kent uni travel insurance

Key Travel is the world’s largest travel management company specialising in humanitarian, faith and academic travel

As a travel management company, we make travel simple, cost-effective, safe and sustainable for people who travel to do good. Having developed the first ever missionary air contract , we subsequently pioneered the development of charity, humanitarian and academic specialist fares, offering customers more flexible conditions and savings versus published fares.

We offer 24/7 global travel support for non-profit organisations , full access to our award-winning online booking tool and our experienced team of travel experts.

• Operations in 9 countries across UK, North America, Europe and Africa
• Out of hours support, at no extra cost
• Most successful booking tool adopted by the not-for-profit sector

The widest range of specialist humanitarian and academic air fares, saving you up to 80%, plus a host of extra benefits

As the leading non-profit specialised travel management agency, we offer first class travel account management, supported by powerful travel intelligence to inform and manage your travel programme, including savings opportunities and carbon reporting..

Duty of care and risk management

State-of-the-art tools for managing risk and keeping travellers safe, including COVID-19 destination risk assessments, digital in-trip security alerts and 24/7 traveller GPS tracking. Plus, our new KT Care solution offers travellers health and well-being support, delivered through an app

Sustainable travel solutions

We want to help protect our planet through supporting our customers to reduce their travel-related carbon footprint, which we achieve through our sustainable travel programme. This includes carbon reporting and offsetting through our own trademarked travel de-carbonsiation audit, developed in partnership with WWF-UK.

What our customers say

With an 'excellent' Trustpilot score gathered from over 250 reviews, we're confident you'll be more than happy with the best in class service we offer through our expert consultants who understand complex travel needs.

Removing the complexity of non-profit travel

We take the complexity out of your academic, charity and faith travel needs and allow you to focus on what's important, changing the world for the better

World-wide service in English, French, Dutch, Italian & German

24/7 support via email, phone, WhatsApp and SMS

Award-winning online booking tool.

see us in action

ready to get started?

• FlashLine Login
• Phone Directory
• Maps & Directions
• About University College Overview
• Academic Coaching
• Our Mission
• Departments
• Meet Our Staff
• Peer Leaders
• Meet the UC Ambassadors
• Success Coaching
• My KSU Story
• Supplemental Instruction (SI)
• Testing Services
• Tour Our Space
• Exploratory Students Overview
• Exploratory Learning Community
• Exploratory Program
• Flashes of Success
• Our Research & Scholarship
• For UC Staff Overview
• Spirit Of UC Award
• University College Staff Portal
• Support Our Students

Reimbursement for Travel Expenses

• Be sure your signed ERF was submitted and approved prior to your departure
• Complete the Travel Reimbursement Form (attached)
• Attach all receipts to form and forward to your administrative support for processing
• Travel Reimbursement Form (on the portal) must be completed for all travel reimbursements.

Expense Reimbursement Request (.XLSX)

• About University College
• Exploratory Students
• For UC Staff

Street Address

Mailing address.

• 330-672-3000
• [email protected]
• Kent State Kent Campus - linkedin
• Kent State Kent Campus - snapchat
• Kent State Kent Campus - pinterest
• Kent State Kent Campus - facebook
• Kent State Kent Campus - twitter
• Kent State Kent Campus - youtube
• Kent State Kent Campus - instagram
• Accessibility
• Annual Security Reports
• Emergency Information
• For Our Alumni
• For the Media
• Health Services
• Jobs & Employment
• Privacy Statement
• HEERF CARES/CRRSAA/ARP Act Reporting and Disclosure
• Website Feedback

• Credit cards
• View all credit cards
• Banking guide
• Loans guide
• Insurance guide
• Personal finance
• View all personal finance
• Small business
• Small business guide
• View all taxes

11 Best Travel Insurance Companies in June 2024

Sean Cudahy is a freelance reporter specializing in coverage of airlines, travel, loyalty programs and public policy. A journalist of nine years, Sean most recently served as a general assignment reporter at The Points Guy, following an eight-year run as a local television news reporter. He lives with his wife and their French Bulldog outside Raleigh, North Carolina.

Giselle M. Cancio is an editor for the travel rewards team at NerdWallet. She has traveled to over 30 states and 20 countries, redeeming points and miles for almost a decade. She has over eight years of experience in journalism and content development across many topics.

She has juggled many roles in her career: writer, editor, social media manager, producer, on-camera host, videographer and photographer. She has been published in several media outlets and was selected to report from the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

She frequents national parks and is on her way to checking all 30 Major League Baseball parks off her list. When she's not on a plane or planning her next trip, she's crafting, reading, playing board games, watching sports or trying new recipes.

She is based in Miami.

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

If the past few years have shown us anything, it’s that travelers need to be prepared for the unexpected — from a pandemic to flight troubles to the crowded airport terminals so many of us have encountered.

