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TravelSafe Insurance Review: Is It Worth the Cost?
TravelSafe offers three comprehensive plans, with the highest-tier plan including CFAR coverage.
Elina Geller is a contributing NerdWallet travel writer specializing in airline and hotel loyalty programs and travel insurance. In 2019, Elina founded TheMissMiles, a travel rewards coaching business. Her work has been featured by Forbes and AwardWallet. She is a certified public accountant with degrees from the London School of Economics and Fordham University.
Meghan Coyle is an editor on the Travel Rewards team and the co-host of the Smart Travel podcast. She covers travel credit cards, airline and hotel loyalty programs, and how to travel on points. Meghan is based in Los Angeles and has a love-hate relationship with LAX.
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Covers up to $300 redepositing points and miles on eligible canceled award flights.
Optional add-on protection for business equipment, sports rentals and rental cars.
Cons
Basic plan unavailable for those aged 80 or above.
Choosing travel insurance often means sorting through dozens of plans with subtle differences in coverage. TravelSafe takes a simpler approach by offering three comprehensive plans that become progressively more robust as you move up in coverage. While its higher-tier plans cost more than the Basic option, they also offer substantially higher reimbursement limits and support longer trips. The highest-tier plan also includes Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage, providing additional flexibility if your travel plans change.
In NerdWallet’s sample quote for a $2,000 one-week trip to Mexico for a 45-year-old traveler from Illinois, TravelSafe plans ranged from $77 to $146. Its Basic plan was similarly priced to many of the other providers reviewed by NerdWallet. Here’s what you need to know about TravelSafe’s coverage, pricing and how its plans compare with the competition.
Our Nerdy editorial team aims to be a starting point in your travel insurance research. We default toward transparency and follow a comprehensive methodology for rating and reviewing travel insurance companies. Advertisers and advertising relationships do not influence our ratings. Learn more about our strict editorial guidelines.
TravelSafe travel insurance offerings
TravelSafe offers three comprehensive travel insurance plans: Basic, Classic and Classic Plus. Coverage levels and included benefits vary by plan.
Basic: The most affordable option, providing key benefits such as trip cancellation, trip interruption, travel medical coverage, trip delay, baggage protection and emergency evacuation and repatriation.
Classic: Offers all the benefits of the Basic plan but with higher reimbursement limits and includes protections such as accidental death and dismemberment coverage, political/security evacuation and natural disaster evacuation coverage.
Classic Plus: Provides benefits that are generally similar to those of the Classic plan and includes Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage.
What TravelSafe insurance covers
TravelSafe offers several types of travel insurance protections across its plans, though availability and benefit levels may differ by state.
Trip cancellation: Reimburses unused, prepaid trip expenses if your trip is canceled for a covered reason.
Trip interruption: Reimburses unused, prepaid trip expenses and certain additional transportation costs if your trip is interrupted for a covered reason.
Trip delay: Provides reimbursement for eligible expenses, such as meals, lodging and local transportation, if your trip is delayed for a covered reason.
Luggage insurance: Offers protection and reimbursement if your luggage is delayed, damaged or lost.
Frequent traveler reward insurance: Reimburses the costs for redepositing frequent flyer rewards back into your account if the trip is canceled for a covered reason.
Missed connection insurance: Helps cover the costs of a new flight if you miss your connection.
TravelSafe detailed policy overview
TravelSafe’s plans differ in the benefits they include and the reimbursement amounts they provide. Here’s a look at the three plans and their coverage levels.
Type of coverage
Coverage limits
Trip cancellation
Basic: 100% (up to $10,000). Classic: 100% (up to $100,000). Classic Plus: 100% (up to $40,000).
Trip interruption
Basic: 100% of trip cost. Classic: 150% of trip cost. Classic Plus: 150% of trip cost.
TravelSafe’s plans become considerably more robust as you move from Basic to Classic. For example, emergency medical coverage increases from $35,000 under Basic to $100,000 under Classic and Classic Plus, while medical evacuation coverage rises from $100,000 to $1 million. In addition, while the Basic plan only covers trips of up to 30 days, the Classic and Classic Plus plans protect trips of up to 150 days.
