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8 Cheapest Travel Insurance Companies Worth the Cost

Trawick International »

World Nomads Travel Insurance »

AXA Assistance USA »

Generali Global Assistance »

Seven Corners »

Allianz Travel Insurance »

IMG Travel Insurance »

WorldTrips »

Why Trust Us

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

Table of Contents

• Trawick International
• World Nomads Travel Insurance
• AXA Assistance USA

There are plenty of smart ways to save money on your travel plans, but refusing to buy travel insurance isn't necessarily one of them. Not having travel insurance can mean being on the hook for exorbitant medical bills or costs for emergency transportation if you become sick or injured during your trip. You could also face significant financial losses if your trip is delayed or your bags are lost or stolen, and without travel insurance you won't have a third party to rely on for assistance.

Buying affordable travel insurance makes more sense than skipping this coverage altogether, so read on to find out which companies offer the cheapest plans and all the protections you can get for a low cost.

How We Chose the Cheapest Travel Insurance Companies

To determine the cheapest travel insurance companies, U.S. News created sample traveler profiles for three separate eight-day trips to different destinations (the Cayman Islands, Spain and California) at a range of price points ($6,500, $10,500 and $8,500, respectively). We used that information to get quotes for the cheapest option for 100% trip cancellation coverage for each trip. We then calculated the average cost of the trips.

The travel insurance companies that made our ranking have a high credit rating and offer the lowest average cost, outlined below. (Note: The sample average costs are not price quotes from U.S. News. To find a travel insurance price quote, use the "View plans" link to enter your trip details and find more information.)

• Generali Global Assistance
• Seven Corners
• Allianz Travel Insurance
• IMG Travel Insurance
• Trip cancellation coverage (up to $30,000) for 100% of the insured vacation
• Trip interruption coverage (up to $30,000) for 100% of the insured vacation
• Trip delay coverage worth up to $1,000 ($150 per day for delays of 12 hours or more)
• $750 in coverage for lost and damaged luggage; $200 for baggage delays
• Up to $500 in coverage for missed connections of three hours or more
• Up to $50,000 in emergency medical coverage ($750 sublimit for emergency dental)
• Up to $200,000 in coverage for emergency medical evacuation
• Up to $2,500 of trip protection for cancellation or interruption
• Up to $1,000 in coverage of lost, stolen or damaged baggage; up to $750 for baggage delays on your outward journey
• Up to $100,000 in emergency medical insurance; $750 dental sublimit
• Up to $300,000 in coverage for emergency medical evacuation
• 24-hour travel assistance services

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• Up to 100% coverage for trip cancellation and interruption
• Up to $500 in coverage for trip delays ($100 per day)
• Up to $500 in coverage for missed connections
• Up to $25,000 in coverage for emergency medical expenses
• Up to $100,000 in coverage for emergency medical evacuation
• Up to $750 in coverage for baggage and personal effects; $200 for baggage delays
• Up to $10,000 in coverage for accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D)
• Up to $25,000 in coverage for common carrier AD&D
• Coverage up to 100% of the insured vacation for trip cancellation
• Up to 125% of the insured vacation cost for trip interruption
• Travel delay coverage worth up to $1,000 per person ($150 per person daily limit)
• Up to $1,000 per person for lost, damaged or stolen bags; $200 per person for baggage delays
• Up to $500 per person for missed connections
• Up to $50,000 in emergency medical and dental coverage
• Up to $250,000 in coverage for emergency assistance and transportation
• AD&D coverage for air travel worth up to $50,000 per person ($100,000 per plan)
• Trip cancellation coverage up to $30,000
• Trip interruption coverage up to 100% of the cost of the trip
• Trip delay coverage worth up to $600 (for six-hour delays; $200 limit per person per day)
• Lost, stolen or damaged baggage coverage up to $500
• Baggage delay coverage worth up to $500 (for six-hour delays; $100 per day)
• Missed cruise or tour coverage worth up to $500 ($250 per day)
• Emergency accident and sickness medical coverage worth up to $100,000 (secondary coverage)
• Up to $750 in emergency dental coverage
• Up to $250,000 in protection for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation of remains
• Trip cancellation coverage worth up to $10,000 per traveler
• Trip interruption coverage worth up to $10,000 per traveler
• Travel delay coverage worth up to $300 ($150 per day)
• Luggage loss and damage protection up to $500 per traveler
• Baggage delay coverage worth up to $200 per day
• Emergency medical and dental coverage up to $10,000 ($500 for dental expenses)
• Emergency medical transportation coverage worth up to $50,000
• 24-hour hotline assistance
• Up to 100% in coverage for trip cancellation
• Trip interruption benefit worth up to 125% of the trip cost
• Up to $500 for travel delays per person ($125 daily maximum per person)
• Up to $750 for lost, damaged or stolen bags ($250 maximum per item)
• Up to $150 in luggage delay coverage
• Up to $100,000 in emergency medical coverage
• Up to $500,000 in coverage for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation of remains
• Trip cancellation coverage worth up to 100% of trip cost (up to $10,000)
• Trip interruption coverage up to 100% of trip cost
• Up to $500 in coverage for travel delays (five-hour delay required; $100 daily limit)
• Coverage worth up to $1,000 for lost, damaged or stolen baggage ($250 per item)
• Coverage worth up to $200 for baggage delays of 12 hours or more
• Up to $250 in coverage for airline reissue or cancellation fees
• Up to $250 in coverage for reinstatement of frequent traveler awards
• Emergency medical and illness coverage worth up to $10,000
• Up to $500 in coverage for emergency dental expenses
• Up to $250,000 in coverage for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation of remains
• AD&D coverage worth up to $10,000
• Travel assistance services

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

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

You might also be interested in:

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The Best Senior Travel Insurance Companies of 2024

Alex Carver is a writer and researcher based in Charlotte, N.C. A contributor to major news websites such as Automoblog and USA Today, she’s written content in sectors such as insurance, warranties, shipping, real estate and more.

Tori Addison is an editor who has worked in the digital marketing industry for over five years. Her experience includes communications and marketing work in the nonprofit, governmental and academic sectors. A journalist by trade, she started her career covering politics and news in New York’s Hudson Valley. Her work included coverage of local and state budgets, federal financial regulations and health care legislation.

After researching and rating 20 travel insurance companies and over 40 plan options, the MarketWatch Guides team found that Faye offers the best senior travel insurance.

Based on our quotes, travel insurance plans for seniors are usually more expensive than for younger customers because companies assume an increased risk of health incidents and more costly medical expenses. We at the MarketWatch Guides team researched nearly two dozen travel insurance companies to identify the best in the industry.

Top 9 Best Senior Travel Insurance Companies of 2024

Here are our picks for the top travel insurance companies for U.S. seniors. All companies we’ve ranked as our top picks offer pre-existing conditions coverage or a waiver.

• Faye: Our top pick for seniors
• Travelex : Our pick for families
• Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection : Our pick for luxury travelers
• Nationwide Travel Insurance : Our pick for cruise travel
• Generali Global Assistance : Our pick for emergency assistance
• AXA Assistance USA : Our pick for leisure travelers
• Seven Corners Travel Insurance : Our pick for international travelers
• HTH Travel Insurance : Our pick for group travel
• International Medical Group : Our pick for medical coverage

Compare Travel Insurance Companies for Seniors

It’s important to balance coverage with cost when searching for a senior travel insurance policy to ensure you get the best deal possible. See the table below for the average cost of a travel insurance plan based on quotes we gathered from our top company picks. We’ve also included our recommended plans for seniors and Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings across each provider.

* Average costs are based on quotes our team gathered from each provider using four different traveler profiles, ranging from 70 to 81 years old.

The Best Senior Travel Insurance in Detail

Why We Picked Faye for Senior Travelers

We chose Faye as our top pick for senior travelers. While it offers only one plan, the company includes $250,000 worth of primary medical coverage on all its policies and has a pre-existing conditions waiver to help seniors cover chronic medical conditions. To qualify for this pre-existing coverage waiver, you must purchase your policy within 14 days of your initial trip deposit and be medically able to travel at the time of plan purchase. Faye’s policies also provide $500,000 in emergency medical evacuation coverage, which older travelers may require if they have a complex health condition or are in a remote area.

Pros and Cons

Coverage and cost.

Faye offers the following add-on options:

• CFAR coverage
• Rental car damage or theft
• Adventure and extreme sports protection
• Vacation rental damage protection

We gathered quotes directly from Faye to better understand the cost of a travel insurance policy for seniors. Based on the quotes we gathered, the average cost of senior travel insurance is $337.

Why We Picked Travelex for Senior Travelers

Travelex is worth considering for senior travelers because of its primary medical coverage. If you become hospitalized outside of the U.S. , Medicare won’t pay for most injuries and illnesses. A travel insurance plan that offers secondary coverage may leave you with a major medical bill after a serious accident. Travelex’s Travel Select plan allows seniors to upgrade their primary medical coverage with additional medical and emergency evacuation coverage, providing peace of mind while abroad.

You can choose from the following add-on coverage with Travelex:

• Cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage (up to 75% of trip costs)
• Accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) and medical benefit upgrades
• Car rental collision

We gathered quotes directly from Travelex to learn more about the average cost of a travel insurance policy for seniors through the company. Based on these quotes, Travelex’s average cost is $585.

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection

Why We Picked Berkshire Hathaway for Senior Travelers

Berkshire Hathaway’s coverage is worth considering for seniors planning a luxury vacation or group travel, especially if premiums are too expensive elsewhere. In particular, the company’s LuxuryCare policy offers travel protection up to $100,000, ideal for travelers accustomed to more high-end accommodations. Berkshire Hathaway’s policies also include automatic coverage for pre-existing conditions if you buy a policy within 14 days of your initial deposit date.

You can add several coverage options to your LuxuryCare plan within 15 days of your trip deposit:

• Cash advance assistance
• CFAR Upgrade
• Financial default or airline or other transport covered
• Pre-existing medical conditions waiver
• Roadside assistance

We’ve gathered dozens of quotes in our review to better understand the cost of senior travel insurance. Based on quotes collected by our research team from Berkshire Hathaway, the average cost for a senior travel insurance policy is $381.

Nationwide Travel Insurance

Why We Picked Nationwide for Senior Travelers

Nationwide is one of the few travel insurance providers to offer cruise-specific coverage, based on our research, with its policies featuring several inclusions benefitting older travelers. Trip interruption coverage includes up to 200% of your trip cost, and you can qualify for a pre-existing conditions waiver up to 21 days after your initial deposit. While medical limits are lower than most competitors, Nationwide’s general and cruise-specific coverages present a viable option for older travelers.

Nationwide offers the following add-ons, but available coverage may vary by plan.

• AD&D coverage (available on all plans)
• Rental car coverage options (Essential and Prime plans)
• CFAR coverage (Prime Plan, Cruise Choice and Luxury plans)

We gathered quotes directly from Nationwide to better gauge what a travel insurance policy costs for seniors. Based on the quotes collected by our research team, a senior travel insurance plan with Nationwide costs $407 on average.

Generali Global Assistance

Why We Picked Generali Global Assistance for Senior Travelers

We named Generali Global Assistance our pick for emergency assistance, as the provider offers a team of bilingual representatives on standby to assist in an emergency. Generali’s policies include around-the-clock travel assistance, and its Premium plan offers generous medical coverage of up to $250,000. In addition, Generali’s medical coverage does not have a lower cap for dental coverage, a benefit if you experience a dental abscess or another major dental emergency on vacation.

Generali offers fewer add-on options than other insurance providers we reviewed, including:

• Rental car accident insurance (offers up to $25,000 with the Standard and Preferred plans)
• CFAR insurance (available with the Premium plan only)

Note that the Premium plan includes rental car coverage as standard so the add-on is not available to those customers.

We gathered quotes directly from Generali to learn about the cost of a travel insurance policy for seniors. Based on these quotes, seniors can expect to pay $298 for a Generali plan.

AXA Assistance USA

Why We Picked AXA Assistance USA for Senior Travelers

We chose AXA Assistance USA as our pick for leisure travelers. We think AXA is ideal for seniors planning a leisurely trip because of the added benefits it offers, including reimbursement for lost rounds of golf and sporting equipment rentals. Its upper-tier plans include identity theft coverage and 24/7 travel services. It also has the option to add coverage for pre-existing conditions. To benefit from the pre-existing conditions exclusion waiver, you must purchase your AXA Assistance USA policy within 14 days of your initial trip deposit.

AXA offers the following add-on coverage for any travel insurance policy:

• CFAR coverage (up to 75%)
• Collision waiver on a rental car (up to $50,000)

After gathering direct quotes from AXA Assistance USA, a senior traveler can expect to pay, on average, $483 for an AXA plan.

Seven Corners Travel Insurance

Why We Picked Seven Corners for Senior Travelers

As an older traveler, you may focus on comprehensive medical care and evacuation protections when buying travel insurance. Seven Corners offers a broad selection of medical insurance policies, with travelers 65 to 79 years old provided up to $100,000 in medical coverage. Travelers 80 years and older can receive $10,000 in coverage, which is an age many other providers exclude from enrollment entirely. Seven Corners also offers medical evacuation coverage up to $1 million, which can benefit those traveling to a remote area.

With Seven Corners, you can choose from the following add-ons:

• CFAR insurance
• Event ticket registration fee protection
• Interrupted for any reason (IFAR) coverage
• Rental car collision waiver ($35,000 maximum)
• Sports and golf equipment rental coverage

Our research team collected quotes from Seven Corners using various senior traveler profiles. We found that a senior traveler can expect to pay $388 on average.

HTH Travel Insurance

Why We Picked HTH for Senior Travelers

If you’re a senior traveling with a group, you might consider buying coverage through a travel insurance provider offering benefits when you purchase two or more policies at once. HTH Travel Insurance policies have a 10% discount for groups of travelers over the age of 65 and include medical limits of up to $1 million. Nationwide underwrites policies in most areas, and you may qualify for up to 200% of trip interruption coverage and primary medical benefits.

You can add the following coverage to your group insurance plan:

• CFAR insurance (must purchase within 10 days of your first trip deposit)
• Rental car damage (not available in Oregon, New York or Texas)

Based on quotes our research team gathered from HTH Worldwide,  senior travelers can expect to pay $437 on average .

International Medical Group

Why IMG Is Great for Senior Travelers

If you’re looking for more extensive medical coverage, you can find a number of policies available through International Medical Group (IMG). The company has inclusive international policies, with more than five choices and up to $8 million in medical coverage on single-trip plans. It also offers GlobeHopper Senior plans tailored specifically to senior travelers by not enforcing a maximum age restriction. IMG makes it easier for seniors to customize coverage than other companies we’ve researched, allowing you to skip baggage and delay-related coverage if you solely want medical insurance.

Rental car damage and theft coverage, which some companies offer as add-ons, is included with many of IMG’s plans. You can add the following optional coverages:

• Pet kennel (up to $100 per day with a max of $300 per pet)
• Pre-existing condition review

IMG’s medical insurance policies include some exclusions limiting when you can use your coverage. But you can purchase a waiver that extends coverage to medical issues resulting from adventure sports and terrorism.

Based on quotes we gathered from IMG using four different senior traveler profiles, a 70-year-old couple taking a 7-day, $4,000 trip to Mexico will pay around $428 .

