Travel Insurance Providers

What Makes a Great Travel Insurance Provider?

Taking a trip can be stressful, especially when things don't go according to plan. The best travel insurance companies provide peace of mind, financial protection, and exceptional travel assistance to their customers.

When comparing travel insurance providers, consider the following:

• Reviews & Ratings: All Squaremouth customers are asked to review their experience after their trip. These reviews can cover everything from pre-trip support to the claims process. Travel insurance companies that provide best-in-class service to travelers will hold higher ratings.
• Premiums: Higher travel insurance premiums do not always equate to better coverage. As a rule of thumb, the cost of travel insurance is typically 5-10% of your total trip cost. We recommend choosing a provider that offers the coverage you need at the lowest price.
• Coverage Limits: Travel insurance providers often offer multiple plans at varying degrees of trip protection. The top providers will include strong coverage for the benefits that matter most to travelers, including Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Emergency Medical, and Medical Evacuation.
• AM Best's Rating: AM Best is an independent rating institution that uses a sophisticated methodology to determine the financial strength of an insurer. You can reference these ratings, which range from D to A++, when comparing providers.

Types of Coverage Offered by Travel Insurance Providers

When purchasing travel insurance, there are two main types of coverage to choose from: single-trip and annual travel insurance.

Single-trip insurance is by far the most common coverage option among travelers, and offers travel protection for a specific period of time, usually up to 90 days. Most single-trip plans will cover policyholders from “door-to-door,” starting when they leave for their trip and ending on their return date.

The majority of single-trip travel insurance plans are comprehensive, and include coverage for unexpected cancellations, medical expenses, trip delays, and lost luggage, among others. However, travelers can reduce the cost of travel insurance by electing for plans that don't include trip cancellation coverage.

Annual travel insurance, or multi-trip travel insurance, is a type of travel insurance plan that covers a policyholder for a 12 month period, regardless of the number of domestic or international trips they take. These plans typically include medical coverage, delay coverage, and personal item protection.

Annual plans are ideal for frequent leisure or business travelers, as they provide a convenient and cost-effective way to protect multiple trips. It's important to note that few annual policies will include cancellation insurance.

If Trip Cancellation coverage is important to you, we recommend purchasing a comprehensive single-trip plan or getting coverage from other sources, such as a travel credit card.

Top Travel Insurance Benefits to Consider

When you buy travel insurance, you're buying peace of mind. Many providers offer comprehensive travel insurance plans that provide financial protection from the unexpected. Below are some of the key insurance benefits to consider when comparing plans and providers:

• Trip Cancellation: May reimburse your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs if you cancel their trip for a covered reason. Common covered reasons include unforeseen illnesses and injuries, death of a family member, and natural disasters.
• Trip Interruption: May reimburse unused travel expenses if you’re forced to end your trip early for a covered reason. Trip Interruption coverage may also cover additional transportation expenses incurred to return home.
• Emergency Medical: Covers the cost of unforeseen medical care and expenses while traveling, such as x-rays, ambulance rides, and hospital bills. Exclusions may apply.
• Medical Evacuation: If a treating physician deems it necessary, this benefit may cover the cost of an emergency evacuation to another hospital or back to your home country.
• Travel Delay: May cover meal and accommodation expenses if you experience a significant delay. Most plans set minimum delay requirements that must be met before coverage kicks in, which can range 3-12 hours.
• Missed Connection: Can reimburse unused trip expenses if a covered delay causes you to miss a connecting flight. Some plans may also cover the cost to book additional airfare to catch up to your original travel plans.
• Baggage Delay: Provides coverage if your luggage is delayed en route to your destination. This can include reimbursement for toiletries, clothes, and other necessities.
• Baggage & Personal Items Loss: Covers the cost of luggage or personal belongings that are stolen, lost, or damaged at any point during your trip. Most plans set daily and per item maximum reimbursement limits.

Is Travel Insurance Worth It?

Travel insurance coverage is absolutely worth the cost if you have concerns about an upcoming trip. The majority of providers offer plans that provide coverage for common disruptions, as well as 24-Hour Emergency Assistance if you run into trouble.

Travel insurance can offer vital protection overseas if you’re planning international travel. Since most U.S. health insurance plans don’t offer medical coverage abroad, many Americans purchase trip protection to protect themselves from unexpected out-of-pocket medical bills.