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The 5 Best COVID-19 Travel Insurance Options

Travelex Insurance Services »

Allianz Travel Insurance »

World Nomads Travel Insurance »

Generali Global Assistance »

IMG Travel Insurance »

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 Best COVID Travel Insurance Options.

Table of Contents

• Rating Details
• Travelex Insurance Services
• Allianz Travel Insurance

Even though COVID-19 is no longer considered a global emergency, concerns around illness-related costs remain for many travelers. If you're looking for travel insurance that covers COVID – as well as other potential disruptions like flight delays and lost luggage – these are your best options.

• Travelex Insurance Services: Best Optional Coverage Add-ons
• Allianz Travel Insurance: Best for Multitrip and Annual Plans
• World Nomads Travel Insurance: Best for Active Travelers
• Generali Global Assistance: Best for Comprehensive Travel Insurance
• IMG Travel Insurance: Best for Travel Medical Insurance

Best COVID Travel Insurance Options in Detail

Plans include coverage for COVID-19

Optional CFAR coverage is available with Travel Select plan

Some coverages require an upgrade, including rental car collision, accidental death and dismemberment, and more

Not all add-ons are available with every plan

Allianz offers some travel insurance plans that come with an epidemic coverage endorsement

Single-trip, multitrip and annual plans available

COVID-19 benefits don't apply to every plan

Low coverage limits with some plans (e.g., only $10,000 in emergency medical coverage with OneTrip Basic plan)

24-hour travel assistance services included

More than 200 sports and activities covered in every plan

Low trip cancellation benefits ($2,500 maximum) with Standard plan

No CFAR option is offered

Free 10-day trial period

Some coverage limits may be insufficient

Rental car damage coverage only included in top-tier Premium plan

Offers travel medical insurance, international travel health insurance and general travel insurance plans

Some plans include robust coverage for testing and quarantine due to COVID-19

Not all plans from IMG offer coverage for COVID-19

Cancel for any reason coverage not available with every plan

Frequently Asked Questions

When comparing COVID-19 travel insurance options, you'll want to make sure you fully understand the coverages included in each plan. For example, you should know the policy inclusions and limits for COVID-related claims, including coverage for testing, treatments, trip cancellation or COVID-related interruptions that can occur. Meanwhile, you should understand how your coverage will work if you contract some other illness while away from home.

Also ensure your travel insurance coverage will kick in for other mishaps that occur, and that limits are sufficient for your needs. If you're planning a trip to a remote area in a country like Costa Rica or Peru , you'll want to have emergency evacuation and transportation coverage with generous limits that can pay for emergency transportation to a hospital if you need treatment.

You can also invest in a travel insurance policy that offers cancel for any reason coverage. This type of travel insurance plan lets you cancel and get a percentage of your prepaid travel expenses back for any reason, even if you just decide you're better off staying home.

It depends on your private health insurance provider and/or travel insurance policy. As of May 11, 2023, private health insurers are no longer required to cover the cost of COVID-19 testing. Out-of-pocket costs for COVID-19 test kits at local drugstores and on Amazon are relatively affordable, however.

As you search for plans that will provide sufficient coverage for your next trip, you'll find travel insurance that covers COVID-19 quarantine both inside and outside the United States. However, you'll typically need to have your condition certified by a physician in order for this coverage to apply. Also make sure your travel insurance plan includes coverage for travel claims related to COVID-19 in the first place.

Many travel insurance plans do cover trip cancellation as a result of COVID-19, although the terms vary widely. You typically need to be certified by a physician in order to prove your condition. Disinclination to travel because of COVID-19 – such as fear of exposure to illness – will generally not be covered. This means you will actually have to test positive for coronavirus for benefits to apply; simply not wanting to travel is not a sufficient reason to make a claim.

If you want more flexibility in your COVID-19 travel insurance, ensuring you have a cancel for any reason policy may be your best bet, but be sure to check with your chosen travel insurance provider to assess your options.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is an award-winning writer who has been covering travel insurance and travel for more than a decade. She has researched the best travel insurance options for her own trips to more than 50 countries around the world and has experience navigating the claims and reimbursement process. Over the years, Johnson has successfully filed several travel insurance claims for trip delays and trip cancellations. Johnson also works alongside her travel agent partner, Greg, who has been licensed to sell travel insurance in 50 states.

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Covid-19 travel advisor, ready to travel check advisories for your destination.

Use the search tool below to find out more about advisories for travel during COVID-19, including regulations for destinations, and safety and health guidelines.

Important: We recommend you confirm all guidance with official government sites and check with your travel insurance issuer. Your travel insurance may be invalidated if you travel against government advice.

Please note: This information is provided by a third party, Sherpa, and is meant for informational purposes only. Expedia is not responsible for its accuracy. Given how quickly the travel requirements are evolving, you should not rely solely on this tool in making travel arrangements and should confirm the accuracy of any government guidance, restrictions, or requirements.

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What You Need to Know Now About Travel Insurance

A spate of new travel insurance policies have begun covering Covid-19, just as many international destinations begin to require it. Here’s what to look for.

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By Elaine Glusac

When the pandemic struck, many travel insurance policies failed to cover Covid-19-related trip interruptions and cancellations, often because they excluded pandemics. But in the intervening months, the travel insurance industry has introduced a spate of new policies covering the disease just as many foreign destinations begin to require them.

“We’ve seen progress in that many plans will now treat Covid like any other unexpected sickness or illness,” said Stan Sandberg, a co-founder of the comparison website Travelinsurance.com . “If you have a trip and travel insurance and came down with Covid-19, which made it impossible to travel, that would fall under cancellation coverage as an unexpected illness that prevents you from traveling.”

Likewise, policies now including Covid-19 would cover holders in the event that a doctor diagnosed them with the virus while traveling under the trip interruption benefit.

Not all travel insurance excluded pandemics when the coronavirus began to spread early this year; Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection was one exception. But the broader change partially arises from consumer demand, a better understanding of the virus — including mortality rates and hospital costs — and the industry’s eagerness for travel to resume.

“People who are traveling are more conscious of their risks and thinking about protecting themselves and their investment,” said Jeremy Murchland, the president of the travel insurer Seven Corners. The company launched policies that included Covid-19 coverage in June; they now account for more than 80 percent of sales.

But, like all insurance, the devil is in the details when it comes to understanding travel insurance, including what’s covered, destinations where it’s required, and the inevitable caveats, as follows.

How travel insurance covers Covid-19

The new Covid-inclusive insurance generally covers travelers from the day after purchase until their return home. During that period, if you become sick and a doctor determines you cannot travel (because of the virus or another illness), trip cancellation and trip interruption benefits would kick in.

These benefits vary by policy, but a search to insure a $2,000 weeklong trip to Costa Rica in December on Travelinsurance.com turned up a $69.75 Generali Global Assistance Standard policy with Covid-19 benefits that would be triggered if you, your host at your destination, a travel companion or a family member tested positive for the virus.

If this happened before your departure, the policy would cover your prepaid travel expenses. If you or your travel companion contracted Covid-19 during the trip and were diagnosed by a physician, it would reimburse prepaid arrangements, such as lodgings, and cover additional airfare to return home — once a doctor deems it safe to travel — up to $2,500. Should you be required to quarantine and can’t travel, travel delay coverage for lodging, meals and local transportation would pay up to $1,000. The policy also covers medical expenses for up to one year, even after you return home, up to $50,000 — though the policy also states that a holder would have to exhaust their own health insurance benefits before seeking coverage under the travel insurance plan.

Travelers should read these policies carefully to understand the benefits (for example, some rules vary by your state of residence), but brokers like TravelInsurance.com, InsureMyTrip and Squaremouth are making them easier to find through filters, F.A.Q.s and flags.

The new more comprehensive policies don’t necessarily cost more. On a Squaremouth search for insurance for two 40-year-olds on a two-week trip costing $5,000, the site turned up a variety of policies with or without coronavirus exclusions from $130 to $300, with no apparent premium for Covid-19 coverage.

Not every Covid-19-related expense is covered by many of these policies, including tests for the virus that many destinations require before arrival (those may be covered by private insurance).

Many policies include medical evacuation to a nearby facility, but won’t necessarily transport you home. For those concerned about treatment abroad, Medjet , a medical evacuation specialist, now offers Covid-19-related evacuations in the 48 contiguous United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean that will transport you to the hospital of your choice in your home country (trip coverage starts at $99; annual memberships start at $189).

“Covid-19 requires special transport pods to protect the crew and others, which adds logistical issues,” said John Gobbels, the vice president and chief operating officer for Medjet.

In addition to the Medjet plan, travelers would need separate travel insurance with medical benefits to cover treatment costs and trip interruption.

Destination insurance requirements

Travelers aren’t the only ones worried about health. A growing list of countries are mandating medical coverage for Covid-19 as a prerequisite for visiting, often along with other measures like pre-trip virus testing and health screenings for symptoms on arrival.

