The Best Travel Insurance for Students
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If you’re a student who’s planning to travel internationally or study abroad, it’s a good idea to go prepared with comprehensive student travel insurance. But where do you find plans tailored to your unique needs?
These companies offer some of the best options for travel insurance for students, whether you’re globe-trotting for a week, a semester or a whole year.
What does travel insurance for students cover?
Student travel insurance can vary from plan to plan. But there are a few things you should look for whether you’re an exchange student, studying abroad or simply planning an international trip between classes.
Trip cancellation insurance: This coverage reimburses you for any prepaid, nonrefundable costs of your trip should you have to cancel for any unexpected circumstances covered by your selected policy.
Travel medical coverage: If you become ill or get injured while traveling, travel medical coverage can help pay for medical expenses and even emergency travel back home.
Travel delay insurance: In the event of rescheduled or canceled flights that result in painfully long layovers, this coverage will reimburse you for personal items, food and lodging you may have to pay for as you wait for a rescheduled flight.
Delayed baggage: Just as it sounds, this coverage reimburses you for luggage (including necessities you might have to purchase while you wait for your luggage to arrive) if it’s delayed or lost by a travel provider in transit.
» Learn more: When to buy travel insurance
How much does travel insurance for students cost?
As with travel insurance for more general travelers, there are several factors that affect the cost of travel insurance for study abroad students and other young travelers, including:
Traveler age.
Overall trip cost.
Trip duration.
Specific coverage selected.
Because there are so many factors involved, and because every travel insurance company is different, it’s often wise to compare a number of plans to decide which is best for you and your travel plans. That said, these are some of the best student travel insurance options.
» Learn more: Best annual travel insurance this year
Travel Guard: Best for budget travelers
Travel Guard by AIG
Pros
- Offers last-minute coverage.
- Pre-Existing Medical Conditions Exclusion Waiver available at all plan levels.
- Plan available for business travelers.
Cons
- Cancel For Any reason coverage only available for higher-level plans, and only reimburses up to 50% of the trip cost.
- Trip interruption coverage doesn't apply to trips paid for with points and miles.
Travel Guard by AIG
Pros
- Offers last-minute coverage.
- Pre-Existing Medical Conditions Exclusion Waiver available at all plan levels.
- Plan available for business travelers.
Cons
- Cancel For Any reason coverage only available for higher-level plans, and only reimburses up to 50% of the trip cost.
- Trip interruption coverage doesn't apply to trips paid for with points and miles.
What Travel Guard covers
There are several options available from Travel Guard for travel insurance for students studying abroad or simply exploring on break: Deluxe, Preferred and Essential.
They all include trip cancellation and interruption, medical coverage, and lost or delayed baggage insurance. Bonus: They even come with dental coverage. Add-ons like car rental coverage and “cancel for any reason coverage” are also available with some plans.
There is also an annual plan available, but coverage automatically expires if any single trip lasts longer than 90 days, so it wouldn’t likely be sufficient for more than a semester abroad.
Pros
Multiple price points for a wide range of coverage options.
Dental coverage included.
24/7 emergency assistance available with all plans.
Cons
If you plan on participating in adventure sports, the Adventure Sports Bundle is only available as an add-on on some Preferred and Deluxe plans.
» Learn more: Read our full review of Travel Guard
World Nomads: Best for adventurers
World Nomads
Pros
- Travelers can extend coverage mid-trip.
- The standard plan covers up to $300,000 in emergency evacuation costs.
- Plans automatically cover 200+ adventurous activities.
Cons
- No Cancel For Any Reason upgrades are available.
- No pre-existing medical condition waivers are available.
World Nomads
Pros
- Travelers can extend coverage mid-trip.
- The standard plan covers up to $300,000 in emergency evacuation costs.
- Plans automatically cover 200+ adventurous activities.
Cons
- No Cancel For Any Reason upgrades are available.
- No pre-existing medical condition waivers are available.
What World Nomads covers
Designed for independent, often more adventurous travelers, World Nomads offers several travel insurance options for students of any age.