How We Ranked the Best Senior Travel Insurance Companies

After reviewing dozens of travel insurance providers, we ranked the best options for senior travelers by cost, coverage and value. The following are the major factors that influenced how we ranked each company:

• Medical expense limits: Companies with higher medical expense limits ranked higher on our list, specifically providers offering medical benefits higher than $250,000.
• Primary medical coverage: Medicare does not cover most medical bills incurred abroad. Companies offering primary medical coverage scored higher than those that only offer secondary coverage.
• Emergency medical evacuation: Not every travel insurance company offers medical evacuation coverage. We ranked companies with at least $100,000 in coverage higher than those with a lower benefit amount or not offering coverage at all.
• Premium costs: Travel insurance is more expensive for seniors because insurance companies consider older adults more likely to run into a medical issue and file an insurance claim. To compare premium costs , we gathered quotes for a U.S. couple taking a trip to the United Kingdom and ranked companies based on average affordability.
• Travel assistance: We ranked companies offering 24/7 travel assistance higher than those with more limited customer service hours.

How Much Does Senior Travel Insurance Cost?

The average cost of travel insurance for seniors is $417. However, seniors can likely expect to pay anywhere from $159 to $745 for a policy. Our team analyzed average travel insurance policy costs for senior travelers by gathering quotes from multiple providers using four different traveler profiles. Based on these quotes, we found the average cost of travel insurance for seniors was about 9% to 18% of their trip’s total value.

See the table below for a breakdown of average policy costs across the traveler profiles we used to gather quotes during our research process.

The table below shows the average cost of senior travel insurance by provider, averaging each of their plan costs for all 4 traveler types highlighted above, from cheapest to most expensive.

Keep in mind your actual travel insurance policy cost as a senior will depend on factors such as your age, total trip cost, level of coverage and more. We recommend gathering quotes from at least three different travel insurance companies before settling on a plan.

How To Pick The Best Senior Travel Insurance

When shopping for senior travel insurance, consider the following tips to pick the right policy for your coverage needs.

Check for Pre-Existing Conditions Waivers

Most travel insurance companies exclude pre-existing conditions from medical coverage. If you’ve had changes in your health before purchasing a policy — such as a new diagnosis or new medication — a company may consider it a pre-existing condition.

Senior travelers with chronic medical conditions or a new diagnosis can see if their travel insurance provider offers a waiver for pre-existing conditions. This waiver can prevent a travel insurance company from denying medical-related reimbursements if you have a pre-existing condition, as it keeps the provider from examining your recent medical records when reviewing a claim.

Angela Borden, a product marketing specialist at Seven Corners, encourages travelers to check on medical coverage if they have pre-existing conditions.

“Contact your insurance provider to be sure you fully understand the pre-existing conditions coverage for the plan you choose,” she said, “being prepared and having the information before you need it in an emergency can make a huge difference.”

Opt for Primary Medical Coverage

If you get your health insurance through Medicare, you may consider travel insurance providers that offer primary (rather than secondary) medical coverage. Medicare does not pay for medical care provided outside the U.S., which can make travel insurance for seniors valuable. Providers like Travelex and Faye are good options for seniors who think they may need international medical care policies with primary coverage.

According to our survey of 1,000 people who have purchased a travel insurance policy in the past, over 60% recommend that a friend buy a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes medical coverage, cancellations, baggage, etc., over a cheaper policy with less coverage.

Choose a Plan With at Least $100,000 in Medical Coverage

Travel medical insurance can protect you if you need emergency medical care while on a trip. If you’re a senior with a Medicare policy that covers your domestic healthcare needs, your policy likely will not cover medical bills you incur in another country. If you need healthcare services due to a sudden illness or injury, a travel insurance plan with medical coverage can likely protect you financially in an emergency.

We recommend senior travelers obtain at least $100,000 in medical coverage based on our review of travel insurance companies and research into emergency medical expenses. If you experience a serious medical emergency that requires hospitalization, your healthcare bills might add up quickly. Consider your financial situation, the length of your travels and other factors when deciding on the amount of coverage you’re comfortable purchasing.

Get at Least $250,000 in Medical Evacuation and Repatriation Coverage

When traveling to a location without an accessible or strong healthcare infrastructure, the need for medical evacuation increases if you have a severe accident. If you need transport in an ambulance, helicopter or another specialized medical vehicle, medical evacuation coverage can help cover transport-related bills. Repatriation benefits — often included alongside medical evacuation coverage — cover the cost of transporting your remains back to your home country in the event of death abroad.

We recommend getting emergency evacuation coverage of at least $250,000, ideally $500,000. According to Medjet , medical transport costs can range from $30,000 to over $180,000, so you’ll likely want limits that can provide you with peace of mind if you need transport during a medical crisis.

Frequent International Travelers: Consider Annual Travel Insurance

Seniors who plan to travel to multiple destinations over the course of a year might consider an annual travel insurance policy. Annual, multi-destination travel insurance covers multiple trips over a set period — typically 12 months. If you plan on traveling frequently while returning to your home base between trips, this coverage may offer a cost-effective way to protect your travels versus buying multiple single-trip policies for all your adventures. 

Keep in mind that while annual coverage is typically cheaper than buying multiple individual plans, these plans often have lower limits for emergency medical expenses. Consider what’s most important to you in a travel insurance policy before deciding on a single-trip or annual travel insurance plan.

Make Sure You Have 100% Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance

Trip cancellation insurance and trip interruption coverage can reimburse prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses if your trip is canceled or interrupted for a reason listed under your policy. Qualifying expenses can include flights, hotel reservations, rental car costs, and prepaid excursions and activities. Ensuring your trip cancellation and interruption coverages provide at least 100% reimbursement can protect your wallet and peace of mind if you experience circumstances beyond your control.

Consider a “Cancel For Any Reason” Coverage Add-On

Cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage is an add-on worth considering if you foresee canceling your trip for a reason not covered by a standard travel insurance policy. While a typical plan covers cancellations due to a death in the family, hospitalization, military orders or deployment, and more, CFAR coverage allows you to cancel for virtually any reason. If you use your CFAR coverage, you will receive reimbursement up to a set percentage amount of your trip as outlined in your policy.

According to the participants in our study over the age of 54, 60% purchased CFAR coverage, and 19% purchased Interruption for any reason (IFAR) coverage.

How To Save On Travel Insurance

If you’re concerned about the cost of travel insurance as a senior, there are ways to save money. For example, a travel insurance policy with lower coverage limits may suffice if you’re traveling somewhere low-risk to relax versus a more adventurous location.

Or, if you have a credit card with travel insurance benefits such as trip cancellation or trip interruption coverage, you can choose to purchase a separate plan that only includes travel medical coverage. This could be cheaper than a comprehensive policy. If you do not need medical coverage, you can choose to rely on credit card benefits alone to save even more money. 

Keep in mind that cheaper is not necessarily better. Make sure you’re comfortable with lower coverage limits if you choose a cheaper plan and, assuming your policy has lower limits, can pay out of pocket if needed in a medical emergency or other untimely situation. Considering your unique needs as you travel can help you better choose a plan that’s right for you.

Read more: AMEX Travel Insurance

What Else Do Seniors Need To Know About Travel Insurance?

The following are some things to consider if you’re a senior considering purchasing traveling insurance. 

Created with Sketch Beta. COVID-19 is usually treated as a typical illness: Under most travel insurance policies, COVID-19 is treated the same as any other illness covered under the policy. If you contract COVID-19 on or before your trip, you may be entitled to a reimbursement. However, fear of a new COVID strain does not qualify you for reimbursement under standard travel insurance policies. As a senior, you may want to protect your trip with CFAR coverage if your destination may be at a higher risk of COVID-related complications. 

Created with Sketch Beta. Preexisting conditions are often excluded: Senior citizens usually have more health concerns than younger travelers, which is partly why travel insurance costs more as you age. You may be required to provide your travel insurance provider with a list of preexisting conditions before you are approved for coverage. Compare plan options with your health insurance coverage to find the policy that provides you with the best complementary benefits.

Do Seniors Need Travel Insurance?

Deciding on a travel insurance plan as a senior is a personal decision.

The value of travel insurance lies in its ability to turn potentially trip-ruining incidents into manageable situations. For instance, if your flight gets cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, travel insurance can cover the costs and help you make alternative arrangements. I’ve personally seen clients benefit from having their lost baggage replaced, ensuring their vacations continued smoothly despite initial hiccups. Peter Hamdy, Co-founder of Aukland and Beyond Tours

Considering your travel needs can help make the decision easier, and we recommend asking yourself questions such as these before purchasing a plan:

• Am I traveling to a remote area that lacks a robust healthcare system?
• Does my trip involve multiple connecting flights or destinations?
• Am I worried about unexpected events interfering with my plans?
• Are my non-refundable costs more than I can realistically afford to lose?

If you answer yes to any of the above questions, it could be worth gathering quotes from multiple providers and comparing costs. This way, you can find a plan that suits your needs and budget while providing you with peace of mind.

When To Skip Travel Insurance

Travel insurance may not be worth it for some senior travelers. For example, some countries, such as New Zealand , provide covered emergency medical care for accidental injuries or illnesses, so you may not need travel insurance strictly for medical benefits.

Other instances where you might skip travel insurance include if you booked your trip using a credit card that provides travel benefits. Several credit cards offer travel insurance benefits such as trip cancellation and trip interruption, so check with your credit card provider to see if it provides benefits that align with your needs.

Is Senior Travel Insurance Worth It?

When you compare the price of travel insurance to the price of a potential travel emergency, it usually proves worth the cost. Even if you don’t have a pre-existing medical condition, older travelers are more likely to consider travel insurance plans with medical coverage for a sudden injury or emergency evacuation. Medicare does not cover medical expenses outside the U.S. and U.S. territories. Travel insurance also offers valuable cancellation and delay benefits, potentially saving you thousands in nonrefundable trip costs like your flights and accommodations.

Expert Tips and Insights 

Professor in Commercial Recreation and Tourism Pennsylvania State University

Dr. Bing Pan is a professor in commercial recreation and tourism in the Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Management at Penn State University. He adopts big data analytics to study visitor management and tourism marketing in national parks and destinations. 

Carney Family Endowed Professor in Hospitality and Tourism Management University of Massachusetts Amherst

Muzaffer (Muzzo) Uysal is a Carney Family Endowed Professor of the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management – Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. His current research interests center on tourism demand and supply interaction, tourism development,  and quality-of-life research in tourism and hospitality.

Professor in the Collins College of Hospitality Management California State Polytechnic University Pomona

Linchi Kwok, Ph.D., publishes viewpoints and refereed (peer-reviewed) articles in hospitality management and service marketing. His research work won several best paper awards at academic conferences. Linchi is now a professor at the Collins College of Hospitality Management at Cal Poly Pomona and a visiting professor at Sun Yat-Sen University. Before moving to Southern California, Linchi worked at Syracuse University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Texas Tech University and Marriott.

Associate Professor Emeritus Kansas State University

Gayle Appel Doll, M.S., Ph.D., is an associate professor emeritus and adjunct associate dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs at Kansas State University’s Center on Aging where she coordinates and develops research, educational and training programs and outreach activities on aging. She received her Master’s in Kinesiology and her Doctorate in Life Span Human Development, both from Kansas State University. Dr. Doll teaches gerontology courses at Kansas State University, earning the Commerce Bank Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching in 2005.

Frequently Asked Questions About Senior Travel Insurance

Can seniors over 70 get travel insurance.

Yes, plenty of travel insurance providers offer insurance plans for senior citizens. Some companies that provide trip cancellation and medical evacuation coverage for men and women over 70 include AXA, Berkshire Hathaway and Nationwide. 

What is the best travel insurance for senior citizens?

The best option to buy travel insurance as a senior citizen will vary depending on your unique needs. For example, Generali Global Assistance might be the right plan provider for you if you’re looking for an insurance provider that offers low-priced policies. On the other hand, if you have multiple health conditions and need high maximum limits on medical evacuation coverage, consider companies like Berkshire Hathaway and Nationwide. 

Do I need travel insurance if I have Medicare?

Yes, buying a travel insurance policy event is still a good idea if you have Medicare. Though Medicare might provide you with limited emergency care coverage outside the United States, it will not cover most medical evacuations. It also does not offer any reimbursement for trip costs and expenses not related to medical care. 

Can you get travel insurance with a preexisting condition?

Yes, it’s possible to buy travel insurance with a preexisting condition. However, your travel insurance may not cover injuries, symptoms, or illnesses related to conditions present before the start date of your policy.

Methodology: How We Rate Travel Insurance Companies

Our team surveyed dozens of travel insurance providers and created a scoring system to judge each company based on coverage, quality and service. We also collected sample quotes from each company, both over the phone and on the Internet, to simulate an authentic customer experience. Here are the factors we take into consideration when rating providers:

• A 70-year-old couple taking a $4,000, 7-day trip to Mexico
• A 65-year-old taking a $1,200, 5-day cruise in the Bahamas
• A 77 and 81-year-old couple taking a $5,000, 8-day trip to the Dominican Republic
• An 80-year-old taking a $3,000, 6-day cruise in Greece
• Plan availability (10%): We look for insurers with a variety of travel insurance plans and the ability to customize a policy with coverage upgrades.
• Coverage details (29%): We review the baseline coverage each company offers in its cheapest comprehensive plan. A provider with robust coverage earns full points, including baggage delay and loss, COVID-19 coverage, emergency evacuation and medical coverage, trip delay and cancellation coverage, and more. Companies also receive points for offering a variety of policy add-ons like accidental death and dismemberment, extreme sports, valuable items, cancel for any reason coverage and more.
• Coverage times and amounts (34%): We compare each company’s waiting periods and maximum reimbursement amounts for baggage, travel and weather delays. Companies that offer customers reimbursement after fewer than 12 hours of delays earn full points in this category. We also reward travel insurance providers that cover more than 100% of trip costs in the event of cancellations or interruptions.
• Company service and reviews (17%): We look for indicators that a company is well-prepared to respond to customer needs. Companies with an established global resource network, 24/7 emergency hotline, mobile app, multiple ways to file a claim and concierge services score higher in this category. We assess reputation by evaluating consumer reviews, third-party financial strength and customer experience ratings, specifically from AM Best and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

AM Best Disclaimer

More Travel Insurance Resources

• What Is Travel Insurance?
• What Is Trip Cancellation Insurance?
• What Does Flight Insurance Cover?
• Cancel for Any Reason Travel Insurance
• Travel Insurance for a Mexico Vacation
• Travel Insurance for a Costa Rica Vacation
• Best travel medical insurance plans
• How much does travel insurance cost?

If you have feedback or questions about this article, please email the MarketWatch Guides team at  editors@marketwatchguides. com .

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Travel insurance

Cheapest travel insurance of June 2024

Mandy Sleight

Heidi Gollub

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Updated 4:47 a.m. UTC June 10, 2024

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Aegis is the best cheap travel insurance company of 2024 based on our in-depth analysis of the cheapest travel insurance plans. Its Atlas Journey Preferred and Atlas Journey Premier plans offer affordable travel insurance with high limits for emergency medical and evacuation benefits bundled with good coverage for trip delays, travel inconvenience and missed connections.

Cheapest travel insurance of 2024

• Aegis : Cheapest travel insurance.
• WorldTrips : Best cheap travel insurance.
• Travel Insured : Cheap travel insurance for cruises.
• Nationwide : Best cheap travel insurance for seniors.
• TravelSafe : Best cheap travel insurance for missed connections.
• Travelex : Best cheap travel insurance for families.
• AIG : Best cheap travel insurance for add-on options.

Why trust our travel insurance experts

Our team of travel insurance experts analyzes hundreds of insurance products and thousands of data points to help you find the best travel insurance for your next trip. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content . You can read more about our methodology below.

• 1,855 coverage details evaluated.
• 567 rates reviewed.
• 5 levels of fact-checking.

Cheapest travel insurance

Top travel insurance plan

Average cost, medical limit per person, medical evacuation limit per person, why it’s the best.

