Travel insurance for international trips

What is international travel?

International travel is any travel that takes you to a destination outside of the United States. This could mean traveling to the Bahamas via cruise ship or taking a flight overseas to Europe. It's not only lengthy trips abroad that are considered traveling internationally either, as the location of the United States allows for both short and long international trips. So, whether you plan to go to Canada for a long weekend or Italy for a month, protecting your trip with travel insurance is important.

Why should I buy international travel insurance?

Traveling outside of the United States is incredibly common and easy for many Americans, however, it’s important to understand mishaps can happen. From minor inconveniences to major emergencies, international travel insurance can help save you money and provide the financial protection you need when you’re traveling outside your home country. Between flight costs, hotel fees, and hiring tour guides, international travel quickly adds up. Thankfully, travel insurance can provide coverage for costly incidents including:

• If your flight is delayed for 5 hours or more and you miss your connection, travel insurance can offer reimbursement for booking another flight.
• If you suffer a medical emergency such as an injury or sickness and require hospitalization, evacuation, or repatriation, travel insurance can help cover the expenses.
• If your wallet and passport are stolen while visiting a busy city, travel insurance can help provide replacement documentation and reimbursement as soon as possible.

With international travel insurance, you’ll be able to protect yourself and your wallet from unexpected expenses.

When is the best time to buy international travel insurance?

The ideal time to buy Travelex insurance is as soon as you book any part of your international trip. When you do, you can make use of the early purchase benefits Travelex plans offer. For example, if you buy the Travel Select plan with 15 days of your first international trip payment, you’ll get access to the following additional coverage:

• Financial default.
• Pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver (additional requirements apply).
• Cancel for work reasons.

Purchasing early also means you’ll have coverage for trip cancellation (up to the benefit limit of your chosen plan) should you need to cancel your trip for a covered reason. (Remember to always review the policy for complete details and purchase requirements.)

What type of protection does international travel insurance offer?

Travelers are often unaware of the unplanned events that can happen while traveling overseas. With international travel insurance, you can receive coverage for unexpected incidents that occur before and during your travels. Such incidents can include:

Trip cancellation

Many travelers make vacation plans months in advance, however, your personal circumstances can often change before your planned departure date arrives. International travel insurance can reimburse you for your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs in the event you become sick or injured, you’re called into work, or inclement weather halts your travel plans. Without international travel insurance, you would be responsible for all expenses associated with your trip.

Crisis assistance

If you have an unexpected crisis while abroad, travel insurance provides 24/7 travel assistance while you’re far from home. This includes access to expert help if you’re in need of medical assistance, a medical evacuation, prescription assistance, language interpretation services, an emergency cash transfer, travel document replacement, legal assistance, and more. While travel insurance cannot prevent circumstances such as you or your loved ones’ hospitalization, your trip being cut short, or you not being able to return home on time, travel assistance can make navigating these situations much easier.

Medical expenses

In the event of an illness or injury, emergency medical and dental coverage can provide payment to hospitals and doctors so you can focus on getting better. Without international insurance, you’ll most likely have to pay your costly hospital bills out of your own pocket.

Trip interruption

If you need to leave a trip abruptly or unexpectedly due to a sudden illness, accident, death of a loved one, flooding, or other unforeseeable occurrences, travel insurance can help protect you and offer you guidance when such situations arise.

Travel internationally with Travelex’s Travel Select plan

The Travel Select plan provides the most comprehensive protection from Travelex for your international vacation. It’s ideal for you if you’re traveling abroad and want to receive maximum financial coverage for emergency medical and dental expenses, lost or stolen valuables, delayed or canceled flights, and more.

The Travel Select plan also provides helpful upgrades you may want to make use of on your international trips such as adventure sports and car rental collision. With the adventure sports upgrade, you’ll receive added protection for trips that include thrill-seeking activities. This could include a trip to Iceland where you intend to climb icy mountains or a trip to Switzerland where you plan to see the Alps by helicopter. If you plan to rent a car for an upcoming vacation, the car rental collision upgrade provides up to $35,000 in coverage in the event your rental car is damaged or stolen.

The full list of upgrades available on the Travel Select plan are:

• Adventure sports.
• Additional medical coverage.
• Cancel for any reason.
• Car rental collision.
• Flight accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D).

What if I’m traveling internationally with my family? The Travel Select plan is the optimal choice for those traveling abroad with their families as it offers coverage for children 17 and under at no additional cost when accompanied by a covered adult. This makes it great for vacations with your family, whether you’re taking a cruise or going away over spring break.

Get a free, online quote today

Receive a free Travel Select quote in no time at all. Simply provide your travel dates, destination, trip cost, and traveler information, and that’s it! Receiving an international travel insurance quote has never been easier.