As travel has gotten more unpredictable, more people have sought to protect what they’ve paid for their trip by purchasing travel insurance. Wading through travel insurance policies and plans can be incredibly confusing, so NatureGuide did the research for you to bring you the best travel insurance companies on the market today.
These companies’ premier plans provide top-tier coverage for important things like trip cancellation and interruption, lost or delayed bags, missed connections, emergency medical and dental expenses, and more. These travel insurance providers also receive primarily positive reviews for their customer service, the ease of filing a claim and the promptness with which they reimburse travelers.
Our rankings, ratings and product reviews are unbiased. We do not rank or rate products or services based on our financial relationships with the companies that produce them. Our in-house research team collects extensive information used in our evaluation process, although we may not cover all options available in the marketplace. See our full methodology.
Please note: All data was accurate at the time of publication and the ratings are based on data collected in December 2024. User ratings can fluctuate as more reviews are posted to independent websites. Also note, every plan may not be available for residents of every state.
Key Takeaways
- Travelex is the 2025 Best Travel Insurance Company, with the highest Overall Rating among the 41 companies NatureGuide evaluated.
- Travel insurance rates vary widely based on trip length, age of travelers, trip cost and destinations you’ll be visiting. Shopping around and inputting your travel details to obtain quotes from a few different companies can help you find the best travel insurance policy for your needs and budget.
Travelex Insurance Services
We believe the Ultimate plan is the best overall from Travelex. With the Ultimate plan, you’ll get:
- Up to 100% of the insured trip cost for trip cancellation (maximum $50,000)
- Up to 150% of the insured trip cost for trip interruption (maximum $75,000)
- Up to $2,000 in coverage for lost, damaged or stolen bags and personal items; $200 for luggage delays
- Up to $2,000 for trip delays; up to $750 in missed connection coverage
- Up to $250,000 in emergency medical and dental coverage ($500 dental sublimit)
- Up to $1 million in emergency medical evacuation and repatriation coverage
Travelex reviews are typically positive, with a Trustpilot overall rating of 3.9 out of 5 and a Squaremouth rating of 4.43 out of 5. Pleased reviewers say the process was straightforward and the customer service agents are friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. There are varying reviews on how long it took to process a claim once submitted; some experienced punctual payment while others said the process was dragged out.
Nationwide Insurance
Nationwide is an especially solid option for those who like to book spontaneous trips or travelers who are indecisive on whether they want travel insurance: The provider allows you to purchase travel insurance up to a day before you depart for your trip.
We recommend Nationwide’s Prime Plan as the best overall. It includes:
- Trip cancellation coverage up to $30,000 of the trip cost
- Trip interruption coverage up to 200% of the trip cost (maximum of $60,000)
- Up to $2,000 for lost, damaged or stolen baggage; $600 for baggage delays
- Up to $2,000 for trip delays; missed connection and itinerary change coverage of $500 each
- Up to $150,000 for emergency medical and dental issues ($750 dental sublimit)
- Up to $1 million for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation
Nationwide receives a 4.02 out of 5 rating on Squaremouth and broadly positive reviews for its helpful customer service representatives and handling of travel insurance claims. Many were pleased with the coverage limits available and said Nationwide’s agents were able to assist with questions and filing a claim. Some noted, though, that the process can be slow.
Seven Corners
Cancel for any reason coverage is available with both plans; the preexisting conditions exclusion waiver is only available with the Choice plan if purchased within 20 days of your first payment for the trip.
We believe Trip Protection Choice (or Elite) is the best plan available from Seven Corners. It encompasses:
- Up to 100% trip cancellation coverage (can be up to $100,000 depending on your state of residence)
- Trip interruption coverage for up to 150% of the trip cost
- Lost, stolen or damaged baggage coverage up to $2,500; up to $500 for luggage delays
- Trip delay coverage worth up to $2,000; up to $1,500 for missed tour or cruise connections
- Emergency medical coverage worth up to $500,000 (depending on where you live)
- Emergency medical evacuation and repatriation coverage worth up to $1 million
With excellent user ratings from Trustpilot (4.3 out of 5) and Squaremouth (4.37 out of 5), Seven Corners is a solid bet, according to previous travelers. Many of the company’s specific customer service reps received high praise for answering questions and handling claims efficiently.
Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection
We recommend Berkshire Hathaway’s LuxuryCare for its comprehensive coverage. That provides:
- Trip cancellation coverage worth up to 100% of the trip cost
- Trip interruption coverage worth up to 150% of the trip cost
- $2,500 in coverage for lost, stolen or damaged bags and personal items; bag delay coverage worth $500
- Trip delay coverage worth up to $2,000; missed connection coverage worth $500
- Medical coverage worth up to $100,000
- Up to $1 million for emergency evacuation and repatriation
Berkshire Hathaway gets a 4.29 out of 5 rating from users on Squaremouth, with many noting it was easy to make adjustments to a policy by speaking with customer service and that filing a claim with the company was simple. However, a select few said their claims took longer to resolve than expected.
Tin Leg
Tin Leg’s Luxury plan is the best overall travel insurance plan from the company. With it, travelers can expect:
- Trip cancellation coverage up to 100% of the trip cost
- Trip interruption coverage up to 150% of the trip cost
- Up to $500 per person for lost or damaged luggage; $200 per person for baggage delays
- Up to $2,000 per person in trip delay coverage; up to $100 for missed connections
- Up to $100,000 per person in emergency medical coverage
- Medical evacuation and repatriation coverage worth up to $250,000
Tin Leg receives a 4.56 out of 5 rating on Squaremouth and a 3.7 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot. Recent policyholders said the claims process was thorough, and many noted the customer service reps were helpful. Several said they were able to find what they considered a reasonably priced plan with Tin Leg. Something to note, several reviewers warn that extensive documentation was required when submitting a claim, so be sure to retain all pertinent medical and cancellation or delay documentation during your travels.
WorldTrips
We suggest the Atlas Journey Elevate plan. It’s the best option with the highest coverage limits. Top features are outlined below:
- Up to 100% in trip cancellation coverage
- Up to 150% in trip interruption coverage
- Up to $2,500 in baggage coverage ($500 per item); up to $600 in luggage delay coverage
- Up to $2,000 for trip delays; up to $1,500 in missed connection coverage
- Up to $250,000 in emergency medical coverage ($750 dental sublimit)
- Up to $1 million for medical evacuation and repatriation
With a 4.4 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot and a 4.26 out of 5 rating on Squaremouth, WorldTrips travel insurance is a popular pick among travelers, and most have been pleased with the coverage and services provided.
Allianz Travel Insurance
Another perk with Allianz is that its cancel for any reason add-on offers the highest amount of coverage possible when getting reimbursed, up to 80% of the total prepaid cost of the trip. Multiple Allianz plans also provide coverage for preexisting conditions, though a few specific requirements must be met.
We recommend the OneTrip Premier plan as the best overall plan within Allianz. It includes:
- Up to $200,000 in trip cancellation coverage
- Up to $300,000 in trip interruption coverage
- Up to $2,000 for lost, damaged or stolen luggage and personal effects; $600 for bag delays
- Up to $1,600 for travel delays; $1,000 for Trip Change Protector benefit
- Emergency medical coverage worth up to $75,000 ($750 dental sublimit)
- Up to $1 million for emergency medical transportation
Traveler reviews of Allianz are mostly positive; the company receives a 4.1 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot. Travelers commend the company’s overall pricing, the ease of filing a claim and the customer service; many were able to get the expected refunds for their claims. Some, however, said the terms of the policies could be clearer, and others were disappointed and thought their valid claim was not reimbursed properly.
Travel Insured International
We believe the Worldwide Trip Protector Platinum is the best overall from Travel Insured International. With this plan, travelers receive:
- Up to 100% in trip cancellation coverage
- Up to 150% in trip interruption coverage
- Up to $2,500 for lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed bags; up to $750 in baggage delay coverage
- Trip delay coverage up to $2,000; missed connection coverage up to $1,000
- Up to $500,000 in medical coverage for an injury or illness
- Up to $1 million for medical evacuation and repatriation
This insurance company receives numerous favorable reviews, with a 4.3 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot and a 4.4 out of 5 rating on Squaremouth. Travelers say the representatives at Travel Insured International are polite and helpful, and filling out the forms to submit a claim is simple. Many say they did not have to wait too long for reimbursement either.
