delayed and leave after the Scheduled Departure Date. However, the benefit payable under (1) and (2) above will not exceed the cost of a one-way economy air fare by the most direct route less any refunds paid or payable for your unused original tickets.
• your additional cost as a result of a change in the per person occupancy rate for prepaid travel arrangements if a Traveling Companion’s Covered Vacation is interrupted and your Covered Vacation is continued.
• reasonable additional accommodation and transportation expenses (up to $100 per day) incurred to remain near a covered traveling Immediate Family Member or Traveling Companion who is hospitalized during your Trip.

In no event shall the amount reimbursed under Trip Cancellation or Trip Interruption exceed the amount you prepaid for your Trip.

Important: You, your Traveling Companion and/or your Immediate Family Member booked to travel with you must be medically capable of travel on the day you purchase this coverage. The covered reason for cancellation or interruption of your Trip must occur after your effective date of Trip Cancellation coverage.

Other Covered Events means only the following unforeseeable events or their consequences which occur while coverage is in effect under this Policy: a change in plans by you, an Immediate Family Member traveling with you, or Traveling Companion resulting from one of the following events which occurs while coverage is in effect under this Policy:

• being directly involved in a documented traffic accident while en route to departure;
• being hijacked, Quarantined, required to serve on a jury, or required by a court order to appear as a witness in a legal action, provided you, an Immediate Family Member traveling with you or a Traveling Companion is not: 1) a party to the legal action, or 2) appearing as a law enforcement officer;
• having your Home made uninhabitable by fire, flood, volcano, earthquake, hurricane or other natural disaster;
• Your involuntary termination of employment or layoff which occurs after your effective date of coverage and was not under your control. You must have been continuously employed with the same employer for 1 year prior to the termination or layoff. This provision is not applicable to temporary employment, independent contractors or self- employed persons.

If your Covered Vacation is delayed for 12 hours or more, we will reimburse you, up to the amount shown in the Schedule for unused land or water travel arrangements, less any refund paid or payable and reasonable additional expenses incurred by you for hotel accommodations, meals, telephone calls and economy transportation to catch up to your Trip, or to return Home. We will not pay benefits for expenses incurred after travel becomes possible.

Trip Delay must be caused by or result from:

• Air Common Carrier delay;
• loss or theft of your passport(s), travel documents or money;
• being Quarantined;
• natural disaster;
• a documented traffic accident while you are en route to departure;
• unannounced strike;
• a civil disorder.

Medical Expense/Emergency Assistance Benefits

We will pay this benefit, up to the amount on the Schedule for the following Covered Expenses incurred by you, subject to the following: 1) Covered Expenses will only be payable at the Usual and Customary level of payment; 2) benefits will be payable only for Covered Expenses resulting from a Sickness that first manifests itself or an Injury that occurs while on a Covered Vacation; 3) benefits payable as a result of incurred Covered Expenses will only be paid after benefits have been paid under any Other Valid and Collectible Group Insurance in effect for you.

We will pay that portion of Covered Expenses which exceed the amount of benefits payable for such expenses under your Other Valid and Collectible Group Insurance.

Covered Expenses:

Accident Medical Expense/Sickness Medical Expense:

• expenses for the following Physician-ordered medical services: services of legally qualified Physicians and graduate nurses, charges for Hospital confinement and services, local ambulance services, prescription drugs and medicines, and therapeutic services, incurred by you within one year from the date of your Sickness or Injury;
• expenses for emergency dental treatment incurred by you;

Emergency Evacuation:

• expenses incurred by you for Physician-ordered emergency medical evacuation, including medically appropriate transportation and necessary medical care en route, to the nearest suitable Hospital, when you are critically ill or injured and no suitable local care is available, subject to the Program Medical Advisors prior approval;
• expenses incurred for non-emergency medical evacuation, including medically appropriate transportation and medical care en route, to a Hospital or to your place of residence, when deemed medically necessary by the attending Physician, subject to the Program Medical Advisors prior approval;
• expenses for transportation not to exceed the cost of one round-trip economy class air fare to the place of hospitalization for one person chosen by you, provided that you are traveling alone and are hospitalized for more than 7 days;
• expenses for transportation not to exceed the cost of one-way economy class air fare to your place of residence, including escort expenses if you are 25 years of age or younger and left unattended due to the death or hospitalization of an accompanying adult(s), subject to the Program Medical Advisors prior approval;
• expenses for one-way economy class air fare to your place of residence, from a medical facility to which you were previously evacuated, less any refunds paid or payable from your unused transportation tickets, if these expenses are not covered elsewhere in the plan.

Repatriation:

• repatriation expenses for preparation and air transportation of your remains to your place of residence, or up to an equivalent amount for a local burial in the country where death occurred, if you die while on your Covered Vacation.

Losses Not Covered:

Please Note: In no event will all benefits paid for Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation expenses exceed the coverage limit of $15,000.

Please note: Benefits under Parts A & B (except Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation) are subject to exclusions listed on Pages 12-13.

Baggage and Personal Effects Benefit

We will reimburse you, less any amount paid or payable from any other valid and collectible insurance or indemnity, up to the amount shown in the Schedule, for direct loss, theft, damage or destruction of your Baggage during your Covered Vacation.

Valuation and Payment of Loss

Payment of loss under the Baggage and Personal Effects Benefit will be calculated based upon an Actual Cash Value basis. For items without receipts, payment of loss will be calculated based upon 80% of the Actual Cash Value at the time of loss. At our option, we may elect to repair or replace your Baggage. We will notify you within 30 days after we receive your proof of loss.

We may take all or part of a damaged Baggage as a condition for payment of loss. In the event of a loss to a pair or set of items, we will: 1) repair or replace any part to restore the pair or set to its value before the loss; or 2) pay the difference between the value of the property before and after the loss.

Items Subject to Special Limitations

We will not pay more than $1,000 (or the Baggage and Personal Effects limit, if less) on all losses to jewelry; watches; precious or semi-precious gems; decorative or personal articles consisting in whole or in part of silver, gold, or platinum; cameras, camera equipment; digital or electronic equipment and media; and articles consisting in whole or in part of fur. There is a $500 per article limit.

Baggage Delay Benefit

We will reimburse you, less any amount paid or payable from any other valid and collectible insurance or indemnity, up to the amount shown in the Schedule for the cost of reasonable additional clothing and personal articles purchased by you, if your Baggage is delayed by an Air Common Carrier for 24 hours or more during your Covered Vacation. You must be a ticketed passenger on an Air Common Carrier.

Accidental Death and Dismemberment

Air Common Carrier Benefits We will pay this benefit, up to the amount on the Schedule, if you sustain a covered loss in an Accident which occurs: 1) while a passenger in or on, boarding or alighting from an Air Common Carrier or 2) being struck or run down by an Air Common Carrier of a regularly scheduled airline or an air charter company that is licensed to carry passengers for hire while you are on a Covered Vacation and covered under the plan, and you suffer one of the losses listed below within 365 days of the Accident. The Principal Sum is the benefit amount shown in the schedule.

• Loss Percentage of Principal Sum Payable
• Both Hands; Both Feet or Sight of Both Eyes 100%
• One Hand and One 100%
• One Hand and Sight of One Eye 100%
• One Foot and Sight of One Eye 100%
• One Hand; One Foot or Sight of One Eye 50%

If you suffer more than one loss from one Accident, we will pay only for the loss with the larger benefit. Loss of a hand or foot means complete severance at or above the wrist or ankle joint. Loss of sight of an eye means complete and irrecoverable loss of sight.

Not a care in the world... when you have our 24/7 global network to assist you

CareFree™ Travel Assistance

• Medical Assistance

Emergency Services

Travel Arrangements

• Arrangements for last-minute flight and hotel changes
• Luggage Locator (reporting/tracking of lost, stolen or delayed baggage)
• Hotel finder and reservations
• Airport transportation
• Rental car reservations and automobile return
• Coordination of travel for visitors to bedside
• Return travel for dependent/minor children
• Assistance locating the nearest embassy or consulate
• Cash transfers
• Assistance with bail bonds

Pre-trip Information

• Destination guides (hotels, restaurants, etc.)
• Weather updates and advisories
• Passport requirements
• Currency exchange
• Health and safety advisories

Documents and Communication

• Assistance with lost travel documents or passports
• Live email and phone messaging to family and friends
• Emergency message relay service
• Multilingual translation and interpretation services

Medical Assistance and Managed Care

• Medical case management, consultation and monitoring
• Medical Transportation
• Dispatch of a doctor or specialist
• Referrals to local medical and dental service providers
• Worldwide medical information, up-to-the-minute travel medical advisories, and immunization requirements
• Prescription drug replacement
• Replacement of eyeglasses, contact lenses and dental appliances
• Emergency evacuation
• Repatriation of mortal remains
• Emergency medical and dental assistance
• Emergency legal assistance
• Emergency medical payment assistance
• Emergency family travel arrangements

CareFree™ Travel Assistance, Medical Assistance and Emergency Services can be accessed by calling On Call International at 1-800-618-0692 or, from outside the U.S. or Canada, call collect:* 1-603-328-1711

* If you have any difficulty making this collect call, contact the local phone operator to connect you to a US-based long-distance service. In this case, please let the Assistance Provider answering the phone know the number you are calling from, so that he/she may call you back. Any charges for the call will be considered reimbursable benefits.

