Best Cheap Travel Insurance Plans for 2026
Written By James Clark Author
Reviewed By Steven Benna Editor
Reviewed By Arielle Turriff Product Specialist
Last Updated: January 20, 2026
Key Takeaways
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We analyzed 100+ policies and found the best value travel insurance plans are offered by: Detour, Tin Leg, and Seven Corners.
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Good cheap travel insurance plans include a combination of high coverage limits, low premiums, and a wide range of benefits.
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To find the best value when shopping for travel insurance, compare plans from multiple providers and only insure trip expenses that are non-refundable.
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Higher premiums do not always mean better protection; in fact, we always recommend purchasing the lowest-priced policy that meets your coverage needs.
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Try our online travel insurance comparison tool to get travel insurance quotes from multiple providers at once. For personal assistance, call our award-winning agents at 1-800-240-0369.
Our Top ‘Value for the Money’ Plans
After evaluating all 20+ providers and 100+ plans in the Squaremouth marketplace, we chose Detour Insurance as the leading company for affordable, comprehensive travel insurance for 2026. Below are our recommendations for the best-value travel insurance plans to accommodate specific coverage levels:
- Best Value Travel Insurance with Comprehensive Coverage, Detour Insurance – @the edge
- Best Value Travel Insurance for Medical Coverage, Tin Leg – Standard
- Best Value Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) Travel Insurance, Seven Corners – Trip Protection Basic
- Best Value Travel Insurance for Cruises, Tin Leg – Luxury
To ensure transparency and independence in selecting our travel insurance award winners, we base our decisions solely on Squaremouth marketplace sales data from the previous month, without any influence from insurance companies, business relationships, affiliates, or other external parties. Each award is given to the top-selling plans that meet the specific criteria outlined below.
- Best Value Travel Insurance with Comprehensive Coverage: Over 250 sales, trip cost insured greater than $0, 100% trip cancellation coverage, emergency medical coverage of at least $10,000, and medical evacuation coverage of at least $50,000, sorted by average premium from lowest to highest.
- Best Value Travel Insurance for Medical Coverage: Over 250 sales, trip cost insured equal to $0, emergency medical coverage of at least $10,000, and medical evacuation coverage of at least $50,000, sorted by average premium from lowest to highest.
- Best Value Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) Travel Insurance: Over 250 sales, trip cost insured is greater than $0, CFAR filter added by customer, sorted by average premium from lowest to highest.
- Best Value Travel Insurance for Cruises: Over 250 sales, emergency medical coverage of at least $100,000, and medical evacuation coverage of at least $250,000, cruise filter applied by customer, sorted by average premium from lowest to highest.
The Best Value Travel Insurance Plans in Detail
Best Value Travel Insurance with Comprehensive Coverage
Medical / Med Evac Coverage
$100,000 / $1,000,000Cancellation / Interruption Limits
100% / 100% of trip cost
Provides cancellation, medical, delay, and baggage coverage at an average premium of just $141 per trip
Includes up to $100,000 in Primary Emergency Medical coverage and up to $1,000,000 in Medical Evacuation coverage at an affordable price
Great for adventure travelers, with specific coverage for sports equipment, sports fees, and search & rescue missions
Detour Insurance’s @the edge plan is currently our pick for the best value comprehensive coverage. Travelers love this plan because it offers a great combination of high-quality travel protection and low premiums. Some standout features include the plan’s Medical Evacuation and Baggage Loss coverage, for which it offers the highest reimbursement rates of any comprehensive plan on our platform. If you’re an adventure lover, this plan offers exceptional protection for any sports equipment you choose to travel with. This policy will also cover up to 100% of your prepaid travel expenses, with a maximum Trip Cancellation reimbursement rate of $5,000.
