Recommendations for International Travel Insurance: A Smart Investment for Overseas Travel
International travel is one of life’s great pleasures—but it can also be a significant financial investment. Airfare, hotels, tours, and cruises add up quickly, and while most trips go exactly as planned, unexpected events can and do happen. That’s where international travel insurance becomes an important part of responsible trip planning for Traveling Professor clients.
Why Travel Insurance Matters More Than Ever
Trip cancellations and delays are not common, but they are real risks. The most frequent reasons travelers must cancel or interrupt a trip include personal health issues, family medical emergencies, or the need to care for a loved one. Weather disruptions and airline delays or cancellations can also derail carefully planned itineraries.
Travel insurance is designed to protect you financially when the unexpected occurs, helping to cover:
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Trip cancellations or delays due to covered reasons. Remember, if a traveler cancels a trip, a refund by the tour operator may not be available.
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Medical expenses while traveling overseas
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Emergency medical evacuation back home
Overseas Medical Coverage Is Essential
Every traveler needs to have medical coverage when traveling internationally. Most domestic health insurance plans offer little to no coverage outside the United States, and Medicare does not cover overseas medical expenses or emergency evacuation at all. Without proper insurance, even a minor medical issue abroad can become extremely costly.
For this reason, we strongly recommend a medical and emergency evacuation policy for international travel.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Solutions: Medical & Evacuation Coverage
An affordable option for medical and emergency evacuation coverage only is Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Solutions. Their plans are especially appealing for frequent travelers.
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The Multi-Trip Plan is often the best value for travelers taking more than one international trip per year.
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Coverage focuses on medical care abroad and emergency transportation back home—two of the most critical protections travelers need.
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This plan DOES NOT cover trip cancellation or delay.
Annual Travel Insurance for Trip Protection
Many Traveling Professor clients also choose to protect their overall trip investment with an annual policy. One popular option is the Allianz AllTrips Executive Plan, which provides year-round coverage for multiple trips. It includes both medical/emergency evacuation coverage and trip cancellation/delay insurance. So if purchasing this policy, it may not be necessary to purchase a separate health/medical evacuation policy.
As an example, a 70-year-old traveler from Texas was quoted $485 for a full year of coverage, including:
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Trip Cancellation: $5,000
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Trip Interruption: $5,000
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Emergency Transportation: $250,000
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Baggage Loss/Damage: $1,000
By comparison, a single-trip policy with similar benefits can cost around $500, making an annual plan a strong value for frequent travelers.
Important Notes to Keep in Mind
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Coverage amounts are flexible. Some travelers choose to insure 80%–90% of their trip cost rather than the full amount.
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If airfare is fully refundable or airline credits are guaranteed, trip cancellation coverage may not be necessary for the airfare portion of the trip.
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Every travel insurance policy is different. Benefits, exclusions, and limitations vary by plan and provider.
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An annual travel insurance policy such as the annual Allianz policy goes into effect on the date you designate. For example, assume you purchase a policy on January 1, 2026 and your trip starts March 1, 2026. If you designate your annual plan to start March 1, 2026 but cancel due to health reasons on February 1, 2026, you are not covered. But if you designate your policy to start on January 15, 2026 for example, you would have coverage as per the policy if you canceled on February 1, 2026.
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It is always the traveler’s responsibility to read and understand the terms and conditions of any policy purchased. The insurance policy itself will go into more detail on coverages and terms than this blog post does.
Travel Insurance Through Premium Credit Cards
Another option worth exploring is travel insurance included with certain premium credit cards. These benefits can provide limited coverage for trip delays, cancellations, and baggage—but they vary widely and often do not include robust medical or evacuation protection. In that case, the traveler may consider a separate medical/emergency policy like the Blue Cross Blue Shield policy mentioned above.
Final Thoughts
Travel insurance isn’t about expecting something to go wrong—it’s about traveling with peace of mind. With the right combination of medical coverage and trip protection, you can focus on enjoying the journey, knowing you’re prepared for the unexpected. For travelers heading overseas, especially on small group tours or multiple trips per year, international travel insurance is simply a smart and practical investment.
The policies listed above are frequently purchased by Traveling Professor clients. However, there are other options and travelers are encouraged to shop around for the policy that suits them best. Other resources are: