Erica Lamberg is a personal finance and travel writer based in suburban Philadelphia. She is a regular contributor to USA Today and her writing credits include NBC News, U.S. News & World Report, Business Insider, Oprah Magazine and Creditcards.c.
Erica Lamberg ContributorErica Lamberg is a personal finance and travel writer based in suburban Philadelphia. She is a regular contributor to USA Today and her writing credits include NBC News, U.S. News & World Report, Business Insider, Oprah Magazine and Creditcards.c.
Written By Erica Lamberg ContributorErica Lamberg is a personal finance and travel writer based in suburban Philadelphia. She is a regular contributor to USA Today and her writing credits include NBC News, U.S. News & World Report, Business Insider, Oprah Magazine and Creditcards.c.
Erica Lamberg ContributorErica Lamberg is a personal finance and travel writer based in suburban Philadelphia. She is a regular contributor to USA Today and her writing credits include NBC News, U.S. News & World Report, Business Insider, Oprah Magazine and Creditcards.c.
Contributor Michelle Megna Lead Editor, InsuranceMichelle is a lead editor at Forbes Advisor. She has been a journalist for over 35 years, writing about insurance for consumers for the last decade. Prior to covering insurance, Michelle was a lifestyle reporter at the New York Daily News, a magazine.
Michelle Megna Lead Editor, InsuranceMichelle is a lead editor at Forbes Advisor. She has been a journalist for over 35 years, writing about insurance for consumers for the last decade. Prior to covering insurance, Michelle was a lifestyle reporter at the New York Daily News, a magazine.
Michelle Megna Lead Editor, InsuranceMichelle is a lead editor at Forbes Advisor. She has been a journalist for over 35 years, writing about insurance for consumers for the last decade. Prior to covering insurance, Michelle was a lifestyle reporter at the New York Daily News, a magazine.
Michelle Megna Lead Editor, InsuranceMichelle is a lead editor at Forbes Advisor. She has been a journalist for over 35 years, writing about insurance for consumers for the last decade. Prior to covering insurance, Michelle was a lifestyle reporter at the New York Daily News, a magazine.
| Lead Editor, Insurance
Updated: Apr 10, 2024, 5:14pm
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We like the ExactCare plan’s generous medical evacuation limits, and decent travel delay and baggage loss benefits. Plus, its required waiting period for travel delays (five hours) is better than some competitors.
The LuxuryCare plan earned 2.5 stars in our ratings of the best travel insurance and provides higher benefit limits than the ExactCare policy.
Our ratings take into account a product's benefits and coverage levels. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Top-scoring plan Missed connection benefits per person Medical & evacuation limits per person $25,000/$500,000Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection provides a variety of travel insurance policies that can appeal to leisure travelers, cruisers, students traveling abroad, visitors to the U.S. and others. Here are key types of benefits included in Berkshire Hathaway travel insurance policies.
If you cancel a trip for a reason listed in the policy, trip cancellation travel insurance reimburses you for nonrefundable, prepaid trip costs.
If you become ill or injured during your trip, travel medical insurance can pay for emergency medical expenses, up to the limits listed in your policy. These expenses can include doctor and hospital bills, medicine and lab work.
If you require emergency transportation for treatment after an injury or illness during your trip, medical evacuation travel insurance pays for medevac costs. This insurance will pay for your transport to the nearest medical center that can treat your condition.
If an emergency causes you to cut your trip short, trip interruption insurance pays for a last-minute flight home. It also compensates you for the money you lose on nonrefundable activities, flights and hotel stays.
If your trip is delayed due to a reason covered by your policy, travel delay insurance pays for extra costs, such as bills for a hotel room and meals, up to the amount specified in your policy. You can also recoup prepaid, nonrefundable costs for portions of the trip you miss due to the delay. Check your policy for required waiting periods before coverage kicks in.
If your luggage is lost, stolen or damaged, baggage insurance can reimburse you for the depreciated value, up to your policy limits.
If your bags show up after the waiting period specified in your policy, baggage delay coverage can reimburse you for the cost of necessities you bought to tide you over. It also extends to your personal belongings, if lost, damaged or stolen. Some exclusions apply to baggage and personal effects insurance, so check your policy to see what’s covered.
Specifically designed for high-end travel, the LuxuryCare policy packages together valuable core benefits to protect your trip investment.
The LuxuryCare plan provides excellent coverage for hurricanes and other natural disasters. There is no waiting period for trip cancellation and trip interruption benefits to apply, as long as you bought your policy before the hurricane becomes a named storm. Some competitors require a wait of 48 hours for coverage to kick in for natural disasters.
The LuxuryCare plan also includes coverage for missed connections, sporting equipment delay, sports permit reimbursement and accidental death and dismemberment.
You can buy a “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) travel insurance upgrade for a Berkshire Hathaway LuxuryCare plan. If you file a CFAR claim, you’re reimbursed 50% of your insured trip costs. Note that if you want CFAR you must buy it when you purchase a LuxuryCare plan, and within 15 days of your first trip deposit. CFAR travel insurance allows you to cancel a trip for reasons not listed in your policy, as long as you do so at least 48 hours before your trip departure.
Rental car insurance and pre-existing medical condition exclusion waivers are also available.
Berkshire Hathaway’s core suite of travel insurance plans include ExactCareExtra, ExactCare and ExactCare Value:
The ExactCare Value travel insurance plan is designed for travelers on a budget who don’t need high limits for travel medical coverage. ExactCare Value is a solid fit for solo travelers and those with only a modest trip investment.
