Search and Rescue coverage, often called SAR insurance, is a specialized travel insurance benefit that helps pay for the cost of locating and rescuing a traveler who becomes lost, disoriented, or goes missing during a covered trip.
However, not all travel insurance plans include Search and Rescue coverage. Some plans offer it as an optional add-on or upgrade, while others may include it automatically as part of their standard benefits. It’s important to check your specific policy details to understand if SAR coverage is included and what limits or conditions apply.
Your travel insurance will cover a search and rescue mission only if a few important steps are followed:
If these things don’t happen, your insurance might not cover the rescue costs even if you really need help. So it’s good to know how this works before you travel.
Search and Rescue (SAR) insurance helps cover the costs associated with locating and rescuing you or your travel companion if you become lost, injured, or stranded during your trip. This coverage typically includes:
Keep in mind that SAR coverage generally applies only during covered activities and emergencies deemed necessary by the rescue agency. It usually does not cover medical treatment after the rescue that’s a separate benefit.
Search and Rescue insurance helps a lot, but there are some situations where it won’t pay, like
If you ever get lost or need help during your trip, here’s how your travel insurance’s Search and Rescue benefit can assist you:
Some travel insurance plans, like IMG iTravelInsured LX and iTravelInsured Sport Plans, include Search and Rescue coverage as a standard benefit, providing built-in protection during emergencies.
Other plans, such as Travelex Ultimate and Travelex Advantage Insurance, offer Search and Rescue coverage as an optional upgrade, allowing you to add this important benefit based on your travel preferences and activities.
The IMG iTravelInsured LX plan provides Search and Rescue coverage up to $10,000 per person. This applies if you or your traveling companion become lost, injured, disoriented, or missing during your trip while engaging in recreational activities.
The IMG iTravelInsured Sport plan provides Search and Rescue coverage up to $50,000 per person. This applies if you become lost, injured, disoriented, or reported missing while on your trip engaging in recreational activities suitable to your skills and experience.
Travelex Ultimate travel insurance plans offer Search and Rescue coverage as an optional Upgrade, covering up to $10,000 per person. This means you can choose to add this coverage based on your specific travel needs and activities.
Travelex Advantage travel insurance plans offer Search and Rescue coverage as an optional Upgrade, covering up to $10,000 per person. This means you can choose to add this coverage based on your specific travel needs and activities.
The cost of travel insurance with Search and Rescue (SAR) coverage starts around $36 for a 15-day trip. However, the price can vary depending on factors like your destination, trip length, age, and the coverage options you choose.
Below is a comparison of premiums and Search and Rescue coverage for four popular plans Travelex Advantage, Travelex Ultimate, IMG iTravelInsured LX, and IMG iTravelInsured Sport based on a 15-day trip with a $1,000 insured trip cost
| Plan name | Search and rescue coverage | Age 20 | Age 40 | Age 60 | Age 70 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travelex Advantage | $10,000 | $36 | $42 | $62 | $87 |
| Travelex Ultimate | $10,000 | $57 | $69 | $91 | $125 |
| iTravelInsured Travel LX | $10,000 | $102 | $114 | $138 | $171 |
| iTravelInsured Sport | $50,000 | $97 | $112 | $176 | $176 |
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No, not all plans include this coverage by default. For example, IMG iTravelInsured LX and Sport include it as a built-in benefit, while Travelex Advantage and Ultimate offer it as an optional upgrade.
Coverage limits vary:
Yes, but it depends on the plan. The iTravelInsured Sport plan is specifically designed for active and adventure travelers and includes Search and Rescue coverage up to $50,000 per person. However, some high-risk activities — such as heli-skiing, base jumping, or extreme mountaineering may still be excluded. Always review the policy’s list of excluded activities to be sure you're covered.
In Travelex plans, you must select the optional upgrade to activate SAR coverage. In contrast, both IMG plans include SAR coverage by default
Among the four, IMG iTravelInsured Sport offers the highest SAR coverage up to $50,000 per person
Yes, all plans exclude certain situations, such as SAR related to reckless behavior, illegal activities, or voluntary evasion of rescue. Always read the policy wording carefully.
You can compare and purchase travel insurance plans that include Search and Rescue coverage through trusted platforms like American Visitor Insurance. They offer popular options such as IMG iTravelInsured and Travelex plans, with filters to help you find policies that match your travel needs including optional or built-in SAR benefits.
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