Travel Insurance for Solo Women: The Complete Guide for 2026
Why solo female travelers need travel insurance, which plans offer the best coverage, and exactly what to look for before buying a policy.
This post may contain affiliate links. Disclosure
Here is a truth that no one wants to hear when they are excitedly planning a trip: travel insurance is the single most important purchase you will make for your solo adventure. Not the flight. Not the accommodation. Not the experience bookings. Insurance. Because when you travel alone as a woman, there is no partner to handle logistics if you get sick, no friend to advocate for you in a foreign hospital, and no one else’s credit card to fall back on if your trip collapses unexpectedly.
Solo female travel has surged in recent years, with women now making up approximately 84 percent of all solo travelers. Yet surveys consistently show that solo women are less likely than couples or families to purchase comprehensive travel insurance. This disconnect between risk exposure and risk preparation is something we need to fix. This guide breaks down exactly what solo women travelers need from their insurance, which providers offer the best coverage in 2026, how much it costs, and the specific scenarios you need to be prepared for.
Why Solo Women Travelers Need Insurance More, Not Less
When you travel with a partner or group, risk is distributed. If one person gets food poisoning, the other can navigate the local healthcare system, handle communication with insurance companies, and manage logistics. If a flight gets canceled, someone can stand in the customer service line while someone else searches for alternatives. When you travel solo, every disruption falls on you entirely. And for women specifically, there are additional risk factors that make insurance essential:
Medical emergencies abroad. A hospital stay in the United States might run $10,000 per night. In many countries, hospitals require cash payment upfront before treating you. Without insurance, a serious illness or injury can result in bills that take years to repay.
Emergency evacuation. If you are injured in a remote area — a hiking accident in Patagonia, a scooter crash on a rural road in Bali, a diving emergency in Thailand — medical evacuation to a facility with adequate care can cost $50,000 to $300,000. This is not theoretical. It happens to travelers every week.
Trip cancellation. Family emergencies, illness, natural disasters, political unrest, and airline bankruptcies can all force last-minute cancellations. Without insurance, you lose every non-refundable dollar you have invested.
Theft and loss. Solo travelers are statistically more likely to experience petty theft because they are perceived as easier targets. Insurance covers replacement of stolen electronics, documents, and personal items.
Personal liability. If you accidentally cause injury to someone else or damage property abroad, liability coverage protects you from potentially devastating financial claims.
Photo credit on Pexels
What Your Policy Must Cover
Not all travel insurance policies are created equal. Here are the coverage categories that matter most for solo women travelers, listed in order of priority.
Emergency Medical Coverage
This is the foundation. Your policy should cover at minimum $100,000 in emergency medical expenses, though $250,000 or more is recommended for destinations with expensive healthcare (the United States, Switzerland, Australia, Japan). This covers hospital stays, surgery, doctor visits, prescription medications, and ambulance transport.
What to check: Does the policy cover pre-existing conditions? Many budget policies exclude them. If you have any ongoing health conditions, look for policies that offer a pre-existing condition waiver, typically available if you purchase the policy within 14 to 21 days of making your first trip payment.
Emergency Medical Evacuation
Your policy should cover at least $500,000 in evacuation coverage. This pays for emergency transport to the nearest adequate medical facility and, in serious cases, repatriation to your home country. For adventure travelers visiting remote areas, this coverage is non-negotiable.
What to check: Does the policy cover evacuation to your home country or only to the nearest adequate facility? Being evacuated to a hospital in a neighboring country might save your life, but getting home afterward is a separate expense.
Trip Cancellation and Interruption
This reimburses your non-refundable trip costs if you have to cancel before departure or cut your trip short due to covered reasons. Standard covered reasons include illness, injury, death of a family member, natural disasters, terrorism, jury duty, and employment termination.
What to check: Look for “Cancel for Any Reason” (CFAR) coverage if it is available. Standard cancellation policies only cover specific listed reasons. CFAR policies let you cancel for any reason at all, typically reimbursing 50 to 75 percent of your non-refundable costs. CFAR must usually be purchased within 14 to 21 days of your first trip payment.
Personal Belongings and Electronics
This covers loss, theft, or damage to your belongings including electronics. For solo women travelers who carry laptops, cameras, and phones, this coverage matters. Typical limits range from $1,000 to $3,000, with sub-limits on individual items (often $500 per item for electronics).
