Do you REALLY need travel insurance to cover your trips?? I never thought so. In all my years travelling the world for business and pleasure, I was lucky enough to experience very few cancellations or trip delays, so I never bought it. Now, after having to cancel our two-week trip to Nice, France earlier this year because of my brain tumor surgeries in January, I am reconsidering if I need to protect our trips from now on. So, I am doing the research for myself but thought I would put together a post with the details to help others who might also be wondering if they need travel insurance. We are headed to Paris in December to see the holiday lights and do a little Christmas shopping. While we have enjoyed Paris many times, we have never experienced the holiday spirit there. Oh là là!
When I booked our flights through La Compagnie to Nice in 2025 to travel in April 2026, I did not purchase the option that included free cancellations/rebooking. This all-business-class flight has just 80 full flat-bed seats and serves gourmet French cuisine. It is a wonderful experience, flying out of Newark to Paris, Milan and seasonally to Nice. Even though I knew I hadn’t purchased the refundable tickets, it was a sizable chunk of money, so after my surgeries when I knew I couldn’t travel for months during my recovery, I reached out to their customer service and, after getting a note from my wonderfully supportive surgeon stating I could not travel for the trip dates booked, the airline kindly gave us a credit for the ticket prices. They didn’t have to do that at all, so I really appreciated the consideration. Now, we are off to use that credit before it expires at the end of the year.
This time I was considering buying trip insurance especially with my medical issues and the fact that my primary Medicare insurance doesn’t cover me in Europe. However, I did discover that my supplemental policy, Plan G, does cover me for emergency medical care outside the US up to 80% after a $250 deductible, with a $50,000 lifetime cap. Tip of the hat to my sister who clued me in on this!
There are many companies offering trip insurance covering medical care if you do determine you need it. Below are the top ones I could find online. Most sites offer immediate quotes based on the following trip details:
- Destination
- Trip cost
- Dates
- Age of travelers (the cost goes up the older you are!)
- Whether you want CFAR (Cover For Any Reason)
- Any medical concerns or pre‑existing conditions (they may not cover you if you have these and I definitely do)
The policy costs vary based on the above factors. To give you an idea, to cover Thom and I through Allianz for a $10,000 trip, it was $1,000 and didn’t cover medical expenses for any pre-existing conditions, which is not ideal for me with my medical history. The cheapest quote I got was from Travelex and it was $600. Here are some more details if you want to look into this option:
Travelex • Best For: Overall value • Medical Coverage: Up to ~$50K • CFAR*: Yes • Notes: Fast claims; top overall ratings
Allianz • Best For: Families & groups • Medical Coverage: Up to ~$25K • CFAR: Limited • Notes: Great annual plans
Seven Corners • Best For: Cancellation flexibility • Medical Coverage: Up to ~$250K • CFAR: Yes • Notes: Strong international coverage
Berkshire Hathaway • Best For: Budget + fast claims • Medical Coverage: Varies • CFAR: No • Notes: Very affordable
Trawick International • Best For: Cheapest • Medical Coverage: Moderate–High • CFAR: Some plans • Notes: Best budget pick • Link: Best Travel Insurance for 2026 | Trawick International
Faye • Best For: App-based claims • Medical Coverage: Up to ~$100K • CFAR: Yes • Notes: Modern digital experience
*Cover For Any Reason, which means you don’t have to have a specific reason, i.e. illness, death, etc. to cancel and get reimbursed. Having this feature is the best coverage possible because having CFAR coverage gives you the flexibility to easily cancel your trip for any given reason, even if it’s not listed in the standard policy. For instance, you could decide not to go anymore just because you don’t feel like it. However, it’s good to know that reimbursement for CFAR claims is usually around 75% of the total cost of your trip, not the full 100% like with the typical trip cancellation coverage.
I had originally thought that my Marriott Bonvoy AMEX, that I had used to book our Nice trip included trip protection, but it only had trip delay coverage. I was lucky that the ARBNB that we had booked (overlooking the ocean in Nice-sigh!) had a great cancel policy so I got all my money back from that. I had got burned in the past with a trip cancel on an ARBNB in NYC when Thom had heart surgery and we had to cancel, so ever since I have looked to only rent properties that you can cancel right before the trip with no fees. Now, most ARBNB properties don’t offer that flexibility, so it does make finding the right place harder for sure. If you book hotels, you usually can cancel days before the trip depending on if you book through a third-party online like Hotels.com or directly with the hotel. Check all the cancel policies before you book a trip!
