Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
Travel Insured International and World Trips are the cheapest travel insurance companies.
Our top picks are based on the best travel insurance plans that provide ample coverage at the lowest cost.
You don’t want to forego valuable benefits when shopping for travel insurance that won’t bust your budget. We evaluated 39 travel insurance policies to help you identify options. Grabbing quotes from at least three travel insurance companies can help you save money without sacrificing coverage.
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Summary: Comparing the Cheapest Travel Insurance Companies
The cheapest travel insurance policies we analyzed have decent coverage across the board at low average prices.
Our expert take | Company | Company - Logo | Forbes Advisor Rating | Starting price | Top-scoring policy | Average cost per trip | Learn More CTA text | Learn more CTA below text | Learn More |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best for non-medical evacuation | Travel Insured International | 5.0 | Worldwide Trip Protector | $370 | Get A Quote | Via Forbes Advisor's Website | |||
Great for add-on coverage | WorldTrips | 5.0 | Atlas Journey Explore | $371 | Get A Quote | Via Forbes Advisor's Website | |||
Best for customization | AIG | 4.0 | Travel Guard | $413 | Get A Quote | Via Forbes Advisor's Website | |||
Great for cruise itinerary changes | Nationwide | 4.0 | Cruise Choice | $407 | Get A Quote | Via Forbes Advisor's Website | |||
Best for families | Travelex | 4.0 | Travel Select | $391 | Get A Quote | Via Forbes Advisor's Website |
Average prices are based on rates for seven different trips with a variety of traveler ages. Note that plans have different levels of benefits, which can account for price differences.
How We Chose the Cheapest Travel Insurance Companies
The Best Cheap Travel Insurance Companies of 2024
BEST FOR NON-MEDICAL EVACUATION
Travel Insured International
5.0
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Cheapest top-scoring plan
Worldwide Trip Protector
Average cost per trip
$370
Medical & evacuation limits per person
$100,000/$1 million
Get A Quote
Via Forbes Advisor's Website
Worldwide Trip Protector
$370
$100,000/$1 million
Editor's Take
We picked the Travel Insured Worldwide Trip Protector policy because it offers robust benefits at an excellent average price. It’s 14% cheaper than the average travel insurance cost, based on our research. We also like its superior non-medical evacuation coverage.
Pros:
- Top-notch non-medical evacuation benefits of $150,000 per person.
- Short waiting period of three hours for travel delay and baggage delay benefits.
- “Cancel for any reason” and “interruption for any reason” upgrades available.
More: Travel Insured International Travel Insurance Review
Cons
- Medical coverage of $100,000 per person is on the low side compared to top competitors but might be enough for your needs.
- Missed connection benefits of $500 are lower than many other policies evaluated.
Coverage Details
Here’s an overview of coverage types included in the Worldwide Trip Protector policy.
Coverage type | Coverage limit |
---|---|
Emergency medical | $100,000 per person |
Medical evacuation & repatriation | $1 million per person |
Non-medical evacuation | $150,000 per person |
Trip interruption | 150% of the trip cost |
Travel delay | $1,500 per person |
Missed connection | $500 per person |
Baggage delay | $500 per person |
Baggage & personal items | $1,000 per person |
Hurricane & weather | Covered after a common carrier delay for 6 hours |
Cancel for work reasons | Included |
Employment layoff | Covered if employed for one continuous year |
Accidental death & dismemberment | $10,000 per person |
We’re showing top coverage types but other benefits are also included in this plan. Check the policy for more details.
Also included:
- If you return home three hours or more later than your planned return time, you can qualify for pet kennel benefits of up to $500.
Optional add-ons offered:
- If a doctor requires you to stay on bed rest for at least 48 hours during your trip, you can be eligible for bed rest benefits up to $4,000.
- Travel inconvenience coverage allows you to recoup money for unexpected problems, such as closed beaches and attractions, rainy weather, tarmac delays and more.
- Up to $5,000 in rental car damage and theft coverage.
