Most American travel insurance is sold as a single package, but it is really two products stapled together. One protects the money you have already paid for flights, tours and cruises. The other pays a hospital in Lisbon or a helicopter in Belize when something goes wrong far from home. The best travel insurance companies do both well, and the right one for you depends on which half matters more for your trip.
We compared eight insurers that sell to US residents on cancellation and interruption limits, medical and evacuation cover, pre-existing condition rules and cancel for any reason (CFAR) options. Premiums depend on your age, state, trip cost and dates, so we explain what drives the price instead of quoting figures you will not get.
At a glance: eight insurers for US travelers
| Rank | Insurer (plan) | Price (USD) | Best for | Standout fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Allianz Travel (OneTrip Prime) | On quote | Most families and couples | Kids 17 and under covered free with a parent or grandparent |
| 2 | Travel Guard (Deluxe) | On quote | Big-ticket trips | US$1,000,000 medical evacuation |
| 3 | Seven Corners (Trip Protection Choice) | On quote | Travelers with health conditions | Waiver window of 20 days from first deposit |
| 4 | Travelex Insurance (Ultimate) | On quote | Families booking expensive trips | 21-day pre-existing condition window |
| 5 | Generali Global Assistance (Premium) | On quote | Long-haul and cruise travelers | US$1,000,000 emergency transportation |
| 6 | Tin Leg (Gold) | On quote | High primary medical cover | US$500,000 primary medical |
| 7 | IMG iTravelInsured (Travel LX) | On quote | Flexible cancellation | Cancel and interrupt for any reason options |
| 8 | World Nomads (US plans) | On quote | Adventure travelers | Buy or extend while already abroad |
How we chose these travel insurers
This is a desk comparison, not a claims test: we did not file claims with these companies. We read plan pages, benefit summaries and certificates where published, checked each underwriter, and cross-checked limits against Squaremouth, InsureMyTrip and NerdWallet. Where sources disagreed, we used the insurer’s own documents or flagged the figure. We weighted medical and evacuation limits, cancellation cover, pre-existing condition and CFAR rules, and the underwriter’s financial strength.
The top travel insurance companies, ranked
1. Allianz Travel
Allianz Travel is the name most Americans meet first, often at the checkout of an airline or cruise booking. OneTrip Prime is the sweet spot in its range: trip cancellation up to US$100,000 and interruption up to US$150,000 per person, US$50,000 of emergency medical cover and US$500,000 for emergency medical transportation. Children 17 and under are covered free when traveling with a parent or grandparent, except on policies issued to Pennsylvania residents.
Pre-existing conditions can be covered if you buy within 14 days of your first trip payment, insure the full non-refundable trip cost and are medically able to travel. The optional Cancel Anytime upgrade reimburses 80% of non-refundable costs and lets you cancel as late as the day of departure. Plans are underwritten by BCS Insurance Company or Jefferson Insurance Company, depending on your state.
Price: on quote; driven by trip cost, ages and state
Pros
- Free cover for kids on Prime and Premier
- Cancel Anytime pays 80%, not the usual 50% to 75%
- Annual AllTrips plans for frequent travelers
Cons
- US$50,000 medical on Prime is modest for long-haul trips
- Cancel Anytime needs a trip at least 30 days away and is not sold in every state
Read our full Allianz Travel Insurance review.
2. Travel Guard
Travel Guard has sold trip insurance since 1982 and was AIG’s travel brand until Zurich Insurance Group bought AIG’s personal travel business for US$600 million, in a deal that closed on December 2, 2024. Deluxe is the one for an expensive trip: 100% of trip cost for cancellation, 150% for interruption, US$150,000 of medical cover, US$1,000,000 for medical evacuation and US$100,000 for security evacuation.
Pre-existing conditions can be covered if you buy within 15 days of your first trip payment and insure the full trip cost. Cancel for any reason is optional on the higher plans and reimburses 50%.
