Best Travel Insurance For U.S. Citizens Going Abroad 2026
Traveling to a different country can unlock a new perspective on the world. You get a glimpse of new cultures and cuisines, and it helps you learn a little bit more about yourself. Who knows, maybe you might find yourself living in that country eventually.
While you pack your bags and prepare your itinerary, there is one thing you might consider putting on your checklist: travel insurance. Travel insurance can be extremely valuable to add to your international trip, making sure you are covered for any scenario that may happen. From a delayed flight to a medical emergency abroad, travel insurance gives you an extra layer of protection that you might've never thought about.
The 3 Best International Travel Insurance Plans
Based on recommendations from our team of licensed insurance specialists, they have determined that the following plans give the best coverage when traveling internationally:
These three plans ensure you get the best travel insurance coverage, giving you more confidence knowing that you and your financial investments are protected while traveling abroad.
What are the Key Benefits of Travel Insurance for International Travel?
Traveling abroad should be a memorable experience, for the good. To make sure you have strong coverage, here are a few key benefits to look out for when it comes to getting travel insurance for an international trip:
- Trip Cancellation: For a covered reason, travel insurance may cover you if you need to cancel your trip, allowing you to recoup up to 100% of your prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses.
- Trip Interruption: If something happens during your trip that forces you not to continue, travel insurance may provide coverage for your unused trip expenses that you already paid for and can't get a refund on. Also, travel insurance could reimburse you for your flight back home since you had to cut your trip short.
- Trip Delay: Travel insurance with trip delay coverage can provide reimbursement for prepaid, nonrefundable expenses you could not use if your trip is delayed by several hours for a covered reason. This kind of coverage may also pay for additional costs like meals, extra transportation, and lodging if an overnight stay is necessary and the airline does not provide vouchers for these expenses.
- Baggage Delay & Loss: If you experience a baggage mishap such as a baggage delay, loss, or damage, travel insurance may help cover new toiletries, clothing, prescriptions, and other necessities.
- 24/7 Assistance Services: If you need help while traveling, many travel insurance plans offer a 24/7 assistance services hotline that you can typically find on your ID card. This service can provide translation services, hospital navigation, and give advice on what documents you should keep in hand in case you need to file a claim.
- Medical Emergency Coverage: Most trip insurance plans provide coverage if you get unexpectedly sick or injured during your trip. This can help pay for doctor visits, hospital stays, or prescription medications. This is especially beneficial if you are traveling abroad, where your domestic health insurance, including Medicare, may provide little to no coverage.
- Medical Emergency Evacuation: If you injure yourself in a remote area or somewhere with limited medical facilities, travel insurance can help cover your transportation costs to the nearest suitable hospital. In other serious cases, you can get transported back home if deemed necessary by your insurance policy.
| Benefits | Atlas Journey Premier | Flexipax | Pathway Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trip Cancellation | Up to 100% | Up to 100% | Up to 100% |
| Trip Interruption | Up to 150% | Up to 150% | Up to 150% |
| Trip Delay | Up to $200 per day, $2,000 maximum | Up to $1,000, $150 per day, after 6 hours | Up to $2,000, $300 per day, after 6 hours |
| Baggage Delay & Loss | Up to $2,000, $500 per item | Up to $1,000 | Up to $2,000, $250 per item |
| 24/7 Assistance Services | Covered | Covered | Covered |
| Medical Emergency Coverage | Up to $150,000 | Up to $100,000 | Up to $200,000 |
| Medical Emergency Evacuation | Up to $1,000,000 | Up to $500,000 | Up to $1,000,000 |
Tips for Finding the Right Plan for an International Trip
- Timing is important: If you purchase travel insurance as soon as you book your trip, not only does it provide a bigger coverage window for trip cancellation, but it also allows you the option to add certain, time-sensitive benefits like Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance and provides a pre-existing medical conditions waiver.
- Assess your coverage needs: For travel insurance, you should consider your destination, activities, health conditions, and trip investments to make sure you get ultimate coverage.
- Use comparison tools: Looking at a marketplace for travel insurance allows you to compare multiple providers and policies side-by-side, giving you a good understanding of what kind of travel insurance you may need.
- Understand common policy exclusions: Oftentimes, many travel insurance policies have exclusions for coverage, including alcohol or drug-related incidents or negligence. It is important to read the policy details to make sure what is included and excluded in your travel insurance plan.
Get the Best Travel Insurance for Your Next International Trip
Travel insurance can protect you and your financial investments if you plan to take that trip outside the United States. It eases the stress of potential mishaps, making sure you are covered for the unexpected. If you have any questions while looking at travel insurance plans, our Customer Success Team is there to help guide you.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is recommended to purchase travel insurance as soon as you book your trip. This allows you to consider adding Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance and potentially being qualified for the pre-existing condition waiver, which must often be added within 14-21 days of your initial trip deposit. Also, the earlier you add your travel insurance, the wider window you have for trip cancellation coverage, making sure you are covered starting the day after your purchase.
Yes, the travel insurance plans could cover your electronics like any laptops or cameras you plan to bring with you. Typically, there are per-item and overall maximum benefit limits. Since the coverage is unique, make sure to read your plan documents to understand the full details of what is covered and to what extent. Also, it might be worth it to consider purchasing additional specialty insurance for expensive electronics, jewelry, or sports equipment.
Yes, your children or family members could be covered as long as you add them to your policy. Typically, kids under the age of 17 can be added to a travel insurance plan for no additional cost as long as an adult is also on the policy. On your trip insurance, it is important to add every traveler that is joining you, that way they are all covered under your policy.
Travel insurance can cover natural disasters that are considered named or a "known event" if you purchased the policy before any natural disaster like a hurricane, snowstorm, or a major earthquake. It is important to keep in mind that travel insurance only covers natural disasters that happen unexpectedly, meaning that if a natural disaster is reported and deemed named before you purchase a travel policy plan, you likely won't be covered for your travel interruptions.
The key phrase to keep in mind is unexpected natural disasters. To receive coverage, you need to purchase a plan before any severe weather event is reported. Again, travel policies do vary, so we encourage you to compare plans that could cover you from unexpected events.
Covered reasons for cancellations with trip insurance can include:
- Family or travel companion illness or death
- Damage to your house due to a natural disaster, such as a flood, fire or earthquake
- Complete cessation of travel services due to strike
- Terror strike in your destination country
- You or your companion are affected by a job termination or a layoff
- Inclement weather
- You or your travel companion becomes pregnant and is not allowed to travel during pregnancy
- You or your travel companion is summoned to appear in court, including jury duty
However, it is recommended to review your specific policy documents for any limits and exclusions for trip cancellation.
Yes, if you get unexpectedly sick or have an injury during your trip, travel insurance typically provides coverage if you need to get prescription medications. Oftentimes, you will have to pay for the medication up front, and then seek reimbursement through your travel insurance provider.
Most of the time, Medicare provides little to no coverage when it comes to a medical-related incident abroad. However, there is a travel medical insurance plan to look into if you are on Medicare and seeking coverage while traveling abroad, allowing you to have stronger coverage.
