is one cover travel insurance good

• United States
• United Kingdom

1Cover Travel Insurance

Our verdict: unlimited cover for both overseas medical expenses and trip cancellation are a big plus but you'll want to check the fine print if you're after covid-19 cover..

In this guide

Summary of 1Cover's Comprehensive policy

How does 1cover travel insurance cover covid-19, what policies does 1cover offer, here's a breakdown of 1cover travel insurance features, standard features, optional add-on, how to make a 1cover travel insurance claim, here's the bottom line about 1cover travel insurance, frequently asked questions, compare your travel insurance quotes.

Destinations

• 1Cover Travel Insurance offers unlimited cover for both trip cancellation and overseas medical expenses - The ultimate peace of mind when planning a holiday
• Enjoy up to $5,000,000 personal liability cover when you choose 1Cover Travel Insurance. Many other providers cover much less than this.
• This provider's COVID-19 cover doesn't extend to cancellation costs. If you get sick before or during your trip, you'll need to rely on your travel provider for any refunds.

Compare other options

Table updated November 2022

1Cover offers some cover for pandemic-related expenses but not everything you might need. All its policies cover overseas medical claims related to COVID-19 if you test positive and require emergency medical treatment. This includes:

• Overseas hospital medical treatment
• Ambulance transportation
• Repatriation back to Australia

Where 1Cover falls short is with its cancellation cover. If you catch COVID-19 before you depart for your holiday or during your trip and need to cancel, you're out of luck here. This includes additional costs such as PCR tests or quarantine costs.

If you think you'll need more than overseas medical cover for COVID-19, we've compared all the providers that offer cover for pandemic-related expenses .

1Cover has seven different plans available to fi th the needs of a wide variety of travellers. Comprehensive, Essentials, Medical Only, Domestic and Already Overseas cover single trips while International Frequent Traveller and Domestic Frequent Traveller are annual policies that can cover multiple trips over the year.

Comprehensive

Medical Only

Already Overseas

Frequent Traveller (International or Domestic)

This insurance is underwritten by certain underwriters at Lloyd's. It comes with a cooling-off period and choice of standard excess .

The cooling-off period is 14 days and allows you to cancel your policy for a full refund provided you haven't started travelling or made a claim. All policies have a standard $200 excess which will be an out-of-pocket expense if you need to make a claim for an insured event . This excess can be reduced to $100 by paying extra on your policy.

These are some of the features that 1Cover will cover if something goes amiss on your trip. Some of these benefits are only available for certain levels of cover (e.g. the Comprehensive policy vs Essentials).

• Additional accommodation and travel expenses
• Cancellation fees and lost deposits
• Domestic pets and services
• Hospital cash allowance
• Loss of income
• Luggage and personal effects
• Overseas emergency medical assistance
• Permanent disability
• Rental vehicle insurance excess
• Resumption of journey

1Cover offers three different add-on packs to give your travel insurance policy more flexibility. Not all plans are eligible to add on these packs.

• Cruise pack. Get cover for your trip on the high seas. This pack includes cruise-specific cover for things like missed port connections and cancelled prepaid shore excursions.
• High value items. If you're travelling with expensive gear that costs above 1Cover's limits, you have the option to take out extra cover in case your item is lost, stolen or damaged.
• Rental vehicle insurance excess. If your policy includes rental car excess cover, you can increase the cover amount for a bit more money.
• Winter pack. A must if your trip involves things like skiing or snowboarding . Get cover for unexpected accidents on the slopes and if you need emergency evacuation. This is only available for those 64 years and under.

1Cover Travel Insurance has some general exclusions listed in its Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) that you should be clear on. These include claims arising from:

• Motorcycle or scooter accidents where the driver doesn't hold a valid motorcycle license
• Any act of war, rebellion, revolution, insurrection or taking of power by the military
• Travel to or remaining in a country with a warning risk rating of 'Do Not Travel'
• Mandatory quarantine, lockdown, curfew, or isolation orders
• Pregnancy after the 24th week or any previously identified complications unless approved by 1Cover
• Travel booked or undertaken against the advice of a medical adviser
• Elective surgery or treatment
• A pre-existing medical condition not approved by 1Cover
• You being under the influence of any intoxicating liquor or drugs except those prescribed by a medical adviser
• Quad biking, mountaineering or rock climbing using ropes or climbing equipment
• Suicide or attempted suicide, physical, mental or emotional exhaustion
• Hiking or trekking within an altitude limit above 3500 metres (including Everest base camp )

Make sure you review 1Cover's PDS for a detailed breakdown of general exclusions .

You can submit your claim by downloading a claim form online and posting it to PO Box 6798, Baulkham Hills, NSW 2153.

Alternatively, you can submit a claim online by following these steps:

• Head to https://www.1cover.com.au/online-claim-form/
• Enter your policy number, email and date of birth to log in
• Complete your claim details by answering all sections
• Upload any documents to support your claim
• Submit, and you should hear back within 10 business days

With over 1.5 million customers, 1Cover is among the most well-known insurers in Australia. Some of the standouts of 1Cover travel insurance include emergency assistance anywhere in the world, free cover for the kids, no age limits and cover for certain pre-existing medical conditions.

Where 1Cover might be lacking for you can be found in the fine print. While COVID-19 overseas medical expenses are covered, cancellation costs are not. This might be sufficient if your travel arrangements are flexible and can be refunded but for some, that risk might be too great to take on. Senior travellers should also be wary. If you're aged 80 years or older, a $3,000 excess applies for any claims associated with an injury, illness or medical condition.

If you're not quite sure about 1Cover, you can compare other travel insurance companies here .

How does 1Cover handle pre-existing conditions?

Like most insurers, you will usually need to disclose any pre-existing conditions when you apply for cover. However, 1Cover has 35 pre-existing conditions which they automatically cover. Under certain conditions, this can include diabetes , epilepsy, pernicious anaemia and asthma. Be sure to read their product disclosure statement before deciding whether or not you need to disclose information for pre-existing medical conditions.

Do 1Cover policies cover cruises?

A cruise pack add-on is available when you buy any 1Cover travel insurance plan, except Essentials and Medical Only plans. When you purchase cruise cover as an add on, you'll get cover for services like:

• Cabin confinement
• Prepaid shore excursions cancellation
• Missed cruise departure
• Missed port cover
• Formal attire cover
• Formal attire delay allowance

Can I get travel insurance immediately?

Yes, 1Cover lets you get a quote and apply for insurance all online. This means you can be covered straight away for any upcoming travel plans.

If you are already overseas , 1Cover can also provide you with travel insurance but coverage doesn't start until 72 hours from the start date on your Certificate of Insurance.

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Cristal Dyer

Cristal Dyer is a travel writer at Finder. She has been writing about travel for over five years and has visited over 40 countries around the world. Cristal currently travels full-time, writing about her favourite cities and food finds, and she is always on the lookout for amazing flight deals to share.

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22 Responses

We are booked on a cruise around Australia in October for one month and looking for travel insurance that covers all our needs and Covid.

Please visit our guide to COVID travel insurance . You’ll be able to compare a range of insurance providers that include COVID-19 medical expenses.

Make sure to read the PDS of each provider before signing up with the one that meets your needs.

Regards, James

What are the dollar limits on luggage lost by airlines?

Thanks for getting in touch! International cover for luggage and personal effects is $5,000 at the time of writing, with a $100 excess. However, this is for multi trip insurance only.

As it says on ther website, “when we receive a personal belongings claim, you have to provide proof of ownership for the lost or stolen items. We realise that policy holders cannot always provide receipts for each and every item, but you’ll still have to provide evidence of ownership. We can accept photographic evidence, warranty cards, manuals, receipts, bank or credit card statements as proof of ownership.”

Hope this was helpful. Don’t hesitate to message us back if you have more questions.

Best, Nikki

I am going to England/Europe in April. I am just enquiring who is the underwriter for 1Cover

Hi Christine,

Thank you for reaching out to finder.

This insurance is underwritten by certain underwriters at Lloyd’s. Hope this helps!

Cheers, Reggie

I would like a quote for travel insurance for my son. He is 23yrs old, Australian departing Japan on November 6, arriving in the USA on the same day. Not sure of when he will be returning home but presume it will be at least 6 months. He will be skiing while in the USA. Is this something you can help me with?

Hello Kristie,

Thank you for your comment.

We apologize for not being able to answer this comment before your son left for the USA. Anyway, as for the quote for the travel insurance, since your son is already overseas, he could have gotten a quote directly from 1Cover Already Overseas Travel Insurance by clicking the Get Quote button.

As for the other options of getting travel insurance back home, he may check our list of overseas travel insurance . It has the list of the insurers (2 insurers) that your son may take and get a quote directly while overseas. Also, kindly read the tips on how to go about getting insurance while overseas for your son.

Please make sure to read the eligibility criteria, features, and details of the policy, as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statement PDS/T&C’s of the policy before making a decision and consider whether the product is right for you. If necessary, speak to the insurance brand to verify any details.

Should you wish to have real-time answers to your questions, try our chatbox on the lower right corner of our page.

Regards, Jhezelyn

Cruise from Australia visiting Singapore Thailand Vietnam Cambodia Malaysia . Dates 1st — 27rh Nov 2019. 1 person age: 76.

Thanks for leaving a question on Finder.

If you a looking for travel insurance for a cruise you will need cruise cover. You can compare cruise policies using our comparison table. Just press the “Get quote” button to request free quotations.

When deciding on which policy you’ll want to consider a policy that covers any pre-existing medical conditions that you have. Once you find a policy that you prefer, you can go through to the provider’s page and get in touch with them in regards to any pre-existing medical conditions that you have. ​ Some benefits you may look for include:

• Unlimited medical benefits
• Cancellation cover that covers the cost of your trip
• An excess that you are okay with paying e.g. you may have to pay an excess of $100 when you claim

Please send me a message if you need anything else. :)

Cheers, Joel

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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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Travel insurance

1Cover Comprehensive review

One trip policy..

This is the provider of the insurance product and correlates with the Financial Services Provider (FSP) as registered with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority. You can look up your insurer's provider in the AFCA comparative tables to see how common it is for consumers to bring a travel insurance dispute to AFCA about them.

In years (up to and including the number stated). For policies listed as '100+', there is no age limit.

Maximum age for dependants listed on the policy. In years (up to and including the number stated).

Does the policy list pre-existing medical conditions that are automatically covered.

