Americans More Likely to Purchase Travel Insurance Post-COVID-19

Image: Travel insurance. (photo via scyther5 /iStock / Getty Images Plus)
Image: Travel insurance. (photo via scyther5 /iStock / Getty Images Plus)
Patrick Clarke
by Patrick Clarke
Last updated: 10:13 AM ET, Thu June 11, 2020

Nearly half of Americans (45 percent) are likely to purchase travel insurance for future trips in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults commissioned by NerdWallet examining the crisis' impact on Americans' financial habits.

That figure is significant considering that the study found only one in five Americans (20 percent) indicated that they had insured a leisure trip prior to the pandemic compared to 43 percent who did not purchase or even consider insurance.

Fifteen percent of respondents said that they considered travel insurance for their getaways prior to the outbreak of COVID-19 but ultimately decided against it.

Despite the coronavirus pandemic's impact on travel plans this year, nearly one-third of Americans (29 percent) are still not likely to insure their next trip, according to NerdWallet's research.

"Whenever we experience events that impact travel, consumers become more focused on how travel insurance may be able to help," Daniel Durazo, Director of Communications at Allianz Global Assistance USA, told TravelPulse last month. "Smart consumers and their travel advisors should learn how travel insurance can help cover losses for non-refundable, pre-paid expenses and add peace of mind to trip planning."

While travel insurance policies typically don't cover fear of travel, the right plan can cover potential medical expenses and reimburse you in the event that your trip is canceled or interrupted due to a plethora of reasons.

Travel has always been somewhat unpredictable but COVID-19 has shown to what extent your plans can be derailed. NerdWallet's research suggests that many American travelers are taking notice.


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Patrick Clarke

Patrick Clarke

Senior Editor

A Maryland native and wanderer who has lived across the U.S. from North Carolina to SoCal, Patrick Clarke graduated from Towson University with a B.S. in journalism. He previously worked for Bleacher

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