With so many travel insurance providers to choose from, how do you know which is the best fit for your trip?
Evaluating policy options, how providers process claims, and what existing customers have to say about their experience will help you find the coverage you need at the right price.
Erika Recommends
- Best for frequent travelers: Allianz Travel Insurance
- Best for adventurers: World Nomads
- Best for families: Travel Guard
- Best for digital nomads: SafetyWing
- Best for budget travelers: Tin Leg

Criteria for Comparing Travel Insurance Providers
When comparing travel insurance providers, there are a few criteria you’ll want to keep in mind.
Range of policy options
Each provider offers different types of policies and a range of plans depending on your needs and budget.
When shopping around for a travel insurance provider, look for companies that cover:
- Trip cancellations, delays, and interruptions
- Lost or delayed baggage
- Medical care
- Emergency evacuations
- Multiple travelers
- Customizable plans for things like adventure activities, car rentals, or cancel for any reason insurance
Some companies, like World Nomads, are well-known for covering activities like skiing or snorkeling, while others, like Travel Guard and Allianz Travel Insurance, offer free coverage for kids under 17, catering to families.
Reputation and customer support
If you ever need to use your policy, you want to be sure it’s as seamless as possible.
When comparing providers, look for:
- How easy it is to file a claim
- Average claim approval time
- Access to 24/7 support
- Dedicated mobile apps
The more streamlined the process, the easier it will be to submit a claim. The easier the claims process, the less of a headache you’ll have on your trip.
Check reviews on Google and Trustpilot to see what existing customers are saying. If a provider says they approve claims quickly but customers report long wait times, that’s a sign they might not provide the best customer support.
You’ll also want to look at a company’s ability to pay claims. Use a tool like AM Best to make sure a provider has a good reputation for honoring claims.
Comparing Top Travel Insurance Providers
Allianz Global Assistance: Best for frequent travelers
Allianz Travel Insurance offers several different plans for different needs, including an annual plan call AllTrips with good medical coverage and trip interruption protection — which means you don’t have to buy a new plan for every trip if you travel a lot in a year.
The OneTrip Basic plan offers trip cancellation, interruption, and medical coverage. Medical coverage starts at $10,000 with a $500 out-of-pocket maximum for covered dental emergencies.
What’s included in OneTrip Basic:
- $10,000 emergency medical coverage
- $50,000 emergency medical transportation
- $10,000 trip cancellation and interruption
- $500 lost or damaged baggage
- $300 baggage delay
- $200 travel delay
- Epidemic coverage
- 24/7 travel assistance
- Coverage for pre-existing coverage
Higher limits are available with Allianz’s premium plans.
Optional add-ons:
- Children under 17 travel free with OneTrip Prime
- Annual and multi-trip coverage
- Domestic plans
- Rental car protection
World Nomads: Best for adventurers
World Nomads is designed for adventure travelers, covering more than 250 sports and activities that often aren’t covered under a standard insurance policy. It’s also great for digital nomads seeking flexibility.
The Explorer plan includes up to $150,000 in emergency medical expenses and up to $500,000 in emergency evacuation.
World Nomads also offers great flexibility, giving you the option to purchase a policy even after your trip has started.
What’s included in the Explorer Plan:
- $10,000 trip protection
- $150,000 emergency medical insurance
- $500,000 emergency evacuation
- $2,000 gear protection
- Coverage for over 300 adventure sports
- Trip cancellation and interruption coverage
- 24/7 emergency assistance
You can also opt for a more basic or premium plan, with higher or lower limits (and rates), depending on your needs.
Optional add-ons:
- Rental car
- Extreme sports
- Cancel for any reason coverage
- Annual multi-trip coverage
Travel Guard by AIG: Best for families
Travel Guard is a good option for business travelers or families with complex itineraries. Their Essential plan includes emergency medical care and coverage for evacuations.
The Deluxe and Preferred plans offer even more coverage, including a travel inconvenience payment and a trip exchange option.
What’s included in the Essential Plan:
- $150,000 trip cancellation/interruption coverage
- $500 trip delay coverage
- $750 for lost or damaged baggage
- $15,000 medical/dental emergency coverage
- $150,000 for emergency evacuation or repatriation of remains
- One child under age 17
Higher limits are available under Travel Guard’s premium plans.
