Fine Print Guide

Travel and pets · Trip cancellation, delay, medical

Travel insurance

Refunds prepaid trip costs if you have to cancel or cut a trip short for a listed reason, and pays for delays, lost bags and medical emergencies while traveling.

Who it's for
Travelers with expensive non-refundable bookings, and anyone traveling abroad whose health plan doesn't cover them there.
Is it required?
No, though some countries and visas require travel medical coverage for visitors.

Usually covered

  • Cancelling for a covered reason, like your or a close family member's illness, a hurricane at your destination, or jury duty
  • Coming home early for a covered reason, and the extra flight
  • Meals and a hotel when you're delayed for a covered reason, after a set number of hours
  • Essentials you buy while your bag is delayed, and lost or damaged bags up to a limit
  • Emergency medical care abroad, and medical evacuation

Usually not covered

  • Changing your mind, or being worried about going, unless you bought cancel for any reason
  • Events that were known when you bought the policy, like a hurricane that had already been named
  • Pre-existing conditions, unless you got a waiver by buying soon after booking
  • Refunds the airline or hotel already owes you
  • Risky activities, like extreme sports, unless added

Real-life examples

You get the flu three days before your trip and can't go.

Usually covered

Illness with a doctor's note is a standard covered reason. You get back the non-refundable costs you insured.

Your flight is delayed overnight because of a mechanical problem.

Usually covered

Travel delay usually pays for a hotel and meals once the delay passes a threshold, often 6 to 12 hours, up to a daily limit. Keep receipts. Many airlines promise meals or a hotel for delays they cause, but federal law doesn't require it.

You decide you don't feel like going anymore.

Usually not covered

Only cancel for any reason covers this, and it usually refunds 50 to 75% of the cost.

You book after a hurricane is named, then cancel because of it.

Usually not covered

Once a storm is named, it's a known event and not covered for policies bought afterward. Buy insurance soon after booking.

The airline cancels your flight and you choose not to rebook.

It depends

You usually don't need insurance for this: on flights to, from or within the US, the airline must refund the ticket in cash. Insurance may cover other prepaid costs, like a hotel, if the cancellation was for a covered reason.

You break your leg skiing in Switzerland.

Usually covered

Travel medical pays for treatment abroad, if the policy includes it and skiing isn't excluded. Many US health plans pay little abroad, and Medicare usually pays nothing.

The parts of a travel policy

A travel policy is a bundle. Plans differ a lot, so check which of these you have and their limits.

1Trip cancellationBefore you leave

Refunds prepaid, non-refundable costs if you cancel for a covered reason. Only the reasons listed count; read the list.

2Trip interruptionComing home early

Pays for the unused part of the trip and the extra cost of getting home, if you have to cut the trip short for a covered reason.

3Travel delayStuck on the way

Pays reasonable meals and hotels after a minimum delay, for reasons like weather or a carrier problem, up to a daily maximum.

4Baggage delay and lossYour bags

Delay pays for essentials, like clothes and toiletries, after a bag is late by a set number of hours. Loss pays up to a limit, often with low caps for electronics and jewelry. The airline is responsible first.

5Emergency medicalCare while abroad

Doctor and hospital bills while traveling. Some plans pay the hospital directly; others reimburse you.

6Medical evacuationGetting to proper care

Transport to an adequate hospital, or home, which can cost $50,000 or more from a remote place.

Add-onCancel for any reasonOptional upgrade

CFAR lets you cancel for any reason at all and get back part of your costs. It usually must be bought within 14 to 21 days of your first payment, and you must cancel at least 2 days before departure.

Good to know

Check your credit card first

Many travel credit cards include trip delay, trip cancellation, baggage and rental car coverage when you pay for the trip with that card. It's often narrower than a travel policy, but it may be enough for a short domestic trip.

Travel medical for visitors to the US

Visitors and new arrivals often buy "visitor" or "travel medical" insurance. It isn't full health insurance: it covers emergencies, often excludes pre-existing conditions, and has limits. People settling in the US need real health insurance.

Check your own policy

Find these on your policy or declarations page, or ask your agent:

Not sure where to look? See how to read your policy.

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