9 Best Travel Insurance Companies

Travel insurance can cover expenses related to lost or damaged baggage, major medical emergencies, hotel or flight cancellations and other risks that come with traveling.

Due to COVID-19, travel insurance is now more relevant than ever. To learn about travel insurance and how it can protect your upcoming trip, or to find out more about the best travel insurance companies in the market, read on.

Our Top Picks for the Best Travel Insurance

• HTH Travel Insurance – Best for Seniors
• Travel Guard – Best for a Wide Variety of Policy Options
• Nationwide – Best for Cruises
• Seven Corners – Best for Group Travel
• World Nomads – Best for Adventure Sports Coverage
• Arch RoamRight – Best for Frequent Travelers
• Travelex Insurance Services – Best for Families with Kids
• Generali Global Assistance – Best for Emergency Support Services
• Travelinsurance.com – Best for Comparing Quotes

Best Travel Insurance Reviews

Why we chose it: While other companies limit coverage options for senior travelers, HTH Travel Insurance will cover travelers up to age 95 — regardless of whether they have a primary medical insurance plan. With HTH, travel medical plans also feature high coverage limits and will even cover 100% of outpatient prescription medication costs.

Besides trip protection plans, HTH also advertises group policies and international expatriate travel insurance for those who live internationally or are crewmembers, students or missionaries. However, these policies are underwritten by and sold through BCBS GeoBlue.

HTH’s coverage for accidents and illnesses ranges from $75,000 to $500,000, much higher than average. Travel medical policies also include coverage for outpatient prescription medications on trips outside of the United States, which few other companies currently offer.

HTH Travel Insurance has a mobile app that allows you to search for doctors in your area, pay healthcare providers directly, see vaccination requirements for your destination and access medical translation databases as well as a medication equivalency tool. The company also has a 24-hour emergency hotline service.

Why we chose it: Travel Guard offers three main coverage tiers and a wide variety of optional policies that allow you to increase your base coverage and add flexibility to your trip. Some of its more unique add-ons include an inconvenience benefit for closed attractions and the ability to name any person of your choice as your family member in case of an emergency.

Beyond the basics, some of Travel Guard’s more unique add-on policies include adventure sports coverage, wedding guest trip insurance, an inconvenience benefit for closed attractions and canceled events, an option to add any person of your choice as your designated family member (even when you’re not related) and a pet coverage bundle.

With Travel Guard, you can choose between three coverage tiers with travel medical benefits for accidents and illnesses ranging from $15,000 to $50,000. While these limits are low compared to other companies, Travel Guard does provide Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage with all its plans and emergency evacuation, both of which are typically excluded from most economy packages.

This last option is worth noting because while other companies offer coverage for pet boarding only, Travel Guard’s pet bundle includes accident/illness coverage as well as trip cancellation or interruption if your pet is in critical condition or dies up to 7 days before your departure date. Depending on your state, the pet insurance bundle could cost a little over $20.

As for travel assistance benefits, Travel Guard offers 24-hour support for emergency changes, tracking lost luggage and replacing lost credit cards. You can also get pre-trip travel advice, assistance in coordinating an emergency cash advance and relaying e-mail or phone messages to family and colleagues.

Why we chose it: Nationwide is a well-known national insurer selling a broad range of policies, including single- and multi-trip travel insurance plans as well as policies that offer coverage for cruise-specific risks such as fires, mechanical breakdowns, itinerary changes and non-medical evacuations.

Nationwide’s trip protection and cruise-specific policies offer fairly standard coverage across the board, and there are very few add-ons from which to choose. Additional coverage is limited to CFAR and AD&D, only available with the mid and top-tier plans.

Covered cancellation reasons vary by policy, with the Luxury cruise plan offering the most comprehensive list ( including inclement weather, extension of semester, work emergency, terrorism and CDC health warning).

