The insurance companies and plans below serve U.S. travelers who need protection against trip cancellations, medical emergencies, and weather disruptions.
Best Travel Insurance for Domestic Trips
Domestic travel insurance protects U.S. trips with coverage for cancellations, medical emergencies and weather delays. Premiums start at $81 for families.Â
Compare the best plans for travelers with limited health coverage below.
Updated: January 5, 2026
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Key Takeaways
Travel Guard Essential ranks best overall at $88 for a five-day family trip, with $50,000 medical coverage and $500,000 evacuation protection for travelers with high-deductible health plans.
Domestic travel insurance costs 30% to 50% less than international coverage because medical risks decrease within the U.S., with premiums ranging from $81 to $268 for comprehensive family plans.
You need domestic travel insurance when you have poor health coverage, nonrefundable trip costs above $2,000 or travel during hurricane season. Skip it if you have comprehensive employer insurance and refundable bookings.
Best Domestic Travel Insurance Companies
1 | Travel Guard Essential | 91/100 | Overall domestic coverage | $88 |
2 | BHTP ExactCare Value | 91/100 | Budget-conscious travelers | $81 |
3 | Allianz OneTrip Prime | 92/100 | Medical coverage | $268 |
Best Overall
Travel Guard
MoneyGeek Score: 91/100
Travel Guard Essential provides $50,000 in medical coverage and $500,000 evacuation protection for travelers with high-deductible health plans. The coverage protects against unexpected costs when traveling outside your health insurance network.
Key Coverage:
- Essential plan: $88 for a five-day family trip
- Medical: $50,000 | Evacuation: $500,000
- Trip cancellation: 100% of trip cost
- Pre-existing conditions covered when purchased within 10 days
- 24/7 assistance and baggage protection up to $2,500
Best for Budget-Conscious Travelers
BHTP
MoneyGeek Score: 91/100
BHTP ExactCare Value offers the lowest premium for domestic travel while maintaining strong trip cancellation protection. The $81 cost works for domestic trips where medical evacuation risks are lower, letting you prioritize trip protection over extensive medical coverage.
Key Coverage:
- ExactCare Value plan: $81 for a five-day family trip
- Medical: $20,000 (secondary) | Evacuation: $100,000
- Trip cancellation: 100% of trip cost
- Travel delay reimbursement after 12 hours
- Baggage protection up to $500
Best for Medical Coverage
Allianz
MoneyGeek Score: 92/100
Allianz OneTrip Prime provides primary medical coverage essential for domestic travelers with poor health insurance. The plan pays medical claims first, eliminating deductible requirements and coordination hassles with your existing health plan.
Key Coverage:
- Prime plan: $268 for a five-day family trip
- Medical: $50,000 (primary) | Evacuation: $500,000
- Trip cancellation: Up to $100,000 | Interruption: $150,000
- Emergency dental up to $750
- Travel delay coverage with a $200 daily limit
How Much Does Domestic Travel Insurance Cost?
Domestic travel insurance costs 30% to 50% less than international coverage. Premiums for a family of four on a five-day $3,000 trip range from $81 to $268, depending on coverage level. Budget plans cost $80 to $100, mid-tier plans run $100 to $200, and premium plans with expanded medical coverage cost $200 to $400.
BHTP ExactCare Value | $81 | 100% of trip cost | $20,000 | $100,000 | 91 |
BHTP ExactCare | $85 | 100% of trip cost | $30,000 | $200,000 | 90 |
Travel Guard Essential | $88 | 100% of trip cost | $50,000 | $500,000 | 91 |
Travelex Essential | $101 | 100% of trip cost | $25,000 | $250,000 | 87 |
Allianz OneTrip Basic | $102 | Up to $10,000 | $10,000 | $50,000 | 91 |
Travel Insured Deluxe | $108 | 100% of trip cost | $50,000 | $200,000 | 91 |
Travelex Ultimate | $129 | 100% of trip cost | $25,000 | $250,000 | 90 |
Travel Insured Platinum | $144 | 100% of trip cost | $50,000 | $500,000 | 89 |
Travelex Advantage | $152 | 100% of trip cost | $50,000 | $500,000 | 88 |
Travel Guard Preferred | $160 | 100% of trip cost | $50,000 | $500,000 | 93 |
Note: Based on five-day domestic trip with $3,000 trip cost, family of four (two adults ages 35 and 37, two children ages 8 and 10)
Is Travel Insurance Worth It for Domestic Trips?
Domestic travel insurance makes sense in specific situations based on your health coverage and trip characteristics.
- Poor or no health insurance coverage
- High-deductible health plans that don't cover out-of-network care
- Nonrefundable trip costs above $2,000
- Travel during hurricane season or winter storm periods
- Pre-existing medical conditions requiring treatment access
- Remote destinations where medical evacuation may be necessary
- Comprehensive employer health insurance with nationwide coverage
- All trip costs are refundable or covered by credit card benefits
- Weekend trips under $500 with minimal advance bookings
- Strong PPO plan with low deductibles and broad network coverage
- Flexible airline tickets and hotel bookings that allow free changes
What Does Domestic Travel Insurance Cover?
Trip cancellation and interruption reimburse 100% to 150% of nonrefundable costs when you must cancel before departure or cut your trip short due to illness, injury, death of a family member, weather events, or other covered reasons.
Emergency medical coverage pays for doctor visits, hospital stays, and urgent care during your trip. Domestic plans offer $10,000 to $100,000 in medical coverage. Primary coverage pays first, while secondary coverage applies after your health insurance.
Medical evacuation covers transport to appropriate medical facilities when local hospitals can't provide necessary care. Benefits range from $50,000 to $1,000,000. Evacuations from remote areas or during natural disasters can cost tens of thousands without coverage.
Travel delays and baggage protection reimburse $100 to $200 daily for meals and lodging during delays of six to 12 hours. Baggage coverage protects your belongings up to $500 to $2,500 per person.
Rental car damage coverage replaces expensive rental agency insurance as an optional add-on, saving $15 to $30 daily while providing collision and theft protection.
How to Choose Domestic Travel Insurance
- 1Assess your health insurance coverage.
Review your health plan's out-of-network benefits, deductibles and emergency coverage in other states. High-deductible plans or limited out-of-state coverage mean you need travel insurance with primary medical benefits of $50,000 or more.
- 2Calculate total nonrefundable trip costs.
Add up deposits, prepaid hotels, rental cars, event tickets and tours. Choose a policy covering 100% of these costs. Trips under $1,000 may not justify premiums, while trips over $2,000 benefit from protection.
- 3Consider pre-existing condition coverage.
Purchase within 10 to 15 days of your initial trip deposit to qualify for pre-existing condition waivers. Missing this window means your policy won't cover complications from existing health issues.
- 4Compare medical coverage types.
Primary coverage pays first without involving your health insurance. Secondary coverage applies after your health plan pays. High-deductible plans benefit most from primary coverage.
Domestic Travel Insurance: FAQ
Can I buy domestic travel insurance after booking my trip?
You can purchase domestic travel insurance anytime before departure, but buying within 10 to 21 days of your initial trip deposit unlocks important benefits. Early purchase qualifies you for pre-existing condition waivers and cancel-for-any-reason coverage where available. Plans purchased closer to departure exclude pre-existing conditions and may offer reduced trip cancellation benefits. Some providers allow purchase up to 24 hours before departure for basic coverage.
Does domestic travel insurance cover rental car damage?
Most domestic travel insurance policies offer rental car damage coverage as an optional add-on for $9 to $15 daily. This coverage protects against collision damage and theft for rentals up to $35,000 to $50,000 in value. Rental car coverage through travel insurance often costs less than rental agency insurance while providing comparable protection. Note that some states restrict this coverage availability, and luxury vehicles may require separate coverage.
Can I cancel my domestic travel insurance policy for a refund?
Domestic travel insurance includes a free look period of 10 to 14 days after purchase, allowing you to cancel for a full refund if you haven't departed and haven't filed a claim. After the free look period expires, policies become non-refundable. Some providers may offer partial refunds if you cancel well before departure, but this varies by company. Review cancellation terms before purchasing, especially for expensive policies.
How We Chose the Best Domestic Travel Insurance
We gathered quotes from major travel insurance providers for domestic trip scenarios and compared coverage details to identify the best value for travelers with different needs.
Scoring breakdown:
- Cost (40%): Cost evaluation ranks premiums for standard domestic trip scenarios. Lower premiums earn higher scores when coverage remains comparable.
- Coverage (30%): Coverage analysis measures seven key metrics: trip cancellation and interruption limits, emergency medical coverage, medical evacuation benefits, baggage loss protection, baggage delay reimbursement, travel delay coverage, and missed connection benefits. Plans with higher limits and more comprehensive protection score better.
- Claims and service (25%): Claims and service assessment evaluates customer support through two components: access channels (24/7 availability, phone support, claims portal, mobile app, live chat) and digital experience (app ratings and online self-service capabilities).
- Financial stability (5%): Financial stability uses AM Best ratings to assess each company's ability to pay claims. A+ rated companies receive perfect stability scores.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.