Does the policy cover pre-existing medical conditions that are not listed as automatic cover on the policy (on application and subject to approval)

The lower the number, the better. It's the time period before booking your trip that a medical condition would be covered if you've had no symptoms,  medication or treatment (as long as that condition isn't specifically excluded). If for example, your condition last showed symptoms 18 months ago, but the time period here is 12 months, then you'll be covered subject to the other conditions of the policy.

Are claims covered that arise from pregnancy or pregnancy complications?

Until which stage pregnancy is covered for single births (up to and including).

Are medical costs covered for the mother if childbirth occurs up to the maximum pregancy stage

Limit for medical and emergency evacuation and repatriation expenses for illness or injury.

Expenses for an accompanying person such as a member of the travelling party, a friend or a close relative (not necessarily listed as insured on the certificate of insurance) to travel to the sick policyholder overseas, remain with them in hospital and accompany them home during an emergency repatriation.

Daily hospital cash allowance per person.

Minimum number of hours the insured must be continuously hospitalised before receiving the hospital cash allowance.

Limit for dental as a result of an accident.

Limit for dental as a result of sudden and acute pain.

Limit for overseas funeral costs and the return of mortal remains per deceased person, in the event of the death of the policy holder. There may be a separate limit for 'return of mortal remains' and 'overseas funeral costs', so check the policy terms for more details.

Limit for additional accommodation and travel expenses if the policy holder cannot travel due to injury or sickness.

The limit for additional travel expenses per person if travel is interrupted by an insured event (not including injury or sickness as that is covered separately under 'Additional travel expenses for injury or sickness'). Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Whether the policy covers you for additional travel expenses per person if travel is interrupted due to a lost or stolen passport or travel documents. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Whether or not the policy covers you for additional accommodation and travel expenses if you need to curtail travel due to the serious illness or injury of a relative at home. May be subject to assessment of pre-existing conditions for the relative.

Limit for resumption of a journey interrupted due to the serious illness, injury or death of a relative. May be subject to assessment of pre-existing conditions for the relative. Check the policy terms for more details. 'Cancellation cover chosen' means variable cover options are available.

Whether the policy covers you for cancellation or amendment expenses.

Limit for cancellation or amendment expenses. 'Cover chosen' means variable cover options are available.

Limit for cancellation expenses for transportation bought using frequent flyer points.

Limit for travel agent cancellation fees.

Whether the policy covers you for losses arising out of insolvency of a travel services provider (e.g. airline, accomodation provider, bus line, shipping line, railway company, motor vehicle rental agency). Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Whether the policy covers you for cancellation expenses due to insolvency of a travel agent. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Whether the policy covers you for cancellation expenses due to unexpected/involuntary retrenchment. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Whether the policy covers you for cancellation expenses due to cancellation of pre-arranged leave from work for members of the Defence Force and Federal, State or Territory Emergency Services. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Whether the policy covers you for cancellation expenses due to cancellation of pre-arranged leave from work for non-emergency services occupations. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Are stolen or damaged personal belongings covered

The overall limit for stolen or damaged personal belongings.

Limit for a single unspecified item.

Limit per item for a video or photo camera. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Limit for a laptop or tablet. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Limit for a smartphone. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Limit for any prescribed medications. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Overall limit for specified items, available for an extra premium. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Cover for belongings locked in a luggage compartment of a car out of sight during the day. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Cover for belongings locked in a luggage compartment of a car out of sight overnight. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Cover for valuables such as laptops, tablets, mobile phones, jewellery or cameras locked in the luggage compartment of a car. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Cover limit per person for lost or stolen cash. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Overall limit for a single person for baggage lost temporarily. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

The minimum period of time in hours before which cover applies for temporarily lost baggage. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Limit for additional travel expenses to reach a special event such as a wedding, conference or sporting event on time if the scheduled transport is cancelled or delayed.

Limit for additional travel expenses to reach pre-paid travel arrangements on time if the scheduled transport is cancelled or delayed. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Whether the policy is automatically extended if your journey is extended due to unforeseen circumstances.

Limit for additional meal and accommodation expenses if scheduled transport is delayed.

The minimum number of hours before transport delay is covered. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Limit per person per 24-hour period for this transport delay. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Is the collision damage excess for a hire car covered?

Limit for collision damage excess for a hire car. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Does the policy cover cancellation and additional expenses for claims due to transport incidents like mechanical breakdown and accidents?

Does the policy cover cancellation and additional expenses for claims due to strikes?

Does the policy cover claims due to mental health illness experienced for the first time on the trip, and not classified as an ongoing or existing medical condition?

Does the policy cover claims due to COVID-19?

Does the policy cover claims due to pandemics other than COVID-19?

Does the policy cover claims due to natural disaster?

Does the policy cover claims due to civil unrest?

Does the policy cover claims due to terrorism?

Does the policy cover claims due to war?

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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 .

1Cover Travel Insurance   Reviews

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AVOID!!! Scum bags

AVOID!!! Had to return home urgently due to a medical reason and only claimed for accommodation losses as I was in pain and couldn’t deal with claiming everything else. They gave me a run around for 7 weeks continually asking for extra information. I had to go to the doctor on 3 different occasions at $85 per visit just to get a new piece of information each time. They finally approved the claim and halved the amount because the booking made for 2 people even though it was only me staying. When booking through booking.com I enter 1 person and it always puts the booking through as 2. 1cover are absolute scum and I will never be using them again after 15 years of only using them.

