Approval Impact
Premium Increase
Most Important Factor
Best Approach
The Honest Truth About Travel & Life Insurance
Travel Is Disclosed—Not Hidden
Insurance underwriters care deeply about where you live, work, and travel. If you travel frequently or spend extended time in certain countries, this information is critical to your underwriting. The good news: travel itself doesn’t disqualify you. The bad news: destination risk, frequency, and duration all affect approval odds and premiums significantly. Transparency is essential—lying about your travel plans is a leading cause of claim denial.
Why Travel Matters
Insurance companies assess mortality risk. Travel to unstable regions, countries with poor healthcare, or areas with high crime rates increases risk. A person living in Switzerland has a different risk than someone spending half the year in a developing nation. Underwriters use country risk ratings, healthcare access data, and geopolitical stability assessments to evaluate travel risk.
Domestic vs. International
Frequent travel within the US has minimal impact on underwriting. Frequent international travel, especially to high-risk regions, carries significant underwriting implications. The difference between visiting Canada quarterly and spending 3 months per year in a developing nation is enormous from an underwriting perspective.
The Work Status Question
Are you traveling for work or leisure? Are you employed by a company or self-employed abroad? Do you maintain a home address? These questions shape underwriting decisions. A consultant traveling for client work is viewed differently than someone who relocated permanently to another country without clear work ties.
How Underwriters Assess Destination Risk
The Underwriting Framework
Insurers use standardized country risk indices that evaluate political stability, healthcare quality, crime rates, and disease prevalence. Countries are typically rated by risk tier: Tier 1 (minimal risk), Tier 2 (low-moderate risk), Tier 3 (moderate risk), and Tier 4+ (high-extreme risk). Your travel destinations determine which tier applies to your application.
Tier 1 & 2 Countries (Minimal to Low Impact)
Examples: Canada, UK, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland, Nordic countries, Western Europe, developed Asia-Pacific. Frequent travel to these regions has minimal or no impact on approval odds. Premium increases (if any) are 0-10%. Most carriers approve without hesitation.
Tier 3 Countries (Moderate Impact)
Examples: Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, UAE, Turkey, Egypt. Frequent travel to these regions triggers additional underwriting. Healthcare access, political stability, and healthcare quality are concerns. Approval odds: 70-85%. Premium increase: 15-50%. Underwriters may request proof of travel purpose and duration documentation.
Tier 4+ Countries (High/Extreme Impact)
Examples: Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Pakistan, Nigeria, Somalia, Venezuela, Haiti, North Korea. Travel to conflict zones, countries with US government warnings, or regions with extreme political instability creates severe underwriting challenges. Approval odds: 5-30%. Premium increases: 100%-250%+. Some carriers will decline entirely. Those who approve may exclude coverage for certain activities or regions.
Travel Categories & Approval Impact
Category 1: Occasional Traveler
Profile: Travels internationally 1-3 weeks per year to developed countries; maintains primary residence in US.
Approval Odds: 95%+
Premium Impact: 0% (no surcharge)
Underwriting Notes: This travel pattern is not considered a risk factor. Standard underwriting applies. No additional documentation required beyond basic travel disclosure.
Category 2: Frequent Business Traveler
Profile: Travels internationally 4-8 weeks per year; primarily to developed countries plus moderate-risk regions for work; maintains US home base and employment.
Approval Odds: 90-95%
Premium Impact: 0-10%
Underwriting Notes: Business travel is viewed favorably by most underwriters. Clear employment and purpose reduce concern. May request business documentation or employer verification.
Category 3: Extended Traveler / Part-Time Expat
Profile: Spends 2-4 months per year abroad in mixed-risk regions; maintains US residence and income; travel may include leisure or remote work.
Approval Odds: 75-85%
Premium Impact: 15-40%
Underwriting Notes: Underwriters request detailed travel itineraries, countries visited, duration in each location, and proof of residency/income ties to US. Healthcare access in destination countries is assessed. May request health records if staying in high-disease-prevalence areas.
Category 4: Digital Nomad / Full-Time Traveler
Profile: Lives abroad continuously or nomadic lifestyle; no fixed US residence; income from remote work or international sources; spends significant time in developing nations.
Approval Odds: 50-70%
Premium Impact: 50-150%
Underwriting Notes: This is the most challenging category. Underwriters verify ongoing employment, income stability, tax residency status, healthcare coverage, and emergency contact information. No fixed address creates documentation challenges. Some carriers decline entirely; those who approve may require higher coverage limits or additional health screenings.
