Best Trip Insurance Plans

Comprehensive Travel Protection

Trip insurance isn't just another travel expense—it's peace of mind for the money you've already invested. Whether you're planning your dream anniversary getaway, a family reunion across the country, or that long-awaited European adventure, trip insurance protects your financial investment when life throws an unexpected curveball.

For American travelers who carefully plan their vacations, trip insurance covers the nonrefundable costs you'd lose if you had to cancel, delay, or cut short your trip. With the unpredictability we've all learned to expect, especially post-COVID, protecting a $3,000, $5,000, or $10,000+ travel investment isn't just smart—it's essential.

Popular Trip Insurance Plans

The best trip or vacation insurance boasts a smart combination of benefits and affordability. These are some of the most popular trip insurance plans with our customers. Which one suits your needs the best?  

What Does Trip Insurance Cover?

Understanding what trip insurance covers helps you know exactly what protection you're getting for your money. Here's what you need to know:

Trip Cancellation

This is the core protection of trip insurance. If you need to cancel your trip before departure for a covered reason—illness, injury, a family emergency, job loss, or an unexpected life event—trip cancellation coverage reimburses the prepaid, nonrefundable portion of your trip. This means your airline tickets, hotel reservations, tour packages, and other non-refundable bookings are protected, so you don't lose thousands of dollars due to circumstances beyond your control.

Trip Interruption

Life doesn't always wait until after your vacation ends to throw you a curveball. Trip interruption coverage kicks in if you have to return home early from your trip due to a covered emergency—a house fire, a serious family illness, a death in the family, or other crisis. This benefit covers the additional costs of making emergency travel arrangements to get you home, so your wallet doesn't take a second hit on top of an already stressful situation.

Trip Delay

Missed flights, airline mechanical issues, or unexpected delays happen more often than we'd like. Trip delay coverage protects you when your flight or transportation is delayed for a specified number of hours (typically 12 to 24 hours). If you're stuck waiting, the coverage reimburses reasonable expenses like meals, hotel rooms, and ground transportation, so you're not paying out of pocket for delays beyond your control.

Emergency Medical Expenses

While traveling, especially internationally, unexpected illness or injury can result in shockingly high medical bills. Trip insurance typically includes emergency medical coverage for acute health issues that occur during your trip, helping protect you from astronomical healthcare costs abroad where your regular insurance may not apply.

Baggage Protection

Arriving at your destination without your luggage is more than an inconvenience—it's a financial hit. Baggage coverage reimburses you for lost, damaged, or delayed luggage, including the cost of replacing essential items while you wait for your bags to arrive.

Emergency Medical Evacuation

This is the coverage you hope you'll never need but absolutely need to have. If you become seriously ill or injured while traveling and need emergency transportation to the nearest adequate medical facility, emergency medical evacuation coverage handles those potentially massive transportation costs. Once you're stable enough to travel home, repatriation coverage helps pay for your return.

Additional Protections

Depending on your plan, trip insurance may also cover missed connections, emergency cash transfers, identity theft protection, and other travel-related disruptions. Each plan varies, so reviewing your specific coverage is important.

Who Needs Trip Insurance?

If any of these situations describe your travel plans, trip insurance is the smart choice:

• You've invested thousands in nonrefundable bookings. When you're looking at $2,000 in airfare, $3,000 for hotels, plus a $1,500 tour package, you're protecting a substantial financial investment. One unexpected illness, family emergency, or job change could mean losing all of that. Trip insurance recovers that loss.
• You're planning a milestone trip. Anniversary vacations, family reunions, milestone birthday celebrations, and other special trips represent more than money—they represent months of planning and anticipation. Trip insurance ensures that unexpected circumstances don't rob you of these important life moments.
• You're traveling internationally. International trips cost more, involve greater complexity, and expose you to unfamiliar healthcare systems where medical costs can be astronomical. Trip insurance is particularly valuable for international travel where the financial stakes are higher and your regular insurance may not cover you.
• You're in your peak earning years but also juggling responsibilities. Between aging parents, children's needs, work obligations, and your own health, life is unpredictable. If any of these variables could force you to cancel your trip, trip insurance removes the financial worry.
• You're traveling with family. The more people in your travel party, the higher the overall costs and the greater the likelihood that something could disrupt plans (a child's illness, a family emergency). Protecting a family vacation investment is especially important.
• You travel frequently. If you take 2–5 trips annually, you have multiple opportunities for unexpected cancellations. Protecting each trip with comprehensive coverage adds up to significant financial security across your travel year.
• You've been burned before. If you or someone you know has lost thousands on a cancelled trip, you understand the value trip insurance provides. Learning that lesson is expensive; protecting yourself going forward is smart.

