detour travel insurance reviews

Cruise/Travel Insurance

Detour Travel Insurance

By lidodeck03 , February 4 in Cruise/Travel Insurance

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

3 weeks later...

recruiter 28

We purchased Detour insurance for our Caribbean cruise on Holland. We did visit the medical center and Detour paid our claim in full. The amount was $200 which was not a large claim, but we felt it was major to us. We definitely recommend Detour Insurance. They responded to our phone inquiries and were very professional. You can submit all your paperwork on line or through the mail. Our claim was settled within one month.

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

Welcome to Cruise Critic
Hurricane Zone 2024
Cruise Insurance Q&A w/ Steve Dasseos of Tripinsurancestore.com Summer 2024
New Cruisers
Cruise Lines “A – O”
Cruise Lines “P – Z”
River Cruising
Cruise Critic News & Features
Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
Special Interest Cruising
Cruise Discussion Topics
UK Cruising
Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
Canadian Cruisers
North American Homeports
Ports of Call
Cruise Conversations

Announcements

New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!
How To: Follow Topics & Forums (Get Notifications)

Write An Amazing Review !

Click this photo by member XFrancophileX to share your review w/ photos too!

Parliament, Budapest

Features & News

LauraS · Started Yesterday at 12:56 PM

LauraS · Started Yesterday at 11:40 AM

LauraS · Started Yesterday at 06:45 AM

LauraS · Started Yesterday at 06:29 AM

LauraS · Started Tuesday at 07:54 PM

Cruise Planning

Find a cruise, popular ports, member reviews.

Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
Find Your Roll Call
Meet & Mingle
Community Help Center
All Activity
Member Photo Albums
Meet & Mingle Photos
Favorite Cruise Memories
Cruise Food Photos
Cruise Ship Photos
Ports of Call Photos
Towel Animal Photos
Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
Write a Review
Live Cruise Reports
Member Cruise Reviews
Create New...

Credit cards
View all credit cards
Banking guide
Loans guide
Insurance guide
Personal finance
View all personal finance
Small business
Small business guide
View all taxes

11 Best Travel Insurance Companies in August 2024

Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

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

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

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

How we found the best travel insurance

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

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

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

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

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

Best insurance companies

Types of travel insurance

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

Top credit cards with travel insurance

Methodology

Best travel insurance overall: berkshire hathaway travel protection.

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection

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

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

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

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

Read our full review of Berkshire Hathaway .

What else makes Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection great:

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

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

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

Best for emergency medical coverage: Allianz Global Assistance

Annual or single-trip policies are available.

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

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

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

What else makes Allianz Global Assistance great:

Annual and single-trip plans.

Plans are available for international and domestic trips.

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

Read our full review of Allianz Global Assistance .

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

Travel Guard by AIG

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

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

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

What else makes Travel Guard by AIG great:

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

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

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

Read our full review of Travel Guard by AIG .

Best for those who pack expensive equipment: Travel Insured International

Travel Insured International

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

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

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

What else makes Travel Insured International great:

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

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

Read our full review of Travel Insured International .

Best for adventurous travelers: World Nomads

World Nomads

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

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

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

What else makes World Nomads great:

Comprehensive international travel insurance plans.

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

Read our full review of World Nomads .

Best for medical coverage: Travelex Insurance Services

Travelex Insurance Services

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

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

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

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

Read our full review of Travelex Insurance Services .

What else makes Travelex Insurance Services great:

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

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

Two flight insurance plans available.

Best if you have travel credit card coverage: Seven Corners

Seven Corners

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

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

» Jump to the best cards with travel insurance

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

What else makes Seven Corners great:

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

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

Read our full review of Seven Corners .

Best for long-term travelers: IMG

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

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

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

Read our full review of IMG .

What else makes IMG great:

More affordable than average.

Many plans to choose from to fit your needs.

Best for travelers with unpredictable work demands: Tin Leg

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

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

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

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

Read our full Tin Leg review .

Best for booking travel with points and miles: TravelSafe

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

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

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

What else makes TravelSafe great:

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

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

Read our full TravelSafe review .

Best for group travel insurance: HTH Insurance

HTH Travel Insurance

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

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

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

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

What else makes HTH Insurance great:

Medical-only coverage and trip protection coverage.

