You’ve heard the expression, “Hope for the best; prepare for the worst.” Whatever your feelings are about the phrase itself, you’re probably willing to acknowledge that hoping for the best while preparing for the worst is sound practice. All that’s required to upend the most meticulously laid plan is one unexpected occurrence beyond your control.
Such occurrences are particularly disruptive for travelers. On the road, far away from home, a single storm, strike, or medical event may be enough to ruin a trip and wipe out thousands of dollars in unrealized, non-refundable value in the process.
For travelers not carrying travel insurance, that is. Travelers who do invest in this pre-trip essential enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing they’re entitled to at least some compensation should plans go sideways.
Best Travel Insurance Companies for U.S.-Based Travelers
The best way to find out how much you’ll spend to insure your next big trip, and how much you stand to save, is to get quotes from multiple carriers. If you want to compare options beyond this list, marketplaces like Squaremouth and InsureMyTrip let you run side-by-side quotes across dozens of providers in minutes.
Most of the companies here manage travel protection policies underwritten by third-party insurers, some of which are well-known in their own rights. Unless otherwise noted, all of these providers make it easy to get policy quotes, compare options, and purchase coverage online without ever speaking to a human agent.
Not all plans are available in all states, so make sure you’re viewing location-specific plan details before purchasing coverage.
1. Travelex
- A.M. Best Financial Strength Rating: A++ (Superior – Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company)
- Great For: Families; a la carte coverage selection; travelers seeking the highest financial backing
Named the Best Overall travel insurance company by U.S. News & World Report for 2026, Travelex offers a larger-than-average menu of travel insurance plans, including low-cost products like flight insurance. That’s a low-risk lifesaver for trips to affordable countries like Panama and Costa Rica, where your costliest non-refundable expense is likely to be the flight there and back.
Travelex’s Basic plan is sufficient for most cost-conscious travelers who don’t anticipate extensive medical expenses and don’t care for a voluntary cancellation option. The more generous Select plan offers customizable coverage, including rental car coverage and Cancel For Any Reason, likely to appeal to higher-dollar travelers. A standout perk: children 17 and under travel free when accompanied by an insured adult on the Select plan. Non-insurance products include international driving permits and expedited passport delivery.
Travelex is also notable for offering a 21-day free look period, which is more generous than most competitors’ 10 to 14-day windows and gives you ample time to review or cancel your policy without penalty.
Travelex makes it easy to file a claim online, although you may need to connect with a human staffer to complete the process.
2. Travel Insured International
- A.M. Best Financial Strength Rating: A+ (Superior – United States Fire Insurance Company)
- Great For: Travelers who want maximum customization; CFAR and IFAR coverage; high medical limits
Travel Insured International is the top-selling provider on Squaremouth’s marketplace for 2026, driven largely by its flagship FlexiPAX plan, one of the most frequently purchased comprehensive policies in the business. In early 2025, TII relaunched its full product line as a three-tier suite: Essential, Deluxe, and Platinum.
The Deluxe and Platinum plans both include optional CFAR and IFAR (Interruption for Any Reason) bundles, which is a rarity among providers, along with primary emergency medical coverage up to $100,000 and evacuation coverage up to $1,000,000 on the Platinum tier. The pre-existing condition waiver window extends to 21 days from initial deposit on Platinum plans, longer than most competitors’ 14-day standard.
The Deluxe plan is a particularly strong value for travelers who want flexibility: it layers CFAR and IFAR on top of solid base coverages at a competitive price point.
3. World Nomads
- A.M. Best Financial Strength Rating: A+ (Superior – Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company)
- Great For: High-risk travelers in remote locations; adventure sports enthusiasts; buy-after-departure flexibility
World Nomads offers two cost-effective policy tiers for U.S.-based travelers: Standard and Explorer. Both policies include a range of standard-issue coverages, including:
- Trip cancellation and interruption
- Trip delay
- Emergency medical insurance (for international destinations where U.S. health insurance coverage doesn’t apply)
- Evacuation and repatriation for medical emergencies
- Baggage damage or loss
- Baggage delay (outbound journey only)
- Travel accident insurance (accidental death and dismemberment)
- Emergency and non-emergency assistance services
- Rental car insurance (collision and damage waiver)
Most Explorer coverages are higher than corresponding Standard coverages and have higher premiums accordingly. But both have particularly generous evacuation and repatriation coverage, which is a crucial perk for high-risk travelers in far-flung destinations. World Nomads also covers more than 250 sports and activities, making it a standout for adventure seekers.
One of World Nomads’ most distinctive features: you can buy or extend coverage even after you’ve already departed, which is a rare and valuable option for spontaneous or long-term travelers. Note that World Nomads was acquired by International Medical Group (IMG) in February 2026 and continues to operate under the same brand with the same coverage structure.