Go Ready Choice by Aegis has the cheapest travel insurance of the best-rated travel insurance companies in our rating. This is based on the average cost of seven international trips of varying lengths and values for travelers of different ages.

Pros and cons

• Cheapest of our best travel insurance plans.
• Pet care benefit of $500 with travel delay benefits.
• Low emergency medical benefit of $50,000 secondary coverage.
• Low emergency evacuation limit of $250,000.
• Low baggage and personal items loss benefit of $500 per person.
• Low missed connection benefit of $500 per person for cruises and tours only.

Customer reviews

Aegis has a rating of 4.06 stars out of 5 on Squaremouth, based on 1,136 reviews of policies purchased on the travel insurance comparison site since 2013.

Best cheap travel insurance

Top-scoring plan

WorldTrips tops our rating of the cheapest travel insurance with its mid-tier Atlas Journey Explore plan. It comes with $150,000 per person in emergency medical benefits as primary coverage and is also our pick for the best travel insurance for cruises .

• $150,000 in primary medical coverage.
• $750,000 per person in medical evacuation coverage.
• Upgrades include medical evacuation coverage of $2 million and rental car damage and theft.
• No non-medical evacuation coverage.

Cheap travel insurance for cruises

Travel insured.

Travel Insured offers cheap travel insurance for cruises and its Worldwide Trip Protector plan gets 4 stars in our rating of the best cruise travel insurance .

• Worldwide Trip Protector offers $1 million in emergency evacuation coverage per person and a rare $150,000 in non-medical evacuation per person. It also has primary coverage for travel medical insurance benefits, which means you won’t have to file medical claims with your health insurance first.
• Cheap trip insurance for cruises.
• Offers a rare $150,000 for non-medical evacuation.
• $500 per person baggage delay benefit only requires a 3-hour delay.
• Optional rental car damage benefit up to $50,000.
• Missed connection benefit of $500 per person only available for cruises and tours.

Best cheap travel insurance for seniors

Evacuation limit per person

Nationwide has the best cheap travel insurance for seniors — its Prime plan gets 4 stars in our best senior travel insurance rating. However, Nationwide’s Cruise Choice plan ranks higher in our best cheap travel insurance rating.

• Cruise Choice has a $500 per person benefit if a cruise itinerary change causes you to miss a prepaid excursion. It also has a missed connections benefit of $1,500 per person after only a 3-hour delay, for cruises or tours. But note that this coverage is secondary coverage to any compensation provided by a common carrier.
• Coverage for cruise itinerary changes, ship-based mechanical breakdowns and covered shipboard service disruptions.
• Non-medical evacuation benefit of $25,000 per person.
• Baggage loss benefits of $2,500 per person.
• Travel medical coverage is secondary.
• Trip cancellation benefit for losing your job requires three years of continuous employment.
• No “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) upgrade available.
• Missed connection coverage of $1,500 per person is only for tours and cruises, after a 3-hour delay.

Best cheap travel insurance for missed connections

TravelSafe has the best cheap travel insurance for missed connections because coverage is not limited to cruises and tours, as it is with many policies.

• Best-in-class $2,500 per person in missed connection coverage.
• $1 million per person in medical evacuation and $25,000 in non-medical evacuation coverage.
• Generous $2,500 per person baggage and personal items loss benefit.
• Most expensive of the best cheap travel insurance plans.
• No “interruption for any reason” coverage available.
• Weak baggage delay coverage of $250 per person after 12 hours.

Best cheap travel insurance for families

Travelex offers the best cheap travel insurance for families because kids under 17 are covered by your policy for free when they travel with you.

• Free coverage for children 17 and under on the same policy.
• $2,000 travel delay coverage per person ($250 per day) after 5 hours.
• Hurricane and weather coverage after a common carrier delay of any amount of time.
• Only $50,000 per person emergency medical coverage.
• Baggage delay coverage is only $200 and requires a 12-hour delay.

Best cheap travel insurance for add-on options

AIG offers the best cheap travel insurance for add-on options because the Travel Guard Preferred plan allows you to customize your policy with a host of optional upgrades.

• Travel Guard Preferred upgrades include “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage , rental vehicle damage coverage and bundles that offer additional benefits for adventure sports, travel inconvenience, quarantine, pets, security and weddings. There’s also a medical bundle that increases the travel medical benefit to $100,000 and emergency evacuation to $1 million.
• Bundle upgrades allow you to customize your affordable travel insurance policy.
• Emergency medical and evacuation limits can be doubled with optional upgrade.
• Base travel insurance policy has relatively low medical limits.
• $300 baggage delay benefit requires a 12-hour delay.
• Optional CFAR upgrade only reimburses up to 50% of trip cost.

Cheapest travel insurance comparison

Via TravelInsurance.com’s website

How much does the cheapest travel insurance cost?

The cheapest travel insurance in our rating is $305. This is for an Aegis Go Ready Choice travel insurance plan, based on the average of seven quotes for travelers of various ages to international destinations with a range of trip values.

Factors that determine travel insurance cost

There are several factors that determine the cost of travel insurance, including:

• Age and number of travelers being insured.
• Trip length.
• Total trip cost.
• The travel insurance plan you choose.
• The travel insurance company.
• Any add-ons, features or upgraded benefits you include in the travel insurance plan.

Expert tip: “In general, travelers can expect to pay anywhere from 4% to 10% of their total prepaid, non-refundable trip costs,” said Suzanne Morrow, CEO of InsureMyTrip.

Is buying the cheapest travel insurance a good idea?

Choosing cheaper travel insurance without paying attention to what a plan covers and excludes could leave you underinsured for your trip. Comparing travel insurance plans side-by-side can help ensure you get enough coverage to protect yourself financially in an emergency for the best price. 

For example, compare these two Travelex travel insurance plans:

• Travel Basic is cheaper but it only provides up to $15,000 for emergency medical expense coverage. You’ll also have to pay extra for coverage for children.
• Travel Select will cost you a bit more but it covers up to $50,000 in medical expenses and includes coverage for kids aged 17 and younger traveling with you. It also offers upgrades such additional medical coverage, “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage and an adventure sports rider that may be a good fit for your trip.

Reasons to consider paying more for travel insurance 

Make sure you understand what you’re giving up if you buy the cheapest travel insurance. Here are a few reasons you may consider paying a little extra for better coverage. 

• Emergency medical. The best travel medical insurance offers primary coverage for emergency medical benefits. Travel insurance with primary coverage can cost more than secondary coverage but will save you from having to file a claim with your health insurance company before filing a travel insurance claim.
• Emergency evacuation. If you’re traveling to a remote location or planning a boat excursion on your trip, look at travel insurance with a high medical evacuation insurance limit. If you are injured while traveling, transportation to the nearest adequate medical facility could cost in the tens to hundreds of thousands. It may make sense to pay more for travel insurance with robust emergency evacuation coverage. 
• Flexibility. To maximize your trip flexibility, you might consider upgrading your travel insurance to “ cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage . This will increase the cost of your travel insurance but allow you to cancel your trip for any reason — not just those listed in your policy. The catch is that you’ll need to cancel at least 48 hours before your trip and will only be reimbursed 50% or 75% of your trip expenses, depending on the plan. 
• Upgrades. Many travel insurance plans have optional extras like car rental collision and adventure sports (which may otherwise be excluded from coverage). These will cost you extra but may give you the coverage you need. 

How to find the cheapest travel insurance

The best way to find the cheapest travel insurance is to determine what you’re looking for in a travel insurance policy and compare plans that meet your needs.

 “Travel insurance isn’t one-size-fits-all. Every trip is different, and every traveler has different needs, wants and concerns. This is why comparison is key,” said Morrow.

Consider the following factors when comparing cheap travel insurance plans.

• How often you’re traveling. A single-trip policy may be the most cost-effective if you’re only going on a single trip this year. But a multi-trip travel insurance plan may be cheaper if you’re going on multiple international trips throughout the year. Annual travel insurance policies cover you for a whole year as long as each trip doesn’t exceed a certain number of days, usually 30 to 90 days. 
• Credit card has travel insurance benefits. The best credit cards offer perks and benefits, and many offer travel insurance-specific benefits. The coverage types and benefit limits can vary, and you must put the entire trip cost on the credit card to use the coverage. If your trip costs more than the coverage limit on your card, you can supplement the rest with a cheaper travel insurance plan.
• The coverage you need. When looking for the best travel insurance option at the most affordable price, only buy extras and upgrades you really need. A basic plan may only provide up to $500 in baggage insurance, but if you only plan to take $300 worth of clothes and accessories, you don’t need to pay more for higher coverage limits.

Is cheap travel insurance worth it?

Cheap travel insurance can be worth it, as long as you understand the plan limitations and exclusions. Taking the time to read your policy, especially the fine print, well before your trip can ensure there won’t be any surprises about what’s covered once your journey begins.

“If a traveler is looking for coverage for travel delays, cancellations, interruptions, medical and baggage — a comprehensive travel insurance policy will provide the most bang for their buck,” said Morrow. But if you’re on a tight budget and are only worried about emergency medical care and evacuation coverage while traveling abroad, stand-alone options are cheaper.

Before buying travel insurance, you should also consider what your health insurance will cover. 

“Most domestic health insurance plans, including Medicare, will not cover medical bills abroad,” said Morrow. Even if you’re staying stateside, you may find value in an affordable travel insurance plan with medical coverage if you have a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). 

A cheap travel insurance plan is better than none at all if you end up in a situation that would have covered some or all of your prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses.

Methodology

Our insurance experts reviewed 1,855 coverage details and 567 rates to determine the best travel insurance . From those top-scoring travel insurance plans, we chose the most affordable for our rating of the cheapest travel insurance.

Insurers could score up to 100 points based on the following factors:

• Cost: 40 points. We scored the average cost of each travel insurance policy for a variety of trips and traveler profiles.
• Medical expenses: 10 points. We scored travel medical insurance by the coverage amount available. Travel insurance policies with emergency medical expense benefits of $250,000 or more per person were given the highest score of 10 points.
• Medical evacuation: 10 points. We scored each plan’s emergency medical evacuation coverage by coverage amount. Travel insurance policies with medical evacuation expense benefits of $500,000 or more per person were given the highest score of 10 points.
• Pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver: 10 points. We gave full points to travel insurance policies that cover pre-existing medical conditions if certain conditions are met.
• Missed connection: 10 points. Travel insurance plans with missed connection benefits of $1,000 per person or more received full points.
• “Cancel for any reason” upgrade: 5 points. We gave points to travel insurance plans with optional “cancel for any reason” coverage that reimburses up to 75%.
• Travel delay required waiting time: 5 points. We gave 5 points to travel insurance policies with travel delay benefits that kick in after a delay of 6 hours or less.
• Cancel for work reasons: 5 points. If a travel insurance plan allows you to cancel your trip for work reasons, such as your boss requiring you to stay and work, we gave it 5 points.
• Hurricane and severe weather: 5 points. Travel insurance plans that have a required waiting period for hurricane and weather coverage of 12 hours or less received 5 points.

Some travel insurance companies may offer plans with additional benefits or lower prices than the plans that scored the highest, so make sure to compare travel insurance quotes to see your full range of options.

Cheapest travel insurance FAQs

When buying travel insurance, cheapest is not always the best. The most affordable travel insurance plans typically offer fewer coverages with lower policy limits and few or no optional upgrades. Add up your total nonrefundable trip costs and compare travel insurance plans and available features that cover your travel expenses. This strategy can help you find the cheapest travel insurance policy that best protects you from financial loss if an unforeseen circumstance arises.

Get the coverage you need: Best travel insurance of 2024

According to our analysis, Aegis , WorldTrips , Travel Insured International and Travelex offer the best cheap travel insurance. Policy coverage types and limits can vary by each travel insurance provider, so the best way to get the cheapest travel insurance plan is to compare several policies and companies to find the right fit for your budget.

A good rate for travel insurance depends on your budget and coverage needs. The most comprehensive travel insurance plan is usually not the cheapest. But cheap trip insurance may not have enough coverage or the types of coverage you want. Comparing different levels of coverage and how much they cost can help you find the best cheap insurance for travel. 

The average cost of travel insurance is between 5% to 6% of your total travel expenses for one trip, according to our analysis of rates. However, you may find cheaper travel insurance if you opt for a plan with fewer benefits or lower coverage limits. How much you pay for travel insurance will also depend on the number of travelers covered, their ages, the length of the trip and any upgrades you add to your plan.

Travel insurance covers nonrefundable, prepaid trip costs — up to the policy coverage limits — when your trip is interrupted or canceled for a covered reason outlined in your plan documents. Even the cheapest travel insurance policies usually provide coverage for:

• Medical emergencies.
• Trip delays.
• Trip interruption.
• Trip cancellation.
• Lost, stolen or damaged luggage.

However, if you’re looking to save on travel insurance, you can shop for a policy that only has travel medical insurance and does not include benefits for trip cancellation .

Even when you buy cheap travel insurance, you can often use upgrade options to customize your policy to meet your specific needs. 

Some common travel insurance add-ons you may want to consider include:

• Rental car damage coverage. 
• Medical bundle.
• Security bundle.
• Accidental death and dismemberment coverage.
• Adventure sports bundle.
• Pet bundle.
• Wedding bundle.
• “Cancel for work reasons” coverage.
• “Interruption for any reason” (IFAR) coverage.
• “Cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage .

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Mandy is an insurance writer who has been creating online content since 2018. Before becoming a full-time freelance writer, Mandy spent 15 years working as an insurance agent. Her work has been published in Bankrate, MoneyGeek, The Insurance Bulletin, U.S. News and more.

Heidi Gollub is the USA TODAY Blueprint managing editor of insurance. She was previously lead editor of insurance at Forbes Advisor and led the insurance team at U.S. News & World Report as assistant managing editor of 360 Reviews. Heidi has an MBA from Emporia State University and is a licensed property and casualty insurance expert.

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Here are the cheapest travel insurance companies of July 2024

These travel insurance companies offer affordable interruption and medical coverage..

Travel insurance can be a valuable protection if your domestic or international trip doesn't quite go to plan. But, after booking flights, hotels, rental cars and experiences, you probably don't want to spend much more on your trip.  

Luckily, travel insurance isn't a huge expense, and some companies offer surprisingly affordable rates to insure your trip. CNBC Select gathered data on dozens of the top travel insurance companies and found several that stand out for their strong coverage at low prices.

Here are the best cheap travel insurance companies if you're looking to cover your upcoming adventures. (See our methodology for more information on how we made this list.)

Best cheap travel insurance  

• Best for road trips: Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection  
• Best for adventure travel : World Nomads Travel Insurance
• Best for families : C&F Travel Insured International Travel Insurance  
• Best for cruises : Nationwide Travel Insurance

Best for road trips   

Berkshire hathaway travel protection.

The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote

Policy highlights

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection has multiple plans to cover vacations from luxury travel to adventure travel. The brand's LuxuryCare offers the highest limits of travel insurance coverage offered by the company. Quotes and policies are available online.

24/7 assistance available

• Wide variety of policies available
• Strong financial strength rating by AM Best
• Cancel for any reason only provides reimbursement for up to 50% of non-refundable trip payments

Who's this for? Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection is ideal for those looking for strong coverage backed by a major insurer at a relatively affordable price point.

Standout benefits: This company offers travel insurance that's tailored to a variety of different modes of transportation and travel styles. It offers additional cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage and rental car collision coverage 

[ Jump to more details ]

Best for adventure travel

World nomads travel insurance.

World Nomads offers travel insurance for all sorts of travelers, from families to solo adventure travelers. Policies are underwritten by Nationwide and offer strong coverage of emergency accident and illness situations, as well as emergency evacuation scenarios.

