Best Insurance for International Travel 2023

 If your plans include international travel, you’re in good company. Nearly 22% percent of Americans said they intend to visit a foreign country in the coming six months, according to data published by the Conference Board, an economic research organization. That’s the highest percentage ever. 

If you are among them, as you dust off your passport and plan your itinerary, you may also want to consider travel insurance. International travel often entails not only high costs, but high complexity. For example, a flight to an overseas destination can involve multiple connections. And the policies we rely on at home—including our health and car insurance—typically don’t provide coverage when we’re out of the country.

Let’s look at how several leading international travel insurance companies and how their offerings compare.

Compare the best international travel insurance companies 2023

Our recommendations for the best international travel insurance companies

Best for spontaneous travelers: AIG Travel Guard

Spontaneous travelers

AIG Travel Guard

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Spontaneous travelers

AIG Travel Guard

Fees

$196

Trip coverages

100% Cancellation; 100% Interruption; $500 Trip delay

Medical coverage

$15,000 Medical; $150,000 Transport

Baggage coverages

$750 Loss; $200 Delay

Car rental?

Upgrade available

Pros & cons:

Pros:

• Optional Pack N’ Go plan is tailored to the needs of spontaneous travelers.
• Among the lowest-cost plans in our review.

Cons:

• Medical coverage amount is lower than most among our recommendations. 
• Cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage is not available with its most economical plan.

Many people take weeks or even months to plan out their international travels. Others like to go on a whim. If spontaneity is the name of your international travel game, AIG Travel Guard may be for you. Its “Pack N’ Go” coverage plan eliminates trip cancellation coverage, helping you save money off their already competitive prices.  

Best for annual travel insurance plans: Allianz

Annual plans

Allianz Travel Insurance

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Annual plans

Allianz Travel Insurance

Fees

$254

Trip coverages

100% Cancellation; 100% Interruption; $300 Trip delay

Medical coverage

$10,000 Medical; $50,000 Transport

Baggage coverages

$500 Loss; $200 Delay

Car rental?

Upgrade available

Pros & cons:

Pros:

• Wide variety of international travel insurance plans, including annual plans.
• Covers pre-existing medical conditions.

Cons:

• Among the more expensive travel insurance plans.
• Most economical plans offer less coverage than others.

Allianz offers a wide range of travel insurance options, including annual plans. If you plan to go overseas two or more times in the coming year, Allianz may be a good choice for your travel insurance needs.  

The coverage levels in the Allianz Basic plan are more modest than those of the other companies in our review. However, the plan does waive the exclusion for pre-existing medical conditions provided certain criteria are met. And with Allianz’s many available plans, you’re likely to find an international travel insurance policy that’s right for you.

Best for pre-existing conditions: Berkshire Hathaway

Pre-existing conditions

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Insurance

Pre-existing conditions

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Insurance

Fees

$198

Trip coverages

100% Cancellation; 100% Interruption; $500 Trip delay

Medical coverage

$15,000 Medical;  $150,000 Transport

Baggage coverages

$750 Loss; $200 Delay

Car rental?

Upgrade available

Pros & cons:

Pros:

• Coverage for pre-existing conditions included with all of its travel plans.
• Among the lowest-cost plans.

Cons:

• One of the lowest levels of emergency medical expense coverage.

Many companies deny coverage to those with pre-existing medical conditions. Others offer a waiver of the pre-existing condition exclusion, but only as an option on a high-cost plan. Berkshire Hathaway bucks those trends. It covers pre-existing conditions (as long as you meet certain criteria). And at $198, Berkshire Hathaway is one of just three plans that cost less than $200 in our review.

Best for baggage coverage: Generali

Baggage coverage

Generali Travel Insurance

Baggage coverage

Generali Travel Insurance

Fees

$320

Trip coverages

100% Cancellation; 125% Interruption; $1,000 Trip delay

Medical coverage

$50,000 Medical; $250,000 Transport

Baggage coverages

$1,000 Loss; $200 delay

Car rental?

Upgrade available

Pros & cons:

Pros:

• Highest limits for baggage coverage. 
• Impressive selection of concierge services included

Cons:

• The most expensive travel insurance plan in our review.
• Cancel-for-any-reason (CFAR) coverage is only available as an option with its most expensive plan.

If your international travel nightmares include losing your luggage (and thus having to wear the same clothes every day during your trip), consider Generali insurance. Of the plans we reviewed, Generali offered the most coverage for lost luggage, at $1,000. That ought to be enough to restock your travel wardrobe and personal items. Generali also offers $200 coverage for baggage delayed more than 24 hours. Higher limits for both coverages are available with their more expensive plans. 

Best for medical coverage: Seven Corners

Medical coverage

Seven Corners

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Medical coverage

Seven Corners

Fees

$214

Trip coverages

100% Cancellation; 100% Interruption; $600 Trip delay

Medical coverage

$100,000 Medical; $250,000 Transport

Baggage coverages

$500 Loss; $500 Delay

Car rental?

Upgrade available

Pros & cons:

Pros:

• Emergency medical expense coverage is twice that of any other plans in our review
• CFAR coverage is available as an option with its most economical plan.

Cons:

• $500 for lost or delayed baggage is among the lowest.

Emergency medical expense coverage is one of the most important reasons to have travel insurance when overseas. Most private insurance plans provide little or no coverage outside of the U.S. For medical coverage available with a basic travel insurance plan, Seven Corners is an excellent choice. It covers up to $100,000 of emergency medical expenses, which is twice the amount covered by any other plan in our review. It also provides up to $250,000 of coverage for emergency evacuation, which helps reimburse your costs of transportation to a qualified medical facility if you have a serious illness or injury during your trip.

Best for active travelers: Tin Leg

Active travelers

Tin Leg Travel Insurance

Active travelers

Tin Leg Travel Insurance

Fees

$192

Trip coverages

100% Cancellation; 100% Interruption; $500 Trip delay

Medical coverage

$15,000 Medical; $100,000 Transport

Baggage coverages

$500 Loss; $100 Delay

Car rental?

Upgrade available

Pros & cons:

Pros:

• Lowest-cost plan in our review.
• Offers benefits targeted to athletes and active people.

Cons:

• Car rental coverage is not available as an option with its most economical plan.
• Coverage for pre-existing medical conditions is not available as an option with its most economical plan.

If your idea of a great international vacation includes adrenaline, sweat, and maybe toeing a start line, check out Tin Leg. Its Economy plan includes coverage for sports equipment (bicycles, skis, etc.) and even provides reimbursement for sports fees should your travel plans change. Tin Leg’s Standard plan adds coverage for adventure sports such as motor racing, climbing, SCUBA, zip lining, and professional athletic events.  

Best for families traveling with young children: Travelex

Families with young children

Travelex Travel Insurance

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Families with young children

Travelex Travel Insurance

Fees

$212

Trip coverages

100% Cancellation; 100% Interruption; $500 Trip delay

Medical coverage

$15,000 Medical; $100,000 Transport

Baggage coverages

$500 Loss; $100 Delay

Car rental?

Upgrade available

Pros & cons:

Pros:

• Children under 17 covered at no extra cost under its Select plan.
• Car rental coverage is available as an option with all plans.

Cons:

• Medical expense coverage is one of the lowest in our review.

Traveling overseas with young children can be rewarding, but it can also be a daunting and costly prospect. Having travel insurance can help mitigate some of the financial concerns. While Travelex’s most economical plan is among the least expensive in our review, you might want to spring for its Select plan, which includes free coverage for children under age 17, provided their trip cost does not exceed that of the adults.  

Methodology

We reviewed plans from several travel insurance companies, focusing on trip coverages, medical expense coverages, and baggage coverages. We noted which companies offered options such as car rental coverage, along with unique features and services. 

Our cost information is based on quotes for each company’s lowest-cost policy. We quoted two adult travelers and a five-day trip to France in April 2024 valued at $5,000. These costs are provided for comparison purposes only. Your travel insurance costs will vary based on factors such as your number of covered travelers, destination, plan choice, and optional coverages. 

How to choose an international travel insurance company

When shopping for international travel insurance, you have multiple areas of coverage to consider including the following: 

Trip coverages

Coverages such as trip cancellation and trip interruption help reimburse your costs if you have to cancel or cut short your travels due to an illness, accident, or other reason outlined in the policy. Choosing CFAR coverage (an option with many policies) means you can be reimbursed regardless of why you cancel your plans—even if you just have a change of mind. 

Medical coverages

Coverages such as emergency medical expenses and medical evacuation help reimburse your costs if you’re injured or become ill while traveling. Some companies may exclude coverage if, for instance, your injury happens as a result of an adventure sport. But you may be able to add this coverage as an option. Keep in mind that U.S. private health insurance typically does not provide coverage outside of the country.

Baggage coverages

Baggage coverages provide reimbursement if your luggage is lost or stolen, or is delayed in transit. This reimbursement is intended to help you pay to replace clothing, personal items, and other things you need to continue your travels comfortably.  