- Up to $1,000 in event ticket benefits if you can’t attend for a reason covered by the policy.
GREAT FOR ADD-ON COVERAGE
WorldTrips
5.0
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Cheapest top-scoring plan
Atlas Journey Explore
Average cost per trip
$371
Medical & evacuation limits per person
$150,000/$750,000
Via Forbes Advisor's Website
Atlas Journey Explore
$371
$150,000/$750,000
Editor's Take
The Atlas Journey Explore plan stood out in our evaluation because its average cost is among the lowest for the top-scoring plans we evaluated. It’s 14% cheaper than the average cost for travel insurance, based on our assessment. We were also impressed by its optional upgrades, which include coverage for pets traveling with you, adventure sports, medical expenses, and more.
Another option is the Atlas Journey Elevate plan, which costs an average of $400 per trip. That’s about $30 more than the Explore policy, but it has higher coverage limits. It includes the Explore add-on coverage options and also offers an “interruption for any reason” upgrade. It also has twice the baggage delay benefits, along with travel medical benefits of $250,000 and $1 million in evacuation benefits.
Pros
- “Cancel for any reason” upgrade available.
- Excellent medical evacuation benefits of $750,000.
- Very good travel delay coverage of $2,000 per person after five hours.
More: WorldTrips Travel Insurance Review
Cons
- Medical coverage level is low compared to some competitors evaluated.
- Baggage delay benefits have a 12-hour waiting period.
Coverage Details
Here’s an overview of coverage types included in the Atlas Journey Explore and Elevate policies.
Coverage type | Atlas Journey Explore | Atlas Journey Elevate |
---|---|---|
Emergency medical | $150,000 per person | $250,000 per person |
Medical evacuation & repatriation | $750,000 per person | $1 million per person |
Non-medical evacuation | Not included but upgrade available. | Not included but upgrade available. |
Trip interruption | 150% | 150% of the trip cost |
Travel delay | $2,000 per person $150 daily limit Covered after 5-hour delay | $2,000 per person $200 daily limit Covered after 5-hour delay |
Missed connection | $1,000 per person Covered after 3-hour delay | $1,500 per person Covered after 3-hour delay |
Baggage delay | $300 per person Covered after 12-hour delay | $600 per person Covered after 12-hour delay |
Baggage & personal items | $1,500 per person $500 per item | $2,500 per person $500 per item |
Hurricane & weather | Covered after a common carrier delay for 12 hours | Covered after a common carrier delay for 12 hours |
Cancel for work reasons | Included | Included |
Employment layoff | Covered after 30-day wait if employed for one continuous year | Covered after 30-day wait if employed for one continuous year |
Accidental death & dismemberment | $25,000 per person | $50,000 per person |
We’re showing top coverage types but other benefits are also included in these plans. Check the policy for more details.
Optional add-ons offered in Preferred plan:
- “Cancel for any reason” coverage.
- Rental car theft and damage coverage of $50,000.
- Adventure sports add-on to extend coverage to safaris, bungee jumping and more
BEST FOR CUSTOMIZATION
AIG
4.0
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Cheapest top-scoring plan
Travel Guard Preferred
Average cost per trip
$413
Medical & evacuation limits per person
$50,000/$500,000
Get A Quote
Via Forbes Advisor's Website
Travel Guard Preferred
$413
$50,000/$500,000
Editor's Take
AIG’s Travel Guard Preferred plan is one of our favorites because it provides solid benefits at a decent average price. It’s about 4% cheaper than the average cost for travel insurance, based on our data. Optional pet, wedding, security, baggage, medical, adventures sports and travel inconvenience upgrades allow you to customize a policy to fit your needs. Additionally, the Travel Guard Preferred plan includes benefits if under certain conditions you must start your trip earlier than planned, a feature not found in all policies.
Pros
- Offers upgrades to meet the needs and budgets of many different kinds of travelers.
- Reimburses up to $2,500 for meals, accommodations and transportation if you must begin your trip earlier than scheduled due to inclement weather or common carrier changes.
