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Best Annual Travel Insurance
These four plans offer the best mix of cost, coverage and flexibility.
Elina Geller is a contributing NerdWallet travel writer specializing in airline and hotel loyalty programs and travel insurance. In 2019, Elina founded TheMissMiles, a travel rewards coaching business. Her work has been featured by Forbes and AwardWallet. She is a certified public accountant with degrees from the London School of Economics and Fordham University.
Claire Tsosie is a managing editor for the Travel Rewards team at NerdWallet. She started her career on the credit cards team as a writer, then worked as an editor on New Markets. Her work has been featured by Forbes, USA Today and The Associated Press.
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An annual travel insurance plan can be a smart choice if you take several trips a year and want ongoing protection without buying a new policy each time. These plans cover multiple trips within a 12-month period and include important benefits like medical coverage, trip interruption and baggage protection.
Annual plans provide coverage throughout the full year, but not for any single trip that lasts that long. Each insurer sets a maximum per-trip length, so be sure to double check their limits before you buy.
We compared annual plans from 16 travel insurance providers and chose four that offer the best mix of cost, coverage and flexibility.
How we picked travel insurance companies
We used the following criteria to narrow down this year’s recommendations:
Cost. Depending on the type of coverage you choose, annual coverage can be expensive. We wanted to ensure our picks stayed affordable.
Types of coverage. Annual plans vary in what they include, so we selected providers that offer a wide range of protections from possible travel disruptions.
Coverage amounts. Annual trip insurance isn’t worth much if your limits are too low. We looked for plans with reasonable coverage amounts.
Trip length. Annual plans only cover trips up to a certain number of days. We prioritized policies with longer per-trip limits to offer more flexibility for frequent or extended travel.
Customizability. If your travels take you to different places, you’ll want the ability to customize your plan. The best annual travel insurance plans can provide flexibility.
Whether you’re purchasing a single-trip or annual travel insurance plan, you’ll find a wide variety of coverage types. Here are some you can expect to find in the travel insurance marketplace:
Common types of travel insurance Common types of travel insurance
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Our top recommendations for annual plans
We compiled quotes from 16 different travel insurance providers to choose the best plans. For all the examples below, we calculated costs using a hypothetical itinerary for a 65-year-old traveler from Arizona.
We selected Argentina and Japan as our traveler’s destinations in the year ahead. If a quote asked us to supply a trip cost, we input a total of $6,000. Some policies required us to choose a trip cancellation limit instead of entering a total trip cost. In those instances, we selected the lowest available limit to generate a baseline price.
Basic coverage cost
Maximum trip length
Recommended for
Travel Insured International
$94.
45 days.
Travelers who want to add extras like Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) and trip cancellation.
World Nomads
$506.
45 days.
Those who want broad coverage and adventure sports protections.
Aegis
$198.
90 days.
Travelers who need coverage for trips lasting up to 90 days.
Trawick International
$163.
30 days.
Those who want a budget-friendly plan with balanced limits.
Let’s take a closer look at our top recommendations for annual travel insurance.
1. Travel Insured International: Best for customizable coverage
Travel Insured International offers one of the most customizable annual plans. The base policy provides core protections, and travelers can choose to pay extra for additional benefits. This flexibility makes the plan a strong choice for those who want control over their coverage.
The base plan is a solid choice if you already have refundable tickets or other refundable trip costs. At $94, it is also priced competitively for travelers who don’t need cancellation benefits but want the option to add them. The plan covers trips up to 45 days.
However, if you are a resident of Missouri, Montana, New York, or Washington state, this annual plan is not currently available to you.
Benefits included in the base policy
Trip delay: $5,000 per trip ($200 per day).
Baggage and personal belongings, lost luggage: $2,500 per trip.
Baggage delay: $750 per trip.
Travel medical insurance: $100,000 per trip.
Emergency medical evacuation and repatriation of remains: $100,000 per trip, two occurrences per plan term.
Accidental death and dismemberment insurance: $50,000 per trip.
Optional upgrades
Trip cancellation: 100% of trip cost.
Trip interruption: 150% of trip cost.
CFAR: 75% of trip cost.
Rental car damage and theft: $50,000 per covered vehicle.
