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Top 7 Cheapest Travel Insurance Companies (2026)

Nationwide is the cheapest travel insurance company on average, but another insurer on this list may offer the best price on the right policy for you
Key Takeaways
  • The cheapest travel insurance company from our research is Nationwide, with an average policy cost of $175.
  • In 2025, the average cost of a travel insurance plan is $221, based on our research.
  • Check to see if your credit card comes with travel insurance benefits before buying coverage.

The cheapest travel insurance companies in 2025 are Nationwide, Trawick and Travelex, according to our most recent industry study. However, the lowest rate doesn’t always mean the best policy or coverage for your needs, since the level of protection and customer support vary between plans and providers.

In this guide, we at the MarketWatch Guides team highlight the cheapest travel insurance companies that provide quality coverage and service. We provide a detailed look at the costs, coverage and features of each provider on our list. You’ll also find a few tips to help you get cheaper travel insurance rates for your next trip.


The 7 Best Cheap Travel Insurance Companies Worth the Cost

Here are our picks for the best and cheapest travel insurance companies.

How We Chose the Cheapest Travel Insurance Companies

To determine the cheapest travel insurance plan options, MarketWatch Guides gathered sample quotes for all plans offered by 24 travel insurance companies. We gathered quotes for eight trips with varying traveler ages, destinations, number of travelers and trip costs, which are outlined in our methodology. Total trip prices ranged from $1,800 to $8,000, with destinations to Mexico, England, France, Greece, Spain, Italy and Ireland.

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Our Top Pick
Company Average Cost Cheapest Plan BBB Rating
$175
Essential
A+
EXPLORE PLANS on Squaremouth’s website
Trawick International
EXPLORE PLANS on TravelInsurance.com’s website
$212
Safe Travels First Class
B
EXPLORE PLANS on TravelInsurance.com’s website
Travelex
EXPLORE PLANS on Travelex’s website
$212
Travel Basic
A+
EXPLORE PLANS on Travelex’s website
Seven Corners Travel Insurance
EXPLORE PLANS on TravelInsurance.com’s website
$216
Trip Protection Basic
A+
EXPLORE PLANS on TravelInsurance.com’s website
Generali Global Assistance
EXPLORE PLANS on TravelInsurance.com’s website
$255
Standard
A+
EXPLORE PLANS on TravelInsurance.com’s website
$275
Allianz OneTrip Basic
A+
EXPLORE PLANS on Allianz’s website
Faye
EXPLORE PLANS on Faye’s website
$298
Faye Travel Insurance
Not Rated
EXPLORE PLANS on Faye’s website
Company BBB Rating Average Cost Cheapest Plan
A+
$175
Essential
EXPLORE PLANS on Squaremouth’s website
Trawick International
EXPLORE PLANS on TravelInsurance.com’s website
B
$212
Safe Travels First Class
EXPLORE PLANS on TravelInsurance.com’s website
Travelex
EXPLORE PLANS on Travelex’s website
A+
$212
Travel Basic
EXPLORE PLANS on Travelex’s website
Seven Corners Travel Insurance
EXPLORE PLANS on TravelInsurance.com’s website
A+
$216
Trip Protection Basic
EXPLORE PLANS on TravelInsurance.com’s website
Generali Global Assistance
EXPLORE PLANS on TravelInsurance.com’s website
A+
$255
Standard
EXPLORE PLANS on TravelInsurance.com’s website
A+
$275
Allianz OneTrip Basic
EXPLORE PLANS on Allianz’s website
Faye
EXPLORE PLANS on Faye’s website
Not Rated
$298
Faye Travel Insurance
EXPLORE PLANS on Faye’s website
No results were found.
Rates refreshed as of Feb 2026

Our team reviewed travel insurance companies in-depth to provide the most accurate and up-to-date pricing information available. While your policy price will vary based on your trip details, traveler ages, number of travelers, destination, and more, we took the following steps when collecting data to get a full scope of industry pricing.

