Travel Guard Insurance Review: Is It Worth the Cost?
Travel Guard insurance plans can cover you if you need to cancel (or interrupt) your trip.
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Travel Guard
A multitude of add ons are available so you can better customize your coverage.
at SquareMouth
Pros
- Offers last-minute coverage.
- Pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver available at nearly all plan levels.
- Plan available for business travelers.
Cons
- Cancel For Any Reason coverage only reimburses up to 50% of the trip cost and is limited to higher-level plans.
- Trip interruption coverage doesn't apply to trips paid for with points and miles.
Travel Guard travel insurance is a great option for last-minute travelers. There are four plans from which to choose. Costs are reasonable, and plans allow more customization than you'd normally find on travel insurance policies.
Why trust NerdWallet?
Our Nerdy editorial team aims to be a starting point in your travel insurance research. We default toward transparency and follow a comprehensive methodology for rating and reviewing travel insurance companies. Advertisers and advertising relationships do not influence our ratings. Learn more about our strict editorial guidelines.
What is Travel Guard travel insurance?
Travel Guard offers a variety of plans for prospective customers, including plans oriented toward sports enthusiasts, last-minute travelers and those looking to save money.
Policies issued by Travel Guard are underwritten by National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh. According to insurance rating firm AM Best, National Union Fire Insurance Company has a Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A (excellent). This means it’s unlikely to default on any payments.
What does Travel Guard cover?
Travel Guard travel insurance coverage has a lot of variety. Depending on which plan you pick — Essential, Preferred, Deluxe or Pack N' Go — you’ll have trip protections and some medical coverage.
Generally speaking, here is what to expect when purchasing a Travel Guard policy:
- Trip interruption and trip cancellation: These coverages can reimburse you for nonrefundable expenses that you’ve already paid in the event that your trip is canceled or interrupted. Trip cancellation protection is not included in the Pack N' Go plan.
- Travel Guard health insurance coverage: This health insurance coverage can pay for costs associated with emergency medical services during your trip.
- Trip delay: Trip delay can cover expenses such as food and accommodation in the event your travel is delayed.
- Emergency evacuation: If you need medical care at another facility and need to be evacuated, emergency evacuation can cover the costs.
- Baggage insurance: Baggage insurance includes coverage for lost and delayed luggage, and can reimburse you for the cost of replacing lost items or purchasing new ones in the event of a delay.
Travel Guard policy overview
Travel Guard's policies have a broad array of inclusions. It offers three comprehensive single-trip plans that can be customized to meet your travel needs. It also offers a plan designed for last-minute trips that focuses on post-departure coverage — this plan is much more affordable, but offers fewer protections.
| Trip cancellation | Trip interruption | Emergency medical | Baggage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | 100% of trip cost. | 100% of trip cost. | Up to $15,000. | Up to $750 for loss, $200 for delay. |
| Preferred | 100% of trip cost. | 150% of trip cost. | Up to $50,000. | Up to $1,000 for loss, $300 for delay. |
| Deluxe | 100% of trip cost. | 150% of trip cost. | Up to $100,000. | Up to $2,500 for loss, $500 for delay. |
| Pack N’ Go | N/A. | 100% up to $1,000. | Up to $25,000. | Up to $1,000 for loss, $200 for delay. |
The company also offers an annual travel insurance plan if you travel frequently and want year-round protection.
Add-on options
The types of add-ons you can include will vary based on your plan but can include:
- Quarantine coverage.
- Adventure sports.
- Boarding and medical expenses if your pet gets sick.
- Wedding cancellation.
- Inclusion of a family member for coverage.
- Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR).
- Medical coverage upgrade.
- Evacuation for non-medical reasons.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
Don’t want to shell out for travel insurance? A variety of travel credit cards offer complimentary trip insurance assuming you pay for the trip with your card. » Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now
What’s not covered by a Travel Guard travel insurance plan
Travel Guard offers plenty of options when it comes to customizability, which is great for those who need additional coverage. For example, most insurance policies automatically exclude adventure sports. The same is true for Travel Guard, unless you add on the adventure sports bundle.
You’ll want to be aware that all three of Travel Guard’s comprehensive plans will cover pre-existing conditions. However, the Pack N’ Go plan does not.
Here’s what else isn’t covered:
- Coverage for trips paid for with frequent flier miles or loyalty rewards programs: Travel Guard will only protect the trips you pay for with cash. If you’re redeeming your points for that bucket list trip, you unfortunately won’t qualify for coverage.
- Baggage loss for eyeglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids or false teeth: These items should be kept with you in your carry-on as a general rule, so they won’t be covered by a Travel Guard policy.
