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Student Travel Insurance

Backpacking through the balkans interrailing around the swiss alps.

Don’t forget Admiral Travel Insurance when you plan your trip of a lifetime.

Travel insurance  might be the last thing on your mind when organising your epic trip. But when you’re carrying all your belongings in a backpack and intend to be away for a while, having the right cover in place should be a vital part of your plans.

Covid-19 - what our travel insurance covers

Our travel insurance now covers you for certain events related to Coronavirus (COVID-19), provided you have proof of a positive Covid-19 test and your cover is active at the time of the event.

What we cover

We provide cover for some costs related to Covid-19: please see Section 1 'emergency medical costs and repatriation' and Section 2 'cancelling or cutting short your trip' in your policy book for full details on what's covered.

We'll cover you if:

• you were diagnosed with Covid-19 before your trip was due to start
• a close relative died or became seriously ill as a result of Covid-19 before your trip was due to start
• you weren't allowed to board your pre-booked outbound travel due to symptoms of Covid-19
• an insured person or a close relative died during the trip because of Covid-19
• you couldn't take part in an excursion due to you self-isolating after getting Covid-19

What we don’t cover

You won't be covered if:

• you had reason to believe your trip may be cancelled, postponed or cut short when you booked it, purchased your policy or started your trip
• any government or public authority imposes travel restrictions or quarantine on a community, location, or vessel because of Covid-19 (this includes, but is not limited to, local lockdowns, entry requirements, being denied entry and airspace closures)
• you have to quarantine after arriving in the UK or abroad
• the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) change their advice to avoid ‘all travel’ or ‘all but essential travel’ to your destination because of Covid-19

For more information about how Coronavirus (COVID-19) affects your travel cover, see our FAQ page . And remember to check the policy booklet carefully before you buy to make sure our cover meets your needs.

What kind of student travel insurance will I need?

The policy you need depends on how long you'll be travelling for. If you're lucky enough to be taking a few months – or even a year – to travel, then you'll need a policy that covers you for the full duration.

Unlike many single trip policies that cover you for up to 31 days away, our single trip policy covers you for 365 days, as long as you don't come back to the UK at all during that period.

If you're breaking up your travels over the course of a year, or studying abroad as part of your university course and planning to return to the UK after each term, then an annual policy – which allows multiple trips abroad, up to 31 days per trip as standard – could be right for you.

Admiral Student Travel Insurance comes with three tiers to choose from – Admiral, Admiral Gold and Admiral Platinum – with increasing coverage and product benefits.

Read the full list of benefits in the policy summary booklet .

Which countries does student travel insurance cover?

Your student travel insurance needs to cover you in all the countries you're visiting, as well as every stop you make on the way (even if you're only passing through the country on an interrailing trip).

If you're heading to Europe, a  European travel policy  should meet your needs. We also include the following countries in our European travel insurance:

If your student travels are taking you further afield – to America,  Australia  or the Caribbean for instance – you'll need to look at a  worldwide insurance policy  instead.

We offer two options:

• Worldwide excluding USA, Canada, Caribbean and Mexico

What's the difference between standard and student travel insurance?

Most travel insurance policies will cover you for things like:

• Loss or theft of personal belongings
• Travel delay

But if your student trip is going to last longer than the average holiday and you'll be trying out some extreme sports along the way, then you may need to look at some additional or specialist cover. Check the  policy booklet  or  contact us  to find out if the activity you want to do is covered.

Volunteering or working abroad

Whether providing childcare in a developing country's orphanages, helping on sustainability projects in a rainforest in Peru or feeding pandas at a conservation project in China, volunteering for a great cause abroad is a fantastic thing to do when you're a student.

It's a feel-good and do-good experience you'll treasure forever.

Maybe you're planning on working your way through your travels, taking on temporary jobs to help cover the cost of your adventures.

Our  travel policies  will cover you for your trip as long as you're not doing manual work. We define this as ‘paid or unpaid manual work or physical labour of any kind’.

For example, we won’t cover activities that require any heavy lifting or risk physical injury. If you’re unsure if what you plan to do is considered manual work,  call our team  to double check.

Student ski travel insurance for skiing and adventure holidays

We know relaxing on a beach isn't everyone's idea of fun. If you're planning to try new experiences and activities on your travels, make sure you check your  travel insurance policy booklet  first.

While our standard travel insurance covers you for active pursuits such as sail-boarding and surfing, anything riskier like diving with sharks or canyon swinging (yes, it's a thing!) will require a ‘hazardous activity' upgrade to your policy.

And if you're hitting the slopes, you'll need our  winter sports insurance  upgrade to cover your ski equipment and activities from skiing to snowmobiling. Without this upgrade, your trip won’t be covered at all.

Accidents and illness can happen, of course, so don't forget your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if it’s still in date. Otherwise you should apply for a new Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) . These cards aren’t a substitute for travel insurance, though.

They entitle you to emergency care but treatment may not be free, and the cards won't cover extra costs such as those of getting you back to the UK in a medical emergency.

What about gadget travel insurance?

We know you won't want to be parted from your tech on your travels – how else will you Skype your family or Instagram your latest location?

But accidents happen, and expensive gadgets can get lost or stolen, so check your policy covers things such as smartphones, cameras or tablets.

If the value of your tech adds up to more than the valuables limit under your personal belongings cover in your travel insurance, you can add on gadget cover.

Admiral's gadget travel insurance pays up to £1,500 for gadgets that are lost, stolen or damaged on your trip.

What if I have a pre-existing condition?

A pre-existing condition is a short or long term illness or injury you have or have had before you buy travel insurance. This includes having symptoms, tests, diagnosis or medical treatment for a condition.

You can declare your pre-existing conditions during the quote process to see if we can offer cover. If you’re unsure what needs to be declared or if you're unable to find your condition on the medical conditions list, please contact us on 0333 234 9913 .

Your pre-existing conditions won’t be covered unless you’ve:

• Declared them all on your policy
• Received written confirmation that we’ll cover your medical condition
• Paid any additional premium in full

Policy terms and conditions apply. Please note, if you’ve had a positive diagnosis of Covid-19 and been prescribed medication, received treatment, or had a consultation with a doctor or hospital specialist for any medical condition in the past two years, this needs to be declared on your policy.

If you don’t tell us about your pre-existing conditions or give us incorrect information, your policy may be invalid, and we may refuse all or part of any claim you submit.

For a quote with us, click the green button above.

The MoneyHelper directory

If you require cover for more serious medical conditions, MoneyHelper may be able to help you find specialist travel insurance through their medical directory.

If you wish to get in touch with them you can call them on 0800 138 7777 or find them online . (Monday to Friday 8:00-18:00, closed on Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays.)

Need help with your quote? Give us a call.

• Monday to Friday: 8am - 10pm
• Saturday: 9am - 6pm
• Sunday: 10am - 6pm

Calls to 03 numbers will cost no more than calls to national geographic numbers (starting 01 or 02) from both mobiles and landlines.

Getting the most out of your trip

Going anywhere nice.

Off to one of the destinations below? Take a look at our guides for some hints and tips on what you need to remember.

Travel insurance that suits you

Whether you're travelling solo, with your family, or with a little one on the way, read our guides to make sure our cover is right for you.

Family Travel Insurance

Travelling while pregnant, travel insurance over 65, travelling with medical conditions, travel insurance upgrades.

Whether you want the adrenaline rush of a skiing holiday, or fancy taking to the seas on a cruise, you'll need to add extra cover to your policy.

Cruise Travel Insurance

Ski travel insurance, gadget travel insurance, adventurous sports insurance, single trip insurance, annual trip insurance.

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Studying abroad? Here are the best international student travel insurance companies

Travel insurance can not only save students money when studying abroad, but many schools also require it..

Studying abroad is a valuable educational and cultural experience and could give you an advantage in the job market after graduation. Buying travel insurance is a way to protect yourself financially while studying abroad. 

Many international programs require travel insurance , and some offer it through a predetermined provider. But if you're on the hunt for a comprehensive travel insurance plan on your own, CNBC Select has made it a little easier. We compared dozens of top travel insurance companies for students and narrowed down the five best options that stood out for their strong coverage and affordability . (See our methodology for more information.)

Best student travel insurance

• Best for affordability: AXA Assistance USA Travel Insurance
• Best for medical expenses: USI Affinity Travel Insurance
• Best for trip interruptions: Travel Guard Travel Insurance
• Best for customizable coverage: Allianz Travel Insurance
• Best for students on a budget: Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection

Best for affordability

Axa assistance usa travel insurance.

The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote

Policy highlights

AXA Assistance USA offers several travel insurance policies that include travel interruption, trip cancellation, and the option of cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage.

24/7 assistance available

• Three tiers of plans available
• Highly rated for financial strength
• Cancel for any reason only available on highest-tier coverage

AXA Assistance USA 's most basic plan, the Silver Plan, includes all of the essentials a student will likely need while studying abroad: coverage for emergency medical expenses (up to $25,000 for accident or sickness and up to $100,000 for evacuation), baggage loss (up to $750) trip interruption and trip cancellation. 

It's budget-friendly as well and is one of the most affordable yet comprehensive travel insurance plans on the market. If you're interested in higher coverage limits, AXA offers two more premium plans, one of which includes a cancel for any reason (CFAR) option. 

[ Jump to more details ]

Best for medical expenses

Usi affinity travel insurance.

USI Affinity has travel medical policies in addition to trip cancellation policies. Travel medical plans include an option for frequent travelers to cover multiple trips. Trip cancellation options include coverage for road trips and group travel.

• Wide variety of plans for both trip cancellation coverage and travel medical insurance
• CFAR only covers up to 70% of non-refundable trip costs

USI Affinity is a good choice for students primarily concerned about potential medical expenses abroad. The company offers only one trip cancellation plan but offers a wide variety of travel medical plans tailored to specific situations.

Best for trip interruptions

Travel guard® travel insurance.

Travel Guard offers a variety of plans to suit travel ranging from road trips to long cruises. For air travelers, Travel Guard can help assist with tracking baggage or covering lost or delayed baggage.

• A variety of plans are available to help cover different types of trips
• Not all products are available for purchase online

Students who are concerned about trip interruptions should consider Travel Guard , which offers last-minute coverage. There are three base packages available online, with more options available through a representative. Its most basic plan includes typical coverage for travel medical expenses (up to $15,000 in medical expenses and $150,000 for evacuation), but robust coverage for trip cancellation, trip interruption, baggage theft as well as per-day compensation for trip delays.

Best for customizable coverage

Allianz travel insurance.

10 travel insurance plans make it possible to customize your coverage. For families, Allianz's OneTrip Prime package covers children age 17 and younger when traveling with a parent or grandparent.

• Trip cancellation benefits can reimburse your prepaid, nonrefundable trip payments if you have to cancel your trip for one of the covered reasons stated in your plan documents. 
• Limited coverage for risky sports

Allianz offers a whopping 10 different travel insurance policies. While many premium insurers offer cancel for any reason coverage that can cover up to 75% of prepaid, non-refundable trip costs, Allianz's Cancel Anytime upgrade can reimburse up to 80% of your prepaid, nonrefundable trip payments if you have to cancel your trip for one of the covered reasons stated in your plan documents. If you're planning to be adventurous during your study abroad experience, Allianz has a variety of add-ons to cover rental cars, hazardous sports and more. 

Best for students on a budget

Berkshire hathaway travel protection.

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection has multiple plans to cover vacations from luxury travel to adventure travel. The brand's LuxuryCare offers the highest limits of travel insurance coverage offered by the company. Quotes and policies are available online.

• Wide variety of policies available
• Strong financial strength rating by AM Best
• Cancel for any reason only provides reimbursement for up to 50% of non-refundable trip payments

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection is a strong choice for students on a tight budget looking for strong coverage. Its most basic plan (the ExactCare Value plan) earned one of the cheapest quotes reviewed by CNBC Select and includes moderate-limit coverage for everything a student might need while studying internationally. 

More on our top travel insurance for studying abroad

AXA's travel insurance offers medical coverage for emergencies and accidents while traveling for up to $250,000. It offers three different plans for travelers starting as low as $16 according to its website.

CFAR coverage available

24/7 assistance?  

[ Return to summary ]

USI Affinity offers a number of travel plans, including travel medical plans for those traveling outside of the U.S. Its InterMedical Insurance plan has three levels of medical coverage available ranging from $50,000 to $150,000, and starts at $1.35 per day, according to the company's website.

Travel Guard Travel Insurance

Travel Guard's travel insurance could be a fit for students studying abroad with three levels of coverage. Its travel medical expense coverage can go up to $100,000 with the brand's deluxe plan.

Allianz offers several types of travel insurance for students, including its OneTrip Emergency Medical Plan with up to $50,000 in emergency medical benefits and $250,000 in evacuation benefits. Its OneTrip Prime and Premier plans offer cancellation and trip interruption benefits on top of emergency medical benefits up to $50,000.

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Insurance

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection offers several travel insurance plans that could be a fit for student travelers, including its ExactCare Value and ExactCare plans, offering both trip cancellation and interruption coverage in addition to medical coverage.

What does travel insurance cover for studying abroad? 

Medical expenses and emergency evacuation.

Stan Sandberg, a co-founder of the online marketplace TravelInsurance.com , said medical coverage is the most important area of coverage for students studying abroad. 

Most travel insurance plans, regardless of whether they are designed for students, cover medical expenses incurred abroad. Medical expense coverage can help to cover injuries or illnesses you may incur while abroad. Emergency evacuation coverage generally includes transportation to the nearest adequate facility or transportation home.

Travel medical coverage can exclude some situations that are relevant for students studying abroad — namely, intoxication. "If the individual is either beyond a certain intoxication level or under the influence of illegal substances, those things are very often excluded from coverage," Sandberg said. "So, a student traveling to a country that doesn't have a drinking age, for instance, that would be something to keep in mind."