Many Caribbean islands are among those requiring travel medical insurance, including Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas . St. Maarten requires health insurance coverage and strongly recommends additional travel insurance covering Covid-19.

Farther-flung countries also require policies that cover Covid-19, including French Polynesia and the Maldives .

Some destinations specify the required plan as a way to ensure travelers have the correct coverage and to expedite treatment. Aruba requires visitors to buy its Aruba Visitors Insurance, regardless of any other plans you may have.

“Insurance through a destination typically only covers Covid and infection while you’re there,” said Kasara Barto, a spokeswoman for Squaremouth.com. “If you catch Covid before, they don’t offer cancellation coverage. If you break a leg, the policy may only cover Covid medication. It varies by country.”

Costa Rica also requires insurance that includes an unusual benefit stipulating a policy cover up to $2,000 in expenses for a potential Covid-19 quarantine while in the country.

In response to the new requirement, which Costa Rica announced in October, insurers, including Trawick International , have begun introducing policies that meet the standard.

“It was a pretty quick and nimble reaction,” Mr. Sandberg of TravelInsurance.com said.

Normally, travel insurance varies by factors including the age of the traveler, destination, trip length and cost (most range from 4 to 10 percent of the trip cost). But some destinations are providing it at a flat fee, with most policies spelling out coverage limits and terms for emergency medical services, evacuation and costs associated with quarantines.

Jamaica, which will require insurance, but has not said when the new rule will go into effect, plans to charge $40 for each traveler. The Bahamas will include the insurance in the cost of its Travel Health Visa, an application that requires negative Covid-19 test results, which runs $40 to $60 depending on length of stay (free for children 10 and younger). The Turks and Caicos is offering a policy for $9.80 a day, and Costa Rica ’s policies, if purchased locally, cost roughly $10 a day.

Expect this list of destinations to grow. In January, the Spanish region of Andalusia plans to require travel medical insurance and is working on finding a provider to make it easy for travelers to buy it.

Gaps in travel insurance

Policies that cover Covid-19 as a medical event that may cause trip cancellation or disruption, or those that provide coverage for medical treatment and evacuation still don’t necessarily cover travelers who have a change of heart when they learn they will have to quarantine upon arrival, even if they don’t have the virus. Nor are policies necessarily tied to conditions on the ground, like a spike in infections, State Department travel warnings, a government travel ban or the cessation of flights to and from a destination.

For those events, there’s Cancel For Any Reason, or CFAR, an upgrade to plans that generally only returns 50 to 75 percent of your nonrefundable trip costs.

“Prior to the pandemic, we wouldn’t necessarily recommend CFAR because most of travelers’ concerns were covered by standard plans,” Ms. Barto of Squaremouth.com said. “It’s about 40 percent more expensive and we didn’t want travelers to pay for additional coverage.” Now, she added, there’s been a surge in interest in the upgrade, including in 22 percent of policies sold at the site since mid-March.

Industry experts predict some of these outstanding issues may work their way into policies of the future as they adapt to enduring realities, much as they did after 9/11 in covering travelers in case of terrorist events, which was not the norm before.

The pandemic “was unprecedented, but once it happened, the industry has been pretty quick to react and create coverage, and that’s in the spirit of how this industry is trying to define itself, to be one of those subtle but valuable assets,” Mr. Sandberg said. “Once the world opens back up, we expect travel insurance to be much more top of mind with travelers.”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook . And sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation.

How do you choose travel insurance that covers COVID-19?

Oct 26, 2021 • 5 min read

COVID-19 has made it more important to check the health coverage on your travel insurance © Maskot/Getty Images

After 18 months of pandemic-related travel restrictions, you may be itching to act on your pent-up wanderlust⁠⁠—but the situation and the rules are still continuously evolving. So before you go anywhere, it’s best to have a travel insurance plan that protects the investment you’ve made in a long-awaited trip.

A robust travel insurance plan will reimburse pre-paid trip costs and non-refundable deposits if you have to cancel or interrupt your trip, encounter trip delays, experience baggage loss or require medical expense and medical evacuation. Your policy will also reimburse “covered reasons” in your plan, such as death, illness or injury, serious family emergencies, unplanned jury duty, military deployment, acts of terrorism, or your travel supplier going out of business.

But COVID-19 has added an additional checklist to your usual insurance needs⁠—it’s now important to check to ensure your travel insurance plan includes coverage for COVID-19 medical expenses, and losses related to illness. Your policy should also cover quarantine costs if you need to self-isolate after testing positive for the virus.

What do I look for in COVID-19 insurance coverage?

When you’re shopping for a travel insurance plan that covers COVID-19, you need to do your research and read the fine print of your plan. 

Look for a travel insurance product that will protect your non-refundable, prepaid expenses if you have to cancel your trip due to illness caused by COVID-19. Your policy should also cover emergency medical treatment and emergency medical transportation. With regard to COVID-19 coverage, be sure your policy covers medical care, medicine, hospitalization and quarantine expenses.

“The type of coverage you should look for depends on you, your needs, travel dates, and the type of trip you’re taking,” says Sasha Gainullin, CEO of battleface , a travel insurance carrier. He says some travel insurance companies have now excluded COVID-19 coverage because it has been labeled a “known/foreseeable event”, while others may exclude pandemics altogether.

“It’s important to search for plans that include medical and quarantine expenses as well⁠—this will be critical in the event you become ill and need to receive treatment while traveling,” continues Gainullin. 

One additional tip is to confirm there are no exclusions based on the destinations you’re traveling to⁠—this can happen with countries under government-issued travel warnings, Gainullin says.

“If a traveler feels uncertain, I recommend speaking with the travel insurance company directly. They can review the policy details with you, answer all of your questions, and confirm all of your required coverage options are included,” he adds.

Is getting coverage dependent on vaccination?

While it’s a good idea to be fully vaccinated before traveling, vaccination is not required to purchase a travel insurance policy, says Daniel Durazo, spokesperson with Allianz Partners USA.

What are the medical costs that are covered by travel insurance?

Travel insurance can cover the cost of both medical treatment and emergency medical transportation. A US health insurance plan, as well as Medicare, generally will not cover overseas medical expenses, so it’s best to check with your personal health insurance provider if any global coverage is available. 

“While losing the cost of a trip due to an unexpected cancellation would be painful, paying for expensive emergency medical treatment or emergency medical transportation can be financially devastating,” Durazo says.  

Under a travel insurance plan, medical costs could range doctor visits, pharmacy expenses, imaging costs and covering a hospital stay if required. Other expenses that can be covered are transportation to medical care and medicine.

Read more:  Will my health insurance cover getting COVID-19 while traveling in the US⁠⁠—or abroad?

What about covering an unexpected quarantine due to COVID-19?

Many international destinations are now requiring that visitors purchase travel insurance coverage for an unexpected quarantine. Allianz Travel Insurance has added coverage to many of its products that includes reimbursement for quarantine-related accommodations if you or a traveling companion is individually-ordered to quarantine while on their trip, says Durazo. 

This coverage typically covers the cost of additional food, lodging and transportation while quarantined. In addition, trip interruption and travel delay benefits on certain Allianz plans also provide coverage if you or your travel companion is denied boarding by your travel carrier due to suspicion of illness.

The benefits for quarantine coverage vary from carrier to carrier. For example, on select Trawick International plans, they offer $2,000 in quarantine benefits and for an additional charge, and you can increase it up to $7,000. 

What about pre-flight COVID-19 testing?

Your plan may provide coverage for flights if you are turned away at a border for not passing a health inspection. Foster says Trawick’s travel insurance plans that cover COVID-19 would cover the expenses if you could not pass your pre-health inspection.  Also, the plan would cover the costs of the failure of your PCR test to return to the United States, such as having to quarantine abroad. 

It’s important to note that the actual cost of the PCR test is not covered by your policy, just the loss associated with the negative test.

Read more:  PCR tests for travel: everything you need to know

Some destinations require COVID-specific insurance coverage⁠—how do I comply with those restrictions? 

Before any international travel, you should check the country where you are headed to make sure you comply with insurance coverage requirements. Countries like Spain, Turks and Caicos and Thailand are among the nations that mandate COVID-19 insurance coverage.

“You first must check the countries’ specific COVID regulations for entry into the country. Some countries require travelers to provide proof of travel insurance that covers COVID-19 related expenses purchased from a third party,” explains Foster. Providing proof coverage is key; so travelers need to ensure they receive documentation from their insurance provider that their policy covers COVID-19 related expenses to show customs officials, she says.

Should you arrive in a country that requires proof of insurance to cover COVID-19 medical expenses and quarantine costs, and you don’t hold a policy, you will not be granted entry.

For more information on COVID-19 and travel, check out Lonely Planet's Health Hub .

You may also like:  What happens if I'm denied entry to a country on arrival? What is a vaccine passport and do I need one to travel? What is the IATA Travel Pass and do I need it to travel?

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COVID-19 Travel Insurance Guide and FAQs

Last updated October 19, 2023

Our plans provide coverage if you, a family member, or a traveling companion become ill with COVID-19 and plan requirements are met.  See Coverages

Travel Updates: Our plans provide coverage if you, a family member, or a traveling companion become ill with COVID-19 and plan requirements are met.  See Coverages

Generali Global Assistance continues to closely monitor COVID-19 and its potential impact on our travelers. This page is intended to help you better understand how the  Standard , Preferred and Premium  plans available on this website can help you with issues related to COVID-19.

Jump straight to:

• COVID-19 Guide  - Follow our step-by-step guide to learn how to buy travel insurance that includes coverage for COVID-19 sickness, what to do if COVID-19 impacts your trip and you need to cancel, and also what to do if you get sick during your trip and need medical assistance or are required to isolate.
• Frequently Asked Questions  - Get answers to common questions travelers have about COVID-19 and travel insurance coverage.
• Countries that require travel insurance to visit
• Qualified Home Test Kits  - See requirements for at-home COVID-19 testing in order to file a travel insurance claim and common testing kits that qualify. 
• Get a quote and compare travel protection plans

Frequently Asked Questions About COVID-19 and Travel Insurance

If you have questions that aren't addressed below, check for an answer at our Main FAQ page .

Buying a Plan

If you, a family member or a traveling companion are diagnosed with COVID-19 before or during your trip, and meet the requirements for coverage due to sickness , you can be covered for Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Travel Delay, Medical & Dental, and Emergency Assistance & Transportation, in addition to our 24/7 Emergency Assistance services. You can also be covered for additional lodging expenses and extension of your travel insurance plan if you are required to isolate at your destination and your return is delayed.

See our COVID-19 Travel Insurance Guide for more details

For your safety and the safety of others, travelers who believe they may have contracted the virus should call our 24/7 Emergency Assistance team who will coordinate local treatment on your behalf.

Read Plan Documents for coverage details.

Yes. If you received a voucher or credit from a travel company based on previous payment for a booking that is being transferred to a new trip, the new trip can be covered by one of our travel protection plans.

What's Covered

If you, a family member or a traveling companion are diagnosed with COVID-19 before or during your trip, and meet the requirements for coverage due to sickness , you can be covered for Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Travel Delay, Medical & Dental, and Emergency Assistance & Transportation, in addition to our 24-Hour Emergency Assistance services. You can also be covered for additional lodging expenses and extension of your travel insurance plan if you are required to isolate at your destination and your return is delayed.

Please read your Plan Documents for coverage details.

If you are planning to travel to an affected area, your travel protection plan can help if you get sick during your trip and need to seek treatment or medical evacuation. In addition, our plans include access to worldwide Emergency Assistance services, which are available 24/7 should you need help while traveling. Emergency Assistance and Transportation, Medical and Dental, Trip Interruption and Travel Delay coverages can also help if you get sick on your trip.

You can be reimbursed for unused, non-refundable, pre-paid trip costs if you need to cancel your trip for one of 20 covered reasons. Generali Global Assistance plans do not offer coverage if you cancel your trip due to fear of traveling due to Coronavirus, unless you added Trip Cancellation for Any Reason coverage to your plan. In that case, you could be reimbursed a specified percentage of the penalty amount for your trip, if you meet certain requirements.

In response to COVID-19 many cruise lines, airlines, and other travel suppliers are canceling service and refunding trips or waiving change fees. To ensure you are aware of all your travel change options, we encourage you to check with your airline or travel supplier before filing a travel insurance claim. See our list of the most commonly used suppliers with links to their COVID-19 policies.

Yes. If you purchased Trip Cancellation for Any Reason coverage it is your choice whether to travel or cancel your trip according to the terms of the plan . The naming of COVID-19 as a pandemic does not affect your coverage.

Please note that a “shelter in place” order is not considered a mandatory “quarantine” and is not a covered event under our plans.

If you are diagnosed with Coronavirus or another sickness and are quarantined, you can be covered. Learn more.

If you are quarantined, but not sick, coverage depends on when you bought your plan and when the loss occurred. Coverage is unavailable if the insurance plan was purchased on or after January 29, 2020. For plans that exclude pandemics, coverage is unavailable for losses that occurred on or after March 11, 2020, the date COVID-19 was formally declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization.

We will accept a positive test result from a testing facility or a positive test result from an at-home test that meets certain requirements . You do not need to have COVID-19 symptoms to qualify for coverage.

In order to qualify for coverage due to sickness, including COVID-19:

You, a Traveling Companion or your Service Animal get Sick after you purchase your plan, must seek the in person treatment of a Physician and can’t travel according to a physician. Or a non-traveling Family Member is hospitalized after you purchase your plan and you are unable to make the trip.

Important Note: Your or your traveling companion’s sickness must first occur after you purchase your plan in order to have coverage. Pre-existing medical conditions are generally excluded from coverage. However, coverage is available with the Premium plan if you purchased your plan prior to or within 24 hours of making Final Payment for your trip, provided other requirements are also met. Review Plan Documents for full details.

Also see: Do I have to have symptoms and see a doctor to qualify for COVID-19 sickness coverage?

Testing and Vaccination

Our plans include “new vaccination requirements” as a covered reason for trip cancellation. If your destination country announces and publishes a new vaccination requirement after you buy travel insurance, and you are medically unable to receive the vaccination, you can be reimbursed for your insured trip cost. This applies when vaccination is a requirement to enter the country, but not in the case of new quarantine rules for unvaccinated travelers.

If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 or another sickness, you can be covered for certain additional unexpected expenses on your trip, such as lodging.

To qualify for COVID-19 sickness coverage, your at-home test must meet certain requirements:

• You must take your test while your Trip Cancellation coverage is in effect. Trip Cancellation coverage goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. the day after you purchase your plan.
• The test must be a viral test and have Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). You can view a list of approved nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) and a list of approved antigen tests .
• The testing must include a telehealth video call during which someone authorized by the manufacturer supervises the testing procedure in real time.
• The telehealth provider must issue a report confirming the patient’s identity, the name of the laboratory or healthcare entity, the type of test and the specimen collection date.

See what tests qualify

It depends. If your Coronavirus test comes up positive and you are diagnosed before your trip, you can be covered for Trip Cancellation.

On the other hand, if you cancel your trip because you simply don’t want to go through the testing required, our plans will not cover you unless you purchased Cancel for Any Reason add-on coverage and meet the CFAR requirements .

No. If you do not get tested or do not receive the results in time, our plans do not provide coverage for those situations.

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Traveling This Summer? Here’s Why You Need COVID Travel Insurance

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Key Takeaways

• Some travel insurance will cover COVID-19 infection and quarantine. However, the fear of contracting COVID is not covered under most plans. In that case, “Cancel for Any Reason” coverage may offer protection.
• Many countries now require travel insurance. Depending on where you go, you may need to purchase a nationally administered plan.
• If you’re planning a trip, know that these requirements are changing frequently. Always read the fine print on any coverage you’re considering. Before you depart, double-check your plan to make sure that it’s complying with the requirements of the country you’re traveling to.

Jonathan Tucker didn’t intend to contract COVID-19 in Ireland in early April.

Tucker, who plays djembe and sings with the pirate band The Musical Blades, was touring the Emerald Isle as part of a guided tour featuring the musical group.

After seeing many of the sights, he and roughly 20 of the 65 tour participants came down with COVID and had to stay behind to quarantine.

While quarantining in an Irish hotel room isn’t ideal, Tucker told Verywell that he was prepared for the possibility.

“We got travel insurance, although it wasn’t exclusively for COVID,” said Tucker. “We also made sure we saved enough for double the trip expenses just in the event that this happened. Otherwise, it would be irresponsible.”

Tucker chose a plan through Allianz that reimbursed his expenses, including accommodations while traveling.

Since Ireland’s quarantine time is counted from the first sign of COVID symptoms , without that coverage, Tucker would have been on the hook for an additional seven days of accommodations.

What Is Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance has been around far longer than COVID, but the pandemic has made it much more attractive to travelers.

Typical plans cover trip delays, lost baggage, or medical care if a traveler has to visit a healthcare facility abroad. Most domestic healthcare plans don’t offer coverage.

Some plans, like Tucker’s, work for solo travelers or couples traveling together—even if only one person tests positive for COVID.

Travel Insurance for COVID

While there are options for travelers trying to prepare for the possibility that COVID could derail their plans, it hasn't always been that way.

Damian Tysdal, the founder of CoverTrip , told Verywell that epidemics were historically excluded from travel insurance.

Tysdal has written about travel insurance trends on his blog since 2006. He told Verywell that he’s seen plans change throughout the pandemic.

“COVID coverage with travel insurance has been evolving since the beginning of the pandemic,” said Tysdal. “Some companies outright excluded any losses resulting from an epidemic. Others covered it, but only if you purchased insurance before it became a ‘known event’—after which it could not be insured.”

According to Tysdal, most companies covered COVID as if it were any other illness—they paid for medical care, or if you were diagnosed before your trip, they covered trip cancellation.

However, consumers need to read plans carefully and look for loopholes such as exclusions for epidemics.

