Seven Corners holds a wide lead across travel insurance comparison shopping and medical plan options. For trips to Europe and general international travel, Travelex is the usual answer.
If you want to compare travel insurance plans and get quotes specifically for medical coverage, I’d start with these comparison websites. They let you compare multiple insurers, prices, coverage limits, and benefits in one place.
Best websites to compare travel medical insurance
1. Squaremouth
(Best starting point)
Compare more than 100 travel insurance plans, including medical-only coverage. You can review emergency medical limits, evacuation benefits, prices, and customer reviews side by side.
When you request quotes, focus on these benefits rather than choosing by price alone.
Benefit
What to look for
Emergency medical expenses
Consider $100,000 or more for international travel
Medical evacuation
Consider $200,000–$500,000 or more, depending on destination
Pre-existing conditions
Check exclusions and eligibility for a waiver
Primary vs. secondary coverage
Primary coverage may let you claim directly with the travel insurer
Deductible
How much you pay out of pocket before coverage applies
Emergency assistance
24/7 support and help locating medical facilities
My recommendation: Get quotes from Squaremouth and InsureMyTrip first, and compare the same medical limits and deductible on both sites. Check the actual policy documents before buying, especially exclusions for existing conditions and activities.
Want help narrowing down the best plans?
I can help you compare options for your trip. Where are you traveling, and approximately when? I can then help you identify suitable medical coverage and what information you'll need to get accurate quotes.
InsureMyTrip : Allows you to compare comprehensive, medical-only, cruise, and annual plans from providers like IMG, AXA Assistance, and Travelex, with licensed U.S. agents available by phone.[](https://www.insuremytrip.com/)
Squaremouth : Specializes in filtering policies based on specific needs such as travel medical coverage, cruise trips, or adventure sports.[](https://www.squaremouth.com/)
When looking specifically at travel medical or emergency medical benefits, check for:
Emergency Medical & Dental Limits: Look for at least $50,000 to $100,000+ in medical coverage (higher if traveling to high-cost healthcare countries like the U.S. or Japan).
Emergency Medical Evacuation: Ensure it covers $100,000 to $250,000+, as air ambulance transport from remote regions is extremely expensive.
Primary vs. Secondary Coverage: Determine whether the travel insurance pays first (primary ) or only kicks in after your domestic health insurance responds (secondary).
If you already have some health or travel coverage, you may not need a full, standalone travel insurance policy. You can look for supplemental international travel insurance that fills specific gaps in your existing protection, such as emergency medical expenses abroad, medical evacuation, or trip interruption.
The key is to distinguish between a policy that pays in addition to your existing insurance and one that pays only after your existing insurer has processed a claim. Those are not necessarily the same thing.
Your main options
1. IMG Patriot Lite
(Good starting point)
Designed for short-term international medical coverage, with selectable deductibles and coverage limits from $50,000 to $1 million. IMG explicitly classifies Patriot Lite as secondary (excess) coverage, so it is worth investigating if you want a policy that supplements existing insurance. Emergency evacuation coverage is available up to $1 million.
A higher-limit option if your main concern is a major medical emergency abroad. Listed medical limits range from $1 million to $8 million, with emergency evacuation benefits, telehealth and coverage for acute onset of certain pre-existing conditions, subject to eligibility and policy terms. It is also classified as secondary coverage.
Worth considering if you take multiple international trips each year and want emergency medical protection without buying trip-cancellation coverage. Allianz identifies its annual plans as providing secondary emergency medical benefits: you generally claim through your primary insurer first, then submit eligible remaining expenses to Allianz.
Better suited to a single trip when you primarily want emergency medical coverage and protection against travel mishaps, rather than cancellation coverage for the entire trip. Check the specific policy's coordination-of-benefits terms to confirm whether its medical coverage is secondary to yours.
Which type of supplemental policy makes the most sense?
What you want to supplement
What to look for
Existing health insurance
Secondary travel medical coverage
Health insurance that excludes most overseas care
International medical coverage with strong emergency benefits
Emergency transport to an appropriate hospital
Medical evacuation and repatriation
Credit-card travel benefits
Medical coverage plus any trip protections missing from your card
Several trips each year
Annual multi-trip travel medical policy
Important: Secondary coverage is not necessarily a separate layer that pays immediately. You may need to file with your existing insurer first, even if that insurer ultimately denies the claim. Also, some policies exclude routine care, pre-existing conditions, or particular activities. Review the policy certificate, not just the marketing summary.
