single trip travel insurance post office

How does single trip travel insurance work?

Who needs single trip travel insurance.

• Choosing travel insurance

Purchasing single trip travel insurance

Single trip travel insurance frequently asked questions, what is single trip travel insurance.

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• Single trip travel insurance covers unexpected costs incurred during a trip.
• Compared to annual travel insurance, single trip insurance is more flexible and comprehensive. 
• Premiums are based on trip costs, usually between 4% to 8%, but CFAR coverage may increase costs.

No matter the asset, protecting your investments via insurance is a proven means of providing coverage against financial loss. On par with homeowners, automobile, and life insurance, travel insurance is a proactive means of preparing for the uncertainties of travel, from flight delays and cancellations to lost luggage and medical emergencies.

The best travel insurance plan meets your specific needs. Single trip insurance protects one specific trip, offering the flexibility to tailor your insurance to your travel plans. If you're taking one large trip, perhaps your dream vacation, single trip insurance can protect your investment and provide peace of mind before, during, and after takeoff.

Single trip travel insurance covers unexpected additional expenses while on a trip. Often used interchangeably with traditional travel insurance, single trip travel insurance is the most popular type of insurance policy purchased by travelers in the US. Among its many benefits, this basic travel coverage is flexible, cost-effective, and comprehensive. 

Compared with annual travel insurance coverage (which covers multiple excursions to and from home within a specified period and comes with a cap), traditional policies cover a range of unforeseen events and emergencies leading up to (and for the duration of) your trip. Single trip travel insurance cost is typically a percentage of your trip costs, anywhere from 4% to 8% of your trip's total cost

Coverage options in single trip policies

Travel insurance covers unexpected financial losses while traveling. This can include inconveniences that happen throughout a trip, like lost baggage, missed connections, and travel delays. For example, travel insurance can cover meals purchased at the airport after your flight has been delayed for a certain amount of time.

However, travel insurance is especially helpful when more serious incidents occur. For example, travel insurance will cover non-refundable deposits in the case of an unexpected trip cancellation, as long as your trip was canceled for a covered reason.

Additionally, medical emergency insurance is particularly helpful when traveling abroad, where US-based health insurance usually can't help you. Depending on your policy, travel insurance can cover hospital room and board, prescription medicine, and even surgeries. It may also pay for medical evacuations and repatriations.

Additional coverage options

Most insurance providers will provide additional coverage options if you're looking for something more specific. For example, if you're traveling to a destination for extreme sports like skydiving, you can add adventure sports coverage to your policy.

You can also add Cancel For Any Reason to your policy, if you think you may cancel your trip for an uncovered reason, like fear of flying. However, you will need to be mindful of when you purchase travel insurance, CFAR is only available if you purchase travel insurance within two to three weeks of placing a deposit on your trip. You can find our guide on the best cancel for any reason travel insurance here.

Traditional travel plans are typically designed for the leisure traveler. In other words, vacationers who want to protect against unexpected, sometimes catastrophic financial losses related to an upcoming vacation pay a small fee relative to trip costs.

"The typical travel insurance buyer is someone who can't afford to lose non-refundable trip deposits such as for a cruise or vacation rental if forced to cancel [a vacation] for a covered reason," says Carol Mueller, vice president of Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection . "It is also for the vacationer concerned about medical emergencies or medical evacuations [while away from home] that could cost thousands of dollars and [are] not covered by a health insurance plan."

However, if you have multiple trips coming up within a 365-day, annual travel insurance may be worth a look. While a single trip policy will end when you return home, annual travel insurance will cover any trips you take over a year.  

Choosing the right single trip policy

Since it can be overwhelming to sift through the myriad options available, Jones offers some tips to help travelers make the right decision when choosing travel insurance coverage:

Think about your needs: Consider the kind of trip you are taking and the activities you're planning. If you're traveling for a sports trip, you may want extra protection for your sports equipment. But it's often simpler. For example, you'll need travel medical insurance for emergencies as your standard health insurance probably won't cover you abroad.

Compare policies: Compare policies from multiple providers to find one meeting your needs and budget. Look for policies with comprehensive coverage for unforeseen events such as medical emergencies and trip cancellations. You can see which is more affordable when you have similar plans side-by-side. Just don't forget to account for any differences to get the most competitive pricing.

Read the fine print: Make sure you understand any exclusions or limitations before purchasing a policy. Some coverages, like cancel for any reason travel insurance, may have a time limit, but the coverage should be straightforward. Other cancellation coverage will most likely have important exclusions you should know.

Consider preexisting conditions: If any travelers in your party have preexisting medical conditions, ensure the policy you plan to purchase covers them. You may have to pay extra, but it will cost you a lot less than trying to find essential medications while you're on the road, especially if you're traveling internationally.

Look for customer reviews: Check customer reviews to see how other travelers have fared with the policy and provider. You can use sites like Trustpilot, ConsumerAffairs, and the BBB.

Purchase early: It's important to secure coverage at the same time you book your trip, as some coverage may only be available within a specific timeframe. Like your plane tickets and other travel arrangements, you may qualify for lower rates or discounts if you buy early.

Finally, planning to swipe a family vacation off your bucket list? Investing in travel insurance is the smart and savvy way to ensure you eventually reach your destination (financially) unscathed, despite any minor derailments.

"You can't predict what can go wrong before you leave for, or even [what transpires] during your vacation. That's why it makes sense to consider purchasing a comprehensive, traditional plans protect you against financial losses you never thought would happen," says Mueller.

While you can insure any trip, single trip travel insurance is best for long, expensive, or international trips. It's best to buy insurance shortly after booking your trip, ideally within two weeks of placing the deposit on your trip. 

Hundreds of plans offer similar coverages and benefit limits. Working with a certified insurance professional is the easiest way to cut through the hundreds of similar plans, find a quite, and purchase the plan best suited to your trip based on travel mode, trip cost, family presence, and more. 

After all, even the best-laid plans (and most detail-oriented itineraries) are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. While myriad travel-related details lie within your control, like when you go and where you stay, a few unpredictable variables will always remain. Proper insurance coverage might be the solution to anticipating all of them and ensuring a smooth journey one step at a time.

While single trip insurance is often more valuable for trips that are longer and international, insurance for domestic trips can be beneficial if they involve non-refundable expenses.

Yes, single trip policies can include multiple destinations within one trip, as long as all destinations are included in the policy.

You should purchase single trip insurance soon after booking your trip to qualify for benefits like CFAR policies and pre-existing condition waivers . Additionally, if your trip gets canceled before you can purchase travel insurance, you may not get your money back.

Most single trip insurance policies cover cancellations due to illness without the need for CFAR insurance, but it's important to check the specific terms of your policy.

While policy extensions are possible, rules depend on your insurer. Additionally, there may be a limit on how long you can extend your policy. 

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.

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9 Best Travel Insurance Companies of April 2024

According to our analysis of more than 50 travel insurance companies and hundreds of different travel insurance plans, the best travel insurance company is Travelex Insurance Services. In our best travel insurance ratings, we take into account traveler reviews, credit ratings and industry awards. The best travel insurance companies offer robust coverage and excellent customer service, and many offer customizable add-ons.

Travelex Insurance Services »

Allianz Travel Insurance »

HTH Travel Insurance »

Tin Leg »

AIG Travel Guard »

Nationwide Insurance »

Seven Corners »

Generali Global Assistance »

Berkshire hathaway travel protection ».

Why Trust Us

U.S. News evaluates ratings, data and scores of more than 50 travel insurance companies from comparison websites like TravelInsurance.com, Squaremouth and InsureMyTrip, plus renowned credit rating agency AM Best, in addition to reviews and recommendations from top travel industry sources and consumers to determine the Best Travel Insurance Companies.

Table of Contents

• Travelex Insurance Services
• Allianz Travel Insurance

Travel insurance can help you protect the financial investment you made in your vacation when unexpected issues arise. Find the best travel insurance for the type of trip(s) you're taking and the coverages that matter most to you – from interruptions and misplaced belongings to illness and injury.