  • Overall cost averages: We pulled individual quotes for 24 travel insurance companies and 75 travel insurance policies for eight trip profiles. The trips we collected quotes for are the following:
    • 30-year-old couple taking a $5,000 vacation to Mexico
    • 65-year-old couple taking a $7,000 vacation to London
    • 30-year-old couple taking a $7,000 trip to London
    • Family of 4 taking an $8,000 vacation to Mexico
    • 19-year-old taking a $2,000 trip to Paris, France
    • 27-year-old taking a $1,800 trip to Athens, Greece
    • 23-year-old taking a $4,000 trip to Europe (Italy, Spain, Ireland, Greece, longest time spent in Italy)
    • 51-year-old taking a $2,000 vacation to Madrid, Spain
  • Cost data by provider: To figure out the average cost for each provider, we collected sample quotes for all the insurance policies they offer. Then, we took the average of these estimates for each type of trip across all their policies to find out the provider’s average cost.
  • Cost data by age: We analyzed travel insurance costs by age by reviewing price data for seven ages in increments of ten years, starting at 20 years old. We collected 20 sample quotes for each age and averaged them to get the typical cost for that age group. Sample quotes were collected for a variety of policies, from medical-only coverage to comprehensive travel insurance plans.
  • Cost data by number of travelers: We looked at sample quotes for four groups of travelers going on a trip to the UK for two weeks. We collected 25 sample quotes for each group and averaged them. The group details are as follows:
    • One 30-year-old traveler
    • A 30-year-old couple
    • Two 30-year-old adults and one 5-year-old child
    • Two 30-year-old adults, one 5-year-old child and one 7-year-old child
  • Cost by trip price: To get accurate pricing by trip price, we collected 20 quotes each for 11 differently priced trips. We started at a $1,000 trip and increased the trip price by $1,000 increments until $10,000, then collected quotes for a $15,000 trip. We averaged 20 quotes for each trip.

We manually collected all cost information from each travel insurance company’s website.


Cheap Travel Insurance Plans in Detail

Average Cost $175
Cheapest Plan Essential
Medical Expense Max $150,000

Nationwide offers two standard travel insurance plans with up to 200% reimbursement for trip interruptions and up to $150,000 in medical expense coverage. However, baggage limits and medical evacuation coverages are higher, which is beneficial for travelers with independent international health insurance.

Nationwide also offers three unique tiers of cruise protection, with up to 200% reimbursement if your vacation is interrupted or an unavoidable delay causes you to miss your cruise. This can offer peace of mind if you’re flying out of state to a departure port.

Pros

Offers 24-hour emergency assistance

Has cruise-specific insurance plans

Multiple coverage levels for cruises

Cons

Medical coverage acts as a secondary policy to your health insurance

Plans and Coverage

The chart below outlines Nationwide’s two single-trip travel insurance plans.

Coverage Item Essential Plan Prime Plan
Trip cancellation $10,000 $30,000
Trip interruption 125% of trip costs 200% of trip costs
Lost or stolen baggage $600 $2,000
Baggage delay $100 $600
Medical expenses $75,000 $150,000
Emergency evacuation $250,000 $1 million

Add-On Options

You can add the following optional coverages to Nationwide’s cruise and single-trip travel insurance plans:

  • Accidental death and dismemberment
  • Cancel-for-any-reason coverage
  • Vendor financial default coverage
  • Preexisting medical conditions waiver
  • Rental car collision coverage
Average Cost $212
Cheapest Plan Safe Travels First Class
Medical Expense Max $150,000

Trawick Travel Insurance offers low-cost medical evacuation insurance that meets the minimum requirements for some of the most common student and academically oriented visa types.

Trawick Travel Insurance offers up to $100,000 in emergency evacuation coverage as a standalone policy, meeting the insurance requirements of the J1, F1 and H1 visas. This policy is available to both students and faculty approved for select education-related visas and includes access to 24/7 assistance from a qualified, live nursing line.

