Best Travel Insurance Companies in September 2026
Our team analyzed 50 travel insurance plans, comparing single-trip, annual multi-trip and travel medical options. We prioritized coverage limits, affordability, financial strength and ease of filing a claim. The 6 insurers below emerged as the best options whether you're booking a weekend getaway, a family cruise or a year of backpacking.
Allianz Travel Insurance
#1The largest travel insurer in the U.S. with the most complete lineup we reviewed: three OneTrip single-trip tiers, four AllTrips annual plans, kids 17 and under covered free on OneTrip Prime, and the highest Cancel For Any Reason payout in the market at 80%.
Allianz earns the top spot because it does the most things well for the most travelers. Families get free child coverage, frequent flyers get real annual plans, nervous bookers get the strongest Cancel For Any Reason payout, and everyone gets the smoothest app and claims experience we tested. If you need six-figure medical limits for a remote trip, look at Travel Guard or Seven Corners below.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ Cancel Anytime upgrade reimburses 80% of non-refundable costs, the highest we found
- ✓ Kids 17 and under covered free with a parent or grandparent on OneTrip Prime
- ✓ SmartBenefits pay $100 per day for covered delays with no receipts required
- ✓ Four AllTrips annual plans for people who travel several times a year
- ✓ TravelSmart app handles claims, flight alerts and finding local hospitals
- ✓ Pre-existing condition waiver when you buy within 14 days of your first payment
- ✓ Underwritten by Jefferson Insurance Company, rated A+ (Superior) by AM Best
Cons
- ✗ Medical maximum of $75,000 on Premier is lower than medical-focused rivals
- ✗ Cancel Anytime needs Prime or Premier and a departure at least 30 days away
- ✗ OneTrip Basic is thin: $10,000 medical and $10,000 cancellation
AIG Travel Guard
#2The Deluxe plan pairs $150,000 in emergency medical with $1 million in evacuation and 150% trip interruption, and every tier includes the pre-existing condition waiver when you buy within 15 days. Backed by AIG, one of the largest insurers in the world.
Travel Guard is the plan for travelers who want the biggest safety net. The Deluxe tier's medical and evacuation limits are among the highest of any comprehensive plan, and the waiver on every tier makes it a strong choice for anyone with a health history. The 50% CFAR is the main weakness, so if flexibility matters most, Allianz and Travelex pay more.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ Deluxe plan: $150,000 medical, $1,000,000 evacuation, $2,500 baggage
- ✓ Trip interruption pays up to 150% of trip cost on Preferred and Deluxe
- ✓ Pre-existing condition waiver on all three tiers with purchase within 15 days
- ✓ Largest add-on menu we saw: rental car, adventure sports, pet care, security evacuation
- ✓ Annual plan with $50,000 medical and $500,000 evacuation for frequent travelers
- ✓ 24/7 AIG assistance network with medical referrals worldwide
Cons
- ✗ Cancel For Any Reason only reimburses 50%
- ✗ Essential plan medical limit is just $15,000
- ✗ Deluxe gets expensive for travelers over 65
World Nomads
#3Built for backpackers and active travelers: trips up to 180 days, 250 to 340+ covered activities depending on tier, emergency medical up to $250,000 on Epic, and the rare ability to buy or extend coverage after you've already left home.
If your itinerary includes surfing, skiing, diving, trekking or six months on the road, World Nomads is the plan we'd buy. The activity list and trip lengths are unmatched, and Epic's medical limits are strong. It's a weaker fit for expensive cruises or tours where cancellation coverage matters most, and older travelers should look at Allianz or Travel Guard.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ Covers 250+ activities on Standard, 300+ on Explorer and 340+ on Epic
- ✓ Single trips up to 180 days, and you can buy or extend while already abroad
- ✓ Epic plan: $250,000 medical, $700,000 evacuation, $3,000 baggage
- ✓ Cancel For Any Reason up to 50% on Explorer and 75% on Epic
- ✓ Simple online quote in under two minutes
- ✓ Underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company, rated A+ (Superior)
Cons
- ✗ Trip cancellation capped at $2,500 / $10,000 / $15,000 by tier
- ✗ No pre-existing condition waiver on any plan
- ✗ Travelers 70 and older are referred to a separate Silver Nomads program
Seven Corners
#4Medical-first coverage for travelers who worry about a hospital bill abroad: Trip Protection Choice pays up to $500,000 in primary emergency medical and $1 million in evacuation, and standalone Travel Medical plans go up to $1 million for long stays, students and expats.
Seven Corners is the pick for travelers whose biggest fear is a medical emergency far from home: retirees on a long cruise, students abroad, expats, or anyone visiting countries with expensive private hospitals. Choose the Choice plan; the Basic tier gives up the primary medical and the waiver that make this company stand out.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ Highest emergency medical limit of any comprehensive plan we reviewed: $500,000, primary
- ✓ Interruption For Any Reason upgrade (75%) is rare in the industry
- ✓ Standalone Travel Medical plans up to $1,000,000 for long-term travel
- ✓ Pre-existing condition waiver on Choice with purchase within 20 days
- ✓ Group and student plans available
- ✓ 24/7 multilingual assistance team
Cons
- ✗ Basic plan medical is $100,000 and secondary, so file with your health plan first
- ✗ Product lineup takes some navigating
- ✗ Several benefits, including the waiver, require the Choice plan
Generali Global Assistance
#5Three straightforward tiers with Teladoc telemedicine and a concierge on every plan. The Premium tier pairs $250,000 medical and $1 million evacuation with a Cancel For Any Reason upgrade, but you have to add it within 24 hours of your first trip deposit.
Generali is a solid, no-surprises option if you buy insurance the same day you book, which is what its 24-hour CFAR and waiver windows demand. Do that and the Premium plan is one of the more complete packages here. Wait even a couple of days and you lose the two benefits that justify the price, so plan ahead.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ Premium tier: $250,000 medical, $1,000,000 evacuation, 175% trip interruption
- ✓ Cancel For Any Reason upgrade available on the Premium plan
- ✓ Teladoc telemedicine and complimentary concierge included on every tier
- ✓ Missed connection and itinerary change benefits suit cruises and tours
- ✓ Part of the Generali Group, rated A+ (Superior) by AM Best
Cons
- ✗ CFAR is Premium-only, reimburses 60%, and must be bought within 24 hours of your first deposit
- ✗ Pre-existing condition waiver only on Premium, within 24 hours of final payment
- ✗ Standard plan medical limit is $50,000
Travelex
#6One child aged 17 or under is covered free with each insured adult on the Ultimate plan, which also carries $250,000 medical, $1 million evacuation, a 75% Cancel For Any Reason upgrade and the pre-existing condition waiver. Underwritten by Zurich American, rated A+.
Travelex's free child coverage can cut a family's premium substantially, and the Ultimate plan's limits are genuinely strong. Just budget for Ultimate from the start: the cheaper tiers drop the family perk, the CFAR and the waiver. Families with a trip costing more than $10,000 should compare Allianz, which also covers kids free.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ One child 17 or under covered free per insured adult on the Ultimate plan
- ✓ Ultimate plan: $250,000 medical, $1,000,000 evacuation, trips up to 180 days
- ✓ Cancel For Any Reason reimburses up to 75% on Ultimate
- ✓ Pre-existing condition waiver with purchase within 21 days of first payment
- ✓ Underwritten by Zurich American Insurance Company, rated A+ (Superior)
Cons
- ✗ Free child coverage, CFAR and the waiver are all Ultimate-only
- ✗ CFAR capped at $7,500 and limited to trips costing $10,000 or less
- ✗ Essential and Advantage cap trip cancellation at $10,000 and trips at 30 days
Quick Comparison of All Providers
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| Provider | Best For | AM Best* | Max Medical | CFAR | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Editor's Choice  Allianz Travel Insurance | Best Overall | A+ (Jefferson) | $75,000 | Yes (80%) | 4.7 | Get Quote |
 AIG Travel Guard | Best Coverage Limits | A (National Union) | $150,000 | Yes (50%) | 4.4 | Get Quote |
 World Nomads | Best for Long Trips & Adventure | A+ (U.S. Fire) | $250,000 | Yes (up to 75%) | 4.3 | Get Quote |
 Seven Corners | Best for International Medical | A+ (U.S. Fire) | $500,000 | Yes (75%) | 4.1 | Get Quote |
 Generali Global Assistance | Best for Cancel-for-Any-Reason | A+ (Generali U.S.) | $250,000 | Yes (60%, Premium) | 4.0 | Get Quote |
 Travelex | Best for Families | A+ (Zurich American) | $250,000 | Yes (75%, Ultimate) | 3.9 | Get Quote |
* AM Best rating shown reflects the underwriting carrier that backs each provider's plans. Maximum medical limit and CFAR percentage shown are for the provider's highest comprehensive tier. Verified September 2026; limits vary by state.