Let me narrow this down to the best options for you
The best policy depends on what coverage you already have. For example, supplemental coverage for someone whose US health plan excludes overseas treatment is different from a policy intended to supplement an existing international health plan.
1. What coverage do you already have?
US health insurance (employer, ACA, Medicare, etc.)
International/private medical insurance
Credit-card benefits or existing travel insurance
A combination of these
Other coverage
2. How often do you travel?
One trip
Several trips a year
Extended stays or frequent international travel
3. What do you most want covered?
Emergency medical bills only
Medical bills and emergency evacuation
Medical, evacuation and repatriation
Medical plus trip interruption or cancellation
4. Where will you be traveling?
Europe or worldwide, excluding the US
Worldwide, including the US
A specific country or region
5. Traveler age range
Under 65
65–74
75 or older
6. Approximate budget per traveler
Under $50
$50–$150
$150–$300
Flexible if the coverage is right
[Compare suitable policies]
You can leave any answer at its default. With those details, I can focus on policies that genuinely supplement your existing coverage instead of recommending a second policy that largely duplicates it.
When shopping for supplemental international travel insurance, your options generally fall into two categories: secondary medical coverage (which coordinates with your existing health insurance) or stand-alone travel medical/comprehensive plans that can be configured to pay out after your primary policy responds.
Most comprehensive travel insurance policies sold in the U.S. are actually primary for emergency medical, meaning they pay out first without requiring you to bill your domestic health insurance first—which is often preferred because it avoids complex cross-border coordination. However, true secondary or modular supplemental options are widely available depending on what gaps you are trying to fill (e.g., medical vs. trip cancellation).
Top options and providers for international supplemental coverage include:
If you want to compare travel insurance policies side-by-side, especially emergency medical coverage, medical evacuation limits, deductibles, and total price, start with comparison sites that let you enter your trip details once and review multiple plans.
One important distinction: some sites compare plans from several insurers, while others sell policies from a single provider. For comparing coverage and cost, the first category is usually the most useful.
Best sites to compare travel insurance
1. Squaremouth
(Best starting point)
Compare plans from multiple insurers, with filters for medical coverage, evacuation benefits, and price. It also offers a dedicated travel-medical comparison page.
A strong all-around option for comparing multiple insurers, including medical-only, comprehensive, cruise, and annual travel plans. You can also speak with a licensed insurance agent at no extra cost.
Particularly useful for side-by-side benefit comparisons. You can select two or more policies and compare benefits, definitions, exclusions, and prices.
Don't compare price alone. For medical coverage, these are the most important fields to put side-by-side:
Benefit
What to look for
Emergency medical expenses
Coverage limit of $100,000 or more as a starting point for many international trips
Medical evacuation
Consider $250,000 or more, especially for remote destinations
Primary vs. secondary
Primary coverage may let you claim directly with the travel insurer
Deductible
What you pay out of pocket before coverage applies
Pre-existing conditions
Whether a waiver is available and its purchase deadline
Exclusions
These are comparison benchmarks, not universal requirements. Your destination and circumstances may call for different limits.
My recommendation: Start with Squaremouth and InsureMyTrip, then use TravelInsurance.com as a third comparison. Enter identical trip details on each site and read the actual policy documents before purchasing.
Want help narrowing it down?
I can help you compare the most relevant options if you tell me where you're going and roughly when. The destination, trip length, and travelers' ages can all affect pricing and eligibility.
You can use dedicated multi-provider marketplaces like InsureMyTrip and Squaremouth to compare travel insurance policies side-by-side with transparent pricing and medical coverage details.
InsureMyTrip : Features quotes from 18+ major providers like Nationwide, AXA, and Berkshire Hathaway, letting you filter and sort comprehensive plans, emergency medical limits, and pricing side-by-side.[](https://www..com/)
The best travel insurance depends on where you're going, how much your trip costs, and what you want covered. For most U.S. travelers, I'd start by comparing comprehensive plans from established insurers rather than automatically buying the cheapest policy.
The most important things to compare are:
Emergency medical expenses: Pays for eligible medical treatment abroad.
Medical evacuation: Covers eligible transport to an appropriate medical facility.
Trip cancellation and interruption: Reimburses eligible nonrefundable costs for covered reasons.
