Without a doubt, traveling has changed.
With volatile prices, a changing job market, and the pandemic fresh on our minds, the risks cannot be overlooked. That’s where travel insurance comes in.
Whether you’re headed on an impromptu road trip or the month-long adventure you’ve been planning for years, travel insurance gives you peace of mind in these unpredictable times.
here are the nine best travel insurance companies of 2022 so you can protect yourself, your finances and your belongings while abroad.
our top picks for the best travel insurance
- seven corners: best for large groups
- global assistance generali: the best for emergency assistance services
- world nomads: the best for adventure sports
- Across the Country: The Best Cruise Travel Insurance
- travelex: ideal for families with children
- allianz: best for business travel
- aig travel guard: best for plugins
- Second Travel Insurance: Best for Long-Term International Travel Insurance
- travelinsurance.com: the best to compare quotes
- cancellation for any reason coverage: this coverage allows you to cancel your travel plans for any reason (you must cancel with the provider at least 2-3 days before your trip), and get reimbursed for a percentage of your prepaid travel costs.
- pre-existing medical condition waiver: Most travel insurance companies will not cover pre-existing conditions in their basic coverage for emergency medical expenses. however, you can purchase a rider to cover pre-existing conditions, subject to some limitations, such as a look-back period in which the insurance provider reviews the traveler’s medical records to see if their condition has not changed or worsened in the last 60 years. 180 days.
- rental car insurance: this additional coverage will pay for damage to the rental car and injuries suffered by you or third parties in the event of an accident.
- Adventure Sports Coverage: This rider will cover injuries or losses caused by participating in adventure sports such as skydiving or bungee jumping. claims arising from these activities are generally excluded from basic policies.
- Identity Theft Protection: This optional coverage helps you notify creditors, cancel your cards, and get a replacement for your lost passport, credit card, or other important documents .
- pre-existing medical conditions
- extreme sports injuries
- theft/loss of personal items such as electronic devices and jewelry
- conditions related to pregnancy
- injuries that occur while intoxicated with drugs or alcohol, even if the intoxicating substance is legal for use at the destination
- Identify your travel requirements to ensure you’re not paying for something you don’t need.
- Check if the policy covers the trip to the chosen destination.
- If you have a pre-existing medical condition, check to see if it is covered by the medical coverage of the policy you are considering. if not, you may need to purchase additional coverage.
- Find out what kind of assistance you can expect from your travel insurance provider in case your belongings are stolen.
- Check the fine print on the policy before you buy to make sure it covers the activities you’ve planned for your trip.
- Choose a policy that provides emergency assistance services.
- compare multiple quotes before making your final purchase.
- If you’re ready to plan your next trip, we have an article on top travel insurance tips for a post-pandemic world.
- Labor shortages and flight cancellations have led to a very chaotic travel season. If you have upcoming travel plans, make sure you know how to get a refund if you ever need one.
- Read our article on how to get the best cheap travel deals after the pandemic, including tips on how to avoid scams and other great travel hacks.
- And for frequent travelers, our list of the best travel credit cards gives you an overview of six of the best travel rewards on the market, along with tips on how to maximize your rewards.
- Plans & Coverage: We look for insurers with a variety of plans and the ability to customize the policy with upgrades. Special attention was paid to companies that offer exclusive add-ons, such as extreme sports coverage and coverage for teams or lost teams.
- Ease of use: We consider the ease with which you can request a quote and understand the information in the policy. Most of these companies offer only a few plans to keep things simple or provide a comparison page where you can quickly spot the differences in each plan.
- customer care and service: factors such as a 24/7 hotline and an established network of global resources to help in an emergency are some of the elements that indicate that a company is doing well. -prepared to respond to customer needs. Businesses with mobile apps and multiple ways to access customer support also earned points, as did those with additional perks like concierge and translation services.
- reputation: To measure the reputation of each company, we evaluate factors such as customer reviews and ratings, years in business, and financial stability, as shown by their ratings on major credit rating agencies, specifically am best .
