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The 7 best travel insurance providers

We compared travel insurers on coverage, medical protection abroad and cancel-for-any-reason options, and added a short primer on protecting your income with disability insurance.

Last reviewed: · Reviewed by the TheSavvyAmericans editorial team

Important: Travel insurance covers only the specific named reasons in your policy, so read the covered perils and exclusions carefully. Standard "trip cancellation" is not the same as Cancel For Any Reason, which must be added and purchased within a short window after booking. If you have health conditions, buy early to qualify for a pre-existing-condition waiver.

Key takeaways

  • 1Our top pick is Travelex for well-rounded coverage and family-friendly plans; Allianz suits frequent travelers and World Nomads suits adventure trips.
  • 2Buy travel insurance soon after your first trip payment to unlock time-sensitive benefits like pre-existing-condition waivers.
  • 3Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) is an optional add-on that costs more but gives you the most flexibility to cancel.
  • 4Travel medical coverage matters most abroad, where your regular U.S. health plan may not follow you. Disability insurance, covered below, protects a bigger risk: your income.
Advertising disclosure: TheSavvyAmericans may receive compensation when you apply for or open a product through links on this page. This does not influence our editorial evaluations. Products are reviewed using a documented methodology. Learn how we make money.

The 7 best travel insurance providers

We compared travel insurers on coverage breadth, trip-cancellation and interruption benefits, emergency medical and evacuation limits, and optional upgrades like Cancel For Any Reason. Prices depend on your trip cost, age and destination, so get a quote and read the certificate of coverage before buying.

Travel insurance providers compared at a glance
#ServiceBest forRatingPlan typeCFAR optionBest for
1TravelexBest overall4.5 / 5Trip protectionYes (add-on)Leisure travelers
2Allianz TravelBest for annual multi-trip plans4.4 / 5Single + annualSelect plansFrequent travelers
3World NomadsBest for adventure and active travel4.3 / 5Adventure travelLimitedAdventure trips
4Seven CornersBest for travel medical coverage4.2 / 5Travel medicalSelect plansMedical coverage
5Travel Guard (AIG)Best for customizable plans4.1 / 5Trip protectionYes (add-on)Custom coverage
6Generali Global AssistanceBest value trip protection4.0 / 5Trip protectionTop tierValue seekers
7FayeBest for a modern app experience4.0 / 5Trip protectionYes (add-on)App-first travelers
#1Rank
Editor's ChoiceBest overall

Travelex

4.5 / 5

Travelex offers well-rounded plans with strong trip-protection benefits and family-friendly features, including coverage for children on some plans. It is a solid default for most leisure travelers.

Pros

  • Well-rounded trip protection
  • Kids covered on some plans
  • Optional CFAR and upgrades
  • Good customer support

Cons

  • Medical limits trail specialist plans
  • CFAR costs extra and has timing rules
  • Two core plans may feel limited
Plan type
Trip protection
CFAR option
Yes (add-on)
Medical
Included
Best for
Leisure travelers
Visit Travelex

Official site opens in a new tab

#2Rank
Best for frequent travelersBest for annual multi-trip plans

Allianz Travel

4.4 / 5

Allianz offers both single-trip and annual multi-trip plans, making it a strong pick if you travel several times a year. Its established network and app support add convenience for busy travelers.

Pros

  • Annual multi-trip plans available
  • Large, established provider
  • Helpful app and 24/7 assistance
  • Range of plan tiers

Cons

  • CFAR not available on every plan
  • Some plans have modest medical limits
  • Coverage terms vary by state
Plan type
Single + annual
CFAR option
Select plans
Medical
Included
Best for
Frequent travelers
Visit Allianz Travel

Official site opens in a new tab

#3Rank
Best for adventureBest for adventure and active travel

World Nomads

4.3 / 5

World Nomads is popular with adventurous and active travelers because its plans cover a long list of adventure activities that many insurers exclude. You can often buy or extend coverage while already traveling.

Pros

  • Covers many adventure activities
  • Can buy or extend while traveling
  • Good for backpackers and active trips
  • Strong emergency assistance

Cons

  • Fewer trip-cancellation options than leisure plans
  • Limited CFAR availability
  • Coverage limits vary by plan
Plan type
Adventure travel
CFAR option
Limited
Medical
Included
Best for
Adventure trips
Visit World Nomads

Official site opens in a new tab

#4Rank
Best for medicalBest for travel medical coverage

Seven Corners

4.2 / 5

Seven Corners specializes in travel medical plans, including options for international visitors and longer stays abroad, with solid emergency medical and evacuation coverage. It suits travelers who prioritize health protection.

Pros

  • Strong travel medical options
  • Plans for visitors and long stays
  • Good evacuation coverage
  • Flexible plan choices

Cons

  • Trip-cancellation features are secondary
  • Interface is less polished
  • Plan choice can be complex
Plan type
Travel medical
CFAR option
Select plans
Medical
Strong
Best for
Medical coverage
Visit Seven Corners

Official site opens in a new tab

#5Rank
Best for customizationBest for customizable plans

Travel Guard (AIG)

4.1 / 5

Travel Guard, from AIG, offers customizable plans with a wide menu of add-ons, from rental-car damage to adventure upgrades, backed by a large insurer. It suits travelers who want to tailor coverage.

