Travel insurance isn’t just a formality—it can be a lifesaver when things go sideways on a trip. From delayed flights to lost luggage, surprise illnesses to canceled plans, a good travel policy can save you hundreds (or thousands) of dollars. But with so many options out there, how do you know which one actually has your back?
At LocalsInsider, we dug into the top-rated travel insurance providers for 2025, using expert comparisons, traveler reviews, and data from sources like Forbes, NerdWallet, and Squaremouth. Then we narrowed it down to the ones that offer the best balance of coverage, flexibility, and price—based on how and where Americans are traveling now.
This guide covers:
- The top insurance companies worth considering in 2025 and 2026
- How travel insurance works
- What’s typically covered (and what’s not)
- What factors affect the price
How Does Travel Insurance Work?
Travel insurance is a policy that you can take out before embarking on a vacation or business trip. It protects you in case something unexpected happens while you’re away from home.
Depending on how frequently you travel, you can opt for a single-trip, multi-trip, or annual policy. While every policy is different, here’s what you can expect coverage for:
| Coverage | Explained |
| Trip Cancellation | Reimburses trip costs if you or the provider cancels your trip for a covered reason |
| Trip Interruption | Covers the cost of returning home early if you need to cut your trip short for a covered reason |
| Emergency Medical Expenses | Covers the cost of your medical care if you get sick or injured while away from home |
| Emergency Evacuation | Reimburses the cost of emergency evacuation from the site of your injury to a health facility or back home |
| Baggage Loss, Theft, & Delay | Covers the cost of your baggage if it’s lost or stolen. You may also have cover if your baggage is delayed in transit |
| Travel Delay | Reimburses meals and accommodation if you experience significant travel delays |
| Accidental Death | Offers a payout if you die while traveling |
As with all insurance policies, the devil is in the details. You must carefully read the fine print before agreeing to a travel insurance policy and understand what is and isn’t covered.
For instance, trip cancellation might be covered if you fall ill or there’s a natural disaster (like a hurricane). However, the cancellation of your trip might not be covered if you change your mind or fail to get your vacation days approved by work.
How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost?
Travel insurance costs depend on many factors and vary significantly from person to person. You must take the following into account when budgeting for your policy:
- Age: Older travelers usually pay more due to increased health risks.
- Duration: The longer your trip, the more you will pay.
- Destination: Traveling to countries with expensive healthcare will increase premiums. The same applies if you travel to countries that insurance companies deem unsafe or dangerous.
- Level of coverage: You can opt in for some coverage and opt out of others. The more things your policy covers, the more expensive it will be.
- Pre-existing medical conditions: If you have a pre-existing medical condition, you will pay more for your policy.
- Activities & optional extras: Coverage for things like scuba diving, skiing, mountain climbing, and surfing will increase the cost of your premium.
- Equipment protection: If you want to insure expensive equipment like cameras and laptops, expect to pay more.
Research shows that the average cost of travel insurance in the United States ranges from $84 to $397 per person, per trip. If you opt for a standard policy and are in good health, Forbes recommends budgeting between 4% and 6% of your trip cost for a decent insurance policy.
Making a Claim
In most instances, travel insurance reimburses you for covered financial losses after you make a claim. So, you must keep all receipts and other documentation to support a successful claim.
Most insurance providers allow you to submit a claim online or in writing. You may also contact the insurance company over the phone for guidance and support when taking out a claim.
Crucially, be mindful that you usually have to pay out-of-pocket for the cost of treatment, hotel stays, or anything else required when you’re on your trip. You can then claim it back when you return home.
Best Travel Insurance Providers for USA
Based on expert reports from Squaremouth, NerdWallet, Business Insider, and others.
- Tin Leg is top-ranked for overall policy balance and Cancel‑For‑Any‑Reason options.
- Berkshire Hathaway offers great flexibility if you want medical and trip cancellation coverage.
- Allianz is trusted by frequent and business travelers for dependable annual plans.
- Travel Guard is your go-to if pre-existing conditions need coverage.
- Travelex wins for families looking for affordable protection with kids included.
- WorldNomads stands out for adventure travelers needing sports and gear insurance.
If you’re planning a vacation or business trip, we strongly recommend taking out a travel insurance policy. For our research, we assumed a healthy 40-year-old was traveling on vacation to the Bahamas for a two-week vacation, costing $4,000. We didn’t include optional extras, and the person has no pre-existing medical conditions.
As mentioned above, the policies are all subject to your personal circumstances, and the price will likely vary significantly.
Here is all about cruise travel insurance.
Here are your best travel insurance options, based on our extensive research:
Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection
- Best for all-round coverage & people with existing medical conditions
- Cost: Basic comprehensive coverage starts at around $135 per trip.
Berkshire Hathaway is renowned as one of the fastest claim-settling insurance firms. We also love the additional coverage offered to travelers with pre-existing medical conditions. However, we found their Travel Protection premiums to be higher than most other options on our list.
Allianz Global Assistance
- Best for business and frequent travelers
- Cost: Basic annual plan starts from around $130 per year. Single-plan options are also available.
While Allianz’s single-trip plans can be expensive, their basic annual plan is a great choice for frequent travelers and is comparable in price to single-trip options offered by other insurers. Allianz’s 24/7 support is excellent, though some travelers report slow claim processing times.
AIG Travel Guard
- Best for add-ons and fully customizable plans
- Cost: The Essential Plan begins at around $145 per trip.
AIG Travel offers four plans, ranging from Essential to the Annual plan. One of the things we liked the most about AIG is how customizable the plans are, providing coverage for Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR), rental car damage, adventure sports, pet coverage, identity theft, and business equipment. Though not the cheapest, AIG Travel Guard is comprehensive.
Generali Global Assistance
- Best for medical coverage
- Cost: Explore Plans start at $180 per trip
Generali offers Standard, Preferred, and Premium plans, and while they’re among the most expensive, they’re brilliant for medical coverage, offering up to $250,000 in medical & dental coverage and $1,000,000 for medical evacuation. Generali is one to consider if you have pre-existing medical conditions.
Seven Corners
- Best for group travelers and international vacations
- Cost: Plans start from around $125 per trip.
Seven Corners offers comprehensive plans with strong medical coverage, high evacuation limits, and valuable add-ons like CFAR and adventure sports protection, which are ideal for international and group travelers. However, its premiums can be higher than average, and some users report complex claim processes and limited coverage for certain pre-existing conditions.
Travelex Insurance Services
- Best for families, thanks to free coverage for under-17s
- Cost Family plans begin at $130 per year
We recommend Travelex as the best insurance policy for families, as under-17s are included in the price of several adult premiums in their line-up, including the fully comprehensive Ultimate plan. One thing to note with Travelex is that if you go for one of the cheaper plans, you’re limited by the few customization options, which won’t suit many travelers.
Best Overall Travel Insurance Program
Tin Leg Travel Insurance is the best all-around travel insurance program for 2025.
It consistently ranks #1 for value, flexibility, and strong medical + cancellation coverage—especially with its Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) add-on and high customer satisfaction ratings across platforms.
Anyway, before you hit the road, make sure you’re fully covered. We recommend contacting several providers for quotes, including Berkshire Hathaway, Allianz, and AIG.
You can personalize the quotes and include any add-ons you require. Then, compare the costs and go with the coverage that makes sense to you. If it costs around 5% of your total trip cost, then you’re in the right ballpark.
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