Most British travellers know Travelex as the bureau de change at the airport. Fewer know that the name also sits on a sizeable American travel insurance business, and that the two are not the same thing. If you are searching for Travelex travel insurance from the UK, the first thing to know is that you cannot buy it: Travelex’s UK site sells foreign currency and the Travelex Money Card, not insurance. The insurance is a US product, sold to US residents by Travelex Insurance Services in Omaha, Nebraska. This review explains what that US cover offers, and points UK readers towards the travel insurance they can actually buy.
Travelex Insurance Promo Code box
- Offer: kids-included pricing, which covers one child aged 17 or under with each insured adult on the base plan
- Promo Code: No Promo Code needed
- Who qualifies: US residents buying a Travelex Essential, Advantage or Ultimate plan; on Ultimate the adult must be 18 or over
- Key terms: the child’s trip cost must be the same as or lower than the adult’s; applies to base plan benefits only, as upgrades carry their own premium
| Offer detail | What you get |
|---|---|
| Promo Code | No Promo Code needed |
| Welcome offer | Kids-included pricing: one companion aged 17 or under covered with each insured adult |
| Who qualifies | US residents buying Essential, Advantage or Ultimate; adult must be 18+ on Ultimate |
| Key terms | Child’s trip cost equal to or lower than the adult’s; base plan benefits only; upgrades priced separately; state rules apply |
| How to claim | Get a quote on Travelex Insurance Services’ site, add the children as travellers and check that the price reflects kids-included pricing |
Travelex Insurance: key facts
- Official website: travelexinsurance.com
- Owner: Travelex Insurance Services, Inc. (part of the Zurich family of global brands); not sold in the UK, where Travelex Foreign Coin Services Limited sells currency only
- Headquarters: Omaha, Nebraska, US
- Regulation: Underwriter: Zurich American Insurance Company (NAIC 16535); Travelex Insurance Services, Inc. CA agency licence 0D10209
- Ratings: Trustpilot 4.5 (1,379 reviews)
- Headline offer: Kids-included pricing: one companion aged 17 or under covered with each insured adult on the base plan
- Promo Code: No Promo Code needed
- Free plan or trial: No free plan
- Best features: Kids-included pricing on Essential, Advantage and Ultimate; Ultimate: US$250,000 medical, US$1m evacuation, US$50,000 cancellation; Pre-existing condition waiver on Ultimate if bought within 21 days of first trip deposit
Get the Travelex Insurance offer
Key facts
- Seller: Travelex Insurance Services, Inc., Omaha, Nebraska, part of the Zurich family of brands
- Underwriter: Zurich American Insurance Company (NAIC 16535)
- Available in the UK? No; Travelex UK sells currency, not travel insurance
- Plans: Essential, Advantage and Ultimate
- Emergency medical: up to US$25,000, US$50,000 or US$250,000
- Pre-existing conditions: waiver on Ultimate only, if bought within 21 days of your first trip deposit
- Deductible: US$50 on emergency medical for residents of seven states
- Trustpilot: 4.5/5 from 1,379 reviews
Verdict
For American families booking pricey trips, Travelex Ultimate is a strong package: generous cancellation and interruption limits, primary medical cover, US$1 million of evacuation and children folded into the price. The cheaper plans have thin medical limits for international travel. For UK readers the verdict is simpler: this policy is not on sale to you, so look at a UK-regulated alternative.
Pros
- Kids-included pricing on all three plans
- Ultimate’s US$50,000 cancellation and US$75,000 interruption limits suit expensive trips
- Pre-existing condition waiver on Ultimate
- Up to nine optional upgrades, including cancel for any reason and adventure sports
- Underwritten by a large, well-capitalised insurer
Cons
- Not available to UK or European residents
- Essential and Advantage have low medical limits for overseas trips
- The pre-existing waiver has a tight 21-day purchase window
- Some reviewers report disputes over travel delay claims
- No published prices; you only see a figure after a quote
Which Travelex sells travel insurance where?