The higher-tier plans also include benefits that aren’t available under the Basic plan, such as accidental death and dismemberment coverage and political or security evacuation and natural disaster evacuation coverage. Notably, although Classic and Classic Plus offer similar benefits, the maximum insured trip cost per person is lower under Classic Plus ($40,000) than under Classic ($100,000). Benefits and optional coverages may also vary by state.
All three plans include a waiver of the pre-existing medical condition exclusion if insurance is purchased within 21 days of the trip payment.
Add-on options
TravelSafe also offers several optional coverages and upgrades that may be available depending on the plan and on your state of residence:
CFAR: Available through the Classic Plus option, this benefit reimburses up to 75% of nonrefundable insured trip costs if you cancel your trip for a reason that isn’t otherwise covered by the policy. If you’re looking for greater flexibility to cancel your trip for any reason, this is an important benefit to consider.
Accidental death and dismemberment (air only): Pays a benefit if you experience a covered accidental death or certain qualifying injuries while traveling on a commercial flight. Travelers can select coverage amounts of up to $500,000 per person.
Rental car damage and theft coverage: Covers eligible losses if your rental vehicle is damaged or stolen during your trip.
Business equipment and sports equipment rental: Helps reimburse the cost of renting replacement business or sports equipment if your belongings are lost, stolen, damaged or delayed while traveling.
TravelSafe’s plans include many common travel insurance protections, but certain events and circumstances are excluded from coverage. Benefits generally won't apply to losses arising from:
Being under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
Storms that were named before coverage was purchased.
Intentional acts of self-harm.
Trips paid for with loyalty points or frequent flyer miles.
How much is TravelSafe travel insurance?
The table below shows prices for TravelSafe’s plans based on NerdWallet’s sample quote for a $2,000 one-week trip to Mexico for a 45-year-old traveler from Illinois.
NerdWallet compared TravelSafe with other travel insurance providers by reviewing quotes for the same sample trip to Mexico across multiple insurers.
Among the providers reviewed, prices for entry-level plans ranged from $17 to $148. TravelSafe’s Basic plan cost $77. Although some providers were less expensive, it’s important to consider benefit limits and coverage levels, as lower-priced policies may provide fewer benefits and lower reimbursement amounts.
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 TravelSafe travel insurance plan is best for me?
TravelSafe’s plans are relatively easy to compare because they share many of the same core benefits. The primary differences are the coverage amounts and the inclusion of CFAR insurance under the Classic Plus plan.
Travelers looking for a lower-cost option may find Basic sufficient, while those seeking higher reimbursement limits for benefits such as emergency medical coverage, medical evacuation and trip interruption may prefer Classic or Classic Plus. Those who want the flexibility to cancel a trip for reasons not otherwise covered by the policy should consider Classic Plus, which includes CFAR.
Before selecting a plan, check whether any of your credit cards already provide travel protections. Many credit cards include benefits such as trip cancellation, trip interruption, baggage delay and rental car coverage. Understanding what is already available to you can help you decide whether paying for additional coverage makes sense. If the existing coverage on your credit card already meets your needs, you may find that purchasing standalone travel medical insurance is sufficient, since this type of coverage generally isn’t included as part of credit card travel insurance.
Does TravelSafe offer 24/7 travel assistance?
Yes. TravelSafe plans include access to 24-hour emergency travel assistance through On Call International.
Available services include physician referrals, prescription assistance, emergency cash transfers, medical consultation and monitoring, emergency evacuation arrangements, repatriation assistance and legal assistance.
Travelers can contact On Call International at:
Toll-free: 866-509-7713.
Collect: 603-952-2047.
How to file a claim with TravelSafe travel insurance
To file a claim with TravelSafe, you can submit your claim online, by phone or by email through the company’s claims administrator, Co-Ordinated Benefit Plans.