• Travelex Insurance Services: Best Overall
• Allianz Travel Insurance: Best for Trip Interruptions
• HTH Travel Insurance: Best for Groups
• Tin Leg: Best Cost
• AIG Travel Guard: Best for Families
• Nationwide Insurance: Best for Last-Minute Travel Insurance
• Seven Corners: Best for 24/7 Support When Traveling
• Generali Global Assistance: Best for Medical Emergencies
• Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection: Best for Specialized Coverage

Customizable upgrades are available, including car rental coverage, additional medical insurance and adventure sports coverage

Medical and trip cancellation maximum are not as high as some other companies

• 100% of the insured trip cost for trip cancellation; 150% for trip interruption
• Up to $1,000 in coverage for lost, damaged or stolen bags and personal items; $200 for luggage delays
• $750 in missed connection coverage
• $50,000 in emergency medical and dental coverage
• Up to $500,000 in emergency medical evacuation and repatriation coverage

SEE FULL REVIEW »

Annual and multitrip policies are available

Distinguishing between the company's 10 travel insurance plans can be challenging

• Up to $200,000 in trip cancellation coverage; $300,000 in trip interruption coverage
• $2,000 for lost, damaged or stolen luggage and personal effects; $600 for bag delays
• Up to $1,600 for travel delays
• Emergency medical coverage of up to $75,000
• Epidemic coverage

Generous coverage at the mid- and high-tier levels, and great group discounts

Preexisting conditions coverage is only available at mid- and high-tier plans

• 100% trip cancellation coverage (up to $50,000); 200% trip interruption coverage
• Up to $2,000 in coverage for baggage and personal effects; $400 in baggage delay coverage
• Up to $2,000 in coverage for trip delays; $1,000 for missed connections
• $500,000 in coverage per person for sickness and accidents

Variety of plans to choose from, including two budget-friendly policies and several more premium options

More limited coverage for baggage issues than other companies

• 100% trip cancellation protection; 150% trip interruption
• $500 per person for lost, stolen or damaged baggage and personal items
• Up to $2,000 per person in travel delay coverage ($150 per day); $100 per person for missed connections
• $100,000 per person in emergency medical coverage, including issues related to COVID-19

Travel insurance policy coverage is tailored to your specific trip

Information about policy coverage inclusions is not readily available without first obtaining a quote

• Trip cancellation coverage for up to 100% of your trip's cost; trip interruption coverage for up to 150% of the trip cost
• Up to $2,500 in coverage for lost, stolen or damaged baggage; $500 related to luggage delays
• Up to $1,000 in missed connection and trip delay coverage
• $100,000 in emergency medical coverage

Variety of plans to choose from and coverage available up to a day before you leave on your trip

Limited trip cancellation coverage even at the highest tier

• Trip cancellation coverage up to $30,000; trip interruption coverage worth up to 200% of the trip cost (maximum of $60,000)
• $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
• $150,000 for emergency medical and dental issues

Customer service available 24/7 via text, Whatsapp, email and phone

Cancel for any reason coverage costs extra

• 100% trip cancellation coverage (up to between $30,000 and $100,000 depending on your state of residence); interruption coverage for up to 150% of the trip cost 
• Lost, stolen or damaged baggage coverage up to $2,500; up to $600 for luggage delays
• Trip delay and missed connection coverage worth up to $1,500
• Emergency medical coverage worth up to between $250,000 and $500,000 (depending on where you live)

Generous emergency medical and emergency evacuation coverage

Coverage for those with preexisting conditions is only available on the Premium plan

• 100% reimbursement for trip cancellation; 175% reimbursement for trip interruption
• $2,000 in coverage for loss of baggage per person
• $1,000 per person in travel delay and missed connection coverage
• $250,000 in medical and dental coverage per person

In addition to single-trip plans, company offers specific road trip, adventure travel, flight and cruise insurance coverage

Coverage for missed connections or accidental death and dismemberment is not part of the most basic plan

• Trip cancellation coverage worth up to 100% of the trip cost; interruption coverage worth up to 150% of the trip cost
• $500 in coverage for lost, stolen or damaged bags and personal items; bag delay coverage worth $200
• Trip delay coverage worth up to $1,000; missed connection coverage worth up to $100
• Medical coverage worth up to $50,000

To help you better understand the costs associated with travel insurance, we requested quotes for a weeklong June 2024 trip to Spain for a solo traveler, a couple and a family. These rates should help you get a rough estimate for about how much you can expect to spend on travel insurance. For additional details on specific coverage from each travel insurance plan and to input your trip information for a quote, see our comparison table below.

Travel Insurance Types: Which One Is Right for You?

There are several types of travel insurance you'll want to evaluate before choosing the policy that's right for you. A few of the most popular types of travel insurance include:

COVID travel insurance Select insurance plans offer some or a combination of the following COVID-19-related protections: coverage for rapid or PCR testing; accommodations if you're required to quarantine during your trip if you test positive for coronavirus; health care; and trip cancellations due to you or a family member testing positive for COVID-19. Read more about the best COVID-19 travel insurance options .

Cancel for any reason insurance Cancel for any reason travel insurance works exactly how it sounds. This type of travel insurance lets you cancel your trip for any reason you want – even if your reason is that you simply decide you no longer want to go. Cancel for any reason travel insurance is typically an add-on you can purchase to go along with other types of travel insurance. For that reason, you will pay more to have this kind of coverage added to your policy.

Also note that this type of coverage typically only reimburses 50% to 80% of your nonrefundable prepaid travel expenses. You'll want to make sure you know exactly how much reimbursement you could qualify for before you invest in this type of policy. Compare the best cancel for any reason travel insurance options here .

International travel insurance Travel insurance is especially useful when traveling internationally, as it can provide medical coverage for emergencies (in some cases for COVID-19) when you're far from home. Depending which international travel insurance plan you choose, this type of travel insurance can also cover lost or delayed luggage, rental cars, travel interruptions or cancellations, and more.

Cheap travel insurance If you want travel insurance but don't want to spend a lot of money, there are plenty of cheap travel insurance options that will offer at least some protections (and peace of mind). These are typically called a company's basic or standard plan; many travel insurance companies even allow you to customize your coverage, spending as little or as much as you want. Explore your options for the cheapest travel insurance here .

Trip cancellation, interruption and delay insurance Trip cancellation coverage can help you get reimbursement for prepaid travel expenses, such as your airfare and cruise fare, if your trip is ultimately canceled for a covered reason. Trip interruption insurance, on the other hand, kicks in to reimburse you if your trip is derailed after it starts. For instance, if you arrived at your destination and became gravely ill, it would cover the cost if you had to cut your trip short.

Trip delay insurance can help you qualify for reimbursement of any unexpected expenses you incur (think: lodging, transportation and food) in the event your trip is delayed for reasons beyond your control, such as your flight being canceled and rebooked for the next day. You will want to save your receipts to substantiate your claim if you have this coverage.

Lost, damaged, delayed or stolen bags or personal belongings Coverage for lost or stolen bags can come in handy if your checked luggage is lost by your airline or your luggage is delayed so long that you have to buy clothing and toiletries 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 baggage itself. It's even possible that your travel insurance policy will pay for your flight home if damages are caused to your residence and your belongings while you're away, forcing you to return home immediately.

Travel medical insurance If you find yourself sick or injured while you are on vacation, emergency medical coverage can pay for your medical expenses. With that in mind, however, you will need to find out whether the travel medical insurance you buy is primary or secondary. Where a primary policy can be used right away to cover medical bills incurred while you travel, secondary coverage only provides reimbursement after you have exhausted other medical policies you have.

You will also need to know how the travel medical coverage you purchase deals with any preexisting conditions you have, including whether you will have any coverage for preexisting conditions at all. Read more about the best travel medical insurance plans .

Evacuation insurance Imagine you break your leg while on the side of a mountain in some far-flung land without quality health care. Not only would you need travel medical insurance coverage in that case, but you would also need coverage for the exorbitant expense involved in getting you off the side of a mountain and flying you home where you can receive appropriate medical care.

Evacuation coverage can come in handy if you need it, but you will want to make sure any coverage you buy comes with incredibly high limits. According to Squaremouth, an emergency evacuation can easily cost $25,000 in North America and up to $50,000 in Europe, so the site typically suggests customers buy policies with $50,000 to $100,000 in emergency evacuation coverage.

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. Learn more about the top cruise insurance plans here .

Credit card travel insurance It is not uncommon to find credit cards that include trip cancellation and interruption coverage , trip delay insurance, lost or delayed baggage coverage, travel accident insurance, and more. Cards that offer this coverage include popular options like the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card , the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card and The Platinum Card from American Express . 

Note that owning a credit card with travel insurance protection is not enough for your coverage to count: To take advantage of credit card travel insurance, you must pay for prepaid travel expenses like your airfare, hotel stay or cruise with that specific credit card. Also, note that credit cards with travel insurance have their own list of exclusions to watch out for. Many also require cardholders to pay an annual fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

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 20-plus providers.
• InsureMyTrip: InsureMyTrip works similarly, letting you shop around and compare plans from more than 20 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 never 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.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is an award-winning content creator who has been writing about travel insurance and travel for more than a decade. She has researched travel insurance options for her own vacations and family trips to more than 50 countries around the world, and has experience navigating the claims and reimbursement process. In fact, she has successfully filed several travel insurance claims for trip delays and trip cancellations over the years. Johnson also works alongside her husband, Greg, who has been licensed to sell travel insurance in 50 states, in their family media business.

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The best travel insurance policies and providers

It's easy to dismiss the value of travel insurance until you need it.

Many travelers have strong opinions about whether you should buy travel insurance . However, the purpose of this post isn't to determine whether it's worth investing in. Instead, it compares some of the top travel insurance providers and policies so you can determine which travel insurance option is best for you.

Of course, as the coronavirus remains an ongoing concern, it's important to understand whether travel insurance covers pandemics. Some policies will cover you if you're diagnosed with COVID-19 and have proof of illness from a doctor. Others will take coverage a step further, covering additional types of pandemic-related expenses and cancellations.

