Emergency Medical Claims Overtake Trip Cancellation as Top Travel Insurance Risk

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Emergency medical claims became the most common travel insurance payout in 2024, ahead of trip cancellation for the first time in more than 10 years. Squaremouth's annual claims report, based on Tin Leg claims data, puts emergency medical at 27% of paid claims in 2024, compared with 26% for trip cancellation and 15% for travel delay.

The average emergency medical payout reached $1,654 in 2024, a 117% increase from $764 in 2022. Squaremouth's data also shows the average payout across all claim types rose 37% in a single year, from $1,900 in 2023 to $2,609 in 2024.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS
  • Emergency medical became the No. 1 travel insurance claim in 2024 at 27% of paid claims in Squaremouth's Tin Leg data, ahead of trip cancellation at 26% for the first time in more than 10 years.
  • Average emergency medical payouts rose 117% in two years, from $764 in 2022 to $1,654 in 2024. Overall claim payouts jumped 37% year over year from $1,900 to $2,609.
  • A 65-year-old pays about $394 for travel insurance on a $5,000 trip, roughly double the $201 a 30-year-old pays. Destination can add as much as 45% to premiums: Morocco costs $290 versus $200 for Canada.
  • Medical evacuation averaged $17,086 per claim in 2024; the highest evacuation claim that year was $33,640. Squaremouth's highest evacuation claim in the 2022 to 2024 data was $223,101, recorded in 2022. Basic plans with $15,000 to $25,000 in medical coverage fall short of serious emergencies.
  • Overall travel insurance payouts rose 37% year over year to $2,609 per claim in 2024, based on Squaremouth, USTIA, Battleface and DOT data.

A basic plan with $25,000 in medical coverage wouldn't have fully covered Squaremouth's highest 2024 emergency medical claim of $61,976. A serious medical evacuation can push total costs past $200,000, above the ceiling on many basic plans.

Line chart showing emergency medical claims rose from 21.73% to 27% of paid travel insurance claims from 2022 to 2024, overtaking trip cancellation

How Emergency Medical Claims Took Over the No. 1 Spot

Emergency medical claims climbed from second place in 2022 to the top of Squaremouth's travel insurance claims breakdown in 2024. Travel delay claims fell over that period, and emergency medical payouts grew faster than any other category.

In 2022, travel delay led all claim types at 24.69%, and emergency medical ranked second at 21.73%; the average emergency medical payout that year was $764. By 2023, trip cancellation moved to first at 25% and emergency medical held second at 24%. Average payouts for emergency medical that year were $1,456. By 2024, emergency medical reached 27% of paid claims, ahead of trip cancellation at 26%.

Claim Types and Average Payouts

Squaremouth's 2022 to 2024 Tin Leg data shows emergency medical, trip cancellation and travel delay account for the largest share of paid claims. Emergency medical and trip cancellation also produced the highest average payouts among common claim types.

Medical evacuation
0.22%
$82,896
<1%
$10,839
<1%
$17,086
Cancel for any reason
2.09%
$1,592
6%
$2,111
6%
$2,092
Missed connection
3.90%
$282
9%
$472
10%
$395
Baggage loss
4.91%
$272
5%
$208
4%
$174
Baggage delay
4.98%
$213
4%
$208
4%
$210
Trip interruption
18.48%
$1,992
13%
$2,783
11%
$2,631
Trip cancellation
18.99%
$6,448
25%
$4,854
26%
$1,456
Emergency medical
21.73%
$764
24%
$1,456
27%
$1,654
Travel delay
24.69%
$610
14%
$474
15%
$370

The 2024 trip cancellation average of $1,456 is roughly 70% below the $4,854 average in 2023. Trip cancellation payouts swing year over year based on the mix of cancellation reasons and the cost of trips in the pool. A year with more partial cancellations or lower-value trips will produce a lower average even as the share of claims rises.

Evacuation claims make up less than 1% of all cases, so a small number of high-cost air ambulance transports can shift the average from year to year. Several large evacuations pushed the 2022 average to $82,896, including one that exceeded $223,000.

Trip cancellation's share rose from 18.99% in 2022 to 26% in 2024 but moved only from 25% to 26% between 2023 and 2024. Travel delay fell from 24.69% to 15% as airline disruptions eased after 2022. Squaremouth's data shows total paid claims volume grew 18% in 2024, and most of that increase came from medical-related categories.

Why Travel Insurance Payouts Are Rising

Travel insurance payouts are climbing because trip values have grown and the claims mix has shifted from flight disruptions toward medical emergencies. More travelers are also adding medical coverage, which has raised both premiums and total payout volume.

    travelProtection icon
    Higher Trip Values Mean Bigger Claims

    USTIA reported that total trip value protected by travel insurance grew from $49 billion in 2019 to $68 billion in 2024, a 39% increase. Bigger insured amounts mean larger payouts when trips are canceled or cut short.

    Battleface's 2025 trends report put the average trip cost per insured traveler at $3,902, up 3.4% from the prior year. Squaremouth's data shows the average claim payout jumped 37% from $1,900 in 2023 to $2,609 in 2024, and emergency medical payouts rose 14% year over year, from $1,456 to $1,654.

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    More Travelers Are Buying Medical Coverage

    Battleface found medical insurance attachment rates jumped from 73.5% to 80.8% between April and June 2025 compared with the same period in 2024, a 7.3-percentage-point increase.

    Battleface's data also shows the average premium per insured traveler rose 8.6% to $124. The bundle combining medical, trip interruption, delay and baggage coverage grew 369%, the fastest-growing coverage combination in the company's data. U.S. travelers spent $5.56 billion on travel insurance in 2024, up 46% from 2019. USTIA's data shows 87 million people were covered by 55 million plans that year.

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    Flight Disruptions Are Down, but Medical Claims Are a Larger Share of Payouts

    DOT data puts the flight cancellation rate at 1.4% in 2024, up from 1.3% in 2023 but near historic lows. Travel delay claims through Squaremouth dropped in step, from 24.69% in 2022 to 15% in 2024.

    Emergency medical moved the opposite direction over the same period, from 21.73% to 27% of paid claims. Tarmac delays did increase 51% on domestic flights in 2024, but the average cost per delay claim was $370, a fraction of the $1,654 average emergency medical payout. Operational disruptions now account for a smaller share of total payouts than medical events do.

How Much Does Travel Medical Coverage Cost by Age?

A 30-year-old pays an average of $201 for travel insurance on a $5,000 trip. A 65-year-old pays $394, roughly double. MoneyGeek gathered more than 1,500 quotes from 13 insurers at September 2025 premium rates.

Average Cost by Age for a $5,000 Trip

20
$197
3.9%
Baseline
30
$201
4%
+2%
40
$205
4.1%
+4%
50
$213
4.3%
+8%
65
$394
7.9%
+100%
75
$552
11%
+180%

Premiums change little from age 20 to 50; the increase over that span is just 2% to 8%. At 65, costs double. By 75, a traveler pays $552, 180% above the age-20 baseline. Older travelers file medical claims more often and at a higher cost, which drives the higher pricing.

Coverage limits and pricing vary by plan tier. Tin Leg Basic offers $50,000 in emergency medical coverage for $65 for travelers aged 20 to 50. Tin Leg Gold offers $500,000 for $229 in the same age range. The $164 premium difference buys 10 times more medical coverage.

Plan Limits and Pricing

Travel Guard Essential
$15,000
$150,000
$115
$230
Travelex Essential
$25,000
$200,000
$115
$230
Tin Leg Basic
$50,000
$200,000
$65
$130
World Nomads Standard
$100,000
$500,000
$167
$167
Nationwide Prime
$150,000
$1 million
$152
$304
Travel Insured Deluxe
$250,000
$500,000
$229
$458
Tin Leg Gold
$500,000
$500,000
$229
$458

World Nomads Standard charges a flat $167 regardless of age. Nationwide Prime pairs $150,000 in medical coverage with $1,000,000 in evacuation coverage at $152.

MoneyGeek's comparison of comprehensive vs. basic travel insurance covers the full breakdown of plan tier differences.

How Destination Affects Emergency Medical Risk and Premium

Travel insurance for a $5,000 trip to Morocco costs about $290, 45% more than the same coverage for Canada at $200. MoneyGeek priced travel insurance across 15 countries using the same trip profile. Western Europe clusters near the Canada baseline; high-risk and medium-risk destinations in South Asia, Latin America and North Africa carry premiums 22% to 45% higher, where limited hospital networks drive up the likelihood of medical evacuation and its cost.

Average Cost by Destination for a $5,000 Trip

Canada
$200
Baseline
Standard
U.K.
$205
+2.5%
Low
France
$208
+4%
Low
Italy
$210
+5%
Low
Spain
$212
+6%
Low
Germany
$215
+7.5%
Low
Japan
$220
+10%
Low
Australia
$225
+12.5%
Low
Thailand
$230
+15%
Low
Greece
$245
+22.5%
Medium
Turkey
$250
+25%
Medium
Mexico
$255
+27.5%
Medium
India
$275
+37.5%
High
Brazil
$285
+42.5%
High
Morocco
$290
+45%
High

India, Brazil and Morocco carry the highest premiums in this sample. Travelers to these destinations pay $75 to $90 more per trip than those going to Canada because medical evacuation and hospital costs are higher in these regions. Medical evacuation alone can run $50,000 to $150,000 without coverage.

Western European destinations like France and Italy stay within 5% of the Canada baseline. Japan and Australia cost 10% to 12.5% more and remain in the low-risk tier. Greece, Turkey and Mexico fall into a middle range; premiums run 22% to 28% above the Canada baseline.

Country-specific premium data for Canada, Mexico and other destinations is available in MoneyGeek's regional travel insurance guides.

Where Coverage Falls Short of Real Emergency Costs

Basic travel insurance plans often cap emergency medical coverage at $15,000 to $50,000; comprehensive plans offer $100,000 to $150,000. Squaremouth's 2024 data shows the average emergency medical claim was $1,654, within the limits of virtually every plan. But the highest single claim that year was $61,976, above the medical cap on many basic policies.

Medical evacuation costs pose the biggest coverage gap. Squaremouth's average evacuation payout in 2024 was $17,086, and the highest evacuation claim in the 2022 to 2024 data was $223,101, recorded in 2022. A basic plan with $200,000 in evacuation coverage wouldn't fully cover that claim. Plans with $150,000 in evacuation would leave more than $73,000 uncovered.

Coverage gaps are widest for travelers over 65 going to high-risk destinations. A 65-year-old pays about $394 for coverage in Canada; add a destination like India, and the premium climbs to around $550, a 38% increase. Basic plans at that price point may offer only $25,000 in medical benefits and $200,000 in evacuation coverage. For travelers under 50, the step up to a comprehensive plan costs about $67 more and raises medical coverage limits from $25,000 to $150,000.

Frequently Asked Questions About Travel Medical Insurance

The questions below address the data points most frequently requested by journalists and researchers covering travel insurance trends.

Is emergency medical the most common travel insurance claim?

How much does a travel medical emergency cost without insurance?

Does regular health insurance cover travelers abroad?

How much does travel medical insurance cost?

Methodology

MoneyGeek analyzed more than 1,500 quotes from 13 travel insurance providers at September 2025 premium rates. Quotes covered a standard $5,000 trip across multiple age groups, destinations and coverage tiers. Average plan-tier prices ($89 basic, $156 comprehensive) and overall trip averages ($204 for a $5,000 trip, $362 for an annual plan) are weighted averages across all 13 insurers in the dataset, not just the seven representative plans shown in the comparison table.

Claims data comes from Squaremouth's annual claims reports for 2022, 2023 and 2024, based on claims processed through Tin Leg, its affiliated travel insurance provider. Market-level data comes from USTIA's 2022 to 2024 study conducted by Willis Towers Watson. Consumer behavior figures come from Battleface's 2025 U.S. trends report, which compared April through June 2025 with the same period in 2024. Flight disruption data is from the DOT Air Travel Consumer Report for full year 2024.

Claims data covers what was filed and paid through Tin Leg, not the total count of medical events among all insured travelers. Tin Leg is one provider within the Squaremouth Group, so these figures represent a subset of the broader market. All pricing reflects the information available at time of analysis; actual premiums depend on trip cost, destination, age, coverage level and purchase timing.

About Myryah Irby

Myryah Irby headshot

Myryah Irby is a writer and data journalist at MoneyGeek. Her work spans original data studies and how-to guides covering auto, home and health insurance, consumer costs, and transportation safety.

Research and Analysis

Since joining MoneyGeek in late 2025, Irby has produced data studies on insurance costs, consumer spending and transportation risk. Her published work includes a 50-state analysis of winter driving danger using fatality and weather severity data; research tracking the relationship between rhodium commodity prices and catalytic converter theft rates, including state-level theft trends and what those rates mean for insurance costs; a state-by-state comparison of winter home heating costs; and an analysis of the full cost of having a baby in America: hospital bills, insurance and out-of-pocket expenses.

Career

Irby has more than 20 years of editorial and writing experience. Since 2005, she has run Irby x Irby, her own editorial and copywriting practice, with clients including The New York Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, OpenAI and the National Park Service. From 2019 to 2023, she served as Senior Managing Editor and then Copywriting Manager at Callisto Media, a nonfiction publisher acquired by Penguin Random House in May 2023, where she led a team of writers and graphic designers.

Before that, she spent nearly 11 years at QuinStreet, a performance marketing company that runs content and comparison sites in insurance and personal finance. She rose from Managing Editor to Senior Managing Editor between 2010 and 2016. Earlier in her career, she edited at Collabrys for nearly four years and tutored doctoral candidates on dissertation writing at the University of San Francisco.

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