Date of experience : 18 March 2024

They tell you sublimits apply in a…

They tell you sublimits apply in a quote, but don't tell you what the sublimits are. They tell you to check the PDS, but don't tell you where – it's buried in the 70 page document.

Date of experience : 02 March 2024

There When Needed The Most

I am forever indebted to 1Cover. Thank you for being there for me and my family in our darkest hours. I almost lost the love of my life and I can't speak highly enough of the responsiveness and reassurance that the 1Cover emergency team provided.

Date of experience : 20 December 2023

Keep all bookings, receipts and confirmations

My husband is 76 and our travel insurance was reasonable. We made a claim on our return for a cancelled leg of our trip due to illness. Our initial submission was what we thought was sufficient information. Their reply requested considerably more WITH EVIDENCE which was reasonable. After we had supplied everything, our claim was processed and we received the refund we expected. Make sure you keep all bookings, receipts and confirmations for possible future claims. Also, if you need to see a doctor overseas, obtain your medical report as proof of your visit. This becomes much harder back home due to privacy issues.

Date of experience : 20 May 2023

Claim denied after my boss died and I…

Claim denied after my boss died and I had to get back to make sure the company continued and I still had an income. i.e. Trip cancelled for unforseen reasons beyond anyone's control. And now looking at the array of "We will not pay for" clauses I would say there's more excluded than covered.

Date of experience : 18 November 2023

1cover will use small print to avoid paying out.

With all the other insurance companies out there, I'd recommend going with anyone but 1cover. If you decided for whatever reason that you want to roll they dice with these guys, just read the small print very, very carefully as they will not payout in the event you need them. Avoid em and go with literally anyone else.

Date of experience : 06 October 2022

Extremely poor customer service

I made a claim on our return for a cancelled leg of our trip due to weather. Our initial submission was what we thought was sufficient information. Their reply requested considerably more WITH EVIDENCE which was unreasonable. After we had supplied everything, our claim was still not processed. Make sure you keep all documentations and get it in writing from the company why the cancellation happened. After many weeks of frustration I gave up. With all the other insurance companies out there, I'd recommend going with anyone but 1Cover. I have never had a travel claim and this experience has had me rethinking travel insurance altogether. It seems 1 Cover are only interested in taking the premium. If you decide for whatever reason to incur with 1 Cover, just read the small print very, very carefully as they will not payout in the event you need them. Also they are no longer affiliated with Lloyds. Avoid them and go with literally anyone else.

Date of experience : 20 August 2023

Had an extremely distressed time after…

Had an extremely distressed time after my connecting flight was delayed causing me to miss my end route flight. 1 cover was easy to get through to when they eventually could not get my luggage i needed for the wedding i was attending. They were quick at reimbursing funds and told us exactly what we needed for the claim. No fuss!

Date of experience : 22 January 2022

The customer service is terrible

The customer service is terrible. I haven't even yet traveled but want to add a day onto my insurance. Cannot talk directly to a human but have to go through their website which does not allow me to alter my days even though they say I can. Have to email and they say to expect a callback. Have received two voice messages saying they have called me. I want to talk directly to someone. Very frustrating and wish I had gone elsewhere.

Date of experience : 07 March 2023

Professional Service, Claim Paid No Problem

You never know how good insurance is until you have to make a claim! 1Cover responded to us with clear communications within their prescribed timeframe and our payout was made within 15 days. Thanks so much 1Cover.

Date of experience : 14 November 2022

Con company

Avoid this company at all cost, They steal you're money, terrible customer service. Took a policy out holiday got canceld would not pay up full of excuses asked for refund of policy cost will not reply to email Absolute con men

Date of experience : 22 June 2020

Learnt my lesson to not go for cheap…

Learnt my lesson to not go for cheap tacky travel insurance.

Date of experience : 10 August 2023

If you are smart you would NEVER use…

If you are smart you would NEVER use this company.

Date of experience : 04 September 2023

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Is Travel Insurance Worth It? | Money

Travel is getting more expensive. Between rising airfare costs and overall inflation, it’s natural to want to protect your trip investment. A primary benefit of getting the best travel insurance is the knowledge that you can get some of that money back if anything goes wrong.

Something might happen, or it might not. Here are some insights so you can decide whether travel insurance is worth your while.

Analyzing the Pros and Cons of Buying Travel Insurance

Covered medical expenses and emergencies, protection against losses, travel assistance and concierge services, you might not use it.

• It doesn't cover everything

It can be expensive

Is travel insurance a good idea? It depends on your financial situation and your risk tolerance as a traveler. Some people feel it’s always worth getting travel insurance because they’re paying for peace of mind and to minimize their financial risk. To help you decide if it’s worth it for your trip, here are some advantages and disadvantages of purchasing travel insurance.

The pros of travel insurance

Travel insurance benefits reduce your financial losses due to health events, lost luggage or other travel troubles, giving you flexibility and confidence when you venture out into the world.

Health insurance doesn’t always travel with you. If you have a large national insurer, either private or government-sponsored, you might be able to get in-network care when traveling within the U.S. However, if you have a regional healthcare provider or are traveling internationally, you may not have the necessary coverage.

Travel medical insurance can provide security if you’re worried about getting sick or injured on a domestic or international trip. If your health insurance plan has limited coverage where you’re going, a travel health insurance policy may offer substantial protection.