The Travelex brand is split. In the UK, Travelex Foreign Coin Services Limited, based in Peterborough, runs travelex.co.uk, selling foreign cash in up to 50 currencies and the prepaid Travelex Money Card. Its site does not sell travel insurance.
In the US, Travelex Insurance Services, Inc. is a licensed insurance agency at 810 North 96th Street, Omaha, Nebraska (California agency licence 0D10209). It describes itself as part of the Zurich family of global brands, and its current plans are underwritten by Zurich American Insurance Company, NAIC number 16535, based in Schaumburg, Illinois. The company says it has been selling travel insurance in the US for more than 25 years. Its older Travel Select plans were underwritten by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; the current Essential, Advantage and Ultimate range is Zurich’s.
Plans are filed state by state, so benefits and prices vary slightly depending on where in the US you live. Cover is not available for travel to countries under US OFAC sanctions, and trips to Cuba need pre-approval by phone.
Travelex plans and medical limits
| Benefit (up to) | Essential | Advantage | Ultimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency medical | US$25,000 (£18,760 / €22,265) | US$50,000 (£37,520 / €44,530) | US$250,000 (£187,600 / €222,650) |
| Evacuation and repatriation | US$200,000 (£150,080 / €178,120) | US$250,000 (£187,600 / €222,650) | US$1,000,000 (£750,400 / €890,600) |
| Trip cancellation | US$10,000 (£7,504 / €8,906) | US$10,000 | US$50,000 (£37,520 / €44,530) |
| Trip interruption | US$10,000 | US$12,500 (£9,380 / €11,133) | US$75,000 (£56,280 / €66,795) |
| Travel delay | US$600 (£450 / €534) | US$1,000 (£750 / €891) | US$2,000 (£1,501 / €1,781) |
| Baggage and personal effects | US$750 (£563 / €668) | US$1,000 | US$2,000 |
| Pre-existing condition waiver | No | No | Yes, within 21 days of first deposit |
| Optional upgrades | Six | Six | Nine |
Emergency medical cover applies only to conditions that first arise during the trip. Residents of Connecticut, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Vermont and Washington pay a US$50 deductible on emergency medical claims. Ultimate’s medical cover is primary, so you do not have to claim from another health plan first.
US$25,000 of medical cover is fine for a weekend in Cancún but thin for a serious accident in Europe or Asia, where a hospital stay and flight home can easily cost more. For international travel, Ultimate is the plan that makes sense.
Prices: what drives a Travelex quote
Travelex does not publish example prices on its plan pages; you see a figure only after a quote. The main factors are:
- Trip cost. Cancellation cover is priced on the non-refundable amount you insure, so a US$12,000 safari costs far more to cover than a US$1,500 city break.
- Age. Travelex uses age-band pricing, so each traveller’s premium reflects their age.
- Plan. Ultimate costs more than Advantage or Essential.
- State of residence. Rules and rates differ by state.
- Upgrades. Cancel for any reason, adventure sports, rental car and other upgrades each add to the premium.
- Children. With kids-included pricing, one child per adult adds nothing to the base premium.
Worked example of the real saving. A family of four from New Jersey, two parents and children aged 10 and 13, flies from Newark to London for a fortnight. Each parent insures their own trip cost, and each brings one child whose trip cost is the same or lower. Under kids-included pricing, both children are covered on the base plan at no extra premium, so the family pays for two policies’ worth of base cover rather than four. Any upgrades, such as cancel for any reason, are still charged for each person who takes them.
Optional upgrades: adventure sports, CFAR and more
Ultimate offers nine upgrades and the other plans six. They include cancel for any reason, which is separate from standard trip cancellation and lets you cancel for reasons the policy would not otherwise accept; an adventure sports upgrade for activities excluded from the base plan; rental car damage cover; sports equipment loss and delay; search and rescue; and non-medical evacuation. Exact availability varies by plan and state.
Gear is covered within the baggage limit, with a per-item cap of US$500 on Ultimate. For a photographer travelling with a US$3,000 camera, that is not enough, and a separate equipment policy is worth considering.