Nationwide offers two single-trip plans and three cruise-specific policies with accident and illness coverage ranging from $75,000 to $150,000 (secondary to your existing medical policy). Its cruise plans can reimburse you for up to 100% of the cost of a canceled trip —  although approved cancellation reasons are much more limited in the lower coverage tiers — and cover itinerary changes due to fires and mechanical failures.

All of Nationwide’s travel insurance policies include non-insurance and travel assistance services, including interpretation and translation (upon request), medical monitoring during a medical emergency, medical and dental referrals, and assistance with replacing medication, medical devices and eyeglasses, among others.

Why we chose it: Not all travel insurance companies offer coverage for groups of travelers, and, with few exceptions, those that do limit coverage to 8 or 10 individuals. Seven Corners is among the few travel insurance providers offering comprehensive travel insurance coverage to groups of over 10 people, and at competitive rates.

Beyond standard coverage, group travel policies with Seven Corners include emergency eye exams, physiotherapy, chiropractic care, prescription drugs, local ambulance transportation, services in extended care facilities, local burial or cremation, return transportation for children, natural disasters and political security evacuation, border entry protection, and much more.

For groups of 10 or more travelers, Seven Corners will cover anywhere between $50,000 and $500,000 for accidents and illnesses for travelers aged 14 days to 64 years. For travelers between the ages of 65 and 75, the medical benefit maximum only goes up to $100,000 — still a generous amount.

For traveling students and faculty (10 or more people), Seven Corners offers many of the same benefits plus coverage for motor vehicle accidents, vaccinations, maternity and routine newborn care, mental illness (including alcohol and substance abuse), dental pain relief and accidents related to contact sports. All policies include the option to add coverage for hazardous activities and pre-existing conditions. It’s worth noting that most of the aforementioned benefits are generally excluded from travel insurance policies.

Additional benefits from Seven Corners include CFAR coverage (up to 75%), trip interruption for any reason (IFAR), event ticket registration fee protection, rental car damage, sports and golf equipment rental, and AD&D coverage. Travel assistance services are free with all plans and include help with a host of issues, from obtaining medical escorts for unaccompanied children and translating medical records to help with passport recovery and interpreter referrals.

Why we chose it: World Nomads is among the few travel insurance companies offering coverage for a broad range of adventure sports and other high-risk activities as part of its base plan. Some of these activities include scuba diving, gliding, backpacking, skiing, cycle touring, and many, many more.

Besides coverage for a long list of sports and high-risk activities, World Nomads also offers ample protection for personal effects and sports equipment, especially under the Explorer plan. Unlike other companies, which limit coverage for personal effects at a maximum of $2,000, World Nomads will cover up to $3,000, with a per-article limit of $1,500, great for those traveling with expensive gear.

World Nomads offers simple travel insurance policies tailored to the needs of adventure travelers and competitive athletes. It offers two policies, the Standard and the Explorer, both of which offer up to $100,000 in travel medical benefits for accidents and illnesses.

While other companies offer higher levels of travel medical benefits, few include accidental death and dismemberment coverage with their base plans and cover accidents resulting from adventure sports, much less over 200 of them.

World Nomads policies include 24-hour assistance services from Generali Global Assistance, which provides multilingual help and referrals for medical emergencies. The service will help you find physicians or medical facilities near you or coordinate medical escorts or transportation.

Why we chose it: Unlike other travel insurance companies, which offer multi-trip plans that cover only “several” trips throughout the year, RoamRight’s multi-trip annual plan will cover you for an unlimited number of trips (lasting up to 30 consecutive days) throughout the plan year —  regardless of your destination.

RoamRight’s multi-trip annual policy, available to travelers aged 75 and under, allows trip cancellation and interruption for up to the cost of the trip, up to $1,000 in coverage for personal effects and $25,000 for emergency medical expenses. The policy also includes AD&D coverage, a waiver of pre-existing medical conditions and political and natural disaster evacuation (limited to one occurrence per year).

