Comprehensive travel insurance is a type of insurance that provides the highest level of coverage against unforeseen trip disruptions. Comprehensive policies offer financial protection before and during a trip, and is one of the few types of coverage that will protect your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs.
Despite higher premiums, comprehensive plans are the most popular insurance option among travelers, accounting for roughly 70% of travel insurance policy sales.
From last-minute cancellations to medical emergencies, comprehensive policies provide extensive coverage against unforeseen trip disruptions. These plans typically come standard with the following travel insurance benefits:
As well as the above benefits, some comprehensive plans will offer additional travel protection to policyholders for further peace of mind. This can include benefits such as coverage for adventure activities and pre-existing medical conditions.
Comprehensive travel insurance and travel medical insurance are the two most popular types of coverage available to travelers. Both policy types can offer financial protection, medical coverage, and travel assistance to policyholders.
The main difference between the two is the extent of travel protection they provide.
Comprehensive policies are more well-rounded, and protect your travel expenses through Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption benefits at no additional cost. Travel medical policies, on the other hand, do not offer cancellation coverage and prioritize higher coverage limits for health insurance benefits.
Since they offer less extensive protection to travelers, travel medical insurance is often significantly less expensive than comprehensive policies. This can be a good option for travelers not concerned about covering their trip costs or that have cancellation coverage through other sources, such as a travel credit card.
Typically, a single trip comprehensive policy will cost roughly 5-10% of your insured trip payments. As an example, a traveler insuring a $5,000 vacation can expect to pay $250-$500 on their policy.
In 2024, the average comprehensive travel insurance plan costs $407. This equated to roughly 6% of the average 2024 insured trip cost of $6,884.
Premiums for comprehensive travel insurance are determined by a variety of factors, including your age, trip cost, and trip length. Other details such as your destination and the coverage limits offered by the policy being quoted will also come into play.
Upgrading a policy with optional add-ons, such as Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) and Rental Car Damage Protection, will also increase its cost.
The best travel insurance policy for your trip will depend on your budget, your coverage needs, and your specific travel plans. Since there are many providers that offer comprehensive travel insurance coverage, we recommend comparing plans from at least 2-3 different companies.
When comparing trip insurance, pay close attention to important factors like price, benefit limits, exclusions, and restrictions. Much of this information can be found in an individual policy’s details or Certificate of Insurance.