Travel is often unpredictable. In 2025, the government shutdown, several hurricanes, pilot strikes and aircraft issues led to numerous flight delays and cancellations. Other unforeseen issues like illnesses or a family member’s death could also affect a trip you schedule. It’s so hard to prepare for the unexpected in 2026 as you plan a vacation, but travel insurance allows you protect what you have invested in your trip to help you recoup money should you encounter issues. However, wading through travel insurance policies and plans can be incredibly confusing, so U.S. News did the research for you to bring you the best travel insurance companies on the market today.
These companies provide top-tier coverage in important categories like trip cancellation and interruption, lost or delayed bags, missed connections, emergency medical and dental expenses, and more. These travel insurance providers also receive primarily positive reviews for their customer service, the ease of filing a claim and the promptness with which they reimburse travelers – all important considerations when you’re choosing which travel insurance policy to purchase.
Our rankings, ratings and product reviews are unbiased. We do not rank or rate products or services based on our financial relationships with the companies that produce them. Our in-house research team collects extensive information used in our evaluation process, although we may not cover all options available in the marketplace. See our full methodology.
Please note: All data was accurate at the time of publication and the ratings are based on data collected in October 2025. User ratings can fluctuate as more reviews are posted to independent websites. Also note, every plan may not be available for residents of every state.
Key Takeaways
- Travelex is the 2026 Best Travel Insurance Company, with the highest Overall Rating among the 45 companies U.S. News evaluated.
- Travel insurance rates vary widely based on trip length, age of travelers, trip cost and destinations you’ll be visiting. You can compare providers and pricing by inputting your travel details to obtain quotes from a few different companies. This will help you find the best travel insurance policy for your needs and budget.
With the Ultimate plan, you’ll get:
- Up to 100% of the insured trip cost for trip cancellation (maximum $50,000)
- Up to 150% of the insured trip cost for trip interruption (maximum $75,000)
- Up to $2,000 in coverage for lost, damaged or stolen bags and personal items; $500 for luggage delays
- Up to $2,000 for trip delays; up to $750 in missed connection coverage
- Up to $250,000 in emergency medical and dental coverage ($500 dental sublimit)
- Up to $1 million in emergency medical evacuation and repatriation coverage
Travelex reviews are often positive, with a Trustpilot overall rating of 4.4 out of 5 and a Squaremouth rating of 4.43 out of 5. Several reviewers say the process was straightforward and the customer service agents are friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. Many appreciate the wide range of options available from this provider as well. There are varying reviews on how long it took to process a claim once submitted; some experienced punctual payment, while others say the process was dragged out.
Cancel for any reason coverage is available as an add-on with both plans. The preexisting conditions exclusion waiver is only available with the Choice plan if purchased within 20 days of your first payment for the trip.
Trip Protection Choice is the most comprehensive plan available from Seven Corners. It encompasses:
- Up to 100% trip cancellation coverage (up to $100,000 per traveler)
- Trip interruption coverage for up to 150% of the trip cost
- Lost, stolen or damaged baggage coverage up to $2,500; up to $500 for luggage delays
- Trip delay coverage worth up to $2,000; up to $1,500 for missed tour or cruise connections
- Emergency medical coverage worth up to $500,000 (depending on where you live)
- Emergency medical evacuation and repatriation coverage worth up to $1 million
With excellent user ratings from Trustpilot (4.5 out of 5) and Squaremouth (4.38 out of 5), Seven Corners is a solid bet, according to previous travelers. Many of the company’s specific customer service reps receive high praise for answering questions and handling claims efficiently.
The Epic policy has the most coverage available from World Nomads, featuring:
- Up to $15,000 for trip cancellation
- Up to $15,000 for trip interruption
- Up to $3,000 for lost or damaged luggage; up to $2,500 for luggage delays
- Trip delay coverage worth up to $5,000; up to $5,000 for missed connections
- Up to $250,000 in emergency medical coverage
- Up to $700,000 for emergency evacuation and repatriation
World Nomads scores 4.3 out of 5 in user ratings from Trustpilot. The customer service reps earn lots of praise from recent travelers who bought travel insurance from this company, with many saying they were helpful and efficient in solving issues or answering questions related to claims. Customers say the website is easy to use to obtain and purchase a quote as well. A few are disappointed their claims weren’t paid out as expected despite providing materials requested.