To help you better understand the costs associated with travel insurance, we requested quotes for a weeklong June 2025 trip to Spain for a solo traveler, a couple and a family of four. These rates should help you get a rough estimate for about how much you can expect to spend on travel insurance.
|
Travel Insurance Company |
Solo traveler Trip cost: $3,500 Age: 25 |
Couple Trip cost: $5,500 Ages: Both 35 |
Family Trip cost: $12,000 Ages: 45, 45, 12 and 10 |
| Travelex Insurance Services (Ultimate) |
$133 |
$224 | $288 |
| Nationwide Insurance (Single Trip Prime) | $141.92 | $301.96 | $530.08 |
| Seven Corners (Trip Protection Choice or Elite) | $153 | $368 | $644 |
| Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (LuxuryCare) | $153 | $258 | $621 |
| Tin Leg (Luxury) | $140 | $207.82 | $567 |
| WorldTrips (Atlas Journey Elevate) | $114 | $206 | $454 |
| Allianz Travel Insurance (OneTrip Premier) | $209 | $470 | $464 |
| Travel Insured International (Worldwide Trip Protector Platinum) | $154 | $370 | $636 |
Which One Will Work Best for You?
There are numerous types of travel insurance, and it can be difficult to distinguish between the various levels of plans and what specific coverage you might want or need for a trip. The most popular types of travel insurance to consider are:
Trip cancellation, interruption and delay insurance
Arguably one of the most important aspects of travel insurance, coverage for trip cancellations, interruptions and delays is what will reimburse you for your prepaid expenses if the cancellation, interruption or delay is due to a specific eligible reason outlined in your policy.
A few examples of covered reasons that most travel providers will process claims for would be if you get extremely sick and can’t travel, if you have a family medical emergency, or if you or your travel partner lost their job. Here are some more specifics about these types of coverage:
- Trip cancellation: Coverage for trip cancellation will allow you to recoup your costs on things like airfare, cruise fare, tour deposits, and paid-in-full hotel or vacation rentals if your trip gets canceled for a covered reason.
- Trip interruption: If you need to begin your trip late or end your trip early – again due to an eligible reason – this is the type of travel insurance that covers that.
- Trip delay: Trip delay insurance will help reimburse you for unforeseen expenses in the event your trip is delayed for reasons beyond your control, such as your flight being canceled and rebooked for the next day. So, you’ll be able to file a claim to be reimbursed for things like meals, hotel stays and transportation as you wait to take your rebooked flight. Note that you’ll want to save all of your receipts to make the process as smooth as possible when filing a claim with the travel insurance provider.
Travel medical insurance
Emergency medical coverage can pay for medical expenses if you happen to get sick with a virus or food poisoning, or if you injure yourself while on vacation. There are two types of travel medical insurance to be aware of: primary and secondary. A primary policy can be used immediately to cover medical bills incurred while you travel, while secondary coverage only provides reimbursement after you have exhausted any existing medical insurance policies you have.
You will also need to check what coverage is available if you have any preexisting conditions. A preexisting condition is usually defined as an illness, injury or other medical condition that was known prior to the travel insurance policy’s effective date. Most policies do not cover preexisting conditions, so you may need to secure an additional waiver (typically within 14 to 21 days of your initial trip deposit, depending on the plan) to account for your preexisting condition. Examples of preexisting conditions include diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer, among others.
Evacuation insurance
Picture this scenario: You get infected with West Nile virus and come down with severe symptoms in a remote town in Europe without access to quality health care. You would need travel medical insurance coverage in addition to coverage to transport you to the nearest hospital that can provide adequate care or a hospital closer to home.
Evacuation coverage is very useful if you need it, but you will want to make sure any coverage you buy comes with very high limits. According to Squaremouth, an emergency evacuation can easily cost $25,000 in North America and considerably more in some international destinations, so the site typically suggests customers buy policies with at least $100,000 in emergency evacuation coverage – or even up to $250,000 in some cases.
Lost, damaged, stolen or delayed bags
Coverage for lost or stolen bags can come in handy if your airline loses or damages your checked luggage, or if your luggage is delayed so long that you have to buy new clothes, toiletries, shoes and other essentials for your trip. This type of coverage can kick in to cover the cost to replace lost or stolen items you brought on your trip. It can also provide coverage for the bag itself. Note that if you are traveling with sports equipment like skis or golf clubs, you’ll want to check the policy closely to see if those are covered. If not, look into an adventure sports policy, which usually covers higher-ticket items like sports gear.
Cancel for any reason insurance
Cancel for any reason travel insurance works precisely how it sounds. With this coverage in place, you can cancel your trip for any reason you want – truly any reason, even if you just decide you don’t want to go. CFAR coverage is usually an additional fee or waiver you add on to a standard travel insurance plan. Because it’s an add-on, you’ll have to pay extra to have it included in your policy (and not every plan offers this option). You will typically have to purchase the cancel for any reason upgrade within 14 to 15 days of the initial trip deposit.
