ge travel insurance covid

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The 5 Best COVID-19 Travel Insurance Options

Travelex Insurance Services »

Allianz Travel Insurance »

World Nomads Travel Insurance »

Generali Global Assistance »

IMG Travel Insurance »

Why Trust Us

U.S. News evaluates ratings, data and scores of more than 50 travel insurance companies from comparison websites like TravelInsurance.com, Squaremouth and InsureMyTrip, plus renowned credit rating agency AM Best, in addition to reviews and recommendations from top travel industry sources and consumers to determine the Best COVID Travel Insurance Options.

Table of Contents

• Travelex Insurance Services
• Allianz Travel Insurance
• World Nomads Travel Insurance

Even though COVID-19 is no longer considered a global emergency, concerns around illness-related costs remain for many travelers. If you're looking for travel insurance that covers COVID – as well as other potential disruptions like flight delays and lost luggage – these are your best options.

• Travelex Insurance Services: Best Optional Coverage Add-ons
• Allianz Travel Insurance: Best for Multitrip and Annual Plans
• World Nomads Travel Insurance: Best for Active Travelers
• Generali Global Assistance: Best for Comprehensive Travel Insurance
• IMG Travel Insurance: Best for Travel Medical Insurance

Plans include coverage for COVID-19

Optional CFAR coverage is available with Travel Select plan

Some coverages require an upgrade, including rental car collision, accidental death and dismemberment, and more

Not all add-ons are available with every plan

SEE FULL REVIEW »

Allianz offers some travel insurance plans that come with an epidemic coverage endorsement

Single-trip, multitrip and annual plans available

COVID-19 benefits don't apply to every plan

Low coverage limits with some plans (e.g., only $10,000 in emergency medical coverage with OneTrip Basic plan)

24-hour travel assistance services included

More than 200 sports and activities covered in every plan

Low trip cancellation benefits ($2,500 maximum) with Standard plan

No CFAR option is offered

Free 10-day trial period

Some coverage limits may be insufficient

Rental car damage coverage only included in top-tier Premium plan

Offers travel medical insurance, international travel health insurance and general travel insurance plans

Some plans include robust coverage for testing and quarantine due to COVID-19

Not all plans from IMG offer coverage for COVID-19

Cancel for any reason coverage not available with every plan

Frequently Asked Questions

When comparing COVID-19 travel insurance options, you'll want to make sure you fully understand the coverages included in each plan. For example, you should know the policy inclusions and limits for COVID-related claims, including coverage for testing, treatments, trip cancellation or COVID-related interruptions that can occur. Meanwhile, you should understand how your coverage will work if you contract some other illness while away from home.

Also ensure your travel insurance coverage will kick in for other mishaps that occur, and that limits are sufficient for your needs. If you're planning a trip to a remote area in a country like Costa Rica or Peru , you'll want to have emergency evacuation and transportation coverage with generous limits that can pay for emergency transportation to a hospital if you need treatment.

You can also invest in a travel insurance policy that offers cancel for any reason coverage. This type of travel insurance plan lets you cancel and get a percentage of your prepaid travel expenses back for any reason, even if you just decide you're better off staying home.

It depends on your private health insurance provider and/or travel insurance policy. As of May 11, 2023, private health insurers are no longer required to cover the cost of COVID-19 testing. Out-of-pocket costs for COVID-19 test kits at local drugstores and on Amazon are relatively affordable, however.

As you search for plans that will provide sufficient coverage for your next trip, you'll find travel insurance that covers COVID-19 quarantine both inside and outside the United States. However, you'll typically need to have your condition certified by a physician in order for this coverage to apply. Also make sure your travel insurance plan includes coverage for travel claims related to COVID-19 in the first place.

Many travel insurance plans do cover trip cancellation as a result of COVID-19, although the terms vary widely. You typically need to be certified by a physician in order to prove your condition. Disinclination to travel because of COVID-19 – such as fear of exposure to illness – will generally not be covered. This means you will actually have to test positive for coronavirus for benefits to apply; simply not wanting to travel is not a sufficient reason to make a claim.

If you want more flexibility in your COVID-19 travel insurance, ensuring you have a cancel for any reason policy may be your best bet, but be sure to check with your chosen travel insurance provider to assess your options.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is an award-winning writer who has been covering travel insurance and travel for more than a decade. She has researched the best travel insurance options for her own trips to more than 50 countries around the world and has experience navigating the claims and reimbursement process. Over the years, Johnson has successfully filed several travel insurance claims for trip delays and trip cancellations. Johnson also works alongside her travel agent partner, Greg, who has been licensed to sell travel insurance in 50 states.

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• Entertainment

Great Eastern travel insurance review: Covid-19, promo, premiums

Great Eastern's travel insurance plans were once upon a time one of the most popular options in the market, but that was way back when everyone wore huge-a** shoulder pads. Now that the field has been disrupted by so many young upstarts, can the Red Lion still play the game?

Here's how Great Eastern's Covid-19 travel insurance coverage measures up against popular competitors such as AIG, FWD, AXA, and NTUC's travel insurance plans in 2022:

1. Great Eastern Covid Travel Insurance: Premiums

In the past, Great Eastern travel insurance was sold under 2 brands: Great Eastern Travel E@sy and Great Eastern TravelSmart - both have since been taken off the market.

Great Eastern TravelSmart was still available for purchase as recent as March 2022, when Covid-19 travel were just about easing and "cruise to nowhere" was all the rage. Back then, you may have bought a Great Eastern TravelSmart Basic which was the cheapest travel insurance variant covering you for cruises, Bintan, Batam etc. However, thanks to the rapidly changing global travel restrictions, these travel insurance plans come and go so quickly. Great Eastern TravelSmart is no longer available.

Instead, it's been replaced by Great Eastern TravelSmart Premier, which comes in three plan tiers:

Here is a summary table of the Great Eastern TravelSmart Premier travel insurance's premiums, benefits, and key coverage:

Note: Premiums are based on single-trip to South Korea (Asia), and Switzerland (Worldwide) for seven days during the September school holidays 2022.

Travel insurance plans' premiums are usually priced according to the country you're travelling to. While these countries are usually presented neatly in a table so you can figure out your premiums, Great Eastern does not state any of the countries nor their premiums transparently - which is a turn-off.

Instead, you have to key your country of destination into their website to check the premiums one by one. Here, we've checked a list of three to seven day single-trip premiums for all us Singaporeans' favourite holidaying spots:

• Malaysia: $19 Basic, $47 Classic, $56 Elite
• Bintan: $19 Basic, $47 Classic, $56 Elite
• Indonesia: $47 Classic, $56 Elite
• Thailand: $47 Classic, $56 Elite
• Vietnam: $47 Classic, $56 Elite
• Cambodia: $47 Classic, $56 Elite
• Hong Kong: $47 Classic, $56 Elite
• South Korea: $65 Classic, $75 Elite
• Japan: $65 Classic, $75 Elite
• India: $65 Classic, $75 Elite
• Australia: $65 Classic, $75 Elite
• Bhutan: $99 Classic, $118 Elite
• Maldives: $99 Classic, $118 Elite
• Germany: $99 Classic, $118 Elite
• London/ UK: $99 Classic, $118 Elite
• Paris/ France: $99 Classic, $118 Elite
• USA:$99 Classic, $118 Elite

2. Great Eastern Travel Insurance's Covid-19 Coverage

Although Great Eastern's TravelSmart Premier travel insurance comes in three-tier plans - Basic, Classic, and Elite - Covid-19 coverage is not offered in the Basic plan. Only the Great Eastern TravelSmart Premier Classic and Elite plans give you Covid-19 coverage.

Here's a summary of Great Eastern travel insurance's Covid-19 coverage:

Some other things to note about Great Eastern's travel insurance:

• Pre-Trip Covid-19 Coverage: If you test Covid-19 positive 30 days before your departure date and need to cancel or postpone your trip, Great Eastern's Covid-19 travel insurance will cover your travel fares, hotel accommodation, entertainment tickets.
• During Trip Covid-19 Coverage: From the day you test Covid-19 positive overseas, you'll be covered for 90 days. Your travel insurance plan will also be automatically be extended for 30 days for free.
• Post-Trip Covid-19 Coverage: If you get Covid-19 only after you land in Singapore, you will not be covered.

Honestly, Great Eastern travel insurance's Covid-19 coverage pales in comparison to competitors' such as Sompo's Covid-19 travel insurance which offers a higher $100,000 to $200,000 in Covid-19 medical expenses coverage and emergency medical evacuation, and $2,000 to $4,000 in trip postponement claims.

All these are important – higher Covid-19 medical expense coverage means you can be assured that even if you’re sent to an expensive private hospital for Covid-19. Likewise, do not overlook the emergency medical evacuation coverage. If you came down with a really bad case of Covid-19, the doctors deemed you unfit for normal flight, and you need to be medically flown back to Singapore, the bill could easily come up to $200,000 or $300,000.

Not shitting you, it’s real. I’ve had a friend who was stuck in the US ’cause she was unfit to fly. Google “fundraiser for Singapore medical evacuation” to see more real-life examples.

Like Sompo travel insurance, Great Eastern travel insurance does not offer post-trip Covid-19 coverage. So if you’re back in Singapore and test positive for Covid-19, that’s on you.

3. Great Eastern Travel Insurance: Disadvantages

There are some caveats to Great Eastern's travel insurance and Covid-19 coverage that you need to take note of. For example, don't make the mistake of buying your travel insurance only at the airport's boarding area, just before your flight. Most travel insurance plans have waiting periods as well:

• Short Trips Only: Your trip cannot be longer than 90 days
• Covid-19 Coverage: Only included in Classic and Elite plans
• No Air Miles, Hotel Reward Points: If you're planning to use air miles, or reward points to redeem your flight and hotel tickets, these tickets won't be covered by your Great Eastern (GE) travel insurance
• Buy Early: There's a seven-day waiting period before your GE travel insurance plan kicks in
• First and Business Class: Your travel tickets will only be covered up to economy class ticket's price bracket
• Flight Delay caused by the airline or government (due to Covid-19 regulations) is not claimable
• No post-trip Covid-19 coverage
• No coverage for pre-existing conditions

As with all travel insurance, you need to prove that you have tried to call your hotel and airlines to get a flight ticket exchange or refund to no avail. Only then will your travel insurance be able to cover your additional expenses.

4. Travel Insurance For Extreme Sports & Outdoor Activities

A great advantage of the Great Eastern travel insurance is its comprehensive coverage of extreme sports and outdoor activities adventure. You'll need to get the Classic or Elite plan, and you must be engaging in these outdoor adventure activities in a leisure or recreational way with licensed guides and instructors. That means you cannot be a professional bungee jumper trying to win a competition.

Here are the outdoor adventurous activities that are covered by Great Eastern travel insurance:

5. Travel Insurance Claim Great Eastern

Dealing with travel insurance claims is not the easiest thing. You're back in Singapore, just ended a wonderful holiday with great memories, got lots of clothes to wash, and a million MS Teams messages from your boss - absolutely not in the mood to sort paperwork for travel insurance claims.

Before you depart for your trip, make sure you have all your flight bookings, tour agency receipts, and hotel and Airbnb receipts printed in a file that you can use for any claims. If you're bringing any high-value laptops, expensive cameras, or expensive Rimowa luggages along, dig out those receipts and leave it in the file, too. Just do it and leave it on your dining table.

• Fall sick, get into an accident, get Covid-19: Call Great Eastern's hotline at +65 6339 2155 (24-hour Emergency Assistance). Document the entire accident process (your wounds), your hospitalisation, and DEMAND for all documents detailing your diagnosis, your medicine, hospitalisation stay, and the bills. Go over the top. You need all sorts of evidence to prove to the old geezers sitting in the Claims Department that your leg indeed broke while you were sightseeing in Jeju Island and not Bukit Timah Hill.
• Lost item or Theft: Report loss of item and theft to local police within 24 hours, get a copy of the printed report
• Lost item or Theft in airplane, hotel, DisneyLand, etc.: Also make a report to your airline, tour bus company, hotel, amusement park etc… wherever you lost it, get a copy of the report in print
• Original Receipts: Go home, dig out all the original documents and receipts for your loss or stolen items
• Download and Print Claims Form: For Great Eastern, all their forms need to be downloaded, printed, filled in, and mailed to their GE office in Singapore. Here is the Great Eastern travel insurance claim form.
• Submit Claims: Submit all your travel-related documents, flight tickets, hotel bookings, PLUS your claims documents to Great Eastern via snail mail. Afterwards, call their general hotline 1800-248-2888 to check on the status of your claims. The address is:

(Attention: General Insurance Claims Department)

Great Eastern General Insurance Limited,

1 Pickering Street,

#01-01 Great Eastern Centre, Singapore 048659

6. Great Eastern Travel Insurance Promo

At the moment, there is no ongoing travel insurance promotion for Great Eastern.

There is, however, a $100 gift credit that you can make use of to get 10 per cent off your travel insurance premium. You'll have to download the Great Eastern Rewards mobile app, and sign in. Then, you'll get $100 credits in your wallet.

But Great Eastern is a little sneaky… you can only offset a maximum of 10 per cent of your premium at any point in time. So, if your GE travel insurance premium cost you $65, that's $6.50 in discount. Yes, Great Eastern TravelSmart Premier is eligible for this promotion.

7. Great Eastern Travel Insurance Review

Should you buy Great Eastern travel insurance? If you're planning a trip to Niseko to skii, Bungee jumping in Seminyak Bali, or scuba diving in the Philippines, you'll be glad to know that Great Eastern's travel insurance is great for recreational extreme sports and adventures such as hiking and trekking.

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The basic coverage for GE's Travel Smart Classic and Elite plans aren't terrible, but they're not really that high. It covers all your needs sufficiently, e.g. medical expenses in overseas hospitals, medical evacuation back to Singapore, baggage delay, and loss.

