Best Pandemic Travel Insurance 2024 (2024)

Tips For The Pandemic Traveler

Many travel insurance policies offer good medical coverage, but not all cover COVID-related problems. If that’s important to you, make sure to verify that the plan you’re buying specifically covers you in case you contract COVID, says Kasaro Barto, spokesperson for Squaremouth.

Squaremouth recommends a minimum of $100,000 in emergency medical and medical evacuation coverage in order to account for COVID-19 related medical care and evacuation expenses.

Sudden travel bans and unexpected quarantines requirements can also derail your trip, too, but standard travel insurance may not cover these problems, warns Barto. Buying cancel for any reason coverage will give you some reimbursem*nt no matter what your reason for canceling.

But add cancel for any reason coverage quickly if you want it, advises Barto. You may have only a couple weeks before the option expires for your plan.

Also, some travel destinations abroad have medical coverage requirements for incoming travelers. Confirm the medical coverage requirements you’ll need for your destination before you buy a travel insurance plan.

Does Travel Insurance Cover Quarantine?

There are travel insurance policies that can cover unexpected expenses if you have to quarantine in another country. But in order for any benefits to apply for most of these plans,you must test positive for Covid-19 and yourtravel insurance planmust cover Covid-related expenses.

If you get sick abroad from the virus, a plan’s travel medical benefits can also kick in if it’s travel insurance that covers Covid-19.

“Travel insurance policies that provide benefits if a traveler contracts Covid-19 can also extend their coverage past the original return date, typically up to seven days,” says Steven Benna, a spokesperson for Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison provider.

Quarantine-Related Travel Insurance Coverage

The following travel insurance benefits can offer coverage for the costs of quarantining, assuming the plan covers Covid-19 expenses.

Travel delay coverage

This benefit can cover the cost of your accommodations and meals during quarantine if you have contracted the virus. If you are forced to stay beyond your return date due to a positive test, this coverage can be extended for up to seven days.

“Policies with this benefit provide a range of total coverage between $100 and $2,000 per person, with a daily limit that ranges from $50 to $300,” Benna says.

Trip interruption coverage

This coverage will reimburse you for missed portions of your trip if you’re forced into quarantine due to a positive Covid test. It can cover 100% to 200% of your prepaid and non-refundable trip costs, depending on the policy, says Benna.

For example, Trawick International’s Safe Travels Voyager Plan covers expenses if you’re forced to quarantine domestically or abroad due to a positive Covid test. “These plans may also provide reimbursem*nt for medical expenses and emergency medical evacuation expenses incurred if you are injured or sick while traveling on your trip,” says Bailey Foster, a spokesperson for Trawick International.

“Cancel for any reason” coverage

Consider a plan that lets you upgrade to “cancel for any reason” coverage. This upgrade usually adds 50% to your travel insurance cost, but it will allow you to cancel your trip for any reason and get some reimbursem*nt (often 75%) of lost trip costs. Your reason could be Covid-related, such as finding out that there’s a spike of Covid at your destination. Or your reason could be unrelated—for example, you could make a CFAR claim because you don’t like the rainy outlook at your beach resort.

If you want CFAR coverage, make sure to buy a travel insurance plan and add CFAR soon after you make your first trip deposit. There’s usually a purchase deadline for CFAR, such as two weeks.

“Interruption for any reason” coverage

If you’re concerned about being forced into a quarantine while on your tripdue to a positive Covid test, standard trip interruption insurance can reimburse you for parts of your trip that you miss—if your plan has coverage for Covid. For instance, you can file a claim under trip interruption benefits if you paid in advance for non-refundable hotel stays, tours or entertainment and can’t participate because you have the virus and have to quarantine.

But what if you don’t have Covid and are required to comply with a mandatory quarantine? That’s where “interruption for any reason” would help. “Interruption for any reason” coverage is offered as an upgrade from a small number of travel insurance companies. If you have this upgrade, you can be reimbursed for portions of your trip that you miss if you have to quarantine but don’t have Covid. It can also pay for transportation expenses to get you caught up to your planned itinerary.

“Interruption for any reason” isn’t a common benefit, but the following companies offer it on some plans: iTravelInsured, Nationwide, Seven Corners and Travel Insured International.

Other Plan Benefits To Look For

A comprehensive travel insurance plan will also include coverage for:

• Travel delays, such as extra expenses when you’re stuck in an airport due to weather problems
• Missed connections
• Baggage and personal items, including lost or damaged baggage