Price: on quote
Pros
- Deluxe pairs US$150,000 medical with US$1m evacuation
- Security evacuation included on Deluxe
- Pack N’ Go plan for last-minute trips
Cons
- CFAR reimburses only 50%
- Essential’s US$15,000 medical limit is thin for travel abroad
Read our full Travel Guard review.
3. Seven Corners
Seven Corners, based in Indiana, is best known for international medical plans, and it shows. Trip Protection Choice includes up to US$500,000 of primary emergency medical cover and up to US$1 million for medical evacuation and repatriation of remains. It is underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company, with Seven Corners running the assistance service.
The pre-existing condition waiver applies if you buy within 20 days of your initial trip deposit, a wider window than most rivals give. CFAR is available as an add-on within the same 20 days and reimburses up to 75% of your non-refundable insured trip cost.
Price: on quote
Pros
- US$500,000 of primary medical cover
- 20-day window for the waiver and a 75% CFAR
- Strong international medical background
Cons
- Cancellation limits shown only on a quote
- Fewer annual options than Allianz
4. Travelex Insurance
Travelex Insurance Services of Omaha, Nebraska, part of the Zurich family, sells Essential, Advantage and Ultimate. All three use kids-included pricing, covering one child aged 17 or under with each insured adult on the base plan. Ultimate is our pick for an expensive family trip: up to US$250,000 of medical cover, US$1 million for evacuation and US$50,000 of cancellation cover, with a pre-existing condition waiver if you buy within 21 days of your first trip deposit. Plans are underwritten by Zurich American Insurance Company.
Price: on quote
Pros
- Kids-included pricing on every plan
- 21-day waiver window on Ultimate
- Up to nine optional upgrades, including CFAR
Cons
- Essential’s US$25,000 medical limit is low for travel abroad
- The waiver is on Ultimate only
Read our full Travelex Insurance review.
5. Generali Global Assistance
Generali Global Assistance, the US travel arm of Italy’s Generali, sells Standard, Preferred and Premium plans underwritten by Generali US Branch. Premium suits long-haul trips and cruises, with US$200,000 of medical and dental cover, US$1,000,000 for emergency assistance and transportation, and 175% of trip cost for interruption.
Only Premium covers pre-existing conditions, and only if you buy before or within 24 hours of your final trip payment, according to comparison site BestMoney. CFAR, a Premium-only upgrade, reimburses up to 75% of the cancellation penalty, must be bought within 24 hours of your initial deposit and is not available to New York residents.
Price: on quote
Pros
- US$1m emergency transportation on Premium
- 175% interruption cover on Premium
- CFAR pays up to 75% of the cancellation penalty
Cons
- Pre-existing condition cover on Premium only
- CFAR must be bought within 24 hours of your deposit, and not in New York
6. Tin Leg
Tin Leg is sold mainly through the marketplace Squaremouth and offers ten plans with different underwriters. Gold stands out: US$500,000 of primary emergency medical cover, underwritten by Starr Indemnity, with a pre-existing condition waiver if you buy within 14 days of your deposit. The cheapest plan, Economy, has no pre-existing condition cover and only US$20,000 of secondary medical cover.
Price: on quote
Pros
- Gold pairs US$500,000 primary medical with a waiver
- A plan for most budgets, including Adventure and Cruise
- Strong underwriters, including Berkshire Hathaway Specialty
Cons
- Ten plans with different terms are confusing
- Economy has secondary medical cover only
7. IMG iTravelInsured
International Medical Group of Indianapolis sells trip cover under the iTravelInsured name. Travel LX is one of the few plans that offers both cancel for any reason and interruption for any reason, which lets you cut a trip short for reasons a standard policy would not accept. It is underwritten by SiriusPoint America Insurance Company or United States Fire Insurance Company, depending on your state. IMG lists up to 100% of trip cost for cancellation, US$500,000 of emergency medical cover and US$1,000,000 for medical evacuation. CFAR gives a partial refund, is not sold in New York, and its percentage is not published on the plan pages.