Great Eastern travel insurance's Covid-19 coverage is, again, the bare minimum with $50,000 Classic and $150,000 Elite medical expense coverage for you when you get hospitalised overseas for Covid-19. The daily $50 or $100 Covid quarantine or hospitalisation allowance is great, but it is capped at 14 days.

However, the trip cancellation, postponement, and disruption coverage is pretty low at $1,000, $3,000, and $5,000 - and may be insufficient to cover the now-exorbitant airfares.

But perhaps the biggest deal breaker is the terribly outdated claims process. Hey Great Eastern, 1995 called. They want your insurance claims procedure back.

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COVID-19 Travel Insurance Guide and FAQs

Last updated October 19, 2023

Our plans provide coverage if you, a family member, or a traveling companion become ill with COVID-19 and plan requirements are met.  See Coverages

Travel Updates: Our plans provide coverage if you, a family member, or a traveling companion become ill with COVID-19 and plan requirements are met.  See Coverages

Generali Global Assistance continues to closely monitor COVID-19 and its potential impact on our travelers. This page is intended to help you better understand how the  Standard , Preferred and Premium  plans available on this website can help you with issues related to COVID-19.

Jump straight to:

• COVID-19 Guide  - Follow our step-by-step guide to learn how to buy travel insurance that includes coverage for COVID-19 sickness, what to do if COVID-19 impacts your trip and you need to cancel, and also what to do if you get sick during your trip and need medical assistance or are required to isolate.
• Frequently Asked Questions  - Get answers to common questions travelers have about COVID-19 and travel insurance coverage.
• Countries that require travel insurance to visit
• Qualified Home Test Kits  - See requirements for at-home COVID-19 testing in order to file a travel insurance claim and common testing kits that qualify. 
• Get a quote and compare travel protection plans

Frequently Asked Questions About COVID-19 and Travel Insurance

If you have questions that aren't addressed below, check for an answer at our Main FAQ page .

Buying a Plan

If you, a family member or a traveling companion are diagnosed with COVID-19 before or during your trip, and meet the requirements for coverage due to sickness , you can be covered for Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Travel Delay, Medical & Dental, and Emergency Assistance & Transportation, in addition to our 24/7 Emergency Assistance services. You can also be covered for additional lodging expenses and extension of your travel insurance plan if you are required to isolate at your destination and your return is delayed.

See our COVID-19 Travel Insurance Guide for more details

For your safety and the safety of others, travelers who believe they may have contracted the virus should call our 24/7 Emergency Assistance team who will coordinate local treatment on your behalf.

Read Plan Documents for coverage details.

Yes. If you received a voucher or credit from a travel company based on previous payment for a booking that is being transferred to a new trip, the new trip can be covered by one of our travel protection plans.

What's Covered

If you, a family member or a traveling companion are diagnosed with COVID-19 before or during your trip, and meet the requirements for coverage due to sickness , you can be covered for Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Travel Delay, Medical & Dental, and Emergency Assistance & Transportation, in addition to our 24-Hour Emergency Assistance services. You can also be covered for additional lodging expenses and extension of your travel insurance plan if you are required to isolate at your destination and your return is delayed.

Please read your Plan Documents for coverage details.

If you are planning to travel to an affected area, your travel protection plan can help if you get sick during your trip and need to seek treatment or medical evacuation. In addition, our plans include access to worldwide Emergency Assistance services, which are available 24/7 should you need help while traveling. Emergency Assistance and Transportation, Medical and Dental, Trip Interruption and Travel Delay coverages can also help if you get sick on your trip.

You can be reimbursed for unused, non-refundable, pre-paid trip costs if you need to cancel your trip for one of 20 covered reasons. Generali Global Assistance plans do not offer coverage if you cancel your trip due to fear of traveling due to Coronavirus, unless you added Trip Cancellation for Any Reason coverage to your plan. In that case, you could be reimbursed a specified percentage of the penalty amount for your trip, if you meet certain requirements.

In response to COVID-19 many cruise lines, airlines, and other travel suppliers are canceling service and refunding trips or waiving change fees. To ensure you are aware of all your travel change options, we encourage you to check with your airline or travel supplier before filing a travel insurance claim. See our list of the most commonly used suppliers with links to their COVID-19 policies.

Yes. If you purchased Trip Cancellation for Any Reason coverage it is your choice whether to travel or cancel your trip according to the terms of the plan . The naming of COVID-19 as a pandemic does not affect your coverage.

Please note that a “shelter in place” order is not considered a mandatory “quarantine” and is not a covered event under our plans.

If you are diagnosed with Coronavirus or another sickness and are quarantined, you can be covered. Learn more.

If you are quarantined, but not sick, coverage depends on when you bought your plan and when the loss occurred. Coverage is unavailable if the insurance plan was purchased on or after January 29, 2020. For plans that exclude pandemics, coverage is unavailable for losses that occurred on or after March 11, 2020, the date COVID-19 was formally declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization.

We will accept a positive test result from a testing facility or a positive test result from an at-home test that meets certain requirements . You do not need to have COVID-19 symptoms to qualify for coverage.

In order to qualify for coverage due to sickness, including COVID-19:

You, a Traveling Companion or your Service Animal get Sick after you purchase your plan, must seek the in person treatment of a Physician and can’t travel according to a physician. Or a non-traveling Family Member is hospitalized after you purchase your plan and you are unable to make the trip.

Important Note: Your or your traveling companion’s sickness must first occur after you purchase your plan in order to have coverage. Pre-existing medical conditions are generally excluded from coverage. However, coverage is available with the Premium plan if you purchased your plan prior to or within 24 hours of making Final Payment for your trip, provided other requirements are also met. Review Plan Documents for full details.

Also see: Do I have to have symptoms and see a doctor to qualify for COVID-19 sickness coverage?

Testing and Vaccination

Our plans include “new vaccination requirements” as a covered reason for trip cancellation. If your destination country announces and publishes a new vaccination requirement after you buy travel insurance, and you are medically unable to receive the vaccination, you can be reimbursed for your insured trip cost. This applies when vaccination is a requirement to enter the country, but not in the case of new quarantine rules for unvaccinated travelers.

If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 or another sickness, you can be covered for certain additional unexpected expenses on your trip, such as lodging.

To qualify for COVID-19 sickness coverage, your at-home test must meet certain requirements:

• You must take your test while your Trip Cancellation coverage is in effect. Trip Cancellation coverage goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. the day after you purchase your plan.
• The test must be a viral test and have Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). You can view a list of approved nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) and a list of approved antigen tests .
• The testing must include a telehealth video call during which someone authorized by the manufacturer supervises the testing procedure in real time.
• The telehealth provider must issue a report confirming the patient’s identity, the name of the laboratory or healthcare entity, the type of test and the specimen collection date.

See what tests qualify

It depends. If your Coronavirus test comes up positive and you are diagnosed before your trip, you can be covered for Trip Cancellation.

On the other hand, if you cancel your trip because you simply don’t want to go through the testing required, our plans will not cover you unless you purchased Cancel for Any Reason add-on coverage and meet the CFAR requirements .

No. If you do not get tested or do not receive the results in time, our plans do not provide coverage for those situations.

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As part of the worldwide Generali Group we have rebranded our travel protection plans to Generali Global Assistance, offering the same quality travel insurance, emergency assistance and outstanding customer service as you've come to rely on for the last 25 years. Welcome to our new website!

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What You Need to Know Now About Travel Insurance

A spate of new travel insurance policies have begun covering Covid-19, just as many international destinations begin to require it. Here’s what to look for.

• Share full article

By Elaine Glusac

When the pandemic struck, many travel insurance policies failed to cover Covid-19-related trip interruptions and cancellations, often because they excluded pandemics. But in the intervening months, the travel insurance industry has introduced a spate of new policies covering the disease just as many foreign destinations begin to require them.

“We’ve seen progress in that many plans will now treat Covid like any other unexpected sickness or illness,” said Stan Sandberg, a co-founder of the comparison website Travelinsurance.com . “If you have a trip and travel insurance and came down with Covid-19, which made it impossible to travel, that would fall under cancellation coverage as an unexpected illness that prevents you from traveling.”

Likewise, policies now including Covid-19 would cover holders in the event that a doctor diagnosed them with the virus while traveling under the trip interruption benefit.

Not all travel insurance excluded pandemics when the coronavirus began to spread early this year; Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection was one exception. But the broader change partially arises from consumer demand, a better understanding of the virus — including mortality rates and hospital costs — and the industry’s eagerness for travel to resume.

“People who are traveling are more conscious of their risks and thinking about protecting themselves and their investment,” said Jeremy Murchland, the president of the travel insurer Seven Corners. The company launched policies that included Covid-19 coverage in June; they now account for more than 80 percent of sales.

But, like all insurance, the devil is in the details when it comes to understanding travel insurance, including what’s covered, destinations where it’s required, and the inevitable caveats, as follows.

How travel insurance covers Covid-19

The new Covid-inclusive insurance generally covers travelers from the day after purchase until their return home. During that period, if you become sick and a doctor determines you cannot travel (because of the virus or another illness), trip cancellation and trip interruption benefits would kick in.

These benefits vary by policy, but a search to insure a $2,000 weeklong trip to Costa Rica in December on Travelinsurance.com turned up a $69.75 Generali Global Assistance Standard policy with Covid-19 benefits that would be triggered if you, your host at your destination, a travel companion or a family member tested positive for the virus.

If this happened before your departure, the policy would cover your prepaid travel expenses. If you or your travel companion contracted Covid-19 during the trip and were diagnosed by a physician, it would reimburse prepaid arrangements, such as lodgings, and cover additional airfare to return home — once a doctor deems it safe to travel — up to $2,500. Should you be required to quarantine and can’t travel, travel delay coverage for lodging, meals and local transportation would pay up to $1,000. The policy also covers medical expenses for up to one year, even after you return home, up to $50,000 — though the policy also states that a holder would have to exhaust their own health insurance benefits before seeking coverage under the travel insurance plan.

Travelers should read these policies carefully to understand the benefits (for example, some rules vary by your state of residence), but brokers like TravelInsurance.com, InsureMyTrip and Squaremouth are making them easier to find through filters, F.A.Q.s and flags.

The new more comprehensive policies don’t necessarily cost more. On a Squaremouth search for insurance for two 40-year-olds on a two-week trip costing $5,000, the site turned up a variety of policies with or without coronavirus exclusions from $130 to $300, with no apparent premium for Covid-19 coverage.

Not every Covid-19-related expense is covered by many of these policies, including tests for the virus that many destinations require before arrival (those may be covered by private insurance).

Many policies include medical evacuation to a nearby facility, but won’t necessarily transport you home. For those concerned about treatment abroad, Medjet , a medical evacuation specialist, now offers Covid-19-related evacuations in the 48 contiguous United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean that will transport you to the hospital of your choice in your home country (trip coverage starts at $99; annual memberships start at $189).

“Covid-19 requires special transport pods to protect the crew and others, which adds logistical issues,” said John Gobbels, the vice president and chief operating officer for Medjet.

In addition to the Medjet plan, travelers would need separate travel insurance with medical benefits to cover treatment costs and trip interruption.

Destination insurance requirements

Travelers aren’t the only ones worried about health. A growing list of countries are mandating medical coverage for Covid-19 as a prerequisite for visiting, often along with other measures like pre-trip virus testing and health screenings for symptoms on arrival.

Many Caribbean islands are among those requiring travel medical insurance, including Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas . St. Maarten requires health insurance coverage and strongly recommends additional travel insurance covering Covid-19.

Farther-flung countries also require policies that cover Covid-19, including French Polynesia and the Maldives .

Some destinations specify the required plan as a way to ensure travelers have the correct coverage and to expedite treatment. Aruba requires visitors to buy its Aruba Visitors Insurance, regardless of any other plans you may have.

“Insurance through a destination typically only covers Covid and infection while you’re there,” said Kasara Barto, a spokeswoman for Squaremouth.com. “If you catch Covid before, they don’t offer cancellation coverage. If you break a leg, the policy may only cover Covid medication. It varies by country.”

Costa Rica also requires insurance that includes an unusual benefit stipulating a policy cover up to $2,000 in expenses for a potential Covid-19 quarantine while in the country.

In response to the new requirement, which Costa Rica announced in October, insurers, including Trawick International , have begun introducing policies that meet the standard.

“It was a pretty quick and nimble reaction,” Mr. Sandberg of TravelInsurance.com said.

Normally, travel insurance varies by factors including the age of the traveler, destination, trip length and cost (most range from 4 to 10 percent of the trip cost). But some destinations are providing it at a flat fee, with most policies spelling out coverage limits and terms for emergency medical services, evacuation and costs associated with quarantines.

Jamaica, which will require insurance, but has not said when the new rule will go into effect, plans to charge $40 for each traveler. The Bahamas will include the insurance in the cost of its Travel Health Visa, an application that requires negative Covid-19 test results, which runs $40 to $60 depending on length of stay (free for children 10 and younger). The Turks and Caicos is offering a policy for $9.80 a day, and Costa Rica ’s policies, if purchased locally, cost roughly $10 a day.

Expect this list of destinations to grow. In January, the Spanish region of Andalusia plans to require travel medical insurance and is working on finding a provider to make it easy for travelers to buy it.

Gaps in travel insurance

Policies that cover Covid-19 as a medical event that may cause trip cancellation or disruption, or those that provide coverage for medical treatment and evacuation still don’t necessarily cover travelers who have a change of heart when they learn they will have to quarantine upon arrival, even if they don’t have the virus. Nor are policies necessarily tied to conditions on the ground, like a spike in infections, State Department travel warnings, a government travel ban or the cessation of flights to and from a destination.

For those events, there’s Cancel For Any Reason, or CFAR, an upgrade to plans that generally only returns 50 to 75 percent of your nonrefundable trip costs.

