Travelex ranks 11th among 13 travel insurance companies with an 88 score, providing strong customer service (99 out of 100) but higher costs 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. The company offers three plans, including premium service with higher costs.
Find out if you should buy travel insurance from Travelex.
Updated: January 8, 2026
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
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 trip deposit with optional CFAR available.
No annual multi-trip plans available, so frequent travelers must purchase separate policies for each trip.
Travelex Pros and Cons
- Strong customer service: Earned a 99 out of 100 service score with 24/7 assistance and responsive claims support
- Strong financial backing: Underwritten by Zurich American Insurance Company with an A+ AM Best rating
- Primary medical coverage: All plans pay first without requiring coordination with health insurance
- Higher premiums: Cost score of 81 ranks 11th among 13 companies
- No annual plans: Frequent travelers must purchase separate single-trip policies
- Pre-existing conditions limited: Only Ultimate plan covers pre-existing conditions
Travelex Travel Insurance Plans and Features
Travelex offers three single-trip plans with increasing coverage limits. Essential caps cancellation at $10,000, Advantage removes dollar limits, and Ultimate doubles medical coverage while adding pre-existing condition waivers.
Trip Cancellation | 100% ($10,000 max) | 100% | 100% |
Trip Interruption | 100% ($10,000 max) | 100% | 150% |
Emergency Medical | $100,000 (primary) | $100,000 (primary) | $200,000 (primary) |
Emergency Evacuation | $250,000 | $250,000 | $500,000 |
Trip Delay | $600 ($200/day) | $600 ($200/day) | $2,000 ($150/day) |
Baggage Loss | $750 ($500/item) | $750 ($500/item) | $1,500 (up to $4,250) |
Pre-Existing Conditions | Not covered | Not covered | Covered within 21 days |
CFAR | Not available | Not available | Optional (75%) |
Essential works best for budget travelers on trips under $10,000, Advantage suits expensive trips without medical concerns, and Ultimate provides comprehensive international protection.
Travelex Travel Insurance Rates
Travelex's affordability score of 81 reflects premiums running 15-20% higher than 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 50-75% depending on destination and trip length. Ultimate's pricing becomes competitive at higher trip costs, essentially matching Advantage at the $10,000 level while providing double the medical coverage.
Comparing Travelex vs. Other Companies
Travelex ranks 11th overall but leads in 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 costs 17% less and includes adventure coverage across all plans, but Travelex provides stronger customer service infrastructure with more accessible claims support. For travelers prioritizing cost efficiency, Generali outperforms Travelex on both affordability (94 vs 81) and coverage (88 vs 85). While Allianz achieves a perfect 100 service score compared to Travelex's 99, Travelex costs 7% less than Travel Guard while keeping comparable service ratings.
Travelex User Reviews
Customer feedback highlights responsive assistance but notes frustration with documentation requirements and processing timelines.
What Customers Love About Travelex
- Responsive 24/7 assistance: Quick response times during emergencies with helpful guidance for medical referrals and travel document replacement
- Straightforward claims portal: Online system allows documentation uploads and claim tracking without phone calls
- Flexible upgrade options: Customizable add-ons like rental car protection and adventure sports coverage
Common Complaints About Travelex
- Strict documentation requirements: Medical claims need specific physician certifications, with some denials due to incomplete paperwork rather than ineligible claims
- Higher premiums: Pricing exceeds comparable plans from competitors, raising value questions for budget-conscious travelers
- Pre-existing condition restrictions: Essential and Advantage exclude medical histories, frustrating buyers who disclosed conditions during purchase
- Processing delays: Complex medical reimbursements can extend several weeks beyond the standard 10-15 business day timeline
What's Covered by Travelex
IMglobal's iTravelInsured plans protect travelers through trip cancellation and interruption coverage, emergency medical care, baggage protection and 24/7 travel assistance. Coverage details vary by plan tier, with LX offering the most comprehensive protection.
Trip Protection
Trip cancellation coverage reimburses 100% of non-refundable costs for illness, injury, death, serious weather and jury duty. Trip interruption provides 100% reimbursement on Lite and Choice plans, increasing to 150% on SE and LX plans.
Trip delay reimburses meals and accommodations after six hours. The LX plan offers a $2,000 maximum compared to $500 on other plans. Only LX includes change fee coverage up to $150 per person.
Medical and Evacuation
Emergency Medical (Lite/Choice/SE) | $100,000 |
Emergency Medical (LX) | $500,000 |
Emergency Evacuation (All Plans) | $500,000 |
Political/Disaster Evacuation | $100,000 per event |
Hospital Room | Semi-private rate coverage |
Walk-in Clinic Visits | $15 copay (waived with $0 deductible) |
Dental Emergency | Up to $300 |
Emergency Ambulance | Full coverage |
Interfacility Transfers | Full coverage |
Hospital Indemnity | $250/night (10-night maximum) |
Baggage and Travel Delays
Baggage Loss | $750 ($250/item) | $750 ($250/item) | $1,000 ($250/item) | $1,500 ($250/item) |
Baggage Delay | $150 (after 24 hrs) | $150 (after 24 hrs) | $300 (after 6 hrs) | $250 (after 12 hrs) |
Sports Equipment Rental | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | $250/day |
Travel Assistance
All plans include 24/7 travel assistance for lost passports, emergency prescriptions and medical provider locations. Choice, SE and LX plans include Teladoc for remote medical consultations. IMG's Provider Access database includes over 17,000 providers worldwide with direct billing at select facilities.
Add-on Coverages
Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) | Choice, SE, LX | 75% of trip costs | Within 14 days of initial deposit | Cancel at least 48 hours before departure. Not available in NY. |
Interruption for Any Reason | Choice, SE, LX | 75% of trip costs | Within 14 days of initial deposit | Not available in NY. |
What Travelex Doesn't Cover
- Pre-existing medical conditions: Essential and Advantage exclude entirely. Ultimate covers only when purchased within 21 days of initial deposit, with all trip costs insured.
- High-risk activities: Professional sports, racing, and extreme altitude adventures require an optional adventure sports upgrade (Ultimate only).
- Government travel restrictions: Travel advisories, border closures, and pandemic-related bans excluded unless CFAR purchased.
- Pregnancy care: Routine pregnancy care, childbirth, and complications are excluded except for unexpected medical emergencies.
- Work-related cancellations: Essential and Advantage exclude job-related cancellations. Ultimate includes work coverage when purchased within 15 days of the deposit.
Travelex Claims Documentation Requirements
Travelex processes most claims within 10-15 business days once complete documentation arrives. Submit trip cancellations within 72 hours and provide full documentation within 20 days.
Medical Emergency | Itemized bills from providers, hospital discharge summaries, prescription receipts, proof of payment For evacuation: Physician certificates stating medical necessity, evacuation service receipts, transportation records |
Trip Cancellation and Interruption | Documentation proving cancellation reason (medical certificates, death certificates, employment termination letters), booking confirmations, payment receipts, nonrefundable cost proof, supplier refund statements For medical cancellations: Completed medical certificate forms, physician notes confirming travel inability, supporting medical records |
Baggage | Police reports for theft or loss, ownership proof (receipts or photos), damage repair estimates, airline baggage reports |
Travel Delay | Delay cause documentation (weather reports, airline confirmations), expense receipts (meals, accommodations, transportation), proof original travel was disrupted |
File claims online at travelexinsurance.com, call 800-501-4781, or email.
FAQ: Travelex Travel Insurance
Can I add coverage after purchasing my policy?
You can upgrade to a higher plan tier or add optional coverages like CFAR, adventure sports or enhanced baggage within time windows. Contact Travelex directly for upgrade eligibility, as timing restrictions apply.
Does Travelex cover trip cancellations due to work emergencies?
Only the Ultimate plan covers work-related cancellations when purchased within 15 days of the initial trip deposit. Essential and Advantage plans exclude employment-related cancellations, including mandatory work assignments, job loss, or unexpected work conflicts.
How long can Travelex automatically extend my coverage?
Coverage extends up to 7 days automatically if delayed due to covered reasons like medical quarantine or travel delay. This extension applies to medical, baggage, and assistance services without additional premium.
Do travel companions need separate policies?
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, 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.