Berkshire Hathaway Travel Insurance Review: Is It Worth the Cost?

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection can be more expensive than its competitors; it’s not the cheapest travel insurance option that NerdWallet investigated, but it’s also not the most expensive. However, where it excels is its speedy claim reimbursement timeline and specialty plans for those who don’t need comprehensive coverage.

Berkshire Hathaway travel insurance offerings

Berkshire Hathaway offers eight travel insurance plans, each tailored to a different kind of traveler. Three of those offerings are comprehensive travel insurance plans:

• ExactCare Value: A budget-friendly plan that covers the essentials, like trip delay/cancellation/interruption, baggage issues and medical costs during your trip. 

• ExactCare: Offers comprehensive protection with increased coverage limits and additional benefits for missed connections, accidental death and dismemberment, and cancellation for work reasons. 

• ExactCare Extra: A comprehensive plan with higher medical coverage limits and extra protection for tarmac and flight departure delays.  

If you’re looking for more specific coverage, there are five that offer tailored coverage:

• AirCare: Gives travelers peace of mind with fixed benefits for flight-related inconveniences.

• AdrenalineCare: Ideal for adventurous thrill-seekers who’d like injury coverage while participating in extreme sports or activities. 

• ExactCare Lite: Best for spontaneous trips and travelers who simply want medical protection while abroad without pre-departure coverage.

• LuxuryCare: Offers increased coverage limits for medical emergencies and evacuations, luggage mishaps and trip issues.

• WaveCare: A comprehensive cruise protection plan for unforeseen events in the air and at sea.

What Berkshire Hathaway travel insurance covers

Berkshire Hathaway travel insurance plans offer the following types of coverage. Keep in mind that not all plans offer all types of coverage, and coverage limits vary based on the plan you choose.

• Trip cancellation and trip interruption: Reimburses prepaid, nonrefundable costs incurred as a result of your trip being canceled or interrupted.

• Health insurance coverage: Covers emergency medical situations such as illnesses and injuries. 

• Emergency medical evacuation: Covers the costs of evacuating you in an emergency medical situation. 

• Lost luggage: Replaces the value of the items lost in your luggage. 

• Rental car insurance: Provides insurance when renting a car. 

• Baggage delay: Covers reimbursements for essential items if the airline is late in getting your luggage to you.

• Trip delay: Reimburses additional expenses due to trip delays, such as lodging, transportation and meals.

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection policy overview

One concern some travelers have is flight disruptions. If you’re looking for budget-friendly air travel protection, Berkshire Hathaway’s AirCare offers fixed benefit amounts for mishaps en route to your destination, like lost baggage and tarmac delays. For travelers who want similar coverages as AirCare, plus broader protection like trip cancellation and interruption, ExactCare Extra might be a better fit.

Another key coverage that’s worth having while abroad is medical protection. This is an area where limits vary greatly between Berkshire Hathaway travel insurance plans. For example, the ExactCare Lite versus ExactCare Value medical expense limits are up to $50,000 and $15,000, respectively, yet the latter costs more because it offers complete coverage in other areas.

Travelers might also have the option to purchase additional coverages, like car rental collision protection, with their plan. LuxuryCare is the only plan with a Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) add-on that reimburses you for up to 50% of nonrefundable trip expenses if you can no longer travel.

Below is a comparison of coverage and maximum limits across each plan.

What Berkshire Hathaway travel insurance plans do not cover

The protections excluded from your coverage depend on the policy you buy. For example, the AirCare plan doesn’t offer coverage for emergency medical expenses. So look closely at the policy terms to make sure you have the protections you're looking for.

As a general rule, travel insurance — including Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection — won’t cover these situations:

• Adventure activities (unless specifically included).

• Anything that happens while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 

• Unlawful acts.

• Epidemics.

How Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection compares with its competitors

On a 5-star scale, NerdWallet rated Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection 5 stars. Jump to see our methodology.

A sample $1,500 trip for a 45-year-old traveler from Illinois to Mexico for seven days found that the cheapest Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection plan was AirCare at $26. If you chose the basic ExactCare Value plan, expect to pay $51, while Berkshire Hathaway’s highest coverage option, LuxuryCare, costs $114.

The basic plans from two dozen other providers for the same sample trip range in cost from approximately $7 to $112. Berkshire Hathaway travel insurance’s basic plan hits a middle-of-the-road price point, with most standard coverages included.

Note that price isn't the only differentiating factor. Coverage isn't identical across plans; each company offers various levels of scope, limits and exclusions. For example, for just $2 more than the ExactCare Value plan, Aegis’ Choice plan includes accidental death and dismemberment coverage up to $10,000. When shopping across insurance providers, ensure you’re noting these differences so you’re fairly weighing costs against benefits.

How much is Berkshire Hathaway travel insurance?

Purchasing travel insurance can offer peace of mind when faced with the unexpected during your trip, but some travelers are hesitant to dip into their travel budget for worst-case scenarios. The good news is that Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection provides plans that support a range of budgets.

Pricing, however, shifts considerably depending on the coverages included in each plan. For instance, compared with the basic ExactCare Value plan, the cost doubles under the ExactCare plan, which has higher coverage limits and the addition of missed connections and accidental death and dismemberment insurance protection.

Which Berkshire Hathaway travel insurance plan is best for me?

The best Berkshire Hathaway travel insurance plan for you depends on what you’re doing.

For example, the AdrenalineCare option may be a good idea if you’re planning to do extreme sports since it offers increased coverage for emergency evacuation and health care.

The LuxuryCare plan has the highest limits for medical expenses and medical evacuation, but it’s also the most expensive. On the other plans, the medical coverage is rather limited.

On the flip side, budget-conscious travelers who still want some protection when flying may prefer the less expensive AirCare plan, which will reimburse fixed costs when flights go awry.

Many travel credit cards include various trip protections, so look over those benefits to ensure you’re not paying for something you already have.

» Learn more: 11 credit cards that provide travel insurance

Does Berkshire Hathaway travel insurance offer 24/7 travel assistance?

Yes, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection includes 24/7 assistance. This includes concierge services as well as help with emergency situations. To access it, call 844-411-2487.

How to file a claim with Berkshire Hathaway travel insurance

You can file a claim with Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection online or over the phone. If you plan to do so over the phone, call 855-487-1745.

If you file a claim online, head to Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection’s claim page. Same-day payment options are available if you choose an electronic payment for reimbursement.

Is Berkshire Hathaway travel insurance worth it?

Is Berkshire Hathaway travel insurance good? In short: Yes. There’s a reason it scored high marks in NerdWallet's review of the best travel insurance companies. You’ll pay more for your policy, but in return, you’ll have access to fast repayments and a policy backed by one of the top-rated insurance companies.

Star rating methodology