If you’re a U.S. student traveling internationally, you might benefit from one of Trawick’s standard trip-cancellation insurance plans. Trawick sells a range of 10 individual plan options, varying in terms of coverage levels and benefits. CFAR coverage is available as an upgrade, and budget policy choices can be especially valuable for college students.

Pros

Offers visa-compliant policies for international students traveling to the U.S.

All policies include 24/7 assistance

Has 10 medical and evacuation policy options

Cons

Does not have study-abroad plans geared toward U.S. students

Safe Travels Flex coverage options vary by state

Plans and Coverage

If you’re an international student shopping for study-abroad coverage, Trawick offers one specific option: a medical evacuation and repatriation plan. The company offers 10 standard round-trip policies, ranging from its budget-friendly Safe Travels Explorer plan to its all-inclusive Safe Travels First Class. You can even create your own travel insurance plan with the customizable Safe Travels Flex policy — though most options have state-related limitations.

Add-On Options

Trawick Travel Insurance currently offers the following add-ons for its round-trip plan options:

  • CFAR coverage
  • Interruption-for-any-reason coverage
  • Accidental death and dismemberment
  • Adventure activity coverage
  • Rental car damage
  • Rental property damage
  • Trip delay coverage upgrades

Specific upgrades may vary by policy and destination. Some policies automatically include coverage that other plans don’t unless you pay extra for an add-on, like AD&D coverage.

Average Cost $212
Cheapest Plan Travel Basic
Medical Expense Max $50,000

Travelex earned a spot on our list because of its affordable pricing and unique benefits that make it a great choice for traveling families, such as its higher-than-average baggage allowances and emergency medical coverage for pets. Its basic travel insurance coverage can cost as low as $60 and includes all the standard protections you’ll find with more expensive providers.

Travelex bills its travel insurance policies as flat-rate coverage, making your pricing more predictable. Plans also include access to 24/7 emergency assistance services, which can connect you with travel and legal assistance anywhere in the world.

Pros

CFAR upgrade available

Insurance coverage starts at $60 per trip

Higher-than-average baggage allowances

Cons

Low coverage for medical bills

Some add-ons not available with basic plan

Plans and Coverage

Travelex offers three travel insurance plans. The Travel Select and Travel America plans include coverage for sporting equipment delays. Travel America also offers medical emergency protection for your pet.

Coverage Item Travel Basic Travel Select Travel America
Trip cancellation 100% of trip costs 100% of trip costs 100% of trip costs
Trip interruption 100% of trip costs 150% of trip costs 150% of trip costs
Lost or stolen baggage $500 $1,000 $2,000
Baggage delay $100 $200 $1,000
Medical expenses $15,000 $50,000 $50,000
Emergency evacuation $100,000 $500,000 $250,000

Add-On Options

Travelex allows you to add the following coverage to your travel insurance:

  • CFAR coverage
  • Adventure sports coverage
  • AD&D and medical benefit upgrades
Average Cost $216
Cheapest Plan Trip Protection Basic
Medical Expense Max $500,000

With six policy options, Seven Corners offers many opportunities to customize your coverage and adjust your travel insurance price. For example, Seven Corners offers a plan that covers a single trip with more than one international destination. In addition, the company sells a medical travel plan for non-U.S. citizens to help cover emergency medical costs while traveling within the U.S.

Seven Corners also has a generous range of travel insurance plans suitable for international destinations. Its two plans covering international travel offer protection for cancellation, regardless of the reason, and a range of medical-only options at reduced price points.

In addition to offering specialized plans, Seven Corners provides more generous baggage coverage than some other providers. You’ll be able to claim a reimbursement for a baggage delay after just 12 hours, which can offer peace of mind if you’re traveling to multiple international destinations in a single trip. For most coverage, the provider’s premiums cost less than average.

