How to Buy International Travel Insurance

Co-authored by Greg Guiteras

Last Updated: March 17, 2023 References

If you’re planning a trip abroad in the near future, buy some peace of mind with international travel insurance. Such insurance minimizes financial loss in the event of an emergency or accident. Different policies can cover everything from lost luggage and trip cancellations to medical care and emergency evacuations. Rates are determined by the duration and risk of your trip as well as the specific types of coverages you’d like. Do some comparison shopping while booking the rest of your trip to find a well-rounded plan that meets all of your needs.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Researching Insurance Providers

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Work with a reliable agency with financial stability. The last thing you’ll want to hear is that your travel insurance agency has gone bankrupt after you fall ill overseas! To avoid this kind of double disaster, only purchase insurance through a reputable insurance provider with serious financial backing. Look at review sites and ratings from independent agencies to learn more about the financial stability of various insurers.^{[1]
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- Be wary of brand new agencies and insurers with iffy track records. Choose an agency that will be around for a while and can follow through on your agreement.
2
Opt for an insurance provider with a reputation for excellent customer support. Check out travel blogs and rating sites online and read reviews for a few different agencies online. Try to get a good sense for how responsive and supportive they are. Investigate each agency’s process for submitting a claim. Verify that you’ll be able to reach them around the clock and around the world.
- If you’ll have internet access, choose a provider that lets you submit a claim online. But if you’ll be off the grid, make sure your provider supports phone calls or another process.
- Some providers offer a 24-hour customer support hotline where you can get assistance in finding a doctor or tracking your luggage.^{[2]
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- Others offer concierge services, so you could call them up if you need help finding a restaurant near your hotel.
3
Compare rates to see which provider offers the best value. Start browsing around online as soon as you start researching hotels, flights, and not-to-miss activities in your destination. Request quotes through online forms or by calling up each provider you’re considering. Look closely at the details of the coverage as well as the fine print. Select a plan that provides the most suitable coverage for your trip and your personal situation as well as your budget.^{[3]
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- When in doubt, choose the plan that offers more coverage, especially if you’re planning a risky adventure or you’re anxious about a personal crisis affecting your travel plans. In case of a disaster, you’ll be glad you went with the better policy.
- Keep your primary insurance needs in mind and don’t let unnecessary perks and upgrades persuade you into spending more that you need to.
- Don’t jump at the first offer you see. For instance, you’ll often be prompted to “protect your purchase” when you buy airline or cruise tickets. If you’ve done your research ahead of time, you won’t feel pressured or ill-informed.
4
Look for a provider that offers insurance cancellation. If there’s a chance you won’t be able to make your trip, or if you’re worried about picking the wrong insurance policy, you’ll probably want to cancel your insurance purchase. To make sure this will be possible, pick a policy that you can cancel ahead of time, free of charge. Look for one that allows you at least a 10-day cancellation window, known as a review period, following your purchase.
- You won’t be able to cancel after the review period, so make sure you understand the timeframe. If you need to cancel your policy, take action as soon as possible.
5
Check your existing insurance policies to avoid paying for double coverage. Review the ins and outs of the policy you’re considering. Then compare the coverage against other types of insurance you’re already paying for. Login to your accounts for each provider to view your explanation of benefits. For a more detailed overview, call a customer service associate and ask them to explain what will and won’t be covered during your trip.
- Your credit card may already offer reimbursement policies for trip interruptions and cancellations.^{[4]
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- Your car insurance may cover your use of a rental car overseas.
- Homeowners’ and renters’ insurance policies likely protect your home while you’re away, and may also protect the portable personal belongings you’ll take with you.^{[5]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Insuring Your Travel Costs

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Find a policy with suitable trip interruption or cancellation coverage. If you’re worried about being stranded at the airport due to a delayed flight, look for a policy that provides a daily stipend to cover an unexpected hotel stay. Or consider a plan that will cover the costs of re-booking your flights in case of a missed connection. Some policies place limitations on which reasons they’ll cover for canceling your trip. If you might have to cancel for a reason they won’t cover, purchase a “cancel for any reason” upgrade.
- With “cancel for any reason” coverage, you’ll get a significant percentage, typically up to 75%, of your trip costs reimbursed.^{[6]
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- Daily stipends can range from $100 to $1,000 depending on the plan you select.
- Keep in mind that “cancel for any reason” policies can be nearly twice as expensive as other plans. So if your possible cancellation reasons are already covered, don’t spend more on an unnecessary upgrade.^{[7]
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2
Examine the reimbursement rates for lost or delayed luggage. If you’d like coverage in the event that your luggage or personal items are stolen, damaged, delayed, or lost, look for a travel insurance policy that covers these events. But keep in mind that your renters’ or homeowners’ insurance likely covers your personal belongings even if you’ve taken them on a trip.
- Coverage of around $1,000 to $2,500 US per person is typical.^{[8]
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- There are often limits on valuable items like jewelry and electronics.
- Some insurance providers offer upgrade options if you’d like to insure sporting equipment during your trip.
3
Choose a customizable policy based on the length and nature of your trip. If you have a string of expensive, non-refundable tours and experiences lined up, look for a policy that covers itinerary changes. This way, you’ll get your money back should something come up that prevents you from attending. Try to find a policy that covers the full duration of your trip.
- Some providers offer policies that can cover 180 days or more abroad, which is perfect for an extended journey.
- But if you’ll only be away for a week, make sure you’re not paying extra for services you don’t need.^{[9]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Finding the Right Medical Coverage

