Travel insurance gives you protection for your trip in case of medical emergencies, natural disasters and flight delays or cancellations — here are some covered reasons, what’s excluded and how to choose the right plan.
Increased apprehension over health outbreaks, natural disasters and fear of terrorism have caused a rise in travelers’ desire to seek extra financial protection from travel insurance. These days it could feel like too high of a gamble to go without some kind of benefits.
“Travel insurance protects so many different scenarios in people’s lives,” said Wendy Marley, a AAA Northeast travel agent in the Newton, Massachussetts, branch. “It includes covered reasons related to their family members, travel delays, missed ports of call [in some cases] for cruises or emergencies that happen while they are traveling.”
What Travel Insurance Can Protect
Hurricanes and Natural Disasters
June through November is a great time for travel deals, but it also happens to be hurricane season. Remember, insurance is designed to protect against the unexpected. Once a storm or weather event such as a wildfire or earthquake is tracked and/or named, it’s considered “known and foreseeable.” A plan purchased on or after the date the National Weather Service issues a warning will not cover losses related to the event.
Medical Emergencies
Unfortunately, no one’s immune to getting sick or hurt on vacation. If you fall ill in another country and are hospitalized for an extended period of time, travel insurance can pay for costs like medical bills and the transportation back to the U.S. in addition to accommodation for family to stay abroad, and their airfare back home.
Travel insurance ensures that any medical care you might need abroad does not get lost in translation. Many U.S. plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, do not cover international travel or out-of-country emergency medical transportation. Without protection, a medical evacuation can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $200,000 or more.
Health Outbreaks
Most travel protection plans exclude losses caused directly or indirectly by an epidemic. Like storms, once a health alert is issued it is considered a “known event” and excluded from coverage.
“Cancel anytime” or “cancel for any reason” insurance comes at an additional cost and provides the most options to travelers, but even these plans may include exclusions due to known events or an epidemic.
Marley has noticed an increased awareness of such travel insurance limits. “While people are more willing to take the insurance, they are more savvy in calculating their risk to the point where I send multi-levels of coverage policy quotes,” she said. “It still takes time to go over all of the benefits of insurance but most people come around once you do.”
Terrorism
Much as we wish we didn’t have to address this, terror attacks can occur anywhere at any time, although the risk is higher in some places more than others. In order to be covered, a terror event must not occur within 25 miles of any city (U.S. or foreign) you are traveling to within 30 days of your certificate’s coverage effective date.
Before traveling anywhere abroad, check the State Department website for travel advisories on potential dangers related to health, politics and violence.
Delays and Cancellations
Delays and cancellations happen. So far in 2026, there have been more than 66,000 domestic flights canceled and almost 600,000 delays, according to Bureau of Transportation Statistics. But the coverage that airlines and credit cards offer for these inconveniences is limited. With travel insurance, a covered delay can mean cash for rebooking fees, meals and accommodations. Similarly, if you are renting a car, you will get more for your dollar than what is provided by a standard car rental policy.
Travel Insurance Tips
Most people purchase the one-off insurance on a per-trip basis, but if you travel a lot throughout the year (two to three times per year), you should consider an annual plan. It may work out better for you cost-wise.
Keep in mind that the earlier you buy travel insurance, the bigger your protection window. The best time to buy is as soon as you place your initial deposit or payment for vacation. And always read over your plan documents carefully, including the fine print. Talk to your AAA travel advisor if you have any questions.
Travel should be as stress-free as possible. Your biggest worry should be how many 3.4-ounce liquids you can fit into the 1-quart bag in your carry-on. Let your travel insurance take on the heavier burdens.
Common Travel Insurance Questions and Answers
When is the best time to buy travel insurance?
Purchase your policy as soon as you place your initial trip deposit. Buying early widens your protection window and gets you protected before storms, outbreaks or other events become “known” and lose eligibility.
Does my credit card already cover travel delays and cancellations?
Credit card travel protections are usually limited compared to a dedicated policy. Standalone travel insurance typically protects more of your rebooking fees, meals and accommodations during a delay.
What’s the difference between standard travel insurance and “cancel for any reason” plans?
Standard plans only reimburse you for specific covered reasons, like illness or a natural disaster. “Cancel Anytime” plans cost more but let you cancel for virtually any reason — though it still excludes known events like a named storm or declared epidemic. Reasons other than named covered reasons are eligible for up to 80 percent, versus 100 percent, reimbursement.
Does travel insurance cover pre-existing medical conditions?
Some plans offer a pre-existing condition exclusion waiver, but only if you buy your plan within a specific window after your initial trip payment, often 14 to 21 days, and meet all other criteria. Check your plan’s fine print or ask a travel advisor to confirm your timeline.
Is travel insurance worth it for a domestic trip?
Yes. Even within the U.S., travel insurance can reimburse cancellation costs and reimburse extra costs associated with delays. Medical benefits matter less domestically if your health insurance already travels with you, but trip-cost protection still applies.
How do I file a travel insurance claim?
Contact your insurance provider directly as soon as the issue occurs. Keep receipts, medical records and documentation of the delay or cancellation, since you’ll need them to support your claim.
[Article courtesy of Automobile Association of America]
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9 Aug 2026
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Travel insurance gives you protection for your trip in case of medical emergencies, natural disasters and flight delays or cancellations — here are some covered reasons, what’s excluded and how to choose the right plan.
Increased apprehension over health outbreaks, natural disasters and fear of terrorism have caused a rise in travelers’ desire to seek extra financial protection from travel insurance. These days it could feel like too high of a gamble to go without some kind of benefits.
“Travel insurance protects so many different scenarios in people’s lives,” said Wendy Marley, a AAA Northeast travel agent in the Newton, Massachussetts, branch. “It includes covered reasons related to their family members, travel delays, missed ports of call [in some cases] for cruises or emergencies that happen while they are traveling.”
What Travel Insurance Can Protect
Hurricanes and Natural Disasters
June through November is a great time for travel deals, but it also happens to be hurricane season. Remember, insurance is designed to protect against the unexpected. Once a storm or weather event such as a wildfire or earthquake is tracked and/or named, it’s considered “known and foreseeable.” A plan purchased on or after the date the National Weather Service issues a warning will not cover losses related to the event.
Medical Emergencies
Unfortunately, no one’s immune to getting sick or hurt on vacation. If you fall ill in another country and are hospitalized for an extended period of time, travel insurance can pay for costs like medical bills and the transportation back to the U.S. in addition to accommodation for family to stay abroad, and their airfare back home.
Travel insurance ensures that any medical care you might need abroad does not get lost in translation. Many U.S. plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, do not cover international travel or out-of-country emergency medical transportation. Without protection, a medical evacuation can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $200,000 or more.
Health Outbreaks
Most travel protection plans exclude losses caused directly or indirectly by an epidemic. Like storms, once a health alert is issued it is considered a “known event” and excluded from coverage.
Check cdc.gov/travel for all warning and alerts.
“Cancel anytime” or “cancel for any reason” insurance comes at an additional cost and provides the most options to travelers, but even these plans may include exclusions due to known events or an epidemic.
Marley has noticed an increased awareness of such travel insurance limits. “While people are more willing to take the insurance, they are more savvy in calculating their risk to the point where I send multi-levels of coverage policy quotes,” she said. “It still takes time to go over all of the benefits of insurance but most people come around once you do.”
Terrorism
Much as we wish we didn’t have to address this, terror attacks can occur anywhere at any time, although the risk is higher in some places more than others. In order to be covered, a terror event must not occur within 25 miles of any city (U.S. or foreign) you are traveling to within 30 days of your certificate’s coverage effective date.
Before traveling anywhere abroad, check the State Department website for travel advisories on potential dangers related to health, politics and violence.
Delays and Cancellations
Delays and cancellations happen. So far in 2026, there have been more than 66,000 domestic flights canceled and almost 600,000 delays, according to Bureau of Transportation Statistics. But the coverage that airlines and credit cards offer for these inconveniences is limited. With travel insurance, a covered delay can mean cash for rebooking fees, meals and accommodations. Similarly, if you are renting a car, you will get more for your dollar than what is provided by a standard car rental policy.
Travel Insurance Tips
Most people purchase the one-off insurance on a per-trip basis, but if you travel a lot throughout the year (two to three times per year), you should consider an annual plan. It may work out better for you cost-wise.
Keep in mind that the earlier you buy travel insurance, the bigger your protection window. The best time to buy is as soon as you place your initial deposit or payment for vacation. And always read over your plan documents carefully, including the fine print. Talk to your AAA travel advisor if you have any questions.
Travel should be as stress-free as possible. Your biggest worry should be how many 3.4-ounce liquids you can fit into the 1-quart bag in your carry-on. Let your travel insurance take on the heavier burdens.
Common Travel Insurance Questions and Answers
When is the best time to buy travel insurance?
Purchase your policy as soon as you place your initial trip deposit. Buying early widens your protection window and gets you protected before storms, outbreaks or other events become “known” and lose eligibility.
Does my credit card already cover travel delays and cancellations?
Credit card travel protections are usually limited compared to a dedicated policy. Standalone travel insurance typically protects more of your rebooking fees, meals and accommodations during a delay.
What’s the difference between standard travel insurance and “cancel for any reason” plans?
Standard plans only reimburse you for specific covered reasons, like illness or a natural disaster. “Cancel Anytime” plans cost more but let you cancel for virtually any reason — though it still excludes known events like a named storm or declared epidemic. Reasons other than named covered reasons are eligible for up to 80 percent, versus 100 percent, reimbursement.
Does travel insurance cover pre-existing medical conditions?
Some plans offer a pre-existing condition exclusion waiver, but only if you buy your plan within a specific window after your initial trip payment, often 14 to 21 days, and meet all other criteria. Check your plan’s fine print or ask a travel advisor to confirm your timeline.
Is travel insurance worth it for a domestic trip?
Yes. Even within the U.S., travel insurance can reimburse cancellation costs and reimburse extra costs associated with delays. Medical benefits matter less domestically if your health insurance already travels with you, but trip-cost protection still applies.
How do I file a travel insurance claim?
Contact your insurance provider directly as soon as the issue occurs. Keep receipts, medical records and documentation of the delay or cancellation, since you’ll need them to support your claim.
[Article courtesy of Automobile Association of America]