Editor Review of Allianz Global Assistance
The Good: Allianz offers a simple set of four package plans, a couple of travel medical plans, plus a few specialty plans, so there’s something for every traveler and for every trip on their site.
The Drawbacks: The variety of plans can be confusing for some consumers; not always available for quoting on all comparison sites.
The Bottom Line: Allianz Global Assistance (henceforth Allianz) has an easy-to-use site that’s light on ‘insurance speak’. They have a plan for every traveler, and their specialty plans are truly unique in the travel insurance industry as they provide unique coverage for specific types of trips.
How to Get a Quote
Compare quotes from all companies: Click here to get quotes from all major travel insurance companies using a comparison tool.
Company Information
Company Website | |
---|---|
US Travel Insurance Association Member | Yes |
Refund Policy | 10-day Free Look Period |
Travel Insurance Plans | Package Plans Essential Basic Classic Classic with Trip+ Annual Plans Annual Deluxe Annual Executive Medical Evacuation plans Med Evac Specialty Plans Rental Car Damage Protector |
Company Contact Information | Allianz Global Assistance P.O. Box 71533 Richmond, VA 23286-4684 1-800-284-8300 Main Phone 1-800-346-9265 Fax (Customer Service Inquiries) 1-804-673-1469 Fax (Claim Inquiries) customerservice@allianzassistance.com |
Policyholder Questions | 1-800-284-8300 |
Travel Assistance/Emergencies | Inside US/Canada: 1-800-654-1908 (toll free) Outside US/Canada: call operator & connect to 1-804-281-5700 (no charge) |
More about Allianz Global Assistance
Allianz Global Assistance is a long-established travel insurance company providing several plans that fit the needs of most types of traveler. They have grouped their different plans into 3 categories: Standard Plans, Single Trip Plans, and Multi-Trip Plans. Most traveler’s needs will be satisfied by the Standard plans, which are offered as Essential, Basic, Classic and Classic Trip+. Each of these plans provide the basic travel insurance that most travelers are seeking, and the coverage and benefits increase with each level.
Allianz Global Assistance also offers a couple annual plans, and then some specialty plans for medical evacuation and rental car collision coverage for individuals and families who like to take road trips.
Company Information-Allianz Global Assistance, formerly “Access America”, adopted the name of Allianz Global Assistance in 2012. Allianz Global Assistance is part of Allianz, which has been in the industry for over 100 years and is the 25th largest company in the world (Forbes Global 2012) and 63rd most valuable global brand (Interbrand 2012).
Optional Coverage Available in Allianz Plans
- Optional rental car damage protection for up to $40,000 at just $9 a day.
- Optional ‘required to work’ coverage available for only $25/per adult (purchase within 14 days of initial trip deposit).
Highlights of Allianz Travel Insurance
- Short wait for financial default coverage – just 7 days.
- Allianz customers enjoy online policy modifications, as well as online claim filing and tracking.
- Coverage for pre-existing medical conditions is available (subject to certain requirements).
How to Get a Quote
Compare quotes from all companies: Click here to get quotes from all major travel insurance companies using a comparison tool.
Allianz Travel Insurance plans *
Package plans
Essential Plan
Essential, individual coverage for expensive domestic trips
This travel insurance plan provides essential coverage for those taking domestic trips. The coverage is isolated to cancellation, interruption, and travel delay coverage and protects the travelers from big financial losses is they have to cancel or abandon their trip for a covered reason.
Basic Plan
Necessary coverage for the basic travel protections and not a lot of extras
This trip insurance plan provides essential coverage and assistance for anyone who wants to protect their vacation at an affordable price. For first-time buyers or those on a budget, the Allianz Basic Plan provides excellent protection and peace of mind.
Classic Plan
Comprehensive travel insurance protection with adequate limits and primary medical
Protect your vacation memories with Classic – travel insurance and assistance services for everyday domestic and international travel, including cruises and tours. This plan has higher coverage limits than Basic, making it a better plan overall, and it includes coverage for kids under 18 at no additional cost.
Classic with Trip+ Plan
High-end coverage with high limits, optional car rental coverage, and loads of extras
Classic with Trip+ is “first-class” travel insurance and assistance for your luxury vacation. This coverage is more expensive, but it provides higher coverage amounts, and even some additional useful coverage like covering airline ticket change fees and re-banking frequent flyer miles.
Annual Plans
Annual Deluxe
Great for frequent travelers, this plan includes annual protection and a number of extras
If you know you’ll be taking multiple trips this year, consider Annual coverage. This is designed for the everyday traveler, and provides the standard coverage for cancellation and interruption, baggage, medical emergencies, evacuations, flight insurance, and rental car damage.
Annual Executive
Designed for business travelers who travel often and need extra protection
This package is ideal for frequent business travelers. It provides the standard travel insurance coverage: cancellation and interruption, emergency medical, and includes rental car with the policy. It also includes some excellent business benefits.
Medical Evacuation Plans
Med Evac
Strong and simple evacuation-only coverage for really sticky travel situations
A medical evacuation seems unlikely but even a broken leg in a remote destination or a heart attack on a cruise ship might require one. Evacuations may cost tens of thousands of dollars and they must be paid in advance. This plan provides $1,000,000 for emergency medical transportation, and a full host of Allianz’s “soft” benefits such as 24/7 assistance, concierge, and travel arrangements after evacuation. This is offered in 3, 6, or 12 month coverage.
Specialty Plans
Rental Car Damage Protector
Coverage for rental cars – can be purchased standalone or added to other plans
This is a very unique plan to Allianz. It simply provides coverage for collision or loss to a rental car. You could rely on your personal auto insurance to cover your rental car, but most travelers don’t want to file a claim and risk a rate increase. This is an affordable alternative for primary collision/loss damage.
How to Get a Quote
Compare quotes from all companies: Click here to get quotes from all major travel insurance companies using a comparison tool.
Screenshots from the Allianz website
How to Get a Quote
Compare quotes from all companies: Click here to get quotes from all major travel insurance companies using a comparison tool.
Lee-Ann Corry says
They are a Fraud!!! – Do not purchase this insurance ever! Broke my foot – had two policies on both flights and I am not covered. Pocketing money – I will never purchase insurance through the airlines again.
Penelope McClintock says
DO NOT BUY THIS TRAVEL INSURANCE – in most cases it is set up to scam you. Heavily advertised that they provided full coverage in the case of trip cancellation, however MAKE SURE YOU READ ALL THE FINE PRINT ON THIS. I got a job offer that refused to grant me the time off needed to take my trip. They refused me coverage because it didn’t fall within their acceptable categories of trip cancellation. Shame on me for not noticing and falling for this trap. Furthermore, when I called to confirm coverage, I was treated curtly and rudely by staff. The lady helping me was continuously “sighing” at me whenever I would ask a question. Terrible.
Carlos says
DO NOT BUY ALLIANZ TRAVEL INSURANCE
My wife’s test results came soon before our trip and we had to cancel because it was not recommended for her to travel. Allianz told us that this was a pre-condition and therefore it was not covered. How were we suppose to know that the results from that lab work was going to tell us this? Allianz not only asked us to fill in forms and fax these to them and we spent so many annoying phone calls with their reps, which very politely tell you that they cannot do anything about it because is not up to them.
We are so disappointed and would not recommend this to anyone.
Waldo Ramirez says
You are no wrong,I tray to make a claim ,It is so hard to get in touch from Chile.spending lot of money in phone calls,now they told me me on 3/05 2016
I have to wait 10 days to be processed,today 8/06/2016,still nothing
Carol says
What ever you do, DO NOT buy this insurance. It is a scam from the word go. Their ad says, “Have peace of mind”, they mean that they have peace of mind because we are lining their pockets. They need to be put out of business!
Katie says
Never again will I purchase their insurance! I had the exact same situation. I had to have surgery two days before my trip. They would not provide me with a refund because it was a prior condition. The WORST service ever. What’s the point in purchasing insurance if you can’t get a refund for a hotel? Any other company would have easily refunded me. I will never use this company again. Luckily I was able to go through the hotel directly who was sympathetic to my situations and quickly gave me a refund.
Patrick Schoenling says
Amazing Great Company
I have been taking at least two vacations a year and never take the insurance. Last Fall while I was booking a cruise on cruise.com for a family of seven, my wife insisted that I take the insurance just in case one of the kids got sick.
As usual she was right. I got seasick on the first day and took some medication. It didn’t interact well with the high blood pressure medicine I had just started taking and my blood pressure crashed. The ship doctors put us off the ship in Key West on New Year’s Eve, 2015. I went to one hospital and then another were they ran a camera into my heart to verify everything was okay.
Luckily cruise.com had sold us a policy from Allianz Travel Insurance. They took over and booked my family in the last room that was available in Key West, paying $800 for a $150 room. They transported the family to Miami for $900 the next day and the put them on the only flight to Phoenix, booking and paying for same day flights, two of the tickets had to be first class.
As soon as I was released from Mount Sinai Hospital they put me on the next flight to Phoenix. My insurance cover 90% of the $250,000 in hospital and ambulance bills but Allianz reimbursed us for the balance. They refunded the cost of the cruise for all seven of us plus our airline cost to the cruise ship. All without questioning anything. I will not take another vacation trip without the insurance.
Any Jordan says
FRAUD! SCAM! Do not give one penny to these people. I don’t know about other travel insurance companies, but never use this one.
I am a single mom and I work hard for my money. I saved for two years to take my kids on a cruise to the Caribbean.
I purchased the insurance hoping I would not need it. My 13 year old son went in for a check up and we were told we needed to have open heart surgery in the next couple weeks but we had our vacation Planned.
We didn’t know when we would be able to schedule the surgery so the cardiologist told us absolutely was not safe for him to leave the country. (His heart valve was deteriorating, leaking and his heart was enlarged.)
He had surgery and didn’t do well, ended up on a ventilator and in a coma. His lungs collapsed, four chest tubes, then his heart wouldn’t beat on its own and had to have a pacer put in. His kidneys then shut down. We were told to prepare that we would not be bringing him home.
I guess having your child’s chest sawed open and be in a coma on life support and almost die is not hard enough to go through.
I spent countless wasted hours communicating with this company. Every fax I ever sent, they claim they never got. I even went back to the cardiologist and the surgeon twice to have them fill out more paperwork because they didn’t feel they could “verify the fact that he was not able to travel”! Really?
So I sent more documentation and sent them a picture of my son on life-support. I guess that wasn’t enough. Each time I called I got the runaround. They never received faxes though my fax transmission says they were received. Basically they give you the runaround long enough to where you exceed your one year timeline of filing your claim.
I got to the point where I just couldn’t deal with it anymore and I did not have the time to continue fighting this. I work three jobs as a single mom to provide for my kids. I do not know how these people sleep at night!
So my claim was never approved and I never got my money back, which I really could have used especially with all the added medical expenses. I couldn’t afford to pay for another vacation. How sad for my kids.
DO NOT USE ALLIANZ!!
Dee says
A complete nightmare! Do not purchase a policy through them if you actually want to be “insured.”
James Bach says
ALLIANZ LIES AND STEALS FROM CUSTOMERS
Do NOT purchase travel insurance from them!
A medical emergency interfered with my travel and ALLIANZ wouldn’t cover the refund, EVEN WITH THE LETTER FROM THE HOSPITAL!
SCAMMERS!
Vic says
After reading the multitude of negative reviews by previously insured travelers, I am concerned about buying a group package on an expensive trip at a significant premium.
Can anybody comment on how best to arm-twist the Company to pay the benefits promised, especially if all the documentation hurdles were met and the claim still denied on an undisclosed technicality?
Do complaints to Insurance Commissioner help, or expensive litigation? I would expect a Regulatory body with “teeth” to enforce policy is needed in this unscrupulous industry.
Any thoughts for this wary future traveler?
CHM says
This company will find any excuse not to pay. My claim was denied when my tour provider cancelled my trip. Stay away from Allianz!
Kd says
Do not use this company!! It took me almost a year to get my refund for a trip that had to be cancelled due to a medical emergency. I got the run-around at least 15 times. I spent scores of hours on the phone with them. I faxed them about a 1/4-inch stack of paper from doctor, my credit card company, etc, etc, etc… I have never been so frustrated in my life but refused to give up. I FINALLY was able to speak to a person who could make a decision and was promised a call-back at least 7 times but they never called back. I had never sworn at a person on the phone before but sure felt like it with these idiots. It was like dealing with a brick wall. I finally got my money by threatening to call the better business bureau and several other organizations. UG! It makes me mad all over again just to think about it!
E. Gallo says
This is the worst company I ever had the experience to deal with. First of all they have no conscience.I had to cancel my trip because I was my mothers caregiver and she was dying. Before I got the insurance that was my main question,they assured me I would be covered. I had to get a report from her doctor which I did. Then they wanted another report from him,at this point he was getting annoyed. As it turned out my mother did pass, but I never received any compensation from this company.I WILL NEVER USE THEM AGAIN THEY ARE CROOKS.
Lisa Taylor says
SCAMMERS! My husband had a major heart attack a year ago and has had to have several subsequent surgeries. The last two we have had to travel to Kansas City from Florida, so I purchased insurance from Allianz since we were using American Airlines. I had to change our return flight due to my husband’s recovery time. I filled out all of the documentation even having the Cardiologist fill out his portion. This travel insurance does NOT COVER FOR MEDICAL if you are travelling for medical reasons!!! It’s lost somewhere in the “small print”. So the whole reason of having travel insurance is to protect you, they don’t, so don’t bother. What a bunch of Rip Off Scam artists at their best. Buyer Beware!!!
CATHERINE LIMA says
WORST TRAVEL INSURANCE COMPANY, THEY BASICALLY WANT YOU TO PAY FOR AN INSURANCE THAT IT DOES NOT COVER FOR NOTHING, GOOD LUCK TRYING TO GE REIMBURSE THEY MAKE YOU PAID FOR THE PENALTY’S AND AIR FAIR DIFFERENCE TO THE AIRLINE THEM YOU HAVE TO APPLY TO SEE IF YOU EVEN QUALIFY FOR A REIMBURSE, JET BLUE ALSO SUCKS.
Tim says
When I had a road accident in Thailand, Allianz did pay up Eventually, claimed they’d paid within 1 month, took around 6 months. They could be worse, but not sure I’ll be using them again.
Richard Wortley says
Fraud Alert!!!!!!! my bag was stolen and they told me I was not covered even though it clearly states in the policy that it is:
Lost, damaged or stolen baggage coverage
When it applies Your baggage is lost, damaged or stolen while you’re traveling.
Specific requirements: (all must apply)
You take reasonable steps to keep your baggage safe and intact,
and to recover it; and
You file a report giving a description of the property and its value
with the appropriate local authorities, common carrier, hotel or tour
operator within 24 hours of the loss.
What it covers Please refer to your letter of confirmation to confirm your coverage and
limits in your plan.
Actual price, actual cash value, repair or replacement (whichever is less)
actual price is the amount it would cost to buy a similar item.
actual cash value is the amount the item is worth based on its
current market value. If you don’t have an original receipt, we’ll
cover up to 75% of its current market value.
repair or replacement is the cost to repair or replace the item.
Special limit:
Maximum $500 in total for all jewelry, watches, gems, furs, cameras
and camera equipment, camcorders, sporting equipment,
computers, radios and other electronic items. You need to provide
original receipts for these items or they won’t be covered
Daniel D says
This company is complete garbage. They advertise Hotel Cancellation Protection, but do not approve any claims. They require you submit several documents, then reject your claim without even notifying you! DO NOT GIVE THESE SCUMBAGS YOUR MONEY!!!!
clyde says
they need to be investigated.
also taken of internet, one big scam. bought ticket in march, wife fell ill and had operation, unable to walk and travel ,now they are trying not to pay, wants to know if she was sick when I bought tickets ? creepy thieves.
Keith Milliner says
I claimed for cancelling my trip to India after being diagnosed with Leukemia over the Xmas holidays, Allianz have wriggled ever since to avoid paying me, their latest reason was that it was a preexisting condition, even though I had no symptoms od diagnosis when I booked the trip and bought their crap insurance. If you trust this company you have to be stupid, forewarned is forearmed!
DupedConsumer says
Preying upon the grieving:
My mother’s cousin died, so she needed to go to her hometown for the funeral. We purchased travel insurance for her flight, in which the policy clearly states, “Canceled services:
Your airline, cruise line, or tour operator or travel supplier stops offering all services for at least 24 consecutive hours where you’re departing, arriving or making a connection because of:
a natural disaster; or
severe weather.
Specific requirement:
Your travel supplier doesn’t offer you a substitute itinerary.
Well, unfortunately, the blizzard of 2016 came along, shutting down all 3 of our local Washington, DC airports, so the flights were canceled. Despite being the ones to cancel the flight, Delta wasn’t refunding mom’s ticket. But at least she had travel insurance, right? Not if the carrier is Allianz!
All the conditions of the policy were met, but Allianz welched and rejected the claim without even clearly explaining why. Pocketing the money from grieving mothers who’ve lost family members and giving you nothing in return. Zip. Nada. It’s a scam and a ripoff, avoid this company like AIDS!
Thomas Carvella says
As someone who works for a company that offers this sorry excuse for insurance, I recommend nobody ever use Allianz Global Assistance ever again and look into other insurance. This company and it’s employees are the worst, incompetent, unreliable, horrible people ever.
Keith Milliner says
I was diagnosed with a serious form of Leukemia over the Xmas 2015 holiday and because of my extremely low white blood cell count was forbidden to travel, interact with people or even eat food not prepared by ourselves by the medical team at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in NY, of course we cancelled a trip we had planned to India for about $16,000 and our Travel Agent submitted the necessary claim and documentation to Allianze Travel Insurance, since then we have got the total run around culminating in them telling my wife who is distressed enough already, finally telling her that our Chase Card is the primary carrier and so they won’t pay which is total BS, I am going to call the NY State Insurance Commission, The State Attorney General and everyone else who can bring this disgusting company to account are they waiting for me to DIE? Steer clear of these creeps!
DONNA ANN says
Wish I would have read these posts first. I purchased insurance for an upcoming trip and was lost my job. I’m still disqualified from a claim for the following reason:
You need to be with the SAME EMPLOYER FOR 3 YEARS!!!! Are you kidding me……..talk about looking for reasons not to pay.
Rafael Wang says
DO NOT PURCHASE!!! It is a joke and fraud.
I am calling Alaska airline to ask them to remove this insurance option, and I know they won’t but I want to make a complaint because I trusted Alaska airline and bought the insurance.
Bob W. says
We had the perfect experience with Allianz travel insurance. We had to cancel a cruise trip due to a family member illness just two days before departure. The claim filing and documentation submission was entirely electronic and easy to follow. The claim review was quick, and my trip expense claim was paid in full without any contact with an adjuster, and had payment check in my hands just 16 days after submitting the claim. I would not hesitate to purchase Allianz travel insurance again for major trips like ours that are planned far in advance.
Sammy Montalvo says
So we purchased airline tickets with American Airlines and bought the travel insurance through Allianz on the AA website. Our Tuesday morning return flight was cancelled and we were re-booked on another flight on Thursday (almost 48 hours later……2 more nights for hotel expenses including food). So I filed a claim and yes it was DENIED. What a worthless company. So be careful.
ram says
worst insurance, cheats my flight was delayed for 24 hours and I had to take an other flight.
These guys do not cover anything, do not buy this insurance.
worst customer service.
Patrick Phan says
Alliaz insurance wont pay your claim, first they deny the claim then offer you to go for reopening the claim, then in the end after months they find you all kind of excuses not to pay for your claim.
Shame on you Allianz
Andrew says
What a ripoff, I flew to another city for Medical Treatment surgery and the doctor had to reschedule me. I tried to get a refund through Allianz only to find out they do not cover trips specifically for medical purposes. The person I spoke to on the phone spoke broken English and greeted me with, “Good afternoon,” which tells me the customer service center is outsourced. I got nowhere with the person handling the call or their Supervisor. Complete ripoff, save your money.
Ty says
Rip off. They supposedly cover the costs of buying new tickets in case of illness/medial emergency. We followed their directions to a tee and submitted a doctor’s note validating the illness. The cost of the tickets was $3200 and they reimbursed us $200, with no explanation after 6 months of calling them. A total scam. Disgusting.
Lisa says
This company is a SCAM!!!! Do not do business with them.
Jem McCusker says
Imam Begg, lays in Princess Alexandra (PA) hospital. A Father, a son, a grandfather and a human being who is being neglected and deprived of serious medical treatment because he is not an Australian Permanent Resident. Without this treatment Imam will die.
Imam had arrived from Fiji to visit his son and grandson on a 3 month holiday visa. Imam took ill, a week later and was rushed by ambulance to the Ipswich Hospital on the 5/11/15.
Ipswich hospital quickly ran tests on Imam which showed that he had acquired end stage renal failure (kidney failure). Ipswich hospital transferred Imam to the Princess Alexandra Hospital so he could receive the proper care that was required. It was explained that Imam needed the toxins removed through dialysis, as his body continued to swell.
Upon admittance to the PA doctors advised verbally that due to Imam not being an Australian Permanent Resident they were refusing to provide full care. In a letter to Imam, Dr Eric Chou stated “We have spoken with hospital administration who confirm that we are unfortunately not able to provide haemodialysis as a result.”
Imam has full hospital cover and after discussions regarding costs of dialysis treatment and a possible kidney transplant One Cover travel Insurance underwritten by Allianz Insurance have advised they will not pay. They claim that this is a pre-existing medical condition which was not disclosed. Please note:
o Imam Begg has never been hospitalised or diagnosed with kidney failure prior to being admitted to Ipswich Hospital on the 5/11/15.
o Imam has never been prescribed with any medication for renal failure treatment
o Allianz have insinuated that Imam condition is a result of a pre-existing condition, but have received no medical advice in writing confirming so.
While the PA hospital have refused to perform surgery/emergency dialysis, Imam condition worsens. His blood tests show continuing poor renal function, with creatinine increasing from 1360umol/L to now 1560umol/L. His body will continue to unknowingly provide itself with toxins as he received ZERO treatment. The doctors have confirmed they are happy to sit back and watch, with the only piece of advice “He needs to fly back to Fiji to be reviewed.” His family know that the chances of him making it back to Fiji are slim. To add insult to injury the PA told the family, “As soon as we discharge Imam he must get on a plane immediately to Fiji, we will not be responsible for anything that happens to him after a two hour window of him being released.”
His family firmly believe that his basic right to safe and quality health care has been stripped from him. He has received ill-treatment from the PA who refuse to inform Imam or his family of any services, treatment or options that he could possible obtain here, even after numerous requests. The only clear response is: He is not an Australian Permanent resident, he needs to go back to Fiji. Imam cant even walk without assistance let alone bear a 3 hour flight to Fiji and then a 3 hr drive to Suva.
Imam knows he is dying. He has told his wife that he is ready to go as he has lost hope. He cannot get treatment in Australia. He is unlikely to make it back to Fiji.
The doctors took an oath to care for ALL patients. Allianz gladly took Imam money for full health care cover. Both have failed him. Both have wiped their hands of this human being, a father, a son a grandfather. All we ask is they provide medical treatment he needs and that he has paid for. Do not discharge him today! I will pay if I must. I don’t want him to die.
Lyanna Smith says
THIS COMPANY IS NOT WORTH it. Do not buy from them. I travel quite a bit and they make it impossible for you to gain your reimbursement. There is no reason to not give this money as we paid for coverage. I am very disappointed in the way they handle travelers. I do not recommend this company for anyone.
George/ Pacific Northwest says
Having the same issues as everyone else. I had a below the knee amputation 2 weeks before our cruise to the mederaian, cruise was to leave Oct. 06, 2015. Filled a claim on Sept. 17, 2015. As of today (Nov. 25, 2015) after submitting every form they have requested still have not seen any refund. Has anyone tried to take Allianz to small claims court?
Jacquie says
I’m extremely disappointed with Allianz travel insurance. My partner broke his leg in Germany on holiday. The 0800 emergency number Allianz provided had an out of office message, advising to call back during Australian business hours. We went ahead with emergency surgery in Berlin and Allianz won’t confirm if they’ll pay the hospital bill or not. The only emails we have from approx 6 different service officers in Australia, either repeatedly ask if they can phone us (they can’t, we don’t have a mobile phone here, its emails only & we’ve told them this many times) or request a range of paperwork and reports (we have sent a lot of documentation, but they don’t seem to grasp we’re not very mobile and don’t have access to scanners, etc). Allianz refuse to confirm whether they’ll pay the hospital bill or not. We need to know this urgently as a post-operative procedure needs to be done to remove a screw before my partner can walk again.
The last email from Allianz 3 days ago said ‘we’ve tried unsuccessfully to contact you and do you want to close your claim’. This was despite a trail of recent and numerous emails below the email they sent.
The one time I managed to borrow a phone and call the Allianz office in Brisbane I was told by a service officer that it was unlikely the claim would be paid as Allianz would have chose to repatriate my partner. This contradicts all the medical advice we had in Germany and I’d like this service officer to try to travel 30 hours flying from Germany to Sydney with a broken leg, swelled up like a balloon and with an risk of thrombosis.
As a travel insurer they don’t meet any of my expectations for service, advice, assistance and empathy.
I will never insure with this company again and advise others to do the same shopping for travel insurance.
annie says
Hello we are having the same trouble now, they have been beyond terrible. How did it get resolved? Hope it worked out for you
Samuel says
On October 16th, I purchased airline tickets through the Orbitz website, as I have done over 10 times in the past, for a flight from Houston, TX to Spokane, WA to attend my father’s funeral. The total cost for the tickets was $779.19. When I purchased the tickets, I also purchased your “Trip Protection” insurance to cover the tickets for $52.60, as I have done every time I have purchased airline tickets through Orbitz. My wife and I will be moving closer to the Dallas area before the funeral, so we purchased new airline tickets leaving from Dallas and wanted to cancel the original ticket we bought on October 16th. When we went to cancel the flight, we were told that we would get no refund to our card and would only be able to have an airline voucher. In the past, we have been able to cancel purchased flights with insurance with no problem and have the refund go directly to our bank account. I have spent 3 hours on the phone today with both Orbitz and Allianz Insurance and no one is able to give me an explanation as to why I cannot be refunded for this particular trip even though in the past we have had no issue with getting a refund for a cancelled flight. What are you going to do to correct this situation and give my wife and I the refund for the $779.19? And what will do to ensure better customer service for us and your other customers in the future? We have been loyal Orbitz customers for years and have always purchased your insurance to accompany our tickets, but no longer have any desire to use your agency and will gladly take our business elsewhere.
Valerie K says
I am extremely dissapointed with this company and believe that existing and potential customers might want to hear my story before booking travel insurance through this company.
My husband was in a terrible accident whilst travelling and spent 4 weeks in the hospital where he underwent 5 surgeries to save his arm. Whilst there were a few staff members which were friendly, compassionate and helpful, the majority of the staff I spoke with throughout this process showed absolutely no compassion and understanding for what my husband and I were going through and caused unnecessary and unreasonable delays making this process extremely stressful and more difficult than it had to be. This company should understand I should have been spending most of my time caring for my husband (and unborn baby) instead of on lengthy telephone conversations with your organization in order to obtain updates and your requirements to process my husband’s claim, telephone calls which one would expect would be made by the company to save time.
As a company that made a 6.6 billion euro profit in 2014, I find it appalling that when rebooking flights from Canada to Australia for my injured husband, this company refused to upgrade me (six and a half (6 1/2) month pregnant) to sit with him in order to provide the assistance he requires throughout this lenghty flight as he only has one functional arm and hand despite the doctors in Canada stating in the certificate in real took to my injured husband’s fitness to fly that he required a non-medical escort to assist him with various tasks. They refused to do this in order to save a couple thousand dollars.
I understand that companies must be profitable to operate however I find it very difficult to believe a couple thousand dollars here and there to upgrade spouses, especially in circumstances like mine would make a dent into this company’s yearly profit. Quite the opposite, one would think it would ensure existing customers are satisfied with the service they receive from this organization and likely to become return customers and to recommend this company to friends and colleagues.
During the process, I repeatedly asked to speak to managers or the dispute resolution team to make a complaint and was continually advised that no managers were available or that I could not speak to managers as they would only repeat what the call center staff advised and that I should email the same staff which show no compassion or assistance and that my email would be forwarded on to the dispute resolution team.
The above are only some of the complaints and concerns I have in relation to the way this company has handled my husband’s claim.
As previously stated, I am six and a half (6 1/2) months pregnant and this company’s handling of this claim has amplified the stress I’ve had to endure during this traumatic experience and I think that any existing and potential customers ought to know this is how Allianz treats customers. They showed absolutely no compassion for a pregnant lady who’s husband spent 4 weeks in the hospital, underwent 5 surgeries to save his arm and had to stay in Canada for an extra 5 weeks.
Wesley says
Thank you to all who left a review…. I just got off the phone with Allianz after trying to change one leg of my flight to 4 days earlier due to a death in the family, they told me to go ahead and pay the $1300 change fee United was charging, and file a claim for reimbursement and they may cover it.
I now know that they will more than likely not cover it, and probably find a loop hole.
Donna Murphy says
AVOID THIS COMPANY! I broke my arm and was unable to travel to Oaxaca, MX in late April. I began trying to get a refund through Aeromexico and then through the Allainz travel insurance. That was started June 1. It is now Oct 4 and there have been 73 emails and constant frustration over this. I have had 6 “International Case Managers,” constant requests for the SAME information over and over again. I have a folder almost 2 inches thick of paperwork they have required. I realize there might be a little language barrier, but did I really have to tell them that “fracture” was the same as “break”? I finally thought it was over when I got the following email on Sept 9: “We would like to inform you that your claim process was successful and you shall be receiving your reimbursement between the 15th and 19th of September.” Well, it is Oct 4 and no money yet! Three more emails to ask the status and **silence.** I am convinced that these clerks are instructed to do whatever it takes to deny a claim or stall and hassle the customer until they give up. I do not give up! $586 is a lot of money to me.
J. Cast says
Wish I had read some of these comments prior to purchasing travel insurance for a very expensive, once-in-a-lifetime, trip. Unfortunately a very serious medical condition necessitated the cancellation of the trip. Have submitted documentation after documentation, including notes on RX sheets from my husband’s doctors. All include the diagnosis (Allianz even asked for the ICD-9 code!); all notes attest to the fact that he cannot travel. Submitted every bit of paperwork showing the full fare paid, the cancellation policies of the cruise company & airlines; is this enough? – no., Now have to submit copies of either cancelled checks or credit card statements showing I paid for the trip!! Submitted all that, including copies of e-tickets showing my credit card payment – still not enough. The “paid in full” receipt from the cruise line doesn’t suffice. More documentation needed. The email links are worthless since they don’t show the dates of the “more documentation needed” notes; copious notes will have to suffice. The next step is to retain an attorney. For all of us who have experienced difficulties and pursue our rightful, and lawful, reimbursement, how many folks just forget about these claims? Guess if my claim were for a couple hundred dollars, with all the other issues we’re dealing with in connection with the diagnosis, I wouldn’t be so upset, but here we’re talking close to $6,000 in non-refundable airline tickets and penalties assessed by Viking Cruise lines.
Donna Murphy says
I feel your pain! Same thing is happening to me! Wish I had reviewed then instead of just checking the box!
Bob W. says
Sorry I can’t corroborate your experience. I too had to cancel a Viking flight and cruise, with just one day notice before departure. The physician statement form (2 pages of a simple 5 page claim form), a doctor letter, plus basic travel documentation and proof of payment submitted all in a package led to full payment in 16 days, start to finish.
Pat Murphy says
Well, I am sure glad I decided to look at the reviews of this company before I purchased the coverage. The reviews I have read go back to 2008 and NOT ONE was a good review of the company. Seven years and not 1 good review.. My THANKS GO OUT TO EACH AND EVERYONE ONE OF YOU WHO WROTE A REVIEW. This is not a company I want to do business with.
rebecca says
I submitted a travel claim over 6 months ago, and I am still waiting on my reimbursement from all my stolen apparatus. The staff are lovely over the phone, however they are dictated to behave in strict structural mannerisms by the Allianz hierarchy. They will find any loop hole to depreciate the value of your items, and in my case, completely eradicate the items off your claim for unfair reasons. I had proof of my brand new stolen iPad (amongst other things), with a receipt, however they declared the receipt was not sufficient proof as the top of the receipt was missing, and it was impossible for me to locate the original buyer (as purchased off gumtree) to request the full receipt. I had the IMEI blocked for my iPhone 5, and confirmed by my phone company, with other documents that I owned the iPhone 5, yet they declared the IMEI is still unblocked and that I needed more proof. I sent so many emails proving these items belonged to me, and I would always get responses that there were missing documents, or they hadn’t received them. I had to speak to a different staff member every time (over 10 staff members), and inevitably every time I was put on hold for a period of time so they could ‘familiarize’ themselves with my case, and still had little idea of my situation. Allianz, as I have heard from various other people as well, will find any grey areas so that they don’t have to pay you out, and if they are persistent enough, the aim of their game is to get you to give up so that nil reimbursement is payed out. They are a snidey, selfish, money-guzzling, tyrannical organization and without doubt, will leave you in financial debt with less that you were guaranteed.
Craig says
RIP OFF. A forest fire completely overwhelmed my destination and I had to cancel my trip Allianz didn’t reimburse anything. Representatives sounded like pot heads and english-as-second-language types. “Sir do you have a doctors note for the forest fire”. Seriously, I can’t believe I purchased this insurance thru United Airlines website. Any company associating with Allianz should be shamed.
Jared says
Horrible do not buy from these people, my mother in law was screwed over AND they were horribly rude. Someone should sue these people hard core! I would if I had the time and resources
JC says
I submitted a claim and am getting the same run-around as so many folks have mentioned. Since I work for a company that has an attorney on staff, I plan to consult with him about our next step – which will most likely be a lawsuit.
Theresa Rodda says
On the 29th July I purchased travel insurance online for myself and hubby for when we go to USA in 6 weeks, I had no confirmation email sent back to me. I rung the company in Queensland, the first lady I spoke to said she would look into it and ring me back in 10 mins, and never did, that afternoon, I rung again, and this time spoke to a young lad who said there was no record of any payment, and that I must have purchased it from another site, even though my bank details showed the transaction had been debited to my credit card from Queensland. The next day I rung again and spoke to another young lady, who after several hours of communicating back to me in W.A., had found the transaction, but wasn’t sure why it got lost in the system, and said that she would make sure the $291.83 would be credited back to my account and that she would start a new policy which was about $25 dearer, and debited my credit card again. I have been waiting now for 3 weeks, and still have not received my refund. Yesterday I rung again and spoke to the same lady ( I will not mention names) as I have all the names of who I have spoken to, and she said that she would look into it, and if she did not get back to me yesterday she would contact me today, and still I have not heard anything. I am very disappointed in this company, and if I had of known that I was going to have so much trouble, I would not have gone through this company. If I don’t get my money credited back to my account I will be taking this matter to consumer affairs.