Allianz’s cancel for any reason add-on offers an industry-leading amount of possible reimbursement: up to 80% of the total prepaid cost of the trip. Multiple Allianz plans also provide coverage for preexisting conditions, though a few specific requirements must be met.
Allianz’s robust OneTrip Premier plan includes:
- Up to $200,000 in trip cancellation coverage
- Up to $300,000 in trip interruption coverage
- Up to $2,000 for lost, damaged or stolen luggage and personal effects; $600 for bag delays
- Up to $1,600 for travel delays; $1,000 for Trip Change Protector benefit
- Emergency medical coverage worth up to $75,000 ($750 dental sublimit)
- Up to $1 million for emergency medical transportation
Traveler reviews of Allianz are mostly positive; the company receives a 4.1 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot. Travelers commend the company’s overall pricing, the ease of filing a claim and the customer service; many were able to get the expected refunds for their claims. Some, however, say the terms of the policies could be clearer, and others were disappointed because they felt their valid claim was not reimbursed properly.
Berkshire Hathaway’s LuxuryCare provides the most comprehensive coverage of the policies available, complete with:
- Trip cancellation coverage worth up to 100% of the trip cost (up to $100,000 per traveler)
- Trip interruption coverage worth up to 150% of the trip cost (up to $150,000)
- $2,500 in coverage for lost, stolen or damaged bags and personal items; bag delay coverage worth $500
- Trip delay coverage worth up to $2,500; missed connection coverage worth $1,000
- Medical coverage worth up to $150,000
- Up to $1 million for emergency evacuation and repatriation
Berkshire Hathaway is rated 4.29 out of 5 by users on Squaremouth, with many noting that it was easy to make adjustments to their policy or trip dates by speaking with customer service, and that filing a claim with the company was simple. However, a select few say their claims took longer to resolve than expected.
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iTravelInsured LX is IMG’s most comprehensive single-trip plan. It offers travelers:
- Up to 100% coverage (maximum $150,000 per person) for trip cancellation
- Up to 150% coverage for trip interruption
- Up to $2,500 for lost or damaged luggage; $500 for delayed bags
- Trip delay coverage worth up to $2,500; up to $500 for missed connections
- Up to $500,000 in emergency medical coverage
- Up to $1 million for emergency evacuation and repatriation
The travel insurance policies and customer service from IMG earn the company a 4.21 out of 5 rating on Squaremouth and a 4.6 out of 5 user rating on Truspilot. Many travelers commend the straightforward policies and variety of options available from this provider. Note that some people say they experienced issues with claims being reimbursed slowly.
The Atlas Journey Elevate plan has the highest coverage limits. Its top features are outlined below:
- Up to 100% in trip cancellation coverage (up to $100,000)
- Up to 150% in trip interruption coverage (up to $150,000)
- Up to $2,500 in baggage coverage; up to $600 in luggage delay coverage
- Up to $2,000 for trip delays; up to $1,500 in missed connection coverage
- Up to $250,000 in emergency medical coverage ($750 dental sublimit)
- Up to $1 million for medical evacuation and repatriation
With a 4.4 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot and a 4.24 out of 5 rating on Squaremouth, WorldTrips travel insurance is a popular pick among travelers, and most are pleased with the coverage and services provided. Many say their claim was processed and approved in a timely manner. A few note that they wish response times from customer service reps were quicker.
The Worldwide Trip Protector Platinum from Travel Insured International provides the most extensive coverage. With this plan, travelers receive:
- Up to 100% in trip cancellation coverage ($150,000 limit)
- Up to 150% in trip interruption coverage
- Up to $2,500 for lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed bags; up to $750 in baggage delay coverage
- Trip delay coverage up to $2,000; missed connection coverage up to $1,000
- Up to $500,000 in medical coverage for an injury or illness
- Up to $1 million for medical evacuation and repatriation
This insurance company receives numerous favorable reviews, with a 4.3 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot and a 4.41 out of 5 rating on Squaremouth. Travelers say the representatives at Travel Insured International are polite and helpful, and that filling out the forms to submit a claim is simple. There are some mixed reviews on response time: Many say they did not have to wait too long for reimbursement; however, some say they were not given information or did not receive their reimbursement as promptly as they would have liked.
