Optional benefits, also known as add-ons or upgrades, are additional coverages that travelers can select when purchasing a travel insurance plan. These benefits are not automatically included in standard policies, but they allow you to customize your coverage based on your specific travel needs. Choosing the right optional benefits can provide extra protection, flexibility, and peace of mind, especially for higher-value trips, medical concerns, or special activities.
At American Visitor Insurance, travelers can choose from a range of optional benefits to customize their travel insurance plan and get coverage that best fits their individual travel needs.
Many travelers ask whether they can add extra coverage or optional benefits to their travel insurance plan. The answer is yes — in most cases you can customize your plan, but the options depend on the insurance provider, the plan you choose, and when you purchase your policy. Optional benefits are a great way to get more flexibility and protection beyond the standard coverages like emergency medical, trip cancellation, or evacuation.
Travel insurance plans often allow travelers to add optional benefits to enhance their coverage. The availability of these extra coverages depends on the insurance provider and the specific plan selected. Common types of extra coverage that may be added include:
Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) is one of the most popular optional travel insurance add-ons available through American Visitor Insurance. This benefit allows you to cancel your trip for reasons not covered under standard trip cancellation benefits and receive partial reimbursement of prepaid, non-refundable trip costs, typically 50% to 75%, depending on the plan.
Several comprehensive travel insurance plans available through American Visitor Insurance include the Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) optional benefit. Popular travel insurance plans that offer the optional Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) benefit include iTravelInsured LX, Pathway Premium, Travelex Ultimate, Trip Protection Choice, and Trip Protector Preferred.
Note: CFAR availability, reimbursement percentage, and eligibility requirements may vary by plan and insurer. CFAR must usually be purchased within the required time-sensitive window.
Interrupt for Any Reason (IFAR) is an optional travel insurance add-on available on American Visitor Insurance. This benefit allows you to cut your trip short for reasons not covered under standard trip interruption benefits and receive partial reimbursement for unused, non-refundable trip costs, usually a percentage of the total trip cost depending on the plan.
Several travel insurance plans available through American Visitor Insurance include the Interrupt for Any Reason (IFAR) optional benefit. Popular plans include: iTravelInsured LX, Pathway Premium, Travelex Ultimate, ITravelinsured Choice, Trip Protection Choice, and Trip Protector Preferred.
Note: IFAR availability, reimbursement percentage, and eligibility requirements may vary by plan and insurer. IFAR must usually be purchased within the required time-sensitive window.
Rental Car and Damage Coverage is an optional travel insurance add-on .This benefit helps cover damage or theft of a rental vehicle during your trip, which is not typically included in standard travel insurance policies.
Several travel insurance plans available through American Visitor Insurance include rental car damage optional benefit. Popular plans include: iTravelInsured SE, Pathway Plus, Travelex Ultimate, Trip Protection Basic, Safe Travels Armor.
Event Ticket Protection Coverage is an optional add-on available American Visitor Insurance through Trip Protection Choice insurance. This benefit helps reimburse the cost of non-refundable event tickets if you are unable to attend due to a covered reason, such as illness, travel delays, or other unforeseen emergencies.
Popular travel insurance plan that covers event ticket ptotection coverage is Trip Protection Choice available on American Visitor Insurance, covers up to $15,000.
Cancel for Work Reason (CFWR) is an optional travel insurance add-on that allows you to cancel your trip due to work-related reasons such as job transfer, unexpected work obligations, or business-related emergencies and receive partial reimbursement of your non-refundable trip costs, depending on the plan.
Popular travel insurance plans that covers optional cancel for work reason coverage are Travelex Ultimate Insurance and Seven Corners Cruise Insurance both plans are available through American Visitor Insurance.
Note: Coverage limits, eligible work-related reasons, and claim requirements may vary by plan and insurer. Always check your policy details before purchasing.
Additional Medical Coverage is an optional travel insurance add-on that allows travelers to increase the limits for emergency medical expenses beyond what is included in a standard plan. This ensures you have extra protection in case of serious illness or injury while traveling.
Popular travel insurance plans with additional medical coverage are Itravelinsured Choice insurance and Travelex Ultimate insurance both plans are available through American Visitor Insurance.
Adventure Sports Coverage is an optional travel insurance add-on that extends protection for high-risk or recreational activities that may be excluded under standard travel insurance plans.
Several travel insurance plans available through American Visitor Insurance include this optional sports coverage, including iTravelInsured Choice, Pathway Premium, Travelex Ultimate, and Travelex Advantage.
Cruise Protection is an optional travel insurance add-on that provides coverage specifically for travelers taking a cruise. This benefit helps protect against trip interruptions, missed connections, or certain cruise-related losses, that may not be covered under a standard travel insurance policy.
Popular travel insurance plan that offer Cruise Protection is Itravelinsured Choice insurance available through American Visitor insurance.
