Can I Buy Travel Insurance From United Airlines?
Key Takeaways
- United Airlines insurance offers coverage for travel delays, interruptions, and cancellations, as well as delayed and lost baggage.
- United flight insurance provides less coverage than third-party plans at the same or a lower cost.
- United’s medical coverage is well below third-party travel insurance standards.
- Cancel For Any Reason coverage is not an add-on option available through United flight insurance.
- The comprehensive plans available on Squaremouth can offer more benefits to travelers than the plans available through United.
How Does United Flight Insurance Work?
United Airlines gives customers the option to add trip insurance when booking domestic and international flights. The insurance plan is offered through Travel Guard and can be purchased at checkout or added later through the United website or by contacting a Travel Guard agent.
United flight insurance can cover travel delays, interruptions, and cancellations due to severe weather, traveler illness, and carrier issues. Claims for reimbursement are filed by contacting Travel Guard directly.
What Does United Insurance Cover?
United flight insurance plans cover both domestic and international travel, with coverage options and benefits varying by state. As an example, the following coverages are available for Florida:
| Benefit | Domestic Travel Coverage Details | International Travel Coverage Details |
| Trip Cancellation | Up to 100% of insured trip cost ($100,000 maximum) | Up to 100% of insured trip costs ($100,000 maximum) |
| Trip Interruption | Up to 125% of insured trip cost ($125,000 maximum) | Up to 125% of insured trip costs ($100,000 maximum) |
| Single Occupancy | Up to 100% of insured trip cost ($100,000 maximum) | Up to 100% of insured trip cost ($100,000 maximum) |
| Trip Delay | Up to $200/day for delays of 5 or more hours ($600 maximum) | Up to $200/day for delays of 5 or more hours ($800 maximum) |
| Missed Connection | Up to $500 for weather or common carrier delays | Up to $500 for weather or common carrier delays |
| Baggage Coverage | Up to $500 | Up to $1,000 |
| Baggage Delay | Up to $100/day ($300 maximum) | Up to $100/day ($500 maximum) |
| Medical Emergencies | No coverage | Up to $10,000 ($500 dental) |
| Emergency Evacuation | No coverage | Up to $50,000 |
| Non-Flight AD&D | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Pre-Existing Medical Waiver | $100,000 maximum | $100,000 maximum |
A list of United flight insurance policies by state for domestic travel and international travel is available to travelers who want to learn about the specific coverage available to them.
How Much Is United Flight Insurance?
United trip insurance costs around 4% to 8% of your ticket cost, depending on destination, service level, refundability and other factors. Higher airfares, those above $1,800, generally fell into the range of 7% to 8% of flight costs.
This is higher than the average comprehensive travel insurance plan, which offers better coverage and costs roughly 6% of travel costs.
| Round-trip Flight | Flight Cost | Premium | % of Flight Cost |
| Basic Economy – San Diego, California (Non-refundable) | $746 | $33 | 4% |
| Economy Plus – Honolulu, Hawaii | $1,821 | $123 | 7% |
| Premium Plus – London, England | $5,650 | $431 | 8% |
| Polaris – Sydney, Australia (non-refundable) | $7,452 | $545 | 7% |
United Travel Insurance vs. Third-Party Travel Insurance?
United travel insurance is generally more expensive and offers less coverage when compared to third-party insurance.
| Benefit | United Flight Insurance | John Hancock Gold | BHTP LuxuryCare |
| Cost of Premium | 8% | 8% | 5% |
| Trip Cancellation | 100% of Trip Cost Maximum: $100,000 | 100% of Trip Cost Maximum: $100,000 | 100% of Trip Cost Maximum: $100,000 |
| Trip Interruption | 125% of Trip Cost Maximum: $100,000 | 150% of Trip Cost Maximum: $100,000 | 150% of Trip Cost Maximum: $100,000 |
| Trip Delay | $200 per day Maximum: $800 | $200 per day Maximum: $1,000 | $250 per day Maximum: $2,500 |
| Missed Connection | $500 | $1,000 per person | $1,000 per person |
| Emergency Medical | $10,000 per person | $250,000 per person | $150,000 per person |
| Medical Evacuation | $50,000 per person | $1,000,000 per person | $1,000,000 per person |
| Baggage Loss | $1,000 | $2,500 per person | $2,500 per person |
| Baggage Delay | $100 per day Maximum: $500 | $500 per person $500 daily limit | $500 per person $500 daily limit |
| AD&D | $25,000 per person | $100,000 per person | $25,000 per person |
| Pre-Existing Conditions Waiver | Covered (Time sensitive) | Covered (Time sensitive) | Covered (Time sensitive) |
| Cancel For Any Reason | Not available | Available | Available |
Where United Trip Insurance Is Competitive
- Solid trip cancellation, interruption and delay coverage that is similar to the industry standard and third-party travel insurance policies.
- Convenient to add to your airline ticket purchase and roll it into a single transaction.
- Good price for low-cost fares at around $20-30 dollars for flights below $700.
Where United Trip Insurance Is Lacking
- High plan premiums that offer less coverage for travelers than similar third-party policies.
- Low medical evacuation coverage that is less than the $1,000,000 offered by other insurers.
- Limited emergency medical coverage that is substantially below the amounts recommended for international travel.
- Insufficient baggage loss benefits to cover the loss of expensive items.
- Price comparison is difficult because costs are only disclosed at the end of the flight booking process.
- Limited reasons for cancellation, and a CFAR add-on is not offered.
Is United Flight Insurance Worth It?
United travel insurance is not the best option for most travelers. It may be an inexpensive option for domestic travelers with airfares under $700, who only want basic coverage. However, travelers spending more than $700 on flights can get better coverage at a lower cost from a third-party insurer. Plus, the coverage amounts for Emergency Medical and Medical Evacuation are insufficient for most international travelers, and the Baggage Loss benefits are inadequate to cover the replacement of items valued at more than $1,000. Comparing travel insurance plans before purchasing helps you find a plan that meets your needs at a competitive price.
Comparison Shop Third-Party Plans Before Buying United Flight Insurance
Comparing quotes from a number of companies is the best way to find the right travel insurance plan at the right price. Before booking your flight on United, use a comparison tool like the one offered by SquareMouth to get travel insurance quotes tailored for your trip. A review of the policy details for each quote will explain coverage amounts and options. Check out any add-on benefits, such as Cancel For Any Reason, that you might need for your trip.
Comparing third-party plans prior to booking your flight allows you to know whether the plan offered by United can meet the price and coverage amounts of other travel insurance plans.
You can purchase United Travel Insurance when you buy your tickets or later through the United website or app. Calling a Travel Guard agent is also an option.
You may be eligible for Trip Cancellation coverage if you are too sick with an illness, like COVID-19, that is covered by your policy. Documentation that confirms a doctor’s diagnosis and/or treatment is needed to validate an illness claim. In the case of COVID-19, a positive PCR test or a self-test verified by a medical professional is necessary.
The policy doesn’t cover travelers who change their minds about traveling, whether due to a fear of traveling, changes to government advisories or another reason. Covered reasons for cancellation are listed in the Policy of Insurance available when booking your flight with United.
Yes, United Travel Insurance includes up to $25,000 in AD&D benefits for most travelers, although there are exceptions. For example, AD&D benefits are not offered to international travelers from California and domestic travelers from Indiana and Pennsylvania. Check the Policy of Insurance for an explanation of what coverages are available for your trip.