Travel delays and missed connections: Helps with qualifying extra expenses.
Baggage loss and delays: Covers eligible lost belongings and replacement essentials.
Pre-existing medical conditions: Check exclusions and any waiver requirements carefully.
My top travel insurance picks for 2026
These are the providers I'd compare first, based on recent reviews and available coverage options. The best-priced plan will depend on your trip details.
1. Travelex Insurance Services — Best overall starting point
Good for travelers who want a comprehensive policy with trip cancellation, medical protection and customizable extras. Named best overall by NerdWallet in its 2026 review.
Compare plans:
2. Seven Corners — Best for high medical coverage
Worth comparing for international travel and expensive medical emergencies. Its Trip Protection Choice plan lists up to $500,000 in emergency medical coverage and $1 million for medical evacuation.
Compare plans:
3. Allianz Travel Insurance — Best to consider for flexible cancellation
A strong comparison candidate if you're interested in Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage. Eligibility, reimbursement percentages and purchase deadlines vary by policy.
Compare plans:
4. Tin Leg — Best for comparing value and coverage limits
Its Gold plan offers substantial medical coverage, and Tin Leg appears among Squaremouth's leading comprehensive plan options. Compare its actual quote against competing plans before choosing.
Compare plans:
How much should you spend?
Comprehensive travel insurance often costs around 4–10% of your prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses, although age, destination, trip length and benefits affect the price.
For an international trip, I'd generally look for at least $100,000 in emergency medical coverage and $250,000–$500,000 in medical evacuation coverage, adjusting for the destination and your needs.
Let me narrow it down to the best policy for you
I can make a much more useful recommendation if I know a little about your trip.
IMG (iTravelInsured Series) : Offers customizable single-trip plans like SE and LX that allow you to pick and choose specific benefits, including pre-existing condition waivers if bought promptly after your first trip deposit.[](https://www.usnews.com/insurance/travel/best-travel-insurance)
Tin Leg (Gold or Luxury) : Noted by comparison platforms like Squaremouth for high primary/supplemental medical and evacuation limits, which are ideal if your existing health insurance has a high deductible or zero international out-of-network benefits.[](https://www.squaremouth.com/plans/international)
To help narrow down the best supplemental policy for your trip, could you tell me:
What existing coverage do you currently have (e.g., credit card perks, domestic health plan, employer insurance)?
What specific gaps are you trying to fill (emergency medical, evacuation, trip cancellation, or baggage)?
Adventure activities, age restrictions, and excluded medical circumstances
Total premium
Final price for all travelers and the full trip
insuremytrip
Squaremouth : Compares over 100 plans from top-rated providers such as Tin Leg, IMG, and Seven Corners, offering a clear breakdown of emergency medical, evacuation coverage, and a lowest price guarantee.[](https://www.squaremouth.com/)
CoverTrip : Allows you to view more than 100 plans from 20+ carriers side-by-side sorted by price or specific medical coverage limits at the same rates charged directly by the carriers.[](https://covertrip.com/)
If you'd like, let me know:
Your destination and trip cost
Your age or the ages of travelers
Whether you have pre-existing medical conditions
I can help you pinpoint which policy features or coverage limits matter most for your trip.
Best for Add-Ons & Customization:Travel Guard by Zurich
Why: Travel Guard allows you to build highly personalized policies with niche add-on "bundles," such as specific protections for pets, weddings, or unexpected attraction closures.[](https://money.com/best-travel-insurance/)
Protects your money if you get sick or a family emergency happens before or during the trip.
Emergency Medical Expense
Covers hospital stays, doctor visits, and medications abroad.
Most domestic health insurance plans (including Medicare) do not cover you outside your home country.
Emergency Medical Evacuation
Pays for emergency transportation to a proper hospital or back home.
Airlifts from remote areas or cruise ships can easily cost upwards of $50,000 to $100,000.
Travel Delay & Baggage Loss
Reimburses food/hotels during long delays, and pays for lost luggage.
Handles the common, annoying logistical headaches of modern flying.
💡 Pro-Tips for Buying Travel Insurance
The 14-Day Window: If you want premium upgrades—like Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) or Pre-existing Medical Condition Waivers —you usually must purchase your insurance within 14 to 15 days of making your very first trip deposit.[](https://www.usnews.com/insurance/travel/best-travel-insurance)