Because of cultural alienation and homesickness, studying abroad can be an emotionally difficult time for many students. If you are shopping for student travel insurance, you should consider searching for a plan that covers mental health services. Read your travel policy carefully to understand the coverage offered and any requirements for coverage.

If medical expenses are the only cost you wish to insure, then you might instead consider an international health plan, which Sandberg recommends for students on a budget . 

Trip cancellation and interruption 

If your circumstances change at the last minute, you'll be grateful to have a travel insurance plan with trip cancellation coverage, which will reimburse you for your non-refundable trip costs, like flights and hotels , for covered events. 

This coverage will not, however, cover any non-refundable costs of your study abroad program, such as tuition, room and board, which are likely to be much more expensive than the flights to and from. So to Sandberg, this coverage is slightly less important for students.

Travel assistance

It's possible that studying abroad will be a student's first time out of the country. Traveling internationally , especially in areas with a language barrier, can be confusing. Many travel insurance plans, and all five policies we chose as our top picks , offer a 24/7 helpline to assist you along your journey. 

Lost or stolen baggage

Along with travel assistance, baggage loss and baggage delay coverage are examples of post-departure benefits. Study abroad programs typically last an entire semester or a summer, so you'll likely pack a lot of luggage. 

If you're traveling with valuables, you should consider searching for a plan that includes baggage insurance. Sandberg recommends reading the fine print, though, as many plans exclude electronic items in luggage and items above a certain value. 

And of course, make sure any policy is worth your money and aligns with your coverage goals before purchasing it. Many travel insurance policies offer free look periods that include time to read over the policy and cancel coverage with a refund.

What is travel insurance for studying abroad? 

For students and adults alike, travel insurance is a flexible type of coverage designed to protect you when you're far from home. By purchasing a policy, you can prevent financial hardship related to international medical expenses or travel mishaps like interruptions, delays and lost luggage. Some premium travel insurance plans offer cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage, which allows you to recoup some of your expenses should you cancel your trip for any reason.

Is travel insurance worth it for studying abroad?

Travel insurance is a wise investment for travelers who will be abroad for a while, including students studying abroad. Most domestic medical plans do not cover international hospital bills, so in case of an emergency, having travel insurance with medical expense coverage could be crucial.

How much does travel insurance cost for students studying abroad?  

Travel insurance costs vary depending on the length of the trip, the age of the travelers and the extent of the coverage. You can expect to pay around 4% to 10% of your trip's total cost, according to travel insurance comparison site InsureMyTrip . Keep in mind though that your trip's "total cost" does not include the cost of your study abroad program itself. Most travel insurance companies are only interested in the cost of flights and non-program lodging like hotels. The best way to estimate the cost of insuring your trip is to get quotes from multiple companies.

What is international health insurance?

International health insurance is a health coverage plan that covers your medical expenses anywhere in the world. An international health insurance plan provides very similar medical coverage to that provided by a travel insurance plan.

Do I need travel insurance if my credit card has it already?

Some of the best travel credit cards on the market provide some travel protection. For example, the  Chase Sapphire Reserve®  card offers trip cancellation and interruption insurance up to $10,000 per covered person up to $20,000 per trip, travel accident insurance, emergency evacuation insurance and coverage for baggage delays and loss. Ask your issuer if your card has any travel protection benefits. If not, or if the coverage is minimal, you should consider purchasing travel insurance from a third party.

Bottom line

Not only is it a smart idea to purchase travel insurance to study abroad, but it is also required by a lot of international programs. With travel insurance, students can worry less about the unexpected and make the most of their experience abroad. If your academic program does not have a pre-existing partnership with a certain provider, then consider using one of these top travel insurance companies for students. 

Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox.  Sign up here .

Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every travel insurance review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of travel insurance products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best cheap travel insurance.

Our methodology 

To determine the best travel insurance companies for students studying abroad, CNBC Select analyzed dozens of U.S. travel insurance companies that come with a wide variety of policies and offer coverage for a number of situations. 

When narrowing down the best travel insurance companies, we focused on the coverage available, including the number of plans available, 24/7 assistance availability and cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage availability. We also considered financial strength ratings from AM Best and Better Business Bureau ratings for customer satisfaction.

To consider costs, we gathered quotes from the top travel insurance companies for four sample trips, which included:

1. A semester-long (January 15 to June 15) study-abroad trip to the United Kingdom:

• $3,000 per person (flights to and from JFK and non-program hotels)
• New York residents
• Traveler aged 20

2. A summer (June 15-August 15) study-abroad trip to Italy:

• $2,000 per person (flights to and from JFK and non-program hotels)

Sample quotes assumed that payments were made on the date of quoting.

Note that the premiums and policy structures advertised for travel insurance companies are subject to fluctuate in accordance with the company's policies.

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of  credit cards ,  banking  and  money . And follow us on  TikTok ,  Facebook ,  Instagram  and  Twitter  to stay up to date.

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June 1, 2020

Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with travel dates on or after

Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with effective start dates on or after

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Travel Insurance for Students

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Popular Travel Insurance Plans

• Annual Travel Insurance
• Cruise Insurance
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View all of our travel insurance products

Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Please see your plan for full details. Benefits/Coverage may vary by state, and sublimits may apply.

Insurance benefits underwritten by BCS Insurance Company (OH, Administrative Office: 2 Mid America Plaza, Suite 200, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181), rated “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best Co., under BCS Form No. 52.201 series or 52.401 series, or Jefferson Insurance Company (NY, Administrative Office: 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233), rated “A+” (Superior) by A.M. Best Co., under Jefferson Form No. 101-C series or 101-P series, depending on your state of residence and plan chosen. A+ (Superior) and A (Excellent) are the 2nd and 3rd highest, respectively, of A.M. Best's 13 Financial Strength Ratings. Plans only available to U.S. residents and may not be available in all jurisdictions. Allianz Global Assistance and Allianz Travel Insurance are marks of AGA Service Company dba Allianz Global Assistance or its affiliates. Allianz Travel Insurance products are distributed by Allianz Global Assistance, the licensed producer and administrator of these plans and an affiliate of Jefferson Insurance Company. The insured shall not receive any special benefit or advantage due to the affiliation between AGA Service Company and Jefferson Insurance Company. Plans include insurance benefits and assistance services. Any Non-Insurance Assistance services purchased are provided through AGA Service Company. Except as expressly provided under your plan, you are responsible for charges you incur from third parties. Contact AGA Service Company at  800-284-8300 or 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233 or [email protected] .

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Travel Insurance for Studying Abroad

Travel insurance can protect your finances if your travel plans go awry..

6+ years writing about insurance, travel, and personal finances

Contributor to brands like Credible

In addition to insurance, Nick specializes in writing about business, entrepreneurship, personal finance, and travel. He’s been featured in myriad web publications, including Fox Business.

Read Editorial Guidelines

Featured in

Licensed auto and home insurance agent

4+ years in content creation and marketing

As Insurify’s home and pet insurance editor, Danny also specializes in auto insurance. His goal is to help consumers navigate the complex world of insurance buying.

Updated September 22, 2023

Table of contents

• Travel insurance
• Coverage options

Travel medical insurance

• Purchasing coverage

Studying abroad is one of the most engaging ways to continue your studies while learning about a country’s history, culture, and more. While thousands of students have an immensely positive experience, not all study abroad trips go off without a hitch. That’s what makes travel insurance so important.

Sometimes, a student must have travel insurance while studying abroad; other times, it’s optional coverage. Regardless, you should consider having at least a minimal amount of travel insurance when studying abroad just in case the unexpected happens.

What is travel insurance for studying abroad?

Travel insurance is a type of insurance that reimburses you for part of or all of your expenses when you experience an unfortunate event when traveling. This could be anything from losing your luggage to having to completely cancel the trip. [1]

Travel insurance could help you recover financially from these unexpected problems. Aside from issues with the trip itself, you may want to also consider travel health insurance.

In most cases, your regular health insurance plan won’t cover the costs of your medical care outside of the United States, and the U.S. government won’t pay for medical bills or related costs if you’re injured while abroad. [2]

What travel insurance should a student have?

Parents and students alike may need clarification on whether travel insurance is necessary for studying abroad. If the university requires travel insurance for a semester abroad, faculty members or staff in charge of the program should notify the students of the policy requirements.

If travel insurance is optional, study abroad program participants should at least know which options to consider. Whether it’s to provide health insurance coverage that your normal U.S. insurance policy doesn’t cover or to cover en-route travel challenges, such as lost baggage, you should be familiar with how additional insurance can help.

Even if you’re staying in your home country — such as a student from the mainland United States enrolling in a semester in Alaska, Hawaii, or one of the U.S. territories — lost luggage, flight delays, and cancellations caused by a natural disaster could all occur.

Travel medical insurance typically pays for medical services you receive outside your home country, such as a routine service like a doctor visit for a prescription or a vaccination, as well as an emergency service suddenly required during your study trip. Travel medical insurance plans differ with each travel insurance company, so compare policies accordingly.

Baggage insurance

Baggage insurance covers your luggage if you lose it in transit. For example: Suppose you checked a bag at an airport in your home country, changed planes in a layover airport, and arrived at your destination only to discover that you no longer have your baggage. In this instance, baggage insurance would pay for the cost of your lost luggage.

This insurance might not be an important consideration for students using only carry-on luggage.

Delay insurance

Travel insurance works on a case-by-case basis, and covered information-specific events are outlined in your policy. It’s important to remember that trip cancellation differs from a trip delay. Basic travel insurance covers some long delays that result in you missing a significant amount of your trip; additional delay insurance can potentially cover you for smaller delays, such as long flight delays or transportation strikes.

Cancellation insurance

Trip cancellation insurance is an important consideration, even if you believe you don’t need baggage insurance or delay insurance. Cancellation insurance protects your financial investment in a single trip by reimbursing you for canceled cruises, flights, train tickets, and more.

For instance, if your host country suddenly changes its entry requirements or your home country suddenly sets new travel restrictions, cancellation insurance may cover these events.

Mental health coverage

Travel can include moments of stress, anxiety, and loneliness. Some policies allow you to purchase additional insurance related to mental health coverage.

If you currently receive mental health services through your university, talk to your study abroad office about how you can ensure your unique psychological needs are covered abroad through mental health travel insurance.

Travel evacuation insurance

There’s medical evacuation insurance that helps in the event of things like accidental death or dismemberment, but there’s also evacuation insurance unrelated to you sustaining a serious medical emergency, like injuries, accidents, or illnesses. Travel evacuation insurance removes you from the host country if military action or political unrest breaks out.

Why you should get travel medical insurance

Seeking medical treatment at a medical facility abroad can be expensive, as can simply refilling a prescription medication. Having access to international health insurance can reduce these costs dramatically.

Make sure to inquire about any pre-existing conditions you have. Some travel insurance companies include pre-existing conditions, while other international health insurance plans don’t.

Travel insurance for COVID-19

Because COVID-19 is still present worldwide, some countries may have strict rules regarding how a student may enter, remain, or leave the country if they contract the virus.

The U.S. Department of State recommends that travelers obtain travel insurance that includes coverage for all COVID-19-related trip cancellations and disruptions, as well as medical coverage for COVID-19-related treatments. [3]

Like many other specific coverage options, COVID-19 insurance may not be automatically included in a basic travel insurance policy for students.

Where to get travel insurance for studying abroad

Many insurance companies offer policies specifically designed for the needs of study abroad students. Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) provides travel insurance policies for international students and students studying abroad. [4] You can also purchase travel insurance through a global network of insurance companies for school-related trips.

The first places to search for policies are either through the study abroad office at your university or through your current insurance company. Most schools that facilitate study abroad trips will have either documents for you to view or email and other contact information to find a plan.

Similarly, your current medical, auto, or even homeowner insurance company may offer travel insurance that you can add to your policy.

Study abroad insurance FAQs

Whether it’s your first time studying abroad, or if you’ve never purchased travel insurance for a previous academic adventure, here’s some helpful information about study abroad insurance.

When should you buy travel insurance?

Unless your study abroad program has a specific deadline, you should purchase travel insurance as soon as you’ve confirmed your trip. Many insurers recommend purchasing it immediately after you secure your travel arrangements, as the longer you wait the more expensive it will be. At the latest, you should purchase a policy within 14 to 15 days of your trip.

Do you need insurance to travel or study abroad?

You don’t typically need travel insurance unless the destination country requires it. However, a traveler on a formal trip like a tour will likely need to purchase travel insurance to attend the trip. [5] A student studying abroad may also need travel insurance to meet the requirements of their university or school.

What does study abroad insurance cover?

Study abroad insurance isn’t a set-in-stone policy. Rather, it’s a type of travel insurance offered by an insurer designed to meet a student’s specific needs. Students studying abroad may choose a policy that covers medical expenses, trip cancellation, baggage loss, or other events.

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Nick Dauk is a freelance writer specializing in business, entrepreneurship, personal finance, and travel. His work has been featured in Fox Business, BBC, The Edge, Business Insider, and Bisnow. Nick is a first-generation college graduate, having majored in Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Central Florida. His eclectic coursework, combined with previous managerial roles in the retail and broadcast television industries, have helped him develop an interdisciplinary approach to writing.

For nearly a decade, Nick has created content for mom-and-pop businesses and global corporations. As a travel writer, his global adventures have also been featured on Inside Hook, Houston Chronicle, Culture Trip, and Matador. When he's not traveling, Nick can be found in Orlando spending time with his wife and toddler.

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11 Best Travel Insurance Companies in June 2024

Sean Cudahy is a freelance reporter specializing in coverage of airlines, travel, loyalty programs and public policy. A journalist of nine years, Sean most recently served as a general assignment reporter at The Points Guy, following an eight-year run as a local television news reporter. He lives with his wife and their French Bulldog outside Raleigh, North Carolina.