Erica says
Allianz is basically a total fraud. Especially with the whole “pre existing condition”. It’s bsaically a loophole that they can apply to any medical condition if you really think about it.
My sister has been living with an eating disorder for a few years now, and a few weeks prior to our cruisetrip, her disorder took a turn for the worse… We has filed a claim more than 4 months ago, gave them all the required documentation, and every now and then they will send us a freaking letter asking for more document/proof of medical records…
It has been a super frustrating experience with Allianz, and even through all that I still do not know if my claim will be honored.
They need to understand that alot of “pre existing medical issues” can still continue to be life threatening and suddenly resurface or cause one to get extremely sick. A pathetic insurance company.
John Snyder says
completely agree:
Allianz failed to pay my claim for not being medically able to go on my trip. Specifically they state that since I sought medical advice for a condition within 120 days prior to booking and insuring my trip they are not liable.
Specifically I saw my doctor June 2nd for ankle pain. Testing and his prognosis based on my visit was arthritis due to a previous injury in 1987 (crushed Fibia and open fracture of Tibia). Based on this and knowledge of my exercise regime this was reasonable. Ibuprofen and/or Advil was recommended.
I allowed time for healing and began exercising (stair climber, biking, and weights) 2 weeks later. On June 30th with no additional issues I booked a trip to mexico.
The first week of July I felt a “snap” in my ankle and had difficulty walking. I again sought medical advice and on July 20th it was determined I had separated my Brevis Tendon from its anchor point. I had surgery for tendon replacement, heal misalignment, and metatarsil deformity on August 13th.
I have reviewed the contract provided my Allianz and literature on their website and come to my personal conclusion I was certified by my physician as only having arthritis in my ankle and was able to travel at that time. This has been a chronic issue for years and never prohibited me from normal activities. The injury documented in July was acute and obvious from a visual standpoint (I could not straighten my ankle when standing and it was considerably swollen). Allianz website specifically states if you have a concern about your medical conditions you should have a physician evaluate your’ ability to travel prior to purchasing insurance. I did this and provided this documentation to Allianz, including the my doctors evaluation that I did not have a separated tendon at this time. However according to Allianz simply because I saw my doctor for this ankle 120 days before booking they are not liable.
I can understand their position from a company standpoint and making money. However if we as people consult our physicians who are knowledgeable to ensure we are capable and should book a trip, then injure ourselves or a condition deteriorates I believe we have done all we can to protect ourselves and the insurance company from foreseeable issues. I also believe if we provide all this information to the insurance company including tests and doctor prognosis they should do everything for their customer.
Based on my interactions with Allianz their people seem nice, however their policies and bottom line are not customer oriented; and they can simply deny a claim for whatever they want without the customer having easy recourse (e.g. who do you take to small claims court to fight this?).
I have never had problems with insurance companies before, and had I read the reviews I found for this one would have never used them. My advice is do not simply use the one that ‘pops up’ when you book with an airline or hotel…….do your’ research.
Charmaine says
Very poor service. This company is a scam and fraud.
Diana says
A TOTAL WASTE! Do not purchase! I purchased a plane ticket and knew there was a high probability that it would need to be re-scheduled. Purchased the insurance THEN got the full policy on what it covers and because it wasn’t MY emergency they won’t reimburse me for cancellation or the money I paid them. The entire reason for purchasing insurance is in case something happens and yet you guys are an awful company and can’t even hold up your end of the agreement. I don’t fit into the cookie cutter reason, so you won’t reimburse me. Worst company ever and I will be sure to tell everyone I know never to use this company.
Mary says
Exactly what happened to me. I thought I was financially safe because of the policy. I bought the policy the on the same page that I ordered my airline tickets. Shame on Delta Airlines for being aligned with Allianz.
John says
Worst experience ever trying to get paid on a valid claim. The airline was on strike and cancelled my daughter’s flight home from Rome at the last moment so I book an alternate flight and submitted a claim for the cost of my new flight. The policy even encourages you to make alternate travel arrangements when a flight is cancelled. They rejected the claim because they said there wasn’t a “complete cessation of services” by the airline. They were on strike. The airline had ceased flying out of Rome for the duration of the strike. They wouldn’t even respond to my request to explain what they meant by “complete cessation of services”. I advise against ever purchasing insurance from Allianz.
Susan Troccolo says
Allianz Assistance USA are crooks. They don’t read their “Contact Us” emails then answer 6 weeks later to tell you it is too late to claim a refund. Even after explaining in 3 emails as well as to one customer service rep and one supervisor that during bereavement travel one does not have the presence of mind or time to think that an initial email was being ignored and that it needed follow up. I had a full 2 days of travel to reach my mother and cared for her for 3 weeks before burying her. Like I really wanted to follow up with these people for the second time “within 10 days”>
David says
This company is horrible and maybe just a scam. I purchased flight insurance simple because I booked a flight far in advance. On the day I was in route to the airport I became very ill and ended up in a hospital emergency room for 10 hours before being admitted for treatment for a week. I filed a claim along with all of the documentation requested by this insurance company. More than a month has passed so I requested an update on my claim. All I received was the following “Claim not found”. I wouldn’t recommend this company to my worst enemy!!! They took my money and refuse to honor the valid claim.
Matt W says
I am not shocked to see so many terrible reviews of Allianz. It does shock me to see such a high review from this website even though there are hundreds of comments from unsatisfied customers.
Same story as most… planned a trip, unforeseen family medical emergency, denial and zero compassion.
Pamela says
BUYERS BEWARE, PLEASE TAKE HEED!
I filed a travel claim with Allianz due to sudden illness, and the claim was not honored. After, providing supporting documentation upon request. As previously stated, they do and will find a loop hole to AVOID PAYING CLAIMS. I could have saved money, if I had researched the company prior to purchasing the insurance. Now I know! Don’t make the same mistake.
Moe says
i agree BUYERS PLEASE BE AWARE
Just like this person I had the same issue..they will find a million loopholes where as to not remburse you..before I brought this plan i Specifically asked NOT 1 BUT 2 different agents that if I would for any reason happen to cancel my airline ticket will I be rembursed and I was told YES YES sir don’t worry you’re in good hands and we know how it is dealing with insurance company’s but we can assure you that you’re safe with us..well today I found out that I am NOT covered because of canceling and rescheduling my flight AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE the insurence got canceled as soon as I first filed a claim so now not only did I NOT get reimbursed but I also do not have insurence..this is a shame and I can’t beleive company’s like this can take advantage of people like this..BUYERS BEWARE,the 22 page policy terms and conditions looks like it was written by a 12 year old and words are all over the place so as to confuse YOU AND ME..you’ve been warn
Priscilla Florence says
I too experienced a very disappointing experience with Allianz Travel Insurance. I’m 74 and have had arithritis for many years(the majority of my age group). At the time of my travel I was unable to walk and my doctor advised me not to travel at that time. My claim was denied due to a pre-exisiting condition. I have sent two letters addressed to the CEO and as of this time I haven’t received any acknowledgement of them ever receiving my letters. What a poor way to run a business.
Bob says
I foolishly spent $291 for travel insurance with Allianz on June 14. On June 22 I went to an orthopedic surgeon who told me that my total hip operation components were loose and that I needed urgent surgery. The doctor told me that I would not be able to fly on my 8/1 departure. When I purchased the airline tickets I had no idea that I had a defective total hip replacement that needed revision. Allianz turned down my claim, saying that I had been treated for a pre-existing condition, even though the condition I had was unknown to me. I spent $5200 on airline tickets. I would have never have risked that amount of money if I had any clue that I would not be able to take this trip with my wife. What is really disappointing to me is that I was led to purchase this insurance on the American Airlines website when I purchased my tickets directly from American. What an incredible scam. AA, are you listening? You are posting offers for travel insurance from a scam company on your website for ticket purchase.
Tim Ackerman says
You are correct. Allianz is not in the insurance business to pay claims, but to make money. They will not pay legitimate claims. Do not buy this insurance. Save your money and use it if you need to change your travel plans because once you pay Allianz you can kiss your money goodbye!
Maria says
Thank you for sharing, I really appreciate it. Now I know who to avoid. So sorry about your experience.
Nancy says
I recently bought travel insurance through Allianz because I have parents in failing health. TUrns out I had to change a return flight to one day prior with a 200.00 change fee. I thought I was covered. But NO. My dad had emergency surgery and I had to come home early. Allianz will not cover the change fee because they say it was a pre existing condition. How is emergency surgery pre existing?? Did he know he was going to have to have this done on this certain day.
Why do we buy insurance if we can’t file claims and get money back.
Don’t buy insurance from this company, they just make money for themselves. Look into your private insurance from a reputable agent. This company is not about serving customers, it is serving itself.
justin says
Their services rarely cover you for reasons that your flight will be delayed; mostly for medical reasons or military orders. These costs are covered by most health insurance policies anyway. In general, their policies include only very specific reasons for cancelling or changing a flight. They will also scam you by having the policy being a clickable area, and when you click on the link to coverage lists, it will list all the possible coverage for all possible policies, but will sign you up for one that is non-comprehensive automatically.
If you’ve booked your flight and insurance within the last 10 days, you can contact customer support for a full refund, which is what I did after the fact.
In short, save the money that will more than likely not insure your trip even if you have an issue.
Debbie says
As a Travel Agent I did not know any of this and the company I have as a host has this company for their travel insurance. I had just quoted a price for my client but after reading these reviews I will look for another company for my ancients. I am here for my clients and tier safety. Not to be ripped off as I have read here. Thanks everyone for your information it really helped me in saving my clients from being ripped off. I will do my research and find a company with goo reviews.
Thank you from Debbie Adventures In Travel
If you have had and good experience with a Travel Insurance please feel free to send them my way and I will check them out. I look for the best deals for my clients and try to watch their backs in case they need me and in this case looking for the best in Travel Insurance looks like a place we all need.
Thanks again and please feel free to email me any insurance company that did right by you or did you wrong so I can keep my clients safe.
Debbie AdventuresinTravel14@gmail.com
antonio says
Alliaz insurance wont pay your claim, first they deny the claim then offer you to go for reopening the claim, then in the end after months they find you all kind of excuses not to pay for your claim.
Before you buy policy from them be sure they tell you all the tricks and excuses.
It is a real shame
June Pickering says
DO NOT USE ALLIANZ FOR TRAVEL INSURANCE
I recently paid for travel insurance with Allianz for a return flight. I had to change the date of one leg of the flight as my father took ill and was taken into intensive care and then cancelled the return flight as he died. Allianz found a loophole and did not refund any part as I didn’t cancel the flight completely.
This is no way to treat a customer much less a recently bereaved one.
This company should not be in business.
June Pickering says
DO NOT USE ALLIANZ IF YOU NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE.
I had travel insurance and needed to change one leg of a flight and cancel the return flight because my father died and they did not refund any part of the trip because I did not cancel both flights of the journey. Absolutely appalling way to treat a person particularly a recently bereaved one. They don’t deserve to be in business.
Prescilla says
WHAT A SCAM!!! ALLIANZ IS A HORRIBLE COMPANY!!! I spent $600 for two Andrea Bocelli concert tickets from Ticketmaster and paid $30 insurance from Allianz. I filed a claim from them since I will be out of the country during the concert. I wasn’t approved. They said since there’s no health emergencies or death in the family, they won’t refund me my money back. What’s even more unbelievable was the representative that I was talking to asked me, “Well, let me tell you why we can’t refund your money. How do you think the company can make a profit if we refunded every claim?” What kind of customer service is that?!!! What a scam!! The only way you’ll get your money back from this company is if someone died in your family! What a waste of time and money!
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Prescilla, I’m sorry to hear about your experience and appreciate you providing us with the feedback, as this will give us an opportunity to improve our products and customer service. Our event ticket insurance provides coverage for much more than just a death in the family but there are terms and conditions with the coverage. We want our customers to make an informed decision when they make a purchase, which is why you have ten days to review the policy to make sure it fits your needs. If the policy doesn’t, we will refund your premium, no questions asked. I’m sorry your policy didn’t provide the coverage you needed.
Moe says
You guys are Liars and are a very very bad company,you just refused my claim,,a claim that I called before I brought this plan to make sure it was covered and was told it was and now it isn’t..ontop of all that you canceled my policy and it is no longer in effect because I filed the first claim..very very bad company and I WILL complain all the way to the top and hopefully we can get a class action lawsuit on your company for its shady buisness operations…SHAME ON YOU
Jose says
DO NOT purchase Allianz travel insurance. We had a death in the family during our trip which resulted in us changing our return flights and Allianz did not cover the change in fight cost. They were able to find a loop whole in the policy to deny our claim. They will always find a loop hole!!
Vic says
Thanks to all this feedback, I canceled my purchase. You have to make sure to cancel the policy within10 days of purchase though (and before travel starts).
One other issue is that the amount I was charged (according to my credit card account) was about $11 more than what Allianz is claiming to have charged. So now I am requesting them to fix this. Else I have to dispute this discrepancy with my CC company.
June Pickering says
Dear Jose – I am so sorry to hear you had a death in the family – I too found myself in the same situation and Allianz treated me in the same way. It’s such a difficult time to be the victim of a scam. I wish you all the best.
Deepak says
What a nightmare dealing with this company. You are better off giving the premium as a donation to a needy person.
It is ‘not a covered benefit’ is the standard line, no matter what the policy says. EVERY TIME I was put on hold or transferred, I got disconnected and had to go through lengthy voice mail and repeat same information to a new person each time. Only once I was called back by Linda.
Very very frustrating. Idea seems to be to pass the buck to some one else and in passing to a new person, you get disconnected again.
Anna K says
This is THE worst travel insurance ever! I wish I had read all the comments before purchasing.
If you have a pre- existing condition and you experience a medical emergency while you are travelling they will refuse to reimburse you. I had a medical emergency and had to cut my trip short as my medication got destroyed. We had spoken with their nurses multiple times and they had told me that I would be covered if I had a paper from the doctor. Apparently this was not the case!
I find this company to be un acceptable! PLEASE DO NOT PURCHASE THEIR INSURANCE.
Doug says
Same general comment here. Alliance was no help when our flights were cancelled twice out of Boston due to a blizzard and we had to drive to Philly to keep our family vacation intact, and when our luggage was lost for over a day on the return (including tennis rackets, etc. …), etc …. Every thing and circumstance we actually encountered that we thought should be insured was apparently not — but there’s also a good chance the rep was just lying, or incented to lie to keep claim payouts under his watch down. What we were told was that travel insurance does not insure you when a flight is cancelled, rescheduled, etc … due to weather, etc …, and all of the damages that result, or, apparently, lost luggage when it is lost on the return trip, and on, and on …. This is the first and last time we do business with anyone or business who uses Alliance. All that said, given the emails I’ve read, and that the claims reps deny and lie first — and are likely incented to do so — I will likely try again, despite being told that my policy does not apply to any of the circumstances we encountered.
Kyle says
Allianz Travel insurance is a complete hack! When buying the insurance when you buy your flight tickets they only give you one package option and they falsely advertise it as a complete coverage for if you have to cancel or modify your trip plans in any way. They then send you an email confirming your insurance coverage and when you look at your policy on their website it says you are covered for these things “up to the amount purchased.” However you have to download a separate link that is hidden as your “certificate” that clarifies in small print that you’re only covered for medical emergencies. BUT that’s not what your specific policy on their website says. They advertise your coverage as “complete,” but in reality it’s below basic. Their customer support staff barely know what they’re doing and are unhelpful. Their supervisors are even worse.
Elizabeth C says
I am not sure how to post my comment so here I go with this. What a horrible
experience! I would like to start a class action suit against ALLIANZ because echoing everyone else’s sentiments, they are a joke.
Purchased insurance in January for a trip in April to Chicago from San Diego for a
test I was going to take for the Courts. Two days before, I ended up with an abscessed tooth and had to cancel because I was in too much pain to take a test where I had to mentally focus. I had purchased insurance and requested a refund on my plane ticket (not the cost of the test, $250 or the hotel at the Hyatt). They requested documentation. I sent what I had from the dentist. Now they are requesting documentation from my primary physician. I didn’t see my primary care physician because it was a dental problem. That’s like hiring a lawyer for a court proceeding and the Judge tells you to go get a doctor to represent you!!!! How crazy is that?
Anybody up for a class action suit????? Because this is unbelievable! If I had read these comments, I would have never purchased the insurance.
Michelle says
I wholeheartedly agree! SCAM! They make it seem like you are getting complete coverage! I filed a claim for delayed baggage and was rejected because it wasn’t on my policy and yet everything I received mentioned it. WASTE!
Ginger says
I wil never ever waste my money ever again but will I ever fly with delta!!! I had unfortunately lost my job so I would be unable to travel …I filed a claim and was denied because was working with the company consecutively for 3 yrs…however I have been with my company for 8! Just last year however I was a pregnant and had to be put on bed rest which I recieved short term disability for …but they argued that it’s not under the same company name!!! Seriously what a joke . Even worse when I filed the claim they told me to cancel the flight ASAP… Which I did so I called fhem to see about rebooking the same flight or changing it ..then they tell me it’s gonna cost an additional 200 per ticket each way! Mind you I paid 1100 already!!! Then the customer service woman wa really rude and hung up on me!! I can’t believe this!! No wonder why people hate to fly ..I just gave them 1100 for absolutely nothing …BIGGEST SCAM EVER
J w says
Wish we would have read these reviews before buying. This company is a major scam. Do not purchase please.
Teresa says
Allianz is a waste of your money. We booked a $6000 trip to Tunis and there was a terrorist attack a week before we left -so we cancelled. Our trip was not covered for our claim because they found a minor police related incident that I still cannot find on any website except wikipedia and used that to deny our claim. Travel insurance is false and gives no valid support. Even the appeal process is wooden and un-human.
Steven bell says
I note that someone could not collect from Allianz for costs of changing flights because of emergency. I suggest you call your attorney general in your state. I did, and they paid the change fees.
However, they refused to pay for lengthy hotel stay, caused by illness they claimed you have to be hospitalized.
Allianz offered zero help in our medical crisis while in Beijing.
Sharon says
Never, Never, Never use Allianz . They have so many excuses NOT TO PAY!!! So many loophole. Don’t buy from this company!!!!
J says
Stay away from Allianz. I just had a very negative experience with them when trying to change a flight. They would not pick up the $200 change fee from the airline and I was told they NEVER make any exceptions because if they make an exception for just one policyholder then they need to make exceptions for all policyholders. The manager Tony Valencia encouraged me to file a claim while at the same time admitting that the claims ALWAYS get denied.
Vernie Erwin says
I bought a policy for a plane ticket I purchased for my Mom. She became sick and the trip had to be postponed. I filed a claim, and Allianz status is claim paid, but we never received the payment. I’ve tried to contact customer service three times so far, and have received NO response. Unacceptable. Those of you complaining about them not accepting your claim should know that even if they did accept it, you wouldn’t be paid for it! Completely dissatisfied with this company.
Char Hostetler says
They lost our lugguage for 3 days after we got home. Some of our medications were in those bags. We took out the insurance for the trip, but since the insurance expired the day we got home, they said it was not effective by the time the lugguage was delivered. How lame is that? Absolutely check out other companies.
Denise and Evan Bedford says
We had “comprehensive coverage” which provides “reimbursement for the covered losses you incur for a trip that is cancelled before your departure date”. Then we found out that Norwegian Cruise lines cancelled our cruise (the Epic has to be dry-docked for rehab, etc). Then we found out that our coverage won’t cover the cost of the flights which are now worthless.
JK says
NEVER purchase Allianz Travel insurance. Basically, unless someone dies, they don’t cover anything. They are totally useless and the woman I spoke with was completely rude. My father, who is recovering from a very serious illness and surgery, scheduled a vacation that conflicts with a trip I had planned. I called and explained why I needed to move my flight, to spend time with my recovering father, who planned an unexpected trip, and her response was “So you need to move this flight so you can take another vacation?” Not only is Allianz running a scam, but they also apparently don’t teach empathy to their customer service employees.
Gorobei Suzuki says
I’m usually in sympathy with these negative reviews about Allianz, but this one is a bit of a stretch. The writer’s father has recovered enough from a “very serious illness and surgery” to schedule a vacation trip. Apparently the father didn’t think enough to consider spending his vacation time with his offspring, the writer, so he scheduled his vacation trip and it conflicts with the writer’s previously planned trip. The writer is berating Allianz because they don’t agree that the writer’s desire to spend time with his/her recovering father on the father’s vacation trip is a legitimate enough reason to change the writer’s flight. While I am sympathetic to the writer’s desire to spend time with his/her recovering father, who is well enough to take a vacation trip, I just don’t see that the new opportunity for the writer to spend time with his/her father constitutes an appropriate reason for someone else (Allianz) to pay for the writer’s change in opportunity choices. Maybe what really hurts here is that the writer’s father didn’t think to make his travel choices coincide with his offspring’s plans. Who knows? Maybe the father wanted to spend his vacation time alone, or perhaps with someone else other than the writer of the comment.
Roger Rocha says
I booked a flight and purchased flight insurance as I usually do since I travel quite a bit. I called into Allianz to file a claim since a trip I was taking canceled due to the people I was going to go and see informed me that they would not be able to meet after all. I was told that I could not file a claim because my going out of town to meet friends was considered a business meeting of which I objected to the Allianz associate. I asked him that if I were going to see a football game, see a family member, etc. things changed that then I could not file a claim? He said I was correct. I asked him if I were going to a business meeting and it was rescheduled that I could still not file a claim. He said I was correct.
Folks, in my opinion this is a scam because even though you buy trip insurance for the very purpose of things changing you cannot use it. The funny thing for me is that I used my airline miles to purchase the ticket so for all practical purposes Allianz is really out of nothing in terms of a reimbursement for my trip but rather I am which is my miles and the cost of purchasing trip insurance.
Tania says
I do understand that you folks don’t know how to pay attention when you are purchasing something as important as an insurance products. If you don’t reasearch and READ! before and after your purchase, how can you complain? Have you heard about common practices, insurance policies will ALWAYS have covered reasons and exclusions! and will require proving documentation. Please have some common sense before making a fuzz about the coverage that an insurance provided or denied.
Ronald Walter says
Don’t waste your money, whatever problem that you have will not be covered. Crooks!!!!
clarissa says
This is insurance is a joke. They will not reimburse you no matter what your reason. They are around for one reason and that is to take your money. They went as far as wanting to research my families personal business online. I spoke to a supervisor and was no help. This company is disgusting.
Val Gaught says
Never ever use them.
It is a complete waste of money. They will find a reason not to cover you, even if you ask specifically if your are covered before you file your claim. Their reasons sound like this “oh no mam you were wearing a red shirt and you should have been wearing a blue shirt.” And next time when you call in “I understand you were wearing a blue shirt this time, but on January 21, 2015 the color changed to orange. I’m terribly sorry.” This company is a joke.
Carol Lincoln says
Traveling from the northeast in the winter time I always think it is a good idea to have travel insurance. With that being said, I booked a trip to FL in Jan to see my parents as my mother’s health was declining. During my stay my mother was put under the care of Hospice and it was necessary for me to extend my trip to help my father care for my mother. The policy states “trip interruption due to health reasons of someone you are visiting”. I called Allianz to review the reason for my interruption to be sure I was covered. I was told that it sounded like a covered reason. Well it seems that any pre-existing medical condition is not covered. So if your mother had a heart attack 5 years ago and then had another one while you were visiting you would not be covered. Ridiculous! Very disappointed with the service and it seems that their customer service reps might need more training!
Matt says
Garbage.
My flight was delayed 3 hours, therefore I missed the connecting flight. Paid for hotel. The next day the airline booked my flight wrong (my connecting departure flight was scheduled to depart before my flight was scheduled to arrive), leaving me stranded and having to rent a car and drive 3 hours.
On my return, same thing. 2 hour delay, missed the connector. Pay for hotel, hours and hours at airport, get home a day late.
For all of this, my policy covered nothing because the flights were not 6 hours late. Obviously a 3 hour delay is going to cause you to miss your connector, which is what I thought I was buying insurance for.
I should have read the fine print and other peoples reviews.
David Larson says
My Friend has a daughter, 15 y.o who resides in Canada and is Canadian citizen. My Friend is a US citizen. She visits her during March break, summer vacation, and winter vacation. My friend want to get her a travel medical insurance. who would you use?
He called TD bank travel insurance, but limits single trip to 17 days. Allianz Canada offers only 30 days on a single trip. He needs more, up to 60 days. Any suggestion?
Pradeep says
I recently purchased Allianz Rental car protection thru Hotwire. For some reasons, I had to cancel this reservation well before my trip began. While hotwire promptly cancelled my reservation, Allianz went ahead and charged my credit card. This is even after the fact that they were informed by Hotwire about the cancellation. This to me is a very sleazy behavior and policy of Allianz. I will never buy any travel insurance thru Hotwire again. It is sad that Hotwire continues to keep them as insurance partner.
Jlim says
I had a very disappointing claim with Allianz. I bought insurance for my international flight. Unfortunately, my flight was cancelled due to the blizzard back in January. I contacted the company and mailed in all the information they asked from me. Thayer Never help me obtaining another flight! I missed to days, mised my local connection ( international ) and missed a very important event and had to spend money for the incidentals including hotel. And now, they are denying my claim. The personnels that I spoke with were so monotonous, and parrotlike, kept on repeating the same line as if reading the same line.
So frustrated with this company. Will never buy insurance from them again!
arthur etnoyer says
Greetings , i purchased the travel insurance for our 6day trip to the florida keys , flight down and trip itself was fantastic // however on the return flight the plane us air flight 1807 was delayed by 2 hours at first then they delayed again another hour , total of 3 hour delay // we had a connecting flight to catch in philia off course we missed that and the airline had no other flight out //by the way we didn’t land until 1;30am no train nothing available , so there we were , so i called my son a police officer and he took off work and drove 2 hours at 1;30 am at night to come get us and bring us home , so i called allianz insurence and there words were you have to be delayed 6 hours or more to qualify well you all know that most flight that are delayed more than 2 hours you will miss your connector , especially at 1;30 am in the wee hours of the morning // so they read the fine print off the policy that was on page 10 say ing a delay of 6 hours to qualify //ok so what about trip interruption clause // he says falls under same clause // ok what about trip cancellation clause // in essence us air cancelled my connector ??? agent says same thing // so another words thats how they make there money by not helping a paid policy holder his due compensation fee for a legitimate claim!! so that will be my last time with this ins company ALLIANZ GLOBAL ASSISTANCE// A VERY UNSATISFIED PAYING CUSTOMER // BEWARE OF THE FINE PRINT ON PAGE 10 TO 20 BE PREPARED TO SPEND A DAY READING THIS POLICY AND MAY HAVE TO CONSULT YOUR LAWYER TO DECIPHER TERMINOLOGY TO UNDERSTAND ITS DIRECTION ,,, Art Etnoyer from pa.
Margaret Linder says
My experience with Allianz is terrible! I booked a vacation getaway to Las Vegas for my husband and I, the first silly holiday in 45 years, and 11 days later, about half way to the departure date, our daughter had a very premature baby. This means that the 1.5 lb baby is in the hospital for months, and we grandparents are looking after the other seven children in the family.
And I’m supposed to go to physicians who aren’t involved (family physician or specialists who are working in life-or-death situations) and ask them to fill out a form for the grandparents travel?? Who would do that?
So, this is the second time I’ve insured and haven’t been able to claim, and I’m very sure it’s all a scam. There has to be another way to verify the validity of a situation.
The initial operator, who said it would be covered in this situation, should have just told me the truth – it’d be too difficult to follow through. It makes me hate travel!!!!!!!!!!! and insurance companies!!!!!!!!!!
mike wood says
Don’t buy this insurance. I submitted a claim a month ago and still have not had a response from them. I keep getting emails that say they will respond in 48 hrs but then never respond. There are better companies out there. Forget Allianz.
Armida says
WASTE OF MONEY! I purchased this insurance on Feb 5. I am in the military and as some people might know, plans can change from one day to another. Leave can be approved one minute then revoked then next or they may simply ask you to change your dates due to mission readiness. I had to change my dates around and the airline is charging me $200 per ticket. I thought the point of purchasing insurance was to have piece of mind and that was not the case. The insurance company will not cover the fees! This insurance is pointless!
Carol Lee says
We had Allianz insurance for a cruise to Alaska to celebrate our 50th anniversary. My husband went into Hospice one month before the date of the cruise. My husband felt so awful about our missing the cruise and ‘losing’ all that money.
Throughout the (short) process of getting a complete refund through Allianz, those I contacted were empathetic, helpful, businesslike, and prompt. When we got the refunds through Allianz, my husband was overjoyed. Seriously, he felt like a weight was lifted from him. He died soon after.
Melissa says
WORTHLESS!!!! RUDE CUSTOMER SERVICE TOO! WE NEEDED TO HAVE OUR EMPLOYEES ON A JOBSITE 4 DAYS LATER THAN WHAT WAS BOOKED WHICH I WOULD CONSIDER AN UNFORSEEN INTERRUPTION, HOWEVER, THEY WOULDN’T COVER THE CHANGE IN ITINERARY BECAUSE NO ONE DIED!!! HOW IS THAT FAIR???? COMPLETE CRAP IF YOU ASK ME!
Anna says
Bought the insurance at the time of purchasing cruise tickets, 6 month prior planned trip. I bought it in case my travel plans had to be cancelled due to sickness or death of a family member. My father became very ill 2 weeks prior my vacation so I had to cancel my cruise due to his illness and stared making plans to go and take care of him. Unfortunately 1 week later, he passed away and I had to travel to another continent to arrange his funeral. Upon returning I emailed required documentation such as insurance claim, death certificate and e- tickets. They never called me or e-mailed me their final decision, I had contact them myself. They decided to not reimburse me for my cruise; the reasoning was that my flight itinerary did not happen on the exact day of my planned trip (I was 2 days off). I guess, they expected me to land on the cruise ship in the middle of the ocean just 2 days before it returned to back to Florida. I’ve learned my lesson: never buy anything from Allianz. They will always find a loophole and the customer will always loose. It is a business after all and they are here to make money. You or I, the little people, don,t count. Just remember, next time you are about to travel with Allianz make sure that if any of your loved ones get sick or die, they do it on the exact dates of your planned trip, or your claim is denied.
Nancy smith says
I purchased Allianz travel insurance through Travelocity. I am a 68 year old woman who has been battling breast cancer for 8 years. It has been in remission for quite some while and luckily I have excellent doctors who check on me constantly. In October I made resrevations to fly to Chicago to visit my daughter and attend a wedding. I bought the insurance because you never know when u have cancer, when it could strike again. Two days before I was supposed to go, I found out that my cancer had spread to my bone marrow and I would have to start a chemo treatment and needed a blood transfusion. Of course I had to cancel my trip and thought how lucky I was to have insurance. Unfortunately, Allianz isn’t in business to help people, but only to make money. They said it was a preexisting condition and I had office visits 4 months prior and would not cover it. Never mind the fact that cancer patients have many office visits just to make sure things are all right. Just because I have been treated for breast cancer for many years, means that they won’t cover. Please do not buy this insurance. Read the reviews and see how they will go to any lengths to not honor your policy. If they won’t help a cancer patient, I doubt they would help anyone. This disease is hard enough than to have to fight a multimillion, compassion less company. I guess they need the money more than I do.
ozbloke34 says
Unfortunately, every single travel insurance company I have come across says the same thing, if you have a pre existing condition they will not cover it. It is not (again unfortunately) just Allianz but every insurance company. I feel for you I really do, as cancer is a horrible thing, but not one insurance company I have come across will cover pre existing conditions UNLESS you tell them about it upfront and pay more for your level of cover. (As you are more at risk) Some do not even do this but some do.
Travelandgo seem to consider of any pre-existing medical condition and evaluate it.
TID (Travel Insurance Direct) got fantastic reviews so they might do it also (but haven’t looked into it)
Hope this helps in future, as I know most travel insurance companies and just pure insurance companies, are sneaky in the fact they will hide behind their T&C’s but they are a business and in it to make money (doesn’t excuse them for most of the stuff they do, just is WHY they do it)
I did use Allianz on my recent trip and they paid out my treatments to a Chiropractor (after such a long flight I was sore as and had trouble with my neck and back) and I ended up with a throat infection from the plane flight over also, they covered it all.
JEROME says
Waste of money!
Don’t take the Insurance option with any airlines ! They will always find one of their conditions to avoid refund you!!!
I just had the problem with KLM ticket and a missing departure! You can’t count on this insurance even sold by the airline as super cover !
They are just “sorry that te response could not be more favourable”! And me I’m sorry to select this option with my 585EUR flight because I waste this money and never left
Dawn Benevento says
My experience with Allianz has been horrible. In July 2014, while in Vancouver awaiting our cruise to Alaska, I was hit by a bicycle and broke my femur. We could not go on the cruise. It is now January 28, 2015 and I am still fighting to get the balance of my money back. I am an anal accountant and sent complete summaries along with every receipt and other required documents. They reimbursed us for the cruise, but every other item took multiple follow-up submissions and calls. I have submitted some items 5 times. I have over 100 hours into this. It seems as though they just try to wear you down so you will give up. I refuse to stop. I have not asked for anything that I was not entitled to. I paid for the insurance in good faith and they should have reimbursed me accordingly. Believe me, I would have rather been on the cruise!
Lucian says
I totally agree with Dawn. I filed all the docs they asked for. I had not heard anything from them so I called for an update (because the on-line system could not retrieve my claim) I was told that I had not submitted my itinerary and payment records. I re-sent them to then be told that my e-ticket from US Air and credit card statement were not sufficient. Basically my experience with them is they will make you run in circles until you give up. It worked. I gave up. I WILL NEVER BUY TRAVEL INSURANCE FROM ALLIANZ AGAIN.
Kas says
Allianz Travel Insurance is a TOTAL RIPOFF!!! DO NO WASTE YOUR MONEY buying there policy because it’s utter crap.No matter if you have a legit reason 100 percent of the time you will NOT get your money back from them . A death happen in my family on my fiance side. A supervisor told me I qualify for a full refund so I believe him which was my fault. The women I spoke with today was a supervisor as well”Tony ” said my fiance is not my immediate family. That’s why my claim got rejected. He is my family oh man was I livid I told her their company is crap and customers shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to get a refund . However, none of the rep told me about the 10 day refund. Even though he was my fiance at the time I live with him and we’re married even still If their is a death in your family why would I take a trip out of state when your family need your more for emotional support.That company just care about your money and are a bunch or liars.You are not the only traveling insurance company there is I will not return ever.I will let people know my experience
lucy iburg says
Allianz travel insurance is a Rip off
American airlines change my schedule by 12 hours and i had to cancel my tickets. American airlines gave me a full refund.