After crowd sourcing opinions on travel insurance through the travel community on Threads, some nice person suggested I get a credit card that offers travel protection, so I researched that option too. If you do plan on travelling often, getting a credit card that gives you trip protection AND lounge access is very nice but these cards charge higher fees. I don’t think we will be travelling much going forward so I probably don’t need that feature though in the past I did love those lounges!
Final decision for me: I believe the Chase Sapphire Preferred card would offer the best protection for the price of $95 annual fee, especially since my Plan G medical insurance covers emergency treatment outside the US. This card has the emergency medical evacuation coverage that my Plan G doesn’t cover. Between the Chase card and my Plan G medical insurance, I feel like we will be well covered for our trip to Paris. Because I am SO ready to travel again. Paris, here we come!
CREDIT CARD OPTIONS OUT THERE:
Chase Sapphire Reserve • Max Cancellation: $10k/person • Annual Fee: $550 • Best For: Frequent travelers • Lounge Access: Priority Pass • Notes: Best overall protection
Chase Sapphire Preferred • Max Cancellation: $5k/trip • Annual Fee: $95 • Best For: Most travelers • Lounge Access: None • Notes: Great value
Venture X • Max Cancellation: $2k/person • Annual Fee: $395 • Best For: Occasional travelers • Lounge Access: Capital One + Priority Pass + Plaza Premium • Notes: Best mid‑tier
Amex Platinum • Max Cancellation: $10k/trip • Annual Fee: $695 • Best For: Premium travel • Lounge Access: Centurion + Sky Club + PP + Plaza Premium • Notes: Must book round trip; best lounges
Altitude Reserve • Max Cancellation: $2k/trip • Annual Fee: $400 • Best For: Domestic travel • Lounge Access: Priority Pass • Notes: Good for domestic travel
Note: special offers often change the annual fees
CHASE SAPPHIRE PREFERRED TRIP PROTECTION:
Auto Rental Coverage Decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card. Coverage is primary and provides reimbursement up to $60,000 for theft and collision damage for most rental vehicles with an MSRP of $125,000 or less.
Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance If your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather or other covered situations, you can be reimbursed up to $10,000 per covered traveler and $20,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses, including passenger fares, tours, and hotels.
Trip Delay Reimbursement If your common carrier travel is delayed more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay, you are covered for unreimbursed expenses, such as meals and lodging, up to $500 per covered traveler.
Travel Accident Insurance When you pay for your air, bus, train or cruise transportation with your card, you are eligible to receive up to $500,000 in accidental death or d
Lost Luggage Reimbursement Provides reimbursement up to $3,000 per covered traveler for the cost to repair or replace checked or carry-on baggage that is lost, damaged or stolen during a covered trip.
Baggage Delay Insurance Reimburses you up to $100 a day for up to 5 days for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing when baggage is delayed over 6 hours.
Emergency Evacuation and Transportation If you or a covered traveler are injured or become sick during a trip 100 miles or more from home that results in an emergency evacuation, you can be covered for medical services and transportation up to $100,000.
Travel and Emergency Assistance If you run into a problem while traveling away from home, this benefit provides legal and medical referrals and access to other travel and emergency assistance services. (You will be responsible for the cost of any goods or services obtained.)
Roadside Assistance If you have a roadside emergency, call the service provider to dispatch the help you need. Roadside service fees will be billed to your card at time of dispatch.
Fraud Protection Get fraud protection all day, every day.
Zero Liability Protection You won’t be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
Fraud Alerts Round-the-clock, real-time monitoring for unusual account activity.
Purchase Protection Covers your eligible new purchases for 120 days from the date of purchase against damage or theft up to $500 per item.
Extended Warranty Protection Extends the time period of the manufacturer’s U.S. warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less, up to four years from the date of purchase.
Chip-Enabled Protection Enjoy enhanced security and wider acceptance when you make purchases at chip-enabled card readers in the U.S. and abroad.
Card features that are good for travelers:
- $0 foreign transaction fees
- No blackout dates or travel restrictions
You get 100,000 points (special offer that may change) when you get the card and they can be transferred to the following travel programs:
- Aer Lingus
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- British Airways Executive Club
- Flying Blue AIR FRANCE KLM
- Iberia Plus
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- Singapore Airlines
- Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards®
- United MileagePlus®
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- IHG® Rewards Club
- Marriott Bonvoy™
- World of Hyatt®
- Wyndham Rewards®
Travels with Melinda 