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The Guide to Business Travel Insurance

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Table of Contents

What is business travel insurance?

Why should business travelers get a business travel insurance policy, does travel insurance cover business trips, what is business travel accident insurance, do credit cards offer business travel insurance, business travel insurance, recapped.

Imagine the following scenarios. You’re meeting potential clients in their city in the morning, but your checked back, including your suit, didn’t make it. You’re giving a presentation, but some equipment has been stolen out of the hotel conference room. You got food poisoning from a restaurant where you had a business lunch and now require medical attention.

When going on the road for business, the last thing you want is to worry about these types of situations.

Business travel insurance provides coverage for the trips you take as part of your business or for a company that employs you. Knowing that some things don’t always go as planned during travel, you might find yourself benefitting from a business travel insurance policy.

Just like personal trip insurance , business travel insurance covers the unexpected during a business trip. A business travel insurance policy can help get reimbursements for travel expenses caused by trip delay and interruption , baggage delay, business equipment theft, emergency medical care, emergency medical evacuation and collision damage insurance for a rental car.

Depending on how often you travel, it's possible to get an annual insurance plan that will cover multiple trips or insure select travel on a trip-by-trip basis. An annual travel insurance plan is more cost-effective, but it might have lower limits than a single-trip policy.

The short answer is because you can never predict anything. The long answer is that it’s good for the following:

Reducing out-of-pocket expenses: One thing gone wrong, and you’re on the hook for unforeseen travel expenses. For example, medical evacuation can cost tens of thousands of dollars, so it’s important to keep those potential financial losses at bay when possible.

Increasing existing coverage: If you have a personal medical insurance plan, it’s important to note that most private insurance providers don’t provide medical coverage abroad. A credit card with travel protections can be a good start, but these benefits typically offer lower coverage limits.

Providing peace of mind: Having insurance can take some of the anxiety out of traveling. Even if the business trip is going according to plan, you'll know that you have safety nets in place should anything go awry.

» Learn more: How to find the best travel insurance

It depends. Some corporations offer travel insurance plans for their employees on the road. You should double-check with the human resources manager of your company as to whether business trips are covered.

It gets tricky if you’re an independent contractor or a freelancer since you don’t have a corporation behind you. As a sole proprietor, make sure to consult with your insurance provider, but be aware that a personal travel insurance policy might not cover business travel.

Instead, we recommend looking into business travel insurance that will cover your personal trips as well.

For example, the annual AllTrips Executive insurance plan from Allianz covers all trips for the year — personal and business — for a one-time fee. This becomes especially handy when you decide to mix business with pleasure and extend a work trip by adding on a few vacation days.

This policy covers trip emergency medical coverage for up to $50,000 and emergency medical transportation for up to $250,000. Travel delay is covered up to $1,600 and baggage loss or delay is covered up to $1,000 each.

An important feature offered by the AllTrips Executive plan is business equipment coverage. If it’s lost, stolen or delayed by the airline, equipment rental or replacement will be covered up to $1,000 each.

AIG Travel Guard , IMG Global and Zurich all offer business travel insurance, too.

Business travel accident insurance covers you in the event of the unthinkable — death or dismemberment. If it sounds like life insurance, it’s because it provides similar coverage but for when you’re traveling on a common carrier, such as an aircraft, a train, a bus or a cruise ship.

If you or someone in your family holds a life insurance policy for you, business travel accident insurance is going to pay out on top of it.

Some travel rewards credit cards offer travel coverage , but it isn’t always on par with a dedicated business travel insurance plan.

For example, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card and the United℠ Business Card offer primary auto rental collision damage waiver on cars rented for business purposes. To receive coverage up to the cash value of the car, you must decline the rental company’s own collision damage insurance and pay for the rental with one of these credit cards.

Note that trip cancellation and trip interruption are covered up to $5,000 with the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card , but trip delay maxes out at $500. Although the United℠ Business Card comes with the same trip delay coverage limit, trip cancellation and trip interruption top out at up to $1,500 per ticket. Baggage delay is limited to $100 per day under both cards’ coverage.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers the same secondary coverage for trip interruptions and trip cancellations: up to $10,000 per covered trip and $20,000 per eligible card per 12 consecutive month period. For trip delay, the card covers up to $500 per covered trip up to two times per 12 consecutive month period. Terms apply.

Although some insurance coverage offered by your travel rewards credit card is good to have, as you can see above, the coverage limits are typically lower than if you were to buy an annual policy or a single-trip business travel insurance policy.

Credit cards also offer common carrier travel accident insurance and cover costs in case of accidental death and dismemberment. In this case, the first two of the aforementioned cards include coverage for up to $500,000, which is higher than what some annual or single-trip business travel insurance policies usually cover.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

Business travel accident insurance covers costs accrued in the course of business travel related to medical emergencies, accidental death and dismemberment and emergency evacuations. Specific coverage will vary by insurer.

Given that business travel is typically undertaken with specific business goals in mind and requires companies to take on overhead, travel insurance is likely worth the fraction of trip expenses that it costs to ensure that a company doesn't lose both cash and opportunity at the same time should things not go as planned.

Business travel insurance costs will vary based on the destination, duration of the trip, age of the traveler and the amount of money spent on the trip, among other factors. Some insurers offer annual plans, while others provide coverage on a trip-by-trip basis.

While specific coverage will vary from insurer to insurer, a business travel accident policy typically covers expenses related to medical incidents that occur in the course of the covered business travel.

If you have a personal travel insurance policy, check the terms to see how much applies to business travel. If none, consider purchasing an annual insurance plan for frequent business trips or a single-trip policy for occasional business travel and check with your company to see if the cost of the travel insurance is something you can expense.

Remember that some credit cards offer travel insurance for your business, but note the low payout limits if you choose not to purchase additional coverage.

Insurance Benefit: Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance

The maximum benefit amount for Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is $10,000 per Covered Trip and $20,000 per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.

Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Insurance Benefit: Trip Delay Insurance

Up to $500 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.

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: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ 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

on Chase's website

1x-10x Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-2x Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

50,000 Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

The complete guide to corporate travel policies 

The business travel policy guide you’ve been waiting for .

Creating a business travel policy for employees can feel really daunting. You don’t want to just throw something together and hope for the best, but it feels impossible to anticipate every possible scenario. The truth is your policy serves as more than a rule book; it's a guide to better decision-making about your corporate travel program and can save you a world of headaches down the road. 

Introduction

What is a travel policy .

• Why do you need a travel policy?
• How to create a travel policy

What to include in a travel policy 

• Travel policy best practices
• How to promote travel policy compliance
• How to market your travel policy

When to review and update your travel policy

• Final thoughts

When it comes to company travel, a travel policy brings it all to one place. It acts as an influencer for travelers to make the most cost-effective choices, an important visibility tool for your managers and HR department, and it protects your people if it’s done right. 

If you’re new to business travel or haven’t looked at your travel policy in a while, we’ll start with the basics and then move into the nitty gritty of corporate travel policies. We’ll touch on a few best practices for writing a travel policy, what to include, and offer plenty of resources along the way. 

Ready to get cracking? Let’s go! 

A travel policy is a guide for business travelers to follow that outlines: 

• How, where, and when to book 
• Approved technology for travel management 
• Preferred suppliers for air travel, land travel, and accommodations 
• Approvals process for out-of-policy bookings 
• Trip extensions and personal travel 
• Expenses and what is covered or not covered 
• Reimbursement processes 
• Business travel insurance information 
• Emergency procedures and contacts 

Your company’s travel policy should reflect your company culture and values, be supportive of your travelers and their needs, and protect your company from unforeseen circumstances. It acts as a central document that guides your team to the processes of embarking on company business travel, from start to finish! 

While you might hear a few grumbles and groans around the words “policy” or “process,” don’t worry! A travel policy does not need to be rigid and inflexible. 

Do your travelers prefer to book on their own? Don’t take away their autonomy. They can still self-book, you’ll just provide them with a better tool and way to do it more efficiently. 

Do your people feel prepared for any event that can cause a travel hiccup? With a travel policy, you can give them clarity and help them feel more prepared when traveling for business purposes. 

Why do you need a travel policy? 

Your travel policy is an extension of your travel program and company culture. It’s the glue that holds your travel program together – from approvals, expenses, booking processes, and emergency contacts. 

Having a travel policy helps you: 

• Control travel costs 
• Determine how reimbursement works 
• Compile a list of trusted and approved travel vendors 
• Manage an employee’s travel experience and safety 
• Cut rogue bookings – and simplify approvals 
• Budget, report on travel expenses and activity and reconcile bookings 

It’s a roadmap or guidebook that your travelers can reference when they’re booking their own travel if they run into a tricky situation abroad, and it helps provide clarity around processes. 

As a company though, your travel policy helps centralize your travel program, makes data and tracking more accurate and easier to navigate, and it saves time and money (including on expense management). Plus, if you take the time to craft your policy in an intentional and inclusive way, you’ll have a policy your travelers are happier to follow. 

How to create a travel policy for employees 

• Determine business travel guidelines 
• Create a travel policy that puts your people first 
• Set reasonable budget limits 
• Simplify the process of expense claims 
• Adopt a user-friendly all-in-one travel platform 

Once you’ve read through our tips, be sure to download our free  travel policy template  so you can get started on creating a travel policy of your own! 

1) Determine corporate travel guidelines 

When you take the time to create a policy that meets the needs of your business, you are making sure that your travelers are safe, costs are controlled, and you’ve made every business trip count. 

Start by looking at what types of travel are allowed and the reason for each trip. 

If you have team members traveling all over the globe, you might want to set some extra safety measures. You should also decide if there will be restrictions on the type of ground transportation used or where employees can stay. 

Create a process for booking flights, hotels, and other ground transportation needs. How far in advance should they be booking? Do different rules apply based on the traveler’s position? Who is the point of contact for bookings and other travel questions? 

Making sure to include your company’s travel insurance info is also important. Make sure to note if your policy covers medical expenses and/or any losses due to cancellations or delays in transportation services due to factors outside an employee’s control. 

Do you have a policy for reporting and documenting expenses? This includes having a system in place for claims (like meal expenses) and a reimbursement process, so your team can easily get their money! 

2) Create a travel policy that puts your people first

You’ve heard the term “duty of care” before, so it’s important to create a corporate travel policy that puts traveler safety and accessibility needs first. You’ll need to define and assign the roles and responsibilities of everyone involved, including a travel manager, if you have one. 

Set up an emergency plan and provide access to traveler safety information. Determine who is the emergency contact (your TMC?) and how to get in touch. Do they have 24/7 emergency support available by phone or chat? What about email support? 

Invite your HR department, the travelers themselves, and your DE&I manager into a discussion to find out what needs your team has as individuals, what hiccups they face when traveling, and what holes exist in your travel program that make it difficult to navigate. 

Working with a TMC is a great way to ensure travelers are kept safe before and during their trip.  

3) Set reasonable budget limits for business travel

You have a budget you need to adhere to, but is it realistic? Setting reasonable budget limits is key to an effective policy. 

Your budget should account for all travel-related expenses, including airfare, accommodation, meals, and ground transportation. And once you’ve set your budget, you can determine reasonable costs for hotels and accommodation, ground transport, flights, and more. Build these caps into your  travel booking software  to help travelers stay within the set parameters, which will later help with accountability. 

It's important to set clear rules on what the company can pay back and what types of expenses are out-of-pocket. 

If you’ve set a maximum daily rate for meals on work trips, it's crucial that travelers understand the limit before racking up additional charges. Requiring receipts can also help keep track of employee spending and make sure they're not going over budget. 