If you don't have sufficient travel insurance coverage via your credit card , you can supplement your policies with third-party plans.

Whether you’re looking for an international travel insurance plan, emergency medical care or a policy that includes extreme sports, these are the best travel insurance providers to get you covered.

How we found the best travel insurance

We looked at quotes from various companies for a 10-day trip to Mexico in September 2024. The traveler was a 55-year-old woman from Florida who spent $3,000 total on the trip, including airfare.

On average, the price of each company’s most basic coverage plan was $126.53. The costs displayed below do not include optional add-ons, such as Cancel For Any Reason coverage or pre-existing medical condition coverage.

Read our full analysis about the average cost of travel insurance so you can budget better for your next trip.

However, depending on the plan, you may be able to customize at an added cost.

As we continue to evaluate more travel insurance companies and receive fresh market data, this collection of best travel insurance companies is likely to change. See our full methodology for more details.

Best insurance companies

Types of travel insurance

What does travel insurance cover, what’s not covered, how much does it cost, do i need travel insurance, how to choose the best travel insurance policy, what are the top travel destinations in 2024, more resources for travel insurance shoppers.

Top credit cards with travel insurance

Methodology

Best travel insurance overall: berkshire hathaway travel protection.

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection

• ExactCare Value (basic) plan is among the least expensive we surveyed.
• Speciality plans available for road trips, luxury travel, adventure activities, flights and cruises.
• Company may reimburse claimants faster than average, including possible same-day compensation.
• Multiple "Trip Delay" coverage types might make claims confusing.
• Cheapest plan only includes fixed amounts for its coverage.

Under the direction of chair and CEO Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection has been around since 2014. Its plans provide numerous opportunities for travelers to customize coverage to their needs.

At $135 for our sample trip, the ExactCare Value (basic) plan from Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection offers protection roughly $10 above the average price.

Want something cheaper? Air travelers looking for inexpensive, less comprehensive protections might opt for a basic AirCare plan that includes fixed amounts for its coverage .

Read our full review of Berkshire Hathaway .

What else makes Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection great:

Pre-existing medical condition exclusion waivers available at nearly all plan levels. 

Plans available for travelers going on a cruise, participating in extreme sports or taking a luxury trip.

ExactCare Value (basic) plan was among the least expensive we surveyed.

Best for emergency medical coverage: Allianz Global Assistance

Annual or single-trip policies are available.

• Multiple types of insurance available.
• All plans include access to a 24/7 assistance hotline.
• More expensive than average.
• CFAR upgrades are not available.
• Rental car protection is only available by adding the One Trip Rental Car protector to your plan or by purchasing a standalone rental car plan.

Allianz Global Assistance is a reputable travel insurance company offering plans for over 25 years. Customers can choose from a variety of single and annual policies to fit their needs. On top of comprehensive coverage, some travelers might opt for the more affordable OneTrip Cancellation Plus, which is geared toward domestic travelers looking for trip protections but don’t need post-departure benefits like emergency medical or baggage lost.

For our test trip, Allianz Global Assistance’s basic coverage cost $149, about $22 above average.

What else makes Allianz Global Assistance great:

Annual and single-trip plans.

Plans are available for international and domestic trips.

Stand-alone and add-on rental car damage product available.

Read our full review of Allianz Global Assistance .

Best for travelers with pre-existing medical conditions: Travel Guard by AIG

Travel Guard by AIG

• Offers last-minute coverage.
• Pre-Existing Medical Conditions Exclusion Waiver available at all plan levels.
• Plan available for business travelers.
• Cancel For Any reason coverage only available for higher-level plans, and only reimburses up to 50% of the trip cost.
• Trip interruption coverage doesn't apply to trips paid for with points and miles.

Travel Guard by AIG offers a variety of plans and coverages to fit travelers’ needs. On top of more standard trip protections like trip cancellation, interruption, baggage and medical coverage, the Cancel For Any Reason upgrade is available on certain Travel Guard plans, which allows you to cancel a trip for any reason and get 50% of your nonrefundable deposit back as long as the trip is canceled at least two days before the scheduled departure date.

At $107 for our sample trip, the Essential plan was below average, saving roughly $20.

What else makes Travel Guard by AIG great:

Three comprehensive plans and a Pack N' Go plan for last-minute travelers who don't need cancellation benefits.

Flight protection, car rental, and medical evacuation coverage, as well as annual plans available.

Pre-existing medical conditions exclusion waiver available on all plan levels, as long as it's purchased within 15 days.

Read our full review of Travel Guard by AIG .

Best for those who pack expensive equipment: Travel Insured International

Travel Insured International

• Higher-level plan include optional add-ons for event tickets and for electronic equipment
• Rental car protection add-on for just $8 per day, even on lower-level plan.
• Many of the customizations are only available on the higher-tier plan.
• Coverage cost comes in above average in our latest analysis.

Travel Insured International offers several customization options. For instance, those going to see a show may want to add on event ticket registration fee protection. Traveling with expensive gear?Consider adding on coverage for electronic equipment for up to $2,000 in coverage.

Be sure to check which policies are available in your state. You will need to input your destination, residence, trip dates and the number of travelers to get a quote and see coverages.

What else makes Travel Insured International great:

Comprehensive plans include medical expense reimbursement accidents, sickness, evacuation and pre-existing conditions, depending on the plan.

Flight plans include coverage for missed and canceled flights and lost or stolen baggage.

Read our full review of Travel Insured International .

Best for adventurous travelers: World Nomads

World Nomads

• Travelers can extend coverage mid-trip.
• The standard plan covers up to $300,000 in emergency evacuation costs.
• Plans automatically cover 200+ adventurous activities.
• No Cancel For Any Reason upgrades are available.
• No pre-existing medical condition waivers are available.

Many travel insurance plans contain exclusions for adventure sports activities. If you plan to ski, bungee jump, windsurf or parasail, this might be a plan to consider.

Note that the Standard plan ($72 for our sample trip), while the most affordable, provides less coverage than other plans. But it can be a good choice for travelers who are satisfied with trip cancellation and interruption coverage of $2,500 or less, do not need rental car damage protection, find the limits to be sufficient and do not need coverage for certain more adventurous activities.

What else makes World Nomads great:

Comprehensive international travel insurance plans.

Coverage available for adventure activities, such as trekking, mountain biking and scuba diving.

Read our full review of World Nomads .

Best for medical coverage: Travelex Insurance Services

Travelex Insurance Services

• Top-tier plan doesn’t break the bank and provides more customization opportunities.
• Offers a plan specifically for domestic travel.
• Sells a post-departure medical coverage plan.
• Fewer customization opportunities on the Basic plan.
• Though perhaps a plus for domestic travelers, keep in mind the Travel America plan only covers domestic trips.

For starters, basic coverage from Travelex Insurance Services came in at $125, almost exactly average for our sample trip.

Travelex’s plans focus heavily on providing protections that are personalized to your travel style and trip type.

While the company does offer comprehensive plans that include medical benefits, you can also choose between cheaper plans that don’t provide cancellation coverage but do offer protections during your travels.

Read our full review of Travelex Insurance Services .

What else makes Travelex Insurance Services great:

Three comprehensive plans available, two of which cover international trips.

Offers a post-departure plan geared exclusively toward disruptions after you leave home.

Two flight insurance plans available.

Best if you have travel credit card coverage: Seven Corners

Seven Corners

• Annual, medical-only and backpacker plans are available.
• Cancel For Any Reason upgrade is available for the cheapest plan.
• Cheapest plan also features a much less costly Interruption for Any Reason add-on.
• Offers only one annual policy option.

Each Seven Corners plan offers several optional add-ons. Among the more unique is a Trip Interruption for Any Reason, which allows you to interrupt a trip 48 hours after the scheduled departure date (for any reason) and receive a refund of up to 75% of your unused nonrefundable deposits.

» Jump to the best cards with travel insurance

The basic coverage plan for our trip to Mexico costs $124 — right around the average.

What else makes Seven Corners great:

Comprehensive plans for U.S. residents and foreigners, including travelers visiting the U.S.

Cheap add-ons for rental car damage, sporting equipment rental or trip interruption for any reason.

Read our full review of Seven Corners .

Best for long-term travelers: IMG

• Coverage available for adventure travelers.
• Offers direct billing.
• Claim approval can be lengthy.

While some travel insurance companies offer just a handful of plans, with IMG, you’ll really have your pick. Though this requires a bit more research, it allows you to search for coverage that fits your travel needs.

However, travelers will want to be aware that IMG’s iTravelInsured Travel Lite is expensive. Coming in at $149.85, it’s the costliest plan on our list.

Read our full review of IMG .

What else makes IMG great:

More affordable than average.

Many plans to choose from to fit your needs.

Best for travelers with unpredictable work demands: Tin Leg

• In addition Cancel For Any Reason, some plans offer cancel for work reason coverage.
• Adventure sports-specific coverage is available.
• Plans have overlap that can be hard to distinguish.
• Only one plan includes Rental Car Damage coverage available as an add-on.

Tin Leg’s Basic plan came in at $134 for our sample trip, adding about $8 onto the average basic policy cost. Note that you’ll pay a lot more if you shop for the most comprehensive coverage, and there are eight plans to choose from for trips abroad.

The multitude of plans can help you find coverage that fits your needs, but with so many to choose from, deciding can be daunting.

The only real way to figure out your ideal plan is to compare them all, look at the plan details and decide which features and coverage suit you and your travel style best.

Read our full Tin Leg review .

