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WorldTrips Travel Insurance Review: Is it Worth The Cost?
WorldTrips offers single-trip policies for U.S. travelers and international students but lacks annual plan options.
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.
Erica Harrington is a contributing editor at NerdWallet. She has more than 20 years of copy-editing experience. Previously, she served as the copy chief at Forbes Advisor and NerdWallet. In addition to personal finance content, she has edited stories about business, city and state politics, arts and entertainment, and national and international affairs. Erica also has taught English as a second language at corporations in Santiago, Chile. She has produced white papers for the United Nations. She is based in Atlanta.
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All three Atlas Journey plans include missed connection coverage.
The price for the basic plan is competitive.
Cons
Primary coverage may depend on the state where you live.
WorldTrips travel insurance stands out for offering strong coverage limits at competitive prices. In NerdWallet’s sample quote for a one-week trip to Mexico, plans ranged from $71 to $93 while providing benefits such as trip cancellation coverage, emergency medical coverage and emergency medical evacuation.
Another strength is that all three Atlas Journey plans include missed connection coverage, a benefit that some travel insurance providers reserve for more expensive policies. Travelers who want additional flexibility can also purchase optional Cancel For Any Reason coverage on the Explore and Elevate plans.
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World Trips travel insurance offerings
WorldTrips offers three plans that offer comprehensive travel insurance coverage. The main differences between the plans are the coverage limits and included benefits.
The three policies are:
Atlas Journey Escape: This introductory insurance plan includes core travel protections, like trip cancellation, trip interruption, travel delay, emergency medical coverage, medical evacuation and repatriation, baggage insurance and missed connection reimbursement. Coverage for preexisting conditions is included if the policy is purchased within 14 days of the initial trip payment date.
Atlas Journey Explore: A mid-tier plan that offers all the benefits of the Escape plan but with higher limits. The Explore plan also includes reimbursement for airline reissue fees and the option to add Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance. Preexisting conditions are covered if the policy is purchased within 21 days of the initial trip deposit.
Atlas Journey Elevate: The highest-tier plan includes all protections offered in the Explore plan, but with even higher benefit limits.
The CFAR add-on, which is available on the Explore or Elevate plans, reimburses 50%-75% of prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs if purchased within 21 days of the initial trip payment date.
WorldTrips travel insurance plans include many of the protections travelers commonly look for in a comprehensive policy. The key benefits include:
Emergency medical coverage: Reimburses eligible medical expenses if you become sick or injured during your trip.
Trip cancellation: Refunds prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs if you need to cancel your trip for a covered reason.
Trip interruption: Covers unused prepaid travel expenses and additional transportation costs to return home if your trip is cut short due to a covered event.
Travel delay: Provides reimbursement for eligible expenses, such as meals and accommodations, when your trip is delayed for a covered reason.
Baggage coverage: Offers compensation if your luggage is lost, stolen or damaged or delayed during your trip.
Accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D): Provides a cash payout if a covered accident results in a serious injury or death.
Missed connection: Reimburses certain expenses if a covered delay causes you to miss a connecting flight or other transportation.
One standout feature of WorldTrips is that all three travel insurance plans include missed connection coverage, a benefit that some providers reserve for higher-tier policies.
Atlas Journey Escape, Explore and Elevate all provide comprehensive travel insurance coverage, but higher-tier plans offer more generous benefit limits. The table below compares the limits across the three plans:
Type of coverage
Coverage limits
Trip cancellation
Escape: 100% (up to $10,000). Explore: 100% (up to $50,000). Elevate: 100% (up to $100,000).
Trip interruption
Escape: 125% of trip cost. Explore: 150% of trip cost. Elevate: 150% of trip cost.
While all three plans include core travel insurance benefits, the reimbursement thresholds increase significantly as you move up the lineup. For example, trip cancellation coverage ranges from $10,000 on the Escape plan to $100,000 on the Elevate plan, while emergency medical coverage increases from $50,000 to $250,000. Notably, even on the most affordable plan, trip interruption coverage is reimbursed at 125%, which can be significant if your trip is interrupted and you incur expensive last-minute costs to bring you home.
Another key benefit of all three plans is missed connection coverage, which kicks in if a delay of three hours or more causes you to miss a cruise, tour, flight or other trip departure. The benefit reimburses additional transportation costs incurred so that you can rejoin your trip, as well as unused prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses, up to the plan’s coverage limit. For those going on trips to multiple locations or with different modes of transportation, missed connection coverage can be a good benefit to have.
WorldTrips offers only one optional upgrade on its Atlas Journey plans:
Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR): Available on the Explore and Elevate plans when purchased within 21 days of the initial trip payment date. This upgrade reimburses 50%-75% of prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses if you cancel your trip for a reason not otherwise covered by the policy.
If you’re worried that you may need to cancel your trip for a reason that’s not covered by the policy, purchasing CFAR can make a lot of sense, especially if your trip is expensive.
Although Atlas Journey plans cover a wide range of travel-related issues, there are certain situations or losses that are generally excluded from coverage:
Intentional acts of self-harm.
Losses resulting from acts of war.
Illegal or criminal activities.
Elective or non-emergency medical procedures.
As with any travel insurance policy, it's important to review the plan documents carefully for a full list of exclusions and limitations.
How WorldTrips compares to its competitors
WorldTrips ranks highly among NerdWallet’s top travel insurance providers. Jump to see our methodology.
