Volunteer Card

What Volunteer Card is

Volunteer Card, sold as the International Volunteer Card, is a travel insurance plan brand for volunteers and non-profit teams, not an insurer. Its FAQ names the underwriters directly: "The Basic, Plus, Premium, and Trip Cancellation and Interruption travel insurance policies are underwritten by Arch Insurance Company,NAIC#11150 under form series LTP 2013 and amendments thereto. The 365 Plan is underwritten by IMG." The compare-plans page adds that "Plans are offered and disseminated by registered travel retailers on behalf of Arch Insurance Solutions Inc., a licensed travel insurance producer (CA License #0I18111, TX License #1787195)." The business is based in Burnsville, Minnesota.

The about page gives the company's scale and aims. "Our parent companies handle close to 100,000 travelers annually with $85 million in annual sales," it says, and "Together we have grown and operated without debt for over 30 years." Its mission is "To make volunteer travel easier, safer, and more affordable," and it calls itself "social capitalist," with "a triple bottom line: fiscal, social, and environmental." The FAQ says "Everyone on the Volunteer Card team has personal experience in humanitarian work, having served in over 50 countries combined," and that the company donates part of its proceeds to humanitarian projects in Southeast Asia through the nonprofit Venture. The compare-plans page says "Every card provides a meal to a refugee child."

Plans and what they cover

The compare-plans page prints a price and a full benefit schedule for each short-term plan. The price is "a one-time, all-inclusive charge."

• Basic Plan (Single Trip), "$ 30." "Emergency Accident Medical Expense - $25,000," "Emergency Sickness Medical Expense - $25,000," "Emergency Dental - $750," "Emergency Medical Evacuation - $50,000," "Political or Security Evacuation - $100,000," "Repatriation of Remains - $25,000" and "Accidental Death & Dismemberment - $15,000." Smaller benefits include "Missed Connection - $500," "Travel Delay - $100," "Baggage & Personal Effects Loss - $500" and "Baggage Delay - $50." It covers "a single trip up to 30 days in length."
• Plus Plan (Single Trip), "$ 51." Accident and sickness medical of "$50,000" each, emergency dental of $750, "Emergency Medical Evacuation - $300,000," political or security evacuation of $100,000, repatriation of $25,000, "Travel Delay - $300," "Baggage & Personal Effects Loss - $1,000" and "Baggage Delay - $100." Each trip "can be up to 45 days in length."
• Premium Plan (Single or Multi-Trip), "$ 79." Accident and sickness medical of "$75,000" each, emergency dental of $750, "Emergency Medical Evacuation - $500,000," political or security evacuation of $100,000, repatriation of $25,000, "Travel Delay - $2,000," "Baggage & Personal Effects Loss - $2,000" and "Baggage Delay - $200." Each trip "can be up to 180 days in length."

Both evacuation benefits "MUST be coordinated by the 24/7 emergency service provider." Travel delay applies to "a trip delay of 12 hours or more," baggage delay to "a baggage delay of 24 hours or more," and baggage loss carries a "$300 per item Max." Trip length is measured "from when you depart at least 100 miles from your primary residence to when you return 100 miles to your primary residence."

The footnotes add state rules. "For residents of Oregon and New York, the Premium Plan is a single-trip policy," while for other states it is "a multi-trip per Insured per year benefit policy." On that multi-trip Premium Plan, "Coverage for Medical Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains and Political or Security Evacuation is limited to one (1) occurrence per annual term." And "For residents of New Hampshire, the combined maximum limit is $50,000 including dental."

Trip cancellation and interruption is not in the base plans: the FAQ says it "is not included with the travel insurance plans, but it is available to Volunteer Card holders as an add-on," and "Trip Cancellation and Interruption costs 6.5% of up to the total cost of your trip."

The 365 Plan, underwritten by IMG, is for longer stays: it "is perfect for volunteers who are in need of travel insurance coverage for 6 months or more," with "coverage for medical expenses, baggage loss, trip delay and more," and a 365 Sport version. The 365 page prints no price or medical maximum.

Who can buy it and how it works

Eligibility turns on the purpose of the trip. The FAQ says a card is for "Any individual taking a trip for the purpose of volunteer organization projects, non-profit organization projects or educational projects," and "We use GuideStar and CharityNavigator to prove the legitimacy of volunteer and non-profit organizations." The compare-plans page lists "No age restrictions, no deductible, no hidden fees."

Timing depends on the plan. "The Basic, Plus, Premium and Trip Cancellation and Interruption travel insurance policies must be purchased prior to departure," while "The 365 Plan can be purchased after you have departed on your trip," and the 365 page says it can be bought "at any time and renew at any time." Cover starts fast: "Immediately after purchase, we will send you an email with your travel protection code and an e-card. At this point, your travel protection coverage is activated." A hard copy card follows in "5-7 business days." Group leaders can use a bulk order form. The FAQ also says cover still applies to a traveler on a one-way ticket who intends to return home.

To claim, "please visit our Claims page," and "You will receive an email within 24-48 business hours with a claim number and further instructions, including what documentation is needed to complete the claim." The 24/7 assistance page lists separate lines for the Basic, Plus and Premium plans and for the 365 and 365 Sport plans, and the FAQ says the toll-free and international collect numbers "are completely free of charge." A buyer who is unhappy within 14 days of purchase gets a refund "if you have not departed on your trip or filed a claim."

Who it suits

Volunteer Card suits an individual volunteer, student group or non-profit team on a defined trip who wants to see a price and a limit before buying: $30 for $25,000 of accident and sickness medical cover on a trip up to 30 days, rising to $79 for $75,000 and trips up to 180 days. The flat political or security evacuation benefit of $100,000 on every short-term plan matters for teams heading somewhere unsettled, and the lack of age restrictions makes it simple to insure a mixed-age group. It suits last-minute buyers too, since cover activates with the e-card by email.

It fits less well for someone who needs medical limits well above $75,000, and for a volunteer already abroad without cover, who can only buy the 365 Plan, whose price and limits are not printed.