Now Allianz travel insurance refused to give me my $250 back because the delay was only 12 hours not 24 as they required to be 24 hours.
this is unreal
please do not waste money with this company
Nancy says
I purchased this travel insurance through USAir for a flight to Arizona. I was promised a full, “no questions asked” refund on the total cost for both reservations should something prevent us from traveling. Approximately 2 weeks before the trip, I was advised by my physician that I had become very anemic and was unable to travel, thoughI was cleared to travel at the time of purchase. When I called the insurance company to inform them that I needed to file a claim, the representative told me it would not be covered as it was a complication from a pre-existing condition. This determination was made prior to me even filing the claim. I went ahead and filed the claim anyway with a report from my physician stating the anemia caused me to be unable to travel, a condition that was not pre-existing and was not present at the time this policy was purchased. Allianz refused to provide me with any type of refund, despite having reports directly from my doctor explaining this condition was not pre-existing. Now I am out all of the money for the plane tickets and the money I paid for this misleading policy! I would not recommend anyone purchase this insurance. They are unreliable, unwilling to talk, and unreasonable. Very, very disappointing.
dan says
I was delayed 4 hours for whatever reason. Then after the plane arrived i was stuck in a different city for the night after missing my connection . I was told this is a delay as the airline was not down for 12 hours not an interruption. There for there is no claim cause i did not have delay insurance. Total ripoff and now that I am stuck without 11 hours of my time and hotel i should not be staying at with them repeatedly telling me this is a delay. BBB will be contacted and i will file a complaint with the GROUP . NEVER USE THIS COMPANY!
Jae says
DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY! FIRST READ THE FINE LINES…. YOU WILL NOT BE REIMBURSED UNLESS: Trip cancellation is under these EXTREME circumstances (Basically a serious medical reason, death, traffic accident, or jury duty…Below is from their contract):
Specific requirements:
Injury, illness or medical condition:
A doctor must examine you or a traveling companion and advise you or a traveling companion to cancel. A family member who isn’t traveling with you is seriously ill or injured.
Specific requirement:
The injury, illness or medical condition must be considered life threatening, require hospitalization, or he or she must require your care.
Death
You, a traveling companion or family member dies.
Specific requirement:
A traveling companion’s or family member’s death must occur
before or during your trip.
Quarantine:
You or a traveling companion is quarantined.
Traffic accident:
You or a traveling companion is in a traffic accident on the way to your point of departure
Legal:
Jury duty or court-ordered appearance
Environment:
Home uninhabitable. Your primary residence is uninhabitable because of a natural disaster, fire, flood, burglary or vandalism.
raj dhillon says
I really wish I had read the reviews before purchasing travel insurance from this company.
I have been dealing with this for so long that they have actully changed their name since this whole process began.
Feels like dejavue reading all the other reviews.
1) They lost all the paperwork I sent.
2) When I resent it all they said that I had left out the doctors report (which was complete BS).
3) I resent the doctors report.
4) They apprantly misplaced it.
5) I screamed and pulled my hair out but resent it.
6) I had to resend proof of purchase (CC statement) cause apparentlly sending the copy of ticket is not proof enough.
7) Jumped thru more hoops than a seal at a circus but that was not enough.
8) I was then told the file had been closed due to lenght of time (ahhhhhh!)
9) Got brusied for slapping myself for dealing with these rip off artist.
I will definately be posting this review on facebook and twitter with the hope of saving others the painful experience I have gone through.
jean wren says
DO NOT BUY INSURANCE FROM ALLIANZ. There is a link on USAir to insure with them. They have a nice little scam going. Allianz pays NOTHING. They delete everything in the small print. I had a first class trip to NAPA planned and when the earthquake happened, I tried to get Allianz to help me get a refund. NO WAY. BRICK WALL. I’ve told everyone I know.
Vanessa says
Purchased insurance, and it was the biggest waste of money. Their customer service is horrendous and regardless of your reason for cancellation will say it does not apply to you. I asked what documentation I needed to make them take my cancellation and was told it didn’t basically didn’t matter. It’s a complete scam!
Jef says
Was sold an all-inclusice package by Ribu Hotels and offered trip protection vial Alliance where for “any reason” I could not make the trip, my money would be refunded. I tried to cancel 1 month before the trip and was referred to Alliance who walked me through their “real deal”. No refunds, cancellations or transferability / reschedule unless I had a certified medical situation, was laid off, or had a legal reason. I lost $3000 on this trip and I will NEVER NEVER NEVER use a travel service for a vacation again in my life. Folks — it’s better to make your own arrangements and don’t go for these “flimsy great deals”! Thank God for the internet where you can now book your own vacations without snakey travel agencies and their “deals”.
Lucas Brunelle says
Most of these comments are regarding incidents which Allianz does not cover. I always read and review insurance before buying it before just clicking “add insurance” on my Orbitz trip. There are exclusions but not many, read carefully though.
Allianz just sent me a check for the full change fee of my ticket because I was summoned to a court appearance. They’re excellent, I have legal issues sometimes and I need change my ticket so I always get this insurance.
Kei says
I bought this insurance for three consecutive years, but I would NEVER buy it again!!!!! Being a AAA member, I was referred to this insurance at first. I thought it was good until my child had an accident in a foreign country. I even recommended this insurance to everyone I knew (I’m a certified travel agent). I feel TERRIBLE for having done that, so I need to do the damage control. It is a waste of money and time, DON’T buy it! It took them forever to translate the documents which would probably take me a day.
This insurance would NOT help you when you need it the most!
Janis says
We have been loyal Allianz clients over the last few years. We have had two occasions to use our policy, once for medical treatment and once for being stranded overnight in Newark due to delayed flights. Both times we received awesome service! We were reimbursed within one week of filing our claim on the medical, and within 15 minutes of our call from the airport, Allianz had booked us a hotel and arranged for transportation and food during our unexpected stay in Newark.
Every case is different so keep an open mind.
Carmine Diodati says
For the first time in 50 years we filed a claim for a travel bag ruined by the shipping line as they were loading the bags from the check in to the ship. We filed all the claims sent them certified mail, at least three times. When I spoke to a supervisor he knew nothing about it. He seemed dozing off on sugar or somthing. We now use the ship’s insurance which our travel agent said that yje ship’s is 50% less.
Magali Castillo says
DO NO WASTE YOUR MONEY – It’s a waste of time and money. I was unable to go to my trip as planned because my mom got sick few weeks before my trip and was hospitalized. I submitted all the docs they requested, which they continued requesting something new every time. Customer service was rude and very defensive. I did everything as requested including buying my flights with same airline but that didn’t matter at the end. Their reason to declined my claim was because my mom’s medical situation was a “recurring illness” she had which they don’t even bother to care why she was in the hospital twice during that year.. but was enough to declined the claim.
This insurance company is just BS..
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Magali,
I’m very sorry that the insurance you purchased didn’t provide the coverage you needed. If you would like to talk about your claim or walk through your policy, please email the HelpTeam at Help.Team@allianzassistance.com. Sincerely, Sarah, HelpTeam
KIRAN says
I totally agree, I second you on that.
DO NOT BUY ALLIANZ TRAVEL INSURANCE. YOU WILL WASTE MONEY. We paid a lot of money to buy a policy for a expensive holiday to Australia and other countries.
Before we began the journey the flight got cancelled and the ALLIANZ customer service told us that she could not help since we had not began our journey and this was the first flight. WHAT A LOAD OF CRAP>
BUYER BEWARE DO NOT WASTE MONEY- our policy turned out to be a peace of toilet paper. We were recommended this policy by AAA and even AAA agent could not help us get ANY help or compensation.
Laura says
The customer service is terrible. First the woman told me the claim was closed because they never received the documents they requested. When I told her I mailed them to the doctor to fill out months ago, she found them. First she said they only got one page, then she said they did get all pages. I have no trust for anything I was told, because the answer kept changing.
This is the last thing I want to deal with, because my father has passed away. The representative’s tone was very cold, as was the manager’s. I got no sympathy. Instead, I was treated like a criminal. I feel like they were looking for any problem with the claim or any reason to deny payment. I know insurance companies are not exactly known for being warm and fuzzy, but come on! Have some damn compassion. Even if you end up denying, can you treat me like a human being?
I will never use this company again. I will tell everyone I know about my experience, including the AAA agent who referred me to them. They need to know people are getting screwed.
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Laura,
Thank you for taking the time to give us your feedback, as we take our customer’s comments seriously. I am extremely sorry about the experience you had with our company and will share your comments with our Customer Service and Claims department.
Sincerely,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Scott says
Disappointment all around. It took over a year to settle my claim. And by settle I mean for Allianz to reject it. They kept asking for more information, but only when I called to check on the status. There was no indication at each step what else they needed. Finally, after a year, when they had everything, they determined that since the trip canceling illness had a history, the claim was disallowed. Apparently you can’t cancel travel due to an illness that is pre-existing. Make sure your illness is brand new before obtaining travel coverage.
Yelena says
BIG RIPOFF!!! Terrible customer service. They hung up on me several times. Don’t buy it !!! Stay away from this insurance. They don’t follow their policy
Nick soha says
RIP-OFF
They will definitely not pay you even if you have all paperwork needed.
They find every way possible to deny your claim finding the smallest of fine print.
Looks good when you want to buy from them, looks impossible when you actually need them!!!
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Nick,
If you would like to discuss your situation, please email your information to Help.Team@allianzassistance.com
Suyash Rathi says
Worst policy ever!
I am an international student studying in USA. I took their student plans and unfortunately met with an accident.
1 month after submitting all the documents, I am still running around with a new set of documents to be given every time.
I think students should definitely not go for this, as there actually have been instances when my assignment deadline is due but because of my claim I’m filling or chasing around these people.
Also the customer care people are not aware of what would be covered. Sad!
FYI, I am still waiting for the claim to be settled.
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Suyash,
I’m very sorry about your experience with our claims process. If you would like assistance, please email the HelpTeam at Help.Team@allianzassistance.com
Dave says
Allianz Travel Insurance is a TOTAL RIPOFF!!! I have been purchasing this additional add on for years and years, just for a little added piece of mind. During my last trip out of the country I needed emergency dental work done. Trust me, if it wasn’t an emergency I would have waited to get back to the states instead of using a Honduras dental practice. Filed a $600.00 claim, not a big dollar amount and filled out all the paperwork, submitted all the paperwork I received from the doctor and then was completely blown off by Allianz. Total run around, transfers to one place than another hours spent on the phone and getting no where with my simple and inexpensive claim. This place it total Bullsh*t! What a rip off!
Kay O says
We had to file due to my travel partner’s sudden illness. Doctor filled out the paperwork rather easily (fairly simple form) but I found out about 2 weeks later that one line was not filled out. When I spoke with a gentleman on the phone and tried to explain that it was the same date as the doctor noted on the next line, he said it had to be filled out. He got a little bit curt and rude and practically hung up on me when I tried to explain that it was the same date. In any event, we got the one line filled out and resubmitted it.
Found out about 2 weeks later they approved the claim and we recently received the check in the mail. Fairly easy process. Customer service is not so good though.
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Kay,
Thank you for the feedback, I will share your comments with our customer service department.
Farah says
Please find my story below they stole my money and trying to convince me they are right .
watch out.
To whom it may concern,
My certificate numbers are (2571297 & 2571339)
I have faced a very unusual treatment with Allianz Egypt, which has shocked me to know that such a big organization could perform in such bad and in consistence behavior.
Please note that I consider this fraud. And it’s due to the unprofessional act of the employees here that has resulted to this but the company refuses to admit such a thing.
I have 2 certificate with your respected company since 2010 , I paid them off for 1 year & 6 months ( They were automatically withdrawn from my personnel account ) but under forgetful circumstances I changed banks and left this account empty . this resulted in the un- payment of the certificates for almost 6 months , the issue here that as per contract you state that after 30 days of not paying you contact the client as a reminder ( didn’t happen ) then after 45 days you send a written letter to the client as a warning of the cancellation ( didn’t happen ) .
what happened was that after 4 Months assuming ( as per your system says : you called my house and reached my father ) but not me then also assuming you sent a letter to the address saved on your system ( that has no reference what’s so ever ON YOUR SYSTEM that it was sent ). After a lot of negotiations and phone calls to the customer service I have reached no solution other that I have been stolen by your respected company as I have paid 5400 L.E and had only 6 month left to be fully eligible to take 95% of Invested money but my certificate has been canceled without my notice nor my consent. I have tried all possible ways to prove that I wasn’t mistaken and I request my money or to continue the certificate, but to continue the certificate I was offered to pay almost same amount or more as a compensation for the cancellation and for the un paid period (which isn’t my fault and which happened without my approval) so I refused. Then yesterday when you have deducted suddenly for the other certificate from my account, I decided to put an end to this mess, I have been into this fraud cycle for the past 2 and a half years, And I refuse to be in this situation because some employees don’t do their jobs and it ends up with me being stolen by a company with a big name like Allianz. I visited your Head Office here in Egypt and met Mr. Ayman the Customer service manager, I explained my problem hoping that I find some understanding and even offered to lose 10 % of what I paid but to take the rest of my money. All I was faced with was someone who just tried to prove that they weren’t wrong and that I should settle for the fact that I was stolen because this is what insurance company’s do ( he even gave me an example of himself being in the same situation and he left his money cause this is what insurance companies are . I went to solve One certificate problem and due to him I decided to Cancel my active certificate for I only realized that I will be further stolen and that it withholds no benefits what so ever for me . I revised the evidence that state that I was informed that my certificate was canceled and the only letter he found to print out for me was a letter in December referring to the earlier letter (that was supposed to be sent but actually wasn’t no reference of it on your system or at the post office) .Then I asked him why wasn’t any of this done on the stated days on the contract I have (30 days and 45 days) his excuse was not logical ( revolution period we were un stable ) so your company has its excuses to forget , to mess up , to cancel certificates whenever they want but when clients complaint or object they have no rights ???
Please I have joined you for all the core values you have and believed that I am joining a very credible organization but what I have faced the past 4 years with you is very disturbing and very un assuring in your credibility .My money instead of being invested has been stolen and completely lost how is that logical, how can I accept the fact that for the past 4 years am supposed to be investing my money and growing it and find out that I will not receive any profit out of it and what’s worse is that I have even lost the basic bulk money that I have put ???????????
Waiting for your prompt reply and action
Thank you
Butch says
I was ripped off by this company and had more then a legit claim
We were to Fly in to Dallas/FW. We could not land because of Thunder and Lighting Storms and were diverted to San Antonia where waited out the storm. By the
time we got back to Dallas we missed our flight to Cost6a Rica and two days of our vacation. We had to fly to Miami to even get to Costa Rica. It cost us 1500.00 and
Allianz rip off only gave us 400.00 which essentially covered the premium. They first only
would give us 72.00 and danced and danced and after getting them more data…shi)(&(&(*&*( they gave as I said above
DO NOT USE and IF YOU USE AAA and they recommend them don’t do it and don’t use them for travel
BAD BAD Company ALLIAnz…^%%&
Brook says
This insurance company is a joke, save your money or find a different insurance. I tried getting insurance with this company, said that my card would not go through and they would call me the next day and try it again. They called me and left a voice mail stating that they needed a different form of payment and the card was not going to be charged. A week later after I was already back from vacation they ran my card again without my authorization to do so. When I called as discussed it with them they would not refund my money even knowing they did not get my person to run the card again and that I was already off vacation. They will take whatever money they can get there hands on even if you don’t authorize it.. I ended up having to file a dispute with my card company about the charges. That is currently in the process but unknown with that they are going to provide.
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Brook,
I’m very sorry to hear about this situation. Please email your policy information to Help.Team@allianzassistance.com so that we can be of assistance.
Debra Morris says
We had to cancel our trip because my husbands mom became ill. We had one additional paperwork request from Allianz and just received notification that they are paying our claim. We work with insurance companies daily in our business and are jaded as to how they all pay their claims. We are super surprised and happy with how this was handled.
Jose says
Indeed this has to be the worse ever experience with any insurance company I ever had.
I am an experienced insurance professional and a lawyer specialized in insurance claims. The way this people handles claims is appalling. They request documents that were provided. Never got a reply. I had to be calling most of the time to find out what was going on. Each time a new document was requested when I was told they got all they needed. As it is a travel insurance, documents are not easily obtainable as most events occur in another country. Month after month have elapsed and there is no sight of a satisfactory solution. As most people have pointed out, it seems that they get out of their way to delay payment or deny the claim with no justification whatsoever or not a valid reason. Their technical expertise and knowledge of insurance matters is way bellow industry standarts even at supervisory level. Even when I imparted a technical explanation this guys were like trained zombies regurgitating a prepared answer. I have thought at university level insurance law and this guys would fail my class miserably.
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Jose,
I’m very sorry about your experience and will share your feedback with our customer service department.
Sara S. says
Unfortunately a complete waste of time and money to purchase what Allianz calls “travel insurance”. Keep your money to yourself and don’t purchase “insurance” through these scam artists. It is worth it to work directly with an airline and pay their cancellation fee then to work with this terrible company.
Mike says
Unfortunately Allianz lives-up to the insurance company standard of gladly taking your money then finding a way to deny your claim. This is based on my experience and if you look at Yelp many others had the same bad experience.
Stephanie Beason says
I would rather loose money than to ever use this company Allianz again, I had to cancel a trip, called and canceled in ample time. I’ve had to cancel trips before and all I had to say is something came up or for personal reasons. Allianz, says the only way you can retrieve your money is through sickness with traveler or travelers family. The first time I called regarding canceling my trip I was explaining to a gentleman representative that I needed to cancel for personal reasons he started laughing, I asked him what was the problem (I assumed saying “personal” was not going to get my money back) I requested a supervisor she took my e-mail and sent me all these papers to fill out, she also said she would talk to the representative. (I doubt it)
I called backed the second time again we went round and round as I was explaining to the young lady it would have been nice if the company would have put the rules down before I paid my $17 the representative said it was your option to purchase it or not and you chose to purchase (I liked to puke). I explained I thought they where associated with AmTrak (that’s why I purchased), since they were on the same page as AmTrak and I thought they where legit. Her response was; No we’re separate from AmTrak.
After speaking with these idiots I called AmTrak back they explained to me that company’s like Allianz are not affiliated with them what so ever and they usually just pop up/attach themselves on the end of the payment site/page. AmTrak was so gracious to me they refunded all my money back with NO questions ask and many apologies even though they have NO affiliation with Allianz.
Allianz this is why we pay for travel insurance so we can be taken care of if things come up-not always illnesses happen. Shame on you Allianz, how YOU make money on others with problems. Thank You AmTrak for taking care of your customer(s), sadly to say this company Allianz will never have the kindness for it’s customers as YOU have. Team AmTrak!!!
AVoiceOfReason says
These guys are crooks. Might as well flush your money down the toilet because these guys don’t pay out ever! Pregnant wife got sick and got a doctors note to cancel our insurance. They didn’t even give us a good reason not to pay out, just said “we don’t cover that” what a bunch of ass holes.
Mary Koontz says
Thank goodness we had your wonderful travel insurance. Your customer service was wonderful and eliminated all stress in getting our travel refund. Thank you and we sure will use your great service again!
Ron says
DONT BUY THIS INSURANCE! IT DOES NOT COVER HURRICANES OR NATURAL DISASTERS. ANOTHER COMPANY THAT RIPS OFF AMERICANS- CABO AIRPORT IS CURRENTLY CLOSED. IT HAS MORE EXCLUSIONS THAN COVERAGE. I DONT THINK THAT ANYBODY SHOULD HAVE TO HIRE A ATTORNEY TO REVIEW COVERAGES.PLEASE READ ALL THE EXCLUSIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Al Says says
I will never use a non- customer friendly company such as Allianz again. First off they have poor communication skill, have a very rude attitude and push there policy when you have simple question about how to begin the process of a full refund.
My trip was scheduled for September 15th we were headed to Cabo and a Hurricane interrupted our plans. Allianz was our second call, the first was to Alaska Airline, who offered a full refund and a confirmation code for additional fight miles. I then called Allianz, they were quick to inform me that a refund will not be offered. They stated that my booking was back in July and their policy states you only have a 10 day grace period from time of booking….. who books a vacation last minute?? You would think they would offer an insensitive for booking early. After a heated conversation initated by thier customer sales representative. I was offered a rescheduling for my insurance and no cash refund, good for up to 700 day. I will never use Allianz again and lets hope we do not need to use the insurance, I hate to find out hope that support you oin an emergency.
Shady business tactics, poor customer service, why get insurance if they can not cover their policy when asking for a legitimate refund….like a Hurricane in Baja
Liz says
Good? Really?
Got hospitalised in May, it is September and they have yet to pay. Even worse relatives are harassed by the hospital and threatened to close their bank accounts because by now, no one believes I have ever been travel insured.
A complete nightmare, but wait there is more. They were not able to contact the hospital due to apparent language barrier. Thank god I speak the language and we had to organise a conference call overseas so I could speak to the hospital with Alliance. Funny enough the hospital stated their phone receptionists speak over 5 languages and English is included! Fine by me, as long as we can resolve this issue.
Not quiet yet. I receive an email stating that after almost a month to get the bank details form the hospital (are we in the 21st century or not?) they can not proceed with the payment. The reason, Alliance forgot to tell me about the 100$ excess fee that needs to be paid with each claim (and complaint).
Dealing with Alliance over the phone or mail you may have to confirm your identity 3x over before they will listen. There is no complaint department as the claim and complaint department seams to be the same.
This review is to sell the product but wont tell you how incapable this company is. You want to travel save? Stay clear of Allinace, you may die before they will pay a bill.
jim antoniou says
We had a very good experience. We had to cancel due to illness and had no problem getting reimbursed. We were very pleased with the service.
Nicole says
I will NEVER use Allianz again. I bought a Christmas gift for my family of a trip to where my brother wanted to go for school. Due to unforseen circumstances, they had to cancel. Allianz accepted the claim and supposedly paid it out. However, the check was fraudulently cashed. It took several calls and a false promise that a second check was on the way to learn this (and it is important, someone cashed a check with MY name on it on a bank I DO NOT use! There could have been identity theft!). I FINALLY found this out, then they told me to submit notorized letters stating that I had not received the check. When I did, they emailed me when they received the mail saying they would be in touch within 10 days. After a MONTH, I finally called them, and they said the forms were wrong. Nobody bothered to tell me! I’m starting to wonder if they didn’t cash the check thinking I would miss it! They lady claims this very rarely happens, but after research, it seems they don’t do a great job much at all! NEVER get them!
Alan Yaffe says
Stay far away from these scammers. They will do anything to get out of paying a claim. I had by pass surgery 5 days before leaving for Mexico with my family. I had no prior heart condition as stated by my GP and Cardiologist. I was given a ridiculous story how I could not have a pre-existing condition 180 days before departure. I told them if that is the case you would only have to pay claims for incidents that occur after leaving. No wonder W5 did a program on the tactics used to not pay claims.
Unsatisfied says
Do not buy this insurance. Find some other insurance. I submitted the correct documents, spoke to several agents about the correct steps, only to be denied a claim because of inaccurate information on their behalf. I tried to appeal the claim, but all Brian did was send me parts of the policy. So I lost out on funds because of the agents telling me the incorrect steps to take. After I was denied, I found out I had to have the insurance prior to the emergency, when initially I was told to buy the insurance before the trip. See how confusing that is? Get insurance somewhere else because they clearly are not on the same page in this company.
Mary Forecki says
We were very glad we purchased Allianz Travel Insurance for our trip to Australia. Bad weather in the eastern US caused long delays at O’Hare (Chicago) that meant we missed our connecting LA-to-Sydney flight. Additional expenses involved in getting our trip back on track were all covered by Allianz. The claim forms were easy to understand, and Allianz’s response was timely.
James Miree says
I had a very satisfactory experience with Allianz, the coverage for which I purchased for a riverboat cruise in France. After several days of very hot weather and a great of walking, my feet and ankles began to swell. The riverboat staff made an appointment for me with a doctor in the next port to come to the boat to see me. He gave me two prescriptions, which I filled at a pharmacy in that port. When I returned home I filled a claim with Allianz by email, and emailed them copies of the doctor’s invoice and pharmacy prescriptions, and the pharmacy invoices. They waived a form signed by the doctor, which would have been difficult at best now that I was back home. I received a check for my total costs within a week. Filing the claim was very easy. I talked with a customer service representative on a couple of occasions just to make sure I had answered the questions appropriately on the claim form, and they were very pleasant, patient, caring, and gave clear instructions. I would definitely use them again.
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Thank you for sharing your experience.
AN says
horrible experience with this company. It’s been 3 month since i had to cancel tickets due to medical issue and they keep asking for additional documents, although the current documents are enough as a proof
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Please let us know if you still need assistance.
Angel says
I had to cancell my flight to Asian due to health issuses and a family death. After reading all the negative reviews I was sure my claim would be denied. But to my surprise Allianz reimbursed me the full amount of my flight only. I feel that’s it’s fair that I should take out the time to write my surprisly positive experiance. If I was denied claim, I am sure I would be posting my experiance with Allianz here. BTW I am still leery about Allianz travel I may not use it next time, maybe I was just lucky this time around. Never really trusted insurance co. anyways…
Jerre says
My husband and I scheduled a 3 week driving trip through Wales, the Lake District of England, and Scotland. We purchased travel insurance through Allianz at the time of booking flights. After paying for expensive airline tickets between the US and London and before the date of departure, I came down with a serious case of pneumonia. The illness resulted in a hospital stay and lengthy recovery.
When my husband called Allianz to cancel our trip, the customer service person kindly offered to guide us through filing a claim. He even seemed genuinely sympathetic, recognizing that we were extremely disappointed to miss a long planned trip. The claim with Allianz was processed efficiently and a check for the airfare came to us in the mail. We would definitely purchase travel insurance with Allianz in the future.
Kalima Cusic says
I can’t say enough good comments about Allianz. I was helped quickly, and the Allianz employee was extremely knowledgable about what steps that I needed to take in order to submit my claim. When I finally submitted my claim via fax, I received a full refund. I would not even think about taking another trip without using Allianz.
Jeri says
I have used Allianze travel insurance on 2 separate trips. On both trips we needed refunds for medical reasons. Allianze helped us through the process and got us the refunds we were promised in a timely manner. It is rare to deal with a company that delivers all that it promises. I completely trust Allianze and will not travel without their insurance!
Ana Ruiz says
Really rude agent! Made fun of my reason for cancelation! I highly do not recommend unless you want to throw money out the window and be teased.
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Ms. Ruiz,
I am so sorry that you were treated with such disrespect. If you would like to discuss your claim and your experience, please email Help.Team@allianzassistance.com – Sarah, HelpTeam
Gaynor Fairchild says
In February I had 2 incidents in Asia, for both I submitted police reports, completed claims form & credit card receipts. Since then, I have received over 12 emails from 3 different people. I have put in writing 4 times (+ police report) and still I have not received 1 cent.
I payed approx. $1300 insurance, was robbed $1550, deductible of $200 and they want to pay me $190 ?????????????? Stay away from this company, to this date I have sent them more than 30 emails.
Up date, am now up to over 50 emails (I believe). They wont give me link to dispute resolution. The are a disgrace.
Amber says
Horrible company. My husband had a minor procedure that was supposed to have a healing process of only a couple days. I ended up having to cancel my trip. I even called them to make sure my claim was covered and they told me yes. Yet they have denied my claim because his consultation was back in May. This was note foreseen, they are getting us on a technicality. You could drive to work every day and never be in an accident, yet one day something happens. They’d say, “Well you did take that risk of driving”. Come on. They are just trying to get out of paying people.
Suzanne Soper says
This is the first time that I have ever written a bad review. AVOID this company if you value your time, your moeny and your sanity. They made great strides to aviod paying my rightful claim. Not only did they deny my claim, they made themselves almost totally unavailable during the drawn out process. Over the 65 days they took to process my very straightforward claim, I was asked to submit the same informaion THREE times after my representative misplaced it. Additional information was repeatedly sought, which I prompted provided. They finally told me my claim was “good to go”, and that I needed my phyiscian to sign the document AGAIN. They ultimately denied my claim and suggested if I wanted to “fight” the decision, I could get an Arbitrator. Really?? Please don’t use this company!!
Cari says
We have always used Allianz for our international travel insurance when going overseas. We have never had to file a claim until this past May 2014. We had to extend our stay in Sydney due to a family death that occurred while there. It cost us about $1,400 to do so. Allianz not on extended our coverage for the additional week for no extra charge, but also fully reimbursed us for having to extend our stay. We simply provided the necessary docs and were sent a check once all was verified, no questions asked. So simple to work with and easy to settle our claim. I would recommend them in a heartbeat.
Steve Phillips says
Allianz insurance is a rip off coverage that will not honor what they want you to believe is covered. Bereavement or any pre-existing condition that may re-occur or become troublesome, particularly for older customers whose travel plans may be altered by health concerns. Not only would they not honor their commitment to us they were very unprofessional to deal with in dealing with the whole situation. Delta airlines reimbursed our entire fares when we wrote a letter to them describing our dilemma with a health related concern where travel was prohibited. In the future our family will fly Delta every chance we get to reach our destination.
Nancy says
I am very disappointed with Allianz. I was injured on my trip. I had to change my return trip home. They did not pay any hotel bills or taxi fees or meals.
My total charges for this accident were $2100. They gave me less than 1000. It also took many many phone calls when they had all the information already.
I will not be using Allianz again for any travel insurance. eVER!
Brian says
What a joke – was worried about my current job situation and purchased protection in case there was a change in my circumstances. Claim was rejected because you have to be employed at the company for more than 3 years. That is allegedly somewhere in the documentation that they sent me.
Monica says
I bought insurance for a trip that had to be cancelled due to the weather. I was not able to leave my house. They kept asking for documentation, I sent pictures and news articles showing that the roads where I live where terrible and people could not drive.
After 3 letters requesting documentation I never heard back from them. They did not send me a letter or an email. When I inquired about my status they sent me a link t check on my claim, it was denied, NO EXPLANATION.
I will never buy insurance from these people they are thieves !!!!!
Paul Harris says
Allianz Travel Insurance is an insurance company my family have been utilizing for several years now during our international travel. We have never filed a claim until a recent trip. We had to return to a funeral due to a family member passing and had to cut the trip short. Allianz reimbursed us for the additional out of pocket expenses due to the change in flights. It was a blessing having Allianz Travel Insurance.
Marge Sack says
I have found Allianz cooperative with me. I have begun a habit of getting the insurance each flight. The past 3 times I have had a flight cancelled, delayed, or got bumped. I have had a claim paid to me each time I have filed the paperwork. They do need “proof” of your costs. Just save all your flight info and save every receipt. They have also been available to answer any questions. Thus far, I have been quite satisfied.
Blake Whitehead says
I purchased a basic policy from Allianz before traveling to Iceland. My checked bag didn’t arrive with me and didn’t show up until four days into my trip. I needed to start my travels and tracking my bag whereabouts proved futile. It was necessary for me to start my travels, so I bought some new items to replace my things. I filed a claim with Allianz upon arriving home. In that process, I had a few questions and called them. They were very polite and helpful, taking the time necessary to help. My claim was approved for the maximum amount payable for delayed baggage, and it was approved within the time frame I was told would be needed to make a determination. The check arrived shortly thereafter. I am very satisfied with Allianz’s efficiency, fairness and customer service.
Betty Miller says
Looking for a good airline insurance company that provides excellent service and delivers peace of mind in the unfortunate event of a cancellation? Look no further than Allianz. My experience with Allianz rates high in being a totally satisfied customer!
Kalima Cusic says
I have gone on several cruises in the past. The last few times, I purchased Allianz Insurance. The second day on the cruise, I got sick. After the third day, I decided to see the ship’s doctor. I was told that I would have to pay out of pocket and submit it to either my private insurance company when I returned home. When I did get home, I contacted Allianz Insurance. The Allianz agent was knowledgable, friendly, and extremely helpful. Allianz walked me through the whole process about submitting for reimbursement and sent me the forms via email. I followed the directions and faxed my paperwork. Within a few weeks, Allianz sent me a check for the full amount, not one penny less. I have to say that I was totally surprised, but delighted that Allianz was true their word. The process was simple and painless. I will always use Allianz for my traveling needs. Thanks Allianz!
Linda Voye says
I fell and broke my ankle in France during a tour in May 2014. Not wanting to bore you with all the details I will say That I received first class service from the Allianz agents I spoke with while in France and after I returned home. The provided medical assistance and new travel arrangements were expideted in a very efficient and timely manner. I filed my claim upon my return home and within six (6) weeks my claim was paid to my complete satisfaction. I highly recommend Allianz and will never travel without their coverage. “THEY DELIVER AS PROMISED”.
D says
I am having a horrible experience with them. I purchased plan which I had to use because my wife become pregnant in the meanwhile. Despite that I supplied all necessary documentation including Physicians statement requesting my presents due to complications and language barrier they refused my claim. The appeal was just as bad. The same people that review my original claim are responsible for appeals……who does that?
Lets not forget how slow and tidies is the whole process. after every document submission I had to wait 10 days for an answer…just so they can ask for more documents.
I can not believe they are the main insurance of Price Line and Kayak
Sara says
It’s useless. Waste of money. Very misleading. I’m too frustrated with these kind of people who deceive people. They are utter nonsense. Don’t trust these stupids.
GERALD says
OUR EXPERIENCE WITH ALLIANZ WAS OVER ALL VERY POSTITIVE!!!
WE HAD TO CANCEL BECAUSE OF WORK; PROVIDED THEIR REQUIRED
DOCUMENTATION AND MOST OF OUR EXPENSES WERE REFUNDED. WE
DID HAVE THE ASSISTANCE OF OUR TRAVEL AGENT /CRUISE PLANNERS
IN OZAWKIE, KANSAS.
IN YEARS TO COME, WE WOULD USE ALLIANZ AGAIN! THEY TREATED
US WITH THE UPMOST RESPECT AND COURTESY…THEY DID EVERYTHING
THEY SAID THEY WOULD DO..SOOOOOO WE THANK THEM ALWAYS!!!
SINCERELY!!!!!!!!!!
Shirley Itzkowitz says
This past November I booked a flight to Florida for February 11th. The day before I was not feeling well and had to be admitted to the hospital and had to cancel my flight. I wound up having a quadruple by-pass (open heart surgery).
After notifying the air line, I called and informed Allianz. They explained what I had to do and sent forms out so that I and also the doctor could fill out. Allianz contacted me and told me they received all the information and would let me know I would be hearing from them in a few weeks. They did and told me that they would be sending me a check for $486 – the amount for my flight.
It took a little time, but Allianz came through. Thank you Allianz.
By the way, this was the second time within three years that I had to cancel because of illness and Allianz was there for me. S. Itzkowitz
Gerald says
Very pleased with the insurance purchased (through Delta) for a trip to Florida in March.
I had to make an emergency room visit while on vacation. My own medical insurance covered a lot of the costs, but Allianz covered any remaining out-of-pocket costs that I incurred. The process of submitting this claim was very straight-forward, and customer service contacts were helpful, pleasant and polite. I would definitely use Allianz again .
Judith O'Donnell says
We have had occasion to use our Allianz insurance twice in the last several years.
