what does comprehensive travel insurance mean

• Travel Advice
• General Information

What Is Comprehensive Travel Insurance?

Last Updated: March 8, 2018 November 13, 2023

Comprehensive travel insurance typically refers to single trip plans that offer a wide range of benefits and protection for travelers. In most cases, this type of plan includes coverage for Trip Cancellation , Emergency Medical , Medical Evacuation , Travel Delay , Baggage Delay , and AD&D .

What Does Comprehensive Travel Insurance Cover?

Comprehensive travel insurance policies provide financial protection for unexpected events that impact your trip. The following are popular benefits included in comprehensive plans that can offer reimbursement to travelers:

• Trip Cancellation can reimburse a traveler for non-refundable trip costs if they cancel their trip altogether for a covered reason, including illness, injury or death, terrorism, hurricane or inclement weather conditions and employment layoff.
• Emergency Medical and Medical Evacuation can refund travelers if they need to seek medical treatment for an unexpected reason while on their trip.
• Baggage and Personal Items Loss can provide refunds if a traveler has to purchase essential items due to an airline delay or if their baggage or personal items are delayed or lost.

Every comprehensive travel insurance policy comes with 24 Hour Assistance , which can help travelers with medical and legal assistance, emergency cash transfers, emergency translations and pre-trip assistance.

Get the Best Comprehensive Travel Insurance Policy By Comparing Benefits

Find the right coverage for your trip by comparing travel insurance policies side-by-side on Squaremouth . Read customer reviews as well as compare travel insurance policies from every major provider in the United States. Customers can also see how many policies each provider has sold and how many times customers have chosen a certain policy as their favorite. Travelers are able to make an informed decision and find the policy that best fits their needs.

Winter is here! Check out the winter wonderlands at these 5 amazing winter destinations in Montana

• Plan Your Trip
• Safety & Insurance

What Does Comprehensive Travel Insurance Cover

Published: December 18, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Kissiah Tighe

• Sustainability

Introduction

Traveling is an exhilarating adventure that allows us to explore new destinations, experience diverse cultures, and create cherished memories. However, amidst the excitement of planning a trip, it's crucial to consider the potential risks and uncertainties that may arise during our travels. This is where comprehensive travel insurance steps in as a safeguard, offering a safety net that provides peace of mind and financial protection.

Comprehensive travel insurance serves as a vital companion for globetrotters, offering a wide range of coverage to mitigate the unforeseen challenges that may surface during a trip. From medical emergencies to trip cancellations, lost baggage, and more, this type of insurance is designed to address a myriad of potential setbacks, ensuring that travelers can navigate their journeys with confidence.

In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the various facets of comprehensive travel insurance, shedding light on the extensive coverage it provides and the invaluable support it offers to travelers. By understanding the scope of protection offered by comprehensive travel insurance, you can make informed decisions to safeguard your travel experiences and embark on your adventures with a sense of security.

Medical Coverage

One of the most critical aspects of comprehensive travel insurance is its robust medical coverage. While traveling abroad, unexpected medical emergencies can pose a significant financial burden and emotional stress. Comprehensive travel insurance typically includes coverage for medical expenses resulting from illnesses, injuries, or accidents during the trip.

Medical coverage often encompasses hospitalization costs, emergency medical treatments, ambulance services, and physician fees. In addition, it may extend to cover the expenses of medical evacuation to a suitable medical facility or repatriation to the traveler’s home country in the event of a severe medical emergency.

Moreover, some comprehensive travel insurance plans offer coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, ensuring that travelers with underlying health concerns are adequately protected during their journeys. This feature is particularly valuable, as it provides peace of mind and allows individuals with pre-existing conditions to travel with confidence.

It’s important to review the specific details of the medical coverage provided by comprehensive travel insurance policies, as the extent of coverage and the inclusion of certain medical services may vary among different insurance providers. Understanding the nuances of medical coverage is essential for travelers to assess their individual needs and ensure that they are adequately protected against unforeseen medical contingencies while traveling.

Trip Cancellation and Interruption

Comprehensive travel insurance offers valuable protection in the event of trip cancellation or interruption, addressing the potential financial losses incurred due to unforeseen circumstances that may disrupt travel plans. Trip cancellation coverage typically applies to situations such as the traveler falling ill, experiencing a family emergency, or facing unexpected work-related obligations that necessitate the cancellation of the trip.

Additionally, trip interruption coverage comes into play when a trip is cut short due to reasons such as a medical emergency, natural disaster, or other unforeseen events. In such scenarios, comprehensive travel insurance can provide reimbursement for the unused portion of the trip, including non-refundable expenses such as prepaid accommodations, transportation, and activities.

These aspects of comprehensive travel insurance serve as a financial safeguard, offering travelers the assurance that they can recoup their investment in the event of trip cancellations or curtailments due to covered reasons. Furthermore, this coverage extends beyond the traveler’s control, encompassing situations where the travel provider, such as an airline or tour operator, initiates trip cancellations or modifications.

By including trip cancellation and interruption coverage in their travel insurance plans, individuals can navigate their travel arrangements with confidence, knowing that they are protected against unforeseen disruptions that could otherwise result in significant financial losses.

Baggage and Personal Belongings

Comprehensive travel insurance provides coverage for the loss, damage, or theft of baggage and personal belongings during a trip, offering valuable protection and peace of mind to travelers. This coverage extends to various items, including luggage, clothing, electronics, jewelry, and other personal effects that accompany the traveler during their journey.

In the unfortunate event of baggage being lost by the airline or other transportation providers, comprehensive travel insurance can offer reimbursement for the essential items and clothing required while the luggage is located or replaced. Additionally, coverage for baggage delay ensures that travelers have access to funds for purchasing essential items in the event of delayed baggage arrival.

Furthermore, comprehensive travel insurance typically includes coverage for theft or damage to personal belongings during the trip. This aspect of the insurance serves as a valuable safety net, offering financial protection and assistance in replacing essential items in the event of theft or damage.

By encompassing baggage and personal belongings coverage, comprehensive travel insurance provides travelers with the confidence that their possessions are safeguarded against unforeseen circumstances, allowing them to focus on enjoying their travel experiences without undue concern about potential losses or disruptions related to their belongings.

Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation

Comprehensive travel insurance encompasses vital coverage for emergency evacuation and repatriation, offering essential support and financial protection in unforeseen and potentially life-threatening situations. In the event of a medical emergency or a natural disaster during a trip, emergency evacuation coverage ensures that travelers can access prompt and safe transportation to the nearest suitable medical facility or, if necessary, be evacuated to their home country for medical treatment.

Emergency evacuation may involve air ambulance services, ground transportation, and logistical support to ensure that the traveler receives the necessary medical care in a timely manner. This coverage is particularly crucial when traveling to remote or medically underdeveloped areas, where access to adequate healthcare facilities may be limited.

Similarly, repatriation coverage within comprehensive travel insurance addresses the arrangements and expenses associated with returning the traveler’s remains to their home country in the unfortunate event of a fatal incident during the trip. This aspect of the insurance offers invaluable assistance to the traveler’s family and loved ones during a distressing and emotionally challenging time.

By including comprehensive coverage for emergency evacuation and repatriation, travel insurance provides travelers with a safety net that extends beyond financial protection, offering peace of mind and support in the face of unforeseen and potentially life-threatening circumstances while traveling.

Additional Coverage Options

Comprehensive travel insurance often offers a range of additional coverage options to cater to the diverse needs and preferences of travelers. These supplementary coverage options enhance the scope of protection provided by the insurance, addressing specific concerns and potential contingencies that may arise during travel.

One common additional coverage option is ‘Cancel for Any Reason’ (CFAR) coverage, which allows travelers to cancel their trip for reasons not covered by standard trip cancellation policies. CFAR coverage provides flexibility and peace of mind, offering reimbursement for a portion of the prepaid and non-refundable trip expenses, even if the reason for cancellation is not listed as a covered event in the standard policy.

Furthermore, comprehensive travel insurance may include coverage for adventure activities and sports, ensuring that travelers engaging in adventurous pursuits such as scuba diving, skiing, or mountaineering are adequately protected against potential risks and injuries associated with these activities.

Other additional coverage options may encompass coverage for rental car damage, travel inconvenience benefits, identity theft assistance, and legal assistance services. These options allow travelers to tailor their insurance plans to align with their specific travel itineraries and individual preferences, ensuring that they have comprehensive protection that caters to their unique needs.

By offering a range of supplementary coverage options, comprehensive travel insurance enables travelers to customize their insurance plans to suit their travel styles, preferences, and potential risks, thereby enhancing their overall travel experience and providing peace of mind throughout their journeys.

Comprehensive travel insurance serves as a vital asset for travelers, offering a robust safety net that mitigates the financial risks and uncertainties associated with international and domestic travel. By encompassing a wide array of coverage, including medical expenses, trip cancellations, baggage protection, emergency evacuation, and additional options, this form of insurance provides invaluable support and peace of mind to individuals embarking on journeys near and far.

Understanding the comprehensive protection provided by travel insurance empowers travelers to make informed decisions and take proactive steps to safeguard their travel experiences. It enables them to navigate their journeys with confidence, knowing that they are protected against unforeseen medical emergencies, trip disruptions, and potential losses related to their belongings.

Moreover, the flexibility offered by additional coverage options, such as CFAR coverage and adventure activity protection, allows travelers to tailor their insurance plans to align with their unique itineraries and preferences. This customization ensures that their specific needs and potential risks are adequately addressed, enhancing their overall travel experience.

In essence, comprehensive travel insurance is not merely a financial investment; it is a cornerstone of responsible and well-prepared travel. It affords travelers the freedom to immerse themselves in new cultures, savor unforgettable experiences, and create lasting memories, all while knowing that they are protected by a comprehensive safety net that extends across continents and borders.

As you plan your next adventure, consider the invaluable support and security that comprehensive travel insurance offers. By embracing this essential safeguard, you can embark on your journeys with the confidence and assurance that unforeseen challenges are met with resilience and financial protection, allowing you to focus on the joy and discovery that travel brings.

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

• Travel Insurance FAQ
• Expert Tips
• Travel Styles

What You Need To Know About Comprehensive Travel Insurance

Comprehensive travel insurance is a huge topic! We are determined to help bring you clarity on the topic in the following areas:

What does comprehensive travel insurance mean?

Who should buy comprehensive travel insurance, what is not covered under this insurance.

Let’s break it down.

This is a common question, but rather easy to answer in the travel insurance industry, compared to other types of travel insurance. Comprehensive travel insurance, though, is literally the most extensive travel insurance policy you can find. It includes the three main pillars of travel insurance as well more specific coverage for various needs. 

The three pillars of travel insurance include: 

• Trip Cancellation and Interruption
• Emergency Medical Expense and Medical Evacuation Coverage
• Travel Loss and Delay Benefits

Other types of specific benefits that are included or can be added on to comprehensive policies include:

• Pre-existing condition waiver
• Cancel for any reason
• Rental car collision

Comprehensive travel insurance is always a good choice when traveling internationally, but it’s not only good for this reason. It offers some of the most robust coverage, so if you have a large financial investment into your trip, a comprehensive policy is the best way to protect your nonrefundable trip cost. If you’re an empty nester, travel with your family or for business, having extensive coverage brings much needed peace of mind as well. When there are variables against your trip, causing a higher concern for cancellation, getting a comprehensive policy should be a consideration.

What’s covered by a comprehensive policy?

Moving on to what you might want to know the most. With so many different travel insurance companies, it’s best to compare policies in regards to coverage. However, there are some really coverage categories that most travel insurance plans offer such as:

Trip Cancellation

One of the most sought-after coverage is being able to cancel your trip and get reimbursed for it. With comprehensive travel insurance policies, trip cancellation coverage is included. The condition is that the reason you cancel must be listed as a covered reason in the description of coverage. Here are some common reasons for cancellation that are covered by most plans:

• You or a person you’re traveling with gets sick, injured, or passes away before the trip.
• One of your family members that isn’t traveling with you is in the hospital or passes away.
• Your destination was recently hit by a natural disaster and is now uninhabitable.
• The airline you’re flying closes or is on strike for a period of time specified by the policy.
• Your passport was stolen.

Of course, these aren’t all the possible reasons to cancel, but some of the more popular ones. If you’re looking for more flexible coverage, you should consider buying a policy with the option of Cancel For Any Reason . This allows you to cancel your trip for any reason at all, with a few conditions that must be met. This specific type of coverage must be purchased within 14-21 days from the initial trip deposit date and other certain requirements must be met.