Coverage for accidents and illnesses with RoamRight ranges from $50,000 to $75,000 in benefits. While comparatively low, these limits are for primary medical coverage, which means you may file a claim with your travel insurance company first. All plans include political and security evacuation, while its mid and top-tier policies add an AD&D benefit.

Travel assistance services are included with all policies for help with medical emergencies and evacuation arrangements, information about local customs, laws and requirements, and interpretation services. Roam Right also has a mobile app that allows you to file claims, store important documents, access audio translations of medical terms, find prescription equivalents, and more.

Why we chose it: While other travel insurance companies include coverage for one child under the age of 17 traveling with an insured adult, Travelex Insurance services takes this benefit a step further by extending coverage to all children traveling with an adult under its higher-tier plan, the Travel Select.

Travelex’s Travel Select plan, the higher-end tier, provides standard protection plus coverage for an unlimited number of children traveling with the insured adult, sports equipment delay coverage and a pre-existing conditions exclusion waiver. The Travel America plan is also great for domestic family trips. It includes shared benefits for up to seven traveling companions, pet medical expense and pet return benefits, a three-day pre-existing condition exclusion waiver and rental car collision coverage with roadside assistance.

Travelex offers two international travel insurance coverage tiers as well as a policy for trips within the U.S. Its international plans offer low accident and illness coverage limits ranging from $15,000 to $50,000, yet all plans include an AD&D benefit and will cover certain high-risk activities such as scuba diving, bungee jumping, river rafting, horseback riding, hiking and more.

Those looking to customize their policies may also add CFAR coverage, AD&D, rental car collision coverage and adventure sports coverage for extreme sports or adventures beyond those covered by the base policies. All plans include free 24/7 emergency assistance services by World Travel Protection, which include travel documents and ticket replacement, interpretation services, 24-hour legal assistance, and help with medical evacuations, payments and prescriptions.

Why we chose it: As part of The Europ Assistance (EA) Group, a pioneer in the travel assistance industry since 1963, Generali Global Assistance offers 24/7 worldwide pre-travel and medical support services through a network of over 35 multilingual call centers. Besides offering help with such issues as obtaining legal assistance, posting bail and arranging return travel for pets, Generali’s travel insurance plans also include a direct payment option for emergency medical treatments and a telemedicine option that connects travelers with U.S.-based doctors.

Generali’s mid-tier plan includes separate coverage of sporting equipment and sporting equipment delay, AD&D for travel accidents and financial insolvency coverage. Its top-tier plan, on the other hand, includes higher coverage limits for all of the benefits included in the other policies, plus a pre-existing conditions exclusion waiver. Add-on policies include up to $25,000 in rental car damage and trip cancellation for any reason.

Generali offers three coverage tiers with increasing accident and illness benefits: $50,000, $150,000 and $250,000. Besides generous medical coverage, all three plans include AD&D coverage for flight accidents and a telemedicine benefit that connects travelers with licensed U.S. physicians for treatment advice and prescriptions.

Generali’s travel assistance services include 24/7 travel support, concierge services and identity theft resolution services. Some of its standout support features are emergency cash transfers (up to $500), legal referrals, assistance replacing prescription medication or glasses, pet returns (travel arrangements), vehicle returns, and more.

Why we chose it: TravelInsurance.com allows users to shop for travel insurance from some of the most well-known names in the industry. Once you enter your trip details, Travelinsurance.com will offer you a selection of policies from its partners. You can easily compare coverage details and further narrow down your search using filters.

TravelInsurance.com partners with AIG Travel Guard, April Travel Protection, AXA Assistance USA, Generali Global Assistance, Global Trip Protection, GoReady Insurance, IMG, John Hancock Travel Insurance, RoamRight, Seven Corners, Tokio Marine HCC, Travel Insured International, Travelex, Trawick International and World Nomads.

As a marketplace, Travelinsurance.com offers travel insurance policies from well-known, trusted travel insurance agencies. The site is easy to use, just input your trip details and get quotes for several different policy options in a format that makes it easy to compare coverage and buy travel insurance quickly. You can also filter results by features and add-on policies, such as cancel for any reason and coverage for COVID-19.

