Annual travel insurance or multi-trip coverage is the perfect solution for anyone who likes to travel away from home several times a year. Plans cover a whole year of trips, whether for business or pleasure, up to a certain maximum duration for each trip.
These comprehensive policies offer a complete package of benefits. Coverage is available for individuals or families taking multiple trips abroad during the policy year.
Review and compare some of the benefits, coverage options, and costs of yearly travel insurance as detailed below. Take note that there will be a limit on the number of days you can travel for each trip. Oftentimes, you will be allowed to select from either 30, 45, or 60 days of coverage for each trip.
Annual travel insurance or multi-trip coverage is the perfect solution for anyone who likes to travel away from home several times a year. Plans cover a whole year of trips, whether for business or pleasure, up to a certain maximum duration for each trip.
These comprehensive policies offer a complete package of benefits. Coverage is available for individuals or families taking multiple trips abroad during the policy year.
Review and compare some of the benefits, coverage options, and costs of yearly travel insurance as detailed below. Take note that there will be a limit on the number of days you can travel for each trip. Oftentimes, you will be allowed to select from either 30, 45, or 60 days of coverage for each trip.
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What is Annual Travel Insurance?
Annual travel insurance, which is also known as multi-trip insurance, covers unlimited trips within a year under a single plan. Frequent travelers, such as business professionals, benefit from protection against risks like medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and lost baggage without needing to buy separate policies for each trip.
This insurance offers convenience and cost-effectiveness by providing consistent coverage throughout the year. Although you can take unlimited trips, each trip usually has a maximum duration limit, depending on the policy. If you travel frequently, annual travel insurance provides peace of mind and financial protection, allowing you to travel with confidence every time.
How Does Travel Insurance Work?
Travel health insurance protects you from unforeseen events that disrupt your trip, such as medical emergencies, trip cancellations, or lost luggage.
When you purchase a travel insurance policy, you agree to pay a premium in exchange for coverage. If an unexpected event occurs, such as a medical emergency or flight cancellation, you can file a claim with your insurance provider. They will then assess the situation and reimburse you for covered expenses, helping to mitigate the financial impact.
Coverage typically includes emergency medical treatment, evacuation, and compensation for trip disruptions. It may also cover lost baggage, personal liability, and other travel-related risks. You can customize your policy to suit your specific needs, ensuring you have adequate protection during your trip.
The Best Annual Travel Insurance Plans
There are several annual travel insurance plans that cater to different nationalities and age groups. By exploring these options, you can find a plan that best suits your specific needs and travel requirements.
The Best Annual Travel Policy for All Nationalities
The IMG Patriot MultiTrip plan is an excellent option for those who take multiple trips throughout the year outside their country of residence.
Patriot Multi-Trip Insurance
- Annual travel medical coverage
- Designed for individuals and dependents
- Full year of cover for trips of 30, 60, or 90 days in length
The Best Annual Travel Medical Insurance for U.S. Citizens
The GeoBlue Trekker MultiTrip plan is the best option for US citizens and residents who travel frequently throughout the year. The plan provides comprehensive medical and trip protection coverage for up to 70 days per trip.
Trekker MultiTrip Travel Insurance
- Up to $500,000 for sickness and accidents
- $500,000 medical evacuation benefit
- Unlimited Trips Outside the U.S. for trips up to 70 days
The Best Annual Travel Insurance Plans for Seniors
For seniors who travel frequently, annual or multi-trip travel insurance is a cost-effective option, allowing you to purchase coverage for a full 12 months with just one payment. This plan is often cheaper if you travel three or more times a year. To choose the right plan, you should check your current health conditions, the activities you will be participating in during the trip, and the travel duration.
The Best Multi-Trip Plan for U.S. Citizens Up to Age 95
GeoBlue Trekker Choice provides $100,000 of medical coverage for US citizens and residents aged 70-95 and $1,000,000 for insureds up to age 69. There is also no limit on the number of trips in a 364-day period.
Trekker MultiTrip Travel Insurance
- Up to $500,000 for sickness and accidents
- $500,000 medical evacuation benefit
- Unlimited Trips Outside the U.S. for trips up to 70 days
The Best Annual Plan for All Nationalities Up to Age 79
The Patriot MultiTrip plan provides $1,000,000 medical coverage to insureds up to age 69 and $50,000 for insureds aged 70-79. Seniors covered under this plan can extend it for up to 36 continuous months.