While plans may seem more expensive than some other options, it’s important to remember that these plans include medical treatment and evacuation if you are injured while participating in some adventure sports. Plans also cover medical expenses, trip cancellation and interruption, baggage loss and delay, and include 24/7 travel assistance.
Pros
Many adventure sports are covered.
Some plans include car rental coverage.
Dental is covered.
Cons
Pre-existing conditions aren’t covered.
» Learn more: Best adventure sports travel insurance
Allianz: Best for premier travel benefits at a lower cost
Allianz
Pros
- Annual or single-trip policies are available.
- Multiple types of insurance available.
- All plans include access to a 24/7 assistance hotline.
Cons
- More expensive than average.
- CFAR upgrades are not available.
- Rental car protection is only available by adding the One Trip Rental Car protector to your plan or by purchasing a standalone rental car plan.
Allianz
Pros
- Annual or single-trip policies are available.
- Multiple types of insurance available.
- All plans include access to a 24/7 assistance hotline.
Cons
- More expensive than average.
- CFAR upgrades are not available.
- Rental car protection is only available by adding the One Trip Rental Car protector to your plan or by purchasing a standalone rental car plan.
What Allianz covers
A well-known travel insurance company, Allianz offers a number of travel insurance plans that may appeal to students.
All plans include epidemic coverage, trip cancellation and interruption, medical and dental coverage, baggage loss and delay, and 24-hour assistance. And premium plans tend to offer similar coverage as other insurance companies but at a lower price.
There’s also an annual plan available called AllTrips, but it doesn’t cover individual trips longer than 45 consecutive days.
Pros
Includes epidemic coverage (including for COVID-19).
Covers 100% of prepaid costs if you cancel your trip for a covered reason.
The cost to change flights or other transportation is covered on some plans if you have to change or cancel bookings because of a covered reason.
Cons
Rental car coverage not included on any plan.
» Learn more: NerdWallet's Allianz review
GeoBlue
Pros
- Flexible deductible options.
- Wide ranging medical coverage.
- Low prices for medical only needs.
Cons
- Lacks in traditional travel insurance coverage options such as trip Interruption, bag delays, etc.
- Better when paired with travel credit card insurance coverage.
GeoBlue
Pros
- Flexible deductible options.
- Wide ranging medical coverage.
- Low prices for medical only needs.
Cons
- Lacks in traditional travel insurance coverage options such as trip Interruption, bag delays, etc.
- Better when paired with travel credit card insurance coverage.
What GeoBlue covers
Designed for students staying in one place for more than a week or even a whole semester, GeoBlue’s Navigator for Students plan is perfect for students studying abroad who are more concerned with health care coverage than travel-related benefits.
It’s designed more like traditional health insurance with deductibles, monthly payment plans and unlimited annual maximums when it comes to medical care. It covers medical care inside and outside the U.S., making it a good overall health insurance if you plan to travel back and forth. Travel vaccinations, emergency medical transportation and repatriation are even covered.
What’s not covered are more typical travel-related expenses like lost baggage, delayed flights and trip cancellation. But the medical coverage is so comprehensive that if you want travel-specific coverage, you could opt to purchase a more budget-friendly plan for each specific trip.
Pros
Unlimited annual maximum for medical benefits.
Sliding payment scale to customize your deductible-to-monthly premium payments.
Preventive care is covered.
Cons
Dental and vision benefits are extra.
Coverage for most travel-related snafus isn’t included.
» Learn more: GeoBlue travel insurance review: Is it worth the cost?
More tips for purchasing study abroad travel insurance
The best travel insurance for students studying abroad or traveling between semesters or even on holiday breaks is insurance that’s best suited to you and your travel plans.
Before you hit “Add to cart,” compare several plans, make sure to read the fine print and understand what’s covered (and, just as importantly, what’s not). Select a plan that offers the coverage required to help you feel safe, secure and protected wherever you roam.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024:
Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express
Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
on Chase's website
1x-10x
Points60,000
Pointson Chase's website
1x-5x
Points60,000 Points + $300 Travel Credit
on Chase's website
1x-2x
Points50,000
Points