Giselle M. Cancio is an editor for the travel rewards team at NerdWallet. She has traveled to over 30 states and 20 countries, redeeming points and miles for almost a decade. She has over eight years of experience in journalism and content development across many topics.

She has juggled many roles in her career: writer, editor, social media manager, producer, on-camera host, videographer and photographer. She has been published in several media outlets and was selected to report from the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

She frequents national parks and is on her way to checking all 30 Major League Baseball parks off her list. When she's not on a plane or planning her next trip, she's crafting, reading, playing board games, watching sports or trying new recipes.

She is based in Miami.

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

If the past few years have shown us anything, it’s that travelers need to be prepared for the unexpected — from a pandemic to flight troubles to the crowded airport terminals so many of us have encountered.

If you don't have sufficient travel insurance coverage via your credit card , you can supplement your policies with third-party plans.

Whether you’re looking for an international travel insurance plan, emergency medical care or a policy that includes extreme sports, these are the best travel insurance providers to get you covered.

How we found the best travel insurance

We looked at quotes from various companies for a 10-day trip to Mexico in September 2024. The traveler was a 55-year-old woman from Florida who spent $3,000 total on the trip, including airfare.

On average, the price of each company’s most basic coverage plan was $126.53. The costs displayed below do not include optional add-ons, such as Cancel For Any Reason coverage or pre-existing medical condition coverage.

Read our full analysis about the average cost of travel insurance so you can budget better for your next trip.

However, depending on the plan, you may be able to customize at an added cost.

As we continue to evaluate more travel insurance companies and receive fresh market data, this collection of best travel insurance companies is likely to change. See our full methodology for more details.

Best insurance companies

Types of travel insurance

What does travel insurance cover, what’s not covered, how much does it cost, do i need travel insurance, how to choose the best travel insurance policy, what are the top travel destinations in 2024, more resources for travel insurance shoppers.

Top credit cards with travel insurance

Methodology

Best travel insurance overall: berkshire hathaway travel protection.

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection

• ExactCare Value (basic) plan is among the least expensive we surveyed.
• Speciality plans available for road trips, luxury travel, adventure activities, flights and cruises.
• Company may reimburse claimants faster than average, including possible same-day compensation.
• Multiple "Trip Delay" coverage types might make claims confusing.
• Cheapest plan only includes fixed amounts for its coverage.

Under the direction of chair and CEO Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection has been around since 2014. Its plans provide numerous opportunities for travelers to customize coverage to their needs.

At $135 for our sample trip, the ExactCare Value (basic) plan from Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection offers protection roughly $10 above the average price.

Want something cheaper? Air travelers looking for inexpensive, less comprehensive protections might opt for a basic AirCare plan that includes fixed amounts for its coverage .

Read our full review of Berkshire Hathaway .

What else makes Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection great:

Pre-existing medical condition exclusion waivers available at nearly all plan levels. 

Plans available for travelers going on a cruise, participating in extreme sports or taking a luxury trip.

ExactCare Value (basic) plan was among the least expensive we surveyed.

Best for emergency medical coverage: Allianz Global Assistance

Annual or single-trip policies are available.

• Multiple types of insurance available.
• All plans include access to a 24/7 assistance hotline.
• More expensive than average.
• CFAR upgrades are not available.
• Rental car protection is only available by adding the One Trip Rental Car protector to your plan or by purchasing a standalone rental car plan.

Allianz Global Assistance is a reputable travel insurance company offering plans for over 25 years. Customers can choose from a variety of single and annual policies to fit their needs. On top of comprehensive coverage, some travelers might opt for the more affordable OneTrip Cancellation Plus, which is geared toward domestic travelers looking for trip protections but don’t need post-departure benefits like emergency medical or baggage lost.

For our test trip, Allianz Global Assistance’s basic coverage cost $149, about $22 above average.

What else makes Allianz Global Assistance great:

Annual and single-trip plans.

Plans are available for international and domestic trips.

Stand-alone and add-on rental car damage product available.

Read our full review of Allianz Global Assistance .

Best for travelers with pre-existing medical conditions: Travel Guard by AIG

Travel Guard by AIG

• Offers last-minute coverage.
• Pre-Existing Medical Conditions Exclusion Waiver available at all plan levels.
• Plan available for business travelers.
• Cancel For Any reason coverage only available for higher-level plans, and only reimburses up to 50% of the trip cost.
• Trip interruption coverage doesn't apply to trips paid for with points and miles.

Travel Guard by AIG offers a variety of plans and coverages to fit travelers’ needs. On top of more standard trip protections like trip cancellation, interruption, baggage and medical coverage, the Cancel For Any Reason upgrade is available on certain Travel Guard plans, which allows you to cancel a trip for any reason and get 50% of your nonrefundable deposit back as long as the trip is canceled at least two days before the scheduled departure date.

At $107 for our sample trip, the Essential plan was below average, saving roughly $20.

What else makes Travel Guard by AIG great:

Three comprehensive plans and a Pack N' Go plan for last-minute travelers who don't need cancellation benefits.

Flight protection, car rental, and medical evacuation coverage, as well as annual plans available.

Pre-existing medical conditions exclusion waiver available on all plan levels, as long as it's purchased within 15 days.

Read our full review of Travel Guard by AIG .

Best for those who pack expensive equipment: Travel Insured International

Travel Insured International

• Higher-level plan include optional add-ons for event tickets and for electronic equipment
• Rental car protection add-on for just $8 per day, even on lower-level plan.
• Many of the customizations are only available on the higher-tier plan.
• Coverage cost comes in above average in our latest analysis.

Travel Insured International offers several customization options. For instance, those going to see a show may want to add on event ticket registration fee protection. Traveling with expensive gear?Consider adding on coverage for electronic equipment for up to $2,000 in coverage.

Be sure to check which policies are available in your state. You will need to input your destination, residence, trip dates and the number of travelers to get a quote and see coverages.

What else makes Travel Insured International great:

Comprehensive plans include medical expense reimbursement accidents, sickness, evacuation and pre-existing conditions, depending on the plan.

Flight plans include coverage for missed and canceled flights and lost or stolen baggage.

Read our full review of Travel Insured International .

Best for adventurous travelers: World Nomads

World Nomads

• Travelers can extend coverage mid-trip.
• The standard plan covers up to $300,000 in emergency evacuation costs.
• Plans automatically cover 200+ adventurous activities.
• No Cancel For Any Reason upgrades are available.
• No pre-existing medical condition waivers are available.

Many travel insurance plans contain exclusions for adventure sports activities. If you plan to ski, bungee jump, windsurf or parasail, this might be a plan to consider.

Note that the Standard plan ($72 for our sample trip), while the most affordable, provides less coverage than other plans. But it can be a good choice for travelers who are satisfied with trip cancellation and interruption coverage of $2,500 or less, do not need rental car damage protection, find the limits to be sufficient and do not need coverage for certain more adventurous activities.

What else makes World Nomads great:

Comprehensive international travel insurance plans.

Coverage available for adventure activities, such as trekking, mountain biking and scuba diving.

Read our full review of World Nomads .

Best for medical coverage: Travelex Insurance Services

Travelex Insurance Services

• Top-tier plan doesn’t break the bank and provides more customization opportunities.
• Offers a plan specifically for domestic travel.
• Sells a post-departure medical coverage plan.
• Fewer customization opportunities on the Basic plan.
• Though perhaps a plus for domestic travelers, keep in mind the Travel America plan only covers domestic trips.

For starters, basic coverage from Travelex Insurance Services came in at $125, almost exactly average for our sample trip.

Travelex’s plans focus heavily on providing protections that are personalized to your travel style and trip type.

While the company does offer comprehensive plans that include medical benefits, you can also choose between cheaper plans that don’t provide cancellation coverage but do offer protections during your travels.

Read our full review of Travelex Insurance Services .

What else makes Travelex Insurance Services great:

Three comprehensive plans available, two of which cover international trips.

Offers a post-departure plan geared exclusively toward disruptions after you leave home.

Two flight insurance plans available.

Best if you have travel credit card coverage: Seven Corners

Seven Corners

• Annual, medical-only and backpacker plans are available.
• Cancel For Any Reason upgrade is available for the cheapest plan.
• Cheapest plan also features a much less costly Interruption for Any Reason add-on.
• Offers only one annual policy option.

Each Seven Corners plan offers several optional add-ons. Among the more unique is a Trip Interruption for Any Reason, which allows you to interrupt a trip 48 hours after the scheduled departure date (for any reason) and receive a refund of up to 75% of your unused nonrefundable deposits.

» Jump to the best cards with travel insurance

The basic coverage plan for our trip to Mexico costs $124 — right around the average.

What else makes Seven Corners great:

Comprehensive plans for U.S. residents and foreigners, including travelers visiting the U.S.

Cheap add-ons for rental car damage, sporting equipment rental or trip interruption for any reason.

Read our full review of Seven Corners .

Best for long-term travelers: IMG

• Coverage available for adventure travelers.
• Offers direct billing.
• Claim approval can be lengthy.

While some travel insurance companies offer just a handful of plans, with IMG, you’ll really have your pick. Though this requires a bit more research, it allows you to search for coverage that fits your travel needs.

However, travelers will want to be aware that IMG’s iTravelInsured Travel Lite is expensive. Coming in at $149.85, it’s the costliest plan on our list.

Read our full review of IMG .

What else makes IMG great:

More affordable than average.

Many plans to choose from to fit your needs.

Best for travelers with unpredictable work demands: Tin Leg

• In addition Cancel For Any Reason, some plans offer cancel for work reason coverage.
• Adventure sports-specific coverage is available.
• Plans have overlap that can be hard to distinguish.
• Only one plan includes Rental Car Damage coverage available as an add-on.

Tin Leg’s Basic plan came in at $134 for our sample trip, adding about $8 onto the average basic policy cost. Note that you’ll pay a lot more if you shop for the most comprehensive coverage, and there are eight plans to choose from for trips abroad.

The multitude of plans can help you find coverage that fits your needs, but with so many to choose from, deciding can be daunting.

The only real way to figure out your ideal plan is to compare them all, look at the plan details and decide which features and coverage suit you and your travel style best.

Read our full Tin Leg review .

Best for booking travel with points and miles: TravelSafe

• Covers up to $300 redepositing points and miles on eligible canceled award flights.
• Optional add-on protection for business equipment or sports rentals.
• Multi-trip or year-long plans aren’t available.

Selecting your travel insurance plan with TravelSafe is a fairly straightforward process. The company’s website also makes it easy to visualize how optional add-on elements influence the total cost, displaying the final price as soon as you click the coverage.

However, at $136, the Basic plan was among the more expensive for our trip to Mexico.

What else makes TravelSafe great:

Rental car damage coverage add-on is available on both plans.

Cancel For Any Reason coverage available on the TravelSafe Classic plan.

Read our full TravelSafe review .

Best for group travel insurance: HTH Insurance

HTH Travel Insurance

• Covers travelers up to 95 years old.
• Includes direct pay option so members can avoid having to pay up front for services.
• A 24-hour delay is required for baggage delay coverage on the TripProtector Economy plan.
• No waivers for pre-existing conditions on the lower-level plan.

HTH offers single-trip and multitrip medical insurance coverage as well as trip protection plans.

At around $125, the Trip Protector Economy policy is at the average mark for plans we reviewed.

You can choose to insure group trips for educators, crew, religious missionaries and corporate travelers.

What else makes HTH Insurance great:

Medical-only coverage and trip protection coverage.

Lots of options for group travelers.

Read our full review of HTH Insurance .

As you shop for travel insurance, you’ll find many of the same coverage categories across numerous plans.

Trip cancellation

This covers the prepaid costs you make for your trip in cases when you need to cancel for a covered reason. This coverage helps you recoup upfront costs paid for flights and nonrefundable hotel reservations.

Trip interruption

Trip interruption benefits generally involve disruptions after you depart. It helps reimburse costs incurred for flight delays, cancellations and plenty of other covered disruptions you might encounter during your travels.

This coverage can cover the costs for you to return home or reimburse unexpected expenses like an extra hotel stay, meals and ground transportation.

Trip delay coverage helps cover unexpected costs when your trip is delayed. This is another coverage that helps offset the costs of flight trouble or other travel disruptions.

Note that many policies have a total amount a traveler can claim, with caps on per diem benefits, too.

Cancel For Any Reason

Cancel For Any Reason coverage allows you to recoup some of the upfront costs you paid for a trip even if you’re canceling for a reason not otherwise covered by your standard travel insurance policy.

Typically, adding this protection to your plan costs extra.

Baggage delay

This coverage helps cover the costs of essential items you might need when your luggage is delayed. Think toiletries, clothing and other immediate items you might need if your luggage didn’t make it on your flight.

Many travel insurance plans with baggage delay protection will specify how long (six, 12, 24 hours, etc.) your luggage must be delayed before you can make a claim.

Lost baggage

Used for travelers whose luggage is lost or stolen, this helps recoup the lost value of the items in your bag.

You’ll want to make sure you closely follow the correct procedures for your plan. Many plans include a maximum total amount you can claim under this coverage and a per-item cap.

Travel medical insurance

This covers out-of-pocket medical costs when travelers run into an emergency.

Because many travelers’ health insurance plans don’t cover medical care overseas, travel medical insurance can help offset out-of-pocket health care costs.

In addition to emergency medical coverage, many plans have medical evacuation or repatriation coverage for costs incurred when you must be taken to a hospital or return to your home country because of a medical situation.

Most travel insurance plans cover many trip protections that can help you be prepared for unexpected travel disruptions and expenses.

