travel insurance cancellation policy

Advertiser Disclosure

Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market.  See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. You can also review our  credit card rating methodology .

Protect Your Travel Plans: Trip Cancellation Insurance Explained and the 5 Best Policies

Jessica Merritt

Editor & Content Contributor

89 Published Articles 500 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 4 U.S. States Visited: 23

154 Published Articles 766 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 35 U.S. States Visited: 25

Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

35 Published Articles 3211 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 47 U.S. States Visited: 28

Table of Contents

The 5 best trip cancellation insurance policies, what is trip cancellation insurance, how trip cancellation insurance works, is trip cancellation insurance worth it, what trip cancellation insurance costs, choosing trip cancellation insurance , final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

You’ve booked your flight, hotel, and tours and are ready to go on your trip — but what happens if you can’t make it? Unexpected circumstances can pop up that force you to cancel your trip, such as illness or natural disasters. If you can’t get refunds from travel suppliers, trip cancellation insurance can help.

Let’s look at what trip cancellation covers, whether you need a trip cancellation policy, and what you should know before shopping for a plan.

You’ll have plenty of options if you want a cheap, standalone trip cancellation policy, comprehensive travel coverage, or Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) coverage.

Consider these trip cancellation insurance policies that offer good value and coverage, quoted for a 35-year-old visiting Mexico on a $1,500 trip in September 2023:

Best Cheap Trip Cancellation Insurance: battleface

We were quoted just $20 for a battleface Discovery Plan with trip cancellation benefits up to $1,500. But that’s all it offers — you won’t get trip interruption coverage, medical coverage, evacuation, loss or delay, or other benefits offered by comprehensive travel insurance plans.

Best Extensive Trip Cancellation Reasons: IMG

IMG’s iTravelnsured Travel Essential plan isn’t CFAR coverage, but it has multiple covered reasons for cancellation. You’re covered for foreign and domestic terrorism, financial default, medical reasons, and accommodations made uninhabitable. Our $35.92 quote offered up to 100% of the total trip cost for trip cancellation and 125% for trip interruption. 

Best Comprehensive Trip Cancellation Coverage: TinLeg

TinLeg’s Basic travel insurance plan covers up to 100% of your total trip cost for trip cancellation , but you’ll also get other major travel insurance coverages. This plan we were quoted $41 for offers trip interruption, travel delay, baggage delay, emergency medical, evacuation and repatriation, and more. 

Best Layoff Protection: Aegis

Like the battleface plan, Aegis Go Ready Trip Cancellation insurance covers up to 100% of your trip cost if you need to cancel — but not much else. But a big value-add is employment layoff coverage , which allows you to get reimbursed if you need to cancel your trip due to involuntary layoff or termination of employment. We were quoted $45 for this plan.

Best Cancel for Any Reason: Seven Corners

The Seven Corners Trip Protection Basic plan offers optional CFAR coverage, which reimburses up to 75% of your trip cost for reasons not otherwise covered by your policy. Regular trip cancellation and interruption coverage offer reimbursement of up to 100% of your trip cost. Our quoted cost for this plan came to $58.

Trip cancellation insurance is a type of travel insurance. With trip cancellation coverage, you can get reimbursement for nonrefundable prepaid travel expenses if you need to cancel your trip before departure. Trip cancellation is one of the main coverage areas for travel insurance, the other being medical emergency coverage.

Many comprehensive travel insurance policies offer trip cancellation coverage; standalone trip cancellation insurance is less common than comprehensive travel policies. Travel credit cards may offer trip cancellation coverage as a cardholder benefit, as well.

Trip cancellation insurance kicks in if you must cancel your trip due to unforeseen circumstances such as an illness, injury, or other covered reasons. You can get reimbursed for nonrefundable expenses if you have travel cancellation insurance and need to cancel your trip.

Covered nonrefundable expenses typically include:

• Hotels and vacation rentals
• Rental cars

Travel insurance policies with trip cancellation coverage often include trip interruption benefits. Similar to trip cancellation coverage, trip interruption benefits can help you recoup your costs if you need to delay or cut your trip short due to covered reasons.

When To Buy Trip Cancellation Insurance

You can usually purchase trip cancellation insurance up to the day before your scheduled departure. Still, you’ll get more value if you purchase insurance as soon as you make your first trip deposit . That way, your travel plans are covered from the start.

Trip Cancellation Insurance Covered Reasons

Unless you opt for Cancel for Any Reason travel insurance, trip cancellation insurance only applies to covered cancellation reasons. For example, you can’t use trip cancellation insurance to cancel your trip for a refund because there’s rain forecasted for your beach vacation. But, you could get reimbursement if a named hurricane forms after you purchased your policy.

Common reasons covered by trip cancellation insurance include:

• Death, including the death of a family member or traveling companion
• Government travel warnings or evacuation orders for your destination
• Home damage or burglary
• Illness, injury, or quarantine that makes you or a covered travel companion unfit to travel
• Legal obligations such as jury duty or subpoena
• Natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, or floods affect travel operations at your destination
• Terrorist incidents at home or your destination
• Travel supplier cancellation
• Unexpected military duty
• Unexpected pregnancy complications
• Unexpected work obligations

These are common covered reasons for trip cancellation insurance, but policies vary in coverage . Reviewing the terms and conditions of your trip cancellation insurance is a good idea so you understand what’s covered.

You should also understand what’s explicitly not covered. For example, changing your mind is not a covered reason on a standard trip cancellation insurance policy. And trip cancellation insurance typically doesn’t cover foreseeable events, routine health treatments, substance abuse, sporting events, mental health, acts of war, self-harm, or dangerous activities such as skydiving.

Cancel for Any Reason Trip Cancellation Coverage

Need to expand your list of covered cancellation reasons? Cancel for Any Reason trip cancellation insurance is an option. 

You can use CFAR to cancel your trip for reasons not covered by trip cancellation insurance, such as changing your mind, fear of travel, unexpected obligations, weather, or budget concerns.

The catch? You’ll pay more for CFAR coverage , and it only reimburses up to 50% to 75% of your nonrefundable travel expenses. Generally, trip cancellation insurance offers 100% reimbursement for covered expenses. 

The other main stipulation is that you’ll need to purchase your coverage within a specified period , usually within 10 to 21 days of your first trip deposit. And to get reimbursement under CFAR, you must cancel your travel within the cancellation timeframe, usually at least 48 hours from your scheduled departure.

Annual Travel Insurance

Most annual travel insurance policies, also known as multi-trip policies, cover trip cancellation for multiple trips taken within the policy period, usually 12 months. You’ll also typically get coverage for medical expenses.

Trip Cancellation vs. Trip Interruption

Trip cancellation insurance covers your nonrefundable travel expenses if you have to cancel before departure, while trip interruption covers your trip costs after departure . For example, trip interruption coverage kicks in if you get injured while traveling and have to go home early.

Trip cancellation insurance can be worth it if you have nonrefundable travel expenses and there’s a risk you’ll have to cancel your travel due to unforeseen events. It offers financial protection if you’re traveling to a destination with potential risks such as natural disasters or political instability — or if you have risk factors at home, such as unpredictable work commitments or family members with health conditions that could interfere with travel. 

If you plan an expensive trip with nonrefundable bookings or deposits, trip cancellation is probably worth it. But if your travel is inexpensive, or most of your travel expenses are refundable, you might not need trip cancellation insurance.

Consider the cost of insurance, the likelihood you’ll need to cancel, and the cost of nonrefundable travel at stake when you decide if trip cancellation is worth it.

A basic travel insurance policy with trip cancellation coverage generally costs between 5% to 10% of your trip costs . So a travel insurance policy for a $5,000 trip would cost $250 to $500. Your costs will be higher if you opt for CFAR coverage.

Factors that influence how much your trip cancellation insurance costs include traveler age, trip expenses, trip length, coverage options, and how many people you need to cover.

A comprehensive travel insurance policy with emergency medical or lost baggage coverage and trip cancellation coverage can offer additional value.

If you’re mainly concerned with trip cancellation coverage, look for cheap travel insurance policies that still offer this coverage, but have either nonexistent or low coverage limits for other coverage areas, such as lost baggage or medical evacuation .

Credit Cards With Trip Cancellation Insurance

You might not have to pay for trip cancellation insurance if you have the right credit card. Some credit cards offer trip cancellation and interruption coverage as a cardholder benefit. 

Credit cards with trip cancellation coverage generally provide between $2,000 to $10,000 per person in trip cancellation benefits, often covering trip interruption. 

For example, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers cardholders $2,000 in trip cancellation or interruption benefits per person. With the Chase Sapphire Reserve ® , cardholders get up to $10,000 per person in trip cancellation coverage with a maximum of $20,000 per trip and a $40,000 limit per 12-month period.

If your nonrefundable travel costs exceed the covered benefit offered by your credit card, you may prefer to purchase separate trip cancellation insurance.

If you only need trip cancellation and interruption coverage, your credit card may have adequate protection benefits.

Consider these factors as you shop for a trip cancellation insurance policy:

• Cost: Compare policy premiums and consider how the cost fits into your overall travel budget.
• Coverage Amount: Your trip cancellation coverage should cover all of your nonrefundable prepaid trip expenses. But a policy with too much coverage could be more costly than necessary.
• Policy Limits: Know the policy’s limits, including deductibles, exclusions, and limitations.
• Covered Reasons: A policy that offers a variety of covered cancellation reasons offers the most protection.
• CFAR Coverage: Understand whether CFAR coverage is included in the policy and its additional cost.
• Reputation and Customer Service: Read travel insurance reviews to learn about the experiences policyholders have had, whether they’re good or bad.
• Refund Policies: Understand what happens if you cancel your policy before the trip.

