If you take multiple trips a year, you may want to consider purchasing long-term travel insurance for emergencies. This is especially true if you go abroad for extended stays, as travel insurance typically covers you even when your U.S. medical insurance may not.

Because the considerations and coverage for long-term plans differ from shorter, single-trip policies, NerdWallet has researched the best long-term travel insurance plans for U.S. citizens.

Here's our list of the best long-term travel insurance providers:

Allianz Global Assistance.

Travel Guard.

USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services.

GeoBlue.

Heymondo.

Factors we considered in long-term travel insurance

We made the following considerations when selecting the best long-term travel insurance companies:

Coverage. We looked at the types of coverage offered and the amount of coverage you could purchase.

Cost. Affordability is essential, as the best coverage worldwide won't matter if the policy is too expensive.

Ease of purchase. Being able to quickly and easily find quotes and sign up for coverage is a crucial factor in choosing the right policy.

Customization. The more options you have to tailor a plan specifically for your needs, the better.

Note: We excluded companies that require you to list the length, locations or dates of your trips to purchase a policy. We recognize that most travelers likely don't know these details for all the trips they'll take a year in advance.

An overview of the best long-term travel insurance

To compare prices and coverage levels, we looked at quotes for a one-year policy for a 35-year-old traveler based in California. If a company offered more than one tier of travel insurance, we went with their entry-level option.

On average, the price of a policy offered by the listed companies was about $171.

Top long-term travel insurance for U.S. citizens

Let's take a closer look at our five recommendations for long-term travel insurance.

Allianz Global Assistance

What makes Allianz Global Assistance great:

Easy-to-use website.

Affordable coverage.

Different options for different budgets.

For our test, Allianz Global Assistance's basic coverage cost $138, about 19% lower than average.

Read our review

Travel Guard by AIG

What makes Travel Guard great:

Includes dental coverage.

Offers security and emergency evacuation coverage.

Missed connection coverage of up to $500.

For our test, Travel Guard's basic coverage cost $259, about 51% above average.

Read our review

USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services

What makes USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services great:

Budget-friendly option.

Includes emergency medical evaluation.

Easy-to-use website.

For our test, USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services' basic coverage cost $100, almost 42% below average.

Learn more

GeoBlue

What makes GeoBlue great:

Certain prescription drugs are covered.

Covers medically necessary COVID-19 testing and treatment.

Allowed to take unlimited trips outside of the U.S. for a maximum of 70 days abroad per trip.

For our test, GeoBlue's basic coverage cost $125, about 27% below average.

Heymondo

What makes Heymondo great:

Offers a one-month refund policy, provided the trip has not started and no claims were made.

Easy to add coverage for electronics, cruises or adventure sports.

It has an app to file claims and chat with a doctor 24/7.

For our test, Heymondo's basic coverage cost $232, about 36% above average.

Frequently asked questionsHow long can you get travel insurance for?

Most travel insurance companies offer annual plans as a cost-effective way for you to insure multiple trips in one year. Annual plans typically cover medical emergencies and basic benefits. Depending on the provider, some benefits such as baggage delay and trip cancellation are not always covered in annual plans. There are, at times, maximum trip durations per policy.

Can I get travel insurance for 2 years?

You can purchase an annual plan that covers multiple trips in one year (with restrictions on trip duration) or a specific long-term travel insurance plan if your trip is longer than three months. Annual plans are on a 12-month rolling basis. Long-term policies can last up to two years, depending on the travel insurance company.

Can you get travel insurance for a 6 month trip?

Yes. If you're considering backpacking or taking a gap year, travel insurance companies have options for long-stay travel insurance. Policies vary by providers, but they'll typically include emergency medial treatment, legal protection and travel document replacements.

Can you buy travel insurance for the whole year?

Yes, several travel insurance providers offer annual plans. Annual plans are a cost-effective way to insure more than one trip during the year. Depending on the plan, long-term trips may be excluded from coverage.

How long can you get travel insurance for?

Most travel insurance companies offer annual plans as a cost-effective way for you to insure multiple trips in one year. Annual plans typically cover medical emergencies and basic benefits. Depending on the provider, some benefits such as baggage delay and trip cancellation are not always covered in annual plans. There are, at times, maximum trip durations per policy.

Can I get travel insurance for 2 years?

You can purchase an annual plan that covers multiple trips in one year (with restrictions on trip duration) or a specific long-term travel insurance plan if your trip is longer than three months. Annual plans are on a 12-month rolling basis. Long-term policies can last up to two years, depending on the travel insurance company.

Can you get travel insurance for a 6 month trip?

Yes. If you're considering backpacking or taking a gap year, travel insurance companies have options for long-stay travel insurance. Policies vary by providers, but they'll typically include emergency medial treatment, legal protection and travel document replacements.

Can you buy travel insurance for the whole year?

Yes, several travel insurance providers offer annual plans. Annual plans are a cost-effective way to insure more than one trip during the year. Depending on the plan, long-term trips may be excluded from coverage.

Long-term travel insurance coverage recapped

Before purchasing long-term travel insurance, you should think about the type of coverage you want, your budget and if you have any pre-existing medical conditions you wish to be covered.

Having the right plan may provide you with peace of mind and save you serious cash in the event of an emergency.