Top 10 Travel Insurance Companies in USA
As travel has gotten more unpredictable, more people have sought to protect what they've paid for their trip by purchasing travel insurance. Wading through travel insurance policies and plans can be incredibly confusing, so U.S. News did the research for you to bring you the best travel insurance companies on the market today.
These companies' premier plans provide top-tier coverage for important things like trip cancellation and interruption, lost or delayed bags, missed connections, emergency medical and dental expenses, and more. These travel insurance providers also receive primarily positive reviews for their customer service, the ease of filing a claim and the promptness with which they reimburse travelers.
Our rankings, ratings and product reviews are unbiased. We do not rank or rate products or services based on our financial relationships with the companies that produce them. Our in-house research team collects extensive information used in our evaluation process, although we may not cover all options available in the marketplace. See our full methodology on Top 10 Travel Insurance Company in USA.
How Does Travel Insurance Work?
Travel insurance is a type of policy designed to cover expenses arising from health-related and medical emergencies and disruptions to your travel itinerary. You can purchase either a single-trip plan good for one-time travel, or an annual or multi-trip policy, which covers all travels made during the year and suits frequent flyers.
As you may have noticed from the list of coverage from the country’s top travel insurance companies, most policies cover:
| Trip cancellation and interruption: | Reimburses non-refundable or transferable costs if a trip does not push through due to a covered event. There are also some policies that pay out for unplanned hotel stays, meals, and rebooking flights. |
| Baggage loss or delay: | Covers the cost of personal items up to a specified limit if your baggage is lost, delayed, or damaged during your trip. |
| Flight delay: | Pays out for accommodation and meal expenses if your flight is delayed for more than a specified time. Most policies also cover the cost incurred if you miss your connecting flight due to a delay. |
| Emergency medical expenses: | Covers the cost of emergency medical care, including hospital bills, doctors’ fees, and treatment expenses. Policies typically pay out repatriation and quarantine costs as well. |
List of Top 10 Travel Insurance Companies in USA
1. Travelex Insurance Services
Travelex Insurance Services provides three different trip protection and cancellation options that vary in coverage limits and perks. The Essential, Advanced and Ultimate plans are the company's single-trip travel insurance choices. Travelex also offers multiple optional add-on upgrades, including cancel for any reason, adventure sports and pet coverage, plus many more. The highest-tier Ultimate plan can also include preexisting coverage if you buy the policy within 21 days of the first deposit you put on the trip.
Travelex reviews are typically positive, with a Trust pilot overall rating of 3.9 out of 5 and a Square mouth rating of 4.43 out of 5. Pleased reviewers say the process was straightforward and the customer service agents are friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. There are varying reviews on how long it took to process a claim once submitted; some experienced punctual payment while others said the process was dragged out.
2. Nationwide Insurance
Chances are you've heard the "Nationwide is on your side" jingle before – the company has been a stalwart in the insurance industry since 1926. The travel and trip insurance plans available include single-trip options, cruise-specific plans and annual coverage for multiple trips. There are two key single-trip travel insurance plans: Essential and Prime. The Essential Plan is more budget-friendly; Prime costs more but offers additional coverage. The preexisting condition waiver is available with both plans, but it must be purchased within 10 days of trip deposits for Essential and within 21 days for Prime. The cancel for any reason upgrade is only available with Nationwide's Prime Plan.
Nationwide is an especially solid option for those who like to book spontaneous trips or travelers who are indecisive on whether they want travel insurance: The provider allows you to purchase travel insurance up to a day before you depart for your trip.
Nationwide receives a 4.02 out of 5 rating on Square mouth and broadly positive reviews for its helpful customer service representatives and handling of travel insurance claims. Many were pleased with the coverage limits available and said Nationwide's agents were able to assist with questions and filing a claim. Some noted, though, that the process can be slow.
3. Seven Corners
Seven Corners provides a variety of travel insurance plans that globe-trotters can choose from, including medical-only, cruise-specific and multi trip options, plus standard single-trip plans. The company's customer service team is available 24/7 to assist with travel issues. If you want travel insurance for one trip, the more affordable option will be Trip Protection Basic, and the plan with more robust coverage will be Trip Protection Choice (the policies are sometimes referenced as Economy and Elite instead, based on which state you reside in).
Cancel for any reason coverage is available with both plans; the preexisting conditions exclusion waiver is only available with the Choice plan if purchased within 20 days of your first payment for the trip.
With excellent user ratings from Trust pilot (4.3 out of 5) and Square mouth (4.37 out of 5), Seven Corners is a solid bet, according to previous travelers. Many of the company's specific customer service reps received high praise for answering questions and handling claims efficiently.
4. Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection
There are multiple trip insurance options from Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection. Berkshire Hathaway's plans range from specialized road trip, adventure travel and cruise insurance to the company's ExactCare single-trip plans. The budget ExactCare Value plan, midrange ExactCare and comprehensive ExactCare Extra are three available choices. (The preexisting conditions medical exclusion waiver is available with all three options.) However, the LuxuryCare single-trip policy from Berkshire Hathaway offers the most travel insurance coverage across the board. It includes coverage for preexisting conditions (when certain criteria are met) and offers the option to add cancel for any reason coverage.
