How to choose your travel insurance

When heading off on a trip, many travelers feel certain nothing will go wrong during their stay. But even minor injuries can turn costly abroad—making travel insurance a smart safeguard against the unexpected. Read on to discover how to choose the right policy and the key options available when securing coverage.

What are the key factors when choosing travel insurance?

Many travelers assume travel insurance is unnecessary, yet no one can predict every possible risk. To travel with peace of mind and confidence, taking out travel insurance is often essential. Selecting the right policy isn’t always straightforward, so it’s important to consider several factors before committing to coverage.

Factors that affect pricing

Price is one of the most important considerations for most travelers. Several factors can influence the cost of travel insurance, with age being the most significant. The older the traveler, the higher the risk and the greater the premium. After age 70, finding a willing insurer becomes increasingly challenging.

Premiums also vary based on the trip’s length—look for providers offering a degressive tariff, where the daily rate decreases the longer you travel.

Personal liability and medical evacuation

You may accidentally cause material or non-material harm to a third party while traveling. An personal liability insurance policy can cover these expenses.

More rarely, you might need to arrange emergency repatriation. Ensure medical evacuation coverage is included, as this service can be extremely expensive.

Special considerations

Trips often include high-risk activities such as diving, parachuting, paragliding, or kitesurfing—activities most standard policies exclude. If you plan to take part (especially in South Asia, where two-wheeler accidents are common), choose a policy that covers the specific activity so you can explore with confidence.

Similarly, opt for coverage that extends maternity benefits (including medical fees for pregnancy complications) if you or a family member are pregnant.

Covered expenses

Travel insurance policies reimburse certain out-of-pocket costs—but not all plans cover the same expenses. Key variables include the level of medical coverage, especially for destinations where costs are high (like the U.S. and Canada). Always verify your policy’s medical reimbursement ceiling, which often differs by location. Additionally, check whether claims are paid “at the first euro” or simply supplement social-security reimbursements.

Extras to include

Before finalizing a policy, identify any valuable add-ons. If you’re only taking carry-on luggage, baggage insurance is unnecessary, but if you’re traveling with expensive items or electronics, it’s vital—just confirm the claims process for losses, theft, or damage and keep all invoices on hand.

Those booking last-minute trips may not need trip-cancellation coverage. However, verify each policy’s terms and conditions to ensure claims are paid on time.

Is your credit-card travel insurance enough?

Many banks bundle travel insurance tied to their credit cards. If you paid for your flight or hotel with an eligible Visa or MasterCard, you may qualify for benefits such as repatriation support, accidental death and disability coverage, and some medical-expense reimbursement.

However, this cover usually has major limitations: coverage applies only in a narrow range of countries and for only the first 90 days of a trip abroad. Medical reimbursements are typically secondary to social-security payouts, and policy deductibles (franchises) can be steep.

Covid-19: why you should still carry travel insurance

Even with widespread vaccination, Covid-19-related medical cover remains critical while traveling. Many insurers now include Covid-related medical and hospitalization benefits in their policies, covering expenses such as ambulance transfers, hospital bills, and doctor’s fees if you contract the virus during your trip. Some countries also require travel insurance to explicitly mention Covid-19 coverage before issuing entry visas.

Top-rated travel insurance providers

Finding the right insurance can feel daunting, with so many companies and plans on offer. To help you decide, here’s an outline of some of the leading providers.

Chapka

Established in 2002, Chapka offers competitively priced plans for both leisure and business travelers, including those heading abroad for study, working holidays (PVT), or backpacking. Its straightforward policies clearly outline coverage limits, exclusions, and claims procedures—helping travelers understand exactly what they’re buying.

The company provides a broad selection of travel-insurance products, from short trips under three months up to round-the-world itineraries and expat or PVT policies. Chapka’s prices sit around the industry average, yet its lower deductibles and higher coverage ceilings make it a standout choice.

Save 5% on Chapka travel insurance policies

Allianz

The former Mondial Assistance, Allianz delivers comprehensive, tailored plans at various price points. Known for its efficient claims handling, the insurer is particularly valued when things go wrong overseas. While rates can sit a little above the market average, clients benefit from strong customer service and a wide network of local branches, making it easy to find in-person support nearby.

Their website is highly rated for navigation, and their multilingual phone lines are available around the clock to offer advice and guidance.

Axa

Axa travel insurance stands out for its clear, adaptable policies that cater to every traveler type. Short-stay plans are especially popular thanks to their inclusive benefits, and senior travelers find affordable pricing without hidden surcharges. The insurer also excels on high-cost medical destinations such as the U.S. and Australia, where it offers generous coverage ceilings.

Axa lets you add optional Sports & Leisure coverage for activities like scuba diving and hyperbaric chambers. Basic plans exclude liability coverage and trip-cancellation options, so travelers often must upgrade for broader protection.

AVI

AVI travel insurance stands out for its extensive coverage abroad, including generous medical reimbursement (often paid “at the first euro” with no deductible). In some cases—especially outside Europe—the insurer will even pay your bills up front, allowing you to travel without out-of-pocket costs.

Its compensation ceilings reach €300,000 for travelers under 61 heading to non-European destinations, and its multilingual 24/7 assistance team handles claims around the clock. The one notable gap: AVI does not offer trip-cancellation insurance, so if you have to postpone, you won’t receive compensation.