Is COVID Fear Covered?

Tysdal said that one thing that most plans don’t cover is the fear of contracting COVID, even if case rates justify that fear.

“The main problem came down to people wanting to cancel out of fear of getting COVID. That is not covered,” said Tysdal.

According to Tysdal, an exception would be a plan with “Cancel for Any Reason” coverage, which is “an optional upgrade that extends your list of covered reasons for cancellation. In that case, you could cancel out of fear.”

What Will Travel Insurance Cover?

Joe Cronin, MBA , president of International Citizens Insurance, told Verywell that travel insurance plan coverage varies, particularly when it comes to COVID-related expenses.

For example, some plans will only cover the costs of medical treatment, while others will pay for the cost of quarantining (as in Tucker’s case).

For quarantine coverage, plans might pay a set amount of money for meals, transportation, and lodging.

Read the Fine Print

Cronin said that travelers need to know that self-administered COVID tests are not always enough to trigger plan coverage.

“In most cases, a physician must diagnose you with COVID to receive coverage,” said Cronin. “If you discover you have COVID through a self-administered test, you may have to go to a doctor to get the diagnosis confirmed for the coverage to take effect.”

Cronin explained that “some policies will only cover quarantine if you can show that a government authority or doctor mandated it and that it was because you tested positive or are symptomatic.”

To make sure you’re complying with the policy you’ve purchased, Cronin said it’s crucial that you read the fine print.

Some traditional travel insurance plans changed to accommodate COVID, but there are others that are specifically geared toward it. For example, CAP and Covac Global both offer programs that are optimized for COVID coverage.

Do I Need Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance used to be an optional expense, but Cronin said that many countries now require it for entry.

As borders open to summer travelers, some countries are starting to require travelers to purchase the insurance coverage that’s offered by their national governments.

As of February 2022, Belize requires all visitors to purchase mandatory international health insurance through their tourism portal and covers medical treatment in the country.

Other countries only require travel insurance if you’re unvaccinated.

For example, Singapore requires unvaccinated travelers to carry travel insurance with a minimum of S$30,000 coverage (about US$22,000). Vaccinated travelers are encouraged, but not required, to have insurance.

Know Requirements—and Check for Changes

Cronin said that the requirements for travel insurance change rapidly, so it can be hard to keep up.

“Some countries have said they are implementing a travel insurance requirement only to remove it at the last second,” said Cronin. “Other countries have officially removed their travel insurance requirement—but border control agents are still asking for your travel insurance plan on entry. It is important to check the requirements of the country you are going to.”

As of April 2022, the United States has no travel insurance requirement for entry. Still, White House representatives have stated that there is no intention of lifting the testing requirement for reentry into the U.S.

As that testing remains, more Americans could wind up stranded abroad with COVID—whether they are symptomatic or not. Travel insurance could be the only thing standing between them and a very expensive quarantine.

What This Means For You

Travel insurance used to be a precaution that many travelers considered an unnecessary expense. Now, it might be necessary for entry into a country you plan to visit.

If you choose to purchase travel insurance, read the fine print carefully. Make sure that you know what’s covered—and what’s not—when it comes to COVID medical care and quarantine support.

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our  coronavirus news page .

By Rachel Murphy Murphy is a Kansas City-based journalist with more than a decade of health writing experience.

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Covid-19 travel advisor, ready to travel check advisories for your destination.

Use the search tool below to find out more about advisories for travel during COVID-19, including regulations for destinations, and safety and health guidelines.

Important: We recommend you confirm all guidance with official government sites and check with your travel insurance issuer. Your travel insurance may be invalidated if you travel against government advice.

Please note: This information is provided by a third party, Sherpa, and is meant for informational purposes only. Expedia is not responsible for its accuracy. Given how quickly the travel requirements are evolving, you should not rely solely on this tool in making travel arrangements and should confirm the accuracy of any government guidance, restrictions, or requirements.

By using this tool, you acknowledge you have read this note and agree to our site's terms of use and privacy policy (links below). Where the information above is not provided in your local language, neither Expedia nor Sherpa is responsible for any translation that you or a third party (e.g. Google Translate) carry out on such information.

Members save 10% or more on over 100,000 hotels worldwide when you’re signed in

Covid-19 travel advisor, ready to travel check advisories for your destination.

Use the search tool below to find out more about advisories for travel during COVID-19, including regulations for destinations, and safety and health guidelines.

Important: We recommend you confirm all guidance with official government sites and check with your travel insurance issuer. Your travel insurance may be invalidated if you travel against government advice.

Please note: This information is provided by a third party, Sherpa, and is meant for informational purposes only. Expedia is not responsible for its accuracy. Given how quickly the travel requirements are evolving, you should not rely solely on this tool in making travel arrangements and should confirm the accuracy of any government guidance, restrictions, or requirements.

By using this tool, you acknowledge you have read this note and agree to our site's terms of use and privacy policy (links below). Where the information above is not provided in your local language, neither Expedia nor Sherpa is responsible for any translation that you or a third party (e.g. Google Translate) carry out on such information.

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Covid-19 travel advisor, ready to travel check advisories for your destination.

Use the search tool below to find out more about advisories for travel during COVID-19, including regulations for destinations, and safety and health guidelines.

Important: We recommend you confirm all guidance with official government sites and check with your travel insurance issuer. Your travel insurance may be invalidated if you travel against government advice.

Please note: This information is provided by a third party, Sherpa, and is meant for informational purposes only. Expedia is not responsible for its accuracy. Given how quickly the travel requirements are evolving, you should not rely solely on this tool in making travel arrangements and should confirm the accuracy of any government guidance, restrictions, or requirements.

By using this tool, you acknowledge you have read this note and agree to our site's terms of use and privacy policy (links below). Where the information above is not provided in your local language, neither Expedia nor Sherpa is responsible for any translation that you or a third party (e.g. Google Translate) carry out on such information.

Does travel insurance cover pandemics?

More than a quarter of the population of the U.S. has received at least one COVID-19 vaccination as of this week, and all those shots in arms seem to be directly correlating to a surge in travel.

In fact, the number of passengers in U.S. airports reached their highest numbers in more than a year last week according to the Transportation Security Administration ( TSA ). Whether you're vaccinated or not, concerns about new strains of the coronavirus are high, so it's not surprising to hear that inquiries about travel insurance have also hit their highest level since the pandemic began, according to InsureMyTrip .

However, "there is a big misconception about what travel insurance does — and doesn't — cover," said Meghan Walch, pandemic travel insurance expert for InsureMyTrip . In the company's latest poll of travel insurance agents, the vast majority of questions (a whopping 97%) from would-be travelers are regarding how travel insurance may or may not cover COVID-19 related travel concerns.

So, does your travel insurance cover a pandemic? Here's everything you need to know.

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Why travel insurance usually doesn't cover epidemics and pandemics

In general terms, regular travel insurance policies cover the "unknowns" — for example, an accident you couldn't have anticipated in advance, such as falling while you were hiking and breaking your leg — and not losses caused directly or indirectly by known or foreseeable events (in this case, an epidemic complete with government travel advisories).

Similar to a weather event , once something becomes "known" it may not be a covered reason for cancellation if a traveler purchases insurance after that date.

In other words, if you purchased travel after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic, you've entered "known" territory, the same as deciding to fly into the eye of a hurricane.

Related: Avoiding outbreaks isn't covered by most travel insurance

What travel insurance normally covers

"Essentially, travel insurance covers unexpected events during your travels and pre-departure starting the effective date of your policy," said Christina Tunnah, general manager of the Americas of travel insurance company World Nomads.

According to Tunnah, regular travel insurance breaks down into three main categories:

• The protection of your pocketbook (investment in flights, delays, interruption, cancellation)
• The protection of yourself (emergency medical and evacuation)
• The protection of your belongings ( delayed and lost bags , theft)

Many credit cards also offer travel protection. Covered situations, maximum coverage amounts and eligible expenses vary across the cards that offer this benefit. Covered situations typically include accidental bodily injury; loss of life or sickness; severe weather; terrorist action or hijacking and jury duty or a court subpoena that can't be postponed or waived.

Related: The best credit cards with complimentary travel protection

Are some insurers covering COVID-19?

Not all the news on the COVID-19 insurance front is negative. According to Walch, many traditional travel insurance policies will cover your COVID-19 related travel concerns if you meet regular guidelines.

Examples of COVID-19 coverage in traditional plans include:

• If you must visit a doctor or hospital during a trip due to a COVID-19 illness
• If you get sick with COVID-19 and must cancel a trip
• If a physician orders you to quarantine before a trip
• If you lost a job during the coronavirus pandemic by no fault of your own

In addition, some plans are now offering higher travel delay limits in order to help with additional accommodation expenses due to a covered quarantine, adds Walch.

And, there are also some individual insurers that are simply covering COVID-19 outright. For example, World Nomads' plans cover the diagnosis of COVID-19 the same as any other illness with benefits that could include emergency medical care, emergency medical evacuation, trip delay and trip interruption coverage if you contract COVID-19 while traveling.