U.S. travelers typically spend thousands of dollars on their trips, including flights, other transportation, hotels, food and activities. That’s a lot of money if you have to cancel or cut your trip short, which happens more often than you might think.

Travel insurance can reimburse you for some or all of those lost costs, depending on the type of coverage you buy and whether your trip cancellation is eligible for coverage.

Many comprehensive travel insurance policies now come with assistance or concierge services. Travel assistance is typically a 24/7 hotline that helps travelers with urgent issues, such as:

• Finding a doctor in a medical emergency
• Replacing a lost passport
• Booking emergency transportation home
• Leaving a dangerous situation

Concierge services assist with ordinary travel needs, as a hotel concierge would. Examples include:

• Hotel or restaurant reservations
• Event and excursion tickets
• Weather forecasts
• Activity recommendations

Insurance policies offer different levels of assistance, with higher-end options providing more personalized help. It’s a helpful extra for travelers who want to get the most from their insurance policies.

The cons of travel insurance

Travel insurance provides some reassurance and can come in handy, but it has its downsides. Here are three of the most common.

As with any insurance product, you pay for travel insurance whether you file a claim or not. Even if you never have to file a claim, you can avoid paying for excess coverage by picking a policy that meets your trip details. For example, if you only plan to bring a carry-on bag on your flight, you probably won’t need a plan with the best lost/delayed luggage option.

It doesn’t cover everything

Even the most comprehensive travel insurance policy doesn’t cover 100% of every situation. Standard policies have covered reasons for canceling . Most covered reasons are out of your hands and unforeseen — for example, if you or a loved one has a medical emergency that prevents you from traveling.

Travel insurance usually won’t reimburse you for a pre-existing condition that could predictably impact a trip. This includes illnesses or injuries within the six months prior to when you purchased the insurance. However, if the pre-existing condition has been treated, is stable, and you have been cleared to travel by a doctor, the insurance might provide coverage.

Standard policies also won’t cover cancellations for personal reasons, though you can purchase cancel for any reason (CFAR) travel insurance — a rider that lets you cancel your trip for reasons a standard policy wouldn’t cover. However, even these policies won’t fully reimburse you.

The cost of travel insurance averages between 4% and 8% of your total trip cost, which translates to $200 to $400 for an average $5,000 trip.

The more a policy covers, the more it costs. You have to decide whether to pay more for additional coverage or save money and get the basics. Both options have their risks. You might opt for standard trip cancellation service and then wish you’d sprung for a CFAR policy when you land a job interview on the day you were supposed to leave.

Or maybe you buy the CFAR coverage, and nothing happens to prevent you from going. Is it worth a few hundred dollars to know you could have canceled? Only you and your travel budget can answer that question.

Travel Insurance Policy Exclusions

Choosing to purchase travel insurance only makes sense if it covers circumstances that could affect you. Every policy has a list of situations that it won’t cover, called exclusions, that you must check so you know what you’re getting into. Exclusions vary by insurer but some of the most common are:

• Epidemics and pandemics. As many travelers discovered during the COVID-19 pandemic, known global health situations aren’t covered events, even if the situation unexpectedly gets worse in your chosen destination.
• Pre-existing medical conditions . Travel insurers typically won’t cover a medical event if you had symptoms or treatment during the “look-back period” — typically 60 to 180 days before you bought insurance.
• Predicted natural disasters and weather events. If you buy insurance after experts predict a natural disaster and it impacts your travels, your policy won’t reimburse you.
• Excluded personal items in luggage. When you lose your luggage, insurance only covers you up to a certain amount and may exclude certain items, such as glasses or hearing aids
• Booking errors. If a travel provider makes a mistake — for example, if they double-booked your hotel reservation — your insurance won’t cover you.

Travel insurance works by inclusion, not exclusion. Don’t expect reimbursement if your policy doesn’t name a specific circumstance as covered. Read your policy’s contract in detail before you buy, whether or not you have a particular travel worry.

What you should consider before buying a travel insurance policy

Before you sign on the dotted line, you have to make three choices: whether to buy insurance, what kind to choose and who to buy from. Use these key questions to guide your decision-making:

• How confident are you in your plans? If you suspect that something outside of your control could prevent you from traveling — for example, if you’re a caregiver to a child or medically fragile adult — you may want to invest in a policy.
• How risk-tolerant are you? Some travelers want certainty regardless of the likelihood of something going wrong.
• How much will you pay for peace of mind? Think about whether your insurance policy will be a good investment simply because you’ll worry less.
• Can you afford to rebook your trip if you have to cancel? Rebooking will probably cost you more without insurance. Whether that surcharge is worth the gamble is up to you.
• Can you afford trip interruption costs? Cancellations aren’t the only reason to make an insurance claim. Changed flights and new luggage costs can add up.
• Does your health insurance cover your care where you’re going? If not, travel health insurance is probably a good idea.
• What does the policy cover? Every policy has different coverage limits and rules. Read the details of the policies you’re considering before you choose.
• Are there additional coverage options? If a policy doesn’t provide enough coverage, find out if the insurance company offers add-ons.