- seven corners: best for large groups
- global assistance generali: the best for emergency assistance services
- world nomads: the best for adventure sports
- Across the Country: The Best Cruise Travel Insurance
- travelex: ideal for families with children
- allianz: best for business travel
- aig travel guard: best for plugins
- Second Travel Insurance: Best for Long-Term International Travel Insurance
- travelinsurance.com: the best to compare quotes
best travel insurance reviews
why we chose it: seven corners is on our list because it covers groups of 10 or more travelers with comprehensive travel insurance policies that can cover medical expenses and evacuations.
seven corners’ simple and affordable round trip choice plan covers trip cancellation, interruption or delay for specific reasons, including covid-19 for groups of 10 or more. its emergency medical protection goes up to $500,000 and offers up to $1,000,000 for medical evacuation and repatriation of remains.
In addition to its group travel plans, seven corners has three levels of travel medical plans with comprehensive medical coverage for visits to the emergency room, room and board in the hospital and the appearance of pre-existing medical conditions, among others.
These plans include 24/7 multilingual customer service to help with emergency travel arrangements, medical evacuations, and locating the nearest embassy or consulate.
Why We Chose It: We chose generali travel insurance for its travel assistance services that include telemedicine, concierge services, and identity theft resolution assistance.
all generali policies include 24-hour travel support, which can provide immediate assistance for issues that may arise while traveling. The service includes an emergency hotline where travelers can get help with medical emergencies, identity theft resolution, emergency cash transfer, replacement of lost or stolen medications, as well as assistance locating lost or stolen items.
Travellers can choose from three plan levels (Standard, Preferred, and Premium) that cover trip cancellation, trip interruption, trip delay, and damaged, lost, or stolen luggage. plans also cover medical and dental emergencies up to a maximum of $50,000 under standard, $150,000 under preferred, and $250,000 under premium.
Both your preferred and premium plans have trip cancellation or interruption coverage in the event that a travel provider, such as a cruise company, hotel or car rental company, becomes financially insolvent and can no longer offer its services.
another highlight of generali insurance is its online claims process, which allows you to file a claim and monitor its status as it is resolved.
why we chose it: worldnomads is on our list because, unlike most travel insurance companies, their policies include coverage for more than 200 sports and adventure activities.
While most travel insurance companies shy away from covering adventure sports and other off-the-beaten-path activities, worldnomads offers policies designed specifically for the more adventurous traveler.
Their standard and explorer plans offer coverage for diving, skiing, surfing, cycling and more than 200 other activities. Their policies include $100,000 coverage for accidents or illnesses and 24/7 emergency support to help you find local doctors or medical facilities.
Most travel insurance companies only allow you to purchase policies in advance of your trip and your coverage is restricted to the dates of the policy you purchased. worldnomads, on the other hand, stands out for its “buy while you travel” policy, offering insurance to those who forgot to buy before their trip and allowing travelers to extend their trip if they wish to continue exploring.
Why We Chose Yes: We chose Nationwide because it offers travel insurance plans specifically geared toward cruise travel.
nationwide has three levels of cruise insurance (universal, select, and luxury) to fit any budget and insurance need.
Your emergency medical coverage starts at $75,000 and all three include “work-related cancellation” coverage, $500 early return home benefit, $200 shipboard outage and $25,000 non-medical evacuation.
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Covered reasons for cancellation and interruption include inclement weather, extended school hours, and emergency work-related issues.
nationwide also has two single-ride plans: essential and prime. In addition to the industry-standard travel protection basics, these plans offer above-average medical coverage starting at $75,000 and a “cancel for any reason” add-on that reimburses 75% of non-refundable travel costs.
Travellers can add a waiver and coverage for pre-existing conditions in the event of a travel provider’s financial default (such as an upgrade to essential and included in major).
why we chose it: we selected travelex as the best option for families because two of its plans include coverage for children under 17 at no additional cost.
travelex insurance includes two main plans for international travel: travel basic and travel select, plus a travel america plan for travel in the united states. both travel select and travel america include children under 17 in their price.
