How to get prices and find the best travel insurance
Ready to see prices, coverage, and compare travel insurance plans? The best way to do this is using a comparison engine, such as the one we recommend powered by Squaremouth.
You will save time by getting prices from all major companies at the same time. This is much faster than visiting various websites and entering your information over and over.
You can also use the filtering and comparison tools to narrow down your choice by coverage, and complete your purchase and enrollment online.
Before we begin
To begin you will need to enter some basic information about your trip.
You don’t need to supply any personal information yet, just some information about your trip. There is no obligation, you will see actual price quotes instantly, and if you find a plan you like you can complete the enrollment and purchase online.
Here’s what you’ll need…
Let’s Get Started
Click the button below when you’re ready to compare travel insurance policies from all companies (there is another button at the end if this page).
Next, you will see the screen where you enter your trip information.
If you are not sure about what a question is asking, click the entry box to see a popup explanation. There are also short videos to explain every entry…just click the triangle play button next to each box.
When you are done, click the ‘Quote Now’ button at the bottom.
Next, you will see the quote results screen. These are quotes for all plans from all major travel insurance companies. There are several useful features here to help make your decision easier…let’s talk about the most important ones.
Use filters to narrow down your selection
Now, use the filters on the left to narrow down your choices based on what is important to you.
For example: if you know you want at least $100,000 of emergency medical coverage, you can check the ‘Emergency Medical’ box and select that amount. The screen will refresh and only show plans that meet your criteria.
This feature is very powerful when you want specific coverages or coverage amounts. For example, you might want a certain amount of Evacuation coverage, Hazardous Sports coverage, or a plan with the Pre-existing conditions waiver.
The Preset Filters are handy too. For example: the Cruise option presets the Emergency Medical and Evacuation coverage at higher levels due to the additional risks of international travel and being isolated at sea.
Tip: Unless you have very specific coverage you’re looking for, just start by looking at the Most Popular, especially the Pre-existing Medical.
You can easily add and remove filters to see what the different policy options are. Use the box just above the Filters to remove one or all filters.
Next, make sure the plans are sorted by Price low to high. This should be the default, but it is worth double checking. There are other sorting options, but I don’t think there is significant value to sorting by anything other than price.
Now you can start looking at the plans and their coverage.
Each listing shows the company logo, plan name, a star rating, price, and underneath you will see the basic coverages. The main coverages listed include Cancellation, Interruption, Evacuation, Emergency Medical, and whether the medical coverage is Primary or Secondary.
Compare travel insurance to make your choice simpler
Time to really start narrowing the list using the side-by-side comparison feature.
Select a few plans by checking the ‘Compare’ box. You can pick as many as you like, but 4-5 is good to start.
Now your decision is coming down to price and coverage. Just because one plan is lower priced does not mean it’s a bad plan or company. Each company has a different premium rating system, so different plans with similar coverage can be significantly different in price.
After you have selected some plans to compare click the dark gray ‘Compare Now’ button.
Note: All companies listed are reputable and meet the Zero Complaint Guarantee. In the event of a complaint, Squaremouth will mediate with the insurance provider on behalf of the client. Unless the complaint is resolved to Squaremouth’s satisfaction, the provider will be removed from the website.
Next, scan down the page and look at the coverage and compare travel insurance features. You can easily see the differences between the plans this way.
For more information about a coverage, click the coverage listing or the ‘more detail’ link.
Also, if you decide a certain plan falls short you can click the ‘Remove’ button at the top and bottom of the page. This will clear the plan off the screen to help you see your options.
Enroll and purchase online for immediate coverage confirmation
Finally, when you narrow down your choices and find a plan that fits your needs, you can enroll and purchase online.
Click the ‘Buy now’ button at the top of the listing.
Note: Every plan comes with a Free Look period, which is essentially a money back guarantee. For some coverage, such as Pre-existing waiver or Cancel For Any Reason, you need to bind coverage soon after your initial trip payment. This allows you to get the plan in place, and if you decide to cancel your plan within this period you will receive a full refund of premium, however many companies charge a small admin fee of around $8. Free Look Periods are typically 10-14 days.
On the next screen, you will be asked for your contact information, additional trip information, and payment information.
Coverage will be in place immediately, and you will receive an email with a confirmation. This confirmation email has your policy information, important contact numbers, and coverage amounts. It also has a PDF attachment with a single sheet description of coverage, which can be used as proof of insurance. This can be printed and carried with you on your trip
That’s all! Your travel insurance policy is now in place and you are covered.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I don’t know the exact trip dates or first booking date?
To get an idea of price you can use estimated dates here. Please note however, for the final policy to be legitimate you will need exact dates for this.
What if I don’t know the exact trip amount? Or if the trip is not fully planned and booked?
Again, a ballpark with give you an idea of the price. It is also very common for people to have part of their trip booked but still have plans to make. In this case, it is best to buy a plan for the current known trip cost so you have bound coverage. Then, when you know more details/costs for your trip, you can contact the insurance company and have your policy adjusted. They will update the trip cost and ask for additional premium to cover the difference.
What is the coverage?
You can see the coverage 2 ways: 1. On the main results screen next to the prices, there is a link labeled Policy Detail, this will show you that individual plan’s coverage. 2. You can use the comparison feature (see above) to look at several plans at the same time, and this will also show you the coverage.
How much does it cost?
The policy premium is listed on the main results screen next to a green ‘Buy Now’ button.
Are these companies reputable?
Every policy purchased through Squaremouth comes with the Zero Complaint Guarantee. In the event of a complaint, Squaremouth will mediate with the insurance provider on behalf of the client. Unless the complaint is resolved to Squaremouth’s satisfaction, the provider will be removed from the website.
How can I save my quote?
There are 2 simple ways to save a quote. 1. Under the green ‘Buy Now’ button, click the ‘More’ drop down and you’ll see an ‘Email Quote’ option. 2. On the top-right corner of the results page you will see ‘Enter quote number’ and a box with a number. That is your unique quote number and you can make a note of it for future reference.
Is the a return policy?
Yes, every plan comes with a Free Look period, which is essentially a money back guarantee. If you decide to cancel your plan within this period you will receive a full refund of premium, minus a small admin fee of around $8. Free Look Periods are typically 10-14 days.
Do I get an insurance card?
You will receive an email confirmation with a printable PDF. This can be printed and carried with you on your trip, and serves as proof of coverage. It also has important contact informaiton, such as toll-free numbers to call in the event of a claim.