To compare WorldTrips against other insurers, we obtained quotes for the same sample trip to Mexico across multiple providers.
Prices ranged from $17 to $148. At $71, WorldTrips’ entry-level plan was competitively priced while still offering important protections such as trip cancellation, trip interruption, emergency medical coverage, medical evacuation and baggage benefits.
Company
Star rating
Basic plan cost
Premium plan cost
Generate a quote
Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection
4.0 NerdWallet rating
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account consumer complaint and customer satisfaction data.
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).
In NerdWallet’s sample quote for a one-week, $2,000 trip to Mexico for a 45-year-old traveler from Illinois, WorldTrips plans ranged from $71 for the Escape plan to $93 for the Elevate plan.
In other words, travelers who want the highest coverage limits only need to pay about $22 more than the entry-level plan. Given the significant increase in trip cancellation, medical and evacuation coverage, the Elevate plan may offer strong value for those seeking more robust protection.
Which WorldTrips travel insurance plan is best for me?
The right WorldTrips plan depends on your trip cost, the amount of medical coverage you want and whether you value optional upgrades like CFAR.
For travelers with trips costing $10,000 or less, the Escape plan may provide sufficient protection. Those planning more expensive vacations may want to consider the Explore or Elevate plans, which offer higher reimbursement limits and the CFAR add-on.
Before purchasing a policy, it’s also worth reviewing travel insurance benefits that may already be included with your credit card. For example, cards such as the American Express Platinum Card® and Chase Sapphire Reserve® provide trip cancellation and interruption coverage of up to $10,000 per trip. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® also offers up to $2,500 in emergency medical coverage.
If your primary concern is protecting a trip that costs less than $10,000, your credit card’s built-in travel insurance may be sufficient. In that case, purchasing a standalone travel medical policy instead of a comprehensive travel insurance plan could be a more affordable option.
As with any travel insurance policy, think about which benefits matter to you and consider whether the coverage limits provided are sufficient for your needs.
Yes. WorldTrips provides 24/7 emergency and non-emergency travel assistance services to its plan holders. Travelers in the U.S. can call 866-400-6090, while those traveling internationally can call 603-328-6387 collect.
How to file a claim with WorldTrips travel insurance
WorldTrips allows Atlas Journey policyholders to file claims online through the Member Portal. To start a claim, complete the online claim form and upload any supporting documentation.
The documents required will vary based on the type of claim, but generally you'll want to keep all receipts, proof of payment, booking confirmations, physician statements and other relevant documentation that may be needed to support your claim.
WorldTrips also provides a detailed list of supporting documentation requirements by claim type, which travelers may find helpful to review before submitting a claim.
Is WorldTrips travel insurance worth it?
WorldTrips can be a good choice for travelers looking for strong coverage limits at a reasonable price. In NerdWallet’s sample quote, the company’s plans were priced competitively compared with other travel insurance providers while still offering comprehensive benefits such as trip cancellation, trip interruption, emergency medical coverage and emergency medical evacuation.
One of WorldTrips’ biggest strengths is its value proposition. Even the entry-level Escape plan includes missed connection coverage, while the higher-tier Explore and Elevate plans provide generous medical and evacuation limits along with access to the Cancel For Any Reason add-on.
One thing to keep in mind is that certain coverage details may vary by state. For example, in our sample quote for a trip to Mexico for a traveler from Illinois, emergency medical coverage was listed as excess coverage on the Escape plan and primary coverage on the Explore and Elevate plans. When we checked coverage for another state, this benefit was listed as primary coverage on all three plans.
Primary coverage generally means the travel insurance policy pays first, while excess coverage may require you to submit claims through any other insurance you may have before seeking reimbursement from the travel insurance provider. Before purchasing a policy, check to make sure that the coverage you receive aligns with your expectations and if you have any questions, reach out to WorldTrips before purchasing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does WorldTrips cover flight cancellation? Does WorldTrips cover flight cancellation?
Yes. If your flight is canceled for a covered reason and causes you to cancel or interrupt your trip, you may be eligible for reimbursement under the policy’s trip cancellation or trip interruption benefit. If you cancel your trip for a reason that isn’t covered by the policy, you’ll need to have purchased the CFAR add-on to receive reimbursement.
How long does a WorldTrips refund take? How long does a WorldTrips refund take?
WorldTrips doesn’t publish a standard reimbursement timeline. Once a claim is submitted, a claims examiner reviews the documentation and may request additional information before processing the claim. Providing complete and accurate documentation can help avoid delays.
Is WorldTrips travel insurance primary or secondary? Is WorldTrips travel insurance primary or secondary?
It depends on the plan and state of residence. In our Illinois sample quote, the Escape plan listed emergency medical coverage as excess coverage, while Explore and Elevate listed it as primary coverage. However, when we re-created the quote using New York as the state of residence, all three plans listed emergency medical coverage as primary. Since the coverage details may vary by state, review the policy terms for your state before purchasing.
Does WorldTrips cover COVID? Does WorldTrips cover COVID?
Yes. WorldTrips treats COVID-19 like any other illness under its Atlas Journey plans. Depending on the circumstances and the policy terms, COVID-19 may be covered under benefits such as emergency medical coverage, trip cancellation and trip interruption.
Star rating methodology
Travel insurance rating and review 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.