What is the smart (and easy) way to compare travel insurance?
1. Decide which coverage(s) is most important to your trip
The best way to start is to list the coverages that are most important to you, and put them in order of importance. The following is a list of typical travel insurance coverage and services; use this to come up with your own list:
- trip cancellation
- trip interruption
- terrorism
- financial default
- hurricane & weather
- travel delay & missed connection
- baggage lost, stolen, or damaged
- baggage delay
- emergency medical & dental
- emergency medical evacuation
- life insurance
- pre-existing medical condition
- rental car damage
- identity theft
- “cancel for any reason” or “cancel for work reasons”
To start, choose the 4 most important coverages for your trip, and put them in order of importance. Now you have a game plan, and you have a good idea of what you are shopping for. After selecting your coverage options you are now much better prepared to choose the right travel insurance policy..
2. Use Squaremouth.com to get multiple quotes
Squaremouth.com is a comparison site used to obtain price quotes from different companies and narrow down your selections. Squaremouth.com functions much like Expedia.com and Travelocity.com, where you enter your trip information and receive quotes from all companies including different coverages. The quoted price is the same whether you use the insurance company website directly or squaremouth.com’s site.
Here’s how to use the Comparison Engine- Squaremouth.com:
- Click on Squaremouth.com
- Fill in your trip details
- Click
at the bottom of the page - You will be taken to a result page. Note: for details on what the policy covers click on
located at the bottom of each policy - To Compare policies side-by-side, check the Compare box next to each policy you want to compare, followed by the
button. - Once you have reviewed your selection, click on
or 
to purchase the plan.
When the quote screen loads, you will see that they have an option where you can select several policies and compare them side-by-side. This will help you find the policy with the best coverage (according to your preferences); we’ll talk about this tool next.
Compare the policies side-by-side (this is the key)
Now it’s time to narrow down your choices using the side-by-side comparison tool. By default, this comparison engine lists “Travel Insurance” at the top. These policies, also known as “Package Policies”, are the most common type of policy purchased for most travelers. If you scroll down, you will see some specialty policies, such as Annual Travel Insurance and International Medical Insurance. Most likely, these are not what you are looking for.
Most travelers purchase a “package” policy (Travel Insurance, the ones listed at the top). They include a wide variety of coverage, and are perfect for most trips.
At the top-right corner of the page, you will see a “Sort by” drop-down. This drop-down gives you several different ways to sort the results, including “Price Low to High”. This is a good initial sorting technique, since all else being the same you want to pay the lowest price.
Next, on the left next to the company logo, you will see a small check box. This allows you to compare the policies side-by-side, and you can check as many boxes as you like. When you have selected several policies, click the orange “Compare” button at the top of the column. This will open a new window with the selected policies, price quotes, and coverage amounts.
What can I do with the side-by-side comparison tool?
- Read from left to right, following each line of coverage to determine the better policies.
- When you click any blue text, a small window will open with a definition/explanation.
- As you rule out individual policies, click the “Remove” button at the top to eliminate it from the comparison.
- If you see a drop-down box in the coverage area, it means you can adjust the amount and the price will automatically adjust.
Start with the coverage that you have determined to be of most importance. Remove the policies that don’t have adequate coverage for your criteria. When you reach the end of your list, take a look at the other coverages and you can decide if it is worth having. Sometimes 2 policies will be very similarly priced, but one will have an additional coverage. With everything else being equal, take the one with more coverage.
Buy the plan that fits your needs
Finally, when you have narrowed your choices down and decided on a policy, click the “Buy” button to enter your details and payment information. All travel insurance companies accept payment with a credit card online; it is a secure transaction. After purchasing your policy, you will receive an on-screen confirmation, as well as an email confirmation.
If you’re ready to compare travel insurance policies for your next trip, click here to begin.
