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Allianz Travel Insurance Coverage Review — Is It Worth It?

Christine Krzyszton

Senior Finance Contributor

306 Published Articles

Countries Visited: 98 U.S. States Visited: 45

Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

29 Published Articles 3088 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 45 U.S. States Visited: 28

Why Purchase Travel Insurance

Allianz epidemic coverage endorsement, onetrip plans — for affordability and select coverages, alltrips annual plans — cover all of your trips for a 12-month period, how to obtain a quote with allianz, onetrip emergency medical plan, onetrip cancellation plus plan, rental car damage protector, allianz vs. credit card travel insurance, allianz vs. other travel insurance companies, allianz vs. point-of-sale travel insurance and protection, final thoughts.

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There are a lot of choices when it comes to travel insurance companies , so narrowing your selection to those that have a solid financial rating, offer products that provide good value, and receive high customer ratings should be baseline criteria.

Allianz Global Assistance company ( Allianz Travel) checks all of those boxes. Its parent company, Allianz SE, receives an A+ rating from A.M. Best (a leading insurance financial rating firm), and the company offers competitive individual trip and annual travel insurance products. It also serves over 45 million customers in the U.S. each year with 84% of those customers giving the company a 5-star rating.

Allianz has also been around a long time. In fact, the company was there to insure the Wright Brothers’ first flight and the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge — so you know you’re working with an established organization. You’ll also find that Allianz does business in more than 35 countries.

Let’s take a look specifically at Allianz Travel’s insurance products, show you how to obtain a quote, and give you some tips on purchasing and comparing travel insurance policies.

And while our focus is on Allianz Travel coverage, much of our information can apply to purchasing travel insurance in general.

Travel insurance can protect your trip investment with coverage for disruption due to unforeseen events such as severe weather, should you become ill, for illness in your family, missed connections, medical emergencies, and more.

Deciding whether to purchase travel insurance for your trip is an option each time you make a travel booking. The coverage is commonly offered by airlines, cruise companies, tour operators and other travel providers at the point of sale. If you travel infrequently and the cost is relatively low, you may just opt for the coverage during the booking process.

However, if you’re going to be taking several trips, you may be able to save money and receive better coverage if you compare with other travel insurance policies in the marketplace. Additionally, you’ll want to determine if it makes sense to purchase single insurance coverage for each trip or an annual all-trips-included policy.

Situations where it makes sense to purchase travel insurance include the following:

• You’re booking an expensive trip that includes a lot of non-refundable upfront expenses
• Your trip includes several travel providers (i.e. airlines, hotels, and tour operators)

While travel insurance is meant to cover unforeseen events, purchasing Cancel for Any Reason coverage may allow you to cancel your trip for any reason.

Bottom Line: If you’re uncomfortable with the amount of money you have at risk when you travel, securing travel insurance can provide immediate peace of mind . You’ll have solace in knowing that if you needed to cancel your travel plans due to a covered event or if your travel is disrupted, you’ll be able to recoup most, or all, of your investment.

Travel Insurance and the COVID-19 Virus

Most travel insurance policies do not provide coverage for trip cancellation due to fear of the coronavirus pandemic . However, COVID-19 is an included illness on many travel insurance policies as it relates to certain coverages such as emergency medical care while traveling and canceling a trip if you become ill with the virus. You may also have coverage if a family member or travel companion contracts the virus and you must cancel your trip as a result.

The only way to cover trip cancellations due to fear of contracting COVID-19 is to purchase Cancel for Any Reason insurance. This coverage can be added to a comprehensive travel insurance policy (with limitations) and subsequently allows you to cancel your trip for any reason.

While Allianz does not offer Cancel for Any Reason insurance , it may cover COVID-19 related illness in the following circumstances:

• Emergency medical care while traveling
• Trip cancellation due to becoming ill with the virus

Allianz recently announced that it is adding a new endorsement to select policies that will offer limited coverage for COVID-19 . Circumstances such as becoming ill with COVID-19 and having to cancel your trip, hospitalization, and trip delays due to such illness while traveling will have coverage.

Emergency transportation coverage has also been expanded to include COVID-19-related illness. Terms and conditions apply and the endorsement is not available on all policies Allianz offers.

You can find policies that offer Cancel for Any Reason insurance at TravelInsurance.com  and Aardy.com .

Bottom Line: Travel insurance policies normally do not cover canceling your trip because of fear you might get ill. However, Cancel for Any Reason insurance allows you to cancel a trip for any reason you determine is necessary. 

Types of Travel Insurance Policies Available With Allianz

Allianz Travel offers 2 core types of travel insurance plans: single trip plans and multi-trip plans . Each plan allows you to select the level of coverage you want and subsequently, the level of premium you prefer to pay.

We’ve used criteria to obtain a quote for a traveler age 35, traveling for 1 week to Mexico on a trip costing $3,000 . All benefits are per person, per trip, unless otherwise noted.

The single trip option allows you to select from a Basic, Prime, or Premier plan. Premiums vary by plan and coverage levels.  For the example we selected, the premiums ranged from  $116 for the Basic to $192 for the Premier pla n .

OneTrip Basic Plan — the Most Affordable Plan

The OneTrip Basic plan offers basic trip protection at an affordable price.

OneTrip Prime Plan — the Most Popular Plan

Need more coverage but still want your travel insurance protection to be affordable? The OneTrip Prime plan offers higher coverage limits at a reasonable cost.

The following are the maximum coverage limits for OneTrip plans. These coverages can be found under the OneTrip Premier Plan:

• Trip Cancellation —  up to $100,000 reimbursement for prepaid non-refundable expenses; pre-existing medical conditions included
• Trip Interruption —  up to $150,000 reimburses for remaining non-recoverable expenses and increased cost of return transport due to trip interruption as the result of a covered event; pre-existing medical conditions included
• Emergency Medical — up to $25,000
• Emergency Medical Transportation — up to $500,000 for transportation to the nearest medical facility
• Baggage Loss/Damage — up to $1,000 for theft, loss, or damage
• Baggage Delay —  up to $300 for delays 12 hours or more
• Trip Delay — up to $800 ($200/day for 4 days) for delays of 6 hours or more, for eligible expenses; an option to receive $100/day with no receipts required is also available
• Change Fee Coverage — $500
• Loyalty Program Re-deposit Fee Coverage — $500, covers re-deposit of points/miles due to covered trip cancellation
• 24 Hour Hotline Assistance
• Optional coverages include pre-existing medical coverage, rental car coverage, and required to work coverage — restrictions apply

Also worth noting is that kids age 17 and under are covered at no additional charge when traveling with a parent or grandparent.

Bottom Line: Allianz offers several levels of single-trip travel insurance plans that can fit every budget and level of coverage needed. 

If you’re a frequent traveler and want to ensure all of your trips are covered without having to purchase individual travel insurance policies, one of the AllTrips plans might be an appropriate choice. All of the trips you book within the 12-month policy period are covered automatically.

Coverage limits are per person, per trip, but more than 1 person can be included in the policy. Children 17 and under are covered at no additional charge when traveling with a parent or grandparent.

The AllTrips Executive plan is the most comprehensive policy and includes the maximum coverage limits listed below . AllTrips Prime and AllTrips Basic have less coverage than the Executive plan but may still be appropriate for your situation.

For example, the AllTips Basic plan does not include trip cancellation/interruption insurance but has emergency medical, evacuation, trip delay, baggage insurance, and car rental insurance.

• Trip Cancellation —  up to $10,000 reimbursement for prepaid non-refundable expenses
• Trip Interruption —  up to $10,000 reimburses for remaining non-recoverable expenses and increased cost of return transport due to trip interruption as the result of a covered event
• Emergency Medical — up to$50,000
• Emergency Medical Transportation — up to $250,000 for transportation to the nearest medical facility
• Baggage Loss/Damage —  up to $1,000 for theft, loss, or damage
• Baggage Delay — up to $1,000 for delays 12 hours or more
• Trip Delay —  up to $200 per day for eligible expenses, up to $1,600 in coverage , for delays of 6 hours or more
• Rental Car Damage and Theft — up to $45,000
• Business Equipment Coverage — up to $1,000
• Change Fee Coverage — up to $500
• Loyalty Program Redeposit Fee — up to $500
• Travel Accident Insurance — up to $50,000
• Concierge Services
• Optional Pre-Existing Medical Coverage — restrictions apply

Bottom Line: Allianz’s AllTrips 12-month plans offer affordable options to cover every trip you have booked or have yet to book within a 12-month period. 

Travel insurance is one of the easiest policies for which to obtain a quote and subsequently purchase a policy. Unlike auto or home insurance, you simply input some basic information about your trip, your age, where you reside, and your quote is instant.

You can then read through the coverages, select a policy that fits, and hit the purchase button. There is also no risk as you’ll have a free-look period where you can review the policy and decide whether to keep it or not.

If not, you can get a full refund. This period can be 10-14 days after purchase , depending on your plan and state regulations.

Additional Travel Insurance Offered by Allianz

In addition to the travel insurance packages offered by Allianz, you can purchase these additional plans and coverages available for single trips:

If trip interruption/cancellation is not important to you, you’ll find this plan with emergency medical, baggage insurance , emergency transport, travel accident coverage , and trip delay an affordable alternative.

If you need to cancel your trip for a covered reason or your trip is interrupted for a covered event, you’ll have coverage. Trip delay and 24-hour assistance are included.

For $9 per day, receive rental car damage/theft coverage, rental car trip interruption protection, and baggage loss coverage.

Hot Tip: If trip cancellation/interruption or trip delay coverage comes with your credit card is adequate for your trip but you want additional medical coverage, the Allianz’s OneTrip Emergency Medical plan may be a viable and affordable supplement. 

How Allianz Compares

When it comes to comparing travel insurance policies, it’s difficult to match apples to apples. Coverages vary widely, as well as terms and conditions. The lowest-priced policy is not always the best value for your needs. The flip side is possible, too. You may find a policy with plenty of coverage at a price that is more than you want to spend.

The best solution is when you find a balance between coverage and cost.

Here’s how Allianz’s travel insurance offerings compare with other travel insurance options.

The coverage that comes with your credit card does not compare with a comprehensive travel insurance policy . In addition to the limited travel insurance coverage credit cards offer, if you do have a claim, you’ll have the potential hassle of dealing with a third-party claims administrator.

With that being said, the trip cancellation, trip interruption, trip delay insurance, and primary rental car insurance coverages found on several credit cards may be more than adequate for your trip.

Here are some of the best credit cards for travel insurance:

The Platinum Card ® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card ® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card  is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access , hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
• Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment ( airline credit, Uber Cash credit, Saks Fifth Avenue credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR credit, and Equinox credit )
• TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
• Access to American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
• Access to Amex International Airline Program
• No foreign transaction fees ( rates and fees )
• $695 annual fee ( rates and fees )
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards ® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card ® , Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards ® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards ® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts ® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card ® . The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card ® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card ® . Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card ® .
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card ® . Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
• $189 CLEAR ® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card ® . Learn more.
• $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck ® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card ® . Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card ® . That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card ® . An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card ® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

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• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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The Amex Platinum card comes with trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance with a benefit of $10,000 per trip, up to a maximum of $20,000 per account per 12-month period.

Pay for your trip with your eligible card and you, your immediate family, and eligible traveling companions are covered for non-refundable expenses paid to the travel provider. Trip interruption coverage will also reimburse for additional travel expenses incurred due to a covered loss during your trip.

Trip delay coverage is also included on the Amex Platinum card for delays more than 6 hours. Reimbursement for incidentals and eligible incurred expenses is limited to $500 per trip with 2 claims allowed per 12-month period.

The Amex Platinum card also comes with emergency medical evacuation coverage .

For more information, check out our detailed guide to the travel insurance benefits offered by the Amex Platinum card.

Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred ® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance . With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide
• $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Travel portal
• 6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
• Excellent travel and car rental insurance
• 10% annual bonus points
• No foreign transaction fees
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt
• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC
• APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable

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Pay for your trip with your eligible card for up to $10,000 in coverage per person, $20,000 per trip, and up to $40,000 in a 12-month period. You and your qualifying immediate family are covered.

You’ll also find primary car rental insurance on the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve ® card .

To learn more about the travel insurance benefits on the Chase Sapphire Preferred card , you’ll want to review this detailed article.