Optional coverages

You may also need to consider additional options such as rental car coverage. While car rental companies often provide liability coverage as part of the rental agreement, they don’t include coverage for damage to the car. Choosing optional car rental coverage from your travel insurance provider can often be a much more cost-effective way to get this important coverage than choosing the car rental company’s optional collision and loss damage waivers. And note that while the comprehensive and collision coverages on a personal car insurance policy often extend to rentals in the U.S., they do not typically apply in international rental situations.

Compare multiple quotes

To get the international travel insurance you need, you can visit company sites individually. All of the companies in our review offer the ability to get a quote within just a few minutes. Alternatively, you can use a service such as Squaremouth or Travelinsurance.com. These allow you to get quotes from multiple international travel insurance companies with a single input of your information.  

Which factors determine the cost of your international travel insurance?

Several factors determine the cost of international travel insurance. These include:

Number of travelers

Typically, insurance for a larger travel party will cost more than insurance for a smaller party.  

Traveler age

Older travelers tend to be at greater risk for health issues, according to insurer Allianz. Because of this, insurers tend to charge them more for international travel insurance.

Destination

Higher medical costs in a particular country or political instability that may cause trip cancellation can cause a travel insurance policy to cost more. 

Cost of trip

An expensive trip will cost more to insure than a less expensive trip.

Plan and optional coverage selections

All of the companies in our review offer multiple travel insurance policy options—generally a basic plan with the most limited coverage, and one or more upgraded plans with higher levels of coverage. They also offer options such as car rental and CFAR coverage. As with virtually any type of insurance, choosing more coverage means you’ll pay more for the policy.  

Other international travel insurance considerations 

Some countries require international travel insurance

According to insurer Generali, the following countries currently require travel insurance: Antarctica, Bhutan, Ecuador, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, and Vietnam.  

International travel insurance may not cover everything

What your travel insurance does and does not cover will partly depend on the details of your plan. Review your plan options and documents carefully to get the coverage you need. 

In general, plans will always exclude coverage for epidemics, known storms, acts of war, dangerous activities, and travel restrictions put in place by the local government. 

You may have other sources of international travel insurance 

Many credit cards provide travel insurance as part of their cardholder benefits—check with your card provider to learn more. You may find that your card provides enough to cover the cost of your trip, or that you can supplement it with a lower-cost policy from an insurance company. 

TIME Stamp: Protect your travel investment with insurance

More Americans than ever are or plan to  travel overseas. If you’re getting ready to head off on an international adventure, consider travel insurance. International travel is costly and can be complex. Insurance helps protect the investment you’ve made in your trip, while providing important coverage while you’re in another country.   

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) 

What is the best travel insurance for international travel?

The best policy will depend on your needs and budget. Our review includes  several international travel insurance providers. Each offers multiple plans at different price points, and options to help you customize coverage to your international travel needs.  

Why should I buy international travel insurance?

After spending perhaps thousands of dollars (or more) on a trip overseas, spending another few hundred dollars on travel insurance could be a tough pill to swallow. But consider what would happen if you got sick or injured, had a change of priorities at work, or encountered a family issue such as the death of a close relative. You might have to cancel your trip, and you’d likely lose any non-refundable charges such as airfare, lodging, and activities. Travel insurance would help reimburse those costs. 

Consider also that coverages we take for granted at home, including car insurance and health insurance, may not extend to international destinations. Travel insurance can help ensure you have those coverages.  

Which health insurance is best for international travel?

U.S. private health insurance companies, along with Medicare and Medicaid, do not provide coverage outside of the U.S. Our choice for the best international travel insurance medical coverage is Seven Corners. Its plan includes $100,000 of emergency medical expense coverage.  

How much does international travelers insurance cost?

International travel insurance costs vary, but are generally affordable. Our review included quotes from several companies for two adults traveling to France in April 2024, on a five-day trip valued at $5,000. Costs ranged from $192 to $320 for those companies’ most cost-effective plans. 

How do I choose an international travel insurance policy?

To choose an international travel insurance policy, consider your coverage needs for trip cancellation, medical expenses, and lost luggage. Think about the options you might want to add, such as car rental insurance or a waiver of the pre-existing medical condition exclusion. 

Once you have all your needs outlined, get quotes from multiple companies. Services such as Squaremouth or Travelinsurance.com can make this easy.

How much international travel medical insurance do I need?

Choose at least $50,000 worth of medical coverage when traveling internationally. If you’re headed to a remote destination, or one where the cost of healthcare services is particularly high, consider choosing a plan with at least $100,000 of medical coverage.