Basic Travel is an affordable plan perfect for students, backpackers, small groups, or people on a budget. These plans cover trip cancellation and interruption at 100% of the trip cost and offer up to $2,000 for trip delays or missed connections.
travel select allows travelers to customize their plans with enhancements such as additional medical benefits, a “cancel for any reason” option, car rental collision insurance and adventure sports coverage. travelex also offers a pre-existing condition waiver when you purchase the select travel plan within 15 days of payment for the first trip.
why we chose it: we selected allianz because its annual travel insurance plan is ideal for frequent and business travelers.
allianz has several different plans (10 to be exact) that offer a wide variety of options, from basic cancellation benefits to a multi-trip business travel plan. These plans include a 24-hour multilingual support hotline and the TravelSmart app that provides quick access to travel advisories, local medical facilities, mobile claims filing and much more.
for frequent flyers, allianz alltrips executive plan is designed to make business travel much easier. This plan provides coverage for cancellation, interruption, medical emergency and transportation. also includes rental vehicle damage and theft, business equipment coverage (for lost, stolen, damaged, or delayed equipment), and covers any reasonable costs incurred in renting replacement business equipment.
another highlight of allianz is that it has no age restrictions (most other insurers do) and some of its plans cover children under the age of 17 when traveling with a parent or grandparent.
why we chose it: we chose aig travel guard because it offers a wide variety of accessories so that travelers can create a plan that suits their trip.
aig travel guard has more than 30 years of experience providing travel insurance to millions of travelers. these customers have had access to unique services such as medevac and bag trak®. aig travel guard’s most popular plan, preferred, offers up to $500,000 for emergency evacuation and repatriation of remains. In addition to trip cancellation and interruption, this plan reimburses up to 50% if you change the dates of your trip.
Travellers can also add unique options, such as the Pet Package, Wedding Package for canceled weddings, and an Inconvenience Package in case you absolutely have to see attractions are closed.
Another of its specialized benefits is the coverage of lodging expenses for travelers who test positive for covid-19 and must remain abroad until they present a negative result.
For those last-minute trips, aig travel guard has a pack n’ go plan that includes post-departure coverage and an exclusive 24-hour emergency travel assistance service.
why we chose it: hth travel insurance stands out for its long-term international travel insurance options, specifically for expats and students.
hth travel insurance offers comprehensive medical insurance for individuals and families traveling outside their home country for at least three months of the year. This xplorer plan has no deductible for office visits, no waiting periods for preventive care services, and eliminates the waiting period for pre-existing conditions when the insured has proof of prior creditable coverage.
hth travel insurance also offers international student health insurance with flexible travel length options. This plan has unlimited annual and lifetime health care maximums and includes contraceptive services and supplies, as well as prescriptions. In addition to unlimited telemedicine services, the plan covers medically necessary COVID-19 testing and treatment.
hth travel insurance also provides access to global health and safety services including 24/7 telephone support, access to elite international doctors and hospitals, and translated medical terms.
why we chose it: we chose travelinsurance.com as the best to compare quotes because it offers quotes from some of the major travel insurance providers, plus the site is simple and easy to use.
The travelinsurance.com marketplace simplifies the process of choosing a provider by connecting users with some of the best insurers in the industry and breaking down their available policies in an easy-to-understand way.
This marketplace makes it easy for travelers to enter their trip information and receive quotes tailored to the cost of the trip, duration, and traveler age. The results page presents basic coverage information, reviews, ratings, and a link to each provider’s covid-19 policy FAQ.
travelinsurance.com also allows users to compare policies in a simplified table.
other travel insurance companies we consider
international trade
The four levels of the trawick international student insurance plan are geared towards the type of travel that involves temporary living abroad for educational or research purposes.
These plans have medical coverage from $150,000 in the basic plan and up to an unlimited maximum in the exclusive university care plan. medical benefits are for in-network and out-of-network providers.
Although these plans provide excellent coverage at different prices, they are for international students coming to the US. uu. Green Card Holders (U.S. Residents) and U.S. Residents uu. citizens are not eligible.
axa travel insurance
axa travel insurance offers three comprehensive plans for leisure travelers. the silver plan is the most affordable; however, they promote the gold plan as the most popular and ideal for domestic vacations and cruises.
axa’s third option, platinum, is ideal for travelers looking for comprehensive premium coverage. A major drawback to axa travel insurance is that they have very few additional benefit options.
berkshire hathaway
The Berkshire Hathaway Air Care Plan can be a stand-alone plan or an add-on that covers flight delay, interruption or cancellation.
This plan is unique in the industry because it tracks your flights and processes refunds automatically, so you don’t even need to file a claim.
While this feature is unique, they did not make our list of top providers because their maximum medical expenses are lower than those of the competition.
travel safe
travelsafe offers two levels of basic travel insurance coverage for cancellations, medical emergencies, baggage and personal effects. Although some of this coverage is not as complete as that of its competitors, travelsafe stands out for its golfsafe plan.
That coverage includes $2,500 for missed connections and $750 for a trip delay of six hours or more. it even offers a refund of up to $500 for missed rounds of golf if a traveler is unable to play at least nine of the 18 holes due to inclement weather.
was not on our list of best providers because its list of medical benefits is more limited than many competitors.
tin leg
tinleg has a wide range of policies ranging from standard and economy coverage to luxury, adventure and platinum coverage. all plans cover up to 100% of travel costs in the event of cancellation, including for medical reasons, including a positive test for the covid-19 virus.
Where the different plan levels differ is in their emergency medical and evacuation coverage, so you want to make sure the plan you select includes the coverage you’re comfortable with. One downside of tinleg is that it offers very few additional perk options.
travel insurance guide
This guide provides a brief overview of what travel insurance is, how it works, and how to choose the best travel insurance policy for you and your trip.
what is travel insurance?
Travel insurance, also known as travel insurance or trip protection, is a type of insurance product that will reimburse you if you need to cancel or cut short your trip early. It can also reimburse you for out-of-pocket medical expenses if you get sick or have an accident while traveling.
Most travel insurance is sold for single-trip plans, meaning the policies only cover what happens during the pre-set dates of your trip. however, multi-trip plans or annual plans will cover you for an extended period of time, making them ideal for frequent travelers.
What is canceling travel insurance for any reason?
Some companies offer so-called “cancellation for any reason (cfar)” coverage, which is an upgrade that provides a partial refund if you have to cancel your trip, regardless of the cause of your change of heart. in fact, one of the reasons covered is “fear of travel”, which is excluded in a basic travel insurance policy.
This policy must be purchased within 14-21 days of booking your first trip and adding it to your policy can increase your total travel insurance bill by approximately 50%.
Companies that offer cfar travel insurance include aig travel guard, c&f travel insured, generali global assistance, arch roamright, seven corners, travelsafe, trawick international, usi trave affinity insurance services, john hancock and hth worldwide.
what does travel insurance cover?
If you’ve been looking to purchase travel insurance, you may have noticed a wide range of coverage options and benefits.
read on to learn more about some of the common standard coverage add-ons found in travel insurance plans
trip cancellation insurance
Travel insurance will reimburse up to 100% of prepaid non-refundable travel expenses, as long as the reason for cancellation is covered by the policy and the trip has not yet started.
trip interruption
If the trip has already started and is cut short, your insurance plan will generally reimburse you for the unused portion of the trip, as well as any expenses you may incur getting back home, such as late flights. Such interruption insurance may have a coverage limit, such as limiting reimbursement to 150% of the cost of the interrupted trip.
travel delays
Some insurance providers will also reimburse you for expenses arising from travel delays, for example, meals or lodging while waiting. other companies cover airport delays resulting from missed connections between flights. You will be reimbursed for any flight change fees or additional expenses incurred while trying to catch up on your travel plans.
emergency medical expenses
Travel insurance can also be helpful if you have a medical emergency during your trip. benefits for medical expenses can range from $15,000 to $50,000; in some cases, additional coverage can be purchased as needed during the trip.
For serious conditions that require you to seek medical assistance outside of your travel area, you may also obtain emergency medical evacuation coverage. this benefit will pay if you need to be evacuated to the nearest medical facility or even transferred to a facility in your home country. maximum benefits generally range from $100,000 to $500,000, but can be as high as $1,000,000.
luggage and personal effects
This coverage is intended to help you if your luggage is lost or delayed during your trip. With baggage delay coverage, you typically have to wait two to six hours for your baggage before you can file a claim. coverage provides reimbursement for replacement items purchased during the delay, up to the policy limit.
If you lose your bag, travel insurance can reimburse you up to the policy limit, which typically ranges from $500 to $1,000. claims generally require purchase receipts or a list of items in the bag, and may be subject to a deductible.
We recommend that insured travelers make a list of the items in their luggage and keep it with them while traveling, in case they need to make a claim.
worldwide support
Insurers must have customer service available 24/7 in most or all of the countries you travel to. Before you leave home, make a note of the local contact information you need, including phone numbers and addresses, and keep it handy.