Travel insurance comparison sites such as Squaremouth make it easy to enter your trip details and get quotes from multiple insurance providers.

Trip cancellation coverage can provide valuable peace of mind if you’re concerned about losing nonrefundable prepaid travel expenses. It can be worth it if there’s a chance you’ll have to cancel your travel plans, and you’ll lose money on nonrefundable costs. Before you choose a trip cancellation policy, consider factors including cost, coverage, and cancellation reasons, and look at what’s covered with any credit cards you hold.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa ® or Mastercard ® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

The information regarding the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is trip cancellation insurance for.

Trip cancellation coverage offers financial protection if you need to cancel or interrupt your trip due to unexpected circumstances. You can get reimbursement for nonrefundable prepaid expenses related to covered travel if you have to cancel your trip.

Is trip cancellation covered in travel insurance?

Most travel insurance policies cover trip cancellation coverage. Other common coverage areas include trip interruption and medical emergencies.

Does trip insurance cover cancellation for any reason?

Travel insurance can offer CFAR coverage, usually as an optional add-on. You can select a CFAR policy if you want more flexibility in canceling your trip and receiving reimbursement.

When should I buy trip cancellation insurance?

It’s best to purchase trip cancellation as soon as you have any money at risk on your trip, usually as soon as you book travel. Buying trip cancellation insurance after booking covers you for unexpected circumstances that could cause you to cancel your trip.

Was this page helpful?

About Jessica Merritt

A long-time points and miles student, Jessica is the former Personal Finance Managing Editor at U.S. News and World Report and is passionate about helping consumers fund their travels for as little cash as possible.

INSIDERS ONLY: UP PULSE ™

Get the  latest travel tips, crucial news, flight & hotel deal alerts...

Plus — expert strategies to maximize your points & miles by joining our (free) newsletter.

We respect your privacy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. Google's  privacy policy   and  terms of service   apply.

UP's Bonus Valuation

This bonus value is an estimated valuation  calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.

June 1, 2020

Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with travel dates on or after

Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with effective start dates on or after

Ukraine; Belarus; Moldova; North Korea; Russia; Israel

This is a test environment. Please proceed to AllianzTravelInsurance.com and remove all bookmarks or references to this site.

Use this tool to calculate all purchases like ski-lift passes, show tickets, or even rental equipment.

Safer travel starts with travel protection

If you were referred by a travel agent, enter the ACCAM number provided by your agent.

{{travelBanText}} {{travelBanDateFormatted}}.

{{annualTravelBanText}} {{travelBanDateFormatted}}.

Type the country where you will be spending the most amount of time.

Age of Traveler

Ages: {{quote.travelers_ages}}

Travel Dates

{{quote.travel_dates ? quote.travel_dates : "Departure - Return" | formatDates}}

Plan Start Date

{{quote.start_date ? quote.start_date : "Date"}}

Trip Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Is trip cancellation insurance worth it? The answer is almost always yes, especially if your resort, hotel, or  airline has a strict cancellation policy. Trip cancellation benefits are also a must-have if you’re going on a cruise, as most cruise lines won’t refund any money if you must cancel your trip at the last minute.

Allianz Travel Insurance plans can reimburse you for lost trip expenses if you must cancel your trip for one of the covered reasons named in your plan. The Cancel Anytime upgrade , available with certain plans, reimburses 80% of your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs if you cancel your trip for almost any unforeseeable reason your plan does not already cover.

Featured Articles

Share this page.

• {{errorMsgSendSocialEmail}}

5 Reasons Your Trip Cancellation Won't Cover You

Travel insurance is designed to reimburse you for non-refundable expenses... More »

How To Use Your Trip Delay Benefit and When To Cancel

You're sitting in an airport, watching your flight status switch from "on time" to... More »

Common But Unexpected Reasons for Trip Cancellation

Getaways ranging from business conferences to destination weddings can come off the rails for any number of reasons... More »

{{articlePreview.snippet}} Read More

Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Please see your plan for full details. Benefits/Coverage may vary by state, and sublimits may apply.

Insurance benefits underwritten by BCS Insurance Company (OH, Administrative Office: 2 Mid America Plaza, Suite 200, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181), rated “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best Co., under BCS Form No. 52.201 series or 52.401 series, or Jefferson Insurance Company (NY, Administrative Office: 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233), rated “A+” (Superior) by A.M. Best Co., under Jefferson Form No. 101-C series or 101-P series, depending on your state of residence and plan chosen. A+ (Superior) and A (Excellent) are the 2nd and 3rd highest, respectively, of A.M. Best's 13 Financial Strength Ratings. Plans only available to U.S. residents and may not be available in all jurisdictions. Allianz Global Assistance and Allianz Travel Insurance are marks of AGA Service Company dba Allianz Global Assistance or its affiliates. Allianz Travel Insurance products are distributed by Allianz Global Assistance, the licensed producer and administrator of these plans and an affiliate of Jefferson Insurance Company. The insured shall not receive any special benefit or advantage due to the affiliation between AGA Service Company and Jefferson Insurance Company. Plans include insurance benefits and assistance services. Any Non-Insurance Assistance services purchased are provided through AGA Service Company. Except as expressly provided under your plan, you are responsible for charges you incur from third parties. Contact AGA Service Company at  800-284-8300 or 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233 or [email protected] .

Return To Log In

Your session has expired. We are redirecting you to our sign-in page.

• Travel Insurance
• Best “Cancel For Any Reason” Travel Insurance

Best ‘Cancel For Any Reason’ Travel Insurance Of 2024

Expert Reviewed

Updated: May 16, 2024, 11:11am

Our analysis found that AIG, Seven Corners and WorldTrips offer the best “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) travel insurance. A travel insurance policy with CFAR partially reimburses your insured trip costs if you cancel for reasons not listed in the policy.

When shopping for the best travel insurance you’ll want to look for optional upgrades—such as CFAR—so you can expand the scope of coverage and get the most flexibility from your benefits.

Considering Travel Insurance?

Via Forbes Advisor's Website

• Best Travel Insurance Companies
• Cheapest Travel Insurance Plans
• Best Senior Travel Insurance
• Best Covid-19 Travel Insurance Plans
• Best Annual Travel Insurance
• Best Travel Medical Insurance

Compare & Buy Travel Insurance

Returning Home

Main Destination

Summary: Best “Cancel For Any Reason” Travel Insurance Ratings

Best “cancel for any reason” travel insurance companies, what is “cancel for any reason” travel insurance, how does “cancel for any reason” coverage work, what does “cancel for any reason” insurance cover, do i need “cancel for any reason” travel insurance, how much does “cancel for any reason” insurance cost, methodology, other cfar travel insurance ratings, “cancel for any reason” travel insurance frequently asked questions, next up in travel insurance.

Source: Forbes Advisor research. Average prices are based on rates for seven different trips with a variety of traveler ages. Note that plans have different levels of benefits, which can account for price differences.

How we chose the best “cancel for any reason” travel insurance

We scored policies based on cost and CFAR reimbursement levels. To assess the cost of policies with CFAR, we analyzed travel insurance rates for seven different trips for a variety of traveler ages and trip costs. Our editors are committed to bringing you unbiased ratings and information. Our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and the methodology for the ratings below.

• 24 travel insurance policies evaluated
• 168 rates for “cancel for any reason” travel insurance policies crunched
• 102 years of insurance experience on the editorial team

Top-scoring plan

Travel Guard Preferred

Average cost for plan with CFAR

CFAR reimbursement

We found that the Travel Guard Preferred plan has the third-lowest average price among CFAR policies we reviewed.

We also like the Travel Guard Preferred plan because its optional pet, wedding, security, baggage, medical, adventures sports and travel inconvenience upgrades allow you to customize a policy to match your needs. This may offset the downside of low limits in the base policy. Additionally, the Travel Guard Preferred plan includes benefits if (under certain conditions) you must start your trip earlier than planned, a feature not found in all policies.

• Offers upgrades to meet the needs and budgets of many kinds of travelers.
• Reimburses up to $2,500 for meals, accommodations and transportation if you must begin your trip earlier than scheduled due to inclement weather or common carrier changes.
• Provides up to $750 for “travel inconveniences,” such as flight delay to your return destination, runway delays and cruise diversions, and $1,000 in missed connection benefits.

More: AIG Travel Insurance Review

“Cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage is limited to higher-level plans. But notable features include three detailed plans plus a Pack N’ Go plan for last-minute travelers who do not need cancellation benefits. It includes coverage options such as flight protection and car rental. – Arsen Misakyan, co-founder of LAXcar

• Very low travel medical insurance limits of $50,000 compared to most other policies we evaluated.
• Provides either 50% reimbursement up to $75,000 or 75% reimbursement up to $112,500 for prepaid, non-refundable trip costs.
• You must buy your travel insurance policy within 15 days of your first trip deposit to purchase CFAR coverage.
• You must cancel no less than two days before your scheduled departure to be eligible to file a CFAR claim.
• You can be compensated for 50% or 75% of your travel supplier’s change fees.
• You can recoup 50% or 75% of the cost of re-depositing frequent traveler awards used for the trip.