While you can cancel for any reason, it’s important to note that you will not be reimbursed 100%. Most travel insurance companies will reimburse anywhere from 50% to 80% of the total nonrefundable prepaid travel expenses. You’ll want to read the fine print and details of each travel insurance policy closely to know exactly how much reimbursement you would qualify for with the provider’s CFAR coverage. Allianz is currently the leader in the market, with its Cancel Anytime upgrade reimbursing up to 80% of a traveler’s prepaid, nonrefundable vacation costs.
International travel insurance
With the chaos of delayed and canceled flights as well as threats of illness and accidents in today’s world, travel insurance when visiting other countries has become a nonnegotiable for many travelers. International travel insurance is incredibly handy to have since it can provide medical and dental coverage for emergencies when you’re abroad, in addition to reimbursement for lost or delayed luggage, and money back for trip cancellations, delays or interruptions.
Cheap travel insurance
If you’d like to purchase travel insurance to protect your trip but you’re on a tight budget, there are affordable options on the market. These travel insurance plans you’ll notice are labeled as the basic or standard option. They still cover many of the same things as the more comprehensive travel insurance plans – the difference is that there are lower limits to the amount the provider will reimburse you for certain things.
For example, a standard plan might reimburse you up to $1,000 for lost luggage while the more premier plan would reimburse you up to $2,000. A basic plan could reimburse you up to $30,000 in trip cancellation costs while a higher plan would reimburse you up to $100,000.
Cruise insurance
Travel delays; missed connections, tours or excursions; and cruise ship disablement (when a ship encounters a mechanical issue and is unable to continue on in the journey) are just a few examples why cruise insurance can be a useful protection if you’ve booked a cruise vacation.
Credit card travel insurance
Some of the top travel credit cards offer travel insurance perks like coverage for trip cancellation or interruption, reimbursement for lost or delayed bags, travel accident coverage, and more. These benefits are a big reason why many travelers love cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card and The Platinum Card from American Express, and why some feel the annual fees they impose are justified.
However, the most important thing to know is that you must use that specific credit card when booking or prepaying for your travel expenses to be able to take advantage of those travel insurance perks. Use that card to pay for your flight, your hotel accommodations or vacation rental, your cruise, and your destination tours to ensure that if things go wrong and you need to file a claim, you’re protected because you used the correct credit card with the travel insurance features.
Keep in mind that credit cards with travel insurance have their own list of exclusions to consider. They don’t cover everything that an individual travel insurance plan would, so in many cases you may also want to purchase separate travel insurance protection.
The best time to buy travel insurance is normally within a few weeks of booking your trip since you may qualify for lower pricing if you book early. Keep in mind, some travel insurance providers allow you to purchase plans until the day before you depart.
Many times, you are given the option to purchase travel insurance when you book your airfare, accommodations or vacation package. Travel insurance and travel protection are frequently offered as add-ons for your trip, meaning you can pay for your vacation and some level of travel insurance at the same time.
However, many people choose to wait to buy travel insurance until after their entire vacation is booked and paid for. This helps travelers tally up all the underlying costs associated with a trip, and then choose their travel insurance provider and the level of coverage they want.
Figuring out where to buy travel insurance may be confusing but you can easily research and purchase travel insurance online these days. Some consumers prefer to shop around with a specific provider, such as Allianz or Travelex, but you can also shop and compare policies with a travel insurance platform. Popular options include:
- TravelInsurance.com: TravelInsurance.com offers travel insurance options from more than a dozen vetted insurance providers. Users can read reviews on the various travel insurance providers to find out more about previous travelers’ experiences with them.
Squaremouth: With Squaremouth, you can enter your trip details and compare more than 90 travel insurance plans from 30-plus providers. - InsureMyTrip: InsureMyTrip works similarly, letting you shop around and compare plans from 14 travel insurance providers in one place. InsureMyTrip also offers several guarantees, including a Best Price Guarantee, a Best Plan Guarantee and a Money-Back Guarantee that promises a full refund if you decide you no longer need the plan you purchased.
Protect your trip: Search, compare and buy the best travel insurance plans for the lowest price. Get a quote.
When you need to file a travel insurance claim, you should plan on explaining to your provider what happened to your trip and why you think your policy applies. If you planned to go on a Caribbean cruise, but your husband fell gravely ill the night before you were set to depart, you would need to explain that situation to your travel insurance company. Information you should share with your provider includes the details of why you’re making a claim, who was involved and the exact circumstances of your loss.
