As a general rule, the most important coverage to have in a foreign country is travel medical insurance, as most U.S. health insurance policies don't cover you while you're abroad. Without travel medical coverage, a medical emergency in a foreign country can cost you.
You'll want trip cancellation and interruption coverage if your trip is particularly expensive. And if you're traveling for an extended period of time, you'll want to ensure that your policy is extendable.
Here are our picks for the best travel insurance for international travel.
Best International Travel Insurance
- Best overall: Allianz Travel Insurance
- Best for adventure traveling: World Nomads Travel Insurance
- Best for trip interruption coverage: Travel Insured International
- Best for medical-only coverage: GeoBlue Travel Insurance
- Best for families: Travelex Travel Insurance
- Best for long-term travel: Seven Corners Travel Insurance
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Best Overall
A+
Pros
Cons
- Single and multi-trip plans available
- Trip cancellation and interruption coverage starting at up to $10,000 (higher limits with more expensive plans)
- Preexisting medical condition coverage available with some plans
Allianz Travel Insurance offers the ultimate customizable coverage for international trips, whether you're a frequent jetsetter or an occasional traveler. You can choose from an a la carte of single or multi-trip plans, as well as add-ons, including rental car damage, cancel for any reason (CFAR), adventure sport, and business travel coverage. And with affordable pricing compared to competitors, Allianz is a budget-friendly choice for your international travel insurance needs.
The icing on the cake is Allyz TravelSmart, Allianz's highly-rated mobile app, which has an average rating of 4.4 out of five stars on the Google Play store across over 2,600 reviews and 4.8 out of five stars from over 22,000 reviews on the Apple app store. So, you can rest easy knowing that you can access your policy and file claims anywhere in the world without a hassle.
Best for Adventure Traveling
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Pros
Cons
- 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)
World Nomads Travel Insurance offers coverage for over 300 adventure activities and sports, so you can focus on the adventure without worrying about gaps in your coverage.
World Nomads offers its plans in three tiers: Standard, Explorer, and Epic. Standard already covers a wide array of activities, but Explorer and Epic cover more extreme sports like scuba diving and skydiving. World Nomads also offers generous travel medical coverage, starting at $125,000 with its cheapest plan. It doesn't have the highest evacuation coverage, however, maxing out at $700,000 when many companies offer up to $1 million.
Another added benefit of the World Nomads plan is that plans are available after departure. Though if you purchase a plan after you leave for your trip, you'll have to wait 72 days before your coverage kicks in.
Best for Trip Interruption
A
Pros
Cons
- 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.
Travel Insured International offers 100% coverage for trip cancellation, up to 150% for trip interruption, and reimbursement for up to 75% of your non-refundable travel costs with select plans. This means you don't have to worry about losing your hard-earned money on non-refundable travel costs if your trip ends prematurely.
Travel Insured also stands out for its extensive "reasons for cancellation" coverage. Unlike many insurers, the company covers hurricane warnings from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Best for Medical Coverage
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Pros
Cons
GeoBlue Travel Insurance offers policies that covers emergency medical treatments when you're abroad. While GeoBlue lacks trip cancellation coverage, that allows it to charge lower premiums than the other companies on this list.
GeoBlue plans can cover medical expenses up to $1 million with several multi-trip annual plans available. It offers coinsurance plans for trips within the U.S. and 100% coverage for international trips. It also has a network of clinics in 180 countries, streamlining the claims process. It's worth noting that coverage for pre-existing conditions comes with additional costs.
Best for Family Coverage
Pros
Cons
Travelex travel insurance is one of the largest travel insurance providers in the U.S. providing domestic and international coverage options. It offers Essential, Advantage, Ultimate, and Travel Med Go options. Read on to learn more.
Travelex Travel Insurance- Optional CFAR insurance available with the Ultimate plan
- Travel delay insurance starting at $500 with the Advantage plan
- Emergency medical and dental coverage starting at $15,000
Travelex Travel Insurance offers coverage for your whole crew, perfect for when you're planning a family trip. Its family plan insures all your children 17 and under at no additional cost. The travel insurance provider also offers add-ons like adventure sports and car rental collision coverage to protect your family under any circumstance.
Got pets? With Travelex's Ultimate plan, you can also get coverage for your furry friend's emergency medical and transportation expenses.
Best for Long Trips
Pros
Cons
- Trip cancellation insurance of up to 100% of the trip cost
- Trip interruption insurance of up to 150% of the trip cost
- Cancel for any reason (CFAR) insurance available
Seven Corners Travel Insurance offers specialized coverage that the standard short-term travel insurance policy won't provide, which is helpful if you're embarking on a long-term trip. You can choose from several plans, including the Annual Multi-Trip plan, which provides medical coverage for multiple international trips for up to 364 days. This policy also offers COVID-19 medical and evacuation coverage up to $1 million.
You also get the added benefit of incidental expense coverage. This policy will cover remote health-related services and information, treatment of injury or illness, and live consultations via telecommunication.