Chase Sapphire Reserve ® Card

Chase Sapphire Reserve ®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve ®  is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access , with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

• 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
• 10x points on Lyft purchases March 31, 2025
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
• 5x points on airfare booked through Chase Travel SM
• 3x points on all other travel and dining purchases; 1x point on all other purchases
• $300 annual travel credit
• Priority Pass airport lounge access
• TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS credit
• Access to Chase Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection
• Rental car elite status with National and Avis
• $550 annual fee
• Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck ®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
• APR: 22.49%-29.49% Variable
• Chase Sapphire Reserve 100k Bonus Offer
• Chase Sapphire Reserve Benefits
• Chase Sapphire Reserve Airport Lounge Access
• Chase Sapphire Reserve Travel Insurance Benefits
• Chase Sapphire Reserve Military Benefits
• Amex Gold vs Chase Sapphire Reserve

In addition to the same trip cancellation/interruption/delay coverage as the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers up to $2,500 in emergency dental and medical coverage , emergency medical evacuation .

For more information check out this guide to all of the travel insurance benefits offered by the Sapphire Reserve.

Before purchasing any travel insurance policy, it’s wise to compare — fortunately that’s an easy task to execute. With comparison sites such as the ones listed here, you can compare as many as 100 travel insurance policies very quickly and find a policy that fits your situation and budget.

Keep in mind that insurance rates and coverages are highly regulated by the states . Insurance companies file a certain policy for a certain price with the state insurance commission, then the company is allowed to offer that policy, at that price, in that state.

For this reason, you won’t find the same policy offered at different prices. However, you could find a policy that is a better fit and possibly for less money by comparing several companies’ offerings.

Not all comparison sites include Allianz but when comparing similar policies, you’ll find that the company is competitively priced (a few companies lower and many companies higher). Individual results will vary based on your criteria.

Here are 4 websites that allow you to easily compare travel insurance policies.

• Insure My Trip — With over 60,000 customer reviews, 21 highly-rated travel insurance providers, and a best price guarantee, Insure My Trip makes it easy to find the right travel insurance policy.
• Travelinsurance.com — Compare major top-rated travel insurance company policies easily with this licensed online insurance search engine.
• SquareMouth — This popular travel insurance search engine offers easy comparisons of hundreds of policies offered by dozens of highly-rated insurance companies.
• Aardy — AardvarkCompare is a licensed travel insurance company with agents on staff to help you find the right travel insurance policy. Its website allows you to compare the policies of over 30 travel insurance providers.

There are also specialty companies such as World Nomads  that do a great job providing travel insurance for active individuals. If you’re into outdoor sports, adventure activities, or even more risky activities such as skydiving, you can find coverage through World Nomads.

Bottom Line: If you’re looking to purchase a travel insurance policy, you’ll want to compare companies and policies . First, look at companies with a strong financial rating, select a policy with coverages that are a priority to you, then select a premium you’re comfortable paying. 

Allianz is actually one of the companies that provides the travel insurance you’re offered when you book a flight. An example is displayed in the above image of their offerings when you purchase a Delta Air Lines ticket.

Point-of-sale travel insurance, however, can run from inexpensive options that offer little coverage to expensive options that provide greater coverage but still have limitations, similar to stand-along travel insurance policies.

If you fly once or twice a year, the coverage is adequate for your needs, and the cost is reasonable, you may easily choose to go this route and purchase coverage at the point of sale. However, you may fare better by securing a separate travel insurance quote to compare coverage/cost.

Always read the fine print before purchasing any coverage to ensure you’re getting the coverage you expect. For example, one might assume by looking at this example that canceling the trip would be covered, when in reality the covered reasons are limited.

Bottom Line: Even for point-of-sale travel insurance to cover a single travel purchase, it’s good to get a comparison quote. Securing a quote may save you money while offering broader coverage that could cover your entire trip versus just a portion of it. 

Allianz is a solid, established, company offering a nice selection of packaged travel insurance products. Its website is easy to use with a quick quoting function and a simple purchase process. The site is also easy to understand as it is clearly written in plain language rather than legal verbiage.

One downside of Allianz is that the company does not sell Cancel for Any Reason Insurance . This is not an issue if you understand this up front and know that your policy does not allow you to cancel a trip for just any reason. After all, this is the case with most travel insurance — there are specific covered reasons for being able to cancel a trip and have coverage.

Cancel for Any Reason insurance can also result in a premium as much as 70% more than a standard policy, so many travelers may not consider it due to its cost.

If money is not a concern, you can purchase as much insurance as you’d like to have. However, in reality, purchasing travel insurance that works for you involves finding a balance between the coverage you want and the maximum premium you’re willing to pay.

Allianz is a respected company that offers a variety of policy choices with appropriate coverage for the majority of travelers at price points that fit most budgets.

All information and content provided by Upgraded Points is intended as general information and for educational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as medical advice or legal advice. For more information, see our  Medical & Legal Disclaimers .

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here .

Frequently Asked Questions

Is travel insurance worth it.

Yes, it can be worth it. If you are uncomfortable with the amount of money you would lose or be forced to pay in the event you had to cancel your trip or if you incurred disruption while traveling, you should purchase travel insurance.

An inexpensive trip or single flight may not warrant purchasing travel insurance, but insuring an expensive or complicated trip where you have a lot of non-refundable prepaid expenses at risk makes economic sense.

Travel insurance also provides the intangible benefit of peace of mind, knowing you are protected if you have to cancel due to a covered event or your trip is disrupted once in motion.

What is covered for trip cancellation?

There are limited covered reasons for receiving a benefit from trip cancellation insurance. The number 1 reason most travelers cancel their trips, according to InsureMyTrip.com , is the unforeseen illness of the traveler or of family members.

Fortunately, this is a covered reason for trip cancellation, although the level of coverage varies by company and policy.

Additional covered reasons can include death, hospitalization, or accident to you or covered family, legal obligations, your home becomes uninhabitable, the default of the travel provider, or natural disaster.

Deciding not to take a trip is not a covered reason for trip cancellation. Cancel for Any Reason insurance must be purchased in order to cover canceling a trip for a reason you personally deem necessary.

Does travel insurance cover flight cancellations?

Yes, travel insurance can cover flight cancellations in certain circumstances and depending on the policy purchased.

However, if an airline cancels your flight, whether prior to travel or during your travels, you would first contact the airline or the agency where you purchased your ticket for rebooking, a refund, or travel credit.

If you are not made whole, you could then look for coverage in your travel insurance policy.

If a flight is canceled due to weather during your travels, for example, and you are forced to incur unexpected expenses as a result, you could have coverage under a travel insurance policy if these expenses are not covered, or insufficiently covered, by the airline.

There could also be coverage under trip interruption/delay insurance if an airline cancels a flight and it causes you to miss ongoing travel which has been prepaid and is non-refundable.

Which is the best travel insurance company?

The best travel insurance company will have a high financial rating from a respected insurance industry rating company such as A.M. Best, offer a selection of coverages that matches your protection priorities, and does this at a price you’re willing to pay.

You should check reviews as well, keeping in mind that most consumers want to pay the least amount of money they can at the time of purchase and by doing so, coverage can be sacrificed. When there’s a claim, it’s natural to want the highest degree of coverage, although that may not have been the level purchased.

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About Christine Krzyszton

Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.

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The best travel insurance policies and providers

It's easy to dismiss the value of travel insurance until you need it.

Many travelers have strong opinions about whether you should buy travel insurance . However, the purpose of this post isn't to determine whether it's worth investing in. Instead, it compares some of the top travel insurance providers and policies so you can determine which travel insurance option is best for you.

Of course, as the coronavirus remains an ongoing concern, it's important to understand whether travel insurance covers pandemics. Some policies will cover you if you're diagnosed with COVID-19 and have proof of illness from a doctor. Others will take coverage a step further, covering additional types of pandemic-related expenses and cancellations.

Know, though, that every policy will have exclusions and restrictions that may limit coverage. For example, fear of travel is generally not a covered reason for invoking trip cancellation or interruption coverage, while specific stipulations may apply to elevated travel warnings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Interested in travel insurance? Visit InsureMyTrip.com to shop for plans that may fit your travel needs.

So, before buying a specific policy, you must understand the full terms and any special notices the insurer has about COVID-19. You may even want to buy the optional cancel for any reason add-on that's available for some comprehensive policies. While you'll pay more for that protection, it allows you to cancel your trip for any reason and still get some of your costs back. Note that this benefit is time-sensitive and has other eligibility requirements, so not all travelers will qualify.

In this guide, we'll review several policies from top travel insurance providers so you have a better understanding of your options before picking the policy and provider that best address your wants and needs.

The best travel insurance providers

To put together this list of the best travel insurance providers, a number of details were considered: favorable ratings from TPG Lounge members, the availability of details about policies and the claims process online, positive online ratings and the ability to purchase policies in most U.S. states. You can also search for options from these (and other) providers through an insurance comparison site like InsureMyTrip .

When comparing insurance providers, I priced out a single-trip policy for each provider for a $2,000, one-week vacation to Istanbul . I used my actual age and state of residence when obtaining quotes. As a result, you may see a different price — or even additional policies due to regulations for travel insurance varying from state to state — when getting a quote.

AIG Travel Guard

AIG Travel Guard receives many positive reviews from readers in the TPG Lounge who have filed claims with the company. AIG offers three plans online, which you can compare side by side, and the ability to examine sample policies. Here are three plans for my sample trip to Turkey.

AIG Travel Guard also offers an annual travel plan. This plan is priced at $259 per year for one Florida resident.

Additionally, AIG Travel Guard offers several other policies, including a single-trip policy without trip cancellation protection . See AIG Travel Guard's COVID-19 notification and COVID-19 advisory for current details regarding COVID-19 coverage.

Preexisting conditions

Typically, AIG Travel Guard wouldn't cover you for any loss or expense due to a preexisting medical condition that existed within 180 days of the coverage effective date. However, AIG Travel Guard may waive the preexisting medical condition exclusion on some plans if you meet the following conditions:

• You purchase the plan within 15 days of your initial trip payment.
• The amount of coverage you purchase equals all trip costs at the time of purchase. You must update your coverage to insure the costs of any subsequent arrangements that you add to your trip within 15 days of paying the travel supplier for these additional arrangements.
• You must be medically able to travel when you purchase your plan.

Standout features

• The Deluxe and Preferred plans allow you to purchase an upgrade that lets you cancel your trip for any reason. However, reimbursement under this coverage will not exceed 50% or 75% of your covered trip cost.
• You can include one child (age 17 and younger) with each paying adult for no additional cost on most single-trip plans.
• Other optional upgrades, including an adventure sports bundle, a baggage bundle, an inconvenience bundle, a pet bundle, a security bundle and a wedding bundle, are available on some policies. So, an AIG Travel Guard plan may be a good choice if you know you want extra coverage in specific areas.

Purchase your policy here: AIG Travel Guard .

Allianz Travel Insurance

Allianz is one of the most highly regarded providers in the TPG Lounge, and many readers found the claim process reasonable. Allianz offers many plans, including the following single-trip plans for my sample trip to Turkey.

If you travel frequently, it may make sense to purchase an annual multi-trip policy. For this plan, all of the maximum coverage amounts in the table below are per trip (except for the trip cancellation and trip interruption amounts, which are an aggregate limit per policy). Trips typically must last no more than 45 days, although some plans may cover trips of up to 90 days.

See Allianz's coverage alert for current information on COVID-19 coverage.

Most Allianz travel insurance plans may cover preexisting medical conditions if you meet particular requirements. For the OneTrip Premier, Prime and Basic plans, the requirements are as follows:

• You purchased the policy within 14 days of the date of the first trip payment or deposit.
• You were a U.S. resident when you purchased the policy.
• You were medically able to travel when you purchased the policy.
• On the policy purchase date, you insured the total, nonrefundable cost of your trip (including arrangements that will become nonrefundable or subject to cancellation penalties before your departure date). If you incur additional nonrefundable trip expenses after purchasing this policy, you must insure them within 14 days of their purchase.
• Allianz offers reasonably priced annual policies for independent travelers and families who take multiple trips lasting up to 45 days (or 90 days for select plans) per year.
• Some Allianz plans provide the option of receiving a flat reimbursement amount without receipts for trip delay and baggage delay claims. Of course, you can also submit receipts to get up to the maximum refund.
• For emergency transportation coverage, you or someone on your behalf must contact Allianz, and Allianz must then make all transportation arrangements in advance. However, most Allianz policies provide an option if you cannot contact the company: Allianz will pay up to what it would have paid if it had made the arrangements.

Purchase your policy here: Allianz Travel Insurance .

American Express Travel Insurance

American Express Travel Insurance offers four different package plans and a build-your-own coverage option. You don't have to be an American Express cardholder to purchase this insurance. Here are the four package options for my sample weeklong trip to Turkey. Unlike some other providers, Amex won't ask for your travel destination on the initial quote (but will when you purchase the plan).

Amex's build-your-own coverage plan is unique because you can purchase just the coverage you need. For most types of protection, you can even select the coverage amount that works best for you.