When filing a claim, you’ll need to provide information about the covered event and any related expenses. Supporting documentation will vary by claim type, but it’s generally helpful to keep receipts, booking confirmations, medical records and other records that substantiate your loss.
TravelSafe may be worth considering for travelers who want comprehensive travel insurance without having to sort through a large number of plan options. Its three plans include core protections such as trip cancellation, trip interruption, emergency medical coverage, medical evacuation and baggage benefits, with higher-tier plans offering increased coverage limits.
Travelers planning longer trips may also prefer Classic or Classic Plus, which support longer trips and provide higher reimbursement limits than Basic. Those who want the flexibility to cancel a trip for reasons not otherwise covered by the policy may also find value in the Classic Plus plan, which includes CFAR.
While TravelSafe isn’t the least expensive provider reviewed by NerdWallet, travelers planning longer trips, seeking higher coverage limits or wanting CFAR coverage may find the additional cost worthwhile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does TravelSafe cover flight cancellation?Does TravelSafe cover flight cancellation?
Yes, TravelSafe plans provide coverage for flight cancellations through their trip cancellation and trip interruption benefits, as long as the cancellation is due to a covered reason. Travelers who want the flexibility to cancel a trip for reasons not otherwise covered by the policy should consider the Classic Plus plan, which includes CFAR coverage.
How long does a TravelSafe refund take?How long does a TravelSafe refund take?
TravelSafe does not publish a timeline for claim processing. The speed of a claim may depend on factors such as the type of claim and whether all required documentation is submitted promptly.
Is TravelSafe travel insurance primary or secondary?Is TravelSafe travel insurance primary or secondary?
TravelSafe travel insurance is primary, meaning eligible benefits are paid regardless of other insurance coverage you may have.
Does TravelSafe cover COVID-19?Does TravelSafe cover COVID-19?
Yes, TravelSafe says it treats COVID-19 the same as any other sickness.
Star rating methodology
Travel insurance rating and review methodologyTravel insurance rating and review methodology
Travel insurance
NerdWallet's ratings for travel insurance companies take into account the following details about each insurer:
Cost and affordability.
Scope of coverage.
Consumer experience.
Customizability.
The best travel insurers excel in all of these categories. They provide the information people need to make a purchase without any surprises along the way. They offer insurance at a fair price and allow customers to customize plans to meet their coverage preferences. They're also able to keep their customers happy throughout the relationship.
Data collection and review process
NerdWallet collects over a dozen data points for each insurer we analyze from their public-facing websites and third-party analyses. These data points are then compared against one another and against NerdWallet's standards for good travel insurance companies to determine a star rating.
Data is collected on a regular basis and reviewed by our editorial team for consistency and accuracy. Final star ratings are presented on a scale of one to five stars, where a one-star score represents "poor" and a five-star score represents "excellent."
The reviews team
The writers and editors behind NerdWallet's travel insurance reviews are insurance specialists who have had their work featured by or appear in The Associated Press, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Bloomberg News, U.S. News & World Report and The Wall Street Journal. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet’s strict guidelines for editorial independence.
In addition to travel insurance, the team covers travel rewards programs, airlines and hotels.
Rating specifics
Our star ratings are weighted based on our editorial and professional opinions. We use the following weightings when rating travel insurers:
Cost and affordability (35%).
Scope of coverage (35%).
Consumer experience (20%).
Customizability (10%).
Cost and affordability ratings are based on the percentage of total trip cost a plan costs a policyholder. Less than 4% is considered excellent, whereas over 9% is considered poor.
Scope of coverage ratings are based on assessments of a company’s standard protections, including:
Travel medical insurance.
Trip cancellation.
Trip interruption.
Trip delay.
Baggage and personal belongings, lost luggage.
Emergency medical assistance.
Emergency medical evacuation.
Emergency medical repatriation.
Accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
Rental car coverage.
Consumer experience ratings are based on provider reviews on Squaremouth and TrustPilot.
Customizability ratings factor in whether coverage limits are fixed prices or a percentage of the trip cost (the percentage is generally better), whether a policy has customizations available, and the number of bonus features, including: