Worldwide Travel Insurance: Your Global Companion

In a world where anything can happen, it helps to have the proper protection. 

Travel insurance acts as your financial safety net if your international trip takes a sudden, unexpected turn for the worse. From lengthy delays to life-threatening medical emergencies, discover the many ways worldwide travel insurance can protect you overseas. 

What is Worldwide Travel Insurance?

Worldwide travel insurance is a type of coverage designed to reimburse you for unexpected costs incurred during a trip abroad, whether that’s be an emergency hospital visit or a toothbrush purchase if your luggage is delayed en route to your destination. 

Travel insurance is recommended for everyone from jet-setters to casual vacationers, regardless of age and experience, as it ensures you’re prepared for sudden disruptions and allows you to explore the globe with peace of mind. 

What Does Worldwide Travel Insurance Cover?

Worldwide travel insurance provides you with financial protection against unexpected trip disruptions, no matter where your passport takes you. This type of plan offers coverage for medical emergencies, trip cancellations and interruptions, lost baggage, and more. 

Most worldwide travel insurance policies are comprehensive and include the following key benefits: 

• Emergency Medical: Reimbursement for unexpected hospital stays, doctor visits, ambulance rides, and other medical costs while you’re in a foreign country. 
• Medical Evacuation & Repatriation: Covers the cost of emergency evacuation services, such as an air ambulance, to transport you to the nearest adequate medical facility or back to your home country. 
• Trip Cancellation: Reimburses up to 100% of your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs if you’re forced to cancel your travel plans due to an unforeseen illness, injury, or other covered reason. 
• Trip Interruption: Covers your unused travel expenses if you’re forced to cut your trip short due to a covered reason, such as a natural disaster or family emergency. 
• Travel Delay: Reimburses meal, accommodation, and local transportation expenses if you experience a significant delay of a common carrier during your trip. 
• Missed Connection: Covers the cost to book new travel arrangements if a covered delay causes you to miss a connecting flight or cruise departure. 
• Baggage Delay: Covers the cost to purchase toiletries, a change of clothes, and other necessities if your luggage is delayed en route to your final destination. 
• Baggage Loss: Provides reimbursement for the actual cash value of personal belongings that are lost, stolen, or damaged during a covered trip. 
• 24-Hour Emergency Assistance: A service offered by providers that can assist in referring medical care, arranging medical evacuations, providing translation services, and more. 

Is Travel Insurance Required When Traveling Overseas?

In short, no, travel insurance is not often mandatory when traveling internationally. However, there are certain destinations, such as Cuba and the UAE, that require visitors to show proof of travel medical coverage upon entry. 

It’s important to keep in mind that U.S. health insurance is rarely accepted abroad. The U.S. Department of State, as well as many foreign government agencies, strongly urge Americans to purchase travel insurance with medical coverage so that they’re not stuck with costly medical bills or evacuation expenses. 

Travel insurance is especially recommended if the following applies to your trip: 

• High Travel Costs: The more you spend on a trip, the more you stand to lose if you’re forced to cancel or interrupt your plans. 
• Existing Health Issues: Some travel insurance policies offer coverage for pre-existing medical conditions. 
• Long Trip Length: Longer trips are more prone to disruptions like medical emergencies and baggage loss. 
• Multiple Flights: Trips that involve multiple legs to reach your final destination are more likely to be impacted by delays and missed connections. 
• Taking a Cruise: Requiring medical attention or evacuation services from a cruise at sea can be extremely costly. 
• Remote Destinations: Traveling to regions far from adequate medical care can result in high evacuation expenses. 
• Adventure Sports: Participating in adventure sports during a covered trip can increase the risk of serious injury. 

What is the Best International Travel Insurance Plan?

There are many reputable travel insurance companies on the market today that offer policies designed to combat the unpredictable nature of traveling overseas. 

We recently analyzed 20+ insurance providers to find the best global coverage, and found that Tin Leg, Travel Insured International, and Seven Corners are some of the strongest and most popular options among international travelers. 

When searching for worldwide travel insurance, we recommend comparing policies from at least 2-3 different providers. This way, you can get a clear idea of how policies compete when it comes to cost and coverage. 

Ideal Coverage Limits for Global Travel Insurance Plans

Finding the best trip insurance is essential when heading abroad. Departing for your trip with the wrong type of travel insurance policy, or a plan that offers subpar coverage, can cost you thousands if your trip is disrupted. 

Regardless of where you’re heading, we recommend a travel insurance policy with the following minimum coverage limits: 

Are Any Destinations Excluded From Travel Insurance?

Yes, travel insurance companies refuse coverage to destinations for a variety of reasons, such as a destination being under a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory, being involved in ongoing war or armed conflict, or having limited infrastructure. 

Destination exclusions are subject to change at any time, and often vary from one provider to the next. 

At the time of writing, the following destinations are currently not eligible for travel insurance coverage: 

• Afghanistan
• Belarus
• Cuba
• Iran
• Israel
• North Korea
• Russia
• Sudan
• Syria
• Ukraine

With Squaremouth, you can compare coverage across more than 200 global destinations and quickly see where coverage is excluded.

Can Travel Insurance Cover Trips That Involve Multiple International Destinations?

Yes, most travel insurance policies can cover trips with multiple international destinations. This is a common scenario for travelers who are taking a cruise or a multi-country backpacking trip.  

To be eligible for multi-destination travel insurance, you must meet certain requirements: 

• Trip Length: Your trip must not exceed your policy’s maximum trip length limit, which is typically 30-180 days, depending on the plan. 
• Destinations: Every destination on your travel itinerary must be eligible for coverage (not listed as an excluded destination).

How to Purchase Worldwide Travel Insurance

Purchasing global travel insurance is easier now than ever before, with multiple routes to take to secure trip protection. While many travelers opt for comparison sites, it’s possible to get a quote for trip insurance directly from a provider’s website or through a travel supplier when making a booking.

When getting a travel insurance quote, you’ll be asked to provide basic trip information such as your destination, travel dates, number of travelers in your party, and total trip cost. Other information, such as your age, state of residence, and country of citizenship, will also be collected during this stage.

Travel insurance companies will use this information to determine costs and what type of coverage you are eligible for. From there, it’s a case of comparing your options and selecting the best travel insurance plan for your specific worldwide adventure.