Faye’s single-trip travel insurance policy comes with the following benefits:
- Trip cancellation coverage up to 100% (maximum $40,000)
- Trip interruption coverage up to 150% (maximum $60,000
- Up to $2,000 in coverage for lost, stolen or damaged bags and personal items; bag delay coverage worth $300
- Trip delay coverage worth up to $2,100; missed connection coverage worth $200
- Medical coverage worth up to $50,000 (for domestic trips) to $250,000 (for international trips)
- Up to $500,000 for emergency evacuation and repatriation
Faye gets an impressive 4.8 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot, indicating its policies and customer service representatives are well regarded by recent travelers. Many appreciate how easy and speedy it is to fill out your details, get a quote and purchase the policy online. The customer service team earns praise for being helpful at guiding people to getting care while abroad. Most also say their claims were processed efficiently, though a few reviewers said they had to resubmit details and wait longer than they would have liked for reimbursement.
Tin Leg’s robust Luxury plan guarantees the following:
- Trip cancellation coverage up to 100% of the trip cost
- Trip interruption coverage up to 150% of the trip cost
- Up to $500 per person for lost or damaged luggage; $200 per person for baggage delays
- Up to $2,000 per person in trip delay coverage; up to $100 for missed connections
- Up to $100,000 per person in emergency medical coverage
- Medical evacuation and repatriation coverage worth up to $250,000
Tin Leg receives a 4.53 out of 5 rating on Squaremouth and a 4 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot. Recent policyholders say the claims process was thorough, and many note the customer service reps are helpful. Several say they were able to find what they considered a reasonably priced plan with Tin Leg. Something to note is that several reviewers warn they were required to give extensive documentation when submitting a claim, so be sure to retain all pertinent medical and cancellation or delay documentation during your travels.
TripProtector Preferred provides the most comprehensive offerings, including:
- Trip cancellation coverage up to 100% (maximum $50,000)
- Trip interruption coverage worth up to 200% (maximum $100,000)
- Up to $2,000 in coverage for lost, stolen or damaged bags and personal items; bag delay coverage worth $400
- Trip delay coverage up to $2,000; missed connection coverage worth $1,000
- Emergency medical coverage up to $500,000
- Up to $1 million for emergency evacuation and repatriation
HTH Travel Insurance has a 4.24 out of 5 rating from users on Squaremouth. Many recent travelers say they found it easy to purchase a policy that worked for their trip. There are mixed reviews on customer service, with some reviewers saying the reps they spoke to were helpful and others expressing their dissatisfaction that the customer service line is only available on weekdays.
Which One Will Work Best for You?
There are numerous types of travel insurance, and it may be difficult for the everyday traveler to distinguish between the various levels of plans and what specific coverage may be needed for a trip. Here are the most popular types of travel insurance coverage to consider:
Trip cancellation, interruption and delay insurance
Trip protections are arguably one of the most important aspects of travel insurance. Coverage for trip cancellations, interruptions and delays will reimburse you for your prepaid expenses if the cancellation, interruption or delay is due to a specific eligible reason outlined in your policy.
The covered reasons will vary by policy, but most travel providers will cover you if you get extremely sick and can’t travel, if you have a family medical emergency, if you or your travel partner loses their job, if your travel companion or a family member dies, or if you get a new job.
Here are some more specifics about these types of coverage:
- Trip cancellation: Coverage for trip cancellation will allow you to get reimbursed for the costs of things like airfare, cruise fare, tour deposits, and paid-in-full hotel or vacation rentals if your trip gets canceled for a covered reason.
- Trip interruption: If you need to begin your trip late or end your trip early – again due to an eligible reason – this is the type of travel insurance that covers that.
- Trip delay: Trip delay insurance will help reimburse you for unforeseen expenses in the event your trip is delayed for reasons beyond your control, such as your flight being canceled and rebooked for the next day. In that case, you can file a claim to be reimbursed for things like meals, hotel stays and transportation as you wait to take your rebooked flight. Note that you’ll want to save all of your receipts to make the process as smooth as possible when filing a claim with the travel insurance provider.
Travel medical insurance
Emergency medical coverage can pay for medical expenses if you happen to get sick with a virus or food poisoning, or if you injure yourself while on vacation. There are two types of travel medical insurance to be aware of: primary and secondary. A primary policy can be used immediately to cover medical bills incurred while you travel, while secondary coverage only provides reimbursement after you have exhausted any existing medical insurance policies you have.
You will also need to check what coverage is available if you have any preexisting conditions. A preexisting condition is usually defined as an illness, injury or other medical condition that was known prior to the travel insurance policy’s effective date, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or cancer. Most policies do not cover preexisting conditions and will specify a look-back period typically between 30 and 180 days, which is how far back the insurance company will look in your medical records to verify whether a condition is preexisting.
However, with some plans you may be able to get the preexisting conditions exclusion waived if you meet the requirements, such as purchasing the travel insurance plan within 14 to 21 days of your initial trip deposit. If you are unable to obtain a preexisting conditions exclusion waiver, your policy may still include limited coverage for the acute onset of a preexisting condition, but this type of coverage only applies to emergencies that meet specific criteria.
Note that most single-trip travel insurance plans include emergency medical coverage, but there are also some medical-only plans travelers can purchase before they go on a trip (with lower coverage for issues like trip cancellation, lost bags and more). You can also find some post-departure travel insurance plans, which are medical emergency-focused policies that can be purchased after you’ve already left on a trip.
Emergency evacuation insurance
Picture this scenario: You get infected with West Nile virus and come down with severe symptoms in a remote town in Europe without access to quality health care. You would need travel insurance coverage for any medical bills, in addition to evacuation coverage, which pays to transport you to the nearest hospital that can provide adequate care or a hospital closer to home.
Evacuation coverage is very useful if you need it, but you will want to make sure any coverage you buy comes with very high limits. An emergency evacuation can easily cost $25,000 in North America and up to $250,000 or more in some international destinations, according to Squaremouth and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Squaremouth typically suggests customers buy policies with at least $100,000 in emergency evacuation coverage – or even up to $250,000 in some cases.
Lost, damaged, stolen or delayed bags
Coverage for lost or stolen bags will come in handy if your airline loses or damages your checked luggage, or if your luggage is delayed so long that you have to buy new clothes, toiletries, shoes and other essentials for your trip. This type of coverage can kick in to cover the cost of replacing lost or stolen items you brought on your trip. It can also provide coverage for the bag itself. Note that if you are traveling with sports equipment like skis or golf clubs, you’ll want to check the policy closely to see if those are covered. If not, look into an adventure sports policy, which usually covers higher-ticket items like sports gear.
Cancel for any reason insurance
Cancel for any reason travel insurance works precisely how it sounds. With this coverage in place, you can cancel your trip for any reason you want – even if you just decide you don’t want to go. CFAR coverage is usually an additional fee or waiver you add on to a standard travel insurance plan. Because it’s an add-on, you’ll have to pay extra to have it included in your policy (and not every plan offers this option). You will typically have to purchase the cancel for any reason upgrade within 14 to 15 days of the initial trip deposit.
While you can cancel for any reason, it’s important to note that you will not be reimbursed 100%. Most travel insurance companies will reimburse anywhere from 50% to 80% of the total nonrefundable prepaid travel expenses. You’ll want to read the fine print and details of each travel insurance policy closely to know exactly how much reimbursement you would qualify for with the provider’s CFAR coverage. Allianz is currently the leader in the market, with its Cancel Anytime upgrade reimbursing up to 80% of a traveler’s prepaid, nonrefundable vacation costs.
International travel insurance
With the chaos of delayed and canceled flights as well as threats of illness and accidents in today’s world, travel insurance when visiting other countries has become a nonnegotiable for many travelers. International travel insurance is incredibly handy to have since it can provide:
- Medical and dental coverage for emergencies when you’re abroad
- Reimbursement for lost or delayed luggage
- Money back for trip cancellations, delays or interruptions
Cheap travel insurance
If you’d like to purchase travel insurance to protect your trip but you’re on a tight budget, there are affordable options on the market. You’ll typically find that budget-friendly travel insurance plans are labeled as the basic or standard option. They still cover many of the same things as the more comprehensive travel insurance plans – the difference is that the limits to how much the provider will reimburse you tend to be lower.
For example, a standard plan might reimburse you up to $1,000 for lost luggage, while the more premier plan would reimburse you up to $2,000. Similarly, a basic plan could reimburse you up to $30,000 in trip cancellation costs, compared to a higher-tier plan’s $100,000 limit.
Cruise insurance
Travel delays; missed connections, tours or excursions; and cruise ship disablement (when a ship encounters a mechanical issue and is unable to continue on in the journey) are just a few examples why cruise insurance can be a useful protection if you’ve booked a cruise vacation.
Credit card travel insurance
Some of the top travel credit cards offer travel insurance perks like coverage for trip cancellation or interruption, reimbursement for lost or delayed bags, travel accident coverage, and more. These benefits are a big reason why many travelers love cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card and The Platinum Card from American Express – and why some feel the annual fees they impose are justified.
However, the most important thing to know is that you must use that specific credit card when booking or prepaying for your travel expenses to be able to take advantage of those travel insurance perks. For example, use that card to pay for your flight, your hotel accommodations or vacation rental, your cruise, and your destination tours. That way, because you used the correct credit card with the travel insurance features, you’re protected if things go wrong and you need to file a claim.
Keep in mind that credit cards with travel insurance have their own list of exclusions to consider. They don’t cover everything that an individual travel insurance plan would, so in many cases you may also want to purchase separate travel insurance protection.
The following describes our approach to researching and analyzing travel insurance companies to guide prospective consumers.
U.S. News & World Report rates the best travel insurance providers to help travelers determine what policy will help them protect their investment in their vacation. To determine the Best Travel Insurance Companies, we first scoured the web for all providers that offer travel insurance plans. In total, we assessed 45 companies. To be considered for the Best Travel Insurance Companies rating, a company must be available to U.S. residents, must allow anyone to purchase travel insurance, and must specifically offer trip cancellation and interruption protection.
We collected data across multiple sources – Professional Ratings & Reviews, Consumer Ratings & Reviews and Credit Ratings – which are all weighted equally and averaged to determine each travel insurance company’s Overall Rating.
- Professional Ratings & Reviews: Our travel insurance ratings take into account the top credible expert sources that have vetted and recommended specific travel insurance companies and plans. These expert sources are reviewed annually before data collection begins to ensure they are offering up-to-date information and accolades. Our team reviewed the methodologies of these expert outlets to look for data-driven rankings that were editorially independent. There are 10 expert sources that are factored into the 2026 ratings, including NerdWallet, Business Insider and MarketWatch, among others. Professional sources often recommend different options. U.S. News believes it benefits consumers to pool and analyze independent reviews as a group, to factor in multiple data sources and provide the most robust look at the top travel insurance companies. To be considered a Best Travel Insurance Company, the provider must appear on a minimum of two expert lists. Our team tallies the number of accolades a travel insurance company receives from these 10 expert sources, and converts them into points. Points earned for the number of accolades are outlined below:
- 7 or more accolades: 5 points
- 5 to 6 accolades: 4 points
- 3 to 4 accolades: 3 points
- 1 to 2 accolades: 2 points
- Consumer Ratings & Reviews: U.S. News also researched published consumer ratings on travel insurance companies. Our research team collected and analyzed review data from SquareMouth and Trustpilot, which are independent third-party reviews sites that collect verified reviews from travel insurance users. Travel insurance companies must have at least 20 reviews on one of these sites to be considered. Providers must have a consumer rating score (the averaged rating of the two review sites) of 4.0 or higher to make the Best Travel Insurance Companies list.
- Credit Rating: A.M. Best provides financial strength ratings of insurance companies that indicate providers most likely to weather major global travel disruptions. Only travel insurance companies with an A rating or better are considered for our best travel insurance companies ratings. Points earned for the A.M. Best ratings are detailed below:
- A++: 5 points
- A+: 4.5 points
- A: 4 points
- A-: 3.5 points
The Overall Rating is the average of the professional rating, consumer rating and credit rating scores. Travel insurance companies with an Overall Rating of 3.75 or greater made the 2026 Best Travel Insurance Companies rating.
These ratings are updated once per year. However, pricing and plans displayed on the page are updated occasionally throughout the year. This is to ensure we are presenting the most accurate quotes and rates possible for consumers to consider.
Erin Evans is the managing editor of U.S. News Travel. She has been on staff since 2013 and has become an expert in travel insurance since the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on the industry. She aims to make it easy for everyday travelers to understand the ins and outs of travel insurance and why it’s beneficial, especially in today’s world. She has 15 years of writing and editing experience.
Catriona Kendall is a writer and editor at U.S. News & World Report. She has been at U.S. News since 2022 and is a fact-checking, AP style and grammar expert who has written, edited and reviewed dozens of travel insurance and homeowners insurance pieces. She has eight years of editing experience.
