WorldTrips Travel Insurance Review: Is it Worth The Cost?

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.

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.

» Learn more: How to find the best travel insurance

What does WorldTrips insurance cover?

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.

• Emergency medical evacuation and repatriation: Covers transportation to an appropriate medical facility during an emergency and, when necessary, the cost of returning you home.

• 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.

» Learn more: Flight delayed? Here’s my script to get compensation

WorldTrips detailed policy overview

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:

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.

» Learn more: What does travel insurance cover?

Add-ons

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.

» Learn more: How Cancel For Any Reason travel insurance works

What’s not covered by a WorldTrips plan

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 well 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.

» Learn more: What to know before you buy travel insurance

How much is WorldTrips travel insurance?

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.

» Learn more: 10 types of Chase Sapphire Reserve travel insurance

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.

» Learn more: The Guide to American Express travel insurance

Does WorldTrips offer 24/7 travel assistance?

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.

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