- Known events: If you knowingly book a trip with some inherent risks, it won’t be covered. For example, once the National Weather Service issues a warning for a hurricane, it becomes a known event.
Beyond this, most travel insurance plans have specific exclusions to their coverage, including:
- Activities when you’re under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Extreme sports.
- Named storms.
- Participation in athletic events.
How Travel Guard travel insurance compares to its competitors
A sample trip for a 36-year-old traveler from Indiana to Canada for 5 days showed that the cheapest Travel Guard plan cost $135. If you were to spring for the premium plan, which increases your coverage limits, expect to pay $236.
When looking across multiple providers, the same sample trip ranges in cost from $10-$202. Note that price isn't the only differentiating factor. Coverage is not identical across plans; each company offers various levels of scope, limits and exclusions.
| Company | Star rating | Basic plan cost | Premium plan cost | Generate a quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GeoBlue Travel Insurance | | $10. | $18. | |
| Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection | | $26. | $75. | |
| Tin Leg | | $36. | $188. | |
| WorldTrips Travel Insurance | | $47. | $66. | |
| World Nomads | Currently being rated and reviewed. | $63. | $115. | |
| Trawick International | | $100. | $194. | |
| AXA Assistance USA | | $114. | $159. | |
| Generali | | $123. | $164. | |
| Travelex Insurance Services | | $135. | $198. | |
| AEGIS (GoReady) Travel Insurance | | $139. | $208. | |
| HTH Travel Insurance | | $146. | $233. | |
| Seven Corners | | $154. | $225. | |
| Travel Insured International | | $164. | $218. | |
| Allianz Global Assistance | | $166. | $291. | |
| USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services | | $169. | $297. | |
| AAA | Currently being rated and reviewed. | $183. | $222. | |
| IMG | | $183. | $252. | |
| Travel Guard by AIG | Currently being rated and reviewed. | $135. | $236. | |
| Chubb | | $185. | $312. | |
| TravelSafe | | $200. | $468. | |
| Arch RoamRight | | $202. | $225. | |
| These star ratings are based on a separate analysis of each travel insurance provider’s offerings. For more detailed scoring, see our recommendations for the best travel insurance companies, read each individual provider's NerdWallet review or view our methodology at the end of this article. Pricing is subject to change based on your specific trip details. You can verify the latest price by clicking through to Squaremouth (a NerdWallet partner). | ||||
How much is Travel Guard travel insurance?
How much does Travel Guard travel insurance cost? Travel Guard’s travel insurance cost has quite a big spread based on the plan you select.
We generated a quote for a 34-year-old traveler from California heading to Japan for a week, with a total trip cost of $2,700. Here’s how pricing shook out.
| Plan | Cost |
|---|---|
| Essential | $162.86. |
| Preferred | $186.72. |
| Deluxe | $228.24. |
| Pack N’ Go | $32.66. |
A reminder that the Pack N' Go plan is designed for spontaneous trips, so it has less protections for trip cancellation. It also doesn't include the option to get a pre-existing conditions waiver.
Like most travel insurance companies, Travel Guard travel insurance costs much more when you add in greater trip protection benefits.
How to buy a Travel Guard travel insurance policy
If you’d like to buy a Travel Guard insurance plan, your best bet is to do so online. The process is simple and efficient and can be done in a matter of minutes. First, you’ll want to head to Travel Guard’s homepage. You’ll be prompted to fill out some personal information to create a quote, including:
- Dates of travel.
- Destination country.
- State of residence.
- When you first made a payment for your trip.
- Age.
- Trip cost.
Consider comparison shopping
If you're not 100% sold on purchasing a plan from Travel Guard, you can use a travel insurance aggregator to compare policies across multiple companies at once.
Which Travel Guard travel insurance plan is best for me?
To decide which Travel Guard plan is best for you, you’ll want to consider what kind of trip you’re taking.
Look at coverage details
If you don’t need coverage for trip cancellation, Pack N’ Go is significantly cheaper than other options but still provides emergency medical, trip interruption and baggage insurance.
If you’d like to have as much choice as possible, the Deluxe plan offers lots of add-ons, so you can select the ones that fit your needs.
Use existing coverage
Many travel credit cards offer travel insurance, though coverage levels will vary. To qualify for this complimentary insurance, you’ll need to pay for your trip using your eligible card. Common card benefits include trip interruption insurance, baggage delay reimbursement and emergency medical insurance.
» Learn more: How to find the best travel insurance
Does Travel Guard travel insurance offer 24/7 travel assistance?
Yes, Travel Guard provides 24/7 travel assistance. These folks can help you with issues such as finding an English-speaking doctor, helping you after you’ve missed a connection, replacing a lost passport and more.