“Prior to the pandemic, we wouldn’t necessarily recommend CFAR because most of travelers’ concerns were covered by standard plans,” Ms. Barto of Squaremouth.com said. “It’s about 40 percent more expensive and we didn’t want travelers to pay for additional coverage.” Now, she added, there’s been a surge in interest in the upgrade, including in 22 percent of policies sold at the site since mid-March.

Industry experts predict some of these outstanding issues may work their way into policies of the future as they adapt to enduring realities, much as they did after 9/11 in covering travelers in case of terrorist events, which was not the norm before.

The pandemic “was unprecedented, but once it happened, the industry has been pretty quick to react and create coverage, and that’s in the spirit of how this industry is trying to define itself, to be one of those subtle but valuable assets,” Mr. Sandberg said. “Once the world opens back up, we expect travel insurance to be much more top of mind with travelers.”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook . And sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation.

How do you choose travel insurance that covers COVID-19?

Oct 26, 2021 • 5 min read

COVID-19 has made it more important to check the health coverage on your travel insurance © Maskot/Getty Images

After 18 months of pandemic-related travel restrictions, you may be itching to act on your pent-up wanderlust⁠⁠—but the situation and the rules are still continuously evolving. So before you go anywhere, it’s best to have a travel insurance plan that protects the investment you’ve made in a long-awaited trip.

A robust travel insurance plan will reimburse pre-paid trip costs and non-refundable deposits if you have to cancel or interrupt your trip, encounter trip delays, experience baggage loss or require medical expense and medical evacuation. Your policy will also reimburse “covered reasons” in your plan, such as death, illness or injury, serious family emergencies, unplanned jury duty, military deployment, acts of terrorism, or your travel supplier going out of business.

But COVID-19 has added an additional checklist to your usual insurance needs⁠—it’s now important to check to ensure your travel insurance plan includes coverage for COVID-19 medical expenses, and losses related to illness. Your policy should also cover quarantine costs if you need to self-isolate after testing positive for the virus.

What do I look for in COVID-19 insurance coverage?

When you’re shopping for a travel insurance plan that covers COVID-19, you need to do your research and read the fine print of your plan. 

Look for a travel insurance product that will protect your non-refundable, prepaid expenses if you have to cancel your trip due to illness caused by COVID-19. Your policy should also cover emergency medical treatment and emergency medical transportation. With regard to COVID-19 coverage, be sure your policy covers medical care, medicine, hospitalization and quarantine expenses.

“The type of coverage you should look for depends on you, your needs, travel dates, and the type of trip you’re taking,” says Sasha Gainullin, CEO of battleface , a travel insurance carrier. He says some travel insurance companies have now excluded COVID-19 coverage because it has been labeled a “known/foreseeable event”, while others may exclude pandemics altogether.

“It’s important to search for plans that include medical and quarantine expenses as well⁠—this will be critical in the event you become ill and need to receive treatment while traveling,” continues Gainullin. 

One additional tip is to confirm there are no exclusions based on the destinations you’re traveling to⁠—this can happen with countries under government-issued travel warnings, Gainullin says.

“If a traveler feels uncertain, I recommend speaking with the travel insurance company directly. They can review the policy details with you, answer all of your questions, and confirm all of your required coverage options are included,” he adds.

Is getting coverage dependent on vaccination?

While it’s a good idea to be fully vaccinated before traveling, vaccination is not required to purchase a travel insurance policy, says Daniel Durazo, spokesperson with Allianz Partners USA.

What are the medical costs that are covered by travel insurance?

Travel insurance can cover the cost of both medical treatment and emergency medical transportation. A US health insurance plan, as well as Medicare, generally will not cover overseas medical expenses, so it’s best to check with your personal health insurance provider if any global coverage is available. 

“While losing the cost of a trip due to an unexpected cancellation would be painful, paying for expensive emergency medical treatment or emergency medical transportation can be financially devastating,” Durazo says.  

Under a travel insurance plan, medical costs could range doctor visits, pharmacy expenses, imaging costs and covering a hospital stay if required. Other expenses that can be covered are transportation to medical care and medicine.

Read more:  Will my health insurance cover getting COVID-19 while traveling in the US⁠⁠—or abroad?

What about covering an unexpected quarantine due to COVID-19?

Many international destinations are now requiring that visitors purchase travel insurance coverage for an unexpected quarantine. Allianz Travel Insurance has added coverage to many of its products that includes reimbursement for quarantine-related accommodations if you or a traveling companion is individually-ordered to quarantine while on their trip, says Durazo. 

This coverage typically covers the cost of additional food, lodging and transportation while quarantined. In addition, trip interruption and travel delay benefits on certain Allianz plans also provide coverage if you or your travel companion is denied boarding by your travel carrier due to suspicion of illness.

The benefits for quarantine coverage vary from carrier to carrier. For example, on select Trawick International plans, they offer $2,000 in quarantine benefits and for an additional charge, and you can increase it up to $7,000. 

What about pre-flight COVID-19 testing?

Your plan may provide coverage for flights if you are turned away at a border for not passing a health inspection. Foster says Trawick’s travel insurance plans that cover COVID-19 would cover the expenses if you could not pass your pre-health inspection.  Also, the plan would cover the costs of the failure of your PCR test to return to the United States, such as having to quarantine abroad. 

It’s important to note that the actual cost of the PCR test is not covered by your policy, just the loss associated with the negative test.

Read more:  PCR tests for travel: everything you need to know

Some destinations require COVID-specific insurance coverage⁠—how do I comply with those restrictions? 

Before any international travel, you should check the country where you are headed to make sure you comply with insurance coverage requirements. Countries like Spain, Turks and Caicos and Thailand are among the nations that mandate COVID-19 insurance coverage.

“You first must check the countries’ specific COVID regulations for entry into the country. Some countries require travelers to provide proof of travel insurance that covers COVID-19 related expenses purchased from a third party,” explains Foster. Providing proof coverage is key; so travelers need to ensure they receive documentation from their insurance provider that their policy covers COVID-19 related expenses to show customs officials, she says.

Should you arrive in a country that requires proof of insurance to cover COVID-19 medical expenses and quarantine costs, and you don’t hold a policy, you will not be granted entry.

For more information on COVID-19 and travel, check out Lonely Planet's Health Hub .

You may also like:  What happens if I'm denied entry to a country on arrival? What is a vaccine passport and do I need one to travel? What is the IATA Travel Pass and do I need it to travel?

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Travel insurance with Covid cancellation cover: the right policies

Purchasing travel insurance during the time of Covid can be overwhelming – will you be covered in case of cancellation, or do policies that offer medical assistance for Covid exist? Here, we break down the policies that offer Covid cover, plus what to look for in a travel insurance policy and whether your insurance is invalidated if the government advises not to travel. 

What is the best travel insurance with Covid cancellation cover?

Yes, here goes... Note though, all policies currently have restrictions on claims relating to Covid-19 and be aware that the situation is changing fast, so double-check the latest cover before you buy.

All Clear Travel Insurance ( allcleartravel.co.uk ): cover is available to people of all ages but particularly suitable for travellers with pre-existing medical conditions that other insurers are reluctant to cover.

Axa ( axa.co.uk ): this long-established, French-owned company is one of the largest insurers, providing a wide range of different policies geared to a variety of travel types.

Battleface ( battleface.com ): geared to individuals and groups with an emphasis on adventurous activities abroad and travel to remote destinations.

Campbell Irvine Direct ( campbellirvinedirect.com ): this insurer was established more than 45 years ago, and policies offer cover for travel to challenging and adventurous locations, including conservation and volunteer projects.

CoverForYou ( coverforyou.com ): competitively priced policies include winter sports and backpacker cover with enhanced silver, gold and platinum options.

Holidaysafe ( holidaysafe.co.uk ): catch-all travel specialist with a portfolio of ‘niche’ policies covering specific sporting activities including triathlon, sailing and cycling .

LV Travel Insurance ( lv.com ): one of the UK’s largest and longest-standing insurers, founded in 1843, offering single and multi-trip cover.

PJ Hayman ( pjhayman.com ): strong on customer care, with cover for medical conditions and hazardous activities plus round-the-world and gap-year travel.

Puffin Insurance ( puffininsurance.com ): annual or single-trip policies for customers aged 18-74, covering more than 75 different activities with numerous optional add-ons.

Trailfinders ( trailfinders.com ): policy automatically includes children up to 21 years, free of charge (note those aged 19-21 must be in full-time education).

Can I get travel insurance during Covid?

In a word, yes. Some companies (see list above) say they will still sell you insurance – including the crucial medical-expenses cover – provided the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) doesn’t advise against all or all but essential travel. Check the current FCDO list for the latest advice. Some insurers will also offer cover for destinations on the red list , but in the current climate of uncertainty, rules governing travel to individual countries can change fast. Travel-insurance specialist Battleface has a useful country travel restrictions tool on its website to help people check the latest developments based on a variety of factors including destination and departure dates.

Why is travel insurance important?

If you have a trip booked and don’t yet have insurance, it’s important to buy a policy as soon as possible. That way, if anything changes – FCDO advice for example – you will already have cover in place. The problem with choosing the best policy is that everyone has different requirements – it may depend on your destination, the type of trip (are you doing lots of adventurous activities , for example?) and quite detailed, nerdy stuff such as ‘travel disruption cover’, which is particularly useful at the moment if you are travelling independently. There is no shortcut to checking through the key provisions of any insurance you are considering.

What should I look for in a travel insurance policy during the pandemic?

This is the key problem. Insurers are obviously jumpy about how exposed they are to claims both for cancellations because of Covid-19 and for medical treatment as a result of catching it while you are abroad. So all have added restrictions and exclusions into their policies. You need to check exactly what those are and make sure you understand the limitations of the cover.

Does travel insurance cover Covid cancellations?

If you already have travel insurance it will normally cover your cancellation costs if you, or one of your travelling companions, falls ill before departure and can’t travel – though you will need a medical report from your doctor to confirm this. Some policies – though not many – cover losses incurred if you have booked independently and have to cancel because of FCDO advice. Look for ‘travel disruption cover’ or ‘journey disruption cover’ in the policy details, which may or may not include disruption due to epidemics (see below for more information). If you are forced to quarantine in a hotel after visiting a red list country, this is unlikely to be covered by any insurance companies. If you are simply nervous of travelling and want to cancel – which is known as ‘disinclination to travel’ in the insurance industry – no policy will cover you.

So what use is travel insurance during the Covid pandemic?

The key value of travel insurance is the medical cover it offers while you are travelling. This will underwrite the cost of treatment and if necessary a hospital stay if you fall ill on holiday. But whether or not you are covered for accommodation costs if you are diagnosed with Covid-19 and have to enter self-isolation or quarantine while you are abroad varies by policy. Some insurers, however, will pay up if you need a new flight home in these circumstances. In short – it varies, so be sure to read the small print.

Is my travel insurance invalidated if the FCDO advises not to travel?

In normal times, travel insurers won’t provide cover to countries or regions where the FCDO advises against all but essential travel. Traditionally, these areas might include destinations such as Afghanistan, Iraq or Yemen, but in recent times it has included much of Europe too, with countries being regularly added to and taken off the UK's quarantine list. However, some insurers now offer affordable policies that are designed for travellers heading to these European destinations, which may be of use once the lockdowns start to ease. As ever, it’s important to read the small print. For example, policies are invalidated during a government-imposed regional or national lockdown in the UK.

Can I get insurance cover if I catch Covid abroad?

Some insurers will cover against coronavirus if the FCDO has listed your destination as safe to visit before you head off. Some offer cancellation cover if you’re diagnosed with Covid-19 within a fortnight of departure, including emergency Covid-related medical expenses while abroad and repatriation, as well as cover in the event of a travelling companion contracting the disease. And you can find insurers that offer cover for medical expenses resulting from Covid-19 for all destinations including countries under FCDO and government essential and non-essential travel advisories.

So what happens if my holiday is cancelled?

If you have booked a package with a tour operator and the FCDO advises against all but essential travel to your destination, your tour operator is obliged to cancel the holiday and offer you a full refund. They might also offer you an alternative holiday, or suggest you postpone travelling dates, but you are entitled to get your cash back. If you can afford to, consider postponing your trip rather than cancelling it completely, should your health or updated government advice mean that you can’t go away as planned. There are a lot of people out there relying on us to keep spending on travel, with around 10 per cent of the world's population earning an income that is linked to tourism. To learn more about how important this is, see our guide to why you shouldn't cancel your holiday .

What if I booked my trip independently?

Travellers who have booked, say, a flight and accommodation separately, normally have no right to a refund if they cancel unilaterally, even if the FCDO has since advised against travel. In practice, however, most airlines are cancelling flights and refunding passengers in this situation. A hotel or villa company doesn’t have to give you your money back – though it is obviously worth talking to them; they may allow you to postpone your stay.

Will my insurance cover me if my airline collapses?

It’s vital to make sure you pay for flights with a credit card (if you are booking a flight directly with the airline and it costs more than £100 you can claim your money back from the credit card company), and check that any tour operator you book with has up-to-date Atol protection – or can show that it has an alternative bonding arrangement in place.

Which websites should I check for the best travel insurance information and advice?

A good website that gives the latest figures for every country reporting cases of Covid-19 is worldometers.info . For the latest formal FCDO advice on every country in the world see gov.uk and search for travel advice. The best health advice is at nhs.uk .

Am I still covered by the EHIC scheme in Europe?

Yes and no. As of Thursday 31 December 2020, Britain left the EU, but anyone holding a valid EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) will be covered for state-supplied medical care while holidaying in Europe until it runs out. And while the EHIC card has been scrapped for anyone who doesn't currently hold one, it has been replaced by the very similar GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card).

Anything else I need to worry about?

Insurers have become very jumpy about pre-existing medical conditions in recent years because they add to the risk of expensive medical claims and cancellations. It is absolutely critical that you declare any conditions you may have when you buy a policy, otherwise – if you do need treatment while you are travelling – you may find your claim is refused.

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.