Note that the problems of distance, information, and communications make it impossible for Stonebridge Casualty Insurance Company, Berkely, Expedia, Inc., or On Call International to assume any responsibility for the availability, quality, use, or results of any emergency service. In all cases, you are still responsible for obtaining, using, and paying for your own required services of all types.

Section I: Cancellation Fee Waiver

You may Change or Cancel your trip for ANY REASON one (1) time prior to the start of your trip. All cancellation fees will be covered by Expedia, except the cost of published air. Credit, pursuant to applicable airline policies, may be issued less airline change fees, and Expedia, Inc. will absorb the change fees. The actual airfare could be higher at the time of rebooking; in that event the price differential would be your responsibility.

GENERAL PLAN EXCLUSIONS

In parts a & b:, we will not pay for any loss caused by or incurred resulting from:.

• mental, nervous, or psychological disorders, except if hospitalized;
• being under the influence of drugs or intoxicants, unless prescribed by a Physician;
• normal pregnancy, except if hospitalized; or elective abortion;
• riding or driving in any motor competition;
• declared or undeclared war, or any act of war;
• service in the armed forces of any country;
• operating or learning to operate any aircraft, as pilot or crew;
• any unlawful acts, committed by you or a Traveling Companion (whether insured or not);
• any amount paid or payable under any Worker’s Compensation, Disability Benefit or similar law;
• Elective Treatment and Procedures;
• medical treatment during or arising from a Covered Vacation undertaken for the purpose or intent of securing medical treatment;
• business, contractual or educational obligations of you, an Immediate Family Member or Traveling Companion;
• failure of any tour operator, Common Carrier, or other travel supplier, person or agency to provide the bargained-for travel arrangements;
• a loss that results from an illness, disease, or other condition, event or circumstance which occurs at a time when the plan is not in effect for you.

ITEMS NOT COVERED WE WILL NOT PAY FOR DAMAGE TO OR LOSS OF:

• property used in trade, business or for the production of income, household furniture, musical instruments, brittle or fragile articles, or sporting equipment if the loss results from the use thereof;
• artificial limbs or other prosthetic devices, artificial teeth, dental bridges, dentures, dental braces, retainers or other orthodontic devices, hearing aids, any type of eyeglasses, sunglasses or contact lenses;
• documents or tickets, except for administrative fees required to reissue tickets;
• money, stamps, stocks and bonds, postal or money orders, securities, accounts, bills, deeds, food stamps or credit cards,
• property shipped as freight or shipped prior to the Scheduled Departure Date.

THE FOLLOWING EXCLUSIONS APPLY TO THE ACCIDENTAL DEATH AND DISMEMBERMENT COVERAGE:

• We will not pay for loss caused by or resulting from Sickness of any kind.
• You, your Traveling Companion’s, or Immediate Family Member’s booked to travel with you, suicide, attempted suicide, or intentionally self-inflicted injury, while sane or insane (while sane in CO & MO);
• participation as a professional in athletics;
• participation in organized amateur and interscholastic athletic or sports competition or events;
• nuclear reaction, radiation or radioactive contamination;
• mountain climbing, bungee cord jumping, skin diving, scuba diving, snow skiing, skydiving, parachuting, hang gliding, parasailing or travel on any air supported device, other than on a regularly scheduled airline or air charter company.

LOSSES NOT COVERED WE WILL NOT PAY FOR LOSS ARISING FROM:

• theft or pilferage from an unattended vehicle;
• mysterious disappearance;
• EMERGENCIES ARISING DURING YOUR TRIP: Please refer to Part E. Worldwide Emergency Assistance
• TRIP CANCELLATION CLAIMS: Contact Expedia, Inc. and BerkelyCare IMMEDIATELY to notify them of your cancellation and to avoid any non-covered expenses due to late reporting. BerkelyCare will then forward the appropriate claim form which must be completed by you AND THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN, if applicable. If you are cancelling due to a death, a death certificate will be required.
• ALL OTHER CLAIMS: Report your claim as soon as possible to BerkelyCare. Provide the policy number, your travel dates, and details describing the nature of your loss. Upon receipt of this information, BerkelyCare will promptly forward you the appropriate claim form to complete. If you are interrupting due to a death, a death certificate will be required.

Online: www.travelclaim.com

Phone: 1-(800) 453-4079 or 1-(516) 342-2720

Mail: BerkelyCare 300 Jericho Quadrangle, P.O. Box 9022, Jericho, NY 11753 Office Hours: 8:00 am - 10:00 pm ET, Monday - Friday; 9:00 am - 5:00 pm ET, Saturday

IMPORTANT: In order to facilitate prompt claims settlement upon your return, be sure to obtain as applicable:

Accident & Sickness Medical Claims – receipts from the treating Physicians, etc. stating the amounts paid and listing the diagnosis and treatment; submit these first to your other medical plans. Forward a copy of their final disposition of your claim to BerkelyCare.

• You must provide us with all bills and reports for medical and/or dental expenses claimed.
• You must provide any requested information, including but not limited to, an explanation of benefits from any other applicable insurance.
• You must sign a patient authorization to release any information required by us, to investigate your claim.
• You must receive initial treatment within 90 days of the accident, which caused the Injury or the onset of the Sickness.

Your duties in the event of a Trip Interruption & Trip Delay Claims: Medical statements from the Physicians in attendance in the country where the Sickness or Injury occurred. These statements should give complete diagnosis, stating that the Sickness or Injury prevented traveling on dates contracted. Or, verification of the Common Carrier’s mechanical or scheduling problems, or verification of other covered reason causing delay. Provide all unused transportation tickets, official receipts, etc.

Your duties in the Event of a Baggage/Personal Effects Loss: In case of loss, theft or damage to Baggage and Personal Effects, you should: 1) immediately report the situation incident to the hotel manager, tour guide or representative, transportation official, local police or other local authorities and obtain their written report of your loss; and 2) take reasonable steps to protect your Baggage from further damage, and make necessary, reasonable and temporary repairs. We will reimburse you for these expenses. We will not pay for further damage if you fail to protect your Baggage. Submit claim first to party responsible, as well as your regular property insurer. Forward copies of the outcome of your claim to BerkelyCare with the appropriate documentation, including copies of receipts for the lost, stolen, or damaged articles, if available.

When Coverage Begins

All coverages (except Pre-Departure Trip Cancellation and Post-Departure Trip Interruption) will take effect on the later of: 1) the date the plan payment has been received by Expedia, Inc.; 2) the date and time you start your Covered Vacation; or 3) 12:01 A.M. Standard Time on the Scheduled Departure Date of your Covered Vacation.

Pre-Departure Trip Cancellation coverage will take effect at 12:01 A.M. Standard Time on the day your plan payment is received by Expedia, Inc. Post-Departure Trip Interruption coverage will take effect on the Scheduled Departure Date if the required plan payment is received.

When Coverage Ends

Your coverage automatically ends on the earlier of:

• the date the Covered Vacation is completed;
• the Scheduled Return Date;
• your arrival at the return destination on a round-trip, or the destination on a one-way trip;
• cancellation of the Covered Vacation covered by the plan.

In the certificate, “you”, “your” and “yours” refer to the Insured. “We”, “us” and “our” refer to the company providing the coverage. In addition certain words and phrases are defined as follows:

Accident means a sudden, unexpected, unintended and external event, which causes Injury.

Actual Cash Value means purchase price less depreciation.

Air Flight Common Carrier means any air conveyance operated under a license for the transportation of passengers for hire.

Baggage means luggage, personal possessions and travel documents taken by you on the Covered Vacation.

Business Partner means an individual who is involved, as a partner, with you in a legal general partnership and shares in the management of the business.

Covered Vacation means a period of travel away from Home to a destination outside your city of residence; the purpose of the Vacation is business or pleasure and is not to obtain health care or treatment of any kind; the Vacation has defined departure and return dates specified when the Insured enrolls; the Vacation does not exceed 6 months.

Common Carrier means any land, water or air conveyance operated under a license for the transportation of passengers for hire.

Domestic Partner means a person who is at least eighteen years of age and you can show: 1) evidence of financial interdependence, such as joint bank accounts or credit cards, jointly owned property, and mutual life insurance or pension beneficiary designations; 2) evidence of cohabitation for at least the previous 6 months; and 3) an affidavit of domestic partnership if recognized by the jurisdiction within which they reside.

Elective Treatment and Procedures means any medical treatment or surgical procedure that is not medically necessary including any service, treatment, or supplies that are deemed by the federal, or a state or local government authority, or by us to be research or experimental or that is not recognized as a generally accepted medical practice.

Home means your primary or secondary residence.

Hospital means an institution, which meets all of the following requirements:

• it must be operated according to law;
• it must give 24 hour medical care, diagnosis and treatment to the sick or injured on an inpatient basis;
• it must provide diagnostic and surgical facilities supervised by Physicians;
• registered nurses must be on 24 hour call or duty; and
• the care must be given either on the hospital’s premises or in facilities available to the hospital on a pre-arranged basis.

A Hospital is not: a rest, convalescent, extended care, rehabilitation or other nursing facility; a facility which primarily treats mental illness, alcoholism, or drug addiction (or any ward, wing or other section of the hospital used for such purposes); or a facility which provides hospice care (or wing, ward or other section of a hospital used for such purposes).