Both times we have been completely satisfied. The first occasion involved a fall while in Iceland, the second was a medical issue that necessitated a change in vacation plans. Completely different situations, both handled quickly and efficiently. I can promise, we won’t leave home without Allianz!
Shane says
Allianz is terrible. They do not explain reasons for coverage before hand and falsely advertise the packages as trip cancelation. I booked a flight to Belize and purchased it just in case. After submitting all my information 4-5 times they wanted more. i just wish I could get me money I paid them back, jerks.
Leigh says
DO NOT BUY ALLIANZ TRAVEL INSURANCE. They do not cover items as stated and they are super slow at even responding. They would not cover damaged baggage because the damage was discovered when I got home and I called the cruise line and the letter the cruise line gave me did not include a list of damaged items. The cruise line did not physcially see the damaged items so they wouldn’t include it in their letter, and Allianz would not pay because of that. How could the cruise line see the items that weren’t discovered damaged until I got home. My bag was fine when it left my room, but was wet when I picked it up at the cruise port and after that I travelled home by bus so no one else handled my bags. Ridiculous.
David says
I was going to a Business meeting in July it was change to another date by my francise provider affecting thousands of people. I was not avaliable to travel on the new date. Did Allianz cover me? NOT! I have bought Allianz on 15 other trips never again.
Allen E Fenderson says
I submitted a travel claim a couple of weeks ago that was refused by Allianz to provide coverage. Reason: I foreseen the date change of the funeral home for the viewing of my dad.
The reason why the claim was submitted (as in the original claim) was the funeral home that handled the death of my father,
changed the viewing date from July 1st to July 3rd. July 3rd was the original return flight. The wake
ceremony after the viewing, was to follow. I am my dad’s oldest offspring and needed to attend the wake.
The funeral home did not tell me about the change until July 1st. So I rescheduled my return flight. US Airways
charged me an extra $245.00 to make that change. I asked US Airways for a bereavement exemption. They indicated my Allianz
insurance I purchased will cover that. Allianz has rejected the claim. I could have saved about $70.00 by buying a return ticket from another airlines instead of paying $245.00 and expecting to be reimbursed (as the US Airways agent indicated to me). So I feel cheated and resentful.
Also, my brother-in-law from Atlanta was in the same difficulty attending the viewing and received a bereavement exemption from added charges for changing his return flight from Delta Airlines. He did not even buy travel insurance.
I brought Allianz travel insurance.
$245.00 I had to additionally pay US Airways. My dad’s funeral cost me plenty (he had no life insurance) and the added costs of you NOT honoring an obvious bereavement case, is a great financial burden to me.
Don’t buy Allianz Travel Insurance. It is a waste of money and possibly s flim-flam scheme US Airways – Allianz perpetrate on customers for money. I’ll NEVER fly US Airways and I will tell all my family and friends not to do so because they don’t even care about bereaved customers. Just money matters to them. I’ll fly Delta.
Allen Fenderson
Laura P. says
Dear Allen,
Thank you for taking the time to tell us about your experience. I am very sorry for your loss and that we were unable to cover you in this particular situation. We will pass along your comments to the appropriate teams so that we can improve our products and services. If you would like to contact us directly so that we can assist you with any additional questions, please contact us at help.team@allianzassistance.com. Many thanks. Laura from the HelpTeam
Mark says
There are other travel insurers available. My suggestion is to use anyone apart from Allianz. We travelled to Bali in March this year. One of our bags was stolen from the enclosed reception area for parking, when we were unloading our luggage. We spent half a day in Kuta reporting it to the police. Upon our return we filled all the necessary paperwork requested of us plus supplied all supporting information requested. After 1 month Allianz finally responded with the following response.
We will not pay a claim in relation to your Luggage and Personal Effects if:
i The Luggage and Personal Effects were left Unsupervised in a Public Place.”
We will not pay under any circumstances if:
1 You do not act in a responsible way to protect yourself and your property and to avoid making a
claim.”
According to Allianz (policy wording)
“Unsupervised” means leaving your Luggage and Personal Effects:
· with a person you did not know prior to commencing your Journey; or
· where it can be taken without your knowledge; or
· at such a distance from you that you are unable to prevent it being taken.
“Public Place” means any place that the public has access to, including but not limited to planes, trains,
trams, cruise ships, taxis, buses, air or bus terminals, stations, wharves, streets, museums, galleries,
hotels, hotel foyers and grounds, beaches, restaurants, private carparks, public toilets and general
access areas.
Therefore, my understading of there policy is you will only be covered if your luggage has been ripped out of your hands????
My suggestion don’t use them. Find another insurer that will actually pay if you have the unfortunate loss of your personal items.
Leigh says
I had the same bad experience. They would not pay for items damaged in baggage and luggage. They kept coming up with excuses and never did pay. DO NOT buy this insurance it is a waste of money.
Laura P. says
Hi Mark,
We’re very sorry that we were unable to cover you in this situation. I’ve forwarded your valuable feedback to our team, so we can keep improving our services. Travel insurance provides coverage for the most common reasons that consumers cancel their trips, including illness, employer termination, loss of accommodations, travel delays resulting in a 50% loss of trip, destination uninhabitable, home uninhabitable, military duty, legal obligations and more. We do provide our customers with a “10 day free look” at their policy, during which they can cancel it and receive a full refund of their premium if they feel that the policy does not meet their needs. Please call us at the number on your policy if we can be of further assistance.
Many thanks! Laura from the Allianz HelpTeam
christina says
I just want to say that what their insurance, is horrible!! It does not cover what they say it does on the orbitz website. I am very very unhappy with this company and the misleading information they provided me. Based on the information given when I purchased the ticket and insurance and what their policy actually covers is no where near the same and I feel that it has grounds to be brought against the Better Business Bureau. I feel that they are running a very suspicious company and I do not appreciate that I just lost $150 because this company does not honor the policies it originally informed me it would. I am very dissatisfied with their business and plan to discourage anyone I know to avoid using this company. Horrible service, horrible coverable, not and honorable company!!
Laura P. says
Christina,
I am sorry to hear that you are having issues with your claim. I’d like to help, but cannot take your information in this public forum. Please email your claim number to help.team@allianzassistance.com and we’d gladly take another look at your claim. Thank you! Laura from the Allianz HelpTeam
Al Love says
I purchase this insurance for a trip to Europe. I was later laid off work. I have been attempting to request a trip cancellation and get a refund, as accordance to the insurance I purchased. Allianz has made it impossible for me to get my money back. They keep asking for letters from my ex employer, letter of how long i was employed, more and more documents. Overall, I have been waiting for this process for two months, no results. I do not recommend this travel insurance plan.
Laura P. says
Dear Mr. Love:
I am sorry to hear about your experience and would like to help. While we don’t want to burden you with endless paperwork, we do need specific documents to make sure we only pay legitimate claims. Please email our HelpTeam with your claim number and we can work with you to get the right document to finalize your claim. The email address is help.team@allianzassistance.com. Thank you! Laura from the HelpTeam
FF says
Allianz Travel insurance is TERRIBLE AND SCAMMERS! they steal your money and have no care for it. They have idiots that answer the phones and all they know is sorry we can’t cover your travel. DO NOT PURCHASE INSURANCE FROM THEM! I have already filed a claim with BBB against them. I can not believe they have good ratings.
Deb says
Don’t buy this insurance. You must have NO pre-existing problems. My husband has Parkinsons and falls often, usually with no after effects, but he fell a few days prior to the purchase of his ticket and travel insurance and had minor aches. He did the usual treatment. We purchase this insurance because he does have Parkinsons and we never know what may happen. It so happens he ended up having a compression fracture and was unable to sit in an airplane due to the pain. The claim was denied because he had the incident before he purchase the insurance. We had all the documentation ( ER visits and Drs visits). We learned the hard way and will always travel through AAA.
Suzanne W. says
This company needs to be reported to the Better Business Bureau. I’ve been appealing a claim since early May. I was unable to make a cruise through Dargal Interline Worldwide. I was hospitalized for two days for dehydration for a kidney infection from April 27th through April 29th. My doctor advised against traveling to Italy.
The claim for the cruise ship only was denied and the decision was that the kidney infection was a pre-existing condition. I wonder if they consider the flu or strep throat is a pre-existing condition?
I will fight to get this company put out of business.
Elizabeth says
Waste of your money! Do not Purchase. We could not make it to our planned event, filed insurance and had every possible reason as to why they could not pay! No matter what explanation we gave them they denied. Its a waste of your money! Do not buy the extra insurance!!!
L. Kuhlmeyer says
This insurance is worthless. Save your money. Our trip was cancelled due to no fault of our own and they refuse any sort of payment at all. They sure didn’t have a problem taking my money.
Elizabeth Lanzarone says
DO NOT EVER PURCHASE FROM THIS COMPANY.
While I was visiting family in New York, my grandfather got very sick and subsequently died so I cancelled my flight so I could stay for the funeral.
I had purchased travel insurance because I have had bad experiences with having to cancel flights in the past and getting screwed with cancellation and change fees. So I was so relieved that this time when an emergency came up, I had thought ahead to purchase insurance.
Instead, right after my grandfather’s death I had to run around tracking down doctors to get numerous forms filled out and submitted to the claim. Finally, I submitted all of my information and waited for a response. A month later, I got tired of waiting and called the insurance company, only to be told that my claim had been denied a few weeks ago (they never got around to sending the letter to me) because of a “pre-existing condition”
I can assure you my grandfather’s death was not a pre-existing condition. Death in the family was one of the things covered under this policy, yet my claim was still denied even after I complained about it.
This insurance is nothing but a scam and a waste of money. NEVER TRUST ANYTHING FROM THIS COMPANY.
woje0504 says
Allianz is a horrible waste of money. If traveling with a group such as Globus I would highly recommend going with their travel insurance. I wouldn’t ever again even spend a penny on this company’s travel “insurance.” I was traveling, robbed at gun point, and Allianz so generously paid out $1100.00 less than my claim when I had original receipts to prove the worth of the items stolen!! Less than impressed with this company. My friend I was traveling with had AAA insurance and she was refunded her whole amount no questions asked! As if a gun in my face wasn’t a horrible enough experience, Allianz added to it. NEVER AGAIN!
theodore wyant says
scam, I purchase tickets and insurance a year in advance, after would prepaid for rent a car, long term parking and hotels, on a 30 vacation but on return trip we were bumper no notice by Alaskan air, showed up air airport flight was there but we were not listed as passengers, 10 hours later and added connection we took off, may it home some over 12 hour after the fact, had to added fees to rent a car co, long term parking, dinning, and lost a days work claim not approved some insurance
Matthew says
Such a ripoff! I bought the travel insurance for a flight. Was unable to fly and requested a refund. (obviously the airline – united would never refund). Called allianz and was told the reason was not good enough and declined. Whats the point of spending extra money for insurance if your not going to cover it. DO NOT SPEND THE MONEY. NOT WORTH IT. BUNCH OF CROOKS
christina says
I had the same problem! Horrible company!!
COOKIE says
I FILED 6/26/2014 AND FOUND OUT I WAS APPROVED THE NEXT DAY FOR MY TRIP INTERRUPTION. MY FLIGHT LEFT EARLY AND I HAD TO SIT AND WAIT IN THE AIRPORT OVER 9 HOURS. THEY ARE REIMBURSING ME FOR MY FOOD SO I AM SATISFIED. DELTA ALSO GAVE ME A $200 VOUCHER FOR THE NEXT TIME I FLY WITH THEM.
Laura P. says
Thank you so much for sharing your feedback with us, Cookie. Glad we could assist you with your travel insurance needs. Laura from the Allianz HelpTeam
Ozbloke says
So you reply only to the positive comment yet all the ones where you ripped customers off you don’t even give the time of day? Sounds like your car insurance is the same as your travel insurance….
Staley says
What a lousy deal ! I paid for airflights this past march. Business was the purpose. The airline phoned me on flight day and cancelled the flight thru automated message. A few days after, I notified Allianz global to actually use the trip insurance I thankfully purchased. These people are worthless as insurers of weather cancelled flights. Multiple forms, over and over, submitted to these “insurers” , followed by generally three emailed notices for the same info again, solved nothing. Neither did several phone calls to their customer service help. I lost hundreds of dollars ( my company did ). I sent dispute claim to credit card company now. Allianz is not a recommended insurer. I advise against using them. Poor poor poor results from an obvious flight cancellation because of heavy snow.
Laura P. says
Hi Staley,
Thank you for taking the time to tell us about your experience. We will pass along your comments to the appropriate teams so that we can improve our products and services. You can contact us directly at help.team@allianzassistance.com so that we can assist you with your issue and take another look at your claim. Thanks! Laura from the HelpTeam
j. kenny says
I purchased the Allianz trip insurance and was unable to fly out(injured prior to take off date). They denied my claim even though I sent in all forms with a formal doctors note, etc… I would not recommend this Company. They are a typical insurance company that makes a nice promise and then finds any way they can to deny coverage. My situation was pretty basic and still they were able to wiggle out of their responsability.
Laura P. says
Dear J.,
We’re sorry that we were unable to cover your particular situation. We do provide our customers with a “10 day free look” at their policy, during which they can cancel it and receive a full refund of their premium if they feel that the policy does not meet their needs. We do take customer service very seriously and we’ve earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Please call us at the number on your policy if we can be of further assistance. Thank you! Laura from the Allianz HelpTeam
Ozbloke says
Laura, what was the reason you denied this persons claim then? Sounds pretty basic and should be paid straight out? Pointing to a disclosure is really a cop out instead of trying to help.
Webjet has issued me with you guys and I really feel like I might change to another insurance company due to this feedback.
What happens if I’m injured overseas, what proof do you require and what treatment is available to me? I’m not talking emergency either (although that would be nice to know)
Do you cover Chiropractor visits overseas and what is required to see one. I need specifics.
James Taylor says
Allianz and sleaze are pretty much synonymous.
Their whole business is built on making it easy for you to spend your money with them while making it impossible for you to collect anything if something goes wrong.
Do business with anyone but these guys.
Laura P. says
James,
I’m sorry to hear you are having difficulties with your claim. Please email your claim number to help.team@allianzassistance.com and I’d be happy to review your claim. Many thanks! Laura from Allianz HelpTeam
Sara says
No resolution yet – claim filed May 9. I am an attorney, so I knew to read the contract. I know what documentation they needed. I faxed it in and waited the requisite 10 business days. No response. I contacted them, and they said they needed a different form from my doctor. So, I got their form filled out and resubmitted via email on May 27. Still no word, so I followed up with Kelvin Fountain on June 3. He said they didn’t have the documents I emailed, so I emailed to his direct email. He confirmed he received the email. I waited another 10 business days and called again today. Patricia McClary told me the documents weren’t received. I resent them to her direct email, and at 5:16pm tonight, she confirmed she received them. She told me to check back online in a few hours to be sure the documents were scanned into my file. I checked back online, and my claim status shows that information is needed and I see no way to check the documents in my file because their website says for my privacy, no documents will be shown.
I just called and spoke with Terry who said their system is down and call back tomorrow.
There has been no final resolution yet, so I will reserve final judgment, but I am disgusted with how I have been treated. I had to cancel a vacation I very much wanted to go on, for a medical condition which was serious enough I ended up having surgery about 2 weeks later. I paid for trip insurance for such an occurrence, submitted THREE TIMES the documents they needed, and should have had my money refunded a month ago. I travel a lot and will NEVER use this company again. Shameful.
Alexsis says
Hi Sara, I’m so sorry to hear about your experience. We would like to help if we can. Please email us at help.team@allianzassistance.com with your claim number.
Laura P. says
Hi Sara,
I am sorry to hear you are having difficulties with your claim. I’d like to be of assistance, but cannot take your information in this public forum. Please email us your claim number to Help.Team@AllianzAssistance.com and we will take a look at your claim status.
Many thanks, Laura – Allianz HelpTeam
Tried of being lied to says
I would like to share my experience with you. On April 15, 2014 I booked my flight for June 8, 2014 and purchased travel insurance from Allianz, “just incase” something prohibited me from taking my trip. In late May I injured my knee. The two (2) Doctors that evaluated my injury stated that I could not travel. I immediately contacted Allianz and completed the forms that they provided and my Doctors completed their partions. Since I had not heard from Allianz, I contacted them today. I was told that my claim has been denied. I asked for an explanation and I was told by their agent that the claim had been determined as a pre existing condition and did not meet their guidelines. This makes absolutely no sense. If I knew that I was going to injury my knee, I would not
have made travel plans. I asked for further information. I was told that the injury was not in the timeframe that was covered by their insurance. In my opinion, Allianz is a ripoff and if they ever paid a claim, that person was extremely lucky. I say buyer be ware and don’t think since you bought this insurance you are protected and will be reimbursed for your tickets.
Laura P. says
I’m sorry to hear about your experience. I’d like to be of assistance and review your claim, but cannot take your information in this public forum. Please email your claim number to help.team@allianzassistance.com and we will contact you. Laura from the HelpTeam
Saul says
Very poor company!
Upon declining my application to a travel insurance claim, I sent it in again under different circumstances to which they accepted, but then declined it again on a different note.
They DO NOT call you.
They DO NOT accept discussions over the phone.
Each claim takes 10-15 business days to which it takes 10 business days to review prior to putting it in their system for the 10-15 day review cycle! THEN, they email you (not call) to decline your claim and if you reject their decline, it takes them 10 days to read the decline, then put it in their system for yet another 10-15 days.
They will make you promises on the phone and not follow through with it. Everyone seems to be a claim officer there yet you can never talk to your claims officer who is looking after your claim.
When you want to speak to their supervisors/managers, they don’t have any apparently so you cant complain or escalate the situation!
I read all these reviews prior to taking out insurance with them yet didnt act on it! Never using this cheap a$$ company again!
Stephanie says
Do not use Allianz. I was fooled into buying from them when purchasing my air tickets. They are expensive & does not even cover you as much as Travel Guard. They only have EMERGENCY medical & dental. Their trip delay coverage is only 1/3 of what is covered by Travel Guard. They don’t have accident & sickness medical expenses, baggage coverage, etc. On top of that, Allianz is $60 more expensive. When I tried to cancel my policy with Allianz, they said I was 2 days too late on 10 days grace period for cancellation. When I tried to upgrade to match the Travel Guard Gold policy, their rep said they don’t even have Accidental Medical Coverage, ONLY EMERGENCY.
Laura P. says
Hi Stephanie,
We’re sorry that we were unable to cover your particular situation. As you mentioned above, we do provide our customers with a “10 day free look” at their policy, during which they can cancel it and receive a full refund of their premium if they feel that the policy does not meet their needs. Please note that we do take customer service very seriously. Please call us at the number on your policy if we can be of further assistance. Thank you! Laura from Allianz HelpTeam
Mad As Heck says
THIS COMPANY IS A RIP OFF. I AM STARTING A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST ALLIANZ AND UNITED AIRLINES THE COMMON CARRIER RESPONSIBLE. THEY DO NOT STICK TO THE PERILS OF THEIR POLICIES AND FIND WAYS TO NOT REIMBURSE YOU AFTER MAKING YOU WAIT MONTHS TO OBTAIN AN INITIAL RESPONSE. THIS COMPANY SHOULD NOT BE IN BUSINESS. EMAIL ME AT UNIQUEEXPERIENCE83@GMAIL.COM. THESE BIG BUSINESSES CAN BE STOPPED. (AND SOMETIMES THE ONES THEY THINK ARE THE SMALL FRIES HAVE TO BURN THEM STARTING AT THE BASS OF THEIR FEET!!)
Kelly says
I’m so glad I saw these reviews before I purchased the insurance. I was considering it, but now after seeing so many unsatisfied customers I’m staying far, far away!
Henry K says
THANK YOU- – wow- i have been buying this insurance- but never had a claim – -I will try Travel Guard – -hope they are better
Michael Hays says
Buyer beware. Company failed to pay legitimate claim. Purchase at your own risk; you have been warned.
Monique says
This Company is a THIEF!!! If I am working on this company I will be ASHAMED of my self. This people probably don’t realize that they are living in a hard-earned money of someone. This company and whoever works is is DISGUSTING!
Why?
So, I purchase this travel insurance so i will have a peace of mind if “JUST IN CASE” something came up and I can’t go to my vacation. Sure enough something came up and I call this insurance right away to notify them that I got a new job, unfortunately I can’t go on my plan vacation because those dates are not available for me to have one. I spoke to the supervisor ALEX last May 29, 2014. He basically said that my reason is not covered by this insurance. That if it is work related, I have to be TERMINATED and I have to prove that it is not my FAULT.
OK fine! So I called the airlines. The rep. told me that if this is the case then my best bet is to just re-book/re-sched my flight with $200 penalty. Great! that is better than losing $1700. I was also told to call my travel insurance to see if they can reinburse me with $200 penalty instead of getting a refund that they wont give anyway.
So, I called up ALEX again by ALLIANZ today June 1,2014. I am so clear before we start that whatever we discuss regarding this matter, that it will write a review in all my social media account either it is good or bad. I made a recording of our conversation. I will find a way to download it as an attachment.
What we end up? I told ALEX the supervisor that since It is impossible for me to get a refund, and I don’t want to go back -and- forth, I just want him to tell me if the company can cover the lousy $200. It not about the money anymore, It is THE PRINCIPLES behind all this bullshit is what I am after. I can care less about that $200.
ALEX said that he can’t answer me YES or NO, but MAYBE…. WTF? and I still need to file a claim to MAYBE get this $200…
Mind you that I was so clear that I will make a review to all my social media account.
I am so disgusted by this company. I don’t want this company to victimized any person anymore. This has to stop!!! Please have a little Shame ALLIANZ TRAVEL INSURANCE!
Amy says
APPALLING SERVICE!!!
Flying from Burlington to San Francisco on Feb 14th. All flights are cancelled! I have to be in SF by evening of the 15th so after hours on the phone to the airline (Delta) I get a flight out of Montreal the next day. I arrange a car service to get me to the airport.
I then go to make a claim on my insurance… After all, I’ve had two flights cancelled and had to drive to another country to catch the flight.
Allianz – claim is not valid because there was not a complete cessation of service.
Me: what?? No flights seems pretty ceased to me
ALlianz: there was a flight from Burlington within 24 hours. I could not have got on it because it was fully booked but because there was a flight, and no cessation of service, I cannot claim on my insurance.
RIDICULOUS!!!!
Sean says
Worst company ever. They will find any reason under the sun to no pay out a claim. Allianz Global Assistance is a giant scam for insurance promising you everything but delivering nothing. If you want to just throw money away this company is glad to take it. The customer service is terrible and god forbid you have a medical emergency they want to know everything about you medically so they can find any reason to not pay out as contracted. BEWARE THIS TERRIBLE COMPANY !!! don’t waste your money !!
LOOK AT ALL THE BAD REVIEWS BELOW THEY ARE TOTALLY CORRECT !!
ANYTHING ABOVE ONE STAR IS MARKETING BY THIS COMPANY !!
DON”T TRUST THEM !! NOT U.S.A. COMPANY !!
JUST WANT TO SCAM MONEY FORM YOU !!
Crystal Heiskell says
I was very happy with the service I received from Allianz when I woke up the morning of my trip (March 2014) too ill to travel.
Allianz was very efficient and easy to use. I received the refund for my ticket in very good time.
Allianz helped to make a bad situation better.
bob says
This company is a scam. Buyers beware!
Laurie McCauley says
There are not enough words to describe the awesome service and support that I received from Allianz Travel Insurance. I had to cancel my trip to see family due to my husband having surgery with complications. I was not sure how this would work out. I called Allianz and they assured me that I would receive a full refund for my trip. They sent the forms that needed to be filled out by the doctor via email. I had the forms before I hung up. I had a full refund within a week of sending the forms to them.
I cannot thank them enough for the service, support and professionalism that they displayed. I will definitely use them for future vacations as well as share my experiences with friends and family.
Linda says
Selling the promise of services and then denying those services is what we experienced with this company. They put my life in danger by their delay of response. Beware. Never purchase insurance with Allianz. Since they have used various names in the past, beware of any travel insurance underwritten by Jefferson.
While the representatives of this company threatened my life with their delays, the worst of it was dealing with their truth-twisting, their ineptitude, their refusal to follow the rules of another country.
If you have any trouble with being reimbursed or with having any travel insurance company provide the services you purchased, call your state department of insurance and file a claim with them.
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Linda,
I am shocked to hear about the lack of service you received. If you would like to discuss your case further, please email the HelpTeam at Help.Team@allianzassistance.com – Sincerely, Sarah HelpTeam
Walter Thomassen says
It was a pleasure dealing with Allianz. The claim was handled professionally and very expeditiously and I encourage anyone planning a trip to take advantage of the insurance package offered by Allianz.
It offers peace of mind and is very inexpensive.
Dan Buckler says
I agree that this company is fraudulent. I bought trip cancellation insurance. Then I missed my plane. Now that the trip cancellation policy I bought doesn’t cover my missing my plane. In face it doesn’t cover the trip being cancelled by the trip operator. It doesn’t cover the trip being cancelled by the airline. All this even though the policy includes the statement “Trip cancellation coverage
Non-refundable payments and deposits
Payments and deposits you made before your trip was canceled, less
any published refunds you’re entitled to receive.”
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Mr.Buckler,
I am sorry for our frustration. If you would like to discuss the details of your claim, please email your information to me at Help.Team@allianzassistance.com – Sincerely, Sarah, HelpTeam
Karen Keen says
Our son and his wife both had to have an operations while we were visiting them. So we decided to stay longer and help them with our two year old grand daughter. Allianz paid for the charges incurred in changing tickets at the last minute. Allianz does require good documentation, but that is just good business practice. I’m glad that they are in business, and we will continue to use them when we travel.
Oswaldo Chavez says
I bought the Allianz insurance for my travel to NY with my cousin and my father.
The flights to NY were cancelled and postponed to a day after.
We stood in a hotel in Chicago very far from the airport since there were no rooms available near to the airport.
After filling the forms and sending the required invoices, Allianz reimbursed to me, the hotel room, taxi to and from the airport, dinner and breakfast.
I highly reccomend this insurance service, I will buy it from now and on.
marilyn sietz says
Unfortunately, I was in a near death auto accident on January 1st, 2014. My friend and I were scheduled for the Smooth Jazz Cruise on the Eurodam on January 12-19th, 2014. Needless to say, I was hospitalized for 20 days, spent 6 days in rehab and and have been recovering ever since. I had 4 fractured ribs, required 2 blood transfusions and I was a mess.
My travel partner was kind enough to take care of all the details required in order to get a refund for our missed travel due to this horrendous accident. I’m lucky to be here to share the tale. Allianz was very understanding, helpful with instructions step by step to claim the insurance refund. Allianz was wonderful with their patience as my travel partner does NOT own a computer and is technically challenged. Your staff was very helpful and made this enitire episode as simple as possible and we both received full refund for our trip. We are planning to rebook for 2015 and have put the refund money aside to pay for the next trip. Thank you all for your courtesy, consideration and kindness during this horrific time. I would recommend Allianz to all of my friends who are considering traveling.
Betty says
This company is the first insurance company I have ever had such a good experience with and I would highly recommend it for travelers and for any other insurance needs it provides
Edward M. Romanoff says
Allianz more than exceeded my expectations by promptly reimbursing me in full for a concert ticket I was unable to use, I had been putting off filing a claim because I was busy but Allianz sent me several reminders. Had it not, I would have missed the cut-off date for filing my claim. Allianz is reputable and ethical. I will use its services again and recommend others do likewise.
Marion says
I am very happy with Allianz Travel Insurance – and I will book it again!
I had an Allianz Travel Insurance for my trip to Germany (Mid December 2013 until end of January 2014) and I am more than happy, that I have had an Allianz Travel Insurance. Before I even got home, back to the United States, I had a kind notification e.mail in my inbox from Allianz, that the check with the refund for a medical bill has been send to my home address. I was stunned how fast they were! To be honest, I was mentally prepared for a much longer, more bureaucracy, procedure, just like it would have been in Germany.
Of course I can not speak for others, who might have had high expenses due to flight cancellations or even emergency room visit, but I recommend Allianz, just on the basis of my recent positive experience.
Anna Allen says
I was scheduled to fly to NY and stay for a week at the beginning of January. However, After booking my trip, my husband’s illness took a turn for the worst and I was forced to cancel. I am so glad that I took Allianz Travel Insurance! I called Allianz and they sent me a form for my husband’s doctor to fill out to verify his problem. The doctor filled out the form, I mailed it to Allianz and within a week, they refunded the full purchase price of my ticket. I will never travel without having Allianz Travel Insurance again!!
P.S. I would also like to say that the Allianz representative I spoke with was so compassionate and kind I felt as though I was speaking to a dear friend. Just speaking to her made me feel. Congratulations, Allianz representative for your exemplary customer service!!!
Rick Dulaney says
There is fraud and then there is this company. I just cancelled a planned trip and am just now becoming aware of what a mistake I made doing business with Allianz. That said, I not only blame Allianz, but more so any company that would partner with them. Specifically, United Airlines in my particular case. I’m just going to take the financial hit on the tickets, cost of “insuring” them, and chock this up to the “stupid tax.” I should have known better, so I really blame me. With this whole thing being the partnering of two companies, which operate in the most mismanaged unscrupulous industries in the country I should have seen this coming. So…..good bye for ever Allianz and good bye United Airlines. If I can’t get to my destination by car I’m simply not going. Did I mention the word FRAUD?
Peter says
Worse Company – DO NOT BUY INSURANCE FROM THEM. Bought insurance for trip. Found out week before departure my wife’s sister has cancer, had major surgery 2 days before trip wife flew to be with her sister. Cancelled hotel, air, etc. Allianz ran us around in circles for 3 months. Sent trip cancellations, ticket receipts, emails, letter from hospital plus hospital discharge papers to Allianz; faxed, mailed and downloaded onto their website. WHAT a bunch of crooks !!! DO NOT USE THEIR SERVICE – Waste of Your Money and You Will Be Sorry if You Have a CLAIM.
Gene says
Don’t buy insurance from them!
I will never buy an insurance from them ever again. I purchased an insurance along with the tickets on Orbitz. My mom got very sick a couple of weeks before my travel date and I cancelled the flight (my mom passed away on the day of my travel). The amount of red tape and redundant requests from Allianz is mind boggling. I talked to an agent in the beginning of January and he said everything is in order and I get my refund promptly. What a lie!
A month and two sets of “additional information is necessary” nothing is happening. Now they requested all kind of documents from Orbitz “on their letterhead” – and they are the partners! Orbitz is not being quite helpful either.
Frustrated to no end.
Gene G.
Deb Baker says
Hi I wanted to weigh in about my experience with Allianz Travel Insurance. We booked two trips through Hotwire in June. Hotwire is notorious for great prices but they do not give refunds so I was surely going to insure our stays. The trip was for myself, husband and two kids.
About a month before the trip, my father had had open heart surgery (he was not going on the trip) A few days before we were to leave, he had a complication. My mom was going to meet us on the trip and a neighbor and a friend were planning on checking in on dad. Because of his complication, we decided that we would stay with dad and just let mom go. When I called Hotwire, they were gracious enough to tell me that they DO refund due to medical conditions and are very specific about family members being ill. But, since I purchased insurance thru Allianz, that I was to call them directly for my refund.
After a month of preparing paperwork, bothering my father’s cardiologist and staff for paperwork and letters on their letterhead etc. I got a ruling that, since my father had a “preexisting condition” I was not able to collect on the two policies. I explained that my father was never traveling in the first place and that his complication not a direct result of the surgery itself (which is neither here nor there since he wasnt traveling anyway_ and the woman just kept reading her script over and over. She was kind enough to hand me over to a manager who told me that if you know of anyone, you, or anyone else, with any kind of preexisting condition, the policy is null and void. I think everyone on this earth knows of someone who has something. This was the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of. Next, I asked if I could get a refund on the policies themselves ($18) and they told me that, since it had been over 10 days that I purchased them (it takes at least 10 days to get any response whatsoever) that I could not get a refund.
There are several other options out there for travel insurance and I would say that Allianz is the absolute worst there is. Hotwire ended up refunding my money since it was due to a medical emergency – but I am still out $18 from Allianz~
UPDATE***…I believe that Allianz is nothing but a money maker for the travel industry. Id like to add that each time I called about the claim (stopped counting after 6 phone calls) I was met with a customer service person who sounded like they were just woken up from a nap, and hated me instantly without getting past hello. Their service and phone manners are horrific. Some were barely audible. It was like I was talking to a comatose accident victim.
Today I heard back from my credit card comapny and all charges from Allianz have been refunded.
corrie says
Agreed. A total SCAM!
I officially hate this company and will encourage all of my clients and family members to save their money and not purchase this sham of an “insurance plan”.
The only plan offered when I purchased airline tickets was apparently Allianz’s “budget plan” because the only ‘covered reasons’ to amend trip dates include absolutely outrageous events. Good to know if my house is invaded or becomes uninhabitable by fire or flood, or if I die, they’ll cover my trip.
Thanks Allianz for nothing. I truly hope you enjoy every penny of the $110 you stole from me.
John S says
Allianz in my experience is a scam company that will cheat you whenever they can. Never buy anything from these people. Shame on Alaska Air for pushing this cheating product on the unsuspecting public.
Terri malenfant says
Do not buy Allianz trip insurance. I tried to use it when I had to change my flight and fly out earlier because of my sons type one diabetes and they denied the claim!!!! What a ripoff!!!!
ARLENE RICHMOND says
I have purchased Allianz travel insurance for many trips and never had to make a claim. I was scheduled to travel to Israel on Jan. 13th . My travel companion had to cancel because what was thought to be a pulled groin muscle turned out to be a deteriorated hip. I cancelled as I didn’t want to room alone. I had to send in copies of even my cancelled checks and detailed forms which I sent early in January. I got an email saying a physician’s form and E-ticket copy (I have no such document) were needed. My traveling companion has already sent in the statement from the diagnosing doctor. Now Allianz wants a statement from her primary! When I called Allianz yesterday , I was told they would make a decision by Feb, 4th!!!
jennifer says
Do NOT buy insurance with ALLIANZ! My husband had to travel to Ukraine to complete an adoption. We had to attend court, which is supposed to be covered. THEY DID NOT REIMBURSE US!! We were adopting a child from an orphanage. This company has disgusted me. Truly pitiful and a waste of money. It’s not insurance it’s a scam!
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Jennifer, I am very sorry about your experience and would like to help. Unfortunately, I can’t take your personal information in this public forum. If you would like assistance, please email your information to Help.Team@allianzassistance.com and I will be happy to follow-up with you. Sincerely, Sarah, HelpTeam.
