Traveling on your own can be one of the most enjoyable experiences you will have in your life! It also brings added responsibility from unexpected medical bills to lost luggage. When picking coverage, the best individual travel insurance should strike a balance between affordability and protection.
If you sometimes travel with a companion or want flexibility for different trip styles, consider policies positioned as the best solo travel insurance that still offer clear benefits for single travellers.
In this blog, we'll compare options, explain how to evaluate policies, and highlight what matters most for a single traveller so you can choose coverage that fits your trip and gives you an absolute deal.
What Is Individual Travel Insurance?
An individual travel insurance policy is meant just for one person, for a single trip or multiple trips. It doesn't cover anyone else, unlike a family plan. The benefits, coverage, terms, and cost are explicitly designed to match your travel needs. The benefits, limits, conditions, and premiums are set up just for your travel needs.
Your plan will typically include:
- Medical emergency coverage (hospitalisation, medical evacuation)
- Trip Cancellation, Delay, and Curtailment
- Baggage Loss or Delay
- Personal Liability, loss of passport, or other documents, etc.
- Depending on the carrier and coverage options, hospital cash and dental and/or other coverage may be available.
Since only you are covered, the process for deciding coverage, calculating premiums, and giving benefits becomes more straightforward and more direct.
What Makes a Travel Insurance Plan “Best” for Solo Travellers?
When looking for the best travel insurance for individuals or the best travel insurance for solo travellers, check for the following criteria:
Adequate medical sum insured
A medical emergency overseas can be expensive. You want a plan that covers hospitalisation, medical evacuation, and even repatriation.
Cashless hospital network
If a plan has the option for cashless payment options globally or countrywide at network doctors and hospitals, you want to avoid large upfront bills and chasing down reimbursement.
Trip interruption/cancellation cover
Solo trips are often more susceptible to sudden changes to your travel plans, and you will want a plan that reimburses for unused bookings if you have to cancel due to unforeseen reasons.
Baggage & document loss/delay cover
Losing luggage or a passport while travelling alone can be stressful, and a plan that will cover loss or delay is a must.
Flexibility about duration & extension
While travelling, some trips unexpectedly extend, and it is always good to have an option to extend your coverage.
Transparent exclusions & sub-limits
Beware of age-based sub-limits, exclusions for pre-existing conditions, and limits to room rent, diagnostics, etc.
Ease of claims & online servicing
As a solo traveller, the last thing you want is a long, drawn-out claims process with 24/7 access or service that becomes difficult to navigate.
Affordability vs benefit ratio
The “best plan” is always the best balance between cost and coverage. You don't want a plan that may be less expensive but offers no meaningful protection.
Additionally, you will want to compare the factors that affect the premium, such as age, trip duration, destination risk, insurance coverage amount, and any additional coverage. All of these will affect the cost.
Comparing a Few Hypothetical Individual Travel Insurance Plans
Below is a conceptual comparison of three types of individual travel insurance plans, based on standard features in many insurers' offerings:
- Basic Single Trip Plan
- Covers one trip only
- Moderate medical cover (say USD 40,000)
- Baggage delay/loss cover
- Trip cancellation for defined events
- No or limited extension
- Comprehensive Single Trip Plan
- Higher medical sum insured (USD 100,000+)
- Better benefits for emergency evacuation
- More exhaustive coverage for baggage, document loss, and personal Liability
- Option to extend or add riders
- Annual Multi-Trip Solo Plan
- Designed for solo travellers taking multiple international trips in a year
- You pay one premium for multiple trips
- Benefit: no need to buy a new plan every time
- May have limits per trip in terms of duration
When comparing benefits plans, take a look at policy wordings, exclusions, and extraordinary benefits. A plan that looks cheaper may have severe restrictions on coverage.
Key Coverages You Must Check
Even the best individual travel insurance should clearly cover:
- Emergency medical, hospitalisation, ambulance & evacuation
- Trip cancellation, delay & curtailment
- Loss, delay or theft of baggage / personal belongings
- Loss of passport/documents / duplicate issuance expenses
- Personal Liability for third-party claims
- Missed connections, emergency accommodation if forced to stay extra days
Equally important are what is not covered:
- Pre-existing health problems
- Cosmetic or elective procedures
- Injuries/illness caused by a crime, war, or the consumption of illegal substances
- Self-inflicted injury
- Quarantine cost or accommodation
- Unapproved adventure activities, depending on policy
Check carefully if older travellers face sub-limits on room, diagnostics, surgeon fees, etc. Some plans impose stricter ceilings once you cross a certain age.
How to Choose the Best Solo Travel Insurance
Follow these steps:
- Estimate your travel risk & needs
If you are going to remote places or planning adventure activities, you'll need higher coverage.
- Shortlist plans based on cover, not just price
Always compare what you get for that price.
- Check the hospital network & support system.
A strong network ensures you don't run into cash payment issues.
- Review exclusions & small print.
The “not covered” section is as important as “what is covered.”
- Check flexibility & extensions.
Life is unpredictable; can your plan adapt?
- Read reviews & past claim settlement experience.
A plan with a poor claims track record may cost you more in stress.
Final Thoughts
Selecting the best individual travel insurance means getting the right balance between affordability and comprehensive coverage. For a single-person travel insurance plan, the best coverage will include protection for medical emergencies, trip cancellations or delays, lost baggage, and personal liability.
It is equally essential that exclusions are clearly stated and that they cover your travel needs. It is good practice to review and compare plans, read all the fine print and choose a policy that gives peace of mind as well as protection.