- Provides up to $750 for “travel inconveniences,” such as flight delay to your return destination, runway delays and cruise diversions.
More: AIG Travel Insurance Review
Cons
- Very low travel medical insurance limits compared to most other policies we evaluated.
Coverage Details
Here’s an overview of coverage types included in AIG’s Travel Guard Preferred policy.
Coverage type | Coverage limit |
---|---|
Emergency medical | $50,000 per person |
Medical evacuation & repatriation | $1 million per person |
Non-medical evacuation | No, but bundle available |
Trip interruption | 150% of trip cost |
Travel delay | Covered after a 5-hour delay |
Missed connection | $1,000 per person |
Baggage delay | Covered after a 12-hour delay |
Baggage & personal items | $1,000 per person |
Hurricane & weather | Included |
Cancel for work reasons | Included |
Employment layoff | Covered if employed for 1 continuous year |
Accidental death & dismemberment | $30,000 per person |
We’re showing top coverage types but other benefits are also included in this plan. Check the policy for more details.
Also included:
- Accidental death and dismemberment coverage of $100,000 per person for flights.
- If you encounter issues such as closed attractions, cruise diversion, hotel infestation, hotel construction and more, you’re eligible for travel inconvenience benefits of $750 total ($250 per problem).
- Trip exchange benefits of 50% of your trip cost that pay the difference in price between your original reservation and the new one.
- Up to $5,000 in ancillary evacuation benefits for expenses related to return of children, bedside visits, baggage return and more.
Optional add-ons offered:
- A “Name Your Family” upgrade that allows you to add a person to your policy who will qualify for family member-related unforeseen events that can apply to trip cancellation and interruption claims.
- Adventure Sports Bundle for adventure and extreme activities.
- Boarding and medical expenses for illness or injury of dog or cat while traveling is covered with the Pet Bundle. Includes trip cancellation or trip interruption if your pet is in critical condition or dies within seven days before your departure.
- “Cancel for any reason” upgrade that reimburses 50% of insured trip costs.
- Coverage of $50,000 for rental vehicle damage.
- Wedding Bundle to cover trip cancellation due to wedding cancellation. Note that brides and grooms are excluded from this benefit.
GREAT FOR CRUISE ITINERARY CHANGES
Nationwide
4.0
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Cheapest top-scoring plan
Cruise Choice
Average cost per trip
$407
Medical & evacuation limits per person
$100,000/$500,000
Get A Quote
Via Forbes Advisor's Website
Cruise Choice
$407
$100,000/$500,000
Editor's Take
We chose Nationwide’s Cruise Choice plan because the policy offers the fourth-cheapest average price among the top-scoring plans we analyzed. It includes non-medical evacuation coverage and offers a trip interruption upgrade. We also like that it provides benefits for missed events if your ship changes course or breaks down.
Pros
- Decent missed connection coverage of $1,500.
- Includes $25,000 in non-medical evacuation benefits.
- Provides benefits if you miss out on a prepaid activity or event because your cruise ship changes its itinerary, or if your cruise ship has a fire or mechanical breakdown that delays arrival at the next port of call for two or more hours.
More: Nationwide Travel Insurance Review
Cons
- Medical coverage is lower than most other top-rated plans but might be sufficient for your needs.
- “Cancel for any reason” upgrade not available.
Coverage Details
Here’s an overview of top coverage types included in Nationwide’s Cruise Choice policy.
Coverage type | Coverage limit |
---|---|
Emergency medical | $100,000 per person |
Medical evacuation & repatriation | $500,000 per person |
Non-medical evacuation | $25,000 per person |
Trip interruption | 150% of the trip cost |
Travel delay | $750 per person |
Missed connection | $1,500 per person |
Baggage delay | $500 per person |
Baggage & personal items | $2,500 per person |
Hurricane & weather | Covered after a common carrier delay of 24 hours |
Cancel for work reasons | Included |
Employment layoff | Covered if employed for 3 continuous years |
Accidental death & dismemberment | $25,000 per person |
We’re showing top coverage types but other benefits are also included in this plan. Check the policy for more details.
Also included:
- Coverage for an extended school year, terrorism in an itinerary city and work-related emergency issues.
- You’re eligible for coverage of $200 per person if your cruise ship has a fire or mechanical breakdown that delays the next port of call for two or more hours or changes the scheduled itinerary.
- “Interruption for any reason” upgrade.
BEST FOR FAMILIES
Travelex Insurance Services
4.0
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Cheapest top-scoring plan
Travel Select
Average cost per trip
$391
Medical & evacuation limits per person
$50,000/$500,000
Get A Quote
Via Forbes Advisor's Website
Travel Select
$391
$50,000/$500,000
Editor's Take
We think Travelex Insurance Services’ Travel Select plan is a solid choice at a competitive price—it ranked third cheapest among top plans we assessed. An added bonus is that children can be covered at no extra cost.
Pros
- Includes free coverage for children age 17 and under (when accompanied by an adult covered by the policy).
- “Cancel for any reason” upgrade ava ilable.
- Very good travel delay coverage of $2,000 per person after a five-hour delay.
More: Travelex Travel Insurance Review
Cons
- Medical coverage of $50,000 per person is on the low side.
- Baggage delay coverage requires a 12-hour delay and has a low $200 per person limit.
- Missed connection benefits are lower than many other competitors.
Coverage Details
Here’s an overview of top coverage types that are included in the Travel Select policy.
Coverage type | Coverage limit |
---|---|
Emergency medical | $50,000 per person |
Medical evacuation & repatriation | $500,000 per person |
Non-medical evacuation | No coverage |
Trip interruption | 150% of the trip cost |
Travel delay | $2,000 per person |
Missed connection | $750 per person |
Baggage delay | $200 per person |
Baggage & personal items | $1,000 per person |
Hurricane & weather | Covered after a common carrier delay for any length of time |
Cancel for work reasons | Covered if purchased within 15 days of trip deposit |
Employment layoff | Covered if employed for 1 continuous year |
Accidental death & dismemberment | $25,000 per person |
We’re showing top coverage types but other benefits are also included in this plan. Check the policy for more details.
Also included:
- Delay benefits of $200 for sporting and golf equipment after 24 hours or more.
Optional add-ons & upgrades offered:
- Accidental death and dismemberment coverage of $200,000 per person for flights.
- Adventure sports upgrade to cover activities that would otherwise be excluded.
- “Cancel for any reason” coverage of 75% (up to max of $7,500).
- Car rental collision coverage of $35,000.
- Financial default coverage if your travel supplier goes out of business that provides 100% reimbursem*nt of your insured trip cost.
- Medical coverage upgrade to $100,000 per person.
- Medical evacuation upgrade to $1 million per person.
How Much Does Affordable Travel Insurance Cost?
We found that the average cost of travel insurance is $429 per trip, after analyzing quotes from top-rated companies for seven traveler profiles. Travel Insured ($370 average per trip) and WorldTrips ($371 average per trip) offer the lowest-priced travel insurance among the top-scoring policies in our analysis.
Generally, the average cost of travel insurance is 5% to 6% of your trip costs, based on our analysis.
Factors That Affect Travel Insurance Costs
Unlike many other types of insurance, only a few factors go into travel insurance pricing.
Trip Cost Being Insured
|
Your Age
|
Coverage Limits
|
Travel Insurance Cost by Traveler Profile
The cost of travel insurance varies significantly depending on your age and trip cost.
