Travel Insurance Isn’t an Afterthought Anymore—Here’s Who Leads in 2026
As more travelers treat insurance as essential, the 2026 U.S. News rankings reveal who’s leading on coverage, flexibility, and reliability.
Photo: Eminent Luggage / Unsplash
For years, travel insurance sat in the same mental bucket as seat upgrades and lounge access: travelers found it useful but also easy to skip. That’s no longer how travelers are treating it—and the 2026 rankings from U.S. News & World Report make that change clear.
Released this week, the publication’s annual list of the Best Travel Insurance Companies reflects a market where coverage has moved from an optional add-on to a default line item. Half of Americans now purchase travel insurance, and 65% say it plays an important role in their trip planning, according to U.S. News’ most recent consumer survey. The change has less to do with fear than with experience: delayed flights, medical issues abroad, weather disruptions, and the reality that higher-value travel comes with higher financial stakes.
Leading the overall rankings for 2026 is Travelex Insurance Services, followed by Seven Corners, World Nomads, Allianz Travel Insurance, and Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection. The full list includes 11 providers, mixing long-established insurance brands with newer players that have scaled quickly in the post-pandemic travel environment
“We’re seeing roughly 50% of Americans investing in travel insurance as searches for coverage have steadily increased since the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Erin Evans, managing editor of Travel at U.S. News. “Travelers are more risk-aware than ever and U.S. News’ comprehensive evaluation helps them cut through the noise to find the most reliable and highly rated providers offering the right balance of coverage, value and customer service.”
Travelers’ priorities regarding coverage have also changed. It’s no longer about whether to buy insurance, but which gaps need to be covered. International medical coverage and evacuation limits remain primary concerns, especially as more travelers venture to destinations where private care and transport can carry six-figure price tags. Cancel-for-any-reason flexibility has also become a key differentiator, especially for complex itineraries built around cruises, private tours, or long-haul flights with limited rebooking options.
The changes in mindset are apparent in the winners as well: Travelex, Seven Corners, Allianz, and Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection appear among the leaders in international travel coverage. Allianz, Travelex, Seven Corners, and World Nomads dominate the cancel-for-any-reason category, where partial reimbursement for last-minute changes is now seen as table stakes rather than a premium perk. For medical-focused policies, Travelex, Seven Corners, IMG, WorldTrips, Travel Insured International, and HTH Travel Insurance stand out.
Affordability still matters, but it has become a secondary filter. U.S. News’ most affordable list highlights providers such as Trawick International, Tin Leg, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, IMG, AXA Assistance USA, and WorldTrips—yet even in this segment, minimum coverage thresholds now matter more than rock-bottom pricing.
Methodologically, the 2026 rankings evaluate 45 insurers using an equal-weighted combination of professional reviews, consumer ratings, and financial strength scores. Specialized lists require companies to meet stricter benchmarks, from verified pricing data to minimum coverage limits, giving the results a practical edge beyond brand familiarity.
Travel insurance has quietly crossed the line from discretionary to essential—and the 2026 U.S. News rankings offer a snapshot of which providers have adapted fastest to that reality.
