Travel Guard Insurance Review & Complaints: Travel Insurance (2024)

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Now operating under the umbrella of one of the largest insurance groups in the world, AIG, Travel Guard started out as a small, homegrown company. Today they write about travel insurance protection in 20 countries.

Our Travel Guard insurance review will cover everything you need to know, from Travel Guard travel insurance rates to how to buy a Travel Guard insurance policy.

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What is a Travel Guard?

Sentry Insurance employee John M. Noel developed travel insurance products under the Travel Guard name in 1982, and by 1985, had moved to purchase the rights and sell the products independently. In 2000, international expansion began with the creation of Travel Guard Canada. Six years later, AIG Insurance acquired Travel Guard, and it has continued to operate as a subsidiary ever since.

Travel Guard does not underwrite any of its own insurance products. Underwriting is handled by National Union Fire Insurance Company, another AIG subsidiary. Travel Guard’s U.S. headquarters remain in Stevens Point, WI, with offices in six additional countries around the world.

Travel Guard offers a range of travel insurance products for both pleasure and business travel, from package policies to à la carte selections. Product availability varies by state and by country.

The Travel Guard Insurance COVID information center on the company website includes details on how and when you can get a Travel Guard insurance refund due to a canceled trip. Call the Travel Guard Insurance phone number on your policy for more information.

Read more: AIG Insurance Review & Complaints: Life, Travel, & Business Insurance

What types of insurance products are offered for travels?

Since the products offered vary by state, the Travel Guard website requires the selection of a state in order to obtain product details. For the purpose of this review, we selected California as our sample state.

The available plans include multiple levels of travel packages, à la carte selections, car rental coverage, and medical evacuation plans.

Travel Insurance Policy Packages

Travel insurance policy package plans are available at a variety of levels to suit various needs and budgets.

The Basic Package is the base-level plan, as the name implies, and includes 100% trip cancellation and interruption coverage. It also offers $500 in return air for trip interruption and the same coverage for trip delay. Baggage loss and delay are covered, and the plan has $10,000 worth of medical expenses and $100,000 in medical evacuation coverage.

The Silver Package is one step up, with higher coverage amounts in most areas, including $15,000 in medical expense coverage and $150,000 for medical evacuation. For each paid adult, a child under 17 can be added to the policy at no additional charge. Extra benefits are added when the policy is purchased within 15 days of initial trip purchase, including expanded cancellation and interruption coverage and a pre-existing condition waiver.

The Gold Package again increases coverage, with up to 150% in trip interruption costs and $750 for return air. Lost and delayed baggage amounts are also higher, and there is a $250 benefit for a missed connection. This plan has $25,000 in medical expense coverage, $500,000 for medical evacuation, and $10,000 in accidental death and dismemberment coverage. Like the Silver plan, purchase within 15 days of the initial trip payment adds more benefits; missed connection coverage is doubled, the pre-existing condition clause is waived, and other coverage is increased and added as well.

The highest level of coverage among these tiered plans is the Platinum Plan, which includes $1000 for trip interruption return air and $500 for missed connections. Medical expense coverage is at $50,000, emergency evacuation at $1 million, and accidental death and dismemberment coverage at $50,000. Again, additional coverage is included when the package is purchased within 15 days of trip payment.

Pack N Go is a last-minute travel insurance plan that does not include trip cost cancellation coverage. It provides 100% of trip cost for interruption and also covers trip delay, missed connections, baggage loss and delay, and $25,000 in medical expenses coverage. $500,000 in emergency evacuation coverage is also included for trips.

Travel Guard Plus is the final package plan and is the most comprehensive travel insurance offered by the company. It has the highest level of emergency medical expense coverage at $100,000, and also includes adventure sports coverage. Most other coverages match the Platinum plan.

Business Traveler

Travel Guard’s Business Traveler plan is a package plan aimed at business travelers. It includes trip interruption and trip delay benefits as well as coverage for lost or delayed baggage. In addition to $500,000 in emergency evacuation, this plan also has $100,000 in security evacuation coverage for trips.

The plan also includes business services and a host of other travel assistance benefits.

Are there other plans that offer optional travel insurance coverage?

There is additional optional coverage offered by Travel Guard, which can be purchased individually or as add-ons to other plans.

MedEvac Emergency Coverage

Per Trip is a plan that covers extended travel of up to 364 days with emergency medical evacuation, security evacuation, and both medical and accidental death and dismemberment coverage during trips.