Seven Corners

Trip Protection Basic

We like the Trip Protection Basic plan because it provides top-notch CFAR reimbursement at the lowest price among the travel insurance companies we evaluated.

• Includes a good level of medical evacuation coverage of $250,000.
• Includes cruise and tour missed connection benefits of $500 per person after 3-hour delay.
• “Interruption for any reason” upgrade available.

More: Seven Corners Travel Insurance Review

Seven Corners offers comprehensive coverage options that cater effectively to adventurers and frequent travelers, making it a strong contender for those seeking robust medical and evacuation coverage. – Pradeep Guragain, co-founder of Magical Nepal

• Low medical expense limits of $100,000, but you might find that’s sufficient.
• Baggage loss and delay coverage is on the low side at $500 per person.
• Does not cover pre-existing medical conditions.
• To buy CFAR coverage, you must buy your travel insurance within 20 days of your initial trip payment and within 15 days of payment for any subsequent travel arrangements added to your trip.
• You must cancel your trip no less than two days prior to the scheduled departure date of your trip to be eligible to file a CFAR claim.

Atlas Journey Preferred

The Atlas Journey Preferred plan was the second-cheapest CFAR policy among those we analyzed and provides solid coverage across the board. We also like the policy’s generous time frame for purchasing CFAR.

We recommend this plan if you’re interested in upgrades or are a pet owner. Available upgrades include extra coverage for pets traveling with you, adventure sports, destination weddings, hunting and fishing equipment and more.

• Includes travel inconvenience benefits of $750 per person.
• Superior medical evacuation benefits of $1 million per person.
• Very good missed connection coverage of $1,500 per person after 3 hours.

More: WorldTrips Travel Insurance Review

WorldTrips carries a stellar reputation among experienced globetrotters such as myself. Knowing international medical aid and multilingual assistance are only a phone call away provides comfort no matter where life’s path may lead. The adaptability of their plans also helps address the fact that travel needs aren’t one-size-fits-all. – Stephanie Rytting, travel expert, travel author and the founder of France Adventurer

• Medical expense coverage limits of $100,000 aren’t as high as some other policies but might be enough for you.
• Baggage delay benefits have a 12-hour waiting period.
• You can choose 50% CFAR or 75% CFAR reimbursement levels.
• You must buy CFAR coverage within 21 days of making your first trip deposit.
• The maximum trip cost per person is $150,000 for CFAR benefits.
• You must cancel your trip 48 hours or more prior to your scheduled departure date.
• CFAR coverage does not pay for costs associated with travel arrangements that are not provided by your travel supplier, which is any entity or organization that coordinates or supplies travel services for you.
• Your CFAR benefits won’t apply if your travel supplier didn’t provide the agreed-upon arrangements.
• You must insure 100% of your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs.

Aegis (formerly GoReady)

GoReady Pandemic Plus

We chose the GoReady Pandemic Plus policy because its competitive average cost helped push it to a high rating. If you want an affordable CFAR plan and aren’t concerned about very low coverage amounts for some core benefits, we recommend checking out the GoReady Pandemic Plus plan.

• Decent medical evacuation benefits of $500,000.
• Very good trip interruption benefits of 150% of insured trip cost.

Aegis is known for flexible budget-friendly protection. – Jenoa Matthes, travel expert, gastronomy trips organizer and the founder of The Travel Folk

• Travel medical insurance coverage of just $50,000 per person is low compared to many competitors.
• Missed connection benefits of $250 is skimpy compared to many other top-rated policies we evaluated.
• You must buy CFAR coverage within 14 days of making your first trip deposit.
• You must add to your policy and insure any subsequent trip costs within 14 days of making the added payments.
• You must cancel at least two days prior to your scheduled departure date to be eligible to file a CFAR claim.

John Hancock Insurance Agency

We picked John Hancock’s Silver plan with CFAR benefits because it provides decent coverage at a competitive price. We also like the policy’s excellent medical evacuation coverage and travel delay benefits that apply after only a 3-hour wait.

• Excellent evacuation coverage limits of $500,000 per person.
• Fairly good missed connection benefits of $750 per person after a 3-hour waiting delay.
• Includes $100,000 per person in 24-hour accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.

More: John Hancock Insurance Agency Travel Insurance Review

One potential downside is that their premiums can be higher compared to some competitors, but the level of service often justifies the cost. – Jim Campbell, independent travel agent and founder of Honeymoons.com

• A medical coverage limit of $100,000 isn’t as high as some other policies, but might be adequate for you.
• You must add and insure subsequent trip costs within 14 days of making the added payments.

We like Tin Leg’s Gold plan because it has generous levels of medical benefits for a very good price, making it a front-runner if you want a CFAR plan with high medical and evacuation coverage.

• Excellent medical and evacuation coverage limits of $500,000 per person.
• Short travel delay waiting period of 6 hours.
• Generous trip interruption reimbursement of 150% of insured trip cost.

More: Tin Leg Travel Insurance Review

A simple, efficient claims process gives value-seeking travelers protection without hassles to disrupt the fun. – Timon van Basten, tour guide and founder of Travel Spain 24

• Baggage delay coverage doesn’t kick in until 24 hours of delay.
• Baggage loss reimbursement and missed connection benefits are on the low end at $500 per person.
• You must insure the cost of any subsequent arrangements added to the same insured trip within 14 days of the date of making a payment for any added covered trip arrangements.

Travel Insured International

Worldwide Trip Protector

We recommend the Worldwide Trip Protector Plan because you can buy CFAR coverage up to 21 days after making your first trip deposit, compared to just 14 days allowed for some other top-rated policies. We also like the policy’s robust benefits, including superior non-medical evacuation coverage and short waiting periods for coverage for delays.

• Top-notch non-medical evacuation benefits of $150,000 per person and $1 million for medical evacuation.
• Good travel delay and baggage delay benefits kick in after just a 3-hour delay.

I’ve found that the policies of Travel Insured International offer protection for common travel risks, with transparent terms and straightforward coverage options. Their affordability and solid coverage make them a dependable choice for budget-conscious travelers. – Kevin Mercier, travel expert and founder of Kevmrc.com

• Medical coverage of $100,000 per person is on the low side compared to top competitors but might be enough for your needs.
• You must cancel your trip 48 hours or more prior to your scheduled departure date to qualify for CFAR benefits.
• Only travel arrangement costs associated with your travel supplier are covered. A travel supplier is any entity or organization that coordinates or supplies travel services for you.
• CFAR benefits aren’t applicable if your travel supplier fails to provide the arrangements you agreed upon because it goes out of business.
• You have to insure the full cost of any subsequent arrangements added to your trip within 21 days of the date of your payment for add-on costs.

Travelex Insurance Services

Travel Select

The Travel Select policy was the fourth-cheapest among CFAR policies we evaluated. That makes it a solid choice at a competitive price, although medical expense limits are lower than those of top competitors.

We recommend the Travel Select plan for families—children under age 17 accompanied by an adult covered by the policy are covered at no extra charge.

• Decent missed connection benefits of $750.
• Very good travel delay coverage of $2,000 per person after a 5-hour delay.
• Medical expense coverage is primary, compared to some competitors’ secondary coverage.

More: Travelex Travel Insurance Review

These folks win for providing a simple, affordable trip protection option for travelers on a budget. I’d say their basic plans are ideal for a quick getaway where you just want to cover the basics like trip cancellation. But for a longer, pricier journey, I’d probably upgrade. – Tim Schmidt, travel expert, entrepreneur, published travel author and founder of All World

• Medical coverage of $50,000 per person is on the low side.
• Baggage delay coverage requires a 12-hour delay and has a low $200 per person limit.
• To purchase CFAR coverage you have to buy it when you buy your travel insurance policy, which must be within 15 days of your first trip payment.
• You’ll be compensated 75% of your insured trip cost, up to $7,500.
• Your trip length can’t be more than 30 days.
• Your trip cost can’t be more than $10,000.
• You must insure 100% of your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs to receive CFAR benefits.
• You must cancel no less than 48 hours prior to your departure date to be eligible to file a CFAR claim.

USI Affinity

USI’s Ruby plan is more expensive than most other top-scoring CFAR policies we evaluated, but provides a variety of top-level benefits, such as excellent coverage for medical and evacuation expenses.

• Excellent coverage limits of $250,000 for medical expenses and $500,000 for medical evacuation.
• Good travel delay coverage of $1,000 per person after a 6-hour delay.
• Good missed connection coverage for cruise and tours of $750 per person after 3-hour delay.

More: USI Affinity Travel Insurance Review

Whether you’re visiting quaint villages or grand cities, USI Affinity’s personalized approach puts my specific interests and budget at the forefront so I am covered for what matters most to me as I check items off my ever-growing France bucket list. – Stephanie Rytting, travel expert, travel author and the founder of France Adventurer

• Baggage delay coverage is on the low side at $300 per person and requires a 12-hour delay for benefits to start.
• You must insure any subsequent trip costs within 14 days of making the added payments.

Atlas Journey Premier

We like the Atlas Journey Premier plan because it has a generous time allowance for buying CFAR—21 days after your first trip deposit. It also offers an “interruption for any reason” upgrade. We recommend the Atlas Journey Premier policy if you’re looking for a wide selection of optional add-ons, such as extra coverage for pets traveling with you, adventure sports, destination weddings, hunting and fishing equipment and more.

• Superior medical evacuation benefits of $1 million and good medical expense coverage of $150,000 per person.
• Very good travel delay benefits of $2,000 per person after only 5 hours.
• Excellent missed connection coverage of $2,000 per person after 3 hours.

