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Pros

  • Free coverage for children 17 and under on the same policy.
  • Good extension of coverage that includes medical quarantine.
  • Robust travel delay coverage of $2,000 per person ($250 per day) after five hours.
  • Hurricane and weather coverage after a common carrier delay of any amount of time.
  • Excellent “cancel for any reason” coverage upgrade of 75% available.

Cons

  • Low emergency medical coverage of $50,000 per person.
  • Non-medical evacuation is not included.
  • Baggage delay coverage of $200 requires a 12-hour delay.

Why trust our travel insurance experts

Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of insurance products and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best product for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.

  • 1,855 coverage details evaluated.
  • 567 rates reviewed.
  • 5 levels of fact-checking.

Travelex overview

Travelex Insurance Services has been providing travel insurance in the U.S. for more than 25 years. Based in Omaha, Travelex became a part of the Cover-More Group in 2016. Cover-More is Australia’s largest provider of travel insurance, medical assistance and employee assistance.

Travelex insurance coverages

Travelex offers three travel insurance plans for domestic and international trips. Here are a few key benefits included with Travelex travel insurance plans.

  • Trip cancellation: Trip cancellation insurance reimburses you for prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses if you cancel a trip for a reason listed in your policy.
  • Trip delay: Once your trip is underway, trip delay insurance reimburses you for extra costs you incur for a covered delay, such as a meal and an overnight hotel stay if you have an unexpected overnight layover. It can also reimburse you for money you lose in prepayments if the delay causes you to arrive late at your destination.
  • Travel interruption: This coverage can pay for a last-minute flight home and reimburse you for lost prepaid, nonrefundable expenses if you need to cut your trip short for a covered reason such as a death in the family.
  • Travel medical insurance: If you become sick or injured on your trip, travel medical insurance can pay for your emergency medical expenses such as a doctor visit or hospital stay. This includes Travelex COVID insurance coverage if you, someone traveling with you, a family member or business partner tests positive before or during your trip. 
  • Emergency medical evacuation: If you need transportation to the nearest adequate medical facility during your trip, emergency medical evacuation insurance pays for medevac costs.
  • Baggage insurance: This coverage reimburses you for the depreciated value of your bags and belongings if they are lost, stolen or damaged. Baggage delay coverage can also help, if your bags arrive late. This can reimburse you for small items you need to buy while you wait for your baggage. 
  • Travel assistance services: If you need medical or travel help, the emergency global assistance team is available around the clock.

Travelex Travel Basic plan

This budget-friendly plan provides basic protection for a variety of unforeseen circumstances that could derail your trip. It is an ideal plan for backpackers, students and small groups who want basic coverage without breaking the bank. Benefits include trip delay, trip interruption, trip cancellation, primary medical coverage with no deductibles, emergency evacuation, emergency medical insurance and baggage coverage.

The Travel Basic plan includes coverage for trip cancellation due to financial default and cancellation for business reasons. “Cancel for any reason” coverage is not available with the Travel Basic plan.

While the Travel Basic does not provide a pre-existing condition exclusion waiver for any medical condition, it only has a 60 day look back period for pre-existing medical conditions from the effective date of your plan.

Travelex Travel Select plan 

The Travel Select plan was designed for families, adventurers and international travelers who are interested in an extra level of security. This more comprehensive coverage offers customizable upgrades to help you tailor your travel insurance plan to suit your needs.

In addition to the benefits offered in the basic plan, the select plan includes travel insurance for children 17 and under, when accompanied by a covered adult, at no extra charge. It also offers coverage for work-related cancellations or interruptions and for pre-existing medical conditions if purchased within 15 days of the initial trip payment. 

With the Travel Select plan, you can customize your plan by adding adventure sports coverage, additional medical coverage, AD&D common carrier coverage and car rental collision coverage. 

You also have the option to purchase “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage which will cover up to 75% of your prepaid, nonrefundable payments or deposits (maximum of $7,500) as long as you cancel your trip at least 48 hours before your scheduled departure date. 

Travelex Travel America plan 

The Travel America plan covers you and up to seven traveling companions for trips made within the United States. 

This plan is limited to U.S.-based trips of 14 days or less that are at least 100 miles away from your residence. It’s an affordable travel insurance option for road trips, short domestic trips or long weekend getaways. 

The Travel America plan also includes $1,000 in emergency pet medical expenses and $10,000 in “pet return” coverage which helps pay for your pet’s transportation cost if you get sick or injured during your trip and are unable to travel.