UPDATED APRIL 6, 2022

The information in this FAQ is current as of the time of publication but is subject to change .  Please see our Coverage Alert for the latest coverage information.  The information in this FAQ is intended to provide general information only and is not a coverage determination in any respect on any claim.  All claims are evaluated under the terms, conditions, and exclusions of the plan purchased based on the particular facts and circumstance of that claim.  The below FAQ responses address only losses incurred on or after the publication date of these FAQs . If a loss was incurred prior to that date, these responses may not apply to you or may vary. Please contact us at the number listed on your plan with any questions about coverage or to file a claim.

For customers purchasing a new travel protection plan, some of our plans now include an Epidemic Coverage Endorsement, which adds epidemic-related covered reasons for certain benefits. Benefits vary by plan and by state of residence, and are not available in all jurisdictions.

Please read your plan documents to see if the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement is included in your plan. We are also offering certain temporary accommodations as described in our COVID-19 coverage alert .

For frequently asked questions regarding details of the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement, see below section on “Epidemic Coverage Endorsement.”

General COVID-19

+ - i am worried about covid-19 impacting a trip i have scheduled or plan to schedule. should i buy an allianz travel protection plan to cover me in case covid-19 impacts my trip.

COVID-19 is a known and evolving epidemic that is impacting travel worldwide, with continued spread and impacts expected.  Our travel protection plans do not generally cover losses directly or indirectly related to known, foreseeable, or expected events, epidemics, government prohibitions, warnings, or travel advisories, or fear of travel.

However, we are pleased to announce the introduction of our Epidemic Coverage Endorsement to certain plans purchased on or after March 6, 2021.  This endorsement adds certain new covered reasons related to epidemics (including COVID-19) to some of our most popular insurance plans.  Please see the below FAQ section on “Epidemic Coverage Endorsement” for more information.  Note, the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement may not be available for all plans or in all jurisdictions.  To see if your plan includes this endorsement, please look for “Epidemic Coverage Endorsement” on your Declarations of Coverage or Letter of Confirmation.

Additionally, in response to the ongoing public health and travel crisis, we are temporarily extending certain claims accommodations as follows*:

1. For plans that do not include the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement, we are temporarily accommodating claims for the following:

• Emergency medical care for an insured who becomes ill with COVID-19 while on their trip (if your plan includes the Emergency Medical Care benefit)
• Trip cancellation and trip interruption if an insured, or that insured’s traveling companion or family member, becomes ill with COVID-19 either before or during the insured’s trip (if your plan includes Trip Cancellation or Trip Interruption benefits, as applicable)

2. If an insured or their traveling companion become ill with COVID-19 while on their trip, that insured will not be subject to the Trip Interruption benefit’s five-day maximum limit for additional accommodation and transportation expenses (however, the maximum daily limit for such expenses and the maximum Trip Interruption benefit limit still apply).

These temporary accommodations are strictly applicable to COVID-19 and are only available to customers whose plan includes the applicable benefit.  These accommodations apply to plans currently in effect but may not apply to plans purchased in the future, so please refer to our  Coverage Alert  for the most up to date information before purchasing.

+ - Am I covered if I want to cancel my travel plans because I’m afraid to travel due to COVID-19?

No, canceling a trip because you’re afraid to travel due to COVID-19 is generally not covered by our travel protection plans.

However, if you’re concerned about traveling during this time, many airlines and other travel suppliers are allowing their customers to change the dates of their travel without change fees. If you change your trip’s dates, we are happy to allow you to move your plan coverage dates to cover a new or rescheduled trip, so long as that trip is scheduled to be completed within 770 days from the plan’s original purchase date.* For terms and details, please see the below FAQ on changing your travel protection plan’s effective dates .

This temporary accommodation is strictly applicable to COVID-19.  This accommodation applies to plans currently in effect but may not apply to plans purchased in the future, so please refer to our  Coverage Alert  for the most up to date information before purchasing.

+ - Am I covered if I cancel or interrupt my trip due to COVID-19?

Claims due to known, foreseeable, or expected events, epidemics, government prohibitions, warnings, or travel advisories or fear of travel are generally not covered.  As such, our travel insurance plans do not generally cover trip cancellations or interruptions directly or indirectly related to COVID-19. 

However, we are pleased to announce the introduction of our Epidemic Coverage Endorsement to certain plans purchased on or after March 6, 2021.  This endorsement adds certain new covered reasons related to epidemics (including COVID-19) to some of our most popular insurance plans. Please see the below FAQ section on “Epidemic Coverage Endorsement” for more information.  Note, the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement may not be available for all plans or in all jurisdictions.  To see if your plan includes this endorsement, please look for “Epidemic Coverage Endorsement” on your Declarations of Coverage or Letter of Confirmation.

+ - What if my travel supplier (e.g. airline, cruise line, tour operator, etc.) cancels a portion or all of my trip due to COVID-19?

Travel supplier cancellations due to COVID-19 are generally not covered under our travel protection plans. However, if your supplier cancels your trip, you may be eligible for a refund directly from your supplier, and we encourage you to contact them for assistance.

If you have rescheduled your trip or rebooked a new trip, we are happy to allow you to move your plan coverage dates to cover a new or rescheduled trip, so long as that trip is scheduled to be completed within 770 days from the plan’s original purchase date.*  For terms and details, please see the below FAQ on changing your travel protection plan’s effective dates .

Alternatively, if your travel supplier has canceled your trip due to COVID-19, you may be eligible for a refund of the cost of your travel protection plan.*  For terms and details, please see the below FAQ on canceling your plan .

These temporary accommodations are strictly applicable to COVID-19.  These accommodations apply to plans currently in effect but may not apply to plans purchased in the future, so please refer to our  Coverage Alert  for the most up to date information before purchasing.

+ - Am I covered if I cancel my travel plans because of a travel ban or other government-imposed restriction on travel related to COVID-19?

No, canceling a trip because of a travel ban or other government-imposed restriction on travel directly or indirectly related to COVID-19 is generally not covered by our travel protection plans.

Please note, many airlines and other travel suppliers are allowing their customers to change the dates of their travel without change fees.  If you change your trip’s dates, we are happy to allow you to move your plan coverage dates to cover a new or rescheduled trip, so long as that trip is scheduled to be completed within 770 days from the plan’s original purchase date.* For terms and details, please see the below FAQ on changing your travel protection plan’s effective dates .

Alternatively, if your travel supplier has canceled your trip due to COVID-19, you may be eligible for a refund of the cost of your travel protection plan.* For terms and details, please see the below FAQ on canceling your plan .

+ - How do I know if COVID-19 testing and/or vaccination is required for my destination?

Check our interactive map for the latest information on travel requirements and entry restrictions for international destinations, including COVID-19 testing, vaccination policies, necessary travel documents and quarantine periods. (Content is provided by Sherpa, an affiliated third party).

Please keep in mind that travel restrictions change often, so you should check the travel requirements again before you leave for your trip.

+ - What should I do if my destination requires proof of travel insurance that covers COVID-19?

If your destination requires proof of travel insurance, we're happy to provide a summary letter that describes your travel insurance plan benefits, also called Proof of Insurance. Click here to request Proof of Insurance (please allow approximately 48 hours for a response).

If you’re not sure whether the information provided in the Proof of Insurance satisfies the requirements of your destination country, we recommend that you or your travel advisor contact the nearest embassy or consulate of that country to confirm.

+ - Can travel insurance cover trip cancellation or interruption if I don't meet the COVID-19 entry requirements for my destination?

Failing to meet a country’s entry requirements, whether for COVID-19 or any other reason, is not a covered reason for trip cancellation or interruption. It’s the responsibility of the traveler to check international entry requirements before booking a trip.

Before you book, and before you travel, use our interactive map to see current information on travel requirements and entry restrictions for international destinations, including COVID-19 testing, vaccination policies, necessary travel documents and quarantine periods. (Content is provided by Sherpa, an affiliated third party).

+ - I have an upcoming trip to an area with reported cases of COVID-19. Will I be covered if I cancel my trip?

No, canceling a trip because of an area being affected by COVID-19 is generally not covered by our travel protection plans.

+ - Am I covered if I cancel or interrupt my trip because the government has issued a travel advisory or warning for my destination due to COVID-19?

Our plans do not generally cover losses directly or indirectly resulting from government-issued travel advisories or warnings related to COVID-19, including those issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Department of State.

However, as a temporary accommodation, please note that the accommodations and other coverage for which you are otherwise eligible under your plan continue to apply regardless of any U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Department of State travel alerts regarding COVID-19 that exist on the effective date of our COVID-19 Coverage Alert . For the latest information and updates, please see our COVID-19 Coverage Alert .

+ - Can I cancel my travel protection plan and get the cost of my travel protection plan refunded?

You may be eligible to cancel your plan and receive a refund of your plan cost in the following situations:

• You generally have 15 days (or more, depending on your plan and state of residence) from the date your plan was purchased to request a refund of the cost of your plan, provided you have not started your trip or initiated a claim. Please note, plan refund rules vary by state and plan purchased, so please see your plan for details.
• Additionally, for a temporary period, we are offering refunds for the cost of your single-trip travel protection plan if your travel supplier cancels your trip due to COVID-19, as long as no payable claim has been filed under the plan. (This is not available for annual travel insurance plans, which may be canceled any time for a refund of unearned premium.) Refunds must be requested within 770 days of the original plan purchase date.*

To cancel your plan for one of these situations, please call us at the number listed on your plan. 

Unless earlier canceled or otherwise ended in accordance with its terms or the accommodations stated here, plans end 770 days after the original plan purchase date.  Plans do not provide any coverage or accommodation for any loss incurred after the plan ends.

+ - If I rebook my trip to a later date, can I change my travel protection plan’s effective dates to cover the rebooked trip?

Yes, you may change your travel protection plan’s effective dates to cover a new or rescheduled trip, as long as that trip is scheduled to be completed within 770 days from the plan’s original purchase date.  Changes can be made at www.allianztravelinsurance.com or by calling the phone number on your plan. 

Please note, if you wish to move your plan’s covered trip dates to cover a new or rescheduled trip, you must update your trip dates prior to the departure date of that new or rescheduled trip and prior to any loss for which you seek coverage.*  Additionally, if your trip costs for your new or rescheduled trip are different than the cost of your original trip, you will need to update your plan’s coverage limits accordingly.  Any change in trip cost insured for the new or rescheduled trip may result in a change in premium.  If you update your plan’s trip dates to cover a new or rescheduled trip but do not adjust your limits, the original plan limits will apply to the new or rescheduled trip.

+ - What are your temporary accommodations for COVID-19?

To learn more about the temporary, specific accommodations we are currently offering, please read our Coverage Alert .  These accommodations apply to plans currently in effect but may not apply to plans purchased in the future, so please refer to our  Coverage Alert  for the most up to date information before purchasing.

+ - Am I covered for trip cancellation due to COVID-19 if I have a Cancel Anytime plan?

Our Cancel Anytime plans provide up to 100% reimbursement of non-refundable, pre-paid trip costs when a trip is canceled for a covered reason, and up to 80% of those costs for most other unforeseen reasons for cancellation. However, our plans do not provide “Cancel For Any Reason” coverage, and coverage under these plans is subject to terms, conditions, and exclusions. Specifically, Cancel Anytime plans generally exclude coverage for losses directly or indirectly resulting from any of the following: known, foreseeable, or expected events, epidemics, and government prohibitions, and certain other causes of loss. As such, losses directly or indirectly resulting from COVID-19 are not generally covered under our Cancel Anytime plans.

However, we are pleased to announce the introduction of our Epidemic Coverage Endorsement to certain plans purchased on or after March 6, 2021.  This endorsement adds certain new covered reasons related to epidemics (including COVID-19) to some of our most popular insurance plans.  Please see the below FAQ section on “Epidemic Coverage Endorsement” for more information.  Note, the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement may not be available for all plans or in all jurisdictions.  To see if your plan includes this endorsement, please look for “Epidemic Coverage Endorsement” on your Declarations of Coverage or Letter of Confirmation.

+ - Am I covered if I need emergency medical care because I become ill with COVID-19 while on my trip?

Claims due to known, foreseeable, or expected events, epidemics, government prohibitions, warnings, or travel advisories or fear of travel are generally not covered.  As such, our travel insurance plans do not generally cover medical claims directly or indirectly related to COVID-19. 

However, we are pleased to announce the introduction of our Epidemic Coverage Endorsement to certain plans purchased on or after March 6, 2021.  This endorsement adds certain new covered reasons related to epidemics (including COVID-19), including related to emergency medical care if you or a traveling companion become ill with COVID-19 while on your trip, to some of our most popular insurance plans. Please see the below FAQ section on “Epidemic Coverage Endorsement” for more information.  Note, the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement may not be available for all plans or in all jurisdictions.  To see if your plan includes this endorsement, please look for “Epidemic Coverage Endorsement” on your Declarations of Coverage or Letter of Confirmation.

Please note, the above applies to emergency medical care for insured individuals who become ill with COVID-19 while traveling.  For the elimination of doubt, we do not provide coverage or reimbursement for the cost of COVID-19 testing required for travel, the cost of COVID-19 vaccination, or any other such expenses.

We urge any customer who has a medical issue while traveling or needs help to call us.  We are assisting customers 24/7/365 who wish to change their travel plans, need travel assistance, or would like to file a claim.  Our assistance team is ready to help all of our customers who need help while traveling, such as locating medical facilities or rebooking transportation.  You can also use our self-service options on this website. We review every claim based on its unique facts and circumstances and are happy to answer any questions you may have.

+ - Is a “long-haul” or an ongoing or active case of COVID-19 considered a pre-existing medical condition?

Our plans generally define a pre-existing medical condition as an injury, illness, or medical condition that, within the 120 days prior to and including the purchase date of your travel protection plan:

• Caused a person to seek medical examination, diagnosis, care, or treatment by a doctor;
• Presented symptoms; or
• Required a person to take medication prescribed by a doctor (unless the condition or symptoms are controlled by that prescription, and the prescription has not changed).