As an adventurous traveler myself, I’m a huge fan of WorldTrips for their flexible plans that really cover risky adventures that other companies shy away from. But that peace of mind comes at a steep price—in my experience, their premiums are noticeably higher than the competition. – Tim Schmidt, travel expert, entrepreneur, published travel author and founder of All World

• You must be able to travel at the time you buy your CFAR upgrade.
• 100% of your trip costs must be insured.
• The trip cost per person can’t be more than $150,000.
• You must cancel your trip 48 hours or more prior to your scheduled departure to receive CFAR benefits.
• Only travel arrangement costs associated with the entity or organization that coordinates or supplies your travel services are covered.
• CFAR benefits aren’t applicable if your travel supplier fails to provide the arrangements you agreed upon.

Travel Guard Deluxe

The Travel Guard Deluxe plan is the third-most expensive plan with CFAR among those we analyzed but that might be offset by the generous optional add-ons available.

You can customize the Travel Guard Deluxe policy to your needs and budget with optional pet, wedding, security, baggage, medical, adventures sports and travel inconvenience upgrades. We also like the Travel Guard Deluxe plan because it includes benefits if under certain conditions you must start your trip earlier than planned, a feature not found in all policies.

• Superior medical evacuation benefits of $1 million and security evacuation benefits of $100,000.
• Provides up to $750 for “travel inconveniences,” such as flight delay to your return destination, runway delays and cruise diversions.

I find AIG’s comprehensive coverage provides much-needed security when I’m exploring abroad. With strong financial backing behind them, I can travel with confidence knowing they will cover urgent medical flights or cancellations should unexpected issues arise. In all my trips to France, the peace of mind from their coverage has allowed me to fully immerse myself in the culture without worry. – Stephanie Rytting, travel expert, travel author and the founder of France Adventurer

• Low travel medical insurance of $100,000 compared to some other policies we evaluated.
• To purchase CFAR coverage, you must buy your travel insurance policy within 15 days of your first trip deposit to purchase.
• For CFAR benefits to apply, you must cancel no less than two days before your scheduled departure.

Cruise Luxury

We picked Nationwide’s Cruise Luxury plan because it provides an array of generous benefits, including excellent medical evacuation coverage limits. But it’s the second-most expensive policy, on average, among those we reviewed.

• Excellent medical evacuation coverage of $1 million and includes $25,000 in non-medical evacuation benefits.
• Superior baggage loss benefits of $2,500 per person and superior baggage delay benefits of $1,000 per person.
• Excellent missed connection coverage of $2,500 per person after only a 3-hour delay.

More: Nationwide Travel Insurance Review

Nationwide’s basic plans may lack the adventure coverage others need. Yet for casual trips where risks are lower, Nationwide meets needs without breaking the bank. – Kelly Duhigg, travel expert and founder of Girl with the Passport

• Though you get generous benefits, the Cruise Luxury plan’s average cost is a bit more expensive than some other top-rated CFAR policies.
• You must cancel at least two days prior to your scheduled departure date for CFAR benefits to apply.
• You must insure all trip costs that are associated with cancellation penalties or restrictions to be eligible to purchase CFAR.
• You have to buy CFAR coverage within 14 of your initial trip deposit and within 14 days of payment for any subsequent travel arrangements added to your trip.

Trip Protection Choice

The Trip Protection Choice plan from Seven Corners provides solid benefits across the board, and we especially like the policy’s excellent travel medical and evacuation coverage. It’s more expensive than other top-rated policies we reviewed, but you have 20 days to buy CFAR after making your first deposit. Our analysis found that’s about six days more than what many other competitors provide.

• Includes $20,000 in non-medical evacuation coverage.
• Top-notch travel medical coverage of $500,000 per person and medical evacuation coverage of $1 million.
• Excellent travel delay benefits of $2,000 after a 6-hour delay and missed connection coverage of $1,500.
• Great baggage insurance coverage of $2,500 per person.

Seven Corners’ customization options fit a variety of travel plans, which is highly valuable. – Pradeep Guragain, co-founder of Magical Nepal

• The Trip Protection Choice plan had the highest average price among top-scoring CFAR policies we evaluated.
• Only travel arrangement costs associated with your travel supplier—any entity or organization that coordinates or supplies travel services—are covered.
• You must cancel your trip no later than two days before your scheduled departure date if you want to file a CFAR claim.
• You must buy CFAR coverage within 20 days of making your first trip payment and within 15 days of payment for any subsequent travel arrangements added to your trip.

“Cancel for any reason” insurance lets you cancel a trip for a reason not listed under your trip cancellation insurance and receive partial reimbursement. For example, if you get sick right before your trip and can’t go, that’s generally covered by standard trip cancellation coverage and you can make a claim for 100% reimbursement of the trip costs you lose.

But if you want the flexibility to cancel for reasons not listed in the base policy, CFAR can help.

You will generally be reimbursed for 75% of your prepaid, forfeited and non-refundable trip costs. The percentage for CFAR reimbursement will be listed in the policy.

To get CFAR travel insurance you’ll have to purchase a base travel insurance plan and add “cancel for any reason” coverage within a certain time frame after your first trip payment. This is usually 14 days but make sure to check your plan.

The deadline for adding CFAR will depend on the travel insurance company, and not all companies offer it. Being eligible to buy CFAR is one of the advantages of buying travel insurance right after you book a trip .

You generally have to cancel your trip no less than 48 hours before your departure. For example, if you’re leaving tomorrow and you want to cancel the trip today, you probably won’t be able to make a CFAR claim.

Make sure to read the policy’s fine print and know the deadline for canceling the trip if you buy CFAR insurance.

Like any other type of insurance, CFAR has some rules that apply to how you’re compensated when you file a claim.

CFAR covers the prepaid, non-refundable trip expenses that you have insured. It reimburses you for a percentage of the total cost if you cancel the trip for a reason not listed in the base policy..

For example, using CFAR coverage you could make a trip cancellation claim because:

• You’ve developed a fear of travel.
• It looks too rainy or too hot.
• You’ve seen bad reviews of your resort.
• You’ve decided to visit family instead.
• Your child care arrangements have fallen through.
• You got into a fight with your travel companions.
• Your pet has fallen ill.

If you file a CFAR claim, you can be compensated for the following types of trip expenses if you can’t get a refund for them:

• Boat charters or rentals.
• Concert tickets.
• Day trip excursions.
• Hotel accommodations.
• Museum tickets.
• Theme park passes.
• Private or guided tours.
• Spa services.

Here’s a look at how much you may get reimbursed by filing a CFAR claim: Let’s say you booked a non-refundable round trip plane ticket for $1,000 and five nights of lodging at $200 a night, also non-refundable. You would insure the trip for $2,000.

If you cancel your trip for a reason that’s not listed in your travel insurance policy, you would be out $2,000 without CFAR insurance. But a CFAR policy would reimburse you for a portion of the costs.

• If you have a CFAR policy with 50% reimbursement, you would get $1,000 from a CFAR travel insurance claim.
• If the policy has 75% reimbursement, you would get $1,500 back from a CFAR claim.

Remember that CFAR coverage is only for non-refundable costs. Any prepaid costs that are reimbursed to you aren’t eligible for CFAR coverage.

You may need CFAR travel insurance if you plan an expensive trip with lots of non-refundable costs. CFAR is also beneficial if you think it’s possible you may have to cancel your trip for a reason not listed in the policy.

Travel insurance with “cancel for any reason” coverage costs an average of $723 per trip, based on our analysis. CFAR usually adds about 50% to the cost of travel insurance .

We analyzed travel insurance policies that include “cancel for any reason” coverage. We scored 23 policies on the following:

Cost (75% of score): Average prices for CFAR policies are based on rates for seven different trips for a variety of traveler ages and trip costs:

• Couple, age 30 for a Mexico trip costing $3,000.
• Couple, age 40, for an Italy trip costing $6,000.
• Family of four for an Italy trip costing $15,000.
• Family of four for a France trip costing $15,000.
• Family of four for a U.K. trip costing $15,000.
• Couple, age 65, for an Italy trip costing $6,000.
• Couple, age 70, for a Mexico trip costing $3,000.

CFAR reimbursement level of trip cost: (25% of score): Policies providing 75% reimbursement were awarded points.

Read more: How Forbes Advisor rates travel insurance

Is CFAR travel insurance worth it?

CFAR travel insurance is likely worth it if you are worried that you will have to cancel your trip and you can’t afford to lose your non-refundable deposits. You’ll also want to weigh the costs of a CFAR travel insurance upgrade. Buying CFAR usually hikes your travel insurance policy cost by an average of 50%. But you can find policies with a lower increase for CFAR by comparison shopping.

Is fear of traveling covered by travel insurance?

Travel insurance policies don’t cover fear of travel. But with CFAR coverage it doesn’t matter what your reason is—you can get partial reimbursement of your non-refundable trip costs.

What if I don’t have CFAR but I want to cancel my trip?

If your reason for canceling is listed in the policy, you can make a trip cancellation insurance claim. Common acceptable reasons include a natural disaster or terrorist attack at your destination, suffering an injury before the trip, or needing to attend the birth of a family member’s child.

What does CFAR not cover?

CFAR won’t compensate you for refundable trip costs. It also generally won’t reimburse you for your insured trip costs if you cancel less than 48 hours before your scheduled departure.