These coverages are generally aimed at protecting the money you put into your trip, expenses you incur because of travel trouble and costs incurred if you have a medical emergency overseas.

On top of core coverages like trip cancellation and interruption and travel medical coverage, some plans offer add-on options like waivers for pre-existing conditions, rental car collision damage waivers or adventure sports riders. These usually cost extra or must be added within a specified timeframe.

Typical travel insurance policies offer coverage for many unforeseen events, but as you research to select a plan, consider your needs. Though every plan differs, there are some commonly excluded coverages.

For instance, you typically can’t get coverage for a named storm if you bought the coverage after the storm was named. In other words, if you have a trip to the Caribbean booked for Sept. 25 and on Sept. 20 a hurricane develops and is named, you generally won’t be able to buy a travel insurance plan Sept. 21 in hopes of getting your money back.

Many plans also don’t cover activities performed under the influence of drugs or alcohol or any extreme sports. If the latter applies to you, you might want to consider a plan with specific coverages for adventure-seekers.

For numerous plans, a few other situations don’t qualify as an acceptable reason to cancel and make a claim, such as fear of travel, medical tourism or pregnancies (unless you booked a trip and bought insurance before you became pregnant or there are complications with the pregnancy). This is where a Cancel For Any Reason add-on to your coverage can be helpful.

You can also run into trouble if you give up on a trip too soon: a minor (or even multihour) flight delay likely isn’t sufficient to cancel your entire trip and get reimbursed through your plan. Be sure to review what requirements your specific plan has when it comes to canceling a trip, claiming trip interruption, etc.

Travel insurance costs vary widely. The final price of your plan will fluctuate based on your age, length of trip and destination.

It will also depend on how much coverage you need, whether you add on specialized policies (like Cancel For Any Reason or pre-existing conditions coverage), whether you plan to participate in extreme sports and other factors.

In our examples above, for instance, the 35-year-old traveler taking a $2,000 trip to Italy would have spent an average $76 for a basic plan to get coverage for things like trip cancellation and interruption, baggage protection, etc. That’s a little less than 4% of the total trip cost — lower than average.

If there were multiple members in a traveling party or if they were going on, say, a rock-climbing or bungee-jumping excursion, the costs would go up.

On average, travel insurance comes to about 5% to 10% of the trip cost. However, considering many of the plans reimburse up to 100% of the trip cost (or more) for disruptions like trip cancellation or interruption, it can be a worthwhile expense if something goes wrong.

It depends. Consider the following factors that might affect your decision: You’re young and healthy, all your bookings are refundable or cancelable without a penalty, your flights are nonstop, you’re not checking bags and a credit card you carry offers some travel protections . In that case, travel insurance might not be necessary.

On the other hand, if you prepaid a large chunk of money for a nonrefundable African safari, you’re going on a Caribbean cruise in the middle of a hurricane season or you’re going somewhere where the cost of health care is high, it’s not a bad idea to buy a travel insurance plan. Here’s how to find the best travel insurance coverage for you.

If you’re thinking of booking a trip and not planning to buy travel insurance, you may want to consider at least booking refundable airfare and not prepaying for hotel, rental car and activity reservations. That way, if something goes wrong, you can cancel without losing any money.

Selecting the best travel insurance policy comes down to your needs, concerns, preferences and budget.

As you book, take a few minutes to consider what most concerns you. Is it getting stranded because of flight trouble? Having the ability to cancel for any reason you see fit without losing money? Getting sick or injured right before departure and needing to postpone the trip? Injuring yourself or falling ill while overseas?

Ultimately, you want a plan that protects you, your money and the large investment in your trip — but doesn’t cost too much, either.

Medical coverage. If your priority is having adequate medical coverage abroad, you might want to look for plans with high limits for medical emergencies and medical evacuation.

Complex travel itinerary. If your itinerary has lots of flight connections, prepaid hotels and deposits for activities you can’t get back, prioritizing a plan with the best coverage for trip cancellations or interruptions may land at the top of your list.

Travel uncertainty. If you’re on the fence about a trip and have nonrefundable reservations, you may want to select a plan with a Cancel For Any Reason coverage option, which can help you recoup about 50% to 75% of the costs. This helps provide peace of mind, placing the decision on whether to travel entirely in your hands.

Car rentals. If you’re renting a car, a collision damage waiver is often worth looking into.

The following destinations are the top insured destinations in 2024, according to Squaremouth (a NerdWallet partner).

The Bahamas.

Costa Rica.

Antarctica.

In 2022, travelers spent about 25.53% more on trips than they did before the pandemic.

As of December, NerdWallet analysis determined travel prices are 10% higher than pre-pandemic. Each statistic makes a strong case for protecting your travel investment as you plan your next trip.

Bookmark these resources to help you make smart money moves as you shop for travel insurance.

What is travel insurance?

CFAR explained.

Is travel insurance worth getting?

10 credit cards that provide travel insurance.

We used the following factors to choose insurance providers to highlight:

Breadth of coverage: We looked at how many plans each company offered plus the range of their standard plans. 

Depth of coverage: We considered two data points to get a sense of how much each company pays out for common travel issues — the maximum caps for trip cancellation and trip interruption claims.

Cost: By looking at the costs for basic coverage across multiple companies, we determined an average cost for shoppers to benchmark plan prices against.

Customizability: While standard plans can cover a lot of ground, sometimes you need something a little more personal.

Customer satisfaction. Using data from Squaremouth when available, and Google Reviews as a backup, we can give kudos to companies with better track records from their clients.

No, it doesn’t necessarily get more expensive the longer you wait to purchase. However, as you put off buying insurance, you may lose access to potential plans and coverage options.

In general, buying travel insurance within a few days to two weeks of prepaying or making an initial deposit for your trip is your best bet. Assuming you’re not booking last-minute, this will provide you with access to the widest possible range of coverage options. It also helps prevent any medical conditions or storms that pop up between booking and buying a plan from ending up as excluded situations, which won’t be covered by your plan.

But, generally, many plans do allow you to buy coverage quite close to your departure date.

To get the most out of your travel insurance plan, buy it soon after making your initial prepayment or deposit to ensure you have access to the biggest menu of plans possible.

Select a plan that’s comprehensive enough to cover the travel scenarios you’re most concerned about or likely to encounter but not too expensive or laden with protections you’d never likely need.

Whatever your coverage, thoroughly review the plan so you understand what’s covered and what’s not, plus how to adhere to the plan’s rules for making a claim.

Travelers frequently use phrases like “trip insurance” and “travel insurance,” as well as “trip protection,” interchangeably, but they do mean different things, according to Stan Sandberg, founder of insurance comparison site TravelInsurance.com.

Trip insurance, or trip protection, generally refers to predeparture (or preevent) coverage if you need to cancel. You may see these plans sold by airlines, online travel agencies or even ticketed event sellers.

“You could refer to it as the portion that protects the investment in the trip,” Sandberg says.

A travel insurance plan typically includes that — plus more comprehensive benefits to protect you during your trip, from medical coverage to trip delay and lost baggage protections, and many more elements, depending on the plan.

Though travel insurance is typically not required for international trips, your personal circumstances will play a key role in whether it’s a good investment.

For instance, young, healthy travelers with few prepaid trip expenses embarking on a relatively risk-free trip may not see a need to buy a plan.

Older travelers with complicated itineraries who are visiting destinations where they could potentially fall ill or get injured — or who could encounter bad weather or some other disrupting factor along the way — may want to buy coverage.

Consider a few key questions:

How well would your health insurance plan cover you if you needed to visit a hospital overseas?

How much did you prepay for a hotel or rental car?

How much money would you be out if weather or some other flight issue derailed your itinerary?

Could you afford an unexpected night in a city where you have a connecting flight?

Do you already have a credit card that provides some travel protections?

Your answers to these questions can help you decide whether you need travel insurance for your international trip.

In general, buying travel insurance

within a few days to two weeks of prepaying or making an initial deposit

for your trip is your best bet. Assuming you’re not booking last-minute, this will provide you with access to the widest possible range of coverage options. It also helps prevent any medical conditions or storms that pop up between booking and buying a plan from ending up as excluded situations, which won’t be covered by your plan.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

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The Best Student Travel Insurance Plans for 2024

Companies like Faye, Travelex and Seven Corners can provide affordable options for student travel insurance if you’re planning to travel or study abroad.

with our comparison partner, TravelInsurance.com

Sarah Horvath is a finance writer and researcher based in New York City. She specializes in writing about home warranties, insurance and home financial protection.

Tori Addison is an editor who has worked in the digital marketing industry for over five years. Her experience includes communications and marketing work in the nonprofit, governmental and academic sectors. A journalist by trade, she started her career covering politics and news in New York’s Hudson Valley. Her work included coverage of local and state budgets, federal financial regulations and health care legislation.

If you’re a college student planning an international excursion, you may decide to protect your investment with travel insurance. Travel insurance compensates you if you need to cancel your trip for a covered reason, get injured abroad, or lose your luggage or other personal belongings while traveling.

Our top recommended travel insurance provider for college students is Faye , thanks to its easy sign-up process, fair pricing and comprehensive coverage.

Compare Travel Insurance for Students

Our top picks for student travel insurance are Travelex, Faye and Nationwide, which offer a blend of affordability and a range of coverage options.

Why Trust MarketWatch Guides

Our editorial team follows a comprehensive methodology for rating and reviewing travel insurance companies. Advertisers have no effect on our rankings.

Companies Reviewed

Quotes Collected

Rating Factors

Top 6 Travel Insurance Companies for Students

Here are our top picks for companies that offer student travel insurance:

• Faye: Our top pick for students
• Travelex: Our pick for affordable plans
• Seven Corners : Our pick for international travelers
• AXA Assistance USA : Our pick for leisure travelers
• Nationwide: Our pick for cruise travel
• Generali Global Assistance: Our pick for emergency assistance

To help you get a better idea of what you might pay for travel insurance as a student, we requested quotes from each of the above providers, as listed in the table below. We collected sample quotes for seven trip types, outlined in our methodology.

Why We Chose Faye

If you’re a digital native, you may enjoy how Faye leverages insurance tech to help you get a policy quickly and file a claim on the go. Benefitting from a digital underwriting process, Faye allows you to view policy options and start comparing quotes in seconds.

Launched in 2022 , Faye may be a newcomer to the travel insurance industry, but its seamless online experience has already earned the company hundreds of positive online customer reviews.

Faye features an all-online quote process with just a handful of questions, enrollment and claims-filing process. You can enroll in coverage and file claims directly through its mobile app, and even be reimbursed on approved claims to your phone’s Faye wallet. Faye also offers real-time alerts and 24/7 customer service before and during your trip.

We recommend Faye to travelers who want a quick, all-online experience that doesn’t require wading through complicated coverage options.

Pros & Cons

Coverage & add-ons.

Faye offers one plan with several optional add-on options.

Optional Add-Ons 

• Cancel for any reason (CFAR) 
• Rental car damage or theft
• Adventure and extreme sports protection 
• Vacation rental damage protection

*Coverage limits and availability may vary by state of residence.

A 30-year-old traveler planning a $4,000, five-day trip to the Bahamas would pay about $187 for travel insurance with Faye. Unlike competitors, this company offers only one policy for international travelers.

We We Chose Travelex

As a student, price may be a main focus when shopping for travel coverage. Travelex is Our pick for families for affordable student travel insurance thanks to its low rates. It offers two policies — the Travel Select and Travel Basic plans — with coverage available from just $30 for most low-value trips. Travel Basic plans include limited coverage but can provide peace of mind for students traveling on a budget.

Each plan also includes access to the company’s 24-hour assistance services, a hotline you can call for help with a variety of travel-related issues, such as medical emergencies and lost passports. Note that you will need to purchase the higher-cost Travel Select to cover a trip longer than 30 days (like a semester abroad).

Coverage & Cost

Add-On Options

Travelex offers the following add-on coverages with its travel insurance plans.

• CFAR coverage:  Reimburses you up to 50% for nonrefundable expenses if a trip is canceled for a covered reason.
• Additional medical expense coverage:  Extends your emergency medical expense coverage to $500,000 depending on your plan.
• Accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D):  Offers your family members up to $25,000 in death benefits if you die or are dismembered while traveling. Coverage excludes airline accidents.
• Adventure sports riders:  Travelex’s policies exclude injuries from adventure sports from your emergency medical coverage. This waiver eliminates that exclusion, extending your coverage to sporting accidents.

To help you get an idea of how much you might pay for a travel insurance policy, we requested a few sample quotes directly from Travelex. Browse the table below to learn more about coverage costs.

We We Chose Seven Corners

Seven Corners is a travel insurance provider offering a range of affordable options for students living both in the U.S. and abroad. The Basic and Choice RoundTrip plans will be the most useful for students who are residents of the U.S., providing protections for trip cancellation and interruption, emergency medical expenses, emergency evacuation and repatriation, and lost or stolen baggage.

It’s important to note that the coverage provided by the RoundTrip plan may be subject to certain limits and exclusions, so it’s important to read the policy details carefully and contact Seven Corners with any questions. However, with affordable rates and comprehensive plan inclusions, Seven Corners offers a great policy selection for students.

Seven Corners allows you to enhance travel insurance policies with the following add-ons:

• Cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage:  Extends up to 75% reimbursement for nonrefundable travel expenses. You must add CFAR coverage within 20 days of your initial trip payment deposit.
• Rental car damage:  Extends coverage to include up to $35,000 in collision coverage for rental cars you use abroad.
• Trip interruption for any reason (IFAR) coverage:  Like CFAR coverage, this add-on extends up to a 75% reimbursement if you need to leave your vacation early. You must purchase IFAR coverage within 20 days of your initial trip payment.

To help you get an idea of how much you might pay for a travel insurance policy, we requested a few sample quotes directly from Seven Corners. Browse the table below to learn more about coverage costs.

