Best travel insurance companies for 2026: Compare costs and coverage

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November 2, 2026 / 2:11 PM EST / CBS News

Travel insurance can protect the money you've invested in a trip, whether an unexpected illness forces you to cancel, a flight delay leaves you stranded or a medical emergency occurs overseas. But that protection comes at a cost. Comprehensive travel insurance policies cost an average of $482 between September 29 and October 29, 2026, according to travel insurance marketplace SquareMouth, representing about 6.6% of the average insured trip cost.

Finding the best travel insurance isn't necessarily about choosing the cheapest policy, though. Coverage limits, exclusions, optional benefits and reimbursement rules can vary substantially between insurers. We reviewed major travel insurance providers based on those factors, along with policy flexibility and the types of travelers each company serves, to identify the best travel insurance companies of 2026.

You can easily check your travel insurance pricing options here.

The best travel insurance companies offer different advantages depending on your travel plans. An accurate travel insurance comparison accounts for multiple factors. Some provide particularly strong medical and evacuation benefits, while others stand out…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/moneywatch/