Our Verdict: The Short Answer
Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection is one of the highest-scoring travel insurers we have reviewed, and the reason is simple. It pays claims fast, sometimes the same day, and it is backed by genuinely exceptional financial strength. US policies are underwritten by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company, rated A++ (Superior) by AM Best, the top rating there is. The catch lives on the budget plans: medical limits are low for international travel, Cancel For Any Reason is locked to the LuxuryCare plan and reimburses only 50% of non-refundable costs (not 100%), the app is glitchy, and claims are adjudicated strictly to the letter of the policy’s definitions.
Free, no-obligation quote. A 15-day money-back window lets you cancel for a full refund before your trip starts.
We scored Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection 9.0 out of 10, near the top of our list of the best travel insurance companies. It earns that with industry-leading claims speed and financial backing that few insurers can match. The one thing to watch is the low medical limits on the budget plans, and the section below explains who that matters for.
Key Takeaways
- Who backs it: Underwritten by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company, rated A++ (Superior) by AM Best, among the best-capitalized insurers in the world.
- The standout: Claims paid up to five times faster than average, with same-day electronic payment, fixed-dollar benefits, and automatic flight-delay claims on ExactCare Extra.
- The catch: Budget plans carry low medical limits, CFAR is only on LuxuryCare and reimburses just 50% of non-refundable costs, the app is buggy, and claims are decided strictly on policy definitions.
- Family-friendly: Up to two children under 17 are covered free on the mid-tier ExactCare plan specifically. The benefit does not extend to ExactCare Value, ExactCare Extra, or specialty plans.
- Before you buy: Read the policy’s definitions of Family Member and Trip, book your return ticket before the policy takes effect, and buy within 15 days of your initial deposit if you want the pre-existing condition waiver or CFAR.
- Compare travel insurance rates and quotes
Is Berkshire Hathaway Travel Insurance Good and Legit?
Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection is good, and it is not just trading on a famous name. The financial backing is the real thing. US policies are underwritten by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company, which holds an A++ (Superior) rating from AM Best, the highest the agency gives. BHSIC is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., which also owns National Indemnity Company, one of the best-capitalized reinsurers in the world. The entity standing behind your policy has the kind of capital that makes claims-paying ability a non-issue.
Here is what the Buffett connection does and does not get you. It does not mean Warren Buffett reviews your claim. It does mean the operation can afford the fast, tech-forward claims process that is the brand’s whole pitch. The company sells under the motto Claims is Our Product, and for once the marketing matches the experience, with a few important caveats covered just below.
On the trust markers, BHTP holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, where it is accredited, and sits around 4.29 out of 5 on Squaremouth across more than 900 verified reviews. The operation runs out of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, built by people who have been in the travel-insurance business far longer than the 2014 launch date suggests.
One thing worth understanding before you shop: travel insurance is sold under brand names, but the claim gets paid by the underwriter. BHTP is a division of Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company (BHSIC), NAIC# 22276. If a claim is denied, the appeal goes to BHSIC, not to the website you bought from. That structure is actually a feature here, not a concern. Most travel insurance brands are administered by one entity and underwritten by another, and the underwriter’s financial strength is what determines whether they can pay. BHSIC’s A++ rating means that question is settled.
The Claims Speed, and the Strict-Definitions Catch
Claims speed is the headline, and it holds up. BHTP says it pays up to five times faster than the industry average, and the mechanics back that up. You can file with a photo from the app, and once a claim is approved and you choose electronic payment, the money can land the same day through a system the company calls BHTP Burst. Some benefits are fixed-dollar payouts rather than reimbursements, so a covered lost bag or tarmac delay pays a set amount with no haggling over receipts. Flight-delay claims on ExactCare Extra can file and pay themselves through automatic flight tracking.
That speed has a flip side worth understanding before you buy. The same precision that lets BHTP pay a clean claim in a day means it decides claims strictly on the wording of the policy, and that is where the denials come from. The definition of Family Member, for example, covers an aunt or uncle but not a first cousin, so a traveler who cuts a trip short for a cousin’s death can find the claim denied on the wording. The definition of Trip can require a purchased return ticket, not just a return date, and travelers who left the return open have had medical claims denied because the policy treated the trip as one-way. Photos have been rejected where the policy called for a physician’s form.