Category 5: High-Risk Region Traveler
Profile: Frequent travel (weeks per year) to Tier 4 countries or active conflict zones; may be a humanitarian worker, journalist, security contractor, or aid worker.
Approval Odds: 10-40%
Premium Impact: 150%-300%+
Underwriting Notes: Requires specialized carriers with a high-risk appetite. Most mainstream carriers decline. Approval may come with exclusions (e.g., no coverage for war/terrorism-related deaths). Extensive medical underwriting. Possible occupational hazard surcharges in addition to travel surcharges.
How Frequency Affects Your Application
The Frequency Impact Matrix
Travel frequency multiplies destination risk. Visiting a moderate-risk country once is different from living there half the year. Underwriters track total weeks abroad, duration per stay, and how many different countries are visited. The metric: total weeks spent outside the home country per year.
1-4 Weeks/Year
Minimal impact. Occasional international vacation or business trip. Approval odds are unaffected for developed countries. Even moderate-risk regions show little impact at this frequency.
5-12 Weeks/Year
Moderate impact for high-risk regions. Extended business travel or quarterly trips. Underwriter interest increases. May request purpose documentation.
13-26 Weeks/Year
Significant impact. A quarter or more of the year abroad. Approval odds drop noticeably, especially for developing nations. Premium surcharges increase substantially.
27-52 Weeks/Year
Extreme impact. More than half the year abroad or continuous travel. Digital nomad category. Approval challenging. Most carriers require specialized underwriting.
Sample Rates by Travel Profile
The following examples show baseline 30-year-old applicant, healthy profile, $500K 20-year term rate estimates (2025 data). Rates vary by carrier, health, age, and underwriting.
Profile A: US-Based, 2 weeks/year to Canada & Europe
Base Rate: $22/month
Travel Surcharge: $0
Total: $22/month | 0% increase | Approval odds: 98%
Profile B: US-Based, 6 weeks/year to Mexico, Central America
Base Rate: $22/month
Travel Surcharge: $3-5/month (15-25%)
Total: $25-27/month | 15-25% increase | Approval odds: 85-90%
Profile C: Business Traveler, 8 weeks/year to Asia, Africa, South America mix
Base Rate: $22/month
Travel Surcharge: $8-12/month (40-55%)
Total: $30-34/month | 40-55% increase | Approval odds: 75-80%
Profile D: Part-Time Expat, 16 weeks/year in Thailand & Vietnam
Base Rate: $22/month
Travel Surcharge: $12-18/month (55-85%)
Total: $34-40/month | 55-85% increase | Approval odds: 70-75%
Profile E: Digital Nomad, full-time travel to Southeast Asia & the Middle East
Base Rate: $22/month
Travel Surcharge: $25-45/month (120-200%)
Total: $47-67/month | 120-200% increase | Approval odds: 55-65%
Profile F: Humanitarian Worker, frequent travel to conflict zones
Base Rate: $22/month
Travel Surcharge: $60-100+/month (270-450%+) or declined
Total: $82-122+/month or policy denied | 270-450%+ increase | Approval odds: 20-30%
Remote Work & Digital Nomads: Special Considerations
The Underwriting Challenge for Digital Nomads
Digital nomads present unique underwriting complexity. No fixed residence, frequently changing countries, varying income documentation, and unclear healthcare arrangements all complicate the application process. Underwriters struggle to assess ongoing risk when the applicant’s location and circumstances change frequently.
What Underwriters Need From You
Residency Documentation
Do you maintain a home base? A lease or ownership document, even part-time, helps. Mail forwarding address? Bank statements showing deposits help establish a financial tie to one location.
Income Verification
Bank statements, tax returns (even international), or employment contracts. Underwriters want proof of stable income despite the nomadic lifestyle. Consistency matters more than amount.
Travel Itinerary
Where do you typically stay? How many months per year in each region? Is travel concentrated in stable countries or spread across risky areas? Detailed itineraries reduce uncertainty.
Healthcare Coverage
International health insurance documentation is essential. Proof of expat health coverage reduces underwriter concerns about healthcare access and emergency care. Many nomads carry World Nomads or similar policies.
Approval Tips for Nomads
Keep a permanent address if possible (family home, mail forwarding address, even coworking space). This gives underwriters a reference point. Document 2-3 years of stable income, even if the location varies. Consider purchasing when you’re young before the nomadic lifestyle starts—then the underwriting is standard. Work with brokers specializing in expat/nomad insurance; they know which carriers are flexible. Be prepared for longer underwriting: nomads typically take 4-6 weeks vs. 1-2 weeks for standard applicants.