Lots of options for group travelers.

Read our full review of HTH Insurance .

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

Trip cancellation

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

Trip interruption

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

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

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

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

Cancel For Any Reason

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

Typically, adding this protection to your plan costs extra.

Baggage delay

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

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

Lost baggage

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

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

Travel medical insurance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Bahamas.

Costa Rica.

Antarctica.

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

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

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

What is travel insurance?

CFAR explained.

Is travel insurance worth getting?

10 credit cards that provide travel insurance.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Consider a few key questions:

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

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

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

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

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

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

In general, buying travel insurance

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

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

How to maximize your rewards

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

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

No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

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

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

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

On a similar note...

Credit Cards

Financial planning.

Cheapest Car Insurance
Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance
Car Insurance Cost Calculator
Best Car Insurance
Compare Car Insurance Costs
Average Cost of Car Insurance
Best Term Life Insurance
Best Whole Life Insurance
Best Life Insurance Companies
Best Universal Life Insurance
Best Life Insurance for Seniors
Compare Quotes
Best Auto and Home Insurance Bundle
Homeowners Insurance
Renters Insurance
Health Insurance
Pet Insurance
Small Business Insurance

Insurance Guidance

How Much Car Insurance Do You Really Need?

Conventional Mortgages
Jumbo Loans
Best HELOC Loans and Rates
Get a HELOC With Bad Credit
Pay Off Your Mortgage With a HELOC
Pros and Cons of HELOCs
The HELOC Approval Process
Mortgage Payment Calculator
Reverse Mortgage Calculator
FHA vs. Conventional Loan Calculator
Private Mortgage Insurance Calculator
Debt-to-Income Ratio Calculator

Mortgage Guidance

What Is a Mortgage? Everything You Need to Secure Your Home Loan

Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards
Best Cash Back Credit Cards
Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards
Best Airline Credit Cards
Best Credit Cards for Excellent Credit
Best Business Credit Cards
Best American Express Cards
Best Capital One Credit Cards
Best Chase Credit Cards
Best Citi Credit Cards
Best Bank of America Credit Cards
Cash Back Calculator
Pros and Cons of Balance Transfers
Practical Guide for Improving Credit Fast
Average Credit Score by Age
Credit Cards For Bad Debt
Credit Card Glossary

Recent Credit Card Reviews & Comparisons

Blue Cash Everyday® Card vs. Blue Cash Preferred® Card From American Express

Best Personal Loans of 2024
Best Personal Loans for Excellent Credit
Best Personal Loans for Good Credit
Best Personal Loans for Bad Credit
Best Same-Day Approval Loans
Best Personal Loans for Debt Consolidation
Best Private Student Loans
Best Student Loans for Bad Credit
Best Student Loans for International Students
Best Low-Interest Student Loans
Best Student Loans Without a Co-Signer
Personal Loan Calculator
Auto Loan Calculator
Student Loan Calculator
How to Calculate Loan Payments
Can You Get a Personal Loan With Bad Credit?

Loans Guidance

Compound Interest Calculator
Cost of Living Calculator
Financial Literacy Handbook
Guide to Retirement Planning
Ultimate Guide to Budgeting
Understanding Types of Debt
How to Pay Down Student Loan Debt
How to Start Saving & Investing
Should You Rent or Buy a House
How to Pay for College
Guide to Buying a Car
Guide to Negotiating Salary
Safest Cities in America
Top Cities for Job Seekers
Most & Least Tax-Friendly States
Most Dangerous Days for DUIs

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

Reviews of the Top 10 Best Travel Insurance Companies

Mary Purcell

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

Quality Verified

MoneyGeek is dedicated to providing trustworthy information to help you make informed financial decisions. Each article is edited, fact-checked and reviewed by industry professionals to ensure quality and accuracy.

Updated: October 27, 2022

Top 10 Travel Insurance Providers

Our Methodology

Before you buy.

Advertising & Editorial Disclosure

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

Our Top 10 Travel Insurance Providers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Financial strength

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

Solid underwriter

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

Good business reputation

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

Detailed, clear website

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

Claims satisfaction

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

Excellent coverage

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About Mary Purcell

Car Insurance
Home Insurance
Rental Insurance
Life Insurance
Refinancing
Conventional Loan
Business Credit Cards
Student Credit Cards
Balance Transfer Cards
Credit Cards with Rewards
Travel Credit Cards
Cash Back Credit Cards

U.S. News takes an unbiased approach to our recommendations. When you use our links to buy products, we may earn a commission but that in no way affects our editorial independence.