Named-storm timing matters here too. BHTP policies require purchase before a storm is named. A hurricane forming in the Atlantic that gets named on a Tuesday voids any new policy purchased on Wednesday for a trip in its path. That is standard in the industry, but BHTP’s strict adjudication means the named-storm definition in your specific policy form is what controls, not the marketing summary on the website.
The takeaway is that BHTP reads its own policy literally, so you should too. Before you buy, read three things: how the policy defines Family Member, how it defines Trip, and what it accepts as proof of loss. Book your return ticket before the policy takes effect, get a physician to document any medical cancellation on the form BHTP wants, and the speed that makes this insurer stand out works for you instead of against you.
Berkshire Hathaway Travel Insurance
Best for Claim ProcessingBerkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP) is an exceptionally strong choice for travelers who prioritize financial security and industry-leading claims efficiency. Backed by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company and sporting the highest possible AM Best rating of A++ (Superior) the company offers unmatched credibility. BHTP has made their claims process their central promise with payments up to five times faster than the industry average often utilizing same-day electronic payments through their BHTP Burst system and simplifying the process with pic-and-click mobile filing. A second compelling reason to choose BHTP is its innovative approach to benefits particularly for families. Their ExactCare plans offer a Kids Covered Free feature for up to two children under 18. For niche coverage the company provides specialized plans like AdrenalineCare for high-risk adventure sports and WaveCare for cruisers. Additionally BHTP offers fixed benefit payouts for certain covered events eliminating the hassle of haggling over receipts. Every policy includes a 24/7/365 Emergency Assistance line and complimentary concierge services plus a 15-Day Free Look money-back guarantee.
- Industry-leading claims speed — payments up to 5x faster than the industry average with same-day electronic payments via BHTP Burst
- Exceptional financial backing — A++ (Superior) AM Best rating backed by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance
- Kids covered free — up to two children under 18 covered at no extra cost on ExactCare plans
- Fixed benefit payouts — no receipt haggling with predictable reimbursements for covered events like lost luggage
- 15-Day Free Look guarantee — full money-back guarantee plus 24/7 emergency assistance and complimentary concierge services
Berkshire Hathaway Coverage Options and Plans
BHTP runs a lineup built around the ExactCare tiers plus a set of specialty plans, rather than one comprehensive policy. The split lets you match the plan to the trip, with the trade-off that you have to pick the right one. Confirm the current lineup and limits at quote, since the plan menu shifts over time.
Core ExactCare plans
- ExactCare Value: the budget option with $15,000 medical and secondary coverage; best for domestic trips where your own health insurance still applies. The Kids Covered Free benefit does not apply to this plan.
