Best Travel Insurance Companies of December 2023

Our experts answer readers’ insurance questions and write unbiased product reviews (here’s how we assess insurance products). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own.Even occasional travelers know how unpredictable trip planning can be. You could spend months planning the perfect itinerary only to get sick or have a family emergency, or it could be something pleasant like a new family member or wedding causing you to cancel your trip. That’s where travel insurance comes in.Travel insurance comes in handy when you’re facing flight delays, cancellations, and lost baggage. Regardless of the losses or causes, a little protection goes a long way in planning the perfect vacation. Trip cancellation coverage of up to 100% of trip costs (for cruises) or up to $30,000 (for single-trip plans)A-Nationwide Travel Insurance offers many of the standard benefits you might see with a travel insurance policy. This can include things like trip cancellation coverage, so you can recover pre-paid costs or trip interruption in the event your vacation is interrupted by an unexpected event. There’s also baggage delay coverage and medical coverage.Nationwide Travel Insurance is of the largest players in the travel insurance space, offering nearly endless options for any customer on the travel spectrum, including annual plans which can offer frequent travelers the flexibility to “set it and forget it” on their insurance coverage.Nationwide Essential also offers some of the most affordable policies in the market compared to similar plans from competitors, which makes it a great pick for just about anyone. Buyers can discuss bundling options as Nationwide also sells homeowners, auto, pet, and other insurance products. Its travel insurance quoting is just as easy as it has been with other Nationwide insurance products.Nationwide Travel Insurance ReviewTrip cancellation coverage of up to 100% of the trip costAXA 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.AXA Assistance USA offers consumers a great option for no-stress travel insurance: low-priced plans, generous coverage limits on key categories including primary insurance on lost luggage, and up to 150% reimbursement for qualifying trip cancellations.While add-ons are limited and rental car coverage is not included by default on cheaper plans, AXA is a perfect fit for travelers who don’t plan to drive (or who already hold credit cards with rental car coverage), and don’t need any additional bells and whistles.AXA Assistance USA Travel Insurance ReviewTrip cancellation coverage for up to 100% of the trip cost and trip interruption coverage for up to 150% of the trip costATravel Guard is a well-established and highly rated name in the travel insurance industry. It offers three main coverage options to choose from, and in general its policies have above-average coverage for baggage loss and baggage delays, plus high medical evaluation coverage limits.Travel Guard is well-known insurance provider, and a great fit for travelers who want to ensure that they can get their money back in the event of canceled or interrupted travel plans.While the company’s policies can be pricey compared to its competitors, the high medical and evacuation limits make AIG a solid choice for older travelers who value peace of mind and simplicity over highly customizable plans that may to be bolstered with medical upgrades.AIG Travel Guard ReviewCovers up to 100% of trip cancellation costs, a minimum of up to $750 in luggage losses, and 24/7 worldwide travel insurance874A++Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection is one of the leading insurance brands on the market. It offers several plans with key add-ons for travelers.Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection helps travelers make the best of bad situations by simplifying the process of filing a claim down to a simple photo snap and some basic paperwork submitted directly through a dedicated app.Approved claims are also paid out very rapidly, making it easier to carry through with a trip when luggage has been lost or alternative travel plans need to be made on the fly.Berkshire Hathaway Travel Insurance ReviewTrip cancellation coverage for up to 100% of the trip cost and trip interruption coverage for up to 150% of the trip cost874A++Tin Leg travel insurance offers eight travel insurance plans to meet the unique needs of travelers.Tin Leg Travel Insurance is a great fit for travelers with medical issues in particular. Thanks to coverage for preexisting medical conditions as well as for potential COVID-19 infection while traveling, this company offers some of the best financial investment options for travelers who are or will be exposed to higher health risks and issues.Tin Leg Travel Insurance Review.Trip cancellation coverage for up to 100% of the trip cost and trip interruption coverage for up to 150% of the trip costAWorldTrips has been a reputable travel insurance provider for more than 20 years. Unsurprisingly, it boasts an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and positive reviews from thousands of customers.WorldTrips Travel Insurance has affordable premiums, highly customizable add-ons, and generous coverage for core categories of travel insurance. All this makes it a great option for digital nomads, students studying abroad and backpackers.However, travelers should keep in mind that plans are not particularly flexible, and coverage amounts are limited unless you plan ahead to pay for the areas and amounts that you need.WorldTrips Travel Insurance ReviewTrip cancellation coverage for up to 100% of the trip cost and trip interruption coverage for up to 150% of the trip costTrawick International travel insurance offers plans customized to diverse travelers’ needs. We look at coverage options, claims processing, pricing, and other important factors for savvy travelers.Trawick International Travel Insurance is another medically robust insurance provider that can help higher-risk and anxious travelers find peace of mind while on the road. This company offers one of the most generous medical evacuation policies in the market, although travelers will need to remember to add on rental car coverage if they need it.Trawick Travel Insurance ReviewTrip cancellation coverage for up to 100% of the trip cost and trip interruption coverage for up to 150% of the trip costTravelex travel insurance is one of the largest travel insurance providers in the US providing domestic and international coverage options. It offers a basic, select, and America option. Read on to learn more.Travelex Travel Insurance offers three plans:The Travelex American plan is meant for trips limited to the US, but it has the highest coverage limits in many areas compared to its other programs. If you’re flying somewhere, the lost baggage limits are higher. Its natural strengths shine for road trippers, though. Travelex America adds coverage for roadside service and rental car coverage for unexpected accidents. It also covers pets should you be involved in an accident while on the road.While your standard auto insurance does extend to car rentals within