Our experts answer readers' insurance questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess insurance products). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own.
Even occasional travelers know how unpredictable trip planning can be. You could spend months planning the perfect itinerary only to get sick or have a family emergency, or it could be something pleasant like a new family member or wedding causing you to cancel your trip. That's where travel insurance comes in.
Best Travel Insurance Companies of November
- Nationwide Travel Insurance: Best Overall
- AXA Assistance USA: Runner-Up
- Travel Guard: Best for Cruises
- Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection: Best Reputation
- Tin Leg Travel Insurance: Best for Travelers with Preexisting Conditions
- WorldTrips Travel Insurance: Best for Digital Nomads
- Trawick International Travel Insurance: Best Low-Cost Option
- Travelex Travel Insurance: Best for Road Trips
Best Travel Insurance Company Reviews
Travel insurance comes in handy when you're facing flight delays, cancellations, and lost baggage. Regardless of the losses or causes, a little protection goes a long way in planning the perfect vacation.
Nationwide Travel Insurance
Nationwide Essential also offers some of the most affordable policies in the market compared to similar plans from competitors, which makes it a great pick for just about anyone. Buyers can discuss bundling options as Nationwide also sells homeowners, auto, pet, and other insurance products. Its travel insurance quoting is just as easy as it has been with other Nationwide insurance products.
Nationwide Travel Insurance Review
AXA Assistance USA Travel Insurance
While add-ons are limited and rental car coverage is not included by default on cheaper plans, AXA is a perfect fit for travelers who don't plan to drive (or who already hold credit cards with rental car coverage), and don't need any additional bells and whistles.
AXA Assistance USA Travel Insurance Review
AIG Travel Guard Travel Insurance
While the company's policies can be pricey compared to its competitors, the high medical and evacuation limits make AIG a solid choice for older travelers who value peace of mind and simplicity over highly customizable plans that may to be bolstered with medical upgrades.
Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection
Approved claims are also paid out very rapidly, making it easier to carry through with a trip when luggage has been lost or alternative travel plans need to be made on the fly.
Berkshire Hathaway Travel Insurance Review
Tin Leg Travel Insurance
Tin Leg Travel Insurance Review.
WorldTrips Travel Insurance
However, travelers should keep in mind that plans are not particularly flexible, and coverage amounts are limited unless you plan ahead to pay for the areas and amounts that you need.
WorldTrips Travel Insurance Review
Trawick International Travel Insurance
Trawick Travel Insurance Review
Travelex Travel Insurance
- Travel Basic
- Travel Select
- Travel America
The Travelex American plan is meant for trips limited to the US, but it has the highest coverage limits in many areas compared to its other programs. If you're flying somewhere, the lost baggage limits are higher. Its natural strengths shine for road trippers, though. Travelex America adds coverage for roadside service and rental car coverage for unexpected accidents. It also covers pets should you be involved in an accident while on the road.
While your standard auto insurance does extend to car rentals within the US for a limited time, any accident would affect future rates. Travelex would eliminate the risk of reporting to your auto insurance provider for minor incidents within its purview.
Travelex Travel Insurance Review
Travel Insurance Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best travel insurance company?
There isn't one best travel insurance company; there are many great providers on the travel insurance market today. Our overall winner was Nationwide for its breadth of coverage options. AIG Travel Guard, AXA, Berkshire Hathaway, Tin Leg, WorldTrips and Trawick also made the cut. The best pick for you will depend on what features you value the most, like a low premium or high coverage limits.
What does a travel insurance plan cover?
A comprehensive travel insurance plan will cover your financial expenses for various situations that may go awry. This could include trip cancellation, interruption, delays, baggage delay and loss, and medical coverage, especially when traveling overseas.
Do I need travel insurance?
If you're hesitant about your plans, purchasing an upgrade to cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage or "cancel for work reasons" can be a good way to buy yourself peace of mind.
Which international travel insurance is best?
The best international travel insurance isn't necessarily different from the best travel insurance for travel in the US, since the top providers offer strong customer support no matter what time zone you're in. For example, Berkshire Hathaway allows travelers to file claims quickly and directly through a smartphone app for fast processing and payment. However, we recommend looking at the current requirements of your destination country, how long you plan to be on the road, and other factors. And read our guide to the best international travel insurance companies for more info.