World Nomads also stands out for a claims process that’s easy to complete from pretty much anywhere with an internet connection, a significant advantage for travelers in remote locations.
4. Seven Corners
- A.M. Best Financial Strength Rating: A (Excellent – United States Fire Insurance Company / Lloyd’s of London)
- Great For: Adventure travelers seeking compensation for lost recreation days; travelers to politically unstable countries
Seven Corners’ Trip Protection travel insurance packages offer varying levels of protection for common coverages such as:
- Trip interruption and cancellation
- Emergency medical coverage (including medical evacuation)
- Lost or stolen baggage
- Accidental death and dismemberment
One fairly typical coverage that’s missing here is rental car loss and damage coverage. Instead, it’s optional at all plan levels.
Much else is optional too, including some potentially valuable add-ons. Higher-priced plans come with optional Cancel for Any Reason, work-related cancellation, and political evacuation coverage, making them ideal for those traveling to unstable parts of the world. Adventure travelers can take advantage of a lost recreation days benefit.
Seven Corners offers other types of travel and visitor coverage, including international medical plans only, student plans for students traveling abroad, visitor plans (Inbound USA-branded plans for visitors to the U.S.), and frequent traveler plans that are paid annually. Most plan types have an easy online claim-filing process.
5. AXA
- A.M. Best Financial Strength Rating: A (Excellent – United States Fire Insurance), A+ (Superior – Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company)
- Great For: Adventure sports enthusiasts; travelers anticipating last-minute changes of plan
AXA is a globally recognized travel insurer backed by two financially stable underwriters, United States Fire Insurance and Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.
AXA offers three distinct plan tiers with standard inclusions such as trip interruption and cancellation, baggage loss and delay, and emergency medical evacuation. The uber-generous Platinum plan and mid-priced Gold plan offer non-emergency medical evacuation as well, which is a nice option to have in your back pocket. So is the Cancel For Any Reason option, which reimburses 75% of Platinum plan holders’ non-refundable travel expenses, provided CFAR is purchased within 14 days of the initial trip deposit.
AXA really shines for adventure seekers. Its Platinum plan features a host of activity-related coverages, including generous sports equipment rental coverage and compensation for lost golfing and skiing days.
AXA’s claims process isn’t quite as streamlined as World Nomads’, but AXA at least offers a collect calling option for travelers outside the U.S.
6. Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection
- A.M. Best Financial Strength Rating: A++ (Superior – Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company)
- Great For: Travelers who want the highest-rated financial backing; luxury and adventure travelers
Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection brings the gold standard in financial strength to travel insurance, backed by an underwriter that carries the rare A++ rating from AM Best. Plans range from specialized road trip, adventure travel, and cruise insurance to the ExactCare single-trip suite.
The mid-range ExactCare and comprehensive ExactCare Extra plans offer trip cancellation and interruption, emergency medical, evacuation, and baggage coverage, with a preexisting conditions exclusion waiver available when purchased within the required window. The premium LuxuryCare policy goes further, with higher coverage limits across the board and the option to add Cancel For Any Reason coverage.
BHTP also stands out for its streamlined, tech-forward claims experience. For travelers who prioritize both financial stability and ease of use, it’s one of the strongest all-around options on the market.
7. iTravelInsured (IMG)
- A.M. Best Financial Strength Rating: A+ (Superior – United States Fire Insurance Company)
- Great For: Wilderness explorers; international visitors to the United States
Backed by global carrier IMG, iTravelInsured offers generous plans with unusually high coverage limits for trip interruption and cancellation, medical evacuation, and rental car damage.
Higher-priced plans include optional coverages that can be quite valuable, such as:
- Cancel for Any Reason coverage
- Preexisting condition waivers, which may mean the difference between an accepted and a denied claim
- Search and rescue coverage, which is essential for adventurers
IMG offers separate travel medical and international health insurance policies. These plans are ideal for travelers who plan to:
- Engage in high-risk activities while abroad
- Have medical concerns (with or without a preexisting condition) that may make medical care necessary while abroad
- Spend long periods abroad, perhaps while studying at a foreign university or taking a temporary job in another country
IMG also manages visitor insurance plans for non-U.S. citizens, including green card holders, traveling to American soil.
8. Allianz Travel
- A.M. Best Financial Strength Rating: A (Excellent – Jefferson Insurance Company)
- Great For: Basic, cost-effective coverage for low-risk trips; frequent travelers needing annual plans
Allianz Travel offers multiple plans for single- and multi-trip travelers. The latter is a big focus here, with Allianz’s AllTrips annual travel insurance packages in heavy rotation on its website, priced competitively with other multi-trip annual plans.
AllTrips can be tailored to cover every member of a household, even when they don’t travel together. That makes it a great fit for couples who travel for business separately.
Coverages for its mainline single- and multi-trip plans are fairly standard, but Allianz offers a couple of low-cost specialized products that may appeal to specific types of travelers. For instance, Rental Car Damage Protector is built around a generous rental car loss and damage policy, with modest additional coverages for trip interruption and baggage loss and damage.
Allianz’s Cancel Anytime add-on reimburses up to 80% of nonrefundable trip costs, one of the higher reimbursement rates in the industry for CFAR-style coverage.
9. John Hancock
- A.M. Best Financial Strength Rating: A (Excellent – Starr Indemnity & Liability Company)
- Great For: Travelers with special medical needs
John Hancock partners with Seven Corners to administer three distinct travel insurance plans (Bronze, Silver, and Gold). Marketed separately from Seven Corners’ own plans and produced by a different underwriter, Hancock’s products are particularly generous on the medical evacuation and repatriation front.
Otherwise, its coverages are pretty standard, with some welcome perks including reimbursement of airline ticket change fees and coverage for terrorist attacks. Car rental coverage and Cancel For Any Reason are optional at all price points.
10. Generali Global Assistance
- A.M. Best Financial Strength Rating: A+ (Superior – Generali U.S. Branch, upgraded December 2025)
- Great For: Travelers who may need to cancel or interrupt travel for medical reasons; travelers seeking strong value
Generali Global Assistance offers three modestly priced plans (Standard, Preferred, and Premium) with generous trip interruption and cancellation benefits. Trip interruption reimburses up to 175% of covered costs and trip cancellation covers up to 100%. Emergency assistance and transportation benefits are strong, as well. Other coverages are on the skimpy side.
Generali earned the top “Global Protection Provider” designation from Expert Consumers in 2025, and its AM Best rating was upgraded to A+ (Superior) in 2024, one of the higher ratings in the industry. The free look period ranges from 10 to 15 days depending on your state, giving you a solid window to review your policy after purchase.
In all, Generali is a great choice for those primarily concerned with recouping non-refundable airfare, hotel booking, tour, and cruise expenses, or those facing a costly medical or safety-related evacuation.
Generali has an online claims-filing system that seems pretty easy to use. However, there is a human element to the process that may make completing the process difficult in remote locations without reliable or affordable cell service.
11. Travel Guard
- A.M. Best Financial Strength Rating: A+ (Superior – Zurich American Insurance Company)
- Great For: Basic protection plans with strong customization options
Now owned by Zurich Insurance Group (which completed the acquisition from AIG in December 2024), Travel Guard continues to operate under the same brand with three competitively priced plans available for purchase online: Essential, Preferred, and Deluxe. Essential is ideal for lower-cost trips that don’t require add-ons like high-limit evacuation coverage, while Deluxe is appropriate for longer journeys and travelers with special concerns.
If your package doesn’t include everything you expected, know that Travel Guard also offers a slew of optional coverages. Highlights include a lodging expense benefit for Preferred and Deluxe policyholders traveling outside the U.S. and a preexisting medical condition waiver that may ensure coverage for medical issues that other insurers might not cover.
Final Word
Many credit cards come with complimentary travel protections that may be robust enough to defray unexpected trip costs. But if you’re not in a position to qualify for such a credit card, or you simply don’t like using credit cards to pay for travel, then you should probably purchase travel insurance coverage from one of the providers listed here whenever you fly.
You can buy travel insurance on a per-trip (single-trip) or annual basis. The latter is generally a better deal for frequent travelers not keen on purchasing individual policies before every trip. Coverage can be tailored to business, leisure, or multi-purpose trips. Policy premiums generally increase with total trip cost, party size, and the age of the insured. Some destinations may require pricier coverage.
Unless you purchase Cancel for Any Reason coverage (CFAR), which allows you to cancel your trip for a partial refund without citing a covered reason, you shouldn’t expect your travel insurance policy to cover all possible travel-related perils.
But coverage is only part of the equation. Hopefully, you’ll never have to make a claim. What you’re really buying is peace of mind. After all, whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, the last thing you want to worry about is how much it’ll cost you to miss your second connection or spend two nights without your bag.
Editorial & Advertiser Disclosure: The editorial content on this website is not provided, commissioned, reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser. Opinions expressed are ours alone, not those of any advertiser. The offers that appear are from companies from which we may receive compensation. However, this compensation does not impact where and how these companies are mentioned on the site. We do not include all companies or all available offers in the marketplace.
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