We We Chose AXA

AXA’s travel insurance policies are comprehensive and provide higher-than-average coverage limits compared to some providers. AXA offers three plan choices — and its most inclusive policy, the Platinum Plan, is ideal for adventure travelers. It includes coverage for lost skiing days, rounds of golf and even up to $1,000 in sports equipment rentals.

Overall, AXA’s plans are highly inclusive and offer a range of benefits. However, pricing is higher than competitors, which can be a particularly large consideration for students.

AXA offers two add-on options.

• CFAR coverage:  Provides reimbursements of up to 75% of your trip costs, but you must purchase coverage within 14 days of your initial trip payment.
• Collision coverage:  Extends up to $50,000 in collision coverage if you rent a car abroad.

Browse the table below to learn more about what you might pay for an insurance plan with AXA.

We We Chose Nationwide

If you’re a student saving up for a cruise, you probably want to do everything you can to protect your investment. Nationwide is one of the only travel insurance providers to offer policies specifically for cruise vacations. Cruise policies from Nationwide include coverage for all of the following: trip cancellation and interruption, missed connections, itinerary changes, and emergency medical expenses and evacuations.

All Nationwide cruise insurance plans include coverage for weather, work and school-related schedule changes. Coverage even extends to international terrorism that forces you or your cruise liner to cancel. Nationwide also offers standard round-trip insurance plans, which cover all of the standard protections you’d expect from competing insurance providers.

You can add the following optional coverages to Nationwide’s travel plans:

• AD&D:  Policies include up to $25,000 in add-on coverage for events that result in AD&D.
• CFAR coverage:  Reimburses you for up to 75% of nonrefundable trip expenses.
• Preexisting conditions waiver:  Select plans allow you to extend your medical insurance coverage to include preexisting medical conditions present at the time that you apply for coverage.
• Rental car collision coverage:  Extends up to $35,000 in rental car collision coverage depending on your plan choice.

Browse the table below to learn more about what you might pay for an insurance plan with Nationwide. Quotes are for standard roundtrip travel insurance policies.

We We Chose Generali

Generali is our top choice for travel insurance that includes 24/7 emergency service — an important consideration if you’re a student traveling abroad for the first time. Generali customers receive access to a 24/7 emergency hotline to contact international travel or telemedicine experts. If you’re traveling to a country where the native language is not English, this can provide peace of mind if you need translation services during an emergency.

Generali’s plans include all the standard coverages one would expect from travel insurance, with three policies available. All policies also include access to emergency transportation, telemedicine assistance and identity theft protection.

You can add the following optional coverages to Generali’s travel insurance plans.

• Rental car damage:  You can add up to $25,000 worth of rental car collision coverage on most trips.
• CFAR coverage:  Generali allows you to add CFAR coverage to select plans, which provide you with reimbursements of up to 60% for prepaid expenses.

Browse the table below to learn more about what you might pay for an insurance plan with Generali Global Assistance.

What Does Student Travel Insurance Cover?

As a student, most of your money likely goes towards tuition, housing expenses, textbooks and other costs associated with furthering your education. This can make it especially important to protect your financial investments when traveling.

Student travel insurance can provide coverage if you are traveling abroad for educational or cultural purposes. This type of insurance typically covers a range of risks that students may encounter while traveling domestically or abroad, including medical emergencies, trip cancellations or interruptions, lost or stolen luggage, and emergency medical evacuation.

You can purchase travel insurance for a single trip or for multiple trips over a specified period of time. Travel insurance coverage can vary widely depending on your policy details and provider, but if your trip is interrupted or canceled, most plans provide reimbursements for the following nonrefundable expenses:

• Plane tickets
• Reserved car deposits
• Lodging expenses
• Event tickets and excursions you’re unable to use
• Meals, clothing, toiletries and other necessities if your luggage is lost or stolen
• Medical expenses if you are hurt while traveling

While travel insurance is not mandatory for most trips, it can provide peace of mind if you want protection from unexpected trip expenses or disruptions. But keep in mind that travel insurance only provides reimbursements for nonrefundable trip expenses under certain cancellation circumstances — unless you opt for CFAR coverage .

Common Add-Ons

Travel insurance companies commonly allow you to upgrade your plan with add-on coverages. Some of the most common travel insurance add-ons include the following:

• CFAR coverage: Allows you to cancel your trip for any reason and still receive partial reimbursement.
• Rental car coverage: If you’re renting a car abroad, you may need collision coverage. Many travel insurers allow you to add this coverage for an additional cost.
• Umbrella policies: If you’re traveling to a country with particularly high medical expenses, you may want to extend medical coverage using an umbrella rider.

Specific add-on availability will vary by the insurance provider.

Should Students Consider COVID-19 Coverage?

Students may be concerned about whether travel insurance will cover cancellations and interruptions due to COVID-19 . While the specific details of each policy will vary depending on the insurance provider, most travel insurance plans treat COVID-19 as a standard illness when considering reimbursements.

Under the terms of most travel insurance cancellation policies, if you become sick with COVID before traveling and must cancel your trip, you’d be entitled to a reimbursement. Policies may also include medical coverage that extends to a COVID diagnosis you receive abroad. However, plans do not cover trip cancellations due to new COVID-19 outbreaks or strains that develop, nor fear of international travel due to COVID-19.

How Much Does Student Travel Insurance Cost?

According to our research, the average cost of student travel insurance is $154. However, the total cost of your trip will be the primary factor that influences the price of your travel insurance policy. As the value of your trip increases, so does the expense your insurer will need to cover if you file a claim.

This can make travel insurance cheaper for students who tend to travel on a budget. Medical coverage can also be more affordable for younger travelers, as they are less likely to incur major treatment bills abroad.

For accurate sample pricing, our team collected quotes for the following trips:

• A 19-year-old taking a 7-day, $4,000 trip to Mexico
• A 21-year-old taking a 5-day, $1,200 cruise in the Bahamas
• A 20-year-old taking a 9-day, $5,000 trip to Italy
• A 22-year-old taking a 2-week, $6,000 trip to France
• A 20-year-old taking a month-long trip to Europe (visiting the UK, Ireland, France, Spain and Greece) costing $8,000

Explore the table below to learn more about how age, trip cost and trip length influence price.

As you can see, trip cost influences the price of travel insurance the most for students.

What Impacts the Cost of Student Travel Insurance?

Several factors can affect the cost of student travel insurance, including:

• Destination: The cost of travel insurance can vary based on where you’re traveling. Some destinations may have higher medical care or evacuation expenses, affecting your premium.
• Length of trip: The length of your trip can affect the cost of travel insurance. The longer your trip, the higher your premium will be.
• Age: The age of the traveler can also impact the cost of travel insurance. Older travelers may have higher premiums due to an increased risk of health issues.
• Preexisting medical conditions: If you have preexisting medical conditions, it can affect the cost of travel insurance. Depending on the severity of your condition, you may need to pay a higher premium.
• Trip cost: More expensive trips will come with higher insurance costs since potential reimbursements depend on the price you paid for the trip.
• Deductible: If you choose a travel insurance plan with a deductible, it can lower your premium. However, you’ll be responsible for paying the deductible before insurance coverage kicks in.

Before you buy travel insurance, it’s important to compare companies carefully and select a plan that offers the coverage you need at a price you can afford. You can also check out our guide to the cheapest travel insurance for more coverage options.

Use the dropdown menu below to select your country of travel for a more in-depth guide on travel insurance for that specific location.

Is Student Travel Insurance Worth It?

Student travel insurance is often affordable, as students are more likely to be younger and insure less expensive trips. Both of these factors make students less likely to need to file a claim, which lowers the price of your insurance premium. If you’re planning a more valuable trip or you’re investing a significant amount of time putting your trip together, it can be worth it to consider travel insurance .

Finding the most affordable student coverage starts by defining your needs. If you are traveling abroad for more than a few weeks to study abroad , be sure to review your visa requirements before buying coverage. Read each company’s policy documentation before you buy, and get a quote from at least three providers to see which offers the best deal for your trip.

Frequently Asked Questions About Student Travel Insurance

Can i get travel insurance for a school trip.

Yes, travel insurance companies do provide insurance coverage for school-sponsored trips. If you’re planning on joining a class trip and have non-refundable expenses, it can be a good idea to consider a travel insurance policy.

Do I need travel insurance to study abroad?

Travel insurance is not usually legally required by international governments for students studying abroad. However, your college or university may have its own requirements you must meet in order to qualify for international study. Consult with your student advisor after selecting a study abroad destination to learn more about travel insurance program requirements.

How can college students afford to travel?

College students can afford to travel by taking trips during off seasons, saving money regularly throughout the year, and by taking advantage of study abroad programs. Students traveling internationally may also want to explore budget accommodations like hostels and low-cost airlines to travel without spending as much money.

What does student travel insurance cover?

Student travel insurance provides coverage for unexpected events that can occur during a trip to other U.S. states or a foreign country. These events may include trip cancellations, trip delays or interruptions, emergency medical bills, lost or stolen luggage, and other unforeseen circumstances.

Do I need student health insurance to travel or study abroad?

While U.S. residents do not legally need health insurance to travel, some schools require students to have health insurance while studying abroad. If your medical coverage does not extend outside your home country, you can purchase travel medical insurance to cover you abroad. While standard travel insurance only covers costs related to medical emergencies, some companies offer specific international health insurance plans for routine healthcare costs and medical treatments while traveling.

Methodology: Our System for Rating Travel Insurance Companies

• A 30-year-old couple taking a $5,000 vacation to Mexico.
• A family of four taking an $8,000 vacation to Mexico.
• A 65-year-old couple taking a $7,000 vacation to the United Kingdom.
• A 30-year-old couple taking a $7,000 trip to the United Kingdom.
• A 19-year-old taking a $2,000 trip to France.
• A 27-year-old couple taking a $1,200 trip to Greece.
• A 51-year-old couple taking a $2,000 trip to Spain.
• Plan availability (10%): We look for insurers with a variety of travel insurance plans and the ability to customize a policy with coverage upgrades.
• Coverage details (29%): We review the baseline coverage each company offers in its cheapest comprehensive plan. A provider with robust coverage earns full points, including baggage delay and loss, COVID-19 coverage, emergency evacuation and medical coverage, trip delay and cancellation coverage, and more. Companies also receive points for offering a variety of policy add-ons like accidental death and dismemberment, extreme sports, valuable items, cancel for any reason coverage and more.
• Coverage times and amounts (34%): We compare each company’s waiting periods and maximum reimbursement amounts for baggage, travel and weather delays. Companies that offer customers reimbursement after fewer than 12 hours of delays earn full points in this category. We also reward travel insurance providers that cover more than 100% of trip costs in the event of cancellations or interruptions.
• Company service and reviews (17%): We look for indicators that a company is well-prepared to respond to customer needs. Companies with an established global resource network, 24/7 emergency hotline, mobile app, multiple ways to file a claim and concierge services score higher in this category. We assess reputation by evaluating consumer reviews, third-party financial strength and customer experience ratings, specifically from AM Best and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

For more information, read our full travel insurance methodology.

A.M. Best Disclaimer

If you have feedback or questions about this article, please email the MarketWatch Guides team at  editors@marketwatchguides. com .

Other Travel Insurance Resources

[email protected]

As an international student, peace of mind is a priority when you study abroad. Your educational adventure or cultural exchange program should be an enjoyable experience.

 These plans are designed to specifically meet the needs of international students, scholars, and people involved in long-term educational and cultural exchange programs. Plans that offer a robust package of benefits while outside your home country.

Recommended Plans

Student plans travel medical.

If you’re traveling abroad to study or work, prepare for safe travel and ensure you meet the requirements of your school, visa program, and host country with Seven Corners Travel Medical Insurance. Seven Corners plans provide medical coverage for illnesses or injuries that occur while you’re traveling, as well as limited protection for pre-existing conditions. You’ll also receive access to a network of medical providers and 24-hour multilingual travel assistance.

AM Best Rating: A (Excellent)

Underwriter:  lloyd’s, london.

Student Secure®  International Insurance

International student health insurance for study abroad students. The StudentSecure series offers four levels of coverage– Elite ,  Select ,  Budget , and  Smart –so you can choose the plan that best fits your needs and budget.  ​A Student Secure plan can reduce your personal expenses if you face an unexpected injury or illness throughout the course of your international studies. All four plans include multilingual travel assistance services and access to our Student Zone, where you can download your visa letter, renew your coverage as needed, and manage your policy online.

Meets J-1 visa requirements

Medical benefits such as Hospital Room & Board, Intensive Care Unit, and Local Ambulance included

Coverage for leisure sports and activities included, as well as some outpatient prescription drug coverage and mental health coverage

Monthly payment option (or savings for paying the full premium in advance)

Underwritten By: United States Fire Insurance Company

Underwritten Location: 5 Christopher Way, Eatontown, NJ 07724

GeoBlue Navigator Student

Complete, affordable worldwide coverage designed for students (including Optional Practical Training (OPT) status), teachers and faculty.

Annual plan for individuals and their families who intend to be outside their home country for at least 3 months each year.

Covers dependents and families (only the subscriber must be a teacher, student or faculty).

Flexible options for plan length.

Plan options that meet F1 and J1 Visa requirements.

Unlimited annual and lifetime medical maximum.

Patriot Exchange Program

Medical insurance for students studying abroad or participants of cultural exchange programs

Deductible options from $0 to $500

Maximum limit of $5,000,000

Most plan options are designed to meet the U.S. J1 and J2 visa travel insurance requirements

AM Best Rating  A+

Globally recognized underwriters

 A-rated Sirius International Insurance Corporation (publ) and certain underwriters at Lloyd's

Student  Health Advantage

Medical insurance for international students or scholars participating in a sponsored study abroad program

Coinsurance in PPO network or student health center within the U.S.: Company pays 100%

Deductible of $100

Maximum limit for student: $500,000

Provides coverage for mental health, organized sports and pre-existing conditions

Student  Health Advantage Platinum

Maximum limit for student: $1,000,000

Collegiate Care Elite

Collegiate care elite highlights.

