AIG Travel Guard Review
AIG Travel Guard is a travel insurance company owned by AIG, a Fortune 500 multinational insurer. They've been around for over 35 years and offer different types of travel insurance, emergency evacuation coverage, and protection against identity theft for travelers.
Plans and Coverage
AIG offers four levels of coverage: comprehensive, trip cancellation/interruption, medical, and baggage. The comprehensive plan is the best one, and includes all the standard coverage plus extra help from a concierge and travel assistance benefits.
The basic plan has higher deductibles, lower coverage limits, and longer waiting periods for pre-existing medical conditions and delayed baggage. It might not be the best choice for frequent or long-distance travelers, but their comprehensive plan makes up for it.
Here are some details about their coverage: they cover things like trip cancellations/interruptions, medical emergencies, baggage loss/damage, and accidental death. They offer emergency medical coverage for doctors, hospitals, and other licensed providers, as well as dental coverage. They also provide emergency medical evacuation and repatriation services, and can help transport your family members or children home if needed. For baggage coverage, they reimburse for lost, damaged, or stolen items, and also cover baggage delays.
Financial Strength and Reputation
AIG, the parent company of Travel Guard, had some financial troubles in the past but has since regained stability. Travel Guard's policies are underwritten by National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, which has good ratings from financial rating agencies. So, customers can feel reasonably confident about the financial strength of the companies behind Travel Guard.
When it comes to reputation, Travel Guard has a high rating with the Better Business Bureau, but there aren't many reviews on their website. They haven't been reviewed on TrustPilot.com either, but there are some complaints online about their coverage limitations and the demanding claims process. Some customers have found their claims documentation process to be burdensome, with a lengthy medical certificate form that requires input from both the insured and a physician. This has led to frustrations and raised concerns about the company's claim resolution process.
Customer Service
As for customer assistance services, Travel Guard allows customers to initiate a claim online, but the processing requires paper forms that take a while to arrive by mail. Other insurance companies are more efficient in sending claim forms and documents electronically. They do have a mobile app, but it seems to be more focused on delivering travel information rather than being a fully-featured claims processing app.
They offer 24/7 support and various travel assistance services like rebooking, assistance with lost passports/documents, up-to-date travel advisories, and roadside assistance. For medical emergencies, they provide physician referrals and emergency prescription replacements. Their concierge assistance services include restaurant/event recommendations, ground transportation suggestions, weather advisories, wireless device assistance, and even help with chartering planes or boats.
Overall, Travel Guard offers a range of travel insurance options, but it's important to carefully review the details and consider your specific needs before choosing a policy.