- ExactCare: the mid-tier plan with $50,000 medical, primary coverage, and the Kids Covered Free benefit, covering up to two children age 17 and under per insured adult
- ExactCare Extra: the most complete ExactCare option, with $75,000 medical, flight tracking, and automatic delay claims; secondary medical coverage applies
Specialty plans
- LuxuryCare: the premium plan with $100,000 medical (primary), $1,000,000 evacuation, and the only CFAR option; CFAR reimburses 50% of non-refundable costs up to $10,000 in insured trip cost per traveler, must be added at purchase within 15 days of initial deposit
- WaveCare: built for cruisers, with $75,000 medical, $750,000 evacuation, plus cruise-ship disablement and cruise-line bankruptcy protection
- AdrenalineCare: for activities most insurers exclude, including skydiving, rock climbing, and scuba diving, with $750,000 evacuation
- AirCare: flight-only coverage for delays, cancellations, and lost luggage, with no medical coverage
- ExactCare Lite: a post-departure plan for road trips, covering hotels, attraction passes, and medical emergencies, but not flying or cruising
| Coverage | ExactCare Value | ExactCare | LuxuryCare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency Medical | $15,000 | $50,000 | $100,000 |
| Medical Evacuation | $300,000 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Trip Cancellation | 100% trip cost | 100% trip cost | Up to $100,000 |
| Trip Interruption | 100% | 150% | 150% |
| CFAR Available | No | No | Yes |
| Kids Free | No | Yes | No |
Common exclusions
- Pre-existing conditions, unless you buy within 15 days of your initial trip deposit and insure the full non-refundable trip cost
- Adventure activities, unless covered by AdrenalineCare
- Incidents while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Named storms once they have been named at time of purchase
- Travel to countries under government advisories
- Mental or nervous disorders, unless they result in hospitalization
- Trips less than 100 miles from your primary residence, for evacuation coverage
Travel Medical Coverage: Mind the Limits
This is the one area to go into with eyes open. The budget plans carry low medical limits: $15,000 on ExactCare Value and $50,000 on ExactCare. That is workable for a domestic trip where your own health insurance still applies. For an international trip where it likely does not, those limits are thin. A serious injury or hospital stay abroad can outrun $50,000 quickly, and a medical evacuation back to the US runs $50,000 to $200,000 depending on origin. That gap is real.
The primary vs. secondary distinction also matters. ExactCare Value and ExactCare Extra provide secondary medical coverage, meaning they pay after your own health plan. ExactCare (mid-tier) and LuxuryCare provide primary coverage. On a medical-heavy international trip, primary coverage means fewer coordination headaches and faster reimbursement. If medical coverage is your priority, the math points to LuxuryCare: $100,000 in primary medical and $1,000,000 in evacuation. For extended or high-risk international trips, either move up to those plans or compare an insurer whose base medical limits start higher.
Cancel For Any Reason: What the Fine Print Actually Says
CFAR is available only on LuxuryCare, and the qualifying conditions are specific. You must purchase the policy, with CFAR added, within 15 days of your initial trip deposit. All travelers must be medically able to travel at purchase. The full non-refundable trip cost must be insured. You must cancel at least 48 hours before scheduled departure.
The reimbursement is 50% of insured non-refundable trip costs, up to trips valued at $10,000 per traveler. That means the maximum CFAR payout is $5,000 per person. The pitch is “cancel for any reason”; the reality is partial reimbursement, with a hard cap, if you cancel for a reason the standard policy does not already cover. Standard covered reasons, illness, injury, death in family, severe weather, jury duty, are already in the base policy. CFAR fills the gap for things like change of mind or a work commitment the policy does not name. For most travelers, the standard covered reasons are enough. CFAR makes sense when your non-refundable trip cost is high and you have a specific, identifiable cancellation risk the base policy does not address.
What Berkshire Hathaway Travel Insurance Costs
BHTP prices competitively. For a sample $2,000 trip, a 45-year-old traveler to Mexico for seven days can expect to pay around $52 for ExactCare Value and around $112 for LuxuryCare, based on published quote comparisons. That range tracks the typical rule of thumb of 5% to 10% of trip cost for comprehensive coverage. The value is strongest when claims speed and financial security matter more than the highest possible limits.
Two things can sharpen the deal. The Kids Covered Free benefit on the ExactCare plan covers up to two children age 17 and under per insured adult at no added premium, making BHTP one of the few insurers that does not charge per child on a family trip. A 15-day money-back window lets you cancel for a full refund before your trip starts. If you need primary coverage or the highest medical limits, price LuxuryCare before assuming the cheaper plan covers the gap that matters.
Customer Satisfaction and Reputation
The reputation splits along the same line as the product. Praise centers on claims speed, the pic-and-click filing, and helpful representatives. BHTP holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau plus 4.29 out of 5 on Squaremouth across more than 900 verified reviews. The criticism is just as consistent. Denials that hinge on policy definitions, especially who counts as a family member for a death-related cancellation, come up repeatedly, along with travelers feeling blindsided by wording they did not expect. The app draws its own complaints, covered below.