9 Best Travel Insurance Companies of 2024

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

Travelex Insurance Services »

Allianz Travel Insurance »

HTH Travel Insurance »

Tin Leg »

AIG Travel Guard »

Nationwide Insurance »

Seven Corners »

Generali Global Assistance »

Berkshire hathaway travel protection ».

Why Trust Us

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

Table of Contents

Travelex Insurance Services
Allianz Travel Insurance

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

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

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

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

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

SEE FULL REVIEW »

Annual and multitrip policies are available

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

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

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

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

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

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

More limited coverage for baggage issues than other companies

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

Travel insurance policy coverage is tailored to your specific trip

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

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

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

Limited trip cancellation coverage even at the highest tier

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

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

Cancel for any reason coverage costs extra

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

Generous emergency medical and emergency evacuation coverage

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

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

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

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

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

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

Travel Insurance Types: Which One Is Right for You?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

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

Carry-on Luggage Size and Weight Limits by Airline (2024)

Amanda Norcross

Just like checked bags, carry-on luggage size restrictions can vary by airline.

Bereavement Fares: 5 Airlines That Still Offer Discounts

Several airlines offer help in times of loss.

How to Renew Your Passport Online

For the first time since March 2023, online passport renewals are available.

13 Best Carry-on Luggage Pieces 2024 - We Tested Them All

Erin Evans and Rachael Hood and Catriona Kendall and Amanda Norcross and Leilani Osmundson

Discover the best carry-on luggage for your unique travel style and needs.

Cruise/Travel Insurance

Detour Travel Insurance

By lidodeck03 , February 4 in Cruise/Travel Insurance

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

3 weeks later...

recruiter 28

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

Welcome to Cruise Critic
Hurricane Zone 2024
Cruise Insurance Q&A w/ Steve Dasseos of Tripinsurancestore.com Summer 2024
New Cruisers
Cruise Lines “A – O”
Cruise Lines “P – Z”
River Cruising
Cruise Critic News & Features
Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
Special Interest Cruising
Cruise Discussion Topics
UK Cruising
Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
Canadian Cruisers
North American Homeports
Ports of Call
Cruise Conversations

Announcements

New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!
How To: Follow Topics & Forums (Get Notifications)

Write An Amazing Review !

Click this photo by member XFrancophileX to share your review w/ photos too!

Parliament, Budapest

Features & News

LauraS · Started Yesterday at 12:56 PM

LauraS · Started Yesterday at 11:40 AM

LauraS · Started Yesterday at 06:45 AM

LauraS · Started Yesterday at 06:29 AM

LauraS · Started Tuesday at 07:54 PM

Cruise Planning

Find a cruise, popular ports, member reviews.

Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
Find Your Roll Call
Meet & Mingle
Community Help Center
All Activity
Member Photo Albums
Meet & Mingle Photos
Favorite Cruise Memories
Cruise Food Photos
Cruise Ship Photos
Ports of Call Photos
Towel Animal Photos
Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
Write a Review
Live Cruise Reports
Member Cruise Reviews
Create New...

The best travel insurance policies and providers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The best travel insurance providers

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

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

AIG Travel Guard

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

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

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

Preexisting conditions

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

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

Standout features

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

Purchase your policy here: AIG Travel Guard .

Allianz Travel Insurance

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

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

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

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

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

Purchase your policy here: Allianz Travel Insurance .

American Express Travel Insurance

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

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

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

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

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

Purchase your policy here: American Express Travel Insurance .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Purchase your policy here: GeoBlue .

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

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

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

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

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

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

Purchase your policy here: IMG .

Travelex Insurance

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

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

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

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

Purchase your policy here: Travelex Insurance .

Seven Corners

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

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

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

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

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

Purchase your policy here: Seven Corners .

World Nomads

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

World Nomads offers two single-trip plans.

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

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

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

Purchase your policy here: World Nomads .

Other options for buying travel insurance

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

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

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

Is travel insurance worth getting?