Is it worth it to get travel insurance?
Travel insurance went from being a "nice to have" to a "must have" for many travelers during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Many insurance providers now offer COVID-related coverage, which can greatly increase your peace of mind in case you need to cancel, quarantine or modify your trip.
Which travel insurance is best for the USA?
Depending on where you go, the travel insurance provided by your credit card may be sufficient for low-risk trips across the United States. But if you plan to do any activities such as hiking, or have a multi-activity itinerary where you might lose money if you miss a leg of travel, it might make sense to purchase an independent travel insurance plan that can pay for any rebooking or medical expenses you might incur.
How do I find the right travel insurance?
There isn't a one-size-fits-all solution for every traveler. Determine the benefits that are most important to you, like baggage delay coverage, medical coverage, and trip delay coverage, then look for a company with solid customer ratings, especially when it comes to processing claims.
How to Pick the Best Travel Insurance Company for You
There isn't a one-size-fits-all policy that works perfectly for every traveler. Young, healthy solo travelers can opt for much cheaper plans that offer bare-bones coverage, while families juggling complex itineraries will do best by investing in a robust policy that can help defray any costs associated with lost baggage, delayed transportation or other trip-impeding obstacles.
That being said, you can't go wrong with a travel insurance provider that boasts a reputable history and offers a wide range of customizable plans. In some cases, you may be comparing plans that are only a few dollars' difference apart from each other. In such situations, you should generally opt for the insurance company that offers stronger customer service and has been favorably reviewed by other travelers, particularly if they have undertaken similar trips to yours.
An insurance aggregator like InsureMyTrip or Squaremouth is one of the best tools for searching travel insurance policies. Once you input the specifics of your travel itinerary, you'll be able to see hundreds of search results to compare the ones that catch your eye. If the options are too overwhelming, use the filters to the left of your search page to eliminate as many irrelevant plans as possible.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Chose The Best Travel Insurance Companies
To come up with our list of the best travel insurance companies, we evaluated each insurer based on the following factors:
Policy Types
Travel insurance is essential, but often underused partly because people aren't getting what they want. Insider's 2023 travel study showed 10.65% of travelers surveyed bought cancel for any reason insurance. Cost may be a factor, but in many cases, the coverage is more affordable than you might think. Regardless, companies must offer a diverse range of coverage options. We award 5 stars to companies offering all standard coverages and additional options like pet and sports equipment protection.
Our 2022 travel study indicated the majority of purchases were made through the travel provider (ex: flight protection insurance when you're purchasing your airline tickets). While these may be sufficient for some customers, we look for companies offering a more comprehensive range of services.
Cost
According to the US Travel Insurance Association, the average cost of travel insurance will be between 4% and 8% of total travel expenses. Anything beyond that price point should include additional benefits beyond the standard inclusions, such as CFAR protection or upgraded medical coverage. Anything below that 4% threshold may leave you lacking important or sufficient coverage in an emergency.
Convenience and Flexibility
Whether you're an infrequent traveler or a suitcase warrior, a good travel insurance company should have you covered. In many cases, you might not even have to talk to a person in order to purchase your policy.
Many people think of travel insurance in context with specific trips, but most of these top contenders sell both single-trip and multi-trip policies, also known as annual travel insurance. Some companies also offer plans specifically designed for cruisers, students abroad, and business travelers. (Read our guide to the best cruise travel insurance companies for more details.) Finally, all of these providers offer multiple options for getting the specific areas and amounts of coverage that you want.
Claims Handling
Most travelers never have a large claim. Premiums are low, and it provides peace of mind for the just in case situations. So they leave reviews based on their reduced stress levels. But what happens if you lose your luggage or have to stay a few extra days due to an unexpected accident? Will your insurance carrier cover your claim without all the hassle? We check real customer reviews to sort this out for you.
Ease of Use and Support
When purchasing, during your trip, and throughout the claims process, you may need extra support. Does the company have a 24/7 help line? Does it have an online or mobile system allowing you to self-manage? Essentially, what are the options when you need help? We look at the big picture to evaluate the average customer experience with each company.
You can read our full insurance rating methodology for even more details.
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