Best for booking travel with points and miles: TravelSafe

• Covers up to $300 redepositing points and miles on eligible canceled award flights.
• Optional add-on protection for business equipment or sports rentals.
• Multi-trip or year-long plans aren’t available.

Selecting your travel insurance plan with TravelSafe is a fairly straightforward process. The company’s website also makes it easy to visualize how optional add-on elements influence the total cost, displaying the final price as soon as you click the coverage.

However, at $136, the Basic plan was among the more expensive for our trip to Mexico.

What else makes TravelSafe great:

Rental car damage coverage add-on is available on both plans.

Cancel For Any Reason coverage available on the TravelSafe Classic plan.

Read our full TravelSafe review .

Best for group travel insurance: HTH Insurance

HTH Travel Insurance

• Covers travelers up to 95 years old.
• Includes direct pay option so members can avoid having to pay up front for services.
• A 24-hour delay is required for baggage delay coverage on the TripProtector Economy plan.
• No waivers for pre-existing conditions on the lower-level plan.

HTH offers single-trip and multitrip medical insurance coverage as well as trip protection plans.

At around $125, the Trip Protector Economy policy is at the average mark for plans we reviewed.

You can choose to insure group trips for educators, crew, religious missionaries and corporate travelers.

What else makes HTH Insurance great:

Medical-only coverage and trip protection coverage.

Lots of options for group travelers.

Read our full review of HTH Insurance .

As you shop for travel insurance, you’ll find many of the same coverage categories across numerous plans.

Trip cancellation

This covers the prepaid costs you make for your trip in cases when you need to cancel for a covered reason. This coverage helps you recoup upfront costs paid for flights and nonrefundable hotel reservations.

Trip interruption

Trip interruption benefits generally involve disruptions after you depart. It helps reimburse costs incurred for flight delays, cancellations and plenty of other covered disruptions you might encounter during your travels.

This coverage can cover the costs for you to return home or reimburse unexpected expenses like an extra hotel stay, meals and ground transportation.

Trip delay coverage helps cover unexpected costs when your trip is delayed. This is another coverage that helps offset the costs of flight trouble or other travel disruptions.

Note that many policies have a total amount a traveler can claim, with caps on per diem benefits, too.

Cancel For Any Reason

Cancel For Any Reason coverage allows you to recoup some of the upfront costs you paid for a trip even if you’re canceling for a reason not otherwise covered by your standard travel insurance policy.

Typically, adding this protection to your plan costs extra.

Baggage delay

This coverage helps cover the costs of essential items you might need when your luggage is delayed. Think toiletries, clothing and other immediate items you might need if your luggage didn’t make it on your flight.

Many travel insurance plans with baggage delay protection will specify how long (six, 12, 24 hours, etc.) your luggage must be delayed before you can make a claim.

Lost baggage

Used for travelers whose luggage is lost or stolen, this helps recoup the lost value of the items in your bag.

You’ll want to make sure you closely follow the correct procedures for your plan. Many plans include a maximum total amount you can claim under this coverage and a per-item cap.

Travel medical insurance

This covers out-of-pocket medical costs when travelers run into an emergency.

Because many travelers’ health insurance plans don’t cover medical care overseas, travel medical insurance can help offset out-of-pocket health care costs.

In addition to emergency medical coverage, many plans have medical evacuation or repatriation coverage for costs incurred when you must be taken to a hospital or return to your home country because of a medical situation.

Most travel insurance plans cover many trip protections that can help you be prepared for unexpected travel disruptions and expenses.

These coverages are generally aimed at protecting the money you put into your trip, expenses you incur because of travel trouble and costs incurred if you have a medical emergency overseas.

On top of core coverages like trip cancellation and interruption and travel medical coverage, some plans offer add-on options like waivers for pre-existing conditions, rental car collision damage waivers or adventure sports riders. These usually cost extra or must be added within a specified timeframe.

Typical travel insurance policies offer coverage for many unforeseen events, but as you research to select a plan, consider your needs. Though every plan differs, there are some commonly excluded coverages.

For instance, you typically can’t get coverage for a named storm if you bought the coverage after the storm was named. In other words, if you have a trip to the Caribbean booked for Sept. 25 and on Sept. 20 a hurricane develops and is named, you generally won’t be able to buy a travel insurance plan Sept. 21 in hopes of getting your money back.

Many plans also don’t cover activities performed under the influence of drugs or alcohol or any extreme sports. If the latter applies to you, you might want to consider a plan with specific coverages for adventure-seekers.

For numerous plans, a few other situations don’t qualify as an acceptable reason to cancel and make a claim, such as fear of travel, medical tourism or pregnancies (unless you booked a trip and bought insurance before you became pregnant or there are complications with the pregnancy). This is where a Cancel For Any Reason add-on to your coverage can be helpful.