Traveler profile | Average travel insurance cost per trip |
---|---|
Two travelers age 65 on a 17-day trip to Italy; $6,000 trip cost | $446 |
Two travelers age 70 on an 8-day trip to Mexico; $3,000 trip cost | $298 |
Two travelers age 30 on an 8-day trip to Mexico; $3,000 trip cost | $135 |
Two travelers age 40 on a 17-day trip to Italy; $6,000 trip cost | $298 |
Two travelers age 40 with children ages 10 and 7 on a 17-day trip to U.K.; $15,000 trip cost | $604 |
EXPERT TIPS
How To Find Affordable Travel Insurance
Penny Gusner
Insurance Senior Writer
Les Masterson
Insurance Editor
Michelle Megna
Insurance Lead Editor
Amy Danise
Insurance Managing Editor
Ashlee Valentine
Insurance Editor
Jason Metz
Insurance Lead Editor
Compare Travel Insurance Quotes
My advice for finding the best price on travel insurance is to compare policies from multiple companies because it can potentially save you hundreds of dollars. Travel insurance policies often include most of the same benefits, but the price and coverage amounts can vary considerably by policy.
Penny Gusner
Insurance Senior Writer
Only Insure Non-Refundable Trip Costs
You can avoid overspending on a travel insurance policy by understanding exactly what costs can be insured. For example, trip cancellation insurance will only reimburse you for prepaid and non-refundable trip expenses. Don’t buy coverage for parts of the trip that aren’t prepaid and non-refundable, such as fully refundable plane tickets. You can’t make a travel insurance claim for costs you can get refunded.
Les Masterson
Insurance Editor
Don’t Buy Unnecessary Travel Insurance Coverage
You can keep costs in check by buying only the coverage you need, and at the limits that make sense for your trip. For example, you may not need travel medical insurance if you’re not leaving the country during your trip. This may be especially true if you’ll primarily be shopping, dining out and sightseeing and not participating in a lot of outdoor activities like hiking and biking. Your U.S. health plan will usually cover you if you become ill or injured during a domestic vacation.
And if you’re booking a trip last-minute, trip cancellation may be less important.
Another example: you don’t need baggage insurance of $2,500 if you’re packing $200 worth of T-shirts, shorts and a swimsuit.
Michelle Megna
Insurance Lead Editor
Skip Upgrades Unless They’re a Concern
You can keep the cost of travel insurance down by foregoing upgrades that aren’t necessary. For example, many travelers buy a “cancel for any reason” upgrade in addition to standard trip cancellation insurance. It adds an average of 50% to the cost of your travel insurance plan. The upgrade gives you partial reimbursem*nt for trip costs if you cancel for a reason not listed in the base policy.
Amy Danise
Insurance Managing Editor
Consider Buying an Annual Travel Insurance Policy
One of the best ways for frequent travelers to trim costs is to buy a multi-trip—or annual—policy. I suggest buying a multi-trip policy if you’re taking more than two trips. Buying a policy for each trip gets inconvenient and expensive. Annual travel insurance policies are primarily designed to provide travel medical insurance for multiple trips at a better overall price.
Note that basic annual policies also offer limited trip cancellation insurance and trip interruption coverage.
Ashlee Valentine
Insurance Editor
Check Your Credit Card’s Travel Insurance Benefits
The best credit cards for travel insurance have perks and insurance benefits built in. The key here is that you usually must charge the entire trip on that credit card if you want to make a claim later. If your trip expenses exceed the credit card’s coverage limit, you can buy travel insurance for the remaining amount. This will make the policy less expensive than insuring the entire trip cost.
Jason Metz
Insurance Lead Editor
Is Cheap Travel Insurance Worth It?
Cheap travel insurance is worth it if you’re still getting the coverage benefits you want. Our analysis found that the average travel insurance cost is $228 for a $5,000 trip, but the range of rates is from $154 for a basic policy up to $437 for a policy with generous coverage. That means you can find several travel insurance companies that sell policies for a cost lower than the average, but they won’t all offer the same benefits.
For example, the Worldwide Trip Protector plan from Travel Insured is the cheapest among the insurers we reviewed. But if you want travel medical expense limits above $100,000, you’ll have to look elsewhere—and likely pay more.If this coverage is important to you, we recommend going with a more expensive company such as HTH Worldwide, Seven Corners or USI Affinity. They all sell policies that provide $500,000 in medical coverage.