Travel Insurance Guide

The following guide contains additional information on travel insurance, including how it works, what it covers and how much it costs.

What is travel insurance for?

The purpose of travel insurance is to protect you against financial losses that can occur when you’re traveling domestically or internationally. Most trip insurance policies cover such things as canceling or postponing travel, interrupting a trip ahead of schedule due to an emergency, baggage loss or delay and medical emergencies.

Travel insurance companies generally sell round-trip protection, annual and group plans that will reimburse you for covered claims up to the limits stated in your policy. You may also purchase upgrades such as increased medical benefit limits, cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage and protection for pets traveling with you, among others.

What does travel insurance cover?

Travel insurance policies vary in coverage from company to company, so read your contract or schedule of benefits thoroughly to understand covered items, exclusions and limitations.

In general, most policies will cover the following:

Trip cancellation insurance

Most travel insurance plans offer trip cancellation for covered reasons, such as illness, death and financial hardship. If your reason for canceling is covered under your policy and you cancel before your scheduled departure date (most companies specify how many hours or days before the trip), you can be reimbursed for up to 100% of non-refundable covered expenses.

Trip Interruption

Trip interruption coverage allows you to cut your trip short due to a covered reason and be reimbursed for unused, prepaid expenses that are not refundable, such as hotel bookings and transportation. Some covered reasons include accident, illness and death, yet some policies may also cover extreme weather events, natural disasters and terrorism, among others.

Travel Delays

Most travel insurance policies provide a benefit for expenses related to travel delays. These may include reimbursement for meals, lodging and baggage that hasn’t arrived within a given time frame — typically 12 hours or more. Some policies will also cover fees associated with missed connections, although some companies sell this benefit separately.

Emergency medical expenses

Coverage for emergency medical care is typically included with most travel insurance policies. This type of coverage will reimburse you for expenses related to accidents, illnesses and dental emergencies, up to a limit. Some policies may also include AD&D, medical evacuation coverage and repatriation of mortal remains in case of death.

Some travel insurance providers require you to have primary health insurance in order to purchase travel medical insurance, as most travel policies offer only secondary medical coverage. This means that travel insurance will pay for the remaining medical costs after your own health insurance policy has covered up to the plan limits.

Baggage and personal effects

Coverage for baggage and personal effects will reimburse you for lost, stolen or damaged luggage, up to the limits stated in your policy. There is typically a maximum reimbursement limit per item and a combined maximum limit, yet some companies may also have a separate limit for high-value items such as sports equipment and electronics.

Worldwide assistance

The vast majority of travel insurance companies offer worldwide travel assistance for medical, legal and travel-related emergencies.

These services often include 24/7 multilingual hotlines where you can request help with such issues as replacing prescription medications, reporting lost/stolen items or documents, getting emergency cash and rescheduling hotel bookings and reservations.

Some companies also have mobile apps from which you can easily file claims, read important notices about your travel destination, find doctors in your area and access translation databases with common medical terminology.

Popular travel insurance add-ons

Like other types of insurance, travel insurance policies can be customized through various add-ons and riders. Riders allow you to increase coverage limits and add benefits otherwise excluded from the base policy.

Keep in mind, however, that add-on insurance options vary by company and that adding optional coverage to your policy can significantly increase its cost.

Some popular travel insurance add-ons include:

• Cancel for any reason: As the name suggests, CFAR policies allow you to cancel a trip for any reason that isn’t otherwise covered in the base policy and receive a reimbursement for your prepaid travel expenses.
• Rental car coverage: This add-on will cover physical damage to a rental car stemming from a collision. Most policies also include emergency roadside assistance.
• Adventure sports coverage: This policy provides coverage for high-risk activities typically excluded from base travel insurance policies. Covered adventure activities can include hiking, rock-climbing and scuba diving, among others.
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D): Some companies include AD&D coverage with their trip protection policies, while others sell it as a separate add-on. AD&D will pay a benefit if the insured dies or loses a limb due to a covered accident (typically during air travel, although coverage varies).
• Pet coverage: Some travel insurance companies offer coverage for pet boarding and expenses related to illnesses and injuries during a trip. This may include trip cancellation/interruption if the pet becomes ill or dies before the scheduled departure date.