How to find a plan that covers COVID-19

First of all, you should look in the exclusion section to see if pandemics or epidemics are mentioned. If so, you'll need to shop around for a different policy, said Tunnah.

Even though travel insurance companies may offer COVID-19 sickness coverage, they typically don't offer benefits for every circumstance.

"Every policy is different, so you'll want to get a good grasp of a plan's coverage before you purchase it," Tunnah explained. Some of the questions you should ask yourself are: Does the plan cover emergency medical and evacuation expenses if I contract COVID-19? What are covered reasons for cancellation? What if my trip is delayed or interrupted because of a COVID-19 event?

If you're getting confused from reading the legal jargon of a policy, you can contact the customer service department of your travel insurance company, Tunnah advised. Representatives should be able to provide plain English explanations of coverage and help you identify a plan that meets your specific trip needs.

To see multiple options in one place, InsureMyTrip has a COVID-19 coverage tool that allows you to compare different policies.

Here's what you should be looking for according to the company:

• Trip cancellation coverage: While traditional trip cancellation does not allow a traveler to cancel a trip due to COVID-19 fears, it may cover a traveler in the event they get sick from COVID-19 and must cancel a trip.
• Trip interruption coverage: In the event a traveler gets sick from COVID-19 and the trip is interrupted, this coverage may apply.
• Cancel for any reason coverage : If eligible, this protection allows travelers the option to cancel a trip due to concerns over COVID-19, whereas traditional trip cancellation coverage does not (see below for more details).

Cancel for any reason insurance could be your best option

Cancel for any reason, also known as CFAR in the insurance industry, is an add-on to certain traditional trip insurance policies.

While travel insurance policies can offer a range of inclusions (think: medical evacuation, trip cancellation due to foreign or domestic terrorism or rental car damage) not every eventuality is included in all insurance policies. For example, some trip insurance plans cover employment layoffs while others do not. Some policies may have robust emergency medical coverage while competitors don't. That's why it's so important for you to select a plan that meets your specific needs for each trip.

One commonality among insurance policies? A long lists of exclusions. That's where a CFAR policy comes into play.

" InsureMyTrip strongly recommends travelers strongly consider a CFAR upgrade," said Walch. This upgrade offers the most trip cancellation flexibility and is the only option available to cover "fear of travel" (traditional travel insurance does not offer cancellation coverage for "fear of travel," whether related to COVID-19 or not).

If eligibility requirements are met, reimbursement is typically up to 70% of the pre-paid, nonrefundable trip cost. "Just be aware that this add-on will increase the cost of the plan," Walch advised.

Some countries are requiring mandatory insurance for entry

Even in pre-pandemic times, many countries required travelers to have personal medical insurance to visit (although you weren't necessarily required to provide proof). Now, with pandemic concerns, some countries are instituting mandatory COVID-19 insurance for entry.

The Bahamas is one example. Travel health insurance is required for all incoming visitors and the cost for the mandatory insurance is included in the price of the Travel Health Visa all tourists are required to apply for before entry. Aruba is another example where COVID-19 insurance is purchased onsite at arrival and mandatory for entry.

Note that these insurance coverage policies just are for medical coverage, so travelers will still need additional coverage to cover non-health-related expenses such as travel delays or lost baggage.

Bottom line

If you're planning on traveling during a pandemic, don't assume that your usual travel insurance will cover you. Be sure to compare different insurance policies. and strongly consider Cancel For Any Reason insurance if you want to make sure your trip costs are covered.

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Expedia's so-called Trip Protection package is a scam. It's expensive and its coverage is limited to health emergencies.

I made the mistake of buying it, and it cost me dearly.

Don't buy it!

174 replies to this topic

you bought a policy without reading what was included??

What did you expect that you did not get? Please clarify

Another case of an OP not reading what he bought and calling it a scam. Blaming someone else is the true American pastime, not baseball. Last time I bought trip insurance, it covered health, jury duty, job layoff, terrorism, environmental issues, carrier no longer providing the service, etc. Just read it again to make sure.

Expedia's policy would never be a "cancel for any reason you please" policy.

Those are VERY expensive!! Most policies cover cancelling for very specific reasons that are always listed before you buy.

I don’t doubt that the insurance provided by Expedia was very limited. The real problem is not reading the policy before purchasing the insurance.

So not a scam. Just not very good value.

A bit like champagne.

Expensive is a matter of perspective. A health emergency in a foreign country can indeed be very expensive. You would be singing quite a bit different tune if you did in fact have a health emergency and the insurance covered the health insurance.

A health emergency in a foreign country can indeed be very expensive.

----------------

It would be less expensive than in the US for sure.

They are talking about cancelling for a health emergency prior, not getting emergency medical insurance while in destination.

Unless your elderly, spending a ton of money on travel, or don't have health insurance I would recommend avoiding trip insurance. Most travel insurance is hard to get reimbursement for and they require very specific things to warrant paying out.

I have Kaiser health insurance and they cover me inside and outside the United States. My Visa travel credit card offers trip protection and baggage protection. I also travel alone, so I only have to worry about myself.

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Introduction to AXA Travel Insurance

• Coverage Options Offered by AXA
• AXA Assistance USA Cost

AXA Customer Service Reviews

Compare axa travel insurance.

• Why You Should Trust Us

AXA Assistance USA Travel Insurance Review 2024

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

Travel insurance is important because it can help cover the cost of unexpected medical expenses while you're traveling. It can also reimburse you for lost or stolen baggage, canceled flights, and other unforeseeable problems that may occur while you're away from home.

Simply put, there's a lot to consider.

But not all policies are created equal, and you must understand what you're covered for before you purchase a policy. This article will look in-depth at AXA Assistance USA travel insurance. We'll discuss the costs, coverage limits, exclusions, and more to help you make an informed decision about whether or not this particular travel insurance provider is right for you.

• Trip cancellation coverage of up to 100% of the trip cost
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Generous medical evacuation coverage
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Up to $1,500 per person coverage for missed connections on cruises and tours
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Covers loss of ski, sports and golf equipment
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Generous baggage delay, loss and trip delay coverage ceilings per person
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage only available for most expensive Platinum plan
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. CFAR coverage ceiling only reaches $50,000 maximum despite going up to 75%

AXA Assistance USA keeps travel insurance simple with gold, silver, and platinum plans. Emergency medical and CFAR are a couple of the options you can expect. Read on to learn more about AXA.

• Silver, Gold, and Platinum plans available
• Trip interruption coverage of up to 150% of the trip cost
• Emergency medical coverage of up to $250,000

AXA Assistance USA is among the best travel insurance companies . It covers the fundamentals of travel insurance, with coverage for trip cancellations, medical expenses, and emergency medical/non-medical evacuation. With three plans, AXA also offers coverage for travelers with various budgets.

It's worth noting that many important add-ons aren't available for AXA's cheapest Silver plan, such as pre-existing condition coverage, rental car add-ons, and Schengen travel insurance. Cancel for any reason coverage is also only available for AXA's most expensive Platinum plan. 

Coverage Options Offered by AXA 

AXA Assistance USA offers three levels of coverage: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Each plan comes with different protections and varying coverage limits, with the Silver being the most basic option and Platinum offering the most premium coverage.

Some policies might even include added coverage free of charge, such as a waiver for pre-existing conditions , which is free for Gold and Platinum plans as long as you purchase your plan within 14 days of your trip deposit.

Specialized Coverage Options

The plan you purchase will determine which add-ons are available. For example, those with a Platinum plan can add CFAR (cancel for any reason) coverage , allowing you to receive a full refund if you cancel your trip within 14 days of making the initial deposit.

Or, if you want extra protection for your rental car, depending on your AXA plan, you might be able to add a collision damage waiver (CDW). Policyholders with Gold plans can add $35,000 CDW, and those with Platinum plans can include $50,000 CDW.

If you're traveling within the Schengen Territory, which is made up of 27 European countries, you may eligible for Schengen Travel Insurance, which covers you in all 27 countries. This option is only available for Gold and Platinum travelers and coverage lasts up to 90 days.

AXA Assistance USA Travel Insurance Cost

The premium you pay will depend on various factors, including the age of the travelers, destination, and total trip costs. The average cost of travel insurance is 4% to 8% of your travel costs.

After inputting some personal information, such as your age and state of residence, along with your trip details, like travel dates, destination, and trip costs, you'll get an instant quote for the plans available for your trip. And from there, it's easy to compare each option based on your coverage needs and budget.

Now let's look at a few examples to estimate AXA's coverage costs.

As of 2024, a 23-year-old from Illinois taking a week-long, $3,000 budget trip to Italy would have the following  AXA travel insurance quotes:

• AXA Silver: $83
• AXA Gold: $107
• AXA Platinum: $127

Premiums for AXA plans are between 2.7% and 4.2% of the trip's cost, well below the average cost of travel insurance. It's also relatively cheap compared to many of its competitors

AXA provides the following quotes for a 30-year-old traveler from California heading to Japan for two weeks on a $4,000 trip:

• AXA Silver: $109
• AXA Gold: $128
• AXA Platinum: $153

Once again, premiums forAXA plans are between 3.6% and 3.8%, below the average cost for travel insurance.