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

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

What is the best COVID-19 travel insurance?

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

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

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

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

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

What are the different types of travel insurance?

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

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

Should I buy travel health insurance?

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

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

How much does travel insurance cost?

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

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

When and how to get travel insurance

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bottom line

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

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

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

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

Price My Plan

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of travel insurance.

Detour Travel Protection safeguards your health and well-being, prepaid expenses, and gear and personal belongings should things wander off course. In addition to providing coverage for trip cancellation and interruption, Detour's versatile plans include coverage related to trip delays, emergency medical expenses, baggage, and emergency medical evacuations, along with enhanced benefits such as non-insurance and emergency travel assistance services. Detour's coverage options range from basic protection for the casual traveler on a budget to extreme sports coverage for the hardcore adrenaline junkie.

Does Detour Adventure Travel Protection offer coverage for non-U.S. residents?

Detour Insurance offers coverage plans for U.S. residents up to their 80th birthday traveling anywhere in the world more than 100 miles from their home.

I'm traveling with a large group. Can all of us be on the same policy?

I am traveling with family members from a different state, can we all be on the same policy?

Up to 10 travelers (comprising the primary traveler plus nine additional travelers) less than 80 years of age with the same travel dates and the same state of residence, can receive coverage under the same policy. Travelers with different dates and/or states of residence will need to purchase separate policies.

I will be traveling with multiple people. I entered our information and received a quote. Is that quote per person or for all of us?

The quote provided is for the total number of travelers you entered to obtain your quote. The outlined plan benefits reflect per-person limits.

Do you offer annual travel plans?

Detour Insurance does not offer annual travel plans. You may select a Detour plan for trips not to exceed 180 days in length.

How far in advance can I purchase coverage for my adventure?

Your Scheduled Departure Date cannot be more than eighteen (18) months from your Purchase Date.

Do you offer Coverage for Any Reason (CFAR) plans?

Detour Insurance does not offer Coverage For Any Reason (CFAR) plans.

In the quote process, I am asked for my state of residence, but I own more than one home. What should I do?

Please enter the U.S. state of your primary residence.

My kids are under 18 and will be traveling as unaccompanied minors to visit family. Can I purchase a plan for them?

Yes, plans may be purchased for unaccompanied minors.

I have a question about Detour plan coverage. Whom can I contact?

We are here to help you understand your options. Please give our plan administrator, Co-Ordinated Benefit Plans, a call toll-free at 1-877-390-4293 or direct at 727-483-7744, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. You may also email [email protected] .

My Effective Date is listed as tomorrow but I'm not starting my adventure for several days/weeks. Do I need to contact you to change that date?

Aside from relaxing and getting psyched for your trip, there is nothing for you to do. Coverage is provided leading up to and throughout the duration of your trip.

I haven't departed for my adventure but realized that I gave the incorrect dates for my trip. What should I do?

We get it — adventure-planning adrenaline kicks in! Please email Detour's policy administrator, Co-Ordinated Benefit Plans, at [email protected] with your policy I.D. number, traveler name(s), and correct travel dates along with your contact details. You will receive via email a revised Welcome Letter and updated fulfillment documentation.

I haven't departed for my adventure but realized that I gave the incorrect email address. What should I do?

That's an easy fix but please email us as soon as possible so that we can email you your Welcome Letter and fulfillment documentation. Please email your traveler's name(s) and birthdate(s) along with your correct contact details to Detour's policy administrator, Co-Ordinated Benefit Plans, at [email protected] .

I have yet to depart for my adventure and would like to upgrade my Detour plan. How should I proceed?

We understand that travel needs can change. Please email your plan change request to Detour's policy administrator, Co-Ordinated Benefit Plans, at [email protected] along with your policy I.D. number, traveler name(s), and travel dates so that we can best assist you.

Whom can I contact if I have travel-related questions before my trip or even while I'm traveling?

In the lead-up to your adventure or while you're traveling, international assistance coordinators are available, 24 hours a day/seven days a week, to provide travel assistance for travel-related questions. To Contact On Call International toll-free, dial 877-318-6891 (within the United States and Canada), or call collect 603-328-6307 (from all other locations).

Do Detour policies offer worldwide coverage?