You can also run into trouble if you give up on a trip too soon: a minor (or even multihour) flight delay likely isn’t sufficient to cancel your entire trip and get reimbursed through your plan. Be sure to review what requirements your specific plan has when it comes to canceling a trip, claiming trip interruption, etc.

Travel insurance costs vary widely. The final price of your plan will fluctuate based on your age, length of trip and destination.

It will also depend on how much coverage you need, whether you add on specialized policies (like Cancel For Any Reason or pre-existing conditions coverage), whether you plan to participate in extreme sports and other factors.

In our examples above, for instance, the 35-year-old traveler taking a $2,000 trip to Italy would have spent an average $76 for a basic plan to get coverage for things like trip cancellation and interruption, baggage protection, etc. That’s a little less than 4% of the total trip cost — lower than average.

If there were multiple members in a traveling party or if they were going on, say, a rock-climbing or bungee-jumping excursion, the costs would go up.

On average, travel insurance comes to about 5% to 10% of the trip cost. However, considering many of the plans reimburse up to 100% of the trip cost (or more) for disruptions like trip cancellation or interruption, it can be a worthwhile expense if something goes wrong.

It depends. Consider the following factors that might affect your decision: You’re young and healthy, all your bookings are refundable or cancelable without a penalty, your flights are nonstop, you’re not checking bags and a credit card you carry offers some travel protections . In that case, travel insurance might not be necessary.

On the other hand, if you prepaid a large chunk of money for a nonrefundable African safari, you’re going on a Caribbean cruise in the middle of a hurricane season or you’re going somewhere where the cost of health care is high, it’s not a bad idea to buy a travel insurance plan. Here’s how to find the best travel insurance coverage for you.

If you’re thinking of booking a trip and not planning to buy travel insurance, you may want to consider at least booking refundable airfare and not prepaying for hotel, rental car and activity reservations. That way, if something goes wrong, you can cancel without losing any money.

Selecting the best travel insurance policy comes down to your needs, concerns, preferences and budget.

As you book, take a few minutes to consider what most concerns you. Is it getting stranded because of flight trouble? Having the ability to cancel for any reason you see fit without losing money? Getting sick or injured right before departure and needing to postpone the trip? Injuring yourself or falling ill while overseas?

Ultimately, you want a plan that protects you, your money and the large investment in your trip — but doesn’t cost too much, either.

Medical coverage. If your priority is having adequate medical coverage abroad, you might want to look for plans with high limits for medical emergencies and medical evacuation.

Complex travel itinerary. If your itinerary has lots of flight connections, prepaid hotels and deposits for activities you can’t get back, prioritizing a plan with the best coverage for trip cancellations or interruptions may land at the top of your list.

Travel uncertainty. If you’re on the fence about a trip and have nonrefundable reservations, you may want to select a plan with a Cancel For Any Reason coverage option, which can help you recoup about 50% to 75% of the costs. This helps provide peace of mind, placing the decision on whether to travel entirely in your hands.

Car rentals. If you’re renting a car, a collision damage waiver is often worth looking into.

The following destinations are the top insured destinations in 2024, according to Squaremouth (a NerdWallet partner).

The Bahamas.

Costa Rica.

Antarctica.

In 2022, travelers spent about 25.53% more on trips than they did before the pandemic.

As of December, NerdWallet analysis determined travel prices are 10% higher than pre-pandemic. Each statistic makes a strong case for protecting your travel investment as you plan your next trip.

Bookmark these resources to help you make smart money moves as you shop for travel insurance.

What is travel insurance?

CFAR explained.

Is travel insurance worth getting?

10 credit cards that provide travel insurance.

We used the following factors to choose insurance providers to highlight:

Breadth of coverage: We looked at how many plans each company offered plus the range of their standard plans. 

Depth of coverage: We considered two data points to get a sense of how much each company pays out for common travel issues — the maximum caps for trip cancellation and trip interruption claims.

Cost: By looking at the costs for basic coverage across multiple companies, we determined an average cost for shoppers to benchmark plan prices against.

Customizability: While standard plans can cover a lot of ground, sometimes you need something a little more personal.

Customer satisfaction. Using data from Squaremouth when available, and Google Reviews as a backup, we can give kudos to companies with better track records from their clients.

No, it doesn’t necessarily get more expensive the longer you wait to purchase. However, as you put off buying insurance, you may lose access to potential plans and coverage options.

In general, buying travel insurance within a few days to two weeks of prepaying or making an initial deposit for your trip is your best bet. Assuming you’re not booking last-minute, this will provide you with access to the widest possible range of coverage options. It also helps prevent any medical conditions or storms that pop up between booking and buying a plan from ending up as excluded situations, which won’t be covered by your plan.

But, generally, many plans do allow you to buy coverage quite close to your departure date.