A 65-year-old couple looking to escape New York for Mexico for two weeks with a trip cost of $6,000 would have the following AXA quotes:

• AXA Silver: $392
• AXA Gold: $462
• AXA Platinum: $550

Premiums for AXA plans are between 6.5% and 9.2%, which is roughly in line with the average cost for travel insurance. This is to be expected, as travel insurance is often more expensive for older travelers.

How to Purchase and Manage Your AXA Policy

The process of purchasing an AXA policy is simple. After obtaining your quote, you'll need to decide which of AXA's three plans you want to buy. When you pay for your plan, be prepared to provide additional personal information, like your birthday, phone number, and address. 

Once you finalize your purchase, you'll have a 10-day free look period, in which you can cancel your policy and get your money back. 

How to File a Claim with AXA Travel Insurance

To file a claim with AXA Assistance USA, head to the claims forms online to find the appropriate form. Once you've filled out your form and gathered the required documentation, you can email them to [email protected] or send them by mail to:

AXA Assistance USA

On Behalf of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Affiliated Companies

P.O. Box 26222

Tampa, FL 33623

If you need assistance when filing claims, AXA's claims office can be reached at 1-888-957-5015 (within the U.S.) and 1-727-450-8794 (outside the U.S.). Office hours are 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. ET on Thursdays and 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. ET on all other weekdays. 

AXA's U.S. branch has few reviews on Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau — just over 20 between the two sites. Its UK branch has over 1,100 reviews, most of which are overwhelmingly negative. However, the quality of AXA Travel Insurance UK isn't necessarily indicative of its U.S. coverage. 

In fact, on SquareMouth, where the majority of AXA U.S.'s reviews, reviews are generally positive. It received an average of 4.22 stars out of five across over 900 reviews. Customers reported that adjusting an AXA policy was easy and the customer service team was responsive. However, reviews on the claims process was more mixed, with spotty communication and long wait times. 

See how AXA travel insurance compares to top travel insurance providers.

AXA Assistance USA vs. AIG Travel Guard

When comparing AXA to Travel Guard , we'll look at the coverage levels from their mid-tier plans, the Silver plan and Travel Guard Preferred plan, respectively.

With Travel Guard Preferred plan, you'll get:

• Trip cancellation coverage up to $150,000
• Trip interruption coverage up to $225,000
• Emergency medical coverage of $50,000
• Coverage for baggage loss, theft, or damage up to $1,000
• Travel delay coverage of up to $800

Comparing those Travel Guard coverages with AXA's Silver plan, you'll see that AXA's coverage limits are a bit higher. With AXA's Silver plan you'll get $100,000 in emergency medical coverage, for example. And the baggage loss coverage limit is up to $1,500.

If you're looking for greater coverage limits, AXA makes the most sense in this scenario. But premiums will also vary based on factors like the traveler's age, trip destination, and trip cost. So you'll have to run your own numbers to make a final decision.

Read our AIG Travel Insurance review here.

AXA Assistance USA vs. Allianz Travel Insurance

Allianz Travel Insurance provides single-trip and multi-trip insurance for travelers who want to go abroad for an extended period of time. And, like with all insurance, the various plans have varying degrees of coverage.

Allianz Travel Insurance's most popular single-trip option is the OneTrip Prime plan, which offers:

• Trip cancellation coverage up to $100,000
• Trip interruption coverage up to $150,000
• Emergency medical coverage for $50,000
• Coverage for baggage loss, theft or damage up to $1,000
• Travel delay coverage up to $800

Looking at AXA's mid-tier Silver plan, you'll see that, again, AXA offers more coverage for emergency medical and baggage loss, theft, or damage than Allianz Travel Insurance. That said, if cost is an essential factor for you, you'll have to get quotes using your personal trip information to make an informed decision.

Read our Allianz Travel Insurance review here.

AXA Assistance USA vs. Credit Card Travel Insurance

Already have a great travel credit card, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or American Express Platinum? Some of the standard coverages, such as rental car insurance, may be included in the card you already have. It's a good idea to research the terms of your credit card's travel protection before purchasing a separate travel insurance policy.

If you're driving to your destination and don't have any non-refundable trip expenses, the coverage from your credit card may be enough. Another time it might work is if you have health insurance covering you while abroad and you're in good health without worrying about possible medical costs.

It's essential to remember that credit card coverage is usually secondary. This means you'll have to file a claim with the other applicable insurance before filing a claim with your credit card company.

Read our guide on the best credit cards with travel insurance here.

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed AXA Assistance USA

We researched AXA by evaluating its travel insurance plans compared to other plans from the top travel insurance companies. The aspects we looked at included, but were not limited to, different coverage options, claims limits, what is covered, available add-ons, and extra services for policy holders.

What's important when choosing a policy isn't just the price — it's making sure you're getting adequate coverage that meets your needs without breaking the bank. Filing a claim should also be easy and stress-free if you ever have to use your policy.

Read more about how Business Insider rates insurance products here.

AXA Assistance USA FAQs

If you're diagnosed with COVID-19 before a trip and need to cancel, AXA may cover your expenses. Additionally, a COVID-19 diagnosis during a trip may be covered under AXA's medical expense, trip interruption, and trip delay benefits. Be sure to review your policy to ensure coverage details. 

While you may extend your coverage in certain circumstances, such as extended hospitalization, and update your travel dates prior to your departure, you can't extend AXA travel insurance plans while you're traveling. 

AXA's Gold and Platinum plan cover pre-existing medical conditions as long as you purchase your policy within 14 days of your initial trip deposit. AXA's Silver plan does not cover pre-existing conditions and has a 60-day look-back period. 

You can download AXA claims forms on its website and email them to [email protected].

AXA isn't the most flexible travel insurance company and isn't great at specializing, but it offers comprehensive general coverage. Its prices aren't significantly more expensive or cheaper than its competitors.

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Table of Contents

When it comes to Expedia prices

When it comes to expedia travel insurance, when it comes to the expedia cancellation policy, when it comes to the expedia loyalty program, when it comes to maximizing credit card points, the pros and cons of expedia recapped.

Frequent travelers likely know that there’s something better than a dream trip: a dream trip that you booked on a bargain.

The ways to save money on travel are plentiful. You can redeem hotels and airline points, or take advantage of last-minute travel deals, to name a few. And booking through third-party online travel agencies like Expedia can sometimes yield especially big savings.

Beyond just deals, Expedia has robust search filters that make finding your perfect vacation easy. It streamlines purchasing trip insurance , which can be especially important for travel these days. Plus, the Expedia Rewards program earns you points to pay for future bookings.

But booking through an OTA like Expedia is not without its drawbacks. Here's a look at some of those to help you weigh the pros and cons of booking travel through Expedia.

Pro: Expedia has frequent sales, last-minute travel deals and bundle discounts

Expedia deals are aplenty, whether it’s a bundling discount or a sale.

Bundling: A major component of booking travel on Expedia is the practice of bundling, where you can expect additional savings for booking more than one product (e.g., flight and hotel, or hotel and attraction ticket) in one transaction. For example, when we searched for a hotel and rental car in Miami, one five-day booking option included up to three free rental car days while another offered one free night.

A perk of booking travel through Expedia is that you select your hotel, airfare and car rental in separate steps in the process. This makes it easy to bookmark the page and compare the cost of these items on Expedia versus the cost on the company’s direct website.

Expedia payment plans: If you don’t want to pay for your whole trip at the time of booking, Expedia allows you to make smaller payments through Affirm, which is a service that offers short-term loans for online purchases. If approved by Affirm , you’ll be able to pay for your trip in monthly installments.

You can also check Expedia’s Deals page and Expedia’s Last-Minute Deals page . Both tend to offer an eclectic mix of travel deals, ranging from cheap motels in tiny towns to lavish resorts in major tourist destinations. We’ve spotted deals as high as 70% off.

» Learn more: How to find cheaper last-minute flights

Con: Booking direct is sometimes still cheaper than Expedia

Sure, Expedia sales and last-minute deals are nice, but that’s not to say that you can’t find other (sometimes better) deals for booking directly with the travel provider. Many offer their own exclusive deals — and they might save you even more than booking with online travel agencies. Compare prices across both Expedia and the specific company to ensure you’re getting the best price.

And sometimes the savings go beyond just the sticker price. For example, boutique hotel chain Ovolo Hotels offers generous amenities including free laundry, happy hour refreshments and a daily breakfast buffet — but only if you book directly with them.

» Learn more: Is Expedia legit? Can it get me a good deal?

Pro: You can purchase an Expedia travel insurance policy

Expedia partners with various insurance providers, depending on your individual booking, to offer trip protection.

F or flights: Expedia offers travel insurance protection options that cover flight cancellation, medical emergencies and other covered circumstances.