Immediate Family Member includes your or the Traveling Companion’s spouse, child, spouse’s child, son-daughter-in-law, parent(s), sibling(s), brother-sister, grandparent(s), grandchild, step brother-sister, step-parent(s), parent(s)-in-law, brother-sister-in-law, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, guardian, Domestic Partner, foster-child, or ward.

Injury means bodily harm caused by an accident which: 1) occurs while your coverage is in effect under the plan; and 2) requires examination and treatment by a Physician. The Injury must be the direct cause of loss and must be independent of all other causes and must not be caused by, or result from, Sickness.

Insured means an eligible person who arranges a Covered Vacation and pays any required plan payment.

Insurer means Stonebridge Casualty Insurance Company.

Other Valid and Collectible Group Insurance means any group policy or contract which provides for payment of medical expenses incurred because of Physician, nurse, dental or Hospital care or treatment; or the performance of surgery or administration of anesthesia. The policy or contract providing such benefits includes group or blanket insurance policies; service plan contracts; employee benefit plans; or any plan arranged through an employer, labor union, employee benefit association or trustee; or any group plan created or administered by the federal or a state or local government or its agencies. In the event any other group plan provides for benefits in the form of services in lieu of monetary payment, the usual and customary value of each service rendered will be considered a Covered Expense.

Payments or Deposits means the cash, check, or credit card amounts actually paid to the Expedia, Inc. for your Covered Vacation.

Physician means a person licensed as a medical doctor by the jurisdiction in which he/she is a resident to practice the healing arts. He/she must be practicing within the scope of his/her license for the service or treatment given and may not be you, a Traveling Companion, or an Immediate Family Member of yours.

Policy means the contract issued to the Policyholder providing the benefits specified herein.

Policyholder means the legal entity in whose name this Policy is issued, as shown on the benefit Schedule.

Program Medical Advisors means On Call International.

Quarantined means the enforced isolation of an Insured and/or the restriction of free movement of an Insured suffering or suspected to suffer from a contagious disease to prevent the spread of contagious disease.

Schedule means the benefit schedule shown on the Certificate for each Insured.

Scheduled Departure Date means the date on which you are originally scheduled to leave on your Covered Vacation.

Scheduled Return Date means the date on which you are originally scheduled to return to the point where the Covered Vacation started or to a different final destination.

Scheduled Vacation Departure City means the city where the scheduled trip on which you are to participate originates.

Sickness means an illness or disease of the body which: 1) requires examination and treatment by a Physician, and 2) commences while the plan is in effect.

Traveling Companion means one person whose name appears with you on the same Trip arrangement and who, during the Trip, will accompany you.

Usual and Customary Charge means those charges for necessary treatment and services that are reasonable for the treatment of cases of comparable severity and nature. This will be derived from the mean charge based on the experience in a related area of the service delivered and the MDR (Medical Data Research) schedule of fees valued at the 90th percentile.

Vacation means a scheduled trip for which coverage has been elected and the plan payment paid, and all travel arrangements are arranged by the Expedia, Inc. prior to the Scheduled Departure Date of the trip.

What is the Package Protection Plan?

Part I: Cancel for ANY Reason waiver provided by Expedia.com

• Passengers can cancel or change their vacation one time for ANY REASON not covered under Part II prior to the start of their trip and receive CASH back for all cancellation fees and penalties, except the cost of Published Air.
• The value of Published Air may be used within a year of original ticket issue date, and Expedia will absorb the change fee. The actual airfare could be higher at time of rebooking.

Part II: Travel insurance plan administered by BerkelyCare

• A package of insurance benefits payable for covered reasons, as well as travel assistance services.
• Benefits include coverage for trip cancellations, interruptions and delays; medical coverage including emergency evacuations and repatriations; baggage losses and delays; and 24-hour emergency travel assistance.

Insurance is underwritten by Stonebridge Casualty Insurance Company, Columbus, OH.

Why should I purchase the Package Protection Plan?

You've saved, you've waited, and now you're all set to go on the vacation of your life - an Expedia vacation. Preparing for your vacation should include covering yourself against unfortunate occurrences that can interfere with even your best-laid plans. By purchasing the Package Protection Plan, you can be reimbursed for cancellation penalties, medical costs, baggage loss, and delays due to covered reasons, as well as gain access to a wide range of traveler's assistance services.

Unexpected situations can happen to anyone, even immediate family members that are not traveling with you, and provide you with a reason you might need to cancel or interrupt your trip. Plus, even after departure, there are important coverages included such as reimbursement for expenses caused by trip delays and baggage delays. And of course, having coverage that pays for unexpected medical expenses, most notably pricey evacuation expenses, is critical.

Did you know that the Package Protection Plan can reimburse covered expenses if:

• You become ill and can't travel.
• Someone in your immediate family has an illness or injury and you must cancel or interrupt your trip, even if he or she is not scheduled to travel with you.
• You must cancel your vacation plans for a work related reason.
• The wedding is off and you are no longer going on the honeymoon.
• Your house becomes uninhabitable due to a hurricane.
• An immediate family member back home passes away and you must return from your vacation early.
• You twist your ankle and must visit a doctor while traveling.
• Many other unforeseeable events as listed in the Description of Coverage.

What does the Package Protection Plan cover?

The Package Protection Plan includes coverage before and during your trip for the following:

Part I: Trip Cancellation Waiver

Expedia provides a Trip Cancellation Waiver that lets you cancel your trip for ANY REASON whatsoever. The Waiver allows passengers to cancel or change their vacation one time for ANY REASON not covered under Part II prior to the start of their trip and receive CASH back for all cancellation fees and penalties, except the cost of Published Air. If passengers have published air tickets, they can cancel their trip and receive a voucher equal to the published air ticket value. To learn more about covered cancellations, please read the information below.

Part II: Covered reasons for Cancellation and post departure coverages provided by Stonebridge Casualty Insurance Company, Columbus, OH. and administrated by BerkelyCare

Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption

If you must cancel or interrupt your trip for a covered reason, the plan provides coverage for covered penalties and expenses up to the cost of your originally booked vacation package.

Covered reasons include illness, injury or death to you, a traveling companion or an immediate family member. Additional covered reasons for cancellation include jury duty, the issuance of a subpoena for court or administrative hearing, job loss, unannounced strike, loss or theft of your passports, having a home made uninhabitable by a natural disaster, hijacking, quarantine and being involved in a documented traffic accident en route to departure.

If you should miss the departure of your vacation due to Common Carrier caused delays or other reasons including a quarantine; hijacking; natural disaster; civil commotion or riot.; or delays caused by a traffic accident, en route to a departure, in which you or your Traveling Companion are involved, there is coverage to reimburse you up to $500 per person for costs such as accommodations, meals, and transportation expenses in order to catch up to the trip or to return home.

Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation of Remains

If an injury or illness requires emergency medical transportation to the nearest adequate medical facility, the plan includes coverage for up to $15,000 for covered transportation expenses. In the event of your death, the plan includes coverage for up to $15,000 toward the covered expenses associated with transporting your remains.

Medical Protection

If you become ill or injured while on your trip, the plan includes coverage to reimburse you to $10,000 in covered medical expenses. Medical coverage while traveling overseas is particularly important as Medicare and some HMO's may not cover medical expenses incurred outside the U.S. Note that medical coverage is excess to any other insurance you may have for these expenses.

Baggage Protection

If your baggage and/or personal effects should become lost, stolen or damaged during or while in transit to or from your trip, the plan includes coverage to reimburse you up to $1,000. The plan also includes baggage delay coverage, for up to $500 for the purchase of necessary items in the event your luggage is delayed by a common carrier for more than 24 hours during your trip. Note that baggage coverage is excess to any other insurance you may have for these expenses.

24-Hour Worldwide Emergency Assistance

24-hour emergency telephone assistance hotline provided by On Call International to help with travel-related emergencies ranging from cash transfer, legal, dental, or medical referral, lost travel documents assistance as well as medical consultation and monitoring.

Will my current home, renters, credit card, or health insurance policies cover me during my vacation?

The Package Protection Plan has a wide range of travel benefits which credit card, and renters insurance policies often do not offer. Other insurance policies may not offer coverage while you travel due to benefit limits, territory restrictions, and deductibles. Most people don't have any insurance coverage at all if they must cancel their trip, and even if they do, reimbursement for cancellations due to any reason is rare. However, you should review your own policies carefully to see what is covered.

Homeowners and renters plans may offer coverage for lost possessions. However, these plans may not fully cover your loss fully due to high deductibles.

The medical coverage included in the Package Protection Plan may be valuable for people whose health insurance policies do not pay for covered medical expenses incurred outside of the United States (e.g., Medicare, certain HMOs, etc.). Even if it your insurance does, you may not be covered for the full amount due to deductibles and co-insurance. Plus, many plans do not pay for evacuations, which can be very expensive. Of course, having your own medical coverage does not insure you against cancellation.

Many credit cards have only limited coverage and assistance service, with only a few including coverage to reimburse in the event of a cancellation or an evacuation. Check your credit card documentation carefully.

Is there help while I'm traveling?