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Look for at least $50,000 to $100,000 US in emergency medical coverage. Look at the details of your healthcare plan in your home country first. It likely won’t extend to coverage abroad, so additional medical coverage is essential. Choose a policy offering at least $50,000 to $100,000 US of coverage. This should cover your costs if you end up spending a week in hospital. Confirm that your travel medical insurance will provide primary health insurance coverage.
- Primary coverage is preferable since it’ll allow you to file claims directly through your travel insurance agency. They’ll pick up the costs first.^{[10]
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- If you choose a policy that offers secondary health insurance, you’ll have to submit your claims through your primary insurer in your home country first. Try to avoid this, since it can get complicated and costly depending on your primary plan.^{[11]
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- Some plans will let you visit a hospital of your choice, while others will list approved healthcare providers.
2
Consider a policy that includes medical evacuation coverage. Raise your coverage threshold to $300,000 US if you’d like to be prepared for evacuation and repatriation due to a medical crisis.^{[12]
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- Medical evacuation allows you to be treated, stabilized, and then flown home as quickly as possible. These services alone can cost at least $50,000 US, so you’ll want more funds available to cover the costs of treatment in case you need it.^{[13]
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- Evacuation can include transportation from the site of your emergency to a local hospital, as well as a flight from the hospital back to your home country. Check the details so you know what’s included.
- Some travel insurance policies also include accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage which you may want to consider.
3
Find a policy that’s suitable for your state of health and travel plans. Look for a policy that can be adapted to your needs and travel plans. Search for a plan that covers extreme sporting activities before heading out on an exhilarating adventure. Consider plans that offer discounted or free coverage for children if you’re traveling with the whole family. Read the fine print to see whether a policy offers waivers for any preexisting conditions you might have.^{[14]
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- Not all standard emergency medical coverage will be useful to you, depending on your medical history and personal situation.
- Do your research thoroughly so you don’t accidentally pay for coverage that doesn’t apply to you.
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Making the Purchase

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Leave room in your budget for international travel insurance. Expect to pay more for international travel insurance than domestic travel insurance. Set aside about 4% to 8% of your overall trip cost to spend on insuring your trip.^{[15]
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Research source} You may be able to find a bare-bones plan for under $100 US, but if you want a comprehensive plan, plan to spend more.^{[16]
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- For a $3,000 US solo trip, you could pay between $120 to $240 US on insurance. If you’re splurging on a 2-person trip for $20,000 US, you’ll likely pay somewhere between $800 to $1,600 US to cover both travelers.
- Your destination typically won’t impact the rate.^{[17]
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- Keep in mind that if you’re visiting somewhere that’s listed under a travel ban or advisory by your government, chances are you won’t be able to get insurance for the trip as insurers will consider it too risky.^{[18]
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2
Sign up for insurance when you book the rest of your trip. Don’t wait too long to purchase your insurance. Some pricing of full-coverage plans is time-sensitive, so the longer you wait the more you'll have to pay.^{[19]
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Research source} Make sure you understand the time limitations on the policy you’re considering and make the purchase within the window of time specified by the provider.
- You’ll generally have to purchase your trip insurance shortly following your final trip deposit.
- Some insurance providers let you wait 2 weeks after your final trip deposit to buy their insurance, but others require that you sign up within 24 hours.
- Don’t wait until the hurricane hits the news or your health deteriorates before making the purchase. Once these things happen, your plan may not consider these covered reasons for cancellation.
3
Purchase your travel insurance online from the provider or a third party. If you find a plan you like online, go ahead and purchase it directly through the provider’s site. Or you can make a purchase through an insurance comparison site if that’s where you found the best plan. Many of these sites will give you the option to purchase the insurance directly from them.
- If you’re working with a travel agent in planning the rest of your trip, ask them to help you find the right insurance based on your needs.
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Community Q&A

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Question

Where do I get life insurance for a trip?

Tom De Backer

Top Answerer

From an insurance broker or a travel agent. People do not commonly take out a life insurance for traveling purposes; you want to ask for a travel insurance. This commonly includes a guarantee to bring you back home under certain circumstances, to provide assistance abroad and, in the extreme case that you were to die abroad, to repatriate your body. Most travel insurances do guarantee that your body is brought back home should you die abroad.

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Tips

If the cost of your overall trip or the expense of rectifying a bad situation are significant expenses for you, it would be a good idea to insure your trip.^{[20]
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If you’re traveling with a group, save money with a group policy instead of purchasing individual insurance packages for each traveler.^{[21]
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You can often just get trip cancellation coverage without medical coverage.^{[22]
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