When it comes to trip cancellation coverage, though, 100% of your nonrefundable trip costs will be reimbursed when you cancel due to a covered reason. Talk about travel insurance being worth it!

Trip Interruption

It’s never fun to cut a trip short, but sometimes it’s necessary. With trip interruption , if you’d need to go home early, you’d get up to 100-150% of your total trip cost back. This would include any additional accommodations and airfare needed to get you home. The covered reasons vary from company to company.

Emergency Medical Expenses

Many travelers don’t know their major health insurance won’t usually cover them once they leave their home country. This is why it’s so important to get travel insurance before your next trip. Comprehensive travel insurance includes coverage if you got sick or injured during your trip and needed to receive medical care. Make note that travel insurance usually works on a reimbursement basis, so you would pay out of pocket for any medical charges and then submit a claim for reimbursement. 

If you think you can’t travel or be insured with a pre-existing condition, that’s actually not true! If you’re concerned about a recent change in health flaring up on your next trip, be sure to get a plan with a Pre-Existing Condition waiver , with which your condition will be waived if you need to seek medical care. Don’t delay in getting this coverage, as it usually needs to be purchased within 10-21 days of your initial trip deposit date or prior to your final trip payment date.

Emergency Medical Evacuation

This is something we never hope has to happen on your trip, but you can rest easy knowing if it ever does, you won’t have to worry too much about the bill. With this coverage, if there is no other appropriate medical facility that can give you adequate care, you can be evacuated to the next best-equipped hospital. 

Usually, these costs can add up in a hurry, so when calling the 24/7 emergency assistance line, payments can usually be wired for your medical  when needed. When in a foreign country, translators might not be available, so your comprehensive policy emergency assistance line can help you understand and communicate with the doctor or nurse. There are several other benefits and services that come with having medical evacuation insurance that we won’t go into depth with here.

We’ve had our fair share of delayed flights and bad weather, but that doesn’t stop us from traveling when we have comprehensive travel insurance. Travel or trip delay coverage is really important to have if there are concerns about a natural disaster, poor road conditions, or a traffic incident causing you to miss your departure. Of course, each policy’s description of coverage is different on how long the delay must be to collect coverage, so pay attention to this before purchasing. Keep in mind, you’ll need reporting and receipts for the extra accommodations, food, and local transport turned in to be paid out from a claim.

Baggage Loss and Delay

Experiencing baggage loss and delay can be pretty inconvenient while traveling, especially after carefully packing exactly what you needed for your trip. However, you could get reimbursed (with the help of your travel insurance plan!) for extra clothing and toiletries you need to get you by while you wait for your delayed baggage to show up. You’ll need to be cautious of the coverage limits for baggage loss and delay though, so be sure to do some research before you leave. 

If you do encounter damaged baggage or missing personal items, the travel insurance company will require you to provide proof that it wasn’t damaged before or that you actually had packed the missing item in the first place. Our best advice is to take pictures of everything before departing in the off-chance you’ll need the evidence later. In the event of theft, make sure to file a police report as soon as you notice the personal item is missing. These are all required documents that will speed up your claims process if you submit them upfront.

Although you might think anything and everything is covered by travel insurance, it’s important to check the fine print before assuming so. Not everything will be covered and we wouldn’t want you to buy the wrong plan! Here are some of the more asked about topics that are excluded from most travel insurance policies.

Hazardous Sports

If you’re the type of traveler who loves an adrenaline rush or experiencing new activities while traveling the world, missing out on travel insurance coverage could be detrimental. Most standard comprehensive travel insurance policies exclude coverage for more risk-oriented activities such as skydiving and mountain climbing, among other things. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t stop your adventure travel dreams! With travel insurance, there are always options. If you’re planning on participating in something others would call dangerous, make sure to add on what’s called a “hazardous sports rider”. This add-on plan will provide coverage in the rare case an emergency happens while participating in adventurous sports.

Travel insurance is always a good idea, but when pregnant, it becomes even more vital. Normal pregnancy and childbirth are not covered by travel insurance since they are considered events that are expected and foreseen. Most women can travel until the last month of pregnancy and be just fine. However, if you’ve experienced problems or complications that lead to an emergency birth while traveling, travel insurance is more likely to cover those related medical expenses.

Civil Unrest

This is a tough one because there are many bucket list-worthy parts of the world that are experiencing civil unrest. That being said, civil unrest is typically not covered by travel insurance policies. If you know you’re traveling to a country with travel warnings or advisories, you do so at your own risk. In this case, if you needed to be evacuated or canceled your trip, those expenses likely wouldn’t be covered. In some circumstances, if you travel to a destination and the travel warning rises to a level 4 while there, according to the State Department , then a mandated security evacuation may be covered but only if your policy includes non-medical evacuation. 

Now that you’re armed with knowledge about travel insurance, we hope you can make a more informed decision when purchasing. Our best advice is to compare plans to ensure it has the medical insurance, evacuation coverage, and other protection you need for your next trip. That way, you won’t have to guess on what insurance policy is right for you!

Related Posts

Baggage Loss & Delay Coverage: What You Need to Know

Travel Insurance For Extreme and Adventure Sports

• Search Search Please fill out this field.

What Is Travel Insurance?

Understanding travel insurance, how travel insurance works, comprehensive travel insurance.

• Trip Cancellation or Interruption

Damage and Baggage Losses Coverage

Rental insurance, travel health insurance.

• AD&D Coverage

Other Travel Insurance Coverage

How to get travel insurance, the bottom line.

• Personal Finance

What Is Travel Insurance, and What Does It Cover?

Julia Kagan is a financial/consumer journalist and former senior editor, personal finance, of Investopedia.

Jackyenjoyphotography / Getty Images

Travel insurance is a type of insurance covering financial losses associated with traveling, and it can be useful protection for domestic or international travel. Whether you missed your flight to Florida, lost your bags in Berlin, or broke your ankle in Ankara, the best travel insurance companies can help remedy all kinds of travel mishap costs.

Key Takeaways

• Travel insurance can be purchased online, from your tour operator, or from other sources.
• The main categories of travel insurance include trip cancellation or interruption coverage, baggage and personal effects coverage, rental property and rental car coverage, medical coverage, and accidental death coverage.
• Coverage often includes 24/7 emergency services, such as replacing lost passports, cash wire assistance, and rebooking canceled flights. 
• It's important to understand what's covered and what's not, and any limitations on coverage amounts and coverage requirements.

Travel insurance helps cover financial losses associated with surprise circumstances that could ruin a trip, including illness, injury, accidents, flight or other transportation delays, and other issues. This insurance costs 4% to 10% of a trip's price. So, for a $10,000 trip, trip insurance could cost between $400 and $1,000.

Premiums—or the price you pay for coverage—are based on the coverage type, your age, destination, trip cost, and more. Specialized policy riders focus on the needs of business travelers, athletes, and expatriates .

You may already have travel insurance coverage from your homeowners or renters insurance or your credit cards. Call your insurance agent to find out about your current travel coverage, and your credit card company to find out about any benefits you get when you purchase air or train tickets, rent a car, or book a hotel using the card. Many travel rewards cards come with built-in travel insurance and other travel benefits.

Travel insurance may be sold online by travel agents, travel suppliers (airlines, cruise lines), private insurance companies, or insurance brokers when booking your flight, accommodations, or car.  Travel insurance companies include AIG Travel, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, Generali Global Assistance, GeoBlue, Nationwide, and more.

Typically, you'll purchase coverage shortly after initial bookings for lodging, flights, or other transportation, activities, and rental cars. Some policies may require you to do so to retain full coverage. Here are some terms to know for travel insurance.

Primary and Secondary Coverage

If you buy travel insurance, you may have concurrent insurance coverage , meaning you're covered under more than one policy. When the travel coverage is primary, the travel insurance reimburses you first without needing to make a claim through another company—and sparing you potentially increased policy rates.

If the travel insurance coverage is secondary, you'll first need to attempt to file a claim with other coverage, such as an airline (lost baggage) or your own auto insurance (damaged car).

Coverage Requirements

There are usually stipulations spelled out on how you qualify for coverage. Your claim must fall under the types of coverage offered. For example, lost baggage insurance might include coverage for personal items, prescriptions, credit cards, and your passport or visa. You may also need to take extra steps to qualify for coverage, such as reporting the loss or theft to the police.

Policy Coverage Limits

This is the maximum amount you can receive for the claim. For example, you might only receive $500 per bag. You may not even receive more for expensive items such as jewelry or electronic devices. You might need to provide receipts for items over a certain amount. Without receipts, the insurer may only pay for repairs.

Some coverage might require you to pay a deductible, or flat amount, before covering the remainder of your claim up to the limit.

These are the conditions under which your coverage will not cover the loss. Each policy differs. For example, your baggage damage coverage may not cover losses caused by animals. It may exclude coverage of bicycles, hearing aids or other medical devices, keys, and tickets, or seizure by a government or customs official.

Pre-existing conditions may not be covered by travel medical insurance, or may only be covered if you buy a travel insurance plan within one to two weeks of booking your trip.

Comprehensive travel insurance includes many types of coverage listed below, bundled into one plan. Most commonly, comprehensive travel insurance bundles a 24-hour assistance line to help find doctors or get assistance in an emergency, reimburse you for trip cancellation , interruption and delay, baggage loss or delay, and medical expense and medical evacuation coverage.

Alternatively, you can purchase each coverage type separately. This may be wise if you already have coverage through other insurance or can cover your losses in many cases.

Trip Cancellation or Interruption Coverage

This insurance reimburses a traveler for some or all prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses, and comes in the following forms:

• Trip cancellation : Reimburses you for paid travel expenses if you can't travel for a preapproved reason.
• Travel delay : Reimburses you for expenses if you can't travel because of a delay.
• Trip interruption : Reimburses you for travel costs if your trip is cut short.
• Cancel for any reason (CFAR) : Reimburses you for a portion of costs if you cancel the trip for any reason; typically more expensive than the other types listed above.

With most of the above, acceptable cancellation and interruption causes and reimbursement amounts vary by provider. Acceptable reasons for a claim might include the following:  

• Your illness
• Illness or death in your immediate family
• Sudden business conflicts
• Weather-related issues
• Legal obligations such as jury duty

You may need to pay more or meet more requirements to file a claim for a cancellation due to financial default, terrorism in your destination city, or work reasons.

When traveling, register your travel plans with the State Department through its free  travel registration website , the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). The nearest embassy or consulate can contact you if there is a family, state, or national emergency.

Baggage and personal belongings being lost, stolen, or damaged is a frequent travel problem—and can quickly ruin a trip as you must shop for replacements. Baggage and personal effects coverage protects lost, stolen, or damaged belongings during travel to, in, and from a destination.

However, many travel insurance policies pay for belongings only after you exhaust all other available claims. Baggage coverage may have many restrictions and exclusions, such as only covering up to $500 per item and $250 for each additional item. You may be able to increase or decrease amounts, shop around for coverage, or increase limits by paying more.

For example, the insurance may not pay for lost and damaged luggage due to airline fault. Most carriers, such as airlines, reimburse travelers if baggage is lost or destroyed due to the airline's error. However, there may be limitations on reimbursement amounts, so baggage and personal effects coverage provide an additional layer of protection.

Vacation rental insurance covers costs from accidental damage to a vacation rental property. Some plans also offer trip cancellation and interruption to help reimburse costs when you can't use your vacation rental. Some of these reasons could include the following:

• Lost or stolen keys
• Unsanitary or unsafe vacation property
• Vacation rental wasn't as advertised
• The company oversold your vacation rental

Rental car insurance covers a rental car's damage or loss while on a trip, taking the place of the rental agency's collision damage waiver (CDW) or your regular car insurance policy. Policies vary and may cover collisions, theft, vandalism, and other incidents. Rental car insurance may be a secondary policy to your own car insurance. However, it doesn't cover your liability or legal responsibility for damage or injury you cause to others.

Medical coverage can help with unexpected international medical and dental expenses, and help with locating doctors and healthcare facilities abroad. As with other policies, coverage will vary by price and provider.

• Foreign travel medical coverage : These policies range from five days to one year or longer, and cover costs arising from illness and injuries while traveling.
• Medical evacuation: May cover airlift travel to a medical facility and medical evacuation to receive care.