Know, though, that every policy will have exclusions and restrictions that may limit coverage. For example, fear of travel is generally not a covered reason for invoking trip cancellation or interruption coverage, while specific stipulations may apply to elevated travel warnings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Interested in travel insurance? Visit InsureMyTrip.com to shop for plans that may fit your travel needs.

So, before buying a specific policy, you must understand the full terms and any special notices the insurer has about COVID-19. You may even want to buy the optional cancel for any reason add-on that's available for some comprehensive policies. While you'll pay more for that protection, it allows you to cancel your trip for any reason and still get some of your costs back. Note that this benefit is time-sensitive and has other eligibility requirements, so not all travelers will qualify.

In this guide, we'll review several policies from top travel insurance providers so you have a better understanding of your options before picking the policy and provider that best address your wants and needs.

The best travel insurance providers

To put together this list of the best travel insurance providers, a number of details were considered: favorable ratings from TPG Lounge members, the availability of details about policies and the claims process online, positive online ratings and the ability to purchase policies in most U.S. states. You can also search for options from these (and other) providers through an insurance comparison site like InsureMyTrip .

When comparing insurance providers, I priced out a single-trip policy for each provider for a $2,000, one-week vacation to Istanbul . I used my actual age and state of residence when obtaining quotes. As a result, you may see a different price — or even additional policies due to regulations for travel insurance varying from state to state — when getting a quote.

AIG Travel Guard

AIG Travel Guard receives many positive reviews from readers in the TPG Lounge who have filed claims with the company. AIG offers three plans online, which you can compare side by side, and the ability to examine sample policies. Here are three plans for my sample trip to Turkey.

AIG Travel Guard also offers an annual travel plan. This plan is priced at $259 per year for one Florida resident.

Additionally, AIG Travel Guard offers several other policies, including a single-trip policy without trip cancellation protection . See AIG Travel Guard's COVID-19 notification and COVID-19 advisory for current details regarding COVID-19 coverage.

Preexisting conditions

Typically, AIG Travel Guard wouldn't cover you for any loss or expense due to a preexisting medical condition that existed within 180 days of the coverage effective date. However, AIG Travel Guard may waive the preexisting medical condition exclusion on some plans if you meet the following conditions:

• You purchase the plan within 15 days of your initial trip payment.
• The amount of coverage you purchase equals all trip costs at the time of purchase. You must update your coverage to insure the costs of any subsequent arrangements that you add to your trip within 15 days of paying the travel supplier for these additional arrangements.
• You must be medically able to travel when you purchase your plan.

Standout features

• The Deluxe and Preferred plans allow you to purchase an upgrade that lets you cancel your trip for any reason. However, reimbursement under this coverage will not exceed 50% or 75% of your covered trip cost.
• You can include one child (age 17 and younger) with each paying adult for no additional cost on most single-trip plans.
• Other optional upgrades, including an adventure sports bundle, a baggage bundle, an inconvenience bundle, a pet bundle, a security bundle and a wedding bundle, are available on some policies. So, an AIG Travel Guard plan may be a good choice if you know you want extra coverage in specific areas.

Purchase your policy here: AIG Travel Guard .

Allianz Travel Insurance

Allianz is one of the most highly regarded providers in the TPG Lounge, and many readers found the claim process reasonable. Allianz offers many plans, including the following single-trip plans for my sample trip to Turkey.

If you travel frequently, it may make sense to purchase an annual multi-trip policy. For this plan, all of the maximum coverage amounts in the table below are per trip (except for the trip cancellation and trip interruption amounts, which are an aggregate limit per policy). Trips typically must last no more than 45 days, although some plans may cover trips of up to 90 days.

See Allianz's coverage alert for current information on COVID-19 coverage.

Most Allianz travel insurance plans may cover preexisting medical conditions if you meet particular requirements. For the OneTrip Premier, Prime and Basic plans, the requirements are as follows:

• You purchased the policy within 14 days of the date of the first trip payment or deposit.
• You were a U.S. resident when you purchased the policy.
• You were medically able to travel when you purchased the policy.
• On the policy purchase date, you insured the total, nonrefundable cost of your trip (including arrangements that will become nonrefundable or subject to cancellation penalties before your departure date). If you incur additional nonrefundable trip expenses after purchasing this policy, you must insure them within 14 days of their purchase.
• Allianz offers reasonably priced annual policies for independent travelers and families who take multiple trips lasting up to 45 days (or 90 days for select plans) per year.
• Some Allianz plans provide the option of receiving a flat reimbursement amount without receipts for trip delay and baggage delay claims. Of course, you can also submit receipts to get up to the maximum refund.
• For emergency transportation coverage, you or someone on your behalf must contact Allianz, and Allianz must then make all transportation arrangements in advance. However, most Allianz policies provide an option if you cannot contact the company: Allianz will pay up to what it would have paid if it had made the arrangements.

Purchase your policy here: Allianz Travel Insurance .

American Express Travel Insurance

American Express Travel Insurance offers four different package plans and a build-your-own coverage option. You don't have to be an American Express cardholder to purchase this insurance. Here are the four package options for my sample weeklong trip to Turkey. Unlike some other providers, Amex won't ask for your travel destination on the initial quote (but will when you purchase the plan).

Amex's build-your-own coverage plan is unique because you can purchase just the coverage you need. For most types of protection, you can even select the coverage amount that works best for you.

The prices for the packages and the build-your-own plan don't increase for longer trips — as long as the trip cost remains constant. However, the emergency medical and dental benefit is only available for your first 60 days of travel.

Typically, Amex won't cover any loss you incur because of a preexisting medical condition that existed within 90 days of the coverage effective date. However, Amex may waive its preexisting-condition exclusion if you meet both of the following requirements:

• You must be medically able to travel at the time you pay the policy premium.
• You pay the policy premium within 14 days of making the first covered trip deposit.
• Amex's build-your-own coverage option allows you to only purchase — and pay for — the coverage you need.
• Coverage on long trips doesn't cost more than coverage for short trips, making this policy ideal for extended getaways. However, the emergency medical and dental benefit only covers your first 60 days of travel.
• American Express Travel Insurance can protect travel expenses you purchase with Amex Membership Rewards points in the Pay with Points program (as well as travel expenses bought with cash, debit or credit). However, travel expenses bought with other types of points and miles aren't covered.

Purchase your policy here: American Express Travel Insurance .

GeoBlue is different from most other providers described in this piece because it only provides medical coverage while you're traveling internationally and does not offer benefits to protect the cost of your trip. There are many different policies. Some require you to have primary health insurance in the U.S. (although it doesn't need to be provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield), but all of them only offer coverage while traveling outside the U.S.

Two single-trip plans are available if you're traveling for six months or less. The Voyager Choice policy provides coverage (including medical services and medical evacuation for a sudden recurrence of a preexisting condition) for trips outside the U.S. to travelers who are 95 or younger and already have a U.S. health insurance policy.

The Voyager Essential policy provides coverage (including medical evacuation for a sudden recurrence of a preexisting condition) for trips outside the U.S. to travelers who are 95 or younger, regardless of whether they have primary health insurance.

In addition to these options, two multi-trip plans cover trips of up to 70 days each for one year. Both policies provide coverage (including medical services and medical evacuation for preexisting conditions) to travelers with primary health insurance.

Be sure to check out GeoBlue's COVID-19 notices before buying a plan.

Most GeoBlue policies explicitly cover sudden recurrences of preexisting conditions for medical services and medical evacuation.

• GeoBlue can be an excellent option if you're mainly concerned about the medical side of travel insurance.
• GeoBlue provides single-trip, multi-trip and long-term medical travel insurance policies for many different types of travel.

Purchase your policy here: GeoBlue .

IMG offers various travel medical insurance policies for travelers, as well as comprehensive travel insurance policies. For a single trip of 90 days or less, there are five policy types available for vacation or holiday travelers. Although you must enter your gender, males and females received the same quote for my one-week search.

You can purchase an annual multi-trip travel medical insurance plan. Some only cover trips lasting up to 30 or 45 days, but others provide coverage for longer trips.

See IMG's page on COVID-19 for additional policy information as it relates to coronavirus-related claims.

Most plans may cover preexisting conditions under set parameters or up to specific amounts. For example, the iTravelInsured Travel LX travel insurance plan shown above may cover preexisting conditions if you purchase the insurance within 24 hours of making the final payment for your trip.

For the travel medical insurance plans shown above, preexisting conditions are covered for travelers younger than 70. However, coverage is capped based on your age and whether you have a primary health insurance policy.

• Some annual multi-trip plans are modestly priced.
• iTravelInsured Travel LX may offer optional cancel for any reason and interruption for any reason coverage, if eligible.

Purchase your policy here: IMG .

Travelex Insurance

Travelex offers three single-trip plans: Travel Basic, Travel Select and Travel America. However, only the Travel Basic and Travel Select plans would be applicable for my trip to Turkey.

See Travelex's COVID-19 coverage statement for coronavirus-specific information.

