Best Travel Insurance for December 2023

Best Travel Insurance for December 2023

In December 2023, it's important to get the best travel insurance for your trip, whether it's a family vacation or a romantic cruise. Travel insurance helps protect you from unexpected problems like trip cancellations, flight delays, and medical emergencies. It gives you financial security and peace of mind during your travels. This insurance covers various unexpected events, such as lost baggage and emergency medical expenses.

The cost depends on your age, the type of coverage, and your trip's total cost. It's especially useful if you need to cancel your plans or cut your trip short, providing extra security for your travel investment. Let's explore some of the best travel insurance options available to ensure a worry-free and secure travel experience.

1. Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection: Preferred Choice for Luxury Travel
2. Nationwide: Leading in Tour and Cruise Missed Connection Coverage
3. Travel Insured: Premier Choice for Travel Insurance
4. Travelex Insurance Services: Competitive Prices for Family-Friendly Travel Insurance
5. Trawick International: Premier Provider of Senior Travel Insurance
6. USI Affinity Travel Insurance: Top Selection for Travel Medical Plans
7. WorldTrips: Comprehensive Coverage for Travel Insurance

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection stands out as the preferred choice for luxury travel with its exclusive LuxuryCare trip insurance. This comprehensive coverage goes beyond industry standards, offering protection for hurricanes and adverse weather conditions even after a common carrier delay of any duration.

This feature sets Berkshire Hathaway apart, as many competitors require a delay of 12 to 48 hours before coverage takes effect. When seeking top-notch travel insurance for a luxurious travel experience, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection is a standout choice.

Highlights of Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection

• Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection's LuxuryCare plan is recognized as a top-scoring option in the realm of travel insurance.
• LuxuryCare includes coverage for COVID-related issues, providing travelers with financial protection in case of pandemic-related disruptions.
• The plan offers substantial medical and evacuation limits per person, with coverage reaching $100,000 for medical expenses and $1 million for evacuation.

Nationwide

Nationwide stands out in the realm of travel insurance, particularly in its Cruise Choice and Cruise Luxury plans, offering unparalleled coverage for missed connections during cruises or tours.

With a substantial $2,500 per person coverage kicking in after just a three-hour delay, Nationwide provides a safety net for travelers facing disruptions. It's essential to note that while this coverage is robust, it functions as secondary coverage, supplementing any compensation provided by a common carrier. 

Highlights of Nationwide

• Top-scoring plans: Cruise Choice and Cruise Luxury
• COVID coverage included
• Medical & evacuation limits per person: Cruise Choice ($100,000/$500,000), Cruise Luxury ($150,000/$1 million)
• Specialized coverage for missed connections during cruises or tours
• Secondary coverage to any compensation provided by a common carrier

Travel Insured

Travel Insured's Worldwide Trip Protector plan stands out as a premier choice for travel insurance, providing the highest levels of both medical and non-medical evacuation benefits among the plans evaluated. With $1 million in emergency evacuation coverage per person and $150,000 in non-medical evacuation per person, this plan offers extensive coverage, making it an excellent option for international travel.

Highlights of Travel Insured

• Worldwide Trip Protector is recognized as the top-scoring plan.
• This plan includes coverage for COVID-related issues, providing added protection during your travels.
• Offers substantial medical coverage with limits of $100,000 for medical expenses and $1 million for emergency evacuation per person.

Travelex Insurance Services

Travelex Insurance Services stands out with family-friendly Travel Select plans, featuring competitive pricing and complimentary coverage for children under 17. The policy includes extensive benefits like medical quarantine, substantial travel delay compensation, and flexible cancellation options.

Noteworthy is the coverage for hurricanes and weather-related issues starting after any common carrier delay. However, customers should be aware of limitations, such as the $50,000 per person emergency medical coverage (upgradeable) and the absence of non-medical evacuation in the standard plan. Baggage delay coverage activates after a 12-hour delay.

Highlights of Travelex Insurance Services

• Travelex Insurance Services' top-scoring plan is the Travel Select.
• It provides coverage for COVID.
• The medical limits per person are $50,000, with evacuation coverage up to $500,000.

Trawick International

Trawick International's Safe Travels First Class policy is a standout option for senior travel insurance, earning top scores for its affordability and comprehensive coverage. With notable features like a robust "cancel for any reason" upgrade, solid baggage loss coverage, and decent missed connection coverage for cruises and tours, it caters well to budget-conscious travelers.

However, certain limitations include the requirement of five continuous years of employment for layoff coverage, a 48-hour waiting period for hurricane and weather delay coverage, and secondary status for emergency medical coverage.

Highlights of Trawick International

• The top-scoring plan from Trawick International is the Safe Travels First Class.
• It provides coverage for COVID, ensuring a comprehensive level of protection.
• The medical and evacuation limits per person are set at $150,000/$1 million.

USI Affinity Travel Insurance

USI Affinity Travel Insurance is a top choice for those seeking comprehensive coverage for their international travels, offering medical plans designed to provide protection abroad.

Frequent travelers can benefit from annual medical plans that extend coverage across multiple trips lasting 30 days or less, ensuring consistent protection. In addition to global travel medical plans, USI Affinity Travel Insurance also provides trip cancellation insurance policies, catering to the diverse needs of travelers.

Highlights of USI Affinity Travel Insurance

• To get an accurate estimate of costs, it is recommended to request a quote.
• USI Affinity offers both travel medical policies and trip cancellation policies. Their travel medical plans cater to frequent travelers, providing coverage for multiple trips. Additionally, the trip cancellation options encompass coverage for road trips and group travel.
• The insurance plan includes 24/7 assistance for added convenience and support.

WorldTrips

When it comes to comprehensive coverage for travel insurance, WorldTrips' Atlas Journey Preferred policy stands out as a top-scoring plan. This policy is designed to provide travelers with extensive protection and peace of mind during their journeys.

Travelers opting for WorldTrips can rely on the Atlas Journey Preferred policy to go beyond the standard offerings of travel insurance, ensuring a more extensive and inclusive safeguard for their trips. Whether for medical emergencies, unexpected delays, or other unforeseen events, WorldTrips aims to provide a comprehensive solution for travelers seeking reliable coverage.

Highlights of WorldTrips

• WorldTrips' Atlas Journey Preferred stands out as the top-scoring plan, offering comprehensive coverage for various travel scenarios.
• The policy includes coverage for COVID-related incidents, providing travelers with protection against pandemic-related uncertainties.
• With medical and evacuation limits set at $100,000 and $1 million per person respectively, WorldTrips ensures substantial financial coverage in case of health emergencies during travels.

Also Read>> Chase Sapphire Preferred Travel Insurance

What is Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance is a financial safeguard against unforeseen events disrupting a trip, covering issues like illness, injuries, flight delays, and more. With costs ranging from 4%-10% of the trip price, it ensures protection for a range of scenarios. Premiums depend on factors like coverage type, age, and destination, and specialized policies cater to specific traveler needs.

Key categories include trip cancellation, baggage coverage, medical protection, and more. Travelers can enjoy 24/7 emergency services, making it essential to grasp coverage details, limitations, and requirements for informed decision-making.

How Does Travel Insurance Work?

Travel insurance can be acquired from various sources, including online platforms, travel agents, and direct providers such as AIG Travel, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, Generali Global Assistance, and Nationwide. It's commonly purchased alongside bookings for flights, accommodations, activities, and rental cars.

Timing is crucial, often requiring prompt acquisition after initial bookings to ensure comprehensive coverage. Failure to adhere to this timeline might impact the extent of coverage. Familiarizing yourself with essential terms in travel insurance is key to understanding the nuances of your policy.

Does Travel Insurance Cover Cancelled Flights?

Comprehensive travel insurance typically covers flight cancellations resulting in delays of 3–12 hours, with potential trip cancellation coverage for longer delays. If your flight is canceled, leading to a decision not to proceed with the trip, the airline handles airfare refunds, while travel insurance protects non-flight expenses.

In cases where you still wish to proceed with the delayed trip, travel delay insurance can reimburse expenses like lodging and meals during the wait, based on policy terms and specified durations. Some plans offer automatic reimbursement for delay-related expenses, enhancing convenience.

What Does Travel Insurance Cover?

Travel insurance serves as a financial safeguard, offering a safety net in emergencies or disruptions, including trip cancellations, illness, injury, or severe weather. The scope of coverage varies among plans, but comprehensive travel insurance is designed to protect your travel investment. Key coverages include:

• Provides coverage for canceled trips due to emergencies, illness, or unforeseen events.
• Covers expenses incurred due to delays during your trip.
• Protects against financial losses if your trip is interrupted for covered reasons.
• Offers coverage for medical emergencies during your travels.
• Ensures financial assistance for evacuation in medical emergencies.
• Covers the loss of baggage during your journey.
• Provides compensation for delayed baggage.
• Allows cancellation for any reason, providing reimbursement for nonrefundable expenses.
• Similar to CFAR, allowing trip interruption for any reason.

What Does Not Cover on Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance provides coverage based on specific "covered reasons" outlined in the policy. Understanding covered reasons, exclusions, and policy details is crucial for informed decision-making and ensuring that claims align with the policy's requirements. Here are key points to understand what travel insurance typically does not cover:

Misunderstood Concepts

Covered reasons are crucial, and claims must align with these reasons for reimbursement. For instance, illness preventing travel, such as appendicitis, can be a covered reason, but changing your mind is not.

Exclusions in Policies

Policies have explicit exclusions, listing circumstances not covered. It's essential to review these exclusions carefully. Known or foreseeable events, like a named storm in your destination before purchasing the policy, may be excluded.

Known Events

Travel insurance cannot be purchased retroactively for known events. If a significant event (e.g., a storm) is known before buying the policy, non-refundable trip costs won't be reimbursed.

High-Risk Activities

Engaging in high-risk activities like skydiving or intentional acts resulting in intoxication, criminal activity, or drug use may lead to losses not covered by travel insurance.