the US for a limited time, any accident would affect future rates. Travelex would eliminate the risk of reporting to your auto insurance provider for minor incidents within its purview.Travelex Travel Insurance ReviewThere isn’t one best travel insurance company; there are many great providers on the travel insurance market today. Our overall winner was Nationwide for its breadth of coverage options. AIG Travel Guard, AXA, Berkshire Hathaway, Tin Leg, WorldTrips and Trawick also made the cut. The best pick for you will depend on what features you value the most, like a low premium or high coverage limits.A comprehensive travel insurance plan will cover your financial expenses for various situations that may go awry. This could include trip cancellation, interruption, delays, baggage delay and loss, and medical coverage, especially when traveling overseas.If you’re hesitant about your plans, purchasing an upgrade to cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage or “cancel for work reasons” can be a good way to buy yourself peace of mind.The best international travel insurance isn’t necessarily different from the best travel insurance for travel in the US, since the top providers offer strong customer support no matter what time zone you’re in. For example, Berkshire Hathaway allows travelers to file claims quickly and directly through a smartphone app for fast processing and payment. However, we recommend looking at the current requirements of your destination country, how long you plan to be on the road, and other factors. And read our guide to the best international travel insurance companies for more info.Travel insurance went from being a “nice to have” to a “must have” for many travelers during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Many insurance providers now offer COVID-related coverage, which can greatly increase your peace of mind in case you need to cancel, quarantine or modify your trip.Depending on where you go, the travel insurance provided by your credit card may be sufficient for low-risk trips across the United States. But if you plan to do any activities such as hiking, or have a multi-activity itinerary where you might lose money if you miss a leg of travel, it might make sense to purchase an independent travel insurance plan that can pay for any rebooking or medical expenses you might incur.There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for every traveler. Determine the benefits that are most important to you, like baggage delay coverage, medical coverage, and trip delay coverage, then look for a company with solid customer ratings, especially when it comes to processing claims.The exact cost of travel insurance will depend on your destination, the length of your trip, the coverage levels you select, and more. In general, expect to pay between 4% and 8% of the total cost of your trip.There isn’t a one-size-fits-all policy that works perfectly for every traveler. Young, healthy solo travelers can opt for much cheaper plans that offer bare-bones coverage, while families juggling complex itineraries will do best by investing in a robust policy that can help defray any costs associated with lost baggage, delayed transportation or other trip-impeding obstacles.That being said, you can’t go wrong with a travel insurance provider that boasts a reputable history and offers a wide range of customizable plans. In some cases, you may be comparing plans that are only a few dollars’ difference apart from each other. In such situations, you should generally opt for the insurance company that offers stronger customer service and has been favorably reviewed by other travelers, particularly if they have undertaken similar trips to yours.An insurance aggregator like InsureMyTrip or Squaremouth is one of the best tools for searching travel insurance policies. Once you input the specifics of your travel itinerary, you’ll be able to see hundreds of search results to compare the ones that catch your eye. If the options are too overwhelming, use the filters to the left of your search page to eliminate as many irrelevant plans as possible.To come up with our list of the best travel insurance companies, we evaluated each insurer based on the following factors:Policy TypesTravel insurance is essential, but often underused partly because people aren’t getting what they want. Insider’s 2023 travel study showed 10.65% of travelers surveyed bought cancel for any reason insurance. Cost may be a factor, but in many cases, the coverage is more affordable than you might think. Regardless, companies must offer a diverse range of coverage options. We award 5 stars to companies offering all standard coverages and additional options like pet and sports equipment protection.Our 2022 travel study indicated the majority of purchases were made through the travel provider (ex: flight protection insurance when you’re purchasing your airline tickets). While these may be sufficient for some customers, we look for companies offering a more comprehensive range of services.CostAccording to the US Travel Insurance Association, the average cost of travel insurance will be between 4% and 8% of total travel expenses. Anything beyond that price point should include additional benefits beyond the standard inclusions, such as CFAR protection or upgraded medical coverage. Anything below that 4% threshold may leave you lacking important or sufficient coverage in an emergency.Convenience and FlexibilityWhether you’re an infrequent traveler or a suitcase warrior, a good travel insurance company should have you covered. In many cases, you might not even have to talk to a person in order to purchase your policy.Many people think of travel insurance in context with specific trips, but most of these top contenders sell both single-trip and multi-trip policies, also known as annual travel insurance. Some companies also offer plans specifically designed for cruisers, students abroad, and business travelers. (Read our guide to the best cruise travel insurance companies for more details.) Finally, all of these providers offer multiple options for getting the specific areas and amounts of coverage that you want.Claims HandlingMost travelers never have a large claim. Premiums are low, and it provides peace of mind for the just in case situations. So they leave reviews based on their reduced stress levels. But what happens if you lose your luggage or have to stay a few extra days due to an unexpected accident? Will your insurance carrier cover your claim without all the hassle? We check real customer reviews to sort this out for you.Ease of Use and SupportWhen purchasing, during your trip, and throughout the claims process, you may need extra support. Does the company have a 24/7 help line? Does it have an online or mobile system allowing you to self-manage? Essentially, what are the options when you need help? We look at the big picture to evaluate the average customer experience with each company.You can read our full insurance rating methodology for even more details.Compare quotes from today’s top providers instantly online with Squaremouth.

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