Our Methodology
The best rated travel insurance companies offer policies that fit a combination of different budget and traveling needs. Whether you are going for domestic travel or international travel, it is essential to purchase the right policy that can protect you in different situations.
There are numerous plans available in international and nationwide travel insurance, but the right one depends on your unique circumstances. The best way to decide what trip protection plan works best is to compare the offers of travel insurance companies.
To help you, we have conducted travel insurance reviews of top companies. We based our rankings on the following criteria:
- Financial Strength (Financial strength of the insurer, based on its AM Best rating): The insurance company needs to be financially secure to pay out any potential claim.
- Business Reputation (BBB rating): The way the company responds to consumer reports, handles complaints and resolves issues.
- Travel Insurance Coverage: In this travel insurance comparison, we checked what features the insurance plans offer:
- Baggage Loss/Damage Reimbursement
- Baggage Delays/Time
- Missed Connection Coverage
- Trip/Travel Delay
- Trip Interruption reimbursement
- Trip cancelation
- Cancel for any reason
- Travel medical expenses
- Emergency medical evacuation
- Pre-existing medical conditions
- Rental Car Collision Coverage
- Free Look Period
- Runway Delay
- Closed Attractions
- Pricing: We sent a sample quote to each company and compared the price range (The sample insurance quote is for a family of four, $10,000, for 10 days trip).
Buyers Guide
Here are a few things that will help you in deciding which of the top travel insurance companies in the USA is the right choice for you:
What is Travel Insurance?
Travel insurance covers any unforeseen losses you might incur during your travels, either domestically or internationally.
How Does Travel Insurance Work?
In most cases, travel insurance compensates you for any financial loss you experienced during your trip. You have to file the claim with the company, following the steps highlighted by the representative.
The reimbursement process includes the agent reviewing your case and determining whether or not your claim is valid. Once your claim is approved, you will get compensated.
What Does Travel Insurance Cover?
Many of the travel insurance policies cover:
- Baggage loss/damage reimbursement
- Baggage delays/time
- Missed connection coverage
- Trip/travel delay
- Trip interruption reimbursement
- Trip cancelation
- Cancel for any reason travel insurance
- Travel medical expenses
- Emergency medical evacuation
- Pre-existing medical conditions
- Rental car collision coverage
- Free look period
- Runway delay
- Closed attractions
- Cruise travel insurance
- Travel insurance for pre-existing conditions
- Travel insurance for studying abroad
What is not covered by travel insurance?
The standard exclusions in travel insurance include the following:
- Illegal activities
- Pre-existing diseases
- Dental care
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Flights purchased with miles
- Ticket scams
- Drug use
What are the factors affecting travel insurance cost?
Various factors can affect the cost of travel insurance, including:
- Plan type
- Destination
- Age of the traveler
- Length of the trip
- Time sensitivity
- Pre-existing medical conditions
Should you buy travel insurance or get a credit card with travel insurance?
While it is recommended to have travel insurance during your travels, you still have an option to either buy it from an insurance company or get a credit card with travel insurance. There is no right or wrong decision here, as it mostly depends on your preference and unique circumstances.
It is essential to compare what is covered by the travel insurance offered by a credit card and the one being provided by the travel insurance company you pick to make the right choice.