Deb says
Nice try Sarah. You should be ashamed of yourself for accepting a position at such a shady company. There is more honor in flipping burgers and mopping floors
Carlos M says
I purchased tickets well in advance with American Airlines and was offered to buy Trip Insurance from Allianz. The cost was cheap for the offer and with so many things that can affect a non-refundable trip, particularly with kids involved, it was a no brainier. Not that I planned to use it, in fact I totally forgot about it until…
…Do you remember that Asiana plane that crash landed in San Francisco on July 6? Luckily we were not in that plane, but our returning flight was scheduled to leave San Francisco early morning July 7, and it was cancelled. So there were we, in the middle of Independence Day weekend with no flight availability until the 9th of July, hotels fully booked. So I did what needed to be done, relax and find the best way to spend two extra days in the city without breaking our budget
After coming back, I found about the insurance I bought by looking into our travel receipts. Honestly, I thought it was a lost cause, which insurance actually pay your claims without a major hassle, if they pay at all? But I decided to call Allianz anyway. To my surprise, the representative helped me to build my case, receipts, logs, etc in an effort to find a way to get me reimbursed, thing Allianz did in a few days after submitting my claim. Simply amazing, I found an insurance company that actually wants to pay your claims? I’m still pinching myself
Now I don’t travel without buying Allianz insurance on those long, planned in advance trips. For the amount I paid and the amount I was reimbursed, it already paid off several times. Thanks Allianz, you gained a loyal client!
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Carlos, I am so happy that we were able to help!
Lee Stern says
My wife and i booked RT on United six months in advance for a big school re-union & fortunately (for a change), bought the offered Allianz Insurance coverage/just in case one of us didn’t end up attending or worse, became ill before or during the trip. My wife was laid off from her office job a few months after booking, forcing us to quickly cut- unnecessary overhead including that trip. Thankfully, Allianz (once contacted and a case started) reasonably quickly refunded us the cost of our plane tickets, and did so ina most professional and communicative manner. Their website procedures for applying for refund were clear, reasonable, and supportive, and their ‘time to end of process and decision’ was reasonably Fast (2 wks or so), as was the then quickly mailed, check (one add’l week or less)! KUDOS to this travel insurance Corp. Certainly, we will most likely hereforth, get the insurance before we take any substantial trip or vacation, & likely, will make sure to do that with Allianz.
nancy glover says
I purchased insurance because my brother who is an experienced traveler advised us too. My husband had to have major surgery and we could not travel and Allianz insurance check covered the expense of the trip. TY .very much
Willim Vermeer says
I purchased insurance only because it was on the Delta Airlines site. I just thought it would be a waste of money, but why not it can’t hurt anything. My wife and I traveled out of country and then I got sick and had to call a doctor to come to the hotel. When I got home I contacted Allianz and within three weeks I had a check to cover the expenses I incurred. I will not travel again without insurance! THANK YOU ALLIANZ!!!
brianp says
I had made arrangements for 2 trips last summer, one to Florida for a memorial service, and another to Hawaii for a vacation. My father became very ill, and I cancelled my trips in order to be with him in the hospital. The representatives at Allianz were very helpful, and all were very compassionate. They also allowed me to use hospital forms rather than their online forms to file my claim. Unlike other insurance companies I’ve dealt with in the past, Allianz didn’t throw up a bunch of hurdles to prevent me from filing my claim. They honored their part of the agreement, and did so with concern for the situation my family was confronting. This made such a difference given that I was already dealing with the illness and subsequent death of my father.
Roberta says
Very much worth the small additional cost and refund was sent almost immediately. My trip had many delays, plane and terminal changes and a 3.5 hr. flight took over 14 hours due to the airline being unprepared for mechanical problems. Allianz was just wonderful about reimbursement for all the extra costs I had to incur due to the delays. Will always use this insurance!
Jim Potamos says
We had to cancel our trip that we had insurance on. I called Allianz and they assisted me every step of the way. They are definitely there to help. They were empathetic and acted in a totally professional manner. I have nothing but good things to say about this company- their plan, their people and everything about them was more than I ever expected. I plan to use Allianz every time we plan a major trip.
Erika griffin says
My husband and I took out allianz-travel-insurance for our trip last march to china. I got very sick with a influenza virus while in this trip and had to be quarantined on ship for a couple of days. When we got back to the usa I filed my claim first with medicare ( it took almost 4 months to get a response back from them) and recived a denial for my claim. In the meanwhile I was in contact with allianz letting them know my frustration with medicare. They were so nice and helpful to me thru this frustating months and kept insuring me they would keep my claim open until I heard from medicare. When I finally recived the paperwork from medicare, alliance had a check for me within two weeks. I highly recommend allianz-travel-insurance to everyone who is going to trave, everyone on their staff has been courteous, helpful and most of all kept my blood pressure down. Thank you so much, erika griffin
Bruce Schenemann says
We had scheduled flights out of JFK to Kenya and return for a safari. We had to buy airline tickets from Charlotte to JFK and return. To be on the safe side I bought travel insurance from allianze for the Charlotte to JFK portion of the trip. Because of the terrorist attack on the mall in Nairobi, the State Department issued a travel warning for Kenya. Because of that we cancelled the trip and submitted a claim to Allianze. The claim was refused. They said State Department travel warnings were not good enough to honor the claim. Think twice about using these people. A State Department travel warning is not good enough? It was good enough for Friendly Planet to issue a full refund for the trip but not Allianze.
Jackie Arbogast says
I will never purchase this insurance again, what a scam. We recently had trip planned to visit my mother in law in FL. Before booking the flight my husband was seen at the ER at CCF for light headedness, dizziness. He got a complete evaul at the ER. Found nothing. We had already purchased the tickets and insurance. One wk before we were to leave my husband had was having heart palpitations, he did feel comfortable to fly.We decided to put our trip on hold. We followed up with CCF Heart, Neurology, and ENT. After all the testing came back negative the Neurologist said the abnormal heart beats were most likely caused from sweet and low. Our claim had been filled at the end of July, yesterday Oct 22nd I found out our claim was denied, even though on the ER report the DX was no known case for symptoms pt presented with. All these specialist at The Cleveland Clinic cannot for sure say if that was what caused my husband to feel this way, but Allianz personal whom have no medical background said this is a pre-existing condition. Do not waste your time or trouble like I did to end up with no refund.
Aubrie says
This company has done me no favors… I’ve used it twice and had substantial claims… They DID NOT Pay either of the claims… I think they are dishonest and their policies are misleading… I do not recommend this company at all. Will never use it again, and do not recommend any of their policies.
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Aubrie,
Thank you for taking the time to post. I would like to learn more about your experiences but am unable to take your personal information in this public forum. If you would like assistance, please email your claim numbers to Help.Team@allianzassistance.com and I’ll be happy to look into your situations.
Sincerely,
Sarah, HelpTeam
patty says
Hi Aubrie,
Thank you for you comment. I was about to buy this trip insurance for my flights…Appreciate your advice!!! I will not do it now
Frank Ethridge says
For the first time I purchased Allianz Insurance to cover my wife and I for a trip we were going to take to Reno, NV. Approx 2 months before the trip my wife required full knee replacement which would not allow her to take the trip. I notified the Allianz agent at the call center, he went out of his way to give me all the information I would need to file the claim, how to do it and how to contact the airlines to get my travel miles back. Once I got all the Doctor papers and etc together I filed the claim via email. Approx 2 weeks later I received a full refund for what Allianz covered. I will not travel without Allianz coverage, it is totally worth the cost.
Ken says
This company will deny claims for any type of pre-existing condition. If you are taking blood pressure medication and have a heart attack in the airport, they will not pay their claim because it is a “pre-existing condition. They said if I was being treated by a doctor, (blood pressure medication) it would be considered a pre-existing condition. This company is a total scam. I can’t foresee them paying off any claim. They blamed me for not reading the policy after purchasing the ticket.
Rai says
Thank you Allianz for your help and support during a time of sorrow for my family. I had purchased concert tickets and unfortunately I had a death in the family and the funeral was on the same day as the concert. Two weeks after, I contacted Allianz and explained my situation. The staff was kind and helpful and in less than two weeks, they refunded the purchase price of the tickets. Thank you again Allianz for not being another company who only looks for their own bottom line.
Jim Enyeart says
We have purchased travel insurance many times from Allianz and after a recent trip we are really glad we did. I had a medical emergency while traveling and ended up in the emergency room in the middle of our flight home. Once things got settled, we contacted Allianz and the agent talked me through submitting the claim. Everything was very simple and we received a check within two weeks. We will never travel without Allianz travel insurance.
paula says
I wouldn’t travel without purchasing this travel insurance, I had a problem and had to change my flight,
when I got home I contacted the insurance co. and they took care of me , no problems at all
thank you Allianz again
H.R.Mohey says
Sarah,
I travelled to Europe with my wife recently. We had bought Allianz Travel Insurance and we find it to be the right decision. Our two bags were delayed by more than 24 hours. It forced us to buy a few items of clothing and accessories. Our claim for the same was settled very promptly. The customer care service was excellent and we were more than satisfied. When we travel next, surely we will take the same insurance.
Keep up your excellent service.
H.R.Mohey
Bea Mooar says
I was so thankful to have obtained insurance with Allianz, never expecting to use it.. I had a medical problem and missed a flight. Because of the insurance the cost of the flight was covered,
Connie Phillips says
Thanks to Allianz travel insurance for the fast efficient response to our request for a refund for a flight that could not be completed because of injury. I did not have one additional request after my submission and they came through with a check in days. I appreciate this trusted company and will definitely use them again in the future to cover our travel needs. Thanks Allianz.
Michael Sabloff says
I would never buy a product from this company again. I believe their insurance is just about worthless. My wife and I booked a trip to my daughter’s wedding and decided to add an extra week for vacation. We both used air miles and spoke to someone at the company to see what their insurance covered before buying it. My wife was told that if a medical emergency happened, they would arrange to have our air miles returned to our account. A month before our trip, I injured my neck and was told that I’d need surgery. We didn’t want to miss my daughter’s wedding, but knew that an extra week of vacation was out of the question due to the pain. United Airlines was completely unhelpful on changing our return flights. So, I called Allianz Customer Service to see if they had any pull. I explained that I had to cancel the extra week and return early, and was assured by customer service that I would be covered for the early return flights. Unwilling to risk getting to Oregon, then finding no flights back, we booked an early return, which we had to pay cash for. Customer Service said to call in the claim once I was in Oregon, which I did. Immediately upon return, I filled out all their paperwork and today got a form letter saying they would not cover the claim. Their Customer Service tells you one thing, which plainly is worthless. If what happened to me didn’t constitute an medical emergency, I’m not sure what good a policy from them is. If anyone is more concerned with getting sick while overseas, I’d talk to someone like ISOS rather than deal with Allianz. United Airlines should be ashamed with partnering with such a second rate outfit. Being big on in the Forbes 500 doesn’t necessarily make you good or ethical.
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Mr. Sabloff,
My name is Sarah, and I’m from the Allianz Global Assistance Help Team. I am very sorry to hear about your frustration with the policy you purchased and the confusion created when you called our customer service. Since, I am unable to take your personal information here to know the exact details of your case, I would ask that you email me directly at Help.Team@allianzassistance.com so I can get a better understanding of the situation.
Sincerely,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Consuela Moyers says
I had a GREAT experience with Allianz. I had booked my round trip plane ticket to Mexico from the U.S. through AAA. I decided to purchase this insurance just in case. Sure enough, I fell ill in Mexico and had to have life saving surgery before I could leave. That put me missing my booked flight back to the U.S. Allianz not only paid for my original plane ticket but also the surgery due to not having Insurance in the states. All with no hassle. They required some paper work and statements from the hospital, but really didn’t try to get out of it. I am extremely pleased with the service and will purchase this every time I fly from this point on. Wish my stupid friggin’ Florida Homeowners insurance was this honest.
Patricia Brown says
I, too, have been hit with the “pre-existing condition” excuse. Three yrs. ago my husband was diagnosed with lung cancer. Part of his lung was removed and he was ruled cancer free. He then got liver cancer and it went dormant. When we purchased the insurance, he had no life-threatening problems and did not expect any. A month before the trip he became ill again and we had to cancel the trip. Allianz went back 3 yrs. and said he had a pre-existing condition. After weeks of calls, letters, etc. we got a letter stating that we would get no money back and it would have been prudent for us to seek medical attention instead of buying cruise tickets! What a slap in the face! I would not recommend this company to anyone!
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Ms. Brown,
I am very sorry that your experience with our customer service did not meet your expectations and will share your feedback as this gives us an opportunity to improve.
We want consumers to make an informed choice when it comes to purchasing insurance, which is why we provide a link to review the policy’s terms and conditions. With this link, we offer a 10-day free look, so should you decide the coverage doesn’t work for you, you can get a full refund for the policy. While we have designed our products to cover the most common unforeseen situations our customers might encounter, not all events and situations are ones which trigger coverage in our insurance programs.
If you have further questions about the outcome of your claim, or would like someone to walk you through the policy you purchased in full detail, please don’t hesitate to call our customer service line at 1-800-284-8300.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Rodney says
I had the same problem with a pre-existing condition. I argued with customer service for weeks about it. I pointed out the way the contract read I was covered. My dad had heart surgery which i knew was coming up so i got a ticket. He was sent to the ER with blood clots the night of the same morning I got my plane ticket. He had to stay another day in the hospital because of another condition which caused me to miss my plane. The conctract read that it was covered after the purchase but they told me I should have read one of the sections like there was different punctuation. Their exact quote to me was, ” you should read that sentance like there is a period there”. They made up the policy as the conversation went on. The worst customer service I have ever dealt with. I would wait on hold for 20-30 minutes to talk to someone. Orbitz felt so bad after I complained to them about allianz that they gave me half my money back. I would never reccomend Allianze to anyone.
Candy McMorris says
I am so grateful for the assistance and coverage provided by Allianz when I broke my femur during a trip to Paris this summer. We purchased Classic Coverage from Allianz in case of trip cancellation or delay . We never imagined that we would require the emergency medical coverage for a 10 day hospitalization and surgery in Paris, and medical evacuation back to the US. Besides covering my hospitalization in Paris, Allianz arranged and paid for my first class airline seat and provided an RN escort who accompanied me from my hospital bed in Paris back to my home in California. My husband’s airfare in economy on the same flight was reimbursed, as were some of his hotel expenses in Paris, my ambulance and other ground transportation costs. This ordeal would have been a nightmare without the financial and customer service assistance (thank you Myra!) we received from Allianz. Spending $266.00 for travel insurance saved us well over $25,000.
Sudheer Solapurkar says
Hi,
I have a very good experience with Allianz Travel Insurance. When we travel, we do not have any slightest intention of falling sick and perhaps getting hospitalized. Unfortunately I fell sick in Germany while on vacation and had to be hospitalized with a Hugh bill. Only the best thing was I had got the health insurance from Allianz, which they settled once I submitted the bill. If it was not for that, it would have become very difficult for me to settle the bill.
Allianz was extremely prompt, and as they promised, they sent the check of the entire amount within the time they said, they would.
I am extremely impressed with the experience with Allianz. I will here onwards insure with them, every time, whenever I will leave the country, even if for a short while or a long time. I also will strongly recommend their services to any one who are thinking about this.
Thanks Allianz.
Sudheer Solapurkar
Kim says
Had a horrible 14 hour experience with United Airlines – never left the airport because of lie after lie from them that we would depart. Happened to check my travel policy from Allianz and found out that they cover expenses incurred after 6 hours. Really didn’t want to even contact them after the hassles that I had with United but I did and was pleasantly surprised at how quick and easy it was to submit the claim. Too bad I did not save all my food and drink receipts but they covered most because I did have those. Would definitely use them again especially because United only gave me a credit instead of a refund. Hope Allianz will cover me again because I do not trust United anymore!
Shannon says
Could not be more disappointed in the discrimination in Allianz’s travel insurance policy. Will cover a cold, but not a suicide attempt. Sad that in today’s world mental health is still not considered equal to physical health (even when it can cause serious physical issues).
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Shannon,
I am very sorry that you were disappointed in the coverage your insurance policy provided. While we have designed our products to cover the most common unforeseen situations our customers might encounter, not all events and situations are ones which trigger coverage in our insurance programs.
If you have any questions about our policies or your claim, please contact 1-800-284-8300.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Haute Momma says
Hi I wanted to weigh in about my experience with Allianz Travel Insurance. We booked two trips through Hotwire in June. Hotwire is notorious for great prices but they do not give refunds so I was surely going to insure our stays. The trip was for myself, husband and two kids.
About a month before the trip, my father had had open heart surgery (he was not going on the trip) A few days before we were to leave, he had a complication. My mom was going to meet us on the trip and a neighbor and a friend were planning on checking in on dad. Because of his complication, we decided that we would stay with dad and just let mom go. When I called Hotwire, they were gracious enough to tell me that they DO refund due to medical conditions and are very specific about family members being ill. But, since I purchased insurance thru Allianz, that I was to call them directly for my refund.
After a month of preparing paperwork, bothering my father’s cardiologist and staff for paperwork and letters on their letterhead etc. I got a ruling that, since my father had a “preexisting condition” I was not able to collect on the two policies. I explained that my father was never traveling in the first place and that his complication not a direct result of the surgery itself (which is neither here nor there since he wasnt traveling anyway_ and the woman just kept reading her script over and over. She was kind enough to hand me over to a manager who told me that if you know of anyone, you, or anyone else, with any kind of preexisting condition, the policy is null and void. I think everyone on this earth knows of someone who has something. This was the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of. Next, I asked if I could get a refund on the policies themselves ($18) and they told me that, since it had been over 10 days that I purchased them (it takes at least 10 days to get any response whatsoever) that I could not get a refund.
There are several other options out there for travel insurance and I would say that Allianz is the absolute worst there is. Hotwire ended up refunding my money since it was due to a medical emergency – but I am still out $18 from Allianz~
UPDATE***…I believe that Allianz is nothing but a money maker for the travel industry. Id like to add that each time I called about the claim (stopped counting after 6 phone calls) I was met with a customer service person who sounded like they were just woken up from a nap, and hated me instantly without getting past hello. Their service and phone manners are horrific. Some were barely audible. It was like I was talking to a comatose accident victim.
Today I heard back from my credit card comapny and all charges from Allianz have been refunded.
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Haute Momma,
I am sincerely sorry about your father’s health and your frustration that the policy you purchased did not provide coverage for your particular circumstance.
We strive to make our plan benefits and conditions clear at the time of purchase, as we want consumers to make an informed choice when it comes to purchasing insurance. To this end, we provide a link to your policy in your confirmation email and offer a 10-day free look, so should you decide the coverage doesn’t work for you, you can obtain a full refund of your premium. While we have designed our products to cover the most common unforeseen situations our customers might encounter, not all events and situations are ones which trigger coverage in our insurance programs.
I will share your feedback about your customer service experience with our team. If you have further questions about the outcome of your claim, or would like someone to walk you through the policy you purchased in full detail, please don’t hesitate to call our customer service line at 1-800-284-8300.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Michael Blain says
Allianz came through for me on two seperate occasions. Once for a death in the family, the second time for a loss of work due to a job lay off situation. Allianz refunded the cost of my my airline tickets. I am so glad I made the decision to purchase their insurance. Allianz really stood behind their word with their insurance. Highly recommended.
Pam Torgerson says
Sarah,
I must say, I was pleasantly surprised by the wonderful customer service provided by Allianz during my recent trip to Punta Cana.
I experienced a broken toe while vacationing with my daughter. Allianz provided excellent service, locating approved nearby hospitals and offering assistance with any language barriers encountered.
Reimbursement of costs incurred was quick and efficient.
I would definitely purchase travel insurance again from Allianz when traveling.
Joyce Ruby says
I honestly don’t know why I committed to getting insurance for my trip, but it was offered & I clicked on it. Little did I know that I would wind up in the hospital 5 days before I was to leave. When I was released, the Dr. had tests set up & I was still not well enough for a trip.
When it dawned on me that I had taken the policy for cancellation, I got in touch wiith Allianz & filled out all forms required.
I ran into a problem finding the correct doctor. I had to call Allianz & tell them the problems I was having. Each time, a representative helped me with the difficulties I was encountering. Your employees even made suggestions to assist me in getting the ncessary information for my claim. I can’t thank you enough for the caring & helpful staff at Allianz.
Thank you Allianz for all your assistance.
Thank you also for my check for my air fare!
Janice Cazakoff says
Sarah,
We were extremely pleased with the way your company handled the cancelation/interruption of our airline flights to Prague in June of 2013. Due to the extreme flooding in the Czech Republic, and in many areas in Germany and Hungary, we were told by our hotel that it would be best not to make the trip. There was a state of emergency instituted by the Czech Government. The airline and Orbitz flat out refused to reschedule our flights for a later date and wanted to charge us a surcharge of over $4000.00 to rebook the trip, even though they had openings for other dates at a very reasonable additional cost. Our pleas fell on deaf ears with both Condor Airlines and Orbitz. As this was a trip to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary we were crushed. Fortunately for us we had purchased travel insurance for this trip through Allianz. We called your office and were told that we should submit a claim. Allianz was very prompt in handling our claim and followed up with us several times to ensure that we had submitted the documents. The payment was sent out quickly. By having the insurance policy through Allianz, we will now be able to make this trip on a later date, without a horrible financial loss. We cannot thank you enough, and will certainly buy travel insurance with your company again.
Thank you for your help,
Janice Cazakoff and Cal Havlicek
john says
We have bought insurance from this company in the past for our frequent cruises. This was the first time we had insurance for a flight and it was a good thing we did. Our flight from Ohio to Pennsylvania was delayed and then we found out our flight from Pennsylvania to Florida had been cancelled. Once we arrived late into Philadelphia airport, we found out our luggage had already been sent to Florida on an earlier flight, so we had no luggage or clothes.
We called the insurance company and explained to them what had happened and they advised us of what our policy covered. We were able to spend the night in Philadelphia and leave the next morning, knowing we had been taken care of by our policy.
Steve Blum says
We were very pleased with the customer service and support when received from Allianz when we had an problem with our travel. Everyone we talked to was polite and helpful. The final outcome was positive and we appreciate Allianz’s professionalism. We will continue to purchase our travel insurance from Allianz and recommend it to others.
Thanks,
Steve Blum
Robert Zane says
We were quite pleased with the insurance coverage and the fast and courteous manner in which our claim was processed. We will not hesitate to continue using Allianz for future trips.
Alan Newhart says
If all insurance companies would have the same helpful customer service and prompt dealing with a claim as Allianz, dealing with insueance companies would be a lot less stressful.
Mike Slater says
I came down with a respiratory bug and the urgent care nurse/practitioner recommended I not fly (lucky thing, turned into bronchitis day after the scheduled flight). Sent in the form that she filled out, and the claim was handled courteously, expeditiously and a check was soon received for the cost of the flight for my wife and me.
I was very pleased and will certainly use and recommend your travel insurance in future.
Laura Egan says
Allianz was a blessing on my recent trip abroad for a family wedding. I felt safe in knowing I was covered – in today’s age where more than ever there are unexpected delays and surprises with logistics, airlines, and travel, it’s more important than ever to have some form of security that you can rely on. Allianz was there and helped me get to the church on time! Despite two flight cancellations, they provided something extra that the airline could not and did so in an extremely courteous, professional, and rapid manner.
Jorge Nunez says
It’s a really nightmare if something go wrong on your trip,Allianz global travel insurance shouldn’t be open for business. The airline loss one our baggage and another one was returned to us after three day and the insurance company did not pay for anything, even we have to buy emergency goods…
J. Weigl says
Sarah, sorry for the misspelling your name. Stupid typo error
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Mr. Weigl,
We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to post and no apology is needed about my name. I am happy that we were able to provide you and your family with the coverage you needed.
I hope your son’s condition is diagnosed and his health improves. Our thoughts are with you and your family.
Sincerely,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Joseph/Frances Weigl says
SAHRA
I must inform you that we were highly satisfied how our cruise cancelation was handled by your company. The cancelation was necessary due to a still undiagnosed illness of our son who depends on us as his only support with his daily routine.
We will highly recommend your company to anyone that is in need of service that you provide.
Thanks again, Joe and Frances Weigl
Stephen Taylor says
My wife and I were traveling to Texas for a conference and a vacation. The day before we were supposed to leave to return home I had a case of food poisoning and had to go to the local ER. We had each taken out an Allianz Travel Insurance policy for the trip. I was very skeptical about Allianz handeling our claim. I called Allianz and spoke to one of their reps. She was very courteous and sent me the forms for us to fill out. My wife and I filled out the forms. This took some time but we had everything that they had asked for. Much to my surprise in about 3 weeks we each received a check covering our costs (EX: change of flights, ER co-pay, extra night at the hotel).
My wife and I have since taken out insurance while traveling. I would highly recomend Allianz Travel Insurance to anyone who is thinking about taking out travel insurance.
Richard Newton says
With aged parents to take care of, travel insurance has become a necessity for my wife and I . Our last planned trip had to be cancelled because Dad had a bad fall. We had a policy with Allianz and when the process of filing for our insurance started we had no idea what to expect. Turns out it was a very good experience for us. The people at Allianz answered our phone calls and our emails and were very helpful in assisting us in getting our claim covered. We hope we never have to cancel another trip, which was a huge disappointment, but having our plans covered by Allianz helps us to not worry about it. Great company and great people.
Phillip Jones says
The Allianz trip interruption insurance was part of my AAA Premier membership. While traveling in Texas, we were caught in a dust storm and our car was totaled. It took us a week to get home. I sent in the receipts for the meals, hotel, and car rental. Allianz sent me a check for the whole thing. Needless to say, I am a very happy customer.
Steve Baker says
We scheduled an Alaskan Cruise and Land vacation and took the insurance “just in case.” Several months before our expected departure my sister was diagnosed with late stage cancer and it was clear she was going to need our assistance. As it turns out, she passed away while we would have been traveling. Anyway, I called Allianz customer service looking for reimbursement for our non-refundable airline tickets and was told to submit a letter from the Doctor for consideration. The agent was very sympathetic to our personal pain and to our situation. We did as instructed and within a couple of weeks, our airfare was refunded in full. I will certainly use Allianz again in the future.
Joseph says
While on a trip to Paris I had my Canon 30D stolen on the second day of our trip. When we retuned home I called AAA and asked if we had trip insurance and to my surprise my wife and the travel agent at AAA had purchased an Allianz travel insurance policy. Since I had a police report of the theft I was able to file a claim. Thank you Allianz for helping me to replace the camera.
Marilyn says
We purchased travel insurance for our trip from Texas to Virginia. Although I always purchase insurance I never expected to need it. (Isn’t that always the way?) About a month before our trip I broke a bone in my back and was unable to make the trip. Allianz refunded the full amount of my airfare. I could not have been more pleased.
Harriet and Donald Rauenzahn says
We were pleased with Allianz. Their travel insurance was less expensive than others we had priced, and they reimbursed us promptly for my husband’s illness which prevented him from going on the trip. Very nice to deal with. Harriet Rauenzahn
Larry Lanahan says
Purchased a policy and because my wife hurt her back within 120 days of policy they denied the claim. Doctor didn’t tell her to fly until the day before the fight. WASTED MY MONEY ON THIS COMPANY.
Rose Sannasardo says
My experience with Allianz Travel Insurance was great.
My trip was cancelled due to a death in the family. Neat Travel would not even talk to me. Each time I called
they would put me on hold for more that 25 minutes or until I hung up. A wonderful employee of Allianz
stepped up to help me. She called Neat Travel and was treated the same way.
She then went to her superiors on my behalf, and in a matter of days I was notified that a refund was
forthcoming.
Lynn says
Please use this comment – I have corrected my typos
I was very satisfied with Allianz Travel Insurance. I had to cancel my trip due to medical reasons and the representatives were very helpful. They sent me reminders to make sure I got my paperwork in on time. Once Allianz received the paperwork, they processed the claim promptly and efficiently and sent me my refund very quickly. I was very impressed with the Allianz staff’s courtesy and professionalism and would definitely recommend them to my friends and clients. Thank you……………
Kathy Ruggiero says
I was extremely satisfied with Allianz Travel Insurance. I had to cancel my trip due to medical reasons and they were very helpful to me, processed the claim promptly and efficiently and sent me my refund very quickly. I had no problems with them and would definitely recommend them to people. We were very very satisfied as to how Allianz handled our claim. Thank you……………
J. M. says
Less than a week before my scheduled cruise it was cancelled by RCCL due to a fire. The reservations for this trip were made almost a year ahead of time. I contacted Allianz for a ‘refund’, due to the fact I would not and did not use the policy, and was told there was NO refund available. Bottom line – I paid for a worthless policy.
Lesson learned. In the future I will purchase from a company that DOES refund for unused policy ( as my friends did).
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear J.M.
I am very sorry that your cruise was cancelled. Please note that, you may use your policy for your rescheduled trip. You can make the change to your policy online at allianztravelinsurance.com or call us 1-800-284-8300. Please let us know if we may be of assistance.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
J.M. says
Sarah,
Your response is exactly what I expected. My point was/is I would like a refund for the policy I did not use. I don’t feel this request is unreasonable.
Your suggestion, reference my rescheduled trip, does not help me. We will NOT reschedule the trip, thus my point – the policy is worthless.
I feel your company should reconsider it’s policy, on a case by case basis, and promote a better feeling of trust in your product.
Susan P says
Allianz was an amazing purchase decision. I had my reservations about purchasing the insurance. Thank goodness I did! I had to cancel my trip before it happened. I filed my claim (which was VERY EASY TO DO!) The whole time I was thinking how much of a waste of time this was going to be … I can’t remember when exactly my check arrived in the mail, but it was fairly quick! I was pleasantly surprised that I received a FULL REFUND! It was such a relief. I always purchase the travel insurance now. Thanks you Allianz!!!
Janet Smith says
This is a company that provides excellent service. In a day when promises are easily made, but seldom kept, Allianz Travel backs up their policy. When I had to cancel my trip last minute because of a back problem, their courteous service representative gave me simple directions for filing a claim. I honestly expected a fight, small print, etc. but the check arrived promptly in the mail for the full amount of the cost of my flight. They’ve restored my confidence having found a company that is good as their word, and I discovered that it was a small price to pay for a potentially cancelled trip.
CMP says
After the recent San Francisco crash, our JetBlue flight got diverted to Oakland — 45 minutes away from the airport hotel where we were staying due to our early-morning flight the next day. Our plan was to turn in the rental car the night before, but due to our flight change, we had to hold onto it another day and incur a change fee for a different drop-off location (a total of about $150 extra incurred). I just called Allianz about our flight insurance that was purchased with our tickets months ago (for a family of 5) and was told our extra rental car fees wouldn’t be covered, but I could still try and submit a claim. This is absolutely crazy. A plane crash causes changes in our flight itinerary and unanticipated expenses trying to get 5 people to a different airport, and customer service tells me the expenses aren’t covered under our flight insurance?? Let’s see if Allianz will make good on claims related to the plane crash. It would certainly be good PR if it made a policy decision on this and informed its customer service people in advance. Unfortunately, my expectations are pretty low at this point that my claim will be handled with a positive outcome.
JLO says
Imagine having a week-long great vacation in a condo right on Pensacola Beach. Then after going to bed the night before your departure, you get a message on your phone that the next morning’s flight has been cancelled,. Not delayed, but cancelled. So there was no way you would make your second flight. You have been in bed for about an hour already and you have to wake up and figure out what to do. First call – United Airlines to find out what is going on and when you can get rebooked for another flight home. The representative from United Airlines was great and helped us with those flights, but we had to spend a night in Houston since he could not book our connecting flights on the same day! Well, if that was the only way we were going to get home, so be it. Next call was to the car rental place and they also were very accommodating. Sent off an email to condo owner and hoped she would get it. The place was being rented out the next day, but we were welcome to stay until the time our flight left. Next thought, hotel for the layover in Houston. Settled that with Marriott – they had a hotel on site at the Houston airport. Last thought – hey, we had taken out flight insurance, hadn’t we??? So found the policy and called Allianz. Wow, what nice people to work with. We were informed that indeed we were covered for this situation under their Vacation/Travel Delay portion of the policy. This news made us sleep well that evening, knowing that the expenses incurred by this delay were covered. So, due to some very professional people on the know, what could have been a very unpleasant experience turned out to be an extended day of our vacation. Got home, and we had the refund for our added expenses within 4 weeks. We did have to provide receipts, which was no problem at all. THANK YOU VERY MUCH ALLIANZ! I have another flight coming up to visit my ill mother and I for sure took out insurance from Allianz again. And I will not hesitate to do it when I travel in the future.
Jane G. Tarver says
In April I took a trip to the Dominican Republic with a group of friends. They laughed at me when I said I had taken out travel insurance (as I always do when I travel out of the country). On the return trip my luggage was damaged beyond repair by the airline. American Air Lines did not cover the damage, so I filed with Allianz for reimbursement on the cost of my suitcase. Allianz representatives were great to deal with and my claim, even though small, was paid in full in less than a month.
I will definitely do business with Allianz again. Hopefully, I will never have to fly American Air Lines again.
Barbara Sanford says
In April 2013 this year we were on a transatlantic cruise from Florida to Barcelona Spain. While on board I experienced what I thought was a cold coming on. I finally had to see the medical staff and I had a sinus infection along with a drop in my oxygen saturation. I had to take antibiotics, got a shot and had to have two days of breathing treatments to control this problem. Medical treatment on board ship is not an inexpensive item. We had purchased the Allianz travel insurance and after we returned home I applied for my medical claim to be reimbursed. They were very professional and very prompt and courteous to us and we did receive complete reimbursement for what we had to pay out for our medical costs. I would advise anyone traveling to look into their insurance. The policy is pretty complete coverage and easy to understand and you also have very competent people to advise you. We will purchase this insurance when we travel again. Thank you Allianz for your service to us.
C Fernandez says
In my recent experience with Allianz, it’s simply not worth the added expense to purchase trip insurance from them. Long story short, we missed an entire European cruise due to a flight delay and Iberia Airlines’s refusal to fly us to the first port of call to meet the ship. By the time the airline got us to the port of origin, the ship was long gone. I figured we’d definitely get some type of compensation from Allianz, especially since there was absolutely no fault on our part for what had happened. I was utterly wrong. Allianz completely denied our claim because their criteria are so narrow that we didn’t qualify for any remuneration. So, we’re on the hook for the full cost of our cruise, in addition to the extra money we paid Allianz for trip “insurance.” Be careful, people.
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear C. Fernandez,
I am sorry that the travel insurance you purchased did not cover your specific situation. While we have designed our products to cover the most common unforeseen situations our customers might encounter, not all events and situations are ones which trigger coverage in our insurance programs.
We want consumers to make an informed choice when it comes to purchasing insurance, which is why we provide a link to review the policy’s terms and conditions. With this link, we offer a 10-day free look, so should you decide the coverage doesn’t work for you, you can get a full refund for the policy.
If you have further questions about the outcome of your claim, or would like someone to walk you through the policy you purchased in full detail, please don’t hesitate to call our customer service line at 1-800-284-8300.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Noah says
Judging by how perfect the grammar is on all of these reviews, the fact that the word “Allianz” is repeated several times in almost every review, and that there are NO bad reviews without magically a representative fixing the problem, then the upset customer ultimately praising ALLIANZ! ALLIANZ! ALLIANZ!, and finally because of the fact that my claim isn’t going to be accepted because of some small print, technicality BS,”Im sorry sir the insurance plan you purchased actually does not cover that EXACT situation”, I can promise any inquiring customer that…
…Allianz is a dishonorable, disgraceful and heartless company that cares nothing for people, but would gladly take their money.