For hotels: Choose hotel booking protection to reimburse your stay in the case of cancellation.

For car rentals: You can add car rental damage protection for an extra per-day fee.

Coverage varies by plan, but you can typically expect reimbursement for some (or all) trip costs if your trip is impacted by covered reasons. Covered reasons typically include delays, loss, theft or damage to one’s baggage and personal belongings. You’re also typically reimbursed for covered medical expenses, including emergency evacuation if you get sick or injured during your trip.

But there are many limitations and exclusions, so read your policy’s fine print to understand what’s covered.

Expedia 24-hour cancellation

When you book a flight on Expedia, you can cancel for a full refund as long as you do so within 24 hours of booking. The U.S. Department of Transportation requires airlines to allow you to cancel a flight for a full refund if canceled within 24 hours of booking and it was booked seven days before departure.

Con: Outside travel insurance might be more comprehensive or cheaper (and sometimes free)

You can opt out of Expedia’s travel insurance and either be completely uninsured — or simply acquire your insurance elsewhere. And there are better travel insurance policies out there.

After a comprehensive review of dozens of plans that assessed factors including price and COVID-19 coverage, here are the best travel insurance policies .

What’s more, you might not even need to pay for travel insurance at all. Many credit cards offer travel insurance benefits if you paid for your trip with that card.

Pro: Expedia offers some fully refundable options

Because airlines, hotels and other travel services set their own individual policies on Expedia, change and cancellation policies can vary significantly. While it can be tricky to parse the policies for each individual property, use Expedia’s “fully refundable” search filter to limit potential bookings to those with flexible policies.

For straightforward requests, use the Expedia service page to make changes and get a refund. If you’re unable to get help through Expedia’s self-service tools, other ways to get in touch with Expedia include live chat, a dedicated Twitter account ( @expediahelp ) and a phone line.

Con: Most cancellation policies are bad, confusing or both

Because airlines are required to give full refunds if you cancel within 24 hours of booking, Expedia lets you change or cancel your flight reservation without fees within the same time period.

For everything else, good luck. Because each travel provider sets its own policies, navigating them can be a headache. In some cases, canceling through Expedia means you’ll have to chase after the hotel or activity provider to recoup the costs.

Additionally, prepare for cancellation fees (both Expedia’s own fees as well as fees from the service provider). That’s if you’re able to cancel at all. Some bookings through Expedia are nonrefundable altogether.

Pro: It’s great for commitment-phobes

The new Expedia Rewards program, One Key Rewards, lets you earn OneKeyCash for every booking you make on the platform (plus on Vrbo and Hotels.com), which can then be used like cash toward future trips. Not only that, but Expedia users can earn status, which includes benefits like exclusive members-only discounts and extra benefits at VIP Access properties (such as free breakfast or late checkout).

For travelers who don’t like to commit to one airline or hotel company, don’t travel that frequently, or who book travel that otherwise doesn’t have its own loyalty program (like a tour or vacation rental), Expedia makes it possible to still get rewarded.

» Learn more: The guide to One Key Rewards

Con: Most hotel and airline loyalty programs are far more rewarding

While the One Key Rewards program is fine, most travel loyalty programs tied to specific hotels or airlines are almost always more rewarding. For individual point values, most other currencies of airline and hotel points are worth far more than OneKeyCash, which nets you 2% back on cruise, hotel, activity and rental car bookings but only .2% on flights. Once it's in your account, you can use it to pay for bookings just like you would cash — though you’ll need enough OneKeyCash in your account to pay for an entire flight, not just part of it.

Additionally, holding specific airline or hotel elite status is typically more lucrative than the value of elite status on One Key Rewards as most perks extend to Expedia VIP Access properties only. That said, some elite members can enjoy up to 20% discounts on hotels and free price drop protection on flights, which is a plus.

As for how to use Expedia points, OneKeyCash can be redeemed on “pay now” bookings for participating purchases priced in U.S. dollars. You can use it to pay for part of a hotel booking, but you’ll have to have enough to pay for the full cost of a flight (including taxes and fees). And while you can’t transfer rewards, you can use your OneKeyCash to book travel for others.

But depending what status you’re able to reach with individual brand loyalty programs, you can likely expect better perks. So if you’re fine committing to one brand, you’re almost always better off striving to earn its status versus with One Key Rewards. But if you only stay for a night here or there or prefer to book based on location or price, it’s a way to earn a few more rewards.

Pro: Expedia counts as a travel purchase

Many travel rewards credit cards give you a higher rewards rate on travel purchases, and booking sites like Expedia typically count as travel spending. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns 2 points per dollar on travel spending, compared with 1 point per dollar on most purchases.

Con: Travel credit cards are usually better for earning and redeeming rewards

If you’re loyal to a specific hotel or airline brand — or are open to pledging allegiance — credit cards aligned with those brands typically pay more on purchases directly from the brand partner. For example:

on American Express' website

on Chase's website

• 2 miles per $1 spent on Delta purchases.

Terms apply.

• 2 miles per $1 spent on United purchases.

• 12 points per $1 spent on eligible Hilton purchases.

• 6 points per $1 spent at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.

• 1 mile per $1 spent.

• 3 points per $1 spent.

• 2 points per $1 spent.

Even general-purpose travel rewards cards that aren't tied to a specific airline or hotel chain will often reward you more handsomely for booking through their own portals than they would for going through a site like Expedia. Going back to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card : As mentioned, it earns 2 points per dollar on most travel purchases — but 5 points per dollar on travel booked through the Chase portal . Among general-purpose travel cards:

• 5 miles per $1 on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel.

• 2 miles per $1 on other purchases.

• 5 points per $1 spent on travel booked through Chase.

• 10 points per $1 spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Chase.

• 5 points per $1 on air travel booked through Chase.

• 5 points per $1 spent on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, on up to $500,000 spent per year.

• 5 points per $1 on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.

• 2 miles per $1 spent.

• 1 point per $1 spent.

If you're considering booking with other online travel agencies like Priceline or Hotels.com, here are the best credit cards for online travel booking websites .

With the right deal, booking travel — including flights, hotels, cruises or car rentals — on Expedia could be worth it. It makes searching for travel relatively easy given the massive array of available listings, coupled with thoughtful search functionality to actually help you create your ideal itinerary.

But don’t automatically assume it’s a cheap way to book travel. Especially given the complicated cancellation policies, it might become among the most expensive, should an uninsured trip need to be canceled.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

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

75,000 Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5%-5% Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Up to $300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

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• Hurricane Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance for Hurricane Season: All You Need To Know

On This Page

• Key takeaways

When is hurricane season?

Does travel insurance cover hurricanes and tropical storms, what does insurance cover when traveling during hurricane season, what is not covered by hurricane travel insurance, how much does travel insurance for hurricane coverage cost, when should i buy travel insurance for hurricane coverage, travel insurance tips during hurricane season, faq: hurricane travel insurance, related topics.

• Travel insurance doesn’t automatically cover hurricanes , so you must purchase a policy that explicitly mentions hurricane coverage to ensure protection.
• Though it’s main purpose is to reimburse lost travel expenses due to trip delays, cancellations and interruptions, it also offers some medical coverage.
• If you buy travel insurance after a storm is named, you won’t be covered for hurricane-related losses. Therefore, it’s important to get travel insurance as early as you can .
• Based on our research, our top picks for travel insurance that include hurricane coverage come from Travel Insured, Seven Corners, AXA Assistance and Berkshire Hathaway ( skip ahead to see these plans ).
• We found that hurricane travel insurance costs approximately $15 to $26 per day .
• Find the right hurricane coverage for your trip by using our online tool to compare travel insurance plans.

Hurricane, tropical cyclone and typhoon are all names for the same weather phenomenon.

Hurricanes can wreak havoc on travel plans. Although it’s helpful to take precautions, you need comprehensive hurricane travel insurance. This type of coverage may help you recoup some of your losses if you have to cancel your trip or leave in the middle of your trip due to a hurricane.

We put together this guide to help you understand the following:

• What does travel insurance for hurricanes cover?
• How much does hurricane coverage cost?
• What isn’t covered by hurricane trip insurance?
• When should you buy travel insurance hurricane coverage?
• How can you protect yourself when traveling during hurricane season?

Our top picks for the best hurricane travel insurance

• Travel Insured International: Best Rated Travel Insurance
• AXA Assistance USA: Best For Budget Travel
• Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection: Best For Seniors

Our top picks for hurricane travel insurance

Travel insured international, axa assistance usa, berkshire hathaway travel protection.

Hurricane season usually occurs when the ocean water is warm enough for a hurricane to form, meaning hurricane season varies for different regions. 

Due to differences in elevation and the amount of sunlight received, ocean warming occurs at different rates, affecting hurricane timing. 

The table below shows when hurricanes typically occur in each region.

Yes, some travel insurance plans cover hurricanes and tropical storms, but not all do. If you want protection from hurricanes, you must purchase a policy with hurricane coverage listed as one of its benefits . 