Consult with your current medical insurers before purchasing a policy to determine whether a policy extends its coverage outside the country. Most health insurance companies pay “customary and reasonable” hospital costs if you become sick or injured while traveling, but few will pay for a medical evacuation.

The U.S. government doesn't insure citizens or pay for medical expenses abroad . Before purchasing a policy, read the provisions to see what exclusions, such as preexisting medical conditions, apply. Don't assume that the new coverage mirrors that of your existing plan. Routine medical care is typically excluded unless you buy a long-term medical plan intended for expatriates, missionaries, maritime crew members, or others abroad for extended periods.

Medicare or Medicaid generally don't cover medical costs overseas unless you have specific Medicare Advantage or Medigap plans covering emergency overseas care.

Accidental Death and Dismembership (AD&D) Coverage

If an accident results in death or serious injury, an AD&D policy pays a lump sum to surviving beneficiaries or you for an injury. The insurance usually offers three parts, providing coverage for accidents and fatalities:

• Flight accident insurance: Occurring during flights on a licensed commercial airliner. 
• Common carrier: Resulting from public transportation such as train, ferry, or bus travel.
• General travel: Occurring at any point during a trip.

Exclusions that may apply include death caused by drug overdose or sickness. In addition, only some injuries may be covered, specifically hand, foot, limb, or eyesight. There are stated amount limits per injury.

Accidental death coverage may not be necessary if you already have a  life insurance  policy. However, benefits paid by your travel insurance coverage may be in addition to those paid by your life insurance policy, leaving more money to your beneficiaries. 

Depending on your plan or package selected, you may be able to add the following travel insurance types:

• Identity theft resolution services
• School activity coverage
• Destination wedding coverage
• Adventure sports coverage
• Pet health as a reason for cancellation or delay
• Hunting or fishing activities as a reason for cancellation or delay
• Missed flight connections

Travel insurance varies in cost, exclusions, and coverage. Coverage is available for single, multiple, and yearly trips. To get travel insurance, you fill out an insurance company's application about your trip, including the following:

• Travelers going
• Destination
• Travel dates
• Date of first payment toward your trip

The insurance company reviews the information using underwriting guidelines to guide issuing a policy and the rate. If it accepts your application, the company will issue a policy covering your trip. If the company rejects your application, you can apply with another insurer.

When you receive your policy, you'll typically get a 10- to 15-day review period to review the contract's fine details. If you don't like the policy, you can return it for a refund. Read through the document and ensure the plan you purchased doesn't apply too many loopholes, and that it covers:

• Emergency medical care and transport back to the U.S.
• High enough limits to cover your costs or damages
• Regions you're traveling to
• Your trip duration or number of trips
• All activities you plan to enjoy
• Preexisting conditions and people of your age

Also, read through for any exclusions. For example, types of property covered, and whether property lost or damaged by the airline is covered, and how.

Do I Need Travel Insurance?

You might consider travel insurance if you can't afford to cancel and then rebook an expensive or long trip. You might also consider travel health insurance if your health insurance doesn't cover international costs. An alternative is to book an easily cancellable vacation—look for a pay-later hotel room and car rental options, flexible cancellation terms, and the ability to rebook without a fee.

What Is Not Covered by Travel Insurance?

Review the travel insurance policy to discover exclusions. According to NAIC, common travel policy exclusions are:

• A traveler's pre-existing health conditions
• Civil and political unrest at the traveler's destination
• Pregnancy and childbirth
• Coverage for those engaging in adventure or dangerous activities.

Pandemics may also be excluded from coverage.

How Can I Get Cheap Travel Insurance?

Your  homeowners  or renters insurance may provide some protection for personal belongings, and airlines and cruise lines are responsible for loss and damage to your baggage during transport. Also, credit cards may provide automatic protection for things like delays and luggage or rental car accidents if used for deposits or other trip-related expenses.

The main types of travel insurance include trip cancellation or interruption coverage, baggage and personal effects coverage, medical expense coverage, and accidental death or flight accident coverage. Before buying a policy, check to see if you already have coverage through your own health or car insurance or a credit card.

Mass.gov. " Travel Insurance. "

Minnesota Department of Commerce. " Travel Insurance ."

U.S. Travel Insurance Association. " Frequently Asked Questions ."

Texas Department of Insurance. " Should You Get Travel Insurance? "

National Association of Insurance Commissioners. “ Taking a Trip? Information about Travel Insurance You Should Know Before You Hit the Road .”

U.S. Department of State. “ Your Health Abroad. ”

Medicare.gov. " Medicare Coverage Outside the United States ." Page 4.

Medicare.gov. " Medigap & Travel. "

NAIC. " Travel Insurance ."

• Terms of Service
• Editorial Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Your Privacy Choices

What is Comprehensive Coverage – All You Need to Know

Written and researched by Michael Kays (Travel Insurance Expert) | Fact Checked by Danya Kristen (Insurance Agent).

We keep reading this term in insurance details. But what exactly does it mean? Here’s everything you need to know about comprehensive coverage .

In this article...

What is comprehensive coverage?

Comprehensive coverage is one of the most important types of insurance that a traveler can buy. It protects you from financial losses in the event of an emergency, and can cover medical expenses, lost or stolen luggage, and trip cancellation or interruption.

Most travel insurance policies have a comprehensive package that includes medical coverage, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and lost or stolen luggage insurance.

Some policies also include additional coverage for things like extreme sports and political evacuation .

Medical coverage is the most important part of a comprehensive travel insurance policy. It will cover your medical expenses if you get sick or injured while on your trip.

This includes emergency medical evacuation, which can be very expensive.

Trip cancellation and interruption insurance will reimburse you for non-refundable trip expenses if you have to cancel or interrupt your trip for a covered reason. This can include things like weather, illness, and family emergencies.

Lost or stolen luggage insurance will reimburse you for the cost of replacing your lost or stolen belongings. This can be very helpful if you lose your passport or other important items while traveling.

Comprehensive coverage is important because it gives you peace of mind while you’re traveling. It’s better to be safe than sorry, and having comprehensive coverage can help you out financially if something goes wrong on your trip.

Recommended Plans

✅  Atlas America

Up to $2,000,000 of Overall Maximum Coverage, Emergency Medical Evacuation, Medical coverage for eligible expenses related to COVID-19, Trip Interruption & Travel Delay.

✅  Safe Travels Comprehensive

Coverage for in-patient and out-patient medical accidents up to $1 Million, Coverage of acute episodes of pre-existing conditions, Coverage from 5 days to 364 days (about 12 months).

✅  Patriot America Platinum

Up to $8,000,000 limits, Emergency Medical Evacuation, Coinsurance for treatment received in the U.S. (100% within PPO Network), Acute Onset of Pre-Existing Conditions covered.

What does comprehensive coverage cover?

Comprehensive travel insurance covers a wide range of potential problems that could occur while you are traveling.

This includes things like trip cancellation, lost or stolen luggage, medical emergencies, and more.

Basically, if something goes wrong while you are on your trip, comprehensive travel insurance will help you out.

Is comprehensive insurance full coverage?

There is no such thing as full coverage when it comes to travel insurance. Comprehensive insurance policies will cover you for a wide range of eventualities, but there are always exclusions .

It’s important to read the fine print of any policy you’re considering to make sure it meets your needs.

Some of the most common exclusions in comprehensive travel insurance policies include pre-existing medical conditions , pregnancy , mental health conditions, and claims relating to alcohol or drug use.

There may also be exclusions for dangerous activities, such as Bungee jumping or sky diving.

What is a traveler’s comprehensive coverage?

Traveler’s comprehensive coverage is an insurance policy that provides protection for a wide range of potential losses that may be incurred while traveling.

This type of policy is typically used by individuals who travel frequently or who are planning to travel to multiple destinations.

The coverage may include protection for lost baggage, medical expenses, trip cancellation, and other unforeseen events.

Get Free Consultation

Safe Travels USA Cost Saver

January 24, 2020

Safe Travels USA Comprehensive

January 23, 2020

Patriot Platinum

Visitors Care

Patriot International

Patriot America

January 22, 2020

Patriot America Plus

January 21, 2020

Atlas America

January 16, 2020

Nationwide Prime Travel Insurance Review

September 21, 2023

Nationwide Luxury Cruise Travel Insurance Review

Nationwide choice cruise travel insurance review, nationwide universal cruise travel insurance plan review, nationwide essential travel insurance plan review, all clear travel insurance – all you need to know.

August 4, 2023

CoverMore Travel Insurance: Everything You Need to Know

Staysure travel insurance: everything you need to know, post office travel insurance – everything you need to know, argentina expatriate health insurance – ultimate guide.

August 2, 2023

Visitcover.com is a travel insurance review portal that will help you choose the right travel insurance plan for your next trip. By bringing you unbiased, fact-checked, verified information about travel insurance companies, plans, claim processes, and everything that's usually mentioned in the fine print. Make informed decisions, with us!

Opening hours

09.00 - 22.00

09.00 - 18.00

09.00 - 16.00

4422 Flamingo Villas, Ajman Media City, United Arab Emirates

Call Us: +1-972-985-4400

[email protected]

© 2023 VisitCover.com

• Auto Insurance Best Car Insurance Cheapest Car Insurance Compare Car Insurance Quotes Best Car Insurance For Young Drivers Best Auto & Home Bundles Cheapest Cars To Insure
• Home Insurance Best Home Insurance Best Renters Insurance Cheapest Homeowners Insurance Types Of Homeowners Insurance
• Life Insurance Best Life Insurance Best Term Life Insurance Best Senior Life Insurance Best Whole Life Insurance Best No Exam Life Insurance
• Pet Insurance Best Pet Insurance Cheap Pet Insurance Pet Insurance Costs Compare Pet Insurance Quotes
• Travel Insurance Best Travel Insurance Cancel For Any Reason Travel Insurance Best Cruise Travel Insurance Best Senior Travel Insurance
• Health Insurance Best Health Insurance Plans Best Affordable Health Insurance Best Dental Insurance Best Vision Insurance Best Disability Insurance
• Credit Cards Best Credit Cards 2024 Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards Best Rewards Credit Cards Best Cash Back Credit Cards Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards Best 0% APR Credit Cards Best Business Credit Cards Best Credit Cards for Startups Best Credit Cards For Bad Credit Best Cards for Students without Credit
• Credit Card Reviews Chase Sapphire Preferred Wells Fargo Active Cash® Chase Sapphire Reserve Citi Double Cash Citi Diamond Preferred Chase Ink Business Unlimited American Express Blue Business Plus
• Credit Card by Issuer Best Chase Credit Cards Best American Express Credit Cards Best Bank of America Credit Cards Best Visa Credit Cards
• Credit Score Best Credit Monitoring Services Best Identity Theft Protection
• CDs Best CD Rates Best No Penalty CDs Best Jumbo CD Rates Best 3 Month CD Rates Best 6 Month CD Rates Best 9 Month CD Rates Best 1 Year CD Rates Best 2 Year CD Rates Best 5 Year CD Rates
• Checking Best High-Yield Checking Accounts Best Checking Accounts Best No Fee Checking Accounts Best Teen Checking Accounts Best Student Checking Accounts Best Joint Checking Accounts Best Business Checking Accounts Best Free Checking Accounts
• Savings Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Best Free No-Fee Savings Accounts Simple Savings Calculator Monthly Budget Calculator: 50/30/20
• Mortgages Best Mortgage Lenders Best Online Mortgage Lenders Current Mortgage Rates Best HELOC Rates Best Mortgage Refinance Lenders Best Home Equity Loan Lenders Best VA Mortgage Lenders Mortgage Refinance Rates Mortgage Interest Rate Forecast
• Personal Loans Best Personal Loans Best Debt Consolidation Loans Best Emergency Loans Best Home Improvement Loans Best Bad Credit Loans Best Installment Loans For Bad Credit Best Personal Loans For Fair Credit Best Low Interest Personal Loans
• Student Loans Best Student Loans Best Student Loan Refinance Best Student Loans for Bad or No Credit Best Low-Interest Student Loans
• Business Loans Best Business Loans Best Business Lines of Credit Apply For A Business Loan Business Loan vs. Business Line Of Credit What Is An SBA Loan?
• Investing Best Online Brokers Top 10 Cryptocurrencies Best Low-Risk Investments Best Cheap Stocks To Buy Now Best S&P 500 Index Funds Best Stocks For Beginners How To Make Money From Investing In Stocks
• Retirement Best Gold IRAs Best Investments for a Roth IRA Best Bitcoin IRAs Protecting Your 401(k) In a Recession Types of IRAs Roth vs Traditional IRA How To Open A Roth IRA
• Business Formation Best LLC Services Best Registered Agent Services How To Start An LLC How To Start A Business
• Web Design & Hosting Best Website Builders Best E-commerce Platforms Best Domain Registrar
• HR & Payroll Best Payroll Software Best HR Software Best HRIS Systems Best Recruiting Software Best Applicant Tracking Systems
• Payment Processing Best Credit Card Processing Companies Best POS Systems Best Merchant Services Best Credit Card Readers How To Accept Credit Cards
• More Business Solutions Best VPNs Best VoIP Services Best Project Management Software Best CRM Software Best Accounting Software
• Manage Topics
• Investigations
• Visual Explainers
• Newsletters
• Abortion news
• Coronavirus
• Climate Change
• Vertical Storytelling
• Corrections Policy
• College Football
• High School Sports
• H.S. Sports Awards
• Sports Betting
• College Basketball (M)
• College Basketball (W)
• For The Win
• Sports Pulse
• Weekly Pulse
• Buy Tickets
• Sports Seriously
• Sports+ States
• Celebrities
• Entertainment This!
• Celebrity Deaths
• American Influencer Awards
• Women of the Century
• Problem Solved
• Personal Finance
• Small Business
• Consumer Recalls
• Video Games
• Product Reviews
• Destinations
• Airline News
• Experience America
• Today's Debate
• Suzette Hackney
• Policing the USA
• Meet the Editorial Board
• How to Submit Content
• Hidden Common Ground
• Race in America

Personal Loans

Best personal loans

Auto Insurance

Best car insurance

Best high-yield savings

CREDIT CARDS

Best credit cards

Advertiser Disclosure

Blueprint is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service focused on helping readers make smarter decisions. We receive compensation from the companies that advertise on Blueprint which may impact how and where products appear on this site. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impact any of the editorial content on Blueprint. Blueprint does not include all companies, products or offers that may be available to you within the market. A list of selected affiliate partners is available here .

Travel Insurance

What does travel insurance cover?

Erica Lamberg

Heidi Gollub

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

Updated 10:49 a.m. UTC Feb. 23, 2024

• path]:fill-[#49619B]" alt="Facebook" width="18" height="18" viewBox="0 0 18 18" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
• path]:fill-[#202020]" alt="Email" width="19" height="14" viewBox="0 0 19 14" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">

Editorial Note: Blueprint may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured here on our site. This commission does not influence our editors' opinions or evaluations. Please view our full advertiser disclosure policy .

Mikhail Blavatskiy, Getty Images

• Travel insurance coverage can protect you from financial losses associated with a trip.
• Most travel insurance plans include trip cancellation insurance and travel medical insurance. 
• What is covered, and how much, varies by plan, so it’s important to read your policy and look for exclusions. 

Compare the best travel insurance offers

Travel insured.

Via TravelInsurance.com’s website

Top-scoring plan

Worldwide Trip Protector

Covers COVID?

Medical & evacuation limits per person

$100,000/$1 million

Atlas Journey Preferred

Seven Corners

RoundTrip Basic

$500,000/$1 million

What is covered by travel insurance? 

The best travel insurance plans provide comprehensive benefits to protect your travel investment, both leading up to your trip and while you’re traveling. These trip protections typically include coverages for trip cancellation, delay or interruption, emergency medical and evacuation, baggage delay or loss, and other benefits like missed connection coverage. 

Trip cancellation insurance  

Trip cancellation insurance generally reimburses up to 100% of your unused, prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses, as long as you’re canceling your trip for a reason listed in your policy. 

Reasons typically covered include: 

• Inclement weather or a natural disaster. 
• Military orders.
• Travel supplier going out of business. 
• Unexpected job loss.
• Unforeseen illness or death of you, your travel companion or a family member.

If you want to be able to cancel your trip for reasons beyond those listed in your policy, consider adding “ cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage . This optional upgrade is available with many travel insurance plans, but it adds about 50% to the cost of your policy.

Travel delay insurance

Trip delay insurance reimburses you for unexpected expenses, such as meals, transportation and lodging, if your trip is delayed for a covered reason. For instance, if your flight is delayed or canceled because of plane maintenance or a blizzard, travel delay insurance may cover the cost of a hotel room while you wait for a new flight. 

There is generally a waiting period before your travel delay insurance kicks in, often six or 12 hours. This benefit typically has a per day and total maximum benefit, per person.  

Know more about flight cancellation: Flight cancellations

Trip interruption insurance

Trip interruption is coverage that can provide reimbursement if you have to end your trip earlier than planned. Common covered reasons for trip interruption are injury or sudden illness to you or a traveling companion, severe weather en route to or at your destination, a family death or a life-threatening emergency at your home. 

If your early departure is caused by a covered reason and you forfeit prepaid, unused and nonrefundable trip expenses, you can file a claim for reimbursement. Trip interruption benefits can also cover the cost of a one-way, economy airline ticket home and a taxi to the airport. 

Travel medical insurance 

Travel medical insurance can cover the cost of medical care, hospitalization, imaging, lab work and prescription medication if you get sick while traveling. 

Many U.S. health insurance plans do not provide benefits outside of the country, so travel medical insurance is a good idea when traveling abroad. It can cover your expenses if you experience a medical emergency during your trip. 

Medical insurance on travel insurance policies is different from your U.S. health care program in that it’s only intended for emergency care. Jason Schreier, CEO of GoReady Insurance

Emergency medical evacuation

“Should you suffer a major accident or sickness during your trip and need to be medically transported on an air ambulance, helicopter or other conveyance, [emergency medical evacuation benefits] can cover those expenses,” said Schreier. “Typically, those costs begin at over $10,000 and can grow into the $200,000 to $300,000 range depending on your location and condition.”

You won’t necessarily be transported back to the United States. “Medical evacuation is about transporting you to the closest adequate facility that can stabilize your condition,” said Schreier. 

“Typically, this is needed when your current location doesn’t have the adequate medical equipment or expertise to do the job. The benefit not only can cover the costs of the transportation conveyance but also the expense to have a doctor or nurse travel with you bringing oxygen tanks and any other necessary equipment. Once stabilized and fit to travel, most policies will then pay to return you home to the States.”

Baggage loss insurance coverage

Baggage loss insurance is a benefit in your travel insurance policy that can offer some monetary assistance if your personal belongings are lost, damaged or stolen while you’re traveling. 

For example, if your camera gets stolen, you can file a travel insurance claim to recover the depreciated value of this item. Just be sure to file a theft report with your hotel manager or the police because you will need to include this documentation with your claim.

Read your policy carefully, as there are usually per item and per person maximum reimbursement limits on baggage loss, such as $250 per item and $1,500 per person. There will also be exclusions like heirloom jewelry or cash. 

Note that this coverage is typically secondary to other types of insurance. So if an airline loses your bag, you’ll need to file a claim with the airline first, before you can turn to your travel insurance.

Baggage delay coverage

Baggage delay benefits can reimburse you for extra expenses, such as personal care items, if your luggage doesn’t arrive on schedule. Your policy will outline the waiting time before coverage begins, such as a delay of six, 12 or 24 hours. 

This coverage is designed to tide you over until you’re reunited with your luggage, not replace the entire contents of your bags. It will have a per-person limit, such as $300.

What does travel insurance typically not cover?

Travel insurance will not reimburse you if you file a claim for something not listed as a covered reason in your policy. 

“The policy also lists circumstances that are not covered, known as exclusions,” said Daniel Durazo, a spokesperson at Allianz Partners USA. “Exclusions include known or foreseeable events — for example, if a storm is named in the destination where you’re traveling to, but you haven’t yet purchased a policy, you can’t buy travel insurance to reimburse your non-refundable trip costs because it’s already a known event.” 

Common exclusions include:

• Fear of travel.
• High-risk activities like skydiving.
• Illegal activity. 
• Intoxication and drug use.
• Medical tourism.
• Natural disasters that began before you bought the policy.
• Normal pregnancy.
• Pre-existing medical conditions.

Optional travel insurance coverages

Coverage upgrades vary by travel insurance plan, but popular options include: 

• “ Cancel for any reason” (CFAR) .
• “Interruption for any reason” (IFAR).
• “Cancel for work reasons.”
• Adventure sports bundle. 
• Medical bundle. 
• Pet bundle.
• Rental vehicle damage coverage.
• Travel inconvenience.
• Wedding bundle.

Travel insurance coverage FAQs

Most comprehensive travel insurance plans can cover the cost of  flight if it’s canceled, but there may be a required waiting period — such as a 12-hour delay in your trip that is caused by your flight cancellation. 

Your flight will also need to be canceled for a reason listed in your policy in order for you to file a claim for reimbursement. These reasons could include mechanical issues, a strike or inclement weather.  

Borden of Seven Corners recommends you review your policy documents carefully so you know the covered reasons, as well as any exclusions. 

Only want to insure your airfare? Flight cancellation insurance

Although often used interchangeably, there is a difference between trip protection and travel insurance . 

Trip protection typically covers your prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses if you have to cancel, delay or interrupt your trip. It can also include financial protection for your belongings if your luggage is lost, delayed, damaged or destroyed by a common carrier such as the airline. 

Travel insurance provides more comprehensive coverage, including travel medical insurance and emergency medical evacuation . These benefits are especially important if you will be traveling outside of the country where your domestic health insurance may not cover you.

A comprehensive travel insurance plan will offer some degree of coverage for the major expenses related to your trip — from the time you book your travel to the time you return home, and all days in between — as long as the appropriate premium is paid for the covered trip costs, said Scott Adamski, a spokesperson with AIG Travel.

In all cases, Adamski cautions it’s important to read your travel insurance plan carefully to learn about any exclusions or limitations that might apply to your trip.

Trip cancellation is the most common reason for a claim among AIG Travel customers, according to Adamski of AIG Travel. 

Learn more: Trip cancellation insurance

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

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

Erica Lamberg is a regular contributor to Fox News, Fox Business, Real Simple, Forbes Advisor, AAA and USA TODAY. She writes about business, travel, personal finance, health, travel insurance and work/life balance. She is based in suburban Philadelphia.