Real Traveler Approval Stories
Story 1: Consultant, Age 35, Approved
Travel Profile: Travels to Europe, Asia, and the Middle East for consulting work. About 10 weeks per year internationally, primarily to developed and moderate-risk countries. Maintains a home base in New York. Works for a Fortune 500 company.
Application: Disclosed full travel itinerary, provided business documentation, and showed employer verification.
Outcome: Approved with 25% surcharge. Base rate $28/month, approved at $35/month for $500K 20-year term.
Key Factor: Clear employment, developed home base, and business purpose all supported approval. Travel is work-related, not high-risk recreational.
Story 2: Retiree, Age 62, Approved with Conditions
Travel Profile: Spends 6 months per year in Mexico and 6 months in the US. No longer works. Split residency.
Application: Provided property ownership documents for both locations, bank statements showing income sources (pension/investment), and medical records showing good health despite age.
Outcome: Approved with 40% surcharge and higher face amount limits. Base rate $85/month, approved at $119/month for $250K 15-year term (lower face amount due to age/travel combination).
Key Factor: Dual residency was acceptable because both locations were established and documented. Health was strong enough to offset travel risk. Regular residency in Mexico is lower risk than nomadic travel.
Story 3: Digital Nomad, Age 28, Denied, Then Approved Elsewhere
Travel Profile: Freelance designer, constantly traveling across Southeast Asia and Latin America. No fixed residence. Stays in each location 2-4 months. Income varies month to month ($2,000-$5,000/month via Fiverr and Upwork).
First Application: Applied to a major carrier through the online portal. Declined due to “no fixed address, unstable income, high-risk travel pattern.”
Strategy Adjustment: Worked with a specialized broker. Documented 3 years of tax returns, obtained an international health insurance certificate, established a mail address at parents’ home, and provided a detailed country-by-country itinerary.
Second Application: Applied to a carrier specializing in expats. Approved with an 85% surcharge. Base rate $18/month, approved at $33/month for $250K 20-year term.
Key Factor: The First carrier had no appetite for nomads. The second carrier specializes in this segment. Documentation and broker expertise made the difference.
Story 4: Humanitarian Worker, Age 31, Specialized Carrier Only
Travel Profile: Works for an international NGO. Spends 8-12 weeks per year in South Sudan, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. High-risk humanitarian deployment areas. Maintains an apartment in DC as a home base.
Standard Carrier Attempts: Applied to 3 mainstream carriers. All declined, citing “high-risk deployment regions” and “insufficient underwriting data for conflict areas.”
Final Approval: Found a carrier specializing in high-risk occupations and travel. Approved at 200% surcharge (double the base rate) with exclusion rider: no coverage for war/terrorism-related deaths.
Key Factor: Specialized carriers exist but come with higher costs and restrictions. The exclusion rider means humanitarian work-related death wouldn’t be covered, but natural causes would be.
Your Application Strategy
Step 1: Categorize Your Travel
Review the five travel categories above and honestly assess which one you fit. Calculate total weeks abroad per year. List destinations and frequency. This clarity helps you target the right carriers and prepare for underwriter questions.
Step 2: Gather Documentation
Everyone should have: Passport copies showing entry/exit stamps, travel itinerary for next 12 months, and a list of countries visited in the past 5 years.
Business travelers should have: an Employment verification letter, business documentation, and employer contact information.
Extended travelers/expats should have: Property documentation (lease, deed), bank statements, utility bills, tax returns, and international health insurance documentation.
Digital nomads should have: 2-3 years of tax returns, recent bank statements, client/employer contracts, international health insurance proof, and permanent address documentation.
Step 3: Full Disclosure
Never understate your travel or hide high-risk destinations. Insurance companies will discover the truth through passport verification, social media, or claim investigation. If you claim 4 weeks abroad but have 8 weeks of passport stamps, the application will be declined, and your honesty will be questioned. Full disclosure may result in higher premiums, but it’s better than policy denial.
Step 4: Work with a Broker
For any travel that exceeds occasional leisure (Categories 3-5), a specialized broker is essential. Brokers know which carriers have high-risk appetites, what documentation each carrier requires, and how to position your application for best results. They submit to the right carriers in the right order, maximizing approval odds.
Step 5: Shop Multiple Carriers
Get 4-6 quotes. Carriers have vastly different travel risk appetites. One carrier may decline you entirely, while another approves with a 30% surcharge. Shopping takes time but saves thousands over the policy term.