Online and Digital Experience
The website is clean and gets you from quote to coverage in a couple of minutes, with plain-language plan descriptions and side-by-side comparison. Every policy also includes complimentary concierge service that goes well beyond emergencies, covering things like restaurant reservations, finding a doctor, interpreter help, and replacing lost glasses, all at no extra cost. That is a genuine perk most insurers do not bundle in.
The app is the weak spot, and BHTP does not really hide from it. It has the right features on paper, including claims filing, document upload, and status tracking, but reviews regularly cite crashes and trouble loading policies. The common sentiment is that the company is excellent and the app is not, with reviewers advising travelers not to let the app put them off. If the app gives you trouble, file through the web portal instead, which does the same job more reliably.
Berkshire Hathaway Claims Process
Filing is built to be quick. You can file through the portal at bhtp.com/claims, through the app with pic-and-click photo documentation, by email, or by phone. Most claims need a trip invoice with dates and costs, proof of payment, proof of any refunds, and the travel provider’s cancellation-penalty documentation. Medical claims add a signed authorization and attending-physician documentation.
Once a claim is approved and you opt for electronic payment, BHTP Burst can deposit funds the same day. Flight-delay claims on ExactCare Extra can process automatically. More complex claims take longer, but the floor is faster than most competitors. The single best thing you can do is submit complete documentation in the exact form the policy asks for, since that is what keeps a BHTP claim in the fast lane rather than the denial pile.
Berkshire Hathaway Pros and Cons
Pros
- Industry-leading claims speed, up to five times faster than average
- Exceptional financial backing, with an A++ underwriter
- Competitive pricing across most plan tiers
- Up to two kids age 17 and under covered free on the ExactCare plan
- Fixed-dollar payouts on many benefits, with no receipt haggling
- Pre-existing condition waiver available if purchased within 15 days of initial deposit
- 24/7 emergency assistance and free concierge service on all plans
Cons
- Low medical limits on ExactCare Value ($15,000) and ExactCare ($50,000)
- CFAR available only on LuxuryCare, reimbursing 50% up to a $10,000 trip cost cap
- Mobile app stability issues
- No annual or multi-trip plans
- ExactCare Value and ExactCare Extra provide secondary medical coverage, not primary
- Strict policy definitions drive claim denials on Family Member, Trip, and proof-of-loss requirements
Our Verdict and Overall Score for Berkshire Hathaway Travel Insurance
Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection delivers exactly what it promises: straightforward travel insurance backed by serious financial muscle, with a claims process designed to pay you quickly. The low medical limits on the entry-level plans are a real concern for international travelers, and the strict policy definitions reward people who read the fine print before they need it. For domestic trips and travelers who value speed and certainty over maximum limits, it is one of the strongest choices on the market.
Choose BHTP if you prioritize fast claims, want top-tier financial backing, are traveling domestically or on short international trips, have kids you want covered for free on the ExactCare plan, or need AdrenalineCare for adventure sports. The more closely you read the policy before you buy, the better this insurer treats you.
Look elsewhere if you need maximum medical coverage for extended international travel, in which case Travel Insured International or Seven Corners may fit better. If you want Cancel For Any Reason on a plan other than LuxuryCare, Travel Insured International is worth a look. For long trips, consider HTH Worldwide, and if a polished app matters most, Faye does that better.
About Our Methodology
We use a weighted scoring system for travel insurance reviews. We compared 20 companies on key factors, including their travel insurance rates, to inform our ratings. Once we scored each company, we applied a curve based on the best overall product. Here is what we weigh:
- Financial Strength & Solvency: 20%
- Affordability & Value: 15%
- Customer Service: 20%
- Online & Digital Experience: 10%
- Customer Satisfaction & Reputation: 20%
- Claims Process: 15%
How Berkshire Hathaway scored:
- Financial Strength: 10/10
- Affordability: 8/10
- Customer Service: 7/10
- Online Experience: 6/10
- Customer Satisfaction: 7/10
- Claims Process: 8/10
You can learn more about how each company scored and what curve was applied here: Travel Insurance Reviews.