To reach these services, call 800-927-4357.
How to file a claim with Travel Guard travel insurance
If you need to file a claim with Travel Guard, you can either do so online or via phone. The phone number is 866-478-8222.
Online, you can head directly to Travel Guard’s claim form. You’ll need to have your policy number on hand as well as any documentation that you have.
Is Travel Guard travel insurance worth it?
Is Travel Guard travel insurance good? With a variety of plans from which to choose — including one that is significantly cheaper than the others — it’s easy to justify purchasing a Travel Guard policy. To decide whether it’s worth it for you, you’ll want to look at the different policy limits and see which fit your needs.
You’ll also want to do some research; some credit cards offer complimentary travel insurance, which may mean you don’t need to buy a policy at all. Some health insurance plans also offer coverage when you’re overseas, so be sure to ask your insurance provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Travel Guard travel insurance cover flight cancellation?
If you’re already at the airport (or on a connection) and your flight is canceled, you may have coverage via trip delay insurance. This coverage can help repay costs such as food, lodging and toiletries.
How long does a Travel Guard travel insurance refund take?
The time it takes for you to receive a refund for a claim will depend on a variety of factors. It’s best practice to provide as much information as possible when submitting the claim to make the process go smoothly. You can also check the status of your existing claim online.
Is Travel Guard travel insurance primary or secondary?
The medical insurance offered by Travel Guard is primary; otherwise, you’ll want to check your plan documents to see which coverages are primary versus secondary.
Does Travel Guard travel insurance cover COVID?
Yes, Travel Guard insurance covers instances of COVID.
» Learn more: Is travel insurance worth it?
Travel Guard travel insurance recapped
Travel Guard offers several trip insurance plans with varying degrees of coverage. Some plans also allow you to purchase optional upgrades such as CFAR and auto rental coverage. Plan availability differs by state, so make sure you input your trip details to see what plans are available to you.
If you have a premium travel credit card, you may already have some elements of travel insurance coverage included for free. Before you decide to purchase a comprehensive policy, check what coverage you may already have from your credit card.
Star rating methodology
Travel insurance rating and review methodology
Travel insurance
NerdWallet's ratings for travel insurance companies take into account the following details about each insurer:
- Scope of coverage.
- Customizability.
- Consumer experience and complaints.
- Cost.
The best travel insurers excel in all of these categories. They provide the information people need to make a purchase without any surprises along the way. They offer insurance at a fair price and allow customers to customize plans to meet their coverage preferences. They're also able to keep their customers happy throughout the relationship.
Data collection and review process
NerdWallet collects over a dozen data points for each insurer we analyze from their public-facing websites and third-party analyses. These data points are then compared against one another and against NerdWallet's standards for good travel insurance companies to determine a star rating.
Data is collected on a regular basis and reviewed by our editorial team for consistency and accuracy. Final star ratings are presented on a scale of one to five stars, where a one-star score represents "poor" and a five-star score represents "excellent."
The reviews team
The writers and editors behind NerdWallet's travel insurance reviews are insurance specialists who have had their work featured by or appear in The Associated Press, The Washington Post, The New York Times, the Chicago-Sun Times, U.S. News & World Report and the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet’s strict guidelines for editorial independence.
In addition to travel insurance, the team covers travel rewards programs, airlines and hotels.
Rating specifics
Our star ratings are weighted based on our editorial and professional opinions. We use the following weightings when rating travel insurers:
- Scope of coverage (25%).
- Customizability (25%).
- Consumer experience and complaints (25%).
- Cost (25%).
Scope of coverage ratings are based on assessments of a company’s standard protections, including:
- Travel medical insurance.
- Trip cancellation.
- Trip interruption.
- Trip delay.
- Baggage and personal belongings, lost luggage.
- Emergency medical assistance.
- Emergency medical evacuation.
- Emergency medical repatriation.
- Accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
- Rental car coverage.
Customizability ratings factor in whether coverage limits are fixed prices or a percentage of the trip cost (the percentage is generally better), whether a policy has customizations available, and the number of bonus features.
- 24-hour assistance.
- Pre-existing medical conditions coverage.
- Extreme sport coverage.
- CFAR add on availability.
- Travel health insurance.
- Interruption for Any Reason.
- Travel Inconvenience.
- Cancel for Work Reasons.
- Electronics coverage.
Consumer experience ratings are based on provider reviews on Squaremouth.com. If the company is not in the Squaremouth database, we default to Google reviews.
Affordability ratings are based on the percentage of total trip cost a plan costs a policyholder. Less than 4% is considered excellent, whereas over 9% is considered poor.
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 2025:
- 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: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Article sources
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studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with
industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness
and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high
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