Experts say travel insurance is crucial: Here's how it actually works

Whether illness or weather derails plans, policies can cover a range of issues.

Whether you're a frequent traveler or setting plans for an upcoming vacation, unexpected circumstances such as bad weather can cast a cloud over a trip, which is why experts suggest investing in travel insurance.

Recently, Hurricane Beryl marked an "early and violent start" to the typical storm season. NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad confirmed in a mid-season update earlier this month that Beryl was "the earliest category-5 Atlantic hurricane on record" -- and peak storm season is right around the corner.

With increased risk of disruptions during hurricane season through November and more people opting for shoulder season getaways after avoiding summer crowds , travelers should prepare for such worse-case scenarios to avoid losing money on hotels, activities and other bookings.

Everything you need to know about travel insurance

essentials plus international travel insurance

With an array of options in the market and various individual reasons to invest in a plan that protects your purchases, "Good Morning America" tapped top industry experts to provide insights to help ensure that even if your next getaway gets rained out, your bank account won't be drained as well.

"Things can go wrong in ways that you can't begin to imagine. And if you're unlucky and unfortunate enough to be in that position, you don't want to come back from your trip with a debt to pay off as well," Daniel Green, trip insurance expert and co-founder of Faye Travel Insurance, told "GMA."

Understand the basics before you buy bespoke coverage

Katy Nastro, spokesperson for Going.com, formerly known as Scott's Cheap Flights, told "GMA" that first and foremost, folks need to "understand all the ways in which you are already protected before dishing out for things you don't need."

essentials plus international travel insurance

"When it comes to flight insurance, under federal law, you are already protected to get a full refund or rebooked on a significantly delayed flight or cancellation, regardless of the reason," she said. "With new regulations that airlines must comply with by the end of October, seeing your refund back to your payment method will get a lot faster and more seamless."

Nastro said "many travel credit cards already have built-in trip insurance that can protect you when the unexpected happens," citing perks from the Chase Sapphire Reserve card that provide "reimbursements up to $10,000 per person for pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses when an interruption happens."

You should always buy insurance for one simple reason -- when you start thinking -- 'I hope we have insurance,' it's one minute too late

"These cards often pay sooner than the airlines do for expenses due to misplaced bags," she added.

Nastro also suggested to check on coverage across state lines with any existing medical or car insurance policies, which could help cut down on costs.

"Specifically, when it comes to medical insurance, medical care around the world is generally a fraction of the cost compared to what it is in the U.S. So, while it could be good to have if you need stitches in Vietnam, it probably won't break the bank," she said.

Because travel insurance is subjective, Nastro said "it's worth considering when you exhaust your existing coverages to see where you might have some gaps."

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essentials plus international travel insurance

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essentials plus international travel insurance

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How does travel insurance work and what's actually covered?

"A great example is when you have a trip with multiple components that aren't purchased together, like a flight and cruise," Nastro told "GMA." "The cruise won't wait when your flight has been rebooked for the next day, so in this scenario, it might be worth looking at insurance on the cruise portion. You can typically add insurance after the fact, but reading the fine print is critical."

"Trip or travel insurance tends to be cheaper to buy, but is restricted to what is actually covered and often has red tape in terms of getting that reimbursement. For example, if you have an illness and need to cancel your trip, policies might require a doctor's note," she continued.

She added, "Travel insurance with 'cancel for any reason' policies tends to be more expensive to purchase, but more inclusive in terms of what is considered a 'covered' reason. The biggest caveat is that they offer a partial refund -- 50% to 75% of nonrefundable expenses."

When it comes to weather, she reiterated that reading the fine print is critical, because "the coverage typically offered is for extreme weather and scenarios where the operator cannot operate for 24 hours or more, so a typical summer thunderstorm won't make the cut."

essentials plus international travel insurance

Green added that, generally, if a customer buys travel insurance from an airline provider, since the carrier "doesn't know all the details of your trip" beyond the price and date of the flight, "if you're renting a car and traveling around -- or staying in a $4,000 hotel, you might only have $1,000 worth of insurance because at the checkout screen of American or United or Delta, they just didn't know about those costs."

"That's why I think it makes a lot more sense to buy insurance directly from either a website portal or an agent that can show you the main limits, so you know all the things you spent are covered as part of the policy," he said.

As Nastro pointed out, payment for claims can become a sticky situation, which is why Green helped craft an more seamless way to alleviate issues by providing the reassurance of immediate reimbursement: "If you have Apple Pay or Google Pay, you can access that money instantly after the claim is settled," he told "GMA."

What is shoulder season? Experts tips to save on airfare, hotels in opposite seasons

Green co-founded Faye just before the COVID-19 pandemic sent the travel industry into a tailspin, but said now, "the concern on the American mind more than anything is who's gonna pay for this? Especially in these days of inflation, if you're paying significant amounts of money for travel, and something goes wrong, you'd like to at least be made whole."

3 categories to consider for travel insurance coverage

essentials plus international travel insurance

Green explained that travel insurance can generally be broken into three categories: your investment in the trip, your belongings such as luggage and passports, and your health.

For anyone booking travel on their own, without a travel agent or adviser, Green highlighted the difference between buying travel insurance directly versus clicking "yes" on an app or checkout screen.

"You're not always being offered insurance that's in your best interest if you're just hoping that whatever your credit card comes with, or whatever your airline gives you at the end of the checkout is going to provide everything you need," he said.

He noted that one important tip for any type of travel coverage purchase is "the earlier you tell your insurance company that something has gone wrong, the more likely it is that they can help you while you're on your trip -- and helping sometimes means paying for expenses so that you don't have to be out of pocket and get reimbursement."

essentials plus international travel insurance

Weather-specific products for travel inconveniences

Products like Sensible Weather offer more specific elements to cover scenarios such as rain during a beach vacation or lack of snow for a ski trip, which may derail plans.

"The idea of travel inconvenience payments, it just takes the sting out of things," Green said. "In those scenarios, you just get a fixed, agreed amount of money -- sort of no questions asked -- You just have to prove that you actually experienced the loss in question, and then you get the full amount."

essentials plus international travel insurance

"You should always buy insurance for one simple reason -- because usually at the point when you start thinking to yourself, 'Wow, I hope we have insurance,' it's one minute too late," Green said. "Hurricane season is the perfect example of that. Once a hurricane is named, you generally can't make any claims related to the hurricane if you didn't already buy a policy."

"What we're learning about the current hurricane season is the weather is becoming unpredictable all the time," Green said. "We've heard about days where the weather was so hot in Phoenix that airplanes couldn't take off from the tarmac, hurricanes coming sooner than expected, or power failures causing an airport to not be able to operate -- and because those things are so unpredictable, playing the game of wait and see before buying your insurance rarely make sense versus justbuying it around the time you buy your trip and not having to worry about that aspect again."

How much plans cost and limitations

"There is no one size fits all when it comes to travel insurance," Green noted.

However, he said "there are rules of thumb" that industry experts often follow: "You should be willing to spend up to 10% of the cost of your trip on your insurance."

"The two biggest factors that usually affect the cost of your insurance is your age at the time of purchase, not at the time of travel, and the value of your trip," he said, adding that "every company is different."

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ABC News Live

24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events

Zurich to buy AIG’s travel insurance unit for $600 million

  • by Gavin Souter

M&A

  • Mergers and Acquisitions , P/C Insurers
  • AIG , Zurich
  • Jun 26, 2024

American International Group Inc. has agreed to sell its personal travel insurance business to Zurich Insurance Group Ltd. for $600 million, plus a potential earnout, as AIG continues to focus on its core property/casualty insurance operations.

The sale will include AIG’s Travel Guard business, excluding Japan and AIG’s joint venture in India, the insurer said in a statement. Travel coverage offered through AIG’s accident and health division is also excluded from the deal, which is expected to close by year-end.

Zurich said it will roll the business into its Cover-More division, which will have about $2 billion in gross written premium after the deal closes.

AIG has sold several noncore units over the past two years. Earlier this month, it completed the deconsolidation of Corebridge Financial, its life and retirement business. It began the divestment of the business in 2022 . Last year, it sold Validus Reinsurance Ltd. to RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.