Additional medical evacuation and repatriation of remains: $400,000, two occurrences per plan term.
2. World Nomads: Best for broad coverage and adventure sports
World Nomads includes more standard benefits in its annual plan than any other provider we reviewed. The policy also offers generous limits for trip cancellation and interruption, medical coverage and baggage protection.
Another standout feature is its adventure sports coverage, which includes more than 200 activities such as scuba diving and mountaineering. This plan is a strong choice for frequent travelers who want comprehensive benefits and may want to take trips up to 45 days long.
Benefits included in the base policy
Trip cancellation: 100% (up to $5,000 per plan term).
Trip interruption: 100% (up to $5,000 per plan term).
Trip delay: Up to $250 per day ($1,500 maximum per trip).
Baggage and personal belongings, lost luggage: Up to $2,000 per trip.
Baggage delay: Up to $200 per day ($1,000 maximum).
Travel medical insurance: Up to $100,000 per trip.
Emergency medical evacuation and repatriation: Up to $100,000 per trip.
Accidental death and dismemberment insurance: $10,000.
Rental car damage: Up to $35,000 per trip.
3. Aegis: Best for longer trips
Aegis stands out by protecting trips up to 90 days each, which is longer than most annual plans we compared. This makes it a good option for digital nomads, travelers taking extended vacations or those who spend part of the year abroad. Its coverage limits are comparable to other midrange plans, but the longer trip length is the primary differentiator.
If you don’t need trip cancellation coverage and regularly take multi-month international trips or mix work and travel, the longer coverage window can offer peace of mind without the need to purchase a separate single-trip policy each time you travel.
Benefits included in the base policy
Trip interruption: 100% (up to $2,000 per plan term).
Baggage and personal belongings, lost luggage: $1,000.
Baggage delay: $300.
Travel medical insurance: $30,000.
Emergency medical evacuation and repatriation: $50,000.
Accidental death and dismemberment insurance: $25,000.
4. Trawick International: Best for budget friendly coverage
At $163, Trawick International offers one of the most budget-friendly plans while still including key protections such as trip cancellation and interruptions.
Although the medical limit is lower than what you might see in higher-priced plans, the inclusion of cancellation and interruption at this price point makes it a strong value for travelers who want essential coverage without paying for higher medical maximums or add-ons they may not need.
Benefits included in the base policy
Trip cancellation: 100% (up to $2,500 per plan term).
Trip interruption: 100% (up to $2,500 per plan term).
Trip delay: $200 per trip.
Baggage and personal belongings, lost luggage: $500 per trip.
Baggage delay: $100 per trip.
Travel medical insurance: $10,000 per trip.
Emergency medical evacuation and repatriation: $50,000 per trip.
Accidental death and dismemberment insurance: $10,000.
How you can choose the best annual travel insurance policy
The best annual travel insurance plan for you fits your travel habits and includes all the protections you want. It’s helpful to compare quotes from several insurers and review what each policy includes. You may want a plan that includes coverage for high-risk activities, or you might prioritize higher medical limits if you’re visiting destinations with expensive healthcare.
Before you buy, we always recommend reading the full policy details to make sure the coverage matches the types of trips you plan to take.
🤓Nerdy Tip
Many credit cards include complimentary travel insurance, but the coverage applies only to trips up to a specific number of days. Be sure to review these limits before relying on your card’s protections.
If you want to buy annual travel insurance
Annual travel insurance can be a good fit if you take frequent trips and want consistent protection throughout the year. Since benefits and pricing vary widely, comparing a few plans can help you find one that aligns with your travel style. The companies highlighted above offer strong combinations of cost, coverage, customizability and plan limits. You can start your search on a solid foundation with our shortlist of options.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does travel insurance cost? How much does travel insurance cost?
Like any travel insurance policy, the cost of your plan is going to vary. Factors that may affect the cost of your annual travel insurance include your age, where you’re going, how long you’ll be traveling, your policy maximums and whether preexisting conditions are included.
Can I buy travel insurance for a full year? Can I buy travel insurance for a full year?
Yes. Several companies provide annual trip policies, including Aegis, Travel Insured International, World Nomads and Trawick International.
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