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Generally, travel insurance policies are quite straightforward. The most important things you'll need to understand before you purchase your policy are:
What is Travel Insurance?
You've decided you need a travel insurance plan for an upcoming trip (great choice!), but now you need to know when to buy it, right?
In simple terms, travel insurance is a type of insurance (like car or home insurance) that provides coverage for certain costs and losses associated with traveling. This includes things like lost luggage, medical expenses, trip cancellations, delays and more.
Without a travel insurance plan, if something unexpected happens like an accident or a missed flight, you could be responsible for some of those costs yourself. These unexpected expenses can be expensive, so a travel insurance plan can help give you greater peace of mind, knowing you have coverage for your travel investment.
Knowing the travel insurance basics
It's one thing having coverage, it's another knowing how it all works.
- What types of insurance there are
- Knowing what you're covered for
- What's not covered
- When you should buy a travel insurance plan
- How to purchase a travel insurance plan
- How to file a claim
First, let's look at what types of travel insurance plans there are.
What types of travel insurance plans are there?
There are many types of travel insurance plans available, each designed to suit different kinds of trips and traveler needs.
Whether you're heading overseas, planning a cruise, or booking a vacation rental, choosing a policy that matches your travel plans can make a big difference if things don't go as expected.
Here's an overview of some of the most popular travel insurance plan types, all of which Travel Guard has options for:
Designed for thrill-seekers, this plan provides coverage for activities like zip-lining, rock climbing and other adventurous pursuits.
Offers protection for business travelers, covering certain trip cancellations, delays and lost baggage that could impact important meetings or events.
Specifically tailored for cruise vacations, plans can provide coverage for missed port departures, trip interruptions and other cruise-specific concerns.
Provides coverage for certain flight-related issues, including cancellations, delays and lost or delayed baggage.
Ideal for golf enthusiasts, Travel Guard plans can cover lost, stolen or damaged golf equipment and even green fees if a round is missed due to illness or delays.
Offers protection for trips centered around hunting and fishing, covering equipment loss and trip interruptions.
Provides comprehensive coverage for travelers venturing abroad, including medical expenses, trip cancellations and emergency evacuations.
Covers damage to rental vehicles, offering extra peace of mind when driving in unfamiliar locations.
Designed for one-time travels, this plan covers a single trip, providing protection against unforeseen events from your departure date to your return date.
Ideal for ski vacations, this plan covers equipment loss, slope closures and injuries sustained while skiing.
Provides coverage for travelers staying in vacation rentals, protecting against trip cancellations and property-related issues.
Plans suitable for various vacation types, offering coverage for trip cancellations, medical emergencies and more.
Every Travel Guard plan is customizable to provide travel investment protection based on the nature of your trip, so it's worth comparing plans to see what's best suited to your travel plans.
Read more about popular trip types and the Travel Guard plans to cover them.
What does travel insurance cover?
What your travel insurance plan covers depends on the product you've chosen.
Some plans cover a wide range of incidents and accidents, whereas others can be more tailored to your specific needs.
For example, a standard travel insurance plan may cover you for trip cancellations, lost luggage, emergency medical expenses and travel delays, whereas specialized coverage options like pet coverage can cover things like additional boarding costs if you experience a covered delay returning home.
Most travel insurance plans (including ours) typically cover the essentials:
- Trip cancellations
- Trip delays
- Travel medical expenses
- Trip interruptions
- Emergency evacuation
- Lost luggage
(including passports)
It’s important to check what your plan covers before purchasing to make sure you don’t run into a problem that isn’t covered!
Travel Guard’s coverages have been tailored to meet the needs of most travelers.
We’ve seen what can happen while traveling, and we’ve built our coverages around that. Travel more confidently with a Travel Guard travel insurance plan.
This includes things like:
Pre-departure coverages
Our Trip Cancellation, Trip Exchange and Trip Saver coverage help protect your investment before you even leave.
Post-departure coverages
These kick in once you’re on the move, covering everything from Trip Interruption and Baggage Loss to Travel Medical Expenses, Emergency Evacuation and even Travel Inconvenience payments.
Tailored plans
Plans like our Deluxe, Preferred and Essential offer flexible tiers of protection, with optional add-on coverages perfect for families, frequent travelers, and even niche trips like destination weddings, cruises or golf. With Travel Guard, you’re supported throughout your journey.