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Best COVID-19 Travel Insurance in June 2024

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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 .

Table of Contents

Factors we considered when picking travel insurance that covers COVID

An overview of the best travel insurance for covid , top travel insurance for covid options , additional resources for covid-19 travel insurance shoppers.

No matter how well you prepare, travel plans don’t always go as expected. Some travelers buy travel insurance to protect their investment in prepaid travel costs. Amid the ongoing pandemic, exploring travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage is recommended. With the right policy, you can protect yourself if you need to cancel your trip or end it early due to illness. Many insurers offer travel insurance policies with this kind of coverage. 

This is the shortlist of the best travel insurance for COVID options: 

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection . 

John Hancock Insurance Agency, Inc.  

Seven Corners . 

Travelex Insurance Services . 

Travel Insured International . 

WorldTrips . 

We used the following factors to choose insurance providers to highlight in our best travel insurance for COVID list: 

Range of coverage: We looked at how many plans each company offered with COVID-19 coverage, plus the range of available plans. 

Depth of coverage: We compared the maximum caps for trip cancellation and trip interruption claims between carriers and plans.

Medical benefits: We examined whether plans included emergency medical benefits for COVID-19 reasons and whether plans included medical evacuation and repatriation benefits. 

Cost: We determined an average cost for shoppers to benchmark plan prices by looking at the basic coverage costs for plans with COVID-19 benefits across multiple companies.

We looked at quotes from various companies for a six-night trip in May 2023 to Croatia. The traveler was 30 years old, from Texas and planned to spend $1,500 on the trip, including airfare.

On average, the price of each company’s most basic coverage plan with COVID-19 coverage was $47.22. The prices listed below are for the most basic COVID-19 travel insurance coverage. All insurers offer multiple COVID-19 policies with greater coverage coming at a higher cost. 

Let's take a closer look at our eight recommendations for travel insurance with COVID coverage: 

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection

essentials plus international travel insurance

What makes Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection great:

Several plans allow policyholders to cancel for COVID-19 sickness as part of trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance benefits. 

Several plans include COVID-19 medical coverage benefits.

Medical evacuation benefits are included in these plans. 

Plans include limited sports and activities coverage and sports equipment loss benefits. 

Basic Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection will run you $50 for an ExactCare Value policy, the company’s most basic COVID-19 travel insurance coverage option.

essentials plus international travel insurance

What makes IMG great:

Many plans include COVID-19 cancellation benefits.

Most of these plans also include COVID-19 medical benefits (the Travel Essentials plan doesn’t include this). 

Medical evacuation coverage is available on select plans. 

Coverage for adventure travel is available for an extra cost. 

IMG is a good option for the budget-minded: Its Travel Essential plans cost more than $10 less than average based on our comparison. 

John Hancock Insurance Agency, Inc. 

essentials plus international travel insurance

What makes John Hancock Insurance Agency great:

Multiple plans offer COVID-19 cancellation benefits as part of the included trip interruption and trip cancellation coverage. 

These plans offer COVID-19 medical benefits.

Medical evacuation coverage is included in all COVID-19 coverage plans. 

The John Hancock Insurance Agency, Inc. basic plan (Bronze) costs $56. 

Seven Corners

essentials plus international travel insurance

What makes Seven Corners great:

Multiple plans offer COVID-19 cancellation benefits as part of the included trip interruption and trip cancelation coverage. 

These plans include COVID-19 medical benefits and evacuation and repatriation benefits.

There is no medical deductible. 

Seven Corners’ basic coverage plan (RoundTrip Basic) for our trip to Croatia costs $44.

Travelex Insurance Services

essentials plus international travel insurance

What makes Travelex Insurance Services great:

Multiple plans include Covid-19 sickness coverage, which reimburses prepaid and nonrefundable trip payments if a trip is canceled or interrupted due to a traveler contracting the virus.

These plans also include COVID-19 medical benefits.

Medical evacuation and repatriation benefits are included. 

Basic coverage (Travel Basic) from Travelex Insurance Services costs $44 for our sample trip, which is slightly cheaper than average. 

Travel Insured International

essentials plus international travel insurance

What makes Travel Insured International great:

Multiple plans cover COVID-19 cancellation benefits as part of the included trip interruption and trip cancelation coverage. 

These plans also include COVID-19 medical benefits, including medical evacuation. 

Limited sports and activities coverage is included in plans with COVID-19 coverage. 

Travel Insured International's basic coverage (Worldwide Trip Protector Edge) begins at $55 — only a few dollars more than the average basic policy price. 

essentials plus international travel insurance

What makes Tin Leg great:

A wide range of plans offer COVID-19 cancellation benefits as part of the included trip interruption and trip cancelation coverage. 

All of these plans also include COVID-19 medical benefits. 

All of these include medical evacuation benefits. 

An adventure travel policy is available. 

Another plus: Tin Leg’s basic coverage plan (Basic) for our trip to Croatia costs $48.85 — making it right around the average price for the policies we covered. 

WorldTrips 

essentials plus international travel insurance

What makes WorldTrips great:

Several plans include medical coverage for COVID-19. 

Sports and activities and sports equipment loss are included. 

Coverage can be extended for up to thirty days, including for medical quarantine purposes. 

WorldTrips’ most affordable plan with COVID-19 coverage (Atlas Journey Economy) starts at $44, making it a low-cost option. 

Do you want to learn more about travel insurance before you spend money on a policy? Take a look at these resources: 

What is travel insurance?  

What does travel insurance cover? 

The best travel insurance companies 

How to find the right travel insurance for you

10 credit cards that provide travel insurance

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

Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card

on Chase's website

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

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

Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card

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

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

Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

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

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

essentials plus international travel insurance

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I’m About to Board a 15-Hour Flight to Asia: Here’s Everything I’m Bringing With Me

Ear plugs, heated eye masks, snack bags, organizers, and more.

essentials plus international travel insurance

Real Simple / Tyler Roeland

I’ve been traveling to Asia since I was a toddler, so 15+ hour long-haul flights feel like nothing to me anymore. Of course, as a kid, my parents were the ones to prepare the snacks, activities, and comfy essentials. But now as an adult with over 25 years of international traveling under my belt, I’ve honed down my routine, starting from leaving my house to head to the airport to landing at my final destination.  

From a hands-free skincare routine to portable batteries that serve as my main and backup power source in a crowded airport and on the plane itself, I’m sharing my 15 must-have travel essentials that I’m carrying with me on my upcoming two-week trip to Seoul, South Korea. Best part? Everything’s conveniently available on Amazon, and Prime members can get everything faster with free two-day shipping. While I can’t promise that you won’t lose your luggage or your flight won’t be delayed, I can help prepare you to get through what could be an uncomfortably long day to be pretty pleasant.

Amazon Travel Essentials for a Long-Haul Flight

  • Anker 20,000mAh Power Bank , $40
  • Loop Quiet Ear Plugs , $28
  • CorneaCare Self-Heating Eye Mask , $35
  • Apple AirTag 4-Pack , $80 (was $99)
  • Fyy Travel Cable Organizer , $10 (was $13) 
  • Bagsmart Compression Packing Cubes (Pack of 6 ), $39 (was $43)
  • Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Canceling Headphones , $328 (was $400)
  • Stall Mate Wipes , $12
  • Apple iPad Mini (6th Generation) , $389 (was $499)
  • Comrad Knee High Compression Socks , $27 with coupon (was $28)
  • E11ement Hypochlorous Acid Face Spray , $10
  • D'Alba Italian White Truffle First Spray Serum , $20
  • Stasher Platinum Silicone Food Grade Reusable Storage Bag , $10 (was $13)
  • Trendy Queen Zip Up Hoodies , $20 with coupon (was $50)
  • Refresh Plus Preservative-Free Lubricant Eye Drops , $22

Anker 20,000mAh Power Bank

It’s no secret that I am a tech lover. From multiple cameras and bluetooth earphones to laptops and iPads, I am always looking for extra power to source my hobbies and leisure activities. But, I absolutely despise having to search for an outlet, so I always have a portable charger on me. For long-haul flights, though, I carry around this 20,000mAh Anker power bank that can fully charge my iPhone and iPad multiple times, and even give my Macbook Pro extra juice. With such a large power capacity, it does take a bit to charge, but once it’s loaded, I can travel days without being bound to a wall outlet or broken airplane charging port. 

Loop Quiet Ear Plugs

You’ll never catch me without my Airpod Pros when I’m traveling, but when I want to just sleep undisturbed without killing the battery on my earphones, I’ll opt for these Loop ear plugs instead. They’re the tiny-but-mighty secret to helping me sleep on planes—and they don’t fall. Each ear plug comes with a range of insert sizes, and once you have your proper fit, it doesn’t feel like you have anything in your ears. They also come in a variety of colors, and if you’re looking for higher noise cancellation, the brand offers different models for that, too. I love that it comes in its own tiny carrying case, which features a little loop that I attach to my keys for easy access.

CorneaCare Self-Heating Eye Mask

As a chronic contact-wearer and monitor-starer, dry eyes are an inevitable part of my life. While I’ve been wearing these eye masks to sleep to help relieve my dry eyes, they’re the best for sleeping on a plane. Each eye mask is individually wrapped, and as you unwrap and unfold the mask, it’ll start heating up on its own. I’ve found that the warmth lasts around 20-25 minutes, which is more than enough time to put me to sleep. And, of course, having the darkness of the mask keeps me asleep. They’re comfortable to wear, too, thanks to the thin and stretchy mesh fabric that fits snugly but gently around your ears. I always carry a few with me in my personal item, especially for 15+ hour flights that I know I’ll be in and out of sleep. I’ve even given these out to friends who struggle to sleep on planes, too, and they were wowed with how the warm eye mask helped. 

Apple AirTag 4-Pack

Every frequent traveler knows that Apple AirTags are a must. They’re slim, easy to use, and the battery lasts ages. I have one in each of my luggages when I’m flying (usually one carry-on and one check-in), one in my personal item, and one in my passport. Once I land at my destination, I’ll take these out of my luggage and insert them into my handbag, camera bag, wallet, and passport case—having the four-pack is so convenient. I’ve used these for years and still haven’t had to switch out the battery, which is also easy to re-install. And as an Apple-only device user, the tags seamlessly connect to all my devices for easy management and watching of my valuables. 

The key to traveling comfortably is to always be prepared, and these are just a few of the many travel hacks I’ve acquired over the years of boarding a lot of long-haul flights. If you’re looking for more practical and also unassuming things that I promise will help for a smoother travel experience, find my must-haves below.

Fyy Travel Cable Organizer

Bagsmart compression packing cubes (pack of 6), sony wh-1000xm5 noise-canceling headphones, stall mate wipes, apple ipad mini (6th generation), comrad knee high compression socks, e11ement hypochlorous acid face spray, d'alba italian white truffle first spray serum, stasher platinum silicone food grade reusable storage bag, trendy queen zip up hoodies, refresh plus preservative-free lubricant eye drops, more must-shop products.

essentials plus international travel insurance

Related Articles

The best travel insurance policies and providers

Katie Genter

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.

essentials plus international travel insurance

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.

essentials plus international travel insurance

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.

essentials plus international travel insurance

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).

essentials plus international travel insurance

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.

essentials plus international travel insurance

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.

essentials plus international travel insurance

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.

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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.

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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.

essentials plus international travel insurance

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.

essentials plus international travel insurance

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.

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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.

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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.

essentials plus international travel insurance

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.

essentials plus international travel insurance

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

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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?

essentials plus international 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?

essentials plus international 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?

essentials plus international travel 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

essentials plus international 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 .

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  • Best for trip cancellation
  • Best for medical-only coverage
  • Best for families
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  • Best for multiple trips
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Best Cheap Travel Insurance of September 2024

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

In an ever-evolving world, emergency medical and evacuation travel insurance coverage is essential, especially if you're traveling internationally. However, sports equipment coverage, pet protection, and cancel for any reason coverage are among the increasingly popular coverage options that are changing the way we travel. We've gathered the best cheap travel insurance plans to help you protect your trip while on a budget.

Best Cheap Travel Insurance Plans of 2024 Summary

  • Best overall: HTH Worldwide Travel Insurance
  • Best for trip cancellation:  Aegis General Travel Insurance
  • Best for medical-only coverage:  GeoBlue Travel Insurance
  • Best for families:  C&F Travel Insured
  • Best value: Nationwide Travel Insurance
  • Best for reputation: Trawick International Travel Insurance

Top Cheap Travel Insurance Company Comparison

The best travel insurance companies should be able to meet your needs at a price you're willing to pay. Sometimes, you're just not willing to pay that much. The following companies offer decent coverage for low prices. To determine which companies made this list, we compared quotes across the travel insurance industry for the same trip, making a note of which companies offered particularly good coverage in certain areas and which companies were well reviewed.

Here are the best affordable travel insurance companies picked by Business Insider editors in 2024.

Best Cheap Travel Insurance Overall

Hth worldwide travel insurance.

The HTH Worldwide Travel Insurance Economy plan offers the most comprehensive coverage across major categories of all the providers in this guide.

You'll have some peace of mind with up to $75,000 of financial protection for eligible medical emergencies, and up to $500,000 per person for medical evacuation costs. For more everyday expenses, you can also relax with baggage loss and delay, trip interruption, cancellation and delay coverage that will help you recoup many, if not all, of your costs.

However, this plan falls short on missed connection benefits and accidental death coverage, both of which are not available under most circumstances (missed connection coverage only applies to cruises, and will only cover up to $500 per person after a three-hour delay).

Read our HTH Worldwide travel insurance review .

Best Cheap Travel Insurance for Trip Cancellation

Aegis general travel insurance.

The Aegis Trip Cancellation Plan is exactly that: a cost-effective plan that offers protection in the event that your trip is canceled for a covered reason. The plan we priced out for our hypothetical trip cost just 1.16% of our total travel expenses — a very small amount of money to pay for the guarantee of our money back in the right circumstances.

The benefit is that this plan can supplement other coverage you already have, or give you a little bit of protection for a trip where you might not otherwise have opted for insurance altogether. On the downside, you won't get any protection for medical emergencies, trip interruption or delays or lost bags from this plan.

Read our Aegis travel insurance review .

Best Affordable Travel Insurance for Medical Coverage

Geoblue travel insurance.

GeoBlue is a travel insurance provider that specializes in travel medical insurance. Because it doesn't offer much trip protection or travel inconvenience coverage, it can charge cheaper premiums. A 30-year-old from California would pay as low as $20.55 for a policy that covers a two-week trip.

GeoBlue plans can cover medical expenses up to $1 million with several multi-trip annual plans available. It offers coinsurance plans for trips within the U.S. and 100% coverage for international trips. It also has a network of clinics in 180 countries, streamlining the claims process. It's worth noting that coverage for pre-existing conditions comes with additional costs.

Read our GeoBlue travel insurance review .

Best Cheap Travel Insurance for Families

C&f travel insured.

There's a lot to like about C&F Travel Insured. For one, it is one of the only travel insurance companies that offers CFAR coverage for annual travel insurance plans . Additionally, C&F is widely praised for its customer service, offering quick reimbursements for claims. Claims that don't reimburse within 30 days begin to accrue interest at 9% APY.

When it comes to affordability, C&F remains on the lower end of travel insurance costs. Policies for younger solo travelers are generally around 4% of total trip costs, which isn't bad considering average costs for travel insurance is around 4-8% of total trip costs. However, C&F excels at insuring families as children are heavily discounted with the Edge plan and completely free with the Protector plan. 

Read our C&F Travel Insured review .

Best Cheap Travel Insurance for Value

Nationwide travel insurance.

Nationwide is a well-rounded alternative to HTH Worldwide Trip Protector Economy. This plan offers solid protection for both travel-related snafus as well as situations that might call for emergency medical and evacuation, making it a good choice for trips where you have cause to worry about potential interruptions or delays. However, it does not offer protection for missed connections or accidental death.