• Affordable coverage for many travelers
• Coverage for adventure activities like scuba diving, bungee jumping and more
• Lower trip cancellation limits than other travel insurance we reviewed

Who's this for? World Nomads Travel Insurance is a good choice for travelers looking for affordable coverage. It's an especially strong option for those planning on adventure activities like scuba diving which can be excluded from some other travel insurance plans.  

Standout benefits: This travel insurance offers coverage for stolen gear or belongings, and high coverage limits for emergency medical insurance compared to some of the other plans we reviewed.  

Best for families 

C&f travel insured international travel insurance.

Travel Insurance from this company can include annual travel insurance plans as well as single-trip travel insurance. Optional coverages include cancel for any reason coverage and travel inconvenience coverage. Cruise insurance is available.

• Cruise coverage available
• Option to enhance your coverage with additional, optional coverages
• CFAR not available to New York residents

Who's this for? For families wanting to cover an upcoming trip or vacation, C&F Travel Insured International has two plans (in most states) that can help with everything from trip interruptions to missed tour or cruise connections.  

Standout benefits: C&F's policies are particularly family-friendly since children aged 17 and younger can be included for no extra cost when on the same plan as a paid adult. It also offers robust evacuation benefits.

Best for cruises  

Nationwide travel insurance.

Nationwide's wide coverage for travel insurance allows many different types of travelers to find coverage that fits their needs. Three levels of cruise insurance coverage gives extra options to cruise passengers.

• 10-day review period on cruise insurance policies to make sure the plan meets your needs (not available in NY or WA)
• Most basic cruise plan doesn't offer CFAR coverage

Who's this for?  Those embarking on a cruise will find enhanced, cruise-specific coverage from Nationwide . It offers three unique levels of cruise-specific coverage that can help with things like mechanical breakdowns, itinerary changes, and other on-ship disruptions.  

Standout benefits: Nationwide also offers single trip insurance and annual trip insurance plans for those planning other types of vacations.  

More on our top cheap travel insurance companies 

Berkshire hathaway travel protection .

Berkshire Hathaway offers specialized coverage for many different types of travelers, from adventure-focused travelers planning on sky diving or scuba diving to luxury travel coverage. This company also offers tailored coverage for road, air and cruise travel. Claims can be paid as quickly as the same day.  

CFAR coverage available?   

24/7 assistance?  

[ Return to summary ]

World Nomads Travel Insurance 

World Nomads offers travel insurance coverage backed by Nationwide . It offers a 10-day review (provided that no claims have been filed) to help you make sure your coverage is what you want. The company also offers the opportunity to buy coverage when already abroad.  

C&F Travel Insured International 

C&F Travel Insured International has been offering travel insurance for 25 years. The company has a convenient mobile app for travelers for quick access to travel alerts and in-app claims. This travel insurance can be a good option for anyone booking with points or miles since plans offer up to $250 for penalty costs associated with returning points or miles to an account when a trip is canceled for a covered reason.  

Nationwide Travel Insurance 

Nationwide's travel insurance offers a variety of options for all types of travelers, including cruise travelers. It offers strong coverage for both interruption scenarios and medical situations. Customer service is available around the clock and around the world.  

What is travel insurance? 

Travel insurance is coverage designed to protect you while you're miles away from home. It can cover everything from travel inconveniences like lost luggage to serious medical emergencies while abroad.  

What does travel insurance cover? 

Travel insurance can cover injuries and illnesses while abroad where your typical medical insurance won't apply. It can also cover travel interruptions and delays , including lost luggage. While some credit cards offer travel insurance perks, a specific travel insurance policy could bolster that coverage.  

How much does travel insurance cost?  

Travel insurance generally costs about 4% to 10% of your trip's total cost, according to travel insurance comparison site InsureMyTrip . Costs vary based on the age of the travelers, how long you're traveling, and the types and limits of coverage.  

Is travel insurance worth it?  

While no one expects their trips to go awry, travel insurance can be a good backup for anything that does happen. Travel insurance is worth it because it can keep you from having to pick up the costs of medical bills or lost travel expenses if something goes wrong. Keep in mind though that several  top travel credit cards offer certain travel insurance benefits  so you may already have some coverage.

What's the best company for travel insurance?  

CNBC Select reviewed dozens of travel insurance companies and found that AXA Assistance USA Travel Insurance and Travel Guard Travel Insurance stand out for their strong coverage, variety of choices and financial strength.  

Bottom line

Travel insurance can cover a variety of situations, from medical emergencies while abroad to lost luggage or delays. It generally costs between 5% and 10% of your trip's total non-refundable expenses and can save you significant money if something doesn't go to plan. However, it's important to shop around as some companies offer cheaper rates than others. Also, remember that you may already have some form of coverage if you hold certain premium credit cards .

Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox.  Sign up here .

Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every travel insurance review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of travel insurance products . While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best cheap travel insurance.

Our methodology 

To determine the best cheap travel insurance companies,  CNBC Select  analyzed dozens of U.S. travel insurance companies that come with a wide variety of policies and offer coverage for a number of situations. 

When narrowing down the best travel insurance companies, we focused on the coverage available, including the number of plans available, 24/7 assistance availability and cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage availability. We also considered financial strength ratings from AM Best and Better Business Bureau ratings for customer satisfaction.

To consider costs, we gathered quotes from the top travel insurance companies for four sample trips, which included:

1. A two-person trip to Mexico:

• $2,000 per person, $4,000 total
• New York residents
• Travelers aged 35

2. A two-person trip to the United Kingdom:

• $3,000 per person, $6,000 total
• Travelers aged 65

3. A family of four's trip to the United Kingdom:

• $3,000 per person, $12,000 total
• Two travelers aged 35 with two children, ages 8 and 10

4. A cruise to Alaska for a family of four (including flights):

Sample quotes assumed that payments were made on the date of quoting.

Note that the premiums and policy structures advertised for travel insurance companies are subject to fluctuate in accordance with the company's policies.

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of  credit cards ,  banking  and  money . And follow us on  TikTok ,  Facebook ,  Instagram  and  Twitter  to stay up to date.

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11 Best Travel Insurance Companies in June 2024

Sean Cudahy is a freelance reporter specializing in coverage of airlines, travel, loyalty programs and public policy. A journalist of nine years, Sean most recently served as a general assignment reporter at The Points Guy, following an eight-year run as a local television news reporter. He lives with his wife and their French Bulldog outside Raleigh, North Carolina.

Giselle M. Cancio is an editor for the travel rewards team at NerdWallet. She has traveled to over 30 states and 20 countries, redeeming points and miles for almost a decade. She has over eight years of experience in journalism and content development across many topics.

She has juggled many roles in her career: writer, editor, social media manager, producer, on-camera host, videographer and photographer. She has been published in several media outlets and was selected to report from the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

She frequents national parks and is on her way to checking all 30 Major League Baseball parks off her list. When she's not on a plane or planning her next trip, she's crafting, reading, playing board games, watching sports or trying new recipes.

She is based in Miami.

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

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

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

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

How we found the best travel insurance

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

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

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

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

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

Best insurance companies

Types of travel insurance

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

Top credit cards with travel insurance

Methodology

Best travel insurance overall: berkshire hathaway travel protection.

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection

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

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

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

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

Read our full review of Berkshire Hathaway .

What else makes Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection great:

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

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

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

Best for emergency medical coverage: Allianz Global Assistance

Annual or single-trip policies are available.

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

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

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

What else makes Allianz Global Assistance great:

Annual and single-trip plans.

Plans are available for international and domestic trips.

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

Read our full review of Allianz Global Assistance .

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

Travel Guard by AIG

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

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

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

What else makes Travel Guard by AIG great:

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

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

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

Read our full review of Travel Guard by AIG .

Best for those who pack expensive equipment: Travel Insured International

Travel Insured International

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

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

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

What else makes Travel Insured International great:

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

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

Read our full review of Travel Insured International .

