Traveling is an adventure, a leap into the unknown, a story waiting to unfold. But every story needs a safety net, and that's where travel insurance comes in. In this guide to the best travel insurance, we'll embark on a journey to help you better understand travel insurance and uncover the benefits that make it an indispensable companion for any traveler.
The best travel insurance companies offer comprehensive coverage options for a wide range of people and needs. For this guide, we looked at coverage options, customizability, and the best companies for specific situations, such as preexisting conditions.
Here are Business Insider's picks for the best travel insurance companies in 2025.
Best Travel Insurance
- Best Overall: Nationwide Travel Insurance
- Runner-Up: Travel Guard
- Best Reputation: World Nomads Travel Insurance
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Best Overall
A-
$206
N/A
Up to 200%
- Three cruise-specific plans to choose from
- Annual travel insurance plans available
- Strong trip cancellation coverage
- Cancel for any reason coverage available
- CFAR insurance not available with every single plan
- Medical coverage is lower than what some competitors offer
Nationwide Travel Insurance offers many of the standard benefits you might see with a travel insurance policy. This can include things like trip cancellation coverage, so you can recover pre-paid costs or trip interruption in the event your vacation is interrupted by an unexpected event. There's also baggage delay coverage and medical coverage.
Nationwide- Trip cancellation coverage of up to 100% of trip costs (for cruises) or up to $30,000 (for single-trip plans)
- Cancel for any reason coverage available
annual travel insurance plans which can offer frequent travelers the flexibility to "set it and forget it" on their travel insurance coverage.
Nationwide Essential also offers some of the most accessible policies in the market compared to similar plans from competitors, which makes it a great pick for just about anyone. Buyers can discuss bundling options as Nationwide also sells homeowners, auto, pet, and other insurance products. Its travel insurance quoting is just as easy as it has been with other Nationwide insurance products.
Runner-Up
$218
N/A
Up to $1 Million
- Generous medical evacuation coverage
- Up to $1,500 per person coverage for missed connections on cruises and tours
- Covers loss of ski, sports and golf equipment
- Generous baggage delay, loss and trip delay coverage ceilings per person
- Cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage only available for most expensive Platinum plan
- CFAR coverage ceiling only reaches $50,000 maximum despite going up to 75%
AXA Assistance USA keeps travel insurance simple with gold, silver, and platinum plans. Emergency medical and CFAR are a couple of the options you can expect. Read on to learn more about AXA.
AXA- Silver, Gold, and Platinum plans available
- Trip cancellation coverage of up to 100% of the trip cost
- Trip interruption coverage of up to 150% of the trip cost
- Emergency medical coverage of up to $250,000
travel credit card with rental car coverage), and don't need any additional bells and whistles.
Best for Families
A
$171–$319
$250
50%
- Trip cancellation coverage of up to 100% of the cost, for all three plan levels
- CFAR covers up to 75% of total trip costs (maximum of $112,500 on some plans)
- Medical coverage of up to $500,000 and evacuation of up to $1,000,000 per person
- Includes COVID coverage
- Above average baggage loss and delay benefits
- High medical evacuation coverage
- Premiums may run slightly higher than competitors
Travel Guard is a well-established and highly rated name in the travel insurance industry. It offers three main coverage options to choose from, and in general its policies have above-average coverage for baggage loss and baggage delays, plus high medical evaluation coverage limits.
Travel Guard- Trip cancellation coverage for up to 100% of the trip cost
- Trip interruption coverage for up to 150% of the trip cost
- Preexisting medical conditions exclusions waiver must be purchased within 15 days of initial trip payment
- Annual travel insurance plan and Pack N' Go plan (for last-minute trips) available
Travel Guard is great fit for travelers who want to ensure that they can get their money back in the event of canceled or interrupted travel plans.
While the company's policies can be pricey compared to its competitors, the high medical and evacuation limits make Travel Guard a solid choice for older travelers who value peace of mind and simplicity over highly customizable plans that may be bolstered with medical upgrades.
All Travel Guard policies, even its most basic option, offer child-inclusive pricing, which means kids 17 and under are covered with no extra charge when traveling with a covered adult. This makes Travel Guard an outstanding option for families.
Best for Reputation
A
- Offers 2 major plans including CFAR coverage on the more expensive option
- Cancellation for job loss included as a covered reason for trip cancellation/interruption (does not require CFAR coverage to qualify)
- Frequent traveler reward included in both policies
- Up to $1 million in medical evacuation coverage available
- Medical coverage is only $100,000
- Reviews on claims processing indicate ongoing issues
- C&F's Travel Insured policies allow travelers customize travel insurance to fit their specific needs. Frequent travelers may benefit from purchasing an annual travel insurance plan, then adding on CFAR coverage for any portions of travel that may incur greater risk.
While every travel insurance company has negative reviews about its claims process, Travel Insured International's claims process has a consistent stream of positive reviews. One customer wrote that Travel Insured International processed a claim within 48 hours. Additionally, Travel Insured International regularly responds to customer reviews within one business week, making reviews a consistent way to reach the company.
Additionally, in Travel Insured International's fine print, it mentions that any claims that take more than 30 days to pay out will begin to accrue interest at 9% APY.
