Best International Travel Insurance (2024)

Travel insurance isn’t mandatory, though some countries may insist you have it before crossing their borders. It is also a requirement for the issuance of some visas. Still, international travel is uncertain. You’ll need international travel insurance if you’re about to embark on a trip abroad.

Travel insurance will protect you from financial loss should you need medical attention, lose your luggage or find yourself stranded in a foreign country — flights cancelled or delayed. Fortunately, several international travel insurance companies offer packages to suit all travel needs.

Quick Look: Best International Travel Insurance

• Best for Digital Experience: Faye
• Best for Travel on a Budget: Travelex International Ltd.
• Best for Families: Arch RoamRight
• Best for Frequent Fliers: Allianz Travel Insurance
• Best for Cruise Vacations: Nationwide Travel Insurance

Five Best International Travel Insurance

Here are five of the best international travel insurance companies offering essential and add-on services for peace-of-mind travel.

Best for Digital Experience: Faye

Online travel insurance company Faye offers a single travel plan with optional add-ons. Users access plans and file claims on a free app with 24/7 access. Expect payment directly into a digital wallet.

The basic insurance covers most medical expenses, including preexisting conditions and medical evacuation, lost or damaged luggage and trip cancellation and interruption. You can also choose add-ons like extreme sports and car rental damage coverage. Prices differ depending on the destination and travel duration. International coverage starts at an affordable $5.16 per day and domestic at $4.64.

Best for Budget Insurance: Travelex

Choose from three Travelex plans. The Basic plan comes in at a below-average premium. Quotes are available online. Benefits include trip delay, interruption and cancellation, baggage coverage and primary and emergency medical care. It also covers emergency medical evacuation.

The family-directed Travel Select plan includes free coverage for children under 18. Unlike the Basic plan, it covers preexisting medical conditions. It also provides for customized add-ons like adventure sports. Travel America is designed for trips in the U.S. and covers up to seven people in a group. Apply for travel insurance online and get a quote in seconds.

Best for Families: Arch RoamRight

Choose from Pro and Pro-Plus plans when you insure with Arch RoamRight. Both plans offer free coverage for one child younger than 18 per adult with travel insurance. The children receive the same coverage as the accompanying adult traveler — cost-effective insurance for traveling families. The insurance covers medical emergencies, travel delays and interruptions and lost luggage. Pro-Plus covers existing conditions. The company offers upgrades for adventure travel, rental car damage and delayed luggage. Make claims by phone, email or online.

Best for Frequent Fliers: Allianz Travel Insurance

If you’re looking for all the travel insurance essentials on a budget, the Allianz One Trip Basic plan will work for you. Allianz provides users with an app to track and claim coverage.

There are several plans on offer with some interesting innovations.

One Trip Emergency Medical increases the emergency medical coverage for the Basic plan from $10,000 to $50,000 but excludes trip interruption and cancellation benefits. All Trip options provide travelers with year-round protection for a single fee and include car rental protection. Allianz has a Concierge service and multilingual customer service 24/7.

Best for Cruise Vacations: Nationwide Travel Insurance

In business since 1926, Nationwide Travel Insurance offers travelers a choice of seven travel insurance policies. Nationwide’s Essential Plan offers basic travel insurance at below-average prices. It also provides specialized cruise insurance and annual plans for those who travel frequently and would prefer to pay a single premium for a year’s coverage. Add-ons include rental car coverage, cancel for any reason (CFAR) and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.

How Does International Travel Insurance Work?

Anything can go wrong when you travel to foreign countries. You may have to cancel the trip, or it may be delayed. You may become ill or lose your luggage. International travel insurance protects you from financial loss under some of these circ*mstances.

What Does International Travel Insurance Cover?

International travel insurance can be worthwhile because it covers a broad range of possible circ*mstances.

Travel Delay

Most insurance companies impose a six-hour minimum waiting period before you can claim expenses for travel delays.

Trip Cancellation

Trip cancellation covers you for the prepaid portion of your travel costs in the event of cancellation. The policy will list the covered events. You can also buy coverage for all events but at a higher premium.

Trip Interruption

Your insurance will cover you for specified unforeseen travel interruptions. Listed reasons usually include illness, injury or bad weather.

Baggage Insurance

Baggage insurance covers you for lost, damaged or stolen luggage.

Travel Medical Insurance

Overseas medical costs can pile up, and your medical aid may not cover them. Travel medical insurance covers all your medical like ambulance services, hospitalization and doctor’s visits should you become ill or injure yourself while traveling.

Emergency Medical Evacuation

If you are seriously injured or ill while abroad, you may have to move to another facility capable of providing the treatment. Emergency medical evacuation covers transportation costs. In some instances, medical evacuation will also cover repatriation costs so you can return home.

Interruption For Any Reason (IFAR) Travel Insurance

Some insurance companies offer IFAR as an additional benefit. Under this benefit, you can return home for any reason. You will receive a portion of your prepaid expenses as a reimbursem*nt.

Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) Travel Insurance

CFAR insurance is another add-on product. You must buy it within two to three weeks of paying deposits for the trip or you won’t qualify. There is also usually a waiting period before you can cancel and a cap of around 75% on the reimbursem*nt.

Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance

AD&D covers you in case of accidental death or loss of a limb and faculties like sight. Your policy will define the injuries. Ensure you understand the exclusions if you buy this additional travel insurance.

What Is Not Covered by International Travel Insurance

There are certain injuries and illnesses that your international travel insurance will not cover. These include:

• Preexisting medical conditions
• Natural disasters, civil unrest and war
• Change-of-mind cancellation
• Injury during high-risk activities
• Losses caused by negligence or in the commission of an illegal activity
• Routine doctor’s visits or procedures

How Much Does International Travel Insurance Cost?

Costs for international travel insurance differ considerably according to the trip cost, coverage, options, traveler age and ports of departure and destination. On average, travel insurance will cost between 3% and 6% of your nonrefundable costs.

Travel with Confidence

Don’t plan a foreign holiday without travel insurance. It isn’t worth the risk. Travel insurance protects you from losses when things go wrong as you travel the world. It protects you from financial loss and could make all the difference if you need medical attention or suffer the inconvenience of delayed or canceled flights. There is travel insurance to meet all your insurance needs at an affordable price.

Frequently Asked Questions