Berkshire Hathaway’s ExactCare plan is a good pick for a family traveling with checked luggage to a single location and who wants a policy with valuable coverage for a good price.
For vacationers who have multiple flights, tours, excursions and pricey bucket-list trips, ExtraCare Extra is a good choice. It includes flight insurance for delayed flights, missed connections and tarmac delays.
For domestic road trips with a modest budget, this plan provides basic coverage for your trip costs and provides medical coverage. This plan was not designed for travelers taking flights or cruises, or going abroad.
Berkshire Hathaway’s AdrenalineCare travel insurance plan is a good fit for travelers who are planning adventure sports or activities. This comprehensive policy also provides coverage for sporting gear and equipment and lost permit and license fees.
A Berkshire Hathaway AirCare policy will reimburse you for flight costs if you experience cancellations, delays or interruptions during your trip, as long as the reason for the problem is listed in the policy.
For cruise vacations, Berkshire Hathaway’s WaveCare insurance provides a wide range of core benefits and a high level of travel medical evacuation coverage.
Costs for Berkshire Hathaway travel insurance policies vary based on the plan’s benefits, your age and the trip cost.
Two travelers age 30, trip cost $3,000, traveling to Mexico for 8 days Two travelers age 40, trip cost $6,000, traveling to Italy for 17 days Family with two parents age 40 and two children, $15,000 trip cost, traveling to Italy for 17 days Family with two parents age 40 and two children, $15,000 trip cost, traveling to France for 17 days Family with two parents age 40 and two children, $15,000 trip cost, traveling to U.K. for 17 days Two travelers age 65, trip cost $6,000, traveling to Italy for 17 days Two travelers, age 70, trip cost $3,000, traveling to Mexico for 8 days See More See LessAll Berkshire Hathaway travel insurance plans include 24/7 assistance services, which include emergency travel and medical assistance and concierge services to enhance your experience. Berkshire Hathaway provides these services through one assistance phone number and the call is routed to the specific experts who can help.
Services provided include:
It’s important to thoroughly read any travel insurance policy to understand the scope of coverage. All travel insurance plans contain exclusions. For example, Berkshire Hathaway’s LuxuryCare plan has these exclusions for travel medical coverage:
If you have a claim on a Berkshire Hathaway travel insurance policy, you can file a claim online or through the app, by email or by phone. When you file a claim and upload documents and receipts using the app, you can get paid the same day when you choose electronic payment.
Forbes Advisor researched and analyzed 39 policies to find the best travel insurance. When companies had more than one travel insurance policy we used the highest-scoring plan. Ratings are based on the following metrics.
Cost (25% of score): We analyzed the average cost for each travel insurance policy for trips to popular destinations:
Missed connection coverage (10% of score): Travel insurance policies were awarded more points if they include missed connection benefits of $1,000 per person or more.
Medical expenses (10% of score): Travel insurance policies with travel medical expense benefits of $250,000 and up per person were given the highest points.
Medical evacuation (10% of score): Travel insurance policies with medical evacuation expense benefits of $500,000 and up per person were given the highest points.
“Cancel for any reason” upgrade (10%): Travel insurance policies received points if “cancel for any reason” upgrades are offered. More points were awarded for “cancel for any reason” upgrades with reimbursement levels of 75%.
Baggage delay required waiting time (5%): Policies with baggage delay benefits kicking in at 12 hours or less were given points.
Cancel for work reasons: (5%): Travel insurance plans that allow cancellations for work reasons were awarded points.
Hurricane and weather (5%): Policies received points if the required waiting period for hurricane and weather coverage was 12 hours or less.
“Interruption for any reason” upgrade (5%): Policies were awarded points if they offered an “interruption for any reason” upgrade.
Pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver (5%): Points were given to policies that cover pre-existing medical conditions (if purchased within a required timeframe after the first trip deposit).
Travel delay required waiting time (5%): Policies with travel delay benefits kicking in after six hours or less were given points.
Trip interruption travel insurance (5%): Points were given if trip interruption reimbursement is 150% or higher.
Berkshire Hathaway’s ExactCare plans and its LuxuryCare plan will cover pre-existing medical conditions if you buy the policy within 15 days of your initial trip deposit. You also must insure the full value of your nonrefundable trip costs and you must have been medically able to travel when you bought the plan to qualify for the pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver.
Yes, Berkshire Hathaway’s policies can cover Covid-related cancellations and medical costs. If you contract Covid right before your trip and have to cancel, Berkshire Hathaway travel plans can reimburse you for 100% of your nonrefundable, prepaid deposits when a doctor verifies you’re medically unable to travel. If you contract Covid during your trip, travel medical insurance covers associated medical costs.
Yes, Berkshire Hathaway offers “cancel for any reason” travel insurance (CFAR). It is an optional upgrade when you buy Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection’s LuxuryCare plan. To be eligible to add CFAR to your LuxuryCare plan, you must buy CFAR coverage when you buy your LuxuryCare policy, which must be within 15 days of booking your trip. The CFAR upgrade provides 50% reimbursement of your nonrefundable, pre-paid trip costs. CFAR gives you the option to cancel for a reason not listed in the policy. For example, you could cancel your trip because you have a fear of travel, simply changed your mind, or decided you don’t want to travel with your travel companion.
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