Travel Insured International reputation isn't the only thing to speak highly of. It offers an array of add-ons uncommon in the travel insurance industry, such as Interruption for Any Reason insurance and CFAR coverage for annual plans. Travel Insured International also offers child-inclusive pricing with its Deluxe and Platinum travel insurance plans, which means that children 17 and under are covered for free when traveling with a covered family member.
Best for Preexisting Conditions
874
A++
- Policy coverage includes most pre-existing health conditions
- Generous medical and evacuation amounts for peace of mind
- COVID coverage included by default on all insurance plans
- Offers a wide range of plans for various budgets and travel needs
- Some plans offer CFAR, “cancel for work reasons,” financial default, and unemployment coverage
- Limited add-on coverage options
- Baggage loss and delay coverage is low compared to competitors
Tin Leg travel insurance offers eight travel insurance plans to meet the unique needs of travelers.
Tin Leg- Tin Leg was founded in 2014 by the travel insurance industry experts at Squaremouth. Designed to meet the most common needs of travelers, these policies offer comprehensive Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption benefits, and a range of Emergency Medical and Medical Evacuation limits.
preexisting conditions as long as you purchase your policy within 15 days of your initial trip payment.
Thanks to coverage for preexisting medical conditions as well as for potential COVID-19 infection while traveling, this company offers some of the best financial investment options for travelers who are or will be exposed to higher health risks and issues.
Best for Digital Nomads
A
- Affordable base plans that can be customized with add-ons including rental car, pet care, hunting and fishing, and vacation rental coverage
- Insurance plans available for international student travelers
- Trip delay coverage benefit that kicks in after just five hours
- Pre-existing conditions waiver can be purchased within 21 days of initial trip payment
- Lower medical, evacuation and accidental death limits
- Limited, secondary baggage loss coverage although baggage protection can be upgraded at a low cost
- No special coverages for pets, sports equipment, etc.
WorldTrips has been a reputable travel insurance provider for more than 20 years. Unsurprisingly, it boasts an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and positive reviews from thousands of customers.
WorldTrips- Travel medical insurance (Premium, Group, Annual, and International Student options)
- Trip cancellation insurance
- Trip protection insurance
WorldTrips Travel Insurance has decently low premiums, highly customizable add-ons, and generous coverage for core categories of travel insurance. All this makes it a great option for digital nomads, students studying abroad, and backpackers.
However, travelers should keep in mind that plans are not particularly flexible, and coverage amounts are limited unless you plan ahead to pay for the areas and amounts that you need.
Best for Value
- Useful for adventurous travelers headed to higher-risk destinations
- Affordable plans with varying levels of coverage
- 10-day free look option
- Generous baggage loss replacement policy
- Trip delay coverage kicks in after just six hours
- Some policies allow a CFAR add-on
- Up to $1 million medical evacuation coverage limit
- Baggage and trip delay coverages don’t kick in until after the 12-hour mark
- International student policies available for temporary stints abroad
- Complaints about claims not being paid or involving an intermediary to resolve claims
Trawick International travel insurance offers plans customized to diverse travelers' needs. We look at coverage options, claims processing, pricing, and other important factors for savvy travelers.
Trawick International Travel Insurance- Travel medical insurance
- Trip protection and cancellation
- International student insurance
- Visitor medical insurance (for traveling to the US)
medical travel insurance that can help higher-risk and anxious travelers find peace of mind while on the road. This company also offers high medical evacuation coverage limits, up to $1,000,000.
Additionally, Trawick's Travel Safe plan allows you to build your own plan from scratch, meaning you don't have to pay for coverage you don't need.
Best for Adventure Travels
A-
- Coverage for 200+ activities like skiing, surfing, and rock climbing
- Only two plans to choose from, making it simple to find the right option
- You can purchase coverage even after your trip has started
- If your trip costs more than $10,000, you may want to choose other insurance because trip protection is capped at up to $10,000 (for the Explorer plan)
- Doesn't offer coverage for travelers older than 70
- No Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) option
- Coverage for 150+ activities and sports
- 2 plans: Standard and Explorer
- Trip protection for up to $10,000
- Emergency medical insurance of up to $100,000
- Emergency evacuation coverage for up to $500,000
- Coverage to protect your items (up to $3,000)
SquareMouth, and how Business Insider rates travel insurance.
FAQs
Which travel insurance is the best?
Business Insider's overall best travel insurance provider is Nationwide for its breadth of coverage options. AIG Travel Guard, AXA, C&F Travel Insured, Tin Leg, WorldTrips, and Trawick also made the cut.
What does travel insurance not cover?
Travel insurance does not cover preexisting medical conditions, high-risk activities, medical tourism, and events known prior to the policy purchase date.
How do I find the right travel insurance?
You can find the right travel insurance by considering the benefits most important to you, whether you want to prioritize medical coverage or trip cancellation. Regardless, pay attention to customer ratings and reputation.
How much should I pay for travel insurance?
The average cost of travel insurance is $318.12, but the amount you should pay will depend on the trip you take. Travel insurance is usually 4% to 8% of your trip's cost.
What is the best travel insurance for seniors?
Trawick International is the best travel insurance for seniors, covering travelers up to 85 years old with relatively low premiums for older travelers and low-cost medical-only plans.