By working with a  travel management company  like Corporate Traveler, you can review your previous year’s expenses and find where you can optimize or make changes based on market changes. 

4) Simplify the process of expense claims 

If you're unfamiliar with how to write a travel expense policy, creating a simple process for claiming expenses is key to getting your team on the same page. Do you have access to a payment system that pays for the majority of expenses at the time of booking? This could be a good way to save time and stress down the road.  

The more you can pay for before your travelers get to their destination, the easier everything is to reconcile after they get home.  

If you have a person in charge of reviewing expense reports and watching pre-trip approvals, make sure to set criteria for claim approvals and look at automating processes to make approvals simple! 

5) Adopt a user-friendly all-in-one travel platform  

Finding the right  corporate travel platform  is essential. The right booking platform can provide travelers with an easy-to-use experience, giving them access to the best fares and availability. 

For example, at Corporate Traveler, we use Melon . It’s a booking tool, reporting suite, travel policy pusher, traveler profile manager, and so much more. Melon features a “recommended spend” function, which helps keep travelers booking in policy. Hello, visual guilt! 

Melon’s simple user interface, combined with dedicated travel consultants and expert 24/7 support, makes it simple to book, manage, and keep track of your business travel. You’ll be able to access Melon-exclusive deals and perks (alongside many negotiated contracts and online deals) and take care of all your travel needs from one place. 

From the get-go, you’ll be able to work closely with our team to ensure that all of your needs are met. We'll help you customize your travel program to meet specific business needs, build your travel policy into the platform, and offer training to staff to help them along the way.   

Putting it all together  

Wow! You’ve reached the end and should have a better idea of how to write a corporate travel policy. High five! Now it’s time to put it all together and get it on paper.  

Maybe you already have something in place that needs some work or an entire overhaul. Check out our easy-to-use template and start checking those boxes! 

Grab our corporate travel policy template builder

Not sure where to start? No worries! We’ve got you. Here’s how to streamline your process with a travel policy template! 

While there’s no one-size-fits-all travel policy for every company, following the set guidelines helps you nail a perfect-for-you policy that can see you through an ever-changing travel climate. 

Travel policy template  

When you’re crafting your business travel policy, there are so many considerations to be made. Things might come up that you never even thought of, but not to worry. We have loads of resources to help you see this through. 

Starting out, it might be looking a little drab and wordy, but depending on your travel program size, a visual travel policy might be just what you need. You can search for examples online or take a look at an example of a visual travel policy we’ve created.  

When building your policy, it’s important to include: 

1. International or foreign travel policies  

When you’ve got travelers all over the globe, you need to build out a policy for international or foreign travel. This is a protects them (and you) on anything from travel safety, to expenses, and everywhere in between. 

Whether your travelers are individuals or entire teams, your international travel policy needs to cover: 

• How and where to book – is that with a travel manager, online booking tool, a travel management company (TMC) ? 
• Travel insurance coverages and contact info – international numbers and policy information 
• Emergency contacts – how to reach them and the process of in-destination emergencies 
• Travel expenses – limits and how to file for reimbursement 
• Travel documentation – who to contact with questions 
• Advance booking timelines – when should they be booking for international travel? 
• Travel extensions – are these allowed and what are travelers expected to cover if they choose to extend their trip for leisure? 

By outlining all of this information in your policy, you’ll streamline the process for your finance teams, travel managers, and your travelers. And really, who doesn’t want to make travel a smoother experience? 

2. Corporate travel policy for business class travel 

Does your corporate travel program have different rules, limits, or allowances for different levels of seniority? Are some junior members expected to travel in economy class, while some executives are allowed to book in business class? 

If some certain exceptions and situations might allow for an employee to book business class, regardless of their position, you should include that in your policy as well. 

Making this as clear as possible will avoid an approvals nightmare down the road. 

3. Corporate meal allowance policy 

It’s great if you’ve already centralized most of your business travel expenses like flights, accommodation, transportation, and car rentals, but your people gotta eat! It’s super important to include a meal allowance policy that clearly outlines which meals (and how much) you’ll cover. 

Some of your team might be traveling with corporate credit cards, while others might need to be reimbursed. The guidelines and procedures for submitting expenses or asking for reimbursement need to be crystal clear! 

Make sure to outline if you have a corporate travel policy for alcohol, too! You don’t want murky policies when it comes to footing the bill for drinks. 

Some things to consider for your meal allowance and alcohol travel policy: 

• Which meals are covered and for how much? 
• Who is footing the bill for an alcoholic beverage with dinner? 
• If entertaining clients, what is the budget, and how flexible is it? 
• What is the process of submitting company card expenses? 
• What is the process for requesting reimbursement? 

Your team will always have questions about the policy on food and drinks, so make sure they can find the info easily and have a point of contact for whoever can offer more clarity. 

4. Executive travel policy 

We briefly touched on executive travel when we talked about traveling in business class, but there is certainly more to the top dogs traveling. 

Executive travel can be a touchy subject if there are more lenient policies in place than there is for less senior team members. Your executives also may need to know the guidelines in place for their own travel, so they don’t accidently go overboard, which could be an accounting nightmare! 

You’ll need to make sure you deliver a guide for approvals, procedures, booking deadlines, meals, accommodation, basically everything. 

Lay it all out. Make your policy as digestible as possible, and for a busy exec, consider bullet points and titles in bold so they can easily skim to the areas they need to know. 

5. Natural disaster or COVID-19 business travel policy  

We can all agree that COVID-19 caused business travel to come to a screeching halt. Across most industries, the pandemic impacted client relationships, the ability to gain new clients and caused budgets to get slashed pretty dramatically.  

While this was only one event, many businesses have begun to consider the “what-ifs” of their travel programs should another outbreak of COVID or something else happen. Crossing our fingers and toes doesn’t cut it, unfortunately. 

There is also the chance of their travel being impacted by a natural disaster. We’ve seen it before – earthquakes, tsunamis, volcano eruptions, hurricanes. Do you have a plan or policy to aid your team and guide them through the unthinkable? 

In 2022, we surveyed 120 employees across various industries and businesses. More than half, 51% of respondents said their companies didn’t provide resources or tips for safety on their trips. Duty of care isn’t something to put on the back burner, it’s your legal obligation to make sure your team is informed. 

So, what’s the solution, you ask? 

Working with a TMC gives you the backup you need if anything ever happens and you have people traveling abroad. At Corporate Traveler, our travel management software, Melon, is a central place to house your policy for quick and easy access. Plus, our travel experts can help you paint the big picture of what to do, who to call, and how to get your team home safely as quickly as possible. 

Is there anything missing from your travel policy? 

Let’s break it down. If you think of your policy like a sandwich, it should include: 

The bread and butter  

• Where and why: Are there any restrictions on who travels domestically or internationally? Or guidelines around reasons for travel? 
• When: Are there any restrictions on when business travel is a no-no, like during an auditing period or financial downturn? 
• How? How should travel arrangements be booked? Through your corporate travel booking software or with a preferred Travel Management Company (TMC)? How far in advance should domestic and international trips be booked? 
• Preferred suppliers: Do you have preferred partners for air travel, accommodation, ground transport or travel insurance? 
• Approvals: Who’s responsible for giving the green light on trips? 
• Show me the money: What’s the process for managing/submitting expenses, paying for travel and reimbursements? 
• Uh-oh: How will you prevent or deal with non-compliance to the travel policy? 
• Noise level: Getting loads of ‘noise’ and questions about things in your policy? This means it’s not clear and it’s time to review why and where the stumbling block is for travelers (or your finance team!) 

 The filling  

• Classy, baby: Who gets to fly business class, book 5-star properties or order UberLUX? And how does your business handle upgrades or airport lounge access for long-haul flights? 
• All work, some play: What are the conditions if someone wants to extend their business trip to take personal leave? Are you happy for them to enjoy a bleisure trip, and if so, who foots the bill and for what? 
• Loyalty: Are there any travel rewards or business loyalty programs that can be used during booking? 
• Spending money: Do your business travelers have a daily allowance for meals, snacks, and drinks? How much is it, what does it include – and what’s not covered? Can they order room service, drink from the mini-bar, or use the in-house laundry service? 

The not-so-secret sauce  

• Safety first: your policy should support air, accommodation and ground transport suppliers that have been safety and security vetted. Guidelines or information on travel insurance for work trips is also helpful. 
• Now what: What’s the plan of action in the case of Acts of God or Force Majeure events? Does your team know who to call for help? 
• What’s next: Who is responsible for updating and reviewing your travel policy, and how often? 

Corporate travel policy best practices

• Write for skim readers
• Guide travelers to the right resources
• Automate your policies
• Stipulate a timeframe for expense claims
• Be prepared for the unexpected

1. Write for skim readers  

One of the first steps towards writing a people-first travel policy is understanding how your travelers will read it. And the truth is…  

They probably won’t.   

Research has shown that  adults get distracted every 47 seconds . So if a business traveler is looking at your policy, they’re most likely just searching for a specific answer – and they want it fast. So what can you do?  

First, make sure the document is easy to navigate. That means including things like:   

• A table of contents  
• Visual elements to help guide the eye toward crucial information, like flow charts and tables  
• Clear headings and important details in bold  
• Bulleted lists (see what we did here?) 

And even though it’s a technical document, don’t make it sound like one. An effective travel policy should be clear, concise, and easily comprehended. So skip the long, complex sentence structures and technical jargon, and write in plain, simple English. It helps to pretend like you’re writing it so an eighth-grader can understand it.   

2. Guide travelers to the right resources  

Remember when we said travelers will only read your policy to find a solution for a specific need? Whether it’s a link, a phone number, or a step-by-step tutorial – a well-managed travel policy should provide them with the right resources.  

Instead of treating a travel policy as a list of rules, treat it like a resource sheet. Here are some key pieces of information travelers might need to pull up easily:  

Your approved online booking tool (and steps on how to use it)  

• QR codes to download your  mobile travel app   
• Preferred airlines, including class, budgets, and other limits  
• Permissible hotels, including guidelines on star-class and incidental expenses  
• Guidelines on ground transportation (trains, ride-sharing services, rental cars, and personal car usage)  
• How to get travel support  
• Travel insurance carrier  
• Clarification on the reimbursement process (more on this later)  

You can also include other factors specific to your company, but this should at least be the necessary groundwork to help employees make the right choices on their own.  

3. Automate your policies  

Let’s face it: even with the best communication efforts, there’s always a chance that an employee may violate policy, even unintentionally. So, what can you do?  

Build policy into booking.  

By building your travel policy into your travel management software, it becomes unavoidably embedded in the booking process, so even the most easily confused employees end up following by default.   

Automation tools can sound the alarm on out-of-policy bookings and even provide an audit trail. This can be especially helpful for employees who may struggle to remember procedures and policies, especially after big changes to your travel program.  

4. Stipulate a timeframe for expense claims  

No one wants to get stuck waiting on the money they’re owed – or worse – find out they’re not getting reimbursed for an expenditure they thought would be covered.  

Having a clear and well-defined expense claim process is critical in any travel policy. Employees need to know how to claim their travel expenses, how soon they need to submit an expense report, and when to expect reimbursement.   

The policy should also be clear about what expenses are and are not reimbursable, including any limits or exceptions. For example, if an employee needs to book a different seat class to  accommodate a disability , the policy should include the process for requesting and approving this expense.   

Plus, a submission deadline reduces cash flow issues and provides more accurate and complete expense data for that period (your finance team will thank you later).  

5. Be prepared for the unexpected  

As a company, you have a duty-of-care responsibility. When it comes to business trips, you need to be prepared for the unexpected. No matter how much effort you put into planning, there will always be a few hiccups along the way.   