Best for adventurous travelers: World Nomads

World Nomads

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

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

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

What else makes World Nomads great:

Comprehensive international travel insurance plans.

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

Read our full review of World Nomads .

Best for medical coverage: Travelex Insurance Services

Travelex Insurance Services

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

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

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

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

Read our full review of Travelex Insurance Services .

What else makes Travelex Insurance Services great:

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

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

Two flight insurance plans available.

Best if you have travel credit card coverage: Seven Corners

Seven Corners

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

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

» Jump to the best cards with travel insurance

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

What else makes Seven Corners great:

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

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

Read our full review of Seven Corners .

Best for long-term travelers: IMG

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

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

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

Read our full review of IMG .

What else makes IMG great:

More affordable than average.

Many plans to choose from to fit your needs.

Best for travelers with unpredictable work demands: Tin Leg

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

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

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

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

Read our full Tin Leg review .

Best for booking travel with points and miles: TravelSafe

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

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

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

What else makes TravelSafe great:

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

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

Read our full TravelSafe review .

Best for group travel insurance: HTH Insurance

HTH Travel Insurance

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

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

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

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

What else makes HTH Insurance great:

Medical-only coverage and trip protection coverage.

Lots of options for group travelers.

Read our full review of HTH Insurance .

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

Trip cancellation

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

Trip interruption

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

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

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

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

Cancel For Any Reason

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

Typically, adding this protection to your plan costs extra.

Baggage delay

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

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

Lost baggage

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

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

Travel medical insurance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Bahamas.

Costa Rica.

Antarctica.

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

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

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

What is travel insurance?

CFAR explained.

Is travel insurance worth getting?

10 credit cards that provide travel insurance.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Consider a few key questions:

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

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

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

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

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

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

In general, buying travel insurance

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

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

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Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

On a similar note...

Best Cheap Travel Insurance of June 2024

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The offers and details on this page may have updated or changed since the time of publication. See our article on Business Insider for current information.

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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

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

How we rate the best cheap travel insurance »

Compare the Best Cheap Travel Insurance

The best travel insurance meets 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 overall: HTH Worldwide

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 here.

Best for trip cancellation: Aegis General Travel Insurance

The Aegis General Travel Insurance 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 here.

Best for medical-only coverage: GeoBlue Travel Insurance

GeoBlue Travel Insurance 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 here.

Best value: Nationwide

Nationwide Travel Insurance  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 here

Best for reputation: Trawick

The Trawick International Travel Insurance Safe Travels Explorer plan has been purchased by more than 36,000 travelers since 2020, and it has great reviews to boot. And no wonder: Trawick offers generous trip delay coverage of up to $2,000 per person, although hopefully you won't need to reach that reimbursement amount because the daily limit is $150.

You'll also be able to rely on a $200 reimbursement per person for lost baggage - one of the higher amounts amongst these affordable plans, although this amount pales in comparison to the baggage loss coverage offered through the best travel credit cards .

Read our Trawick Travel Insurance review here.

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 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.

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

Just because it's cheap doesn't mean it's lacking. Many affordable policies offer substantial coverage, giving you peace of mind without breaking the bank.

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 insurance here.

Best Cheap Travel Insurance FAQs

How can i reduce the cost of travel insurance.

You can reduce the cost of travel insurance by opting for simpler coverage or choosing higher deductibles on travel medical insurance. You can also consider annual travel insurance , which will save you money in the long run if you take multiple trips over one year.

Can cheap travel insurance provide enough coverage for international trips?

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.

Why is travel insurance so cheap?

Travel insurance is relatively cheap because it only covers you for a set period of time, and depending on your plan, the level of coverage you get may not be particularly high. However, even with high coverage limits and extras like cancel for any reason coverage , travel insurance is relatively affordable. 

How much should travel insurance cost?

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.

What company offers the cheapest travel insurance?

If you just want trip cancellation protection, go with the Aegis Trip Cancellation plan. For more robust coverage that won't break the bank, consider HTH Worldwide's TripProtector Economy, Trawick's Safe Travels Explorer, or Nationwide's Essentials plan.

If you enjoyed this story, be sure to follow Business Insider on Microsoft Start.

• What is travel insurance?
• Average cost
• When to buy travel insurance
• Average cost by age
• What does travel insurance cover?

How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost?

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 insurance products to write unbiased product reviews.

• The average travel insurance premium this week is $280.25, about the same as last week.
• For travel in the United States, the average premium is $96 to $397.
• Travel insurance protects against delayed baggage, trip cancellation, and more.

The average cost of travel insurance fluctuates throughout the year, based on demand and whether or not school's in session. Also keep in mind that where you're traveling and how many people are taking the trip will affect your exact premium.

Understanding Travel Insurance

Travel insurance plans can cover both domestic and international travel. It could protect against something as familiar as delayed baggage (experts estimate 85% of lost luggage is returned to its owner within 48 hours) or as complicated as trip cancellation.

The benefits and limitations of travel insurance vary based on the company and plan. Above all else, this insurance coverage offers peace of mind.

Some credit cards offer a limited amount of travel insurance annually. If you need clarification on what your credit card offers, contact your provider to verify. These plans are great for cancellations and interruptions but may not cover more costly losses associated with unexpected medical expenses or emergency evacuations.

Individual travel insurance plans include this and much more. Travel insurance protects travelers from the unexpected when away from home.

Average Cost of Travel Insurance by Destination

Some countries are naturally more expensive travel destinations due to higher flight and lodging costs, which could increase travel insurance costs. Travel insurance will generally cost 5% to 10% of your total trip price, according to SquareMouth travel insurance .

Here's how the prices stack up:

Source: SquareMouth

How Far in Advance to Purchase Travel Insurance

According to an AAA travel survey , 88% of travelers say that reimbursement after a trip cancellation is the most valuable benefit of trip insurance.

According to data gathered by SquareMouth in the last six months, travelers tend to purchase trip cancellation travel insurance 53 days before their trip. Meanwhile, travelers without trip cancellation insurance will buy a policy approximately 16 days before their trip. Regardless of when you buy, cancellation protection can kick in to protect you against the unexpected.

Average Cost of Travel Insurance by Age

A traveler's age is a significant factor in determining the cost of travel insurance. The older a traveler is, the higher travel insurance premiums are. For instance, a senior traveler may need more insurance for health-related emergencies than a millennial.

When calculating your travel insurance premium, travel insurance providers consider the likelihood of a medical emergency.

Get your free travel insurance quote with SquareMouth »

Travel Insurance Rate Tips

Travel insurance rates through most providers fall between 4% and 8% of the total trip cost. Like the cost of flights, cruises, etc., rates may vary substantially based on the season, your original location, your destination, and other factors. This week, the average cost of a policy was close to $300.

To save money on travel insurance, tailor your policy to your specific needs and avoid unnecessary extras. You should also shop around to compare quotes from multiple insurers. Opting for an annual plan if you're a frequent traveler, checking existing coverages from other insurance policies or credit card benefits, and choosing a policy with a higher deductible can significantly lower your premiums. Always read the fine print to understand your coverage fully, ensuring you don't pay for redundant or irrelevant features.

To find affordable travel insurance, consider using online comparison websites like SquareMouth or InsureMyTrip to see rates from various providers. Other ways to save include purchasing directly from insurance companies, exploring package deals from travel agencies or airlines, utilizing included coverage from credit card benefits, and checking for discounts through membership organizations such as AAA or AARP.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

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  Cancellations can be due to insufficient bookings, airline cancellation, political reasons, safety or act of god etc. If a decision is made to cancel any tour packages, ASA Holidays will contact all participants at our soonest to provide alternatives or refund if applicable.

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  ASA Holidays will try to make arrangement for you to meet up with the tour. However, this is subjected to availability and there will be additional cost incurred. ASA Holidays would like to advise customers to purchase travel insurance so that you will be insured in event where you miss the tour due to medical conditions. Compensation will be based on the travel insurance policy you purchased. You can get your travel insurance here .