Travel Insurance Review

[haloFIRE]

I'd like to offer my thoughts on the Allianz Annual Premier Plan. Pls move to correct forum if this is not it. We have no house this year and are doing slow travel. I knew we would be on a lot of cruise ships, and in parts far and unknown. I thought this was a great year for our first travel insurance plan. One concern was they were going to get into my business about trip length bc they technically want you to return to your residence between each trip. Maybe its bc its an annual plan but this question has never been asked so I have never answered it. No probs for several months then haloFIRE was struck down with a plague of a cold he could not shake in Malaga, Spain. Off to the dr not know and not caring whether the insurance would reimburse. I should point out our US insurance is no good in Europe as far as I know. So we go to a private pay hospital where he is prescribed a zpac equivalent and several OTCs. Approx 107Euro. Off to the pharmacy for the meds. Approx 30 Euro. The receipts I had were one sheet with diagnosis and medicines named. a receipt for paying the dr with my credit card. and a 2 inch print out that only said the name of the pharmacy and the dollar amount paid. I thought this was going to be a problem bc I could have bought makeup and produced this receipt. Snapped a photo of the medicines side by side. Tried to submit through their somewhat useful app but it was crashy. Ended up emailing the receipts as attachments in multiple emails as i was limited as to email size. Was concerned about how they would do Euro conversion so also included a screengrab of my credit card showing how the charges posted in US on my card. I was struck down by same plague in Barcelona. Off to private dr. Same scenario. photographed and emailed. Cancelled train, had to rebook. Should be covered under trip protection as our new tickets were more expensive. Luckily our accommodations allowed us to cancel so we weren't out of pocket big time just a few bucks. SO I submitted a photo of the French train strike memo, a photo showing our train was canx, and then a copy of our new train tix receipt. Got an email a couple weeks later that claims were pending and then that they were paid. Home to find checks in the mail. No questions. NO pushback. no wiggling on their part. This could be isolated success or it could be the beginning of a small love affair. The annual plan cost me roughly $400 for the 2 of us and ive received in return peace of mind and $362 in funds. The year is young as my coverage lasts until mar 2019. Editted to add that this was written by MrsHaloFIRE. HaloFIRE left his account logged in

 

[omni550]

Sorry to hear that both of you were ill. Thanks for posting about your positive experiences with this travel insurance. It's always good to understand how a given insurance works (or not).

Looks like they've renamed your plan the "Alltrips Premier Plan" which seems to have been developed for the frequent business traveler.
https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/find-a-plan/alltrips-premier.htm

Out of curiosity, I requested an online quote from them and this popped up. As a frequent traveler and retiree, the "Alltrips Prime" might satisfy my needs at about half the price. Will need to do a bit more research into their coverage levels before my annual travel policy with another insurer expires in December.

omni

 

[athena53]

Thanks for this review! I've bought travel insurance before but have never needed it and that's when you really find out what kind of company you're dealing with. Given your experience I'm more likely to select Allianz.

 

[OldShooter]

International Travel News has a regular column on travel insurance: https://www.intltravelnews.com/columns/travel-insurance

They have recently been running a series of reader reports, like the OP's, on actual experiences. I think you will have to search for particular carrier name, though. For example: https://www.intltravelnews.com/2016/covered-allianz

For our travel, our US health insurance carrier includes international coverage, so our main concern is having access to an organization that can manage a health-related evacuation. Here, basically, is our strategy: https://www.intltravelnews.com/2010/09/the-betty-james-travel-insurance-strategy

The ITN web site is a little raggedy-Andy. Some things are easily accessible but some are behind a paywall. But IMO anyone who travels regularly will be well-served by buying a subscription for $26. You can also request a free sample copy on the web site under "Subscriptions."

 

[Bamaman]

Different travel insurance plans have different purposes. Many are after the health insurance coverage. Some are looking for coverage in case something comes up and they cannot make the trip. And some are after a way to get home in case of emergency.

Most Medicare supplements will reimburse you for emergency healthcare abroad. And many regular health insurance will also reimburse you. Regular airlines carry people with most health or accident conditions, and only very seldom is private transport required.

 

[Chuckanut]

For our travel, our US health insurance carrier includes international coverage, so our main concern is having access to an organization that can manage a health-related evacuation. Here, basically, is our strategy: https://www.intltravelnews.com/2010/09/the-betty-james-travel-insurance-strategy

That is my main concern also. I was looking at the OP's insurance company and I believe that emergency evacuation is to the nearest hospital that can deal with one's problem. I want the EV to take me to a good hospital near my home as soon as I'm stable enough for the trip.

 

[OldShooter]

... only very seldom is private transport required.

Agreed. Our evacuation policies run in the $100 range vs trips typically in the five digits, so I consider the insurance to be a minor expense and understand that the carriers are making a ton of money because of the low probability of having to pay.

The issue for us is not cost so much, although evacuations can be expensive. It is having someone with the infrastructure to handle the logistics of medical support, travel arrangements, etc. If DW ends up in the hospital and urgently needs to go home, the last thing I want to do is to try to be an evacuation logistics specialist in a country where I can't speak the language and may not even be able to understand the alphabet.

 

[nwsteve]

That is my main concern also. I was looking at the OP's insurance company and I believe that emergency evacuation is to the nearest hospital that can deal with one's problem. I want the EV to take me to a good hospital near my home as soon as I'm stable enough for the trip.

I found that most of the international travel emergency evac only provide evac to the nearest "qualified hospital" whatever that means to THE INSURANCE CO.
We have been using Global Guardian Air Ambulance as a stand alone evac policy specifically because they allow evac home from anywhere. Their only requirement is that you MUST be admitted to a hospital. We made the made error of going back to our hotel after my DW broke her kneecap instead of being admitted.
Family coverage is about $385/yr and includes US as well as Intl locations--you only need to be 100 miles from your home.
Nwsteve

 

[candrew]

"One concern was they were going to get into my business about trip length bc they technically want you to return to your residence between each trip."

In a cursory reading of the policy documents for the Allianz Annual Premier Plan, I happened upon this:

Our annual plan covers trips you take during a one-year period. Only trips that are scheduled to last for 45 days or less are eligible.

It's not just a case of the insurer expecting policy holders will return to their residence *between* trips, but that each trip's duration throughout the course of a full year will be <45 days each. So, if you are slow travelers like DW & I are, who typically take trips of >45 days (currently doing 9 months in Central America), this policy is not for you.

The devil is always in the details.

 

[braumeister]

I found that most of the international travel emergency evac only provide evac to the nearest "qualified hospital" whatever that means to THE INSURANCE CO.
We have been using Global Guardian Air Ambulance as a stand alone evac policy specifically because they allow evac home from anywhere. Their only requirement is that you MUST be admitted to a hospital. We made the made error of going back to our hotel after my DW broke her kneecap instead of being admitted.
Family coverage is about $385/yr and includes US as well as Intl locations--you only need to be 100 miles from your home.
Nwsteve

That looks to be very similar to MASA, which I have used for years. About the same price ($390 for both of us) and works domestically as well as worldwide.
https://www.masaassist.com if anyone is interested.

 

[omni550]

That looks to be very similar to MASA, which I have used for years. About the same price ($390 for both of us) and works domestically as well as worldwide.
https://www.masaassist.com if anyone is interested.

Hmmm....U.S. pricing seems a bit higher now.

omni

 

[braumeister]

Hmmm....U.S. pricing seems a bit higher now.

omni

I've been a member for years, but what you're looking at is what would be MSRP (for those who don't have a clue).

You can get the discounted rate by being a member of an affiliated group. In my case, that's the Air Force Association, which anyone can join at $35 for a year or $85 for 3 years.

Once you're a member, you can go through the AFA site and join MASA for $290 for one or $390 for the family plan. No enrollment fee.

 

[omni550]

I've been a member for years, but what you're looking at is what would be MSRP (for those who don't have a clue).

You can get the discounted rate by being a member of an affiliated group. In my case, that's the Air Force Association, which anyone can join at $35 for a year or $85 for 3 years.

Once you're a member, you can go through the AFA site and join MASA for $290 for one or $390 for the family plan. No enrollment fee.

Good to know...thanks!

omni

 

[explanade]

Has anyone found reasonable policies which offer primary health coverage?

I've been getting fairly cheap per-trip policies which mainly have medical evacuation and secondary coverage on insuremytrip.com, around $40 for a 2-4 week trip.

I didn't see too many primary health insurance coverage there which wasn't exorbitant in price.

Unless you incur medical expenses well beyond your deductible, which can be like $5-6k on ACA policies, these secondary policies wouldn't kick in at all, more than likely.

I guess the medical evacuation coverage can be useful.

 

[nwsteve]

It has been over a year, but I found primary medical using squaremouth.com. Be sure to use their filter system to restrict to primary medical only. The list of choices was much shorter but still more reasonable than buying all risk policies

 

[candrew]

Has anyone found reasonable policies which offer primary health coverage?

I've been getting fairly cheap per-trip policies which mainly have medical evacuation and secondary coverage on insuremytrip.com, around $40 for a 2-4 week trip.

I didn't see too many primary health insurance coverage there which wasn't exorbitant in price.

Unless you incur medical expenses well beyond your deductible, which can be like $5-6k on ACA policies, these secondary policies wouldn't kick in at all, more than likely.

I guess the medical evacuation coverage can be useful.

Depending upon your particular circumstances.....

https://www.aaro.org/health-insurance/health-insurance-plan

 

[explanade]

It has been over a year, but I found primary medical using squaremouth.com. Be sure to use their filter system to restrict to primary medical only. The list of choices was much shorter but still more reasonable than buying all risk policies

Thanks, that is a nice filter they have.

Insuremytrip.com all list secondary policies for per-trip coverage, regardless of the premiums. They ranged from $40-220 for a 2-week trip.

But Squaremouth listed one policy for $52 when I searched with the primary policy only.

 

[atmsmshr]

It has been over a year, but I found primary medical using squaremouth.com. Be sure to use their filter system to restrict to primary medical only. The list of choices was much shorter but still more reasonable than buying all risk policies

Thank you for the reference!

 

[mystang52]

I'm now a fan of Allianz as well. DW and I were in Aruba back in June. After one day there, I ended up in the Emergency Room, and back at the hospital the next day for follow-up. Total charges some $850. My primary insurance covered about 600, and Allianz promptly paid the balance. I always buy travel insurance, but now will be loyal to Allianz.