Compare International Travel Insurance Companies
How to Find the Right International Travel Insurance
Different travelers and trips require different types of insurance coverage. So, consider these tips if you're in the market to insure your trip.
Determine your needs
Your needs for international travel insurance will depend on the type of trip you're taking. You'll need to consider your destination and what you'll be doing there, either business, leisure, or adventure traveling, as there are separate policies for business travelers and adventure sports travelers.
Policies covering adventure sports and activities will cost more. Longer, more expensive trips will also cost more.
Research the reputation of the company
When researching an international travel insurance policy, you'll want to closely review the description of services. You'll want to see how claims are handled, any exceptions, and limitations.
You'll also want to look at the company's customer reviews on sites like Trustpilot, BBB, and SquareMouth, as this will provide insight on the quality of customer service and the claims process. You should also take note of whether companies respond to customer reviews.
Compare prices
You can get quotes through a company's website or travel insurance aggregators like InsureMyTrip and VisitorsCoverage. You'll need to be prepared to provide the following information about your trip:
- Trip destination(s)
- Travel dates
- Number of travelers
- Traveler(s) age/birthday
- State of residence
- Total trip cost
For companies that offer travel medical insurance, you'll also want to play around with the deductible options, as they can affect your policy premium.
Understanding International Travel Insurance Coverage Options
Travel insurance can be confusing, but we're here to simplify it for you. We'll break down the industry's jargon to help you understand what travel insurance covers to help you decide what your policy needs. Bear in mind that exclusions and limitations for your age and destination may apply.
| Travel insurance coverage type | What is it? |
| Medical coverage | Coverage for medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation, and repatriation of remains |
| Trip cancellation and interruption coverage | Reimburses you for non-refundable prepaid expenses if you have to cancel or interrupt your trip due to a covered event |
| Baggage coverage | Coverage for lost, stolen, or damaged personal items during your trip |
| Travel delay coverage | Compensates you for expenses related to trip delays such as meals, lodging, and other accommodations |
| Emergency assistance services | Get 24/7 emergency assistance services like medical and travel assistance or concierge services |
| Pre-existing medical conditions coverage | Medical coverage for conditions diagnosed before you purchased your policy |
| Hazardous activities coverage | Coverage for high risk activities like extreme sports or adventure activities |
| Coverage limits | The amount of coverage you'll receive for each category in your policy |
| Deductible | How much you'll pay before you receive compensation for your claim |
Finding the Best Price for International Travel Insurance
Your international travel insurance cost will depend on several factors, such as the length of your trip, destination, coverage limits, and age. Typically, a comprehensive policy includes travel cancellation coverage costs between 4% and 8% of your total trip cost.
If you're planning an international trip that costs $4,500, you can expect to pay anywhere from $225 to $450 for your policy. Comparing quotes from multiple providers can help you find the cheapest travel insurance that still meets your needs.
You can use insurance aggregators like SquareMouth, InsureMyTrip, or VisitorsCoverage to directly compare rates.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed International Travel Insurance Companies
We ranked and assigned superlatives to the best travel insurance for international travel based on several key factors, including:
- Policy types: We analyzed company offerings such as coverage levels, exclusions, and policy upgrades, taking note of providers that offer a range of travel-related issues beyond the standard coverages.
- Affordability: We recognize that cheap premiums don't necessarily equate to sufficient coverage. So, we seek providers that offer competitive rates with comprehensive policies and quality customer service. We also call out any discounts or special offers available.
- Flexibility: Travel insurance isn't one-size-fits-all. We highlight providers that offer a wide array of coverage options, including single-trip, multi-trip, and long-term policies.
- Claims handling: The claims process should be pain-free for policyholders. We seek providers that offer a streamlined process via online claims filing and a track record of handling claims fairly and efficiently.
- Quality customer service: Good customer service is as important as affordability and flexibility. We highlight companies that offer 24/7 assistance and have a strong record of customer service responsiveness.
We consult user feedback and reviews to determine how each company fares in each category. We also check the provider's financial rating and volume of complaints via third-party rating agencies.
Read more about how Business Insider rates travel insurance.
FAQs
Is international travel insurance worth it?
International travel insurance is worth the additional cost for providing medical insurance in foreign countries and its coverage on trips that are usually more expensive.
Are there any limitations or exclusions international travelers should be aware of?
Yes, international travelers should be aware of excluded countries due to heightened risk and exclusions related to preexisting conditions.
How far in advance should international travelers purchase travel insurance?
You should purchase travel insurance as soon as possible after booking your trip, maximizing your coverage and making you eligible for preexisting condition coverage and CFAR insurance.
Can I travel to multiple countries with travel insurance?
Yes, you can travel to multiple countries under one travel insurance policy, but you should tell your insurance provider about your travel plans.
How do I save money on international travel insurance?
You can save money on international travel insurance by choosing lighter coverage, such as medical-only travel insurance.
