abdeenhosting Yeah, you probably don’t wake up thinking about insurance. (Who does, except maybe your accountant?) But hear me out: you’re road-tripping across the U.S., and your luggage pulls a Houdini, or you get sick on the way to see the world’s largest ball of twine. Suddenly, that boring insurance policy? It’s your new BFF.
Here’s the thing: Last year, over half of American travelers (62%—which is huge) grabbed insurance for trips inside the U.S., mostly because travel has a habit of getting weird. Cancellations, lost bags, surprise medical bills—stuff you really don’t want to pay out of pocket. The good news? You can snag decent coverage for, like, $100–$250. Not bad for peace of mind, right?
What Actually Matters in a Budget Travel Insurance Plan
Let’s cut through the jargon. If you’re shopping for a plan that won’t eat your vacation fund, look for:
- Trip Cancellation: Will they give you your money back if your trip fizzles? You want $10k–30k here.
- Medical Coverage: Hospital bills in the U.S.? Yikes. Even $10k–$50k helps a ton.
- Baggage Protection: Airlines lose bags like it’s a sport. $500–$2,000 is the sweet spot.
- Trip Delay: Get stuck somewhere? At least get your meals/lodging covered after a few hours.
- Affordability: Don’t pay more than 4–8% of your total trip cost. Seriously, don’t.
Okay, let’s get into the actual plans—the stuff you came for.
My Top 10 Budget Travel Insurance Plans for U.S. Trips in 2025
- Travelex Travel Basic Cheap and cheerful. $15k medical, $10k cancellation. Not fancy, but gets the job done for weekend getaways.
- Nationwide Essential Plan $10k cancellation, $75k medical. Good if you’re booking last minute and feeling spontaneous (or disorganized, no judgment).
- AXA Assistance USA Silver $25k medical, $10k cancellation for around $252. Stripped-down, but that’s the point.
- Berkshire Hathaway ExactCare Value Popular with folks who keep it domestic. $15k medical, $25k cancellation. Name recognition counts for something.
- Allianz OneTrip Basic $10k for cancellation and interruption, plus a 24/7 hotline. The hotline is clutch when travel goes sideways.
- Seven Corners Trip Protection Basic A bit pricier ($318 avg), but $20k cancellation and $100k medical is solid if you want to splurge just a bit.
- IMG iTravelInsured Lite Long trip? Up to 180 days covered. $25k cancellation, $25k medical. $115.66 avg cost, which is oddly specific.
- Tin Leg Economy $134 on average, $20k cancellation, $100k medical. “Tin Leg” is a wild name, but the coverage is legit.
- Travel Insured International FlexiPax Great for families. $15k medical, $30k cancellation. For that “I brought the kids and all their friends” energy.
- HTH Worldwide Economy $50k medical, includes COVID stuff, and can be as cheap as $29. That’s, like, three lattes.
Quick & Dirty Comparison Table
| Plan | Avg. Cost | Cancellation | Medical | Bags | Delay | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travelex Travel Basic | $96 | $10,000 | $15,000 | $500 | $500 | Short trips |
| Nationwide Essential | $150 | $10,000 | $75,000 | $600 | $500 | Last-minute |
| AXA Assistance USA Silver | $252 | $10,000 | $25,000 | $500 | $300 | Budget folks |
| Berkshire Hathaway ExactCare | $113 | $25,000 | $15,000 | $1k | $500 | Domestic travel |
| Allianz OneTrip Basic | $100 | $10,000 | $10,000 | $500 | $300 | Bare basics |
| Seven Corners Trip Protect | $318 | $20,000 | $100,000 | $1k | $750 | Big coverage |
| IMG iTravelInsured Lite | $115.66 | $25,000 | $25,000 | $1k | $500 | Long trips |
| Tin Leg Economy | $134 | $20,000 | $100,000 | $500 | $500 | Adventurers |
| Travel Insured FlexiPax | $113 | $30,000 | $15,000 | $1k | $500 | Families |
| HTH Worldwide Economy | $29–$74 | $10,000 | $50,000 | $500 | $300 | Medical focus |
So, How Do You Pick the Right One? A Few Tips:
- Compare quotes—don’t just take the first one you see. Shop around.
- Figure out what you need—hiking in Utah? Focus on medical. Spending big on hotels? Get solid cancellation.
- Check the fine print—some plans hate adventure sports. Don’t get caught out.
- Buy early—snagging a plan within 2 weeks of booking your trip can get you extra perks.
- Creep on reviews—look up real customer experiences. Trustpilot is your friend.
Last word: Don’t overthink it, but don’t ignore it either. The right travel insurance plan can save your butt (and your wallet) if things go sideways. Happy travels!