Price: on quote
Pros
- Interruption for any reason, as well as cancellation
- Two A-rated underwriters, depending on state
- Long-established international medical insurer
Cons
- CFAR percentage not published on the plan pages
- Pre-existing conditions excluded unless waiver rules are met
8. World Nomads
World Nomads is built for hikers, divers and skiers, and for people who buy cover halfway through a trip. IMG announced in February 2026 that it was buying World Nomads from nib Group. US plans are underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company. Limits appear only when you get a quote, so compare the cancellation limit with your trip cost before you buy.
Price: on quote
Pros
- Built for adventure activities
- Can be bought while you are already traveling
- Simple choice of two plans
Cons
- Limits only shown at the quote stage
- Not designed for travelers with pre-existing conditions
Our World Nomads review covers the UK version.
Trip cancellation vs medical cover: what you are buying
Trip cancellation reimburses prepaid, non-refundable costs if you cancel for a listed reason, such as illness, a death in the family or a hurricane at your destination. Trip interruption does the same once you have left; the better plans pay 150% or more of trip cost for a last-minute flight home.
Emergency medical pays for treatment abroad. Check whether it is primary (the insurer pays first) or secondary (it pays after your own health plan). Medicare usually does not cover care outside the US, according to Medicare.gov, and many US health plans pay little abroad. Medical evacuation moves you to a suitable hospital or home, and it is the benefit that prevents a six-figure bill after a serious accident somewhere remote. For a cheap trip far from good hospitals, prioritize medical and evacuation; for an expensive cruise or safari, cancellation limits matter more.
Cancel for any reason (CFAR) and pre-existing condition waivers
Standard cancellation only pays for listed reasons. CFAR covers the rest, such as a work conflict or a change of heart. It typically reimburses 50% to 80% (Travel Guard 50%, Seven Corners 75%, Generali 75% of the penalty, Allianz 80%), must be bought soon after your first trip payment (24 hours for Generali, 14 to 20 days elsewhere) and requires you to insure the full trip cost. Most plans need 48 hours’ notice; Allianz allows cancelling up to the day you leave.
Most plans also exclude pre-existing conditions, defined by a look-back period before you buy: 120 days on Allianz, 90 or 180 days on Travel Guard depending on plan. A waiver removes the exclusion if you buy within the insurer’s window (14 to 21 days of your first payment), insure the full trip cost and are fit to travel on the day you buy. Miss the window and the waiver is gone.
How to choose travel insurance
What matters
- Medical and evacuation limits: for travel abroad, at least US$100,000 medical and US$500,000 evacuation, more for remote or adventure trips.
- Primary vs secondary medical: primary avoids a claim on your own health plan first.
- Insuring the full trip cost: otherwise cancellation and waiver benefits may not apply.
- The underwriter: the company on the certificate pays claims; an AM Best rating of A or better is reassuring.
- State variations: benefits differ by state, especially in New York and Pennsylvania.
What to ignore
- Accidental death benefits, which duplicate life insurance most people already have.
- Headline “from” prices: only a quote for your exact trip is meaningful.
Frequently asked questions
Which travel insurance company is the best?
There is no single winner. Allianz Travel suits most families, Travel Guard Deluxe suits expensive trips that need high evacuation cover, and Seven Corners or Travelex Ultimate suit travelers who need a pre-existing condition waiver with a wider purchase window.
How much does travel insurance cost?
Comprehensive plans are priced mainly on trip cost, traveler ages, trip length and state. CFAR and higher medical limits add to the premium. Get two or three quotes for the same trip and compare limits, not just totals.
Does Medicare cover me when I travel abroad?
Usually not. Medicare.gov says Medicare rarely covers care outside the US, with narrow exceptions, though Medigap policies may cover emergency care abroad. Check any Medicare Advantage plan’s terms, and consider travel medical cover for the gap.
When should I buy travel insurance?
As soon as you make your first trip payment. Waivers and CFAR usually have to be bought within 14 to 21 days of that payment, and Generali’s CFAR within 24 hours, and cancellation cover only protects against events after you buy.
Who owns Travel Guard now?
Zurich Insurance Group completed its purchase of AIG’s global personal travel business, including Travel Guard, on December 2, 2024. Your certificate names the company that underwrites your policy.