Read our Nationwide travel insurance review .

Best Cheap Annual Travel Insurance

Trawick international travel insurance.

Trawick offers three ties of coverage for annual multi-trip travel insurance: Basic, Deluxe, and Executive. Its Basic plan offers coverage for multiple trips under 30 days with $2,500 of travel cancellation coverage over the policy term and $10,000 in emergency medical coverage. It costs a flat $163 per person.

Read our Trawick travel insurance review .

Types of Affordable Travel Insurance

Comprehensive coverage.

This type of insurance offers extensive protection, covering everything from medical issues to trip cancellations. While it's more expensive up front, it can save you a lot in the long run.

Medical-Only Coverage

As the name suggests, this policy focuses solely on travel medical emergencies , dropping trip cancellation coverage and travel inconvenience coverage. It's a cost-effective option for travelers who are primarily concerned about health-related expenses.

Evacuation and Repatriation

In extreme cases where you need to be evacuated due to a medical emergency or a natural disaster, this coverage ensures that you can return home safely without incurring huge costs.

Benefits of Opting for Cheap Travel Insurance

Cost savings.

Just because a travel insurance policy is cheap doesn't mean it's lacking. Many affordable policies offer substantial coverage, giving you peace of mind without breaking the bank. It'll also leave you with more money to spend during your trip

Cheap travel insurance can significantly reduce your travel expenses, ensuring that you're not overpaying for coverage you might not need. 

Adequate Coverage for Less

Not every trip needs the most comprehensive insurance policy. If you're taking a short, cheaper trip, you simply might not need that much coverage. That's where a cheaper travel insurance company may be able to offer you the coverage you need. 

How to Pick The Best Cheap Travel Insurance Plan for You

No single travel insurance plan will meet the needs of every single traveler. By nature, we are diverse and evolving meaning travel insurance should be equally so. Travel insurance for a week-long trip to a big city shouldn't be the same as the coverage for a backpacking expedition in the mountains. A splurge to purchase comprehensive insurance coverage may also be worth it for international ventures or other large expenditures.

In most cases, the cost difference between a basic and comprehensive travel insurance plan isn't as significant as you might think. Regardless, it's generally a good idea to choose a trusted travel insurance provider known for exceptional customer service and coverage. (For this roundup, we looked at traveler reviews shared through the travel insurance aggregator SquareMouth .)

  • Assessing Your Travel Needs: Consider the nature of your trip, the destination, and your own personal needs when choosing a policy. This ensures that you're not over-insured or underinsured.
  • Comparing Different Policies: Don't settle for the first policy you find. Compare different options, looking at their coverage and prices, to find the best fit for your budget and needs.
  • Reading the Fine Print: Always read the terms and conditions carefully to understand what's covered, what's not, and the process for making a claim.

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

To determine the best insurance plan for travelers on a budget, we evaluated dozens of products using a hypothetical trip to Australia for a single traveler, age 26, with a total cost of $2,500 for flight, hotel and other incidentals. We then compiled the plans that covered the essentials at the lowest costs.

Of note: All of these plans include COVID-related medical coverage and 24-hour assistance, and pay at least 100% of your trip cost for eligible trip cancellations. None include rental car coverage.

The four winning plans cost between $29 to $74 — significantly below the average cost of comprehensive travel insurance , which can range between 4-8% of total travel expenses, according to the US Travel Insurance Association. But these affordable plans also come with comparably low ceilings for various aspects of coverage such as emergency medical, trip cancellation, or delay — and do not include rental car or " cancel for any reason" (CFAR) protection . So if you think you might need these benefits, it may well be worth upgrading to a comprehensive travel insurance plan for a few more dollars, just for the peace of mind.

Convenience and Flexibility

Each of the plans in this list include 24-hour assistance worldwide from reputable insurance providers. And despite being on the lower end of insurance plans, each of these options includes refunds for up to 100% of your total trip cost for eligible reasons. Each of these plans also includes medical coverage for COVID-related issues that may arise during your travels, which may come in handy as the pandemic continues to evolve worldwide.

Sufficient Coverage in Essential Categories

The cheapest travel insurance plan will rarely cover every scenario that could go awry on your trip. However, each of these plans can at least help you get your money back in the event that your travel is canceled for an eligible reason, and most of them include travel medical insurance if you incur emergency medical bills while traveling. We also factor in what travelers are most concerned about now. 

You can read more about how Business Insider rates travel insurance .

Best Cheap Travel Insurance FAQs

You can reduce the cost of travel insurance by opting for simpler coverage with lower coverage limits. You may also consider companies that offer medical-only travel insurance policies. You can also consider annual travel insurance, which will save you money in the long run if you take multiple trips over one year.

Yes, many affordable policies offer comprehensive coverage suitable for international travel. It's crucial to compare policies and understand your needs. You can find our guide on the best international travel insurance here.

When shopping for travel insurance, consider the type of trip you're planning. If you're planning leisurely excursions in a big city, you may not need as much emergency medical coverage as you would if you're planning a serious hiking expedition in the mountains. A good plan should include trip cancellation, some emergency medical protection, and 24-hour assistance at a minimum.

The average cost of travel insurance is 4%-8% of your trip's cost. This usually translates into a premium between $89 to $399. That said, many companies offer premiums far below average costs.

Unfortunately, many travel insurance companies that cover pre-existing conditions reserve coverage for its more expensive plans. That said, you'll find some providers that cover pre-existing conditions with their value plan, such as C&F Travel Insured and Berkshire Hathaway .

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International Travel Insurance

Get a quote online  and take out cover before you travel. 

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Choose from three types of international cover

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Premium international travel insurance

Designed for ultimate peace of mind, rest easy with our Premium cover knowing that help is at hand when you need it most.

Premium insurance is our top-level of cover and covers you for all the major things – like medical expenses and cancellations – and the extras, to ensure every trip is a smooth one.

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  • Unlimited^ cover for medical and dental expenses
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  • Choose the Ski and Winter Sports Option to cover equipment hire, bad weather and more if you’re heading to the snow

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Essentials international travel insurance

Looking for cover that provides some extra peace of mind, but don’t need all the bells and whistles?

Essentials cover is the perfect blend.

  • Unlimited^ cover for medical expenses and $2,000 for dental
  • $25,000 cover per adult for cancellation fees
  • $1,500 towards lost, stolen, or illegally used travel documents or credit cards
  • $7,500 per adult if your luggage is lost, stolen or damaged
  • $25,000 for emergency expenses
  • $4,000 to cover rental car excesses

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Basic international travel insurance

Travelling on a shoestring doesn’t mean you have to skimp on travel insurance.

Our Basic cover is perfect for the budget-conscious who still want some cover in case of a medical emergency.

  • Unlimited^ cover for medical expenses and $500 for dental
  • $2,000 per adult if your luggage is lost, stolen or damaged*
  • $5,000 for emergency expenses

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Our emergency overseas assistance team can help you anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Call +61 2 8055 1698 .

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^Unlimited means that generally there is no cap on the maximum dollar amount which may be paid out for this benefit, subject to the specific terms and conditions, sub-limits and exclusions that apply to this benefit.

*Lost or stolen luggage must be reported within 24 hours.

¹Member discount applies to premium payable for the product.

Conditions, exclusions, limits, and sub-limits apply. This insurance is issued by Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. (ABN 80 000 438 291 AFSL AFSL 246548) (Tokio Marine).

Royal Automobile Association of South Australia Incorporated acts as agent for Tokio Marine and may receive a commission which is a percentage of the premium paid and may also receive a portion of the underwriting profit. Consider the  relevant PDS and Target Market Determination ,  Terms and Conditions  and  Privacy Policy , available on the RAA website when deciding whether to purchase this product.

Any advice set out above is general in nature only, and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any of this information, you should consider its appropriateness having regards to your personal circumstances.

Whilst the PDS outlines the Terms and Conditions of these products, the TMDs outline the intended class of customers that comprise the target market for these travel products. This will allow you to consider which products best suit your objectives, financial situation and needs and consider the products appropriateness to your personal circumstances. TMDs also outline matters involving the distribution and the review of these products. 