Rental Car Collision coverage replaces the insurance offered through the rental company and provides up to $35,000 in damage coverage with a $250 deductible.

Flight Guard provides from $100,000 to $500,000 in coverage for injuries incurred during commercial air travel trips.

Finally, the Travel Rite Annual package policy provides a range of coverage designed to last through multiple trips over the course of a single year.

Is Covid-19 travel insurance available?

Some policies can protect travelers’ trip investments if the Covid-19 pandemic causes them to cancel their trip for medical or economic reasons. If a traveler contracts an illness, or is quarantined, Trip Cancellation Coverage may apply. With the coronavirus impacting the global economy, many companies are experiencing changing work requirements and unexpected terminations. Certain policies may include coverage for these specific events within Trip Cancellation. For any other concerns related to the pandemic, the Cancel For Any Reason upgrade is the best option for travelers with recently purchased trips.

Are the rates competitive with other travel insurance companies?

Travel Guard has changed its online quoting system since our last review. It now requires more traveler information and does not return as many options. The rate chart previously available is no longer available on the company’s website.

We ran a quote for a California resident, 30 years old, traveling to the United Kingdom for one week at a cost of $5000.

The quote system returned three options: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. The lowest rate, for the Silver plan, was $149. The Platinum plan nearly doubled that cost at $283. Since the quote comparison system did not return a rate for the basic plan, we then requested a quote for that plan directly. That rate was $145, only a few dollars below the cost of the Silver plan, making the latter a better value.

Travel Guard Insurance: Your Ultimate Companion With a Hassle-Free Claims Process

Ease of Filing a Claim (Online, Over the Phone, Mobile Apps)

Travel Guard Insurance offers multiple channels for filing claims, including online submission through their website. Policyholders can conveniently file their claims from the comfort of their own homes.

Average Claim Processing Time

Travel Guard Insurance doesn’t specify the exact claim processing time on their website. Policyholders should contact their customer service for information on the typical duration of claim processing.

Customer Feedback on Claim Resolutions and Payouts

While Travel Guard Insurance has received an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has a relatively low complaint volume, customer feedback on claim resolutions and payouts can vary.

Some customers have reported quick claims payments with little difficulty, while others have expressed dissatisfaction with claim denials and coverage limitations. It’s essential for policyholders to thoroughly review their policy details and understand the coverage limitations to avoid surprises during the claims process.

Travel Smarter With Travel Guard Insurance: Unleash the Power of Digital and Technological Features

Mobile app features and functionality

Travel Guard Insurance provides a mobile app that offers policyholders access to their insurance information on the go. The app may include features such as policy management, claims filing, and emergency assistance contact information. Policyholders can download the app for added convenience.

Online account management capabilities

Travel Guard Insurance offers online account management capabilities through their website. Policyholders can log in to their accounts to review policy details, initiate claims, and access important information related to their coverage.

Digital tools and resources

Travel Guard Insurance provides various digital tools and resources to assist policyholders with their travel insurance needs. These resources may include informative articles, FAQs, and online guides to help customers make informed decisions about their coverage options and understand the claims process.

Travel Guard Insurance strives to provide a convenient and user-friendly experience for policyholders, both in terms of filing claims and managing their policies through digital and technological features. However, it’s crucial for customers to thoroughly read their policy documents and contact customer service with any questions or concerns regarding their coverage or the claims process.

Are ratings and consumer reviews positive?

Travel Guard currently has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). There have been 136 complaint forms filed in the past three years, with 37 of those closed in the last 12 months. This is not a high complaint volume for a large company that serves such a large area. The overall complaint number has gone down since our last review of this company.

Consumer Affairs has 54 reviews of Travel Guard and the majority are negative. Most often, the complaint involves claim denial, and of these, the majority seemed to involve the insured being unaware of what the policy did and did not cover. There are a few scattered positive reviews to be found as well, indicating quick claims payment with little difficulty.

Travel Guard travel insurance: What’s the bottom line?

Travel Guard offers a range of plan levels with common add-on benefits that can provide comprehensive coverage for a trip. Reviews of the company indicate a common issue with understanding of coverage; as with every insurance policy, we recommend carefully reading the fine print to be certain it meets your needs. Overall, Travel Guard has a good reputation that is improving over time, as indicated by the lower number of complaints in the past three years.

If you’re a frequent traveler, buying an annual trip insurance plan may be worth the investment. It can give you peace of mind and save thousands of dollars if your plans are canceled or interrupted.

Now that you know all about Travel Guard travel insurance plans, it’s time for numbers.

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