Pet Care Coverage is an optional travel insurance add-on that provides reimbursement for pet care expenses if you are unable to care for your pets due to an emergency covered under your travel insurance policy. This can include situations such as illness, injury, or unexpected travel delays.
Popular travel insurance plans that offers additional pet care coverage are Travelex Ultimate and Travelex Advantage available on American Visitor Insurance.
Travel plans can change, and unexpected events can occur. Optional benefits provide extra flexibility and peace of mind, such as:
Yes, the addition of an optional rider will increase the overall amount that you pay for your travel insurance policy. Optional riders give you extra protection over and above what a standard policy offers, and this extra cover comes with a higher price.
The price of an optional rider is determined by a number of factors, including:
For example, a Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) rider may increase the premium by approximately 3% to 5% of the total trip cost, depending on the plan and insurer. While optional riders raise the overall price, they can offer greater flexibility, higher protection limits, and peace of mind for travelers with specific coverage needs.
Choosing the right travel insurance add-ons depends on your travel plans, budget, and risk tolerance. Use the following guidelines to help decide which optional benefits may be appropriate for your trip:
By selecting the right add-ons through American Visitor Insurance, travelers can customize their coverage to better match their individual travel needs.
Most optional benefits must be added at the time of purchasing your travel insurance policy or within a limited, time-sensitive window after booking your trip. Once your policy is issued or your trip has started, you usually cannot add extra coverage.
Plans with time-sensitive optional benefits include:
iTravelInsured LX, Pathway Premium, Travelex Ultimate, Trip Protection Choice, and Trip Protector Preferred.
Optional coverages are additional benefits that travelers can add to a standard travel insurance plan for extra protection. These benefits allow you to customize your policy based on your trip cost, flexibility, medical needs, and special travel situations.
Popular plans offering multiple optional benefits include:
iTravelInsured LX, Pathway Premium, Travelex Ultimate, Trip Protection Choice, and Trip Protector Preferred.
Yes. Optional coverages increase the overall premium because they provide additional protection beyond standard benefits. The final cost depends on the type of add-on, your age, trip length, and total trip cost.
Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) allows travelers to cancel their trip for reasons not covered under standard trip cancellation benefits and receive partial reimbursement of non-refundable trip costs, typically between 50% and 75%, depending on the plan.
Plans offering optional CFAR coverage include:
iTravelInsured LX, Pathway Premium, Travelex Ultimate, Trip Protection Choice, and Trip Protector Preferred.
Standard travel insurance policies usually do not include Rental Car and Damage Coverage. However, this protection can be added as an optional benefit to help cover repair or replacement costs due to covered damage or theft.
Plans offering rental car and damage coverage include:
iTravelInsured LX, Pathway Premium, Travelex Ultimate, Trip Protection Choice, and Trip Protector Preferred.
Additional medical coverage increases the emergency medical expense limits of a standard travel insurance plan. This add-on is useful for travelers seeking higher medical protection while traveling domestically or internationally.
Plans allowing enhanced medical coverage include:
iTravelInsured LX, Pathway Premium, Travelex Ultimate, Trip Protection Choice, and Trip Protector Preferred.
Cruise protection is often available as an optional benefit and may include coverage for cruise-related situations such as missed connections, itinerary changes, or trip interruptions.
Plans offering cruise protection include:
iTravelInsured LX, Pathway Premium, Travelex Ultimate, Trip Protection Choice, and Trip Protector Preferred.
Event ticket protection reimburses eligible non-refundable event ticket costs if you are unable to attend due to a covered reason. Coverage limits and eligible events vary by plan. The popular plan is Trip Protection Choice (up to $15,000).
Pet care coverage is an optional benefit that reimburses eligible pet boarding or care expenses if an emergency during your trip prevents you from returning home as planned. The popular plans are Travelex Ultimate and Travelex Advantage.
Standard travel insurance only covers specific, listed cancellation reasons. However, some plans offer Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) as an optional benefit, which allows you to cancel your trip for reasons not otherwise covered and receive partial reimbursement of non-refundable trip costs.
Example:
The iTravelInsured LX plan offers optional CFAR coverage when purchased within the required time-sensitive window. With this add-on, travelers may receive up to 75% reimbursement of prepaid, non-refundable trip expenses if they cancel their trip at least 48 hours before departure.
Optional travel insurance coverages allow travelers to customize their policy beyond standard benefits such as emergency medical care and basic trip cancellation. These add-ons provide greater flexibility, enhanced financial protection, and peace of mind, especially for travelers with non-refundable trips, work commitments, higher medical needs, cruises, pets, or special travel plans.
From flexible cancellation options like Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) and Interrupt for Any Reason (IFAR) to additional medical coverage, rental car protection, cruise protection, event ticket coverage, pet care, and adventure coverage, optional benefits help fill coverage gaps that standard plans may not address. By choosing the right add-ons through American Visitor Insurance, travelers can tailor their travel insurance to better match their trip, budget, and risk level.