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June 1, 2020

Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with travel dates on or after

Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with effective start dates on or after

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Whether you're traveling for leisure or business, you'll appreciate the benefits and coverage Allianz Travel Insurance plans can provide. With 24/7 support from our travel professionals around the world, we helped over 70 million people last year to protect themselves from the unpredictable.

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Insurance benefits underwritten by BCS Insurance Company (OH, Administrative Office: 2 Mid America Plaza, Suite 200, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181), rated “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best Co., under BCS Form No. 52.201 series or 52.401 series, or Jefferson Insurance Company (NY, Administrative Office: 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233), rated “A+” (Superior) by A.M. Best Co., under Jefferson Form No. 101-C series or 101-P series, depending on your state of residence and plan chosen. A+ (Superior) and A (Excellent) are the 2nd and 3rd highest, respectively, of A.M. Best's 13 Financial Strength Ratings. Plans only available to U.S. residents and may not be available in all jurisdictions. Allianz Global Assistance and Allianz Travel Insurance are marks of AGA Service Company dba Allianz Global Assistance or its affiliates. Allianz Travel Insurance products are distributed by Allianz Global Assistance, the licensed producer and administrator of these plans and an affiliate of Jefferson Insurance Company. The insured shall not receive any special benefit or advantage due to the affiliation between AGA Service Company and Jefferson Insurance Company. Plans include insurance benefits and assistance services. Any Non-Insurance Assistance services purchased are provided through AGA Service Company. Except as expressly provided under your plan, you are responsible for charges you incur from third parties. Contact AGA Service Company at  800-284-8300 or 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233 or [email protected] .

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The Ultimate Checklist for Traveling Abroad

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Shannon McMahon

Editor Shannon McMahon is always planning her next trip and often writing in her travel journal. Follow her on Twitter @shanmcmahon_ and on Instagram @shanmcmahon .

Shannon joined SmarterTravel in 2015. A former news reporter, she's lived in the south of Spain, spotted elephants in Sri Lanka, gone spelunking in the Caribbean, hiked Jordan's Petra Basin, interviewed Sao Paulo's Michelin-Star chefs, and explored China via bullet train. Travel trends, news oddities, and her visits to up-and-coming destinations are some of her favorite things to write about.

Her stories have also appeared online on USA Today, The Sun, Huffington Post, Business Insider, blog.TripAdvisor.com, Boston.com, and more. Her educational background is in journalism, art history, gender studies, Spanish, and film. She's been quoted as an expert travel source by CNBC, People.com, MarketWatch, The Washington Post, USA Today, and more.

The Handy Item I Always Pack : "Plenty of extra thick hair elastics. They tame my frizzy curls and come in handy in a surprising number of packing and hotel dilemmas."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience : "Climbing (yes, climbing, it's steep!) the Great Wall of China before it's gone."

Travel Motto : "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." - Mark Twain

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat : "Window, of course."

Email Shannon at [email protected] .

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Traveling internationally is an adventure best planned ahead of time, and not just when it comes to booking flights and packing. Sure, showing up at your gate sans passport or forgetting melatonin for your red-eye flight can put a damper on your long-awaited escape, but most of your preparation should be dedicated to ensuring health, safety, and financial necessities are covered. To save you some prep time, we’ve compiled this international travel checklist for your next long-distance journey.

Focus on Safety First

Two boarding passes, a model plane, a travel insurance document, and a pen on a white table

One of the easiest and most important items on an overseas travel checklist is also arguably the most ignored. Travel insurance and State Department alerts can be incredibly important in emergencies abroad, but many tourists bet they won’t become part of the small percentage of travelers who require evacuation assistance or protection from hotel or flight cancellations.

Subscribing to the State Department’s STEP alerts for your destination can help you stay up to date on upcoming and current travel restrictions, strikes, and areas of political unrest. Any alerts you receive will let you know whether or not to plan for some unexpected obstacles in advance.

Travel insurance can cost as little as a few dollars per travel day and cover anything from replacing a broken camera to emergency medical attention, potentially saving you hundreds, maybe even thousands of dollars.

Get Your Travel Documents and Credit Cards in Order

Make sure your passport and any necessary travel visas are up to date. Some countries require a passport to be valid for at least six months after your scheduled return, so make sure you won’t be turned away or delayed at customs because of an old passport. Not sure if you need a visa? See this list of every country that requires a visa for Americans .

Keep physical and digital copies of your passport and all your paperwork in case anything is lost, and give copies as well as your itinerary and contact numbers to family and friends whom you can contact in case of an emergency.

Notify your bank and credit card companies about your travel dates so they don’t deny your purchases, and ask about international ATM fees so you can find out which ones won’t charge you. It’s always a good idea to bring multiple cards in case one stops working.

Don’t underestimate how helpful a cell phone photo of your passport can be. Whether you have to go to the consulate and report it lost, or are just filling out a customs card and need your passport number, it will likely come in handy. Email the image to yourself to have an extra digital copy in case your phone runs out of batteries or goes missing. You may also want to bring a spare copy of your passport photo on your trip; having it handy will speed the processing of a new document.

Your Questions About Online Passport Renewal, Answered

Get Vaccinated

It’s best to get the necessary vaccinations out of the way as soon as possible since it can take a few weeks to build full immunity. Some also require multiple doses, which may need to be administered over days, weeks, or even months. Talk to your doctor about getting the CDC-recommended shots , as the protocol for vaccines varies by country. For example, dozens of countries require proof of a yellow fever vaccination if you’ve been to at-risk areas. A travel clinic can help you sort out which vaccinations and medications you might need.

Keep your vaccination certificate in your carry-on in case customs requires you to present it when entering the country.

Study Up on Your Destination

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Whether you’re a travel app connoisseur or more of a paperback guidebook person, having some source of knowledge about your destination is invaluable. Read about the region you’re traveling to in advance to gain insight into important information such as currency exchange rates, useful phrases, tipping norms , appropriate clothing, and cultural/legal customs. It’s best to be prepared so you don’t land yourself in a compromising situation.

8 English Words You Should Never Use Abroad

Make Sure Your Home Is Cared For

There’s nothing worse than realizing once you’re six time zones away that you forgot to stop your mail delivery or ask someone to water your expertly cultivated house plants. Make sure your daily tasks are covered before you leave, or appoint a trusty friend to do them for you.

You can find a house or pet sitter to do your chores if you’re willing to list your home on TrustedHouseSitters.com . Plus, you could find lodging through the site for your trip abroad if you’re willing to spend some time with someone else’s furry friends.

Stay Connected

Want to stay in touch while traveling abroad? If you haven’t taken your phone overseas before, call your mobile provider to make sure it will work in the country you’re visiting and to ask about international phone plans that might be available. If your carrier’s plans are expensive, a mobile hotspot can be a cost-effective alternative.

Download the Necessities

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Sometimes the most important thing you’ll pack is in your smartphone rather than your suitcase. Offline maps are your best friend when it comes to traveling with limited data or battery. You can find Wi-Fi in many places, but downloading offline maps through Google Maps or CityMaps2Go will allow you to follow your GPS without using up battery life and roaming data.

Downloading in-flight entertainment could also save you if your TV malfunctions on the long-haul flight. Streaming won’t be available without consistent in-flight Wi-Fi (which you shouldn’t ever depend on) but you can pre-download movies and TV shows through Amazon Prime , and music streaming service Spotify allows paying users to download tracks for offline use with the press of a button.

Don’t forget a portable backup charger . Watching hours of your favorite TV show is sure to drain your battery life, and there’s nothing worse than finally finding a Wi-Fi spot only to have your phone die.

The 10 Best Travel Podcasts

Check Your Destination’s COVID Policies

Make sure you’re aware of your destination’s most up-to-date policies regarding COVID and vaccination status. Check with the State Department website well before your trip to make sure you meet the requirements, and check in periodically to monitor for potentially changes. Similarly to the US, mask-wearing policies may be left up to the discretion of an event or venue, so its a good idea to have a few masks on hand when out and about.

