New Ways Travel Insurance Can Keep You Safe When You're Traveling
Travel insurance may cover you if you get into trouble on your next vacation. But what if travel insurance could help you avoid trouble?
Consider a natural disaster like the Los Angeles wildfires earlier this year. If you'd had a travel insurance policy with Travelex and downloaded its Travel On app to your phone, the insurance company would have sent you real-time updates and access to support.
"These alerts can help you react quickly and adjust your plans, which might mean finding a safer area to avoid disruptions," says Will Nihan, CEO of Travelex Insurance Services. "It's an effective way travelers can stay informed and prepared while they're traveling.'
This summer, travel insurance companies are embracing a simple idea: If they can keep their policyholders safe, they can prevent a claim from being filed — and that's a win for everyone.
The timing is good. Travelers are more worried about safety than ever. A recent survey by Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP) listed international terrorism, environmental issues like extreme weather or natural disasters, and flight disruptions as their top three perceived travel threats for 2025.
A poll of Medjet members reveals 76 percent are more worried about traveling this year. Mike Hallman, CEO of Medjet, says his company had to expand its membership services department to keep up with an influx of calls.
"People are definitely more concerned," he says. What should you look for in your travel insurance if you're trying to stay safe this summer?
John Rose, chief risk officer for ALTOUR, a global corporate travel management company, says the newest travel insurance policies address those concerns with a list of new security features.
"Travelers need a comprehensive and adaptable policy to handle the complexities of today's travel landscape," he says.
They include:
24/7 assistance services: These should cover a wide range of needs, from emergency medical assistance to navigating local emergencies like natural disasters or political unrest.
Medical evacuation coverage: This is essential, especially when traveling to remote or high-risk areas. Ensure the policy covers transportation to a medical facility and the logistics of getting home if necessary.
Security evacuation services: With the increasing frequency of civil unrest and political instability, policies should also include evacuation services for travelers in unsafe situations.
Travel delay and interruption protection: If flights are delayed or canceled due to weather, strikes, or other unforeseen circumstances, these protections ensure that travelers are not left stranded or without resources.
"The travel industry has seen a rise in travel disruptions like flight delays caused by mechanical breakdowns or weather in the travel world," says Terry Boynton, president of Yonder Travel Insurance. "Flights affected by mechanical breakdowns, bad weather, or unannounced strikes could allow travelers to file a claim for lost or out-of-pocket expenses.'
One of the newest innovations is real-time alerts like the one introduced by Travelex. It turns out other companies also have new real-time alerts. Real-time alerts can keep you out of trouble this summer
Travel insurance companies have added real-time alerts to their apps. Allianz Partners provides geolocation-specific safety and security alerts through its Allyz mobile app.
"Should travelers find themselves in an emergency, they can also access a list of local emergency phone numbers and the location of U.S. embassies and consulates through the Allyz app," says Allianz spokesman Dan Durazo. "The app also provides one-touch dialing to reach Allianz's travel assistance team, which can help insured customers with nearly any travel-related problem."
Allyz' latest trick: Helping policyholders find medical assistance when traveling outside of the United States. The company recently introduced a doctor visit scheduling service, which gives customers traveling internationally the ability to schedule doctor appointments for unforeseen medical events that require urgent medical attention — anything from a stomach bug to a migraine. The cost of these visits is covered under your policy. Medical help is a popular new travel insurance benefit
Travel insurance that provides telehealth services is a trend.
'We're seeing more global telemedicine services included in travel insurance, and it's a game-changer for travelers," says Cai Glushak, chief medical officer for AXA Partners North America. "Being able to connect with a doctor without scrambling to find a hospital in a foreign country makes a huge difference. Whether it's a virtual consultation, prescription help, or just quick medical advice, it ensures convenience and peace of mind to the traveler, especially in a foreign healthcare environment.'
For example, Insubuy, a visitors' insurance company, introduced a new feature called Air Doctor this year. It's a mobile-friendly portal that allows policyholders to connect and schedule appointments with English-speaking doctors anywhere in the world.
"Advanced telehealth services like these are a great extra measure of security to consider when choosing a travel insurance plan," says James Nuttall, vice president of operations at Insubuy.
Medical services like those offered by Insubuy, Allianz and Travelex represent one of the biggest travel insurance innovations for 2025, according to experts.
"Many travel insurance companies have begun offering doctors whom travelers can call for medical advice while on vacation," says Megan Rodrigues, owner of Together We Travel, a travel agency. "They are on call 24/7 to answer any questions or concerns that arise. This increases safety exponentially as it eliminates travel time and, in some cases, safety concerns at the local facilities." Travel insurance is adapting to the needs of travelers
Taken together, these new features represent a shift in the way travel insurance covers its customers. It's moving away from one-size-fits-all to a product that can protect people no matter where — or how — they travel.
That's the assessment of Dean Van Es, CEO of Fast Cover Travel Insurance.
"For example, some travel insurance providers now offer coverage for a range of common situations through packs designed for adventure sports, winter sports, and motorcycle trips," he explains. "Of course, it will depend on the exact scenario whether a claim is supported, but this type of insurance can offer travelers some security when taking part in risky activities during their vacation."
Robert Gallagher, President of the US Travel Insurance Association, says it's just one-way travel insurance is changing to keep travelers safer.
"Travel insurance continues to evolve with new innovations designed to keep travelers safe, especially as global travel risks grow," he says.
Looking down the line to fall and winter, he expects travel insurance to continue to change. More providers will offer 24/7 assistance services to provide immediate help during medical emergencies, travel disruptions or security threats. He also sees more insurance companies offering advanced translation services to ensure travelers can communicate effectively with local authorities, medical providers and transportation services. And he sees more providers offering real-time security alerts and location-based updates to help travelers stay informed of potential risks.
After all, the best travel insurance doesn't just cover you when something goes wrong — it helps prevent things from going wrong.
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