What is not covered by travel insurance?

As we have previously alluded to, travel insurance features some notable coverage exclusions.

Again, policies will vary by company and coverage level selected, yet most travel insurance policies exclude the following:

• Pre-existing conditions: By far the most common travel insurance exclusion, pre-existing conditions refer to illnesses or injuries that developed before coverage began. In the case of travel insurance, the look-back period may encompass anywhere between 60 and 180 days before the date of purchase. Some companies will waive the pre-existing conditions exclusion if you purchase a certain level of coverage within a specified timeframe before the trip’s initial deposit date.
• Cancellations: Travel insurance policies typically have a review period during which you can cancel coverage. After this period, if you cancel your travel plans for a reason covered under your policy, you may be reimbursed for the prepaid, non-refundable costs of your trip. To cancel your trip for any other reason besides those covered under your policy (and get reimbursed), you must purchase a CFAR add-on.
• Travel warnings or advisories: With some exceptions, you cannot cancel your trip due to government-issued travel advisories, especially if you purchased travel insurance after the warning was issued. Travel advisories may concern weather events, disease, civil unrest and national security.
• Childbirth: Most travel insurance policies exclude childbirth expenses but may cover complications due to pregnancy.
• High-risk activities: Again, accidents that result from the policyholder’s participation in adventure sports or extreme activities generally won’t be covered unless you purchase an add-on policy.
• Psychological conditions: Most plans will not cover nervous, mental or psychological conditions unless the policyholder is hospitalized or partially hospitalized while the policy is in effect. Similarly, self-inflicted injuries are typically not covered.
• Substance abuse: Any claims related to alcohol, drug or substance abuse will not be covered under most policies.

Before purchasing travel insurance, read your policy details thoroughly to understand whether these or other inclusions apply. You may also want to confirm whether the travel insurance agency offers review periods (for cancellation) in your state, as this benefit may not be available everywhere.

Does travel insurance cover mandatory COVID testing?

Most travel insurance policies will not cover the cost of COVID-19 testing required for travel from a foreign country into the United States. However, if you were to become ill during your trip and a physician requested you get COVID tested, your policy might cover the cost.

If you have medical insurance, your plan may cover COVID testing. Alternatively, there may be testing sites and health centers in your area that offer low or no-cost COVID-19 tests, even to the uninsured.

Read the following article for more travel insurance tips in the age of COVID.

How much is travel insurance?

According to a study of over 50 travel insurance companies, the average cost of travel insurance in the United States is around $95 for a week-long international trip. Actual prices, however, will vary depending on the cost and duration of the trip, the number of people enrolled in the policy and the age of each traveler, among others.

As with other forms of insurance, travel insurance prices will also vary depending on the insurance company and level of coverage you select. More comprehensive travel insurance policies will cost more than bare-boned trip protection plans without medical benefits or trip cancellation options.

What is “cancel for any reason” travel insurance?

CFAR coverage allows you to cancel your travel plans for reasons other than those specified in your policy and get reimbursed for 50% to 75% of the prepaid, non-refundable cost of your trip. This type of coverage is generally sold as an add-on, which means it is not included with base travel insurance policies and comes at an additional cost.

Cancel-for-any-reason coverage cannot be purchased separately as a stand-alone policy and is generally only available with the highest levels of coverage, not with economy packages. Most companies also require travelers to purchase CFAR coverage within a specified number of days from the date of their initial trip deposit and to notify them of the trip cancellation at least 48 hours before the departure date — that is, you can’t make last-minute cancellations.