Patriot Multi-Trip Insurance
- Annual travel medical coverage
- Designed for individuals and dependents
- Full year of cover for trips of 30, 60, or 90 days in length
Why Choose Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance?
If you don't travel several times within a year, then single-trip insurance is usually the most cost-effective form of travel insurance for you. All you need to do is pay just for the number of days you need to be covered. Just make sure that each trip is no longer than the period you indicated when you purchased the policy.
In contrast, an annual travel policy will cover you for multiple trips. But you do not have to travel four or five times a year to make the purchase of yearly travel insurance worthwhile. Even if you plan on traveling just a couple of times in a year, annual travel insurance plans can already save you money on the cost of buying two separate single-trip plans, especially if you are traveling with your spouse or children.
Of course, annual travel insurance pays for itself if you are making multiple trips within a year. You are ready for a year of short trips with just one application and one payment. You can leave at a moment’s notice without having to worry about arranging travel insurance because you already have it in place.
Suppose you need to travel often to visit a friend or relative, head overseas frequently for business travel, or enjoy traveling for pleasure. In that case, multi-trip travel insurance is the ideal option for you.
For longer trips abroad, consider a Travel Health Insurance Plan
What Does Annual Travel Health Insurance Cover?
A great benefit of annual travel insurance is that it is cost-effective for your family, too. Spouses and children can also be covered under one comprehensive policy, so you do not need to buy an individual plan for everyone traveling. And not everyone named on the policy has to travel every time, as long as the primary policyholder is traveling.
You can also choose your maximum trip duration on your annual travel insurance plans, which pertains to the maximum number of days you will be covered for each trip you take. With coverage for up to 30 days or 45 days per trip, you will not have to worry about rushing home because of the limited coverage.
Exclusions and Limitations
Annual travel insurance provides broad coverage but includes certain exclusions and limitations. For instance, these policies often exclude high-risk activities like extreme sports unless additional coverage is purchased.
Pre-existing condition coverage is available on some plans if the policyholder has primary health insurance, but coverage limits and conditions apply. Additionally, there are restrictions on trip duration, with most policies covering trips up to a specific number of days (e.g., 30 or 90 days per trip).
Understanding these exclusions and limitations is crucial for selecting the right coverage and ensuring adequate travel protection.
How Much Does Annual Travel Insurance Cost?
The cost of an annual travel insurance plan will vary depending on your age, the number of days per trip you would like to be covered, and the deductible you choose, along with where you will be traveling.
For a 35-year-old traveler purchasing an IMG Patriot Multi-Trip plan with coverage for up to 30 days per trip and a $250 deductible, the plan will cost $282 annually. Travelers can also purchase the IMG Patriot Multi-Trip with coverage for up to 60 or 90 days per trip.
The GeoBlue Trekker Multi-Trip Choice plan offers coverage for up to 70 days per trip and is priced at $175 per year, with a $100 deductible. The Essential plan, which has lower medical limits, will cost $125 per year, with a $200 deductible.
The GeoBlue Trekker Multi-Trip Plan is only available to U.S. citizens abroad, and you must be enrolled in another primary medical plan in the U.S. when traveling.
Annual Trip Insurance Plans Cost Less if You
- Are younger;
- choose a higher deductible;
- choose fewer days for your maximum number of days abroad per trip; and/or
- are traveling outside of the U.S.
How to Choose a Multi-Trip Travel Insurance Plan
We offer a wide range of annual travel insurance policies which are ideal for frequent travelers who want to take short trips throughout the year. These plans offer outstanding value with comprehensive coverage, and our exceptional service is included at no additional cost.
Buying an annual travel insurance policy is usually straightforward, with most providers offering the option to get a quote and purchase coverage entirely online. However, it’s important to pay close attention to specific details when choosing your policy.
Make Sure to Review the Following Before Clicking Buy
- Policy Start and End Dates: Your policy typically begins when you start your travels and ends a year later. Note that coverage for each trip cannot exceed your chosen maximum trip length.
- Claims Process: Most insurers offer an online portal for policyholders, where you can file claims, contact customer support, and access helpful documents.
- Add-On Riders: Providers offer customizable add-on options, such as increased trip cancellation coverage or adventure sports riders, allowing you to tailor the policy to your specific needs for an additional cost.
Annual Coverage for Employees Living Abroad
For individual employees living abroad, you might consider an expatriate insurance plan. These international health insurance plans provide comprehensive worldwide coverage, including in your home country. One example is the Cigna International Plan, which offers a flexible plan design, excellent service, and a range of benefits to meet your individual needs.