Compare & Buy Travel Insurance
Methodology
We analyzed 42 policies to find the best travel insurance. Then among the plans that were the best (receiving at least 4 stars), we identified the five policies with the lowest average cost. Ratings are based on the following metrics.
Cost (25% of score): We analyzed the average cost for each travel insurance policy for trips to popular destinations:
| |
Missed connection coverage (10% of score): Travel insurance policies were awarded more points if they include missed connection benefits of $1,000 per person or more. | |
Medical expenses (10% of score): Travel insurance policies with travel medical expense benefits of $250,000 and up per person were given the highest points. | |
Medical evacuation (10% of score): Travel insurance policies with medical evacuation expense benefits of $500,000 and up per person were given the highest points. | |
“Cancel for any reason” upgrade (10%): Travel insurance policies received points if “cancel for any reason” upgrades are offered. More points were awarded for “cancel for any reason” upgrades with reimbursem*nt levels of 75%. | |
Baggage delay required waiting time (5%): Policies with baggage delay benefits kicking in at 12 hours or less were given points. | |
Cancel for work reasons: (5%): Travel insurance plans that allow cancellations for work reasons were awarded points. | |
Hurricane and weather (5%): Policies received points if the required waiting period for hurricane and weather coverage was 12 hours or less. | |
“Interruption for any reason” upgrade (5%): Policies were awarded points if they offered an “interruption for any reason” upgrade. | |
Pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver (5%): Points were given to policies that cover pre-existing medical conditions (if purchased within a required timeframe after the first trip deposit). | |
Travel delay required waiting time (5%): Policies with travel delay benefits kicking in after six hours or less were given points. | |
Trip interruption travel insurance (5%): Points were given if trip interruption reimbursem*nt is 150% or higher. |
Read more: How Forbes Advisor rates travel insurance
Other Cheap Travel Insurance Companies We Rated
Company | Policy name | Average cost per policy | Forbes Advisor rating |
---|---|---|---|
Nationwide | Cruise Luxury | $485 | 4.5 stars |
TravelSafe | Classic | $582 | 4.5 stars |
AIG | Travel Guard Preferred | $413 | 4.0 stars |
AXA Assistance USA | Platinum | $470 | 4.0 stars |
Generali Global Assistance | Premium | $496 | 4.0 stars |
HTH Travel Insurance | TripProtector Preferred | $602 | 4.0 stars |
Seven Corners | Trip Protection Choice | $527 | 4.0 stars |
Affordable Travel Insurance Frequently Asked Questions
What does the cheapest travel insurance cover?
The cheapest travel insurance policies generally cover the same pre- and post-departure problems as any other travel insurance policy, albeit at lower limits. Even the cheapest travel insurance policies can compensate you for prepaid, non-refundable trip costs when you have to cancel or cut a trip short because of a reason listed in the policy.
Regardless of price, travel insurance policies usually also provide coverage for medical expenses, medical evacuation, lost and delayed baggage and travel delays.
Is there a way to get cheap travel insurance other than comparing quotes?
Yes, if you aren’t concerned about trip cancellation insurance and other types of coverage, you can consider buying a travel insurance policy that only covers medical expenses. These policies have far fewer benefits but typically cost much less than a standard travel insurance policy.
What are common travel insurance add-ons?
Common travel insurance add-ons and upgrades typically include coverage for:
- Accidental death and dismemberment.
- Adventure sports and activities.
- “Cancel for any reason” travel insurance that provides partial reimbursem*nt as long as you cancel at least 48 hours prior to departure.
- “Interruption for any reason” travel insurance that provides partial reimbursem*nt if you cut a trip short as long as you’re a specified amount of time into your trip, such as 48 hours.
- Medical expense upgrades that provide higher coverage limits.
- Pet kenneling and injuries to your pet while traveling with you.
- Security coverage that provides non-medical evacuation and other benefits.
- Rental car damage.
- Wedding cancellations.
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