Travel insurance premiums typically run between 4% and 10% of total trip cost, but the exact figure depends heavily on traveler age, destination risk, trip duration, coverage level, and which add-ons you select. Senior travelers and high-risk destinations dramatically increase the premium, while young, healthy travelers on standard domestic trips pay the least. Our travel insurance calculator estimates each component separately — base premium, age loading, destination loading, coverage loading, plus medical, cancellation, and adventure add-ons — so you can see exactly what's driving your quote and which add-ons are worth keeping.
Input the total trip cost and duration in days.
Provide the primary traveler's age and the number of people covered.
Select the destination risk and coverage level.
Choose whether to include medical, cancellation, and adventure coverage.
See the per-traveler and total premium plus the percentage of trip cost.
The base premium is 5% of trip cost — the industry midpoint. Age loading reflects the dramatic increase in medical risk for older travelers. Destination loading captures geopolitical, healthcare, and evacuation risks. Coverage level lets you trade premium against benefit limits. Medical, cancellation, and adventure add-ons are optional but highly recommended for international or high-risk travel.
Premium = Base × (1 + Age Mul + Dest Mul + Coverage Mul) + Add-ons
Travel insurance should be 4-10% of trip cost — anything outside this range deserves scrutiny
Buy within 14-21 days of your initial trip deposit to qualify for pre-existing condition waivers
Senior travelers (65+) pay 75-150% more — get quotes from senior specialists
Trip cancellation is the most claimed benefit — usually worth including for non-refundable trips
Medical evacuation is the most expensive thing not to have — minimum $50,000 coverage for international travel
If you have credit card travel insurance, check what's actually covered before buying separately
Annual multi-trip plans are cheaper than single-trip if you travel 3+ times per year
Travel insurance protects against financial losses from trip cancellations, medical emergencies abroad, lost luggage, and travel delays — risks that affect millions of travelers annually. According to the US Travel Insurance Association, claim payouts exceeded $1.8 billion in 2023, with medical evacuations averaging $25,000-$250,000 depending on location and condition. Premiums typically range from 4% to 10% of total trip cost, influenced by traveler age, destination, trip duration, coverage limits, and pre-existing medical conditions. A $5,000 trip for a healthy 35-year-old might cost $200-$350 to insure, while the same trip for a 70-year-old could be $500-$800. The most critical coverage for international travelers is emergency medical — standard US health insurance, including Medicare, provides little or no coverage abroad, and a hospital stay in Europe or Asia can cost $10,000-$50,000 out of pocket. Trip cancellation coverage typically reimburses 100% of non-refundable costs if you cancel for a covered reason (illness, injury, death in family, natural disaster), while "cancel for any reason" (CFAR) upgrades reimburse 50-75% regardless of cause but add 40-60% to premium cost. Evaluating whether travel insurance is worthwhile depends on your trip cost, health status, destination risk, and tolerance for financial loss.
Travel insurance pricing reflects three main risks:
A 30-year-old taking a $1,500 domestic trip might pay $50; a 70-year-old taking a $10,000 international cruise might pay $1,200. Both are correctly priced for their respective risks.
This is an estimator for typical retail policies. It does not capture:
Use the result as a budgeting baseline and get actual quotes from at least 3 providers before buying.
Travel insurance bundles several protections:
The US Travel Insurance Association notes coverage and exclusions vary widely by plan. The two most financially important benefits are trip cancellation (for expensive prepaid trips) and emergency medical/evacuation (for international travel where US health insurance often doesn't apply).
Plans come in types:
Coverage tiers range from basic trip-cancellation to comprehensive plans with high medical and evacuation limits. The US State Department recommends travelers verify medical and evacuation coverage for international trips specifically. Choose the type by trip frequency, cost, destination, and the risks you most want to protect against.
Travel insurance typically costs roughly 4-10% of the total prepaid trip cost, driven by traveler age, trip length and cost, destination, and coverage level (especially medical/evacuation limits and any Cancel For Any Reason add-on).
Older travelers and higher medical limits raise the price. Because pricing is tied to trip cost and age, the same coverage varies a lot between travelers — comparing quotes across insurers is worthwhile.
Travel insurance makes the most sense for:
The US State Department strongly advises medical and evacuation coverage abroad. For a cheap, refundable domestic trip, it may be unnecessary. Weigh the non-refundable amount at risk against the premium.
Most US health plans (and Medicare) provide little or no coverage overseas, so travel medical insurance fills the gap for illness or injury abroad.
Emergency medical evacuation — transport to adequate care or home — can cost tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket, which is why the US State Department highlights it as essential for international and remote travel. Check the policy's medical and evacuation limits, not just that they exist.
Standard trip-cancellation covers only listed reasons (illness, injury, death, certain emergencies).
Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) is an optional upgrade letting you cancel for reasons not otherwise covered, typically reimbursing 50-75% and requiring purchase soon after booking. The US Travel Insurance Association notes CFAR costs more but adds flexibility.
Read the covered-reasons list carefully; without CFAR, many cancellations aren't reimbursed.
Common exclusions include:
The US State Department advises reading exclusions closely. Buying soon after your initial trip deposit often unlocks a pre-existing-condition waiver — a key detail many travelers miss.
Compare plans on the benefits that matter for your trip:
Buy soon after booking to preserve waivers, and read the exclusions. The US Travel Insurance Association suggests comparing several insurers, since coverage and price differ. Match the policy to your trip's specific risks.
Frequent mistakes include:
Buy early, prioritize adequate medical and evacuation coverage internationally, confirm what's excluded, and add CFAR if your plans might change. Match coverage to the trip, not just the lowest premium.
Data sourced from trusted institutions
All formulas verified against official standards.