BENEFITTRAVEL BASICTRAVEL SELECTTRAVEL AMERICA
Trip cancellation
100% of insured trip cost
100% of insured trip cost
100% of trip cost up to $750
Trip interruption
100% of insured trip cost
150% of insured trip cost
150% of trip cost up to $1,125
Emergency medical expense per person
$15,000 (primary)
$50,000 (primary)
$50,000 (secondary)
Emergency medical evacuation per person
$100,000
$500,000
$250,000
Trip delay per person (minimum 5 hours)
$500 ($250/day)
$2,000 ($250/day)
$2,000
Missed connection per person
$500
$750
$2,000
Baggage delay per person (minimum 12 hours)
$100
$200
$1,000
Sporting equipment delay
No
$200
$2,000
AD&D per person
$10,000
$25,000
$25,000
Kids included pricing
No
Yes
Coverage shared between insured and up to 7 traveling companions
Pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver available
No
Yes
Yes

What Travelex doesn't cover

Like all travel insurance plans, Travelex does not cover everything. Here are some examples of exclusions to Travelex travel insurance plans:

  • Certain high-risk travel destinations, including Israel, Palestinian territories including Gaza Strip and West Bank, Ukraine, Russia and Belarus.
  • Claims arising as a result of intoxication from drugs or alcohol.  
  • Events that were foreseeable.
  • Pre-existing medical conditions (unless you qualify for an exclusion waiver).
  • Normal pregnancy or childbirth.
  • Experimental medical treatments.
  • Routine physical examinations.

Travelex travel insurance rates

How much you pay for Travelex travel insurance will depend on your age, travel destination, length and cost of your trip and any add-ons you buy, such as “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage. Here are some example rates for the Travelex Travel Select plan.  

SAMPLE TRIPTRAVEL SELECT PLAN COST
Two travelers age 30 Mexico for 8 days $3,000 trip
$124
Two travelers age 40 Italy for 17 days $6,000 trip
$360
Two travelers age 70 Mexico for 8 days $3,000 trip
$376
Four travelers age 40, 40, 10 and 7 Italy for 17 days $15,000 trip
$462
Two travelers age 65 Italy for 17 days $6,000 trip
$492

Travelex insurance add-ons and benefits

Travelex offers several optional add-ons to help you customize your travel insurance.

  • Accidental death and dismemberment upgrade: Covers up to $200,000 for a loss of life, limbs or sight if it occurs from an accidental injury while on a common carrier aircraft.
  • Car rental collision: Covers up to $35,000 for collision, vandalism, windstorm, hail, fire or flood damage to your rental car.
  • Additional medical coverage: Increases medical expenses coverage by $50,000 per person and medical evacuation coverage by $500,000 per person.
  • Adventure sports coverage: Covers certain athletic and adventure activities such as mountain climbing, sightseeing by helicopter, and learning to fly. 

Compare the best travel insurance companies of 2024

TRAVEL INSURANCE COMPANYTOP-SCORING PLANOUR RATINGMEDICAL BENFITS PER PERSONEVACUATION LIMITS PER PERSONLEARN MORE
Atlas Journey Elevate
$250,000
primar coverage
$1,000,000
Compare Quotes

Via TravelInsurance.com’s website

TRAVEL INSURANCE COMPANY
TOP-SCORING PLANAtlas Journey Elevate
OUR RATING
MEDICAL BENFITS PER PERSON$250,000
primar coverage
EVACUATION LIMITS PER PERSON$1,000,000
LEARN MORE
Compare Quotes

Via TravelInsurance.com’s website

Worldwide Trip Protector
$100,000 
primary coverage
$1,000,000
Compare Quotes

Via Compare Coverage’s website

TRAVEL INSURANCE COMPANY
TOP-SCORING PLANWorldwide Trip Protector
OUR RATING
MEDICAL BENFITS PER PERSON$100,000 
primary coverage
EVACUATION LIMITS PER PERSON$1,000,000
LEARN MORE
Compare Quotes

Via Compare Coverage’s website

Classic
$100,000 
primary coverage
$1,000,000
Compare Quotes

Via Compare Coverage’s website

TRAVEL INSURANCE COMPANY
TOP-SCORING PLANClassic
OUR RATING
MEDICAL BENFITS PER PERSON$100,000 
primary coverage
EVACUATION LIMITS PER PERSON$1,000,000
LEARN MORE
Compare Quotes

Via Compare Coverage’s website

Go Ready Choice
$50,000
secondary coverage
$250,000
Compare Quotes

Via Compare Coverage’s website

TRAVEL INSURANCE COMPANY
TOP-SCORING PLANGo Ready Choice
OUR RATING
MEDICAL BENFITS PER PERSON$50,000
secondary coverage
EVACUATION LIMITS PER PERSON$250,000
LEARN MORE
Compare Quotes

