The 2 Most Popular Types of Travel Insurance (2024)

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The 2 Most Popular Types of Travel Insurance (1)There are only two types of travel insurance that most travelers buy.

(In fact, one type of plan is so common…it represents over 94% of travel insurance sales)

Even though there are specialty plans designed for unique needs, they are too specialized for the majority of travelers taking a vacation. The vast majority of travel insurance customers fit into these two areas.

The two basic types of travel insurance are:

1. Vacation Plans

Provides the most coverage (including trip cancellation)

When people think of ‘travel insurance’, they are thinking of a Vacation Plan.

Vacation Plans are also called Package Plans, Travel Insurance, Trip Cancellation Insurance, or Trip Insurance,…but they are all referring to a Vacation Plan.

This type of plan provides the most coverage in a single package, including cancellations, medical emergencies, evacuations, loss or delays, luggage, assistance, and more.

Vacation plans are very popular with travelers because they provide a simple solution to their needs.

Over 94% of travel insurance sales are Vacation Plans

These plans are the top seller because they provide all the coverages that travelers tend to look for.

Vacation plans include coverage for:

  • Canceled trips
  • Interrupted trips
  • Medical emergencies
  • Emergency evacuation
  • Delayed baggage or trips
  • Lost baggage
  • 24/7 Assistance
  • and several other coverages

If you are looking for ‘travel insurance’ for your next vacation, you need a vacation plan.

2. Travel Medical Plans

Medical coverage while traveling abroad

Regular health insurance plans provide partial or no coverage while you are traveling outside your home country. Travel Medical Insurance plans provide coverage above and beyond your regular health provider.

Travel medical plans are for travelers leaving their home country who are not concerned with cancellation

This type of plan focuses on medical emergencies, evacuation, and sometimes life insurance. A travel medical insurance plan are perfect if you are traveling outside your home country and are not concerned with cancellation, interruption, delays, and baggage.

Travel medical plans focus on coverage for:

  • Medical expenses
  • Emergency evacuations

Some types of travel medical plans provide benefits such as medical coverage for pre-existing conditions, multi-trip and renewable protection, emergency medical evacuation, and coverage for long-term travel abroad.

Specialty plans (evacuation-only, travel accident, rental car)

Beyond the two basic types, there are specialized plans to meet unique needs, and we want to at least mention them here.

Evacuation plans focus on emergency evacuations, and are often sold on an annual basis as a membership. With an evacuation plan, the company arranges transport, and you won’t lose your savings to a costly emergency medical evacuation

Accident plans provide life insurance style coverage for travelers. It pays benefits if you should have a serious injury that results in dismemberment or loss of life. Benefits paid by these accident plans are in addition to any benefits paid by separate life insurance plans.

Vacation plans are best because they combine the most coverage in a single plan

The vast majority of travelers choose a vacation plan because they provide the most coverage in a single plan.

Get a quote using acomparison website such as Squaremouth.com.

Next in the series:
Next we will look at How to select a plan based on your needs, where you will discover a simple process for analysing your needs and picking a plan based on your trip criteria.

Go back to the Travel Insurance 101 series.

The 2 Most Popular Types of Travel Insurance (2024)

FAQs

What are the two 2 basic types of travel insurance? ›

What type of travel insurance do I need? There are two main types of travel insurance: trip protection plans and travel medical plans.

What is the most common travel insurance claim? ›

By far, the most common and often most significant travel insurance claim is for medical emergencies. A sudden illness or injury during your trip can not only ruin your plans but also cause a severe financial strain.

Can you have 2 travel insurance policies for the same trip? ›

Yes, it is possible, and sometimes smart, to purchase multiple travel insurance policies for the same trip. If you find that an existing policy you have does not offer enough coverage for your upcoming vacation, you may purchase additional coverage for greater peace of mind.

What are the different kinds of insurance? ›

For Consumers
  • Auto.
  • Health.
  • Home.
  • Life.
  • Long-term care.
  • Annuities.
  • Business.
  • Boat/marine.

What is Type 2 insurance? ›

Type II insurance means insurance regulated by open competition between insurers, including fire, casualty, inland marine and all other kinds of insurance subject to Part 4, Article 4, Title 10, C.R.S., but excluding: (i) insurance classified as Type I insurance by § 10-4-401(3)(a), C.R.S.; and (ii) title insurance.

What are the 2 most common types of travel documents? ›

These documents are required for most forms of travel. While passports and travel visas are commonly associated with international travel, domestic travelers may want to consider packing a passport even while traveling within the U.S. Learn how passports and passport cards work.

What are two disadvantages travel insurance? ›

Cost: Travel insurance will add to the overall cost of your trip. Some may choose to forgo it to save money, especially on shorter or less expensive trips. Exclusions and Limitations: Policies may have various exclusions and limitations, so it's essential to read the fine print.

How common is travel insurance? ›

Why people buy travel insurance. Roughly 38% of surveyed travelers purchased insurance for their trip. About 13% of overall respondents purchased cancellation insurance, and 11% purchased cancel for any reason insurance (CFAR).

What is a Common Carrier in travel insurance? ›

A Common Carrier is typically defined as any public and ticketed transportation, such as a flight, bus or train. Coverage is generally excluded if a traveler is driving their own vehicle, piloting their own plane, or acting as crew.

Is it better to get single trip or annual travel insurance? ›

This will depend on your situation, but if you are certain you will only travel once in the next 12 months, you should get a single trip policy for that holiday. If you are unsure of how many trips you will take, an annual policy may be more expensive, but it will give you the peace of mind of knowing you are covered.

Do I need travel insurance if I already have insurance? ›

Even if your health plan does cover you internationally, you may want to consider buying a special medical travel policy. Much of the additional coverage available is supplemental (or "secondary"), so it covers whatever expenses your health plan doesn't, such as deductibles.

Does annual travel insurance make sense? ›

The average cost of travel insurance is 5% to 6% of your trip, so depending on the frequency of your travel, it may make more financial sense to purchase an annual coverage plan. You can decide on your own which type of plan would make more sense based on your travel habits.

What are the 3 most important insurance? ›

As you hit certain life milestones, some policies, including health insurance and auto insurance, are virtually required, while others like life insurance and disability insurance are strongly encouraged.

What is the most common type of insurance that states require? ›

Personal injury or personal liability.

This is the most common type of insurance states require, at minimum, to let you on the road. It's meant to protect you in an accident where someone is seriously injured or killed and you were the person at fault.

How do you determine which insurance is primary? ›

The insurance that pays first is called the primary payer. The primary payer pays up to the limits of its coverage. The insurance that pays second is called the secondary payer. The secondary payer only pays if there are costs the primary insurer didn't cover.

What are the two main types of travel? ›

Travel can be categorized by territory, with two main types being domestic and international travel. Domestic travel involves exploring your own country, while international travel involves venturing to foreign lands.

What are the two basic life insurance policies? ›

For the most part, there are two types of life insurance plans - either term or permanent plans or some combination of the two. Life insurers offer various forms of term plans and traditional life policies as well as "interest sensitive" products which have become more prevalent since the 1980's .

What are the two main types of travel agencies? ›

They do not keep inventory in-hand unless they have pre-booked hotel rooms or cabins on a cruise ship for a group travel event such as a wedding, honeymoon, or other group event. Travel agencies are basically categorized into two types-: Retail Travel Agency and Wholesale Travel Agency.

What are the 2 types of property insurance? ›

Property insurance can include homeowners insurance, renters insurance, flood insurance, and earthquake insurance. The three types of property insurance coverage are replacement cost, actual cash value, and extended replacement costs.

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