Best Value Travel Insurance for Medical Coverage
Medical / Med Evac Coverage
$30,000 / $200,000Cancellation / Interruption Limits
100% / 150% of trip cost
One of the most cost-effective medical travel insurance plans, averaging just $40 per trip, compared to an average of $88 for other medical plans
Provides $30,000 in Emergency Medical coverage and $200,000 in Medical Evacuation coverage, which is ideal for low-risk trips
Provides coverage for pre-existing conditions if you purchase your policy within 15 days of your initial trip deposit
Tin Leg’s Standard policy is a great option if you’re looking for low-cost medical coverage while away from home. With an average premium of just $40, this plan costs 54% less than the industry average for this type of coverage. Tin Leg’s Standard plan provides adequate medical coverage limits and extends coverage for pre-existing medical conditions if you meet specific eligibility requirements, ideal for domestic vacations or quick trips abroad. Unlike other plans, this policy does not charge a medical deductible. Coverage for delays and baggage loss is also included in this plan, making it a great value at such an affordable price.
Best Value CFAR Travel Insurance
Medical / Med Evac Coverage
$100,000 / $250,000Cancellation / Interruption Limits
100% / 100% of trip cost
With an average premium of just $368, this plan is the most cost-effective CFAR travel insurance policy and is 45% less than the industry average of $679
Reimburses up to 75% of your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs if you decide to cancel for an uncovered reason, which is among the highest reimbursement rates of any CFAR plan on Squaremouth
Features up to $100,000 in Emergency Medical coverage and $250,000 in Medical Evacuation coverage, making it a great option for international travelers
Adding CFAR to your travel insurance plan can dramatically increase your premium, sometimes as much as 50%. Fortunately, low-cost CFAR plans like Seven Corners’ Trip Protection Basic policy can provide the protection you need without breaking the bank. When you add CFAR to this plan, you can cancel your trip for any reason and be reimbursed up to 75% of prepaid, non-refundable trip costs. For context, many higher-cost plans will only reimburse up to 50% of your travel expenses when you cancel your trip through the CFAR benefit. This plan also offers a lot of the hallmarks you’d expect from a Seven Corners policy, such as strong medical coverage, high evacuation reimbursement rates, and award-winning 24 Hour Emergency Assistance.
For more plans that offer CFAR coverage, view our list of the Best Cancel For Any Reason Travel Insurance Plans.
Best Value Travel Insurance for Cruises
Medical / Med Evac Coverage
$100,000 / $250,000Cancellation / Interruption Limits
100% / 150% of trip cost
The most affordable option among cruise travelers, with an average premium of just $121
Covers up to $100,000 in travel expenses, such as flights, cruise bookings, and hotel costs, in the event of an unexpected trip cancellation
Includes up to $100,000 in Emergency Medical coverage and $250,000 in Medical Evacuation coverage, meeting our medical coverage limit recommendations for cruise vacations
For great value cruise insurance, consider the Luxury plan by Tin Leg. Despite its name, this policy is not solely designed for high-cost, extravagant trips. Instead, it offers affordable protection that can protect you both on land and at sea. This plan includes high coverage limits for in-demand benefits like Trip Cancellation, Emergency Medical, and Medical Evacuation, all of which are important if you’re taking a cruise vacation. Other unique benefits, like Pre-Existing Condition coverage and CFAR coverage, can also be added to your plan if you meet certain eligibility requirements.
See other top cruise plans included in our ‘Best Cruise Insurance Plans’ list.
Compare Benefits for the Best Value Insurance Plans
Low-cost travel insurance does not mean low quality. Every travel insurance plan on our site has been carefully vetted to ensure that it meets strict quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction standards.
When comparing plans, we recommend paying close attention to the medical benefits, especially if you’re traveling overseas to a country that doesn’t accept U.S. health insurance. Many affordable options on Squaremouth offer great protection against unexpected medical and evacuation expenses.
The table below highlights how the best value plans compete side-by-side across various travel insurance benefits. As you’ll see, even the most inexpensive plans meet our medical recommendations.