To get the most out of your travel insurance plan, buy it soon after making your initial prepayment or deposit to ensure you have access to the biggest menu of plans possible.

Select a plan that’s comprehensive enough to cover the travel scenarios you’re most concerned about or likely to encounter but not too expensive or laden with protections you’d never likely need.

Whatever your coverage, thoroughly review the plan so you understand what’s covered and what’s not, plus how to adhere to the plan’s rules for making a claim.

Travelers frequently use phrases like “trip insurance” and “travel insurance,” as well as “trip protection,” interchangeably, but they do mean different things, according to Stan Sandberg, founder of insurance comparison site TravelInsurance.com.

Trip insurance, or trip protection, generally refers to predeparture (or preevent) coverage if you need to cancel. You may see these plans sold by airlines, online travel agencies or even ticketed event sellers.

“You could refer to it as the portion that protects the investment in the trip,” Sandberg says.

A travel insurance plan typically includes that — plus more comprehensive benefits to protect you during your trip, from medical coverage to trip delay and lost baggage protections, and many more elements, depending on the plan.

Though travel insurance is typically not required for international trips, your personal circumstances will play a key role in whether it’s a good investment.

For instance, young, healthy travelers with few prepaid trip expenses embarking on a relatively risk-free trip may not see a need to buy a plan.

Older travelers with complicated itineraries who are visiting destinations where they could potentially fall ill or get injured — or who could encounter bad weather or some other disrupting factor along the way — may want to buy coverage.

Consider a few key questions:

How well would your health insurance plan cover you if you needed to visit a hospital overseas?

How much did you prepay for a hotel or rental car?

How much money would you be out if weather or some other flight issue derailed your itinerary?

Could you afford an unexpected night in a city where you have a connecting flight?

Do you already have a credit card that provides some travel protections?

Your answers to these questions can help you decide whether you need travel insurance for your international trip.

In general, buying travel insurance

within a few days to two weeks of prepaying or making an initial deposit

for your trip is your best bet. Assuming you’re not booking last-minute, this will provide you with access to the widest possible range of coverage options. It also helps prevent any medical conditions or storms that pop up between booking and buying a plan from ending up as excluded situations, which won’t be covered by your plan.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

On a similar note...

Introduction to USI Affinity Travel Insurance

• Plans Available
• How to Purchase and Manage Your Policy
• Customer Service and Claims Experience

Compare USI Affinity Travel Insurance

• Why You Should Trust Us

USI Affinity Travel Insurance Review 2024

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate insurance products to write unbiased product reviews.

If you're taking a trip through a travel agency, university, or other company, USI Affinity travel insurance is a travel insurance company worth considering.

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Strong coverage for medical expenses while traveling
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Vendor offers "cancel for any reason" upgrade
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Specialty coverage (for things like hurricanes and other weather events) available
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Pricing high compared to competitors
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Claims may take longer during certain seasons
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Baggage delay benefits take 12 hours to kick in after claim is submitted

USI Affinity' is a leading name in risk management and insurance, usually offering their services to other businesses, like law firms and hospitals. Though not necessarily its specialty, USI Affinity also offers comprehensive travel insurance for a wide range of needs, including several medical-only travel insurance plans, annual travel insurance, and road trip policies.

Additionally, USI Affinity's travel cancellation plans are some of the most flexible we've encountered. Its policies cover trips up to a year long and have functionally no age limit (the age limit is set at 119-years-old).

While USI Affinity has one of the highest age caps we've seen for travel insurance, it's not only expensive relative to the best travel insurance companies for seniors , but generally expensive for all age groups. Additionally, USI Affinity lacks adventure sports medical coverage, making this policy less attractive for younger travelers.

Plans Available from USI Affinity

USI Affinity has three plans: Basic, Plus, and Elite. Basic offers lighter protection, with trip cancellation for trips that cost under $15,000 per person.

USI Affinity also offers a multi-trip option called Voyager Annual Travel Insurance that provides primary travel medical insurance coverage for people taking multiple trips less than 30 days long throughout the year. This plan offers two tiers of coverage: Silver and Gold. Gold has higher coverage limits and some additional coverage, such as political and natural disaster evacuation that Silver lacks. 

You can find the full plan breakdown here.

USI Affinity Additional Coverage Plans

Aside from the trip cancellation and annual travel insurance plans, USI Affinity offers several medical-only travel insurance plans that can last for up to 12 months. It also offers a road trip plan, that offers car-specific protections and other coverage you may need on a road trip.

WorldMed: Medical expense and evacuation insurance for people traveling outside their home country for five to 365 days.

InterMedical: Medical expense and evacuation insurance for people traveling outside the U.S. or their home country for five to 365 days.

VisitUSA-HealthCare: Travel medical insurance for visitors to the U.S. who need health insurance. 

StudyUSA-HealthCare: Travel medical insurance for international students who are studying in the U.S.