The illness, injury, or medical condition does not need to be formally diagnosed in order to be considered a pre-existing medical condition.

If your medical documentation indicates that COVID-19 symptoms/treatment were present within the 120 day look-back period prior to your insurance purchase, the condition could fall under the definition of a pre-existing medical condition.

Please note:  Many plans include a Pre-Existing Medical Condition Exclusion Waiver. If your travel insurance plan includes this Waiver, and you meet the conditions of the Waiver, then this exclusion will not apply to your plan.  One of the conditions to qualify for this Waiver is that you must be medically able to travel on the day you purchased your plan.  As such, if you are not medically able to travel on the day you purchase your plan as a result of “long-haul” or an ongoing or active case of COVID-19, you may not be eligible for this Waiver. Please see your plan documents for details, and learn more about pre-existing medical conditions here .

Epidemic Coverage Endorsement

+ - if i was exposed to someone with covid-19, would trip cancellation benefits apply.

Exposure to someone with COVID-19 is not by itself a covered reason under the Trip Cancellation benefit. However, the Trip Cancellation benefit would apply if you or a traveling companion test positive for COVID-19 or you are diagnosed with COVID-19 by your physician. 

The Trip Cancellation benefit would also apply if you or your traveling companion are individually-ordered to quarantine as a result of your exposure. Benefits may not cover the full cost of your quarantine and are subject to applicable benefit limits. For information on what qualifies as an “individually-ordered quarantine,” see the FAQ above on what is meant by individually-ordered quarantine .

For more information, please refer to the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement within your plan details.

Please note, this answer is specific to products that include the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement and applicable benefit(s) and covered reason(s) described. To see if your plan includes this endorsement, please look for “Epidemic Coverage Endorsement” on your Declarations of Coverage or Letter of Confirmation.

+ - What happens when a traveling companion or I become ill with an epidemic disease such as COVID-19 or is ordered to quarantine?

If you or a traveling companion become ill due to an epidemic disease (such as COVID-19) or are individually-ordered to quarantine, these are covered reasons that could trigger Trip Cancellation or Trip interruption benefits for the insured .  Note, the plan only covers expenses of the insured. Expenses of traveling companions are not covered unless they are also an insured under the plan.  Benefits may not cover the full cost of your quarantine and are subject to applicable benefit limits.  For information on what qualifies as an “individually-ordered quarantine,” see the FAQ below on what is meant by individually-ordered quarantine . 

+ - What is meant by “individually ordered” quarantine?

A quarantine is considered “individually ordered” when these conditions, as specified in the plan, are met:

i. The quarantine is specific to you or a traveling companion, meaning that you or a traveling companion must be specifically and individually designated by name in an order or directive to be placed in quarantine due to an epidemic; and

ii. The quarantine does not apply generally or broadly (a) to some segment or all of a population, geographical area, building, or vessel (including without limitation shelter-in-place, stay-at-home, safer-at-home, or other similar restriction), or (b) based on to, from, or through where the person is traveling. This condition (ii) applies even if the quarantine order or directive specifically designates you or a traveling companion by name to be quarantined.

Example 1 : While you are on a cruise, the crew of your cruise ship is checking temperatures of all passengers and you or your traveling companion demonstrate a temperature outside the accepted range, causing you both to be ordered to quarantine while on board. This would qualify as an individually-ordered quarantine.

Example 2 : While you are on a cruise, the crew of your cruise ship is checking temperatures of all passengers. As a result of a passenger (not part of your traveling party) demonstrating a temperature outside the accepted range, all passengers on the ship are ordered to quarantine while on board. Because this quarantine applies generally or broadly to the population of the entire vessel, this would not qualify as an individually-ordered quarantine.

Example 3 : While you are on a cruise, the crew of your cruise ship is conducting random COVID-19 testing of passengers.  A passenger who is not part of your traveling party but with whom you have had close contact tests positive for COVID-19.  As a result, you or your traveling companion are ordered to quarantine while on board.  Other passengers who are not close contacts of the ill passenger are allowed to continue freely moving about the ship as normal.  This would qualify as an individually-ordered quarantine.

Example 4 : You fly to a country that requires all persons entering the country to quarantine for fourteen days prior to being permitted to freely travel in the country.  Because this is a general/broad quarantine that applies based on the country to which you are traveling, this would not qualify as an individually-ordered quarantine.

+ - Will the new Epidemic Coverage Endorsement meet government requirements for my trip?

Travel requirements vary by country and continue to rapidly shift and evolve.  While we continually monitor and adapt our products and services as best as we can to meet these requirements, and our plans offer robust benefits in an effort to provide products that meet our customers’ needs, we cannot guarantee that a plan will meet the need in all situations.

Though it is the insured’s responsibility to comply with the specific country requirements, we can assist in locating this information. Our interactive map shows current information on travel requirements and entry restrictions for international destinations, including COVID-19 testing, vaccination policies, necessary travel documents and quarantine periods. Check your destination’s entry requirements here. (Content is provided by Sherpa, an affiliated third party).

We also can provide a summary letter of travel insurance plan benefits, which we refer to as Proof of Insurance. If your destination requires proof of travel insurance, we're happy to provide a summary letter that describes your travel insurance plan benefits, also called Proof of Insurance. Click here to request Proof of Insurance  (please allow approximately 48 hours for a response).

If it is unclear whether the information provided in the Proof of Insurance satisfies the requirements of the destination country, we recommend that you or your travel advisor contact the nearest embassy or consulate of that country to confirm. To the extent you determine the plan you purchased does not meet your needs, contact us so that we can help you find one that does.

+ - If I’m diagnosed with COVID-19 but I’m asymptomatic, would Trip Cancellation benefits apply?

Even if you or a traveling companion are asymptomatic, proof of a positive COVID-19 test or confirmation of a COVID-19 diagnosis by a doctor would be accepted as verification of illness and may be coverable under Trip Cancellation. For more information, please refer to the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement within your plan details.

+ - Is a positive COVID-19 test administered by someone other than a doctor considered sufficient proof of illness?

To confirm COVID-19 illness, we require a physician's diagnosis or confirmation, or the verified record of a positive molecular (e.g. PCR) or antigen COVID-19 test performed by a third party testing service provider.

+ - Which types of COVID-19 test results can be accepted as proof of illness?

+ - if i believe i’m sick with covid-19 but my test result is negative, how can i show proof of illness.

If you’re sick but test negative for COVID, a doctor must advise you to cancel your trip before you cancel it. If this isn’t possible, a doctor must examine or consult with you within 72 hours after the cancellation to confirm the decision to cancel.

+ - If I’m asymptomatic when I arrive at my destination, and then test positive for COVID-19, would trip interruption benefits apply?

Even if you or a traveling companion are asymptomatic, proof of a positive COVID-19 test would be accepted as verification of illness and may be coverable under Trip Interruption.

Please note, this answer is specific to products that include the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement and applicable benefit(s) and covered reason(s) described. To see if your plan includes this endorsement, please look for “Epidemic Coverage Endorsement” on your Declarations of Coverage or Letter of Confirmation. Coverage is subject to the plan’s terms, conditions, and exclusions.

+ - What happens if I’m denied boarding based on suspicion of COVID-19 illness, but do not test positive and I end up not being ill?

Even if you never test positive or become ill, if you or a traveling companion is denied boarding due to suspicion of COVID-19 illness, and your plan includes the denied boarding covered reason under Trip Interruption or Travel Delay, you may be eligible for coverage under that benefit. The specific expenses that may be covered depends on the benefit and may vary by plan.  Please note, this does not include being denied boarding as a result of your refusal or failure to comply with rules or requirements of entry to your destination.  You may file a claim under multiple benefits, but you may not be paid more than once for the same expense.

+ - If I’m denied boarding due to suspicion of being ill with COVID-19, would travel delay benefits apply?

If you or a traveling companion is denied boarding due to suspicion of COVID-19 illness, and your plan includes the denied boarding covered reason under Trip Interruption or Travel Delay, you may be eligible for coverage under that benefit. The specific expenses that may be covered depends on the benefit and may vary by plan.  Please note, this does not include being denied boarding as a result of your refusal or failure to comply with rules or requirements of entry to your destination.

Example 1 : The crew of your cruise ship is checking temperatures of all passengers prior to allowing them to reboard following a shore excursion.  You or your traveling companion demonstrate a temperature outside the accepted range, causing you both to be denied boarding.  This may qualify for coverage under the denied boarding covered reason.

Example 2 : During the process of reboarding a cruise ship after a shore excursion, you are required to fill out a form indicating whether you have attended any gatherings of 50 or more people while off the ship, which the cruise ship has indicated is prohibited for cruise ship passengers.  However, you did not follow that rule and attended a party with more than 50 people during the shore excursion.  You indicated that on the ship’s form, and as a result, you were not allowed to reboard the ship.  This boarding denial would not qualify for coverage under the denied boarding covered reason because you did not follow the travel supplier’s rules and requirements to travel, an express condition of the denied boarding covered reason.

+ - If I contract COVID-19 after starting my trip and must quarantine, would I qualify for both quarantine and interruption benefits?

Being individually ordered to quarantine while on your trip is a covered reason under the Trip Interruption benefit.  However, “Quarantine” is not itself a benefit under the plan that provides any separate coverage from Trip Interruption. For information on what qualifies as an “individually-ordered quarantine,” see the FAQ above on what is meant by individually-ordered quarantine .

If you or a traveling companion later become ill with COVID-19 while on your trip, in addition to the Trip Interruption, you may also be eligible for other benefits as well, such as Emergency Medical Care and Emergency Transportation benefits. You may file a claim under multiple benefits, but you may not be paid more than once for the same expense.

+ - Do your insurance plans cover the cost of additional accommodations for an individually-ordered quarantine?

If an insured is individually ordered to quarantine while on their trip, they may be eligible for coverage under the Trip Interruption benefit for expenses incurred for additional accommodations while quarantined.  Benefits may not cover the full cost of quarantine and are subject to applicable benefit limits. For information on what qualifies as an “individually-ordered quarantine,” see the FAQ above on what is meant by individually-ordered quarantine .

Additionally, as a temporary accommodation, if you or a traveling companion become ill with COVID-19 while on your trip, you will not be subject to the Trip Interruption benefit’s five-day maximum limit for additional accommodation and transportation expenses (however, the maximum daily limit for such expenses and the maximum Trip Interruption benefit limit still apply).*

This temporary accommodation is strictly applicable to COVID-19 and is only available to customers whose plan includes the Trip Interruption benefit.  This accommodation applies to plans currently in effect but may not apply to plans purchased in the future, so please refer to our  Coverage Alert  for the most up to date information before purchasing.

+ - If I’m diagnosed with COVID-19 and need emergency medical care while traveling, would Emergency Medical Care benefits apply?

If you are diagnosed with an epidemic disease such as COVID-19 or test positive with COVID-19 and require necessary emergency medical care while traveling, then you can be reimbursed for reasonable costs for emergency medical care up to your specific plan’s maximum limit for the Emergency Medical Care benefit. For more information, please refer to the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement within your plan details.

+ - If products including the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement become available in my state before I travel, do I need to buy one of the new products to have any coverage related to COVID-19?

The introduction of the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement does not affect any terms or conditions of existing policies. Accommodations that were applicable to existing policyholders prior to the introduction of the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement products remain applicable to those policyholders, including temporary claims accommodations for customers who become ill with COVID-19. For information on these accommodations, please see our Coverage Alert .

Please note, this answer is specific to products that include the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement and applicable benefit(s) and covered reason(s) described. To see if your plan includes this endorsement, please look for “Epidemic Coverage Endorsement” on your Declarations of Coverage or Letter of Confirmation .

+ - Will your current COVID-19 accommodations be expanded to include the broader coverage that the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement offers?

No, this new coverage is only available under plans containing the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement.  For other plans, our existing temporary accommodations continue to apply, including temporary claims accommodations for customers who become ill with COVID-19.  For information on these accommodations, please see our Coverage Alert .

These accommodations apply to plans currently in effect but may not apply to plans purchased in the future, so please refer to our  Coverage Alert  for the most up to date information before purchasing. 

* - The accommodations described here are strictly applicable to COVID-19 and are only available for customers whose plan includes the applicable benefit.  All other terms, conditions, and exclusions of the plan apply as normal. All plans continue to generally exclude losses for epidemics, including COVID-19, except as expressly covered in that plan’s Epidemic Coverage Endorsement. All benefits are subject to maximum limits of liability, which may in some cases be subject to sublimits, day limits, and daily maximums.  Please read your plan for details.  The above-described accommodations are an explicit and limited expression of donative intent only, which is for only the limited purposes expressly specified here and for no other further purpose, express or implied.  Further, this is expressly not a guarantee of coverage or admission of legal or equitable liability.  Nothing contained or described here, nor any payment made pursuant to the position described here, is or should be construed to be a waiver of any term, condition, or exclusion of any plan, or any applicable rights, remedies, or defenses under any plan or at law or equity.  We and our applicable underwriters and reinsurers reserve all rights, remedies, and defenses under the plan and under applicable law and at equity.  Please note, the above accommodations, refunds, and opportunities to change dates may not apply to any third party travel cancellation fee waiver you purchased from a travel supplier.

For all of the above FAQs :  Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply to all plans. Plans are available only to U.S. residents. Not all plans are available in all jurisdictions. Availability of Epidemic Coverage Endorsement, including specific benefits and covered reasons described here, varies by product and by state. Products may not include all benefits or covered reasons described here.  Benefits may not cover the full cost of your expense or loss.  All benefits are subject to maximum limits of liability, which may in some cases be subject to sublimits and daily maximums.  Benefits and limits vary by plan. Be sure to review your plan carefully to understand what coverage is available and what limits apply to your plan. For a complete description of the coverage and benefit limits offered under your specific plan, carefully review your plan’s Letter of Confirmation/Declaration of Coverage and Certificate of Insurance/Policy. Insurance benefits underwritten by BCS Insurance Company, or Jefferson Insurance Company, depending on your state of residence and plan chosen. Plans only available to U.S. residents and may not be available in all jurisdictions. Allianz Global Assistance and Allianz Travel are marks of AGA Service Company dba Allianz Global Assistance or its affiliates. Allianz Travel, Event Ticket, and Registration 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 Allianz Global Assistance and Jefferson Insurance Company. Plans include insurance benefits and assistance services. Any Non-Insurance Assistance services purchased are provided through Allianz Global Assistance. Any non-insurance travel cancellation fee waiver purchased is provided by the travel supplier from whom you purchased that travel cancellation fee waiver. Except as expressly provided under your plan, you are responsible for charges you incur from third parties.

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] .

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We asked: Will travel insurance protect your trip as covid spreads?

This week’s By The Way Concierge is a crash course on travel insurance.

Traveling has always come with complications, but the coronavirus pandemic has made it more challenging than ever. Our By The Way Concierge column will take your travel dilemmas to the experts to help you navigate the new normal. Want to see your question answered? Submit it here .

This week we tackle a topic we’ve heard travel experts discussing with more frequency since the delta variant came knocking. With covid cases on the rise again, it’s becoming less certain whether we can — or should — keep our upcoming travel plans. One solution to alleviate some anxiety about the future is purchasing travel insurance. Because it’s not a common practice for most travelers, we’re using our column this week to break down the essentials. Who would benefit from getting travel insurance? What does it cover? Is it worth the cost?

Let’s start with the basics. As we have covered travel throughout the pandemic, industry experts have recommended travel insurance over and over again because we’re living (and traveling) in a very volatile time. We are already worried enough about the coronavirus; we don’t need the financial blow of something going wrong before or during a vacation.

“Travel insurance is awesome if you get sick, or something that’s covered by the policy that’s out of your control stops you from travel,” says Michael Giusti, an insurance expert for InsuranceQuotes.com .

However, it’s not one-size-fits-all. Not everyone needs it. Policies and what they cover can vary wildly. And everyone’s will be priced differently.

“Travel insurance is not like a big-box store warranty for a toaster or something like that,” says Joshua E. Bush, CEO of the travel agency Avenue Two Travel .

What 6 health experts say about traveling amid the delta variant

Giusti says it makes the most sense to get insurance if you have to pay for the whole trip upfront (e.g., an Airbnb rental with a strict cancellation policy, a cruise or a stay at an all-inclusive resort). It doesn’t make sense if you’re driving to your parents’ house for the weekend or booking a stay at a hotel with a flexible cancellation or rebooking policy.

Bush says he gets travel insurance for most trips he takes. A domestic flight that cost a few hundred dollars? He’ll skip insurance. A $10,000 vacation to Italy? Absolutely.

Before you throw down money on a policy, Bush recommends finding out the ways you are already covered. Your existing medical, car or homeowner’s insurance (not to mention your credit card) may take care of more than you think. Your personal plan may extend to other members of your family. Once you know where you are vulnerable, you can purchase a travel insurance policy that will fill in the blanks.

You asked: How do I find a coronavirus test in a foreign country?

“You don’t want to get overinsured, but you also don’t want to assume something is covered and then get really upset when you have to go make a claim,” Giusti says.

Is your biggest worry getting coronavirus while you’re traveling? Make sure you get a policy that explicitly covers that concern. For his luxury travel clients, Bush looks to companies like Covac Global and Medjet that will provide medical evacuation.

To calculate the price of your travel insurance, a company will look at your age, the overall cost of your trip, where you’re going in the world and what you’ll be doing. Policies should cost about 4 to 10 percent of the nonrefundable cost of your trip. That is, unless you’re buying a “Cancel for Any Reason” policy, which Giusti estimates can cost about 30 percent more than the norm.

That expensive Cancel for Any Reason has been particularly popular in the past year and a half because, contrary to popular belief, standard travel insurance doesn’t normally cover outlier situations such as pandemics, terrorist attacks and government crises. It also doesn’t cover your fear of those kinds of scenarios, either.

How to cancel your flights, Airbnbs and more because of the delta variant

“If you’re like, ‘Oh, my God, look at Florida. It’s a hot spot. I don’t know if I want to go there anymore,' you’re out of luck when it comes to travel insurance unless you buy the more expensive Cancel for Any Reason,” Giusti says. “Just like its name says, you can back out just because you feel like it.”

Note that Cancel for Any Reason does not mean you’re getting 100 percent of your money back if you do end up canceling. Giusti says travelers can expect to get a percentage of their money back, usually about 70 percent of it.

Additionally, those who want to purchase Cancel for Any Reason coverage need to do so within a certain time frame, which varies with each policy. Other requirements may also apply, so check the fine print.

Should you have to call on your travel insurance for help, know that “filing a claim is never easy,” Giusti says. “You’ve got to work for it. I think the more organized you are, the more protected you’re going to be.”

Unless it is an emergency, check with your travel insurance company before you pull the plug on a plan or run to a doctor’s office.

“Some of these travel policies do have a clause where you have to talk to them before you get treatment,” Giusti says. “Communicate in advance as much as you can.”

Lastly, keep every little receipt and prepare yourself for a battle through red tape to get what you are owed.

Have a travel dilemma for By The Way Concierge? Submit it here.

Coronavirus: What you need to know

The latest: The Food and Drug Administration approved new mRNA coronavirus vaccines. Here’s what you need to know about the vaccines .

Summer covid uptick: A summer covid wave continues to wash over the Americas and parts of Asia and Europe, with the World Health Organization saying the virus is increasing in at least 84 countries.

Combined coronavirus and flu vaccine: A combined coronavirus-influenza vaccine may be on the horizon after Moderna’s shot produced a higher immune response in older adults than separate vaccines for those viruses administered together. Moderna officials say the earliest that the combined vaccine could hit the market is the fall of 2025, pending regulatory approval.

Covid isolation guidelines: Americans who test positive for the coronavirus no longer need to routinely stay home from work and school for five days under new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Here are the latest guidelines .

Experts say travel insurance is crucial: Here's how it actually works

Whether illness or weather derails plans, policies can cover a range of issues.

Whether you're a frequent traveler or setting plans for an upcoming vacation, unexpected circumstances such as bad weather can cast a cloud over a trip, which is why experts suggest investing in travel insurance.

Recently, Hurricane Beryl marked an "early and violent start" to the typical storm season. NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad confirmed in a mid-season update earlier this month that Beryl was "the earliest category-5 Atlantic hurricane on record" -- and peak storm season is right around the corner.

With increased risk of disruptions during hurricane season through November and more people opting for shoulder season getaways after avoiding summer crowds , travelers should prepare for such worse-case scenarios to avoid losing money on hotels, activities and other bookings.

Everything you need to know about travel insurance

With an array of options in the market and various individual reasons to invest in a plan that protects your purchases, "Good Morning America" tapped top industry experts to provide insights to help ensure that even if your next getaway gets rained out, your bank account won't be drained as well.

"Things can go wrong in ways that you can't begin to imagine. And if you're unlucky and unfortunate enough to be in that position, you don't want to come back from your trip with a debt to pay off as well," Daniel Green, trip insurance expert and co-founder of Faye Travel Insurance, told "GMA."

Understand the basics before you buy bespoke coverage

Katy Nastro, spokesperson for Going.com, formerly known as Scott's Cheap Flights, told "GMA" that first and foremost, folks need to "understand all the ways in which you are already protected before dishing out for things you don't need."

"When it comes to flight insurance, under federal law, you are already protected to get a full refund or rebooked on a significantly delayed flight or cancellation, regardless of the reason," she said. "With new regulations that airlines must comply with by the end of October, seeing your refund back to your payment method will get a lot faster and more seamless."

Nastro said "many travel credit cards already have built-in trip insurance that can protect you when the unexpected happens," citing perks from the Chase Sapphire Reserve card that provide "reimbursements up to $10,000 per person for pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses when an interruption happens."

You should always buy insurance for one simple reason -- when you start thinking -- 'I hope we have insurance,' it's one minute too late

"These cards often pay sooner than the airlines do for expenses due to misplaced bags," she added.

Nastro also suggested to check on coverage across state lines with any existing medical or car insurance policies, which could help cut down on costs.

"Specifically, when it comes to medical insurance, medical care around the world is generally a fraction of the cost compared to what it is in the U.S. So, while it could be good to have if you need stitches in Vietnam, it probably won't break the bank," she said.

Because travel insurance is subjective, Nastro said "it's worth considering when you exhaust your existing coverages to see where you might have some gaps."

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"A great example is when you have a trip with multiple components that aren't purchased together, like a flight and cruise," Nastro told "GMA." "The cruise won't wait when your flight has been rebooked for the next day, so in this scenario, it might be worth looking at insurance on the cruise portion. You can typically add insurance after the fact, but reading the fine print is critical."

"Trip or travel insurance tends to be cheaper to buy, but is restricted to what is actually covered and often has red tape in terms of getting that reimbursement. For example, if you have an illness and need to cancel your trip, policies might require a doctor's note," she continued.

She added, "Travel insurance with 'cancel for any reason' policies tends to be more expensive to purchase, but more inclusive in terms of what is considered a 'covered' reason. The biggest caveat is that they offer a partial refund -- 50% to 75% of nonrefundable expenses."

When it comes to weather, she reiterated that reading the fine print is critical, because "the coverage typically offered is for extreme weather and scenarios where the operator cannot operate for 24 hours or more, so a typical summer thunderstorm won't make the cut."

Green added that, generally, if a customer buys travel insurance from an airline provider, since the carrier "doesn't know all the details of your trip" beyond the price and date of the flight, "if you're renting a car and traveling around -- or staying in a $4,000 hotel, you might only have $1,000 worth of insurance because at the checkout screen of American or United or Delta, they just didn't know about those costs."

"That's why I think it makes a lot more sense to buy insurance directly from either a website portal or an agent that can show you the main limits, so you know all the things you spent are covered as part of the policy," he said.

As Nastro pointed out, payment for claims can become a sticky situation, which is why Green helped craft an more seamless way to alleviate issues by providing the reassurance of immediate reimbursement: "If you have Apple Pay or Google Pay, you can access that money instantly after the claim is settled," he told "GMA."

What is shoulder season? Experts tips to save on airfare, hotels in opposite seasons

Green co-founded Faye just before the COVID-19 pandemic sent the travel industry into a tailspin, but said now, "the concern on the American mind more than anything is who's gonna pay for this? Especially in these days of inflation, if you're paying significant amounts of money for travel, and something goes wrong, you'd like to at least be made whole."

3 categories to consider for travel insurance coverage

Green explained that travel insurance can generally be broken into three categories: your investment in the trip, your belongings such as luggage and passports, and your health.

For anyone booking travel on their own, without a travel agent or adviser, Green highlighted the difference between buying travel insurance directly versus clicking "yes" on an app or checkout screen.

"You're not always being offered insurance that's in your best interest if you're just hoping that whatever your credit card comes with, or whatever your airline gives you at the end of the checkout is going to provide everything you need," he said.

He noted that one important tip for any type of travel coverage purchase is "the earlier you tell your insurance company that something has gone wrong, the more likely it is that they can help you while you're on your trip -- and helping sometimes means paying for expenses so that you don't have to be out of pocket and get reimbursement."

Weather-specific products for travel inconveniences

Products like Sensible Weather offer more specific elements to cover scenarios such as rain during a beach vacation or lack of snow for a ski trip, which may derail plans.

"The idea of travel inconvenience payments, it just takes the sting out of things," Green said. "In those scenarios, you just get a fixed, agreed amount of money -- sort of no questions asked -- You just have to prove that you actually experienced the loss in question, and then you get the full amount."

"You should always buy insurance for one simple reason -- because usually at the point when you start thinking to yourself, 'Wow, I hope we have insurance,' it's one minute too late," Green said. "Hurricane season is the perfect example of that. Once a hurricane is named, you generally can't make any claims related to the hurricane if you didn't already buy a policy."

"What we're learning about the current hurricane season is the weather is becoming unpredictable all the time," Green said. "We've heard about days where the weather was so hot in Phoenix that airplanes couldn't take off from the tarmac, hurricanes coming sooner than expected, or power failures causing an airport to not be able to operate -- and because those things are so unpredictable, playing the game of wait and see before buying your insurance rarely make sense versus justbuying it around the time you buy your trip and not having to worry about that aspect again."

How much plans cost and limitations

"There is no one size fits all when it comes to travel insurance," Green noted.

However, he said "there are rules of thumb" that industry experts often follow: "You should be willing to spend up to 10% of the cost of your trip on your insurance."

"The two biggest factors that usually affect the cost of your insurance is your age at the time of purchase, not at the time of travel, and the value of your trip," he said, adding that "every company is different."

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Travel insurance

What does travel delay insurance cover?

Mandy Sleight

Alyce Meserve

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

Heidi Gollub

Published 12:35 p.m. UTC Aug. 20, 2024

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• Travel delay coverage offers benefits for accommodations, communications, local transportation and meals when your trip is delayed for a covered reason.
• The required time before travel delay insurance kicks in will vary by policy, but it is usually between three and 12 consecutive hours.
• The typical travel delay coverage benefit ranges from $100 to $300 daily with a maximum limit of $100 to $5,000.

How does trip delay insurance work? 

Travel insurance can provide multiple benefits, including travel delay coverage. “Trip delay coverage can reimburse you for expenses incurred if you are delayed for a covered reason on your way to your destination, during your trip or on your way home,” said Angela Borden, product specialist at travel insurance provider Seven Corners.

Air carrier mechanical issues, inclement weather, mandatory quarantines, natural disasters and unannounced strikes are common reasons you might get reimbursed by trip delay coverage, said Stan Sandberg, co-founder of TravelInsurance.com.

