Travelex ranks 11th among 13 travel insurance companies with an 88 score. It provides strong customer service (99 out of 100) but costs more than top competitors. Founded in 1996 and underwritten by Zurich American Insurance Company (A+ AM Best rating), Travelex operates as part of Cover-More Group across 15 countries.
Travelex Travel Insurance Review
Travelex earned an 88 overall score with the second-highest customer service rating (99 out of 100) among 13 travel insurers. It offers three plans at higher costs than competitors.
Find out if you should buy travel insurance from Travelex.
Updated: September 18, 2026
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Key Takeaways
Travelex ranks 11th for affordability but second for customer service with 24/7 assistance through phone and mobile app.
Only the Ultimate plan covers pre-existing conditions (when purchased within 21 days of initial deposit) and offers optional cancel-for-any-reason (CFAR) coverage.
No annual multi-trip plans available, so frequent travelers must purchase separate policies for each trip.
Travelex Pros and Cons
- Excellent customer service: Earned a 99 out of 100 service score with around-the-clock assistance and responsive claims support
- Backed by Zurich: Underwritten by Zurich American Insurance Company with an AM Best A+ rating
- Primary medical coverage: All plans pay first without requiring coordination with domestic health insurance
- Higher premiums: A cost score of 81 ranks 11th among 13 companies
- No annual plans: Frequent travelers must purchase separate single-trip policies
- Limited pre-existing condition coverage: Only the Ultimate plan covers pre-existing conditions
Travelex Travel Insurance Plans and Features
Travelex's three single-trip plans expand in coverage at each tier. Essential limits trip cancellation to $10,000, Advantage eliminates that dollar cap entirely and Ultimate increases medical coverage and introduces pre-existing condition waivers.
Trip Cancellation | 100% ($10,000 max) | 100% | 100% |
Trip Interruption | 100% ($10,000 max) | 100% (full) | 150% |
Emergency Medical | $100,000 (primary) | $100,000 (primary) | $200,000 (primary) |
Emergency Evacuation | $250,000 | $250,000 | $500,000 |
Trip Delay | $600 ($200 a day) | $600 ($200/day) | $2,000 ($150/day) |
Baggage Loss | $750 ($500/item) | $750 ($500 per item) | $1,500 (up to $4,250) |
Pre-Existing Conditions | Not covered | Isn't covered | Covered within 21 days |
CFAR | Unavailable | Not available | Optional (75%) |
The Essential plan is the strongest fit for budget travelers on trips under $10,000, Advantage serves expensive trips without major medical concerns and Ultimate addresses international trips where pre-existing conditions or higher medical limits are a factor.
Travelex Travel Insurance Rates
Travelex's affordability score of 81 places its rates at 15% to 20% above top-rated competitors. Rates increase with traveler age, trip length and destination medical risk.
$2,500 (Age 30) | $62 | $80 | $92 |
$5,000 (Age 30) | $202 | $237 | $245 |
$10,000 (Age 30) | $481 | $552 | $550 |
A $2,500 trip costs $62 (Essential), $80 (Advantage) or $92 (Ultimate) for a 30-year-old across major destinations. Rates for travelers age 65 and older increase by 50% to 75% depending on destination and trip length. Ultimate costs $2 less than Advantage at the $10,000 level while providing double the medical coverage.
Comparing Travelex vs. Other Companies
Travelex ranks 11th overall. It ranks second for customer service, scoring 99 out of 100.
World Nomads | 93 | 98 | 86 | 89 |
Generali | 92 | 94 | 88 | 89 |
Allianz | 91 | 86 | 89 | 100 |
Travel Guard | 91 | 88 | 86 | 98 |
Travelex | 88 | 81 | 85 | 99 |
World Nomads leads Travelex by 17 points on affordability (98 vs. 81) and extends adventure coverage across all plans, while Travelex's customer service infrastructure and claims support remain more accessible. Among cost-focused travelers, Generali surpasses Travelex on both affordability (94 vs. 81) and coverage (88 vs. 85). Allianz narrowly tops Travelex by one point on service (100 vs. 99). Travel Guard outpaces Travelex on affordability (88 vs. 81), though Travelex retains a slight edge in service (99 vs. 98).
Travelex User Reviews
Customers like Travelex's responsiveness, but they aren't happy with the documentation requirements and slow processing timelines as recurring complaints.
What Customers Love About Travelex
- Responsive around-the-clock assistance: Fast emergency response with guidance on medical referrals and travel document replacement
- Straightforward claims portal: Documents can be uploaded and claims tracked online without calling in
- Flexible upgrade options: Add-ons encompass rental car protection and adventure sports coverage
Common Complaints About Travelex
- Strict documentation requirements: Medical claims demand specific physician certifications, and some denials arise from incomplete paperwork rather than ineligible claims
- Higher premiums: Pricing surpasses comparable plans from competitors, creating value concerns for budget-conscious travelers
- Pre-existing condition restrictions: Essential and Advantage exclude medical histories, which proves frustrating for buyers who disclosed conditions at purchase
- Processing delays: Complex medical reimbursements can extend several weeks beyond the standard 10 to 15 business days
What's Covered by Travelex?