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

10 worst US airports for flight cancellations this week

Travel Insurance Heidi Gollub

10 worst US airports for flight cancellations last week

AXA Assistance USA travel insurance review 2024

Travel Insurance Jennifer Simonson

Cheapest travel insurance of May 2024

Travel Insurance Mandy Sleight

Average flight costs: Travel, airfare and flight statistics 2024

Travel Insurance Timothy Moore

John Hancock travel insurance review 2024

HTH Worldwide travel insurance review 2024

Airfare at major airports is up 29% since 2021

USI Affinity travel insurance review 2024

Trawick International travel insurance review 2024

Travel insurance for Canada

Travelex travel insurance review 2024

Best travel insurance companies of May 2024

Travel Insurance Amy Fontinelle

Best travel insurance for a Disney World vacation in 2024

World Nomads travel insurance review 2024

• Credit Cards
• All Credit Cards
• Find the Credit Card for You
• Best Credit Cards
• Best Rewards Credit Cards
• Best Travel Credit Cards
• Best 0% APR Credit Cards
• Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards
• Best Cash Back Credit Cards
• Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses
• Best Credit Cards to Build Credit
• Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping
• Find the Best Personal Loan for You
• Best Personal Loans
• Best Debt Consolidation Loans
• Best Loans to Refinance Credit Card Debt
• Best Loans with Fast Funding
• Best Small Personal Loans
• Best Large Personal Loans
• Best Personal Loans to Apply Online
• Best Student Loan Refinance
• Best Car Loans
• All Banking
• Find the Savings Account for You
• Best High Yield Savings Accounts
• Best Big Bank Savings Accounts
• Best Big Bank Checking Accounts
• Best No Fee Checking Accounts
• No Overdraft Fee Checking Accounts
• Best Checking Account Bonuses
• Best Money Market Accounts
• Best Credit Unions
• All Mortgages
• Best Mortgages
• Best Mortgages for Small Down Payment
• Best Mortgages for No Down Payment
• Best Mortgages for Average Credit Score
• Best Mortgages No Origination Fee
• Adjustable Rate Mortgages
• Affording a Mortgage
• All Insurance
• Best Life Insurance
• Best Life Insurance for Seniors
• Best Homeowners Insurance
• Best Renters Insurance
• Best Car Insurance
• Best Pet Insurance
• Best Boat Insurance
• Best Motorcycle Insurance
• Best Travel Insurance
• Event Ticket Insurance
• Small Business
• All Small Business
• Best Small Business Savings Accounts
• Best Small Business Checking Accounts
• Best Credit Cards for Small Business
• Best Small Business Loans
• Best Tax Software for Small Business
• Personal Finance
• All Personal Finance
• Best Budgeting Apps
• Best Expense Tracker Apps
• Best Money Transfer Apps
• Best Resale Apps and Sites
• Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) Apps
• Best Debt Relief
• Credit Monitoring
• All Credit Monitoring
• Best Credit Monitoring Services
• Best Identity Theft Protection
• How to Boost Your Credit Score
• Best Credit Repair Companies
• Filing For Free
• Best Tax Software
• Best Tax Software for Small Businesses
• Tax Refunds
• Tax Brackets
• Taxes By State
• Tax Payment Plans
• Help for Low Credit Scores
• All Help for Low Credit Scores
• Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit
• Best Personal Loans for Bad Credit
• Best Debt Consolidation Loans for Bad Credit
• Personal Loans if You Don't Have Credit
• Best Credit Cards for Building Credit
• Personal Loans for 580 Credit Score Lower
• Personal Loans for 670 Credit Score or Lower
• Best Mortgages for Bad Credit
• Best Hardship Loans
• All Investing
• Best IRA Accounts
• Best Roth IRA Accounts
• Best Investing Apps
• Best Free Stock Trading Platforms
• Best Robo-Advisors
• Index Funds
• Mutual Funds
• Home & Kitchen
• Gift Guides
• Deals & Sales
• Pet Week 2024
• Sign up for the CNBC Select Newsletter
• Subscribe to CNBC PRO
• Privacy Policy
• Your Privacy Choices
• Terms Of Service
• CNBC Sitemap

Follow Select

Our top picks of timely offers from our partners

Is travel insurance worth it?

The right policy can protect your belongings, your bank account and your peace of mind..

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

On April 24, 2024, the White House established new rules for airlines , mandating automatic and timely refunds for passengers whose flights had been changed, delayed or canceled. That's a big relief to travelers, but there are still many unexpected situations where travel insurance can be a lifesaver before or during your trip.

"Travel insurance is often an overlooked investment until the unforeseen happens," says Beth Godlin, president of Aon Affinity Travel Practice . "It's designed to give travelers peace of mind and financial protection against travel risks."

A policy doesn't have to be expensive, according to Godlin, to add a layer of protection and security.

Getting travel insurance

How do i get travel insurance, what does travel insurance cover.

• New airline regulations in 2024

How much does travel insurance cost?

• Bottom line

There are many options in the travel insurance marketplace: Aggregator site Squaremouth lets you get price quotes from different carriers and, because it receives a commission from the insurance companies on its site, users aren't charged any additional fees.

Allianz has both single-trip and annual plans, with a Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) policy that reimburses up to 80% of prepaid, non-refundable expenses. That's more than most similar plans on the market.

In addition to trip cancellation, Allianz's popular OneTrip Prime plan includes travel interruption, emergency medical care and emergency transportation. Children 17 and under are covered for free when traveling with a parent or grandparent.

AIG's Travel Guard® plans are great if you need to customize coverage: The mid-range Travel Guard Preferred plan pays out 100% for trip cancellation and 150% for trip interruption, with up to $50,000 in coverage for medical expenses and up to $500,000 for emergency evacuation. There's even a payout of up to $1,000 if you miss your connection.

Travel Guard® Travel Insurance

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

Policy highlights

Travel Guard offers a variety of plans to suit travel ranging from road trips to long cruises. For air travelers, Travel Guard can help assist with tracking baggage or covering lost or delayed baggage.

24/7 assistance available

If you're booking a trip with an aggregator site like Expedia , review the details of any travel policy that's offered. Plans are usually based on the elements of the trip (hotel, flight, rental car, etc.) and can differ every time you book.

Travel insurance generally covers your expenses, your belongings and your well-being. When shopping for a policy, look for these benefits:

Trip cancellation

If your trip is canceled for a covered reason, a policy will often reimburse airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, tours, cruises and other prepaid, non-refundable expenses. Covered situations can include illness or injury, the death of a family member or traveling companion, job loss, military deployment and even unplanned jury duty, according to Allianz's Daniel Durazo.

Cancellations can also be covered if a natural disaster, severe weather or airline strike prevents your carrier from getting you to your destination for at least 24 hours.

CFAR plans provide a lot more flexibility and typically reimburse 50% to 75% of your expenses. But they can bump up the cost by about 40%, said Durazo. Policyholders are also still usually required to cancel no later than 48 hours before their scheduled departure. 

Trip delay 

Should you experience a hiccup in your plans, your policy can provide some relief: Food, lodging and local transportation are usually covered if a delay is due to severe weather, airline maintenance or civil unrest.

"For a traveler to be eligible, they must be delayed for the minimum amount of time listed on their policy," said Squaremouth spokesperson Megan Moncrief. "Some policies are very lenient and provide benefits for any length delay, while others list a length requirement — usually somewhere between three to 12 hours."

Daily payout limits range from $150 to $250 per traveler, according to Moncrief, while the total policy limit can be anywhere from $500 to $2,000. Save any receipts to submit with your reimbursement claim.

Don't miss: The best credit cards with trip delay insurance

Trip interruption

Should you need to cut your trip short due to illness or injury, or if there's a family emergency back home, your policy may reimburse non-refundable expenses you forfeited.

It may also cover the cost of a one-way economy airline ticket home.

Baggage loss

Airlines are required to compensate passengers for luggage lost in transit, but a travel insurance policy may have a higher benefit limit. It could also cover you if your bags, passport or other possessions are lost, damaged or stolen once you've gotten to your destination., The Platinum plan from AXA Assistance USA has a $3,000 benefit limit for lost luggage, well beyond the $1,700 that airlines are required to provide on international flights. AXA has offices in more than 50 countries, with multilingual operators available 24 hours a day to help reschedule flights, book hotels and make other arrangements.

AXA Assistance USA Travel Insurance

AXA Assistance USA offers several travel insurance policies that include travel interruption, trip cancellation, and the option of cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage.

Travel insurance doesn't cover every loss: Cash is not reimbursable and many policies won't reimburse for expensive jewelry or heirloom items. Read your policy carefully to see what is included.

Medical expenses and emergency evacuation

If you travel within the U.S., your health insurance should cover any illness or injury you sustain. If you're traveling abroad, though, your plan may provide little or no coverage. The right travel insurance should cover doctors' fees and hospital bills, Durazo said. 

The provider can also help coordinate care and ensure you're at a medical facility that's up to U.S. standards.

An emergency medical evacuation can cost anywhere from $15,000 to over $200,000, Durazo added.

New airline regulations in April 2024

The Biden administration announced on April 24, 2024 , that it had finalized new rules requiring airlines to issue cash refunds to passengers if their flights were canceled or significantly changed, their checked luggage was significantly delayed or if purchased services, like Wi-Fi, were not provided.

Refunds must be automatic and made via the same form of payment as the original purchase. Travelers must be reimbursed within seven business days if the refund is going to a credit card. (Other forms of payment can take 20 calendar days to be reimbursed.)   The new Department of Transportation regulations also require airlines and ticket agents to disclose upfront any fees for changing or canceling your reservation, seat selection, checked bags or carry-ons. The Biden administration has targeted junk fees across numerous industries, including credit card companies. It said the rule will help consumers avoid unneeded or surprise charges that can quickly add up and obscure the real cost of a seemingly inexpensive ticket.

A travel insurance policy typically costs between 4 and 10% of the overall price of your trip. The cost can vary:

• Plans with higher limits and more optional coverage cost more.
• A plan with a CFAR benefit can cost up to 40% more.
• Older travelers typically pay more because there's more of a likelihood of a claim being filed. 

Whichever plan you choose, read the fine print so you understand what you're paying for.

While regulations on airlines are becoming increasingly stringent about reimbursing travelers for delayed or canceled flights, that doesn't do you any good if it wasn't the airline that put a kink in your plans. Travel insurance covers numerous scenarios, from medical emergencies to tropical storms. It could be particularly useful if:

• You've spent a lot on prepaid, non-refundable expenses
• You're traveling internationally where your health insurance won't apply
• You're traveling to a remote area
• Your flight involves multiple connections or destinations

"When deciding if travel insurance is right for you, ask yourself how much you could stand to lose if you had to cancel at the last minute," said Godlin.

If you're not as concerned about risk, your credit card may offer built-in travel protection if you book with that card: Chase Sapphire Preferred® , Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Card and the  *American Express® Gold Card all come with trip cancellation and interruption coverage, among other benefits.

*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Earn 5X total points on flights and 10X total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3X points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases plus, 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2025

Welcome bonus

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Regular APR

22.49% - 29.49% variable

Balance transfer fee

5%, minimum $5

Foreign transaction fee

Credit needed.

Terms apply.

Read our Chase Sapphire Reserve® review.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases, 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare; 2X points on internet, cable and phone services; select streaming. 1X points on all other purchases

Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

21.49% - 28.49% variable

Foreign transaction fees

Excellent/Good

American Express® Gold Card

4X Membership Rewards® points at Restaurants (plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 1X points on all other purchases

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

Not applicable

See Pay Over Time APR

See rates and fees , terms apply.

Read our American Express® Gold Card review .

Research your card's travel benefits before making any purchases related to your trip.

Policies vary, but most comprehensive plans cover travel cancellation and interruption, baggage loss, medical care and emergency transportation.

While the price for coverage varies, most policies cost between 4% and 10% of the trip's prepaid, non-refundable expenses.

When should I get travel insurance?

It's best to take out a policy within days of making your reservations.

Does travel insurance cover COVID-19?

If you contract COVID-19 before or on your trip, it may be covered by your policy's trip cancellation/interruption benefit . You'll likely have to confirm your test results with a diagnosis from a healthcare provider.

Bottom line 

Travel can be a wonderful experience, but it involves a lot of time, planning and money. Missing a single connection can have a cascade effect that impacts your flight, hotel room, dinner reservations and more. A good travel insurance policy can provide peace of mind so you can focus on your vacation.

Compare and find the best life insurance

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

Meet our experts

At CNBC Select, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority. For this story, we interviewed Beth Godlin, president of Aon, which provides custom travel insurance for tour operators, cruise lines, travel websites and others. We also spoke with former Squaremouth Megan Moncrief and Allianz communications director Daniel Durazo.

Why trust CNBC Select?

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

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

For rates and fees for the American Express® Gold Card , click here .

• Kasasa bank accounts: Get up to 6% APY with this high-yield checking account Elizabeth Gravier
• Pets Best pet insurance review and price Liz Knueven
• These are the best cash management accounts of May 2024 Elizabeth Gravier

• Credit cards
• View all credit cards
• Banking guide
• Loans guide
• Insurance guide
• Personal finance
• View all personal finance
• Small business
• Small business guide
• View all taxes

What Does Travel Insurance Cover?

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

Table of Contents

What is covered by travel insurance

Extras you can add to a travel insurance policy, what does travel insurance not cover, how to pick the right policy for your trip, if you want to understand travel insurance coverage.

If something goes wrong during a trip, your savings account could take a serious hit if you don’t have travel insurance. Flight cancellations, lost baggage or an accident can throw a wrench into your carefully made plans and cost a lot to rectify.

On the other hand, knowing that your trip is protected can help put your mind at ease before, during and after a vacation. But exactly what does travel insurance cover? Let’s find out.

Most plans typically cover a range of trip protections, including accidental death and dismemberment, baggage delay or loss, emergency medical coverage and evacuation, trip cancellation, delay or interruption and more. Here's a closer look at each one.

Accidental death and dismemberment

Accidental death and dismemberment insurance provides coverage for death or losing a limb or eyesight as a result of an accident. Note that death from natural causes, illness or by suicide isn’t covered, so it’s not the same thing as a life insurance policy.