Additionally, you won’t be covered if you buy a policy after a storm has already been named.

Named storms

Most plans exclude coverage for named storms, which are storms that were named and classified as tropical storms or severe storms before you purchased hurricane coverage. 

To be covered for a hurricane or tropical storm, you must buy travel insurance at least 24 hours before the storm is named .

Travel insurance during hurricane season usually covers various expenses, depending on the policy type. This can include compensation for trip interruptions, cancellations, delays, medical treatment, evacuation costs, damaged personal belongings, and rental car damage. 

While its main purpose is to reimburse lost travel expenses, it also provides some medical coverage for travelers.

Let’s delve into how various situations could affect your trip and how the different types of coverage mentioned earlier can provide assistance.

The destination is under a hurricane warning

A hurricane warning means that a destination is expected to have sustained winds of at least 74 miles per hour, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Some travel insurance policies reimburse you if your destination is under a hurricane warning issued by the NOAA.

Before you travel, it’s important to review the terms of your policy carefully. Check to see if you’re eligible for coverage if the NOAA issues a hurricane warning shortly before or during your travel. 

There is storm damage at the destination

If a tropical cyclone inflicts significant damage on a hotel, vacation rental, or other property, rendering it uninhabitable, hurricane coverage can reimburse you for your losses. If it’s damaged before your vacation, trip cancellation coverage will apply. If it happens during your trip, trip interruption coverage steps in.

Natural disaster causes damage to your home

Sometimes, you need hurricane coverage due to a storm at your home instead of at your destination. For example, if a storm causes severe damage to your home right before you’re scheduled for a romantic getaway, you may not be able to travel as intended. A comprehensive hurricane travel insurance policy reimburses you for this type of loss.

Note that hurricane travel insurance doesn’t pay for any of the damage to your home. It only refunds your prepaid expenses. If a storm hits your home before your trip, cancellation coverage applies. If it hits during your trip, interruption coverage will kick in.

Your airline or cruise line cancels or delays due to weather

Sometimes, an airline or a cruise line must cancel or delay a journey due to poor weather conditions. Coverage for airline and cruise delays varies by policy, but you may be able to use your trip delay, trip cancellation or trip interruption insurance depending on the circumstances.

Mandatory evacuation order during trip

If a government agency issues a mandatory evacuation order, you must leave the area immediately. This is difficult enough when you’re going through a storm at home, but it’s even worse when you’re traveling because you may not be familiar with the region or know how to get help when you need it.

When shopping for hurricane trip insurance, look for a policy with trip interruption coverage that reimburses you for losses associated with mandatory evacuation orders. Having the extra coverage can help you avoid losing thousands of dollars.

Some policies include non-medical evacuation coverage, but you’ll likely need to use your trip interruption benefits to recoup evacuation-related expenses.

Your cruise vacation is affected by a hurricane

Cruises are even more susceptible to hurricanes, as they take place in the water instead of on land. Ship captains have to consider passenger safety and other factors when making decisions regarding cancellations and delays. 

If a hurricane affects your cruise vacation, you may be able to use some combination of trip cancellation, trip interruption and trip delay benefits to recoup your prepaid, nonrefundable expenses.

Even the most comprehensive hurricane travel insurance plans don’t cover every scenario.

As previously mentioned, hurricane coverage doesn’t apply to named storms. For example, if the NOAA announces a storm on November 1, you won’t be covered if you wait until November 5 to purchase your policy. You’d have to buy your coverage at least 24 hours beforehand.

Some companies refuse to cover policyholders if they live near their destinations. For instance, if you live in Orlando and plan to visit Miami, your hurricane travel insurance may not cover you if a hurricane hits Miami before or during your trip.

The cost of hurricane travel insurance varies depending on factors like your destination, trip duration and total trip cost.

To give you an idea of the cost, example quotes for travel insurance plans that cover cancellation or interruption due to natural disasters or severe weather events for a trip to Mexico.

We applied the following criteria to each quote:

• Trip duration: Seven days
• Average Trip cost: $2,000
• Destination: Mexico
• Time of trip: November 2024
• State of residency: California

In this example, you can see that travel insurance that includes hurricane coverage costs around $15 to $26 per day .

Cost Example of Plans That Provide Hurricane Coverage

Since travel insurance costs depend on multiple factors, the quotes you see may not reflect your actual expense. For accurate pricing, it’s best to obtain a personalized quote .

Consider getting travel insurance with hurricane coverage in these situations.

You are traveling during hurricane season

If you’re traveling during hurricane season, research your destination carefully. Buying hurricane travel insurance is a no-brainer if your destination is known for hurricane activity. For example, if you plan to visit the Bahamas in July, you’ll be traveling right in the middle of the Atlantic hurricane season.

You live in an area prone to natural disasters

Even if the weather at your destination is perfect, that doesn’t mean you don’t need hurricane travel insurance. You should buy a policy if you live in an area prone to hurricanes and other natural disasters. 

If your home sustains severe damage before or during your vacation, you’ll be able to use your travel insurance policy to get back some of the money you spent.

You are going on a cruise

Cruises are highly dependent on weather patterns. Sudden changes in temperature or wind speed can cause unexpected delays or cancellations. You should purchase hurricane travel insurance to protect you under these circumstances.

Use these tips to find the best travel insurance for your trip during hurricane season.

Buy travel insurance early to ensure you’re covered.

Many providers require you to purchase coverage at least 24 hours before a storm is named. Otherwise, the hurricane won’t be covered, and you may not be able to recoup any of your expenses.

Check the booking policy.

Some providers only allow full coverage for up to seven days after you book your trip. If you purchase travel insurance while booking, there’s a better chance you’ll be able to recoup your expenses if a hurricane impacts your trip. You can still purchase travel insurance during your trip, but you will likely have limited options. Trip cancellation won’t be included, your coverage may be delayed due to mandatory waiting periods and most hurricane-related coverage won’t apply.

Opt for trip cancellation and interruption coverage.

Trip cancellation and interruption coverage are usually optional, but most hurricane-related benefits are linked to these two types of insurance. If you don’t pay for trip cancellation and interruption coverage, you may not be able to recoup many of your expenses.

Take advantage of 24-hour travel assistance and concierge services through your travel insurance.

If a hurricane interrupts your trip, contact your insurer’s concierge service. Trained agents are available to help you adjust your plans, maximizing the chances that you’ll be reimbursed for your hurricane-related losses.

Consider opting for CFAR insurance for full protection.

Standard trip cancellation insurance only reimburses you if you cancel for a covered reason. For even more protection, consider getting cancel-for-any-reason coverage . This type of coverage reimburses you for a percentage of your prepaid, nonrefundable expenses if you decide to cancel for a non-covered reason.

What is the best travel insurance plan to have for hurricane season?

The best travel insurance plan depends on where you’re going, how much you’re spending and what kind of coverage you need. Ideally, your insurance plan will include trip cancellation, trip interruption and trip delay benefits. It’s also important to make sure your policy includes hurricane-related coverage.

If you’re concerned about the effects of a hurricane on your trip, look for a policy that covers mandatory evacuations, airline delays, itinerary changes and other situations. The more coverage you have, the more money you’re likely to get back if a hurricane impacts your trip in some way.

Does travel insurance cover severe weather?

Yes, but with some exceptions. In the event of a hurricane, your travel insurance policy may reimburse you if you have to cancel because your destination is uninhabitable. 

Travel insurance may also protect you in the event of an airline, train, bus or cruise delay caused by inclement weather. Generally, it must be an extended delay — not a delay of an hour or two.

Do credit card travel protections cover hurricanes?

It depends on the terms of the policy. If your credit card comes with comprehensive travel insurance, it may cover hurricane-related losses. Some plans are very limited, however, and don’t include coverage for losses associated with inclement weather. Check the terms of your policy carefully to determine exactly what it covers.

Does travel insurance cover my cruise if there is a hurricane?

Your travel insurance policy should cover your cruise if there’s a hurricane, provided you purchased a plan with hurricane coverage included. Additionally, your plan needs to have trip interruption and trip cancellation coverage, as most hurricane-related benefits are bundled with those types of insurance.

When is hurricane season in Florida?

Florida is situated along the Atlantic coast, so its hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30 each year.

When is hurricane season in the Caribbean?

The Caribbean hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, just like hurricane season in Florida.

When is hurricane season in Hawaii?

Hawaii is in the Pacific Ocean, so its hurricane season runs from June through November.

Leigh Morgan is a seasoned personal finance contributor with over 15 years of experience writing on a diverse range of professional legal and financial topics. She specializes in subjects like navigating the complexities of insurance, savings, zero-based budgeting and emergency fund development.

In the last five years, she’s authored over 300 articles for credit unions, digital banks, and financial professionals. Morgan is also the author of “77 Tips for Preventing Elder Financial Abuse,” a book focused on helping caregivers protect the elderly from financial scams.

In addition to her writing skills, she brings real-world financial acumen thanks to her previous experience managing rental properties as part of a $34 million real estate portfolio.

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