Pros

Offers six total plan options

Features lower-than-average pricing on basic plans

Has a 12-hour minimum for delayed baggage claims

Cons

Requires a 48-hour travel delay for hurricane and weather-related claims

Medical coverage is secondary to the policyholder’s domestic health insurance

Plans and Coverage

Seven Corners has two base plan options: Trip Protection Basic and Trip Protection Choice. These policies cover one-way and round-trip travel itineraries in the U.S. and abroad, with up to $100,000 in medical coverage and up to 100% in compensation for trip interruption on the most affordable plan.

Add-On Options

Seven Corners currently offers the following add-ons for its round-trip plan options:

  • CFAR coverage
  • IFAR coverage
  • Rental car damage
  • Sports and golfing equipment coverage
Average Cost $255
Cheapest Plan Standard
Medical Expense Max $250,000

Generali Global Assistance earns a place on our list for its generous trip interruption coverage. If your trip is cut short due to a family emergency or other covered event, Generali reimburses you for up to 175% of the costs of the trip, which is much higher than competitors.

Generali also extends emergency evacuation coverage of up to $1 million and medical expense coverage of up to $250,000. Plans feature identity theft protection, a common problem abroad that some travel insurance companies don’t consider.

Pros

Each plan includes 24/7 travel assistance

Can add coverage for preexisting conditions up to 24 hours before departure date

Offers up to 175% trip interruption coverage

Cons

CFAR upgrade only includes 60% reimbursement, lower than some other providers

Must purchase CFAR coverage within 24 hours of your policy deposit

Plans and Coverage

Generali offers three plans with coverage levels detailed below. In addition, the Preferred and Premium plans offer reimbursement if you experience any delays when renting sporting equipment on your trip.

Coverage Item Standard Plan Preferred Plan Premium Plan
Trip cancellation 100% of trip costs 100% of trip costs 100% of trip costs
Trip interruption 125% of trip costs 150% of trip costs 175% of trip costs
Lost or stolen baggage $1,000 $1,500 $2,000
Baggage delay $200 $300 $500
Medical Expenses $50,000 $150,000 $250,000
Emergency evacuation $250,000 $500,000 $1 million

Add-On Options

Generali offers the following coverage add-ons:

  • CFAR upgrade
  • Rental car collision coverage
  • Preexisting medical conditions waiver
Average Cost $275
Cheapest Plan Allianz OneTrip Basic
Medical Expense Max $75,000

We recommend Allianz Global Assistance for people who travel frequently, whether for business or pleasure, and who prefer the simplicity of a single annual policy. Allianz features a formidable offering of single-trip policies, but it’s the insurer’s year-round travel coverage options that make the company stand out. Paying a flat fee for a year’s worth of travel insurance may not be the best option for everyone, but for frequent travelers, year-round coverage can offer tremendous value.

If you travel more than a couple of times per year, a 365-day policy is likely to be cheaper than buying individual policies, especially at the competitive rates we found from Allianz. But it’s also a simpler way to stay covered without having to go through the process of buying a new policy every time you plan to leave town.

Pros

Provides global customer support in different languages

Offers both single-trip and multi-trip coverage

Strong ratings from customers on multiple review sites

Cons

Single-trip policies more expensive than competitors

Medical expense coverage limited to $75,000

Plans and Coverage

Allianz offers nine policy options for both single-trip and multi-trip travel insurance.

