Best Long-Term Travel Insurance

If you take multiple trips a year, you may want to consider purchasing long-term travel insurance for emergencies. This is especially true if you go abroad for extended stays, as travel insurance typically covers you even when your U.S. medical insurance may not. 

Because the considerations and coverage for long-term plans differ from shorter, single-trip policies, NerdWallet has researched the best long-term travel insurance plans for U.S. citizens.

Here's our list of the best long-term travel insurance providers:

• Allianz Global Assistance.

• Travel Guard.

• USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services.

• GeoBlue.

• Heymondo.

» Learn more: The best travel insurance companies

We made the following considerations when selecting the best long-term travel insurance companies:

• Coverage. We looked at the types of coverage offered and the amount of coverage you could purchase. 

• Cost. Affordability is essential, as the best coverage worldwide won't matter if the policy is too expensive. 

• Ease of purchase. Being able to quickly and easily find quotes and sign up for coverage is a crucial factor in choosing the right policy.

• Customization. The more options you have to tailor a plan specifically for your needs, the better.

Note: We excluded companies that require you to list the length, locations or dates of your trips to purchase a policy. We recognize that most travelers likely don't know these details for all the trips they'll take a year in advance. 

» Learn more: What to know before buying travel insurance

To compare prices and coverage levels, we looked at quotes for a one-year policy for a 35-year-old traveler based in California. If a company offered more than one tier of travel insurance, we went with their entry-level option. 

On average, the price of a policy offered by the listed companies was about $171. 

» Learn more: Does travel insurance cover award flights?

Let's take a closer look at our five recommendations for long-term travel insurance.

Allianz Global Assistance

What makes Allianz Global Assistance great:

• Easy-to-use website.

• Affordable coverage.

• Different options for different budgets.

For our test, Allianz Global Assistance's basic coverage cost $138, about 19% lower than average.

Travel Guard by AIG

What makes Travel Guard great:

• Includes dental coverage.

• Offers security and emergency evacuation coverage.

• Missed connection coverage of up to $500.

For our test, Travel Guard's basic coverage cost $259, about 51% above average.

USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services

What makes USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services great:

• Budget-friendly option.

• Includes emergency medical evaluation. 

• Easy-to-use website.

For our test, USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services' basic coverage cost $100, almost 42% below average.

GeoBlue

What makes GeoBlue great:

• Certain prescription drugs are covered.

• Covers medically necessary COVID-19 testing and treatment.

• Allowed to take unlimited trips outside of the U.S. for a maximum of 70 days abroad per trip.

For our test, GeoBlue's basic coverage cost $125, about 27% below average.

Heymondo

What makes Heymondo great:

• Offers a one-month refund policy, provided the trip has not started and no claims were made.

• Easy to add coverage for electronics, cruises or adventure sports.

• It has an app to file claims and chat with a doctor 24/7.

For our test, Heymondo's basic coverage cost $232, about 36% above average.

» Learn more: Does my Chase credit card have health insurance?

Before purchasing long-term travel insurance, you should think about the type of coverage you want, your budget and if you have any pre-existing medical conditions you wish to be covered.

Having the right plan may provide you with peace of mind and save you serious cash in the event of an emergency.