Adding CFAR coverage to your policy may increase its price by as much as 50%. Nevertheless, purchasing this add-on is the only way to get reimbursed by your policy if you cancel your trip due to commonly excluded reasons such as fear of flying or contracting an illness like COVID-19.

Does my credit card have travel protection?

Some credit cards do offer travel protection, including coverage for lost stolen luggage, baggage and trip delays, travel accidents, rental car coverage and even trip cancellation coverage.

However, not all credit cards offer such protection, and those that do may not offer all of the benefits listed above. Additionally, there may be limits to the benefits included with your card.

Contact your credit card company or read your card’s guide to benefits to confirm whether it affords any travel protection and understand applicable limits and exclusions. Alternatively, if you’re a frequent flier looking for a new credit card, research and compare the best travel rewards cards.

How to choose the right travel insurance policy

The right travel insurance policy for you will depend on the kind and level of protection you want for your trip.

Base your choices on:

• The cost and duration of your trip
• Your destination (whether its covered and if there are any travel advisories)
• Whether the insurer covers any pre-existing conditions you may have
• The activities you will take part in during your trip
• The travel assistance services included with the policy

We highly recommend you compare quotes from several companies to make sure you’re getting the best price for the level of coverage you need. And, as always, read the coverage details carefully before buying a policy.

How much travel insurance do I need?

Most travel insurance companies offer basic trip protection plans that include trip cancellation and interruption for covered reasons, as well as some post-departure benefits like coverage for lost, stolen or delayed luggage. Some policies may also include travel medical benefits for accidents and illnesses as well as dental emergencies (not routine care).

Depending on your travel plans, you may not need additional protection beyond that which a base travel insurance policy will cover. Consider purchasing additional coverage only if you are traveling with valuable equipment, will take part in high-risk activities or would like the benefit of being able to cancel your trip for any reason. On this last point, bear in mind that many airlines have eliminated change and cancellation fees — some temporarily while others permanently — due to the Coronavirus pandemic, so you may not need additional cancellation benefits.

Lastly, take into account whether your credit card includes some form of travel protection and what your medical insurance will cover while you’re abroad, so you don’t end up purchasing more coverage than you need.

You might also want to check the cancellation policies for the accommodations and transportation you’ve booked, since their lenience may mean you don’t need to purchase as much coverage as you might have assumed. Many hotels have long allowed cancellations for any reason without penalty until very close to check-in time. Also, most airlines waived change or cancellation fees early in the pandemic, and many are yet to restore those charges. Fee waivers sometimes don’t apply to less expensive tickets, however, so check the current rules before you book your flights.

How We Chose the Best Travel Insurance

We considered the following when selecting the top travel insurance companies featured on this list:

• Coverage options: Opting for a company with a good variety of coverage options and add-ons can help you customize your policy according to your needs. We chose companies offering several plan options to choose from, including annual and group plans, coverage for pets and other supplemental benefits.
• Travel assistance services: Travel assistance services can influence your overall travel experience, both positively and negatively. We looked for companies offering travel assistance in the form of 24/7 emergency hotlines, mobile applications for quick claims filing and other useful extras such as translation glossaries and multilingual support.
• Financial strength: When buying any kind of insurance, you want to make sure the insurance company that underwrites the policies is financially stable and can pay out claims without risk of bankruptcy. We prioritized companies selling insurance policies underwritten by well-known and financially-stable insurers as evidenced by A.M. Best’s Financial Strength Ratings.

Summary of the Best Travel Insurance

• HTH Travel Insurance – Best for Seniors
• Travel Guard – Best for a Wide Variety of Policy Options
• Nationwide – Best for Cruises
• Seven Corners – Best for Group Travel
• World Nomads – Best for Adventure Sports Coverage
• Arch RoamRight – Best for Frequent Travelers
• Travelex Insurance Services – Best for Families with Kids
• Generali Global Assistance – Best for Emergency Support Services
• Travelinsurance.com – Best for Comparing Quotes