Policy Tier CFAR Trip Delay Trip Interruption and Cancellation Baggage Medical
OneTrip Basic Plan No $300 ($150 per day limit) Trip cancellation $10,000; trip interruption $10,000 Baggage loss/damage $500; baggage delay $200 Emergency medical $10,000; emergency medical transportation $50,000
OneTrip Prime Plan Optional upgrade $800 ($200 daily limit) Trip cancellation $100,000; trip interruption $150,000 Baggage loss/damage $1,000; baggage delay $300 Emergency medical $500,000; emergency medical transportation $50,000
OneTrip Premier Plan Optional upgrade $1,600 ($200 daily limit) Trip cancellation $200,000; trip interruption $300,000 Baggage loss/damage $2,000; baggage delay $600 Emergency medical $75,000; emergency medical transportation $1,000,000
OneTrip Emergency Medical Plan No $1,000 ($200 daily limit) No Baggage loss/damage $2,000; baggage delay $600 Emergency medical $50,000; emergency medical transportation $250,000
OneTrip Cancellation Plus Plan No $150 ($150 daily limit) Trip cancellation $5,000; trip interruption $5,000 Baggage loss/damage $1,000; baggage delay $200 No
AllTrips Basic Plan No $600 ($200 daily limit) No Baggage loss/damage $1,000; baggage delay $200 Emergency medical $20,000; emergency medical transportation $100,000
AllTrips Prime Plan No $600 ($200 daily limit) Trip cancellation $3,000; trip interruption $3,000 Baggage loss/damage $2,000; baggage delay $600 Emergency medical $20,000; emergency medical transportation $100,000
AllTrips Premier Plan No $1,500 ($300 daily limit) Trip cancellation $15,000; trip interruption $15,000 Baggage loss/damage $2,000; baggage delay $2,000 Emergency medical $50,000; emergency medical transportation $500,000
AllTrips Executive Plan $1,600 ($200 daily limit) Trip cancellation $10,000; trip interruption $10,000 Baggage loss/damage $1,000; baggage delay $1,000 Emergency medical $50,000; emergency medical transportation $250,000

Optional Add-Ons

  • Terrorism extension cover: Covers injuries and other losses suffered as a result of an act of terrorism up to $100,000.
  • Hazardous sports coverage: Provides coverage for high-risk activities like climbing, skateboarding and diving, which aren’t covered under standard policies. Also provides up to $500 in trip cancellation coverage for ski vacations and $300 of coverage for lost, damaged or stolen skiing equipment.
  • OneTrip rental car coverage: Covers damages to rental cars up to $50,000 and comes with 24-hour emergency roadside assistance coverage.
  • Cancel any time: Adds CFAR coverage to premium travel insurance policies for up to 80% of the cost of non-refundable expenses when you cancel your plans, regardless of the reason.
  • Required to work: Provides trip interruption and trip cancellation coverage due to work-related emergencies. This coverage is included in some Allianz plans, such as OneTrip Prime.
Average Cost $298
Cheapest Plan Faye Travel Insurance
Medical Expense Max $250,000

Faye leverages insurance tech to help you get enrolled in a policy quickly and file a claim on the go. Faye features an all-online quote process with just a handful of questions, as well as an online enrollment and claims-filing process. You can enroll in coverage and file claims directly through its mobile app, and even be reimbursed on approved claims to your phone’s Faye wallet. Faye also offers real-time alerts and 24/7 customer service before and during your trip.

We recommend Faye to travelers who want a quick, all-online experience that doesn’t require wading through complicated coverage options.

Pros

Offers quick, all-online quotes, enrollment and claims processing

Can pay you $200 if your bags get delayed for six hours or more*

Optional cancel-for-any-reason add-on covers up to 75% of trip costs*

Cons

Only offers one plan option

Does not offer add-on coverage for accidental death and dismemberment

Coverage

Faye offers one plan with several optional add-on options.

Coverage Item Faye Travel Insurance Coverage
Trip Cancellation Up to 100% of non-refundable trip costs
Trip interruption Up to 150% of non-refundable trip costs
Lost or stolen baggage $150 per item, up to $2,000
Baggage delay $200 if bags are delayed 6+ hours, $300 if bags are delayed 12+ hours
Medical expenses Up to $250,000 (for international trips)
Emergency evacuation Up to $500,000 (for international Trips)

Optional Add-Ons

  • CFAR travel insurance
  • Rental car damage or theft
  • Adventure and extreme sports protection
  • Vacation rental damage protection
  • Pet care

How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost?

After gathering quotes for various traveler profiles from top providers in the industry, our team found that travel insurance costs anywhere from $35 to $765. However, the cheapest travel insurance companies on our list average $188 per trip. After averaging quotes across traveler profiles, we found that Nationwide offers the most affordable basic travel insurance coverage, with an average policy cost of $175.