One of the valued benefits offered in The Package Protection Plan is the 24-Hour Emergency Assistance Service. On Call International is a leader in this field. With On Call International, you have around the clock access to the services of a highly trained, multi-lingual staff who can assist you with such emergencies as cash transfers, lost documents, medical or legal monitoring, or referrals. They are also equipped to respond to many unexpected circumstances, such as providing potentially costly air ambulance transportation in medical emergencies. If an emergency should arise during your trip, call On Call International immediately and give the details of your problem or medical emergency.

• Seeking pre-trip advice such as immunization and visa requirements.
• If you leave your prescriptions at home and need help finding a local pharmacy and having your prescriptions called in.
• If you lose your passport and need assistance in finding the nearest passport office or embassy and getting the correct paperwork.
• If your wallet is stolen and you need help filing the proper police reports and getting money wired to you from home accounts.
• Finding a local doctor, hospital or, for severe medical emergencies, arranging a medical evacuation.

Who can I contact for more information?

You may contact BerkelyCare, the plan administrator, with any questions regarding the Package Protection Plan. Their CustomerCare representatives will be happy to assist you.

Via email: [email protected] Via phone: 1-800-453-4079 or 516-342-2720 Via mail: BerkelyCare P.O. Box 9022 300 Jericho Quadrangle Jericho, NY 11753 Office Hours: 8AM-10PM (EST), Monday-Friday, 9AM-5PM (EST), Saturday

This program was designed and administered for Expedia, Inc.’s clients by BerkelyCare SM

IN CALIFORNIA: BerkelyCare SM is a service mark of Aon Direct Insurance Administrators, CA Insurance License # 0795465.

IN ALL OTHER STATES: BerkelyCare SM is a division of Affinity Insurance Services, Inc. in all states other than CA, except: AIS Affinity Insurance Agency, Inc. in MN and OK and AIS Affinity Insurance Agency in NY.

When is payment for the plan due?

Payment for the plan is due with your initial trip payment.

How do I enroll in the Package Protection Plan?

The option to enroll is presented to you while booking your vacation package. If you would like to purchase the Package Protection Plan, simply select it and the cost of the plan is automatically included in the total amount due for your trip. Simply pay the amount indicated to purchase the plan.

When does coverage go into effect and will it cover me for the entire length of my vacation?

The Trip Cancellation coverage takes effect upon receipt of the required plan cost by Expedia. All other benefits will take effect at 12:01 A.M. on your scheduled departure date and location. Your coverage will remain valid until 11:59 P.M. on your scheduled completion date or your return to your origination point as stated on your tickets, whichever is earlier.

I am not a U.S. or Canadian resident; can I purchase the plan?

The Package Protection Plan is available only to U.S. residents and non-U.S. residents traveling to the U.S. who book their travel arrangements with Expedia.

What happens if I need to cancel my vacation?

Please contact Expedia and BerkelyCare as soon as possible in the event of a claim, as the insurer will not reimburse you for any additional charges incurred due to a delay in notifying Expedia of your cancellation. BerkelyCare will then forward you the appropriate claim form in order to file a claim.

What happens if my traveling companion cancels his/her vacation but I still want to travel?

If a person booked to share accommodations with you cancels for a covered reason under the Package Protection Plan and you must pay a "change in occupancy" fee (or single supplement charge), the plan includes coverage for this expense.

What happens if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

• the cost of a one-way economy ticket (less any refunds paid or payable for your original tickets) to catch up to your vacation or to return home.
• the cost of any unused prepaid land or sea arrangements; and/or;
• the cost of additional reasonable accommodations and travel expenses

Other covered reasons coverage include: traffic accident en route to a departure in which you or your traveling companion is not directly involved; lost or stolen passports; travel documents; or money; quarantine; hijacking; natural disaster, civil commotion or riot.

How do I get reimbursement if my bags and/or personal items are damaged/stolen/lost while I am traveling?

First, obtain verification from the appropriate authority to whom you reported the loss (for example, airline, hotel, transportation official, police, etc.). The baggage coverage in the plan includes reimbursement for the cost of repair or replacement of the luggage and covered contents inside the luggage. Upon your return home, simply request a claim form by visiting www.travelclaim.com or calling BerkelyCare at 1-800-453-4079.

If I require medical care while on my vacation, are my medical bills covered?

Yes, for covered expenses. The insurer reimburses up to $5,000 for a covered accident and up to $5,000 for a covered illness that occurs during your trip. In order to be reimbursed, save any receipts and statements from the treating physician. Upon your return home, simply request a claim form by visiting www.travelclaim.com or calling BerkelyCare at 1-800-453-4079. You will be asked to forward copies of your medical bills, as well as any explanation of benefit forms you may receive from your regular health insurer in regard to this loss, as the medical coverage in this plan is excess to any other insurance you may have for these expenses.

Please also note that should you require follow up care for your illness or injury once you return home, the plan includes continued medical coverage for up to 52 weeks from the onset of the illness or injury, or until you have exhausted the coverage limit. In the event of a medical emergency while traveling, the plan also includes emergency assistance services through On Call International. Should your medical condition necessitate your medical evacuation to another facility or home, these arrangements are made by On Call International

How do I file a claim?

You may request a claim form online via www.travelclaim.com or alternatively, call BerkelyCare, the plan administrator, at 1-800-453-4079 from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM EST Mon-Fri or 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST Sat. Please note that you may want to have a copy of your Expedia invoice handy as there are some details that will be needed in order to initiate your claim. This information includes your travel dates, date of cancellation, booking number, and some brief information regarding your reason for cancellation, or other type of loss (i.e., trip delays, baggage loss or delay, medical claims, etc.). Important: If you are canceling your vacation, be sure to also contact Expedia to notify them of the cancellation, as well as to avoid additional expenses due to late reporting. For covered emergencies during your trip which require evacuation, interruption, or other travel-related emergencies, call On Call International at the telephone number provided with your travel documents and provide them with your plan number and emergency details.

Who is considered an "Immediate Family" member under the plan?

Our definition of "Immediate Family" is quite broad. It's not just the family members who reside with you. "Immediate Family" includes: spouses, domestic partners, parents, grandparents, siblings, siblings-in-law, children, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and business partners. See the Definitions section of the Description of Coverage for a full listing.

Are there exclusions?

Certain restrictions do apply. For example, the coverage in the plan does not provide duplicate payments if there are other sources of reimbursement available.

Is there a Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion?

The Package Protection Plan does not have a pre-existing condition exclusion.

Contact Information

This program was designed and administered for Expedia, Inc.’s clients by BerkelySM:

IN CALIFORNIA: BerkelySM is a service mark of Aon Direct Insurance Administrators, CA Insurance License # 0795465.

IN ALL OTHER STATES: BerkelySM is a division of Affinity Insurance Services, Inc. in all states other than CA, except: AIS Affinity Insurance Agency, Inc. in MN and OK and AIS Affinity Insurance Agency in NY.

This plan is underwritten by: Stonebridge Casualty Insurance Company. Please see Terms and Conditions for full details include plan terms, conditions and exclusions.

Members save 10% or more on over 100,000 hotels worldwide when you’re signed in

Covid-19 travel advisor, ready to travel check advisories for your destination.

Use the search tool below to find out more about advisories for travel during COVID-19, including regulations for destinations, and safety and health guidelines.

Important: We recommend you confirm all guidance with official government sites and check with your travel insurance issuer. Your travel insurance may be invalidated if you travel against government advice.

Please note: This information is provided by a third party, Sherpa, and is meant for informational purposes only. Expedia is not responsible for its accuracy. Given how quickly the travel requirements are evolving, you should not rely solely on this tool in making travel arrangements and should confirm the accuracy of any government guidance, restrictions, or requirements.

By using this tool, you acknowledge you have read this note and agree to our site's terms of use and privacy policy (links below). Where the information above is not provided in your local language, neither Expedia nor Sherpa is responsible for any translation that you or a third party (e.g. Google Translate) carry out on such information.

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How to Find the Best Travel Insurance

Barbara Marquand is a former NerdWallet writer covering mortgages, homebuying and homeownership, insurance and investing. Previously, she covered personal finance for QuinStreet and wrote for national consumer and trade publications on topics including business, careers and parenting. Her work has appeared in MarketWatch, MSN Money, The New York Times and The Washington Post.

Sam Kemmis is a travel rewards expert at NerdWallet specializing in airline and hotel loyalty programs. In a previous professional life, he wrote comedy until a nomadic lifestyle and a lifelong obsession with saving money turned his attention to travel rewards. He is no longer funny. His work has been featured by The Associated Press, The Points Guy and Fast Company. He has spoken about travel rewards at CardCon, the Altitude conference and AwardWallet's "Award Travel 101" podcast. He is based in Ojai, California, and teaches mindfulness meditation because that's what you do in Ojai.

Elina Geller is a former NerdWallet travel writer specializing in airline and hotel loyalty programs and travel insurance. In 2019, Elina founded TheMissMiles, a travel rewards coaching business. Her work has been featured by AwardWallet. She is a certified public accountant with degrees from the London School of Economics and Fordham University.

Mary Flory leads NerdWallet's growing team of assigning editors at large. Before joining NerdWallet's content team, she had spent more than 12 years developing content strategies, managing newsrooms and mentoring writers and editors. Her previous experience includes being an executive editor at the American Marketing Association and an editor at news and feature syndicate Content That Works.