Berkshire Hathaway gets a 4.29 out of 5 rating from users on Square mouth, with many noting it was easy to make adjustments to a policy by speaking with customer service and that filing a claim with the company was simple. However, a select few said their claims took longer to resolve than expected.
5. Tin Leg
Tin Leg offers travelers eight plans to select from when considering travel insurance. This company is a good choice for those with chronic illnesses or temporary injuries, since seven of its eight plans cover preexisting conditions (when purchased within 14 to 15 days of the trip deposit, depending on the plan). In addition to two budget-friendly plans (Economy and Basic), the provider has a specific plan for adventure travelers and a few higher-tier plans as well. Cancel for any reason upgrade is available for four of Tin Leg's plans: Luxury, Adventure, Silver and Gold.
Tin Leg receives a 4.56 out of 5 rating on Square mouth and a 3.7 out of 5 rating on Trust pilot. Recent policyholders said the claims process was thorough, and many noted the customer service reps were helpful. Several said they were able to find what they considered a reasonably priced plan with Tin Leg.
6. WorldTrips
WorldTrips provides three main travel insurance options – Atlas Journey Escape, Atlas Journey Explore and Atlas Journey Elevate – ranging from affordable to pricier based on the total coverage. The company also offers add-on upgrades for things like cancel for any reason (you can choose up to 50% or 75% coverage when purchasing), interrupt for any reason, pet care and adventure sports. Its lost or stolen baggage policy of the top-tier plan is the most comprehensive of the providers on this list, with the company offering up to $500 per item ($2,500 total) in luggage coverage. Preexisting conditions coverage is available on each plan, provided you meet specific conditions.
With a 4.4 out of 5 rating on Trust pilot and a 4.26 out of 5 rating on Square mouth, WorldTrips travel insurance is a popular pick among travelers, and most have been pleased with the coverage and services provided.
7. Allianz Travel Insurance
Allianz has been a reputable name in the insurance business since it was established in 1890. The company offers 10 travel insurance plans, including single-trip options, annual plans, and specialized car rental and emergency medical plans. The key plans for an individual vacation are OneTrip Basic, OneTrip Prime and OneTrip Premier. Basic is the most affordable, Prime is billed as the company's "most popular," and Premier is the option with the most comprehensive coverage.
Another perk with Allianz is that its cancel for any reason add-on offers the highest amount of coverage possible when getting reimbursed, up to 80% of the total prepaid cost of the trip. Multiple Allianz plans also provide coverage for preexisting conditions, though a few specific requirements must be met.
Traveler reviews of Allianz are mostly positive; the company receives a 4.1 out of 5 rating on Trust pilot. Travelers commend the company's overall pricing, the ease of filing a claim and the customer service; many were able to get the expected refunds for their claims.
8. Travel Insured International
Travel Insured International provides three single-trip plans: Worldwide Trip Protector Essential, Deluxe and Platinum. An annual travel insurance plan is also available for those who want protection for multiple trips throughout the year. The Deluxe and Platinum plans offer the option to purchase a cancel or interrupt for any reason upgrade; the preexisting medical condition exclusion waiver is also available.
This insurance company receives numerous favorable reviews, with a 4.3 out of 5 rating on Trust pilot and a 4.4 out of 5 rating on Square mouth. Travelers say the representatives at Travel Insured International are polite and helpful, and filling out the forms to submit a claim is simple. Many say they did not have to wait too long for reimbursement either.
9. Travel Guard by AIG
Travel Guard is a provider of international travel insurance and travel safety services. You can cancel for any reason coverage. Add-on to Preferred and Deluxe plans reimbursing 50% of trip costs if purchased within 15 days of initial deposit. You will also get a Pre-existing condition waiver. It is available with any plan purchased within 15 days of the initial trip deposit.
AIG Travel Guard Preferred includes coverage for one child age 17 or younger with each related adult.
10. HTH Worldwide
HTH Worldwide offers three tiers of coverage: Economy, Classic, and Preferred plans, which are underwritten by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. Travelers looking for the most comprehensive level of coverage can benefit from taking out the preferred travel insurance plan. The policy also covers pre-existing conditions, but only if purchased within 21 days after the initial trip deposit. CFAR coverage can likewise be added, allowing policyholders to reimburse up to 75% of the non-refundable trip costs.
HTH Worldwide is a leading health insurance provider, which explains its comprehensive travel medical benefits. The company also has a portfolio of travel medical plans.
Conclusion
If there’s one thing that recent global events have taught us, it is how just a single incident can prove costly and disruptive to our trip. That’s why many industry experts advise travelers to purchase travel insurance, especially for overseas trips. Some even compared the importance of having coverage with that of carrying our passports as unexpected events can happen in a snap.
Travel insurance remains an essential tool that provides financial protection when unforeseen incidents happen while we are far from home. The travel industry is on the rebound and with it, the travel insurance industry is once again beginning to flourish.
FAQs on Top 10 Travel insurance Companies in USA
Q1. When should I buy travel insurance?
A: 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, that some travel insurance providers allow you to purchase plans until the day before you depart.
Q2. How do I file a travel insurance claim?
A: 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.
Q3. How long do travel insurance claims take to process?
A: 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.
Q4. Do I need insurance to travel?
A: Travel insurance is generally not required, and only you can decide whether or not it's right for you.
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