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Noah,
Thank you for taking the time to post a review, as it allows us an opportunity to learn and provide better product and services for our customers. Allow me to address your final and most obvious reason for posting – your denied claim. While we have designed our products to cover the most common unforeseen situations our customers might encounter, not all events and situations are ones which trigger coverage in our insurance programs.
We want consumers to make an informed choice when it comes to purchasing insurance, which is why we provide a link to review the policy’s terms and conditions after purchase. With this link, we offer a 10-day free look, so you can review the details and decide if the coverage will work for you. If not, we give you a full refund on the policy.
The customer reviews here are quite genuine and reflect our customer satisfaction rate of 95% and A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
If you have any questions about our policies or your claim, please contact 1-800-284-8300.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Tasha Triana says
Allianz is a great company to work with!! During my last trip, I had to return home early as my grandfather was ill. Allianz reimbursed me for my travel expenses. They were so easy to work with and have the best customer service. Every representative I spoke with was extremely polite and helpful! Now, I always buy insurance with Allianz and I recommend them to my friends and family.
Virginia Felty says
My husband and I were flying to Hawaii with a layover in San Diego. The next morning we were leaving San Diego for the airport and the hotel hailed us a cab. After leaving the cab we realized our go pro was still in the trunk. As we had purchased the camera for this trip all the equipment was also with it as my husband and I are underwater divers. We frantically called the hotel to find out the cab company. Due to the fact we had to catch our flight to Maui we were limited to time. As soon as we arrived in Hawaii I started making phone calls. Needless to say our camera was never recovered and Alliance worked with us and we are now able to order to purchase another go pro. We now pay close attention to our luggage and the cab companies. If it had to happen at least it was at the beginning of our trip and not at the end as we also would have lost all our wonderful pictures of Hawaii as we were gone 3 1/2 weeks. Thank you Alliance for your help….. We travel at least 5 times a year with our dive club and ski club and I will continue to book with Alliance as I have in the past.
Jerome Schmidt says
Allianz served us well. We were booked to go to Belize but my wife had to cancel due to mission requirements in her position with the US Army. Our refund was timely and efficient.
Highly recommended travel insurance.
Jerome
Andrew Norris says
Allianz was a pleasure to work with. I had never purchased travel insurance before, but we just had our first child and travel insurance seemed the responsible thing to do in case something unexpected happened. The day before our trip, my daughter came down with nasty ear infection and was very congested. She was too sick to travel and too sick to leave with a sitter, so we had to cancel our trip at the very last minute. Allianz was so helpful and reimbursed us for the cost of our hotel in record time. Thanks so much.
Phyllis Morgan says
I wanted to put in a good word for Allianz Travel Insurance. This company is amazing! My family had put together a trip for my mom and dad’s upcoming 50th wedding anniversary. We purchased a cruise to Alaska and had family coming from all parts of the country to participate. Unfortunately, my father became very ill. He went from a man enjoying life and his independence, to a person who has trouble walking across a room without falling. Our plans needed to be cancelled. My entire family had non-refundable airline tickets. Some of us had purchased Allianz Insurance. Those who did, were refunded their monies. More important, those who had coverage with Allianz had one less thing to worry about in a time that everyone was grieving. I have referred Allianz to anyone I know who is traveling. The staff is compassionate and fast. Thank you Allianz for making a tough time, easier.
Kathleen Murray says
“I have purchased insurance several times. This is the first time I’ve collected. It’s easier to make decisions to travel when Allianz has my back.”
Karen Wojtowicz says
I highly recommend Allianz. My husband started getting sick on day 5 of our 18 day cruise in the South Pacific. After 4 ports we finally found a hospital that could diagnose he had kidney stones. He had to be admitted to a hospital and I had to go back to the ship and pack our bags and check into a hotel. The Allianz personnel were all very helpful and reassuring through the process. They covered our medical bills,additional flights, lost days on the ship,and hotel. The only downfall is you have to pay all the expenses up front, but we received our reimbursement check in a matter of weeks after submitting all the claim information.
Betty H says
In February 2013 we had to postpone our trip to Mexico due to medical reasons. Thankfully we had taken insurance when we booked our flights. Allianz reimbursed us for our flight changes of $300 and also $50 for our resort rebooking. They were courteous, helpful and prompt.
mark Jeremy Feingold says
We were more than pleased with Allianz. My husband got very ill in India. When we were back in the States i contacted the Rep who couldn’t have been more helpful and courteous. They reimbursed our doctor’s visits within a VERY short time. The interesting part of the story (outside of my husband’s excellent care in India and recovery) was I never realized that we were covered against illness in a foreign country and I could apply for insurance reimbursement. A friend told me this in a casual conversation! I highly recommend this company and by all means purchase coverage!!!!.
Maryanne Murphy says
I always purchase travel insurance through Allianz and feel that it is a very good and small investment to protect myself from unexpected situations and cancellation of travel plans.
It was recently used when my Mom got pneumonia and we couldn’t take a long awaited trip. I was happy to receive checks in the mail within a very reasonable time after the documentation was submitted.
Staff at Allianz has always been very helpful and I would never fly without insurance.
Antonio Eppolito says
I recently purchased travel protection insurance from Allianz in March 2013. Due to a medical condition, I had
to cancel the scheduled trip to Europe. I and the other three traveling companions were totally reimbursed
on the cost of airline tickets. The Allianz claim application process went smoothly and we received the
reimbursement check in two weeks. I certainly would use Allianz for travel insurance again.
Sam Campbell says
I am absolutely delighted with the service, timeliness, and effectiveness of Allianz travel insurance team. My elderly father fell and broke several ribs right before we were to go to an event. The Allianz folks quickly sent the forms, and even in light of a ling delay (the result of my caring for my dad), I had a check for the full amount, no questions/problems whatsoever, in less than a week (about 4 business days!!). Wow. I have recommendaed to anyone who will listen that they use Allianz, should the need arise. In fact, we are planning a trip for later this summer, and you can bet that we’ll be contacting Allianz for trip insurance for that trip, as well. Heartfelt thanks to the fine folks at Allianz for taking care of a worry during a time of many.
Leigh Cornelison says
I purchased insurance on my concert tickets. The concert was several months later and although I was not intending to use the insurance, I am so thankful I purchased the insurance. Three days priors to the concert I became sick and was unable to attend the concert. I went to the website to file my claim. I was not sure if I was doing the claim correctly so I called the customer service number. The associate was so helpful and walked me through each step in filing the claim. I submitted all the necessary paperwork from my physician and a short time later I received my check in the mail. I highly recommend this service, well worth the money spent.
Shannon Furtah says
I am very disappointed in Allianz! My family, my sister and her husband and two children, myself and my husband and two children as well as our parents booked a house in Marathon Key for March. We purchased travel insurance from Allianz for our airfare, as we were all travelling together and staying in the house. We booked seperate insurance on the house. My mom had been receiving treatment for cancer and her cancer was stable and she was cleared by her doctor for travel. Prior to leaving, my mother suddenly started getting ill and having infections. She was admitted to the hospital forcing us to cancel our trip and sadly she passed away a week after we would have returned. Allianz has refunded my sister’s airfare for her family, yet has denied the refund to my family and to my father for her and my mom. I ask you, why would you get travel insurance if not for the unforseen situations that come up. I assure you that we would not have cancelled had Mom not so suddenly taken ill. We have filed a claim with the Better Business Bureau and will be contacting an attorney. I would not reccommend this company to anyone…sadly when you most need coverage, it is not covered.
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Shannon,
I am sorry to hear about your experience with our company. Since I can not take your personal information in this public forum, I would ask that you email me at Help.Team@allianzassistance.com with your claim information and I will be happy to look into the situation for you.
Sincerely,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Shannon Furtah says
Sarah, I am happy to say that the last phone call I made did the trick. The representative again reviewed our claim and approved it. I am happy that Allianz has righted a wrong and wanted to make sure that the company received credit for that. I would still caution people to read through the contract completely. When you are booking travel insurance, it does not make it convenient to do so…only after it is purchased, do you receive a e-mail stating all the terms. I have purchased travel insurance in the past, but of course never had to use it. I will be extra careful and diligent in the future. Thank you for your reply, Sarah and again, I am grateful that Allianz corrected this mistake.
Dottie Dargis says
I was very pleasantly surprised at the ease in which I was able to receive a refund check from Allianz! The first time I ever purchased travel insurance, I needed to cancel the trip due to a hand injury. Ordinarily an injury to a hand wouldn’t have stopped me from going on a trip, but in this case, I was flying to California to help my daughter move. Realizing I would have been no help to her, I cancelled my flight. I braced myself for a long, drawn out procedure in trying to get a refund for the airfare, but to my utter surprise, it was actually a pleasure dealing with them! I submitted a claim, gave supporting physician documentation, and received a refund check almost by return mail! I have not and will not hesitate to purchase travel insurance from Allianz for any future trip. The price is right and their customer service is beyond compare. Thank you Allianz!
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Mr. Shoop,
My name is Sarah and I’m from the Allianz HelpTeam. I am very sorry that the travel insurance you purchased did not cover your specific situation. While we have designed our products to cover the most common unforeseen situations our customers might encounter, not all events and situations are ones which trigger coverage in our insurance programs.
If you have further questions about the outcome of your claim, or would like someone to walk you through the policy you purchased in full detail, please don’t hesitate to call our customer service line at 1-800-284-8300.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Daniel Shoop says
My advice to travelers is don’t buy it. I had to cancel my trip recently due to an urgent carotid surgery recommended by my vascular surgeon in order to prevent a possible stroke. I had no idea this was coming, but when I applied for a refund, Allianz said I should have “reasonably” foreseen this coming and therefore, no refund. My question is: how is this reasonable when no one had diagnosed my condition until after I bought my airline tickets? I’m consulting a lawyer now, but my hopes of recouping my losses are minimal.
S. Nitka says
I have had a bad experience with Allianz. They just don’t pay claims. Also have you noticed nearly all the recent reviews are glowing and well written, but the ones before March 2013 are almost all very very negative? A company can’t change that quickly…leads me to think Allianz is planting good reviews on this site. Is that what you are doing, Allianz?
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear S. Nitka,
My name is Sarah, and I’m with the Allianz Help Team. I am sorry that insurance you purchased did not cover your specific situation. While we have designed our products to cover the most common unforeseen situations our customers might encounter, not all events and situations are ones which trigger coverage in our insurance programs.
I also wanted to assure you that the customer comments on this site are not “planted.” In March, we did begin to let our customers know about the site so that they could share their experiences – good or bad. Now that they know about travelinsurancereview.net, many of our satisfied customers have chosen to post here.
If you have further questions about the outcome of your claim, or would like someone to walk you through the policy you purchased in full detail, please don’t hesitate to call our customer service line at 1-800-284-8300.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Terry Meiley says
I became ill during a recent trip to Europe and required medical care while I was there. When I returned home
I spoke to an Allianz representative and submitted a claim via their website to recover my medical
costs. The whole claim process from my initial call to a check in hand took about a week. I could not be happier
with all aspects of the service that Allianz provided….would highly recommend them…..and have another trip
to Europe planned with Allianz insurance coverage included!!
Aaron Nodolf says
I was skeptical of what our insurance would cover after having to re-book our original flights, but everything transferred over as they said it would. Fortunately for us, after getting stuck in New Jersey on our way home, Allianz was there to help us out. Customer service was easy to contact and quick to assist us while hundreds of people were in line trying to get answers from the airlines. We had the insurance claim information in our inbox before we arrived at the hotel that night. When we finally returned home, the turnaround on the insurance claim was 2-3 weeks (as expected), and the claim was paid in full.
Phyllis Harlick says
Allianz was very sympathetic and helpful when I cancelled my trip due to my husband’s death. They also were quite prompt in paying the claim.
Thank you
Phyllis Harlick says
I always insure with Allianz and appreciated how sympathetic and helpful they were when I had to cancel due to the death of my spouse. No hassle, claim was paid in a very timely manner.
Thank you
Marjorie Bacchus says
This is my first time using Allianz Travel Insurance and certainly it will not be the last. There was extenuating circumstances which forced me to cancel my return flight. Had I not have the Insurance, I would be in a panic because I would be forced to pay the additional charge to cancel the flight with the airline. I know that as long as I have authentic reason and can back up my claim, Allianz will always honor the claim. I will never travel again without purchasing the insurance!
Linda Bringas says
I have used Allianz for years – when they used to be AccessAmerica. I always buy immediately after purchasing our cruise so there is NO pre-existing condition clause. Must purchase within a specific time after purchase of trip and must cover all non- refundable parts of the trip. We have had to cancel our cruise twice due to the health of my 88 year old mother who lives with us. Both times the agents were not just professional and helpful but seemed to be genuinely concerned about my mother’s condition. Neither time was it a result of something “pre-existing”, but I felt better knowing if it had been, we would be coved. Had the refund promptly after completing the forms. It is great to follow the process online. I have found their coverage is much better than those offered elsewhere for the price. I always check a online, but call to verify with an agent. All of my family has switched to Allainz and everyone has been extremely pleased.
Jill Robinson says
This is the first time I purchased insurance for a trip and I am so glad I did! Allianz was helpful, efficient and very pleasant to deal with when my daughter injured her knee and I had to cancel my trip. As a single parent with three children, life can be unpredictable. Allianz gave me hassle-free assistance and I received my refund in about 10 days after the paperwork was processed. They even contacted me when the doctor’s office failed to expedite the necessary form. I will definitely use Allianz again!
James Rethorst says
I always thought that travel insurance was a waste but when my wifes dad past away that’s when I changed my mind. Allianz was great with processing the claims and friendliest people there to help.Thank you
Bechara Manzur Jr. says
This was my first time using Allianz, and it was the BEST thing I did prior to my travel. The personnel at Allianz were very courteous and concerned with my travel experience and were there to help me with the claim. I would definitely use Allianz from now on any travel abroad, cause I will never know what awaits. I would recommend Allianz to all and am also recommending Allianz to my relatives and friends. Thank you Allianz for your professional and outstanding support!
Barbara Schneider says
I have used Allianz Travel Insurance Co. several times and each time have been very satisfied with the process. The customer service representatives have been very knowledgeable and helpful; I would recommend them.
Nathan Wellein says
As a military member Allianz has continue to keep my travel experience stress and worry free. My vacation time frequently has to be changed due to training events and othe worked related activities. I can always count on Allianz to help me process my claims when I have to cancel my trip. Thank you for your continued support!
M. Woulfe says
I cannot say enough about this company and their professionalism, helpfulness, speed in resolving and finalizing claims. I will never ever use any other travel insurance company. We have had two illness/deaths experiences which affected our travel plans (in the past few years, unfortunately( and required us to cancel and/or change our travel plans. The ease with which Allianz handled the claims is second to none. I have been traveling overseas for 26 years from here now and this is the first company who has handles our changes/cancellation plans with such ease and efficiency. The whole process was stress free, timely and the manner in which it was conducted was truly a great relief at an already stressful time.
Thank you Allianz. I recommend this company 100%. I have never been disappointed.
(I have no ties to this company in any way shape or form. I have no family member working in insurance…I just wanted to say that as I know my comment is quite a glowing one, but it is well deserved)
Thanks again.
MLind says
I booked a trip on Mexicana several years ago and bought Allianz through their site. Mexicana went out of business and that contingency wasn’t covered and my claim was denied. I had a great deal of trouble reaching them and finally called their Canadian office (I live in the US) to get information. I won’t use them again.
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear MLind,
I am very sorry to hear about your frustration with the policy you purchased and your claims experience, but thank you for taking the time to post, as this provides us with valuable feedback in order to improve our products and services.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
David Ritter says
I’m hooked! I do a lot of traveling overseas and sometimes into third-world countries. Unfortunately, our baggage was delayed for 7 days and I had to speak in 5 different venues during the time and had no clothes. I called Allianz and they said that both my wife and I each had $600 worth of insurance to purchase new clothes (totaling $1200) so we did. And, upon our return, we filled out the forms with our receipts…easy as pie. Within 2 weeks we received a check for $1200, no questions asked. And, by the way, the package we purchased included insurance coverage for 30 days while we drove around Croatia (1600 miles) and the car rental insurance was nearly $1,000 more! We will NEVER go on another overseas trip without Allianz Travel Insurance! Thank you Allianz for providing this awesome service! FIVE STARS!
L.W. Bauer says
I would highly recommend Allianz travel insurance.
Over the last 8 years, our family has been hit hard by illness. Though being with our family during these past trying times has been our first priority, putting our lives/vacation plans on hold would not have been feasible.
Until this last year, we had been lucky in that our travel plans did not coincide with severe illness or the death of a family member. I had purchased Allianz insurance for every trip/vacation, and had been fortunate that we were not away when tragedy struck. This past April, we did, in fact, need to get home from abroad due to the death of a family member.
Allianz representatives were courteous, knowledgable, and swift in their e-mail correspondence, and the benefit which we were awarded to compensate for the change in travel tickets and lodging was mailed to us promptly.
Do not hesitate to purchase travel insurance through Allianz~ the trip that you don’t buy coverage for may just be the trip that you will need it!
Concerned says
This company will do anything to get out of paying a claim. Even over a very small amout they will make sure that you do not get paid. Do not use them!!
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Concerned,
Thank you for taking the time to post. I am sorry that the travel insurance you purchased did not cover your specific situation. While we have designed our products to cover the most common unforeseen situations our customers might encounter, not all events and situations are ones which trigger coverage in our insurance programs.
If you have further questions about the outcome of your claim, or would like someone to walk you through the policy you purchased in full detail, please don’t hesitate to call our customer service line at 1-800-284-8300.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Nathan Jamail says
Buyer beware!
I would not recommend anyone purchase the travel insurance from Allianz. I have purchased the insurance on my American Airlines tickets several times over the past 12 months. My wife and I were planning a trip to California and 3 days prior to our departure my mother whom was going to watch our 4 children while we were gone got a terrible infection in her jaw. So on Saturday we decided my mother was too ill and we cancelled our flights. I made a claim that same day. My mother was admitted to the hospital for over a week and after providing doctor’s notes and all necessary documentation, the claim was denied because they stated this was a “per-existing condition”. Because the same oral surgeon who extracted my mother’s tooth the month prior to getting this infection Aliiance determined this was per-existing condition. My first claim and only claim was rejected. As people we purchase insurance for things to give us piece of mind. Do yourself and your mind a favor and stay away from this company. There are a lot of great insurance companies out there. This is not one of them.
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Mr. Jamail,
Thank you for taking the time to post. I am truly sorry that the insurance you purchased did not provide coverage for your particular circumstance. We strive to make our plan benefits and conditions clear at the time of purchase and offer a 10-day free look so you can review the policy details.
TravelInsuranceReview.net has several articles that give a good explanation on pre-existing conditions. If you have further questions about the outcome of your claim, or would like someone to walk you through the policy you purchased in full detail, please don’t hesitate to call our customer service line at 1-800-284-8300.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
John says
Buyer beware again!
AllianzTravelUS denied my claim after discovery of pancreatic cancer required immediate surgery and trip cancellation. I spoke with a claims agent and sr. claims agent. Both said that their “policy” interpreted any past medical visit as a pre-existing condition, even if it could be remotely considered an issue and even if the doctor states that cancerous tumor was newly discovered and unknown by doctors and myself.
I had never been treated for cancer, had no inclination that I had cancer, and was an otherwise healthy 37-year-old. Two months ago I had immediate surgery that removed part of my pancreas, small intestine, and bile duct. Unfortunately I’m still in pain and also having to deal with Allianz and their “policy” issues.
I can’t believe they treat their customers this way … especially those that have to cancel a trip because of a newly-discovered life threatening illness. Way to go Allianz!
(Former) Unsatisfied Customer
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear John,
I am sincerely sorry about your cancer and your frustration that the policy you purchased did not provide coverage for your particular circumstance. We strive to make our plan benefits and conditions clear at the time of purchase and offer a 10-day free look so you can review the policy details. If you have further questions about the outcome of your claim, or would like someone to walk you through the policy you purchased in full detail, please don’t hesitate to call our customer service line at 1-800-284-8300.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Joan Demperio says
I would like to thank Allianz for all their help in processing my insurance claim. Everyone was very helpful
and courteous. I was traveling to visit my sister in San Diego for a week and and unfortunately while I was
there my brother-in-law died. It was two days before my departure and I had to stay and help my sister with arrangements and at the same time their home was sold. What a nightmare of complications; thank goodness
my insurance claim was handled with care and concern. I would highly recommend Allianz for your insurance needs. I am sure glad I purchased it and will continue to to for every flight I take. You never know what may happen.
Lori Leary says
Allianz Travel Insurance is a very easy company to deal with. Having filed claims and questions/concerns,both online and through direct phone contact, communication is clear and quick responses delivered. I have been more than satisfied with all claims submitted. I now look to Allianz before taking travel insurance through cruise and travel sites offered. Often Allianz offers the exact coverage for a much lower price. Definitely worth looking into!
Pamela Maurice says
I have been with Allianz for the past 5 years and am so please I have recommended Allianz to all of my friends who travel. I carry the yearly policy since I travel very often. Allianz has been there whenever I needed information, assistance and guidance. Most recently, my elderly mother collapsed the day I was to depart on a long trip. I had to cancel my flight ticket and rental apartment in Venice, Italy. Allianz guided me through the process of how to do these things in the most efficient manner. With Allianz’s guidance and assistance, I worked out the change of flight ticket without any change penalty and Allianz returned the non-refundable security deposit I had on the apartment. This was accomplished with clear instructions from Allianz, a small amount of paperwork on my part and a timely return of my security deposit by Allianz. I will definitely keep recommending Allianz to anyone who plans to travel anywhere!
How can anyone travel and feel secure without Allianz along for the ride?
Janet N says
I was very impressed with the Allianz. My flight was cancelled due to a blizzard. The airline refused to pay for the Hotel room I had to stay in for the night – After I finally arrived at my destination the next day, I put in a claim to Allianz. I had a return email within 24 hours asking for the receipt of payment. I had a check within a week. I was totally impressed. First time dealing with an insurance company I didn’t have any hassle with a claim. I will purchase again and recommend to all my friends and family!
Peggy Redman says
I would not reccommend Alianz. I was referred there by US Air. Unfortunately our cruise ship was delayed by weather so we returned 12 hours late to port. I called Alianz, they said to call US Air. Cell phone use was very poor and calls kept getting dropped, let alone the added expense of being out of network. Fortunately I was able to get ahold of someone on land to make the arrangements. Because it was considered a travel dealy of less than 24 hrs., we only received reimbursement of $150 each. Changing the plane tickets to the first available flight was over $900 additional and we had to wait a day. The least I expected was reimbursement for the flights. The reason I was given was that the delay had to be over 24 hours. I am very disappointed.
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Ms. Redman,
Thank you for taking the time to post, as this provides us with valuable feedback in order to improve our products and services. I am sorry if the $150 per person per day travel delay benefit fell short of your expectations, but we do provide you with a copy of your policy at the time of your purchase and you have 10 days to review the policy and cancel it if it doesn’t meet your needs.
Thanks for the opportunity to serve you and we’re glad we could help offset your travel delay expenses.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
AsishSengupta says
My experinece in the past with travel insurance complnies have not been very smooth, so I had misgivings about this one I bought from Allianz, to whom I was referred by United Airlines, covering my trip to San Francisco. I had some medical problems which forced cancellation of this trip. When I called Alianz, I had some misgivings, as I was unsure how much paperwork and follow-up work will be required on my part to obtain any benefit. To my pleasant surprise, from the time of my first call, the Allianz staff took this as their own project. A case number was immediately assigned. I was asked to submit the minimal amount of paperwork, and was reminded several times when I was a little slow in submitting them. All the people I spoke to or dealt with were courteous, and dilligent. I will definitely come to Allianz for my future travel insurance needs. To anyone considering getting a travel insurance, I have no hesitation in recommending Allianz.
Theodore D. Biliardi says
Allianz Ins was there when we needed help. We had our trip planned for months and I became ill and was advise not to travel so we were really happy that we had gotten the Insurance coverage. Reasonable price for a regretful situation that couldn’t be helped. Thank you Allianz
Sharon J. Berman says
I cannot offer enough praise for Allianz. I always purchase travel insurance but luckily never had to use it until recently. We were on vacation when my sister became seriously ill and had to be hospitalized and could not return home on the arranged departure date until she was well enough to travel. Therefore, I had to extend my plane and automobile reservations at an additional expense to me.
When I came home I submitted a claim to Allianz and was able to communicate with all their personnel by either email or phone. I received outstanding service and was very grateful to receive a check for my additional expenses in a reasonable amount of time. Having the travel insurance with Allianz helped me deal with an extremely stressful time.
THANK YOU ALLIANZ for your considerate attention to my claim and all that you did to resolve it. I enjoyed working with your staff. I will always recommend Allianz for travel insurance and will always use it whenever I travel. It is wonderful to be associated with a company that stands behind their stated benefits.
Frank says
I put a claim into Allianz for a travel delay. Although they said my claim was approved, they left me over $1000 short of my claim. They said that I can only get $150 a day for lodging and food.
Other than a Motel 8, where can you eat and lodge for $150 a day? I was in the Caribbean.
I was very pleased to see that my claim ” was approved”, but in reality it wasn’t
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Frank,
Thank you for taking the time to post, as this provides us with valuable feedback in order to improve our products and services. I am sorry if the $150 per person per day travel delay benefit fell short of your expectations, but we do provide you with a copy of your policy at the time of your purchase and you have 10 days to review the policy and cancel it if it doesn’t meet your needs. Thanks for the opportunity to serve you and we’re glad we could help offset your travel delay expenses.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Sheryl Hollyday says
I have purchased travel insurance through Allianz Travel Insurance for each of our trips to Florida. Because of an unexpected need for surgery, we were unable to complete our most recent trip. The staff at Allianz were most helpful in making sure I had all the necessary information to complete my claim. It was quick and easy, which I am most grateful for during a stressful time in my life. I will use Allianz again and recommend them highly to anyone who travels.
Donell Minnis says
We have purchased travel insurance for years and have never had occasion to use it. This time was very different. We had traveled to St Martin for a 7 day cruise and had purchased round trip air tickets returning to the US on Saturday 2/9/13. On 2/8/13 Boston received an amazing amount of snow with very high winds, etc. We were stuck in St Martin for 2 extra days due to this storm. When we finally got home we contacted Allianz to see what we could do. Due to the policy we purchased we were entitled to $150 per person for trip delay. This covered our extra hotel expense which was wonderful. Next time we will look into the next level of coverage in order to cover additional expenses.
Our claim was settled very quickly and rofessionally by Allianz most pleasant and efficient personnel. Thanks so much for being there for us.
Julie Lucas says
I wish to recommend Allianz Travel for your travel insurance needs. I used Allianz last fall when I took a trip to the East Coast. Anytime I travel across country, I purchase travel insurance; however, I used Allianz
for the first time on this trip.
At the end of my trip, my connecting flight was cancelled, because of Hurricane Sandy. I was stranded at the airport at Philadelphia, PA. and stayed in a motel for four days waiting for the airport to reopen, planes returned and flights again becoming normal. I called Allianz and talked with a very respectful, helpful employee who explained the coverage and emailed claim forms to me. The claim process was made very easy Allianz followed up on a regular basis on the internet as well as by telephone. My claim was accepted and expenses paid very quickly. I was very pleased with their service and their employees’ customer service skills. I shall use Allianz ;whenever I fly in the future. My thanks to Allianz for their good
service.
David says
We had to cancel our flight due to illness….so fortunate to have Allianz Insurance. All was handled so professionally and with unexpected speed. There was paper work, of course and once submitted , we were notified and kept in loop as to the status of our claim. This was very appreciated and less worry at a difficult time . Thank you Allianz.
Donna says
We had to cancel our trip due to my husband’s surgery. They are denying the claim even though the diagnosis and surgery were after the ticket./insurance were purchased and just before we flew. No phone calls, e-mails, etc. for 19 days. I had to call twice. Very poorly run company. Would NEVER recommend this company. This is our second bad experience with them.
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Donna,
Thank you for taking the time to post. I am very sorry to hear about your frustration with the policy you purchased and your claims experience. While we have designed our products to cover the most common unforeseen situations our customers might encounter, not all events and situations are ones which trigger coverage in our insurance programs.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
george barber says
my wife and i had scheduled a cruise to cozumel, belize, and roatan on royal caribbean in january. we purchased the insurance thinking we wouldn’t really need it. the very week of our departure, i got the flu and brought it home to my wife. her fever was 103.5 and she was terribly ill. she went to the doctor and was diagnosed with flu and acute bronchitis. everyone said we would never get our money back. she was ill three weeks but was able to complete the paperwork and send it in. we really didn’t expect anything back and had resigned to just loosing the money. one day we got a letter from allianz and said well here’s the denial. we could not believe that we got a full refund and a note saying that they hoped we were better.
we could not be more pleased with this service and friendly people we spoke to. we got the check before we got the next letter saying they were processing it. unbelievable service. we told all our friends hey we got our money back and they couldn’t believe it.
you can bet that every time we cruise again, we’re going to use allianz.
Ed & Lori Leary says
Allianz Travel Insurance’s name should be “Allianz Travel Assurance”! For a few extra dollars when we book a trip, we feel confident that if we experience any difficulties along the way, Allianz Travel will be there to handle any and all claims filed with objectivity and professionalism. Twice within one month’s time, we had to cancel travel plans due to illnesses. We filled out and filed the necessary paperwork, and received reimbursements within two weeks of each occurrence. The filing process was clear and simple to file. If additional information was required, Allianz got back to us quickly requesting the additional information missing. Whether our contact was by email or phone, their agents were very kind and considerate discussing our cases.
We couldn’t be more pleased with Allianz Travel Insurance services.
Carol Koefler says
My experience with Allianz was excellent. I have recommended their service to all of my friends who will be traveling soon. Not only did Allianz pay for my additinoal expenses when my flight was cancelled, but mroe importantly they helped me secure a new flight that was most convenient. Because of bad weather, it was impossible to try to reach the airlines. The message was “Wait time will be 55 minutes”. I didn’t have access to the Internet.
I finally found out that the airline had re-scheduled my flight to a flight with a connection in Chicago. There wasn’t much time between the connection. I am a senior citizen and I was afraid I might not make the connection. The Allianz representative called the airline and then joined me into the conversation after she had stated my problem. With her help I was able to get a direct flight (that was my original flight – just one day later).
Thank you Allianz for a job well done!
Robert Heshizer says
Travel was scheduled last summer 2012 with my wife and in-laws to attend a grandson/nephew wedding and take an extended trip thereafter. My wife became very ill and was hospitalized before ultimately having surgery.
The travel was predominantly for the purpose of attending the wedding. Because we could not travel all of our travel expenses were refunded. What was remarkable to me was how understanding all the Allianz service
representatives were and how helpful they were in explaining the process and assisting me to complete the process. I am unaccustomed to see any business be so gracious and helpful – to what for me personally was an extremely stressful time. I am still in awe of how well I was treated and how efficient they were in completing the required actions.
Tammy Gasienica says
When I purchased my event tickets, the family members I was traveling with was very skeptical of purchasing the insurance and I recall them stating to me, “Do you really think we aren’t going to go to this?” I went ahead and purchased the insurance with our tickets and I am so glad that I did. The morning of our event, our grandma passed away unexpectedly. I contacted Allianz four hours before the event started, I did not have any of my information on hand, with me, and the assistance I received was INCREDIBLE. A claim was started for me immediately and I received all other correspondence via email and was able to finish my claim via email. Easy to work with, quick response, and very professional. Thank you Allianz!!!!!!
VIRGINIA PACE says
ALLIANZ TRAVEL INSURANCE REALLY DO HONOR THEIR CONTRACTS. I SIGNED UP FOR INSURANCE FOR MY LAST TRIP. I WAS NOT ABLE TO MAKE MY TRIP, DUE TO MY MOTHER’S PASSING. ALLIANZ TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF ME IN A TIMELY MANNER. THEY HONORED THEIR CLAIM WITH ME, AND I AM FOREVER IN ALLIANZ DEBT.
SINCERELY,
VIRGINIA PACE
Bill Corbin says
We purchased travel insurance from Allianz when we purchased our airline tickets for a cruise. Purchase was easy. We had to cancel our trip due to an illness in the family. I initiated the claim with Allianz online.
When the claim form arrived with the medical information requirement for the physician to verify the illness, I completed the claim requirements by providing the receipts, the physicians statements, and other required forms and mailed them to Allianz.
Allianz processed my claim quickly and efficiently, and they paid the claim promptly and without hassle.
We were very pleased with Allianz as a travel insurance provider.
Carolyn Collins says
Great travel insurance. I became very ill during my trip to South Amercia. A doctor with her nurse came to
my hotel room and determined that I had food poisoning. Three medications were prescribed. Allianz
covered all costs involved and my claim was processed quickly and efficiently. I would not hesitate
to use this insurance again or to recommend it to others.
Dana Peterson says
My husband and I have been buying travel insurance from Access America (now Allianz) for years. Fortunately, our travels had been event free until December of 2012. We had booked a trip to India, however, we both became ill a few days before we were to leave. The Allianz claim process was very easy and I liked that we could track the claim progress online. We were so disappointed to cancel our trip but very pleased with Allianz. In fact, we have purchased their insurance for two subsequent trips.
Sue Albaugh says
I shall never be without Allianz insurance when I travel. I had my trip to England booked back in November, 2012 when I found out that my Dad had been hospitalized and I needed to get on that plane NOW. My Dad sadly passed away three days after I arrived in England. When I returned to the U.S. I thought that maybe
Allianz would be able to compensate me for the trip interruption. I called and talked to a representative and she was most courteous and helpful and said that I would have a few forms to fill out and that I should send some supporting documents. I was partially compensated for the cost of my trip (which was astronomical on a 2 day notice to fly….shame on Delta) for which I was very grateful. Thank you Allianz.
Michelle Sánchez says
As a Military Spouse, I often travel around US with my husband. When our last asignment was cancelled Allianz help me through the process of retrieving my money investment with my military orders. I appreciate the help in this matter and will continue using the service for future traveling.
Joe Heumann says
I’ve used Allianz travel insurance (formerly Access America) on all our cruise vacations. I’ve had two claims. One was when our luggage didn’t show up at our destination until three days later so we had to purchase some emergency supplies. Our travel agent contacted Access America and we were able to buy clothes, etc. in Inverness and were reimbursed after the trip.
The second claim was for luggage damaged by the cruise line going to the airport for the flight home. I sent Allianz an email showing the damage and the replacement cost and they sent me a check. Very easy.