Pros

  • Highly customizable with add-ons
  • Backed by a large insurer
  • Plans for various trip types
  • 24/7 assistance services

Cons

  • Add-ons raise the price
  • Base plans vary in medical limits
  • Coverage terms differ by state
Plan type
Trip protection
CFAR option
Yes (add-on)
Medical
Included
Best for
Custom coverage
Visit Travel Guard

Official site opens in a new tab

#6Rank
Best valueBest value trip protection

Generali Global Assistance

4.0 / 5

Generali Global Assistance offers competitively priced tiered plans with solid trip-cancellation, interruption and medical benefits, plus strong 24/7 assistance. It is a good balance of price and coverage.

Pros

  • Competitive pricing
  • Solid standard benefits
  • Good 24/7 assistance
  • Clear tiered plans

Cons

  • CFAR limited to higher tiers
  • Medical limits vary by plan
  • Fewer adventure options
Plan type
Trip protection
CFAR option
Top tier
Medical
Included
Best for
Value seekers
Visit Generali

Official site opens in a new tab

#7Rank
Best digitalBest for a modern app experience

Faye

4.0 / 5

Faye is a newer, app-first travel insurer offering whole-trip coverage, fast digital claims and real-time trip assistance, with reimbursements that can be paid to a digital wallet. It suits travelers who want a modern experience.

Pros

  • App-first with fast digital claims
  • Real-time travel assistance
  • Whole-trip coverage approach
  • Quick reimbursements

Cons

  • Newer company with a shorter track record
  • Fewer plan tiers
  • CFAR subject to timing rules
Plan type
Trip protection
CFAR option
Yes (add-on)
Medical
Included
Best for
App-first travelers
Visit Faye

Official site opens in a new tab

Ratings are TheSavvyAmericans editorial scores based on the criteria in the methodology section below, not user reviews or paid placements. Features and pricing change often, so confirm the current details on each provider’s official site before you sign up.

How we picked and scored these providers

  • Coverage: trip-cancellation, interruption, delay, baggage and emergency medical benefits.
  • Medical and evacuation: limits for care and emergency transport abroad, where they matter most.
  • Flexibility: availability of Cancel For Any Reason and pre-existing-condition waivers.
  • Assistance and claims: quality of 24/7 support and how easy claims are to file.
  • Value: price relative to the coverage for a typical trip.

Good to know: Ratings are editorial assessments, not user reviews. Prices and terms depend on your trip and vary by state, so read each plan’s certificate of coverage and get a quote before buying.

A quick primer on disability insurance

Travel insurance protects a trip; disability insurance protects something far bigger: your ability to earn. If an illness or injury kept you from working, disability coverage replaces part of your income, and for most working people it is more important than travel coverage.

  • Start with work: many employers offer short-term and long-term disability, sometimes free or low-cost, so check your benefits first.
  • Consider an individual policy: if your employer coverage is limited or you are self-employed, insurers like Guardian, Principal, MassMutual, Northwestern Mutual and Mutual of Omaha sell individual long-term disability policies.
  • Watch the definition of disability: an "own-occupation" policy pays if you cannot do your specific job, which is more protective than "any-occupation".
  • Check the elimination period and benefit length: how long you wait before benefits start and how long they last.

Good to know: Because disability coverage is highly individual, compare it based on your income, occupation and existing employer benefits, ideally with an independent agent, rather than by price alone.

Frequently asked questions

When should I buy travel insurance?
As soon as you make your first trip payment. Buying early unlocks time-sensitive benefits, such as pre-existing-condition waivers and the option to add Cancel For Any Reason, which usually must be purchased within a short window (often 14 to 21 days) after your initial deposit.
What is Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage?
CFAR is an optional upgrade that lets you cancel for reasons a standard policy would not cover and still recover part of your prepaid cost (commonly 50 to 75 percent). It costs more, must be added when you buy, and has timing and eligibility rules, but it offers the most flexibility.
Do I need travel medical coverage if I have health insurance?
Often yes, for international trips. Many U.S. health plans provide little or no coverage abroad, and Medicare generally does not cover care outside the country. Travel medical and emergency-evacuation coverage can protect you from very large bills far from home.
Is disability insurance more important than travel insurance?
For most working people, yes. Travel insurance protects the cost of a trip, while disability insurance protects your income if you cannot work due to illness or injury, which is a much larger financial risk. Check your employer benefits first, then consider an individual policy if needed.

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Advertising disclosure: TheSavvyAmericans may receive compensation when you apply for or open a product through links on this page. This does not influence our editorial evaluations. Products are reviewed using a documented methodology. Learn how we make money.
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