What is Short-Term Travel Insurance?
It starts the way many trips do. A friend texts you about cheap flights to Lisbon, and you impulsively book a long weekend to recharge. It’s not a months-long sabbatical or a globe-trotting adventure, just a quick escape from the everyday grind. But then it strikes you, what if something goes wrong? And you ask yourself, do I need travel insurance for something this short?
Yes. You may need short-term travel insurance.
Short-term travel insurance is often underrated, yet it is a valuable tool for travelers. Tailored for trips ranging from a few days to a couple of weeks, it offers medical coverage, trip protection, and peace of mind, all at an unexpectedly low price. Whether embarking on a romantic getaway or setting sail for a cruise in the Bahamas, this modest investment can save you thousands in unforeseen expenses.
What Is Short-Term Travel Insurance?
Short-term travel insurance is a temporary insurance policy that covers a single trip. It’s different from multi-trip travel insurance or long-term plans because you only pay for the days you’re away.
Even if you’re going on an international trip, your home country’s health insurance might leave you unprotected. For instance, if you get food poisoning in Thailand or sprain your ankle hiking in Peru, a short-term travel policy would cover your medical care, possibly even an evacuation flight back home. But also, if you’re heading on a trip domestically, having the proper protection for emergencies is helpful and can help save you thousands of dollars.
What Does Short-Term Travel Insurance Cover?
Think of it like an à la carte option for travel protection: no overcommitting, no overspending, but still ensuring security for medical expenses, coverage options for cancellations, medical emergencies, trip delays, and lost luggage.
How Much Does It Cost to Protect a Short Trip?
One of the biggest reasons travelers skip insurance is cost, but short-term travel insurance is often more affordable than you think. It usually costs about 4-10% of your trip, and even less for a medical-only plan. The price depends on several factors: how long you’re traveling, your age, where you’re going, and how much coverage you want.
For example, within the last year, Squaremouth travelers spent an average of $400 on a short-term policy with trip cancellation for a two-week trip, which cost about $6,500 in total trip costs. Without the trip cancellation benefit, travelers spent about $90 on a similar journey.
If you’re traveling more than once this year, it may be worth comparing a single-trip plan with a multi-trip policy. Frequent flyers and business travelers can save more in the long run by bundling their coverage annually.
Remember, though, that lower-cost plans often come with more exclusions, and pre-existing conditions, extreme sports, and risky destinations may not be covered unless you specifically opt into a plan that includes them.
Health Surprises Abroad? Covered.
Let’s talk about the part no one wants to think about: medical emergencies.
Short-term travel insurance includes travel medical coverage, which can be a financial lifesaver if something goes wrong in a country where your domestic health insurance doesn’t apply. Most U.S.-based plans don’t cover international treatment, and even if they do, they rarely offer medical evacuation, a cost that can run upwards of $50,000.
For example, perhaps you’re visiting family in California when you experience a flare-up of a pre-existing health condition and need to see an emergency doctor with ambulance support. Your policy could cover the ER visit, treatment, and other related medical expenses, as long as you have the pre-existing condition waiver completed. Sometimes, the insurer can coordinate your care and pay the hospital directly, so you won’t have to front thousands of dollars while feeling groggy and jet-lagged.
Coverage often includes:
- Emergency hospital visits and surgery
- Ambulance and medical transport
- Emergency evacuation or repatriation
- 24/7 travel assistance hotline
When Plans Fall Apart, Travel Insurance Steps In
Even the best-planned trips can be derailed by flight delays, bad weather, or a sudden illness in the family. Short-term travel insurance includes trip protection benefits to safeguard your prepaid costs.
Imagine this: you’re flying to Alaska for a cruise, but a blizzard grounds your connecting flight. Your short-term plan could reimburse the cost of missed excursions, extra hotel nights, and meals during the delay. Without it, those additional expenses come straight out of your pocket.
Standard Trip Protection Features:
- Trip cancellation or interruption for covered reasons, such as medical emergencies, weather-related disruptions, work reasons, and many more.
- Lost, stolen, or delayed luggage reimbursement
- Compensation for flight delays or missed connections
- Reimbursement for non-refundable costs
How to Choose the Best Short-Term Travel Insurance Plan
Not all policies are created equal. The best plan depends on your trip type, risk tolerance, and budget. A cruise traveler may want to cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage and high medical limits. A backpacker heading to remote areas may prioritize medical evacuation and gear protection.
Using a site like Squaremouth, you can compare dozens of plans side-by-side, filtering by:
- Trip cost
- Medical limits
- Specific benefits (like COVID coverage, adventure sports, or CFAR)
- Verified user reviews and post-claim rating
Can You Buy Short-Term Travel Insurance Last-Minute?
Yes, you can often buy short-term travel insurance until the day before your departure. Your coverage typically kicks in immediately once the policy is active. But there’s a catch: to access premium features like CFAR or pre-existing condition waivers, you usually need to buy your policy within 14–21 days of your initial trip deposit.
Is short-term travel insurance worth it?
Short-term travel insurance is like a life jacket: you hope you don’t need it, but you’ll be glad you have it if you do. It’s affordable, flexible, and covers everything from sprained ankles to trip disasters. Whether you’re cruising the Caribbean or flying to a family reunion, it’s the safety net your suitcase won’t pack, but your wallet will thank you for.