• Best Cruise Insurance Plans Of May 2024
• Best Covid-19 Travel Insurance Plans of May 2024
• Best Senior Travel Insurance Of 2024
• Best Travel Insurance Companies Of May 2024
• The 5 Cheapest Travel Insurance Companies Of May 2024

Get Forbes Advisor’s ratings of the best insurance companies and helpful information on how to find the best travel, auto, home, health, life, pet, and small business coverage for your needs.

Michelle is a lead editor at Forbes Advisor. She has been a journalist for over 35 years, writing about insurance for consumers for the last decade. Prior to covering insurance, Michelle was a lifestyle reporter at the New York Daily News, a magazine editor covering consumer technology, a foreign correspondent for Time and various newswires and local newspaper reporter.

Joe Cronin is the president of International Citizens Insurance, a subsidiary of International Citizens Group Inc. He is responsible for all aspects of International Citizens Insurance operations, including strategy, marketing and sales. An expert in international health, life and travel insurance plans, Cronin is focused on providing international citizens, expatriates and global nomads with the best advice on ensuring they are covered for medical emergencies worldwide. International Citizens Insurance is that resource. Having lived and traveled throughout the world, his vast experience is now available to visitors researching global insurance plans for all situations.   With his expertise in international financial services, travel and new media, he founded and grew Edvisors, Envisage International and the International Education Finance Corporation into multimillion dollar businesses.   Cronin has lived in or traveled to every corner of the globe, including Moscow, Tokyo, Mexico City, Sydney, London, Argentina and Athens. He believes that an essential benefit of international travel is how it brings different cultures together. Cronin is passionate about helping expatriates with their international relocation and helping travelers of all types secure safe, affordable and effective global insurance for their international adventures.

• Auto Insurance Best Car Insurance Cheapest Car Insurance Compare Car Insurance Quotes Best Car Insurance For Young Drivers Best Auto & Home Bundles Cheapest Cars To Insure
• Home Insurance Best Home Insurance Best Renters Insurance Cheapest Homeowners Insurance Types Of Homeowners Insurance
• Life Insurance Best Life Insurance Best Term Life Insurance Best Senior Life Insurance Best Whole Life Insurance Best No Exam Life Insurance
• Pet Insurance Best Pet Insurance Cheap Pet Insurance Pet Insurance Costs Compare Pet Insurance Quotes
• Travel Insurance Best Travel Insurance Cancel For Any Reason Travel Insurance Best Cruise Travel Insurance Best Senior Travel Insurance
• Health Insurance Best Health Insurance Plans Best Affordable Health Insurance Best Dental Insurance Best Vision Insurance Best Disability Insurance
• Credit Cards Best Credit Cards 2024 Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards Best Rewards Credit Cards Best Cash Back Credit Cards Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards Best 0% APR Credit Cards Best Business Credit Cards Best Credit Cards for Startups Best Credit Cards For Bad Credit Best Cards for Students without Credit
• Credit Card Reviews Chase Sapphire Preferred Wells Fargo Active Cash® Chase Sapphire Reserve Citi Double Cash Citi Diamond Preferred Chase Ink Business Unlimited American Express Blue Business Plus
• Credit Card by Issuer Best Chase Credit Cards Best American Express Credit Cards Best Bank of America Credit Cards Best Visa Credit Cards
• Credit Score Best Credit Monitoring Services Best Identity Theft Protection
• CDs Best CD Rates Best No Penalty CDs Best Jumbo CD Rates Best 3 Month CD Rates Best 6 Month CD Rates Best 9 Month CD Rates Best 1 Year CD Rates Best 2 Year CD Rates Best 5 Year CD Rates
• Checking Best High-Yield Checking Accounts Best Checking Accounts Best No Fee Checking Accounts Best Teen Checking Accounts Best Student Checking Accounts Best Joint Checking Accounts Best Business Checking Accounts Best Free Checking Accounts
• Savings Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Best Free No-Fee Savings Accounts Simple Savings Calculator Monthly Budget Calculator: 50/30/20
• Mortgages Best Mortgage Lenders Best Online Mortgage Lenders Current Mortgage Rates Best HELOC Rates Best Mortgage Refinance Lenders Best Home Equity Loan Lenders Best VA Mortgage Lenders Mortgage Refinance Rates Mortgage Interest Rate Forecast
• Personal Loans Best Personal Loans Best Debt Consolidation Loans Best Emergency Loans Best Home Improvement Loans Best Bad Credit Loans Best Installment Loans For Bad Credit Best Personal Loans For Fair Credit Best Low Interest Personal Loans
• Student Loans Best Student Loans Best Student Loan Refinance Best Student Loans for Bad or No Credit Best Low-Interest Student Loans
• Business Loans Best Business Loans Best Business Lines of Credit Apply For A Business Loan Business Loan vs. Business Line Of Credit What Is An SBA Loan?
• Investing Best Online Brokers Top 10 Cryptocurrencies Best Low-Risk Investments Best Cheap Stocks To Buy Now Best S&P 500 Index Funds Best Stocks For Beginners How To Make Money From Investing In Stocks
• Retirement Best Roth IRAs Best Gold IRAs Best Investments for a Roth IRA Best Bitcoin IRAs Protecting Your 401(k) In a Recession Types of IRAs Roth vs Traditional IRA How To Open A Roth IRA
• Business Formation Best LLC Services Best Registered Agent Services How To Start An LLC How To Start A Business
• Web Design & Hosting Best Website Builders Best E-commerce Platforms Best Domain Registrar
• HR & Payroll Best Payroll Software Best HR Software Best HRIS Systems Best Recruiting Software Best Applicant Tracking Systems
• Payment Processing Best Credit Card Processing Companies Best POS Systems Best Merchant Services Best Credit Card Readers How To Accept Credit Cards
• More Business Solutions Best VPNs Best VoIP Services Best Project Management Software Best CRM Software Best Accounting Software
• Debt relief Best debt management Best debt settlement Do you need a debt management plan? What is debt settlement? Debt consolidation vs. debt settlement Should you settle your debt or pay in full? How to negotiate a debt settlement on your own
• Debt collection Can a debt collector garnish my bank account or my wages? Can credit card companies garnish your wages? What is the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act?
• Bankruptcy How much does it cost to file for bankruptcy? What is Chapter 7 bankruptcy? What is Chapter 13 bankruptcy? Can medical bankruptcy help with medical bills?
• More payoff strategies Tips to get rid of your debt in a year Don't make these mistakes when climbing out of debt How credit counseling can help you get out of debt What is the debt avalanche method? What is the debt snowball method?
• Manage Topics
• Investigations
• Visual Explainers
• Newsletters
• Abortion news
• Coronavirus
• Climate Change
• Vertical Storytelling
• Corrections Policy
• College Football
• High School Sports
• H.S. Sports Awards
• Sports Betting
• College Basketball (M)
• College Basketball (W)
• For The Win
• Sports Pulse
• Weekly Pulse
• Buy Tickets
• Sports Seriously
• Sports+ States
• Celebrities
• Entertainment This!
• Celebrity Deaths
• American Influencer Awards
• Women of the Century
• Problem Solved
• Personal Finance
• Small Business
• Consumer Recalls
• Video Games
• Product Reviews
• Destinations
• Airline News
• Experience America
• Today's Debate
• Suzette Hackney
• Policing the USA
• Meet the Editorial Board
• How to Submit Content
• Hidden Common Ground
• Race in America

Personal Loans

Best personal loans

Auto Insurance

Best car insurance

Best high-yield savings

CREDIT CARDS

Best credit cards

Advertiser Disclosure

Blueprint is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service focused on helping readers make smarter decisions. We receive compensation from the companies that advertise on Blueprint which may impact how and where products appear on this site. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impact any of the editorial content on Blueprint. Blueprint does not include all companies, products or offers that may be available to you within the market. A list of selected affiliate partners is available here .

Travel Insurance

What is trip cancellation travel insurance?

Lizzie Nealon

Kara McGinley

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Updated 9:17 a.m. UTC Nov. 13, 2023

• path]:fill-[#49619B]" alt="Facebook" width="18" height="18" viewBox="0 0 18 18" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
• path]:fill-[#202020]" alt="Email" width="19" height="14" viewBox="0 0 19 14" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">

Editorial Note: Blueprint may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured here on our site. This commission does not influence our editors' opinions or evaluations. Please view our full advertiser disclosure policy .

Getty Images

• Trip cancellation insurance covers your prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses if you’re unable to travel due to certain unforeseen circumstances, such as an illness or the death of a family member.
• Trip cancellation insurance generally won’t cover foreseeable or preventable events, such as a hurricane that was named before you bought coverage. 
• Basic trip cancellation insurance typically costs between 5% and 10% of the total cost of your trip.

The average household spent more than $2,000 a year on travel before the pandemic. As traveling rebounds and you’re ready to plan your next trip, a trip cancellation policy can give you peace of mind. But it’s important to understand what trip cancellation insurance does and does not cover.  

What is trip cancellation insurance?

Trip cancellation insurance is a type of travel insurance designed to reimburse you for prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses when you cancel your trip because of a reason listed in your policy. 

Trip cancellation insurance is often part of a comprehensive travel insurance plan, but it can also be purchased separately. 

You can typically purchase trip cancellation insurance up to the day before your scheduled departure. It’s best, however, to buy a travel insurance plan as soon as you make your first trip deposit. You won’t be charged extra for buying a plan earlier, and you will be covered for a longer period of time.