Baggage delay

Baggage delay insurance reimburses the cost of essentials, such as clothes, toiletries or a phone charger, that you may need to purchase if your bag is delayed. Your baggage must be delayed over a certain number of hours to receive coverage — typically the range is from six to 24 hours, depending on the policy.

Baggage loss

Insurance for baggage loss reimburses the cost of your suitcase and belongings should a checked bag become lost, stolen or damaged during a covered trip.

Emergency medical evacuation and repatriation

This benefit covers the cost associated with medical evacuation if you have a medical emergency and you can’t be treated at the facility closest to you. It will cover transport costs to another hospital or your home country, if necessary, and also includes transportation of remains.

» Learn more: Travel medical insurance: Emergency coverage while you travel internationally

Missed connection

A missed connection benefit covers extra expenses if a common carrier delay causes you to miss an organized tour or a cruise, for example, and you need to pay extra to catch up to it at the next port of call.

Reinstate frequent traveler awards

If you paid for a trip with airline miles or hotel points and it is subsequently canceled, this benefit will cover any fees required to redeposit your rewards back to your frequent traveler account.

Trip cancellation

Trip cancellation insurance reimburses you for prepaid nonrefundable costs if you must cancel a trip for a covered reason. Reasons that are typically covered include:

Sickness or death of a family member.

Financial insolvency.

Natural disaster.

Airline strike.

Inclement weather.

Military duty.

Stolen passport or visa.

Loss of employment.

Trip delay covers costs associated with transportation, meals or lodging should your common carrier be delayed, as well as reimbursement of any prepaid, nonrefundable expenses. Trip delay coverage takes effect after a specified period of time depending on the policy, but typically ranges from five to 12 hours.

» Learn more: What you need to know about Chase’s trip delay insurance

Trip interruption

Trip interruption insurance reimburses you for unused, nonrefundable costs in the event you must cut the trip short and return home for a covered reason, including a family member’s sickness or death, terrorism, inclement weather or a natural disaster, among others.

Travel insurance plans usually don’t include coverage for every possible thing that can go wrong, but you can add optional extras to your policy for an upcharge. Check to see if your plan has the following types of coverage, and if you think you need it, you can add it in or buy a more inclusive policy.

Cancel For Any Reason

If you change your mind and decide not to go on a trip you’ve booked, you typically can’t get reimbursed for prepaid, nonrefundable expenses — unless you purchase a cancel for any reason policy separately. Depending on the policy, you usually get a portion of your prepaid expenses back (typically 50% to 75%), but you must purchase the policy within 10 to 21 days of initial payment. Note that cancel for any reason isn’t the same as trip cancellation listed above.

Rental car collision damage waiver

If your rental car is damaged or stolen, rental car insurance will protect you from having to pay for the damage or theft. Many credit cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card , offer rental car collision damage insurance, so check whether the cards you hold have this benefit before adding it to a policy.

Pre-existing conditions

If you need coverage for a pre-existing medical condition, you must purchase a policy within the time specified by the insurance provider to be eligible for a pre-existing conditions waiver (usually ten to 21 days). Make sure that the coverage amount you enter is equal to all prepaid, nonrefundable costs for your trip.

» Learn more: The best travel insurance companies right now

Quarantine accommodations

This coverage is often part of trip delay insurance, but some providers include it and some don’t. For example, the Safe Travels Voyager plan offered by Trawick International covers lodging expenses in case you get sick with COVID-19 and have to quarantine abroad before flying home safely.

» Learn more: Travel insurance may not cover COVID-19 — unless you upgrade

Travel insurance offers coverage for many situations, but not all. Some scenarios aren’t covered by a travel policy, including:

A named storm: Most travel plans protect you from hassles stemming from inclement weather. However, a policy needs to be purchased before a tropical storm or weather event is named. If you purchase coverage after a natural disaster has begun, it won’t be covered.

Activities performed under the influence: Drug and alcohol use are a notable exception to most travel policies. If you fall off an ATV because you drank a few alcoholic beverages or took drugs before operating a vehicle, you’re no longer covered.

Extreme sports: Some high-risk sports, such as bungee jumping, scuba diving or rock climbing, aren’t covered by a comprehensive travel insurance plan. However, you can buy a separate policy for the specific adrenaline activities you’re planning to do on your vacation from World Nomads , for example.

Fear of travel because of a pandemic or another reason: This is something that would be covered under a “cancel for any reason” add-on, but a general travel policy won’t cover fear of travel.

Medical tourism: Seeking dental work in Mexico or a hair transplant in Turkey? Keep in mind that your medical expenses for elective procedures aren’t covered by a plan with emergency medical coverage.

Pregnancy: If you want to cancel a trip because you’re pregnant, you can do so only if you purchased the plan before you became pregnant. Otherwise, it’s not a covered reason. Additionally, medical costs incurred while on a trip during pregnancy might or might not be covered (check with your insurance provider).

» Learn more: What to know before you buy travel insurance

The length of trip, your age and the destination all factor into how much a policy will cost. The coverage types and their limits also influence the price tag.

Types of coverage and limits

Take a look at the terms of each policy and determine the type of coverage you need the most. Compare the coverage details and limits with the cost. If you hold a travel credit card , familiarize yourself with its benefits as some of the trip protections might be redundant.

Single trip vs. annual plan

For frequent travelers, an annual plan offers the most bang for your buck — it costs less money versus purchasing insurance for multiple single trips. An annual policy covers long international trips as well as short domestic trips in between, so you can have peace of mind all year long. But everything isn’t always included in a multi-trip plan, the coverage limits are lower and you may not be covered for pre-existing conditions.

Individual vs. family

When shopping for a quote, include everyone traveling in your party and their ages before you submit the trip details. Note that some insurance providers include free coverage for children 21 and younger if a parent is the primary policyholder.

» Learn more: 10 best travel insurance companies

Because coverage varies among the different insurance providers and policies, make sure to read over the policy terms carefully, especially if you’re looking for a specific type or amount of coverage.

If you’re still not sure whether a specific event or activity would be covered, call the insurance company and chat with a customer service representative. It’s better to be aware of what’s covered and what isn’t before you need to (but hopefully don’t have to) file a claim.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

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

on Chase's website

1x-10x Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent 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 $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

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℠.

1x-2x Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

50,000 Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

June 1, 2020

Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with travel dates on or after

Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with effective start dates on or after

Ukraine; Belarus; Moldova, Republic of; North Korea, Democratic People's Rep; Russia; Israel

This is a test environment. Please proceed to AllianzTravelInsurance.com and remove all bookmarks or references to this site.

Use this tool to calculate all purchases like ski-lift passes, show tickets, or even rental equipment.

How to Understand Your Travel Insurance Plan Details

We’ve covered a lot of ground here. Just remember that if you ever have questions about what your travel insurance can reimburse, or what any of these benefits and definitions mean, you can contact us anytime by calling or using the Allyz TravelSmart app. Experienced travel insurance advisers are here to help.

Related Articles

• Why is My Travel Insurance Claim Delayed?
• 7 Receipts You May Need to File a Travel Insurance Claim
• Trip Cancellation Insurance: Covered Reasons Explained

Get a Quote

{{travelBanText}} {{travelBanDateFormatted}}.

{{annualTravelBanText}} {{travelBanDateFormatted}}.

If your trip involves multiple destinations, please enter the destination where you’ll be spending the most time. It is not required to list all destinations on your policy.

Age of Traveler

Ages: {{quote.travelers_ages}}

If you were referred by a travel agent, enter the ACCAM number provided by your agent.

Travel Dates

{{quote.travel_dates ? quote.travel_dates : "Departure - Return" | formatDates}}

Plan Start Date

{{quote.start_date ? quote.start_date : "Date"}}

Share this Page

• {{errorMsgSendSocialEmail}}

Your browser does not support iframes.

Popular Travel Insurance Plans

• Annual Travel Insurance
• Cruise Insurance
• Domestic Travel Insurance
• International Travel Insurance
• Rental Car Insurance

View all of our travel insurance products

Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Please see your plan for full details. Benefits/Coverage may vary by state, and sublimits may apply.

Insurance benefits underwritten by BCS Insurance Company (OH, Administrative Office: 2 Mid America Plaza, Suite 200, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181), rated “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best Co., under BCS Form No. 52.201 series or 52.401 series, or Jefferson Insurance Company (NY, Administrative Office: 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233), rated “A+” (Superior) by A.M. Best Co., under Jefferson Form No. 101-C series or 101-P series, depending on your state of residence and plan chosen. A+ (Superior) and A (Excellent) are the 2nd and 3rd highest, respectively, of A.M. Best's 13 Financial Strength Ratings. Plans only available to U.S. residents and may not be available in all jurisdictions. Allianz Global Assistance and Allianz Travel Insurance are marks of AGA Service Company dba Allianz Global Assistance or its affiliates. Allianz Travel Insurance products are distributed by Allianz Global Assistance, the licensed producer and administrator of these plans and an affiliate of Jefferson Insurance Company. The insured shall not receive any special benefit or advantage due to the affiliation between AGA Service Company and Jefferson Insurance Company. Plans include insurance benefits and assistance services. Any Non-Insurance Assistance services purchased are provided through AGA Service Company. Except as expressly provided under your plan, you are responsible for charges you incur from third parties. Contact AGA Service Company at  800-284-8300 or 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233 or [email protected] .

Return To Log In

Your session has expired. We are redirecting you to our sign-in page.

• Travel Insurance Compare Our Plans Popular Benefits COVID-19 Benefits International Plans Domestic Plans Comprehensive Insurance Annual Multi-Trip Inbound Plan Cruise Ski & Snowboard Motorcycle & Moped Adventure Activities Seniors Medical Conditions
• Emergency Assistance
• Travel Alerts COVID-19 International Travel Tool Cover-More App
• Manage Policy
• travel_explore Not sure? See region list.

Where are you going?

Enter the destination(s) you plan to visit or select them from the list of countries and regions in the dropdown.

Planning a stopover? If you’re in a country for less than 72 hours, you do not need to list it as a destination.

Don’t currently know all the countries you’ll be visiting? You can select a region to obtain cover for all countries within that region, or you can select “Anywhere in the world”. Important: If selecting “Anywhere in the world”, your policy will not provide cover for claims arising in countries that are subject to sanctions. Your safety is paramount, so please read and familiarise yourself with the “ Standing Travel Alert for High Risk and Sanctioned Countries ” when undertaking worldwide travel – and before making any side trips to neighbouring countries – to ensure you have adequate cover.

Going on a cruise? If your cruise is in inland Australia (e.g. on the Murray River) or in Australian coastal water (e.g. the Kimberley), enter or select “Australia”. If your cruise embarks and disembarks from Australia ports only without any stopover at a port outside of Australia (e.g. a “Sampler Cruise” or cruise from Sydney to Brisbane), enter or select “Domestic Cruise”. If your cruise is overseas (e.g. a European river cruise, a Caribbean cruise, or a cruise from Sydney to Hong Kong), enter or select the country or region you will spend the most time in during your trip.

Want to come to Australia on our Inbound Plan? Select “Australia Inbound”.

When do you depart?

Enter the date you will leave your home to start your trip.

When do you return?

Enter the date you will arrive home based on AEST (considering any time differences/zones and travel times).

Duration of each trip?

Select the maximum trip duration that best suits your needs.

The maximum trip duration you select will apply to each separate trip you take during the 12-month period of your policy.

For cover to apply, you cannot take trips that exceed this maximum duration. If you make a claim related to a trip that exceeds this maximum duration, it may be declined.

The maximum trip duration you select will be shown on your Certificate of Insurance.

Age of each traveller?

Enter the age (as of today) of each adult and child to be included on the policy.

Comprehensive Travel Insurance

Source: Getty

Discover the benefits of protecting your overseas trip

Are you looking for the best comprehensive travel insurance for your international trip?

Our Cover-More comprehensive international travel insurance plans include an array of important benefits to help protect your trip from unexpected mishaps, including cover for:

Overseas Medical & Dental Expenses

Luggage & Travel Documents

Rental Vehicle Insurance Excess

.....and much more.

Plus, every Cover-More travel insurance policyholder gets access to our 24-hour global Emergency Assistance team , who are there to help whenever – and wherever – you need it.

Ready to get a quote ? You can compare our two international comprehensive travel insurance plans to help choose right the level of coverage for you.

Want to know more about our Cover-More comprehensive travel insurance? Keep reading.

Skip to read:

What is comprehensive travel insurance?