Joe Heumann
J Falconer says
UPDATE:
When I was actually able to get an employee from Allianz on the phone and go over the details of our scenario, what I heard was shocking and hard to take in. No joke, they said “Man, speaking completely off the record here, I honestly feel really bad for all you guys who buy this. It’s pretty much a numbers scam and I hate this part of my job because the company sucks, but I gotta follow marching orders and just deny all we can”. Seriously laughable if my family wasn’t going through the medical problems we are :/
WARNING to all travelers considering using Allianz Global Assistance for an AA flight.
We recently had a flight to Rio booked where we were recommended to purchase trip insurance through Allianz Global Assistance and were told that for ANY medical event which led to cancelation, this would give us a full refund.
Unfortunately a few weeks before the flight my wife did require a trip to an OBGYN specialist and her Provider restricted her from all travel for 8-12 weeks (which fell right in the middle of the trip). We got supporting documentation from the clinic including a SIGNED letter from the Provider confirming he was restricting her from travel. He acknowledged that he was not comfortable release private patient information to an agency or outside organization who is NOT rendering medical care to the patient, and that any such act would result in a violation of the HIPPA patient privacy rights we are afforded in America. Unfortunately the folks at Allianz Global Assistance are not educated in the ways of privacy acts and said they have a firm policy for a policy holding patient to disclose the entire personal and private medical records release from the providers (and then asked for it in a NON-SECURE and non-encrypted manner for that matter! Another clear violation of the law). An employee there speaking on anonymity on the situation disclosed that they are instructed to just reject all claims and that they are only looked into if the customer files an appeal (and even ten he said they are audited and measured by the amount of claims they are able to reject). You all will have much better luck getting the airline to waive the cancelation policy in a circumstance like this (at least they don’t flat out disregard the customers privacy rights) then you would be going through a 3rd party vendor like this who measures bottom lines and fiscal year profit reports on policy purchases vs adjudicated claims. We have traveled the world and have close to 1 million miles with both American and United, and never in a million years would I recommend any travel utilizing a company Allianz Global. (and for that matter, I would recommend another Airline since AA still elects to send their customers to a group like this).
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Mr. Falconer,
We’re very sorry that your trip was canceled and we understand your disappointment. As an insurance company, our Physician Statement Form is designed to secure pertinent medical information which we need to process medically related claims. A customer is under no obligation to have their doctor release more information to us than they may want to, which we respect, but there is basic information we need to be able to assess the eligibility of a claim. Asking for this information is not a violation of the HIPAA Privacy Rule which sets limits and conditions on the uses and disclosures that may be made without patient authorization.
If you would like someone to walk you through our claims process in full detail please don’t hesitate to call our customer service line at 1-800-284-8300.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
G. Gallagher says
I just wanted to express my appreciation to Allianz Global for the service related to our claim. Every aspect of working with Allianz Global has been exceptional. My contacts with representatives have all been pleasurable experiences. These individuals have been extremely courteous, professional and provided direct answers to all questions. All e-mails and documents forwarded were received in a timely manner. The filing process was straightforward and clearly within the realms of what I would consider to be legitimate documentation.
One of the most interesting surprises was receiving reimbursement checks for the claim without and additional follow up or discussions. I can tell you that I do intend to purchase Allianz Global Insurance on future air travel excursions. While I sincerely hope to never file a claim again, the delay in travel due to the illness of one of your children was not pleasurable for anyone involved, it is reassuring to know that there is an insurance company that stands behind its product and customers.
Parris H. says
Money Well Spent! That’s my opinion of the Allianz Travel Insurance Co. Scheduled a trip to Washington, D.C. to attend the Presidential Inauguration. The morning I was scheduled to depart, I came down with the flu and was unable to travel. I contacted Allianze and their representative immediately took action. Their representative was courteous and professional, and began processing my claim instantaneous. Within a few short weeks, I was reimbursed for my travel expenses. I strongly recommend Allianz Travel for all your travel protection needs.
dona edwards says
Being a travel representative for Access America and now Allianz, I have never been “let down” when there was a need by the people I have sold policies to. That covers over 25 years! Last fall, I had a reason to fill out a claim for myself because of a natural disaster in an area of Europe we were traveling in. Allianz came through for me and it, again, made me realize, just as I tell my clients,…. the need for good insurance when you travel. It should always be considered part of the cost of your trip, always!.
Thanks to Allianz, I know that I can continue to advise my traveling friends that they can travel assured that they have a powerful ally going with them in their insurance policy.
Natalia says
I have used this travel insurance several times, and when needed they processed my claim fast and without delays.
Customer service is helpful and polite. I would defenetly use this insurance again, and would recommend to others.
Dainius says
Hi,Sarah
I wait one week , you said may take a day or two , so what’s going on .Still waiting for your reply.
Sarah, Help Team says
Dear Dainius,
I apologize for the delay. I am still communicating with our claims department on a resolution and will email you directly.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Susan Olofson says
I have had the unfortunate opportunity to need the services of Allianz for my clients on multiple occasions, ranging from a seriously ill traveler who was assisted with a return home and refund of the second half of her Africa safari, to a group of travelers whose luggage was delayed on arrival for a family wedding in India. In each case, the travelers were generously supported with guidance and financial compensation for their needs. I can personally vouch for the value of Allianz in turning a bad situation into something much easier to handle, no matter where you are in the world.
Tom Jaeger says
Several years ago my wife and I planned a months stay on Roatan, a barrier island belonging to Honduras. We had little money invested in this trip but wanted to be financially protected in the event of any medical issue, so we bought a basic insurance policy from Alliance (Access America). As fate would have it I received a severe head injury in a motor scooter/taxi accident and had to be air evacuated to the US for medical treatment. The insurance covered everything; private jet to Miami, medical support and a medical escort to my front door. Even more important from my wife’s perspective, was the personal assistance she received from the staff at Access America during a very difficult time in a foreign country. They dealt with all of the logistics and their support was exceptional.
As a result of this very positive experience we have purchased, and will continue to purchase, travel insurance from Alliance for every international trip.
John Krall says
I purchased the insurance for an NYC trip. I cancelled due to a death in my family.
The claim process was quick and easy to complete. My claim was processed efficiently and quickly. My claim was paid without any hassles.
Allianz is a very reputable company and easy to do business with.
A. J. Schultz says
My laptop computer was stolen between Frankfurt and Bucharest. Lufthansa paid first claim then Allianz paid the balance in just a very few days.
Ed Marion says
After a lot of planning, including buying travel insurance from Allianz, we were all set to embark on a trip to explore the wonders of the pyramids and the temples of ancient Egypt. But mother nature intervened. Two days before we were to depart I came down with pneumonia. I wanted to press on, but my doctor comvinced me that was not only crazy, but dangerous. We had to cancel. And not only us, but the couple we were traveling with felt they had to cancel also. And the cruise line policy was no refinds at that late a date.
Allianz saved the day. After a resonable amount of paperwork, and without any haggling, they compensated us for all our losses.You can bet we will be dealing with Allianz on all our major trips in the future. In fact we have subsequently reinvested the returned money by scheduling another extensive overseas adventure, protected of course by Allianz.
Ed and Iris Marion
melissa mangold says
It was easy to purchase and to file a claim. the TSA left my bag open and a lot of my stuff fell out. Other than not having the original receipt for some items i was able to get at least 75% of the cash to replace my items. Lesson learned save all receipts. Allianz worked for me.
Neshia says
(Cont.) I spoke to 3 different representatives who all
asked for different documentation. I turned in everything they requested & still was denied. It’s like they tried every way possible to deny the claim. The world could do without misleading fraudulent companies!
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Neshia,
Thank you for taking the time to post. I am truly sorry that the insurance you purchased did not provide coverage for your particular circumstance. We strive to make our plan benefits and conditions clear at the time of purchase and offer a 10-day free look so you can review the policy details and decide if it provides the coverage you need.
As for the documentation, we request this information from everyone so that our claims are properly reviewed. As for our reputation, we service 13 million+ policies a year with a 95% customer satisfaction rate and have maintained an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau.
If you have further questions about the outcome of your claim, or would like someone to walk you through the policy you purchased in full detail, please don’t hesitate to call our customer service line at 1-800-284-8300.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Neshia says
My husband & I travel quite often & always purchase Allianz insurance just in case. The one & only time that I need to file a claim my claim was denied. I was 7 months pregnant & the day of my trip I was having pressure & pain. I contacted my OB/GYN and he consulted that I not fly & stay home rest & elevate my feet. I was really sad because I missed my sisters wedding, but I didn’t want to chance going against doctors orders & going into preterm labor. I filed the claim, submitted the required documents from my doctor & my claim was denied. I truly felt harassed & ripped off! My doctor didn’t see me, because being pregnant there is no medicine they could give me for my complications. My doctor wrote a note saying I was advised not to travel & Allianz still denied the claim. It’s like they happily accept your money but when it’s time to actually file a claim you are denied. My doctor had to write 2 different letters & they still denied the claim! I would not recommend anyone to purchase this insurance! If they would deny a pregnant women whose having complications from pregnancy then who else would they deny! Allianz is not reputable in my opinion and purchasing their insurance is a complete rip off! BEWARE….
Alan says
I have purchased travel insurance many times; however, until recently, I have never had to file a claim. After reading these comments, I was sick with worry because I finally had to file a claim – a large one – for $5,000+ – and I was certain that I would have to litigate the matter. In fact, as a licensed attorney – I actually began drafting the complaint – assuming that I would have to drag Allianz into court and litigate the claim. I read the entire policy, I collected my paperwork and on February 21, 2013, I filed my claim (employment – denial of previously approved vacation leave). I faxed my claim to Allianz – and I mailed them a certified letter – which essentially the same material. I called a week later and I was advised that it had been approved by an examiner/reviewer – and that my claim had been forwarded to the “management team.” Three days later I called and I was told that my claim had been approved; and, today I received the claim payments in the mail. I have no idea what problems anyone could have with Allianz – in dealing with me – they were FIRST RATE. I’ve used several other travel insurance companies in the past; however, Allianz has earned both my respect and my future business. Allianz did an OUTSTANDING job in processing and closing my claim. They preformed as they were required to do. Again, a TOP NOTCH company – THANK YOU ALLIANZ!
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Alan,
Thank you for the note. I am happy that we were able to provide you with the coverage and service that you needed. Please keep us in mind for any of your future travels.
Sincerely,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Dainius says
I purchased tickets to Hawaii on line ,rent a truck on line and chose your insurance for truck, got charged got insurance i thought. Unfortunately i had bad experience in trip, founded nail in tire , send claim to you to provide the coverage i paid for , after month ,2013 February 14 , i received the mail , that you not covering the trucks with this insurance,THAT YOU SOLD TO ME… in mail was phone number 1-800-334-7525, so i call, 0 results, policy no money back… supervisor told it’s not her department that i have to write to sales support and so on…
gave me e mail so i wrote to salessupport@allianzssistance , been a week 0 answers.I feel like your insurance stole my money and don’t won’t to cover the claim now, still waiting for answers…
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Dainius,
I am sorry for your frustration. Can you please e-mail me your claim and policy numbers at Help.Team@allianzassistance.com so that I may follow-up on your situation? Thank you.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Tim says
So I purchased Allianz travel insurance for a ski trip to Colorado from Boston. Early February 2013, many of you remember the blizzard “Nemo” that hit Boston and surround area. My flight was scheduled to return that morning in the height of the blizzard that dumped about 2′ of snow. The short story is that 2 flights were cancelled and the third and next available option to get me home was 4 days later! I ended up canceling the return portion of my RT ticket and booked a one way through another airline that could get me home after two days of delays instead of four.
When I finally got home, I submitted all original receipts totalling over $700 in additional expenses (2 nights hotel, lunches, dinners, rental car, rebooking a one way flight, additional parking expenses).
After 10 days of my receipts and claim submission, I called to get an update on the status and spoke with Maria. After about 45 minutes of defending my position over the obvious blizzard delay and trip interruption, Allianz was willing to only reimburse up to the maximum of $150/day or a total of $300 for trip delay. I stated to Maria that I should be entitled to trip interruption or trip cancellation since my trip ceased for more than 24 hours. Maria states that the airline and Logan Airport were not closed for more than 24 hours so I was only entitled to trip delay and that I was the fourth person that morning with the same issue. I asked to speak with her supervisor as I was fully aware that the airline and the airport were closed from Friday through Sunday (approximately 48 hours).
After another 15 minutes of being placed on hold so she could explain my position and my polite obstinance to her supervisor, she stated the Logan had in fact been closed for more than 24 hours due to weather and that I was entitled to the trip interruption coverage after all. I stated that I was fully aware of Logan’s closing as I was stuck in a hotel for 2 days watching news and weather.
After a total of an hour and 15 minutes of me discussing my perspective and interpretation of the fine print, Maria and her supervisor processed the full amount of my claim for a little over $700. I received the checks a couple days ago.
The moral is that any purchasing transaction is strategically simple to make. Apply for a claim, return, warranty, or refund, and you better be prepared to have every piece of documentation, know the fine print back and forth and don’t accept no for an answer. Customer service should be renamed to loss prevention/mitigation/control because this is the exact function they are trained by management to perform with a smile and gracious attitude. They will give you what you will minimally accept and no more. Don’t be fooled.
Scott Epstein says
I had a positive experience with Allianz.
We booked a trip, we bought the policy, my girlfriend developed an acute sinus infection, got physician documentation. We changed the trip and filed a claim, and Allianz is paying on the claim. There were no problems, and no questions, and no fuss.
It did take 3 weeks to process, and another 2 to get the checks, but all things considered, we’re not too anxious about that.
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Mr. Epstein,
Thank you for the note. I am happy that we were able to provide you with the coverage and service that you needed. We are implementing a new online claims process which should expedite matters, should you ever need to file again. Please keep us in mind for any of your future travels.
Sincerely,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Jeff Falconer says
WARNING to all travelers considering using Allianz Global Assistance for an AA flight.
We recently had a flight to Rio booked where we were recommended to purchase trip insurance through Allianz Global Assistance and were told that for ANY medical event which led to cancelation, this would give us a full refund.
Unfortunately a few weeks before the flight my wife did require a trip to an OBGYN specialist and her Provider restricted her from all travel for 8-12 weeks (which fell right in the middle of the trip). We got supporting documentation from the clinic including a SIGNED letter from the Provider confirming he was restricting her from travel. He acknowledged that he was not comfortable release private patient information to an agency or outside organization who is NOT rendering medical care to the patient, and that any such act would result in a violation of the HIPAA patient privacy rights we are afforded in America. Unfortunately the folks at Allianz Global Assistance are not educated in the ways of privacy acts and said they have a firm policy for a policy holding patient to disclose the entire personal and private medical records release from the providers (and then asked for it in a NON-SECURE and non-encrypted manner for that matter! Another clear violation of the law). An employee there speaking on anonymity on the situation disclosed that they are instructed to just reject all claims and that they are only looked into if the customer files an appeal (and even ten he said they are audited and measured by the amount of claims they are able to reject). You all will have much better luck getting the airline to waive the cancelation policy in a circumstance like this (at least they don’t flat out disregard the customers privacy rights) then you would be going through a 3rd party vendor like this who measures bottom lines and fiscal year profit reports on policy purchases vs adjudicated claims. We have traveled the world and have close to 1 million miles with both American and United, and never in a million years would I recommend any travel utilizing a company Allianz Global. (and for that matter, I would recommend another Airline since AA still elects to send their customers to a group like this).
Falc says
and Sarah, before you even bother with your canned “we have 95% satisfaction rate” answer (in which you severely underestimate the intelligence of this audience being able to realize that’s because 96% of your “customers” never had to actually go through the claims process, so of course are satisfied that they “assumed” they were covered)….I have left these same reviews in Yelp, BBB, Frodors, TripAdvisor, FlyTalk and a handful of other sites and wat do you know…contrary to this reviewers paid advertisement, the reviews were overwhelmingly negative and poor (I believe your YELP rating was 1.4 our of 5) and you had well over 500+ complaints formally filed against you at BBB (again, that is the only relevant number or rating on that site that actually holds weight). Your company is even bashed on American Airlines own frequent flyer forums w/ long time loyal AA customers warning fellow travelers of your scam, lol. The good news is my multiple reviews on multiple forum sites have already been viewed over 130 times in the just 1st day alone (which you can bank on me reposting periodically to keep towards the top), so I do feel good in that I have probably prevented at least a good couple handfuls who were researching your company before buying from making the mistake of throwing that money away. Again, just figured I’d save you te time of having to retype your same generic reply again, lol. (no one is fooled by the ruse)
HT says
I am very upset with the Aliianz. They misrepresent what they offer. I spoke with customer service, so don’t bother writing back that I can resolve this by calling the 1800 number. I do plan on filing a claim with the BBB and Attorney General.
To say that my father’s death was pre-existing condition is horrible. To put people through their bureaucracy and a family death is reliving the pain again. They really have no heart.
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear HT,
We are sincerely sorry for your loss, it is not our intention to make you relive the pain of losing your father.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Jeff Falconer says
WARNING to all travelers considering using Allianz Global Assistance for an AA flight.
We recently had a flight to Rio booked where we were recommended to purchase trip insurance through Allianz Global Assistance and were told that for ANY medical event which led to cancelation, this would give us a full refund.
Unfortunately a few weeks before the flight my wife did require a trip to an OBGYN specialist and her Provider restricted her from all travel for 8-12 weeks (which fell right in the middle of the trip). We got supporting documentation from the clinic including a SIGNED letter from the Provider confirming he was restricting her from travel. He acknowledged that he was not comfortable release private patient information to an agency or outside organization who is NOT rendering medical care to the patient, and that any such act would result in a violation of the HIPAA patient privacy rights we are afforded in America. Unfortunately the folks at Allianz Global Assistance are not educated in the ways of privacy acts and said they have a firm policy for a policy holding patient to disclose the entire personal and private medical records release from the providers (and then asked for it in a NON-SECURE and non-encrypted manner for that matter! Another clear violation of the law). An employee there speaking on anonymity on the situation disclosed that they are instructed to just reject all claims and that they are only looked into if the customer files an appeal (and even ten he said they are audited and measured by the amount of claims they are able to reject). You all will have much better luck getting the airline to waive the cancelation policy in a circumstance like this (at least they don’t flat out disregard the customers privacy rights) then you would be going through a 3rd party vendor like this who measures bottom lines and fiscal year profit reports on policy purchases vs adjudicated claims. We have traveled the world and have close to 1 million miles with both American and United, and never in a million years would I recommend any travel utilizing a company Allianz Global. (and for that matter, I would recommend another Airline since AA still elects to send their customers to a group like this).
Gary says
This company has been very nice on the phone! They are very pleasant when they tell you you are not covered. Mother in law was put in the hospital and we could not go on our trip I only had to fill out 8 pages of forms get a doctor to fill out some. I was told she had a pre existing condition and our claim was refused she had a blood clot and a blockage in an arterie duh. Very upset with this company I would try a different company!!
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Gary,
I am very sorry about your Mother-in-law’s health and hope she is feeling better. While the documentation for a claim feels extensive, it is necessary so that we may fully understand the situation and assess how it meets the terms and condition of the policy. Again, we are sorry that the policy you purchased did not provide the coverage you needed.
Sincerely,
Sarah, HelpTeam
donna says
Agree with every negative comment above and Sarah- your canned comments about every post are ringing on deaf ears! I purchased insurance for a Christmas week trip. Flight was cancelled and airlines said they could not get us out until 6 days later unless we got in our car and drove 8 hours to Dallas for another flight. Allianz states that they are only responsible for the one day delay at a rate of $150 which does not begin top cover our inconvenience, gas, hotel etc. DO NOT BUY this worthless insurance.
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Donna,
As it was noted by another consumer to a previous post you made, we did provide you with compensation for your delay, which was outlined in the terms and conditions of your policy.
We and our partners want our customers to make informed decisions, which is why we provide a free 10-day look so that you can evaluate the policy and whether or not it meets your needs. I am sorry if the policy did not meet your expectations, but we did honor our commitment.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Deborah Gorman says
Interesting! After reading the reviews above I am very happy I posted a claim with the BBB and the insurance complaint organization. My story is similar to many above only the sickness and death of my mother was not enough reason for a claim for a postponement of a trip!. I noticed Frommers recommends Alliantz as a 4 and 1/2 star insurance provider. I am also contacting Jet Blue to refer to all these comments. This company is disingenuous and arbitrary. The previous information should be in a more public forum.
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Ms. Gorman,
I am incredibly sorry for your loss and wish you and your family the best. I’m also sorry that the insurance you purchased did not provide coverage for your particular circumstance. We strive to make our plan benefits and conditions clear at the time of purchase and offer a 10-day free look so you can review the policy details. I am truly are sorry that the insurance you purchased did not provide coverage for your particular circumstance.
As a company we provide coverage to over 13+million people a year with a customer satisfaction rate of 95% and have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. If you have further questions about the outcome of your claim, or would like someone to walk you through the policy you purchased in full detail, please don’t hesitate to call our customer service line at 1-800-284-8300.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Lorraine says
My husband purchased a ticket from Santa Barbara, CA to Savannah, GA. Right from the start the plane was delayed, then canceled. They chose to put me on a flight to LA with connections to Charolette, NC than that was canceled. I had a 1st class ticket. At this point I just wanted to get home. They could not put me on 1st class but finaly I did get on a flight, my seat was next to the toilet. I finaly arrived in Savannah after midnight. I tried to claim my insurance for inconvieniece and wanted a payment for the delays and the inconvieniece. I was told that they don’t make these type of refunds or claims.
This company is a fraud, they will do everything they can not to make a payment to you, what ever you do, don’t purchase insurance from them. They will never pay and will delay your claim until you are so tired and stop the claim. Save your money this is a bad company with bad leadership and very FRAUDULENT.
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Lorraine,
Sarah from the HelpTeam. I am very sorry to hear about the trials of your trip home. Please know that we strive to make our plan benefits and conditions clear at the time of purchase and offer a 10-day free look that allows you to review the details to see if the policy provides the coverage you need. The terms and conditions of your policy would not have included reimbursement for where you were sitting on a plane, but would have provided benefits if your delays had required you to stay overnight in one of your connecting cities.
If you have further questions about the outcome of your claim, or would like someone to walk you through the policy you purchased in full detail, please don’t hesitate to call our customer service line at 1-800-284-8300.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
J says
Since my trip would cost several thousand dollars, I took the precaution of purchasing travel insurance from the Allianz group advertised on the major airline website. A month later the cruise was cancelled by the company sponsoring the tour. I contacted Allianz and received this reply: “Thank you for contacting Allianz Global Assistance regarding your claim. We sincerely appreciate your patience throughout the claims process. We have completed our review, and unfortunately we are unable to provide benefits under the coverage purchased for the following reasons: Under our policy guidelines, Trip Cancellation/Interruption benefits do not cover losses due to travel arrangements cancelled by the airline, cruise line, or tour operator.
Claims Department, Allianz Global Assistance”
Do not buy Allianz Travel Insurance; you will most likely have your claim denied, and you will be out not only the money spent, but also the expensive cost of the “insurance.”
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear J,
I am very sorry that your cruise was cancelled due to the tour sponsor and the policy you purchased did not provide the coverage you needed. We strive to make our plan benefits and conditions clear at the time of purchase and offer a 10-day free look so you can review the policy details..
If you have further questions about the outcome of your claim, or would like someone to walk you through the policy you purchased in full detail, please don’t hesitate to call our customer service line at 1-800-284-8300.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Travis says
This is a big scam what a joke I turned in everything they asked for weeks later I have heard nothing when I finally get some one on the phone they tell me we have been emailing you info to that I call B/S why don’t you guys just come out and say that you are not getting your money back you feel for a scam sucker, I have spent more time and effort trying to get a couple hundred dollars back than its worth but that’s exactly what you guys are counting on I will never buy this so called insurance again and I will tell every one I know not to bother with it
Thank you Allianz for every thing you have failed to do your the best.
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Travis,
I am truly sorry that the insurance you purchased did not provide coverage for your particular circumstance. We strive to make our plan benefits and conditions clear at the time of purchase and offer a 10-day free look so you can review the policy details. We have no intention of denying legitimate claims.
As a company, we service 13 million+ policies a year with a 95% customer satisfaction rate and have maintained an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau.
If you have further questions about the outcome of your claim, or would like someone to walk you through the policy you purchased in full detail, please don’t hesitate to call our customer service line at 1-800-284-8300.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Richard Utchell says
We’ll I’m getting concerned, I’ve now talked to 6 people at Allianz. Each time I get a different story of what they need. I really send more than they needed the first time, today I’m asked to send the hotel credit I got even thought they have that receipt on my credit card. I was told once they had everything they needed, it seems they are piece milling. What can I do to speed this up.
Rick
Sarah says
Mr. Utchell,
I am sorry that your claims process isn’t going smoothly. If you will contact me at Help.Team@allianzassistance.com with your claim number and details, I will check into the matter.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Richard Utchell says
Sarah, OK, I’ve still haven’t heard from you to give you the information why I’m unhappy with your people. However I’ve just got and faxed the invoice with the refund statement Adam wanted, even thought he had that information from my credit card statement. Information Adam wouldn’t have known about, but being an honest person I send that information the first time with everything else. So know according to Adam himself he should have everything he needs to process this claim. ** Edited to remove personal info **
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Mr. Utchell,
I am glad we were able to provide a positive resolution to your claim and situation.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
donna says
WHat about his comments makes you think that you have helped????:?
MD says
Allianz is the worst insurance company. My husband and I had to cancel our trip to Central America because I was in the first trimester of a high-risk pregnancy, and my doctor told me not to go. Allianz refused to reimburse us for the lost airfare because they considered my pregnancy “normal,” since I did not have an actual complication before the trip. Horrible!
Their claim process was also terrible. Their website said they resolve their claims within 7 business days of receiving all the necessary supporting documents. In reality, it took them 7 days just to acknowledge the medical form I sent. Then they took two more weeks to process this really straightforward claim. Then the decision letter that they supposedly sent me never came, so I had to call again and request it. Since Allianz’s online claims information is pretty useless, it took about 5 weeks and 3 phone calls from the time I submitted all the necessary documents to the time I finally received their written decision.
In the denial letter, Allianz did NOT tell me about my right to appeal this decision internally, but instead told me I can file an arbitration claim to dispute their decision – a costly and cumbersome process similar to a lawsuit. Nor could I find any appeal information on their website. I had to call again to find out what their internal appeal process was.
I have no idea what the editor of this website was thinking when it gave Allianz 4.5 stars. Clearly, they never tried to use its services. I just wish I had read all the uniformly negative user comments here before buying insurance from Allianz.
Allianz is the perfect stereotype of an evil insurance company that tries to screw its clients out of money and get out of paying any claims. Will never do business with them again!
Sarah says
Dear MD,
I am truly sorry that the insurance you purchased did not provide coverage for your particular circumstance. We strive to make our plan benefits and conditions clear at the time of purchase and offer a 10-day free look so you can review the policy details. As for your frustration with the claims process, we are currently implementing a self-service option to streamline operations, provide transparency around the status of a claim and expedite resolution.
Please note, that not only do we have a good rating with TravelInsuranceReview.net, but as a company, we service 13 million+ policies a year with a 95% customer satisfaction rate and have maintained an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Please let us know if you have any questions by calling our customer service line at 1-800-284-8300.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Diana says
Do NOT bother with purchasing the Allianz insurance through Amtrak. I figured since it’s trip “insurance” that it will give you money back if you have to cancel a trip for an illness. My son got sick and when I tired to make a claim, I was told the insurance only covers meals, etc up to $150 if Amtrak is delayed by more than six hours for weather, etc. Totally useless for the majority of reasons most people buy trip insurance.
Furthermore, I was able to get an evoucher through Amtrak to use for a future trip, so why would anyone want to buy this? It is a scam and the pages of fine print Allianz sends you are misleading. To their credit though, they say they have refunded me my money for the insurance, but considering how many people just buy it, this is outrageous that it is even offered without very clear details of what people are really buying. It is definitely not trip insurance in the common use of the term. This reflects poorly on Amtrak because they partner with them and become part of the fleecing by asking all ticket purchasers if they want to buy “insurance.”
Sarah says
Dear Diana,
Thank you for taking the time to post. I am very sorry that your son fell ill and you had to cancel your trip. I hope he made a speedy recovery. Allianz has no intention of misleading its customers. In fact, both we and our partners want everyone to make an informed decision and strive to make our plan benefits and conditions clear at the time of purchase. With your confirmation email, you are given a link to review your policy in detail and have 10-days to review it to see that it covers your needs. If you decide that the policy isn’t for you, we give you a full refund – no questions asked.
If you have any additional questions about our products, please call our customer service line at 1-800-284-8300.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Amy says
I should have listened to all these comments and NOT purchased this ‘insurance’. It is a scam to get your money. They will send you some denial letter with a lame line as to why they denied your claim. Save your money. If you really need something for health insurance, go somewhere else. If you’re looking for something just to cover travel expenses, go somewhere else. If you’re looking for something in case your luggage is lost or stolen, just pay it yourself and take it up with the airline or other common carrier. Trust me, their policies are not worth the cheap paper they’re written on.
Sarah says
Dear Amy,
Thank you for the post. Our HelpTeam has reached out to you from another site. If you would like assistance, please email me at Help.Team@allianzassistance.com with your claim number and details so that I may follow-up on the issue.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Amy says
Very bad company. Purchased it for my daughter’s trip. Her baggage was ‘delayed’ and their policy simply states that you have to report that to the common carrier, which we did and covers reasonable essential items until baggage arrives, which we did. They are saying the ‘delay enountered did not meet the minimum number of hours outlined in your insuring agreement.’ There is no other information offered. Will never buy trip insurance again. Not from here anyway.
WCOUS2 says
THE OLD COMPANY WAS MUCH BETTER. CLAIM WAS RECEIVED IN 2 WEEKS AND NOW ABOUT 2 MONTHS IF THEY DON’T LOSE ANYTHING. THE PROGRAM COMES FREE WITH A CLUB MEMBERSHIP OTHERWISE WOULDN’T GO NEAR IT. DON’T RECOMMEND THIS COMPANY.
Sarah says
Dear WCOUS2,
Thank you for the post as this provides us an opportunity to improve our processes and products. I am sorry to hear that you are unable to recommend the company despite the positive resolutions of your claims.
Our customers actually rate their satisfaction with us at better than 95 percent. We strive to deliver the best in customer service, and treat each claim on a case by case basis to ensure our customers receive fair, personalized treatment.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
kuldp says
Hi My name is kuldip soni and mywife was sick while travelling from usa to toronto they give us support but i got too much hard time with them and they are rude with me and they didnt treat me well and every representative told me different thing.
Sarah says
Dear Mr. Soni,
I am sorry to hear of your wife’s illness and hope that she is now making a full recovery. We appreciate your post and will share your comments so that we continue to improve the customer experience. Our goal is to provide our customers with courteous and consistent assistance and am sorry that this was not your experience.
Sincerely,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Janet and Natalio says
On March 18th, 2012 we purchased a pair of tickets to Barcelona, departing on April 30, and returning home from Paris on May 16th. I am a cancer survivor that had completed a series of radiation treatments in October 2012. Not knowing what to expect we started looking into travel insurance. We mentioned these facts to our travel agent, AAA, just a few days after March 18th. The agent had asked what the total cost of the trip would be, and since we had not made any other travel bookings, we delayed the purchase of the policy until we did more. We called the AAA agent on March 30th., a Saturday. She did not call back until Monday, April 2nd. This date is important because it is the 15th day after the ticket purchase. We were not aware of any date limit at that point, nor was the AAA agent volunteering any such information.
Well, in the middle of April, I started feeling really bad, with constant nausea and vomiting. There was no way I could go on that trip. So, we called the airline and cancelled that trip. The airline said that these tickets are valid for a full year, but that would be a change fee of $ 275.00 per ticket. Subsequently, I was told by my doctor to go to the emergency room, from which I was admitted for a stay of 21 days, which included surgery and a couple of days in the ICU. When we tried to claim the change fee from Allianz, first they requested medical records. When I sent them the surgeon’s report, they denied it (Denial 1) because that doctor did not tell me to cancel the trip. Then we submitted a statement by the doctor that told me not to go on the trip. This time, (Denial 2), they considered the disease a “pre-existing” condition. When we replied that the insurance package had a pre-existing condition waiver, they denied again (Denial 3), because we had purchased the policy 15 days after the ticket purchase.
For every argument they had an excuse. In my opinion they are nothing more than a fraudulent company. We are appealing their decisions with the California Department of Insurance. I recommend that everyone stay away from this snake pit.
Sarah says
Dear Janet and Natalio,
I am very sorry to hear about your health and the incredible frustration you have experienced through the whole process. In this public forum, I can not take any personal information, but if you email me @ Help.Team@allianzassistance.com with your claim number I will follow up with you directly.
Sincerely,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Janet and Natalio says
We are happy to say that we have received a check in settlement of our claim. It is unfortunate however that it took so much time and effort to reach this point.
We were successful after, in addition to posting our grievance here, involving the California Department of Insurance, the agency that monitors their activities.
From reading the complaints here, it appears that rejection is the default handling of all claims.
Shame on you Allianz!!!
Omid says
The employees treat you like you matter but they don’t really care. They don’t send you the pdf that includes there rules and regulations until after you purchase their so called insurance from the airlines. Then they delayed and did not respond to my claim for 4 months. When I brought it to their attention they said sorry it was overlooked and they will send me a check within a week. A week later I received a letter and a e-mail stating that I was denied. Like Susan said the airlines are more accommodating then Allianz. Their employees are only trained to have a excuse for anything you say. If they were such a great company they would have never changed their name from Access America which for years had a bad reputation. Honestly save yourself the money and deal with the airlines directly if you have any issues. I can’t believe the author of this site gives them an A without doing a proper investigation on this so called insurance company. They used the hotel that I had booked myself as an excuse not to give my money back. They said everything had to be included with their company even if I didn’t buy it from Alaska Air in order for my insurance to be valid.
Sarah says
Dear Omid,
I am truly are sorry that the insurance you purchased did not provide coverage for your particular circumstance. Please note that Access America did not change its name for reputation purposes. Allianz Travel Insurance is the travel insurance brand of Allianz Global Assistance, the worldwide leader in travel insurance and assistance, and a unit of Allianz, one of the world’s largest financial services conglomerates. The company insures more than 13 million people every year, boasts a customer satisfaction rate of 95% and has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
If you have further questions about the outcome of your claim, or would like someone to walk you through the policy you purchased in full detail, please don’t hesitate to call our customer service line at 1-800-284-8300.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
omid says
Sarah,
Its pointless I have called over ten times. Calling again won’t make a difference. You and your coworkers must have a really hard time going to sleep every night knowing you screw over innocent people. If you sleep well with out any problems there was a problem in your upbringing. Its funny that when your company reply’s to posts on this site we don’t get e-mail notifications but when other people reply to ours posts we do. Whats up with that do you guys own and run this site also?