Documentation is important, and your travel insurance provider will ask for proof of what happened. Required documentation for travel insurance typically includes any proof of a delay, receipts, copies of medical bills and more.
Most travel insurance companies let you file a claim using an online form, but some also allow you to file a claim by phone or via fax. Some travel insurance providers, such as Allianz and Travel Insured International, offer their own mobile apps you can use to buy policies and upload information or documents that substantiate your claim. In any case, you will need to provide the company with proof of your claim and the circumstances that caused it.
If your claim is initially denied, you may also need to answer some questions or submit some additional information that can highlight why you do, in fact, qualify.
Whatever you do, be honest and forthcoming with all the information in your claim. Also, be willing to provide more information or answer any questions when asked.
Travel insurance claims typically take four to six weeks to process once you file with your insurance company. However, with various flight delays and cancellations due to things like extreme weather and pilot shortages, more travelers have begun purchasing travel insurance, encountering trip issues and having to submit claims. The higher volume of claims submitted has resulted in slower turnaround times at some insurance companies.
The longer you take to file your travel insurance claim after a loss, the longer you will be waiting for reimbursement. Also note that, with many travel insurance providers, there is a time limit on how long you can submit claims after a trip. For example, with Allianz Travel Insurance and Travelex Insurance Services, you have 90 days from the date of your loss to file a claim.
You may be able to expedite the claim if you provide all the required information upfront, whereas the process could drag on longer than it needs to if you delay filing a claim or the company has to follow up with you to get more information.
Travel insurance is generally not required, and only you can decide whether or not it’s right for you. Check out Is Travel Insurance Worth It? to see some common situations where it does (and doesn’t) make sense.
According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, travel insurance typically costs between 5% and 10% of the total trip cost.
The following describes our approach to researching and analyzing travel insurance companies to guide prospective consumers.
NatureGuide & World Report rates the best travel insurance providers to help travelers determine what policy will help them protect their investment in their vacation. To determine the Best Travel Insurance Companies, we first scoured the web for all providers that offer travel insurance plans. In total, we assessed 41 companies. To be considered for the Best Travel Insurance Companies rating, a company must be available to U.S. residents; must allow anyone to purchase travel insurance; and must specifically offer trip cancellation and interruption protection. We collected data on these travel insurance companies across multiple sources:
- Professional Ratings & Reviews: Our travel insurance ratings take into account the top credible expert sources that have vetted and recommended specific travel insurance companies and plans. These expert sources are reviewed annually before data collection begins to ensure they are offering up-to-date information and accolades. Our team reviewed the methodologies of these expert outlets to look for data-driven rankings that were editorially independent. There are nine expert sources that are factored into the 2025 ratings, including NerdWallet, Business Insider and USA Today, among others. Professional sources often recommend different options. U.S. News believes it benefits consumers to pool and analyze independent reviews as a group, to factor in multiple data sources and provide the most robust look at the top travel insurance companies. To be considered a Best Travel Insurance Company, the provider must appear on a minimum of three expert lists. Our team tallies the number of accolades a travel insurance company receives from these nine expert sources, and converts them into points. Points earned for the number of accolades are outlined below:
- 8 or more accolades: 5 points
- 5 to 7 accolades: 4 points
- 3 to 4 accolades: 3 points
- 1 to 2 accolades: 2 points
- Consumer Ratings & Reviews: NatureGuide also researched published consumer ratings on travel insurance companies. Our research team collected and analyzed review data from SquareMouth and Trustpilot, which are independent third-party reviews sites that collect verified reviews from travel insurance users. Travel insurance companies must have at least 20 reviews on one of these sites to be considered. Providers must have a consumer rating score (the averaged rating of the two review sites) of 3.5 or higher to make the Best Travel Insurance Companies list.
- Credit Rating: A.M. Best provides financial strength ratings of insurance companies that indicate providers most likely to weather major global travel disruptions. Only travel insurance companies with an A rating or better are considered for our Best Travel Insurance Companies ratings. Points earned for the A.M. Best ratings are detailed below:
- A++: 5 points
- A+: 4.5 points
- A: 4 points
- A-: 3.5 points
The Overall Rating is the average of the professional rating, consumer rating and credit rating scores. Travel insurance companies with an Overall Rating of 3.75 or greater made the 2025 Best Travel Insurance Companies rating.