Pack These Essentials

While the contents of your checked bag will largely depend on the climate you’re visiting, you’ll want most of your trip’s essentials on hand in your carry-on. Start with this international travel checklist of items to pack:

  • Passport and visa
  • Medications
  • Insurance and ID cards
  • Cash, debit cards, and credit cards
  • Pen to fill out customs forms
  • Portable charger
  • Earplugs , eye mask , and sleeping pills
  • Electrical converters and adapters specific to your destination
  • Antibacterial wipes
  • Sweater / scarf in case the plane is chilly
  • Cell phone and charger

For more ideas, check out our ultimate packing list .

Consider taking photos of your packed suitcase (both inside and out) in case it gets lost. That way, airline employees will know what to look for, and you’ll know what was inside in case you don’t get it back and need to file a claim.

Book Your Stay With SmarterTravel Hotels

An important item to check off the list: make sure you have a place to stay when you reach your destination! Book your hotel for a great rate with SmarterTravel Hotels .

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Editor Shannon McMahon writes about all things travel. Follow her on Twitter @shanmcmahon_ .

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2016. It has been updated to reflect the most current information.

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Benefits by Category:

Benefit and Benefit amounts differ by Plan. Coverage may not be available in all states or certain terms may be different where required by state law. Review the policy wording details for the terms and conditions for your plan coverage.

Standard Plan Benefits

Reimburses forfeited pre-paid trip costs up to the maximum limit shown in the schedule of benefits as outlined in the policy wording for trips that are cancelled due to a covered unforeseen event prior to the scheduled departure date.

Reimburses the unused portion of non-refundable pre-paid trip costs and any additional covered transportation expenses incurred up to the maximum limit shown in the schedule of benefits as outlined in the policy wording.

Reimburses for the additional transportation expenses incurred to reach the return destination for trip interruptions.

Reimburses for reasonable additional expenses incurred until travel becomes possible to the originally scheduled destination, if your trip is delayed 5 or more consecutive hours because of a covered unforeseen event.

Reimburses for unused, pre-paid, non-refundable trip payments or additional transportation expenses incurred if you miss a trip departure because of a cancellation or delay of 3 or more hours due to inclement weather or a common carrier caused delay.

Reimburses for loss, theft, or damage to your baggage, personal effects, passports, travel documents, credit cards, and visas during a trip.

Reimburses for the purchase of necessary personal effects if your baggage is delayed or misdirected by the common carrier for more than 12 hours while on a trip.

Pays a benefit for reasonable and customary charges if you suffer an injury or sickness requiring you to be treated by a physician while on a trip and will reimburse for medically necessary covered expenses incurred to treat an injury or sickness during the course of the trip. The injury or sickness must first begin while on an overnight trip with a destination of at least 100 miles from your primary residence.

Covers the evacuation and transportation to the nearest adequate licensed medical facility, if ordered by the onsite physician. In the case of death, covers expenses for returning home. Trip must be overnight and destination must be at least 100 miles from your primary residence.

Pays if, within 365 days of an accident, loss of life, limb or eye sight occurs.

Additional Benefits -If purchased within 21 days of trip purchase

Removes the policy exclusion on pre-existing medical conditions. You must be medically able to travel when this insurance is purchased. This coverage applies only if you have insured the full cost of all prepaid, non-refundable costs associated with your Trip.

Covers trip cancellation/interruption due to the financial default of an airline, cruise line, or tour operator.

Provides accidental death & dismemberment coverage while traveling on a regularly scheduled airline or charter to a higher maximum.

Coverage becomes Primary on Travel Essentials Plus and Travel Choice Plus plans.

Coverage becomes Primary on Travel Choice Plus plan.

Adds an additional amount to the benefit maximum on the Travel Essentials Plus plan.

Optional Benefits - If selected by the applicants and the required premium is paid

Upgrades your Accident and Sickness Medical Expense maximum limit, upgrades your Emergency Evacuation maximum limit and includes evacuation to your hospital of choice.

Provides accidental death & dismemberment coverage, to a maximum of your choosing between $100,000 and $500,000, while traveling on a regularly scheduled airline or charter.

If your rental vehicle is damaged on a trip, a maximum of $35,000 ($250 deductible) will be paid towards the repair or reimbursement of the vehicle.

Assistance Services

Provides restaurant and hotel referrals, transportation referrals, entertainment information, golf course information and referrals, locating available business services, and city and cultural information.

Provides medical monitoring, Doctor, hospital, Dentist and clinic referrals, replacement of eyeglasses, emergency medical payments, emergency medical transportation, medical evacuation or repatriation, and escort transportation.

Provides access to country specific health information, visa, passport and inoculation requirements, cultural information, embassy and consular references, foreign exchange rates, weather conditions, and travel advisories.

Provides emergency message relay to relatives, friends and business associates, emergency cash, legal and bail assistance, emergency travel arrangements, location of lost or stolen documents, assistance with foreign language and interpretation problems.

Provides on the ground security assistance in the event of a potentially life-threatening military or political event while traveling and access to a crisis hotline and assistance center to discuss any safety concerns or to secure assistance while traveling.

This plan does not cover any loss caused by or resulting from: intentionally self-inflicted Injury, suicide, or attempted suicide of the Insured while sane or insane (this exclusion does not apply to any medical benefits); Normal Pregnancy or Childbirth, other than Unforeseen Complications of Pregnancy, or elective abortion of the Insured, a Traveling Companion or a Family Member; participation in professional athletic events, motor sport, or motor racing, including training or practice for the same; mountaineering where ropes or guides are normally used and specialized equipment is necessary for the ascent or descent of a mountain. Specialized equipment includes but is not limited to pick-axes, anchors, bolts, crampons, carabineers, and lead or top-rope anchoring equipment; war or act of war, whether declared or not, participation in a civil disorder, riot, or insurrection; operating or learning to operate any aircraft, as student, pilot, or crew; air travel on any air-supported device, other than a regularly scheduled airline or air charter company; commission of or attempt to commit a felony by the Insured; Mental, Nervous or Psychological Disorder; if the Insured’s tickets do not contain specific travel dates (open tickets); being under the influence of drugs or narcotics, unless administered upon the advice of a Physician or intoxication above the legal limit; any Loss that occurs at a time when this coverage is not in effect; traveling for the purpose of securing medical treatment; any Trip taken outside the advice of a Physician;

PRE-EXISTING MEDICAL CONDITION EXCLUSION: The Company will not pay for any loss or expense incurred as the result of an Injury, Sickness or other condition (excluding any condition from which death ensues) of an Insured, Traveling Companion, Business Partner or Family Member which, within the 90 day period immediately preceding and including the Insured’s coverage effective date: (a) first manifested itself, worsened, became acute or had symptoms which would have prompted a reasonable person to seek diagnosis, care or treatment; (b) for which care or treatment was given or recommended by a Physician; (c) required taking prescription drugs or medicines, unless the condition for which the drugs or medicines are taken remains controlled without any change in the required prescription drugs or medicines.

Unless otherwise provided by this plan Benefits will not be provided for any loss resulting (in whole or in part) from:

travel arrangements canceled by an airline, Cruise line, or tour operator, except as provided elsewhere in the plan; changes in plans by the Insured, a Family Member, or Traveling Companion, for any reason; financial circumstances of the Insured, a Family Member, or a Traveling Companion; any government regulation or prohibition; an event which occurs prior to the Insured’s coverage Effective Date; failure of any tour operator, Common Carrier, person or agency to provide the bargained-for travel arrangements or to refund money due the Insured.

Benefits will not be provided for any Loss, or damage to, caused by, or resulting in whole or in part from:

animals, rodents, insects or vermin; bicycles (except when checked with a Common Carrier); motor vehicles, aircraft, boats, boat motors, ATV’s and other conveyances; artificial prosthetic devices, false teeth, any type of eyeglasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, or hearing aids; keys, notes, securities, accounts, currency, deeds, food stamps, bills, or other evidences of debt, or tickets; money, stamps, stocks and bonds, postal or money orders; property shipped as freight, or shipped prior to the Departure Date; contraband, illegal transportation or trade; items seized by any government, government official or customs official; defective materials or craftsmanship;  normal wear and tear; deterioration.

