Whether you're planning an adventurous excursion to Acapulco, a relaxing beach trip to Cancún or a sightseeing jaunt to Mexico City, even the most careful trips can be thrown off course by the unexpected.
For example, civil unrest broke out in the country in late February after a cartel leader was killed by Mexican authorities. As a result, the U.S. State Department advised Americans to shelter in place and travel disruptions were reported in Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara's airports.
The weather is another factor when planning a trip to Mexico. Parts of the country are prone to hurricanes from May through November. But in December through April — peak travel times for the country — winter weather at home in the U.S. can also become an issue, causing flight disruptions and travel difficulties.
Getting travel insurance for your trip to Mexico can help protect the money you've spent. Before you leave, it can act as reassurance that, should you need to cancel due to an unforeseen circumstance, like an illness, injury or sudden job loss, you could get your money back. When you're en route, coverage is available for cancelled or delayed flights, as well as for lost baggage. And while you're seeing the sights, medical coverage can also prevent you from paying out of pocket if you're ill or injured, and the best plans can also help you find care and translation services.
Here's what you need to know about travel insurance for Mexico, along with our top picks. (See our methodology for more on how we made our selections.)
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Best cancel for any reason coverage: Allianz
Who's this for? A cancel for any reason policy offers you the most flexibility to cancel your trip, but it usually means you'll get between 50% and 75% of your non-refundable, pre-paid expenses back. However, Allianz's Cancel Anytime policy covers up to 80% of your expenses, the highest reimbursement rate we've seen.
Standout benefits: Allianz's OneTrip Prime plan offers free coverage for one child for each parent or grandparent traveling.
- OneTrip Prime and Premier plans cover one child under 17 for free
- CFAR coverage reimburses 80% of nonrefundable trip costs.
- Pre-existing condition waiver included with all plans
- Rates are higher than the national average
- Limited options for adventure travel
- CFAR plan must be purchased through a travel agent
- No discounts
Best for adventure travel: World Nomads
Who's this for? While many travel insurers restrict coverage for sports and high-risk activities, or require an extra add-on, World Nomads includes coverage for 250 activities, from jet skiing and snorkeling to zip-lining and backpacking.
Standout benefits: Plans also offer coverage for up to $3,000 of lost luggage and gear.
World Nomads Travel Insurance
Policy highlights
Standard, Explorer, Epic single-trip plans and annual/multi-trip plan, with CFAR available for top-tier policies
Emergency medical: $125,000 for Standard Plan, $150,000 for Explorer Plan, $250,000 for Epic Plan
Medical evacuation: $400,000 for Standard Plan, $500,000 for Explorer Plan, $700,000 for Epic Plan
Personal effects: $1,000 for Standard Plan, $2,000 for Explorer Plan, $3,000 for Epic PlanCancel For Any Reason coverage
Add-on for Explorer and Epic plans that covers 75% of nonrefundable costs if purchased seven days before initial deposit. (Not available in New York.)
Pre-existing condition waiver
Available with Explorer and Epic plans purchased seven days before first deposit.
Pros
- Affordable rates
- Coverage can be extended mid-trip
- Covers 200+ adventure activities like scuba diving and bungee jumping
Cons
- Lower trip cancellation limits than other companies
- CFAR add-on must be bought within seven days of booking
- Only issues policies to travelers 69 and younger.
Best for families: Travel Guard
Who's this for? Travel Guard's essential, preferred and deluxe plans include coverage for one child with each traveling adult, making it affordable to bring the family.
Standout benefits: Families can also get coverage for pets staying behind, covering additional boarding costs if you're delayed returning home.
- Adult policies include coverage for one child under 17
- Travel delay benefit of $1,000 is available after five-hour delay.
- Medical care and evacuation limits can be doubled
- Cancel For Any Reason policies only reimburse up to 50%
- Standard medical coverage limit lower than some competitors
- Not all products are available for purchase online
Best for cruises: Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection
Who's this for? Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection's WaveCare package is designed to meet the unique needs of a cruise vacation. This plan offers up to $75,000 of medical coverage per person, ideal since care onboard can cost significantly more than on land.
Standout benefits: This plan also includes other cruise-specific features, like coverage for pre-paid excursions and ship disablement.
- Speedy claims resolution including same-day compensation
- All plans include rental car collision coverage
- Pre-existing coverage waiver available with all plan
- CFAR policy only reimburses 50% of prepaid trip costs
- No add-ons available
Best for comparison shopping: Squaremouth
Who's this for? If you want to see all of your options before you buy, Squaremouth can help. With one search, it shows quotes from dozens of travel insurance companies side-by-side, helping you find the features that matter the most at the lowest price.
Standout benefits: Squaremouth's zero-complaint guarantee allows it to advocate for customers if their claim is rejected, and the brand will remove that insurer from its platform if claims aren't resolved to its satisfaction.
SquareMouth Travel Insurance Marketplace
Policy highlights
SquareMouth is a travel insurance marketplace that allows you can compare top-rated providers, including Berkshire Hathaway, Nationwide, Seven Corners and Tin Leg.
24/7 assistance available
Yes
Read our SquareMouth travel insurance review
Pros
- Includes more than 30 travel insurance companies
- You can compare providers side-by-side on the website
- SquareMouth doesn't add additional markups or fees
- Carriers that don't adequately address a customer complaint are removed
Cons
- Doesn't provide travel insurance policies of its own
Do I need travel insurance for Mexico?
Americans aren't required to get travel insurance to enter Mexico. However, having travel insurance could help you in several ways.
- Assistance with medical costs: Typical American medical insurance plans, including Medicare, don't pay for coverage outside the U.S. A travel insurance plan could help with the bill if you're injured or become ill while traveling.
- Coverage for flight issues: If you're flying into Mexico, travel insurance can help cover unexpected expenses if your flight is delayed or cancelled. Baggage loss and delays are also commonly covered.
- Coverage for cancellation: If you need to cancel your trip for a covered reason, like an illness, injury, death in your family or an unexpected job loss, it's possible to get a full refund for your expenses. You can also add cancel for any reason coverage if you'd like more flexibility
- Coverage for interruption: If you have to cut your trip short for a covered reason, such as an illness or injury or family emergency, you could get your unused expenses back, plus some funds to help you get home. You can also add interruption for any reason coverage so you're not locked to the interruption reasons listed on your policy.
How much is travel insurance for Mexico?
A travel insurance policy can typically costs between 4% and 10% of the overall price of your trip. However, it can vary based on your age, the coverage limits, add-ons you choose, and the length of your trip.
To find the cost of travel insurance for Mexico, we gathered sample quotes for three scenarios, including:
- Family of four: Two parents, aged 30, and two children under five, spending $5,000 on a one-week trip.
- A senior couple: Two 60-year-old adults spending $5,000 on a one-week trip.
- A solo traveler: A single 30-year-old traveler spending $2,500 on a one-week trip.
Here were the quotes we received from each of our top companies for these scenarios:
| Sample traveler | Allianz | World Nomads | Travel Guard | Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family of four | $108 | $292.61 | $165.56 | $144 |
| 60-year-old couple | $348 | $167.20 | $474.12 | $278 |
| 30-year old solo traveler | $68 | $83.60 | $133.28 | $57 |
Source: Data from individual insurer's online quotes for a one-week trip to Mexico
According to our data, the average cost for our sample family of four was $178. Our sample older couple would pay $317. And, our sample solo traveler would pay an average of $85 for coverage.
Mexico travel insurance FAQs
What travel insurance do I need for Mexico?
Getting a standard, comprehensive travel insurance plan for Mexico can help you be protected before, during and after your trip for unexpected and unforeseen events. These plans include coverage for medical expenses while you're abroad, trip cancellation before your trip, and travel disruptions.
What is the best travel insurance for Mexico?
CNBC Select considered more than a dozen companies and chose Allianz, World Nomads, Travel Guard, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection and Squaremouth as top picks for travel insurance in Mexico based on their coverage, cost and convenience.
Is trip insurance worth it for Mexico?
Travel insurance is worth it for Mexico, even though it's not a requirement to enter the country. Getting travel insurance can help you in situations from a flight delay to getting ill or injured while you're there.
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Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed financial decisions. Every travel insurance review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of travel insurance products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
Our methodology
CNBC Select analyzed more than a dozen U.S. travel insurance companies, focusing on cost, plan types, coverage amounts and add-on options.
We prioritized companies that offered cancel for any reason coverage and considered the reimbursement rate. We also considered waivers for pre-existing conditions and the length of time after booking to qualify.
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
Based on this criteria, our picks for the best travel insurance are:
- Best cancel for any reason coverage: Allianz
- Best for adventure travel: World Nomads
- Best for families: Travel Guard
- Best for cruises: Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection
- Best for comparison shopping: Squaremouth
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