What trip cancellation insurance covers

Trip cancellation insurance can reimburse you for 100% of your nonrefundable and prepaid trip costs if you cancel for a covered reason, which may include: 

• Death of your travel companion, business partner or family member (policies differ on who is considered a family member).
• Injury or illness of you or a travel companion (documented by a doctor).
• Complications from pregnancy for you or your travel companion.
• Traffic accident en route to departure.
• Mechanical breakdown or other failure of your transportation.
• Mandated shutdown of an airport or air traffic control system.
• Air traffic control or airport shutdown due to fire or power outage.
• Mandatory evacuation due to an unforeseen natural disaster.
• Severe, sudden weather.
• Your home or your trip lodging is uninhabitable due to a natural disaster, vandalism or burglary.
• Hurricane warning or hurricane watch (you must have purchased the policy before the storm was named).
• Terrorist attack.

What trip cancellation insurance does not cover

While trip cancellation policies differ, most plans will not cover incidents that could be foreseen or planned around. For instance, most trip cancellation policies will not cover cancellations resulting from:

• Alcohol or substance use.
• Committing a felony.
• Dental treatment or elective procedures.
• Harm resulting from dangerous activities such as skydiving or bungee jumping.
• Mental or nervous health disorders.
• Normal pregnancy and childbirth.
• Participation in amateur or professional sporting events.
• Self-harm. 

What is “cancel for any reason” coverage?  

If you want to be able to cancel your trip for any reason, not only those specified in your policy, consider buying “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage. This premium upgrade will add about 50% to the cost of your trip cancellation insurance but will give you greater flexibility with your plans.  

CFAR coverage typically reimburses up to 75% of your nonrefundable trip costs when you cancel a trip. But you have to cancel at least 48 hours before your scheduled departure if you hope to file a successful CFAR claim. 

How much does trip cancellation insurance cost?

A basic travel insurance policy with trip cancellation coverage typically costs between 5% and 10% of the total cost of your trip. That means if you take a $5,000 safari trip to Tanzania, your travel insurance might cost between $250 and $500. 

How much you pay for trip cancellation insurance will depend on the travel insurance company, the plan and level of coverage you choose, the number of travelers in your party and their ages, your trip length and trip expenses. 

How to get trip cancellation insurance

Comprehensive travel insurance policies usually include trip cancellation benefits, but you can also buy a standalone trip cancellation policy. 

To shop for trip cancellation insurance, follow these steps. 

• Check if your credit card has travel insurance. If your credit card provides trip cancellation benefits when you pay for trip expenses with that card, you may opt to skip buying a separate trip insurance policy.
• Compare quotes. Choose a travel insurance company by comparing travel insurance plans and quotes online . 
• Buy the plan you want. You can buy travel insurance online. Be prepared to enter your travel dates and destination, the total value of your trip and information about your travel companions.
• Review your plan . After buying travel insurance, you typically have a free look period of 14 or 15 days. If you read the details of your plan and decide it’s not a good fit, you can cancel and request a refund during that period. 

Credit card rewards and trip cancellation insurance

The following cards provide complimentary travel insurance with trip cancellation benefits when you pay for your travel using the card :

• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card * The information for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. .
• Chase Freedom Flex℠ * The information for the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. .
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card .
• Chase Sapphire Reserve® .
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card .¹
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card * The information for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. .
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express * The information for the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. .¹
• The Platinum Card® from American Express .¹
• United℠ Explorer Card * The information for the United℠ Explorer Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. .
• United Club℠ Infinite Card * The information for the United Club℠ Infinite Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

All information about The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected independently by Blueprint.

Check to see if your credit card offers travel insurance with trip purchases and what coverage it provides. Travel insurance provided by credit cards isn’t usually as comprehensive as a separate policy.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Trip cancellation insurance reimburses you for prepaid, nonrefundable expenses if you need to cancel a trip for a covered reason. Valid reasons for trip cancellation typically include unforeseen events such as a death in the family, sudden weather that leaves your destination uninhabitable or an illness that is documented by a doctor.

Most travel insurance plans bundle together several types of coverage, including trip cancellation insurance. If you have trip cancellation insurance, you can file a claim for any prepaid and nonrefundable expenses associated with a trip when you decide to cancel for a reason listed in your policy. 

When it comes to travel insurance, you’re not limited to cancellation coverage. The best comprehensive travel insurance plans also include coverage for incidents related to epidemics, emergency medical needs, baggage loss and damage, travel delays and trip interruption.

¹Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

*The information for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, Chase Freedom Flex℠, Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, United Club℠ Infinite Card and United℠ Explorer Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Lizzie's commentary has been published in Bankrate, CNBC, the Washington Post, the Washington Examiner, MSN and more.

Kara McGinley is deputy editor of insurance at USA TODAY Blueprint and a licensed home insurance expert. Previously, she was a senior editor at Policygenius, where she specialized in homeowners and renters insurance. Her work and insights have been featured in MSN, Lifehacker, Kiplinger, PropertyCasualty360 and more.

10 worst US airports for flight cancellations this week

Travel Insurance Heidi Gollub

10 worst US airports for flight cancellations last week

AXA Assistance USA travel insurance review 2024

Travel Insurance Jennifer Simonson

Cheapest travel insurance of May 2024

Travel Insurance Mandy Sleight

Average flight costs: Travel, airfare and flight statistics 2024

Travel Insurance Timothy Moore

John Hancock travel insurance review 2024

HTH Worldwide travel insurance review 2024

Airfare at major airports is up 29% since 2021

USI Affinity travel insurance review 2024

Trawick International travel insurance review 2024

Travel insurance for Canada

Travelex travel insurance review 2024

Best travel insurance companies of May 2024

Travel Insurance Amy Fontinelle

Best travel insurance for a Disney World vacation in 2024

World Nomads travel insurance review 2024

• Credit cards
• View all credit cards
• Banking guide
• Loans guide
• Insurance guide
• Personal finance
• View all personal finance
• Small business
• Small business guide
• View all taxes

11 Best Travel Insurance Companies in May 2024

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

If the past few years have shown us anything, it’s that travelers need to be prepared for the unexpected — from a pandemic to flight troubles to the crowded airport terminals so many of us have encountered.

If you don't have sufficient travel insurance coverage via your credit card , you can supplement your policies with third-party plans.

Whether you’re looking for an international travel insurance plan, emergency medical care or a policy that includes extreme sports, these are the best travel insurance providers to get you covered.

How we found the best travel insurance

We looked at quotes from various companies for a 10-day trip to Mexico in September 2024. The traveler was a 55-year-old woman from Florida who spent $3,000 total on the trip, including airfare.

On average, the price of each company’s most basic coverage plan was $126.53. The costs displayed below do not include optional add-ons, such as Cancel For Any Reason coverage or pre-existing medical condition coverage.

Read our full analysis about the average cost of travel insurance so you can budget better for your next trip.

However, depending on the plan, you may be able to customize at an added cost.

As we continue to evaluate more travel insurance companies and receive fresh market data, this collection of best travel insurance companies is likely to change. See our full methodology for more details.

Best insurance companies

Types of travel insurance

What does travel insurance cover, what’s not covered, how much does it cost, do i need travel insurance, how to choose the best travel insurance policy, what are the top travel destinations in 2024, more resources for travel insurance shoppers, top credit cards with travel insurance, methodology, best travel insurance overall: berkshire hathaway travel protection.

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection

• ExactCare Value (basic) plan is among the least expensive we surveyed.
• Speciality plans available for road trips, luxury travel, adventure activities, flights and cruises.
• Company may reimburse claimants faster than average, including possible same-day compensation.
• Multiple "Trip Delay" coverage types might make claims confusing.
• Cheapest plan only includes fixed amounts for its coverage.

Under the direction of chair and CEO Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection has been around since 2014. Its plans provide numerous opportunities for travelers to customize coverage to their needs.

At $135 for our sample trip, the ExactCare Value (basic) plan from Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection offers protection roughly $10 above the average price.

Want something cheaper? Air travelers looking for inexpensive, less comprehensive protections might opt for a basic AirCare plan that includes fixed amounts for its coverage .

Read our full review of Berkshire Hathaway .

What else makes Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection great:

Pre-existing medical condition exclusion waivers available at nearly all plan levels. 

Plans available for travelers going on a cruise, participating in extreme sports or taking a luxury trip.

ExactCare Value (basic) plan was among the least expensive we surveyed.

Best for emergency medical coverage: Allianz Global Assistance

Annual or single-trip policies are available.

• Multiple types of insurance available.
• All plans include access to a 24/7 assistance hotline.
• More expensive than average.
• CFAR upgrades are not available.
• Rental car protection is only available by adding the One Trip Rental Car protector to your plan or by purchasing a standalone rental car plan.

Allianz Global Assistance is a reputable travel insurance company offering plans for over 25 years. Customers can choose from a variety of single and annual policies to fit their needs. On top of comprehensive coverage, some travelers might opt for the more affordable OneTrip Cancellation Plus, which is geared toward domestic travelers looking for trip protections but don’t need post-departure benefits like emergency medical or baggage lost.

For our test trip, Allianz Global Assistance’s basic coverage cost $149, about $22 above average.

What else makes Allianz Global Assistance great:

Annual and single-trip plans.

Plans are available for international and domestic trips.

Stand-alone and add-on rental car damage product available.

Read our full review of Allianz Global Assistance .