If any of these situations apply to you, don’t leave your financial future to chance. Invest a small amount in trip insurance and travel with total peace of mind.

How Much Does Trip Insurance Cost?

Trip insurance premiums are typically a fraction of your total trip cost—usually between 5% and 15% depending on several factors:

• Your trip cost. The primary factor determining your premium. A $3,000 trip and a $10,000 trip will have very different premiums because the coverage amount is different.
• Your age. Travelers in the 35-65 age range represent the largest demographic purchasing trip insurance, and premiums increase with age since age affects the likelihood of health-related cancellations.
• Trip length. Longer trips cost more to insure than quick getaways.
• Coverage level. More comprehensive plans with higher reimbursement limits and additional benefits (like cancel for any reason coverage) cost more than basic plans.
• When you purchase. Buying trip insurance early—ideally within 14 to 21 days of your initial trip deposit—typically results in lower premiums and qualifies you for valuable add-ons like pre-existing condition coverage. Waiting to purchase means you'll pay more and may miss out on these benefits.
• Your destination. Some international destinations may have slightly higher premiums due to increased medical costs or travel risks in those regions.

The bottom line: most travelers spend far less than 5% of their trip cost on trip insurance. For that small premium, you're protecting a substantial financial investment. When you think about it that way, it's not an expense—it's an investment in the peace of mind to actually enjoy your trip.

Trip Insurance FAQs

When should I purchase trip insurance?

Purchase trip insurance as soon as your trip is booked and your flights and accommodations are confirmed. The earlier you purchase, the better: buying within 14 to 21 days of your initial trip deposit unlocks valuable benefits like pre-existing condition coverage and makes you eligible for cancel for any reason upgrades. Most importantly, your policy only covers events that occur after your effective date, so earlier purchase means earlier protection.

What if I need to cancel my trip before my policy's effective date?

Trip insurance only covers events that occur after your policy's effective date. If you need to cancel before that date, your cancellation won't be covered. This is why purchasing trip insurance immediately after booking your trip is so important—you gain maximum coverage from the earliest possible moment.

Does trip insurance cover COVID-19 related cancellations?

COVID-19 coverage depends on your specific plan and when you purchased it. Some plans purchased early provide coverage for COVID-related cancellations, while others exclude pandemic-related disruptions. Review your plan documents carefully or contact our specialists to understand your specific COVID-19 coverage.

Can I get trip insurance if I'm over 65?

Yes, trip insurance is available for travelers of all ages. Premiums increase with age, and each plan has different age limits, which is why getting a quote for your specific situation is important. Insubuy can help you find plans that work for your age and trip details.

Is trip insurance worth it for a budget trip?

If your trip costs $500 to $800 with mostly refundable bookings, trip insurance may not be necessary. But if you've made substantial prepaid, nonrefundable investments in your trip—whether it's a $2,000 family trip or a $10,000 anniversary vacation— trip insurance protects those investments. Most travelers find it worthwhile for any trip where cancellation would represent a significant financial loss.

How much coverage should I purchase?

Purchase coverage equal to your total prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs. This includes airline tickets, hotel reservations, tour packages, and other travel expenses you can't get back if you cancel. Don't include refundable expenses or costs you'll incur during your trip, as those aren't typically covered by trip insurance.