What does cover-more’s comprehensive travel insurance include, can i include cover for additional activities in my comprehensive policy, can i buy a comprehensive single trip or annual multi-trip policy, does cover-more comprehensive travel insurance include cancellation cover, what other travel insurance plans does cover-more offer.

Comprehensive travel insurance helps protect travellers with a broad range of benefits while they’re away from home. In comparison to a base-level, budget-friendly travel insurance plan, it often includes more benefits and higher benefit levels to help safeguard travellers from a wider range of incidents.

Beyond the usual benefits of emergency overseas medical expenses and luggage, comprehensive travel insurance plans can include coverage for travel provider insolvency, rental vehicle insurance excess, lost or stolen money, missed connections, hijacking, disability, accidental death, and much more.

We offer travellers two different plans – International Comprehensive+ and International Comprehensive – so you can choose the best comprehensive travel insurance for you and your trip abroad.

You can compare our plan benefits and maximum benefit limits below:

~ Cover will not exceed 12 months from onset of the illness, condition or injury.     ^Cover chosen applies per policy.     ^^Conditions apply if you are aware of the pregnancy at the relevant time. For a single trip policy, relevant time means the time of issue of the policy and for an annual multi-trip policy it means the first time at which any part of the relevant trip is paid for or the time at which the policy is issued, whichever occurs last.     * Sub-limits apply.     • Item limit applies for any one item, set or pair of items including attached and unattached accessories. You may increase these item limits.

For full details of the terms, conditions, exclusions, limits, and sub-limits that apply, please read the Product Disclosure Statement before considering this comprehensive insurance product.

To find out how much our comprehensive travel insurance costs, get a free quote online.

Yes, both our international comprehensive travel insurance plans allow you to vary your cover by including cover options for an extra premium. This allows you to ensure your policy matches your destination/s, budget, and planned activities.

When you generate a Cover-More quote, you can include additional cover in your policy for:

• Snow or winter sports
• Motorcycle/moped riding
• Adventure activities (beyond those automatically covered)

For full details on what each of these options do and don’t cover, read the relevant sections in the PDS .

Yes, our Cover-More comprehensive travel insurance plans are available to buy as either Single Trip or Annual Multi-Trip policies. This means we can provide quality cover for a one-off trip abroad, or multiple trips overseas (up to the maximum trip duration selected) during a 12-month period.

If you’re a frequent traveller, consider our Cover-More annual travel insurance policy option as, it could save you time and money.

To compare the costs of our Single Trip and Annual Multi-Trip comprehensive travel insurance policies, get a quote now.

Our comprehensive travel insurance plans don’t automatically include cover for amendment or cancellation costs.

Instead, we give our customers the freedom to add a level of cancellation cover during the quote process that best suits their travel plans.

Typically, people look to choose an amount that will cover all prepaid travel tickets, hotels, tours, or other travel-related expenses for all travellers on the policy. The level of cover you choose will be the total amount of cover available under the cancellation benefit on a per policy basis.

Please note: if you include Cover-More’s travel insurance cancellation cover in your policy, it will influence the premium you are charged.

Don’t need a comprehensive travel insurance plan? We also have an International Basic travel insurance plan for those who want base-level cover for a more budget-friendly price.

Travelling within Australia? We have two comprehensive Domestic Plans , both of which are available on Single Trip and Annual Multi-Trip policies.

If you need help finding a plan that works best for you, call our customer service team on 1300 72 88 22.

Ready to insure your trip?

Let us help you travel more and worry less with comprehensive cover.

Introduction to TravelSafe Travel Insurance

• Coverage Options
• Purchasing and Managing a Policy
• Customer Service and Support

Compare TravelSafe Travel Insurance

• Why You Should Trust Us

TravelSafe 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.

TravelSafe Insurance is a travel insurance company owned by the Chester Perfetto Agency, which provides a wide array of travel insurance options such as health, life, and auto insurance. TravelSafe can cover longer trips than many of its competitors, but charges high rates. It's also known for its golf-specific coverage. 

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Up to 120 days' coverage available for travelers ages 79 and under (30 days for 80+)
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Up to $2,500 per person for missed connections over three hours or more
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Trip delay coverage of up to $150 per person per day kicks in after six hours or more
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Policy can be purchased by U.S. citizens living abroad
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Medical coverage ceiling of $100,000 may be low for some travelers' needs.
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Claims reviews from customers say performance is not always the best
• A well-rounded insurance plan for travelers who are concerned about missing connections for cruise-related travel
• Classic and Basic travel insurance plans
• GolfSafe travel insurance plans provide coverage for you and your equipment
• Travel medical insurance through partner Trawick International

Among the companies included in our guide on the best CFAR travel insurance , TravelSafe Insurance offers thick insulation against the unpredictability of travel. The trips that TravelSafe Insurance can insure are on the higher end of the industry, covering trips lasting up to 150 days and costing up to $100,000. TravelSafe Insurance's Classic plan also offers coverage for people who are up to 100 years old. 

One standout feature of TravelSafe Insurance is that all of its plans offer primary coverage, so you can file immediately with TravelSafe Insurance instead of going through your health insurance provider first, even with TravelSafe Insurance's Basic plan. Many travel insurance companies only provide primary coverage with their higher-tiered plans. 

That said, TravelSafe Insurance's Basic plan costs more than many travel insurance companies' most expensive plans. This brings up the issue of cost. While its plans are technically within the bounds of the average cost of travel insurance, TravelSafe Insurance certainly stretches those limits, and it's certainly more expensive than many of the best travel insurance companies.

Ultimately, TravelSafe Insurance is best for travelers taking an expensive trip who can afford expensive insurance. 

Coverage Options from TravelSafe

TravelSafe Insurance has two main policies for those seeking travel insurance: travel insurance for stateside and international travelers and travel insurance for those who are planning golf trips. For each policy type, travelers can choose between classic and basic coverage. And golfers can choose between GolfSafe Secure and GolfSafe Secure Plus.

Here's how the three TravelSafe Insurance travel insurance plans stack up in terms of what's included and coverage limits:

TravelSafe Insurance also offers specific golf insurance plans, which is something incredibly unique among travel insurance companies. If you're an avid golfer, purchasing golfing insurance will cover things like lost holes, something regular travel insurance won't. TravelSafe Insurance's golf insurance plan benefits are as follows:

Additional coverage options from TravelSafe

TravelSafe Insurance offers several optional coverages for its travelers:

Rental car damage and theft coverage:  Available for both Basic and Classic plans, this add-on covers up to $35,000 per covered vehicle.

Business and sports equipment rental:  Also available for both TravelSafe Insurance plans, your rental equipment is covered for up to $1,000.

CFAR coverage: Only available for Classic+, you'll receive 75% of your nonrefundable trip costs. You must purchase your policy within 21 days of your initial trip deposit. 

TravelSafe 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 TravelSafe Insurance 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 TravelSafe Insurance 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 travel insurance quotes:

• Basic: $112
• Classic: $147
• Classic (Plus): $274

Premiums for TravelSafe Insurance plans are between 3.7% and 9.1% of the trip's cost, within and above the average cost of travel insurance.

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

• Basic: $153
• Classic: $202
• Classic (Plus): $377

Once again, premiums for TravelSafe Insurance plans are between 3.8% and 6.3% of the trip's cost, within the expected range of travel insurance costs.

A Texas family consisting of two 40-year-old parents with a 10-year-old and 4-year-old on a two-week trip to Australia for $20,000:

• Basic: $512
• Classic: $676
• Classic (Plus): $1,616

TravelSafe Insurance plans cost between 2.6% and 8.1% of the trip's cost, below and within the average cost of travel insurance. 

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

• Basic: $472
• Classic: $582
• Classic (Plus): $952

Premiums for TravelSafe Insurance plans are between 7.8% and 15.9%, which is well the average cost for travel insurance. While older travelers should expect higher premiums, these prices are on the higher end of what you should be paying. 

Purchasing and Managing a TravelSafe Policy

Purchasing a TravelSafe Insurance policy is fairly simple. You'll first need to obtain a quote through TravelSafe Insurance's website. Be prepared to provide the following details:

• State of residence
• Destination(s)
• Departure/return dates
• Date of initial deposit
• Total trip cost
• Number of travelers
• Birthday of traveler(s)

Once you obtain a quote and pick your plan, you'll enter some additional information about yourself, such as your address and contact information. 

How to File a Claim with TravelSafe

If you experience a loss while insured by TravelSafe, you need to act quickly. You have 20 days after the loss to notify TravelSafe Insurance, at which point an agent will send you forms for filing proof of loss. If TravelSafe Insurance don't send a form withi 15 days, you can send your own written statement about what happened along with proof. This must be completed within 90 days of the loss. 

You have several options if you need to file a claim for TravelSafe Insurance.

If you need emergency help, you can call their toll-free numbers below.

• Toll-free (US-only): 1-877-539-6729
• Direct: 1-727-475-2808

If you're international, call the following toll-free number: 1-866-509-7713.

TravelSafe Customer Service and Support

Almost all reviews for TravelSafe Insurance are concentrated on its SquareMouth page, where it has an average rating of 4.3 stars out five across over 1,500 reviews. Though an overall positive score, it's worth mentioning that most of the positive reviews come from people who didn't have to file a claim. Some of these reviews mentioned having to alter their insurance plan, which was an overall positive experience. 

However, many of the reviews that mention the claims process are negative. Customers mentioned long wait times, uncommunicative claims representatives, and little guidance during the claims process. Additionally, while many travel insurance companies regularly engage with reviews, both positive and negative, TravelSafe Insurance rarely replies to customer reviews.

Learn more about how TravelSafe Insurance travel insurance compares against top insurers. 

TravelSafe Travel Insurance vs Faye Travel Insurance

Faye Travel Insurance is a completely digital travel insurance company. Unlike TravelSafe Insurance, Faye Travel Insurance completely covers all cruise travel. Faye doesn't cover golf trips as TravelSafe Insurance does. They have similar amounts of coverage, but Faye Travel Insurance is about $20 cheaper for its comparable international plans.

Faye Travel Insurance covers your trip, your health, and your belongings just like TravelSafe Insurance does. But with Faye Travel Insurance, you can add different things that meet your needs, like car rental, extreme sports, and pet care.

Read our Faye travel insurance review here.

TravelSafe Travel Insurance vs World Nomads Travel Insurance

TravelSafe Insurance is an excellent option if you're traveling and participating in regular activities, like trying different foods and basic activities, like taking a train to places. But if you want to do extreme sports, it might not be the right coverage for you. Instead, consider getting a travel insurance plan like World Nomads Travel Insurance . World Nomads covers over 100 different extreme sports, and you can specifically add on different sports that you want to try. It's a better coverage insurance plan for someone who's a little bit more adventurous.

That said, if you're only planning on doing a specific activity, like golfing, TravelSafe Insurance has a plan for you. They cover golfing trips specifically with more coverage than World Nomads.

Read our World Nomads travel insurance review here.

TravelSafe vs Credit Card Travel Insurance

Some credit cards, especially travel rewards cards, come with travel benefits such as primary rental car insurance for your vehicle if you decide to rent one. However, travel insurance is generally more comprehensive than credit card coverage. For example, TravelSafe Insurance offers benefits like death and dismemberment coverage; credit cards don't typically cover this benefit.

However, you can use both your credit card benefits and your travel insurance to get the fullest coverage possible.

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

TravelSafe Travel Insurance FAQ

Yes, TravelSafe Insurance is known for providing reliable coverage for international travel, including medical emergencies and trip interruptions.

TravelSafe Insurance typically allows the purchase of travel insurance up until the day before departure, making it suitable for last-minute travel plans.

TravelSafe Insurance offers policies that include coverage for trip cancellations due to COVID-19, but it's important to review the specific terms and conditions of each plan.

Claims with TravelSafe Insurance are generally handled efficiently, with a straightforward process for filing and tracking claims, and timely reimbursements according to customer feedback.

Yes, TravelSafe Insurance offers the option to add adventure sports coverage to their policies, catering to travelers who engage in higher-risk activities.

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed TravelSafe

For this review, we made sure to include the most updated information and pulled real-time quotes from TravelSafe Insurance's website. We compared two different companies that had similar coverage to TravelSafe Insurance to ensure the best review possible. We only included reputable plans. And we looked at factors like what's covered, policy limits, and coverage options.

Read more about how Business Insider rates insurance products here.