The prices for the packages and the build-your-own plan don't increase for longer trips — as long as the trip cost remains constant. However, the emergency medical and dental benefit is only available for your first 60 days of travel.

Typically, Amex won't cover any loss you incur because of a preexisting medical condition that existed within 90 days of the coverage effective date. However, Amex may waive its preexisting-condition exclusion if you meet both of the following requirements:

• You must be medically able to travel at the time you pay the policy premium.
• You pay the policy premium within 14 days of making the first covered trip deposit.
• Amex's build-your-own coverage option allows you to only purchase — and pay for — the coverage you need.
• Coverage on long trips doesn't cost more than coverage for short trips, making this policy ideal for extended getaways. However, the emergency medical and dental benefit only covers your first 60 days of travel.
• American Express Travel Insurance can protect travel expenses you purchase with Amex Membership Rewards points in the Pay with Points program (as well as travel expenses bought with cash, debit or credit). However, travel expenses bought with other types of points and miles aren't covered.

Purchase your policy here: American Express Travel Insurance .

GeoBlue is different from most other providers described in this piece because it only provides medical coverage while you're traveling internationally and does not offer benefits to protect the cost of your trip. There are many different policies. Some require you to have primary health insurance in the U.S. (although it doesn't need to be provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield), but all of them only offer coverage while traveling outside the U.S.

Two single-trip plans are available if you're traveling for six months or less. The Voyager Choice policy provides coverage (including medical services and medical evacuation for a sudden recurrence of a preexisting condition) for trips outside the U.S. to travelers who are 95 or younger and already have a U.S. health insurance policy.

The Voyager Essential policy provides coverage (including medical evacuation for a sudden recurrence of a preexisting condition) for trips outside the U.S. to travelers who are 95 or younger, regardless of whether they have primary health insurance.

In addition to these options, two multi-trip plans cover trips of up to 70 days each for one year. Both policies provide coverage (including medical services and medical evacuation for preexisting conditions) to travelers with primary health insurance.

Be sure to check out GeoBlue's COVID-19 notices before buying a plan.

Most GeoBlue policies explicitly cover sudden recurrences of preexisting conditions for medical services and medical evacuation.

• GeoBlue can be an excellent option if you're mainly concerned about the medical side of travel insurance.
• GeoBlue provides single-trip, multi-trip and long-term medical travel insurance policies for many different types of travel.

Purchase your policy here: GeoBlue .

IMG offers various travel medical insurance policies for travelers, as well as comprehensive travel insurance policies. For a single trip of 90 days or less, there are five policy types available for vacation or holiday travelers. Although you must enter your gender, males and females received the same quote for my one-week search.

You can purchase an annual multi-trip travel medical insurance plan. Some only cover trips lasting up to 30 or 45 days, but others provide coverage for longer trips.

See IMG's page on COVID-19 for additional policy information as it relates to coronavirus-related claims.

Most plans may cover preexisting conditions under set parameters or up to specific amounts. For example, the iTravelInsured Travel LX travel insurance plan shown above may cover preexisting conditions if you purchase the insurance within 24 hours of making the final payment for your trip.

For the travel medical insurance plans shown above, preexisting conditions are covered for travelers younger than 70. However, coverage is capped based on your age and whether you have a primary health insurance policy.

• Some annual multi-trip plans are modestly priced.
• iTravelInsured Travel LX may offer optional cancel for any reason and interruption for any reason coverage, if eligible.

Purchase your policy here: IMG .

Travelex Insurance

Travelex offers three single-trip plans: Travel Basic, Travel Select and Travel America. However, only the Travel Basic and Travel Select plans would be applicable for my trip to Turkey.

See Travelex's COVID-19 coverage statement for coronavirus-specific information.

Typically, Travelex won't cover losses incurred because of a preexisting medical condition that existed within 60 days of the coverage effective date. However, the Travel Select plan may offer a preexisting condition exclusion waiver. To be eligible for this waiver, the insured traveler must meet all the following conditions:

• You purchase the plan within 15 days of the initial trip payment.
• The amount of coverage purchased equals all prepaid, nonrefundable payments or deposits applicable to the trip at the time of purchase. Additionally, you must insure the costs of any subsequent arrangements added to the same trip within 15 days of payment or deposit.
• All insured individuals are medically able to travel when they pay the plan cost.
• The trip cost does not exceed the maximum trip cost limit under trip cancellation as shown in the schedule per person (only applicable to trip cancellation, interruption and delay).
• Travelex's Travel Select policy can cover trips lasting up to 364 days, which is longer than many single-trip policies.
• Neither Travelex policy requires receipts for trip and baggage delay expenses less than $25.
• For emergency evacuation coverage, you or someone on your behalf must contact Travelex and have Travelex make all transportation arrangements in advance. However, both Travelex policies provide an option if you cannot contact Travelex: Travelex will pay up to what it would have paid if it had made the arrangements.

Purchase your policy here: Travelex Insurance .

Seven Corners

Seven Corners offers a wide variety of policies. Here are the policies that are most applicable to travelers on a single international trip.

Seven Corners also offers many other types of travel insurance, including an annual multi-trip plan. You can choose coverage for trips of up to 30, 45 or 60 days when purchasing an annual multi-trip plan.

See Seven Corner's page on COVID-19 for additional policy information as it relates to coronavirus-related claims.

Typically, Seven Corners won't cover losses incurred because of a preexisting medical condition. However, the RoundTrip Choice plan offers a preexisting condition exclusion waiver. To be eligible for this waiver, you must meet all of the following conditions:

• You buy this plan within 20 days of making your initial trip payment or deposit.
• You or your travel companion are medically able and not disabled from travel when you pay for this plan or upgrade your plan.
• You update the coverage to include the additional cost of subsequent travel arrangements within 15 days of paying your travel supplier for them.
• Seven Corners offers the ability to purchase optional sports and golf equipment coverage. If purchased, this extra insurance will reimburse you for the cost of renting sports or golf equipment if yours is lost, stolen, damaged or delayed by a common carrier for six or more hours. However, Seven Corners must authorize the expenses in advance.
• You can add cancel for any reason coverage or trip interruption for any reason coverage to RoundTrip plans. Although some other providers offer cancel for any reason coverage, trip interruption for any reason coverage is less common.
• Seven Corners' RoundTrip Choice policy offers a political or security evacuation benefit that will transport you to the nearest safe place or your residence under specific conditions. You can also add optional event ticket registration fee protection to the RoundTrip Choice policy.

Purchase your policy here: Seven Corners .

World Nomads

World Nomads is popular with younger, active travelers because of its flexibility and adventure-activities coverage on the Explorer plan. Unlike many policies offered by other providers, you don't need to estimate prepaid costs when purchasing the insurance to have access to trip interruption and cancellation insurance.

World Nomads offers two single-trip plans.

World Nomads has a page dedicated to coronavirus coverage , so be sure to view it before buying a policy.

World Nomads won't cover losses incurred because of a preexisting medical condition (except emergency evacuation and repatriation of remains) that existed within 90 days of the coverage effective date. Unlike many other providers, World Nomads doesn't offer a waiver.

• World Nomads' policies cover more adventure sports than most providers, so activities such as bungee jumping are included. The Explorer policy covers almost any adventure sport, including skydiving, stunt flying and caving. So, if you partake in adventure sports while traveling, the Explorer policy may be a good fit.
• World Nomads' policies provide nonmedical evacuation coverage for transportation expenses if there is civil or political unrest in the country you are visiting. The coverage may also transport you home if there is an eligible natural disaster or a government expels you.

Purchase your policy here: World Nomads .

Other options for buying travel insurance

This guide details the policies of eight providers with the information available at the time of publication. There are many options when it comes to travel insurance, though. To compare different policies quickly, you can use a travel insurance aggregator like InsureMyTrip to search. Just note that these search engines won't show every policy and every provider, and you should still research the provided policies to ensure the coverage fits your trip and needs.

You can also purchase a plan through various membership associations, such as USAA, AAA or Costco. Typically, these organizations partner with a specific provider, so if you are a member of any of these associations, you may want to compare the policies offered through the organization with other policies to get the best coverage for your trip.

Related: Should you get travel insurance if you have credit card protection?

Is travel insurance worth getting?

Whether you should purchase travel insurance is a personal decision. Suppose you use a credit card that provides travel insurance for most of your expenses and have medical insurance that provides adequate coverage abroad. In that case, you may be covered enough on most trips to forgo purchasing travel insurance.

However, suppose your medical insurance won't cover you at your destination and you can't comfortably cover a sizable medical evacuation bill or last-minute flight home . In that case, you should consider purchasing travel insurance. If you travel frequently, buying an annual multi-trip policy may be worth it.

What is the best COVID-19 travel insurance?

There are various aspects to keep in mind in the age of COVID-19. Consider booking travel plans that are fully refundable or have modest change or cancellation fees so you don't need to worry about whether your policy will cover trip cancellation. This is important since many standard comprehensive insurance policies won't reimburse your insured expenses in the event of cancellation if it's related to the fear of traveling due to COVID-19.

However, if you book a nonrefundable trip and want to maintain the ability to get reimbursed (up to 75% of your insured costs) if you choose to cancel, you should consider buying a comprehensive travel insurance policy and then adding optional cancel for any reason protection. Just note that this benefit is time-sensitive and has eligibility requirements, so not all travelers will qualify.

Providers will often require CFAR purchasers insure the entire dollar amount of their travels to receive the coverage. Also, many CFAR policies mandate that you must cancel your plans and notify all travel suppliers at least 48 hours before your scheduled departure.

Likewise, if your primary health insurance won't cover you while on your trip, it's essential to consider whether medical expenses related to COVID-19 treatment are covered. You may also want to consider a MedJet medical transport membership if your trip is to a covered destination for coronavirus-related evacuation.

Ultimately, the best pandemic travel insurance policy will depend on your trip details, travel concerns and your willingness to self-insure. Just be sure to thoroughly read and understand any terms or exclusions before purchasing.

What are the different types of travel insurance?

Whether you purchase a comprehensive travel insurance policy or rely on the protections offered by select credit cards, you may have access to the following types of coverage:

• Baggage delay protection may reimburse for essential items and clothing when a common carrier (such as an airline) fails to deliver your checked bag within a set time of your arrival at a destination. Typically, you may be reimbursed up to a particular amount per incident or per day.
• Lost/damaged baggage protection may provide reimbursement to replace lost or damaged luggage and items inside that luggage. However, valuables and electronics usually have a relatively low maximum benefit.
• Trip delay reimbursement may provide reimbursement for necessary items, food, lodging and sometimes transportation when you're delayed for a substantial time while traveling on a common carrier such as an airline. This insurance may be beneficial if weather issues (or other covered reasons for which the airline usually won't provide compensation) delay you.
• Trip cancellation and interruption protection may provide reimbursement if you need to cancel or interrupt your trip for a covered reason, such as a death in your family or jury duty.
• Medical evacuation insurance can arrange and pay for medical evacuation if deemed necessary by the insurance provider and a medical professional. This coverage can be particularly valuable if you're traveling to a region with subpar medical facilities.
• Travel accident insurance may provide a payment to you or your beneficiary in the case of your death or dismemberment.
• Emergency medical insurance may provide payment or reimburse you if you must seek medical care while traveling. Some plans only cover emergency medical care, but some also cover other types of medical care. You may need to pay a deductible or copay.
• Rental car coverage may provide a collision damage waiver when renting a car. This waiver may reimburse for collision damage or theft up to a set amount. Some policies also cover loss-of-use charges assessed by the rental company and towing charges to take the vehicle to the nearest qualified repair facility. You generally need to decline the rental company's collision damage waiver or similar provision to be covered.

Should I buy travel health insurance?

If you purchase travel with credit cards that provide various trip protections, you may not see much need for additional travel insurance. However, you may still wonder whether you should buy travel medical insurance.

If your primary health insurance covers you on your trip, you may not need travel health insurance. Your domestic policy may not cover you outside the U.S., though, so it's worth calling the number on your health insurance card if you have coverage questions. If your primary health insurance wouldn't cover you, it's likely worth purchasing travel medical insurance. After all, as you can see above, travel medical insurance is often very modestly priced.

How much does travel insurance cost?

Travel insurance costs depend on various factors, including the provider, the type of coverage, your trip cost, your destination, your age, your residency and how many travelers you want to insure. That said, a standard travel insurance plan will generally set you back somewhere between 4% and 10% of your total trip cost. However, this can get lower for more basic protections or become even higher if you include add-ons like cancel for any reason protection.

The best way to determine how much travel insurance will cost is to price out your trip with a few providers discussed in the guide. Or, visit an insurance aggregator like InsureMyTrip to quickly compare options across multiple providers.

