Many travelers buy travel insurance for just one reason: They want to make sure they don’t lose all the money they spent on a non-refundable trip, in case they have to cancel at the last minute.

That’s a good reason to buy! However, travel insurance can be even more valuable for what it does after you leave on your trip. Post-departure benefits can help protect you from common travel mishaps that take place after you’ve left home.

What does post-departure travel insurance typically cover?

The exact benefits vary by plan, but in general, post-departure benefits can help with:

• Medical emergencies while traveling (including medical transportation/evacuation, should you need it)
• Unexpected trip interruptions
• Trip delays
• Lost, stolen, damaged or delayed baggage
• Finding solutions to other travel problems — just call 24-hour assistance for personalized help. Access 24-hour assistance anytime by using the Allyz® app or by phone.

Other post-departure benefits may be available with specific plans, including the concierge benefit, rental car damage and theft coverage, business equipment coverage (and rental coverage), travel accident coverage, change fee coverage, and loyalty program redeposit fee coverage. (Benefits/coverage may vary by state, and sublimits may apply. Please see your plan for details, including terms, conditions, and exclusions.)

Learn more about how travel insurance protects you once you’ve left on your trip: Post-Departure Travel Insurance Benefits Explained

Trip cancellation or interruption insurance—what’s the difference?

Both trip cancellation and trip interruption can reimburse your prepaid, non-refundable, unused trip costs (up to the maximum limit in your plan) in certain situations.

 Trip cancellation benefits apply when you cancel your trip before you depart for a covered reason (a reason named in your plan). Trip interruption benefits apply when you’re forced to pause your trip or cut it short for a covered reason.

But did you know that trip interruption benefits can also do a whole lot more?

• If you have to stay where you are for longer than planned, you can get reimbursed for additional accommodation and transportation expenses.
• If you need to return home early, you can get reimbursed for the cost of your transportation.
• If you’re able to continue your trip after the interruption, you can get reimbursed for those additional travel expenses.
• If you prepaid for shared accommodations and your traveling companion has to interrupt their trip, you can get reimbursed for extra accommodation fees.

Read more: Trip Delay, Trip Interruption and Trip Cancellation Insurance Explained

What are the best options for post-departure travel insurance for U.S. travelers?

1. OneTrip Emergency Medical is a great option for travelers who don't need to insure the cost of their trip, but do want protection in case of a medical emergency, travel delay, or baggage issue. This travel insurance plan fits almost any travel budget.
2.  AllTrips Basic is an annual travel insurance plan that protects all your eligible trips (100+ miles from home) for 365 days. It includes all the essential post-departure benefits, plus rental car damage and theft coverage (available to residents of most states). It doesn’t include trip cancellation or trip interruption.
3. OneTrip Prime is our most popular plan for international travel. It includes trip cancellation and post-departure benefits. Plus, kids 17 and under are covered for free when they’re traveling with a parent or grandparent (not available on policies issued to Pennsylvania residents).

What’s the best travel insurance for long flight delays?

No one enjoys an extended wait in the airport… but having trip delay insurance makes it a whole lot better.

The best Allianz Travel Insurance plan for long flight delays (or any travel delay) is OneTrip Premier. This plan reimburses up to $200 per day, per person, up to a maximum of $1,600 for additional travel and lost prepaid expenses if your trip is delayed for three or more hours for a covered reason. If you want, you can receive a fixed payment of $100 per day for a covered travel delay. No receipts needed! Just submit proof of the delay. (This fixed-payment option is also available with OneTrip Prime.)

Get more advice for surviving airport delays: How to Deal With Long Flight Delays (and When to Cancel Your Trip)

What are the covered reasons for trip delay insurance?

In order to file a claim, your travel delay must be for the minimum length of time and for one of the covered reasons described in your plan. The minimum length ranges from 3 hours to 6 hours, depending on the plan.

The most common covered reason for a trip delay is a travel carrier delay. This means the delay was caused by your airline, bus line, cruise line, or train company.

Other covered reasons generally include:

• A strike (unless threatened or announced prior to the purchase of your policy)
• Quarantine
• A natural disaster
• Lost or stolen travel documents
• Hijacking
• Civil disorder (unless it rises to the level of political risk)
• A traffic accident
• A travel carrier denies you or a traveling companion boarding because they suspect you may have a contagious medical condition (such as COVID-19)

Make sure you understand what each of these mean and what’s excluded: Read Travel Delay Insurance: Covered Reasons Explained

Can I purchase travel insurance after my departure date?

We hear this question all the time. And unfortunately, the answer is no. You can’t buy an Allianz Travel Insurance plan if you’ve already left on your trip.

Here’s the good news: You can buy last-minute travel insurance, even if you’re leaving on your trip later today. For same-day departure travel insurance, you can choose either of these plans: OneTrip Emergency Medical or AllTrips Basic.

Are you leaving on your trip very soon? Get a quick quote and buy your day-of travel insurance right now.

Or, learn more about your options: Is It Too Late to Buy Travel Insurance?

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