Road Trip Insure: Road trip-specific protections like vehicle breakdown and disablement, vehicle return, and rental car damage.

USI Affinity Travel Insurance Cost

The premium you pay will depend on various factors, including the age of the travelers, destination, and total trip costs. The  average cost of travel insurance  is 4% to 8% of your travel costs.

After inputting some personal information, such as your age and state of residence, along with your trip details, like travel dates, destination, and trip costs, you'll get an instant quote for USI Affinity plans available for your trip. And from there, it's easy to compare each option based on your coverage needs and budget.

Now let's look at a few examples to estimateUSI Affinity coverage costs.

As of 2024, a 23-year-old from Illinois taking a week-long, $3,000 budget trip to Italy would have the following travel insurance quotes:

• Travel Insurance Select Basic: $126.60
• Travel Insurance Select Plus: $158.70
• Travel Insurance Select Elite: $229.50

Premiums for USI Affinity plans are between 3.1% and 5.2% of the trip's cost, well within the average cost of travel insurance.

USI Affinity provides the following quotes for a 30-year-old traveler from California heading to Japan for two weeks on a $4,000 trip:

• Travel Insurance Select Basic: $168.80
• Travel Insurance Select Plus: $211.60
• Travel Insurance Select Elite: $306.00

Once again, premiums for USI Affinity plans are between 4.2% and 7.65% of the trip's cost, within and below the expected range of travel insurance costs.

A Texas family consisting of two 40-year-old parents with a 10-year-old and 4-year-old on a two-week trip to Australia for $20,000:

• Travel Insurance Select Basic: $847
• Travel Insurance Select Plus: $1,204
• Travel Insurance Select Elite: $1,570

Quotes for this trip cost between 4.2% and 7.85%, within the average cost of travel insurance. 

A 65-year-old couple looking to escape New Jersey for Mexico for two weeks with a trip cost of $6,000 would have the following quotes:

• Travel Insurance Select Basic: $520.20
• Travel Insurance Select Plus: $571.20
• Travel Insurance Select Elite: $828.60

Premiums for USI Affinity plans for older-age travelers are between 8.7% and 13.8%, which is well within the average cost for travel insurance. While it's certainly more expensive than coverage for younger travelers, it's on the lower end of what travel insurance companies often quote for older travelers. 

How to Purchase and Manage a USI Affinity Policy

To purchase a policy from USI Affinity, you'll need to obtain a quote from its website. You'll need to be prepared to provide the following details about your trip:

• State of residence
• Destination country
• Departure/Return dates
• Initial deposit date and final payment date
• Traveler(s) date of birth
• Trip cost (per person)
• Organization you're traveling with (if applicable)

Once you add this information, you'll be taken to the quotes page, where you will be able to add optional CFAR coverage to Plus and Elite policies. While you'll only be able to purchase insurance for trips under 90 days online, you can call customer service at 1-800-937-1387 if you want coverage for longer trips, up to one year. 

How to File a Claim with USI Affinity Travel Insurance

USI Affinity makes it easy to file a claim through its website. On the website, it states, "To file a claim on your travel insurance plan, please download and print the appropriate claim form below, and submit it to the address indicated on the form" along with the following forms:

• Accidental dismemberment claim form
• Baggage claim form
• Medical claim form
• Rental collision claim form
• Trip cancellation | trip interruption | travel delay | missed connection claim form

You can also call USI Affinity at 1-855-874-0255 or email [email protected].

You'll want to file claims as soon as possible, specifically if you're filing for trip cancellation or interruption, to avoid non-covered charges due to late reporting.

USI Affinity Customer Service and Claims Experience

The majority of USI Affinity reviews live on its SquareMouth page, receiving an average of 4.01 stars out of five. While recent customer reviews were very complimentary of both the buying and claims process at USI Affinity, older reviews mention unprofessional and uncommunicative claims agents as well as long wait times.

The biggest concern isn't within the content of USI Affinity's reviews, but the fact that USI Affinity very rarely responds to customer reviews, while many of the best travel insurance companies will regularly respond to customers.

Learn more about how USI Affinity Travel Insurance compares to the competition. 

USI Affinity Travel Insurance vs Allianz Travel Insurance

Allianz Travel Insurance is a popular competitor to USI Affinity as it serves 55 million travelers everywhere. Unlike USI Affinity, Allianz Travel Insurance offers multiple plans to customize your trip's insurance plan. Allianz Travel Insurance has over 10 plans to choose from with different features. So you can choose what's best for you and your family. These plans include single trip, annual trip, and rental car insurance.

Another thing exclusive to Allianz Travel Insurance is its OneTrip Prime plan. It offers free coverage for travelers under 17 when traveling with a parent or grandparent. USI Affinity makes no such claims.

Read our Allianz Travel Insurance review .