The travel delay benefit amount will vary by insurance policy, and you must be delayed for a minimum number of hours to qualify. Coverage is typically between $100 and $300 per day, up to a maximum per trip of $100 to $5,000. It will kick in after you are delayed between three and 12 consecutive hours, depending on your travel insurance plan. 

“For example, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection’s ExactCare plan will provide up to $200 a day ($1,000 maximum) reimbursement for qualified expenses when a trip is delayed five or more hours,” said Carol Mueller, vice president of Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection.

Lauren Gumport, vice president of communications and brand at Faye Travel Insurance said a Faye plan may reimburse up to $300 per day, or $4,500 per trip, after a delay of six hours or more.

As you can see, the features of a specific insurance policy will vary by provider and level of coverage. Premium plans typically have shorter delay waiting periods with higher reimbursement maximums than economy plans. Comparing travel insurance plans and providers can help you find the best travel insurance policy with the types of coverage and levels of compensation you need to cover your prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses.

Does trip delay insurance differ from trip delay benefits on a credit card?

Many credit cards offer trip delay coverage as a benefit. However, the amount is usually lower than what a travel insurance policy covers . Most credit cards will only cover up to $500 per trip or ticket, and you must purchase your nonrefundable trip expenses using the same credit card to be eligible.

A credit card’s covered reason list may also be more restrictive than a travel insurance plan. Credit cards might require longer minimum delay time and fewer covered delay reasons. Although having trip delay benefits on an eligible card is nice, it may not be enough to cover the additional expenses you incur if you experience a flight delay.

What does trip delay insurance cover?

Although travel insurance plans vary in what they cover, trip delay insurance typically covers accommodations, communications, meals and local transportation. “Trip delay benefits can only reimburse you if the delay was triggered for a covered reason and if the delay was for the required length of time, both of which will be outlined in your plan,” said Borden.

Let’s say severe weather delays your flight for five hours and ultimately cancels it. The airline can get you and your traveling companions on another flight, but the next available flight isn’t until the following day. Now, you have additional costs for a hotel room, meals and a cab to and from the hotel. 

Because severe weather is listed as an acceptable reason in your travel insurance policy, making it a covered delay, your trip delay insurance can help. You’ll file a claim for reimbursement of the money you spent on your unplanned overnight stay up to the coverage limits. 

“Every policy and provider are different and will have a list of what is a covered reason for a delay. It is important to read through your policy before purchasing it — to be sure you know what is and is not covered,” said Suzanne Morrow, chief executive officer of InsureMyTrip.

Expert tip: It’s important to note that trip delay insurance only covers reasonable additional expenses. So if you go to a high-end, expensive restaurant and stay at the most expensive hotel, you may only get partial reimbursement or none at all.

Trip delay vs. trip interruption insurance

Trip delay insurance covers certain delays that occur while traveling to your destination or while returning home at the end of your trip. Trip interruption insurance is another common benefit included in travel insurance policies that can help if you have to cut your trip short to return home early for a covered reason. This coverage can reimburse you for prepaid, nonrefundable expenses you lose by ending your trip early, plus the additional cost of a new, one-way, economy ticket home. 

Here are some common reasons you might use your trip interruption benefits:

• You or your traveling companion get sick or injured while traveling and can’t complete your trip.
• Severe weather causes your destination accommodations or home to become uninhabitable. 
• A death in the family causes you to cancel mid-trip and return home.

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How to file a trip delay insurance claim

If you experience a trip delay that exceeds the waiting period listed in your travel insurance policy, you should notify your insurer as soon as possible. 

Document and provide essential details, like:

• Names of airline representatives you spoke to.
• What they said and when/where you talked with them.
• The reason for the delay.
• Efforts you took to continue your trip, such as accepting an alternative itinerary. 

You’ll also need receipts for the additional reasonable expenses, proof of delay from the airline and the original itinerary.

Each insurance company may have a different process and conditions for filing claims, so it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the requirements before you leave.

Trip delay insurance FAQs

If you experience a delay en route to your destination or on the way home, trip delay insurance can reimburse you for extra expenses you incur, such as meals and a hotel. Typical covered reasons for trip delay benefits include common carrier delays caused by bad weather, mechanical failure and strike. Your travel insurance policy will list a waiting period, which is the number of hours you must be delayed before coverage begins, a daily limit and a maximum limit for coverage.

If you’re on your way to your destination, or on your way home at the end of your trip, and experience a covered delay such as a canceled flight due to severe weather, you may be eligible to file a trip delay claim. The waiting period for trip delay coverage to begin varies by travel insurance plan but is usually between three and 12 consecutive hours. Delay waiting period, covered reasons and coverage limits vary by insurer and specific insurance policy.

Travelers with trip delay insurance can claim necessary expenses, like lodging, food and transportation, that occur because of a covered trip delay. For instance, if winter weather grounded flights for 15 hours. Your trip delay benefits may reimburse you for a night at a hotel, a cab to and from the airport and meals that you had to pay for out of pocket because of the delay. 

Want to protect your next trip? What does travel insurance cover?

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.

Mandy is an insurance writer who has been creating online content since 2018. Before becoming a full-time freelance writer, Mandy spent 15 years working as an insurance agent. Her work has been published in Bankrate, MoneyGeek, The Insurance Bulletin, U.S. News and more.

Alyce Meserve is an experienced insurance, personal finance and travel writer. Alyce is a licensed insurance professional in life, health and property and casualty, and holds an Executive Certificate in Financial Planning from Duke University.

Heidi Gollub is the USA TODAY Blueprint managing editor of insurance. She was previously lead editor of insurance at Forbes Advisor and led the insurance team at U.S. News & World Report as assistant managing editor of 360 Reviews. Heidi has an MBA from Emporia State University and is a licensed property and casualty insurance expert.

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Travel Insurance Might Not Cover COVID-19 — Unless You Upgrade 

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When traveling during the COVID-19 era, it can make sense to have travel insurance. These days, trips have been canceled for all sorts of COVID-19-related reasons, beyond actual illness, such as disinclination to travel if cases spike or government restrictions that prohibit you from traveling at all.

Given the myriad of pandemic-era travel challenges, springing for travel insurance seems like a smart choice.

But standard travel insurance plans might not actually cover all pandemic-related trip problems.

What most travel insurance plans cover

Most travel insurance plans — including those offered as a complimentary benefit with certain credit cards — cover you to some degree if you can prove that either you, a covered travel companion or possibly someone you need to care for contracted COVID-19.

Within the umbrella of travel insurance, coverage can look a lot of different ways. Trip cancellation coverage is there if you cancel a trip because you got sick prior to departure. Trip interruption coverage can cover you if something happens in the middle of your trip, such as testing positive and needing to stay longer to quarantine. If your policy includes travel medical coverage , expect reimbursement for health care expenses if you become ill with COVID-19 while traveling abroad.

The thing is, getting sick isn’t actually the reason why many travelers aren’t able to go forth with their trip.

» Learn more: The majority of Americans plan to travel this year, according to recent NerdWallet study

What most travel insurance won’t cover

Most policies explicitly do not cover travel impacted by restrictions or travel warnings issued by any governmental body or health authority. Fear of COVID-19 problems (whether it’s getting stuck somewhere or getting sick yourself) is also typically not a covered reason.

For example, “Trip cancellation that is due solely to concern or fear of travel related to an epidemic or pandemic, including COVID-19, is not covered,” according to travel insurance provider AIG .

Meanwhile, “claims due to known, foreseeable, or expected events, epidemics, government prohibitions, warnings, or travel advisories or fear of travel are generally not covered,” according to a statement from Allianz Travel Insurance .

And most insurance policies state that COVID-19 — and any issues that arise from it beyond you actually getting sick — is a known event.

“COVID-19 became a known event on Jan. 22, 2020, and was recognized as an epidemic as of Feb. 3, 2020,” according to Allianz Travel.

Sure, you might not know when the next variant might appear — in turn, prompting countries' borders to be shut down. And you might not know if quarantine requirements will be reinstated in the country you're traveling to — turning your week lying on the beach into a week staring out a window at the beach. But since COVID-19 is a known event, many policies won’t cover such scenarios.

Even two years into a pandemic, it’s not surprising to find yourself surprised. Beyond needing a COVID-19 vaccine to travel to many countries, some places have recently begun requiring boosters , too. And in the wake of the omicron surge, many countries that had been previously reopened to tourists were then shut down again.

Yet many general travel insurance plans will not cover your trip for those types of updates to restrictions. That is, unless you have the right kind of travel insurance.

Types of travel insurance that cover COVID-19 issues (beyond actually getting sick)

Every individual policy is different, but generally speaking, you’ll need to purchase a travel insurance policy that specifically covers COVID-19-related challenges. For even more comprehensive coverage, purchase Cancel For Any Reason, which — like it sounds — gets you some money back no matter the reason why you want to abandon your trip.

Note that these plans are typically sold as second plans or as add-ons to existing plans.

Specific epidemic coverage

Some insurers have begun offering more COVID-19-specific coverage, such as the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement offered through Allianz Global Assistance, which is slightly more comprehensive than your standard policy.

For example, you might not necessarily have a positive COVID-19 test result, but the airline won’t let you board because they scanned your temperature for fever, and it was too high. This level of coverage would come to your rescue.

But even an epidemic-specific policy might be insufficient. For example, Allianz’s Epidemic Coverage Endorsement won’t cover common issues, such as failing to show a required negative COVID-19 test to board a flight (maybe you took the test, but the results didn’t come back in time). It also doesn’t cover travel restrictions that apply broadly to some segment or all of a population, such as a certain country banning all American travelers from entering, period (as some did during the recent omicron surge). For those situations, you’ll need Cancel For Any Reason coverage.

Cancel For Any Reason coverage

No matter your reason, you can cancel your trip with Cancel For Any Reason coverage , or CFAR, which is typically offered as an add-on to travel insurance policies. With it, you’re covered for all the reasons that other policies won’t cover. Exact terms vary by provider, but expect a partial reimbursement (typically 50% to 75% of prepaid nonrefundable trip plans, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners).

The trade-off is that this added coverage can be pricey. CFAR coverage usually will cost about 6% to 12% of overall trip expenses, according to the U.S. Travel Insurance Association. Contrast that with standard trip insurance without this add-on, which typically costs about 4% to 8% of the total cost of a trip.

And note that even with it, you typically don’t get a full trip refund.

The bottom line

Don’t assume that merely having travel insurance will ensure you get money back on a canceled or interrupted trip. Most policies have a long list of exclusions, so read the fine print to ensure you’re covered for everything you intended to be covered for.

For COVID-19-related reasons to cancel that don’t actually involve getting sick — like border shutdowns, a vaccination requirement that makes you ineligible for travel or a mere disinclination to travel — you’ll likely need a more comprehensive policy.

And with that, be prepared to pay more.

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Best Medical Insurance for Visitors to the U.S. (2024)

with our comparison partner, Squaremouth

Alex Carver is a writer and researcher based in Charlotte, N.C. A contributor to major news websites such as Automoblog and USA Today, she’s written content in sectors such as insurance, warranties, shipping, real estate and more.

Tori Addison is an editor who has worked in the digital marketing industry for over five years. Her experience includes communications and marketing work in the nonprofit, governmental and academic sectors. A journalist by trade, she started her career covering politics and news in New York’s Hudson Valley. Her work included coverage of local and state budgets, federal financial regulations and health care legislation.

Here’s a breakdown of how we reviewed and rated the best travel insurance companies

Do Visitors Need U.S. Health Insurance?

While health insurance is not always mandatory when traveling to the U.S., regulations may vary depending on the circumstances around your visit and your visa needs. In addition, health plans from different countries are generally not accepted in the U.S., which means you could pay thousands of dollars out-of-pocket for treatment in an emergency without a valid plan.

Note that many foreign visitors traveling to the U.S. do not need a visa to enter the country for less than 90 days. However, some visa requirements for long-term visitors require health insurance coverage for the duration of their stay. Regardless of the requirements for your travels, it’s worth considering a travel medical insurance plan based on the high cost of U.S. healthcare. According to GoodRx, an emergency room visit can cost upwards of $2,400 to $2,600 without insurance in the U.S.

Health Insurance Requirements for People Visiting the U.S.

While tourists do not technically need a travel medical insurance plan to obtain a visa, other types of visitors do. For instance, if you’re a student planning to study abroad in a U.S.-based college or university using an F-1 or J-1 visa, you’ll likely need some sort of health insurance or a comparable equivalent. Many universities that accept students on visas require medical coverage that complies with the school’s outlined health insurance requirements.

Note that health insurance requirements for visitors to the U.S. largely depend on the type of visa you need to enter the country. Regardless of whether it’s required, we recommend medical insurance based on the high costs of U.S. healthcare services.

Best Travel Health Insurance for Visitors to the U.S.

Our team has spent extensive time researching the best travel medical insurance plans for visitors to the U.S., considering factors such as availability, coverage, customer support and provider reputation.

• Seven Corners Travel Medical Basic: Our pick for group travelers
• WorldTrips Atlas America : Most affordable comprehensive coverage
• IMG Patriot Lite : Best for medical coverage
• IMG Patriot America Plus : Best for medical coverage
• Trawick Safe Travels USA Comprehensive : Best for student travel insurance

Seven Corners

Why We Picked It

Seven Corners’ Travel Medical Basic plan is our pick for group travelers. This plan is specifically designed for groups of up to 10 non-U.S. residents and non-U.S. citizens aged 14 days or older, making it ideal for families traveling together . However, it is also available for solo travelers. You can extend coverage for up to a year, with protection both in the U.S. and worldwide.

Pros and Cons

Medical coverage details.