For instance, lost luggage, canceled or delayed flights, and sudden weather or political emergencies in unfamiliar destinations could all leave your employee stranded.   

“Companies need to be prepared to plan for the particular, not just the universal. Every aspect of the travel program needs to be able to fit each of your travelers like a glove, from adaptable plans and experts on call, to technology that makes the journey seamless.” - Emese Graham, DE&I Manager @ FCTG  

Don’t let unexpected situations blindside you. Have processes in place to ensure travel safety and security. Make sure they know what to do, where to go, and who to get a hold of if something goes wrong. Taking a proactive and prepared approach to your policy can minimize the impact of emergencies and take care of your team’s well-being while they’re on the road.  

BONUS TIP: Update your policy regularly  

Here’s a free business travel policy best practice just for you! It isn’t just a “one and done” deal – it’s a living document.  

What’s that mean? As your company grows and travel conditions change, so should your travel policy. Revisit your expense policy at least once a year to keep it relevant and effective – and lead you towards new cost-saving solutions.    

Data is going to be your best friend here. Here are a few key factors you should look into when updating your travel policy:  

• Analyze travel spend patterns – are you throwing a lot of company money at certain suppliers? You might want to see if you can negotiate a new deal or find better rates elsewhere.  
• Identify areas of overspending or inefficiency – are employees accruing high parking or travel costs? See if you can get season tickets or other accommodations.  
• Evaluate the overall performance of your policy – are you still compliant with any new regulations that have come into play since the policy was established? How can traveler experience be improved?  

You may even want to consider enlisting the help of professionals, such as a travel management company with experience in expense management, to give advice on how to optimize your travel policy to better meet the needs of your employees and your business as a whole.   

Building a travel policy that's good for business and travelers and meets their needs is no small feat. But whether you're looking to retain your team, attract new talent, or make life a little easier for your travelers, investing in a well-designed travel policy is definitely worth the effort and great for company culture.  

By following these travel policy best practices and ensuring your policy meets all travelers' needs, you’ll be on your way to smoother, safer, and more enjoyable travel experiences for all.  

How to promote travel policy compliance  

Whether compliance is a big or small issue in your company, it takes a little bit of investigating to figure out why it’s an issue at all. 

Maybe your policy meets the needs of only a few of your team members. Maybe it’s too difficult to navigate your policy. Or maybe, your policy is written in legalese and makes your travelers vision blur before they go rogue and book how they want. 

It could be that your travelers prefer a bit of freedom in booking and would rather do it on their own. Or, maybe they have specific needs that aren’t being met by the options provided. 

Whatever their reasons, it’s your job to figure out why they aren’t following and what you can do to build better compliance. 

Here are a few tips to improve travel policy compliance: 

• Make your policy easy to navigate, understand, and find 
• Use an online booking tool (OBT) for travelers who prefer to self-book 
• Allow a bit of flexibility so travelers feel they have some autonomy 
•  Include a category for last-minute bookings so it doesn’t mess up your data 
• Understand your traveler needs and build an inclusive policy 

Read the full guide:

You've researched, gathered the necessary resources, and communicated your travel and expense (T&E) policy to your employees. But now, you're not so sure they're actually following it.  

Read the full guide:  How to Improve Corporate Travel Policy Compliance

How to market your corporate travel policy internally?

Corporate travel might be off the radar for most employees, especially those outside of customer-facing positions. The first step in promoting successful corporate travel policies is awareness. 

Do employees know about the policy? Where can they find information and updates on business travel? Clear communication at pivotal points and frequent intervals can help keep everyone aware.

Review common and expected challenges

Business trip policies might be ineffective if they don't meet the needs of some business travellers. You can get ahead of challenges by understanding that last-minute travel can be necessary or that different travellers have unique needs. 

Inclusive policies plan for employee safety and comfort on a range of business trips, paying attention to details such as arrival and departure times, car rentals, ground transportation, and noise levels.  

Communicate business travel policies effectively

Travel managers can use best practices to ensure all employees are aware of and understand travel programs. Visual policies, internal documents, and guides all work well. People learn differently, so it’s a good idea to have key information in both visual and text formats. 

A yearly update is also beneficial, as well as communication on any major changes, like new technology or changes in the approval process or submitting expenses. An internal FAQ page can increase understanding of corporate travel guidelines, as well as prompt new questions.

Book a demo of Melon , the all-in-one travel platform. 

Increase employee engagement 

Highlight areas of company travel that offer flexibility, to show what’s possible for different preferences. Talk about benefits like an online booking tool vs. working directly with a TCM.

Developing interactive content, like employee surveys, can show if traveller satisfaction is achieved. It also helps identify travel arrangements that are unnecessary for cost savings.

Find internal champions for the business travel program 

Travel policies cross paths with a lot of different departments, from sales to the finance team. Identifying key people and keeping them involved in developing the travel program means getting buy-in and internal support.

Corporate Traveler has a long history of travel management and is ready to join forces as an external member of your travel planning team. Let’s make booking a breeze , together.  

Case studies: effectively marketing your corporate travel program

A travel manager should match your company culture for the best fit. Find out how these companies successfully targeted the right mix of technology and service to meet employee expectations and business goals.

Flipp Travel Case Study

Streamlining global travel for Eliquent Life Sciences

Beyond Energy Case Study

If the last time you reviewed or upgraded your travel policy was more than a year ago, it’s outdated and needs a refresher. If your company is small and has low turnover, you could probably get away with making small tweaks and optimizations. 

But if you have a larger company with multiple departments and higher turnover, you probably need to do an overhaul and review it more regularly. We’re not saying you have to change it every time someone is hired or leaves the company, but making sure it’s relevant to the people who are there and are traveling matters! 

Corporate Traveler conducted a survey in 2022, which showed that 48% of respondents didn’t know if their company had resources for specific traveler profiles, while 41% said their company didn’t provide resources for specific traveler profiles. This really goes to show that there’s room for improvement in how policies are built to support their people and their businesses. 

A people-first travel program and policy have become necessary as the world grows and begins to understand neurodiversity, disabilities, and cultural differences. When we learn about our team members’ diverse needs, we can better understand how to support them when they venture abroad for our businesses. 

GUIDE: Download the How to design a people-first travel program guide 

We recommend policy reviews every 3-6 months, but at the minimum, once per year. 

Final thoughts 

Business travel is so unpredictable, as we’ve seen in recent years. There will always be circumstances you can’t avoid as a company, but making sure that you have the necessary checks and balances in place can help to make things just a little easier. If you have groups traveling, VIPS, or people heading to high-risk destinations, it’s important that your policy is relevant. 

Don’t forget that travel policies shouldn’t be written and forgotten about – these are living documents that must be regularly updated to make sure they best protect your people. 

Remember these best practices when writing your travel policy: 

• Keep it simple and make it pop with visuals, bullet points, and bold headings. 
• Answer any and every question possible – think of all the eventualities 
• Always put your people first 
• Implement a quick and simple approval process 
• Automate as much as you can 
• Use technology that’s supports your policy 
• Be flexible with due reason 
• Be clear about what’s not allowed 
• Update your travel policy at least once a year 
• Keep it somewhere easy to find  

And finally, it doesn’t hurt to have a couple of different formats. Consider a visual version and an extended version so the message is delivered best depending on the person reading. For some, it might be easier to digest one over the other. 

Looking for a policy review? We’d be happy to work with you. 

Let’s chat .

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What's the Best Business Travel Insurance?

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Corporate Travel Insurance

Travel insurance for corporate travelers

For businesses, there are two main advantages to purchasing a corporate travel insurance plan when an employee takes a trip: to protect the company’s investment in the trip, and to protect the safety of the employee.

First and foremost, protecting your employees through corporate travel insurance is paramount. The laws of most countries place a “Duty of Care” on your company if your staff is traveling for business. Employers are legally responsible through what is known as Duty of Care to protect the health, safety and security of their employees when they travel. Whether your staff is traveling across the state or across continents, the least your corporation can do is provide adequate insurance. With a corporate travel insurance plan, your business fulfills its Duty of Care by protecting your traveling employees.

Secondarily, corporate travel insurance can protect the financial investment in the trip. For example, the included baggage coverage can be tailored to cover company equipment or sales samples. Likewise, trip cancellation and trip interruption can reimburse you for certain costs resulting from missed flights – such as non-refundable deposits or extended hotel stays.

Corporate travel insurance also comes with valuable assistance services that your employees can use, such as foreign language assistance or emergency medical assistance – all available 24 hours per day.

RoamRight offers competitive pricing for our corporate travel insurance plans. Get an instant quote to start comparing today. For more information on coverages and pricing, please contact one of our representatives today.

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Key takeaways

• Business travel insurance reimburses particular unexpected expenses or financial losses you suffer before or during a trip for work.
• A travel insurance policy usually covers things like trip cancellation/interruption, medical costs, lost baggage, travel delays, lodging expenses and more.
• Costs for business travel insurance often run between 5 and 7 percent of the trip's total expense.
• If you have a business travel credit card, however, you likely already have at least basic travel insurance under its policy, so you might not need to purchase any additional coverage.

A lot can go wrong before or during a faraway meeting, out-of-state conference, remote office visit or other planned business trip. The airport can lose or damage your luggage, your travel plans may need to be canceled suddenly due to a personal emergency, or you could simply get sick while away from home.

For these and other reasons and more, it’s smart to consider getting business travel insurance . This coverage should safeguard you financially if you incur a covered setback prior to or while you’re traveling for work .

This guide will help you find out more about business travel insurance, how it works and what’s covered, as well as who should get business travel insurance and whether this level of coverage is worth it.

How does business travel insurance work?

You have insurance for your home, car and health care. You might even have life insurance coverage. But where do you turn if you want to protect yourself financially from a business trip setback? Fortunately, you can purchase business travel insurance, also called corporate travel insurance or business trip insurance.

“Business travel insurance is insurance coverage specifically designed to protect individuals traveling for a business-specific reason. It offers comprehensive protection against unexpected incidents and expenses that can occur during a business trip,” explains Mark Friedlander, director of Corporate Communications for the Insurance Information Institute in St. Johns, Florida.

Consider that many expenses related to an upcoming business trek have to be paid well in advance and are not refundable. That means if something happens that prevents you from traveling, you could be on the hook for hundreds if not thousands of dollars. That’s where having business travel insurance comes in handy.

“You can purchase a single-trip policy, which covers expenses that arise on a single trip — usually between travel dates specified in advance,” Andrew Schrage, CEO of Money Crashers in Boston, notes. “Or, you can choose an annual or multi-trip policy that covers any eligible expenses that arise during the policy’s effective period — usually one year — regardless of how many trips you take during that time.”

What does business travel insurance cover?

Here’s what a standard business travel insurance policy typically covers, per Friedlander:

• Trip cancellation/interruption costs
• Expenses related to travel delays
• Medical bills incurred while traveling, including those related to COVID-19
• Missed connection assistance expenditures
• Costs and hassles related to lost baggage
• Car rental and lodging expenses

Stan Sandberg, co-founder of TravelInsurance.com, says many consumers opt for business trip insurance for the trip cancellation/interruption protections offered.

“Standard trip cancellation coverage will reimburse non-refundable, prepaid costs if an insured traveler has to cancel for a wide range of reasons, including getting sick unexpectedly,” he says.

Coverage for medical emergencies and health care away from home are other popular standard features in most plans.

“This is especially valuable for employees traveling abroad, where regular medical insurance might not apply. And individuals with chronic conditions can find coverage for flare ups during travel by declaring them before the business trip,” says Justin Albertynas, a travel industry expert and CEO of RatePunk.

A business travel insurance policy doesn’t cover every possible expense, however. Among the typical exclusions are:

• Reasonably foreseen events
• Acts of war
• Declared epidemics and pandemics (by the World Health Organization and/or U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Travel restrictions imposed by a government entity.

Who should get business travel insurance?

Good candidates for purchasing business travel insurance include those who frequently travel for work but are not already covered by their employer.

“As most large employers most likely have travel insurance plans in place to cover their employees’ work-related travel, individual business travel insurance plans are typically targeted to independent contractors and small business owners,” adds Friedlander.

Examples of business travel insurance in action

Here are three hypothetical scenarios that underscore the value of having business trip insurance:

1. You need to cancel your trip last minute

“Let’s say you have a single-trip business travel policy with trip cancellation/interruption coverage that reimburses up to $5,000 in prepaid non-refundable expenses,” Schrage explains. “The day before your flight, an immediate family member has a medical emergency and you need to cancel your trip to care for them. If you paid $500 for round-trip airfare, $1,000 for a five-day hotel stay, and $300 for a five-day car rental, your insurer should honor a claim for $1,800 total, as long as the expenses are fully paid and not refundable by the vendor under any circumstances.”

2. You get into a medical emergency

“Imagine an employee traveling for business in Germany who unexpectedly falls ill and requires medical attention,” Albertynas says. “The incurred expenses may include a doctor’s consultation, prescription medications, hospital stay and necessary medical tests. In this scenario, the employee’s total medical expenses could add up to €1,950 or more. Business travel insurance could cover these costs, ensuring that the employee is not burdened by unexpected medical bills during their trip.”

3. Your baggage is delayed

Assume your suitcase gets lost or delayed by the airline and you need to pay extra money out of pocket for clothing, medicine and toiletries. Your policy should cover your expenses up to a predetermined amount. “Just keep in mind that business travel insurance policies often have a waiting period before coverage begins for baggage delays — typically around 12 hours,” Albertynas continues.

The average cost of business travel insurance

Business trip insurance policies commonly run approximately 5 percent to 7 percent of the total cost of your trip. “For example, travel insurance for a $3,000 business trip would cost between $150 and $180 in premium for the policy,” Friedlander says.

What you will pay will depend on the type of policy, your destination, coverage inclusions, your age and other factors. Schrage adds, “Basic trip interruption/cancellation coverage can cost as little as $10 to $20 per day, while more comprehensive policies can cost $50 or more per day. Policies that cover voluntary cancellations, known as CFAR policies, cost 50 percent to 100 percent more than policies that cover involuntary cancellations only.”

Choosing a higher deductible can lower your premium, but you’ll pay more upfront if you have to make a claim.

“Opting for a $200 deductible, for example, means you will pay that amount before coverage starts. Co-pays, co-insurance and out-of-pocket expenses refer to costs beyond the coverage limits,” Albertynas says. “It’s important to carefully review all policy details and premium quotes and understand the trade-offs involved so you can select the right plan while balancing your premium, deductible and additional expenses.”

Do credit cards offer business travel insurance?

Getting trip insurance is almost always a smart idea. But the truth is, it might be an unnecessary expense if you already have  free coverage included with your credit card , which some cards provide.

“Many business credit cards provide generous business travel coverage at no out-of-pocket cost. As long as you use your credit card to pay for eligible travel expenses, this is a better deal than buying a policy separately,” advises Schrage.

The most common types of coverage included in business travel insurance provided by a credit card are trip interruption/cancellation, accidental death and dismemberment, and rental car loss/damage.

“Before assuming your trip is covered in full, look at the limits for each coverage type and do the math. For example, if the non-refundable portion of the trip costs $10,000 and your policy only provides $5,000 in interruption/cancellation coverage, you’ll pay at least $5,000 out-of-pocket,” Schrage cautions.

The bottom line

Acquiring business travel insurance is worth it if you frequently travel for work — especially if you spend a lot on business trips, travel abroad or to riskier countries and don’t already have coverage provided by your employer or a travel credit card .

“But all business travel policies are not the same,” adds Friedlander. “It’s wise to read the fine print of your policy so you have a clear understanding of what’s covered and what’s excluded.”

Related Articles

What is trip cancellation and interruption insurance?

Multi-car insurance policies: What are they and how do they work?

SIPC insurance: What it covers and how it protects investors

Do I need credit card travel insurance?

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Travel insurance

How to find the best business travel insurance

Jennifer Simonson

Kara McGinley

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Updated 7:22 a.m. UTC Jan. 18, 2024

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• Business travel insurance can cover trip cancellation, interruption and delay, medical and emergency evacuation, lost baggage and stolen personal belongings.
• Not all travel insurance plans cover work equipment.
• Consider buying business travel insurance if you are self-employed, traveling overseas for business or planning to add leisure time to your business trip.

While business travel insurance might not be the first thing you think of when preparing for a business trip, a comprehensive travel insurance policy can help protect you from financial loss. 

Business travel insurance may make sense for you if you are self-employed and footing the bill for your business trip, or if you are traveling internationally and are worried about the cost of medical care abroad. It may also be a smart purchase if your company won’t reimburse you for extra expenses if you experience flight delays or need to cut your trip short because of an emergency back home. 

Compare the best travel insurance offers

Travel insured.

Via TravelInsurance.com’s website

Top-scoring plan

Worldwide Trip Protector

Covers COVID?

Medical & evacuation limits per person

$100,000/$1 million

Atlas Journey Preferred

Seven Corners

RoundTrip Basic

$500,000/$1 million

What does business travel insurance cover? 

Business travel insurance bundles together several types of coverage, which typically include:

• Trip cancellation insurance.
• Trip interruption insurance.
• Trip delay insurance.
• Travel medical insurance.
• Emergency evacuation insurance. 
• Baggage insurance. 
• Death and dismemberment insurance.

Coverage types and amounts vary depending on the travel insurance plan you buy.

“Travel insurance may cover trip cancellation, trip interruption, trip delay, medical expense and baggage for both leisure and business,” says Christina Tunnah, spokesperson for World Nomads. 

“The specific outcome of a claim, however, depends on the nature of the loss,” she says. “No matter what type of policy you choose, be sure to read the policy in its entirety so you understand any limitations or exclusions.”

Trip cancellation insurance for business trips

Trip cancellation insurance can reimburse you for 100% of the insured cost of your prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses, such as airline tickets and hotel reservations, should you need to cancel your trip because of a reason listed in your policy. 

Reasons that are acceptable for trip cancellation benefits typically include severe weather and injury, serious illness or death of you, your traveling companion or a family member. 

Some travel insurance plans, such as AIG Travel’s Travel Guard Deluxe, will allow you to cancel if your business partner is injured, becomes seriously ill or dies. The Deluxe plan also provides trip cancellation benefits for select work reasons, such as unexpected job loss, employer-initiated transfer more than 100 miles from home and being required to stay and work during the scheduled trip. 

Trip interruption insurance for business trips

Trip interruption insurance can reimburse up to 150% of your insured trip expenses when you need to end your business trip early for a reason in your policy. 

If you have a death in your immediate family and need to return home early, trip interruption benefits could cover the cost of transportation to the airport and a last-minute flight home. It can also reimburse you for nonrefundable expenses like a hotel room that you will no longer need if you cut your trip short. 

Trip delay insurance for business trips

If your connecting flight is delayed or canceled, travel delay insurance can cover the cost of unexpected expenses you incur, like a meal at the airport or a night at a hotel. 

Trip delay insurance typically has a waiting period before benefits begin, so check your policy to see how many hours the delay must be before you can file a claim. Also, look for the daily and overall maximum benefits per person. If your trip delay insurance only provides $250 in coverage per day, that might not be enough for a taxi and hotel room. 

Know more about flight cancellations: Flight cancellations

Travel medical insurance for business trips

When on your business trip, if you get hurt or sick, travel medical insurance can help pay for medical care, imaging tests, lab work, medicine and a hospital stay. This can be particularly valuable if you travel to a country where your U.S. health care plan does not provide coverage. 

Emergency evacuation insurance

If you are badly injured or become severely ill in a remote location or underdeveloped country, emergency evacuation travel insurance covers the cost of transporting you to the nearest adequate medical facility for treatment. On some occasions, this coverage pays to fly you home for treatment. It may also include coverage for repatriation of remains if you die on the trip. 

Baggage insurance

If your luggage or personal items are lost, damaged or stolen, baggage insurance can cover the depreciated value of your belongings. This is typically secondary insurance, which means you’d have to file a claim with your airline or homeowners insurance first.

Baggage delay coverage can reimburse you for extra expenditures if you are without your bags for a period of time. There is usually a waiting period, such as six or 12 hours before benefits begin. If your bags still haven’t arrived after the waiting period, you can buy replacement items and file a claim for reimbursement. Be sure to note the maximum coverage limit per person as baggage delay coverage might only be a few hundred dollars.  

Many travel insurance plans do not include coverage for lost business equipment, so be sure to read your policy for exclusions. 

Death and dismemberment insurance

Business travel insurance often includes accidental death and dismemberment insurance. This might cover death or dismemberment that happens while traveling on public transportation, that results from a common carrier accident, that happens in any way except on a common carrier or that occurs at any point during your trip. Read your plan for details. 

What to look for in a business travel insurance plan

Business travelers should look for plans that include coverage for rental cars, business equipment, travel delays and trip cancellations. 

While most trip cancellation insurance policies cover emergency situations like the death of a family member or severe weather, some policies also cover business-specific cancellations. 

The Explorer plan from World Nomads, for example, includes trip cancellation coverage for certain business reasons, such as your company’s acquisition, merger or bankruptcy, physical damage to your company from a natural disaster, vandalism or theft and a requirement to stay by your boss. 

If your business trip requires you to travel with equipment, make sure it is covered under your policy. 

Allianz offers an annual AllTrips Executive insurance plan that covers both personal and business travel for an entire year. The AllTrips Executive Plan offers benefits for business equipment. If your business equipment is lost, stolen or damaged, Allianz will reimburse reasonable costs for equipment rental, replacement or repair. The policy covers up to $1,000 for replacement or repair and up to $1,000 for business equipment rental, per person, per trip.

Not all insurance plans cover work equipment. Insurance providers like World Nomads exclude coverage for professional equipment. If your bags are stolen, your personal belongings may be covered but your work devices or work-related gear like samples or trade show materials would not be, Tunnah says. 

Do you need medical evacuation insurance? 

Medical evacuation insurance is a good idea if you are traveling abroad to remote islands or regions of a country that have limited medical facilities or staff, says Scott Adamski, AIG Travel’s Head of Global Product Development. 

If this were to happen on your business trip, you might be close enough to get to a local clinic, but it might not be sufficient if the injury sustained requires advanced imaging or emergency surgery. In that case, you would need to be quickly transported to the nearest metropolis. 

Having medical evacuation insurance would be critically important because the costs associated with medical evacuations are expensive. 

“Even just from the Caribbean to Miami, an air ambulance will come with a five-figure cost, and we have seen many evacuations that land in the six figures. Because payment has to be confirmed before the air ambulance will even take off, travelers need to consider where the funds would come from,” Adamski says. 

He adds that while some group health policies offer coverage for evacuations, they may come with a coverage limit of $5,000 to $10,000. In the case of a $100,000 evacuation, you might be responsible for the balance. Facing such a financial burden while trying to get home could be overwhelming. A travel insurance plan with sufficient medical evacuation coverage would be vitally important in a case like this.

Most comprehensive travel plans include coverage for emergency medical transportation, but coverage amounts are typically lower in the more basic plans. If this is important to you, look for a plan with a high coverage limit.

Travel insurance company Travel Guard offers a coverage enhancement called “Medical Bundle” that doubles the coverage limits for medical expenses and evacuation on certain travel insurance products.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Travel insurance covers your financial investment in a trip and extra money you spend because of unforeseen events that happen before and during your trip. 

A comprehensive travel insurance plan will include several types of coverage, including trip cancellation , trip delay, trip interruption, emergency medical care, emergency medical evacuation, baggage delay, and loss. 

When comparing travel insurance plans, look for what is covered and excluded from coverage, the daily and maximum coverage amounts, and the waiting times before coverage begins.

Travel insurance policies typically exclude routine physicals and dental care, elective medical procedures, mental health care, routine pregnancy, and injuries sustained during high-risk activities such as rock climbing or scuba diving. 

If you want coverage for extreme activities, look for a plan that offers an adventure sports upgrade, such as the Travel Guard Deluxe plan.

Business travel insurance can help protect you from unexpected incidents during a work trip such as travel delays or interruptions, lost luggage, and medical emergencies. 

It can be smart to buy business travel insurance for a business trip, even if your company is paying for your travel. Here are a few reasons why:

• Your company might not pay for a last-minute, one-way plane ticket if you need to cut your business trip short because of a family emergency back home.
• Your company might not pay your medical bills if you get sick or hurt while on a business trip abroad.
• Your company might not reimburse you if your personal belongings are lost or stolen while on a business trip.   

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Jennifer Simonson covers everything from business to the wine industry to international travel. Outdoor adventure, water parks and all things Texas are by far her favorite beats. Her work has appeared in Forbes, Travel + Leisure, Texas Monthly, Smithsonian Magazine, Fodor's, Lonely Planet, Slate and more. You can follow her on Instagram at @storiestoldwell.

Kara McGinley is deputy editor of insurance at USA TODAY Blueprint and a licensed home insurance expert. Previously, she was a senior editor at Policygenius, where she specialized in homeowners and renters insurance. Her work and insights have been featured in MSN, Lifehacker, Kiplinger, PropertyCasualty360 and more.

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Business Travel Insurance

What is business travel insurance? 

If you’re planning a business trip, you should make sure you’re protected in case something doesn’t go to plan. With our business travel insurance policies, you can choose the perfect cover for you. Whether you're travelling once or taking multiple trips, heading to Europe or visiting further afield, our business travel insurance is appropriate for most travellers.

By purchasing travel insurance for your business trip, you can take the unnecessary worry out of travelling, so you can concentrate on the job at hand. Our specialist business travel insurance is designed with professionals in mind. That’s why we include cover for business equipment, alongside medical expenses, loss and cancellation. This way, you can rest assured that should anything unexpected happen, the essentials will be taken care of.

As with our usual policies, you can feel safe in the knowledge that our global team of experts are on hand to provide support and assistance if something goes wrong. With over 13,000 people working across five continents and speaking 58 languages, we’ll be by your side wherever your work takes you.

Below is some more information about our insurance products, for which Terms and Conditions apply. Please visit the policy information hub for full details.

What does business travel insurance cover? 

With our business travel insurance, you can choose between a Single Trip or Annual policy. We also have two levels of cover: Silver and Gold.

Whichever level of cover you choose, our Single Trip and Annual policies include business equipment cover, so you may not need to take out separate laptop travel insurance. We can even send a replacement business associate to complete your itinerary if you have to cut your journey short.

Business travel insurance can protect you if you need to cancel your trip before you travel, or if you need to curtail your journey. If your departure or your personal belongings are delayed, we can provide some compensation. We’ll even provide legal support to claim compensation for a fatality, or if you fall ill or are injured on your trip.

We also understand that medical cover is important. That’s why our travel insurance for business trips covers emergency medical expenses, personal accident and personal liability cover. You’ll have 24-hour access to a GP consultation service  too.

To help protect you while you’re away, our policies can cover you if you lose your passport, personal money or personal possessions. If you choose our Gold cover, you’ll also be protected against the financial failure of your end-supplier.

To see exactly what our business travel insurance policies include, please visit the  Policy Information Hub . 

The right cover to fit your needs for you and your travels

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Business Silver

Business gold, annual multi-trip silver with business, frequently asked questions.

Whether our Single Trip or Annual business travel insurance is right for you will likely depend on how often you travel.

If you’re only planning on taking one business trip this year, then our Single Trip business travel insurance is the right insurance policy for you. But, if you’re a frequent traveller and you plan on taking multiple trips, our Annual business travel insurance could work out to be a more cost-effective option.

You can work out whether a Single Trip policy or an Annual policy is best suited to your needs by getting a business travel insurance quote online.

If you’re thinking of combining business with pleasure on your trip, while many sports and leisure activities are covered as standard on our Business Travel policies, from 5th May 2021, we will not be able to provide cover while you take part in riskier Category 3 and Category 3 sports and leisure activities like kite surfing and rubgy. This is only a temporary measure while we make improvements to the booking engine of our website. Please keep an eye on the Allianz Assistance website in the future so you are aware when we are able to offer this additional cover again. Policies purchased after 5th May 2021 aren't affected and your cover won't change.

If you’re likely to hit the slopes while you’re away, then we do offer  Winter Sports and Ski as an optional addition to your policy. This will provide you with protection against ski-specific risks such as avalanche closures, delayed or damaged ski equipment and unused ski-pack costs. 

How to ensure you have the right cover

Does your bank or credit card company provide cover.

Many bank accounts and credit cards come with some level of travel insurance cover. While some may be comprehensive, they may not cover you for everything you have planned whilst you’re away, particularly if you have adventurous plans or unusual excursions booked. 

Make sure you look into the travel insurance policy that you have before every trip, to make sure it’s suitable for you and your plans.

Purchasing a holiday using a credit card means you are often protected by Consumer Protection cover. In most cases, it allows you to get your money returned to you if your provider defaults and you cannot travel.

Are you covered by ABTA or ATOL?

If you have booked a holiday through a tour operator or travel agent, it may be worth checking if you are covered by ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents) or ATOL (Air Travel Organiser’s License). This type of cover means that your package holiday is protected if, for example, the travel company providing your holiday arrangements or the travel agent themselves fail financially or close down.

Your travel agents will be able to tell you if your holiday is ABTA or ATOL protected. Alternatively, use the links provided to check your cover at home.

What is an EHIC or GHIC and what can it offer you?

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If you have a pre-existing medical condition that we are unable cover under our own policies, you may be able to obtain an alternative travel insurance policy through one of the providers  featured in the MoneyHelper  directory  of specialist travel insurance providers for people with serious medical conditions. Do take time to study and compare the terms and conditions to ensure you have the cover you need. To contact the Money Advice Service for further details of the directory

Call: 0800 138 7777 (lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm) or Email: [email protected]

The complete guide to business travel insurance

Mr. Klein does not hit ‘snooze’ on his alarm this morning. It’s time to pack his bags and head to a much-awaited international trade conference that had been postponed for two years due to the pandemic. As he grabs a cup of coffee on his way to the airport, he mentally compares his last trip, which had him stranded in another country after testing COVID positive, with the current one.

He now has his travel manager’s number on speed dial, extra masks and sanitizers in his bag, his vaccination report safely tucked away with the rest of his documents, and most importantly, his business trip is insured this time. Had his previous trip been insured, the policy would have covered his treatment and hospitalization instead of Mr. Klein having to contact his team back home for emergency funds and assistance.

Although most firms have health and worker’s compensation policies in place as part of their employee benefits package, these policies do not cover the employee(s) when they embark on business travel. This is where business travel insurance comes into play. While corporate travel, in general, has a lower level of risk compared to leisure travel, there are still certain risk factors that need to be considered as part of duty of care. Business travel insurance offers employees some much-needed relief knowing that they are safe in case things go awry.

What is business travel insurance?

Business (or corporate) travel insurance covers different risks an employee might face during a business trip. The primary categories of coverage include trip cancellation, medical expenses, evacuation, and luggage or other personal loss. This coverage generally lasts from the first day of travel until the time the employee returns to the office.

Why is business travel insurance important?

Duty of care is an essential part of a corporate travel program. Employers are legally bound to protect their employees, board members, remote workers, consultants, and contractors when they travel for business.

Business travelers often don’t have a choice when it comes to visiting faraway or isolated places. This, coupled with the instability brought about by the pandemic, has led to an increase in the complexity of risks associated with business travel. More than ever, travel managers are focused on leveraging the assistance services provided as part of the business travel insurance program.

The coverage provided by this insurance ranges from evacuation, medical emergencies, travel inconveniences and arrangement assistance, pre-travel and cultural advice, and 24/7 multilingual assistance. Many insurance providers also have standalone applications providing real-time safety and security tips to employees. These apps track the employees’ phones (on their approval) to monitor their location, send them real-time alerts in case of potential threats, and offer immediate assistance.

By incorporating business travel insurance in a firm’s travel program, travel managers would no longer have to source these services separately from multiple providers. Instead, they’re all consolidated in one place and provided either through a local or global provider. As for the employees, they would be reassured that if anything goes wrong during the trip, they can depend on the travel team to help.

While business travel insurance would certainly increase the cost of each business trip, it also helps mitigate major financial losses. Several issues that could pile up as major expenses for the firm can be reduced significantly with business travel insurance.

What does business travel insurance cover?

Business travel insurance offers a wide range of coverage that can be purchased separately or as a bundle. Here are some of the primary coverage categories:

Emergency evacuation

Business travelers might find themselves in the midst of a natural disaster, pandemic outbreak, riot, or terrorist attack. Also, business travel disruptions often mean that your employees get stuck in unfamiliar environments with unfamiliar customs and possibly even significant language barriers, all of which can complicate everything from daily navigation to emergency responses. Insurance coverage helps with the immediate evacuation and repatriation of your employees in such cases.

Trip cancellation

Flight cancellations and delays are a common occurrence—either due to adverse weather conditions or operational issues. Sometimes your employees may be forced to cancel their trips due to unexpected medical issues. Business travel insurance helps alleviate the costs involved by covering trip cancellations that happen within an allotted time period as well as the cost of making new travel arrangements. When such circumstances call for hotel stays or other expenses, the insurance policy covers these additional expenses as well.  

Illness and accidents

Business travelers are susceptible to various illnesses, ranging from viruses like COVID-19 to individual health issues like food poisoning or severe allergies. Many people with chronic conditions (declared prior to the business trip) are also at risk of having flare-ups during the stresses of business travel. Many insurance policies would cover any medical expenses that come up unexpectedly. Apart from this coverage for medical issues, it also provides your employees with financial aid in case of fun shortages. Business travel insurance comes in handy, especially when your employees are stuck in places where their expenses are not covered by their conventional medical insurance policies.

As for accidents, airline and road traffic accidents are the most common risks involved and are usually covered by the insurance policy. Should an employee, unfortunately, lose their life while traveling or face permanent disability, the insurance policy reimburses a lump sum and covers the costs involved in transporting the individual back to their home country.

Theft and loss

Business travelers are often dressed in professional attire and carry high-end electronic devices around to keep track of their work on the go. This is going to stand out, making them an easy target for pickpocketing. Since these devices are essential for business trips, they’re covered by the insurance policy if they’re lost or stolen and can be replaced without much hassle. Most policies also cover the loss of check-in baggage and important documents like passports or licenses. For instance, if an employee loses their check-in baggage in transit, the policy will cover the associated cost of the goods within. As for lost documents, the coverage helps with the funds required to re-apply. On the whole, coverage for theft and loss offers reimbursement for lost, stolen, or damaged baggage and items during the entire trip, not just at the airport.