Some insurers supplement customer service with other emergency resources. these may include 24/7 multilingual medical hotlines that can provide medical advice and/or refer you to local healthcare services if in-person care is required.
popular travel insurance add-ons
If your coverage needs to go beyond what a basic travel insurance policy provides, there are a variety of add-ons or riders that allow you to increase benefit limits and cover activities that may be excluded from standard policies.
Common plugins include:
(For more information on identity theft, visit our guide to the best identity theft protection.)
what does travel insurance not cover?
The most common travel insurance exclusions are:
With most travel insurance policies, you may only be covered if you cancel your trip for approved reasons, such as serious illness or death in the family. if you want the flexibility to cancel for any reason (cfar), you’ll need to specifically purchase additional cfar coverage.
Finally, keep in mind that insurance companies can change your coverage at any time. When the coronavirus pandemic began in 2020, many companies temporarily excluded covid-19 infections from coverage and may do so again in the future. The insurer always has the final say on what is covered and what is not, so be sure to review your policy documents thoroughly before purchasing travel insurance.
Does my credit card have travel protection?
credit cards, like many issued by american express or chase, may include some travel protection that doubles that of an insurance policy, usually covering the costs of tickets and reservations if you use your card to purchase them.
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however, most credit cards offer only partial coverage and limit your benefits. Please review the terms and conditions of your credit card travel protection plan carefully before relying solely on it for travel insurance.
Visit our guide to the best credit card for travel to learn more about how your credit card can help you travel smarter.
Are there any location restrictions when it comes to travel insurance?
It is important to note that your travel insurance policy may not cover your visits to certain places. In fact, most US insurance providers will not cover places that are currently under a state department travel advisory or where there is political unrest. Countries that typically exclude suppliers include Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Iran, Syria, North Korea, Myanmar, and Cuba.
how to choose the right travel insurance policy
To find and choose the best travel insurance plan for your needs, follow these simple steps:
how to get travel insurance
Most travel insurance companies sell their policies online. If you make your travel arrangements through a rate aggregator like Expedia, you may be offered a travel insurance policy when you check out. (may or may not be the best value for you, of course).
You can also buy a policy through an online marketplace, for example, travelinsurance.com and insuremytrip.com, which show you quotes from many companies. this is a good option if you want to see what different companies are offering and compare their prices.
travel insurance that covers covid-19
While providers typically exclude pandemics (influenza, Ebola, Zika, etc.), most policies now include coverage for coronavirus. some insurance marketplaces even include a link to the provider’s covid-19 policy in their search results.
This type of coverage may be included in medical benefits or travel protection (where providers could list covid-19 infection as a valid reason for cancellation and reimbursement) or both.
Some providers that include covid-19 coverage are seven corners, world nomads, hth, worldtrips, img and aig travel guard. aig in particular even covers accommodation costs for travelers who contract the virus and must stay abroad while they recover.
here are the companies on our list:
Does insurance cover covid-19 tests?
In general, travel insurance does not cover the cost of the covid-19 test unless the test is ordered by a doctor.
As of June 12, 2022, passengers will no longer have to present a negative covid test result before heading to the us. uu. the agency recommends travelers self-quarantine for 5 days after travel and get tested 3-5 days after arrival.
However, some health insurance plans cover covid-19 tests, so check with your insurer to see if they are covered. Low-cost or no-cost COVID testing may also be available at a health center near you.
how much does travel insurance cost?
According to most estimates, travel insurance can cost between 3% and 14% of the cost of your flight. this may depend on the type of coverage you choose and the destination of your trip, as well as other factors.
For example, we used the online marketplace TravelInsurance.com to obtain quotes for a family of four (two adults and two children under 17) traveling from New York City to London. If the family spent $2,200 on four tickets, the cost of insuring all four travelers could range from about $80 for a basic policy to just over $300 for full travel insurance coverage.
latest news on travel insurance
cdc updates monkeypox travel alert to level 2
centers for disease control advisory regarding monkeypox remains at level 2, advising travelers to “practice increased precautions” due to increased case reports in europe, north america and Australia.
The CDC said “the risk to the general public is low,” but advised those who develop symptoms such as an unexplained rash, fever, and chills to avoid contact with others and seek immediate medical attention.
how we choose the best travel insurance companies
We use the following factors to evaluate and compare each company:
summary of the best money travel insurance of 2022