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

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

**Enrollment required.

• Main content

• Travel Insurance

The journalists on the editorial team at Forbes Advisor Australia base their research and opinions on objective, independent information-gathering.

When covering investment and personal finance stories, we aim to inform our readers rather than recommend specific financial product or asset classes. While we may highlight certain positives of a financial product or asset class, there is no guarantee that readers will benefit from the product or investment approach and may, in fact, make a loss if they acquire the product or adopt the approach.

To the extent any recommendations or statements of opinion or fact made in a story may constitute financial advice, they constitute general information and not personal financial advice in any form. As such, any recommendations or statements do not take into account the financial circumstances, investment objectives, tax implications, or any specific requirements of readers.

Readers of our stories should not act on any recommendation without first taking appropriate steps to verify the information in the stories consulting their independent financial adviser in order to ascertain whether the recommendation (if any) is appropriate, having regard to their investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs. Providing access to our stories should not be construed as investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any security or product, or to engage in or refrain from engaging in any transaction by Forbes Advisor Australia. In comparing various financial products and services, we are unable to compare every provider in the market so our rankings do not constitute a comprehensive review of a particular sector. While we do go to great lengths to ensure our ranking criteria matches the concerns of consumers, we cannot guarantee that every relevant feature of a financial product will be reviewed. We make every effort to provide accurate and up-to-date information. However, Forbes Advisor Australia cannot guarantee the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of this website. Forbes Advisor Australia accepts no responsibility to update any person regarding any inaccuracy, omission or change in information in our stories or any other information made available to a person, nor any obligation to furnish the person with any further information.

Travel Insurance For Canada: What You Need To Know Before You Go

Updated: Apr 30, 2024, 1:13pm

Table of Contents

Do you need travel insurance for canada, what type of travel insurance do you need, what does travel insurance for canada cover, what does travel insurance exclude, best travel insurance for canada, frequently asked questions (faqs).

From hiking trails in Ontario to traversing the slopes of the famous ski resort town of Whistler, there is no shortage of places to visit in Canada.

The vast North American country is a popular destination for travel-loving Aussies. In addition to a growing share of business travelers, more than 350,000 Australian tourists typically visit Canada each year.

While visitor numbers faded during the Covid-19 pandemic, the multitude of Australians heading to the Great White North has picked up in the last two years, particularly to experience the country’s stunning landscape.

Fast Cover Travel Insurance

On Fast Cover’s Secure Website

Medical cover

Unlimited, 24/7 Emergency Assistance

Cancellations

Unlimited, (Trip Disruption $50,000)

Key Features

25-Day Cooling Off Period, Australian Based Call Centre, 4.6 Star Product Review Rating

Cover-More Travel Insurance

On Cover-more’s secure website

Unlimited, with a $2000 limit to dental

Yes, amount chosen by customer

Southern Cross Travel Insurance

Medical Cover

Including medical treatment, doctors’ visits, prescribed medication, specialist treatment & medical transport costs

$2,500 with option to increase to unlimited

Travel insurance for Canada isn’t compulsory, but it’s highly recommended to cover for any lost or stolen baggage, the possibility of your trip getting cancelled due to an emergency, illness such as Covid-19 or bereavement, and to cover medical expenses.

The Australian Government’s Smartraveller website recommends that travellers purchase travel insurance before any overseas trip.

As in any foreign country, medical care in Canada can be expensive for visitors, with a visit to a doctor potentially setting you back by hundreds of dollars.

The Australian government won’t cover these costs, and there is no reciprocal healthcare agreement between Australia and Canada, so you aren’t covered by Australian Medicare either.

In addition, given the large geography of the country covering a variety of destinations from beaches to mountains to national parks, it is wise to hold insurance cover for a multitude of events and a variety of potential risks including natural disasters, crime or other types of emergencies.

International travel cover for Canada is generally available in the following ways:

Basic travel insurance

This type of policy is broadly focused on cover for unlimited overseas emergency medical expenses, but also includes insurance for luggage, personal liability and other essential benefits. It is usually the cheapest option available and is suitable for those traveling on a budget or for single trips.

Comprehensive travel insurance

This type of insurance typically includes higher amounts of cover for the essentials benefits such as medical expenses, luggage, personal liability, and so on. In addition, it includes cover for travel delays, rental vehicle excess, loss of passports and credit cards, hijacking, disability, accidental death, and more, depending on your policy.

Some insurers offer variations of the comprehensive policy that are suitable for multiple trips within a 12-month period.

Optional add-on policies

Given the growing number of Australians heading to Canada for cruises, road trips or to the ski slopes, some insurers have come up with add-on policies specifically tailored for a variety of adventure sports and transport options available. These include cruise packs, winter sports packs and even higher cover for rental vehicles.

Related: How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost?

Most international travel insurance policies will cover medical and hospital expenses, ambulance transportation, repatriation flights, as well as personal liability if you injure someone, or damage property while you’re in the country.

Policies will also cover, within limits, lost or delayed luggage and possessions, the costs of trip delays, interruptions or cancellations, and lost or stolen travel documents.

Comprehensive policies usually offer a broader cover to include personal accident cover in case of an injury during your trip that leads to permanent disability or death, and insurance excess payment if your rental car meets with an accident.

If you are planning to take advantage of Canada’s vast offering of adventure sports and activities, make sure these are covered by your policy—or that there is an option to add it on.

Most comprehensive policies will include popular sporting and leisure activities such as hiking, surfing, kayaking, and so on. However, more extreme activities such as skydiving, scuba diving, snow skiing or snowboarding will generally require an additional adventure sports cover at extra cost.

Most travel insurance policies to Canada will not provide cover in the following cases:

• Illegal activities: Insurers will reject any claims arising if you knowingly act illegally or dangerously.
• If you are under the influence: Insurance cover is specifically void if you cause a disturbance through drunken behaviour or under the influence of drugs.
• Unattended luggage: Insurers will ignore any claim for loss if your luggage is stolen while it was left unattended in public.
• Pre-existing medical conditions: Insurers can avoid claims for any major medical conditions, if they have not been made aware of these before taking out a policy.
• Extreme sports: International travel insurance policies generally don’t provide automatic coverage for things like extreme sports, snowboarding or surfing. An optional add-on cover is required for these activities.

Most travel insurers in Australia offer insurance policies for travel to Canada. What policy suits you best will depend on your requirements including duration, age, and the type of cover.

It will also be determined by your specific needs, such as whether you are taking part in snow sports or other adventure activities.

An easy way to compare travel insurance policies is to use an online comparison tool, or read through our leading picks of travel insurance policies for Australians . However, always consider whether or not they include the extras you will require for your trip, and any pre-existing medical conditions you would require cover for.

Featured Partners

Do I need travel insurance to travel to Canada?

Travel insurance for Canada isn’t mandatory, but is highly recommended.

The Australian Government urges travellers to purchase travel insurance before any overseas trip, especially for medical cover.

Medical costs can be extremely expensive in a foreign country, especially if you have to visit a doctor, dentist or hospital in an emergency, so travel insurance is very handy.

Does my visa card have travel insurance?

Not every credit card comes with travel insurance. Complimentary travel insurance is typically offered on premium credit or rewards cards that have higher annual fees. In addition, this may not cover all circumstances or emergencies. By comparison, a travel insurance policy will offer more comprehensive coverage that includes emergency medical expenses.

• Best Comprehensive Travel Insurance
• Best Seniors Travel Insurance
• Best Domestic Travel Insurance
• Best Cruise Travel Insurance
• Best Family Travel Insurance
• Travel Insurance Cost
• Pregnancy Travel Insurance Guide
• Travel Insurance Cancellation Cover
• Travel Insurance For Bali
• Travel Insurance For Fiji
• Travel Insurance For The USA
• Travel Insurance For Thailand
• Travel Insurance For New Zealand
• Travel Insurance For Japan
• Travel Insurance For Europe
• Travel Insurance For Singapore
• Travel Insurance For Indonesia
• Travel Insurance For Vietnam
• Travel Insurance For South Africa
• Cover-More Travel Insurance Review
• Fast Cover Travel Insurance Review
• Travel Insurance Saver Review
• Allianz Comprehensive Travel Insurance Review
• 1Cover Comprehensive Travel Insurance Review
• Australia Post Comprehensive Travel Insurance Review
• Tick Travel Insurance Review

More from  

Top travel insurance tips for australians, our pick of the best comprehensive travel insurance providers in australia, do frequent flyer points expire, travel insurance for south africa: everything you need to know, travel insurance for vietnam: everything you need to know, tick travel insurance top cover review: features, pros and cons.

Prashant Mehra is a freelance journalist based in Sydney. He has more than 20 years of international experience covering financial news, including with Reuters and the Australian Associated Press (AAP). He writes about business, markets, the economy and investing.

What is full coverage car insurance?

T here’s an old saying that the only certain things in life are death and taxes, but for vehicle owners, the list can be expanded to include car insurance . Every driver in the United States is required to have it, though the amount and coverage requirements vary from state to state. One term you might have heard is “full coverage,” but the definition is inconsistent between insurers , and it can be confusing to figure out what is and isn’t included in the policy. Let’s take a closer look at full coverage, what it is, and what it may include.

Liability coverage is the baseline

Liability coverage is the most basic insurance available , and it’s required in all 50 states. It protects you against financial ruin for the damage you cause to others in a crash, including their property or person. The amount of liability coverage varies between states, but it’s a requirement everywhere. Though the idea is to keep you from ravaging other peoples’ property and not be able to pay for it.

What does full coverage insurance cover?

Here’s where things get tricky. There’s no legally required definition of full coverage insurance, and some insurers or agents might refer to it as comprehensive coverage. In general , full coverage includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, but some insurance policies may include uninsured motorist protection, GAP insurance, and other benefits. It’s important to note that states don’t require full coverage insurance, but if you finance your car, your lender or bank may require it.

It can also be tempting to cut extra insurance coverage to save money, but doing so could leave you vulnerable to a range of expenses after a wreck, including but not limited to replacing your vehicle, repairing or replacing the other person’s vehicle, and paying for medical expenses. It’s also important to note that even if your loan doesn’t require GAP insurance, paying the small fee for coverage can be a great idea. GAP covers you for the difference between what you owe for a vehicle and its actual value, which can prevent having to make a lump sum payment after a crash to settle your tab with the bank.

How much is full coverage insurance?

Full coverage insurance and all other auto insurance costs depend heavily on you, how you drive, what you drive, and where you live. Factors like your driving record and credit score can impact your charges, and insurance companies sometimes charge more for newer, more expensive vehicles. According to Bankrate , the national average for car insurance is $2,014 for full coverage and $622 for liability. Your costs may vary wildly from that amount, but the best ways to save money on car insurance are to shop around and try to keep your driving record as clean as possible. 

• How much does car insurance cost in 2023?

What is comprehensive car insurance coverage?

Comprehensive coverage has your back for damage not caused by a wreck. This can include weather events, floods, theft, vandalism, animal damage, and other special cases. Like full coverage insurance, your lender may require that you have comprehensive coverage during a loan or lease , but it’s not required under state laws and might not be worth the money on older, less valuable car models. At the same time, comprehensive coverage is an extra layer of protection and can significantly boost your peace of mind, especially if you live anywhere near nature (hint: We all do).

What is collision insurance?

Collision insurance covers your vehicle for damage caused during a crash. That can include hitting another vehicle or a stationary object like a tree, fence, or road sign. Carrying collision insurance on newer, more expensive cars is a good idea, as the repair or replacement costs can quickly add up. You may also be required to have collision coverage while you’re paying on a loan or lease.

Other types of auto insurance

Depending on your insurer, you may have access to several other types of coverage that can bolster your financial protection after a crash. Uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance protects you if the other person in the accident lacks enough coverage for the damage they caused. Some states require it, so it’s a good idea to know where you stand. Personal injury protection covers your medical bills and sometimes lost earnings, and some states require that motorists have personal injury protection insurance (PIP).

Full coverage insurance provides solid financial protection and can save you from a desperately costly situation after a crash. Still, it’s not required and is not best for every vehicle or situation. Liberty Mutual estimates that a full coverage policy costs 64 percent more than liability coverage alone, so it’s best to understand what you need and don’t have to pay for. Most insurers allow policyholders to purchase coverage a la carte, so it’s possible to piece together insurance coverage that meets your exact needs.

What is full coverage car insurance? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 17 Jun 2023 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.