Pre-existing conditions and exclusions
Only Ultimate includes a pre-existing condition waiver, and only if you buy the plan within 21 days of your first trip deposit. Miss that window, or buy Essential or Advantage, and claims arising from a pre-existing condition are excluded. Emergency medical cover across all plans applies only to illnesses and injuries that first arise during the trip.
Other standard exclusions include travel to OFAC-sanctioned countries, and Cuba without pre-approval. Adventure activities outside the base plan need the upgrade.
How to sign up and use Travelex Insurance
- Get a quote on Travelex Insurance Services’ website with your state, trip dates, destination, ages and insured trip cost.
- Compare Essential, Advantage and Ultimate, and add children under kids-included pricing.
- Buy within 21 days of your first trip deposit if you want Ultimate’s pre-existing waiver.
- Add any upgrades, check the price and pay.
- Keep your plan document and the assistance number with your passport.
The claims process
Claims are made after the event with documentation: medical bills and records for medical claims, receipts and a cancellation invoice for cancellations, and written confirmation from the airline for delays and lost bags. Contact the assistance service as early as you can if you fall ill or are injured abroad, and before arranging any evacuation. Trustpilot complaints suggest that travel delay claims are the most frequently disputed, so read the delay definitions before you travel and keep every receipt.
Customer service and app
Travelex Insurance Services offers telephone and online support through its website, plus travel assistance for policyholders. It does not promote a dedicated mobile app on its plan pages.
What users say
Travelex Insurance Services scores 4.5 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 1,379 reviews, with 76% five-star and 9% one-star ratings. It replies to every negative review, usually within a day, and actively invites customers to review.
Positive reviews mention a quick, easy purchase, patient agents and good value. Negative ones focus on travel delay claims that were declined under the policy wording, and on long claims that ended without payment.
Travelex Insurance vs World Nomads vs True Traveller
| Travelex Ultimate | World Nomads Explorer | True Traveller Traveller Plus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who can buy | US residents | UK residents (UK policy) | UK and EEA residents |
| Medical limit | US$250,000 (£187,600 / €222,650) | £10m (US$13.33m / €11.87m) | £10m (US$13.33m / €11.87m) |
| Cancellation | US$50,000 | £5,000 | £7,500 |
| Excess or deductible | US$50 medical, seven states only | £100 | £35 |
| Pre-existing conditions | Waiver within 21 days of first deposit | Excluded | Screened, may be covered |
| Promo Code | None needed | WNFOUND (5%) | None needed |
For a British reader, the comparison is academic. World Nomads suits under-65s on active trips and publishes a 5% code; True Traveller suits anyone with a medical history. For American digital nomads who need cover that rolls month to month, our SafetyWing review is the better starting point.
Travelex Insurance FAQs
Can I buy Travelex travel insurance in the UK?
No. Travelex’s UK website sells foreign currency and the Travelex Money Card. Travelex travel insurance is a US product sold by Travelex Insurance Services, Inc.
Who underwrites Travelex Insurance?
The current Essential, Advantage and Ultimate plans are underwritten by Zurich American Insurance Company (NAIC 16535).
Is there a Travelex Insurance promo code?
No Promo Code is needed. The real saving is kids-included pricing, which covers one child aged 17 or under with each insured adult on the base plan.
Does Travelex cover pre-existing conditions?
Only on Ultimate, and only if you buy within 21 days of your first trip deposit.
What is the difference between Travelex Essential, Advantage and Ultimate?
Medical limits rise from US$25,000 to US$50,000 and US$250,000, cancellation from US$10,000 to US$50,000, and only Ultimate has the pre-existing waiver and nine upgrades.
Does Travelex Insurance cover adventure sports?
Through an optional adventure sports upgrade, available on selected plans.
Does Travelex offer cancel for any reason cover?
Yes, as an optional upgrade, separate from standard trip cancellation.
Is Travelex Insurance any good?
Its Trustpilot score is 4.5 out of 5, and Ultimate is a well-rounded plan for expensive trips. Delay claims attract the most complaints.
Is Travelex Insurance the same company as Travelex currency exchange?
They share a name, but the US insurance agency is part of the Zurich family of brands, while the UK currency business is Travelex Foreign Coin Services Limited.
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