Best Travel Insurance Companies

There's never been a better time to add travel insurance to your travel plans, especially with the potential issues of flight cancellations, flight delays and Covid. Whether you're spending money on a long-awaited trip or a quick vacation, travel insurance can save you money, time and frustration if things go wrong.

We evaluated 46 plans to find the best travel insurance.

What does travel insurance cover?

Comprehensive travel insurance policies bundle a number of valuable benefits. You can also purchase policies that only cover trip cancellation or medical expenses. With a variety of plans available, you can find coverage levels that suit your budget and flight needs.

Find these best coverage options in a comprehensive plan.

Trip cancellation insurance

Don't book a flight with the intention of canceling it, but unexpected illness, injury, illness of a family member, jury duty and more can derail plans. Trip cancellation insurance gives you back 100% of the money you lose in prepaid, non-refundable deposits if you have to cancel for the reason specified in the policy.

If Covid is a concern, you can find travel insurance policies that cover Covid-related flight cancellations if you contract the virus shortly before your flight.

A good strategy is to guarantee the total amount you have deposited in non-refundable and prepaid deposits. Refunds, such as return airfare, are not guaranteed because you cannot make an insurance claim for it.

Travel medical insurance

This is important coverage for travelers traveling abroad, as a US health care plan may have limited or no local coverage. Travel medical insurance pays for ambulance, doctor and hospital bills and other medical expenses during your trip. You can find generous coverage limits of up to $500,000 per person, but depending on your trip you may not need this level of coverage.

Because Medicare does not pay for health care outside the United States except in very limited circumstances, travel medical insurance is essential for older travelers.

If Covid is a concern, you can find travel insurance policies that cover Covid-related medical expenses if you contract the virus during your trip.

Emergency Medical Evacuation Coverage

This is also important coverage for those traveling abroad, especially if you are going to a remote area where good medical care is difficult to find. Emergency medical evacuation insurance pays for transportation to the nearest appropriate medical facility. You can find comprehensive coverage for $1 million per person.

"Cancel for any reason" coverage.

You may be able to upgrade your flight cancellation insurance to CFAR coverage. Not all providers offer this add-on. Having it allows you to cancel your trip for any reason not listed on your primary policy. For example, you can cancel a trip simply because you don't want to go anymore. Reimbursement under a CFAR claim is often 75% of travel costs, not the 100% available under basic flight cancellation coverage.

CFAR adds an average of about 50% to the cost of an insurance plan.

Travel Delay Insurance

Travel delay insurance will reimburse you if you're stuck somewhere and have to buy essentials to pay you. For example, if you're stuck in an airport all day because the weather is late, this coverage can reimburse you for basic supplies like snacks and toiletries. If you are stuck for a long time, you may pay for taxis, hotel accommodation and meals.

Trip interruption insurance

If you need to cut your trip short for a reason specified in the policy, this is valuable coverage. It can make up for the non-refundable parts of your trip that you missed, such as a resort stay or a paid scuba lesson. He can also pay for a last-minute return ticket home if you have an emergency.

Baggage and personal effects coverage

Losing bags can really ruin a trip. Baggage coverage can at least ease some of the financial pain. He can reimburse you for bags, clothes and shoes that never arrived, although note that the reimbursement applies to the wearable value of the items, not the cost of buying new items. It is also paid for items lost due to theft.

Baggage delay coverage

Your bags may be on their own, but what do you do while you wait? This cover compensates you for the essentials while you wait for your luggage. For example, if you are in Canada, you may need a coat, hat and basic toiletries.