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Table of Contents

What travel insurance covers

How much does travel insurance cost, types of travel insurance, how to get travel insurance, what to look for in travel insurance, best travel insurance comparison sites, which insurance company is best for travel insurance, when to skip travel insurance, travel insurance, recapped.

Travel insurance can cover medical expenses, emergencies, trip interruptions, baggage, rental cars and more.

Cost is affected by trip length, pre-existing medical conditions, depth of coverage, your age and add-ons.

You can get it through credit cards or third-party companies, & can shop on travel insurance comparison sites.

Before buying, evaluate risks, know existing coverage, obtain quotes online and review policy details warily.

Skip it if you buy flexible airfare and hotels, already have coverage or only book refundable activities.

Booking travel always carries some degree of uncertainty. Travel insurance provides a safety net so you can step out with confidence. You may not need travel insurance for inexpensive trips, but it can provide a sense of security when you prepay for pricey reservations, a big international trip or travel during cold and flu season, which can be unpredictable.

According to insurance comparison site Squaremouth, travelers in 2023 spent an average of $403 for comprehensive coverage, compared to $96 for medical-only policies. Comprehensive plans typically cost between 5% and 10% of the insured trip cost.

Since that price tag is no small amount, it helps to know how to shop smart for travel insurance. Here's how to find the right travel insurance plan for you and your next adventure.

Depending on the type of coverage you’re looking for, the chart below will help you determine what to look for when selecting a policy:

Depending on the policy, travel insurance reimburses you or offers services when something goes awry. There’s even coverage for the worst-case scenario: if you die in an accident while traveling. Accidental death coverage pays your beneficiary a lump sum in that case.

Before you buy, take a little time to get familiar with different types of travel insurance products, how it’s priced, and what it covers and excludes. If you’re traveling during these uncertain times, you’ll want to make sure that the policy you select covers coronavirus-related emergencies. Usually, the more thorough the coverage, the more it will cost.

Travel insurance costs vary depending on:

Length and cost of the trip: The longer and more expensive the trip, the higher the policy cost.

Cost of local health care: High health-care costs in your destination can drive up the price of trip insurance.

Medical conditions you want covered: Conditions you already have will increase the cost of travel insurance coverage.

Amount and breadth of coverage: The more risks a policy covers, the more it will cost.

Your age: Generally the older you are, the higher the price.

Any optional supplement you add to your policy : Cancel For Any Reason , Interrupt For Any Reason and more.

Keep these factors in mind when considering different travel insurance options.

You’ll find a wide selection of travel protection plans when you shop for a policy.

Typically, travel insurance is sold as a package, known as a comprehensive plan, which includes a variety of coverage.

Here are seven of the most common types of travel insurance:

Travel medical insurance

These plans provide health insurance while you’re away from home. Although in some ways these policies work like traditional health plans, generally you cannot use travel health insurance for routine medical events. For example, a routine medical checkup is usually not covered. In addition, these policies often include limitations on coverage and exclusions for pre-existing conditions.

Although most travel insurance plans cover many recreational activities, such as skiing and horseback riding, they often exclude adventure sports, such as skydiving or parasailing, or competition in organized sporting events. You may need to buy a special travel policy designed for adventure or competitive sports.

International travel insurance

Most likely, your U.S.-based medical insurance will not work while you’re traveling internationally, and Medicare does not provide any coverage once you leave the United States outside of a few very specific exemptions. If you plan on traveling abroad, purchasing travel medical insurance could make a lot of sense.

» Learn more: Travel medical insurance: Emergency coverage while you travel internationally

Trip cancellation, interruption and delay

Trip cancellation coverage reimburses you for prepaid, nonrefundable expenses if the tour operator goes out of business or you have to cancel the trip for one of the covered reasons outlined in the policy, such as:

Your own illness.

The illness or death of a family member who’s not traveling with you.

Natural disasters.

Trip interruption insurance covers the nonrefundable cost of the unused portion of the trip if it is interrupted due to a reason outlined in the policy.

Trip delay coverage reimburses you for expenses such as lodging and meals if you’re delayed during a trip (e.g., your flight gets canceled due to weather ).

Many package policies cover all three. These policies are different from the cancellation waivers that cruise lines and tour operators offer, the Insurance Information Institute says. Waivers are cheap, ranging from $40 to $60, and often include restrictions. For example, according to the institute, waivers might not refund your money if you cancel immediately before departure. Waivers are technically not insurance policies.

Some companies offer additional layers of coverage at extra cost. “Cancel For Any Reason” coverage will reimburse a large part of the trip cost, no matter why you back out. And some companies let you pay extra to cover pre-existing conditions if you cancel for medical reasons.

Some insurers and comparison sites let you customize a policy by choosing types of coverage a la carte. For example, TravelInsurance.com is a comparison site that provides quotes from different providers.

Baggage and personal belongings

How does lost luggage insurance work? This coverage reimburses you for baggage and personal belongings that are lost, stolen or damaged during the trip. Some plans also reimburse you for extra expenses if you experience a baggage delay for more than a certain period, such as 12 hours.

Your renters or homeowners insurance may cover personal belongings while you are traveling. It’s best to review your homeowners insurance policy to determine the level of coverage it provides so you do not end up paying for a benefit you already have.

» Learn more: Baggage insurance explained

Emergency medical assistance, evacuation and repatriation

This coverage pays medical expenses if you get sick or injured on a trip . Medical evacuation coverage pays for transporting you to the nearest hospital, and medical repatriation pays for flying you to your home country.

» Learn more: Can I get travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions?

24-hour assistance

This service is included with many package plans. The insurer provides a 24-hour hotline that you can call when you need help, such as booking a flight after a missed connection, finding lost luggage, or locating a doctor or lawyer.

Generally, travel insurance companies do not cover sports or any activity that can be deemed risky. If you’re thinking of incorporating adventurous activities into your vacation, choose a plan that includes adventure sports coverage.

Most travel insurers cover a wide array of services, but the specific options vary. Some plans include concierge services, providing help with restaurant referrals, tee time reservations and more. Many services also offer information before the trip, such as required vaccinations. The only way to know what’s included is to read the policy.

» Learn more: Should you insure your cruise?

Accidental death and dismemberment insurance

This coverage pays a lump sum to your beneficiary, such as a family member, if you die in an accident while on the trip. Accidental death and dismemberment insurance policies also pay a portion of the sum to you if you lose a hand, foot, limb, eyesight, speech or hearing. Some plans apply only to accidental death in a plane.

This coverage may be duplicative if you already have sufficient life insurance, which pays out whether you die in an accident or from an illness. You may also already have accidental death and dismemberment insurance through work, so it's best to check your policies to ensure you’re not overpaying.

» Learn more: NerdWallet's guide to life insurance

Rental car coverage

Rental car insurance pays for repairing your rental car if it’s damaged in a wreck, by vandals or in a natural disaster. The coverage doesn't include liability insurance, which pays for damage to other vehicles or for the medical treatment of others if you cause an accident and are held responsible.

Ask your car insurance company whether your policy will cover you when renting cars on the trip. U.S. car insurance policies generally don’t cover you when driving in other countries, except Canada.

Car insurance requirements are complex because they vary among countries. You can usually purchase liability insurance from the rental car company. Learn about car insurance requirements by searching for auto insurance by country on the U.S. Embassy website .

» Learn more: Best credit cards for rental car coverage

A note about single vs. long-term policies

Single trip insurance plans are a great option for those going on a single trip for a specific length of time (e.g., a two-week vacation) and then returning home. The price of the policy is usually determined by the cost of the trip.

Long-term travel policies cover you for multiple trips, but there are limitations to how long you can be away from home, if you can return home during your travels and how many trips you can take. In addition, trip cancellation and interruption coverage is either not offered or capped at a dollar amount that can be significantly below the total cost of all the trips taken during the covered period.

Long-term travel insurance plans — often called 'multi-trip' or 'annual travel insurance' — are a suitable option for those who travel often and are satisfied with the amount of trip cancellation coverage for all the trips they take over the duration of the policy.

» Learn more: How annual (multi-trip) travel insurance works

Below, we include how to obtain travel insurance, along with the pros and cons of each option.

Some credit cards offer trip cancellation and rental car insurance if you use the card to book the trip or car.

When you book a trip with your credit card, depending on the card you use, you may already receive trip cancellation and interruption coverage.

» Learn more: 10 credit cards that provide travel insurance

Here are a handful of credit cards that offer varying levels of travel insurance coverage for purchases made with the card.

on Chase's website

on American Express' website

• Trip delay: Up to $500 per ticket for delays more than 12 hours.

• Trip cancellation: Up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip. Maximum benefit of $40,000 per 12-month period.

• Trip interruption: Up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip. Maximum benefit of $40,000 per 12-month period.

• Baggage delay: Up to $100 per day for five days.

• Lost luggage: Up to $3,000 per passenger.

• Travel accident: Up to $500,000.

• Rental car insurance: Up to $75,000.

• Trip delay: Up to $500 per ticket for delays more than 6 hours.

• Travel accident: Up to $1 million.

• Rental car insurance: Up to the actual cash value of the car.

• Trip delay: Up to $500 per trip for delays more than 6 hours.

• Trip cancellation: Up to $10,000 per trip. Maximum benefit of $20,000 per 12-month period.

• Trip interruption: Up to $10,000 per trip. Maximum benefit of $20,000 per 12-month period.

Terms apply.

Pros: Coverage is free.

Cons: You can’t customize the insurance to meet your needs. Most credit cards offer secondary car rental insurance, which pays for the costs not covered by your regular car insurance plan.

Travel agents and travel reservation sites

You can buy travel insurance when you book your flight, hotel and car rental.

Pros: Buying is as quick and easy as clicking “yes” when you book reservations. Coverage is inexpensive.

Cons: You can’t customize the coverage.

» Learn more: Airline travel insurance vs. independent travel insurance

Travel insurance comparison sites

You can compare different policies and review quotes at once based on the trip search criteria you’ve input into the search form. Examples include marketplaces like Squaremouth or TravelInsurance.com.

Pros: You can choose a policy that fits your needs and compare policies and pricing in one place.

Cons: Comparing multiple policies takes time.

Travel insurance companies

You can purchase travel insurance directly from an insurance provider.

Pros: You can choose a policy that fits your needs. Many travel insurer websites also offer information to help you understand the coverage.

Cons: You’ll need to go to multiple websites to compare coverage and pricing.

» Learn more: The best travel insurance companies right now

Keep these tips in mind when you’re considering a trip insurance policy.

Evaluate the financial risks you face when traveling. Can you bear those costs yourself, or do you want insurance?

Examine what coverage you already have: Does your credit card offer travel insurance? Do you have renters or homeowners insurance to cover belongings? What is the deductible? Will your health plan cover you in all the locations where you travel?

Get quotes for trip insurance online. Choose a package of the benefits you need and compare prices for similar coverage among carriers.

Narrow your choices and then read the policy fine print to understand what’s covered, what’s excluded and the limits on coverage. You may find that the lowest-priced policy is too restrictive and that paying a little more gets you the coverage you need. Or you might find that the cheapest, most basic policy fits the bill.

If you don’t know which provider to go with, it makes sense to browse a list of plans on a travel insurance comparison site. These online marketplaces will often include plans from the best travel insurance companies along with customer reviews.

Squaremouth

Compare plans from more than 30 providers.

Over 86,000 customer reviews of insurers.

Under its Zero Complaint Guarantee, Squaremouth (a NerdWallet partner) will remove a provider if any customer complaint isn't resolved to its satisfaction.

Has a filter option to see policies that provide COVID-coverage.

TravelInsurance.com

Compare plans from 13 providers.

See good and poor customer ratings and reviews for each insurer when you receive quotes.

“Learning Center” includes travel insurance articles and travel tips, including important how-to information.

Quotes provided from each provider include a link to COVID-19 FAQs, making it easy for customers to review what’s covered or not.

InsureMyTrip

Compare plans from more than two dozen providers.

More than 70,000 customer reviews.

“Anytime Advocates” help customers navigate the claim process and will work on behalf of the customer to help with appealing a denied claim.

Includes a link to plans that offer COVID coverage.

Compare plans from 11 providers.

Search coverage by sporting activity, including ground, air and water sports.

Many types of plans available for students, visiting family members, new immigrants, those seeking COVID quarantine coverage and more.

Compare different insurance plans from 35 providers.

Over 5,600 customer reviews on Trustpilot, with an average 4.9 stars out of five.

Formerly known as AardvarkCompare, AARDY includes a “Travel Insurance 101” learning center to help customers understand various policies and benefits.

Quote search results page includes COVID-coverage highlighted in a different color to make it easier for customers to review related limits.

Whether you’re looking for an international travel insurance plan, emergency medical care, COVID coverage or a policy that includes extreme sports, these providers have you covered.

Our full analysis and more details about each organization can be found here: The Best Travel Insurance Companies Today .

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 .

There are a few scenarios when spending extra on travel insurance doesn't really make sense, like:

You booked flexible airline tickets.

Your hotel room has a good cancellation policy.

It's already included in your credit card.

You haven't booked any nonrefundable activities.

» Learn more: When you don't need travel insurance

Yes, especially for nonrefundable trips and travel during the COVID-era. Whether you purchase a comprehensive travel insurance policy or have travel insurance from your credit card, you shouldn't travel without having some sort of travel protection in place to safeguard you and your trip. Travel insurance can protect you in case of an unexpected emergency such as a canceled flight due to weather, a medical event that requires hospitalization, lost luggage and more.

There are many good travel insurance policies out there and a policy that may be great for you may not be good for someone else. Selecting the best plan depends on what coverage you would like and your trip details.

For example, World Nomads offers a comprehensive travel insurance policy that has excellent coverage for adventure sports. Allianz provides coverage for trips of varying lengths of time through its single trip plans and multi-trip plans. Some providers offer add-on options like Cancel For Any Reason travel insurance. If you’re not sure which plan to go with, consider looking at trip insurance comparison sites like Squaremouth or Insuremytrip.

Yes, you can. However, it's better to purchase it sooner rather than later, ideally right after booking your trip because the benefits begin as soon as you purchase a policy.

Let’s say you’re going on a trip in a month and a week before departure, you fall and break your leg. If you’ve purchased a travel insurance policy, you can use your trip cancellation benefits to get your nonrefundable deposit back.

Most comprehensive travel insurance plans offer trip cancellation, trip interruption, emergency medical and dental, medical evacuation, trip delay and lost luggage coverage. Many plans offer COVID coverage, but you’ll always want to check to ensure that the policy you choose provides that benefit if you’re traveling during these times. Some plans may also allow you to add features like Cancel For Any Reason travel insurance.

It depends which credit card you have. Premium travel cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and The Platinum Card® from American Express offer travel insurance benefits if you book a trip using your card or points.

However, the coverage provided by the credit cards is usually lower than if you purchased a standalone policy. Review the travel insurance benefits on your credit card and check that the limits are adequate before foregoing from purchasing a separate plan.

Let’s say you’re going on a trip in a month and a week before departure, you fall and break your leg. If you’ve purchased a travel insurance policy, you can use your

trip cancellation benefits

to get your nonrefundable deposit back.

It depends which credit card you have. Premium travel cards like the

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

The Platinum Card® from American Express

offer travel insurance benefits if you book a trip using your card or points.

Unpredictability is one of the mind-opening joys of travel, but travel insurance should contain no surprises. The time you spend to understand your options will be well worth the peace of mind as you embark on your next adventure.

Whether you’re seeking a single or a long-term policy, each travel insurance option offers different strengths and weaknesses. Choosing the right policy depends on your trip needs, your budget and how important various benefits are to you.

Keep reading

If you want to dig in deeper to world of travel insurance, these resources will point you in the right direction.

What is travel insurance?

How much is travel insurance?

Is travel insurance worth it?

What does travel insurance cover?

Does travel insurance cover COVID?

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

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

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

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

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

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

85,000 Earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

% Earn higher commissions

Lock in higher commission rates when you book rooms from our new Premium Plus commission tier. Look for the new commission tier icons.

• New! Premium Plus starting from 11%
• Premium starting from 9%
• Basic Plus starting from 7%
• Basic starting from 3%

Payment Flexibility Get payment flexibility

Whether you choose to pay with Expedia or pay at hotel, your commission level will be the same.

Next Status Reach the next agency status

Expedia TAAP benefits haven't changed. Keep booking with Expedia to reach the next agency status and get paid higher commissions on eligible bookings.

If you already have an Expedia TAAP account, sign in to begin booking travel as part of your agency.

• About Expedia Group Opens in a new window.
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• © 2024 Expedia, Inc, an Expedia Group Company. All rights reserved.

What is travel insurance?

What is travel protection.

• Travel insurance vs. Travel protection

How to purchase

Travel protection conclusion and recommendations, travel insurance vs. travel protection faqs, travel insurance vs travel protection: understanding the differences.

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.

• Travel protection covers trip cancellations, while travel insurance covers cancellations and medical costs.
• Travel insurance is usually more expensive than travel protection, as it provides more coverage.
• Travel insurance typically costs 4-8% of your total trip costs, more with CFAR protection.

In high school geometry class, you likely learned all squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares. The same can be said for the perceived connection between travel insurance and travel protection.

The two similar-sounding terms describe entirely different products if you're researching how to protect your trip. While all travel protection plans are considered travel insurance, not all travel insurance provides travel protection.

Suffice it to say the confusion surrounding this topic, even among savvy travelers, is all too common.

"Travel protection and travel insurance are sometimes used interchangeably, but these two products are quite different and work best when they complement one another," says Joe Cronin, president of International Citizens Insurance, who cuts to the root of the problem. Understanding the difference between the two products is essential to ensure you have the right coverage for your next trip

Coverage and Benefits

Travel insurance is a regulated product purchased by the consumer from a third party and underwritten by a reputable insurance company. Depending on the policy purchased, the best travel insurance policies can help cover losses associated with travel delays, lost luggage, medical expenses, or trip cancellations. In addition, many travel insurance plans have added specialty coverage from sports equipment to pets and roadside service. 

You can buy travel insurance exclusively for trip cancellations, flights, or other individual service. Or you can expand your coverage by purchasing a cancel for any reason (CFAR) policy .

Limitations and exclusions

According to Generali Travel Insurance , most insurance companies enforce the following limitations and exclusions: 

• Reasonably foreseeable events (i.e., known storms, epidemics, acts of war)
• Travel restrictions by government authorities
• Pre-existing conditions (unless a waiver applies)
• High-risk activities

Coverage Scope

Travel protection (also called trip protection) is an unregulated product purchased directly from the provider (from travel agencies and credit card issuers to airlines and cruise ship companies). This option offers limited trip cancellation coverage in the form of fees waived and credit issued in the case of changes to the itinerary and cancellation, respectively. 

Buyers cannot make travel protection more comprehensive, which means limited, less customizable options. This could be sufficient if you're insuring a short-term, domestic trip. But more extensive trips require more extensive coverage, which travel insurance may be better suited for.

Typical Inclusions

Your coverage options vary by insurance provider, but most will offer trip cancellation and trip interruption. These coverages insurers nonrefundable, prepaid expenses, and additional expenses incurred due to a cancellation or interruption.

Comparing travel insurance and travel protection

Differences in coverage.

Cronin is critical of travel protection, saying it is not "a suitable policy in place of insurance, rather a good add-on if the price is right." He underscores while trip protection policies can be pretty generous, services remain unregulated and rife with exclusions.

Nicholas Imtias, an avid world traveler, learned this the hard way after opting for budget-friendly travel protection for a canceled overseas trip. Unfortunately, he could not utilize the waiver he received for a flight from Sri Lanka to the Maldives when the unregulated protection proved nothing but an empty promise.

Additionally, most non-insurance providers offer medical-related coverage. This could be crucial coverage if you're traveling abroad, especially if your health insurance isn't effective at your destination. 

Cost Considerations

As such, when compared side-by-side, the cost of travel protection will invariably be less than the cost of travel insurance, making it an attractive option for many who still need to do their homework.

Trip protection may pop up when booking your flight, whether through a deal site like Expedia or the main airline website. In most cases, premiums are low, totaling as little as $25-$30 for a short flight. But, as mentioned before, it only covers the flight.

The cost of travel insurance , on the other hand, equates to a percentage of the trip's total cost. Typically, premiums equate to an average of 4-8% of trip costs. Of course, a good travel insurance plan can't protect you from the inconvenience and sheer expense of an emergency while traveling abroad (which, depending upon the specifics, could be thousands of dollars or more) or ahead of time. But it can help to make you whole after the fact.

This could mean giving you a claim settlement to cover toiletries and other necessities in the immediate aftermath of a lost bag. It could also mean reimbursing you for a portion of nonrefundable trip costs if you have to cancel your trip. For travelers researching "how to protect your trip," travel insurance covers what we forget about until we need it.

The exact costs for travel insurance vary based on the trip and the coverage you want. For example, if you want cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage, you should expect a hefty increase in your premiums. But for people canceling trips for excluded reasons with a regular travel insurance plan, CFAR coverage would be well worth it. The general rule is simple: the more protection you want, the more you'll have to pay.

Choosing the right option for your trip

Assessing your travel needs.

Many people have a simple question: How much should I spend on travel insurance? The answer is it depends. So, before making any decisions and signing on the dotted line, consider your travel needs and budget.

"Travel insurance is designed to protect you and your trip from unexpected costs and losses …[and] depending on the plan you choose, the coverage can be very comprehensive," Pamela Bardo, vice president of Customer Service & Delivery at FlightHub Group, says.

"Rather than providing broad coverage, travel protection typically protects the customer's purchase in case they need to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances such as illness," Bardo explains. She emphasizes that travel protection does not typically cover indirect costs, such as the high costs of an emergency evacuation.

Travelers should look at the specifics of their travel plans and buy the appropriate plan. For example, suppose you're traveling from California to New York. In that case, you should get protection for your flight, and you might want to consider cancel for any reason coverage, depending on many factors. However, getting medical travel insurance wouldn't make sense when your regular health insurance travels with you.

On the other hand, if you're traveling to Thailand, you'll want to protect the most expensive part of your trip (flight). You'll also want to get a robust medical plan in case something goes wrong in a country where you do not have other health insurance.

Factors to consider

Before choosing between travel insurance and protection, consider the following factors: 

• Destination: If you're traveling internationally or to a high-risk area, consider purchasing a policy. Travel protection may be enough if you're taking a domestic trip to see family members. 
• Trip cost: A costlier and longer trip may require higher coverage limits, which travel insurance tends to provide. Travel protection often has limits over what and how much it'll cover. 
• Activities: High-risk activities (i.e., sports, outdoor activities, etc.) increase the risk of injury. Travel protections likely won't cover high-risk events, but travel insurance gives you the option to include a sports and adventures add-on. 

Purchasing tips and best practices

You can buy travel insurance through an insurance provider, comparison site, broker, or travel agency. You can purchase protection through the service provider. For example, hotels, airlines, and large events may protect your purchase if you cancel. But you may find that not all services or events provide this benefit.  

Opting into protection or buying insurance shortly after you make your first trip deposit ensures that all future cancellations are covered. If you choose not to purchase your policy immediately, you must do so within a certain amount of time to qualify for pre-existing condition coverage  — usually 14 days. 

Reading and understanding policy terms

Travel insurance and protection features can overlap, but both come with several exclusions. It's important to know what coverages you require. It's also important to read through your insurance policy or travel protection's terms and conditions to determine which one is right for you. 

Making an Informed Decision

Travel insurance and travel protection are valuable tools designed to help keep travelers safe and protected on their journeys. Both provide peace of mind while en route to destinations around the globe. But it's essential to consider factors unique to your itineraries, such as the length and cost of your trip, potential personal risks or concerns, and any existing insurance coverage. All these things allow travelers to make the right decision for their travel plans.

Whether travel protection is enough for international travel depends on your situation. Travel insurance is generally recommended for more extensive, international trips due to its comprehensive coverage. It includes medical emergencies which travel protection plans don't typically cover.

Yes, especially if the travel protection is free or more cost-effective than specific coverage from travel insurance policies. Before purchasing travel insurance, be sure you don't already have a travel protection benefit.

No, travel protection does not cover medical emergencies. Trip cancellation and interruption are more common benefits.

You should prioritize travel protection if you're taking a domestic trip, as your primary health insurance provider should adequately cover you when you're in the country, reducing your need for travel medical coverage.

Travel insurance policies cover pre-existing conditions if purchased within a certain timeframe. while travel protection plans typically don't cover medical emergencies and pre-existing conditions.

• Main content

Americans are the worst (globally) at taking vacation time: Here's how many days we take

• Americans take the least vacations globally, averaging just 11 days.
• Only half of Americans plan to use all their allotted time off.
• The French are doing the opposite. In the survey, France won the spot as the country that gets the most days off, about a month.

Summer vacation mode may be in full swing, but it turns out Americans aren’t the ones packing their bags, according to a new study by travel platform Expedia. 

Expedia’s 24th annual Vacation Deprivation Report, which surveyed 11,580 people across 11 countries in March and April, found Americans to take the least vacations globally. Sixty-five percent of U.S. respondents said they feel as if they don’t take enough time off – the highest rate in 11 years.

Americans not only receive the fewest vacation days each year, averaging just 11 days, but only half of them even plan to use all their allotted time off. 

Going abroad? Here's how to to tip in Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand

How much time off do Americans take?

The study found that Americans take 11 days off a year on average.

Learn more: Best travel insurance

The reasons are all too relatable: Americans said they’re just too busy, and planning a vacation can be “overwhelming.”

Compared with the rest of the world, Americans are almost twice as likely to go a year or more without taking a vacation. Japan, France and Hong Kong were all found to have healthy holiday habits in the study. (Hong Kong respondents actually took more time off than their earned paid time off.)

"Vacations are not a guilty pleasure, yet that's the way Americans have been treating time off for years now," said Mel Fish, vice president of Global Public Relations, Expedia Group Brands, in a statement to USA TODAY. 

“Guilt, hustle culture, and the stress of planning a trip are why 65% of Americans say they're 'vacation deprived,' the highest rate in over a decade of Expedia tracking it. With more than half of Americans not using all their PTO annually, despite getting the fewest amount of vacation days globally, we're clearly overdue for an overhaul when it comes to our relationship with vacation time.”

Even worse, about 19% of Americans said they save up their vacation days for a big trip and end up not even going. 

While Americans grind away at work and manage their busy schedules, the French are doing the opposite. In the survey, France won the spot as the country that gets the most days off, about a month. (You may have heard of the famous French August shutdown , when many businesses close and people get away from the cities.)

In Japan – one of the surveyed countries where its residents take the second-least amount of days off at 12 days – vacations are spread out throughout the year, about every month or so. That contributes to the Japanese having one of the lowest levels of vacation deprivation, according to the study. 

Americans may want to follow suit and take that step to finally book the trip on their bucket list. Going on vacation comes with a slew of benefits for someone’s well-being , like reducing depression. Taking a trip even helps us show up in our daily lives and jobs better. Unfortunately, Americans ranked the lowest out of the 11 countries for prioritizing rest and relaxation during their trips. (Seriously, turn off the email notifications.)

“You know how sometimes your computer needs a reboot? Our brains are much the same,” said Becky Spelman, a psychologist who partnered with Expedia, in a statement to USA TODAY. “Over time, work stress can build up to an unsustainable level and our brain functions start to slow down and work less effectively.” 

Tips to book that trip

◾ Go for the long weekend. Because a big annual trip can be costly and come with a lot of pressure, opt for booking shorter getaways, like a long weekend . Although holiday weekends can cause prices to surge, taking a Friday or Monday off for a long weekend during shoulder season means fewer crowds and lower prices. 

◾ Use technology. Artificial intelligence travel planners and price trackers are at our fingertips, and those can make the research and planning of booking a trip a little less overwhelming. Using a flight tracker to monitor flight costs can help you score the best deal. And if you don’t know where to go, an AI travel planner from Expedia or Booking.com can help you find accommodations and even decide on a destination based on your interests. 

“When we take a break, it’s easier for our brains to absorb new information, process new sensations and create new memories – a process known as ‘cognitive flexibility,’” Spelman said. “The benefits can last long after the vacation is over. By taking time off and ‘rebooting’ our brain, we return refreshed, which can lead to longer-term job satisfaction.”

Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Hawaii. You can reach her at [email protected] .

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

Protect Your Trip »

Is travel insurance worth it yes, in these 3 scenarios.

These are the scenarios when travel insurance makes most sense.

Is Travel Insurance Worth It?

Getty Images

Travel insurance can be useful, but it's not always necessary.

The key to knowing if you need travel insurance is figuring out your specific risks for any given vacation, then deciding if you can buy coverage that adequately protects you from any financial losses and pitfalls that might occur.

While insurance can be invaluable no matter the traveler and trip, these are the scenarios where it's especially useful:

• You're concerned about flight disruptions: Flight cancellations and delays are commonplace, especially during the holiday and summer travel seasons. Most trip insurance will reimburse you for incidental expenses that occur while you wait for your flight to depart or for your checked luggage to arrive. Examples include meals and hotel stays if your flight is delayed overnight, or clothing and toiletries you have to buy while you wait for your bags to show up at your destination. Limits apply to this coverage, but it can still pay off if you have to use it.
• You need the option to cancel your trip: Do you have a medical condition that might suddenly prevent you from traveling? What about young children who are prone to illness, or the possibility of your beach vacation getting rained out during hurricane season ? These are just some of the instances when cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage can help. Offered as an add-on to many insurance policies, this coverage lets you cancel your trip for a reason not covered within a typical trip cancellation benefit. If you need to use this coverage, you'll typically get 50% to 80% of your prepaid travel expenses refunded.
• You're traveling internationally: U.S. health insurance policies typically don't cover medical care or emergencies overseas, which is why so many people seek out travel medical insurance . According to Allianz Travel Insurance, the average costs of international medical evacuation can range from $15,000 in Mexico all the way up to $220,000 in Asia, Australia and the Middle East. Fortunately, many travel insurance policies offer up to $500,000 in medical evacuation coverage or potentially more.

The best travel insurance options

If one of the above applies and/or you're still curious about travel insurance, you can find the top-rated policies in a variety of categories below.

Any rates listed are for illustrative purposes only. You should contact the insurance company directly for applicable quotes.

What does travel insurance cover?

You'll quickly notice that each travel insurance policy is different from the next. Most plans offer coverage for trip cancellations and interruptions, lost or delayed baggage, medical emergencies, and other common perils; some let you add optional coverage for a rental car , sporting equipment and more.

To give you an overview of the way different travel insurance policies work, the chart below shows the included benefits in several plans from a travel insurance company called Travelex:

Compare Travelex plans and get a quote .

What does travel insurance not cover?

It's important to note that travel insurance policies cannot possibly cover every unexpected bill you encounter before, during or after a trip. That's because travel insurance is not meant to be used like other types of insurance, including traditional medical coverage you have for routine health care expenses.

According to Allianz Travel Insurance , travel insurance "does not cover losses that arise from expected or reasonably foreseeable events or problems." Here are some of the most common exclusions found in travel insurance policies:

• Civil unrest
• Epidemics (except COVID-19)
• Extreme, high-risk sports
• Government-issued travel bulletins or warnings
• Natural disasters
• Nuclear reaction, radiation or radioactive contamination
• Preexisting conditions (unless specifically covered by your plan)
• Pregnancy-related medical expenses that aren't an emergency (including regular labor and delivery)
• Terrorist events
• Travel to participate or train for a sporting event

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When should you skip travel insurance?

While the cost of a travel insurance policy can be worth it in the end, there are plenty of travel scenarios where you may not need to purchase a plan. Consider the following situations where buying insurance may not be worth the trouble:

• You're planning a short road trip within the U.S.: If you're planning a short trip within the U.S. where your own health insurance coverage will apply, you may not need trip insurance for medical expenses. The fact that you're not flying also means you don't have to worry about flight cancellations, and that your luggage will likely remain in your possession the entire trip.
• You plan to use credit card travel insurance: There may be instances where credit card travel insurance coverage is sufficient for your plans, although only you can make this decision. For example, the popular Chase Sapphire Reserve card comes with trip cancellation and interruption coverage worth up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip; primary rental car coverage for damage or theft worth up to $75,000; lost luggage reimbursement worth up to $3,000 per passenger; emergency evacuation and transportation coverage worth up to $100,000; and more.
• You bought insurance from your travel provider: There may be instances where the travel insurance coverage from your airline or cruise line is good enough. If you're flying within the U.S. to see a family member and staying in their home for free, for example, you'll likely just need protection against flight cancellations, eligible trip delays, and lost or delayed baggage.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is an award-winning writer who has extensive experience when it comes to researching and buying travel insurance for her own trips to more than 50 countries around the world. Johnson has interviewed top executives from many of the best travel insurance companies and has successfully filed several travel insurance claims for trip delays and trip cancellations over the years. Johnson also works alongside her husband, Greg, who has been licensed to sell travel insurance in 50 states, in their family media business.

You might also be interested in:

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Expedia report finds americans win the gold medal for taking fewest vacation days in the world.

24th Annual Vacation Deprivation Report finds Americans are more vacation deprived than ever; unveils tips from around the world to help U.S. travelers get more out of their time off and save on their next trip

SEATTLE , June 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Expedia's 24 th  annual  Vacation Deprivation Report , 1  released today, roughly half of Americans don't plan on using all their time off this year (53%), despite receiving just 12 days off annually — the fewest of any country surveyed. Expedia's report has been analyzing time-off trends around the world for 24 years, and while American vacation deprivation (defined as the feeling of not having enough time off) has now hit an 11-year high at 65%, rates are down in many other parts of the world. It's clear working adults in the U.S. could benefit from adopting some of the time-off strategies and attitudes in other countries.

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9179057-expedia-24th-annual-vacation-deprivation-report/

Japan:  American and Japanese workers take a similar number of days off each year (11 and 12 respectively), but surprisingly Japan boasts the lowest vacation deprivation levels in the world (53%). Based on the survey, this could be attributed to Japanese workers taking more frequent, short vacations and prioritizing relaxation during their getaways.

France:  No one vacations quite like the French, taking the most days off in the world (29) and 2.5x more than Americans. There's an emphasis culturally on the fundamental right to rest as more French workers view vacations as a basic right (93% vs 83% of U.S.).

Hong Kong :  Hong Kong was the only market surveyed where respondents didn't leave vacation days unused but took  more  time off on average than they were allocated, and 15% vow to do it again in 2024 (highest globally).

"We may not be able to control how many days off we get, but the research begs the question: What can we learn from other countries that will help Americans break this horrible habit of not using the time off we  do  have, said Melanie Fish , head of Expedia Group brands public relations. "In Japan, people take time off every month instead of just twice a year. For the French, not even a full month of vacation feels like enough time. Clearly there's a lot for the U.S. to borrow from, whether it's spreading your PTO throughout the year or prioritizing rest on your next vacation."

View the full 2024 Vacation Deprivation Report on the  Expedia Newsroom . Now through July 14 , vacation-deprived One Key members can save 25% off or more on thousands of hotels with Expedia's  Summer Sale . With deals valid for travel through the end of October, it's the perfect time to become a One Key member and lock in a trip to ensure PTO days don't get left behind this year.

1 About the Vacation Deprivation Report: Expedia first commissioned Vacation Deprivation in the year 2000 to examine the work-life balance of people worldwide. The annual study is currently in its 24th year and was conducted online among 11,580 respondents across the U.S., UK, Canada , Mexico , France , Germany , Australia , New Zealand , Japan , Hong Kong and Singapore . Commissioned from March 26 to April 3, 2024 , on behalf of Expedia by Harris Research Partners, a global strategic research firm, responses were gathered using an amalgamated group of best-in-class panels. Looking at the margin of error for the global average, a 1–4% difference is statistically significant at 90% confidence.

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Our commitment to insights matched with our unprecedented scale allows us to understand our travelers better than anyone else, delivering exactly what they need, when they need it. Our personalized experiences, backed by incredible technology, enable us to deliver the widest selection of product offerings across accommodations, transportation, activities and experiences that help you get the most out of your journey.

Use our mobile app or visit  www.expedia.com  to plan your journey with us.

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View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/expedia-report-finds-americans-win-the-gold-medal-for-taking-fewest-vacation-days-in-the-world-302177939.html

SOURCE Expedia