Step 6: Don’t Accept the First “No”
Denial from one carrier doesn’t mean you’re uninsurable. Keep shopping. The next carrier may have a different risk appetite and approve you at acceptable rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does travel while on the policy count?
Direct answer: Yes. Your travel patterns must remain consistent with your application.
If you’re approved for “4 weeks per year international travel” and you suddenly spend 16 weeks abroad, you’ve violated the terms of your underwriting. During the claim investigation, this could trigger coverage denial. If your travel plans change significantly, notify your insurance company.
Will a death from a travel-related accident be covered?
Direct answer: Usually yes, unless there’s an exclusion rider.
If you’re approved with standard underwriting, death from a car accident in Thailand or a disease contracted while traveling is covered. However, some policies for high-risk travelers include exclusion riders: no coverage for war/terrorism deaths, no coverage for death in specific excluded countries, or no coverage for extreme sports in destination countries. Always read your policy documents.
Can I get approved if I work abroad full-time?
Direct answer: Yes, but it’s harder and more expensive than working in the US.
Expats working full-time abroad face steeper surcharges and stricter underwriting than people working in the US with occasional travel. You’ll need detailed employment documentation, proof of income from foreign sources, tax documentation, and clarification of your residency status. Some carriers will decline; others approve at 50-100%+ surcharge.
Should I mention trips I don’t plan to take again?
Direct answer: Yes. Full disclosure means past and anticipated travel patterns.
Underwriters want to know your complete travel history to assess your risk appetite and likelihood of future high-risk travel. Even if you don’t plan to return to a particular high-risk country, disclose it. Omitting it can be viewed as misrepresentation.
What if I hide my travel to get approved?
Direct answer: Absolutely don’t. This will result in claim denial.
If you’re approved without disclosing extensive travel to high-risk countries and later die abroad, the claim investigation will find the truth. Your beneficiary will receive nothing. Worse, the misrepresentation can result in policy rescission (the insurance company acting as if the policy never existed). The travel surcharge is painful but far better than no coverage.
How does healthcare affect underwriting for travelers?
Direct answer: Significantly. Underwriters assess healthcare quality in your destination countries.
Traveling to countries with world-class healthcare (Western Europe, Singapore, Australia) has minimal impact. Traveling frequently to countries with poor healthcare systems (parts of Africa, South Asia, and Central America) increases underwriting concern. Disease prevalence in destination countries matters too—frequent travel to malaria regions triggers health questions. Having international health insurance helps offset these concerns.
Can I reduce my surcharge if I reduce travel?
Direct answer: Only at policy renewal, and only if the reduction is significant.
If you’re approved for $500/month with a 50% travel surcharge and later reduce your travel to 2 weeks per year, you can’t change the rate mid-term. However, at renewal (typically every 10-20 years), you can apply for new underwriting based on your reduced travel. Some carriers may reduce the surcharge or eliminate it entirely if the change is substantial. It’s best to plan for the long term rather than expect rate reductions for temporary changes.
If I’m denied, can I appeal or reapply?
Direct answer: Appeal rarely works. Better to shop with other carriers.
A carrier that denies you based on travel patterns rarely reverses that decision through appeal. Instead, apply to other carriers, especially those specializing in travelers and expats. If you reapply to the same carrier later, wait at least 6 months and ensure something material has changed (e.g., you quit international travel entirely or relocated permanently to a lower-risk country).
Get Approved As A Traveler
Yes, you can get life insurance while traveling internationally. We work with carriers that specialize in approving frequent travelers and expats. Approval odds improve dramatically when you shop multiple carriers and disclose your travel honestly.
Call Now: 888-211-6171
Licensed agents available Monday-Friday, 8 AM – 8 PM EST. We’ll match you with carriers most likely to approve travelers based on your specific destination and frequency.
Disclaimer: Rates, approval odds, and surcharges shown are estimates based on 2025 industry data and typical underwriting standards for international travelers. Your actual rates and approval will depend on your specific age, health status, travel destinations, frequency of travel, employment status, purpose of travel, healthcare access in destination countries, and the insurance company’s underwriting guidelines. Approval odds vary significantly by carrier and destination risk profile and are not guaranteed. Always obtain personalized quotes from multiple carriers. Misrepresenting your travel on your application can result in policy denial and claim rejection. The information in this article is provided for educational purposes. Consult with a licensed insurance professional for personalized recommendations based on your specific travel profile and insurance needs.