When and how to get travel insurance

For the most robust selection of available travel insurance benefits — including time-sensitive add-ons like CFAR protection and waivers of preexisting conditions for eligible travelers — you should ideally purchase travel insurance on the same day you make your first payment toward your trip.

However, many plans may still offer a preexisting conditions waiver for those who qualify if you buy your travel insurance within 14 to 21 days of your first trip expense or deposit (this time frame may vary by provider). If you don't need a preexisting conditions waiver or aren't interested in CFAR coverage, you can purchase travel insurance once your departure date nears.

You must purchase coverage before it's needed. Some travel medical plans are available for purchase after you have departed, but comprehensive plans that include medical coverage must be purchased before departing.

Additionally, you can't buy any medical coverage once you require medical attention. The same applies to all travel insurance coverage. Once you recognize the need, it's too late to protect your trip.

Once you've shopped around and decided upon the best travel insurance plan for your trip, you should be able to complete your purchase online. You'll usually be able to download your insurance card and the complete policy shortly after the transaction is complete.

Related: 7 times your credit card's travel insurance might not cover you

Bottom line

Not all travel insurance policies and providers are equal. Before buying a plan, read and understand the policy documents. By doing so, you can choose a plan that's appropriate for you and your trip — including the features that matter most to you.

For example, if you plan to go skiing or rock climbing, make sure the policy you buy doesn't contain exclusions for these activities. Likewise, if you're making two back-to-back trips during which you'll be returning home for a short time in between, be sure the plan doesn't terminate coverage at the end of your first trip.

If you're looking to cover a sudden recurrence of a preexisting condition, select a policy with a preexisting condition waiver and fulfill the requirements for the waiver. After all, buying insurance won't help if your policy doesn't cover your losses.

Disclaimer : This information is provided by IMT Services, LLC ( InsureMyTrip.com ), a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 5119217) and a member of the Tokio Marine HCC group of companies. IMT's services are only available in states where it is licensed to do business and the products provided through InsureMyTrip.com may not be available in all states. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not create or modify any insurance policy terms in any way. For more information, please visit www.insuremytrip.com .

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Allianz Travel Insurance review: Is it a good option for your next trip?

With plenty of options to choose from, allianz likely has the right coverage for your trip..

Travel insurance can offer peace of mind — and financial protection — when you travel. Whether you want minimal coverage for emergencies or are looking for a more comprehensive plan, Allianz Travel Insurance probably has an option that will work for your situation.

CNBC Select breaks down the types of coverage Allianz includes in its policies, the features it offers and other providers you should consider.

Allianz Travel Insurance review

Other insurance offered, how it compares, bottom line, allianz travel insurance.

The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote

Policy highlights

10 travel insurance plans make it possible to customize your coverage. For families, Allianz's OneTrip Prime package covers children age 17 and younger when traveling with a parent or grandparent.

24/7 assistance available

• Trip cancellation benefits can reimburse your prepaid, nonrefundable trip payments if you have to cancel your trip for one of the covered reasons stated in your plan documents. 
• Limited coverage for risky sports

Allianz Travel Insurance is a global insurance provider. It partners with airlines, travel agencies, resorts, credit card issuers and other companies to offer worldwide travel coverage. The insurer currently offers 10 trip coverage plans, giving travelers plenty of options that range from single-trip plans to plans that cover all your travel for a year.

For example, OneTrip Prime provides trip cancellation/interruption, emergency transportation, baggage loss or delay and other key benefits for a single trip up to 180 days. AllTrips Executive, on the other hand, is a multi-trip plan designed for business travel with higher trip cancellation and interruption limits and coverage for business equipment. You can also opt for OneTrip Rental Car Protector if you need primary car rental coverage against collision, loss and damage.

These plans let you easily tailor your insurance to your situation. Here are the types of coverage that Allianz Travel can include in your plan:

• Trip cancellation
• Trip interruption
• Emergency medical (this covers medical and dental emergencies that happen during your trip)
• Emergency medical transportation
• Baggage loss/damage
• Baggage delay
• Travel delay
• Travel accident
• SmartBenefits℠ (this includes automatic and no-receipts payments for trip delays and no-receipts claims for baggage delays)
• Change fees (this coverage can reimburse you for the fees the airline charges when you have to change the dates of your flight)
• Loyalty program redeposit fee coverage (with this coverage, you can get reimbursement for frequent flyer mile redeposit fees if your trip is canceled or interrupted)
• 24/7 hotline assistance
• Concierge services
• Rental car collision damage waiver
• Existing medical condition (this benefit waives the pre-existing medical condition coverage exclusion)

The types and limits of coverage benefits you can get vary by plan.

Many travel cards provide travel insurance benefits . To avoid duplicate coverage, go through your card's terms and conditions and see what your issuer already offers.

One of the features that helped Allianz Travel land a spot on our list of the best travel insurance is the Cancel Anytime benefit. Included with OneTrip Prime and OneTrip Premier plans, Cancel Anytime can reimburse 80% of your unused, pre-paid, non-refundable trip costs if you have to cancel your trip for just about any unexpected reason.

Additionally, the insurer offers 24/7 global assistance to refer you to a prescreened hospital during your trip.

Policyholders can also use the TravelSmart TM  app and check for flight status updates, the latest travel advisories and restrictions for their destination, local emergency services and hospitals and more. The app allows travelers to pull up their protection plan whenever they need and file a claim online.

As of writing, Allianz Travel doesn't advertise any discounts. That said, discounts aren't as common with this type of coverage, especially compared to home and auto insurance .

Allianz is a large global company offering a wide range of financial products and services. In the U.S., that includes travel insurance, life insurance and business insurance.

Allianz Travel can be a solid choice if you're looking to purchase travel insurance. However, it's always a wise idea to compare multiple options to ensure you're getting a good deal.

For instance, AXA Assistance USA travel insurance is also a good provider. You can pick from three plans with the most affordable one starting at just $16, according to the company's website. The most comprehensive option is the Platinum plan which comes with the option to cancel for any reason.

AXA Assistance USA Travel Insurance

AXA Assistance USA offers several travel insurance policies that include travel interruption, trip cancellation, and the option of cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage.

Travel Guard® Travel Insurance also offers a selection of plans, ranging from last-minute options to an annual travel plan. Or you can request a specialty plan, but you'll need to speak to a representative to do so.

Travel Guard® Travel Insurance

Travel Guard offers a variety of plans to suit travel ranging from road trips to long cruises. For air travelers, Travel Guard can help assist with tracking baggage or covering lost or delayed baggage.

Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox.  Sign up here .

With 10 available plans to choose from, Allianz Travel makes it easy to get the right travel insurance coverage for your upcoming trip. Multi-trip plans are also available for those who frequently travel, including for business. Still, we recommend gathering several quotes and comparing plans before you purchase travel insurance. Just like with any financial product, it pays to shop around for this type of coverage.

Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every travel insurance review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of travel insurance products . While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of  credit cards ,  banking  and  money , and follow us on  TikTok ,  Facebook ,  Instagram  and  Twitter  to stay up to date.

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How to Pick the Best Flight Insurance Policy for Your Next Trip

Here’s what you need to know about flight insurance before you buy.

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From flight delays to damaged bags, air travel can be stressful. Thankfully, there’s a range of flight insurance options that will cover expenses in case something goes wrong and provide peace of mind, even if everything goes as planned. 

So, what is flight insurance? Flight insurance is a type of policy that only protects the cost of your flight and flight-related expenses. This type of insurance can include trip cancellation, trip interruption, flight delay , and lost or damaged baggage coverage. Unlike a comprehensive travel insurance policy, flight insurance doesn’t cover things like emergency medical coverage or emergency evacuation.

Here’s everything you need to know about flight insurance so you can decide which plan is best for you.

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Pros of Flight Insurance 

The obvious benefit of buying flight insurance is that you’ll be protected financially if things go wrong. Even if your trip goes according to plan, the peace of mind you’ll have may be worth the relatively small cost of a basic insurance plan. In 2022, the average cost of a policy was just $266, while the average payout was $2,157, according to Squaremouth , a travel insurance comparison website.

Cons of Flight Insurance

Ironically, the biggest con of purchasing flight insurance occurs when your trip goes smoothly.  “If you have it, chances are you won't need it, “ says Faith Ann Liuzzo-Bartholomew, a travel advisor who is a member of the American Society of Travel Advisors. That’s what can make the decision to purchase flight insurance so difficult. 

“Flight insurance is a guarantee that your hard-earned dollars and trip plans are protected in case any problems or issues occur,” says Liuzzo-Bartholomew. However, If your trip ends up problem-free, the money spent on flight insurance can feel wasted.

Types of Flight Insurance

There are different types of flight insurance, and each type of policy covers different aspects of a trip.

Airline-issued Flight Insurance Policies

You can buy flight insurance directly from the airline when you’re purchasing a ticket. For example, American Airlines offers flight insurance policies through Allianz Travel that include trip cancellation and trip delay coverage, as well as lost and damaged bag protection. United Airlines offers policies through AIG that include coverage for flight cancellations, missed connections, and lost baggage.

These types of policies tend to offer bare-bones coverage, according to Liuzzo-Bartholomew. 

“If you add the insurance through the airlines with your flight purchase, it is more of a budget policy and includes the basics for delays, cancellations, luggage issues, and re-bookings.” 

Comprehensive Travel Insurance Policies

If you are planning an expensive trip or would rather pay a little more upfront for additional peace of mind, a comprehensive travel insurance policy may be a good option. This type of policy can still have many variables but will generally cover more than just a flight insurance policy. 

For even more flexibility, keep an eye out for a policy that includes the option to upgrade to “Cancel for Any Reason” insurance. A CFAR policy allows travelers to cancel a trip for reasons not covered in their base insurance policy. There are additional restrictions on when you can add CFAR insurance and when a trip needs to be canceled to qualify for reimbursement.

Credit Card Travel Insurance

Many credit cards come with complimentary flight insurance that can cover you in the event of disrupted travel plans. For some travelers, the coverage provided by their credit card may be enough.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a top-notch policy that includes trip cancellation and interruption coverage, lost and delayed baggage coverage, and trip delay insurance that kicks in just six hours after a flight’s scheduled departure time. Another premium credit card, The Platinum Card from American Express , includes trip cancellation, interruption, and trip delay insurance.

Since we’re talking about flight insurance, you may assume that all airline co-branded credit cards come with flight insurance. Unfortunately, that’s not true. Some, like the United Club Infinite Card , include trip cancellation/interruption coverage, while others, like the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard , don’t have any type of insurance.

Keep in mind that it’s important to purchase your flight with the card that has the insurance coverage for the policy to be valid.

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How to Choose the Best Policy

There are different types of flight insurance policies, so you’ll want to do some research to find the one that best fits your needs.

Mitch Krayton, owner of Krayton Travel and a member of the American Society of Travel Advisors, advises his clients to think about what matters most to them. “Ask what risk you are most concerned about in your travels and what support and financial compensation you are willing to pay a premium for.”

The type of flight insurance policy you’ll need will depend largely on what type of traveler you are. A couple who enjoys weekend trips to different destinations in the U.S. might not need much more than what is offered by the airline or is available through a credit card. 

However, Pamela Holt, travel expert and host of “Me, Myself & The World: The Art of Solo Travel” on Amazon Prime, illustrates an opposite scenario.  “Someone like me, who is constantly traveling solo throughout the year to remote locations and requires some flexibility with travel dates, will likely upgrade to a more comprehensive travel insurance plan,” she says.

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How to Use Flight Insurance 

Picture yourself right after your flight gets canceled. The airline rebooks you on the next flight out, but it’s not until the following morning, Even if a hotel voucher is provided, you’ll still end up with out-of-pocket costs. Flight insurance can reimburse you for those extra expenses like transportation to and from the hotel and meals that won’t be covered by the airline.

If you’re making a claim on your credit card’s travel insurance, you’ll need to charge any expenses on the card that has the insurance. Save all of your receipts and grab any relevant screenshots that show your flight was delayed or canceled.

If you need to file a claim for damaged baggage, act fast. Most airlines require you to submit a claim within 24 hours of landing. Airlines are required to cover some damage in certain situations, but having a flight insurance policy can fill in the gaps between what they cover and what your out-of-pocket expenses actually are.

If you purchased a flight insurance policy from your airline or a travel insurance company, you’ll need receipts for all of your unreimbursed expenses and proof of your disrupted travel plans. Be sure to file a claim as soon as you get home, as many policies have timing requirements.

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Home » Budget Travel » Brutally HONEST Allianz Travel Insurance Review – [Updated 2024]

Brutally HONEST Allianz Travel Insurance Review – [Updated 2024]

Planning and preparing for a trip can be fun and exciting. Personally I love flicking through Lonely Planets seeking out those “Must See” places and I even enjoy scouring through forums for insider advice. I relish the challenge of arranging sophisticated logistics and revel in finding bargain flights from London to the ends of the earth.