Coverage is not provided in whole or in part for any loss to, or due to:

the Insured or his/her Traveling Companion violating the rental agreement; rentals of trucks, (not including jeeps or SUV’s) campers, trailers, off road vehicles, or Exotic Vehicles; any obligation the Insured or his or her Traveling Companion assumes under any agreement except insurance collision Deductible; failure to report the Loss to the proper local authorities and the rental car company; damage to any other vehicle, structure, or person as a result of a covered Loss; participation in contests of speed, motor sport or motor racing including training or practice for the same; driving under the influence of alcohol; being under the influence of drugs or intoxicants, unless prescribed by a Physician; war or act of war, whether declared or not, the Insured’s participation in a civil disorder, riot or insurrection.

Unless otherwise provided by this plan Benefits will not be provided for the following:

routine physical examinations;  mental health care; replacement of hearing aids, eye glasses, contact lenses, and sunglasses; routine dental care; any service provided by the Insured, a Family Member, or Traveling Companion; alcohol or substance abuse or treatment for the same;  Experimental or Investigative treatment or procedures; care or treatment which is not Medically Necessary, except for related reconstructive surgery resulting from trauma, infection or disease; coverage for Trips less than 100 miles from the Insured’s Primary Residence.

Coverage for Trips less than 100 miles from the Insured’s Primary Residence.

Benefits will not be provided for the following:

loss caused by or resulting directly or indirectly from Sickness or disease of any kind; stroke or cerebrovascular accident or event; cardiovascular accident or event; myocardial infarction or heart attack; coronary thrombosis; aneurysm.

Want to learn more? Contact your travel advisor or insurance broker for more information.

For general coverage questions or changes to an existing policy, contact our chubb travel protection customer service center:, 844.825.2264 (inside the us)  585-939-7468 (outside the us) option 3 directs to our customer service center team hours of operations: 8am – 8pm est, monday - friday, for medical emergencies or during trip assistance, contact our chubb travel protection assistance center:, 844.825.2264 (inside the us)  585-939-7468 (outside the us) option 1 directs you to our chubb travel protection assistance team available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

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This information is a brief description of the features of the travel insurance plan. Coverage & pricing may vary by state. The provision of this webpage is for informational purposes only and is not an insurance contract. The Policy or Certificate of Insurance along with the travel insurance policy claim process is available at  https://ssp.chubbtravelinsurance.com/ctius

Coverage is being marketed by Chubb Insurance Solutions Agency, Inc. located at 202 Halls Mill Road, Whitehouse Station, New Jersey 08889. View terms and conditions at  Disclosure . Insurance benefits are underwritten by ACE Property & Casualty Insurance Company or ACE American Insurance Company, located at 436 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106. Chubb NA is the U.S.-based operating division of the Chubb Group of Companies headed by Chubb Ltd. (NYSE:CB). Insurance products and services are provided by a licensed producer, and not by the parent company itself.

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For many people, buying travel insurance is like grabbing your toothbrush - a last-minute afterthought before rushing off to the airport. But preparing for a great holiday should also mean preparing for the holiday from hell... just in case. We show you how to pick the right level of insurance for your trip and how to understand the exclusions in the fine print. Plus, what you should know about the automatic cover offered by some credit cards. 

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Travel Insurance

The insurance protection you need for travel’s many “what ifs”

essentials plus international travel insurance

When it comes to travel, careful planning only takes you so far. Travel insurance can fill the gaps, helping you recover your costs or get specialized support if your trip takes an unexpected turn. Chubb offers plans that provide insurance protection for covered, unexpected risks of modern travel while giving you compassionate, reliable, and responsive service when you need it most.

Why Purchase Travel Insurance?

  • Depending on your major medical coverage, your medical insurance may not cover expenses you incur while traveling internationally.  That’s why accident and medical expense benefits are a key component of our travel insurance plans.
  • It can be complicated to get emergency support when traveling.  Our travel insurance plans include 24/7 access to travel and medical assistance experts who can provide guidance and coordinate care when needed.
  • Trip cancellations, interruptions, and delays happen.  When they do, travel insurance helps ensure that your trip expenses are protected.  

Travel Insurance Plan Options

We understand that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to travel. The same is true for travel insurance. Our plans offer flexible costs, benefits, and limits—so you can scale coverage based on your needs. Your travel advisor or insurance broker can help you find the right travel insurance solution for your needs. Our travel insurance plan options include:

Annual plans

Provide coverage 24/7/365 for all travel throughout the year, anywhere in the world

Single trip plans

Cover you while traveling on specific dates of an upcoming trip

Travel Insurance Coverage Highlights*

Travel insurance benefits vary by plan and may include coverage for:

  • Trip cancellation and trip interruption
  • Missed connection 
  • Lost baggage or personal effects
  • Baggage delay
  • Accident and sickness medical expense coverage for expenses that go beyond the policy limit (excess coverage)
  • Emergency medical evacuation for illness or injury and safe return home
  • Accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) insurance
  • Security evacuation for situations of political unrest and military action

Additional travel services include:

  • 24/7 assistance services to help you navigate the unexpected, like the loss of eyeglasses or medication; medical emergencies; lost travel documents such as a passport or visa; legal assistance needs; translation or interpretation needs; and more
  • Use of our mobile app, featuring travel planning tips and anytime access to contact our experts

For guidance on finding the right travel insurance solution, please contact your travel advisor or insurance broker.

*Annual Plans are not available for travelers over 80 years old. Travel benefits apply when you are traveling 100 miles or more away from home. This information is descriptive only. All products may not be available in all jurisdictions. Coverage is subject to the language of the policies as issued.

Related Coverage

From high-rise condos to historic buildings, we’ve got your home covered.

With our broad coverage and unparalleled service, you can trust Chubb to help protect your valuables.

We help you stay ahead — and informed with these helpful tips and tricks

This information is descriptive only. All products may not be available in all jurisdictions. Coverage is subject to the language of the policies as issued.

essentials plus international travel insurance

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International Travel Insurance

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We offer two types of international travel insurance:

  • International Essentials  for those who want a little extra spending money, offering excellent coverage without breaking the bank.
  • International Plus  ensuring you’re prepared for just about any situation with extensive coverage for a huge range of events.

Once you’ve chosen the best level of cover for you,  get an express quote online right now .

To speak to someone on the phone about our travel insurance policies, call us now on 1300 889 178.

Got a question?

1300 889 179.

Product Disclosure Statements

Travel Insurance Product Disclosure Statement

The Kogan Travel Insurance difference

Unlimited overseas medical benefits

Explore with confidence knowing that we will be there to alleviate emotional and financial stress in your time of need.~

Need COVID-19 cover?

We offer limited coverage for COVID-19 amendment and cancellation costs. ≈

24-hour emergency, medical and security assistance

Our team of in-house doctors, nurses and case managers are available to help you 24/7.

Comprehensive insurance

Cover for luggage, trip cancellations, medical expenses (on International plans) and more! View PDS .

Up to $12,000 luggage and personal effects cover*

Cover for items such as phones, laptops, jewellery and more (on International Plus plan).*

Get in touch

~ Medical and dental cover will not exceed 12 months from the onset of the illness, injury, or condition. ^ The level of cover You choose applies per policy. * Sub-limits apply. # Limits apply. • Item limit applies for any one item, set or pair of items including attached and unattached accessories. You may increase these items limits if You wish. † Maximum liability collectively is $45,000. ≈ A special excess will apply to Additional Expenses if You are diagnosed with COVID-19 on Your trip and Amendment or Cancellation Costs if You or Your travelling companion are diagnosed with COVID-19 on Your trip. If Your claim is under both sections, the higher special excess will be deducted. The special excess applies in addition to any other excess.

Please note: Limits, sub-limits and conditions apply. This is general advice only. Please consider your own needs and the Combined FSG/PDS to decide if this product is right for you. For information on the  Target Market  and  Target Market Determinations  visit  koganinsurance.com.au/useful-docs/ .