Optional add-ons:
- Spontaneous travel and annual plans
- Adventure sports
- Cancel for any reason coverage
- Rental cars
- Coverage for political instability, pets, and a wedding cancellation
Travel Guard is known for having customizable policies and offering good trip protection coverage, making it ideal for business travelers and families.
SafetyWing: Best for digital nomads
SafetyWing offers travel insurance and medical coverage for digital nomads and remote workers. It’s ideal if you need long-term medical coverage outside of the U.S. and want a transparent plan.
Their Essential Nomad Insurance provides a $250,000 overall limit that can be purchased even after you begin your trip.
Policies operate as a subscription, renewing every four weeks until you cancel your policy.
What’s included in the Essential plan:
- $250,000 overall coverage for:
- Medical treatment and hospitalization
- Injuries from leisure sports
- Motor accidents
- $100,000 emergency medical transportation
- $3,000 lost checked luggage
- $5,000 trip interruption
- $200 travel delay
- $10,000 evacuation from local unrest
- $20,000 transportation of remains
- 24/7 emergency assistance
- 30-day home country coverage after being abroad
Higher limits are available under SafetyWing’s Complete Nomad plan.
Optional add-ons:
- Preventative care and wellness treatments
- Psychiatrist visits
- Cancer treatment
- Maternity care
- Adventure activities
- Burglary protection
- $3,000 electronics theft
- U.S. medical coverage
Tin Leg: Best for budget travelers
Tin Leg provides solid medical and trip cancellation benefits with highly customizable coverage options. They also offer a pre-existing condition waiver and high-limit medical emergency coverage.
Tin Leg’s Economy plan combines affordability and coverage, making it a good option for travelers on a budget.
What’s included in the Economy plan:
- $100,000 trip cancellation and interruption
- $20,000 emergency medical
- $100,000 medical evacuation
- $500 trip delay
- $200 baggage delay
- $500 lost baggage
- $100 missed connection
- $10,000 accidental death
- 24/7 emergency assistance
Higher limits are available under Tin Leg’s premium plans.
Optional add-ons:
- Cancel for any reason coverage
- Adventure activities
- Rental car coverage
How To Shop for Travel Insurance Effectively
When you’re shopping for travel insurance providers, you can use online platforms such as InsureMyTrip, VisitorsCoverage, and SquareMouth to compare policies.
Use filters to find coverage that’s specific to your needs. Some filters you’ll want to select include:
- Trip type
- Duration
- Coverage needs
- Policy exclusions
- Cost
These filters allow you to set specific parameters so you know what’s covered, what isn’t, and how much it’ll cost.
After you set the parameters of your trip, the platform will generate a list of insurance plans that meet your criteria, allowing you to compare coverage limits, premiums, and additional benefits side by side.
Look at reviews and ratings
One of the best ways to compare travel insurance providers is to look at reviews and ratings left by existing customers. Read through negative reviews to get a sense of how the claims process works and what you can expect if you purchase a policy from that provider.
Reddit is a great place to find candid reviews. This Reddit thread reviewing World Nomads, for example, covers both good and bad experiences.
Reading through the reviews will help you determine what’s important to you, giving you a sense of which provider is best equipped to meet your needs.
FAQs About Comparing Travel Insurance
How do I know if a provider is reliable and financially stable?
To see if a provider is reliable and financially stable, check ratings from organizations like AM Best or the Better Business Bureau.
Are smaller or newer insurance providers trustworthy?
Some newer providers like SafetyWing offer good coverage but may be still working out some of their processes. Read customer reviews and research their ability to pay claims before purchasing a policy with a smaller or newer insurance provider.
Do all providers offer “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage?
No, not all providers offer CFAR coverage. This is an optional add-on you can purchase on top of your policy.
Bottom Line: Picking the Right Travel Insurance
Travel insurance can provide a safety net when something unexpected happens. But it’s important to choose the right policy for your needs.
Compare providers and coverage options, and read reviews. Make sure you understand what’s included in a policy before selecting a provider. A little research today can save you a lot of stress on your next trip.
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