| Travel Insurance Benefit | Detour Insurance @the edge |
Tin Leg Standard |
Seven Corners Trip Protection Basic |
Tin Leg Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency Medical | Up to $100,000 per person | Up to $30,000 per person | Up to $100,000 per person | Up to $100,000 per person |
| Medical Evacuation | Up to $1,000,000 per person | Up to $200,000 per person | Up to $250,000 per person | Up to $250,000 per person |
| Trip Cancellation | 100% of trip cost | 100% of trip cost | 100% of trip cost | 100% of trip cost |
| Trip Interruption | 100% of the trip cost | 150% of trip cost | 150% of trip cost | 150% of trip cost |
| Travel Delay | $2,000 per person after a 12-hour delay | $500 per person after a 6-hour delay | $600 per person after a 6-hour delay | $2,000 per person after a 6-hour delay |
| Missed Connection | No coverage | No coverage | (Cruise and tour only) $500 per person after a 3-hour delay | $100 per person after a 3-hour delay |
| Baggage Loss | $3,000 per person | $500 per person | $500 per person | $500 per person |
| Baggage Delay | $750 per person after a 12-hour delay | $200 per person after a 24-hour delay | $500 per person after a 6-hour delay | $200 per person after a 24-hour delay |
Great value travel insurance plans offer a balance between affordability and reliable coverage. As shown in the table above, all plans featured on this list protect you from the most common trip disruptions, such as medical emergencies, emergency evacuations, flight delays, and baggage loss.
Detour Insurance’s @the edge plan, in particular, includes up to $1,000,000 in Medical Evacuation coverage and up to $3,000 in Baggage Loss protection. These are among the highest reimbursement rates for these benefits found on our platform, which is impressive given the cost of the policy.
Tin Leg’s Standard policy and Seven Corners’ Trip Protection Basic plan are each their provider’s entry-level option. Even so, both offer well-rounded coverage that can protect most international trips, including up to $500 in baggage loss protection and trip delay benefits that begin after just six hours.
Compare Customer Satisfaction Ratings
While cost and coverage are important considerations when comparing policies, it’s equally as crucial to factor in a provider’s reputation. Customer reviews and ratings can help you gauge the quality of customer service an insurer provides.
Whether it’s help before departure or support during the claims process, we break down average customer satisfaction scores to show how each of the best value travel insurance providers supports policyholders when it matters most..
| Customer Satisfaction | Detour Insurance | Tin Leg | Seven Corners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 4.48 / 5 | 4.53 / 5 | 4.38 / 5 |
| Customer Service Before a Trip | 4.57 / 5 | 4.63 / 5 | 4.49 / 5 |
| Customer Service During a Trip | 3.55 / 5 | 4.07 / 5 | 3.94 / 5 |
| Customer Service After a Trip | 4.26 / 5 | 4.08 / 5 | 3.48 / 5 |
We based the ratings in the above chart on verified customer reviews and rounded them to the nearest decimal. All ratings were valid when we published them, but they may change as new reviews come in.
Detour, Tin Leg, and Seven Corners are among the highest-rated providers on Squaremouth. Each is well known for strong pre-trip customer assistance, earning average scores of 4.49 out of 5 or higher in this category. High-quality pre-trip support can be especially valuable if you have last-minute coverage questions or need to make changes to your travel insurance plan before departure.
According to customers, Tin Leg offers the best customer service during a trip through its award-winning 24 Hour Emergency Assistance department. This service can assist travelers with finding quality medical care abroad, arranging medical evacuations, facilitating translation services, and much more.
When it comes to claims support, Detour Insurance receives among the highest ratings on our platform. Generally, when providers score well in this category, it means that they handle claims promptly and communicate clearly throughout the process.
How Reliable Are the Best Value Travel Insurance Providers?
Our expert product team thoroughly vets every travel insurance provider listed on Squaremouth to ensure reliability, paying close attention to each insurer’s product offerings, industry reputation, and financial strength. Each policy on our platform is also supported by our Zero Complaint Guarantee, which helps ensure claims are handled fairly and in good faith.
When evaluating travel insurance providers, A.M. Best ratings and BBB scores are the most widely used indicators of reliability, measuring financial stability and customer service practices. The chart below highlights how these third-party organizations rate the value of insurers featured on this list.
| Reliability | Detour Insurance @the edge |
Tin Leg Standard |
Seven Corners Trip Protection Basic |
Tin Leg Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A.M. Best Rating | A (Excellent) | A++ (Superior) | A (Excellent) | A++ (Superior) |
| BBB Rating | A+ | A++ | A+ | A++ |
As the table shows, each travel insurance plan featured here comes from a reputable and reliable provider. All plans featured in this list maintain an AM Best score of A (Excellent) or better, ratings only given to the most reputable insurance brands. Each insurer maintains strong scores from both AM Best and the BBB. These rankings indicate that these companies have a reputation for fair claims handling and responsive customer service.