Detour policies provide coverage for U.S. residents traveling 100 or more miles from their primary home excluding the following destinations: Afghanistan, Belarus, Crimea, Iran, Israel, Myanmar/Burma, North Korea, Palestinian Territories, Russia, Ukraine, Syria, and Venezuela. You will not be able to select any of these restricted destinations from the destination dropdown menu during the policy quote/purchase process. These restricted destinations impacted by war or sanctions are excluded from any and all coverage, and claims will not be paid for any events that may occur relating to travel to, from or within these destinations. This list is current as of 5/1/24 and is subject to change.

How do I file a claim?

To initiate a claim, please click here to begin the process with Detour's plan administrator, Co-Ordinated Benefit Plans.

I have a question about my claim status. Whom should I contact?

If you'd like to check the status of your claim, you may click here to log in to your account. If you have additional questions, please email Detour's plan administrator, Co-Ordinated Benefit Plans, via email: [email protected] or call toll-free at 1-877-390-4293 or direct at 727-483-7744, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

The Adventure Travel Marketplace
Help Me Choose A Trip
Galapagos Cruises and Yacht Trips
Galapagos Adventure Trips
Galapagos and Machu Picchu Trips
Machu Picchu Trips
Patagonia Treks and Trips
Amazon Trips
TRAVEL GUIDE: Everything You Need to Know To Choose and Plan Your Perfect Galapagos Trip
Guide to Combining the Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu
Guide To Choosing The Perfect Galapagos Multisport Adventure
Peru Travel Guide
Everything You Need to Know to Plan Your Trek on Peru’s Inca Trail
Top 10 Tips To Make Sure You Get a Great Inca Trail Trek
Peru Pre-Departure Information
Step by Step Training Guide to Prepare for Your Inca Trail Trek
Ecuador and Galapagos Islands Pre-Departure Information
How To Pack for Trekking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Galapagos Multisport Packing List
Galapagos Yacht or Sailing Packing List
Guayaquil Hotels & Tours
Quito Hotels & Tours
Galapagos Hotels
Leave A Positive Trace
Why Local Matters
Rainforest Alliance and Detour
Carbon Neutral
Our Local Tour Operators
Green Travel Certifications
How to Choose a Green Trip
Why Detour?

Adventure Travel , Inca Trail Trek , Machu Picchu Travel , Peru Travel , Trekking in Peru

Should i get travel insurance when i travel.

YES! Trip insurance does not cost much but can save you a huge loss in case you must cancel your trip for some reason at the last moment. Based on our experience, trip cancellation due to unexpected medical circumstances is quite common. Many trips require that you have insurance and we always recommend it to protect yourself in the event you need reimbursement for the costs of medical evacuation, trip cancellation or interruption, unexpected delays, lost luggage or any medical services needed while traveling.

Layna George

Username or email address *

Password *

Remember me Log in

Lost your password?

Email address *

Detour Insurance
Compare Policies

Compare All Policies for Detour Insurance

Squaremouth offers 2 policies from detour insurance . below, you can compare all 2 policies and review each policy’s certificate..

Insurance Providers

Arch RoamRight
AXA Assistance USA
Azimuth Risk Solutions, LLC
Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection
CSA Travel Protection
Generali Global Assistance
Global Alert
Global Guardian Air Ambulance
Global Underwriters
HTH Travel Insurance
INF Visitor Care
John Hancock Insurance Agency, Inc.
MedjetAssist
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
Seven Corners
Travel Insured International
Travelex Insurance Services
Trawick International
USA-Assist Worldwide Protection
USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services

Additional Information

AM Best Ratings

IMAGES

Travel Insurance Reviews and Company Ratings
Detour Review
Detour Review
Detour Review
OLInsure || Online Insure our rates and services are tough to beat
Top 6 Benefits and Tips while choosing travel insurance

VIDEO

john hancock travel insurance reddit
Faye Travel Insurance review, pros and cons, legit, quote (update 2024)