United Healthcare PPO Network

Sports Activities Coverage

Motor Vehicle Accident coverage

Unlimited medical maximum

Maternity coverage

COVID-19 EXPENSES are covered and treated as any other sickness 

Collegiate Care Elite Student Plans for students, scholars, and educators while outside their home country in the USA (Must be enrolled in or work for the school)

Underwritten by Crum and Forster, SPC

Collegiate Care Essential

Budget Travel Medical and Related Benefits for persons traveling outside their home country but not to the USA. Up to $1,000,000 medical and choice of Deductible. Please note this policy IS NOT valid for travel from, in, or to the United States of America. You must live in the country of Origin. Minimum 5 day purchase. COVID-19 EXPENSES are covered and treated as any other sickness. 

Travel Medical Plans for people traveling outside their home country and not to the USA. Not available to US Citizens or Greencard Holders

Student Travel Insurance

Customer Support

+1 949 864 6017

• International Travel Insurance
• Visitor / Immigrant Insurance
• Senior Travel Insurance
• Business Travel Insurance
• Travel Insurance For Schengen Visa
• Student Insurance Plan
• How It Works
• Manage Your Policy
• Book Appointment
• Get A Quote

My Profile Details

Make payment history.

• Student insurance

How to find the right student single trip travel insurance?

Looking for the ideal student single trip travel insurance? Explore factors like coverage options, cost, duration, and student discounts. Get expert tips on comparing plans and choosing the best one for your travel needs, ensuring peace of mind on your journey.

Get expert tips to find the right student single trip travel insurance

1. Types of travel insurance students can get?

Students have various options when it comes to travel insurance tailored to their needs. Based on trip frequently, here are 2 types of travel insurance students can consider:

• Student Single Trip Travel Insurance: Ideal for students planning a one-time journey, this insurance provides coverage for the duration of a specific trip, offering protection against unforeseen events such as trip cancellations, medical emergencies, and lost baggage.
• Multi-Trip Travel Insurance: For students who anticipate multiple travels within a specified period, multi-trip insurance offers continuous coverage for numerous trips throughout the year, typically at a more cost-effective rate compared to purchasing individual policies for each journey.

2. How does single trip travel insurance work?

Single trip travel insurance works similarly for students as it does for other travelers. Here's how it typically works for students:

Purchase: Students interested in single trip travel insurance can purchase a policy online, through a travel agency, or directly from insurance providers. They will need to provide details such as trip dates, destination, age, and any optional coverage they may require.

Coverage Period: The insurance coverage begins on the specified start date of the trip and ends on the return date. It provides protection against various unforeseen events that may occur during the journey.

Students interested in single trip travel insurance can purchase a policy online

Coverage Benefits: Single trip travel insurance for students typically includes coverage for:

• Trip Cancellation or Interruption: Reimbursement for non-refundable trip expenses if the trip is canceled or interrupted due to covered reasons such as illness, injury, or unforeseen circumstances.
• Emergency Medical Assistance: Coverage for medical emergencies and expenses incurred during the trip, including hospitalization, doctor visits, prescription medications, and medical evacuation if necessary.
• Lost or Delayed Baggage: Compensation for lost, stolen, or delayed baggage, including reimbursement for essential items or replacement costs.
• Travel Assistance Services: Access to 24/7 travel assistance services, including emergency hotline support, medical referrals, and assistance with travel arrangements.

Claim Process: In the event of an emergency or covered incident during the trip, students can file a claim with the insurance provider. They will need to provide documentation such as medical records, receipts, and proof of expenses incurred.

Approval and Reimbursement: Once the claim is submitted, the insurance provider will assess the validity of the claim and determine the amount of reimbursement. Approved claims are typically reimbursed within a specified timeframe, either through direct deposit or by check.

Policy Exclusions: It's essential for students to review the policy details carefully to understand any exclusions or limitations that may apply. Common exclusions may include pre-existing medical conditions, high-risk activities, or travel to certain regions with travel advisories.

Overall, single trip travel insurance provides students with peace of mind and financial protection against unexpected events during their travels, allowing them to focus on their studies and enjoy their journey without worrying about potential risks or expenses.

3. Factors Affecting Student Single Trip Travel Insurance Cost

Several factors influence the cost of single trip travel insurance for students. Understanding these factors can help students make informed decisions when purchasing insurance for their travels. Here are the key factors affecting the cost of single trip student travel insurance:

• Age of the Student: The age of the student is a significant factor in determining the insurance premium. Younger students generally benefit from lower rates compared to older individuals, as they are perceived to be at lower risk of medical complications or emergencies during their travels.
• Duration of Trip: The duration of the trip affects the insurance premium. Longer trips typically entail higher premiums, as they involve a longer period of coverage and increased exposure to potential risks. Shorter trips may result in lower premiums due to reduced coverage duration.

The age of the student is a significant factor in determining the insurance premium

• Pre-existing Medical Conditions: Students with pre-existing medical conditions may face higher premiums or limited coverage options, as they are considered to be at higher risk of requiring medical care during their trip. Some insurance providers may offer specialized coverage or require additional medical screening for students with pre-existing conditions.
• Coverage Limits and Options: The extent of coverage and optional add-ons selected by the student can influence the insurance cost. Comprehensive coverage with higher limits for medical expenses, trip cancellations, and baggage loss may result in higher premiums. Conversely, opting for basic coverage with lower limits may help reduce the insurance cost but may also entail fewer benefits and protections.
• Travel Activities and Risk Factors: Engaging in high-risk activities such as adventure sports, extreme sports, or hazardous excursions may lead to increased insurance premiums. Insurance providers assess the level of risk associated with the planned activities and adjust premiums accordingly. Students participating in such activities may need to purchase additional coverage or specialized insurance policies to ensure adequate protection.
• Insurance Provider and Policy Features: The insurance provider and the specific policy features also influence the cost of single trip student travel insurance. Different insurance companies offer varying premium rates, coverage options, and discounts tailored to students. It's essential for students to compare quotes from multiple providers to find the most cost-effective policy that meets their needs.

By considering these factors and assessing their individual travel requirements, students can select a single trip travel insurance policy that offers adequate coverage at a competitive price, ensuring peace of mind during their journey.

4. Single trip travel insurance money saving expert tips for Students

When it comes to finding the best deals on single trip travel insurance for students, there are several money-saving expert tips to consider. Here's how students can save money on their travel insurance:

• Comparison Shopping: One of the most effective ways to save money on single trip travel insurance is by comparing quotes from multiple insurance providers. Use online comparison tools or visit insurance websites directly to compare coverage options, premiums, and discounts available for students.
• Opt for Basic Coverage: Evaluate your travel needs and opt for a basic insurance plan that covers essential aspects such as medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and baggage loss. Avoid unnecessary add-ons or upgrades that may increase the cost of insurance without providing significant additional benefits.

Tips to find the best deals on single trip travel insurance for students

• Consider Group Policies: If traveling with friends or classmates, consider purchasing a group travel insurance policy. Group policies often offer discounted rates for multiple travelers, providing cost savings for everyone involved.
• Check for Promotions and Deals: Keep an eye out for promotions, deals, and special offers from insurance providers. Follow insurance companies on social media, subscribe to newsletters, and regularly check their websites for exclusive discounts or limited-time offers.

By following these money-saving expert tips, students can find affordable single trip travel insurance that provides adequate coverage and peace of mind during their journeys.

5. Single trip travel insurance for 17 year olds

For 17-year-old students embarking on single trip travel, especially for exchange programs or vacations, it's essential to find suitable insurance coverage that offers protection and peace of mind during their journey. Here's how single trip travel insurance can cater to their specific needs:

5.1 Student single trip travel insurance for exchange programs

Student exchange programs offer unique opportunities for cultural immersion and academic enrichment. However, navigating a foreign country comes with potential risks, making travel insurance essential for 17-year-old students participating in such programs. 

If you're an exchange student and in search of student single trip travel insurance the Patriot Exchange Program package is a suitable choice. Specifically tailored for exchange students, this insurance plan provides comprehensive coverage for medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation of remains, and other essential benefits. With the Patriot Exchange Program, you can have peace of mind knowing that you're adequately protected during your exchange program.

5.2 Student single trip travel insurance for vacation, holiday,.. 

When it comes to single trip travel insurance for 17-year-old students going on vacations, holidays, or leisure trips, the Patriot Travel Series is a suitable option to consider. Designed to meet the needs of travelers seeking temporary medical insurance while journeying outside their home country, the Patriot Travel Series offers multiple plans with different levels of coverage. Here's why the Patriot Travel Series is a great choice. With its comprehensive coverage, flexible duration, customizable options, affordability, and worldwide coverage, students can embark on their travels with confidence, knowing that they are covered against unforeseen events and emergencies.

In conclusion, ensuring you have the right travel insurance is crucial for any student embarking on a single trip, whether it's for an exchange program, vacation, or holiday adventure. By considering factors such as coverage options, cost, duration, and special discounts for students, you can make an informed decision that provides peace of mind throughout your journey.

With Travelner Insurance , you can trust that you're getting comprehensive coverage tailored to your needs as a student traveler. From emergency medical assistance to trip cancellation protection, Travelner Insurance has you covered every step of the way.

Don't leave your travel safety to chance. Take control of your journey and protect yourself with student single trip travel insurance from Travelner Insurance today! 

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Whether you’re going on a quick getaway to take your mind off your studies, spending a term at a foreign university, or travelling the world on post-finals extravaganza, InsureandGo will have a student savvy insurance policy for you.

What is student travel insurance?

Students often want travel insurance that is as cheap as possible, but this can be a mistake if it doesn’t cover everything you need.

Our Budget policy is designed with travellers such as students in mind, being cheap but still covering the essentials – so you won’t get caught out. The policy can cover everything from short city breaks to backpacking odysseys! 

What does student travel insurance cover?

All of our student travel insurance policies include:

• Cover for cancellation of your trip
• Over  50 sports and activities  covered as standard (see policy wording for a full list)
• Emergency dental treatment
• Personal belongings and baggage cover
• Personal money, passports and travel documents cover
• Accommodation cover
• Legal expenses cover

The excess and cover limits will vary depending on the policy chosen. Find out more in our  policy wordings . Cover for additional activities, or any particularly valuable belongings, can be added to your travel insurance policy, making sure you’re covered for your specific needs.

What are you covered for with student travel insurance?

Depending on the type of trip you’re planning, we can cover a wide range of possibilities. Our single trip  Budget policy  will cover you for up to 365 days, more than enough for most student getaways. Alternatively, an annual multi-trip policy might work out cheaper if you’ll be going away more than once this year.

Both policies include medical expenses cover, insurance for your luggage, and cover for an extensive list of over 50 different activities – so you can enjoy whatever your destination has to offer.

Have a look through the  policy documents  to see which type suits you. Or  get a quote  to see how our policies and prices compare.

Does my student travel insurance cover adventurous sports?

Yes! For many students, joining the college or university sports team can be one of the top priorities when studying abroad. With our  travel insurance  policies we cover over  50 adventurous sports  and activities as standard so you’re free to have fun knowing you’re covered should something unfortunate occur.

If you happen to be an adrenaline junkie and plan on taking part in an activity not covered as standard, additional  extreme sports cover  can be added to any of our policies.  This covers you if you’re planning on  skydiving ,  rock climbing , swimming with sharks and many other extreme sports.

Take a look at our  policy wording  for full details of the cover provided.

Student travel insurance with medical conditions

We’ll consider covering any diagnosed  medical condition  you might be travelling with – just let us know before you go! Our Budget policies don’t offer medical screening, so if you do have a condition just choose Silver, Gold or Black and answer a few simple questions. We can cover many medical conditions at no extra cost, but for others there may be an additional premium to pay.

You can check through our insurance  policy documents  for further details, or  get in touch  for more information.

What to pack for your student trip

We all end up forgetting something when we’re packing last minute, be it your toothbrush, underwear or some other unmentionables. Here are a few items that are frequently forgotten, but a godsend to have in your bag:

• The ever-important travel plug You do not want your phone, tablet, iPod, e-reader, or other electrical essentials going dead!You may need to contact someone in an emergency, but more importantly you’ll need something to keep you entertained during those long flights (or those long nights when your travelling companions’ snoring just will not quit).
• Waterproof bags It doesn’t have to be anything more than a supermarket carrier bag (really, it doesn’t), but putting your toiletries and liquids inside a plastic bag can make all the difference. Especially if your bag takes a bump getting on or off the plane – nobody wants to open their luggage to find a suntan lotion explosion.
• Drugs Remember painkillers, tummy-settlers, and any other medication you might need. Nothing ruins a party or even a hike more than a sudden, untreatable headache. Taking a mini first aid pack could save your day or night out. Include bits like plasters, paracetamol and protection (insect repellent or otherwise).
• Somewhere clever to put emergency cash Unfortunately, young people can often be an easy target for crime. Whether you’ve fallen asleep on a beach in Magaluf, or simply let your guard down backpacking, having a secret pocket or hidden compartment in your clothing or shoes could be the one thing that gets you back to safety.

For great student travel insurance,  get a quote online  or  get in touch . We’re happy to answer any questions you may have, no matter how simple.

• Unlimited emergency medical expenses available on Black level policies.
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• International Student Travel Medical Insurance
• International Student Insurance

The best international student health insurance is the policy that suits your individual needs, aligns with your budget, and meets or exceeds any requirements of your school, visa, and/or program. Even if you aren't required to carry medical insurance as part of your visa or program arrangements, having a basic international student health insurance policy at a minimum may be a good idea.