Cigna Global Insurance Plan
- The flexibility to tailor a plan to suit your individual needs
- Access to Cigna Global’s trusted network of hospitals and doctors
- The convenience and confidence of 24/7/365 customer service
If you have multiple employees living or traveling abroad each year, consider a group global medical insurance plan. Our specialists in group global benefits will work with you to provide your employees with comprehensive benefits while they are abroad.
Global Benefits for Organizations
- Offering group plans for international health, life and travel
- Request a quote from the leading insurers around the globe
- A licensed agent will provide quotes and expert advice
Recap: Review These Annual Travel Insurance Plans
Below are two leading plans providing multi-trip travel insurance coverage for annual trips abroad. Review and compare them to identify which best suits your needs.
- The IMG Patriot Multi-Trip plan is excellent for all nationalities, while the
- The GeoBlue Trekker MultiTrip plan is ideal for U.S. citizens traveling abroad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, annual travel insurance is ideal for frequent travelers who make multiple trips throughout the year, whether for business or leisure. It is especially beneficial for business professionals, digital nomads, or anyone with a lifestyle involving frequent travel, as it provides continuous coverage under a single policy, removing the need to purchase separate insurance for each trip.
If you frequently take short vacations or regularly visit family abroad, an annual travel insurance policy can also offer peace of mind and financial protection for each journey, eliminating the hassle of arranging coverage for every trip.
Yes, an annual travel insurance policy can cover your entire family for the whole year. Typically, the first person covered will be the most expensive. Adding a spouse increases the price but to a lesser extent. Including children usually has little impact on the cost of the annual plan, and some plans even cover children at no extra charge.
Single-trip travel insurance covers you for one specific trip, from departure until you return home. It’s ideal for infrequent travelers or for those only planning a single trip in the near future. This type of insurance typically covers medical emergencies, trip cancellations, lost luggage, and other travel-related risks for that specific journey.
In contrast, multi-trip or annual travel insurance covers multiple trips within a year under a single policy. This option is beneficial if you travel several times a year, as it provides coverage for each trip up to a maximum duration (e.g., 30-90 days per trip) specified in the policy. Multi-trip insurance offers the convenience of not having to purchase separate insurance for each journey and can be more cost-effective for frequent travelers.
Annual travel insurance plans like the GeoBlue Trekker and IMG MultiTrip do not provide trip cancellation coverage. These plans are designed to cover emergency medical expenses, evacuation, and other travel-related incidents that might occur during your trips throughout the year.
The Trawick Safe Travels Voyager and IMG iTravelInsured plans are excellent options if you want coverage specifically for trip cancellations. These plans provide comprehensive trip cancellation coverage, ensuring that you are protected if you need to cancel your trip for a covered reason. Both plans also offer optional Cancel For Any Reason coverage.
Please note that the Trawick Safe Travels Voyager and IMG iTravelInsured plans are only available to U.S. residents.
The best annual travel insurance plan depends on your specific travel needs and preferences. Factors such as the frequency and duration of your trips, the activities you'll be participating in, and the level of coverage you want for medical emergencies or trip cancellations all play a role in determining which plan is right for you.
Compare our annual travel insurance plans to see the differences in coverage, benefits, and costs. This will help you find the plan that best suits your individual needs and provides the peace of mind you need for your travels.
Annual travel insurance is worth it for frequent travelers, as it provides the following benefits:
- Cost Savings: It's cheaper in the long run than purchasing multiple single-trip policies.
- Convenience: It covers all trips within a year under one policy, eliminating the need for repetitive paperwork and planning.
- Comprehensive Protection: It ensures coverage for every trip for medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and lost baggage.
- Peace of Mind: It provides continuous coverage, so you don’t have to worry about buying insurance each time you travel.
However, it might not be worth it for infrequent travelers for these reasons:
- Higher Cost: It costs more than single-trip insurance, which can be wasteful if you only travel once or twice a year.
- Unnecessary Coverage: If your travel is limited, you might end up paying for coverage that you won’t use.
- Better Options: Single-trip policies can be more tailored to specific trips, offering just the right amount of coverage for infrequent travel.
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Author / Editor: Joe Cronin, Founder and President of International Citizens Insurance. Mr. Cronin, a former expat, is an authority in the areas of international travel, and global health, life, and travel insurance, with expertise in advising individuals and groups on benefits for today's global workforce. Follow him on LinkedIn or Twitter.