Typically, Travelex won't cover losses incurred because of a preexisting medical condition that existed within 60 days of the coverage effective date. However, the Travel Select plan may offer a preexisting condition exclusion waiver. To be eligible for this waiver, the insured traveler must meet all the following conditions:

• You purchase the plan within 15 days of the initial trip payment.
• The amount of coverage purchased equals all prepaid, nonrefundable payments or deposits applicable to the trip at the time of purchase. Additionally, you must insure the costs of any subsequent arrangements added to the same trip within 15 days of payment or deposit.
• All insured individuals are medically able to travel when they pay the plan cost.
• The trip cost does not exceed the maximum trip cost limit under trip cancellation as shown in the schedule per person (only applicable to trip cancellation, interruption and delay).
• Travelex's Travel Select policy can cover trips lasting up to 364 days, which is longer than many single-trip policies.
• Neither Travelex policy requires receipts for trip and baggage delay expenses less than $25.
• For emergency evacuation coverage, you or someone on your behalf must contact Travelex and have Travelex make all transportation arrangements in advance. However, both Travelex policies provide an option if you cannot contact Travelex: Travelex will pay up to what it would have paid if it had made the arrangements.

Purchase your policy here: Travelex Insurance .

Seven Corners

Seven Corners offers a wide variety of policies. Here are the policies that are most applicable to travelers on a single international trip.

Seven Corners also offers many other types of travel insurance, including an annual multi-trip plan. You can choose coverage for trips of up to 30, 45 or 60 days when purchasing an annual multi-trip plan.

See Seven Corner's page on COVID-19 for additional policy information as it relates to coronavirus-related claims.

Typically, Seven Corners won't cover losses incurred because of a preexisting medical condition. However, the RoundTrip Choice plan offers a preexisting condition exclusion waiver. To be eligible for this waiver, you must meet all of the following conditions:

• You buy this plan within 20 days of making your initial trip payment or deposit.
• You or your travel companion are medically able and not disabled from travel when you pay for this plan or upgrade your plan.
• You update the coverage to include the additional cost of subsequent travel arrangements within 15 days of paying your travel supplier for them.
• Seven Corners offers the ability to purchase optional sports and golf equipment coverage. If purchased, this extra insurance will reimburse you for the cost of renting sports or golf equipment if yours is lost, stolen, damaged or delayed by a common carrier for six or more hours. However, Seven Corners must authorize the expenses in advance.
• You can add cancel for any reason coverage or trip interruption for any reason coverage to RoundTrip plans. Although some other providers offer cancel for any reason coverage, trip interruption for any reason coverage is less common.
• Seven Corners' RoundTrip Choice policy offers a political or security evacuation benefit that will transport you to the nearest safe place or your residence under specific conditions. You can also add optional event ticket registration fee protection to the RoundTrip Choice policy.

Purchase your policy here: Seven Corners .

World Nomads

World Nomads is popular with younger, active travelers because of its flexibility and adventure-activities coverage on the Explorer plan. Unlike many policies offered by other providers, you don't need to estimate prepaid costs when purchasing the insurance to have access to trip interruption and cancellation insurance.

World Nomads offers two single-trip plans.

World Nomads has a page dedicated to coronavirus coverage , so be sure to view it before buying a policy.

World Nomads won't cover losses incurred because of a preexisting medical condition (except emergency evacuation and repatriation of remains) that existed within 90 days of the coverage effective date. Unlike many other providers, World Nomads doesn't offer a waiver.

• World Nomads' policies cover more adventure sports than most providers, so activities such as bungee jumping are included. The Explorer policy covers almost any adventure sport, including skydiving, stunt flying and caving. So, if you partake in adventure sports while traveling, the Explorer policy may be a good fit.
• World Nomads' policies provide nonmedical evacuation coverage for transportation expenses if there is civil or political unrest in the country you are visiting. The coverage may also transport you home if there is an eligible natural disaster or a government expels you.

Purchase your policy here: World Nomads .

Other options for buying travel insurance

This guide details the policies of eight providers with the information available at the time of publication. There are many options when it comes to travel insurance, though. To compare different policies quickly, you can use a travel insurance aggregator like InsureMyTrip to search. Just note that these search engines won't show every policy and every provider, and you should still research the provided policies to ensure the coverage fits your trip and needs.

You can also purchase a plan through various membership associations, such as USAA, AAA or Costco. Typically, these organizations partner with a specific provider, so if you are a member of any of these associations, you may want to compare the policies offered through the organization with other policies to get the best coverage for your trip.

Related: Should you get travel insurance if you have credit card protection?

Is travel insurance worth getting?

Whether you should purchase travel insurance is a personal decision. Suppose you use a credit card that provides travel insurance for most of your expenses and have medical insurance that provides adequate coverage abroad. In that case, you may be covered enough on most trips to forgo purchasing travel insurance.

However, suppose your medical insurance won't cover you at your destination and you can't comfortably cover a sizable medical evacuation bill or last-minute flight home . In that case, you should consider purchasing travel insurance. If you travel frequently, buying an annual multi-trip policy may be worth it.

What is the best COVID-19 travel insurance?

There are various aspects to keep in mind in the age of COVID-19. Consider booking travel plans that are fully refundable or have modest change or cancellation fees so you don't need to worry about whether your policy will cover trip cancellation. This is important since many standard comprehensive insurance policies won't reimburse your insured expenses in the event of cancellation if it's related to the fear of traveling due to COVID-19.

However, if you book a nonrefundable trip and want to maintain the ability to get reimbursed (up to 75% of your insured costs) if you choose to cancel, you should consider buying a comprehensive travel insurance policy and then adding optional cancel for any reason protection. Just note that this benefit is time-sensitive and has eligibility requirements, so not all travelers will qualify.

Providers will often require CFAR purchasers insure the entire dollar amount of their travels to receive the coverage. Also, many CFAR policies mandate that you must cancel your plans and notify all travel suppliers at least 48 hours before your scheduled departure.

Likewise, if your primary health insurance won't cover you while on your trip, it's essential to consider whether medical expenses related to COVID-19 treatment are covered. You may also want to consider a MedJet medical transport membership if your trip is to a covered destination for coronavirus-related evacuation.

Ultimately, the best pandemic travel insurance policy will depend on your trip details, travel concerns and your willingness to self-insure. Just be sure to thoroughly read and understand any terms or exclusions before purchasing.

What are the different types of travel insurance?

Whether you purchase a comprehensive travel insurance policy or rely on the protections offered by select credit cards, you may have access to the following types of coverage:

• Baggage delay protection may reimburse for essential items and clothing when a common carrier (such as an airline) fails to deliver your checked bag within a set time of your arrival at a destination. Typically, you may be reimbursed up to a particular amount per incident or per day.
• Lost/damaged baggage protection may provide reimbursement to replace lost or damaged luggage and items inside that luggage. However, valuables and electronics usually have a relatively low maximum benefit.
• Trip delay reimbursement may provide reimbursement for necessary items, food, lodging and sometimes transportation when you're delayed for a substantial time while traveling on a common carrier such as an airline. This insurance may be beneficial if weather issues (or other covered reasons for which the airline usually won't provide compensation) delay you.
• Trip cancellation and interruption protection may provide reimbursement if you need to cancel or interrupt your trip for a covered reason, such as a death in your family or jury duty.
• Medical evacuation insurance can arrange and pay for medical evacuation if deemed necessary by the insurance provider and a medical professional. This coverage can be particularly valuable if you're traveling to a region with subpar medical facilities.
• Travel accident insurance may provide a payment to you or your beneficiary in the case of your death or dismemberment.
• Emergency medical insurance may provide payment or reimburse you if you must seek medical care while traveling. Some plans only cover emergency medical care, but some also cover other types of medical care. You may need to pay a deductible or copay.
• Rental car coverage may provide a collision damage waiver when renting a car. This waiver may reimburse for collision damage or theft up to a set amount. Some policies also cover loss-of-use charges assessed by the rental company and towing charges to take the vehicle to the nearest qualified repair facility. You generally need to decline the rental company's collision damage waiver or similar provision to be covered.

Should I buy travel health insurance?

If you purchase travel with credit cards that provide various trip protections, you may not see much need for additional travel insurance. However, you may still wonder whether you should buy travel medical insurance.

If your primary health insurance covers you on your trip, you may not need travel health insurance. Your domestic policy may not cover you outside the U.S., though, so it's worth calling the number on your health insurance card if you have coverage questions. If your primary health insurance wouldn't cover you, it's likely worth purchasing travel medical insurance. After all, as you can see above, travel medical insurance is often very modestly priced.

How much does travel insurance cost?

Travel insurance costs depend on various factors, including the provider, the type of coverage, your trip cost, your destination, your age, your residency and how many travelers you want to insure. That said, a standard travel insurance plan will generally set you back somewhere between 4% and 10% of your total trip cost. However, this can get lower for more basic protections or become even higher if you include add-ons like cancel for any reason protection.

The best way to determine how much travel insurance will cost is to price out your trip with a few providers discussed in the guide. Or, visit an insurance aggregator like InsureMyTrip to quickly compare options across multiple providers.

When and how to get travel insurance

For the most robust selection of available travel insurance benefits — including time-sensitive add-ons like CFAR protection and waivers of preexisting conditions for eligible travelers — you should ideally purchase travel insurance on the same day you make your first payment toward your trip.