It's easy to purchase a travel insurance plan. You can either purchase online or over the phone.
What does a travel insurance plan not cover?
While a travel insurance plan does cover many important aspects of your vacation, there are some instances where you might not be covered. Understanding what’s not covered can help you avoid any surprises if you ever need to file a claim. Here are a few things most insurance plans generally do not cover:
Known or foreseeable events
If you purchase your policy after a storm has been named or after an event becomes public knowledge (like a labor strike or political unrest), any related cancellations or delays are usually not covered.
Pre-existing medical conditions
These may not be covered unless you purchase your policy within 15 days of your initial trip payment and meet other specific conditions outlined in the plan – in which case the exclusion of coverage for pre-existing medical conditions could be waived.
High-risk activities
Injuries or incidents that occur during certain extreme sports or adventure activities, like skydiving, scuba diving (without certification) or mountaineering may not be covered unless you’ve added a specific adventure sports rider to waive the exclusions for these extreme activities.
Intentional or illegal acts
Typically, any injuries, damages or losses resulting from illegal activities or deliberate actions by the insured are not eligible for coverage.
Missed connections due to insufficient layover time
If you don't allow enough time between flights and miss a connection as a result, Travel Guard may not reimburse you unless the delay was due to a covered reason.
It’s essential to always check your policy terms and exclusions to make sure the plan fits your needs. If you’ve bought a plan with Travel Guard, you can review your policy information online.
When should you buy a travel insurance plan?
Now that you’ve decided to buy a travel insurance plan, the next step is knowing when’s the best time to do it.
In most cases, the best time to buy a travel insurance plan is as soon as you’ve made the first deposit on your trip. If this is too soon, then any time within the next two weeks is advised. The reason for this is because once you book your vacation, your financial investment in the trip begins – and a travel insurance plan can help protect that investment right away.
Example Scenario
Let’s say you make a deposit on an all-inclusive resort, and you buy your travel insurance plan that same day. A week later you need to cancel because a family member is sick and requires you to take care of them. Because you booked your travel insurance plan early, you may be covered. If you didn’t take out a travel insurance plan, you may not be compensated for flight, accommodation or any other prepaid and non-refundable costs associated with your trip.
These expenses can quickly become expensive, and an added stress that you didn’t need before your vacation began!
On most Travel Guard travel insurance plans, if you book within that two-week window, you will qualify for some great additional coverages.
The specific coverages you get will vary by plan (check our compare plans page for a side-by-side), but most plans will include our pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver if the insurance is purchased within 15 days of making your first trip deposit.
You can learn more about what this means below.
Pre-existing Medical Condition Exclusion Waiver
With this waiver it’s possible to be covered for some medical issues on your Trip, despite your Pre-Existing Medical Condition, as defined in the policy. Generally, pre-existing medical conditions are excluded on our travel insurance policies, and only new medical conditions/injuries are covered. But the waiver can override that exclusion, so if you have a pre-existing medical condition or are traveling with someone who does, this is an important one!
To find out more about the best time to buy a travel insurance plan, take a look at our article on when to buy travel insurance.
How to buy a travel insurance plan
Here’s how we approach travel insurance plans at Travel Guard.
Purchasing your travel insurance plan
It couldn’t be simpler. You just need to:
Tell us about yourself and your trip
Review your insurance plan options
Choose the plan that’s right for you
You can buy online or over the phone by providing some basic details about yourself and your upcoming trip. Then you'll be quoted for travel insurance plan options, so you can choose the plan that's right for you.
Choosing your coverage
You can choose from one of our most popular Essential, Preferred or Deluxe plans. However, if you’re looking for something a little more specific, we also have several other plans to choose from and can even tailor them to your individual needs.
How to file a claim
If a covered event or loss occurs, like losing a phone or getting sick on vacation, you should file a claim under your travel insurance plan with the necessary documentation. Once that documentation is reviewed you may be reimbursed covered out-of-pocket expenses, subject to the terms and limitations of your travel insurance plan.
What is the best travel insurance plan?
The “best” travel insurance depends on your specific needs, the type of trip you’re taking, and what level of protection you’re looking for. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer—but there is likely a plan that’s perfect for your travel style. For example:
Going on a big family vacation?
Travel Guard’s Deluxe Plan offers the most comprehensive coverage, including trip cancellation, medical expense, lost baggage and even coverage for kids under 17 at no extra cost (when traveling with a covered adult).
Taking multiple trips a year?
The Annual Plan can be the most cost-effective option, covering you for multiple trips under one plan.
Traveling same-day or booking last-minute?
The Pack N Go Plan is ideal for spontaneous travelers. It has no Trip Cancellation coverage but includes some post-departure protection like trip interruption, delays, baggage loss and medical expense.
Planning a simple weekend getaway or domestic trip?
The Essential or Preferred Plans offer solid coverage at an affordable premium, giving you greater peace of mind without paying for extras you might not need.
Ultimately, the best travel insurance plan is one that covers the things you’d worry about most while traveling. Whether that’s your health, your belongings or your trip investment. With Travel Guard, there’s a range of plans to choose from, so you can find the right balance of coverage and cost.
How to file a travel insurance claim
Filing a travel insurance claim might sound complicated, but it’s usually a straightforward process, especially if you keep good records during your trip. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown to help guide you through it:
Contact your travel insurance provider
First resort, as soon as something goes wrong, like a trip cancellation, medical emergency or lost baggage, get in touch with your travel insurance provider. Many providers have 24/7 assistance lines where you can report an issue right away.
Gather all necessary documents
To support your claim, you’ll need to collect relevant documentation. This might include:
- Receipts for expenses you’re claiming
- Medical records or doctors’ notes
- Police reports (for theft or loss)
- Flight delay or cancellation notices
- Proof of payment for non-refundable bookings
- A copy of your travel insurance policy
Fill out the claim form
Your travel insurance provider will have a claim form you’ll need to complete. This might be online or a paper form. Be as accurate and thorough as possible when filling it out to avoid delays. Travel Guard offers a dedicated claims portal to file claim paperwork, submit supporting documentation and track your claim status all in one spot (we even won an award for the claims filing experience on our website!).
Submit your claim
Once your form and documents are ready, submit them according to your insurer’s instructions. This is usually done via email, mail or through an online claims portal.
Track your claim
After submitting, keep an eye on your email (or your insurer’s portal) for updates. If more information is needed, respond as quickly as possible to avoid delays.
Receive your reimbursement
If your claim is approved, you’ll receive your reimbursement—usually by check or direct deposit. The timeline can vary depending on the provider and the complexity of the claim.
When something goes wrong, we will do our best to make it right.
What’s more, we’re friendly, concerned and proactive with our solutions. So, no run around here. Just empathetic people who truly want to help make your travels amazing. And when there is a bump in the road, we are right there with you.
If you are looking to file a claim with Travel Guard, you can start your claim online quickly and easily.
If you have more questions about what you’ll need for a travel insurance plan quote, take a look at our travel insurance checklist to make sure you have everything you need. Visit our FAQ section for even more travel insurance related questions and information.
We can’t wait to travel with you!
Questions?
Call us at: 800-826-5248
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Coverage available to residents of U.S. states and the District of Columbia only. This plan provides insurance coverage that only applies during the covered trip. Similar travel insurance coverage, offered by Travel Guard or another insurance provider, may be available through a variety of other sources, but may be subject to different terms and conditions (i.e. benefits, limits, exclusions, etc.). You may wish to compare the terms and conditions of this policy with those of your existing life, health, home and automobile insurance policies, as well as any other coverage which you may already have or is available to you, including through other insurers, as a member of an organization, or through your credit card program(s). If you have any questions about your current coverage, call your insurer or insurance agent or broker. Coverage is offered by Travel Guard Group, Inc. (Travel Guard). California lic. no.0B93606, 3300 Business Park Drive, Stevens Point, WI 54482, www.travelguard.com. CA DOI toll free number: 800-927-HELP. This is only a brief description of the coverage(s) available. The Policy will contain reductions, limitations, exclusions and termination provisions. Insurance underwritten by National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pa., a Pennsylvania insurance company, with its principal place of business at 1271 Avenue of the Americas, 37th FL, New York, NY 10020-1304. It is currently authorized to transact business in all states and the District of Columbia. NAIC No. 19445. Coverage may not be available in all states. Travel assistance services provided by Travel Guard.