Depending on the plan you choose, international student health insurance may cover expenses related to:

• Transportation to a hospital via ambulance
• Hospital stays
• Outpatient prescription drugs
• Mental health care
• Other health care services related to a covered event

Many international student insurance policies do NOT cover expenses such as:

• Pre-existing conditions (though some plans provide coverage after the policy has been in effect for a certain amount of time)
• Routine medical care like annual physicals
• Injuries that occur while participating in excluded activities such as extreme sports
• Routine prenatal care, pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal care, unless directly related to a covered pregnancy

These are just some examples to help illustrate the potential benefits and limitations of international student insurance. These lists are in no way comprehensive and coverages vary by plan. All policy information should be carefully reviewed prior to enrollment.

Having insurance may not take care of every expense that you could incur while studying abroad, but it can provide financial coverage and travel assistance to help you navigate stressful experiences such as illnesses or injuries while studying abroad.

StudentSecure® International Student Insurance from WorldTrips

StudentSecure ® is international student health insurance for full-time students and scholars studying outside of their home country. There are four different plans in the StudentSecure Series so you can choose the level of coverage that best fits your needs and budget: Elite ,  Select ,  Budget , and  Smart .

Here is a quick overview of each plan:

• StudentSecure Elite – There is a maximum benefit of $5M with $500,000 of maximum coverage per injury or illness. There is a deductible of $25 per injury or illness within the Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) or at a student health center; otherwise the deductible is $50 per injury or illness. (Note that emergency room visits have a $100 deductible for claims incurred within the U.S.) For claims incurred inside the U.S., the plan will pay 100% of eligible expenses, after the deductible and up to the overall maximum limit, within the PPO. Outside the PPO, the plan covers usual, reasonable, and customary charges. For claims incurred outside the U.S., after the deductible is met, the plan will pay 100% of eligible expenses up to the certificate period maximum.
• StudentSecure Select – There is a maximum benefit of $600,000 with $300,000 of maximum coverage per injury or illness. There is a deductible of $35 per injury or illness within the Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) or at a student health center; otherwise the deductible is $70 per injury or illness. (Note that emergency room visits have a $200 deductible for claims incurred within the U.S.) For claims incurred inside the U.S. and within the PPO, the plan will pay 80% of the next $5,000 of eligible expenses after the deductible is met, and then 100% to the overall maximum limit. Outside the PPO, the plan covers usual, reasonable, and customary charges. For claims incurred outside the U.S., after the deductible is met, the plan will pay 100% of eligible expenses up to the certificate period maximum.
• StudentSecure Budget – There is a maximum benefit of $500,000 with $250,000 of maximum coverage per injury or illness. The deductible is $45 per injury or illness within the Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) or at a student health center; otherwise the deductible is $90 per injury or illness. (Keep in mind, emergency room visits have a $350 deductible for claims incurred within the U.S.) For claims incurred inside the U.S. and within the PPO, the plan will pay 80% of the next $25,000 of eligible expenses after the deductible is met, and then 100% to the overall maximum limit. Outside the PPO, the plan covers usual, reasonable, and customary charges. For claims incurred outside the U.S., after the deductible is met, the plan will pay 100% of eligible expenses up to the certificate period maximum.
• StudentSecure Smart – There is a maximum benefit of $200,000 with $100,000 of maximum coverage per injury or illness. The deductible is $50 per injury or illness within the Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) or at a student health center; otherwise the deductible is $100 per injury or illness. (Keep in mind, emergency room visits have a $350 deductible for claims incurred within the U.S.) For claims incurred inside the U.S. and within the PPO, the plan will pay 80% of eligible expenses after the deductible is met and up to the overall maximum limit. Outside the PPO, the plan covers usual, reasonable, and customary charges. For claims incurred outside the U.S., after the deductible is met, the plan will pay 100% of eligible expenses up to the certificate period maximum.

StudentSecure® plans do NOT provide coverage for medical expenses related to *pre-existing conditions. However, after your policy has been in effect for 6 months, this exclusion is waived for StudentSecure® Elite and StudentSecure® Select policy holders. After 12 months, the exclusion is waived for StudentSecure® Budget policy holders. Make sure to review your plan’s policy documents for details regarding pre-existing conditions.

StudentSecure plans meet or exceed most government and visa requirements, including J-1 visa requirements (learn more below). They also meet the requirements of many programs and schools at a budget-friendly rate.

Here are a few of the plans’ highlights:

• Medical benefits such as Hospital Room and Board, Intensive Care Unit, and Local Ambulance
• Coverage for injuries resulting from leisure sports and activities
• Some outpatient prescription drug coverage
• Some mental health coverage

A StudentSecure plan can reduce your personal expenses if you face an unexpected injury or illness throughout the course of your international studies. You can choose a monthly payment option or pay a reduced cost for paying your premium in full.

All four plans include multilingual travel assistance services and access to our Student Zone, where you can download your visa letter, renew your coverage as needed, and manage your policy online.

*A pre-existing condition is any condition:

• for which medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment was recommended or received within 12 months prior to your effective date of coverage
• which would cause a reasonably prudent person to seek medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment within 12 months prior to your effective date of coverage
• that existed (with reasonable medical certainty) 12 months prior to your effective date of coverage, whether or not it was known to you

Health Insurance for International Students in USA

Many foreign visitors to the United States are surprised to find that healthcare costs are often  much more expensive  than those in their home countries. Because of this reality, it makes sense for visiting students to carry international travel health insurance, even when it is not required.

Whether you are in the U.S. on an F-1 or a J-1 visa, it makes sense to review your insurance coverage options. While there is no medical insurance requirement for obtaining an F-1 visa, your program may require that you have a policy.

What Is an F-1 Visa?

An F-1 visa is issued to students who will be in the country strictly for educational purposes and who do not have any intention of immigrating into the U.S.

You may need an F-1 visa if your intended type of study falls under one of the following categories:

• University or college
• High school
• Private elementary school
• Conservatory
• Another academic institution (including a language training program)
• F-1 Visa Insurance

Under such circumstances, there is no official requirement for F-1 student insurance . However, certain schools and educational programs have a requirement in place. Therefore, when looking for health insurance for F-1 students in the USA, look for a plan that meets any requirements while also fitting your study abroad budget and providing any specific coverage you need for your time abroad.

Regardless of any requirements or lack thereof, you may want to consider holding a basic policy to cover unexpected medical situations. Travel medical insurance could also help prove your ability to pay for medical expenses incurred during your stay in the U.S., which could be beneficial when obtaining your visa.

What Is a J-1 Visa?

The U.S. Department of State classifies international visitors based on the purpose and length of their visit. For example, if you are coming to the States to be an au pair, you will need to apply for a J-1 visa .

Here are the types of exchange programs that may require a J-1 visa:

• Camp counselor
• College or university student
• Government visitor
• International visitor
• Professor and research scholar
• Secondary school student
• Short-term scholar
• Summer work travel
• J-1 Visa Insurance

In addition to the typical requirements such as a copy of your birth certificate and a valid passport, the U.S. Department of State requires proof of health insurance for students studying in the USA under a J-1 visa. This insurance must meet specific J-1 visa insurance requirements.

WorldTrips offers two different plans that meet J-1 student insurance requirements :

Atlas Travel®

This is a travel medical insurance plan designed for international travelers taking a single trip abroad. Though it is not designed specifically for students, it does meet J-1 visa requirements.

StudentSecure®

This is a series of international student health insurance plans designed for full-time students and scholars studying outside of their home country. It offers four plan levels– Elite ,  Select ,  Budget , and  Smart –so you can choose the international student insurance plan that best fits your needs and budget.

Both policy offerings meet J-1 visa insurance requirements, include multilingual travel assistance services, and provide coverage for unexpected medical expenses.

Explore J-1 visa insurance requirements and learn how the two plans compare below:

If you are looking for international student insurance for the USA, be sure to take the time to fully understand the coverage that each policy provides. Carefully review the policy documents for any plan you’re considering to see the benefits provided and their conditions as well as any exclusions.

Remember, the best health insurance for international students in the USA is the plan that meets your school, program, and/or visa requirements while providing the coverage you’re seeking at a price that aligns with your budget.

International Student Health Insurance Cost

The international student health insurance cost is an important consideration when selecting a policy, though cost alone should not determine which policy you choose.

Factors that can affect the cost of your policy include the location of your studies (outside the U.S. or within the U.S.), the amount of coverage you choose, your deductible selection, and your age. There are some options, such as the StudentSecure plans provided by WorldTrips, that allow students to pay their premium in monthly installments or you can pay your premium in full.

To give you an idea how much you might pay for an international student health plan, here are some *cost examples for StudentSecure plans when you are studying abroad  outside the U.S. , and you choose a monthly payment option :

StudentSecure Elite

Plans range from $135 - $914 per month depending on age.

StudentSecure Select

Plans range from $74 - $547 per month depending on age.

StudentSecure Budget

Plans range from $43 - $424 per month depending on age.

StudentSecure Smart

Plans range from $25 - $214 per month depending on age.

There are also additional coverage options available as policy add-ons. These include coverage for accidental death or dismemberment, crisis response coverage, and coverage of injuries that occur during organized sports participation. There are additional fees and limitations for these clauses.

*These cost examples are valid as of the publish date on 05/21/2024. Prices are subject to change without notice, so be sure to take a close look at your policy application.

Cost of Health Insurance for International Students in USA

To get any idea of the health cost in the USA for international students, here are some *cost examples for StudentSecure plans when you are studying abroad  inside the U.S. , and you choose a monthly payment option :

Plans range from $193 - $2,028 per month depending on age.

Plans range from $99 - $1,206 per month depending on age.

Plans range from $48 - $604 per month depending on age.

Plans range from $30 - $389 per month depending on age.

The student health insurance for USA cost should be factored into your overall budget as you plan your expenses for your educational adventure abroad. Traveling to a foreign country to further your study or work opportunities, or both, is an exciting undertaking. When you take the time to properly research available student health insurance policies, you take an important step in preparing for your time abroad.

Be Sure to Explore These Related Resources:

• International Student Health Insurance
• High School Study Abroad Medical Insurance
• Graduate Study Abroad Health Insurance
• The Disadvantages of Study Abroad
• Benefits of Studying Abroad
• Study Abroad Checklist: Everything You Need to Do to Prepare

KHE2FFFYH6SP-971744701-503

WorldTrips is a service company and a member of the Tokio Marine HCC group of companies.

WorldTrips’ Atlas Travel Series and StudentSecure international travel medical insurance products are underwritten by Lloyd's. WorldTrips has authority to enter into contracts of insurance on behalf of the Lloyd's underwriting members of Lloyd's Syndicate 4141, which is managed by HCC Underwriting Agency, Ltd.

WorldTrips' Atlas Journey, Atlas Cruiser, and Atlas On-The-Go trip protection insurance products are underwritten by Tokio Marine HCC's U.S. Specialty Insurance Company (USSIC). USSIC is a Texas-domiciled insurance company operating on an admitted basis throughout the United States. Coverage is available to U.S. residents of the U.S. states and District of Columbia only. This plan provides insurance coverage that only applies during the covered trip. You may have coverage from other sources that provides you with similar benefits but may be subject to different restrictions depending upon your other coverages. You may wish to compare the terms of this policy with your existing life, health, home, and automobile insurance policies. Coverage may not be available in all states.

In the State of California, operating as WorldTrips Insurance Services. California Non-Resident Producer License Number: 0G39705

How does single trip travel insurance work?

Who needs single trip travel insurance.

• Choosing travel insurance

Purchasing single trip travel insurance

Single trip travel insurance frequently asked questions, what is single trip travel insurance.

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate insurance products to write unbiased product reviews.

• Single trip travel insurance covers unexpected costs incurred during a trip.
• Compared to annual travel insurance, single trip insurance is more flexible and comprehensive. 
• Premiums are based on trip costs, usually between 4% to 8%, but CFAR coverage may increase costs.

No matter the asset, protecting your investments via insurance is a proven means of providing coverage against financial loss. On par with homeowners, automobile, and life insurance, travel insurance is a proactive means of preparing for the uncertainties of travel, from flight delays and cancellations to lost luggage and medical emergencies.

The best travel insurance plan meets your specific needs. Single trip insurance protects one specific trip, offering the flexibility to tailor your insurance to your travel plans. If you're taking one large trip, perhaps your dream vacation, single trip insurance can protect your investment and provide peace of mind before, during, and after takeoff.

Single trip travel insurance covers unexpected additional expenses while on a trip. Often used interchangeably with traditional travel insurance, single trip travel insurance is the most popular type of insurance policy purchased by travelers in the US. Among its many benefits, this basic travel coverage is flexible, cost-effective, and comprehensive. 

Compared with annual travel insurance coverage (which covers multiple excursions to and from home within a specified period and comes with a cap), traditional policies cover a range of unforeseen events and emergencies leading up to (and for the duration of) your trip. Single trip travel insurance cost is typically a percentage of your trip costs, anywhere from 4% to 8% of your trip's total cost

Coverage options in single trip policies

Travel insurance covers unexpected financial losses while traveling. This can include inconveniences that happen throughout a trip, like lost baggage, missed connections, and travel delays. For example, travel insurance can cover meals purchased at the airport after your flight has been delayed for a certain amount of time.

However, travel insurance is especially helpful when more serious incidents occur. For example, travel insurance will cover non-refundable deposits in the case of an unexpected trip cancellation, as long as your trip was canceled for a covered reason.

Additionally, medical emergency insurance is particularly helpful when traveling abroad, where US-based health insurance usually can't help you. Depending on your policy, travel insurance can cover hospital room and board, prescription medicine, and even surgeries. It may also pay for medical evacuations and repatriations.