How We Rank Travel Insurers
Our team of 4 experts has evaluated over 50 travel insurance plans, prioritizing what modern travelers care about most:
Coverage Breadth & Limits
We compare trip cancellation, interruption, emergency medical, evacuation, baggage and delay benefits side by side. The best plans offer at least $100,000 in medical and $500,000 in evacuation, plus an optional Cancel For Any Reason upgrade.
Affordability & Value
We collect real quotes for the same sample trips across ages and destinations to compare actual costs. The best comprehensive plans land between 4% and 8% of trip cost without sacrificing key benefits.
Financial Strength
We verify the AM Best rating of the underwriting carrier behind every plan to make sure claims will be paid. All our top picks are backed by insurers rated A (Excellent) or better.
Customer Experience
We analyze the quote process, app and claims tools, 24/7 assistance quality, customer reviews and claims turnaround to evaluate the end-to-end experience for travelers.
Everything You Need to Know About Travel Insurance
How travel insurance works, what it costs, what each coverage actually pays for, and how to choose a plan that fits your trip.
Cost of Travel Insurance
The main factor affecting how much you pay for travel insurance is the non-refundable cost of your trip. Comprehensive plans typically run 4% to 10% of your trip cost, with an industry average of about 6%, based on quotes we collected for trips costing $1,000 to $50,000 and on Squaremouth's 2026 pricing data.
| Trip cost | Typical premium | % of trip |
|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $50 – $80 | 5% – 8% |
| $2,500 | $110 – $160 | 4% – 6% |
| $5,000 | $200 – $310 | 4% – 6% |
| $10,000 | $450 – $650 | 4% – 7% |
| $20,000 | $1,000 – $1,300 | 5% – 7% |
| $30,000 | $1,600 – $2,000 | 5% – 7% |
| $50,000 | $2,500 – $3,400 | 5% – 7% |
Ranges reflect mid-tier comprehensive plans for a 40-year-old on a 10-day international trip. Add roughly 40% to 60% for a Cancel For Any Reason upgrade.
How Age Affects Travel Insurance Costs
Your age also plays a role in determining the cost of travel insurance. Rates remain fairly stable between ages 20 and 50, but prices rise noticeably for travelers over 60 because of the higher likelihood of medical and evacuation claims. Seniors can expect to pay roughly 7% to 17% of their trip cost.
| Traveler age | Premium, $5,000 trip | % of trip |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | $190 – $210 | 4% |
| 40 | $230 – $260 | 5% |
| 50 | $250 – $280 | 5% |
| 60 | $310 – $360 | 6% – 7% |
| 70 | $430 – $490 | 9% – 10% |
| 80 | $730 – $840 | 15% – 17% |
Same trip, different age: a 60-year-old pays about $135 more than a 30-year-old, a 70-year-old about $260 more, and an 80-year-old about $585 more. Travel insurance has no health questionnaire, so age is the main pricing proxy for medical risk.
Types of Travel Insurance Coverage
A comprehensive travel insurance policy is really a bundle of separate coverages, each with its own limit, waiting period and fine print. Here is what each one does and the limit we recommend looking for.
Travel Medical Insurance
If you become ill or get injured during your trip, travel medical insurance pays up to your policy limit for hospital and doctor bills, medicine and more. Most U.S. health plans have limited or no coverage in other countries, and Original Medicare generally pays nothing abroad, so this benefit is essential for international travel. Look for at least $50,000 in Europe and $100,000 or more for cruises, Asia, Africa and remote destinations.
Medical Evacuation Insurance
Medical evacuation coverage pays up to your policy limit for transportation to the nearest facility able to treat you if you become seriously ill or injured somewhere without adequate care, and for a medically supervised flight home afterward. An air ambulance from Southeast Asia to the U.S. can cost $150,000 to $250,000, so we recommend a limit of at least $500,000.
Trip Cancellation Insurance
If you have to cancel your trip for a reason listed in your policy, such as illness, a death in the family, jury duty, job loss or severe weather at your destination, trip cancellation insurance reimburses the prepaid, non-refundable costs of your trip. Only insure the non-refundable portion; adding refundable flights or hotels just raises your premium.
