12 Best Travel Insurance Companies Of June 2024

Comparing travel insurance policies can save you money, as well as ensure you have the types and amount of coverage you need. Here are key considerations for choosing the best travel insurance policy to match your needs.

Buy Travel Medical Insurance for International Trips

If you’re traveling outside of the U.S., make sure you buy a policy with ample travel medical and emergency medical evacuation insurance. It’s important because you may have little to no coverage under your U.S. health plan. Look for a policy where the medical insurance is primary, meaning the policy will pay out first, before any other health insurance you have.

Review Travel and Baggage Delay, Missed Connection Benefits

If you’re flying to your destination, your itinerary could be derailed by weather, airplane mechanical issues or missed connections. If you’re worried about paying extra money due to a delay or missed connections, look for a policy that has a generous amount of travel and baggage delay coverage and missed connection insurance. You’ll also want to find a policy with a short waiting period for delays, such as six hours.

Decide How Much Flexibility You Want

If you have a lot of non-refundable expenses and can’t afford to lose your trip investment, consider buying a “cancel for any reason” travel insurance upgrade. You never know what life will bring, and unfortunately it might bring a reason to cancel a trip that’s not covered by the base policy. Having CFAR coverage ensures you can get partial reimbursement for any oddball problems that crop up.

Review the Fine Print

Most travel insurance companies provide sample policies online at their websites. It’s prudent to read through them so you’re familiar with exclusions and aware of what is and isn’t covered. For example, if you plan to participate in extreme sports or adventure excursions, consider buying a policy that specifically covers these activities, as they’re often excluded.

Compare Travel Insurance Policies

Travel insurance policies often include most of the same benefits, but the cost and coverage amounts can vary significantly by policy. For example, if you need generous travel medical insurance, you can find policies with coverage of $500,000 per person. But if you don’t need that much, you can find policies that provide much lower amounts.

Purchase a Policy When You Book Your Trip

It’s wise to buy travel insurance as soon as you book your trip. That way, you get the maximum length of coverage for trip cancellation benefits. Buying a policy shortly after you make your first deposit also makes you eligible to buy upgrades, such as “cancel for any reason” coverage, and to get other time-sensitive benefits, such as a pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver.