Travel Insurance: Find Cheap Insurance for Your Trip
A trip, especially involving a family can be fraught with financial and safety risks, not to mention inconveniences that could leave you in a bad situation far from home.
While your travel credit cards might cover some flight, hotel, and other booking cancellations, that coverage has its limits. The fact is, cancellations and delays do happen and you’ll need to obtain the correct specific coverage. Your local travel agent can be a big helper and save you a lot of time hunting for insurance coverage. Sometimes, it’s better to have comprehensive coverage so you don’t have to book multiple types of travel insurance policies with different providers (including rental car insurance).
Note: Travel health insurance is a significantly important matter, particularly if you’re traveling to a foreign country. US medical costs are extremely high and a dental or medical emergency during your US trip could ruin you financially. For adventurers and extreme sports enthusiasts, it’s wise to check if your current private insurance policy or government health insurance coverage closely to ascertain whether they will cover your activities.
For some travelers, the search for affordable travel health insurance is likely the most important matter they must attend to. If you’re planning your next trip to the US, Costa Rica, Australia, Maldives, Caribbean, or Europe, finding affordable insurance is the priority.
In this post, we introduce some of the top providers of travel insurance in its various forms from flights to dental to accident coverage. Of course, you’ll need to visit these sites to obtain policy quotes. A travel agent near you might also be an ideal source to buy travel insurance since they have business relationships with many of the providers listed below, and understand the risks and coverage they provide.
Types of Travel Insurance You Can Buy Online
Travelers are primarily looking for:
- Comprehensive Travel Insurance: This is the most popular type, accounting for about 65% of policies sold through online platforms. Comprehensive plans typically cover:
- Trip cancellations and interruptions
- Medical emergencies
- Travel delays
- Baggage issues
- Travel Medical Insurance: Particularly popular among international travelers, as many U.S. healthcare plans don’t offer coverage abroad.
- Trip Cancellation Insurance: Covers prepaid, non-refundable trip costs in case of cancellation for covered reasons.
- Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) Coverage: An add-on that provides greater flexibility for trip cancellations.
Popular Online Shopping Platforms
Travelers are using various online channels to purchase travel insurance:
- Comparison Sites: Platforms like Squaremouth, TravelInsurance.com, and InsureMyTrip allow travelers to compare multiple policies at once.
- Travel Booking Sites: Many travelers opt to add insurance when booking flights, hotels, or vacation packages.
- Direct from Insurance Companies: Some travelers prefer to purchase directly from insurance provider websites.
- Online Travel Agencies (OTAs): These platforms often offer travel insurance options during the booking process.
- Airlines: Most carriers offer flight delay or cancellation insurance which helps you deal with your most important and costly expenditures to ensure you’re not stranded in a distant country.
Online Comparison Sites are becoming more popular for travel insurance products, because shoppers like the convenience and the ability to quickly compare different insurance products and get right one for them.
Whichever travel insurance provider you decide to buy from, it’s important to read their coverage closely, especially when it comes to travel health coverage. First review what your own existing medical coverage for trips is, and then compare that to the health issues you might experience. Car accidents, diseases, and heart related events can and do occur.
For heart-related events, transportation, hospitalization, treatment and transport back home could be very expensive. Having a one million dollar maximum coverage gives you peace of mind for your trip, but even $250,000 can help you be transported back home fast.
Medical services in some countries may not be adequate and if you’re on a cruise ship in the ocean, local services might not be adequate. Quick transport is vital.
Travel Insurance Websites
Let’s take a quick look at 5 of the most popular and credible travel insurance websites.
Squaremouth
Squaremouth is a leading travel insurance comparison website that helps travelers find and compare policies from a wide range of insurance providers. They are widely known for a user-friendly platform, transparent pricing, and a customer-focused approach.
What Squaremouth Offers
- Comparison Tool:
- Squaremouth lets you search and compare travel insurance policies from over 30 top travel insurance providers in one place.
- Users can filter results based on their specific needs, such as trip cost, destination, coverage types, and more.
- Wide Range of Policies:
- Squaremouth offers a variety of travel insurance plans, including:
- Trip Cancellation/Interruption: Covers non-refundable expenses if your trip is canceled or cut short.
- Emergency Medical Coverage: Includes medical expenses and evacuation.
- Baggage and Personal Items: Covers lost, stolen, or damaged luggage.
- Travel Delay: Reimburses expenses for delays (e.g., meals, accommodations).
- Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR): Allows cancellation for reasons not covered by standard policies (usually reimburses 50-75% of trip costs).
- Pre-Existing Condition Waivers: Covers medical issues related to pre-existing conditions if purchased within a specific time frame.
- Adventure Sports Coverage: For high-risk activities like skiing, scuba diving, or hiking.
- Squaremouth offers a variety of travel insurance plans, including:
- Transparent Pricing:
- Squaremouth displays policies with clear pricing and coverage details, so travelers can easily compare options.
- There are no hidden fees, and the site is free to use.
- Customer Reviews and Ratings:
- Travelers can read reviews and ratings for each policy and provider, helping them make informed decisions.
- Zero Complaint Policy:
- Squaremouth guarantees excellent customer service. If a customer has an unresolved complaint, Squaremouth will refund the cost of the policy.
- Educational Resources:
- The website offers a wealth of resources, including FAQs, travel insurance guides, and a blog to help travelers understand their options.
TravelInsurance.com
TravelInsurance.com is a leading online marketplace that allows travelers to compare and purchase travel insurance policies from multiple providers. The company is one of the oldest and most trusted platforms in the travel insurance industry (part of RedPoint Media Group) and is known for its user-friendly interface, comprehensive policy options, and excellent customer service.
What TravelInsurance.com Offers
- Policy/Coverage Comparison Tool:
- TravelInsurance.com allows users to compare policies from top-rated insurance providers in one place.
- Travelers can filter results based on their specific needs, such as trip cost, destination, coverage types, and more.
- Wide Range of Travel Insurance Policies:
- The platform offers a variety of travel insurance plans, including:
- Trip Cancellation/Interruption: Reimburses non-refundable expenses if your trip is canceled or cut short due to covered reasons.
- Emergency Medical Coverage: Covers medical expenses, hospitalization, and emergency medical evacuation.
- Baggage and Personal Items: Protects against lost, stolen, or damaged luggage.
- Travel Delay: Reimburses expenses for delays (e.g., meals, accommodations).
- Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR): Allows cancellation for reasons not covered by standard policies (typically reimburses 50-75% of trip costs).
- Pre-Existing Condition Waivers: Covers medical issues related to pre-existing conditions if purchased within a specific time frame.
- Adventure Sports Coverage: For high-risk activities like skiing, scuba diving, or hiking.
- The platform offers a variety of travel insurance plans, including:
- Transparent Pricing:
- TravelInsurance.com displays policies with clear pricing and coverage details, so travelers can easily compare options.
- The site is free to use, and there are no hidden fees.
- Customer Reviews and Ratings:
- Travelers can read reviews and ratings for each policy and provider, helping them make informed decisions.
- Educational Resources:
- The website offers a wealth of resources, including FAQs, travel insurance guides, and a blog to help travelers understand their options.
- 24/7 Customer Support:
- TravelInsurance.com provides round-the-clock customer support to assist with policy selection, claims, and emergencies.
InsureMyTrip
InsureMyTrip is a well-established and highly regarded online travel insurance comparison platform. It’s one of the first companies to offer a marketplace for comparing travel insurance policies from multiple providers. InsureMyTrip is known for its comprehensive range of options, user-friendly interface, and excellent customer service. Here’s an overview of what InsureMyTrip offers:
What InsureMyTrip Offers
- Comparison Tool:
- InsureMyTrip allows travelers to compare policies from over 30 top-rated insurance providers in one place.
- Users can filter results based on their specific needs, such as trip cost, destination, coverage types, and more.
- Wide Range of Policies:
- The platform offers a variety of travel insurance plans, including:
- Trip Cancellation/Interruption: Reimburses non-refundable expenses if your trip is canceled or cut short due to covered reasons.
- Emergency Medical Coverage: Covers medical expenses, hospitalization, and emergency medical evacuation.
- Baggage and Personal Items: Protects against lost, stolen, or damaged luggage.
- Travel Delay: Reimburses expenses for delays (e.g., meals, accommodations).
- Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR): Allows cancellation for reasons not covered by standard policies (typically reimburses 50-75% of trip costs).
- Pre-Existing Condition Waivers: Covers medical issues related to pre-existing conditions if purchased within a specific time frame.
- Adventure Sports Coverage: For high-risk activities like skiing, scuba diving, or hiking.
- The platform offers a variety of travel insurance plans, including:
- Transparent Pricing:
- InsureMyTrip displays policies with clear pricing and coverage details, so travelers can easily compare options.
- The site is free to use, and there are no hidden fees.
- Customer Reviews and Ratings:
- Travelers can read reviews and ratings for each policy and provider, helping them make informed decisions.
- Educational Resources:
- The website offers a wealth of resources, including FAQs, travel insurance guides, and a blog to help travelers understand their options.
- 24/7 Customer Support:
- InsureMyTrip provides round-the-clock customer support to assist with policy selection, claims, and emergencies.
Allianz Travel Insurance
Allianz Travel Insurance is one of the largest and most well-known travel insurance providers in the world. Part of the Allianz Group, a global financial services company with over 130 years of experience, Allianz Travel Insurance offers a wide range of travel insurance products designed to protect travelers from unexpected events before and during their trips. Here’s an overview of what Allianz Travel Insurance offers:
What Allianz Travel Insurance Offers
- Comprehensive Travel Insurance Plans:
- Allianz provides a variety of plans tailored to different types of travelers, including:
- Single-Trip Plans: Coverage for one specific trip.
- Annual/Multi-Trip Plans: Coverage for multiple trips within a year.
- International Travel Insurance: Designed for travelers going abroad.
- Domestic Travel Insurance: For trips within your home country.
- Allianz provides a variety of plans tailored to different types of travelers, including:
- Key Coverage Options:
- Trip Cancellation/Interruption: Reimburses non-refundable trip costs if you need to cancel or cut your trip short due to covered reasons (e.g., illness, severe weather, or other unforeseen events).
- Emergency Medical and Dental Coverage: Covers medical expenses, hospital stays, and emergency dental care while traveling.
- Emergency Medical Transportation: Covers the cost of medical evacuation or repatriation to your home country.
- Baggage Loss/Damage: Reimburses you for lost, stolen, or damaged luggage and personal items.
- Travel Delay: Provides reimbursement for additional expenses (e.g., meals, accommodations) if your trip is delayed for a covered reason.
- Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR): Available as an add-on, this allows you to cancel your trip for any reason and receive partial reimbursement (typically 50-80% of trip costs).
- 24/7 Travel Assistance: Access to emergency travel assistance services, including medical referrals, legal assistance, and more.
- Specialized Plans:
- Rental Car Protection: Covers damage or theft of rental vehicles.
- Adventure Sports Coverage: Optional coverage for high-risk activities like skiing, scuba diving, or hiking.
- Pre-Existing Condition Waiver: Available if you purchase your plan within a specified time frame after booking your trip.
- Annual Plans:
- Allianz offers annual plans for frequent travelers, providing coverage for multiple trips throughout the year. These plans are cost-effective for those who travel often.
- Business Travel Insurance:
- Tailored plans for business travelers, covering trip cancellations, lost luggage, and emergency medical expenses.
Travelguard
Travel Guard is a well-known and reputable travel insurance provider, offering a wide range of travel insurance products designed to protect travelers from unexpected events before and during their trips. Owned by AIG (American International Group), one of the largest insurance organizations in the world, it has been in operation for over 25 years. It’s recognized for its comprehensive coverage options and reliable customer service.
What Travel Guard Offers
- Comprehensive Travel Insurance Plans:
- Travel Guard provides a variety of plans tailored to different types of travelers, including:
- Single-Trip Plans: Coverage for one specific trip.
- Annual/Multi-Trip Plans: Coverage for multiple trips within a year.
- International Travel Insurance: Designed for travelers going abroad.
- Domestic Travel Insurance: For trips within your home country.
- Travel Guard provides a variety of plans tailored to different types of travelers, including:
- Key Coverage Options:
- Trip Cancellation/Interruption: Reimburses non-refundable trip costs if you need to cancel or cut your trip short due to covered reasons (e.g., illness, severe weather, or other unforeseen events).
- Emergency Medical and Dental Coverage: Covers medical expenses, hospital stays, and emergency dental care while traveling.
- Emergency Medical Transportation: Covers the cost of medical evacuation or repatriation to your home country.
- Baggage Loss/Damage: Reimburses you for lost, stolen, or damaged luggage and personal items.
- Travel Delay: Provides reimbursement for additional expenses (e.g., meals, accommodations) if your trip is delayed for a covered reason.
- Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR): Available as an add-on, this allows you to cancel your trip for any reason and receive partial reimbursement (typically 50-80% of trip costs).
- 24/7 Travel Assistance: Access to emergency travel assistance services, including medical referrals, legal assistance, and more.
- Specialized Plans:
- Rental Car Protection: Covers damage or theft of rental vehicles.
- Adventure Sports Coverage: Optional coverage for high-risk activities like skiing, scuba diving, or hiking.
- Pre-Existing Condition Waiver: Available if you purchase your plan within a specified time frame after booking your trip.
- Annual Plans:
- Travel Guard has 12 month plans for frequent travelers, providing coverage for multiple trips throughout the year. These plans are cost-effective for those who travel often.
- Business Travel Insurance:
- Tailored plans for business travelers, covering trip cancellations, lost luggage, and emergency medical expenses.
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