Trip Interruption Insurance
Trip interruption pays back the unused, non-refundable part of your trip if you have to cut it short for a covered reason, plus the cost of a last-minute flight home. Better plans reimburse 125% to 175% of your trip cost to account for the expensive one-way ticket.
Baggage Delay and Baggage Insurance
Baggage delay pays for essentials such as toiletries and clothing if your bags arrive late, usually after a waiting period of 6 to 24 hours depending on the plan. Baggage insurance reimburses the depreciated value of items that are lost, damaged or stolen during your trip, typically with a per-item cap of $150 to $500 and exclusions for cash, electronics left unattended and similar items.
Travel Delay Insurance
Travel delay coverage helps pay for meals, hotel stays and local transportation if a problem listed in your policy, such as a storm or a mechanical breakdown, delays your flight. Benefits usually start after a waiting period of 3 to 12 hours and are capped per day and per trip, so keep receipts and ask the airline for a written delay confirmation.
Missed Connection Insurance
Missed connection coverage pays the extra expenses required to catch up to your trip if you miss a departure for a covered reason, such as a delayed inbound flight. It matters most for cruises and multi-leg trips that leave without you, and usually kicks in after a 3-hour delay.
Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR)
A Cancel For Any Reason upgrade lets you cancel no matter what and be partially reimbursed regardless of the reason. CFAR typically pays back 50% to 75% of your insured trip cost (Allianz's Cancel Anytime pays 80%), adds roughly 40% to 60% to the premium, and comes with strict rules: buy within 14 to 21 days of your first deposit, insure 100% of your prepaid costs, and cancel at least 48 hours before departure.
Rental Car Damage Coverage
An optional rental car damage add-on covers collision damage and theft of a rental vehicle, usually up to $35,000 to $50,000, for around $7 to $12 per day. It is often cheaper than the waiver sold at the rental counter and keeps a claim off your personal auto policy. It does not cover liability to other people or property.
How to Choose the Best Travel Insurance
Every trip is different, so the right plan depends on where you're going, how much you've prepaid and who is traveling. Work through these steps and you'll narrow the field quickly.
- Add up your non-refundable costs. Flights, hotels, tours and cruise fares that you can't get back are your insured trip cost. Leave out anything refundable; insuring it only raises the premium.
- Check what your health plan and credit card already cover abroad. Most U.S. health plans and Medicare offer little or nothing overseas, and card benefits rarely include medical or evacuation. The gaps you find are what your travel policy needs to fill.
- Set your medical and evacuation minimums by destination. At least $50,000 medical and $250,000 evacuation for Europe, Canada and Mexico; $100,000 and $500,000 or more for cruises, Asia, Africa, South America and remote areas.
- Decide whether you need Cancel For Any Reason. Worth it for trips booked months ahead, trips over $5,000, or plans that could change. Skip it for a spontaneous trip booked last week and put the savings into higher medical limits.
- Match the plan to your travelers. Families should look at Allianz and Travelex for free child coverage. Travelers over 65 should prioritize medical limits and a pre-existing condition waiver. Adventure travelers need a plan that lists their activities.
- Buy within the time-sensitive window. Purchase within 14 to 21 days of your first deposit (24 hours for Generali) to lock in the pre-existing condition waiver and CFAR. Use the free-look period of 10 to 15 days to read the certificate and cancel for a refund if it doesn't fit.
Rule of thumb: a mid-tier plan at 5% to 7% of trip cost with $100,000 medical and $500,000 evacuation is the sweet spot for most international trips. Basic plans save $50 to $100 but quarter your medical limit; premium plans mostly add limits you'll never use unless you want CFAR.
When to Buy Travel Insurance
Timing matters more in travel insurance than in almost any other product. Several of the most valuable benefits are only available if you buy soon after your first trip payment:
- Pre-existing condition waiver: removes the exclusion for conditions treated in the 60 to 180 days before purchase. Windows are 14 days (Allianz, Faye, AXA), 15 days (Travel Guard), 20 days (Seven Corners), 21 days (Travelex) and 24 hours after final payment (Generali Premium).
- Cancel For Any Reason: same windows, plus most insurers require you to insure 100% of your prepaid costs and cancel at least 48 hours before departure.
- Financial default coverage: protects you if your airline, cruise line or tour operator goes bankrupt, usually only with early purchase.
- The longest cancellation window: you're covered from the day you buy, not the day you depart. A named hurricane or an announced strike becomes a "known event" and is excluded once it's public.
It is still worth buying late if you have no medical coverage abroad or a large non-refundable balance. World Nomads and AXA's Explorer OnTrip plan will even cover you after you've already left home.
Pre-Existing Conditions: What Counts and How to Get Covered
A pre-existing condition is any illness or injury that was diagnosed, treated, or had a change in medication during the insurer's look-back period, usually 60 to 180 days before you bought the policy. Stable, controlled conditions with no changes in that window generally don't count. The exclusion applies to you, your traveling companions, and often the non-traveling family members whose illness could force you to cancel.
To have the exclusion waived you typically must buy within the insurer's window, insure your full non-refundable trip cost, and be medically able to travel on the day you buy. It costs nothing extra; it only requires timing. If you or a close family member has any ongoing condition, the waiver alone justifies buying insurance the same week you book.
What Travel Insurance Does Not Cover
Comprehensive plans cover a lot, but understanding the exclusions prevents surprises at claim time:
- Known or foreseeable events: named storms, announced strikes or outbreaks that were public before you bought the policy.
- Changing your mind, fear of travel or a companion backing out: unless you added Cancel For Any Reason.
- Pre-existing conditions: unless you qualified for the waiver.
- High-risk activities: scuba beyond a set depth, off-piste skiing, mountaineering, motorbiking and similar, unless your plan lists them or you added a sports rider.
- Intoxication, illegal acts and self-inflicted injury.
- Routine and elective care abroad, normal pregnancy and childbirth (complications are usually covered), and travel against a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" advisory.
- Unattended baggage: items stolen from an unlocked car or left on a beach.
Every policy comes with a free-look period of 10 to 15 days. Use it to read the certificate against your actual itinerary and cancel for a full refund if something important is excluded.
How Travel Insurance Claims Work
Most denied claims come down to paperwork, not policy language. The process is the same at every insurer we reviewed:
- Notify the insurer quickly. Call the 24/7 assistance line or file in the app, ideally within 20 days of the incident. For medical emergencies, call before treatment when you can so the assistance team can direct you to an approved facility and arrange payment.
- Collect proof as you go. Receipts, itineraries, cancellation confirmations, a physician's statement, police reports, and the airline's written delay or lost-baggage report. Photograph everything on your phone.
- Submit within the deadline. Most insurers require the claim form and documents within 90 days. Faye and Allianz handle the whole process in their apps; others use an online portal.
- Review and payment. Simple delay and baggage claims are usually paid in 1 to 3 weeks; cancellation claims with a doctor's note in 2 to 4 weeks; medical bills and interruption claims in 4 to 8 weeks. Faye advertises a 48-hour target on straightforward claims.
If your plan's medical benefit is secondary (Seven Corners Basic, Faye First, most credit cards), you'll need to file with your primary health insurer first and submit their explanation of benefits. Primary plans skip that step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Expert answers to common questions about travel insurance.
What does travel insurance actually cover?
A comprehensive plan bundles trip cancellation and interruption, emergency medical, emergency evacuation, baggage loss and delay, and travel delay benefits. Some plans add rental car damage, adventure sports and Cancel For Any Reason as optional upgrades.
How much does travel insurance cost?
Most comprehensive plans cost 4% to 10% of your total insured trip cost, with an industry average around 6%. A $5,000 trip for a healthy 40-year-old usually runs $200 to $300. Age, trip length, destination and add-ons like CFAR push the price up.
When should I buy travel insurance?
Buy within 14 to 21 days of making your first trip deposit. That window unlocks time-sensitive benefits like the pre-existing condition waiver and Cancel For Any Reason, which most insurers won't offer later. Generali's windows are just 24 hours.
Does my health insurance cover me abroad?
Usually not, or only partially. Most U.S. employer plans provide limited out-of-network coverage overseas, and Original Medicare generally does not pay for care outside the United States. Travel medical coverage fills that gap.
What is Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage?
CFAR is an optional upgrade that lets you cancel for reasons a standard policy won't cover, like changing your mind, and get 50% to 80% of your prepaid costs back. You typically must buy it within 14 to 21 days of your first deposit and cancel at least 48 hours before departure.
Is credit card travel insurance enough?
Rarely. Card benefits are usually secondary, only apply to trips charged to that card, cap cancellation at a few thousand dollars and often exclude medical coverage. A standalone plan is worth it for international trips or anything you couldn't afford to lose.
Contact Us
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Email: contact@tripsurify.com