John Hancock offers comprehensive travel insurance with several optional add-ons, including Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage, and features that may appeal to travelers booking award trips, such as reimbursement for eligible airline and hotel loyalty program redeposit fees. While John Hancock’s plans are more expensive than many of it competitors, they offer relatively high coverage limits.
To get an idea of pricing, we generated a quote for a 45-year-old traveler from Illinois taking a $2,000 trip to Mexico. Premiums ranged from $89 to $138. From coverage details to how the plans compare, here's everything you need to know about John Hancock travel insurance.
John Hancock
John Hancock offers generous travel medical coverage and a frequent travel loyalty benefit for award reservations.
Pros
- Covers $200 in fees for redepositing points and miles on eligible canceled award reservations.
- Cancel For Any Reason add-on available for all plans.
Cons
- Reports of lengthy claims processes.
John Hancock travel insurance offerings
John Hancock provides three trip insurance plans. All include core benefits like trip cancellation, trip interruption, trip delay and medical expenses. The primary differences between plans are the coverage limits and the maximum trip cost each plan will insure.
- Bronze: Insures trips up to $10,000 per person.
- Silver: Insures trips up to $20,000 per person, with higher coverage limits than Bronze.
- Gold: Insures trips up to $100,000 per person and is the only tier that includes air ambulance coverage.
John Hancock does not offer a medical-only policy; all three tiers include the full range of trip protection benefits.
What John Hancock travel insurance covers
The three travel insurance plans include many standard protections, such as:
- Trip cancellation: Reimburses prepaid, nonrefundable trip costs if you cancel for a covered reason.
- Trip interruption: Covers costs if your trip is cut short after it has begun.
- Trip delay: Reimburses expenses such as meals and lodging if your trip is delayed past a set number of hours.
- Missed connection: Provides reimbursement if you miss a connecting flight, which causes you to miss part of your trip.
- Baggage delay and loss: Reimburses essential purchases if your bags are delayed, or covers the value of bags that are lost or damaged.
- Emergency medical and dental: Covers accident and sickness expenses that occur while traveling.
- Emergency medical evacuation and repatriation of remains: Covers the cost of transport to adequate medical care, or the return of remains in the event of death.
- Airline ticket change fee: Provides reimbursement if you need to change your flight due to a covered reason.
- Frequent traveler loyalty: Reimburses a redeposit fee paid to your airline or hotel program after canceling an award booking. This is a useful benefit for travelers who rely on rewards programs.
» Learn more: How to find the best travel insurance
John Hancock detailed policy overview
John Hancock's plans differ in coverage across several categories, with Gold offering the highest limits. Here's how the three plans compare:
Coverage | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
Trip cancellation | 100% (up to $100,000). | 100% (up to $20,000). | 100% (up to $10,000). |
Trip interruption | 150% (up to $100,000). | 150% (up to $20,000). | 125% (up to $10,000). |
CFAR available | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. |
Trip delay | 3 or more hours $1,000 ($200 per day). | 3 or more hours $750 ($150 per day). | 6 or more hours $500 ($150 per day). |
Missed connection | $1,000. | $750. | $200. |
Single occupancy supplement | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. |
Airline ticket change fee | $200. | $200. | $200. |
Baggage and personal effects | $2,500. | $1,000. | $750. |
Baggage delay 12+ hours | $500. | $500. | $250. |
Emergency accident and sickness medical expense | $250,000. | $100,000. | $50,000. |
Dental expense | $750. | $750. | $750. |
Emergency medical evacuation and medically necessary repatriation | $1 million. | $500,000. | $250,000. |
Repatriation of remains | $1 million. | $500,000. | $250,000. |
Waiver of pre-existing conditions exclusion | 14 days. | 14 days. | 14 days. |
Pre-existing medical condition look-back period | 60 days. | 60 days. | 60 days. |
Maximum trip length | 90 days. | 90 days. | 90 days. |
The most notable differences between plans are in overall coverage strength. Limits increase significantly from the Bronze plan to the Gold plan, particularly for baggage and personal effects, emergency medical expenses, and medical evacuation and repatriation.
Trip interruption and trip delay reimbursement also increase at higher tiers. Travelers taking more expensive trips who want higher coverage limits across the board may find the Silver or Gold plans worthwhile.
Add-ons
These optional upgrades are offered on all three plans:
- Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR): Reimburses a certain percentage of nonrefundable trip costs for cancellations outside the standard covered reasons. To qualify, all nonrefundable trip costs must be insured, the policy must be purchased within 14 days of the initial trip payment or deposit, and the cancellation must occur no less than two days before the scheduled departure date. This add-on is not available to residents of New York.
- Rental car collision: Provides excess/secondary coverage of $50,000 for damage to a rental car.
- Accidental death and dismemberment (air only): Travelers can choose a benefit amount of $300,000 or $500,000, payable if accidental death or dismemberment occurs during air travel.
» Learn more: You might not need rental car insurance
What’s not covered by a John Hancock plan
All three of John Hancock’s policies are fairly comprehensive, but there are a few things they will not cover.
- Dental treatment, except as a result of an accidental injury to sound natural teeth or emergency dental treatment for relief of pain.
- Claims arising from being under the influence of drugs or intoxicants.
- Traveling with the purpose of seeking medical treatment.
- Acts of war.
- Loss or damage to eyeglasses or contact lenses.
- Any damage arising from intentional acts of self-harm.
How much is John Hancock travel insurance?
To price John Hancock's plans, we looked at rates for a 45-year-old traveler from Illinois taking a $2,000 one-week trip to Mexico. Here’s how the plan costs compared:
Plan | Cost |
|---|---|
Bronze | $89. |
Silver | $93. |
Gold | $138. |
The Bronze and Silver plans were just $4 apart, making Silver an attractive option for travelers who want higher medical, baggage and delay coverage without paying significantly more. The Gold plan costs noticeably more but offers substantially higher coverage limits across many categories.
How John Hancock compares to competitors
To see how John Hancock compares with other insurers, NerdWallet compiled quotes from multiple providers using the same sample trip to Mexico.
Entry-level plan prices across those providers ranged from $17 to $148. John Hancock's Bronze plan was $89, which is on the pricier end. However, it's worth checking what each plan actually covers because cheaper options often come with reduced benefit limits and reimbursement amounts.
Company | Star rating | Basic plan cost | Premium plan cost | Generate a quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
AAA | $101. | $146. | ||
AEGIS (GoReady) Travel Insurance | $69. | $84.72. | ||
Allianz Global Assistance | $89. | $174. | ||
Arch RoamRight | $103. | $121. | ||
AXA Assistance USA | $73.07. | $135.62. | ||
Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection | $52. | $112. | ||
HTH Travel Insurance | $73. | $116.51. | ||
IMG | $74.85. | $114.20. | ||
Seven Corners | $75. | $126. | ||
Tin Leg | $65. | $147. | ||
Travel Guard | $81.06. | $160.13. | ||
Travel Insured International | $74. | $162. | ||
Trawick International | $55.84. | $88.94. | ||
USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services | $148.20. | $214.20. | ||
World Nomads | $83.60. | $256.50. | ||
WorldTrips | $71. | $91. | ||
These star ratings are based on a separate analysis of each travel insurance provider’s offerings. For more detailed scoring, see our recommendations for the best travel insurance companies, read each individual provider's NerdWallet review or view our methodology at the end of this article. Pricing is subject to change based on your specific trip details. You can verify the latest price by clicking through to Squaremouth (a NerdWallet partner). | ||||
Which John Hancock plan is best for me?
Travelers taking lower-cost trips may find the Bronze plan sufficient, especially if they primarily want basic trip cancellation and medical protection. The Silver plan may offer the best balance of price and coverage since it increases medical, baggage and trip delay benefits while costing only slightly more than Bronze in our sample quote.
The Gold plan is best suited for travelers taking expensive trips or those who want the highest available coverage limits, particularly for emergency medical expenses and medical evacuation. This plan may be a good fit for travelers booking costly vacations, such as a multiweek African safari during peak season or a luxury cruise, where the value of the trip alone could exceed the trip cancellation limits of the lower-tier plans.
It's also worth noting that many travel credit cards offer travel insurance benefits. If you carry one of these cards, review your existing coverage before purchasing a policy so you don’t pay for protection you may already have.
» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now
Does John Hancock offer 24/7 travel assistance?
John Hancock travel insurance plans include 24/7 assistance services. Travelers can receive help accessing translation services, coordinating emergency medical evacuations and more.
While traveling, in the U.S. call 1-833-322-1237 and internationally 1-819-566-0612.
How to file a claim with John Hancock travel insurance
Claims can be filed online through John Hancock’s claims portal. Travelers who have questions about the claims process or need a claim form can contact claims support by phone at 1-866-511-9104 or by email at [email protected]. Claims support is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.
John Hancock’s website also provides guidance outlining the documentation required for different types of claims, such as trip cancellation, baggage loss, medical expenses and rental car damage. Depending on your claim, you may need documents such as your travel itinerary, proof of payment, receipts, medical records or documentation of a cancellation or delay.
Is John Hancock travel insurance worth it?
John Hancock may be a good option for travelers looking for comprehensive travel insurance with three coverage levels. All plans include a broad range of core protections, and the ability to add CFAR coverage to any plan provides additional flexibility.
The insurer also stands out by covering airline ticket change fees for covered events and reimbursing eligible airline and hotel loyalty program redeposit fees if you need to cancel an award booking, making it a solid option for travelers who frequently redeem points and miles.
Travelers planning expensive vacations may find the Gold plan’s higher coverage limits worthwhile, since it covers trips costing up to $100,000. However, because John Hancock’s plans are generally more expensive than many competitors, travelers taking less expensive trips may want to compare quotes from other insurers before purchasing a policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does John Hancock cover flight cancellation?
Yes. If you need to cancel your flight for a covered reason, John Hancock’s plans can reimburse your prepaid, nonrefundable flight costs through the trip cancellation benefit. Travelers also can add optional CFAR coverage for greater flexibility when canceling a flight.
How long does a John Hancock refund take?
John Hancock doesn’t specify how long it takes to process a claim. Processing times may vary depending on the complexity of the claim and how quickly all required documentation is received.
Is John Hancock travel insurance primary or secondary?
All John Hancock travel insurance plans include primary emergency accident and sickness medical coverage. This means eligible medical claims are submitted to the travel insurer first rather than your health insurance provider.
Does John Hancock cover COVID?
Yes. John Hancock’s travel insurance plans include coverage for certain COVID-19-related events when they meet the terms of the policy, such as covered trip cancellations or medical expenses resulting from a COVID-19 illness. As with any travel insurance policy, coverage depends on the specific circumstances and the terms and exclusions of 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 2026:
- Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
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