Note that the cost of a travel insurance policy will depend on factors like your destination, number of travelers, traveler ages, length of the trip and total trip cost.

MarketWatch Guides Tip:

Keep in mind that cheaper policies often offer less coverage. Be sure to review a policy’s trip interruption and cancellation coverage percentages, as well as coverage limits for baggage loss, missed flight connections and medical benefits, including medical evacuation. We recommend searching for policies with 100% or more cancellation and interruption coverage, and look for options that offer over $500,000 in medical coverage.

To help you better understand how these factors can affect your travel insurance costs, we’ve outlined several traveler profiles and the average cost of coverage for each in the table below.

Traveler ProfilePlan Cost
30-year-old couple taking a $5,000 trip to Mexico$204
Family of four taking an $8,000 vacation to Mexico$313
65-year-old couple taking a $7,000 trip to London$484
30-year-old couple taking a $7,000 trip to London$269
19-year-old taking a $2,000 trip to Paris$83
27-year-old taking a $1,800 trip to Athens$85
51-year-old taking a $2,000 vacation to Madrid$113
*We calculated average plan costs by obtaining quotes from each provider in our review across all available plans.
Data updated as of Oct. 2025

“Travel insurance is a way for insurance companies to manage the statistical probabilities of various risks on behalf of travelers. Travel insurance premiums are calculated based on various factors, including the destination, traveler’s age and other conditions, estimating the associated risk and price insurance accordingly.”


Expert insight from Wookjae Heo, Ph.D

Factors That Affect Travel Insurance Cost

Travel insurance is not a one-size-fits-all plan. Several factors determine the cost of your travel insurance, which we’ve listed below.

  • Age: You should expect to pay more the older you are, as age often correlates with increased risk. Typically, prices are the same for travelers up to age 50 and increase from there.
  • Plan type: The more protection you need, the more expensive your travel insurance will be.
  • Add-on coverages: Most plans allow you to add certain features without having to upgrade your entire plan. For example, you may be able to buy basic flight insurance for $30 and add CFAR coverage for an additional $30.
  • Number of travelers: While you can buy a single policy for multiple travelers, each traveler will have their own premium, which increases the total cost of the travel insurance. However, many travel insurance companies offer group-rate discounts.
  • Trip cost: The more expensive your trip, the more it would cost the travel insurance company to reimburse it. As such, your travel insurance premium will increase alongside your reported total trip cost.
  • Trip length: The longer the trip, the more you’ll pay for travel insurance. Longer trips are not only more expensive but also increase the chances of something going wrong.
  • Destination: Your travel insurance provider will take the risk factor of your trip destination into consideration when determining the cost of travel insurance.

How To Find Cheap Travel Insurance

Protecting your vacation with travel insurance does not have to break the bank. Consider these tips to find the best possible pricing on travel coverage for your upcoming trip.

Compare Travel Insurance Quotes

Every travel insurance company uses an in-house underwriting formula to determine how much you’ll pay for travel insurance. It’s possible to find the same level of travel insurance from five different travel insurance companies at five different price points.

The only way to know which travel insurance company has the most affordable coverage for your trip is to get a quote from multiple providers. We recommend getting a quote from at least three competing travel insurance companies before making your final choice. While getting a quote takes only a few minutes, it could end up saving you hundreds of dollars on insurance.

Determine the Right Amount of Coverage

Another way to save money on travel insurance is to opt for a policy with only the coverages that you need. For example, most travel insurance providers offer the option to add CFAR coverage, which entitles you to reimbursement for travel expenses no matter why you need to cancel your trip. While this add-on can be convenient, it is also expensive, and you can save a significant amount on coverage by opting out.