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COMMENTS

  1. Travel Insurance

    Up to $2,500 cover if you incur additional travel expenses (including for Covid-19 diagnosis) Up to $5,000 cover for lost or stolen luggage (sub limits apply) Up to $600 cover if your experience travel or baggage delays. Up to $8,000 rental car excess. No cover for any event or set of circumstances that you were aware of at the time you booked ...

  2. Chubb Travel Insurance Review

    The least expensive of the options, the Travel Basics Plus plan will set you back $124.62. The Travel Essentials Plus policy comes in at $150.73 and provides more coverage. The most expensive plan ...

  3. International Travel Insurance

    We offer two types of international travel insurance: International Essentials for those who want a little extra spending money, offering excellent coverage without breaking the bank.; International Plus ensuring you're prepared for just about any situation with extensive coverage for a huge range of events.; Once you've chosen the best level of cover for you, get an express quote online ...

  4. PDF Jetstar Travel Insurance

    Jetstar Travel Insurance International Comprehensive Plan This document was prepared on 25 October 2023 The insurer of this product is AIG Australia Limited (AIG), ABN 93 004 727 753, AFS License Number 381686 Product Disclosure Statement. 2 Table of contents About this Product Disclosure Statement 4

  5. Best Covid-19 Travel Insurance Plans Of 2024

    Best Covid Travel Insurance Policies. Travel Insured - Worldwide Trip Protector. WorldTrips - Atlas Journey Elevate/Atlas Journey Explore. Seven Corners - Trip Protection Choice/Trip ...

  6. Compare International Travel Insurance 2024

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

  7. Travel Insurance

    Buying Bupa Travel Insurance for your trip can offer cover for minor things, like a delayed suitcase, or significant things, like an unexpected trip cancellation or an overseas medical emergency. Plus, Bupa Health Insurance members get 15%# off. Our team of in-house doctors, nurses and case managers are available to help you 24/7.

  8. Experts say travel insurance is crucial: Here's how it actually works

    Green added that, generally, if a customer buys travel insurance from an airline provider, since the carrier "doesn't know all the details of your trip" beyond the price and date of the flight ...

  9. Zurich to buy AIG's travel insurance unit for $600 million

    American International Group Inc. has agreed to sell its personal travel insurance business to Zurich Insurance Group Ltd. for $600 million, plus a potential earnout, as AIG continues to focus on ...

  10. Best COVID-19 Travel Insurance in June 2024

    This is the shortlist of the best travel insurance for COVID options: Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection. IMG. John Hancock Insurance Agency, Inc. Seven Corners. Travelex Insurance Services ...

  11. My 15 Travel Essentials to Surviving a 15-Hour International Flight in

    One former travel editor and shopping writer shares her must-have travel essentials that keep her comfortable on long-haul, international flights. From self-heating eye masks and face mists to portable batteries and noise-canceling headphones, these 15 items available at Amazon are always in her personal item and carry-on luggage. Shop these deals starting at $10.

  12. 13 best luggage for international travel

    It's perfect for international travel with a super lightweight, 1-pound design and a 16-liter capacity. Made from durable, water-resistant 1000D polyester, it features a padded laptop sleeve ...

  13. Chubb Travel Protection

    Contact your travel . advisor or insurance . broker for a quote. 3. Coverage Overview. Coverage limits are per person. *Limits vary by State. Standard Plan Benefits Travel Basics Plus Travel Essentials Plus Travel Choice Plus Trip Cancellation 100% of Trip Costs ($100,000 maximum) 100% of Trip Costs ($100,000 maximum) 100% of Trip Costs ...

  14. 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.

  15. Cheap Travel Insurance: Protecting Your Journey on a Budget

    Best for reputation: Trawick International Travel Insurance; Top Cheap Travel Insurance Company Comparison. ... We then compiled the plans that covered the essentials at the lowest costs.

  16. Jetstar Travel Insurance reviews

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  17. International Travel Insurance

    International Travel Insurance. When it comes to travel, you can be confident we'll be there for you every step of the way. With our flexible Travel Insurance products and 24/7 emergency assistance, we always make sure your travel needs are taken care of. Plus, members save 10%.¹. Get a quote online and take out cover before you travel.

  18. Travel Insurance Plans

    AllTrips Premier. This plan provides an entire year of worldwide travel protection and concierge service. One plan can cover you and your household, whether you're traveling separately or together. Discover the affordable and comprehensive travel insurance plans offered by Allianz Global Assistance. Get a Quote and buy online instantly.

  19. Which travel insurers cover you for cruises?

    Which travel insurers cover international cruises? When choosing a policy, it's important to make sure the region you're visiting is covered and that it suits your needs and itinerary. Insurer - Policy. Age limit (inclusive) Cruise cover. AHM - Comprehensive (Zurich) 85. Optional. AHM - Medical Only (Zurich)

  20. Basic Travel Insurance

    About the Essential Plan. Budget-friendly. Perfect for domestic travel. 24/7 emergency assistance. Optional add-on coverage. Family coverage. We understand you have a budget, that's why Travel Guard offers our Essential Plan. With fewer coverages and lower benefit limits, the Essential Plan is often the lowest cost option for most travelers.

  21. The Ultimate International Travel Checklist

    Start with this international travel checklist of items to pack: Passport and visa. Medications. Insurance and ID cards. Cash, debit cards, and credit cards. Pen to fill out customs forms ...

  22. Review our Benefits

    Unless otherwise provided by this plan Benefits will not be provided for any loss resulting (in whole or in part) from: travel arrangements canceled by an airline, Cruise line, or tour operator, except as provided elsewhere in the plan; changes in plans by the Insured, a Family Member, or Traveling Companion, for any reason; financial circumstances of the Insured, a Family Member, or a ...

  23. Travel insurance comparisons, information and buying guide

    Our free comparison will help you sort through international travel insurance policies for seniors, cruisers, backpackers, babymooners and families. Domestic travel insurance comparison Compare domestic travel insurance policies for seniors, singles, couples or family travel.

  24. PDF Essentials Travel Insurance

    PART 2. 4. Policy inclusions and choices. Single Trip or Annual Multi-Trip. The Essentials travel insurance policy provides cover for international travel. You can choose a policy to cover one Single Trip or, if You are a frequent traveller, rather than buying a Single Trip policy each time You travel, You may want to buy an Annual Multi-Trip ...

  25. 14 International Travel Essentials You Should NEVER Travel Without

    14 Essential Things to Bring on EVERY International Trip - International Travel Checklist. 1. Passport + Travel Documents. Make sure you have your passport and all travel documents, including: 2. Copy of ALL DOCUMENTS - International Travel Essentials. I ALWAYS make a copy or two of my passport, Driver's License, and Visa before going on any ...

  26. Travel Insurance

    The insurance protection you need for travel's many "what ifs". When it comes to travel, careful planning only takes you so far. Travel insurance can fill the gaps, helping you recover your costs or get specialized support if your trip takes an unexpected turn. Chubb offers plans that provide insurance protection for covered, unexpected ...

  27. International Plans

    T-Mobile international plans are great for data and texting while traveling abroad without incurring roaming charges. ... speed data in select Central European countries; otherwise, standard speeds approximately 256 Kbps. Go5G Next and Go5G Plus: Up to 15GB high-speed data in 215+ countries and destinations, then unlimited at up to 256 Kbps ...

  28. InsureandGo Australia International Travel Insurance

    InsureandGo Australia International Travel Insurance - Bare Essentials (Single Trip) (Travel Insurance): 4.2 out of 5 stars from 174 genuine reviews on Australia's largest opinion site ProductReview.com.au.

  29. International Travel Insurance

    International Plus ensuring you're prepared for just about any situation with extensive coverage for a huge range of events. Once you've chosen the best level of cover for you, get an express quote online right now. To speak to someone on the phone about our travel insurance policies, call us now on 1300 889 178. Policy Benefits.

  30. International Travel Insurance

    Have added peace of mind with our international travel insurance, with a choice of Saver, Essentials and Comprehensive plans. You'll have access to 24/7 medical support, with a global network of medical and emergency experts to assist you. As an added bonus all members receive a 10% discount on our travel insurance products.