Note : Not all insurance policies cover every point mentioned above since some fall under force majeure . However, a good insurance policy will always help your employees in case of unforeseen mishaps.

How to find the right business travel insurance policy

Businesses looking to purchase corporate travel insurance must understand that there’s no one-size-fits-all insurance policy. Organizations have different requirements based on the type of business travel prevalent in their industry. Here are some factors you must assess to pick the right insurance policy:

Types of travel insurance

Business travel insurance can be split into domestic and international insurance and then further divided into single-trip and multi-trip insurance.

Single-trip insurance : Covers one trip from the start to the end dates of the journey

Multi-trip insurance : Covers all the trips made within a specific period, like a quarter, six months, a year, with an approximate limit of 31 days per trip

If your firm only takes a few business trips, then a single-trip insurance policy would suffice. However, if your employees travel frequently, then an annually renewable multi-trip policy is the best option. This way, you wouldn’t have to pay separately for each trip, which increases the overall cost and involves a lot of admin work. If you’ve decided to purchase an annual multi-trip policy, you will be asked to notify the insurance provider of the different countries your employees will be traveling to since different levels of policy coverage are needed for different countries.

The cost of an insurance policy typically depends on the number of employees traveling, the location(s) they are traveling to, the duration of the trips, and even the type of activities that the employees will be doing (e.g. employees who work in non-profit or engineering sectors would require additional coverage for safety and security). If your firm has a frugal approach to travel insurance, you can weigh your options and choose coverage for what’s most needed.

Compare the coverage offered by different policies

Review multiple policies and compare the levels of coverage offered for domestic and international travel, how much the policy would reimburse for each category and the number of employees that can be added to a group insurance policy. Afterward, note down the benefit amount and the maximum benefit offered by each policy. The amount could be fixed, based on the workplace hierarchy or the employee’s salary. Finally, check the time limit offered by each policy. It’s advisable to pick policies that offer full coverage with 24/7 multilingual support (via texts, calls, email, or in-app notification).

Here’s the takeaway!

Employers are responsible for employees when they are out on business travel. Investing in the right business travel insurance policy will protect your employees and their belongings as well as save your business from financial losses. Although most insurance companies are adept at meeting the general requirements of a business traveler, zeroing in on the right policy can be slightly tricky. To get started, you can explore different insurance providers online and compare the plans they offer based on the factors we’ve listed above.

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The importance of business travel insurance

When sending employees on business trips , not only are you investing in your company's growth and success, but you're also responsible for their well-being during travel. To protect both your employees and your business from unforeseen risks, having business travel insurance is essential. In this article, we'll discuss the importance of business travel insurance, how to choose the right policy, and tips for staying safe while traveling for work.

1. What is Business Travel Insurance and What Does It Cover?

Business travel insurance is a specialized type of insurance that covers employees while traveling for work-related purposes. It typically provides coverage for a range of potential risks, including:

- Medical emergencies: Covers healthcare costs for employees who become ill or injured while traveling

- Trip cancellations and delays: Reimburses for non-refundable expenses if a trip is canceled or delayed due to unforeseen circumstances

- Lost or delayed baggage: Provides compensation for lost, damaged, or delayed luggage during transit

- Personal liability: Covers legal expenses if an employee causes injury or property damage while traveling

- Travel assistance: Provides 24/7 support for travel-related issues, such as passport replacement or emergency cash transfers

2. The Risks Associated with Business Travel

Although business travel can be exciting and rewarding, it also presents various risks that employees may face, such as:

- Illness or injury: Contracting an illness or experiencing an injury in a foreign country can be both challenging and expensive.

- Travel disruptions: Unexpected events like natural disasters, terrorism, or political instability can disrupt travel plans and cause financial losses.

- Lost or stolen valuables: Travelers face a heightened risk of losing essential items like passports, laptops, or other valuables.

- Legal issues: Employees may inadvertently violate local laws or become involved in disputes, potentially resulting in legal expenses.

3. How to Choose the Right Business Travel Insurance Policy

To ensure that your employees have the appropriate coverage while traveling for work, consider the following when selecting a business travel insurance policy:

- Assess the risks: Evaluate the destinations your employees will visit and the potential risks associated with that region, including political stability, healthcare quality, and common travel disruptions.

- Review coverage limits: Choose a policy with appropriate coverage limits to ensure adequate protection for medical expenses, lost baggage, and other potential costs.

- Compare policies: Compare policies from multiple insurance providers to find the best combination of coverage, price, and service quality.

- Examine exclusions: Be sure to understand any policy exclusions, such as pre-existing medical conditions, so you can make an informed decision and avoid any surprises during a claim.

4. What to Do If You Need to Make a Claim

If an employee experiences an incident covered by their business travel insurance, it's crucial to follow the correct procedure for filing a claim:

- Contact your insurance provider: Notify your insurance company as soon as possible and provide them with details about the incident.

- Collect documentation: Gather any necessary documentation to support your claim, such as receipts, medical reports, or police reports.

- Submit your claim: Complete any required claim forms and submit them, along with supporting documentation, to your insurance provider.

- Follow up: Monitor the progress of your claim and provide any additional information if requested.

5. Tips for Staying Safe While Traveling for Work

To promote safety and minimize risks while traveling for business, consider these practical tips:

- Research your destination: Familiarize yourself with local customs, laws, and safety concerns before departure.

- Register with your embassy: Enroll in your country's embassy or consulate abroad to receive updates and assistance in an emergency.

- Keep essential documents secure: Carry photocopies of important documents and store digital copies in a secure location.

- Maintain communication: Ensure employees have a way to contact their office or family in an emergency, such as a cell phone or internet access.

6. Common Myths About Business Travel Insurance

Some common misconceptions about business travel insurance include:

- "My employees are already covered by their personal travel insurance." Personal travel insurance may not cover work-related incidents, making it essential to have separate business coverage.

- "Business travel insurance is too expensive." The cost of a comprehensive policy is often minimal compared to the financial risks associated with business travel.

In conclusion, business travel insurance is a necessary investment for companies to safeguard the well-being of their employees and protect the business from potential risks. By choosing the right policy and following safety tips, you can ensure a successful and secure business trip.

Need help planning your next business trip with the right insurance coverage in place? Contact CTI Business Travel today to discuss your requirements and receive expert advice on protecting your employees and your business while on the road.

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Corporate Travel insurance

Why QBE Corporate Travel insurance?

Our enhanced Corporate Travel policy provides flexible cover and greater protection for business travellers, with access to specialised 24/7 emergency medical and global travel assistance. This business travel insurance policy is part of the QBE Accident and Health suite of products, and it can be tailored to meet the specific needs of your business, protecting your people wherever they are.

What can Corporate Travel insurance cover

For small and medium businesses to large organisations, our updated corporate travel policy provides cover* for domestic and overseas trips of six months in duration or less. These are some of the benefits that can be included:

• Unlimited overseas medical expenses
• Overseas leisure travel for directors and designated executives, their accompanying spouses and dependent children - with no age restrictions for most benefits
• Cover for combined business and leisure travel
• No item limits under baggage
• An unauthorised use of personal information benefit
• Kidnap and ransom cover which is available worldwide including Central and South America
• Refund of excess benefit for private vehicle if it is being used for a business purpose
• Search and rescue expenses benefit
• Death by specified sickness benefit
• Coverage for financial collapse of tour operator or accommodation provider
• Replacement staff and recruitment costs
• Partner retraining
• Corporate image protection
• Personal accident and sickness cover while travelling, including rehabilitation, lifestyle modification, chauffeur benefit and Injury assistance for non-earners.

*Benefits listed are subject to terms and conditions. Limits and exclusions apply. To decide if this product is right for you, please refer to the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD), available from your broker.

24/7 Emergency assistance

We partner with World Travel Protect who are on call 24/7 to provide emergency assistance. So if you’re injured, get sick or find your travel plans thrown into chaos, help is just a phone call away. Our global emergency assistance partners are carefully selected based on their ability to deliver high quality care and advice in the time-critical period after an unforeseen event.

For emergency assistance, you can contact World Travel Protection by:

Email: [email protected] Tel: +61 2 8907 5660

Need to claim?

To make a claim, you can contact us using the details below:

Outside Australia: +61 2 8275 9650 Within Australia: (02) 8275 9650 Email: [email protected] Fax: 1300 725 424

For more information or to organise QBE Corporate Travel Insurance cover please contact your broker.

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Protects workers who are injured in the course of their job.

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Business Travel Insurance

Business travel insurance helps keep your employees protected when work takes them away from home

If your employees travel as part of their job, we can help you meet your duty of care obligations. We provide comprehensive business travel coverage and innovative digital solutions. From pre-travel training and advice, to handling complex medical and security emergencies, we’ll make sure you and your employees are in safe hands. 

Feel secure knowing your employees are covered wherever they travel

Who it's for:.

• Multinational corporations or companies with employees who regularly travel overseas
• Government agencies
• Non-profit organisations with employees, students or members living and working around the world
• Flexible workers and those working in remote locations
• Employees with specialist occupations such as crew members and offshore workers
• International assignees on long-term placement

What it covers:

• Care:  With 24/7 emergency medical assistance, we can help your employees should they become sick or suffer with their mental health while travelling. 
• Security:   Our 24/7 security assistance helps keep employees safe through pre-travel guidance, emergency evacuation, and specialist risk assessments. 
• Convenience:  An employee thousands of miles from home loses their bag or has a flight cancelled. We can help through access to 24/7 helplines and a swift claims response.
• International healthcare expenses:  Make sure hospital bills and other medical costs are covered for employees when they’re working in a foreign country.

Business travel programmes to protect your employees wherever you do business

Business class assistance.

From pre-travel advice through to a dedicated worldwide 24/7 telephone service for medical and security assistance, our business travel clients are never more than a phone call away from expert help and advice. 

Chubb Travel Smart

A handy smartphone app for travelling employees providing easy access to pre-travel advice and training, medical and security assistance, live location-based alerts and useful country information. 

Online Visa Portal

Access and download real-time insurance documentation to support visa applications. 

Chubb Claims Portal

Award-winning online portal to notify claims in a few simple steps. 

We care about the financial security of employers and their workers

Global reach. Local expertise. Safe travel for everyone Whether your business is big or small, takes you around the world or just around town, Chubb is there for you. Our breadth of experience lets us provide the guidance and service you need, whenever you need it, wherever you may be.

Partnership that’s personal We work to understand your business and where you’re headed so we can be proactive about meeting your needs. We invest in getting to know you, your team, and your customers. The goal: to help you see ahead, be ahead, and stay ahead.

Creative problem-solving Insurance isn’t one-size-fits-all – and neither is our approach. Our playbook is always evolving because we’re always helping clients avoid risk in smarter ways. That means we bring the latest thinking and a fresh perspective to solving your challenges.

Unmatched expertise and financial strength We’ve served clients and partnered with leading organisations for more than 200 years. Our longevity, expertise, and financial strength are the bedrock of our business.  

What is business travel insurance?

Business travel insurance is a specialist programme of cover for travelling employees and others travelling on behalf of your business. Unlike standard leisure travel insurance, business travel cover is tailored towards employees and includes increased limits, specialist 24/7 medical and security assistance, and sophisticated pre-travel guidance and risk assessments. 

What does a business travel accident policy cover?

Your business travel insurance programme should be designed to cover the needs of specific employee groups, from short term travellers to international assignees. Typically cover would include:

• Medical expenses including for pandemics
• Access to immediate 24/7 medical and security assistance
• Lost business equipment, personal belongings, and money
• Disruption benefits including cancellation and curtailment
• Personal liability
• Replacement staff costs

Do I need travel insurance for a business trip?