Furthermore, you should consider what you need the policy to cover. There are different types of travel insurance coverage, including:

• Trip cancellation insurance : Reimburses your travel costs if the trip doesn’t happen due to covered circumstances
• Baggage loss : Reimburses the costs associated with lost luggage
• Travel medical and major medical insurance : Provides short-term health coverage for your trip
• Emergency medical evacuations : Covers the cost of air or ground transportation to the nearest medical facility and your home facility, if necessary
• Accidental death and dismemberme nt: Pays a certain sum if you lose a limb, an extremity or your eyesight due to a travel accident; pays your beneficiaries if you pass away while traveling

Comprehensive travel insurance plans typically cover all of the above, but check each policy’s terms to be sure. “Comprehensive” isn’t a standard category that ensures any particular level of coverage, and every insurer has the freedom to choose what it includes.

Travel Insurance Alternatives

If you decide against travel insurance, you can get protection in other ways. Consider these four options.

Credit card travel protection

Some credit card companies include protection for travel costs charged to your card. This coverage varies by provider and has many of the same benefits as standard travel insurance. Most of the best travel credit cards include insurance coverage with benefits such as:

• Trip cancellation and interruption
• Lost or delayed luggage
• Auto rental coverage
• Roadside assistance
• Emergency medical and dental care

You can also get travel protection from some of the best airline credit cards and a few of the best travel rewards credit cards offer protection as well. Most cards that offer travel protection charge an annual fee, which can pay for itself if it replaces third-party insurance.

Trip protection from travel providers

Many tour companies offer trip protection plans that provide coverage for trip cancellation, baggage loss and medical costs. Select travel booking sites also offer trip insurance.

Check your travel provider’s website or contact the company and ask if it offers trip protection. Most that do will provide several levels of coverage.

Membership clubs

Membership clubs, such as Diners Club International® , the American Automobile Association (AAA) and even Costco , have travel insurance plans exclusively for members. Some clubs offer the protection directly to members, whereas others require you to work with a third-party provider.

Vacation and travel clubs often have insurance options for members, too. If you belong to a vacation or membership club, contact a member services representative to learn what coverage options are available.

À la carte coverage

Although the typical travel insurance company only offers coverage packages, some offer à la carte coverage. For example, American Express has a customizable insurance option that lets you build your policy. This way, you can choose what you want your policy to cover and pick the level of coverage you need.

It’s also possible to purchase riders for standard policies. One typical example is CFAR coverage, which you can add to a basic policy to get extra protection.

Is travel insurance worth it?

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that plans aren’t certainties. And when you’ve spent months researching the best places to travel and what to do there, you deserve to know it’ll happen even if you have to reschedule. Travel insurance can reimburse you for nonrefundable costs so you don’t lose the money you’ve set aside for your trip. The flip side is that you’ll pay for the product whether or not you use it. Research the companies and decide whether the costs of travel insurance make sense for your budget and risk tolerance.

© Copyright 2023 Money Group, LLC . All Rights Reserved.

This article originally appeared on Money.com and may contain affiliate links for which Money receives compensation. Opinions expressed in this article are the author's alone, not those of a third-party entity, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed. Offers may be subject to change without notice. For more information, read Money’s full disclaimer .

The 2024 total solar eclipse is 1 week away. Here's what you need to know.

We're ready, are you? The countdown to the total solar eclipse has begun!

Last minute preparations

Eclipse weather.

There's only one week left until the total solar eclipse 2024 is visible across North America! Are you ready? 

Memories will be made when the moon crosses in front of the sun and turns the daytime sky dark. The total solar eclipse will travel through Mexico, 15 U.S. States and Canada and will be one of the most-watched eclipses ever. You can view the entire path of totality including start and end times for different stages of the solar ellipse at each location in this helpful interactive map from NASA . 

If you cannot watch the eclipse in person you can watch the total solar eclipse live here on Space.com courtesy of NASA. Coverage will begin at 1 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT) . You can also keep up with all the actions with our total solar eclipse 2024 live updates blog.

And if you capture a great photo of the solar eclipse and would like to share it with us and our readers, please email it to [email protected] .  

Related: Solar eclipse viewing through history: A roundup of some of the best photos  

Our how to read and understand a solar eclipse map will help you get the most out of your eclipse viewing venture!

By now you've most likely decided on a viewing location and have all the supplies needed for a successful eclipse viewing experience (don't forget those eclipse glasses !). 

But if you're still scrambling for some solar-safe viewing equipment and haven't been able to get hold of a pair of eclipse glasses don't worry, we've got some alternative ways to view the eclipse with items from around the home . 

Get the Space.com Newsletter

Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!

If you're looking for a way to entertain the little ones before, during and after the eclipse we've got a great guide on how to organize an eclipse event for kids . 

As we get closer to April 8, more reliable meteorological weather forecasts will become available. NOAA's Weather Prediction Center is a great place to find increasingly reliable forecasts, which can help you decide on a viewing location where the probability of cloud cover is low. While we are all wishing for clear skies, we can't help but wonder how clouds could impact the viewing experience. It turns out a cloudy forecast might not be as bad as you would initially think, as it all depends on the type, thickness and extent of the cloud cover. You can read more about what happens if it's cloudy during the eclipse and how to give yourself the best chance of clear skies in our helpful guides 

With so many people flocking to watch the eclipse safety is the top priority. Here we've compiled a couple of guides on How to stay safe during the eclipse and also how to avoid getting stuck in traffic on the big day.

Everyone observing the partial phases of this eclipse — and for those outside the path of totality, that's the entire event — will need to wear solar eclipse glasses while cameras, telescopes and binoculars will need solar filters placed in front of their lenses. 

Only those in the path of totality will be able to remove them briefly to see the sun's corona with their naked eyes. Those not in the path of totality must keep them on the entire time. Our how to observe the sun safely guide tells you everything you need to know about safe solar observations.

Solar eclipse glasses are crucial for most to safely observe the eclipse, but with such high demand for the vital piece of kit, fake eclipse glasses are rife. The American Astronomical Society (AAS) is warning people about the risks of counterfeit and knock-off solar glasses so we have come up with a guide to how to check yours are safe . 

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: [email protected].

Daisy Dobrijevic joined Space.com in February 2022 having previously worked for our sister publication All About Space magazine as a staff writer. Before joining us, Daisy completed an editorial internship with the BBC Sky at Night Magazine and worked at the National Space Centre in Leicester, U.K., where she enjoyed communicating space science to the public. In 2021, Daisy completed a PhD in plant physiology and also holds a Master's in Environmental Science, she is currently based in Nottingham, U.K. Daisy is passionate about all things space, with a penchant for solar activity and space weather. She has a strong interest in astrotourism and loves nothing more than a good northern lights chase! 

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Here's who could be responsible for paying for the Baltimore bridge disaster

• The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed after a container ship collided with it.
• Several entities could be on the hook to foot the bill in the aftermath of the disaster.
• The maritime insurance industry will likely be saddled with the highest costs. 

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed on Tuesday after a large container ship ran into it, leading to six presumed deaths and millions of dollars in possible damage.

It's still too early to estimate the total economic impact of the disaster, but between the cost of rebuilding the decades-old bridge, compensating the victims' families , and paying out damages for disruptions to the supply chain, the eventual cost of the disaster is expected to be significant.

Who will pay to rebuild the bridge?

President Joe Biden said on Tuesday the federal government should be responsible for paying to reconstruct the damaged Francis Scott Key Bridge.

"It is my intention that the federal government will pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge, and I expect Congress to support my effort," Biden said.

The bridge was built in the 1970s for about $60 million, but the cost of rebuilding it could be 10 times its original price tag, an engineering expert told Sky News. 

Baltimore is among the busiest ports in the nation , with more than a million shipping containers passing through each year. The collapse — which closed the port to all maritime and most road traffic until further notice — is already beginning to wreak havoc on the supply chain.

The cost of building the bridge back fast enough to offset diversions as much as possible could saddle the government with a more than $600 million bill, David MacKenzie, the chair of the engineering and architecture consultancy COWIfonden, told Sky News.

Who will pay for damages to the ship and its cargo?

The container ship, the Dali , is owned by a Singapore-based firm. The ship's charterer, Maersk, confirmed to Business Insider that vessel company Synergy Group operates the ship. 

However, the companies with cargo aboard the Dali could ultimately be responsible for some of the ship's damages and cargo costs, according to Ryan Petersen , the CEO of the supply-chain-logistics company Flexport, which had two containers on the ship.

Related stories

The Dali was carrying 330 containers that must now be rerouted, Petersen said in an X thread.

An ancient maritime law known as " general average " dictates that companies with even a single container aboard a ship split certain damages pro rata based on the number of containers they had on board, ensuring all the stakeholders benefiting from the voyage are splitting the risk, Petersen said.

General average situations can occur when a ship is stranded or when cargo is damaged or thrown overboard to save the vessel, according to Flexport . The concept helps ensure that all parties who have a vested interest in the vessel share the cost and concern of protecting it.

It's too soon to know whether damages incurred to free the Dali in the coming days will qualify as a case of general average.

Who will pay for everything else?

The majority of the financial fallout is likely to lay primarily with the insurance industry, according to media reports.

Industry experts told the Financial Times that insurers could pay out losses for bridge damage, port disruption, and any loss of life.

The collapse could drive "one of the largest claims ever to hit the marine (re)insurance market," John Miklus, the president of the American Institute of Marine Underwriters, told Insurance Business.

He told the outlet that the loss of revenue from tolls while the bridge is being rebuilt will be expensive, as will any liability claims from deaths or injuries.

The Dali is covered by the Britannia Steam Ship Insurance Association Ltd., known as Britannia P&I Club, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.

In a statement to Business Insider, Britannia said it was "working closely with the ship manager and relevant authorities to establish the facts and to help ensure that this situation is dealt with quickly and professionally."

Britannia is one of 12 mutual insurers included in the International Group of P&I Clubs, which maintains more than $3 billion of reinsurance cover, sources familiar with the matter told Insurance Business.

Britannia itself is liable for the first $10 million in damages, both FT and Insurance Business reported. Whatever remains is dealt with by the wider mutual insurance group and Lloyd's of London, a reinsurance market in the UK, the FT reported.

Update: March 28, 2024 — This story has been updated to include additional information about general average and clarify that it is too soon to know whether general average will apply in the case of the Dali.

Watch: The container ship that destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge has crashed before

• Main content

When will solar eclipse reach your town? These maps show path's timing, how long it lasts.

Hundreds of cities in 13 u.s. states fall directly on the april 8 eclipse's path of totality as the moon blocks the sun's disc and ushers in darkness. these interactive maps offer a closer look..

Come Monday, millions of Americans from Texas to Maine will stop what they're doing to step outside and spend a few minutes gazing skyward .

Few celestial events have the power to capture our collective attention the way this upcoming total solar eclipse has managed to do. And for those making time to witness it, two questions are bound to be on their mind : Will totality reach my area and if so, how long will the resulting darkness last?

Most people across the country are bound to experience the eclipse in some form, but only 13 states fall directly on the path of totality, where the moon will appear large enough to shield all but the sun's outermost layer, the corona.

As you make your eclipse-viewing plans, these interactive maps should help you chart the time and duration for when totality will occur in cities along the path.

Solar eclipse experiment: Here's why NASA is launching 3 sounding rockets into space during the total solar eclipse

Total solar eclipse path of totality map

The 115-mile-wide path of totality will pass from southwest to northeast over portions of Mexico the United States and Canada.

Mexico's Pacific coast will be the first location in continental North America to experience totality, which will occur at about 11:07 a.m. PDT,  according to NASA .

As the moon's shadow travels northeast, totality in the U.S. will begin at 1:27 p.m. CDT in Eagle Pass, Texas. From there, the path will cut diagonally across the country before ending around 3:35 p.m. EDT in Lee, Maine.

Remember: If you plan to witness the eclipse, proper eyewear is a must until the eclipse reaches totality, then it can be viewed with the naked eye.

Here's a map of some of the larger cities in each of the 13 states on the path to show how the duration of totality will vary:

Cities, states on the path of totality

All told, nearly 500 cities in 13 U.S. states are located on the eclipse's path of totality. Here are some of the major cities in each of the 13 states:

• Dallas and San Antonio, Texas
• Idabel, Oklahoma
• Poplar Bluff, Missouri
• Little Rock, Arkansas
• Paducah, Kentucky
• Indianapolis and Evansville, Indiana
• Carbondale, Illinois
• Cleveland and Toledo, Ohio
• Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, New York
• Burlington, Vermont
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
• Caribou, Maine
• Erie, Pennsylvania

This interactive map provides a closer look at cities along the path, when totality will arrive there and how long totality will last:

Eclipse watch parties, festivals

Such a rare event is sure to attract skygazing tourists unlucky enough to live outside the path of totality. Fortunately, many cities that will experience the total eclipse are planning plenty of festivities for tourists and locals alike.

This map , courtesy of Kristian Campana at festivalguidesandreviews.com , includes locations of watch parties, music festivals and more all tied to the eclipse's arrival:

2024 total solar eclipse interactive map with zip code search

Perhaps the easiest way to see how the eclipse will impact your city or town, is to put your zip code into USA TODAY's interactive eclipse map .

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected]

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What Does Travel Insurance Cover?

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Table of Contents

What is covered by travel insurance

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

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

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

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

Accidental death and dismemberment

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

Baggage delay

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

Baggage loss

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

Emergency medical evacuation and repatriation

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

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

Missed connection

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

Reinstate frequent traveler awards

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

Trip cancellation

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

Sickness or death of a family member.

Financial insolvency.

Natural disaster.

Airline strike.

Inclement weather.

Military duty.

Stolen passport or visa.

Loss of employment.

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

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

Trip interruption

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

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

Cancel For Any Reason

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

Rental car collision damage waiver

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

Pre-existing conditions

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

» Learn more: The best travel insurance companies right now

Quarantine accommodations

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Types of coverage and limits

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

Single trip vs. annual plan

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

Individual vs. family

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

» Learn more: 10 best travel insurance companies

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

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

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.

• Solar Eclipse 2024

See the 2024 Solar Eclipse’s Path of Totality

A total solar eclipse is expected to pass through the United States on April 8, 2024, giving stargazers across the country the opportunity to view the celestial phenomenon in which the sun is completely covered by the moon.

The eclipse will enter the U.S. in Texas and exit in Maine. It is the last time a total solar eclipse will be visible in the contiguous United States until 2044.

Here's what to know about the path of the eclipse and where you can see it.

Read More : How Animals and Nature React to an Eclipse

Where can you see the total solar eclipse?

The eclipse will cross through North America, passing over parts of Mexico, the United States, and Canada. 

The eclipse will enter the United States in Texas, and travel through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Small parts of Tennessee and Michigan will also experience the total solar eclipse.

Much of the eclipse's visibility depends on the weather. A cloudy day could prevent visitors from seeing the spectacle altogether.

When does the solar eclipse start and end?

The solar eclipse will begin in Mexico’s Pacific coast at around 11:07 a.m. PDT. It will exit continental North America on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada, at 5:16 p.m. NDT.

The longest duration of totality—which is when the moon completely covers the sun — will be 4 minutes, 28 seconds, near Torreón, Mexico. Most places along the path of totality will see a totality duration between 3.5 and 4 minutes.

Read More : The Eclipse Could Bring $1.5 Billion Into States on the Path of Totality

Where’s the best place to see the total solar eclipse?

The best place to witness the event is along the path of totality. Thirteen states will be along the path of totality, and many towns across the country are preparing for the deluge of visitors— planning eclipse watch parties and events in the days leading up to totality.

In Rochester, NY, the Rochester Museum and Science Center is hosting a multi-day festival that includes a range of events and activities. Russellville, Arkansas will host an event with activities including live music, science presentations, tethered hot-air balloon rides, and telescope viewings.

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• Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time

Write to Simmone Shah at [email protected]

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