Whether you're planning an adventure in Acapulco, a beach excursion to Cancún or a sightseeing jaunt to Mexico City, even the most carefully planned Mexican vacation can be thrown off course by the unexpected.
If you need to cancel because of an illness, injury or sudden job loss. travel insurance can help you recoup what you spent on prepaid, nonrefundable airfare, hotel rooms and more. Your policy can also help if your flight into Benito Juárez International is delayed or your bags are lost. If you're injured while exploring Chichén Itzá, medical coverage can prevent you from having to pay the doctor's bill out of pocket. (The best plans can also help you find care and translation services.)
CNBC Select has ranked the best travel insurance companies for Mexico for families, adventure travelers, cancel for any reason coverage and more. For details on how we made our selections, see our methodology .
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, prepaid 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 cover up to $3,000 for 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
- Immediate coverage options available for travel on a short notice
- Travel delay benefit of $1,000 is available after five-hour delay
- 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, such as coverage for prepaid excursions and ship disablement.
- Cruise-specific plans can reimburse you up to $500 for missed connections and cruise delays
- Up to $75,000 in medical coverage for cruise plans
- Pre-existing coverage waiver available with all plans
- 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.
- Medical care coverage: Most private medical insurance plans and Medicare don't pay for care outside the U.S., so a travel insurance plan could pay the bill if you're injured or ill while traveling.
- Flight cancelation or delay coverage: If you're flying into Mexico, travel insurance can help cover unexpected expenses if your flight is delayed or canceled. Baggage loss and delays are also commonly covered.
- Trip cancelation coverage: If you need to cancel your trip for a covered reason, like an illness, death in the family or unexpected job loss, a policy could help you recoup expenditures. You can add cancel for any reason coverage if you'd like more flexibility
- Trip interruption coverage: If you have to cut your trip short due to a family emergency or another covered reason, you could get your unused expenses back, plus 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.
- Adventure travel coverage: If you're going scuba diving in a cenote or rappelling in Monterrey, those activities are likely excluded from a traditional travel insurance policy. World Nomads specializes in adventure activities and other top providers, including Allianz and Berkshire Hathaway, have special adventure travel packages.
How much is travel insurance for Mexico?
A travel insurance policy typically costs between 4% and 10% of your trip's total nonrefundable costs. 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 is the best travel insurance for Mexico?
CNBC Select considered more than a dozen travel insurance providers for Mexico, based on their coverage, cost and convenience. We selected Allianz, World Nomads, Travel Guard, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection and Squaremouth as the top options.
Is travel 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.
What kind of travel insurance do I need for a trip to Mexico?
When shopping for any travel insurance policy, look for good trip cancelation/interruption and lost baggage coverage. Since your U.S.-based healthcare can't be used in Mexico, consider a plan with robust payouts for medical expenses and emergency evacuations, as well. Depending on your itinerary, you may also want a provider with packages that cover adventure travel, which is excluded from many traditional policies
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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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