Travel insurance figures to be more popular than ever as consumers return to the skies

Travel insurance, once considered a luxury for many, may now become a virtual necessity thanks to the uncertainty wrought by the pandemic.

With requirements for how, when and where to travel continuing to shift thanks to COVID-19, consumers are delicately traveling amid an uncertainty that has them seeking insurance in the event their trips are altered or outright canceled.

In light of these uncertain times, U.S. News & World Report released a list of the Best Travel Insurance Companies.

Best Travel Insurance Companies

The companies U.S. News & World Report selected are:

  • Allianz Travel Insurance
  • Travelex Insurance Services
  • World Nomads Travel Insurance
  • AIG Travel Guard
  • Seven Corners, Inc.
  • Generali Global Assistance
  • IMG Travel Insurance
  • AXA Assistance USA
  • Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection
  • HTH Travel Insurance

Travel insurance a must?

“As vaccine rollouts slowly allow for safe travel, purchasing travel insurance has become a must to protect both expensive, international trips and shorter, domestic excursions,” said Erin Shields, managing editor, Travel at U.S. News. “The travel insurance company ratings from U.S. News offer travelers insights into choosing the right travel insurance company for their budget, itinerary and concerns.”

U.S. News’ list includes overviews of each top-rated insurance provider, including pros and cons, and information on plan offerings and policy add-ons. The best travel insurance companies offer a variety of options for consumers to choose from and receive high praise from not only industry experts but also everyday travelers. The travel insurance plans from top providers include coverage for things like lost, stolen, damaged and delayed luggage; missed connections; medical and dental issues; emergency evacuation and repatriation; and trip interruption and cancellation, among other benefits.

Many companies have expanded their offerings to include medical coverage and treatment of the insured if they contract COVID-19, and trip cancellation coverage in some cases due to illness or quarantine restrictions. Others offer plans with an optional cancel for any reason benefit, which guarantees coverage for an event not specified in a comprehensive travel plan and allows travelers to recoup a percentage of costs if by the time their trip approaches they’re still not comfortable traveling.

To find the leading travel insurance companies, U.S. News evaluated ratings and scores from insurance websites, in addition to reviews and recommendations from travel industry sources and consumers. When analyzing companies for the cheapest plans, U.S. News compared quotes for trips to different destinations at a variety of price points to find those that offered the lowest price.