Indeed, the feeling I get during the days before I start a trip is both exciting and invigorating. In fact, sometimes I wonder whether I’m equally as addicted to this “state of leaving”  as I am to travel itself – they do say that often anticipation is even better than the event itself.

What is far less exciting though, is comparing Travel Insurance policies. There are far too many policies and providers out there with far too many fine print details to scrutinise. Yep finding the best travel insurance is confusing, and finding cheap backpacker insurance can seem impossible. But, to make finding and buying Travel Insurance that bit easier for you, we have tried, tested and reviewed all of the major providers out there.

Allianz Travel Insurance Review

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Today we are going to review Allianz Travel Insurance. I have spent hours going through their policies and breaking them down for you. By the end of this post, you should know whether Allianz is the right travel insurance for you.

It’s important that you take time to look at other good travel insurance providers too. Different providers suit different kinds of travellers. So you may be better suited elsewhere.

Before we begin the Allianz Travel Insurance review, do note that the terms and conditions of insurance policies are subject to changes and are always ultimately based on your individual circumstances. Therefore, it is very important that you read any policy terms and conditions yourself.

Hey you there! Before you delve any further or waste any more valuable time on this Allianz Travel Insurance Review, let me just tell you straight up front that we at The Broke Backpacker no longer use Allianz for our travel insurance needs.

We have nothing against them, we just found other providers more suited to the needs of travellers and backpackers whilst offering VERY competitive quotes.

If you are taking a single trip or going backpacking, we recommend World Nomads Insurance .

Alternatively, if you are a digital nomad working and travelling remotely from all over the world, then SafetyWing Insurance offer some very interesting travel insurance plans.

Ahem – Please note that insurance companies change their policies and product terms fairly regularly. We do our best to keep this review up to date but cannot guarantee that all of the information is 100% correct. Therefore, only use this review as a guide and check all policies yourself. Also note that some of the links in this post are affiliate links.

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Do you need travel insurance? Does anybody really need travel insurance ?

After shelling out for flights, visas, and a new backpack, having to find a few more bucks for travel insurance may feel a bit depressing. I mean, all you get is a “policy certificate” AKA a boring 100-page booklet to read. Aren’t there more sexy and fun things to be spending that money on?

After all, most trips, vacations, and odysseys end happily and safely without any ill occurrence. There is no definitive answer to this.

Our team at the Broke Backpacker , we have (collectively) spent more than a century backpacking the globe and we have visited over 100 countries. Most of those trips ended without incident. However, we have also clocked up a fair few mishaps along the way: inflected legs, tropical diseases, broken backs, and even gunpoint robberies.

These incidents were all bad enough in themselves, leaving physical and mental scars. Thankfully though, we were all insured at the time. This meant that we were spared the further trauma of paying out thousands in medical bills or replacing technologies.

Basically, insurance is one of those things that most people never actually need. But the ones who do are very lucky to have it.

So now, you get the picture: travel insurance is essential when it comes to staying safe on the road . But is Allianz travel insurance right for you? Or do other travel insurance options suit you?

So let’s take a look. Here are some things good travel insurance plans help with, and where you would be without them.

Lost Luggage

Luggage gets lost both on planes and in airports. It shouldn’t happen, but it sure as hell does.

That in itself is bad enough but replacing all your essential travel gear will cost. Any decent travel insurance policy usually covers lost luggage, usually up to at least $1000.

In fact, the aviation watchdog states that 5.73 items of luggage are lost for every 1000 passengers. That means that if you take 10 flights, then there is a 5% chance of your luggage getting lost forever. Some airports and airlines lose more baggage than others but all of them are equally as obtuse and obstructive when it comes to trying to make a claim.

Lost luggage can ruin your whole trip. I mean, imagine you head to Iceland and they lose all your cold weather gear?!

Medical Bills

Foreign medical care costs can be very high. A friend of mine was once hospitalised while backpacking in Costa Rica and ran up bills in excess of $10,000.

More recently he spent 1 night in a Thai hospital, was billed $1,000 and his passport was used as a ransom (that boy has no luck. Maybe he should stay at home?) . Personally, I don’t have $10,000 to pay to Costa Rican Doctors, but I do have maybe $50 to buy myself a travel insurance policy.

If you come from Europe, the cost of medical care in some parts of the world is quite a revelation. If you’re in the US, then you already know all about health extortion. But do remember, your domestic health insurance will most probably not cover you outside of the US.

Accidents happen (and without warning…) and ill health can strike any of us down at any time, anywhere. In fact, if you have experienced the driving or the hygiene standards in India, you’ll already know that you are at high risk of coming to some harm out on the road.

Trip Interruption Coverage

Trip interruption comes in all shapes and sizes. Claiming for flight delays or cancellations is annoying – and in the end, nothing’s guaranteed.

Every year a few airlines or travel agents go out of business leaving passengers stranded. Booking flights home at short notice is costly.

Not getting home on time on the other hand, can mean getting sacked from your job – ouch. If you have to stay a few more nights at your destination waiting for a flight home, then that can also stretch a maxed-out travel budget.

Having trip cancellation and interruption coverage can mean the difference between desperately raiding your overdraft or getting a few extra days of vacation, free of charge.

Theft Coverage

Sadly, tourists are a target for thieves in many parts of the world. Our team have been robbed with guns while backpacking South America . And I know people whose diamond jewellery and MacBooks were burgled from hotels.

Being robbed is scary. But theft coverage makes it suck a little less when you don’t have to fork out for your stolen iPhone.

Repatriation

In the unlikely event of your demise, your travel insurance can cover the cost of repatriation or sending your body home. The costs of this can otherwise run into several thousands of dollars.

Nobody ever thinks it will happen to them. And yet, it does happen.

Furthermore, the law of averages dictates that if you travel enough, something, somewhere will eventually go wrong. Just like you should always look twice before crossing the road, and always wear your helmet before riding a bike, you really should get comprehensive travel insurance.

By the way, some countries require you to obtain insurance before even letting you enter. Imagine being turned back at the airport for the sake of a few quid?! I personally never leave home without first obtaining travel insurance plans from either World Nomads or SafetyWing.

If you’re reading this, then I guess you decided that you do need travel insurance. Yay! Welcome to the world of sensible adults (AKA accepting your own mortality and the fact that you have no control whatsoever over the universe, despite whatever bullshit “The Secret” may have told you).

Allianz travel insurance is perhaps one of the biggest insurance companies in the world. They have been trading for over 120 years and they have offices across the globe.

Though travel Insurance is by no means Allianz’s primary focus or modus operandi. But this is not a bad thing. Note that even “specialist travel insurers” are often, in fact, brands or shop fronts backed by big insurance companies like Allianz.

They are governed by the Financial Services regulators in pretty much every national market they trade in. This means that if you have a problem with them, you can squeal on them and have your case reviewed independently and fairly by an adjudicator free of charge.

Now that the introductions are out of the way, let’s take a look at the individual travel insurance policies they offer.

Allianz are a major financial service provider and as such, they offer different coverage options, policies and plans aimed at different travellers. Let’s quickly run through them.

Firstly, Allianz travel insurance offer travellers 2 main types of policy. Within these coverage types are little variations. The main policy types are OneTrip and AllTrips .

Within both the OneTrip and AllTrips umbrellas are 3 variations : Basic, Prime, Premier . These vary depending on how much cover you want and how much you want to pay.

As the name kind of suggests, OneTrip covers one single, specific trip generally with a fixed start and end date.

AllTrips covers any and all trips that you make in a one-year period. This annual plan runs from the date you take out the policy, or a date of your choosing, and lasts for 365 days (or 366 in a leap year) .

You can take an unlimited number of trips in the year and an unlimited number of days travelling. Do be sure that all your chosen destinations are covered by the annual travel insurance policy though, otherwise, you may need to obtain additional cover.

OneTrip Basic Plan

This travel insurance policy covers all travel insurance basics such as medical coverage, trip cancellation and lost luggage. Look at it as the entry-level “classic cover” if you like.

The plan may be able to offer;

• Emergency Medical and Emergency Dental Coverage up to $10,000 and $50,000 for Medical Evacuation. These amounts may seem high but are not enough if you need to be airlifted home from an accident, for example.
• Lost or Stolen Baggage Coverage up to $500 and $200 for Delayed Baggage. Now, $500 may be enough for your baggage depending on how expensive your clothes are, and whether you pack any specialist equipment. However, a solid travel backpack is usually worth around $200.
• Trip Cancellation Cover up to $100,00. One of the best features of the OneTrip Basic plan is that Allianz may be able to reimburse the full cost of your trip if you need to cancel early. However, the reason for cancellation needs to be one of Allianz Global Assistance’s list of acceptable cancellation reasons – not because you got bored or changed your mind.

This policy is a good all-rounder and ideal for travellers on a budget . However, it does have some limitations.

Some of the Allianz travel insurance OneTrip basic coverage is a bit on the tight side. Furthermore, OneTrip Basic plan does not include coverage for missed connections or airline change fees. There are also relatively fewer accepted reasons for claiming on the trip cancellation clause.

OneTrip Prime Plan

Broadly speaking, Allianz OneTrip prime plan is more or less the same as the basic – with increased coverage amounts. The policy may be able to offer;

• Emergency Medical Coverage and Dental Coverage up to $25,000 worth of and $500,000 worth of emergency evacuation coverage.
• Lost and Stolen Baggage Cover up to $1,000 which should cover most people’s hold luggage. However, the per-item max is $500. So if you pack your $8000 top-quality travel camera , you will only get $500 back for it. It also includes Baggage Delay Costs of up to $300.
• Missed Connection Coverage up to $800.
• Airline Change Fees up to $250.

OneTrip Premier Plan

In case you need a bit more on top of that, then we have the OneTrip Premier Plan. The Allianz OneTrip Premier policy is essentially the Prime with even higher coverage amounts. OneTrip Premier may be able to offer cover to;

• Emergency Medical and Dental Coverage of up to $25,000 to $50,000.
• Emergency Evacuation Coverage also increases to $1,000,000. With international evacuation averaging around $100,000, this amount is more than adequate to cover your transportation back home.
• Lost or Stolen Baggage up $2,000. However, like with the OneTrip Prime plan, you can only claim a maximum of $500 per item (up to $2,000 in total). $600 in Baggage Delay.
• Travel Delay coverage up to $1,600.
• Missed Connection Coverage up to $1,600.

Other Allianz OneTrip Options & Offshoots

In case that wasn’t choice enough for you, Allianz also offers 2 offshoots of their OneTrip policy. If you like, look at them as the highly specialised cousins of the OneTrip family.

OneTrip Cancellation Plus Plan

OneTrip Cancellation Plus Plan is definitely Allianz’s budget policy. With this plan, you are only covered against trip cancellation, interruptions, and delays. Medical coverage, medical transportation, and baggage loss are not included.

Personally, I would only consider this policy if (1) you are not checking luggage (2) you have medical coverage elsewhere. For example, this may be OK if you are an EU citizen taking a short break to another EU country where you only have your trusty carry-on luggage and an EU emergency healthcare card.

OneTrip Emergency Medical Plan

This policy is great for travellers who only want medical coverage on one single trip. It provides up to £50,00 in emergency medical coverage and $250,000 in emergency medical transportation coverage.

Remember that this plan only offers protection for medical expenses. If you are robbed, your cuts and bruises are covered but your stolen phone is not. If the airline loses your luggage it is not covered and neither is heartbreak. Trip cancellation coverage is also not included.

This plan is, therefore, for anybody whose sole and only concern is medical coverage.

Remember, the OneTrip policies cover one specific trip. The AllTrips policies we are going to detail below cover long, or multiple trips within a one-year period.

Note that AllTrips policies may also be able to offer rental car coverage for damage as well as dismemberment cover. On the flip side, trip cancellation coverage is either non-existent or limited.

AllTrips Basic Plan

The AllTrips basic may be able to offer coverage for the “classic” issues on multiple trips within a one-year period. Let’s see those numbers.

• Emergency Medical Coverage of $20,000,00 and $100,000 in Emergency Evacuation Coverage. Note that $20,00 on medical emergencies may still be a little on the low side in the event you get very sick in an expensive part of the world such as the US.
• Lost/Stolen or Damaged Baggage up to $1,000. Yes, this may be able to cover most checked bags but remember the $500 max item clause. Baggage Delay is offered up to $200 and then $300 for trip delay.
• Rental Car Damage Coverage up to $45,000. Note that additional premiums may apply.

Note that the AllTrips Basic plan does not come with Trip Cancellation or Interruption Coverage. Remember that means you will not be reimbursed in case you are unable to go on your trip!

AllTrips Prime

As you probably guessed, AllTrips Prime is more or less the same as the basic package with some increased coverage amounts. The policy may be able to offer;

• Emergency Medical Coverage of $20,000,00 and $100,000 in Emergency Transportation Coverage.
• Trip Cancellation or Interruption Coverage up to $2,000.00. Remember that the reason for cancellation needs to be one of Allianz Global Assistance’s list of acceptable cancellation reasons.
• Lost/Stolen or Damaged Baggage up to $1,000 and $200 for Baggage Delay.
• Trip Delays up to $300.

AllTrips Premier

If you want even more coverage, then we have AllTrips Premier. The Allianz AllTrips Premier policy is basically the Prime one with even higher coverage amounts. AllTrips Primer may be able to cover;

• Emergency Medical Coverage of $50,000,00 and $500,000 in Emergency Transportation Coverage.
• Trip Cancellation or Interruption Coverage up to $2,000.00.
• Trip Delays Coverage of up to $1,500.00.
• Dismemberment and travel accident up to $50,000 if you lose a limb or your eyesight when travelling.

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We’re now going to drill down and look at the various things that may be covered by Allianz travel insurance. Remember that some of these are covered by some policy types but not others, and note that coverage amounts and excess’ also vary depending on the exact Allianz policy type.

Emergency Medical Coverage

Got food poisoning in Delhi? Got hit by a moped in Bangkok? Or maybe you just slipped in the shower and broke your wrist in Madrid?

These things can, and do, happen and will all require emergency medical care. Being sick, infirm, and unable to make TikToks is bad enough as it is, so the last thing you want is a hefty medical bill which you have to pay out of your own pocket.

Emergency accident and sickness coverage is quite likely the most important aspect of travel insurance plans.

Emergency Transportation

Emergency Medical Evacuation is when you need to be sent to your home country, or another country, for further or continued medical treatment, and are too sick to travel home normally as a regular passenger. For example – if you are stuck in a hospital bed on a drip in a leg cast.

Trip Cancellation

Reimburses for prepaid, non-refundable cancellation charges if you must cancel your trip (after the effective date of your insurance plan) due to covered sickness, accidental injury, or death of you, a family member or travelling companion; inclement weather, unforeseen natural disaster at home or at your destination, strike, or other covered reasons.

Trip Interruption

Trip Interruption Coverage includes the same stipulations as listed above in “Trip Cancellation”. It includes the caveat of covering the cost of accommodation to you if you are delayed.

Baggage Coverage for Loss/Damage

Being compensated for baggage loss of lost personal gear is likely the second most important aspect of your insurance. This is one of the most common reasons file a claim on your travel insurance.

This covers reimbursement for loss, theft, or damage incurred during the trip. It can be applied to all personal items that were lost, stolen, or else accidentally blown off the roof of a chicken bus travelling at top speed.

Baggage Delay

In the event your checked baggage is delayed or misplaced by the air carrier (for more than 12 hours) , you can claim reimbursement for any necessary items you need to purchase until your bag arrives. This will typically mean toiletries but may even mean some travel clothes if you can demonstrate the purchase is essential.

Trip Delay cover protects you when you’re unable to reach your destination on time due to circumstances beyond your control. If your airline cancels your flight due to a technical fault, Allianz travel insurance will reimburse you for any meals, transportation, or accommodation costs you incurred as a result. Note that delays of less than 6 hours are not covered.

Change Fee Coverage

Have you ever tried to change or vary a flight date or add or remove a passenger?! The fees can be insanely high. This is where Change Fee coverage comes in. If you have the AllTrips Executive, OneTrip Prime plan or OneTrip Premier plan, you can claim up to $500 to cover the cost of the airline change fee.

Travel Accident Coverage

If you are in an accident, you may be entitled to claim a compensation payment in addition to your medical/repatriation costs. This is usually reserved for loss of limb/eyesight type scenarios and you can’t claim for whiplash or emotional trauma from falling from a donkey!

The Travel Accident Coverage is also payable to your family in the event of your death.

Rental Car Damage and Theft Coverage

The AllTrips travel insurance polices also include rental car coverage. This can often prove considerably cheaper than obtaining insurance direct from the rental car provider.

If you are resident in the US, this feature may not be available to you. For clarity, we suggest you speak with Allianz travel insurance directly.

There are some notable omissions from Allianz’s cover. Let’s take a look at them.

Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

If you have a pre-existing medical condition which causes you problems on your trip, it is not covered under the Allianz policies. This is fairly common amongst insurers. It is important that you do declare any pre-existing conditions when taking the policy out.

If you do have a pre-existing medical condition, then you may be very interested to hear that SafetyWing can offer full coverage for PEMCs in their policies.

Things go wrong on the road ALL THE TIME. Be prepared for what life throws at you.

Buy an AMK Travel Medical Kit before you head out on your next adventure – don’t be daft!

Extreme Sports

Allianz Travel Insurance does not any kind of adrenaline sport such as Quad Biking and Parachuting. The lack of coverage for extreme or adventure actives is one of the many reasons why we now prefer World Nomads. To get full details of the kind of activities World Nomads can offer coverage for, head over to their site and get a tailer made quote.

So as you can see, Allianz Global Assistance offers a lot of different policy types for a lot of different people. Allianz Travel Insurance maybe suitable for the following kinds of travellers;

• Annual Travellers – With the Allianz annual plan, you may be covered for a whole rotative journey around the sun, no matter how many times you travel! Annual plans are great for frequent and long-term travellers to save you money in the long run. On the other hand, though, SafetyWing offers a month-by-month policy which you can stop and start depending on how much you travel; this may prove to be more cost-effective.
• Senior/Ageing Travellers –  Allianz travel insurance policyholders are among the best senior travel insurances . They have no age limit. Believe us, not all insurers offer this and we have a LOT of queries from over 65’s & over 70’s who have struggled to find insurance elsewhere.
• Travelling Families –  Allianz travel insurance policies may allow children under the age of 17 to travel with their parents for free, on selected plans. This is great for families with kids. My earliest travel memory is of a Spanish ER department, my parents were glad they had me on their policy. Otherwise my foot would still be bleeding 33 years later!

Whilst they do offer a myriad of different plans to cover most travellers types, Allianz is perhaps not the ideal travel insurance company for absolutely everybody out there.

• Adventure Travellers –  Allianz Travel Insurance does not offer protection for extreme activity or sport of any kind! If you plan on doing any dangerous, adrenaline-type activities, then perhaps consider World Nomads who can offer coverage for over 201 different extreme sports. SafetyWing are also rapidly extending their extreme coverage.
• Travellers Wanting High Medical Coverage –  We usually recommend travelling with at least $100,000 of emergency medical coverage. If you come down with a severe illness or are mangled by a badger, you might be stuck with thousands of dollars in medical bills so need to be prepared. World Nomads do offer $100,000 in medical emergency cover.
• Corporation Haters –  Allianz are a major international finance company and we know some of you prefer not to deal with such organisations. That’s a perfectly legitimate point of view. However, remember that even a lot of “boutique” insurers are in fact ultimately shop fronts for big insurers such as Zurich, Lloyds, or even Allianz. In fact, all some boutique firms do is sell you the illusion of dealing with a small firm and charge you a hefty commission for the privilege.

So now we know the details, the next burning question is how much does Allianz Travel Insurance cost?

Well actually, it’s very difficult to say. The pricing details vary depending on a wide range of factors such as your age, location, your trip plans, if you have a pre-existing medical condition, and numerous other factors that only the gods of insurance can compute. It’s worth it to get in there and check yourself.

So, now, let’s talk about our trusty travel insurance plans for backpackers.

World Nomads

World Nomads offers coverage for backpackers and adventure trailers. They are one of our favourite travel insurance providers and we have used them for years.

Unlike Allianz travel insurance, World Nomads are a travel insurer with a focus on backpackers.

World Nomads offer 2 separate plans depending on how much cover you want and what exactly you intend to do. World Nomads can also offer trip cancellation coverage, electronic gadget, and theft coverage in the policies.

Word Nomads can cover over 140 countries (but not Pakistan which is a shame for us) . They can also cover a wide range of adventure stuff and extreme sports like mountaineering which Allianz travel insurance do not.

However, they do not offer home country cover and do not offer open-ended cover. If you are not planning on doing any adventure stuff though, then you may find World Nomads to be a bit expensive.

SafetyWing are a relatively new player on the scene. They are founded by travellers, for travellers, and their primary target is for those travelling as a digital nomad : people like me who move around the world working from our laptops. We can go many years without ever going “home” and SafetyWing recognises this and can offer open-ended cover.

What we LOVE about SafetyWing is that their insurance operates like a monthly subscription that you can stop and start as and when you need it. They are also one of the few providers who may be able to cover some pre-existing conditions and provide assistance with “routine” health stuff.

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By this point, you may well know which travel insurance is best for you. Maybe it’s Allianz travel insurance, or maybe it’s one of the others.

The question now then is, when should you buy travel insurance?

You can buy travel insurance up until the start date of your trip for most insurers. Many will not cover a trip that has already begun – with the exception of World Nomads and SafetyWing.

Note : if you ever do make a claim, you may well be asked to provide evidence of the start date. So I do not recommend trying to hoodwink insurers. Be totally honest or it will come back on you.

However, in our experience, the earlier you book your travel insurance, the better. This is for a number of reasons:

• Things sometimes go wrong before the trip even starts. For example, if the airline goes bust. This happens to 1000s of people every year. Or what if you get very sick a week before flying and have to cancel?! If you have the right travel insurance in place, your insurer may cover you in these scenarios.
• The vast majority of policies include a cooling off period . This is a period of time (usually 28 days) when you can cancel the policy and get all of your money back. We suggest using the cooling period to read through the policy documents and ensure that the cover fully meets your needs. Upon a closer look, if it does not suit you, you have time to contact the insurer and amend the policy, or cancel it and obtain more suitable travel insurance.

Personally, I usually book my travel insurance the very same day I book my flight. The only exception is if I already have long term or an annual plan. In these scenarios, instead, be sure to check the last date on your annual/long-term cover and make sure it covers your whole trip.

First up, it is unlikely you will ever need to make a travel insurance claim. Yipee!

In case you do though, you will be very pleased to hear that the process is pretty straightforward as long as you are dealing with a reputable company. If you are not then it may be a lot harder.

To initiate a travel insurance claim, all you need to do is contact (call) Allianz Global Assistance and chat with their 24-hour multilingual staff. You should do this as soon as possible or as soon as you know you will need to make a claim .

You will need to tell them about your claim including details of what has gone wrong, and what the damage seems to be. You can also initiate the process online by signing into your account.

If you are claiming lost or stolen items, you will need to write up a formal sworn statement of events, detailing what happened and what was lost. You will also need to have an official police report made up – it is highly important that you obtain this even if it means paying a fee/bribe or hassling the police to do it. Try to get it in both the native language and in English if possible.

The Insurance company may contact you to discuss your claim further. You may even be subjected to a an anti-fraud interview and your call may even be run through voice detection software designed to spot deceit! However, you have nothing to worry about if your claim is legitimate and in order.

It is very helpful to get all of your receipts and invoices together first and submit all expenses at once. Do keep copies of every expense, bill, invoice, and report as you will need to provide these to the claims team. They may pay out small amounts without a bill, but in the case of extra hotels, flights, or electronics, the rule is usually “no proof = no payment”.

After that is sorted, you upload all of your information and documents, review the claim and submit. The Allianz team will get cracking and stay in contact with you throughout this process. Note that resolution time does vary from case to case. It may be days, weeks, or sometimes months depending on the details of your claim.

I hope you found this Allianz Travel Insurance Review to be informative – it certainly took a lot of work on our part to put it together! Comprehensive travel insurance is important to safe travel and you need to carefully choose the best provider for your needs.

We really care about the safety of our readers. That’s why we do recommend travel insurance so strongly. We’ve seen ourselves what can go wrong – and we wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

So check for trip interruption coverage, get your gadgets covered, but most importantly, make sure any potential medical expenses are covered, especially emergency medical expenses. Shop around different providers to find the right one for you. Once again, we wish you an awesome and safe trip!

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Aiden Freeborn

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The author did a very nice job explaining the different types of insurance Allianz offers. But, until you have experienced their VERY POOR customer service and actual reimbursement procedures, you will not have the complete Allianz story.

I would never use Allianz Global Assistance for your trip insurance needs During a Viking River Cruise June, 2023, my husband came down with COVID. VIKING handled their end of any claims and taking care of us beautifully, BUT Allianz Global Assistance was a completely different story. We had Trip Interruption insurance (which included coming down with COVID) and trying to get reimbursement for all our medical expenses and a post trip to Amsterdam we had planned (not with Viking, but through our travel agent) has been one of the most frustrating ordeals I have ever dealt with. We are asking for approximately a $2,000 reimbursement and we have received $300.

If you need to file a claim, here is what you can expect after you complete the on-line claim form on Allianz’s website : 1. They will tell you they can’t read your receipts (even though you can read them on the email you send or they are PDFs from Viking or your TA). One Allianz customer service rep (probably the 7th person I talked to), told me to download a $50 app that makes receipts readable, which I did, and they still couldn’t read them. I finally snail-mailed copies of the receipts and they still declined 75% of them. 2. Phone calls with wait times of over an hour. This has happened to me 10+ times (not just a random occurrence), and I have tried all times of the day – same thing. 3. When you do talk to a rep, the call will always, and I mean always, disconnect before the issue is handled.

I could go on and on, but bottom line, I will NEVER use Allianz again or recommend them to anyone. We are out $2,000 + $1,000 we paid for the Trip Insurance. It is a big deal, but I can’t imagine if we had to rely on Allianz for the total trip reimbursement. Thank goodness Viking stepped up and provided the level of customer service they did.

Of course, we are aware that some customers sometimes have insurance claims denied. We also appreciate that others have bad customer service experiences with all kinds of different companies.

However are not privy to the finer details of your situation, and Allianz are not here to put across their side of the story either – furthermore this is not really the legitimate forum to air complaints about them. Still in the interest of openness and transparency we will let your comment stand.

Best of luck with your next trip.

Yes agreed – your statement about Allianz not offering unlimited medical cover is complete BS and misleading to readers. Are you paid to promote World Nomads Insurance? Please provide full disclosure to your readers.

I have just rechecked the Allianz policy information available on their website and what we have said appears to remain correct. If you feel we have missed something then please elaborate.

As for World Nomads, we have made it clear that some of the links in this post are affiliated.

Hi there, I found your article very informative, but I just wanted to make a couple of corrections. Im not affiliated with Allianz, but Ive been researching which insurance to buy and they have provided me with a quote and their PDS, which Ive read in full. The amounts that Allianz offers for overseas emergency assistance and overseas medical and hospital expenses under their comprehensive plan are both unlimited, and they do offer insurance for pre-existing medical conditions, you just have to pay an additional premium.

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“I cannot even begin to tell you how wonderful my experience was with Allianz!! I had a terrible ski accident in France and every single Allianz person was unbelievably helpful. I now recommend Allianz to everyone I know and I will NEVER travel overseas without it. I am so very grateful for all the support I received.”

- Lindsay T., MN, 2021

“So often when you buy warranty or insurance it’s hard to actually get it to do what it’s supposed to do, but Allianz worked as it should. The cost for travel insurance is so negligible that it’s a no brainer to add to your trip.” 

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Allianz travel insurance is a provider for many US-based airlines. Read on to learn pros, cons, pricing, and more.

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HOME > TRAVEL INSURANCE > ALLIANZ

Allianz 2024 Review

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Allianz Travel Insurance Overview

If you feel like you’ve heard of Allianz Travel Insurance, you may be right. Allianz is the travel insurance provider of choice for many U.S.-based airlines, including American Airlines and United Airlines. What you might not know is that Allianz also offers a full set of travel insurance plans direct to consumers, with a full set of benefits which covers more than flights.

Before your next trip, should you consider buying an Allianz travel insurance policy? Here’s everything you need to know about Allianz Travel and the plans available to consumers.

What is Allianz Travel Insurance?

Based out of Berlin, Allianz was founded in 1890 and offered marine and accident policies to Germans. Three years later, the company would expand to London, where they offered transport insurance to Germans traveling abroad. Over the next 40 years, the company would continue to expand throughout Europe, the Middle East, and into the United States, expanding beyond casualty insurance and into specialty lines. Their earliest forms of insurance included home invasion insurance, and machinery breakdown insurance.

Throughout history, Allianz provided insurance for many major projects. Some of their accolades include insuring the Wright Brothers’ first flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, and underwriting the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Today, the company stands as the largest financial services group in the world, and was rated by Forbes as the largest company by composite measure. Across divisions, the company holds over $1 trillion in assets, diversified in banking, real estate, securities, and insurance products. On their travel side, Allianz sells over 30 million travel insurance policies annually, and provides specialty products for airlines, tour organizers, and even the AAA. The company is also the worldwide insurance partner for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Allianz Travel Insurance Options

Allianz Travel Insurance offers three main types of travel insurance policies for travelers: single trip plans, multi-trip (or annual) plans, and specific plans for rental cars. Each option provides a specific level of coverage based on the traveler’s needs.

Allianz Single Trip Travel Insurance

Allianz single trip options are the traditional travel insurance policies, which cover one single trip a traveler may go on. Although the company offers three full-coverage plans with coverage for trip cancellation, trip delay, and baggage loss, Allianz also has two specialty lines for budget-minded travelers. OneTrip Cancelation plus only covers trip cancellation and trip interruption events, while OneTrip Emergency Medical only provides emergency medical benefits for emergency sickness or injury.

Allianz Annual/Multi-Trip Travel Insurance

As the name suggests, Allianz’s annual plans cover multiple international trips an individual may take. The company offers three different plans ranging from basic to prime coverage, increasing benefit levels based on a traveler’s budget.

Allianz Rental Car Travel Insurance

In addition to traditional travel insurance plans, Allianz offers after-market rental car damage coverage. While the rental car policy covers up to $40,000 in collision damage and can prevent motorists from filing a claim with their auto insurance company, the plan may only offer coverage for cars rented within the United States.

What’s Covered Under a Typical Allianz Travel Insurance Plan

Allianz offers multiple policies, each offering a different level of coverage for frequent travelers. As a result, the benefits may vary between policies. Before deciding on which one is right for your needs, be sure to read the fine print to understand which situations may be covered, and which ones may be excluded. For the traditional travel insurance plans — including their single- and multi-trip policies — travelers can expect to be covered for trip cancellation, trip delay, and baggage loss.

• Trip Cancellation: It’s impossible to plan for the unexpected, such as a serious illness prior to departure, the death of a family member, or an accident on the way to the airport. If one of these situations happens to you, trip cancellation could help you recover up to 100 percent of your non-refundable costs, such as airfare, tour costs, and event tickets.
• Trip Interruption: If a covered event forces you to come home early — such as the death of a family member or a natural disaster — you may be forced to pay out-of-pocket for emergency flights. Trip interruption benefits can reimburse you for those costs, giving you peace of mind in the midst of a crisis. Coverage ranges between 100 percent and 150 percent of the total trip cost, depending on the plan.
• Trip Delay: Inclement weather and irregular operations can delay flights, forcing you to miss connections or even stay overnight in a city far from home. If your trip is delayed by six hours, you could get reimbursed for meals or a hotel room. Benefits range from a maximum of $300 in the OneTrip Basic plan, to a benefit cap of $2,000 with their OneTrip Premier plan.
• Baggage Delay: If you arrive at your destination, but your bags don’t, how would you cover your incidentals until the bags arrive? If your bags are delayed by at least 12 hours, baggage delay benefits may reimburse you for anything you may need, including phone chargers and toiletries. Benefit maximums range from $500 to $2,000.
• Emergency Transportation: When far from home, a serious injury could make returning home a dangerous prospect. If you need a medically required transport (such as an air ambulance), emergency transportation coverage can help you not only find a provider, but also pay for their services. Benefit levels range from a maximum of $50,000 to $1 million.

Are There Additional Coverage Options?

Depending on which plan you choose, there are two additional add-on options you can purchase. Allianz Travel insurance offers an optional upgrade for a rental car damage protector, and required to work benefits.

• Rental Car Damage Protector: The rental car damage protector is the same policy offered as a stand-alone product by Allianz Travel Insurance. This add-on plan covers many of the common situations car renters may face, including up to $40,000 of collision damage.
• Required to Work: If your employer forces you to report to work instead of taking your trip, required to work coverage could reimburse you for costs associated with trip cancellation or trip interruption. This add-on benefit is only available on the OneTrip Prime single trip plan.

How to Buy Allianz Travel Insurance

Although you can purchase Allianz Travel Insurance from your travel provider, those policies are specifically written for those situations. While they may cover situations related to your flight or other travel, they may not offer comprehensive travel insurance coverage. If you are interested in shopping across Allianz’s plans, you would be best served by shopping on their website.

To start your quote, you will need to decide what type of coverage you need: Single trip insurance, annual travel insurance, or rental car insurance. For a single trip policy or rental car coverage, you will need to provide:

• Your primary destination country
• Travel dates
• Ages of everyone traveling together
• State of residence for all travelers
• Total trip cost

For an annual policy, you will only need to provide the travel insurance start date, the age of the single covered traveler, and their place of residence.

If you decide to purchase an Allianz travel insurance plan, you will be required to submit personally identifiable information. Allianz will ask for the following:

• Names and dates of birth for all covered travelers
• The primary insured’s address, city, state, and ZIP code
• Telephone numbers
• Phone number and e-mail address

To pay for your policy, Allianz accepts all major credit cards. Once you submit your payment information, your trip will be covered instantly.

How Will I Get my Travel Insurance Documents from Allianz?

As with every major travel insurance provider, documents are provided electronically. Travelers can expect to receive their paperwork in their e-mail box once the purchase is complete.

Allianz Online Security

Transactions on the Allianz Travel Insurance website are protected by SHA-256 SSL technology, meaning data is encrypted and secure. The security certificate is issued by Amazon.

Allianz Travel Insurance Reviews and Ratings

Because Allianz does not sell their travel insurance products through the major marketplaces (including Squaremouth and InsureMyTrip), there are no reviews from their customers. However, Allianz Travel Assistance is accredited by the Better Business Bureau , and holds an A+ rating with the consumer advocacy organization. As of March 2021, the BBB closed 460 complaints over the last 12 months, and a total of 778 in the past three years.

On review website Trustpilot , Allianz Global Assistance has an “excellent” rating, with an average review of 4.5 stars out of five from over 14,000 reviews. ConsumerAffairs.com gives Allianz Global Assistance a rating of four stars out of five, based on over 600 ratings over the last 12 months. The complaints on both websites revolve around the communication during the claims process, and speed of claim payments.

From a financial perspective, the insurance benefits are underwritten by either BCS Insurance Company or Jefferson Insurance Company. BCS Insurance Company holds an A- (Excellent) rating with A.M. Best, while Jefferson Insurance Company has an A+ (Superior) rating.

Pros and Cons of Allianz Travel Insurance

• Multiple options for all types of travelers, including medical only, cancellation only, and annual insurance options
• Extended coverage for change fees or loyalty program redeposit fees
• Add-on coverage for international rental car damage and required to work doverage
• Multiple products can create confusion for travelers, requiring careful attention to the plan benefits and limits
• No pre-existing waiver or cancel for any reason benefit add-on coverage
• Reduced benefit maximums compared to similar products in class

Final Thoughts on Allianz Travel Insurance

When shopping for travel insurance, Allianz should be one of the companies that are top of mind. With their variety of products for all budgets, ranging from single trip coverage to annual insurance plans, there’s a plan for everyone.

However, because Allianz offers multiple insurance plans, it’s critical to understand what you are purchasing, and the benefits that come with it. Furthermore, travelers should always shop directly through Allianz to qualify for the most benefits across their entire trip. Before purchase, be sure to read the entire document, so you can get clarity on what is and is not covered.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should i buy allianz travel insurance directly from the company, or through my airline.

Alliance travel insurance plans purchased through your airline only covers situations that could go wrong on your flight, and not necessarily your entire trip. If you are looking for coverage beyond trip cancellation or delay for your flight, consider shopping for insurance directly from Allianz.

Which situations qualify for a trip cancellation claim with Allianz?

There are 20 different situations that may qualify for trip cancellation benefits. Covered incidents include (but are not limited to): injury or illness of the covered traveler; becoming pregnant after purchasing the travel insurance policy; the financial insolvency and shutdown of your airline, cruise line or tour operator; or a terrorist event happening within 100 miles of your destination as indicated on your itinerary. For a full list of coverage, refer to your travel insurance policy documents, including your explanation of benefits.

Does Allianz Travel Insurance offer coverage for COVID-19?

According to Allianz’s coverage alert statement , travelers may be able to file a claim for emergency medical care if they become ill with COVID-19 while on their trip. In addition, those who come down with a diagnosed case of COVID-19 may qualify for reimbursement under trip cancellation or trip interruption benefits. For full coverage information, contact Allianz Global Assistance.

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Airline Travel Insurance vs. Independent Travel Insurance: Which Is Right for You?

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Airline travel insurance

Independent travel insurance, which one is right for you.

You’ve planned your travel, found a flight, and can’t wait to book the trip on the airline’s website. But right before you hit the payment button, you have one seemingly simple question to answer: Do you want to add travel insurance?