The Travel Medical Basic plan offers extensive coverage with benefit maximums of up to $1 million and various deductible options, making it easy to customize a plan to suit your needs. Medical coverage offered through this plan includes the following:

• General medical
• Emergency dental
• Emergency services and assistance
• Accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D)
• Optional adventure activity coverage

Learn more :  Seven Corners Travel Insurance Review

WorldTrips’ Atlas America plan is our pick for high coverage limits. This plan is designed for U.S. tourists, temporary workers, business visitors and international students studying abroad , providing accessible health coverage to a variety of travelers. It provides overall coverage maximums of up to $2 million, with up to $1 million for emergency medical evacuation coverage.

The Atlas America plan offers up to $2 million in overall coverage and seven different deductible options, providing sound medical coverage along with supplemental travel benefits. Medical coverages include services that fall under the following categories:

• Emergency dental and vision

Learn more: WorldTrips Travel Insurance Review

We chose IMG’s Patriot Lite plan as our pick for budget coverage — the company quoted us less for this plan than its competitors on our list. You can buy this plan as an individual or group, making it ideal for family members traveling to the U.S. together. Like other insurance companies in this review, IMG is partnered with UnitedHealthcare, meaning policyholders have access to a domestic network of over 1.4 million physicians for medical care.

Policyholders can choose coverage with a maximum of up to $1 million with the Patriot Lite plan, with deductibles ranging from $0 to $2,500. Coverages with the Patriot Lite plan include the following:

Learn more : IMG Travel Insurance Review

IMG’s Patriot America Plus plan also made our list for providing short-term insurance for business and leisurely travelers. We named it our pick for continuous coverage, as it provides up to 24 months of renewable, consecutive coverage. Other benefits include access to multilingual customer service representatives and a maximum limit of up to $1 million. Unlike IMG’s Patriot Lite plan, Patriot America Plus covers COVID-19 treatments.

As with IMG’s Patriot Lite plan, coverage with a maximum of up to $1 million is available, with your choice of deductible from $0 to $2,500. Coverages with the Patriot America Plus plan include the following:

Trawick International

We named Trawick’s Safe Travels USA Comprehensive plan our pick for wellness coverage, as it affords policyholders a general wellness visit with a U.S. doctor during their travels for up to $125. As is standard across most plans in our review, Trawick’s Safe Travels plan offers up to $1 million in medical expense coverage. It also offers up to $2 million in emergency medical evacuation coverage and eight deductible options up to $5,000.</p

The Safe Travels USA Comprehensive plan covers up to $1 million in medical benefits after you pay your deductible. Benefits provided with each plan include:

• Optional sports activity coverage (excludes extreme sports)

Read more : Trawick International Travel Insurance Review

Compare Travel Medical Insurance Plans for U.S. Tourists

See the table below for a direct comparison of costs, deductibles and more between travel medical insurance plans for U.S. visitors.

We based plan costs on quotes we obtained for a 30-year-old Australian citizen traveling to the U.S. for 30 days. Each plan includes a medical maximum of $500,000 with a $250 deductible. Note that your actual cost will depend on factors such as your age, number of travelers, chosen deductible and more.

Types of Health Insurance for U.S. Visitors

Travelers have options when it comes to health insurance for U.S. visitors. For one, you could choose an international travel medical insurance plan, which provides coverage for emergency medical expenses or evacuation abroad. A U.S. short-term health insurance plan is also an option. Some health insurance companies, such as UnitedHealthcare, work with providers to allow policyholders to use the company’s preferred provider organization (PPO) network.

If you’re wondering whether your domestic health insurance policy will cover you in the U.S., we encourage you to contact your insurance provider for more details. You may need to purchase valid coverage specifically for your U.S. trip if you’re concerned about or foresee needing medical care abroad.

Fixed Medical Insurance

Fixed medical insurance or fixed indemnity insurance pays a predetermined amount of money for specific medical procedures and services. This type of medical insurance plan is limited — no matter what your total bill amounts to, it will not cover more than the agreed-upon amount. Fixed medical insurance plans are usually cheaper than comprehensive policies, which we cover in the next section.

Comprehensive Medical Insurance

Comprehensive medical insurance covers doctor’s visits, hospital care, prescription drugs and more without setting limits on certain services. Note that these plans typically have coverage maximums, deductibles and copays, so you will have to pay a certain amount before your policy covers any medical expenses. 

Comprehensive coverage does not have benefit limits based on the type of medical service like fixed medical does, but it will cost you more overall. However, because health care in the U.S. is expensive, you may find comprehensive plans more beneficial in the long run despite being pricier than a fixed plan.

Short-Term vs. Long-Term Health Insurance

Short-term and long-term health insurance plans provide coverage that lasts for a specific period. You can consider travel medical insurance plans short-term policies for U.S. visitors, as they can cover medical expenses incurred during a period lasting less than a year. 

If you plan on staying in the U.S. for longer than a year, you may be eligible to purchase a health insurance plan through a domestic provider, depending on your visa. For example, if you have a J-1 or F-1 visa, you may be eligible for a university-sponsored or private health insurance plan. We encourage you to check with the U.S. Department of State when you receive your visa for more on what long-term health insurance options are available to you.

What Does Travel Insurance in the U.S. Cover?

Travel insurance in the U.S. provides a variety of coverages for unexpected events that can affect your travel plans both before and during your trip. Specifics will vary depending on your choice of policy but will likely include some or all of the following coverages:

Created with Sketch Beta. Trip cancellation: If you must cancel your trip for a covered reason, travel insurance can help you recover non-refundable costs such as hotel reservations, airline tickets and more.

Created with Sketch Beta. Trip interruption: If you need to cut your vacation short for a covered reason, travel insurance plans can compensate you for expenses you didn’t use during your trip.

Created with Sketch Beta. Trip and baggage delays: A travel insurance policy can help cover costs you incur if your trip or baggage gets delayed for a covered reason. Most coverage also includes lost or stolen baggage.

Created with Sketch Beta. Emergency medical: Emergency medical coverage can reimburse the cost of necessary treatments if you experience a medical emergency abroad up to a maximum amount.

Created with Sketch Beta. Emergency evacuation and transport: If you need transportation to a medical facility in the U.S. during a medical emergency, this coverage will provide an expense limit for the services. This benefit can also cover emergency evacuations if a natural disaster or political conflict occurs and affects your travels.

How Much Does Travel Health Insurance for U.S. Visitors Cost?

Our research found that the cost of travel insurance for U.S. visitors can range from $96 to $115 . This range is based on quotes gathered for a 30-year-old Australian citizen traveling to the U.S. for 30 days. Each plan we obtained a quote for included a medical maximum of $500,000 with a $250 deductible.

For cost data specific to your travel needs, we encourage you to gather quotes from the providers in this review. The quotes you receive will depend on factors such as your age, plan limits, chosen deductible, number of travelers and more.

How To Use Visitor Health Insurance

If you’ve purchased a visitor medical insurance plan for your stay in the U.S., it’s important you understand how to use it. Healthcare facilities in the U.S., such as doctor’s offices, urgent care locations and emergency rooms, often require you to bring an insurance card with you. This card includes essential information associated with your policy that helps the facility file a claim with your insurance provider. If you have one through your visitor health insurance plan, it is best to have it on hand when receiving medical treatment.

Your health insurance plan may require pre-approval before you receive treatment in non-emergent cases. Your insurance company may request to verify a procedure or medicine is necessary before agreeing to cover it. Be sure to check your policy to find out what the restrictions are.

Many visitor health insurance plans also cover prescription medications. If you’ve been prescribed medicine through a U.S. doctor during a medical visit, a pharmacy may choose to verify your prescription before filling it. This means the pharmacy will contact your healthcare provider with any questions about the prescription being correct. Verification could delay when you receive your medication, but it likely won’t take longer than three to 10 business days.

Finding Doctors and Hospitals as a Visitor

Most insurers provide online tools that help you find in-network healthcare providers and facilities covered by your insurance policy. Note that you may pay more if you choose to receive care through a doctor or facility that is not considered in-network. Out-of-network providers do not contract with your health insurance plan to provide agreed-upon rates. Unless you have a plan that lets you pick any provider you’d like, you will need to find a provider or facility working with your insurance.

If you want to verify the benefits offered by your insurance plan, contact your insurance provider directly or consult any documentation provided at the time of purchase. Healthcare providers may also take steps to verify your coverage, as it ensures the facility receives payment and lessens the chance of a denied insurance claim. 

The cost of medical treatment depends entirely on the type of insurance plan you have. If you’ve purchased a travel medical insurance plan, your provider will cover emergency medical expenses up to a maximum amount. Once you’ve hit that limit, you will have to pay the rest of your bill. If you have a plan with a deductible or co-pay, you must pay that amount before your insurer will cover your expenses.

Paying Medical Bills Without Insurance

If you opt out of medical coverage when visiting the U.S. and end up needing medical care, you will have to cover the entire bill out of pocket. However, you have several options regarding payment. You can contact the debt collector in charge of your bill and work to negotiate the cost of your bill down . You can also set up a payment plan that works with your income and what you can afford. 

While these payment options can be helpful, they do not negate the high U.S. healthcare costs, and can still leave you with a substantial bill after a medical crisis.

According to a study by the  Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker , health expenditures per person in the U.S. in 2022 were over $4,000 more than any other high-income nation. For this reason, we recommend some form of medical coverage to help cover potential emergency expenses when visiting the U.S.

According to a study by the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker , health expenditures per person in the U.S. in 2022 were over $4,000 more than any other high-income nation. For this reason, we recommend some form of medical coverage to help cover potential emergency expenses when visiting the U.S.

Filing a Claim with Visitor Health Insurance

Filing a claim through a visitor insurance plan or travel medical insurance policy will vary based on your provider. Note that providing proper documentation will help the claims process go smoothly, so it is important to keep track of hospital invoices and other billing forms.

If you have a domestic health insurance policy, the healthcare facility that provided your treatment will file your claim. You’ll receive a bill once your insurance provider processes the claim. On the other hand, travel medical insurance may require you to submit documents proving your claims for emergency medical treatment. Once your claim has been approved, your travel insurance company will reimburse your medical bills.

Where Can You Buy Visitors Insurance?

You can buy visitors’ insurance directly from travel insurance companies, international health insurance companies, university-approved providers and domestic providers, depending on the type of visa required during your stay. If you’re on a tourist visa, you can purchase travel medical insurance covering emergency medical services and transport, if needed, to a healthcare facility. Most travel insurance providers also offer travel healthcare plans that can last up to a year if you are planning multiple trips.

If you’re on a J-1 or F-1 visa and enrolling in a schooling program, contact your university to see if you’re eligible for a sponsored or private health insurance plan. If you need clarification on the available coverage or plan to stay in the U.S. for longer than a year, contact the U.S. Department of State for more information.

Do U.S. Visitors Need Health Care Coverage?

Healthcare in the U.S. is expensive. While medical insurance isn’t required for some visitors — such as tourists on a B-2 visa — it’s still worth considering if you’re concerned about an unexpected medical emergency abroad. We encourage you to extensively research your visa type and the coverage available to you before settling on a plan. Understanding the benefits and exclusions of a healthcare coverage plan will ensure there are no surprises if you need medical care during your U.S. trip.

Frequently Asked Questions About Visitor Health Insurance

How much is visitor health insurance in the u.s..

Visitor health insurance costs in the U.S. depend on factors unique to your travel needs. After gathering quotes from the providers in our review, we found that visitor health insurance can range from $89 to $115 . This range is based on a 30-year-old Australian citizen traveling to the U.S. for 30 days, opting for a plan with a medical maximum of $500,000 and a $250 deductible. Your actual costs will vary.

How much does travel insurance cost for trips to the U.S

Our research team found the average cost of travel insurance ranges from $35 to $400, with the average being $221 for a standard policy. Your costs will vary depending on your chosen plan, provider, length of travels, number of travelers and more.

Can foreign visitors get insurance while in the U.S.?

Yes, foreigners can get insurance while in the U.S. Various insurance options are available to travelers depending on their length of stay and visa type. It’s best to research what’s available to you based on your visa requirements before purchasing a plan.

Is it hard to get travel insurance for U.S.-based trips?

No, it’s not hard to get travel insurance for travel to the U.S. Providers such as Seven Corners, WorldTrips, IMG, Trawick and more provide plans for non-U.S. citizens seeking trip and medical coverage while abroad.

Methodology: Our System for Rating Travel Insurance Companies

• A 30-year-old couple taking a $5,000 vacation to Mexico.
• A family of four taking an $8,000 vacation to Mexico.
• A 65-year-old couple taking a $7,000 vacation to the United Kingdom.
• A 30-year-old couple taking a $7,000 trip to the United Kingdom.
• A 19-year-old taking a $2,000 trip to France.
• A 27-year-old couple taking a $1,200 trip to Greece.
• A 51-year-old couple taking a $2,000 trip to Spain.
• Plan availability (10%): We look for insurers with a variety of travel insurance plans and the ability to customize a policy with coverage upgrades.
• Coverage details (29%): We review the baseline coverage each company offers in its cheapest comprehensive plan. A provider with robust coverage earns full points, including baggage delay and loss, COVID-19 coverage, emergency evacuation and medical coverage, trip delay and cancellation coverage, and more. Companies also receive points for offering a variety of policy add-ons like accidental death and dismemberment, extreme sports, valuable items, cancel for any reason coverage and more.
• Coverage times and amounts (34%): We compare each company’s waiting periods and maximum reimbursement amounts for baggage, travel and weather delays. Companies that offer customers reimbursement after fewer than 12 hours of delays earn full points in this category. We also reward travel insurance providers that cover more than 100% of trip costs in the event of cancellations or interruptions.
• Company service and reviews (17%): We look for indicators that a company is well-prepared to respond to customer needs. Companies with an established global resource network, 24/7 emergency hotline, mobile app, multiple ways to file a claim and concierge services score higher in this category. We assess reputation by evaluating consumer reviews, third-party financial strength and customer experience ratings, specifically from AM Best and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

For more information, read our full travel insurance methodology.

A.M. Best Disclaimer

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