Overview
Every travel insurance plan looks similar on the surface: trip cancellation, medical, evacuation. The real differences show up in the fine print — coverage caps, exclusions, and how quickly claims get paid. Comparing plans side by side on these specifics matters far more than comparing sticker price alone.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Provider | Medical Coverage | Evacuation | CFAR Available | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIG Travel Guard | $100k+ | $500k | Yes | Overall value & claims reliability |
| Allianz Travel | Varies by plan | Included | Limited | Frequent travelers (annual plans) |
| Seven Corners | Up to $5M | $1M | Select plans | High medical limits abroad |
| Travelex | Varies by plan | $500k | Yes | Families (kids covered free) |
What Actually Matters When Comparing
- Primary vs. secondary medical: Primary coverage pays out first, without you having to bill your regular health insurer first — secondary coverage requires that extra step and delays reimbursement
- Pre-existing condition waivers: Most insurers require you to buy the policy within 14–21 days of your initial trip deposit to waive pre-existing condition exclusions
- CFAR timing and payout: Cancel For Any Reason must usually be purchased within 14–21 days of booking too, and typically reimburses only 50–75% of trip cost, not 100%
- Annual vs. single-trip: Annual plans pay off once you're taking 3+ trips a year but usually cap individual trip length at 30–45 days
- Claims process reputation: A cheaper premium doesn't help if claims are slow to pay — check third-party review sites, not just the insurer's own marketing
How to Run Your Own Comparison
Use an aggregator like Squaremouth or InsureMyTrip to pull quotes from multiple insurers at once using the same trip details, then filter by the coverage limits that matter most for your trip — usually medical and evacuation for international travel, and trip cancellation limit for expensive prepaid trips.
Frequently Asked Questions
Standard trip cancellation only pays out for specific listed reasons (illness, death in the family, severe weather). CFAR is an upgrade that lets you cancel for literally any reason, but it usually only reimburses 50–75% of your trip cost and must be purchased soon after your first trip deposit.
Comparison sites like Squaremouth and InsureMyTrip sell the same policies as the insurers themselves at the same price, so there's no cost disadvantage — and comparing side by side is much faster.
Not automatically. Compare the specific coverage limits relevant to your trip — a cheaper plan with adequate medical and evacuation coverage for your destination can be the better value than a pricier plan with features you won't use.