Check Credit Card and Employer Benefits

Before purchasing travel insurance, it can be helpful to call your credit card company to learn more about potential travel benefits. Many credit cards, such as Chase Sapphire Preferred, come with built-in perks, including rental car coverage, trip cancellation protection and travel accident insurance. If you’re able to claim these coverages through your credit card company, you won’t need to buy added coverage through a travel insurer, saving you money.

If you’re traveling for business, you can ask if you have any coverage through your employer. Some large employers that fund corporate travel regularly broker discounted group travel plans for their employees, allowing you to avoid buying your own coverage.

Weigh Value Against Cost

As you compare policy options and collect quotes, take the time to understand the exact coverage levels included in each plan. Sometimes, cheap travel insurance is cheap for a reason — a low-priced plan may exclude circumstances you expect coverage for, limiting the usefulness of your policy.

After getting a quote from a travel insurance provider, make a note of important policy details. For example, if you’re opting for CFAR coverage, how much will you be reimbursed if you cancel your trip? What types of medical conditions and injuries does your policy exclude? What is the maximum amount your insurance will pay if you miss a flight, must come home early or face another emergency? These important questions can help you compare policies and determine the value of your coverage.


What Does Travel Insurance Cover?

If you’ve never purchased it before, you might be wondering what travel insurance is and what it covers.

As we’ve seen by comparing companies and policies, travel insurance can cover a wide array of things. But some of the most basic coverages are:

  • Trip cancellation protection: Compensates you for nonrefundable trip payments prepaid to your hotel, airline, cruise and other vendors if you’re forced to cancel your trip for a covered reason.
  • Trip interruption protection: Compensates you for nonrefundable trip expenses if you’re forced to leave your vacation early for a reason stated in your policy.
  • Baggage delay and loss: Compensates you for lost, stolen or delayed baggage costs.
  • Emergency medical expenses: This covers the cost of expenses if you’re injured, become ill or experience a medical issue on a trip. Some travel insurance plans also include coverage limits for dental costs.

“One critical factor in evaluating travel insurance policies is what constitutes a covered reason for a cancellation. In general, the cancellation usually must be due to unanticipated circumstances. Examples would possibly include medical treatment for injuries, death of a traveling companion, jury duty, losing your job and weather-related service disruptions.”


Expert insight from Tim Query, Ph.D.

Common Add-Ons

If you buy a cheap travel insurance plan, it will likely only protect you from the most basic issues. But if you pay a little extra, you can add on coverage for things you might be more likely to need, including:

  • Cancel-for-any-reason coverage: When you claim reimbursement through your travel insurance policy, you’ll need documentation that backs up the reason why you’re canceling. With a CFAR upgrade, you can cancel your trip for any reason and still claim a percentage reimbursement on nonrefundable costs.
  • Interrupt-for-any-reason coverage: IFAR coverage is similar to CFAR coverage except that it protects you starting 72 hours after your departure until the end of your trip. If you have to cut your trip short for any reason, IFAR will reimburse up to 75% of the total amount of coverage you purchased for any non-refundable travel arrangements.
  • Collision coverage waiver: Extends your rental car coverage to include collision damage.
  • Financial default: This type of coverage applies if your airline, resort or other trip vendor declares bankruptcy.
  • Pre-existing conditions waiver: Most standard travel insurance policies exclude health conditions if you show symptoms before buying travel insurance. An add-on allows you to extend your coverage to waive pre-existing condition exclusions.

Ask The Experts

We asked five experts what the top money-saving tips are for travelers.

“In addition to the usual tactics of going budget on everything like airlines and hotels,
the key to real savings is asking yourself, ‘Why am I or we are taking the trip?’

If the trip is a more cultural and educational experience, such as for young kids, you can save by using public transportation, eating where locals go, and going to museums and cultural centers with free activities.”


Expert insight from Darron Kirkley

Is Cheaper Travel Insurance Worth It?

While many companies offer cheap travel insurance, not all policies are created equal. As you compare the best travel insurance plans, consider which coverages you can sacrifice to maintain valuable protections and save money. For example, if you have a health care policy that covers you abroad or a credit card that provides rental car coverage, you will not need a plan that includes these protections.