COMMENTS

Detour Insurance
Read unbiased reviews and ratings for Detour Insurance travel insurance. Travelers share their experience with customer support, claims, & more. 1-800-240-0369 1-800-240-0369 8AM to 10PM ET Daily. My Account. Log In ... Customer Reviews for Detour Insurance Sort by Most Helpful, Most Recent, Star Ratings, or select "Filed Claim" to only ...
Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance. Dec 8, 2023, 10:04 AM. Have been researching travel insurance for our March trip to Nepal and Bhutan. Medical transportation is most important considering the remoteness. I came across Detour Travel which has a policy I like. The cost, however, is about 2/3 less than compable policies.
Detour Travel Insurance
285. May 3, 2010. peoria, il. #2. Posted February 25. We purchased Detour insurance for our Caribbean cruise on Holland. We did visit the medical center and Detour paid our claim in full. The amount was $200 which was not a large claim, but we felt it was major to us. We definitely recommend Detour Insurance.
Travel insurance thru Detour Travel Ins
A user asks about the travel insurance offered by Detour Travel Ins on Square Mouth. No replies or reviews are found on the forum thread.
Travel Insurance
Re: Travel Insurance. Jan 31, 2024, 9:08 PM. Most companies want $800-$1500pp for my 1 month trip to New Zealand & Australia. Detour wants $381. Hard to pass up but if the "you get what you pay for" adage comes true and something happens on the trip requiring we use our trip insurance, well, it makes me pretty nervous.
Detour Adventure Travel Protection
Detour is founded and operated by adventurers who live the lifestyle and understand the rewards and risks associated with experiential travel. Designed for U.S. residents traveling more than 100 miles from their homes, Detour's versatile plans include enhanced benefits such as non-insurance and emergency travel assistance services.
Detour Travel Insurance
287. May 3, 2010. peoria, il. #2. Posted February 25. We purchased Detour insurance for our Caribbean cruise on Holland. We did visit the medical center and Detour paid our claim in full. The amount was $200 which was not a large claim, but we felt it was major to us. We definitely recommend Detour Insurance.
Detour Insurance
Plans built specifically for adventure and sports travel. Offers up to $1,000,000 in Medical Evacuation coverage. Provides extensive Travel Delay protection, up to $2,000. Detour Insurance is an innovative travel insurance provider founded by and for adventurers. Their plans - @the edge and @the edge plus - provide coverage for a wide range ...
11 Best Travel Insurance Companies in August 2024
Best travel insurance category. Company winner. Best overall. Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection. Best for emergency medical coverage. Allianz Global Assistance. Best for travelers with pre ...
12 Best Travel Insurance Companies Of September 2024
The Best Travel Insurance Companies. PrimeCover - Best for Evacuation. Travel Insured International - Best for Non-Medical Evacuation. WorldTrips - Great for Add-On Coverage. TravelSafe ...
Reviews of the Top 10 Best Travel Insurance Companies
Our Top 10 Travel Insurance Providers. TRAVELEX. Best: Overall, and for families with kids Travelex Insurance Services is a leading travel insurance provider based in Omaha, Neb. Its parent company, Travelex, has been a worldwide leader in foreign currency exchange for decades, and Travelex Insurance was started in 1996.
Detour Insurance @the edge plus
See plan details for the Detour Insurance @the edge plus Policy. Every major travel insurance company. Quick Quote or research, instant cover. 1-800-240-0369 1-800-240-0369 8AM to 10PM ET Daily. My Account. Log In ... Provider Reviews Benefits. Trip Cancellation
9 Best Travel Insurance Companies of 2024
Johnson also works alongside her husband, Greg, who has been licensed to sell travel insurance in 50 states, in their family media business. The best travel insurance companies are: Travelex ...
Detour Travel Insurance
Has anyone purchased and filed a claim with Detour Travel Insurance. Wondering since I am just seeing it advertised for the first time. Rates look very good and Detour is the Primary insurer. Also underwritten by Nationwide Insurance.
The best travel insurance policies and providers
For a single trip, multiple trips or long term. Covered by most policies. $15/25. IMG. Single trip or multiple trips (travel insurance and travel medical insurance options are available). Waived under set conditions for travel insurance; covered but capped for single-trip travel medical insurance. $17/$94.
Frequently Asked Questions
Detour Travel Protection safeguards your health and well-being, prepaid expenses, and gear and personal belongings should things wander off course. In addition to providing coverage for trip cancellation and interruption, Detour's versatile plans include coverage related to trip delays, emergency medical expenses, baggage, and emergency medical ...
Travel Insurance Reviews and Company Ratings
Discover top-rated policies through real travel insurance reviews and ratings. Compare quotes and find the best coverage for your trip today! 1-800-240-0369 1-800-240-0369 8AM to 10PM ET Daily. ... Detour Insurance Reviews. 4.03 out of 5 Since 2019. Dogtag Reviews. 4.32 out of 5 Since 2004. Generali Global Assistance Reviews. 4.62 out of 5
Should I get travel insurance when I travel?
YES! Trip insurance does not cost much but can save you a huge loss in case you must cancel your trip for some reason at the last moment. Based on our experience, trip cancellation due to unexpected medical circumstances is quite common. Many trips require that you have insurance and we always...
Do not get the insurance they peddle
Do not get the insurance they peddle. Review of Overseas Adventure Travel. Reviewed September 15, 2021. I was suppose to travel in September 2020 but trip was cancelled so I rebooked for September 2021. In that time I was unable to travel due to a illness so I used my insurance which I paid $500+ for only to find out that it was not as easy to ...
Costco Travel Insurance Review 2024: Pros and Cons
Costco sells travel insurance to its members through Cover-More, which is part of Zurich Insurance Group. There are three plans available — one for domestic trips, one for international trips ...
Squaremouth Welcomes Detour to Travel Insurance Platform
Detour Insurance, an innovative travel insurance provider that specializes in adventure travel insurance, brings two unique policies to the Squaremouth platform - @the edge and @the edge plus. Both plans cover a wide range of sports and activities, and include well-rounded beneﬁts and high coverage limits well-suited for travelers with ...
Compare All Policies for Detour Insurance
Compare all Detour Insurance Policies - Every major travel insurance company. Quick Quote or research, instant cover. 1-800-240-0369 1-800-240-0369 8AM to 10PM ET Daily. My Account. ... Reviews; Provider Reviews; AM Best Ratings; Squaremouth Reviews; Travel Advice; Current Events;