In today’s changing risk landscape, specialist business travel insurance is crucial to helping ensure employee wellbeing and peace of mind. Talk to a specialist to help you design the most appropriate level of cover. 

How is my business travel insurance quote calculated?

We only need estimated travel patterns to provide a quotation. We do not need specific trip or personal information or data. We can then arrange immediate cover for all business travellers under a group policy.

What happens if I need a VISA to travel?

In most cases, a VISA application would ask for evidence of appropriate travel insurance. A Chubb policy provides all the covers required for entry requirements and VISA applications around the world. Our online VISA portal enables you to access your policy documentation in real-time to support your VISA application. 

Business Travel case study

Safety tips for the business traveller

Spotlight on business travel

Chubb Travel Smart Brochure

Contact sheets

• Best Overall Travel Insurance
• Get Travel Insurance Quotes
• Methodology

Best Travel Insurance in California: Top Plans for Your Next Trip

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.

Whether you're road-tripping to Palm Springs or passing through LAX to catch a flight around the world, the best travel insurance companies for Californians offer comprehensive coverage options for a wide range of people and needs.

For this guide, we looked at coverage options, customizability, and the best companies for specific situations, such as pre-existing conditions.

Here are Business Insider's picks for the best travel insurance companies in California. 

Best Travel Insurance Companies in California

• Best Overall: Nationwide Travel Insurance
• Runner-Up: AXA Assistance USA
• Best for Cruises: Travel Guard
• Best Reputation:  C&F Travel Insured
• Best for Pre-existing Conditions:   Tin Leg Travel Insurance
• Best for Digital Nomads:   WorldTrips Travel Insurance
• Best Low-Cost Option:   Trawick International Travel Insurance
• Best for Road Trips: Travelex Travel Insurance
• Best for Adventure Sports: World Nomads Travel Insurance

Nationwide Travel Insurance

Nationwide is of the largest players in the travel insurance space, offering nearly endless options for any customer on the travel spectrum, including annual travel insurance plans which can offer frequent travelers the flexibility to "set it and forget it" on their travel insurance coverage.

Nationwide Essential also offers some of the most affordable policies in the market compared to similar plans from competitors, which makes it a great pick for just about anyone. Buyers can discuss bundling options as Nationwide also sells homeowners, auto, pet, and other insurance products. Its travel insurance quoting is just as easy as it has been with other Nationwide insurance products.

Read our Nationwide travel insurance review .

AXA Assistance USA

AXA offers consumers a great option for no-stress travel insurance: low-priced plans, generous coverage limits on key categories including primary insurance on lost luggage, and up to 150% reimbursement for qualifying trip cancellations.

While add-ons are limited and rental car coverage is not included by default on cheaper plans, AXA is a perfect fit for travelers who don't plan to drive (or who already hold a travel credit card with rental car coverage), and don't need any additional bells and whistles.

Read our AXA Assistance USA travel insurance review .

Travel Guard

AIG is well-known insurance provider, and a great fit for travelers who want to ensure that they can get their money back in the event of canceled or interrupted travel plans.

While the company's policies can be pricey compared to its competitors, the high medical and evacuation limits make AIG a solid choice for older travelers who value peace of mind and simplicity over highly customizable plans that may be bolstered with medical upgrades.

Read our AIG Travel Guard travel insurance review .

C&F Travel Insured

While every travel insurance company has negative reviews about its claims process, C&F Travel Insured 's claims process has a consistent stream of positive reviews. One customer wrote that C&F processed a claim within 48 hours. Additionally, C&F regularly responds to customer reviews within one business week, making reviews a consistent way to reach the company.

Additionally, in C&F's fine print, it mentions that any claims that take more than 30 days to pay out will begin to accrue interest at 9% APY.

C&F's reputation isn't the only thing to speak highly of. It offers an array of add-ons uncommon in the travel insurance industry, such as Interruption for Any Reason insurance and CFAR coverage for annual plans. C&F also offers discounts for children on its Protector Edge plan and free coverage on its Protector plan.  

Read our C&F Travel Insured review . 

Tin Leg Travel Insurance

Tin Leg is a great fit for travelers with medical issues in particular. Seven of Tin Leg's eight travel plans include coverage for pre-existing conditions as long as you purchase your policy within 15 days of your initial trip payment.

Thanks to coverage for pre-existing medical conditions as well as for potential COVID-19 infection while traveling, this company offers some of the best financial investment options for travelers who are or will be exposed to higher health risks and issues.

Read our Tin Leg travel insurance review .

WorldTrips Travel Insurance

WorldTrips has affordable premiums, highly customizable add-ons, and generous coverage for core categories of travel insurance. All this makes it a great option for digital nomads, students studying abroad and backpackers.

However, travelers should keep in mind that plans are not particularly flexible, and coverage amounts are limited unless you plan ahead to pay for the areas and amounts that you need.

Read our WorldTrips travel insurance review .

Trawick International Travel Insurance

Trawick offers low premiums across its five plans, most of which offer coverage for pre-existing conditions. You'll find robust medical travel insurance that can help higher-risk and anxious travelers find peace of mind while on the road. This company also offers high medical evacuation coverage limits, up to $1,000,000.

Read our Trawick travel insurance review .

Travelex Travel Insurance

Travelex offers three plans:

• Travel Basic
• Travel Select
• Travel America

The Travelex America plan is meant for trips limited to the U.S., but it has the highest coverage limits in many areas compared to its other programs. If you're flying somewhere, the lost baggage limits are higher. Its natural strengths shine for road trippers, though. Travelex America adds coverage for roadside service and rental car coverage for unexpected accidents. It also covers pets should you be involved in an accident while on the road.

While your standard auto insurance does extend to car rentals within the U.S. for a limited time, any accident would affect future rates. Travelex would eliminate the risk of reporting to your auto insurance provider for minor incidents within its purview.

Read our Travelex Travel Insurance review .

World Nomads Travel Insurance

World Nomads distinguishes itself from others by covering over 300 sports and activities, from skydiving to golf. Additionally, its one of the few travel insurance companies that allow you to purchase after departing for your destination. However, you'll have a 72-hour waiting period before coverage kicks in.

That said, World Nomads doesn't have the highest coverage limits compared to its competitors on this list, travel medical insurance capping out at $100,000. It also isn't the most flexible provider, only providing two plans to choose from with no options for pre-existing condition coverage. Yet, World Nomads still stands out for its sports coverage and post-departure coverage.

Read our World Nomads travel insurance review .

Get Travel Insurance Quotes in California

Faqs about the best travel insurance in california.

There isn't one best travel insurance company; there are many great providers on the travel insurance market today. Our overall winner was Nationwide for its breadth of coverage options. AIG Travel Guard, AXA, Berkshire Hathaway, Tin Leg, WorldTrips and Trawick also made the cut. The best pick for you will depend on what features you value the most, like a low premium or high coverage limits.

While coverage varies by policy, common exclusions often include pre-existing medical conditions (unless you have purchased a waiver), accidents caused by high-risk activities if not specifically covered (e.g., skydiving, scuba diving), travel for medical procedures, and events known before purchasing the policy (e.g., traveling during a pandemic). Always read your policy carefully to understand the exclusions.

The average cost of travel insurance is 4% to 8% of your total trip cost, so it could vary widely depending on where you're traveling and the length of your trip. Your age, the number of people in your group, and other factors can also influence how much you'll pay.

Yes, travel insurance typically offers some coverage of canceled flights, but if this benefit is important to you, make sure you read the fine print of your policy to make sure it offers adequate reimbursement. If you think you may need to cancel your travel plans, you should consider purchasing cancel for any reason (CFAR) travel insurance .

The best travel insurance for adventure sports is World Nomads , which covers over 300 sports in its base plan.

How We Reviewed the Best Travel Insurance Companies

To come up with our list of the best travel insurance companies, we evaluated each insurer based on the following factors:

Guide Methodology: What We Considered

Policy Types

Travel insurance is essential, but often underused partly because people aren't getting what they want. Business Insider's 2023 travel study showed 10.65% of travelers surveyed bought cancel for any reason insurance. Cost may be a factor, but in many cases, the coverage is more affordable than you might think. Regardless, companies must offer a diverse range of coverage options. We award five stars to companies offering all standard coverages and additional options like pet and sports equipment protection.

Our 2023 travel study indicated the majority of purchases were made through the travel provider (ex: flight protection insurance when you're purchasing your airline tickets). While these may be sufficient for some customers, we look for companies offering a more comprehensive range of services.

According to the U.S. Travel Insurance Association, the average cost of travel insurance will be between 4% and 8% of total travel expenses. Anything beyond that price point should include additional benefits beyond the standard inclusions, such as CFAR protection or upgraded medical coverage. Anything below that 4% threshold may leave you lacking important or sufficient coverage in an emergency.

Convenience and Flexibility

Whether you're an infrequent traveler or a suitcase warrior, a good travel insurance company should have you covered. In many cases, you might not even have to talk to a person in order to purchase your policy.

Many people think of travel insurance in context with specific trips, but most of these top contenders sell both single-trip and multi-trip policies, also known as annual travel insurance. Some companies also offer plans specifically designed for cruisers, students abroad, and business travelers. (Read our guide to the best cruise travel insurance companies for more details.) Finally, all of these providers offer multiple options for getting the specific areas and amounts of coverage that you want.

Claims Handling

Most travelers never have a large claim. Premiums are low, and it provides peace of mind for the just in case situations. So they leave reviews based on their reduced stress levels. But what happens if you lose your luggage or have to stay a few extra days due to an unexpected accident? Will your insurance carrier cover your claim without all the hassle? We check real customer reviews to sort this out for you.

Ease of Use and Support

When purchasing, during your trip, and throughout the claims process, you may need extra support. Does the company have a 24/7 help line? Does it have an online or mobile system allowing you to self-manage? Essentially, what are the options when you need help? We look at the big picture to evaluate the average customer experience with each company.

You can read our full insurance rating methodology for even more details.

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Faye Travel Insurance Review (2024)

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.

Here’s a breakdown of how we reviewed and rated the best travel insurance companies

• Average Cost: $256
• BBB Rating: N/R
• AM Best Score: A (excellent)
• Medical Expense Max: $250,000
• Emergency Evacuation Max: $500,000

Our Take on Faye Travel Insurance

We gave Faye Travel Insurance an overall score of 4.6 out of 5 stars and ranked it #1 as the best travel insurance provider with an entirely online experience. Faye’s online application is simple, allowing you to get a quote in as little as 60 seconds, and the company’s free app makes filing a claim just as easy. While Faye’s pricing is a bit higher than other insurance providers, its all-in-one app and around-the-clock support might be worth it for some travelers .

In addition to a mobile offering and 24/7 customer support, Faye also includes extra benefits like $2,000 coverage for sporting equipment and $50 towards replacement passports. This coverage, plus Faye’s generous baggage coverage, could be valuable for those who travel with items that would be difficult or expensive to replace. Faye might be a less valuable choice for travelers who are more likely to require medical coverage, as its evacuation and medical bill reimbursement limits are lower than competitors.

Pros and Cons of Faye

How faye scored in our methodology.

We rated Faye Travel Insurance 4.6 out of 5 stars . The company is our overall top pick for travel insurance due to its comprehensive travel insurance plan, variety of add-on options and strong reputation for customer service.

Rating is based off of MarketWatch Methodology Guidelines

Faye Travel Insurance Review: Ratings Breakdown

In the table below, we’ve provided a more detailed look at how Faye scored in our 2024 travel insurance study. You’ll also see industry averages from all providers in our study for comparison.

Compare Faye to the Other Travel Insurance Providers

Use the table below to compare the costs and coverages of Faye to other top-rated travel insurance companies.

What Does Faye Travel Insurance Cover?

Faye Travel Insurance is a relatively new insurance provider, opening its doors in 2022. However, the company has quickly set itself apart with its app-based offerings. Those who prefer a more streamlined, digital policy experience may prefer the Faye app, which offers benefits like:

• Real-time travel alerts
• Customer support from real humans
• A fully digital claims process

While the Faye app is available as a free download for both Android and iOS devices, it is not required to buy insurance or file a claim. You can utilize Faye’s website to check policy pricing or email the company to file a claim. The app also features the Faye Wallet option, which allows you to get paid directly after filing a claim.

Based on our research, we found that Faye offered a single insurance policy for both domestic and international trips which includes the following coverage:

As long as you purchase your plan within 14 days of your initial trip deposit and are medically able to travel when you purchase your plan, pre-existing conditions can be covered for trip cancellation and trip interruption (not for medical expenses relating to pre-existing conditions). If you do not purchase Faye travel insurance within 14 days of your initial trip deposit, you unfortunately won’t receive the waiver for pre-existing medical conditions.

When compared to other travel insurance providers, Faye’s coverage is average in terms of baggage and delays. Faye also falls a bit short with its medical evacuation coverage . For example, competitors like Nationwide and Travel Insured International offer up to $1 million in evacuation coverage at similar price points. This might make Faye a less appealing choice if you’re planning international travel to a rural area with limited access to medical care.

Optional Riders

Even the best travel insurance coverage will not cover every situation and cancellation. Riders are add-ons that extend your coverage to include more unique circumstances. Faye travel insurance currently allows you to customize your travel insurance policy with the following extra coverages:

• Cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage: All travel insurance companies specify a list of covered reasons that qualify you for reimbursement if you must cancel your travel plans. Some common covered reasons include the death of a family member, legal obligations or natural disasters. Adding CFAR coverage to your Faye travel insurance policy offers more flexibility in regard to cancellations. With CFAR coverage, you will be reimbursed for up to 75% of non-refundable trip costs when you cancel your trip for any reason — even those not included in your policy. To qualify, you must initiate the cancellation at least 48 hours before your departure.
• Rental car care : This add-on reimburses you for up to $50,000 in rental car damage or theft-related expenses if you’re involved in an accident abroad or if the vehicle is stolen.
• Adventure and extreme sports protection : Like most competing travel insurance provider options, Faye’s coverage for medical expenses excludes bills resulting from extreme sports. If you plan to parasail, scuba dive or engage in any other extreme outdoor activities, you can extend medical evacuation and expense reimbursement coverage with this rider.
• Vacation rental damage protection : This rider reimburses you for up to $3,000 in repair or replacement costs if you damage the rental property you’re staying in.
• Pet care : If your trip is interrupted or canceled while you’re abroad, you could end up with unanticipated pet care expenses. This add-on reimburses you for up to $2,500 in veterinary expenses and $250 for kenneling if you arrive back home later than expected.

Add-on pricing is proportional to the value of your trip and may vary based on the amount of time you’re traveling and your destination.

What Doesn’t Faye Cover?

Faye doesn’t cover the following:

• Expected or foreseeable events
• Costs incurred while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Psychological conditions, unless you’re hospitalized for them
• Self-harm or suicide
• War and acts of war
• Illegal activities
• Operating an aircraft or serving as a crew member
• High-risk activities that you are paid to do

How Much Does Faye Travel Insurance Cost?

The average cost of a Faye travel insurance policy is $256 , but ranges from $130-$482 depending on your trip details.

Some of the factors that affect the price of travel insurance include:

• Your travel destination and home state
• The total value of your trip
• The dates you’re traveling
• When you made your first trip deposit

Based on our Faye travel insurance review, Faye is not the most competitively priced provider. After comparing a few sample trips between providers, we found that Faye’s prices were about 31% higher than competing insurers offering comparable coverage. However, it’s important to remember that travel insurance premiums are highly customizable and personalized — we still recommend getting a quote from Faye before choosing your insurance plan.

To give you an idea of the cost of Faye Travel Insurance policies, we obtained the following quotes for seven different international trips. All trips are one week long, but vary in number of travelers, traveler age and trip destination.

Use the chart below to compare Faye’s average cost to competitors:

Read More: Travel Insurance For Travelers Visiting The United States

Does Faye Offer 24/7 Travel Assistance?

If you’re traveling internationally for the first time, it can be reassuring to know your travel insurance provider offers around-the-clock assistance in your native language. Faye offers 24/7 customer support through its Apple and Android apps and over the phone. If you don’t need urgent assistance, you can direct any questions about your policy to its customer support team via email at [email protected] .

Faye Travel Insurance Reviews

Reading third-party reviews of previous customer experiences can help you anticipate the type of service you’ll receive from a travel insurance provider. Overall, Faye maintains higher-than-average customer reviews, with about 84% of Trustpilot users rating the company 4.5 out of 5 stars . However, Faye is not currently accredited nor rated by the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

Many customer reviews note that Faye was helpful and efficient when issues occurred while traveling. Multiple customers report it was easy to get in touch with a Faye representative when they needed it most and that claims were paid out quickly. However, some customers expressed frustration regarding difficulties finding a medical provider using Faye’s app in some countries. Some customers also reported issues regarding policy “fine print” or a lack of communication with representatives.

“…I had an allergic reaction in Thailand, and Faye saved the day and reimbursed me for my hospital bill. [The representative] was there for all the steps after. I’m so grateful! “ —Elena via Trustpilot “We purchased Faye for a month-long trip to Argentina, where my partner suddenly experienced a serious medical situation which resulted in him getting hospitalized in Buenos Aires for almost a week. We ended up having to interrupt our trip because of this, going home two weeks earlier than planned. Faye’s customer support was super responsive through the app, giving us assistance and guidance every step of the way.” —Liran S. via Trustpilot “During my recent trip to Turkey, I was offered medical help via Air Doctor but it did not work. The app struggled to find a local doctor for telemedicine. Disappointing. ” —Vivekandand B. via Trustpilot “Bought insurance for a seven-day trip with a hurricane in the forecast. Once I filed a claim, [Faye] told me [the hurricane] was foreseeable since it had already been named and I could not cancel the insurance because I had made a claim. Do not waste your money on this.” —Paula s. Via Trustpilot

How To File a Claim with Faye

Filing a claim with Faye starts with the company’s mobile app. Here is an overview of the general process:

• Access the Faye app : Begin by opening the Faye mobile application on your device.
• Navigate to “Get Help”: Within the app, locate the “Get Help” tab, and then click on the “Claim Questions” tab.
• File a new claim: In the “Claim Questions” section, select the option to “File a new claim.”
• Specify your claim reason: You will be prompted to give a reason for filing a claim. Choose the appropriate category, whether it’s related to your health or other claims such as rental car coverage.
• Provide trip details and explanation: Enter essential information about your trip, including dates and destinations. Additionally, explain the circumstances that led to your claim.
• Upload supporting documents: To substantiate your claim, upload relevant supporting documents. These may include flight tickets, hotel reservations or any other travel-related receipts.
• Submit your claim: Once you’ve filled in the required details and attached the necessary documents, you can submit your claim through the app.
• Alternative method: If you don’t have the Faye app, you can still file a claim by sending an email to [email protected]. Make sure to include the same information you would provide through the app so Faye can assist you effectively.

Faye aims to process all claims within 48 hours of submission. You can check for live updates through the Faye app — another benefit of choosing Faye as your travel insurance provider.

Is Faye Travel Insurance a Good Choice?

Overall, Faye can be a strong travel insurance choice for those traveling with valuable items or looking for a digital policy experience. With special coverage for lost sports equipment and up to $4,500 in baggage reimbursements, Faye offers generous coverage limits for your belongings. But this coverage comes at a cost that is higher than some other leading providers. Faye may not be the best choice if you are traveling on a budget and seeking cheap coverage options .

We recommend requesting quotes from at least three travel insurance providers before deciding on a policy.

Frequently Asked Questions About Faye Travel Insurance

What company underwrites faye travel insurance policies.

Faye travel insurance policies are underwritten by the United States Fire Insurance Company. The United States Fire Insurance Company boasts an A+ rating with the credit agency A.M. Best, indicating the company is financially stable enough to pay out claims.

What is travel insurance?

Travel insurance coverage is a type of protection that reimburses you for non-refundable trip costs if your travel plans are unexpectedly canceled or interrupted. Travel coverage includes coverage for medical expenses you incur abroad and evacuation expenses if you’re forced to leave your destination early. Most policies will also cover lost or damaged baggage.

Is Faye trip insurance legit?

Faye travel insurance is a legitimate company, backed by the well-rated United States Fire Insurance Company. While not every customer reports a positive experience with Faye, most customers report that the company provided a payout after filing a claim.

How does Faye travel insurance work?

As is the case with most travel insurance providers, Faye travel insurance works on a reimbursement-based model. This means you’ll need to cover any medical or travel expenses you incur abroad and apply for a reimbursement later. A Faye underwriter will then look at your coverage, determine if you’re eligible for a payout and calculate your reimbursement.

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 .

MarketWatch Guides may receive compensation from companies that appear on this page.
The compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear, but it does not influence the recommendations the editorial team provides. Not all companies, products, or offers were reviewed.

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Marketing Consent Terms & Conditions

• I consent to Etiqa and its related, its agents, authorised service providers and marketing partners collecting, using, disclosing, and/or processing my personal data, in order to contact me about products and services marketed by Etiqa or its partners as well as benefits, promotions and rewards, via the modes mentioned or selected, and using my contact particulars which Etiqa may have in its records from time to time (including where applicable my Singapore telephone number(s));
• I confirm and agree that my consents granted herein do not supersede or replace any other consents which I may have previously provided to Etiqa in respect of my personal data, and are additional to any rights which Etiqa may have at law to collect, use or disclose my personal data, unless my consent is withdrawn and notified to Etiqa.
• I can choose to withdraw my consent by submitting the Marketing Withdrawal Form at www.etiqa.com.sg or email to [email protected].

Personal Data Protection Terms & Conditions

I expressly authorise and consent to Etiqa, its officers and employees at their sole discretion, to disclose any and all information relating to me, including my personal particulars, my transactions and dealings and my policies of insurance with Etiqa, to any of the following persons, whether in Singapore or elsewhere:

• Etiqa’s related corporations or affiliates;
• Any of Etiqa’s contractors or third party service providers;
• Any regulatory, supervisory or other authority, court of law, tribunal or person, in any jurisdiction, where such disclosure is required by law, regulation, judgement or order of court or order of any tribunal or as a matter of practice;
• Any actual or potential assignee(s) or transferee(s) of any rights and obligations of Etiqa under or relating to my policy or policies for any purpose connected with the proposed assignment or transfer; and
• Any credit bureau, insurer or representative, for such purpose(s) that Etiqa in its reasonable opinion considers appropriate including but not limited to the purpose(s) of underwriting, customer servicing, investigation of Etiqa’s representatives and monitoring undesirable sales practices.

Eligibility Conditions

• The Insured, also known as the Applicant / Proposer, must be a Singapore citizen, Permanent Resident of Singapore or foreigner with a valid Work Pass, Student Pass, Dependant’s Pass or Long-Term Visit Pass.
• The Applicant/Proposer must be at least 18 years of age.
• For more information, please view our Policy Wording

Thanks for your interest.

Our Assurance Manager will reach out to you within 2 working days to assist you further.