It’s a booking option that has stumped many a traveler. You may think you need it, but what does that airline insurance even cover? And would it be better to purchase separate travel insurance from an independent company instead? Here, we’ll help you break down that decision and figure out which one is right for you.

For starters, every airline’s travel protection coverage is different. Some airlines, like Southwest, don’t offer any sort of trip protection for purchase with regular flights, but they do have an insurance option for Southwest Vacations.

United, on the other hand, offers full travel insurance through a partnership with AIG, while British Airways offers protection with Allianz. So be aware that while you may purchase insurance through the airline, your policy is likely underwritten by a third-party insurer.

Airlines offer a wide variety of travel insurance policies with varying benefits, so ensure you read the fine print to understand your specific coverage. Here are some examples:

Trip cancellation or interruption, meaning you’ll get a refund of whatever you have paid (up to a certain amount) if you have to cancel or postpone your trip due to a covered reason.

Reimbursement for lost or delayed baggage.

Emergency medical coverage and/or assistance while traveling.

And coverage isn’t the only thing that can vary; so does price. One airline might sell a policy for less than $15, while others may be more than five times that amount. This is another instance in which it’s critical to compare the details of what you’re actually getting. Here are two example policies we found for sale via United and Alaska:

A few cons to consider

One potential downside of purchasing travel insurance through your airline is that you only have the option of that airline’s partner provider — which may not be your first choice, or may not offer the coverage you want or need.

United, for example, offers protection through AIG, which covers 100% of your trip cost if you have to cancel travel plans. British Airways, on the other hand, offers a plan through Allianz that only covers up to $1,000 for trip cancellation and protection (often less than the cost of a single international flight).

When booking travel protection or insurance through an airline, you usually won’t have the option to fully customize your plan. For example, if you’ll be participating in activities that aren’t approved by some plans (like bouldering, ballooning or even some volunteer work), you may not be able to upgrade to a plan that covers riskier activities.

However, if you’re not expecting to need any special coverage (though some would argue that you never expect to need it), clicking that box on the checkout page while booking your flight is often an easy and inexpensive option. Just make sure to read the fine print so you know exactly what’s covered and what’s not to avoid disappointment if you ever have to make a claim.

» Learn more: What to do if you get sick while traveling overseas

Independent travel insurance, on the other hand, gives you the ability to shop around and choose a plan that’s right for you.

Using a comparison portal like SquareMouth (a NerdWallet partner) or an independent insurance agent will ensure you get coverage tailored to your trip and will allow you to select plans based on price or features.

For example, if packing important or valuable materials in your checked luggage, you may want a plan that has a higher baggage loss reimbursement. If traveling to a country where there’s a higher risk of contracting malaria or another disease, you may want insurance that offers more overseas medical coverage or medical evacuation. And hand-selecting the exact coverage you want or need is something you can only do if you shop around outside any coverage your airline offers.

» Learn more: How to find the best travel insurance

Which option is right for you comes down to what type of coverage you need and how complex your travel plans are. If you’re taking a quick domestic trip to visit friends and family in a familiar destination and don’t plan to participate in any risky activities, airline-provided travel insurance may be enough protection for you.

On the other hand, if you’re planning the trip of a lifetime with multiple destinations, opportunities for volunteer work, participation in what some companies consider dangerous activities or travel to regions with limited medical care and higher chances of getting sick, it may be wise to consider independent insurance.

Remember that if your trip involves multiple airlines, car rental companies, accommodations and activities, it may be easier to deal with one independent insurance company that will cover your whole trip.

» Learn more: The majority of Americans plan to travel in 2022

Also, you may already have a credit card that comes with some travel protections if you use the card to purchase your trip. Check the fine print to see what protections your card might offer.

Whatever you choose, travel safe.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-10x Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-2x Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

50,000 Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

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Allianz Trip Insurance

Protect your travel experience

Read about Allianz Trip Insurance’s COVID-19 insurance coverage limitations and accommodations.

U.S. coverage alert Opens another site in a new window that may not meet accessibility guidelines.

Top reasons to buy trip insurance

• Financial reimbursement if you have to cancel or interrupt your trip due to a covered illness, injury, jury duty, and more
• Emergency medical benefits in and outside the U.S. – where many personal health insurance policies (like Medicare) won’t cover you
• 24-hour emergency assistance to help you solve medical and other travel-related problems on the go

Types of trip insurance plans

Allianz Trip Insurance comes in a variety of plans to fit your specific needs. Single-trip plans can protect one trip, annual plans can protect all your trips for an entire year, and rental car protection plans can keep your budget safe from accidental collision and damage to a rental vehicle.

All insurance is recommended / offered / sold by 3rd party, Allianz Global Assistance, not American Airlines. Underwriter: Jefferson Insurance Company or BCS Insurance Company. AGA Service Company is the licensed producer and administrator of these plans. AGA Service Company is a licensed producer in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia.

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Trip insurance benefits

Reimburses your prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses if you need to cancel your trip due to a covered illness, injury, and more.

Reimburses the unused, non-refundable portion of your trip and increased transportation costs it takes for you to return home early or to continue your trip due to a covered illness, injury, and more.

Reimburses expenses related to covered emergency medical or dental care incurred on your trip.

Provides benefits for medically necessary transportation to the nearest appropriate medical facility following a covered injury or illness.

Reimburses extra meals and accommodations you may need if your flight is delayed for 6 or more hours for a covered reason.

Reimburses you if your luggage is lost, damaged or stolen during your trip—keeping your travel plans on track.

Reimburses the purchase of essential items if your luggage is delayed for more than 24 hours.

Turn your trip into a VIP experience. Our travel experts can give you destination information, make restaurant reservations, find tickets to shows, and more.

Help is just a phone call away. Our team of multilingual problem solvers is available to help you with medical and other travel-related emergencies.

Provides primary coverage with no deductible.

Review period

If you’re not completely satisfied, you have 15 days (or more, depending on your state of residence) to request a refund, provided you haven’t started your trip or initiated a claim. Plans are non-refundable after this period.

Additional assistance

Coverage by country of residence.

• Frequently asked questions

Insurance benefits underwritten by BCS Insurance Company (OH, Administrative Office: 2 Mid America Plaza, Suite 200, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181), rated “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best Co., under BCS Form No. 52.201 series or 52.401 series, or Jefferson Insurance Company (NY, Administrative Office: 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233), rated “A+” (Superior) by A.M. Best Co., under Jefferson Form No. 101-C series or 101-P series, depending on your state of residence and plan chosen. A+ (Superior) and A (Excellent) are the 2nd and 3rd highest, respectively, of A.M. Best’s 13 Financial Strength Ratings. Plans only available to U.S. residents and may not be available in all jurisdictions. Allianz Global Assistance and Allianz Travel Insurance are marks of AGA Service Company dba Allianz Global Assistance or its affiliates. Allianz Travel Insurance products are distributed by Allianz Global Assistance, the licensed producer and administrator of these plans and an affiliate of Jefferson Insurance Company. The insured shall not receive any special benefit or advantage due to the affiliation between AGA Service Company and Jefferson Insurance Company. Plans include insurance benefits and assistance services. Any Non-Insurance Assistance services purchased are provided through AGA Service Company. Except as expressly provided under your plan, you are responsible for charges you incur from third parties. Contact AGA Service Company at 800-284-8300 or 9950 Mayland Drive,Richmond, VA 23233 or [email protected]

Email [email protected]

PLEASE BE ADVISED: This plan contains insurance benefits (which may include disability and/or health insurance benefits) that only apply during the covered trip. This optional coverage may duplicate coverage already provided by your personal auto, home, renter’s, health, life, personal liability, or other insurance policy or source of coverage but may be subject to different restrictions. You should review the terms of this policy with your existing coverage. If you have any questions about your current coverage, call your insurer/health plan or insurance agent/broker. This insurance is not required to purchase any other products/services. Unless licensed, travel retailers and their employees may provide general information about the insurance, including a description of coverage and price, but are not qualified/authorized to answer technical questions about terms, benefits, exclusions, and conditions of the insurance or evaluate the adequacy of existing coverage. Plans are intended for U.S. residents only and may not be available in all jurisdictions. Rental Car Protector is not available to KS and TX residents, except when purchased as a separate policy and is not available in all countries or for all cars. This coverage does not provide liability insurance or comply with any financial responsibility law, or any other law mandating motor vehicle coverage and does not cover you for any injury to another party. Additionally:

California Residents: We are doing business in California as Allianz Global Assistance Insurance Agency, License # 0B01400. California offers a toll-free consumer hotline at 1-800-927-4357.

New York Residents: The licensed producer represents the insurer for purposes of the sale. Compensation paid to the producer may depend on the policy selected, or the producer’s expenses, volume of business, or profitability. The purchaser may request and obtain information about the producer’s compensation, except as otherwise provided by law.

Maryland Residents: The purchase of travel insurance would make the travel insurance coverage primary to any other duplicate or similar coverage. The Commissioner may be contacted to file a complaint at: Maryland Insurance Administration, ATTN: Consumer Complaint Investigation Property/Casualty, 200 St. Paul Place, Suite 2700, Baltimore, MD 21202.

Texas Residents: Before deciding whether to purchase this insurance plan, you may wish to determine whether your own automobile insurance or credit card agreement provides you coverage for rental vehicle damage or loss and determine the amount of deductible under your own insurance coverage. The purchase of this insurance plan is not mandatory. This coverage is not all inclusive, which means it does not cover such things as personal injury, personal liability, or personal property. It does not cover you for damages to other vehicles or property. It does not cover you for any injury to any other party.

Plan charge includes the cost of insurance benefits and assistance services. See your Plan Details for more information, or call Allianz Global Assistance at 800-284-8300.

AGA Service Company dba Allianz Global Assistance (AGA) compensates their suppliers or agencies for allowing AGA to market or offer products to customers of the supplier or agency.

*Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply, including for pre-existing conditions. Plans may not be available to residents of all states. Insurance benefits are underwritten by either BCS Insurance Company or Jefferson Insurance Company, depending on insured’s state of residence. AGA Service Company is the licensed producer and administrator of these plans.

Travel insurance

Find the right travel insurance policy with allianz assistance.

AWP Assistance UK Ltd , trading as Allianz Assistance and Allianz Global Assistance , is a subsidiary company of Allianz Partners SAS. AWP Assistance UK Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom to provide insurance products and services.  

Please note that, whilst AWP and Allianz Insurance are part of the global Allianz SE group of companies, AWP and Allianz insurance are separate companies and not part of the same group of companies in the UK. Any communications regarding Allianz Assistance services should therefore be addressed to AWP .

A range of cover options are available including single and multi-trip, 24/7 medical cover, backpacker,  winter sports and more. 

Whatever type of trip you're taking, Allianz Assistance will help you find a plan that covers the "what ifs?". 

Extended Car Warranty

Allianz Assistance is the trusted car warranty provider for ten of the UK’s leading car brands.  Find out more on Allianz Assistance about the three levels of car warranty that are available.

Not what you were looking for?

Pet insurance, musical insurance, home insurance.

June 1, 2020

Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with travel dates on or after

Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with effective start dates on or after

Ukraine; Belarus; Moldova, Republic of; North Korea, Democratic People's Rep; Russia; Israel

This is a test environment. Please proceed to AllianzTravelInsurance.com and remove all bookmarks or references to this site.

Use this tool to calculate all purchases like ski-lift passes, show tickets, or even rental equipment.

Change Fees

Insurance benefits underwritten by BCS Insurance Company (OH, Administrative Office: 2 Mid America Plaza, Suite 200, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181), rated “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best Co., under BCS Form No. 52.201 series or 52.401 series, or Jefferson Insurance Company (NY, Administrative Office: 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233), rated “A+” (Superior) by A.M. Best Co., under Jefferson Form No. 101-C series or 101-P series, depending on your state of residence and plan chosen. A+ (Superior) and A (Excellent) are the 2nd and 3rd highest, respectively, of A.M. Best's 13 Financial Strength Ratings. Plans only available to U.S. residents and may not be available in all jurisdictions. Allianz Global Assistance and Allianz Travel Insurance are marks of AGA Service Company dba Allianz Global Assistance or its affiliates. Allianz Travel Insurance products are distributed by Allianz Global Assistance, the licensed producer and administrator of these plans and an affiliate of Jefferson Insurance Company. The insured shall not receive any special benefit or advantage due to the affiliation between AGA Service Company and Jefferson Insurance Company. Plans include insurance benefits and assistance services. Any Non-Insurance Assistance services purchased are provided through AGA Service Company. Except as expressly provided under your plan, you are responsible for charges you incur from third parties. Contact AGA Service Company at  800-284-8300 or 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233 or [email protected] .

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