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8 Things to Look For When Comparing Travel Insurance Plans

We know travel insurance can be confusing. When you’re shopping for plans, how do you know which is the best? Which benefits do you need? How much should insurance cost?

There are a few key things to look for, from epidemic coverage for COVID-19 to protection for pre-existing conditions. This guide will walk you through it.

Every plan we offer includes access to 24-Hour assistance via the Allyz® TravelSmart app or by phone. Our expert team of problem solvers can help with almost any travel dilemma you face.

1. Epidemic coverage

It’s the number-one question on many travelers’ minds: Does travel insurance cover COVID-19-related losses? Epidemics are generally excluded from coverage. However, most Allianz Travel Insurance plans now include the new Epidemic Coverage Endorsement, which adds covered reasons to select benefits for certain losses related to COVID-19 and any future epidemic.

Given the unpredictability of travel in the COVID-19 era, this is a must-have. Plans with the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement may include epidemic-related covered reasons under some or all of the following benefits:

Trip cancellation, if for example you must cancel your trip after being diagnosed with COVID-19.
Trip interruption, if for example you get sick during your trip, or if you are specifically named and individually ordered to quarantine (this does not include generally or broadly applicable quarantines).
Travel delay, if for example you are denied boarding based on a suspicion that you are ill with an epidemic disease such as COVID-19.
Emergency medical care, if for example you are diagnosed with COVID-19 and need to be hospitalized while traveling.

To see if your plan includes this endorsement, please look for “Epidemic Coverage Endorsement” on your Declarations of Coverage or Letter of Confirmation. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. It’s important to read your plan carefully, so you understand what can be covered. Find answers to specific questions about COVID-19 and travel insurance in our FAQ.

2. Pre-departure benefits

What are pre-departure benefits? This means travel insurance protection that applies before you leave for your trip — specifically, trip cancellation benefits. These benefits can reimburse you for pre-paid, nonrefundable trip costs if you must cancel your trip last-minute for a covered reason.

You definitely need this protection if any part of your planned trip is non-refundable, such as airfare, cruise fare, tours, hotels, and/or vacation rental costs. Check the fine print when you purchase travel, so you know which costs you’ll need to protect.

You may not need trip cancellation benefits if:

Your trip is fully refundable up until your departure date
Someone else is paying for your trip, so you have no pre-paid costs
Your travel plans are open-ended, with few pre-paid costs

3. Post-departure benefits

What are post-departure benefits? This protection kicks in once you’ve officially begun your trip. Post-departure benefits can include:

Travel delay
SmartBenefits^SM, which can automatically pay you $100 per insured person, per day, for a covered travel delay or baggage delay
Baggage loss/damage
Baggage delay
Emergency medical and dental benefits
Emergency transportation benefits
Change fees
Frequent traveler reward program

The benefits you need depend on the type of trip you’re taking. Heading overseas? Then you definitely need emergency medical, because many medical facilities in other countries require cash payment up front and do not accept U.S. insurance plans. Some destinations even require visitors to carry emergency medical travel insurance.

OneTrip Emergency Medical is an economical plan that only includes post-departure benefits: emergency medical, emergency transportation, trip delay, travel accident coverage and baggage benefits. It does not, however, include trip cancellation or trip interruption.

4. Protection for children

If your child gets sick or injured while you’re traveling, emergency medical benefits can ensure they get high-quality care and can cover the cost of medical treatment. OneTrip Prime and OneTrip Premier both cover kids 17 and under for free when traveling with a parent or grandparent (not available on policies issued to Pennsylvania residents).

Kids probably don’t care about lost-baggage or travel delay benefits (although they are eligible to receive the $100 fixed payment for a covered delay, if they’re insured with a plan that includes SmartBenefits^SM!) But if you’re going overseas or to a remote destination, you absolutely need a plan with emergency medical benefits.

5. Pre-existing medical condition coverage

A pre-existing condition is an injury, illness, or medical condition that, within the 120 days prior to and including the day you buy your plan:

Caused a person to seek medical examination, diagnosis, care, or treatment by a doctor;
Presented symptoms; or
Required a person to take medication prescribed by a doctor (unless the condition or symptoms are controlled by that prescription, and the prescription has not changed).

Travel insurance plans can cover losses related to pre-existing conditions as long as you meet the requirements, which include purchasing your plan in the specified timeframe (typically within 14 days of making your first trip payment) and being medically able to travel on the day you purchase your plan.

6. Maximum trip length

Thinking about becoming a digital nomad and wandering long term? When you’re buying travel insurance, be sure to look for a plan with a generous maximum trip length. Allianz Global Assistance has four plans that can protect trips of up to 180 days:

While annual travel insurance plans are ideal for protecting multiple trips, they aren’t designed for really long trips. AllTrips Prime covers trips up to 45 days, while AllTrips Premier covers trips up to 90 days.

7. Coverage exclusions

When shopping for a travel insurance plan, most people only consider the benefits — but it’s also important to look at what’s excluded! Exclusions are situations and circumstances in which your travel insurance will not provide reimbursement for any losses. A few key exclusions include:

Any loss, condition, or event that was known, foreseeable, intended, or expected when your plan was purchased.
Normal pregnancy or childbirth, except as specifically covered under Trip Cancellation. Read more about how travel insurance protects travel during pregnancy.
The use or abuse of alcohol or drugs
Participating in extreme, high-risk sports and activities

Make sure you read through the exclusions when you’re buying travel insurance. You might think, “Oh, those don’t apply to me — I’m not an extreme-sports type of person.” But maybe you’re planning to run a 5K while on vacation — and you should know that losses related to participating in sports competitions aren’t covered. Or if you’re going to try your hand at rock-climbing in Utah, you should know that climbing sports are also listed under exclusions. Questions about what’s covered? Just ask us!

8. Cost

Whether you’re heading to a luxury resort or a no-frills cabin, the cost of travel insurance is a major factor to consider. You want to be well protected… but you don’t want to stretch your travel budget to the breaking point.

Luckily, it’s easy to compare the cost of travel insurance! It only takes a few minutes to enter some basic trip information and get a quote. We’ll show you the cost of different plans, help you compare features side by side, and provide the full plan and pricing details so you can make an informed decision.

Budget-priced travel insurance options include:

Pro tip: People 65 and up can often save by choosing an annual plan. Unlike single-trip insurance plans, which cost more for older travelers, the price of a multi-trip plan is not affected by the traveler’s age.

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Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Please see your plan for full details. Benefits/Coverage may vary by state, and sublimits may apply.

Insurance benefits underwritten by BCS Insurance Company (OH, Administrative Office: 2 Mid America Plaza, Suite 200, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181), rated “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best Co., under BCS Form No. 52.201 series or 52.401 series, or Jefferson Insurance Company (NY, Administrative Office: 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233), rated “A+” (Superior) by A.M. Best Co., under Jefferson Form No. 101-C series or 101-P series, depending on your state of residence and plan chosen. A+ (Superior) and A (Excellent) are the 2nd and 3rd highest, respectively, of A.M. Best's 13 Financial Strength Ratings. Plans only available to U.S. residents and may not be available in all jurisdictions. Allianz Global Assistance and Allianz Travel Insurance are marks of AGA Service Company dba Allianz Global Assistance or its affiliates. Allianz Travel Insurance products are distributed by Allianz Global Assistance, the licensed producer and administrator of these plans and an affiliate of Jefferson Insurance Company. The insured shall not receive any special benefit or advantage due to the affiliation between AGA Service Company and Jefferson Insurance Company. Plans include insurance benefits and assistance services. Any Non-Insurance Assistance services purchased are provided through AGA Service Company. Except as expressly provided under your plan, you are responsible for charges you incur from third parties. Contact AGA Service Company at 800-284-8300 or 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233 or customerservice@allianzassistance.com.