Via Compare Coverage’s website

Travel Select
$50,000
primary coverage
$500,000
Compare Quotes

Via Compare Coverage’s website

TRAVEL INSURANCE COMPANY
TOP-SCORING PLANTravel Select
OUR RATING
MEDICAL BENFITS PER PERSON$50,000
primary coverage
EVACUATION LIMITS PER PERSON$500,000
LEARN MORE
Compare Quotes

Via Compare Coverage’s website

Travel Guard Preferred
$50,000
Primary coverage
$500,000
Compare Quotes

Via Compare Coverage’s website

TRAVEL INSURANCE COMPANY
TOP-SCORING PLANTravel Guard Preferred
OUR RATING
MEDICAL BENFITS PER PERSON$50,000
Primary coverage
EVACUATION LIMITS PER PERSON$500,000
LEARN MORE
Compare Quotes

Via Compare Coverage’s website

Cruise Choice
$100,000
secondary coverage
$500,000
Compare Quotes

Via Compare Coverage’s website

TRAVEL INSURANCE COMPANY
TOP-SCORING PLANCruise Choice
OUR RATING
MEDICAL BENFITS PER PERSON$100,000
secondary coverage
EVACUATION LIMITS PER PERSON$500,000
LEARN MORE
Compare Quotes

Via Compare Coverage’s website

Methodology

Our insurance experts reviewed 1,855 coverage details and 567 rates to determine the best travel insurance of 2024. For companies with more than one travel insurance plan, we shared information about the highest-scoring plan.

Insurers could score up to 100 points based on the following factors:

  • Cost: 40 points. We scored the average cost of each travel insurance policy for a variety of trips and traveler profiles.
  • Medical expenses: 10 points. We scored travel medical insurance by the coverage amount available. Travel insurance policies with emergency medical expense benefits of $250,000 or more per person were given the highest score of 10 points.
  • Medical evacuation: 10 points. We scored each plan’s emergency medical evacuation coverage by coverage amount. Travel insurance policies with medical evacuation expense benefits of $500,000 or more per person were given the highest score of 10 points.
  • Pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver: 10 points. We gave full points to travel insurance policies that cover pre-existing medical conditions if certain conditions are met.
  • Missed connection: 10 points. Travel insurance plans with missed connection benefits of $1,000 per person or more received full points.
  • “Cancel for any reason” upgrade: 5 points. We gave points to travel insurance plans with optional “cancel for any reason” coverage that reimburses up to 75%.
  • Travel delay required waiting time: 5 points. We gave 5 points to travel insurance policies with travel delay benefits that kick in after a delay of 6 hours or less.
  • Cancel for work reasons: 5 points. If a travel insurance plan allows you to cancel your trip for work reasons, such as your boss requiring you to stay and work, we gave it 5 points.
  • Hurricane and severe weather: 5 points. Travel insurance plans that have a required waiting period for hurricane and weather coverage of 12 hours or less received 5 points.

Some travel insurance companies may offer plans with additional benefits or lower prices than the plans that scored the highest, so make sure to compare travel insurance quotes to see your full range of options.

Travelex travel insurance review FAQs

Yes, Travelex insurance offers flight insurance plans with coverage for missed connections, baggage delay and loss, emergency medical expense and emergency evacuation.

For more comprehensive benefits, consider Travelex travel insurance plans. These include coverage for trip cancellation, trip delay and trip interruption, have higher coverage limits and offer customization through add-ons and upgrades. 

Yes, the Travelex Travel Select plan offers an optional upgrade to “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage. With CFAR, you can cancel your trip for any reason — not just those listed in your policy — and Travelex will reimburse you up to 75% of your prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses (up to $7,500 for a $10,000 trip). You’ll need to cancel your trip at least 48 hours before your scheduled departure, however, so this coverage will not help if you want to cancel at the last minute. 

Yes, Travelex makes our rating of the best travel insurance companies. Its Travel Select plan provides free coverage for children age 17 and under (when accompanied by an adult covered by the policy) and offers upgrades such as adventure sports and “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage. You can also get a pre-existing medical conditions exclusion waiver with this plan, if conditions are met.

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.

Mandy Sleight

BLUEPRINT

Mandy is an insurance writer who has been creating online content since 2018. Before becoming a full-time freelance writer, Mandy spent 15 years working as an insurance agent. Her work has been published in Bankrate, MoneyGeek, The Insurance Bulletin, U.S. News and more.

Heidi Gollub

BLUEPRINT

Heidi Gollub is the USA TODAY Blueprint managing editor of insurance. She was previously lead editor of insurance at Forbes Advisor and led the insurance team at U.S. News & World Report as assistant managing editor of 360 Reviews. Heidi has an MBA from Emporia State University and is a licensed property and casualty insurance expert.