However, many plans may still offer a preexisting conditions waiver for those who qualify if you buy your travel insurance within 14 to 21 days of your first trip expense or deposit (this time frame may vary by provider). If you don't need a preexisting conditions waiver or aren't interested in CFAR coverage, you can purchase travel insurance once your departure date nears.

You must purchase coverage before it's needed. Some travel medical plans are available for purchase after you have departed, but comprehensive plans that include medical coverage must be purchased before departing.

Additionally, you can't buy any medical coverage once you require medical attention. The same applies to all travel insurance coverage. Once you recognize the need, it's too late to protect your trip.

Once you've shopped around and decided upon the best travel insurance plan for your trip, you should be able to complete your purchase online. You'll usually be able to download your insurance card and the complete policy shortly after the transaction is complete.

Related: 7 times your credit card's travel insurance might not cover you

Bottom line

Not all travel insurance policies and providers are equal. Before buying a plan, read and understand the policy documents. By doing so, you can choose a plan that's appropriate for you and your trip — including the features that matter most to you.

For example, if you plan to go skiing or rock climbing, make sure the policy you buy doesn't contain exclusions for these activities. Likewise, if you're making two back-to-back trips during which you'll be returning home for a short time in between, be sure the plan doesn't terminate coverage at the end of your first trip.

If you're looking to cover a sudden recurrence of a preexisting condition, select a policy with a preexisting condition waiver and fulfill the requirements for the waiver. After all, buying insurance won't help if your policy doesn't cover your losses.

Disclaimer : This information is provided by IMT Services, LLC ( InsureMyTrip.com ), a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 5119217) and a member of the Tokio Marine HCC group of companies. IMT's services are only available in states where it is licensed to do business and the products provided through InsureMyTrip.com may not be available in all states. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not create or modify any insurance policy terms in any way. For more information, please visit www.insuremytrip.com .

Post Office Travel Insurance – Everything You Need to Know

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

We see your suitcase is packed and your passport is ready. But before you dash off to your dream destination, let’s talk about that non-negotiable travel buddy: insurance.

Not just any insurance, but Post Office Travel Insurance. Here’s everything you need to know.

In this article...

Post Office Travel Insurance: An Introduction

Post Office Travel Insurance isn’t a boring old postal service. It’s a lifeline for travelers, offering a safety net across the globe. It’s been awarded the ‘Best Travel Insurance Provider’ by the British Travel Awards for 12 consecutive years – pretty impressive, right?

Their policies are designed to cover various unexpected events during your journey, from medical emergencies to travel disruptions.

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.

Decoding the Types of Post Office Travel Insurance

Here’s the good news: Post Office Travel Insurance isn’t a one-size-fits-all policy. They offer different types of cover to suit your unique travel needs. Here’s a quick run-through:

• Single Trip Insurance: Perfect for one-off adventures, this covers you for a single holiday or business trip.
• Annual Multi-Trip Insurance: If you’ve got a severe case of wanderlust and plan multiple trips in a year, this policy has got you covered.
• Backpacker Insurance: Designed for the intrepid globetrotter, this policy covers long trips and even working holidays.
• Over 50s Travel Insurance: Tailored for travelers over 50, this policy offers comprehensive cover and no upper age limit.
• Family Travel Insurance: A policy that protects the entire family under one umbrella. It often includes free cover for children.

The Perks and Protection: What’s Covered?

A key part of choosing your travel insurance is understanding the cover provided. Post Office Travel Insurance offers protection against:

• Medical Emergencies: From sudden illness to injury, your medical expenses are covered. This includes hospital fees, transport, and even a return journey if needed.
• Cancellation and Curtailment: If you have to cancel or shorten your trip due to unforeseen circumstances, you’re protected against any financial loss.
• Baggage Loss: Say goodbye to worries about lost luggage. If your baggage goes on an adventure of its own, the Post Office has got you covered.
• Travel Delays: Stuck at the airport due to delayed or cancelled flights? You’re eligible for compensation.
• Personal Liability: If you cause harm to someone or their property, the policy has got your back.

Remember, it’s crucial to read the policy document carefully to know exactly what’s covered.

Post Office Travel Insurance vs Private Travel Insurance: Comparison

Of course, the Post Office isn’t the only game in town when it comes to travel insurance.

There are plenty of private companies offering competitive policies. So how does Post Office Travel Insurance stack up against them? Let’s have a closer look.

Post Office Travel Insurance

Post Office Travel Insurance shines in its comprehensive coverage . It’s a solid choice for many travelers, thanks to its broad variety of plans , from single trips to annual multi-trips.

Here’s a snapshot of what makes it stand out:

• Range of Policies: With policies tailored to backpackers, over-50s, families, and frequent flyers, the Post Office caters to a wide demographic of travelers.
• Broad Coverage: They provide extensive coverage, including medical emergencies, cancellation, curtailment, lost baggage, and travel delays.
• Ease of Application: The application process is user-friendly and straightforward, with the ability to apply directly through their website.

Private Travel Insurance Companies

Private travel insurance companies, like World Nomads and Allianz Travel, bring their unique strengths to the table. Here’s what they offer:

• Specialist Coverage: Some private companies specialize in certain types of coverage. For example, World Nomads is renowned for its adventure travel insurance, covering over 200 adventure activities.
• Flexible Policies: Many private insurers offer the flexibility to extend your coverage or adjust your policy even after your journey has begun.
• Additional Benefits : Some private insurers offer extra perks. For example, Allianz Travel provides coverage for rental car damage or theft as part of their policies.

In the end, the best travel insurance for you will depend on your individual needs and travel plans. It’s important to closely examine each policy’s offerings, exclusions , and price before making a decision.

While Post Office Travel Insurance offers a one-stop-shop solution with policies for every type of traveler, private insurers may provide more specialized coverage or added flexibility.

Be sure to weigh your options carefully to choose the policy that’s the perfect fit for your journey.

Easy-Peasy Application Process

Applying for Post Office Travel Insurance is as breezy as a walk in the park. Simply hop onto their website, choose your policy, fill in your travel details, and hit apply. You’ll then receive a quote. If you’re happy with it, proceed to payment. Boom! You’re insured.

The Final Word

Post Office Travel Insurance is all about taking the worry out of your wanderlust, offering a safety net that lets you savor your adventures fully. And remember, always travel insured because no trip should be a gamble.

1. Is Post Office Travel Insurance good?

With numerous awards under its belt and a wide range of comprehensive policies, Post Office Travel Insurance is certainly a strong contender in the market. However, as with any insurance, ensure it fits your personal needs before purchasing.

2. How do I make a claim with Post Office Travel Insurance?

Making a claim with Post Office Travel Insurance is straightforward. You can make a claim online on their website, or call them on their claims line. Remember, always have your policy number and relevant documents handy when making a claim.

3. Can I get a refund if I don’t use my Post Office Travel Insurance?

If you cancel your Post Office Travel Insurance within 14 days of purchase and haven’t made a claim or started your trip, you can receive a full refund. After 14 days, the refund policy may vary.

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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!

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Help and support Travel Insurance FAQs

Common questions about our cover and optional add-ons.

• About our travel insurance
• Flight cancellations, delays and missed departures
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• Claims, cancellations, renewals and complaints

Buying travel insurance 

Can i buy travel insurance at my local post office branch.

Yes, you can buy our travel insurance at over 3,800 Post Office branches. If your nearest branch can’t issue travel insurance, you can buy travel cover online . Or call 0330 123 3690 (1)

I don't live in the UK. Can I take out a Post Office Travel Insurance policy?

We’re sorry, but no. Our policies cover UK residents only (including those in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man).

My partner and I live at separate addresses. Can we still buy family cover?

Family cover is available on Post Office Travel Insurance single-trip and annual multi-trip policies.

It covers a person and their husband, wife, civil partner or Common Law Partner (who must be residing with them). It also covers any dependent, adopted or fostered children or grandchildren aged under 18.

Family cover is not available on our backpacker policies.

Is there an age limit for single-trip and annual multi-trip travel insurance policies?

There’s no upper age limit for single-trip policies. For annul multi-trip policies you need to be 75 or under.

Is there an age limit for backpacker travel insurance policies?

Yes, you must be aged between 18 and 60 years of age when your policy starts.

Backpacker policies are only available on our economy level cover.

Covid-19 cover and trip durations

Does post office travel insurance include coronavirus cover.

All new Post Office Travel Insurance policies include a degree of cover against Covid-19 related disruptions, such as cancellation, curtailment and medical costs in some circumstances.

You can find out more about what's covered for coronavirus on our policies on our travel insurance Covid-19 FAQs page.

We also offer a trip disruption cover option that provides protection in other scenarios. These include missed departures or changes in testing and quarantine rules.

How long can I travel for on my Post Office Travel Insurance policy?

It depends on the level of cover.

Policies sold from 31 March 2022 to 27 March 2024

Single-trip travel insurance covers you for trips of up to:

• 365 days (for persons aged up to and including 70 years)
• 90 days (aged 71 to 75)
• 31 days (aged 76 and above).

Annual multi-trip policies cover you for: 

• 17 days per trip (with economy and standard cover levels)
• 31 days per trip (premier cover).

If you pay the appropriate extra premium, this can be extended to:

• 31, 45 or 60 days (economy, standard) 
• 45 or 60 days (premier)

You can take as many trips as you like as long as you’re not away for more than 183 days in the policy year.

Our backpacker travel insurance policy covers you for trips lasting anything from 31 days to 18 months.

Policies sold from 28 March 2024

Trip durations for policies sold from 28 March 2024 are the same as for those sold before that date.

The maximum trip duration annual multi-trip policies will cover is 31 days. This can be extended to 45 or 60 days with optional trip extension upgrades.

How long must a UK trip be to be covered by my travel insurance?

For your Post Office Travel Insurance policy to cover you for trips in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, the following rules apply.

• For multi-trip policies, 1 nights’ pre-booked accommodation must be in place, and can’t be a stay with family or friends, or your stay must be at least 100 miles from your home, or you must have at least 1 sea crossing

For example, if you fly from Scotland to Cornwall to stay with friends and family in their home or second home and your baggage was lost or damaged on the way it wouldn’t be covered. Similarly, if you have a second home of your own this doesn’t class as pre-booked.

This doesn’t apply to trips taken overseas, outside your country of residence.

Having flight problems?

This section covers flight disruptions that are not related to Covid-19. If your question relates to the impact of coronavirus on your trip and whether it’s covered, please check our travel insurance Covid-19 FAQs .

Are flight cancellations covered on my policy?

There’s no cover for flight cancellation on your Post Office Travel Insurance policy if you have not already started your trip. If the airline cancels your flight before you arrive at your departure point you should always discuss this with your airline or travel provider to see what options are available to you.

Regulation EU261

This is a regulation that protects passengers in the event of inconvenience caused by long flight delays or cancellations of European flights. It allows up to £520 compensation per passenger in the event of such disruptions.

Entitlements are only in force if the delay or cancellation is within the airline’s control and has not been deemed an “extraordinary circumstance.”

However, if you’re delayed at the airport on your outbound or inbound journey, several of our cover levels provide cover for the delay, any missed departure it causes and, if the delay is of a longer duration, abandoning your trip if you decide to do so. Please read the answers below for details.

What flight delay scenarios aren’t covered?

We will be unable to process claims for delayed flights if:

• You don’t arrive at your departure point in the recommended time for your scheduled departure
• You claim for delays having already made a claim for missed departure
• You’ve travelled against a non-essential travel advisory from the FCDO – and the cause of the delay is related to that advice
• You claim for a delay less than 4 hours
• You haven’t provided written confirmation from your travel provider of the duration of and reason for the delay
• You were aware of the strike/industrial action (or any other listed peril) prior to buying your travel insurance policy or booking your trip
• You haven’t provided any written confirmation of the vehicle breakdown/traffic delays

While at the airport my departure from the UK was delayed. Is that covered?

If you bought our standard, premier, max or extra cover levels, you’re covered if you arrive at the airport and your flight is delayed due to one of the following – including if this will impact a further connecting flight or flights to your final destination:

• Industrial action
• Bad weather not including anything listed as a natural catastrophe
• Technical fault of transportation including bird strikes
• Shortage of crew

If a flight you’re booked on is delayed for 4 hours or more for one of these reasons and you have a standard, premier, max or extra policy, you can claim for each 4-hour delay, up to a maximum of 12 hours, upon your return to the UK. Please check the policy wording for the delay benefit amount depending on the level of cover chosen.

If it’s a premier policy, you can also make use of Flight Delay Assistance Plus if you’ve registered for it. This means that, upon a delay of 1 hour or more, you can receive either a lounge access voucher or a £25 payment into your PayPal account. (For policies sold from 31 March 2022 to 27 March 2024 the amount was £50.)

All flights must be registered in advance. Please check your emails for confirmation and the link/web address needed to register your flights.

You must plan to leave enough time between arriving at your connection point and departing for the next leg of your journey, which should be at least the minimum time recommended for transfer by your transport provider.

If your flight delay totals 12 or more hours and you abandon your trip you can make a claim – see the question on abandoning your trip below.

What if delayed departure leads to me abandoning my trip?

If you’re a standard, premier, extra or max policy holder, we provide abandonment cover if you arrive at the airport and your flight is delayed by 12 hours or more due to:

If that happens, and you aren’t offered an alternative flight within 12 hours or provided with a refund, and you hold one of the cover levels listed, then cover is provided for your unused travel and accommodation costs.

This policy is designed to provide a refund of your unused travel and accommodation costs, at the point we are satisfied that these expenses cannot be refunded elsewhere. If your trip has been booked or paid for via one or more of the following, you must contact them to discuss a refund before claiming from us: a tour operator; an airline; any other travel, accommodation, or service provider; a credit or debit card provider or other payment providers such as PayPal.

There is no cover for delay or abandonment for trips taken solely within the UK

Am I covered if I miss a departure from the UK?

If you have our Standard, Premier, Extra or Max level cover and are delayed on your way to your departure point in the UK due to one of the following reasons, and this causes you to miss your pre-booked transportation (such as an outbound flight), we’ll cover it:

Delay or cancellation of public transport due to:

• Bad weather not including anything listed as a natural catastrophe 
• The vehicle you are travelling in is involved in an accident, breaks down, or is delayed by an incident that causes traffic jams or road closures
• The flight you are travelling on is diverted 

Please note:  Public transport includes flights

You’ll be covered up to the sum insured for either additional travel and accommodation costs to get you to your destination. Or, if the only reasonable alternative transport means you’ll lose more than 50% of your trip, you can claim for unused travel and accommodation costs.

Am I covered for travel delay outside of the UK?

You are at the airport abroad, and there is a delay in your flight leaving to return to the UK.

On Standard, Premier, Extra and Max policies, there’s cover if you arrive at the airport abroad and your flight back to the UK is delayed or cancelled due to:

• Mechanical fault of transportation including bird strikes

If you’re delayed by at least 24 hours beyond your original return date, there is cover for additional transport costs to return you home when these aren’t paid for by your travel provider, up to the limit for your level of cover.

We’ll pay a delay benefit for each full 4-hour delay up to a maximum of 12 hours for the sum insured for your level of cover.

If your trip has been booked or paid for via one or more of the following, you must contact them to discuss a refund before claiming from us: a tour operator; an airline; any other travel, accommodation, or service provider; a credit or debit card provider or other payment providers such as PayPal.

Am I covered if I miss a departure from outside the UK?

What if you are delayed on your way to the airport abroad and miss your pre-booked return flight home, or you have no travel documents and are delayed in obtaining them, so are unable to make your flight?

If you are delayed on your way to the airport and subsequently miss your return flight home, stranding you abroad, for  Standard, Premier, Extra and Max policy holders, we provide cover for delay or cancellation of public transport due to:

We’ll also cover if you’re delayed travelling home if:

• The vehicle you’re travelling in is involved in an accident, breaks down or is delayed by an incident that causes traffic jams or road closures
• Your flight gets diverted
• Your travel documents are lost or stolen while you’re outside the UK

Please note: Public transport includes flights

You’re also covered if you arrive at the airport and a delay to your flight for one of these reasons will impact a further connecting flight/s to return back home to the UK.

You must have a pre-booked return journey for cover to apply. And you must plan to leave enough time between arriving at your connection point and departing for the next leg of your journey, which should be at least the minimum time recommended for transfer by your transport provider.

Medical Assistance Plus

Does my policy include medical assistance plus.

If you bought your Post Office Travel Insurance on or after 3 July 2023 it includes Medical Assistance Plus.

How much does Medical Assistance Plus cost?

Nothing. Medical Assistance Plus is included in all policies sold from the 3 July 2023, no matter the type or level of Post Office Travel Insurance you’ve purchased. It applies whether you bought your insurance on the Post Office website, in branch, via our contact centre, on the app, or even through a comparison website.

How do I access the Medical Assistance Plus service?

Within 48 hours we'll send you an email with a unique link to launch the service. This has all of your details. Just enter your date or birth to validate and the service will launch for you.

If you’re traveling within 48 hours of purchase you can launch the service directly from our Medical Assistance Plus page on the Post Office website, then choose to continue in browser or open in app on your mobile device.

As an extra reminder, we’ll also send you a reminder SMS message the day before you travel (for single-trip and backpacker insurance) or the day before your start date of your policy (for annual multi-trip insurance). This will include links to launch the Medical Assistance Plus service.

What illnesses and situations can I use Medical Assistance Plus for?

Medical Assistance Plus is for outpatient medical care only. This includes any non-emergency medical services, including:

• GP (general Practitioner)
• Orthopaedist
• Paediatrician
• Gynaecologist

If an online or in-person consultation concludes that in-patient care is required, your medical case will then be handed over to the Emergency Medical team in the UK to be managed for wherever you are.

When shouldn’t I use the Medical Assistance Plus service?

If you require immediate emergency care, you should go directly to a hospital or an emergency clinic.

You can get further support by calling our emergency medical assistance line any time, 24/7.

If your policy number starts with TA or TC call 0208 865 3074 . If you’re calling from abroad dial 44 in place of the first zero.

There is no cover for trips taken within the UK.

Are there any limitations to the service?

This service is not available for trips taken in the UK, only for international travel. The service allows up to 3 separate medical events per person and for each medical event up to 3 appointments per person listed on the policy.

I’m having trouble registering my policy for the service. What should I do?

If you’re having difficulty registering your policy, please check:

• Your policy number is entered correctly
• You’ve entered all the verification details needed

If you’re still having trouble, please go to the “Contact us” section in the app. Here you can get help from our customer care team.

How can I contact Medical Assistance Plus customer support?

The customer care team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year and offers multi-lingual support.

The customer care team can provide assistance via phone, email, WhatsApp, and live chat – available online or via app.

What languages can I receive my medical care in?

The global network has over 20,000 doctors in 75 countries, including the most popular destinations such as the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, China, Japan, Canada, India, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Thailand, and Nepal.

The doctors in the network speak a wide range of languages, so travellers can find one locally who speaks either their native language or one in which they are comfortable conducting a consultation.

When browsing for doctors in the app, simply filter your search by your preferred language. When scheduling video consultations, you can also select your preferred language when you make the appointment request.

If you’re unable to find a doctor who speaks your preferred language, please head to the “Contact Us” section in the app to get assistance from our customer care team.

Will I have to pay for any support or treatment I receive while I'm away?

No, Medical Assistance Plus is covered by your Post Office Travel Insurance policy. There are no upfront fees or extra payments required. You automatically get access to Medical Assistance Plus, no matter what type or level of insurance you’ve purchased from us. All appointment charges are covered by your travel insurance policy under Medical Assistance Plus. You won’t need to pay any excess fees for this service. For any online appointments or where the appointment was held at your accommodation, where a prescription is issued, you’ll need to pay for any medication and claim upon your return home.

No excess will be applied for any prescription charges. If your appointment takes place at a clinic and they have a dispensing chemist, you won’t need to pay for your prescription and all charges will be covered by your policy at the point of appointment.

If there’s no dispensing chemist at the clinic, you’ll either be given a prescription or the prescription will be sent to a chemist by the treating doctor and you’ll need to pay for any medication and claim upon your return home.

If your medical situation needs to be handed over from an outpatient case to an inpatient case and requires hospital admission, you will be handed over to our emergency medical assistance team in the UK. For any inpatient cases, no excess will apply.

Is my electronic prescription valid anywhere in the world?

You’ll be able to check with your doctor if they can prescribe a valid prescription in your current location. Make sure with the selected doctor before your consultation if they can provide a prescription based on your electronic prescription.

There’s no cover for trips made in the UK and you should see your GP practise you’re registered with in the UK for any appointments or prescriptions.

Flight Delay Assistance Plus

Registering your flights, how do i register a flight.

We'll send you an email with details of how to register for the service online as soon as you buy our premier travel insurance. If you arranged your policy in a Post Office branch or don't have an email address, all the information you need will be in your policy confirmation pack.

To register your flight you’ll need to set up self-service for your account and add your flight details there.

Can all flights be registered?

Flight Delay Assistance Plus is built to track almost all major commercial airline flights, but there are limitations against airlines/airports that do not report data regularly. You can register any flight where the airline accurately reports the announcement to FlightStats. If you try to register a flight that does not meet these conditions, the system will inform you of this and you will not be able to register.

Where the flight is departing from an airport with a lounge that's part of the  LoungeKey network you’ll be offered the choice of a lounge voucher, or PayPal payout in the event of a delay Not every airport has a lounge and if this is the case the PayPal option will be selected for you.

Can I register more than one person?

Yes, you can include up to four additional passengers who are named on your Post Office Travel Insurance policy when you register. Make sure the names you register match exactly those included on your flight booking or boarding passes and travel insurance.

Why has my flight registration failed?

Registering your flights could fail for two reasons:

• You’re attempting to register less than 24 hours before your scheduled departure time
• Not all airlines provide timely and accurate flight tracking data which is necessary for us to trigger compensation and issue your benefit

As such, we restrict registrations for airlines that do not provide reliable tracking data. This is done to ensure the best possible experience for customers.

Can I cancel a flight registration?

Yes, you can cancel a flight registration up to two hours before your scheduled departure time. Please do this via the link in your registration confirmation email.

LoungeKey lounge access

What is loungekey.

It's a global network of  over 1,100 airport lounges .

How will I know if free lounge access is available to me?

During your flight registration you’ll be provided with the lounge access option at the "Select Your Benefit" stage. If you have selected this option and a qualifying delay is met, we'll send an SMS text and email message with a PDF voucher attached, so you'll need a mobile device with you that can accept them. These messages are sent if:

• You register the flight online at least 24 hours before its scheduled departure time
• There's an announcement about a minimum one-hour delay (either a single delay or an accumulation of multiple shorter delays amounting to two or more hours)
• You selected lounge as your benefit option

How will I receive free LoungeKey access?

You'll need a mobile device that can receive SMS texts and emails with PDF attachments. If your flight's delayed by one hours or more, we'll automatically send you:

• A text notification, which includes a link to your PDF LoungeKey voucher
• An email with a PDF attachment containing your free LoungeKey voucher
• The SMS and emails will also contain the vouchers for any other passengers you registered

Please see our  terms of use .

How do I find the lounge at the airport?

We'll let you know how to locate your lounge when we email your access information. The voucher itself will also contain a link to the lounge finder and access information.

Other lounge access questions

Are children welcome in the lounges.

Not all lounges are open to younger passengers. You can check out the lounge policies at  your departure airport .

Why can't I gain access to a lounge?

There are a number of reasons why you might not be able to access a lounge, even if you have a valid voucher:

• If the lounge is closed when the delay occurs – during the night, for instance
• If the lounge is at full capacity
• If the passenger names on the boarding passes don't exactly match those on the LoungeKey voucher
• If you or a member of your group doesn't meet the lounge terms and conditions, such as dress code or minimum age

How can I find out about lounge policies and other services?

Although lounges at different airports have their own policies and services, most have free Wi-Fi. Discover more about the lounge at your departure airport.

About PayPal

What is paypal.

PayPal is a payment platform for payments and money transfer. It’s a secure way to send and receive money online.

PayPal allows any individual with an email address to securely send and receive payments online without having to enter your financial details.

You can use PayPal to shop online, or to send money quickly to anyone with an email address or transfer money to your bank account. You can also use PayPal on the high street where the number of shops accepting PayPal is growing.

Once you’ve linked your card or bank account to your PayPal account, you won’t need to provide all of your card details every time you shop online. PayPal remembers all your financial details, so you don’t have to, and they do not share them with sellers.

PayPal is available worldwide and in all major currencies.

How does PayPal work?

If you’ve selected PayPal as your benefit during the registration journey, in the event that you experience a qualifying flight delay, we’ll compensate you with a PayPal payout to use at your leisure.

We’ll pass your email address to PayPal, who will then instantly credit your wallet with your compensation.

If you don’t have a PayPal account linked to the email address you used for registration, PayPal will send you a link to register for an account.

Do I need to have an existing PayPal account?

You don’t need to have an existing PayPal account. A wallet will be credited with your compensation and an email will be sent to you with a link to PayPal to register and create an account. Your PayPal account will need to be linked to the email address you used to register your flight.

How can I get in contact with PayPal?

You can contact PayPal by text, email, on the phone or via the PayPal help page .

About PayPal payouts

How much will i receive.

We’ll provide a compensation payment of £25 per passenger into your PayPal account.

Will additional passengers receive a payout?

All eligible additional passengers that were registered will also receive a PayPal payout, but the payout will be made to the main customer.

Will I be notified before the PayPal payout is sent to me?

Yes, we’ll send you an email and SMS to let you know the PayPal payout has been issued.

What we share with PayPal

When will my information be shared with paypal.

We’ll pass your email address to PayPal when we trigger the PayPal payout request. 

What information will be shared with PayPal?

We’ll send PayPal the email address you used to register your flight. They will use your email address as the account to credit with the payout. PayPal will also send out communications to this address to confirm the payout.

Do you cover mobile or smart phones within a travel insurance policy?

Mobile and smartphones are covered under the personal possessions of our travel insurance policies up to £100.

If you need more cover for your phone, you could add our gadget cover add on for an extra premium and increase the cover up to £1,000 per policy for theft, damage or loss during your trip

Cover for mobile phones is now up to the single-article limit:

Economy: £150

Standard: £250

Premier: £400

If you need more cover for your phone, you could add our gadget cover add on for an extra premium and increase the cover up to £2,000 per person per policy for theft, damage, or loss during your trip.

What gadgets do you cover within the gadget cover extension?

Mobile phones, smart phones, tablets, computers, laptops, smart watches, drones, games (including handheld) consoles, all accessories of these items, plus wearable activity trackers. Cover is up to £1,000 per policy.

Mobile phones, smart phones, laptops (including custom-built), tablets, digital cameras, games consoles, video cameras, camera lenses, Bluetooth headsets and speakers, satellite navigation devices, e-readers, head/earphones, smart watches and wrist-worn health and fitness trackers. Cover is up to £2,000 per person, per policy.

Claims and emergency medical assistance

How do i make a claim on my travel insurance policy.

The easiest way is to make a claim online . It’s secure and available 24/7. There’s a handy checklist of everything you’ll need. And, for some claims, you’ll get a decision straight away. You can also call us 0333 333 9702 (1).

What should I do if I need emergency medical assistance while on a trip my policy covers?

Please call the emergency medical assistance line that’s correct for your policy as soon as possible. It’s open 24/7. The number to call is 0203 865 3074 .

How do I renew or cancel the renewal of my Travel Insurance policy?

When you buy an annual multi-trip policy, it’s your reassurance of continuous cover for all the trips you’ll take in a year. For reassurance that extends beyond that, your policy can be renewed automatically or manually. You can also make sure your policy doesn’t renew if you don’t need it to. Whatever you choose, we’ll write to you around 28 days before your current policy’s end date with details of any changes we’ll make should you wish to renew it and a quote for the next year’s cover.

Automatic renewal: if you buy an annual multi-trip policy, it will be set to renew automatically at the end of its term to keep you covered. If you prefer to opt out of this, you can do so then or any time during the policy. You can also turn auto renewal on later. Just call our contact centre. If you’ve declared medical conditions for anyone listed on the policy, it can’t be set to auto renew.

Manual renewal: if you’ve opted out of auto renewal, you can opt in manually later, such as when we send your renewal reminder or by calling our contact centre to set this up. It’s easy to renew through your online account or by calling our contact centre. If you miss the renewal date, you can still take out a new policy later. You’ll need to start a new quote, as the renewal quote is only valid until your current policy’s expiry date. This may also mean a gap in your cover until the new policy starts.

Turning off auto-renewal: if your policy’s set to renew automatically but you change your mind later, you can turn it off at any point during the life of the policy. You can do this yourself in your online account or call our contact centre team. If you’re within the last 8 days of your policy, you’ll need to call our contact centre to do so. The later you do this the greater the chance a renewal payment will be taken by the bank. If this happens before your renewal cancellation is processed, we’ll make sure your payment is refunded.

What if I have a complaint about my travel insurance?

For complaints about the sales literature or information about your policy, how it was sold to you on the phone or online, or the Medical Screening Service, please call 0330 123 1382 (1), e-mail [email protected] or write to:

Post Office Travel Insurance 67 Hope Street Glasgow G2 3AE

Please head any written correspondence 'COMPLAINT' and include copies of supporting material.

For complaints about a claim or assistance you received while travelling, please email [email protected] or write to:

Quality Department Collinson Insurance Services Limited Sussex House Perrymount Road Haywards Heath West Sussex RH16 1DN

If you’re still not satisfied or don’t get a final answer from us within eight weeks of us receiving your complaint, you may have the right to refer your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) for consideration. You can contact the FOS here:

Financial Ombudsman Service Exchange Tower Harbour Exchange Square London E14 9SR

Call: 0800 0234 567 or 0300 1239 123 (1) Email: [email protected]

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Need more help and support with travel insurance?

If you didn’t find what you need these other pages may help.

For emergency assistance, to make a claim, complaint or manage your policy online: Visit our travel insurance support page

For questions about the coronavirus cover on our policies: Visit our travel insurance Covid-19 FAQs page

(1) Calls to 03 numbers will cost no more than calling a standard geographic number starting with 01 or 02 from your fixed line or mobile and may be included in your call package dependent on your service provider. Calls may be monitored or recorded for training and compliance purposes.

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You’re our first priority. Every time.

We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free.

So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Here is a list of our partners .

Best Annual Travel Insurance in 2024

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 .

If you’re a frequent traveler, annual travel insurance may be something you’ve been considering. Unlike single-trip insurance, annual travel insurance plans can cover you for an entire year, no matter how often you’re on the road.

Let’s look at the best yearly travel insurance companies, why we choose them and the coverage you can expect.

Factors we considered when picking travel insurance companies

We used the following criteria when choosing which companies we thought were best:

Cost . Annual plans can be expensive — depending on the type of coverage you choose — so we wanted ensure that they stayed affordable. 

Types of coverage . Travel insurance for annual travelers can be limited in its coverage. We picked the ones with the broadest range of coverage for possible travel disruptions.

Coverage amounts . Annual trip insurance isn’t worth much if your limits are too low. Instead, we wanted plans with reasonable coverage amounts. 

Customizability . If your travels take you to different places, you’ll want the ability to customize your plan. The best annual travel insurance plans can provide this. 

» Learn more: What does travel insurance cover?

An overview of the best annual travel insurance

We gathered quotes from various travel insurance companies to determine the best annual travel insurance policies. In these examples, we used a year-long trip by a 22-year-old from Alabama. We indicated the main countries of travel as France and Malaysia, and when asked, put the total trip costs at $6,000.

The average cost for an annual travel insurance plan came out to $220. The plans ranged from $138-$386.

Let’s take a closer look at our top recommendations for annual travel insurance.

1. Allianz Travel

What makes Allianz travel insurance great:

Lower than average cost.

Provides health care and travel insurance benefits.

Includes rental car insurance up to $45,000. 

Here’s a snippet from our Allianz Travel insurance review :

“AllTrips Basic (annual plan) is suitable for those who would like emergency medical coverage while abroad but don't need trip cancellation and interruption benefits. The AllTrips Prime, Executive and Premier plans provide an entire year of comprehensive travel insurance benefits.

The Executive and Premier plans offer various levels of trip cancellation and interruption benefits. The Executive plan is specifically designed for business travelers since it offers protection for business equipment.”

2. Seven Corners

What makes Seven Corners great:

Offers up to $20,000 for acute coverage of pre-existing conditions. 

Includes up to $1 million for emergency medical evacuation. 

Optional add-on for adventure sport activities.

$0 deductible available. 

Here’s a snippet from our Seven Corners review :

“Seven Corners offers one annual policy called Travel Medical Annual Multi-Trip. The policy can be customized depending on how long you plan to be away from home for any one trip. You can travel as much as you like during the 364 days, so long as any one trip doesn’t exceed the option selected — 30, 45 or 60 days.”

What makes IMG great:

Good customizability with medical evacuations and sports coverage. 

Low $250 deductible.

Includes coverage for semi-private hospital rooms. 

Here’s a snippet from our IMG review:

“Some policies provide emergency medical evacuation coverage, while others skip this benefit entirely. This benefit may be more important to you if you travel to a remote location or engage in physical activity such as trekking.

More comprehensive plans may include other benefits such as assistance with acquiring a new passport, reimbursing reward mile redeposit fees or coverage for pre-existing conditions. If these are something you’re interested in, be sure to check that your policy includes these options.”

4. Trawick International

What makes Trawick International great:

100% coverage for trip cancellation and trip interruption. 

Emergency medical evacuation included. 

Trip delay reimbursement coverage. 

Here’s a snippet from our Trawick International review :

“Trawick International is a comprehensive travel insurance provider that offers trip delay and cancellation insurance, baggage delay coverage, medical coverage and medical evacuation, rental car damage protection, and even COVID-19 coverage among its various policies.

Trawick covers trips for worldwide destinations, including for foreign nationals coming to the U.S.”

What does travel insurance cover?

You’ll find a wide variety of coverage types offered by travel insurance policies. This is true whether you're purchasing a single-trip or annual travel insurance plan. Here are some common types you can expect to find:

Accidental death insurance .

Baggage delay and lost luggage insurance .

Cancel for Any Reason insurance .

Emergency evacuation insurance .

Medical insurance .

Rental car insurance .

Trip cancellation insurance .

Trip interruption insurance .

How to choose the best annual travel insurance policy

While we’ve highlighted some of the best annual travel insurance companies, the truth is that the best plan for you isn’t going to be the best plan for someone else. If you’re interested in buying annual travel insurance, you’ll want to collect a variety of quotes to see which policy best fits your needs.

This may mean opting for a plan that covers pre-existing conditions or one that specifically includes high-risk activities. Or, if you’re in a country where health care is notoriously expensive, you may want to choose a policy with higher maximums.

Many credit cards come with complimentary travel insurance .

Whatever the case, do your research first and review all the plan details before making your purchase.

» Learn more: How to find the best travel insurance

If you want to buy annual travel insurance

Annual travel insurance can be a great option if you’re often out of town. With such a wide range of policies available, selecting a plan that fits your needs is easy. We’ve done some of the work for you by choosing the best annual travel insurance companies, all of which made the top of the list for their cost, customizability, types of coverage and plan maximums.

Like any travel insurance policy, the cost of your plan is going to vary. Factors that may affect the cost of your annual travel insurance include your age, where you’re going, how long you’ll be traveling, your policy maximums and whether preexisting conditions are included.

Although not all travel insurance providers offer annual travel insurance, many of them do. We’ve gathered together the five best, including Allianz Travel, World Nomads, Seven Corners, IMG and Trawick International.

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.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 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.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 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.