Best for travelers with pre-existing medical conditions: Travel Guard by AIG

Travel Guard by AIG

• Offers last-minute coverage.
• Pre-Existing Medical Conditions Exclusion Waiver available at all plan levels.
• Plan available for business travelers.
• Cancel For Any reason coverage only available for higher-level plans, and only reimburses up to 50% of the trip cost.
• Trip interruption coverage doesn't apply to trips paid for with points and miles.

Travel Guard by AIG offers a variety of plans and coverages to fit travelers’ needs. On top of more standard trip protections like trip cancellation, interruption, baggage and medical coverage, the Cancel For Any Reason upgrade is available on certain Travel Guard plans, which allows you to cancel a trip for any reason and get 50% of your nonrefundable deposit back as long as the trip is canceled at least two days before the scheduled departure date.

At $107 for our sample trip, the Essential plan was below average, saving roughly $20.

What else makes Travel Guard by AIG great:

Three comprehensive plans and a Pack N' Go plan for last-minute travelers who don't need cancellation benefits.

Flight protection, car rental, and medical evacuation coverage, as well as annual plans available.

Pre-existing medical conditions exclusion waiver available on all plan levels, as long as it's purchased within 15 days.

Read our full review of Travel Guard by AIG .

Best for those who pack expensive equipment: Travel Insured International

Travel Insured International

• Higher-level plan include optional add-ons for event tickets and for electronic equipment
• Rental car protection add-on for just $8 per day, even on lower-level plan.
• Many of the customizations are only available on the higher-tier plan.
• Coverage cost comes in above average in our latest analysis.

Travel Insured International offers several customization options. For instance, those going to see a show may want to add on event ticket registration fee protection. Traveling with expensive gear?Consider adding on coverage for electronic equipment for up to $2,000 in coverage.

Be sure to check which policies are available in your state. You will need to input your destination, residence, trip dates and the number of travelers to get a quote and see coverages.

What else makes Travel Insured International great:

Comprehensive plans include medical expense reimbursement accidents, sickness, evacuation and pre-existing conditions, depending on the plan.

Flight plans include coverage for missed and canceled flights and lost or stolen baggage.

Read our full review of Travel Insured International .

Best for adventurous travelers: World Nomads

World Nomads

• Travelers can extend coverage mid-trip.
• The standard plan covers up to $300,000 in emergency evacuation costs.
• Plans automatically cover 200+ adventurous activities.
• No Cancel For Any Reason upgrades are available.
• No pre-existing medical condition waivers are available.

Many travel insurance plans contain exclusions for adventure sports activities. If you plan to ski, bungee jump, windsurf or parasail, this might be a plan to consider.

Note that the Standard plan ($72 for our sample trip), while the most affordable, provides less coverage than other plans. But it can be a good choice for travelers who are satisfied with trip cancellation and interruption coverage of $2,500 or less, do not need rental car damage protection, find the limits to be sufficient and do not need coverage for certain more adventurous activities.

What else makes World Nomads great:

Comprehensive international travel insurance plans.

Coverage available for adventure activities, such as trekking, mountain biking and scuba diving.

Read our full review of World Nomads .

Best for medical coverage: Travelex Insurance Services

Travelex Insurance Services

• Top-tier plan doesn’t break the bank and provides more customization opportunities.
• Offers a plan specifically for domestic travel.
• Sells a post-departure medical coverage plan.
• Fewer customization opportunities on the Basic plan.
• Though perhaps a plus for domestic travelers, keep in mind the Travel America plan only covers domestic trips.

For starters, basic coverage from Travelex Insurance Services came in at $125, almost exactly average for our sample trip.

Travelex’s plans focus heavily on providing protections that are personalized to your travel style and trip type.

While the company does offer comprehensive plans that include medical benefits, you can also choose between cheaper plans that don’t provide cancellation coverage but do offer protections during your travels.

Read our full review of Travelex Insurance Services .

What else makes Travelex Insurance Services great:

Three comprehensive plans available, two of which cover international trips.

Offers a post-departure plan geared exclusively toward disruptions after you leave home.

Two flight insurance plans available.

Best if you have travel credit card coverage: Seven Corners

Seven Corners

• Annual, medical-only and backpacker plans are available.
• Cancel For Any Reason upgrade is available for the cheapest plan.
• Cheapest plan also features a much less costly Interruption for Any Reason add-on.
• Offers only one annual policy option.

Each Seven Corners plan offers several optional add-ons. Among the more unique is a Trip Interruption for Any Reason, which allows you to interrupt a trip 48 hours after the scheduled departure date (for any reason) and receive a refund of up to 75% of your unused nonrefundable deposits.

» Jump to the best cards with travel insurance

The basic coverage plan for our trip to Mexico costs $124 — right around the average.

What else makes Seven Corners great:

Comprehensive plans for U.S. residents and foreigners, including travelers visiting the U.S.

Cheap add-ons for rental car damage, sporting equipment rental or trip interruption for any reason.

Read our full review of Seven Corners .

Best for long-term travelers: IMG

• Coverage available for adventure travelers.
• Special medical insurance for ship captains and crew members, international students and missionaries.
• Claim approval can be lengthy.

While some travel insurance companies offer just a handful of plans, with IMG, you’ll really have your pick. Though this requires a bit more research, it allows you to search for coverage that fits your travel needs.

However, travelers will want to be aware that IMG’s iTravelInsured Travel Lite is expensive. Coming in at $149.85, it’s the costliest plan on our list.

Read our full review of IMG .

What else makes IMG great:

More affordable than average.

Many plans to choose from to fit your needs.

Best for travelers with unpredictable work demands: Tin Leg

• In addition Cancel For Any Reason, some plans offer cancel for work reason coverage.
• Adventure sports-specific coverage is available.
• Plans have overlap that can be hard to distinguish.
• Only one plan includes Rental Car Damage coverage available as an add-on.

Tin Leg’s Basic plan came in at $134 for our sample trip, adding about $8 onto the average basic policy cost. Note that you’ll pay a lot more if you shop for the most comprehensive coverage, and there are eight plans to choose from for trips abroad.

The multitude of plans can help you find coverage that fits your needs, but with so many to choose from, deciding can be daunting.

The only real way to figure out your ideal plan is to compare them all, look at the plan details and decide which features and coverage suit you and your travel style best.

Read our full Tin Leg review .

Best for booking travel with points and miles: TravelSafe

• Covers up to $300 redepositing points and miles on eligible canceled award flights.
• Optional add-on protection for business equipment or sports rentals.
• Multi-trip or year-long plans aren’t available.

Selecting your travel insurance plan with TravelSafe is a fairly straightforward process. The company’s website also makes it easy to visualize how optional add-on elements influence the total cost, displaying the final price as soon as you click the coverage.

However, at $136, the Basic plan was among the more expensive for our trip to Mexico.

What else makes TravelSafe great:

Rental car damage coverage add-on is available on both plans.

Cancel For Any Reason coverage available on the TravelSafe Classic plan.

Read our full TravelSafe review .

Best for group travel insurance: HTH Insurance

HTH Travel Insurance

• Covers travelers up to 95 years old.
• Includes direct pay option so members can avoid having to pay up front for services.
• A 24-hour delay is required for baggage delay coverage on the TripProtector Economy plan.
• No waivers for pre-existing conditions on the lower-level plan.

HTH offers single-trip and multitrip medical insurance coverage as well as trip protection plans.

At around $125, the Trip Protector Economy policy is at the average mark for plans we reviewed.

You can choose to insure group trips for educators, crew, religious missionaries and corporate travelers.

What else makes HTH Insurance great:

Medical-only coverage and trip protection coverage.

Lots of options for group travelers.

Read our full review of HTH Insurance .

As you shop for travel insurance, you’ll find many of the same coverage categories across numerous plans.

Trip cancellation

This covers the prepaid costs you make for your trip in cases when you need to cancel for a covered reason. This coverage helps you recoup upfront costs paid for flights and nonrefundable hotel reservations.

Trip interruption

Trip interruption benefits generally involve disruptions after you depart. It helps reimburse costs incurred for flight delays, cancellations and plenty of other covered disruptions you might encounter during your travels.

This coverage can cover the costs for you to return home or reimburse unexpected expenses like an extra hotel stay, meals and ground transportation.

Trip delay coverage helps cover unexpected costs when your trip is delayed. This is another coverage that helps offset the costs of flight trouble or other travel disruptions.

Note that many policies have a total amount a traveler can claim, with caps on per diem benefits, too.

Cancel For Any Reason

Cancel For Any Reason coverage allows you to recoup some of the upfront costs you paid for a trip even if you’re canceling for a reason not otherwise covered by your standard travel insurance policy.

Typically, adding this protection to your plan costs extra.

Baggage delay

This coverage helps cover the costs of essential items you might need when your luggage is delayed. Think toiletries, clothing and other immediate items you might need if your luggage didn’t make it on your flight.

Many travel insurance plans with baggage delay protection will specify how long (six, 12, 24 hours, etc.) your luggage must be delayed before you can make a claim.

Lost baggage

Used for travelers whose luggage is lost or stolen, this helps recoup the lost value of the items in your bag.

You’ll want to make sure you closely follow the correct procedures for your plan. Many plans include a maximum total amount you can claim under this coverage and a per-item cap.

Travel medical insurance

This covers out-of-pocket medical costs when travelers run into an emergency.

Because many travelers’ health insurance plans don’t cover medical care overseas, travel medical insurance can help offset out-of-pocket health care costs.

In addition to emergency medical coverage, many plans have medical evacuation or repatriation coverage for costs incurred when you must be taken to a hospital or return to your home country because of a medical situation.

Most travel insurance plans cover many trip protections that can help you be prepared for unexpected travel disruptions and expenses.

These coverages are generally aimed at protecting the money you put into your trip, expenses you incur because of travel trouble and costs incurred if you have a medical emergency overseas.

On top of core coverages like trip cancellation and interruption and travel medical coverage, some plans offer add-on options like waivers for pre-existing conditions, rental car collision damage waivers or adventure sports riders. These usually cost extra or must be added within a specified timeframe.

Typical travel insurance policies offer coverage for many unforeseen events, but as you research to select a plan, consider your needs. Though every plan differs, there are some commonly excluded coverages.

For instance, you typically can’t get coverage for a named storm if you bought the coverage after the storm was named. In other words, if you have a trip to the Caribbean booked for Sept. 25 and on Sept. 20 a hurricane develops and is named, you generally won’t be able to buy a travel insurance plan Sept. 21 in hopes of getting your money back.

Many plans also don’t cover activities performed under the influence of drugs or alcohol or any extreme sports. If the latter applies to you, you might want to consider a plan with specific coverages for adventure-seekers.

For numerous plans, a few other situations don’t qualify as an acceptable reason to cancel and make a claim, such as fear of travel, medical tourism or pregnancies (unless you booked a trip and bought insurance before you became pregnant or there are complications with the pregnancy). This is where a Cancel For Any Reason add-on to your coverage can be helpful.

You can also run into trouble if you give up on a trip too soon: a minor (or even multihour) flight delay likely isn’t sufficient to cancel your entire trip and get reimbursed through your plan. Be sure to review what requirements your specific plan has when it comes to canceling a trip, claiming trip interruption, etc.

Travel insurance costs vary widely. The final price of your plan will fluctuate based on your age, length of trip and destination.

It will also depend on how much coverage you need, whether you add on specialized policies (like Cancel For Any Reason or pre-existing conditions coverage), whether you plan to participate in extreme sports and other factors.

In our examples above, for instance, the 35-year-old traveler taking a $2,000 trip to Italy would have spent an average $76 for a basic plan to get coverage for things like trip cancellation and interruption, baggage protection, etc. That’s a little less than 4% of the total trip cost — lower than average.

If there were multiple members in a traveling party or if they were going on, say, a rock-climbing or bungee-jumping excursion, the costs would go up.

On average, travel insurance comes to about 5% to 10% of the trip cost. However, considering many of the plans reimburse up to 100% of the trip cost (or more) for disruptions like trip cancellation or interruption, it can be a worthwhile expense if something goes wrong.

It depends. Consider the following factors that might affect your decision: You’re young and healthy, all your bookings are refundable or cancelable without a penalty, your flights are nonstop, you’re not checking bags and a credit card you carry offers some travel protections . In that case, travel insurance might not be necessary.

On the other hand, if you prepaid a large chunk of money for a nonrefundable African safari, you’re going on a Caribbean cruise in the middle of a hurricane season or you’re going somewhere where the cost of health care is high, it’s not a bad idea to buy a travel insurance plan. Here’s how to find the best travel insurance coverage for you.

If you’re thinking of booking a trip and not planning to buy travel insurance, you may want to consider at least booking refundable airfare and not prepaying for hotel, rental car and activity reservations. That way, if something goes wrong, you can cancel without losing any money.

Selecting the best travel insurance policy comes down to your needs, concerns, preferences and budget.

As you book, take a few minutes to consider what most concerns you. Is it getting stranded because of flight trouble? Having the ability to cancel for any reason you see fit without losing money? Getting sick or injured right before departure and needing to postpone the trip? Injuring yourself or falling ill while overseas?

Ultimately, you want a plan that protects you, your money and the large investment in your trip — but doesn’t cost too much, either.

Medical coverage. If your priority is having adequate medical coverage abroad, you might want to look for plans with high limits for medical emergencies and medical evacuation.

Complex travel itinerary. If your itinerary has lots of flight connections, prepaid hotels and deposits for activities you can’t get back, prioritizing a plan with the best coverage for trip cancellations or interruptions may land at the top of your list.

Travel uncertainty. If you’re on the fence about a trip and have nonrefundable reservations, you may want to select a plan with a Cancel For Any Reason coverage option, which can help you recoup about 50% to 75% of the costs. This helps provide peace of mind, placing the decision on whether to travel entirely in your hands.

Car rentals. If you’re renting a car, a collision damage waiver is often worth looking into.

The following destinations are the top insured destinations in 2024, according to Squaremouth (a NerdWallet partner).

The Bahamas.

Costa Rica.

Antarctica.

In 2022, travelers spent about 25.53% more on trips than they did before the pandemic.

As of December, NerdWallet analysis determined travel prices are 10% higher than pre-pandemic. Each statistic makes a strong case for protecting your travel investment as you plan your next trip.

Bookmark these resources to help you make smart money moves as you shop for travel insurance.

What is travel insurance?

CFAR explained.

Is travel insurance worth getting?

10 credit cards that provide travel insurance.

Here is the list of travel cards offered by Chase that include various forms of travel insurance.

Having one of these in your wallet is a good start to protecting your travel investments and preventing expensive accidents; however, savvy travelers check card terms closely and sometimes supplement with a third-party policy, like from one of the companies above, to better protect themselves.

on Chase's website

• Trip delay: Up to $500 per ticket for delays more than 12 hours.

• Trip cancellation: Up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip. Maximum benefit of $40,000 per 12-month period.

• Trip interruption: Up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip. Maximum benefit of $40,000 per 12-month period.

• Baggage delay: Up to $100 per day for five days.

• Lost luggage: Up to $3,000 per passenger.

• Trip delay: Up to $500 per ticket for delays more than 6 hours.

• Trip delay: Up to $500 per trip for delays more than 12 hours.

• Car rentals: Theft and collision damage for most cars in the U.S. and abroad.

• Trip cancellation: Up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip.

• Trip interruption: Up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip.

• Baggage delay: Up to $100 per day for three days.

We used the following factors to choose insurance providers to highlight:

Breadth of coverage: We looked at how many plans each company offered plus the range of their standard plans. 

Depth of coverage: We considered two data points to get a sense of how much each company pays out for common travel issues — the maximum caps for trip cancellation and trip interruption claims.

Cost: By looking at the costs for basic coverage across multiple companies, we determined an average cost for shoppers to benchmark plan prices against.

Customizability: While standard plans can cover a lot of ground, sometimes you need something a little more personal.

Customer satisfaction. Using data from Squaremouth when available, and Google Reviews as a backup, we can give kudos to companies with better track records from their clients.

No, it doesn’t necessarily get more expensive the longer you wait to purchase. However, as you put off buying insurance, you may lose access to potential plans and coverage options.

In general, buying travel insurance within a few days to two weeks of prepaying or making an initial deposit for your trip is your best bet. Assuming you’re not booking last-minute, this will provide you with access to the widest possible range of coverage options. It also helps prevent any medical conditions or storms that pop up between booking and buying a plan from ending up as excluded situations, which won’t be covered by your plan.

But, generally, many plans do allow you to buy coverage quite close to your departure date.

To get the most out of your travel insurance plan, buy it soon after making your initial prepayment or deposit to ensure you have access to the biggest menu of plans possible.

Select a plan that’s comprehensive enough to cover the travel scenarios you’re most concerned about or likely to encounter but not too expensive or laden with protections you’d never likely need.

Whatever your coverage, thoroughly review the plan so you understand what’s covered and what’s not, plus how to adhere to the plan’s rules for making a claim.

Travelers frequently use phrases like “trip insurance” and “travel insurance,” as well as “trip protection,” interchangeably, but they do mean different things, according to Stan Sandberg, founder of insurance comparison site TravelInsurance.com.

Trip insurance, or trip protection, generally refers to predeparture (or preevent) coverage if you need to cancel. You may see these plans sold by airlines, online travel agencies or even ticketed event sellers.

“You could refer to it as the portion that protects the investment in the trip,” Sandberg says.

A travel insurance plan typically includes that — plus more comprehensive benefits to protect you during your trip, from medical coverage to trip delay and lost baggage protections, and many more elements, depending on the plan.

Though travel insurance is typically not required for international trips, your personal circumstances will play a key role in whether it’s a good investment.

For instance, young, healthy travelers with few prepaid trip expenses embarking on a relatively risk-free trip may not see a need to buy a plan.

Older travelers with complicated itineraries who are visiting destinations where they could potentially fall ill or get injured — or who could encounter bad weather or some other disrupting factor along the way — may want to buy coverage.

Consider a few key questions:

How well would your health insurance plan cover you if you needed to visit a hospital overseas?

How much did you prepay for a hotel or rental car?

How much money would you be out if weather or some other flight issue derailed your itinerary?

Could you afford an unexpected night in a city where you have a connecting flight?

Do you already have a credit card that provides some travel protections?

Your answers to these questions can help you decide whether you need travel insurance for your international trip.

In general, buying travel insurance

within a few days to two weeks of prepaying or making an initial deposit

for your trip is your best bet. Assuming you’re not booking last-minute, this will provide you with access to the widest possible range of coverage options. It also helps prevent any medical conditions or storms that pop up between booking and buying a plan from ending up as excluded situations, which won’t be covered by your plan.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

On a similar note...