USI Affinity Travel Insurance vs Trawick Travel Insurance

Another large competitor is Trawick International Travel Insurance . The company offers baggage protection for up to $2,000 compared to USI Affinity's $300 or $500 coverage options.

According to the company website, Trawick International Travel Insurance also offers cruise insurance plans and adventure travel insurance covering over 500 different activities. It highlights benefits such as unlimited trip cancellation coverage.

Read our Trawick Travel Insurance review .

USI Affinity vs Credit Card Travel Insurance

Credit cards can be a great alternative to USI Affinity. Make sure your credit card offers travel insurance before your trip. Also, keep in mind, credit card travel protections may not be as comprehensive as an insurance policy.

For example, you might be able to get reimbursed for a flight on a credit card, but only if you paid for the flight with the credit card. If you paid for the flight in cash or with a debit card, your credit card isn't going to reimburse you. USI Affinity will. You just need to submit a form.

Having additional travel insurance is never a bad option. Some travelers have cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, which offers baggage delay protection. USI could add medical coverage, AD&D, hotel and flight coverage after a covered event, and more. No matter what card you have, check to see what travel benefits your card offers. You can stack travel benefits to ensure you're covered for your trip as long as you use your credit card to purchase all your expenses.

Read our guide on the best credit cards with travel insurance .

USI Travel Insurance FAQs

USI Affinity generally provides comprehensive coverage for international travel, including medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and baggage loss. 

No, adventure activities are not covered under USI Affinity's trip cancellation plans.

USI Affinity offers pre-existing condition waivers for its Plus and Elite trip cancellation plans as long as you purchase your policy within 21 days of your initial trip deposit. 

Customer service reviews show that claims often get handled within a month, but there's little that customers can do to speed up the process once all documents are filed.

USI Affinity is often recognized for its wide range of plan options and comprehensive coverage, catering to diverse travel needs.

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed USI Travel Insurance

In creating this review of USI Affinity, we compared it to competitive travel insurance products , considering coverage, price points, exclusions, and more. Then we considered what credit card benefits could complement USI Affinity travel insurance's travel insurance plan. 

Every travel insurance product has its pros and cons. Our aim is to shine a light to help consumers make informed decisions based on all the facts. We know how important insurance is when traveling with peace of mind.

You can read more about our travel insurance ratings methods here.

• Main content

Juneteenth 2024: Here's what will be open and closed on the holiday

The nation's newest federal holiday - Juneteenth - lands in the middle of the workweek next week. Here's everything you need to know about the holiday, including what day it takes place, what will be closed and why we celebrate.

When is Juneteenth 2024?

Juneteenth always falls on June 19. In 2024, the holiday is on a Wednesday.

Are banks open on Juneteenth?

Like most federal holidays, expect your local banks and credit unions to be closed in observance of Juneteenth. Plan ahead if you think you will need anything from your bank on June 19.

Are government offices open on Juneteenth?

No. All non-essential federal, state and city government offices are closed Wednesday, June 19, for the holiday.

Government closures would include high-traffic spots including the Monroe County Department of Motor Vehicles . and the Monroe County Clerk's Office.

Will you get mail on Juneteenth?

Your regular mail will not be delivered on June 19 because the  United States Postal Service  also recognizes the Juneteenth holiday.

However, you may still receive deliveries:  FedEx  and  UPS  will be open and offering their usual services.

Are schools closed for Juneteenth?

Yes, public schools will be closed for the federal holiday, even with the holiday landing during the last week of school in the Rochester region.

Regarding private schools and universities, check the academic calendar to see if it is closed.

Will stores, restaurants close for Juneteenth?

Even though it is a federally recognized holiday, individual businesses decide whether or not they would like to be open on Juneteenth. You may want to call any local stores or restaurants you're planning on going to and ask if they'll be open.

Why do we celebrate Juneteenth?

Juneteenth is a holiday marking slaves in Texas learning in 1865 that they had been freed by President Abraham Lincoln's  Emancipation Proclamation . The executive order outlawed slavery in Confederate states beginning Jan. 1, 1863, the midpoint of the Civil War. The holiday rose to prominence in 2020 amid the nationwide protests about racial inequality after the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky and George Floyd in Minnesota. President Joe Biden made Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2021.

How many federal holidays remain in 2024?

Each year, there are 11 federal holidays. Juneteenth is fifth in the annual lineup.

After Juneteenth, six federal holidays remain in 2024:

• Independence Day  (July 4, 2024)
• Labor Day  (First Monday in September - Sept. 2, 2024)
• Columbus Day  (Second Monday in October - Oct. 14, 2024)
• Veterans Day  (Nov. 11, 2024)
• Thanksgiving Day  (Fourth Thursday of November - Nov. 28, 2024)
• Christmas Day  (Dec. 25, 2024)

Includes reporting by USA Today Network reporter Katie Wiseman