What to check: Is there a sub-limit on electronics? If your laptop is worth $1,500 but the per-item limit for electronics is $500, you are underinsured. Some policies allow you to add a rider for additional electronics coverage.
Personal Liability
This protects you if you accidentally injure someone or damage their property while traveling. It also covers legal expenses if you are sued. Coverage limits of $100,000 or more are recommended.
24/7 Assistance Hotline
For solo travelers, this is perhaps the most underrated benefit. A 24/7 assistance line gives you access to multilingual support staff who can help you find local medical care, coordinate with hospitals, arrange emergency transport, and assist with document replacement. When you are alone, sick, and do not speak the local language, this service is worth the entire cost of the policy.
Best Travel Insurance Providers for Solo Women in 2026
World Nomads
Best for: Adventure travelers and women planning activity-heavy trips Price range: $80 to $300+ per trip depending on destination and duration Standout feature: Covers over 200 adventure activities
World Nomads is the insurance provider most frequently recommended by travel bloggers and long-term travelers, and for good reason. Their Standard and Explorer plans cover an extensive list of adventure activities including scuba diving, bungee jumping, motorbiking, skiing, and rock climbing. You can buy or extend your policy while already traveling, which is useful for solo travelers whose plans evolve on the road.
The Explorer plan offers higher coverage limits and covers more extreme activities. For solo women who plan to surf in Costa Rica, trek in Nepal, or scooter around Southeast Asia, World Nomads provides peace of mind that a budget policy cannot match.
SafetyWing
Best for: Digital nomads and long-term travelers Price range: Starting from $45 per 4-week period Standout feature: Subscription-based model with no fixed end date
SafetyWing operates on a subscription model that is ideal for open-ended travel. Instead of buying a policy for specific dates, you pay monthly and can cancel anytime. Coverage includes emergency medical ($250,000 limit), emergency evacuation, trip interruption, and personal liability. The price is hard to beat, especially for long-term travelers. The main limitation is that SafetyWing does not cover trip cancellation, theft of belongings, or adventure sports beyond basic activities. For digital nomads who primarily need medical coverage during extended stays abroad, it is an excellent value. For women planning adventure-heavy trips, pair it with supplemental adventure coverage.
Travel Insured International
Best for: Comprehensive single-trip coverage with CFAR option Price range: $100 to $500+ per trip Standout feature: Available worldwide, strong CFAR option
Travel Insured offers some of the most comprehensive single-trip policies available. Their Worldwide Trip Protector plan includes generous medical coverage ($250,000+), trip cancellation, baggage protection, and 24/7 assistance. The optional Cancel for Any Reason upgrade is available if purchased within 21 days of your first trip payment. For solo women taking one or two big trips per year, Travel Insured provides the kind of thorough coverage that eliminates financial worry.
Allianz Travel Insurance
Best for: U.S.-based travelers wanting a reputable, well-established provider Price range: $50 to $400+ per trip Standout feature: SmartBenefits app for easy claims and assistance
Allianz is one of the largest insurance companies in the world, and their travel insurance arm benefits from that scale. Claims processing is generally smooth, the 24/7 assistance hotline is well-staffed, and the SmartBenefits app makes it easy to manage your policy, file claims, and access emergency contacts from your phone. Their OneTrip Prime plan is a solid mid-range option for solo travelers, offering $100,000 in medical coverage, $500,000 in evacuation coverage, and trip cancellation up to 100 percent of insured trip cost.
Photo credit on Pexels
How Much Does Travel Insurance Actually Cost?
The general rule is that travel insurance costs between 4 and 10 percent of your total non-refundable trip cost. Here are some real-world examples for solo women travelers:
Budget backpacking trip to Southeast Asia (2 weeks, $1,500 total trip cost):
- World Nomads Standard: approximately $85 to $120
- SafetyWing: approximately $45 (one 4-week period)
European city trip (10 days, $3,000 total trip cost):
- Allianz OneTrip Prime: approximately $120 to $180
- Travel Insured Worldwide Trip Protector: approximately $150 to $220
Adventure trip to South America (3 weeks, $5,000 total trip cost):
- World Nomads Explorer: approximately $200 to $350
- Travel Insured with CFAR: approximately $300 to $500
Long-term digital nomad travel (6 months, ongoing):
- SafetyWing: approximately $270 total ($45/month x 6)
- World Nomads (renewed quarterly): approximately $600 to $900
For the cost of a few restaurant meals, you are protecting yourself against financial catastrophe. There is no rational argument against this purchase.
How to File a Claim
Insurance is only valuable if you can actually use it when you need it. Here is how to set yourself up for smooth claims.
Document everything in real time. Photograph receipts, medical documents, police reports, and any damaged belongings immediately. If your belongings are stolen, file a police report within 24 hours — most policies require this. If your flight is canceled, get written confirmation from the airline.
Keep all receipts. Every out-of-pocket expense related to a covered event should be documented: hospital bills, pharmacy receipts, hotel costs for extended stays due to illness, replacement clothing after baggage loss.
Contact your insurer promptly. Most policies require you to notify the insurance company within 24 to 72 hours of an incident. Call the 24/7 assistance line even if you are not sure whether your situation is covered. They can guide you through the process and often coordinate directly with hospitals and service providers.
Understand the claims timeline. Claims processing typically takes 2 to 8 weeks. Having complete documentation speeds this up significantly. Incomplete claims are the number one reason for delays and denials.
Know your deductible. Most policies have a deductible (typically $50 to $250) that you must pay out of pocket before coverage kicks in. Factor this into your expectations.
Common Mistakes Solo Women Travelers Make With Insurance
Buying the cheapest policy without reading the coverage. A $30 policy that excludes medical evacuation, adventure activities, and electronics is not actually protecting you. Read the policy document, not just the marketing page.
Assuming your credit card insurance is sufficient. Some premium credit cards include travel insurance benefits, but the coverage is typically limited and riddled with conditions. Credit card insurance usually requires you to have paid for the trip entirely on that card, may not cover medical expenses, and often has low coverage limits. Use it as a supplement, not a replacement.
Not disclosing pre-existing conditions. If you have a pre-existing condition and do not disclose it, your claim will be denied. Period. Many policies offer pre-existing condition waivers if you purchase within the specified window.
Waiting too long to purchase. Many of the best benefits, including CFAR and pre-existing condition waivers, are only available if you buy your policy within 14 to 21 days of your first trip payment. Buying insurance should be your first step after booking, not your last.
Not carrying proof of insurance. Have your policy number, emergency assistance number, and a digital copy of your full policy document accessible on your phone even without internet. Some countries, particularly Schengen states, require proof of travel insurance for visa approval or entry.
Photo credit on Pexels
Special Considerations for Solo Women
Pregnancy coverage. If there is any chance you could be pregnant during your trip, check whether your policy covers pregnancy-related medical expenses. Many standard policies exclude pregnancy or only cover complications up to a certain gestational week (typically 24 to 32 weeks).
Mental health coverage. Some policies now include coverage for mental health emergencies, which can be important for solo travelers dealing with anxiety, panic attacks, or trauma-related episodes while abroad. This is an evolving area — check the specific policy language.
Coverage for harassment or assault. While no insurance policy can prevent these experiences, some comprehensive policies include provisions for counseling, emergency relocation, and legal assistance for victims of assault or harassment abroad. This is worth looking for specifically.
Companion travel benefit. Some policies will fly a family member or friend to your location if you are hospitalized for an extended period. For solo travelers, this benefit is particularly valuable because there is no one already with you to provide support.
What to Know Before You Go
Travel insurance is not a luxury or an optional add-on. For solo women travelers, it is a fundamental component of trip planning that sits alongside booking flights and accommodation. The cost is trivial relative to the protection it provides, and the peace of mind alone is worth the investment.
Buy your insurance within 14 days of your first trip booking. Add it right alongside the items on your packing checklist. Read the full policy document. Understand what is covered, what is excluded, and how to file a claim. Store your policy details where you can access them offline. And then go explore the world with the confidence that comes from knowing you are genuinely protected.
The best insurance policy is one you never need to use. For the complete pre-trip preparation, see our solo female travel safety guide. The second best is one that is there, fully and comprehensively, when you do.
Related Reading
Get the best HerTripGuide tips in your inbox
Weekly guides, deals, and insider tips. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.