Travel Guard

What Travel Guard is

Travel Guard is a travel insurance plan brand and assistance provider, and the plans it sells are underwritten by other companies. The homepage says "Travel Insurance may be underwritten by American Zurich Insurance Company, Zurich American Insurance Company or National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pa. Please review your policy of insurance for the identity of the underwriter." The Our Underwriter page adds the details: American Zurich Insurance Company, "a New York company (NAIC No. 40142)," Zurich American Insurance Company, "an Illinois company (NAIC No. 16535)," and National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pa. "(NAIC No. 19445), a Pennsylvania insurance company." Which of the three stands behind a given policy is stated in that policy.

On ownership, the about page is headed "About Zurich Cover-More and Travel Guard" and lists Travel Guard among "our family of customer-facing brands," alongside Cover-More, Travelex Insurance and World Travel Protection. AIG's own website still carries a page titled "AIG Travel Guard: Travel Insurance Solutions" and a Travel Guard claims page, and the underwriter page's title reads "Our Underwriter - AIG Travel Guard." The company's address is given as Stevens Point, Wisconsin. The footer notes "Non insurance services are provided by Travel Guard."

The single-trip plans

The compare page lists three single-trip plans, and the AIG site gives their names. Deluxe is "Our top-of-the-line, comprehensive travel insurance plan coverage that sets the standard," with "Medical Expense Coverage up to $150,000." Preferred is "A comprehensive travel insurance plan with superb coverage and service from start to finish," with medical expense coverage up to $50,000. Essential is "Savvy coverage for the budget-minded traveler," with medical expense coverage up to $15,000. The compare page lists the other benefits by name rather than amount, among them cancellation or interruption for sickness, injury or death of a family member or traveling companion, baggage and travel documents, non-flight accidental death, a hospital of choice evacuation upgrade and the pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver. It says a quote shows "a full list of what's included as well as customized pricing information."

The pre-existing condition waiver depends on buying early. The compare page defines "Early Purchase" as a policy "purchased within 15 days of Initial Trip Payment," and the cruise page says insured travelers "have early purchase benefits for the first 15 days after the initial trip payment which includes our pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver." The cruise page also says Deluxe "includes our highest benefit limits for our offered coverages" and names an Adventure Sports Bundle as an add-on for activities such as "water skiing or ziplining." The AIG page lists a Pack N Go plan for "Immediate coverage for unplanned trips and adventures." For cruises, the cruise page says the plans can cover more than the sailing itself: "flights and hotel stays the night before your cruise departs can be covered," and it points travelers on shorter cruises to Preferred and those on an extended cruise to Deluxe.

The MedEvac and annual plans

The MedEvac Per Trip Plan is the one built around medical cover for long trips. Its page describes "Medical expense coverage for extended overseas travel (up to 364 days*)," and says the plan "provides medical expense coverage and emergency evacuation coverage, including medical transportation to the nearest adequate medical facility and then home if warranted." Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains is listed at "Up to $5,000,000 (maximum of one evacuation)." Dental has "A $500 sub-limit." The plan also includes return transportation, return of children, a bedside visit, baggage return and security evacuation for covered reasons such as "certain advisories, Natural Disasters and more," and its page lists "Travelers applying for a Schengen Visa" among those it serves. Non-flight accidental death pays for a loss that "occurs within 365 days of a covered Injury."

The Annual Plan offers "Year-round coverage for your travel investments" for repeat travelers. Its trip interruption benefit covers "a covered sickness, injury, or death of you, a family member, traveling companion or business partner," along with the cost of getting home early. The page also lists trip delay that "Reimburses up to $150 per day" after a delay of "more than five consecutive hours," missed connection, travel medical expense with "A $500 sub-limit" for dental, baggage, and baggage delay after "more than 12 hours." Emergency evacuation is "Up to $500,000 (maximum of 2 evacuations per year)." The page states "The Annual Travel Insurance Plan is not currently available to residents of the state of Washington," and its identity theft assistance is "Not available to NY residents."

Who can buy it and how it works

The compare page says "Coverage available to residents of U.S. states and the District of Columbia only," and non-US residents are sent to country sites. The quote form asks for destination, trip dates, state of residence and the initial payment date, and says "All travelers must live in the state you select." The homepage says the price is "based, in most cases, on the value of the trip and the age of the traveler," and that "Typically, the cost is five to seven percent of the trip cost." A policy "can be purchased up to 24 hours prior to your trip departure date," online or through the call center on 800-826-5248, and can be canceled "within 15 days of the effective date to receive a refund." Travel to Cuba requires a paper application and a compliance certification through the sanctioned countries hotline.

Travel advisors book plans through Advisor Connect, the platform the site calls "formerly Agentlink." Assistance services "are not insurance and are not provided by the insurer," and the plan pages list a 24-hour hotline for rebooking and lost luggage, medical assistance including physician referrals and evacuations, concierge services, and security evacuation support. The about page says the service centers offer "24/7 emergency travel assistance, medical and security services with more than 40 languages spoken on-site."

Who it suits

Travel Guard fits a US resident who wants a choice of single-trip plans with stated medical limits, a pre-existing condition waiver for buying within 15 days, and the option of a standalone MedEvac plan for long overseas trips of up to 364 days. Deluxe carries the highest limits in the range. The MedEvac plan's $5,000,000 evacuation limit and long trip length suit extended travel. Washington residents cannot buy the annual plan, and the underwriter on any one policy is only confirmed in that policy.