No matter what kind of travel insurance coverage you’re looking for, we recommend comparing premiums from at least three of our top travel insurance companies before deciding whether travel insurance is worth it.


Cheap Travel Insurance: FAQ

There are multiple types of cheap travel insurance, including policies that include coverage for trip cancellation, trip delay and medical treatments issued abroad. Some travel insurance providers offer robust plans with various benefits, while others offer more affordable policies with limited benefits. The latter usually only allows you to cancel for a covered reason to receive a reimbursement for airfare, hotel costs and other nonrefundable expenses.

You can expect to pay between 4% and 12% of your total trip cost for your international travel insurance, according to Generali Global Assistance. Actual costs will vary depending on trip details and the type of coverage you select.

The best travel insurance for your needs might vary depending on the specifics of your trip. For example, if you’re a student taking a budget trip to Mexico for spring break, Trawick’s low-cost basic plan might offer the most bang for your buck. If you’re planning a cruise, Nationwide’s cruise-specific coverage might provide peace of mind. We recommend getting at least three quotes from competing providers to be sure you’re getting the best coverage.


Methodology: Our System for Rating Travel Insurance Companies

Our team surveyed dozens of travel insurance providers and created a scoring system to judge each company based on coverage, quality and service. We also collected sample quotes from each company, both over the phone and on the internet, to simulate an authentic customer experience. Here are the factors we take into consideration when rating providers:

  • Cost (10%): To determine a baseline average travel insurance cost, we gathered quotes from each travel insurance company based on different traveler profiles. Travel insurance companies at or below our calculated average cost of $221 earn full points in this category. Specifically, we obtained quotes for the following trips
    • A 30-year-old couple taking a $5,000 vacation to Mexico
    • A family of four taking an $8,000 vacation to Mexico
    • A 65-year-old couple taking a $7,000 vacation to the United Kingdom
    • A 30-year-old couple taking a $7,000 trip to the United Kingdom
    • A 19-year-old taking a $2,000 trip to France
    • A 27-year-old couple taking a $1,200 trip to Greece
    • A 51-year-old couple taking a $2,000 trip to Spain
  • Plan availability (10%): We look for insurers with a variety of travel insurance plans and the ability to customize a policy with coverage upgrades.
  • Coverage details (29%): We review the baseline coverage each company offers in its cheapest comprehensive plan. A provider with robust coverage earns full points, including baggage delay and loss, emergency evacuation and medical coverage, trip delay and cancellation coverage and more. Companies also receive points for offering a variety of policy add-ons such as accidental death and dismemberment, extreme sports, valuable items, cancel for any reason coverage and more.
  • Coverage times and amounts (34%): We compare each company’s waiting periods and maximum reimbursement amounts for baggage, travel and weather delays. Companies that offer customers reimbursement after fewer than 12 hours of delays earn full points in this category. We also reward travel insurance providers that cover more than 100% of trip costs in the event of cancellations or interruptions.
  • Company service and reviews (17%): We look for indicators that a company is well-prepared to respond to customer needs. Companies with an established global resource network, 24/7 emergency hotline, mobile app, multiple ways to file a claim and concierge services score higher in this category. We assess reputation by evaluating consumer reviews, third-party financial strength and customer experience ratings, specifically from AM Best and the Better Business Bureau.

For more information, read our full travel insurance methodology.


A.M. Best Disclaimer

*Data accurate at time of publication.

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Meet the Team

Daniel Robinson is a writer based in Greenville, N.C. with expertise in auto insurance, loans, warranty options and more. Away from the keyboard, Daniel spends time with his wife and son, plays guitar and obsesses over the Beatles and Baltimore Orioles.

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Shelby Fishman is an assistant editor for MarketWatch Picks. Previously, she served as an assistant editor for custom content at Barron’s Group. Shelby studied broadcast journalism at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and received her Master’s in Journalism from American University in Washington, D.C.

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