Trip Cancellation and Interruption- Essential: 100% cancellation and up to $10,000 for illness, injury, death, weather and natural disasters. Excludes financial default and work cancellations.
- Advantage: Takes away the $10,000 cap on cancellation and interruption. It also adds employment layoff protection.
- Ultimate: Gives 100% cancellation with 150% interruption coverage. Optional CFAR reimburses 75% within 21 days. Includes financial default protection after a 14-day wait.
- Medical Coverage and Evacuation
- Essential and Advantage: $100,000 primary medical, $250,000 evacuation. Benefits encompass emergency dental ($750 to $1,000), zero deductibles and COVID-19 treatment.
- Ultimate: $200,000 medical, $500,000 evacuation, carrying all Essential/Advantage benefits.
- All plans: Medical quarantine extends coverage up to seven days. Primary coverage means Travelex settles claims before domestic health insurance coordination is required.
- Travel Delays and Baggage
- Essential and Advantage: $600 in trip delay benefits ($200 per day after six hours) and $750 in baggage loss coverage ($500 per item ceiling; jewelry and electronics capped at $250 per item). Baggage delay coverage reimburses $200 after 12 to 24 hours.
- Ultimate: $2,000 in trip delay benefits ($150 per day after six hours) and $1,500 in baggage loss coverage (up to $4,250 with upgrades). Baggage delay coverage reimburses $500 ($100 per day).
Add-on Coverages
- Cancel for any reason (Ultimate only): 75% reimbursement available when the endorsement is added within 21 days of deposit
- Rental car damage: Lowers collision deductibles across all plans
- Enhanced baggage: Elevates Ultimate limits to $4,250 for professional equipment and electronics
- Adventure sports (Ultimate only, not in Illinois): Search and rescue up to $10,000 and security evacuation up to $100,000
- Pet care (Ultimate only, not in New York or Virginia): Addresses kennel fees and veterinary expenses when a trip is interrupted
What Travelex Doesn't Cover
- Pre-existing medical conditions: Essential and Advantage provide no coverage for pre-existing conditions. Ultimate extends coverage only when the policy is purchased within 21 days of the initial deposit and all trip costs are insured.
- High-risk activities: Professional sports, racing and extreme altitude adventures necessitate the optional adventure sports upgrade (Ultimate only).
- Government travel restrictions: Travel advisories, border closures and pandemic-related bans fall outside coverage unless CFAR is purchased.
- Pregnancy care: Routine pregnancy care, childbirth and complications are not covered except for unexpected medical emergencies.
- Work-related cancellations: Essential and Advantage do not cover job-related cancellations. Ultimate incorporates work coverage when purchased within 15 days of the initial deposit.
Travelex Claims Documentation Requirements
Travelex processes most claims within 10 to 15 business days once complete documentation is received. Submit trip cancellation claims within 72 hours and provide full documentation within 20 days.
Medical Emergency | Itemized provider bills, hospital discharge summaries, prescription receipts and proof of payment. For evacuation: physician certificates confirming medical necessity, evacuation service receipts and transportation records. |
Trip Cancellation and Interruption | Documentation proving the cancellation reason (medical certificates, death certificates, employment termination letters), booking confirmations, payment receipts, nonrefundable cost proof and supplier refund statements. For medical cancellations: completed medical certificate forms, physician notes confirming inability to travel and supporting medical records. |
Baggage | Police reports for theft or loss, ownership proof (receipts or photos), damage repair estimates and airline baggage reports. |
Travel Delay | Delay cause documentation (weather reports, airline confirmations), expense receipts for meals, accommodations and transportation, and proof the original travel was disrupted. |
*File claims online at travelexinsurance.com, call 800-501-4781 or email.
FAQ: Travelex Travel Insurance
You can upgrade to a higher plan tier or add optional coverages like CFAR, adventure sports or enhanced baggage before your trip starts. Contact Travelex directly for upgrade eligibility and specific timing requirements.
Only the Ultimate plan covers work-related cancellations when purchased within 15 days of the initial trip deposit. Essential and Advantage exclude job-related cancellations.
Coverage extends up to seven days automatically if you're delayed due to covered reasons like medical quarantine or travel delay. This extension applies to medical, baggage and assistance services without additional premium.
Yes, each traveler needs individual coverage. Travelex doesn't offer family or group plans. Calculate each person's trip costs separately and purchase individual policies.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick is a licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut and MoneyGeek's resident expert in insurance and economics. In nearly a decade covering the insurance market at LendingTree and MoneyGeek, he's analyzed hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.
His work has appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR. He draws on independent cost and consumer experience data, and no insurance company partnerships affect his recommendations.
Mark studied at Boston College and later earned a master's in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University. He worked in financial risk management at State Street before joining MoneyGeek. He's also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.