Which Value Travel Insurance Plan is Right for Me?
Every policy listed on this page provides a balance of affordability and strong coverage, making them an excellent choice if you’re budget-conscious or want to keep insurance costs to a minimum.
If none of these plans meet your coverage needs or budget, you can find other great-value travel insurance policies using our quote comparison tool.
- Comprehensive travel insurance plans can be expensive, especially if you’re taking a long trip that requires costly upfront expenses. Detour Insurance’s @the edge plan offers well-rounded trip protection while keeping insurance costs to a minimum. This plan includes popular benefits like Trip Cancellation and Emergency Medical, as well as the best Baggage Loss protection on our platform. In addition, Detour Insurance offers reliable customer service, with exceptional satisfaction scores for pre-trip customer assistance and claims handling.
- If you don’t need Trip Cancellation coverage, you can find additional savings by opting for a travel medical insurance plan. Tin Leg’s Standard policy is a travel medical plan that offers comprehensive coverage at a competitive price point. Not only is it one of the lowest-priced travel medical plans available on Squaremouth, but it also features great benefits like up to $200,000 in Medical Evacuation coverage and up to $500 in Travel Delay coverage after a 6-hour delay. It’s essential to note that this policy provides up to $30,000 in Emergency Medical protection, which may not be suitable for extended international trips, adventurous travel, or cruises.
- Adding CFAR to your policy can increase premiums by 40% – 50%. Seven Corners’ Trip Protection Basic plan is a great option if you want CFAR coverage but want to be mindful of your travel budget. Like high-cost options, Trip Protection Basic will reimburse up to 75% of your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs if you choose to cancel your trip for an uncovered reason. To qualify for this coverage, you must purchase the plan within 20 days of your trip deposit date, which is one of the longest time-sensitive windows on our platform. This policy also comes with a variety of other great benefits, like up to $100,000 in Emergency Medical coverage.
- For great value cruise coverage, consider Tin Leg’s Luxury plan. Despite the name, this policy is not reserved for luxury trips. Instead, it offers well-rounded, comprehensive travel insurance coverage at an affordable price. It comes with high medical coverage limits to protect you from unexpected health-related expenses if you get sick or injured while at sea. Tin Leg Luxury also includes reimbursement if you miss your cruise departure for a covered reason and have to purchase new travel arrangements to catch up to your trip.
FAQs: Best Value Travel Insurance Plans
Are Low-Cost Travel Insurance Plans Still Good Quality?
Yes, many low-cost travel insurance plans can still offer excellent protection. The price of a policy doesn’t necessarily reflect its quality, especially when you only need basic coverage. In fact, the most affordable plans in our marketplace often include coverage levels that meet or exceed industry recommendations.
All providers on our platform have been carefully vetted. In fact, the providers on this list are among the top 10 highest-rated travel insurance companies on our site.
When looking for great value travel protection, the key is to choose a policy with limits that match your trip needs, not necessarily the highest-priced option available. As long as the plan meets your required coverage, a lower premium can still provide strong, reliable protection.
Why Do Some Travel Insurance Plans Cost Less Than Others?
Travel insurance premiums vary based on several factors, including the type of coverage included, the insured trip cost, traveler age, and the length of your trip.
Some plans are cheaper because they insure fewer prepaid expenses or offer lower coverage limits for key benefits like Emergency Medical or Medical Evacuation. Providers also calculate premiums differently based on their target demographic, with some companies placing more weight on certain trip details than others.
These variations can lead to noticeable price differences between policies. Lower-priced plans aren’t necessarily lower quality; they’re often just built around a more focused set of benefits or a different pricing model.
Is it Cheaper to Purchase Travel Insurance Directly from A Provider?
No, we sell plans for the same price as providers, and buying directly from a provider doesn’t give you access to lower prices. Also, by purchasing coverage directly from a provider, you may miss out on more affordable policies from other companies.
Travel insurance is regulated, which means the same plan must be sold at the same price everywhere, regardless of where you buy it. Using a comparison site like Squaremouth can actually help you save money by letting you view multiple plans side-by-side and choose the lowest-priced policy that meets your coverage needs. This is often the easiest way to ensure you’re getting the best value.