Additional coverage options

Most insurance providers will provide additional coverage options if you're looking for something more specific. For example, if you're traveling to a destination for extreme sports like skydiving, you can add adventure sports coverage to your policy.

You can also add Cancel For Any Reason to your policy, if you think you may cancel your trip for an uncovered reason, like fear of flying. However, you will need to be mindful of when you purchase travel insurance, CFAR is only available if you purchase travel insurance within two to three weeks of placing a deposit on your trip. You can find our guide to the best cancel for any reason travel insurance here.

Traditional travel plans are typically designed for the leisure traveler. In other words, vacationers who want to protect against unexpected, sometimes catastrophic financial losses related to an upcoming vacation pay a small fee relative to trip costs.

"The typical travel insurance buyer is someone who can't afford to lose non-refundable trip deposits such as for a cruise or vacation rental if forced to cancel [a vacation] for a covered reason," says Carol Mueller , vice president of Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection . "It is also for the vacationer concerned about medical emergencies or medical evacuations [while away from home] that could cost thousands of dollars and [are] not covered by a health insurance plan."

However, if you have multiple trips coming up within a 365-day, annual travel insurance may be worth a look. While a single trip policy will end when you return home, annual travel insurance will cover any trips you take over a year.  

Choosing the right single trip policy

Since it can be overwhelming to sift through the myriad options available, Jones offers some tips to help travelers make the right decision when choosing travel insurance coverage:

Think about your needs: Consider the kind of trip you are taking and the activities you're planning. If you're traveling for a sports trip, you may want extra protection for your sports equipment. But it's often simpler. For example, you'll need travel medical insurance for emergencies as your standard health insurance probably won't cover you abroad.

Compare policies: Compare policies from multiple providers to find one meeting your needs and budget. Look for policies with comprehensive coverage for unforeseen events such as medical emergencies and trip cancellations. You can see which is more affordable when you have similar plans side-by-side. Just don't forget to account for any differences to get the most competitive pricing.

Read the fine print: Make sure you understand any exclusions or limitations before purchasing a policy. Some coverages, like cancel for any reason travel insurance, may have a time limit, but the coverage should be straightforward. Other cancellation coverage will most likely have important exclusions you should know.

Consider preexisting conditions: If any travelers in your party have preexisting medical conditions, ensure the policy you plan to purchase covers them. You may have to pay extra, but it will cost you a lot less than trying to find essential medications while you're on the road, especially if you're traveling internationally.

Look for customer reviews: Check customer reviews to see how other travelers have fared with the policy and provider. You can use sites like Trustpilot, ConsumerAffairs, and the BBB.

Purchase early: It's important to secure coverage at the same time you book your trip, as some coverage may only be available within a specific timeframe. Like your plane tickets and other travel arrangements, you may qualify for lower rates or discounts if you buy early.

Finally, planning to swipe a family vacation off your bucket list? Investing in travel insurance is the smart and savvy way to ensure you eventually reach your destination (financially) unscathed, despite any minor derailments.

"You can't predict what can go wrong before you leave for, or even [what transpires] during your vacation. That's why it makes sense to consider purchasing a comprehensive, traditional plans protect you against financial losses you never thought would happen," says Mueller.

While you can insure any trip, single trip travel insurance is best for long, expensive, or international trips. It's best to buy insurance shortly after booking your trip, ideally within two weeks of placing the deposit on your trip. 

Hundreds of plans offer similar coverages and benefit limits. Working with a certified insurance professional is the easiest way to cut through the hundreds of similar plans, find a quite, and purchase the plan best suited to your trip based on travel mode, trip cost, family presence, and more. 

After all, even the best-laid plans (and most detail-oriented itineraries) are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. While myriad travel-related details lie within your control, like when you go and where you stay, a few unpredictable variables will always remain. Proper insurance coverage might be the solution to anticipating all of them and ensuring a smooth journey one step at a time.

While single trip insurance is often more valuable for trips that are longer and international, insurance for domestic trips can be beneficial if they involve non-refundable expenses.

Yes, single trip policies can include multiple destinations within one trip, as long as all destinations are included in the policy.

You should purchase single trip insurance soon after booking your trip to qualify for benefits like CFAR policies and pre-existing condition waivers . Additionally, if your trip gets canceled before you can purchase travel insurance, you may not get your money back.

Most single trip insurance policies cover cancellations due to illness without the need for CFAR insurance, but it's important to check the specific terms of your policy.

While policy extensions are possible, rules depend on your insurer. Additionally, there may be a limit on how long you can extend your policy. 

• Main content

Short term single trip travel insurance plans

Full cover with our flexible travel insurance

• Single Trip
• Group Travel
• Canadian Residents
• Visitors to the USA
• Schengen Visa Insurance
• International Health Insurance
• Single Trip Travel Insurance

People residing outside of USA & Canada

Please click the globe above and you will be connected to our travel insurance supplier product page.

You reside in Canada

You must have provincial medical in place for entire trip AND currently reside in and be present in your home province in Canada to apply for the Tugo travel insurance plans

You are an American Resident in the USA

If you are residing in the USA, you can get a quote from our affiliates at VisitorsCoverage .

You are residing in Africa

If you are residing in Africa, you can get a quote for the Visitors Coverage Travel Insurance plans .

For a single trip to The Taj Mahal or to see customers in Cairo

Whether you’re looking for family travel insurance for a single travel trip or travel medical insurance for a trip from 5 days to up to 24 months, we can give you the travel insurance you need. TFG Global Travel Insurance  offers the Patriot short term single trip travel insurance plans through International Medical Group, Inc. for families and students . Our travel insurance plans are available to most people who are traveling abroad for trips up to 12 months.

We can provide cover for:

• Multi-Trip Travel Insurance
• Group Travel Insurance
• Travel Insurance For Canadian Residents
• Student Travel Insurance
• Travel Insurance for Visitors to the USA

Global Travel Insurance.com is copyrighted and is owned by TFG Global Insurance Solutions Ltd. Note: Some of the products and services described or advertised on this site may not be available to residents of certain jurisdictions, depending on regulatory constraints, including Canada and the U.S. Please contact TFG Global Insurance Solutions Ltd. for more information about your specific jurisdiction. If you or your company requires a policy that is billed to the USA, please contact us and we will refer you to a broker located in the USA. The policies we offer via TFG Global Insurance Solutions Ltd. or its related web sites are not available to citizens permanently residing in the USA when taking out the policy.

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Student Travel Insurance for Holidays or Studying Abroad

Students aren’t usually the most thorough when looking into things like travel insurance. There’s more emphasis on the entertainment side of things than the boring, administrative tasks. However, it’s just as important that students get the right travel insurance policy as anyone else so they are covered when they head out on their holidays. At Navigator, we want to make the process as easy as possible so students can focus on what they do best: having fun.

If you are studying at an overseas university, you may encounter problems getting travel insurance for students in your second or third year, due to a residency requirement on many UK travel insurance policies. Many of these long stay policies have a rule in the small print, which states that, to be eligible to buy this policy, you must not have been out of the UK for more than 6 months during the 12 month period prior to buying the policy. Obviously, if you have been at an overseas university for most of the previous year, you cannot buy this type of cover. However, the long stay versions of our Silver or Gold policies do not have this wording. To be eligible under the residency requirements of these two policies, you just need to have a home in the UK or EU and be registered with a GP here. There are no restrictions on the amount of time that you have spent out of the UK/EU in the previous year.

The range of insurance policies we have, cater for any student travel insurance requirements, whether you’re heading out on a 3 month , extended summer trip or a 5-day tour with your sports team. We know students are looking for cheap student travel insurance, though it’s still important to have all your activities covered. If you go on football tour and don’t have a travel insurance policy which covers sporting activities then you’ll be in trouble if you suffer an injury on your trip. Likewise, there’s no point getting a hugely expensive adventure policy if you only plan on going on a beach holiday for a week .

The last thing students want to spend time doing is reading the small print on a complicated travel insurance policy, though it is important to understand exactly which one is best for you so you don’t end up finding out the hard way that the cheap cover that you found online won’t cover half of the things that you want to do. If you take expensive belongings away with you like iPods or mobile phones then you need to be aware of the limitations on cover for these items. You should look carefully at the Single Item Limit and Total Valuables Limit on travel insurance policies. These electrical items are classed as “valuables” and cover is always very limited for these. Navigator Travel’s  Travel Insurance Tips & Advice  page provides a breakdown of the pitfalls when selecting a policy so that you don’t get stung like this when you should be enjoying yourself.

Our aim at Navigator is to help you find the perfect travel insurance for students, with the least hassle possible, offering all the information up front in a simple and easy to understand format. We are also available to discuss any issues personally with you  via phone or email  if necessary.

Depending on the nature of your travel throughout your years of studying, we have a number of policies to choose from which fall into 3 main categories:

• Annual Multi Trip Travel Insurance
• Long Stay Single Trip Travel Insurance
• Short Stay Single Trip Travel Insurance

Whatever your travel plans, you will get the cover you need right here. If you can’t find the information or the policy you are searching for then call us direct on 0161 973 6435 and we will do our best to find the perfect policy for your needs.

Annual Multi-Trip

Cover for multiple trips.

• Up to 45 days each trip
• Option to extend to 62 days
• Special deals for couples and families

Long Stay Single Trip

Cover from 2 to 18 months.

• Extended backpacking
• Career breaks
• Volunteering
• Working holidays abroad

Short Stay Single Trip

Cover for up to 45 days.

• Single holiday
• Business trip
• Special rates for families
• Accompanied kids go free

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Usually couples or individuals requiring cover for longer term overseas trips of 2 months or more.

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Skiing, snowboarding, climbing and more.

We offer four policies for people travelling overseas, requiring cover for specific sports and activities.

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The Best Time to Book a Flight for Domestic, International, and Summer Travel

Here are our best tips for booking travel in 2024.

When to Book Flights for Domestic Travel

When to book flights for international travel, when to book flights for summer 2024 travel, when to book flights for holiday 2024 travel.

Buying plane tickets is something of an art form. Ideally, you want to secure your spot months in advance to avoid the inevitable price spike as your travel dates get closer. But sometimes the best time to book a flight also depends on the destination and whether it's domestic or abroad. The trends are always changing, but experts say the sweet spot for booking domestic flights is 28 days, or 60 days for international flights.

Flights generally open for booking about a year ahead of time, and the airfare will change often between then and takeoff. Although you can book just a couple of weeks before the departure date in some cases, prices are likely to be astronomical. In other cases, when you want to go somewhere popular or during a big travel weekend, flights could fill up faster than normal. Our advice: Track flight prices on Google Flights or Hopper as early as possible so you can keep an eye on cost fluctuations. Read on for more advice about when to book flights from the pros.

According to Expedia's 2024 Air Travel Hacks report , you should aim to book 28 days before your domestic flight. "Doing so can save travelers up to 24 percent compared to those who wait until the last minute, from zero to six days out," Expedia travel expert Christie Hudson tells Travel + Leisure.

For domestic trips, pricing is elevated when tickets are first released, about a year before the flight. Those prices will slowly creep downward, all the way to their lowest point in the prime booking window, after which you'll likely see a huge increase in cost for last-minute travel.

Meet the Expert

Christie Hudson is a travel expert at top booking site Expedia.

You're better off booking earlier rather than later for international travel, but the Expedia report says ideally no more than four months before your desired departure date. The sweet spot is around 60 days. "This is a big change from 2022 data, which showed the cheapest fares were secured when travelers booked four to six months out." Hudson says. "2023 data revealed that people who booked that far in advance actually paid more on average." The report says the least expensive day of the week to book is Sunday and the most expensive is Friday, for both domestic and international travel.

But there is some regional variance. Going , a platform that tracks flight prices and notifies members of good deals, has found the best months to book flights to Africa, Asia, Oceania, Europe, and Latin America, for travel about 60 days out. Here's what it says.

Africa: Book in May.

Asia: Book in August or October, followed by April or September.

Oceania: Book in November, January, or July.

Europe: Book in August, October, or November.

Latin America: Book in October.

The real trick to finding good deals on international airfare is to avoid booking your travel for peak times, which include summer and major holidays (don't forget — that includes holidays in your destination, too).

Summer is traditionally one of the most popular times of the year to travel, which means it can be tough to find a good deal on airfare. Ideally, you should book flights for summer travel as soon as possible, preferably at least six months in advance.

"The best time to book for peak season is … the opposite season," says Katy Nastro, travel expert at Going. "While most of us are scrambling to focus on our winter holiday plans, we should also keep our eyes open for some great summer fares."

She notes that the booking window for peak season ranges between three and seven months for domestic flights and four to 10 months for international trips. "And if you do book something, keep that flight alert on," says Nastro. "If it drops again, depending on your ticket type, you can call to rebook and get a refund or travel credit back with the difference."

Katy Nastro is a travel expert at Going, a website that finds flight deals to more than 900 destinations around the world.

Around the winter holidays is the priciest time to travel, Nastro says. "Your best bet is to remember the Goldilocks zones: look to book between three to seven months ahead for domestic travel and four to 10 months ahead for international travel."

Hudson advises that at the very latest, your holiday travel should be booked by mid-October. "But the biggest holiday travel savings actually come from choosing the right dates," she says. "Avoiding the busiest days like the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Friday and Saturday before Christmas will yield major savings."

Track flights and book your holiday tickets as soon as you find a decent deal, but make sure to book a fare that will give you a credit if you cancel (generally speaking, that means don't book basic economy). That way, if prices drop between the time of booking and your travel dates, you can cancel your original ticket and use the credit to book the cheaper fare. The only downside is you'll still have some remaining credit, but you can then use it to treat yourself to a future flight. Just don't let that credit expire.

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