Detour Travel Insurance

Recommended Posts

Link to comment

recruiter 28

Please sign in to comment

Announcements

Features & News

Cruise Planning

11 Best Travel Insurance Companies in August 2024

How we found the best travel insurance

Types of travel insurance

Methodology

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection

Best for emergency medical coverage: Allianz Global Assistance

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

Travel Guard by AIG

Best for those who pack expensive equipment: Travel Insured International

Travel Insured International

Best for adventurous travelers: World Nomads

World Nomads

Best for medical coverage: Travelex Insurance Services

Travelex Insurance Services

Best if you have travel credit card coverage: Seven Corners

Seven Corners

Best for long-term travelers: IMG

Best for travelers with unpredictable work demands: Tin Leg

Best for booking travel with points and miles: TravelSafe

Best for group travel insurance: HTH Insurance

HTH Travel Insurance

Trip cancellation

Trip interruption

Cancel For Any Reason

Baggage delay

Lost baggage

Travel medical insurance

How to maximize your rewards

Credit Cards

Insurance Guidance

Mortgage Guidance

Recent Credit Card Reviews & Comparisons

Loans Guidance

Reviews of the Top 10 Best Travel Insurance Companies

Our Methodology

Our Top 10 Travel Insurance Providers

9 Best Travel Insurance Companies of 2024

Travelex Insurance Services »

Allianz Travel Insurance »

HTH Travel Insurance »

Tin Leg »

AIG Travel Guard »

Nationwide Insurance »

Seven Corners »

Generali Global Assistance »

Travel Insurance Types: Which One Is Right for You?

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Carry-on Luggage Size and Weight Limits by Airline (2024)

Bereavement Fares: 5 Airlines That Still Offer Discounts

How to Renew Your Passport Online

13 Best Carry-on Luggage Pieces 2024 - We Tested Them All

Detour Travel Insurance

Recommended Posts

Link to comment

recruiter 28

Please sign in to comment

Announcements

Features & News

Cruise Planning

The best travel insurance policies and providers

The best travel insurance providers

AIG Travel Guard

Preexisting conditions

Standout features

Allianz Travel Insurance

American Express Travel Insurance

Travelex Insurance

Seven Corners

World Nomads

Other options for buying travel insurance

Is travel insurance worth getting?