CYNTHIA SEATON says
THAT IS SO TRUE OMID!!!!! I PURCHASED THEIR POLICY FOR THE NEW YEAR EVENT WE HAD GOING ON IN CHICAGO AND MY DAUGHTER GOT SICK A FEW HOURS AFTER I BOUGHT THE POLICY. MY PLANS HAD TO CHANGE DUE TO HER ILLNESS AND THEY TOLD ME WHAT TO DO AND ONCE I COMPLETED EVERYTHING THEY TOLD ME SOME BULLSHIT ABOUT THE DOCTOR SAYING SHE HAD A FEVER PRIOR BUT HE WAS STATING TO THEM THAT SHE HAS BEEN SICK SINCE THE DECEMBER 30TH WITH UPPER RESPIRTORY INFECTION AND HAD A FEVER THREE DAYS PRIOR TO THE DATE HE WROTE ON THE NOTE AND ALLIANZ TOLD ME THAT I WILL NOT BE REFUNDED DUE TO THE NOTE THE DOCTOR WROTE ON THE 2ND OF JANUARY. THIS COMPANY ALLIANZ IS SO FULL OF DOG CRAP AND I WOULDN’T RECOMMEND THIS INSURANCE TO MY WORST ENEMY!!!! PLEASE DON’T USE THESE CROOKED ASS PPL BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO FIND A WAY TO SAY YOUR CLAIM WAS DENIED…….RUN, RUN, RUN, RUN, …….I SHOULD’VE STUCK WITH PRICELINE INSURANCE THEY DON’T GIVE YOU NO HASSLE JUST COMPLETE THE FORMS AND YOU’RE REFUNDED WITHIN 7 DAYS NO PROBLEM…….I LEARNED MY LESSON AND SARA YOU DON’T HAVE TO RESPOND WITH YOUR BULLSHIT……… ITS ALL ABOUT MAKING MONEY FOR ALLIANZ!!!! PLEASE RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN RUN, RUN, RUN
ALLIANZ IS SO FULL OF IT, ACTING AS IF THEY CARE THEN SLAM IN YOUR FACE A DENIAL…..MY BABY GOT SICK AND I DID EVERYTHING THEY TOLD ME…..DAYS LATER THEY SAID MY CLAIM WAS DENIED BECAUSE MY DOCTORS STATED MY DAUGHTER WAS SICK PRIOR TO THE DATE HE WROTE THE LETTER ON. DUE TO THE HOLIDAY I GOT IN THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE ON THE 2ND OF JANUARY AND HE WROTE THE LETTER OUT AND ALL THEY DID WAS DENIE MY CLAIM……………………NOT GOOD PLEASE RUN FROM ALLIANZ BECAUSE THEY’RE SO FULL OF CRAP AND THE CSR ARE JUST AS PHONY AS IF THEY’RE SO CONCERNED……..THE PPL THAT GAVE GOOD REVIEWS MUST BE RELATIVES…..LOL . IM VERY DISSAPOINTED IN ALLIANZ AND WOULD NOT. I REPEAT WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS TRAVEL INSURANCE TO ANYONE!!!!!!
EVERY CHANCE I GET IM GOING TO KEEP POSTING EVERY WHERE UNTIL ALLIANZ GET THEIR SHIT TOGETHER……I WANT MY REFUND BACK!! I COMPLIED WITH EVERYTHING ALLIANZ TOLD ME TO DO AND ALL THAT RUNNING BACK AND FORTH FOR NOTHING……ONLY TO GET DENIED!!!!!!!! DO NOT PURCHASE ANYTHING AFFLIATED WITH ALLIANZ TRAVEL INSURANCE PLEASE!!!!!
Sarah Fouts says
Dear Susan,
I’m very sorry to hear that you were disappointed in the outcome of your claim. Please email your name and policy number to Help.Team@allianzassistance.com so that we can look into the matter. Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
Sarah
Susan says
So…. I supplied my name and claim number and so far (it has been over two weeks) and I have not heard anything from your company. I have worked in customer service and I assure you, that would NOT be acceptable. Since the Christmas holiday, my Marine has returned to the east coast and Allianz did not get my business on his flight. Just like I said in my first post, not an honorable company!
Sarah says
Dear Susan,
I apologize for the delayed response. I sent you an email this morning with our resolution which I hope you will find positive.
Sincerely,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Susan says
A pleasant surprise in my mailbox. I did receive a check reimbursing me for my son’s travel expenses. It has been a frustrating process but I do appreciate your efforts to resolve this matter to my satisfaction.
Susan
Susan says
My son is a 19 year old Marine and was scheduled to fly home for the holidays. I purchased his flight tickets and insurance. Well, short story is, his leave dates were changed resulting in a need to change his return flight. Allianz found an excuse to not pay the difference for new plane ticket. I would like to add, United Airways was much more accommodating by immediately refunding the “change flight” fees. I was told during a conference call the united arranged, that Allianz would cover the difference but that quickly changed when documentation was emailed. In my experience, Allianz is not very honorable.
No patronizing replies would be needed if Allianz paid the claims.
Kathie says
Sorry to read all the problems customers have had with this company. I will not be giving this company my business.
Sarah says
Dear Kathie,
Allianz Global Assistance appreciates the comments our customers post as it gives us an opportunity to improve our processes and products. Please know that we strive to make our plan benefits and conditions clear at the time of purchase and offer a 10-day free look that allows you to review the details to see if the policy provides the coverage you need. As a company, we service 13 million+ policies a year with a 95% customer satisfaction rate and have maintained an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Please let us know if you have any questions about our products by calling our customer service line at 1-800-284-8300.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Greg says
It’s hard to know what a policy really covers until one has to submit a claim.
United Airlines cancelled originating flight on the day of departure, thus I had to scramble to find transport to the next airport. Did make it to the next airport, but the Allianze policy bought through United did not cover the expense.
Sarah says
Dear Greg,
Thank you for taking the time to post. I am truly are sorry that the insurance you purchased did not provide coverage for your particular circumstance. We strive to make our plan benefits and conditions clear at the time of purchase and offer a 10-day free look so you can review the policy details. If you have further questions about the outcome of your claim, or would like someone to walk you through the policy you purchased in full detail, please don’t hesitate to call our customer service line at 1-800-284-8300.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Toni says
TOTALLY USELESS. If you are considering buying travel insurance with this company with the hope that it might cover some unexpected situation, save the money. I have yet to find someone that has filed a claim and been compensated. Take a look at the comments below and get a sense of what this company is about.
My case: I had to cancel my return flight Barcelona-Chicago for me and my family because my passport and travel documents were held in the embassy where my visa was being processed. A process that usually takes two days took more than a month and we could not use our flights back to the US. It’s not that we had booked the flights on a tight schedule, the process just took unusually long. I thought this type of situations were what insurance was for. I bought travel insurance to be covered against potential problems with my travel documents and the purchase process of the insurance gave the wrong impression that it covered against problems with your travel documents.
My claim was rejected because according to them the passport was not lost or stolen, so this is not something they will cover for. I won’t enter in the details of whether they are right or wrong (although, policy in hand, and reading the fine print, I believe they are wrong). I just want to make sure that someone in a similar situation does not purchase this insurance with the hope it will cover for missing travel documents.
Make sure that you read the fine print, but also assume they will make every possible effort to not honor your claim, because the contract is ambiguous and the company will for sure interpret everything in their favor. . Interacting with this company is a pain. My claim/appeal process has taken more than 3 months and the customer service has been extremely deficient. They will find the way to tire you off (it will take 10 days for them to react every time you contact them, they will ask for documents one at a time, ignore your emails, etc), and they will go great lengths to reject your claim.
I have now looked at reviews of this company and they seem to be quite consistent. I wish I had done it earlier. Never again.
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Toni,
I’m Sarah from the Help Team. I am very sorry that your claim was not resolved to your satisfaction and that the response from our associates did not meet your expectations. In this public forum I am unable to collect your personal information to understand the exact details of your case, but please note that travel insurance is like any other type of insurance in that there are terms and conditions that determine how a claim is paid.
Should you have additional questions on the outcome of your claim, or if you’d like to get a better understanding of the policy you purchased, please call our customer service line at 1-800-419-8016. Once again, we apologize we were unable to cover you in your situation.
Regards,
Sarah, Help Team
jay says
Their trip insurance through Alaska Airlines is pretty much useless. Read the fine print and consider what your time is worth before you decide you have the time to complete a claim for reimbursement.
Gail Buckley says
Had a very good response when I had to cancel Alaska Air flights due to an accident. Prompt reimbursement for the tickets.
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Gail,
Thank you for the note. I am happy that we were able to provide you with the coverage and service that you needed. Please keep us in mind for any of your future travels.
Sincerely,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Jay,
We are sorry that the insurance you purchased did not provide coverage for your particular circumstance. While we do cover the most common reasons that customers need to cancel their trip, we’re not able to provide coverage for every possible event. If you have further questions about the outcome of your claim, or would like someone to walk you through the policy you purchased in full detail, please don’t hesitate to call our customer service line at 1-800-284-8300.
Regards,
Sarah, HelpTeam
Julie says
DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THIS COMPANY! One of the worst run company I have ever come across. Their customer service is either intentionally bad so they hold on to your money as long as possible or they are some of the most incompetent people in the industry. I haven’t figured out which yet. If you can avoid these guys, by all means do so.
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Julie,
Sarah from the Help Team here. We’re sorry you feel that our customer service fell short of your expectations and we will pass along your comments to the appropriate managers. Should you have additional questions on the outcome of your claim, or if you’d like to get a better understanding of the policy you purchased, please call our customer service line at 1-800-419-8016.
Regards,
Sarah, Help Team
Amy says
I’m trying to help my daughter fill out a claim for her delayed luggage. It’s been several days & has yet to be found. She picked up a few items the first few days to get by on. I can’t find anything on what constitutes ‘reasonable essential’ items. I read through her whole packet. It’s not like she went crazy shopping but she had to have some blouses, etc for her events, etc., and a coat since it was freezing when she landed that particular day. The claim form only has space for four items. Surely one can continue onto another page?
Sarah, HelpTeam says
Dear Amy,
I’m Sarah from the HelpTeam. If you have questions about the claim form or process, please call 1-800-419-8016 and one of our associates can walk you through the process.
Sincerely,
Sarah, HelpTeam
D says
STAY FAR AWAY. This company is the dirtiest of dirty. No better than a scam. There is literally no point in buying this coverage. The time and energy you’ll put into pulling teeth with them trying to get what you are owed is just not worth it. I’m saying that having lost $2k in what I firmly believe is covered in the document they sent me. A few experiences I had over the course of trying to file a claim:
*Finding out that they use one contract for all the products – if you paid with miles, most of it doesn’t apply to you (though it doesn’t say that anywhere in there, and they make no apologies for distributing a deliberately misleading document)
*Never acknowledging receiving my claim (emailed 2x with requests for confirmation of receipt)
*Being hung up on by phone reps
*Phone reps lying about their names
*Phone reps lying about choice in selecting coverage
*The exclusions literally cover everything (check the 542 complaints on BBB if you want to see some more examples)
DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY.
Sarah, HelpTeam says
My name is Sarah, and I’m from the Allianz Global Assistance Help Team. I am very sorry to hear about your frustration with the policy you purchased and your claims experience. Since, I am unable to take your personal information here to know the exact details of your case, I would like to direct you to our HelpTeam email address: Help.Team@allianzassistance.com to get a better understanding of the policy you purchased. We, as well as our partners, want consumers to make informed decisions when it comes to travel insurance and provide a link which consumers may use if they want to review the terms and conditions and includes a 10-day free look.
Once again, please contact us directly if you would like to discuss your situation.
Regards,
Sarah, Help Team
maritza says
Hey Jackie do they pay you extra just to sit and review real complaints here and be sweet and condescending to people that really have problems. Or did the job description read….And we expect for you to lie, cheat and steal, so we can make our numbers and you can keep your job :)) Cheers Jackie darling there is a special place for you…
maritza says
BAD FAITH here, someone will take these thieves to court any day now. RIP Off Save your $. But if you have stock or you re a paid spoke person, or the so call HELP TEAM. DO not be misguided, the whole purpose is to give you the warm and fuzzy feeling..asking you as soon as you call…oh how are you doing I am so sorry that you are or were sick.. And read this by someone that used to work for them:
Our main goal to make our $$ and numbers is to DENY each and every claim, either by invading people’s privacy going through years of medical records (if you submitted a medical claim) and to make you and your doctor’s office send every single piece of paper. Like a real Dr’s office will put up with that!! They are honorable, they are here to help you.
Oh and the HELP team looooves to get in these forums and explain their lack of humanity and BAD FAITH!! Look it people
Ari says
I’m very glad to have read all the bad reviews here (and elsewhere). I cancelled my policy within the 10-day window.
Melissa says
Wow. Glad we googled before we pressed “buy!” sounds like a business I’d rather not deal with.
Janet says
My college age daughter flies frequently on United and Allianz pops up as an insurance option. It is relatively cheap so my husband always purchases it along with our tickets. The problem is, they don’t pay out! I was scheduled to fly and see my daughter just after hurricane Sandy. After a few hours delay, the flight was cancelled. I lost one night’s hotel cost and cost of returning home and back to the airport again. Their reason for refusing? They do not cover pre paid expenses! Isn’t that half the reason we take travel insurance? We questioned the terminology in the plan since we believed we were covered under trip delay. Their answer? Since there was a later flight that same day (which incidentally was full) it isn’t classified as a travel delay even though I couldn’t fly until the following day. Waste of money, do not use this insurer.
Sarah says
Hi, Sarah from the Help Team here. I am very sorry that your claim was not resolved to your satisfaction and that the insurance you purchased didn’t provide you with the coverage you had hoped it would. Should you have additional questions on the outcome of your claim, or if you’d like to get a better understanding of the policy you purchased, please call our customer service line at 1-800-419-8016. Once again, we apologize we were unable to cover you in your situation.
Regards,
Sarah, Help Team
Janet PRIOR says
Hi Sarah, thank you for your automated response.
I actually did follow up with your customer service department and appealed the decision via e mail, presenting greater detail. Since no one from your appeals department has responded, would you like me to print my appeal letter here? Your response time is so much faster.
Sarah says
Dear Janet,
Because this is a public forum and I am unable to take your personal information here it would be helpful for you to send your appeal letter to Help.Team@allianzassistance.com Please include your claim number and I or one of the other team members can follow-up with you.
Josef says
Just got off the phone with them. Can you imagine? Trip was fully insured. They now say that our lost baggage claim is denied as it occurred on the return and is therefor not insured. This response after three tiers of employees telling us otherwise and being very helpful on the phone.
Sarah says
Dear Josef,
Sarah from the Help Team. I am very sorry about your lost baggage and your frustration with the resolution we provided. Since this is a public forum, I can not take your personal information here, but would you mind emailing me @ Help.team@allianzassistance.com with your claim number so that I may get a better understanding of the case?
Regards,
Sarah, Help Team
Walid Bou-Matar says
Allianz insurance is a very bad company. My wife and I purchased a travel insurance from them before we left on our trip. Our trip was cut short due to a terrorist attack in the country where we were travelling in and we have to change our ticket to get home. Allianz found several execuses to decline our claim. I will not recomend this company to anybody and we will not be using them in the future.
Sarah says
I’m Sarah from the Help Team. I am very sorry that your trip was cut short and that the insurance you purchased did not cover your needs. Should you have additional questions on the outcome of your claim, or if you’d like to get a better understanding of the policy you purchased, please call our customer service line. Once again, we apologize we were unable to cover you in your situation.
Walid Bou-Matar says
Sarah,
I am sorry to say that you are trained to be nice only in talking, but when it comes to action you don’t give a ….. about your customers and there concerns. Admit it and tell people the way it is in your company. YOU PAY THE PREMIUMS & WE DON”T HONOR OUR RESPONSIBILITY. I wish I knew that before I purchased my insurance from you. All I am trying to do is alert people like me not to fall into the same trap I fell into before they buy their insurance.
Sarah,
Jeannette J Youngling says
I feel just like you John. I was renting a car (relocating) and I couldn’t rent it because I did not have a return airfare. I called Allianz up that same night right after I got to my place and they assured me that they would refund my money. I then made my 4th called whom the service Rep. Brenda told me they had no record of my previous calls. She told me because of the time that passed that i had to NOW email them and request a CDW cancellation. I did not hear a reply from anyone after that. Made a 5TH call and was told oh no we can’t help you we need a copy of something that shows you didn’t rent a car. WHY DOES IT TAKE 5 CALLS AND NO ONE HAVE A CLUE WHAT IS ACTUALLY NEEDED!!! THIS PLACE IS A TOTAL SCAM FOR A MERE 36.00!! I am not going to not only send my proof by return receipt request but I am also going to enclose a copy for the CEO Michael Diekman in Germany. If they were good with their service they might have had my other businesses that I am looking to inquire about other insurances that my husband and I are looking for !! NEVER NEVER NEVER AGAIN!!!
Jeannette J Youngling says
Regarding the reply that you received John… that phone number. Don’t TRUST ANYTHING MAKE SURE IT IS SENT IN WRITING!! I don’t want you to go through any of what I have gone through. Whats the expression, “the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing!!!!!”
John says
Truly a SCAM company. I had to cancel my airline tickets to and from an island because the ship that I was supposed to take from the island ran aground 3 weeks prior to departure. This was not good enough for Allianz since it was due to ‘mechanical’ rather than ‘weather-related conditions’. They also would not refund the insurance premium since it was 1 day removed from a 10-day window. Very poor reflection, DO NOT USE ALLIANZ!!
Sarah says
Dear John,
Sarah here from the Help Team. I am sorry that your claim was not resolved to your satisfaction and that the insurance you purchased didn’t provide you with the coverage you had hoped it would. I don’t know the exact details of your case, but please note that travel insurance is like any other type of insurance in that there are terms and conditions that determine if a claim is payable. When the insurance is offered, we make sure that we indicate that “Limitations apply” and provide a link which consumers may use if they want to review the terms and conditions.
Should you have additional questions on the outcome of your claim, or if you’d like to get a better understanding of the policy you purchased, please call our customer service line at 1-800-419-8016. Once again, we apologize we were unable to cover you in your situation.
Regards,
Sarah, Help Team
Brenda says
I chose Allianz on the recommendation of AAA. I, too, read all the available information and ‘fine print’ before purchasing. On an international trip we had both a “24 travel delay” and a 24 “baggage delay.” I called Allianz immediately for guidance, explained what had happened and what our needs would be and was told that after checking my policy we would be covered. I followed her instructions and saved all my receipts. In the end, Allianz reimbursed us for the cost of a meal but would not pay for one stick of deodorant, one package of underwear for each of us and one clean $12-on-clearance T-shirt for me to sleep in. They said they would only pay for the “travel delay” not the “baggage delay.” Our total claim was WELL under the price we paid for the premium, and yet they still quibbled over it. Thank God we were not out for the ticket price, etc., as some of these poor people are! I would never advise anyone to deal with Allianz and, Jackie from the Help Team, save yourself the trouble. Unless you’re going to send me the money Allianz owes me for my covered, documented but unpaid baggage delay, we have no further need to contact one another.
martha says
do not use these people. we bought insurance for a family trip with our two college aged children. my mother, for whom we are primary caregivers, was diagnosed with cancer two months after the purchase. her doctor laughed when we asked her to fill in the forms and said, “if this isn’t a reason for cancelling and being reimbursed, what is?”
we have been denied the $6000 dollars to reimburse us for the tickets for the once in a lifetime trip. it was not something we went into lightly, but celebration of our son’s college graduation and our 25 year wedding anniversary.
this company is unethical…lets hope we might move beyond health care reform and into other elements of corruption in the insurance industry.
Sarah says
Dear Martha,
Sarah here from the Help Team. I am very sorry about your mother’s diagnosis and that you had to cancel your trip celebrating two such wonderful milestones. While I don’t know the exact details of your case, please note that like any other type of insurance there are there are terms and conditions that determine if a claim is payable. When the insurance is offered, we make sure that we indicate that “Limitations apply” and provide a link which consumers may use if they want to review the terms and conditions.
Should you have additional questions on the outcome of your claim, or if you’d like to get a better understanding of the policy you purchased, please call our customer service line at 1-800-419-8016. Once again, we apologize we were unable to cover you in your situation.
Regards,
Sarah, Help Team
Bob says
I had to cancel a trip due to a hospitalization. Cancelled on 9/19 and received payment on 11/9…not bad. Reps were friendly and very helpful through the process..Only drawback was lack of information on their web site………… when looking for Claim Status…all it said was “PENDING.” When I called, they advised me that they need more documetation…I believed they should have contacted me to ask for it, not the other way around. A minor complaint though, considering their professionalism and courteousness. I would definitely recommend Allianz to friends. Thanks..
Jackie, Help Team says
Dear Bob,
Jackie from the Help Team here. I’m sorry to hear that you had to cancel your trip in September, but I’m very happy that your claim was resolved to your satisfaction and that you would recommend us to your friends. We appreciate your feedback, and we’re taking steps to improve the website claim process for our customers in the future. We look forward to serving you again.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
Curt Hall says
Allianz Global Assistance flight insurance is a scam and a waste of money. I purchased the insurance in case I had to delay my trip and the reason my trip was delayed was not covered. This is completely misleading and they are blatantly stealing money. DO NOT ever purchase this insurance as it does not actually cover anything in most real work situations.
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi, Curt –
Jackie from the Help Team here. We’re sorry that the insurance you purchased didn’t provide you with the coverage you had hoped it would. I don’t know the exact details of your case, but please note that travel insurance is like any other type of insurance in that there are terms and conditions that determine if a claim is payable. We, as well as our partners, want consumers to make informed decisions when it comes to travel insurance. When the insurance is offered, we make sure that we indicate that “Limitations apply” and provide a link which consumers may use if they want to review the terms and conditions.
Should you have additional questions on the outcome of your claim, or if you’d like to get a better understanding of the policy you purchased, please call our customer service line at 1-800-419-8016. Once again, we apologize we were unable to cover you in your situation.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
peterquixote says
ALLIANZ Mondial travel Insurance is a scam.
They will cover minor incidents but if you really become sick they will do everything in their power
to drop you off at your home country airport where all their responsiblity to you is negated.
I am a New Zealander last year I travelled to Thailand and became incapicitated with a herniated disc.
Allianz did nothing.
They left me crippled in nurse care and used every trick and ick in the book to refuse treatment.
They had an agent here in Bangkok who went to Bumrungrad hospital where I was spending a fortune, and the purpose of the visit was to find some way to refuse the claim. He was less than 20 minutes from where I stayed and refused visit. His mission defeat the claim.
I could not walk at all but they gave me enough paper work to run a Bangkok Office, while they waited, for me to give up on my claim..
All the time they suggested I should be put on an aircraft and sent home, rolled out onto the tarmac in great pain and there teir scam policy would be void.
I waited 6 weeks for some help, by which time I had a necrotic sciatic nerve.
I was rung by countless of their devious agents with one though in mind.
Send this person back to New Zealand and drop him off. we do not want to pay for surgery.
Allianz has an enemy for life with me.
ALLIANZ is a scam
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi Peter,
Jackie from the Help Team here. We’re sorry to hear about the misfortunes you experienced during your travels. Should you wish to discuss your concerns in further detail, please contact our dedicated customer service team by visiting http://www.allianz-assistance.com.au/corporate/.
Regards,
Jackie, Allianz Global Assistance USA Help Team
Jackie says
I wish I had done my research before I bought my Travel insurance I am in legal battle and cannot take my two minor children across state lines since that will break the judge’s order and my Ex will re-enforce the ruling. Called this HORRIBLE Company to cancel my hotel stay and they said that my legal reason is not covered in their policy. The customer service agent acted with complete disregard towards my concerns. It is so sad…
Jackie (The mom that got duped)
Aaron Hill says
Allianz Travel Insurance is a complete joke. Despite the multiple fore warnings and discouragement I proceeded in purchasing a policy for a flight with US Airways. It so happened due to an extreme medical diagnosis of a close relative I had to cancel my trip. Allianz was excellent at finding loop holes for not honoring the basis of the policy. Ultimately their consensus was my cancelation could not be covered due to oversight on policy dates and that the medical diagnosis was not covered. At that point it was not worth my time to continue perusing claims reimbursement, rather I decided to accept their poor business and fraudulent behavior and merely seek reimbursement of the $70 I paid for the policy. No response from Allianz. This company is worse than one of those cheap used car lots. I will continue my pursuit of initial policy reimbursement otherwise will direct my time to spreading awareness of the poor business ethics of Allianz Travel Insurance.
Jackie, Help Team says
Hello Aaron –
Jackie from the Help Team here. We’re sorry that the insurance you purchased didn’t provide you with the coverage you had hoped it would. I don’t know the exact details of your case, but please note that travel insurance is like any other type of insurance in that there are terms and conditions that determine if a claim is payable. We, as well as our partners, want consumers to make informed decisions when it comes to travel insurance. When the insurance is offered, we make sure that we indicate that “Limitations apply” and provide a link which consumers may use if they want to review the terms and conditions.
Should you have additional questions on the outcome of your claim, or if you’d like to get a better understanding of the policy you purchased, please call our customer service line at 1-800-419-8016. Once again, we apologize we were unable to cover you in your situation.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
Aaron Hill says
Jackie-
I in fact did read your lengthy list of fine print limitations as well as discussed the terms with an agent. Nothing indicated that my claim would have been dismissed. Your boiler plate response is insulting and only further supports the poor ethics of Allianz Travel Insurance.
A follow up still has not been provided by your team in response to my outstanding email or request for clarification. If Allianz chooses not to provide refund my flight due to the inability to insure a flight that has been canceled prior to a policy effective date then how is it just to take the $70 for insurance? The whole transaction should be null and voided. At this point I am dismissing your coy attempts to explain a policy full of loopholes and fail to benefit the insuredm, and seek on retribution of the $70 it took to make this mistake of engaging with Allianz in the first place.
Rather than have a PR rep try and mitigate social media reviews I would suggest a customer service representative follow up to my outstanding emails.
Aaron
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi Aaron –
Someone from our customer service team has emailed you, and will work with you to resolve this issue.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
Joe says
I wonder why the company even bothers posting the lame “Jackie help team” messages. Do they really think that these messages will convince someone who is thinking about buying travel insurance from them? Anyone who makes it past the “editor’s” 4.5 star rating down to these comments deserves to lose their money if they actually go ahead and buy insurance from these crooks.
Elango says
Hi Jackie, Sarah and rest of the folks at Allianz,
Whilst shopping around for travel insurance, I came across this blog. My family and friends travel quite a lot and are on the look out for a good travel insurer. Normally I am sceptical of user comments, but in this case, I wouldn’t buy insurance from Alliance even if my life depended on it – not because customer complaints, but purely due to the impersonal and insulting public display of apathy by the customer service team. I feel for your poor customers who have already suffered a loss only to be treated like this.
Tom says
Allianz = Scam / Fraud = Beware
They will be glad to take your money, but if you ever need to file a claim, YOU WILL GET DENIED.
My father booked a cruise a last summer scheduled for July of this year. 1 week before he was set to leave, he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. He died in September. But as of June of this year, he had no symptoms and was living normally and traveling and before he was diagnosed, he was still planning on going on the trip.
We filed a claim on the travel insurance, and were denied for a “pre-existing” condition.
My father purchased travel insurance many times over the years, and never needed to file a claim.
Now we aren’t done with Allainz, and I do believe they will pay up eventually, because we have a lawyer and will sue if needed. I feel we have an open and shut case.
After this incident I’ve read up on these guys on the net, and I now believe they will deny ANY claim made no matter how valid and delay in any way they can before paying up. I believe this is just their “cash flow management” policy. If you don’t feel like dealing with this hassle, try elsewhere. I can’t guarantee that any other travel insurance company is better though.
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi, Tom –
Jackie from the Help Team here. We’re sorry to hear about your father’s passing, and that we were unable to provide him with coverage in his situation. We truly sympathize with you and your family. Please note that travel insurance is like any other type of insurance in that there are terms and conditions that determine if a claim is payable, and unfortunately, the product your father purchased did not include coverage for existing medical conditions.
Once again, we are sorry for your loss, and that we were unable to provide your father with coverage.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
wendy anderson says
BREAST CANCER IS NOT REIMBURSABLE AS A CLAIM!
OCTOBER 2012 BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
I HAVE MY OWN BUSINESS IN THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY. I TRAVEL OFTEN AND HAVE TAKEN OUT ALLIANZ TRAVEL INSURANCE IN THE PAST. WHAT A “SCAM”!!!!!! YES, I HAVE BREAST CANCER ,YES, I AM IN THE LATER STAGE OF MY TREATMENT. MY ONCOLOGIST CHANGED MY MEDICINE UNBEKNOWNST TO ME WITH 2 CHEMO SESSIONS LEFT. I GOT SICK AS A DOG. I SPOKE TO THE ALLIANZ REP AND MADE A CLAIM. HE ASSURED ME THIS WAS WITHIN THE INSURANCE COVERAGE SCOPE. I HAD NEVER HAD THIS DRUG BEFORE. I COULD NOT FLY DUE TO SEVERE VOMITING . THEY DENIED MY CLAIM!
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH AND THEY DONT CARE. “BAD BUSINESS”, HEARTLESS COMPANY! I DID NOT MAKE A CLAIM BECAUSE I HAD CANCER BUT BECAUSE I GOT SICK FROM THE NEW CHEMO DRUG. THEY CALL THAT PRE-EXISTING. I CALL IT BS! ESPECIALLY THAT ITS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH!
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi Wendy-
Jackie from the Help Team here. We’re sorry to hear about the frustrations you have experience, and we’d like to look into your claim further. Please email us at Help.Team@allianzassistance.com with your claim number and someone from our customer service team will be in touch with you shortly.
Regards,
Jackie, Allianz Travel Insurance’s Help Team
David Green says
Look at the policy before you buy. Read definitions.
Illness and death are “pre-existing conditions” that start at birth.
Wendy says
After reading the above review from Wendy Anderson and her being denied due to pre-existing breast cancer, I gladly called and canceled my policy that I bought today. Now let’s see how long it takes for me to have my $52 refunded…
Thank you travelinsurancereview.net for allowing me to make my decision based on personal reviews.
David Green says
You people posting here are doing nothing more than “mental masturbation.
Stop wasting time and take the matters to small claims court or maybe even look into a Class Action lawsuit.”
Hopefully you have figured out the “Help Team” is nothing more than a few people who are paid minimum wage to send out formatted replies. The idea is to keep you away from an attorney and/or court.
Until a few people hit these companies with court cases, and maybe throw in a claim for fraud, they will keep ripping people off.
Take action NOW.
evan torch, md says
David may think I’m a wuss too, but I would also recommend complaining to the BBB in Richmond. Belive it or not, even vile entities like Allianz seem to care about complaints piling up.
I doubt small claims courts would work, since you have to go to Virginia to sue these scumbags. On the other hand, class action suits would–it only takes two people to start them. Since nobody is going to Va. to sue, report Allianz to your own state insurance commissioner, whom Allianz and Jackie the prostitute have to clear to sell insurance in your own state.
David Green says
Evan, let me tell you something.
If you file in your home state, then the provision in the policy that says you have to go to Virginia, is an AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE. This means, Allianz has to communicate with the court and raise the defense. This also means, the company has to send a copy of the policy to the court with at lease a declaration showing you accepted the terms. Usually, this can’t be done by a letter since someone has to establish that the records were made “in the ordinary course of business.
The jurisdiction in your state is that’s where the contract was made; you at your computer in your state “signed” and agreed and that’s when the contract was formed.
Here is one I used and it worked.
I had to sue an individual in another state and so I filed my Small Claims court case online in his state. Sometimes you can do this online or get the forms and do it by mail.
This now means that the company must come into court to defend. So when they are served, they usually will call you (maybe “Jackie: from the “Don’t really care” team) because they don’t want to send someone into court.
When you talk withe whoever, tell them you have relatives in the town and you are combining the visit to your relatives with the S.C. case. This will let them think that you will be there and someone has to show up.
Finally, depending on the amount involved, it may pay you to go to the S.C. court and fight the case. Here is your position.
The company can’t send some low level flunky to defend because there is a medical determination needed as to what REASONABLY qualifies as a “per-existing” condition. This requires, AS A MATTER OF LAW, an expert in the medical field and that is a licensed medical doctor. They can’t send in a file clerk.
Yes, it’s a lot of work and that’s why I say if the amount is high enough, it should be worth it.
These companies are great when it comes to taking your money – all smiles – but when it comes to paying —– different story.
My basis for the above? 45+ years as a Civil Litigation Paralegal and researcher.
I win cases.
evan torch, md says
Wow, that’s a legal opinion which I could have used a thousand times! I wonder if this same principle holds true with cruise lines and airlines?
Sue Graham says
I have read the comments from others and the point is that we all feel we were deceived and cheated by Allianz. We bough a policy in good faith and Allianz found a reason to deny every claim. I “clicked the box” on an airline site and bought travel insurance because my husband has Parkinson’s disease. He was not traveling with me and most of the time the Parkinson’s is under control but can flare up unexpectedly. The Parkinson’s did put him in the hospital and I had to cancel my trip. I filed a claim with Allianz and included a letter from my husband’s doctor stating that he had been in the hospital twice in two weeks. The policy clearly states on page 6 that the policy applies when:
“A family member who isn’t traveling with you is seriously ill or injured. Specific requirement: The injury, illness or medical condition must be considered life threatening, require hospitalization, or he or she must require your care.”
When I called to inquire about my claim, the representative told me that there was no coverage for my trip because on page 14 the exception says:
“No coverage for a family member who has an existing medical condition.”
Parkinson’s is an existing chronic medical condition as are many other medical conditions. Patients live fairly normal lives for years with these conditions but there are times when emergencies arise. What better reason to buy travel insurance?
Allianz insisted that my husband’s doctor must complete a two-page form. My doctor said that there is a $50.00 charge for her staff to complete insurance forms and her letter stating two hospitalizations should have been adequate support for the claim. Why would I pay $50.00 to have the form completed when I have already been told that my claim was not covered? There was more haggling by Allianz but, like the comments from others, I believe that Allianz does not honor the policies and probably makes lots of money.
US Airways has been copied on all of my correspondence with Allianz and US Airways has been responsive to my frustrations. If US Airways is interested in truly offering trip insurance that gives peace of mind and benefits it flyers, the company needs to partner with an honest insurance company, not Allianz.
I like David Greens’s idea of filing a Small Claims Action and intend to proceed on that suggestion.
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi, Sue –
Jackie from the Help Team here. We’re sorry to hear that you had to cancel your trip, and we apologize that we were unable to provide you with coverage in your situation. I don’t know the exact details of your case, but one thing I’d like to point out is that travel insurance is like any other type of insurance in that there are terms, conditions and exclusions that affect coverage. As you may know, the product you purchased did not include coverage for existing medical conditions. We, as well as our partner US Airways, want consumers to make informed decisions when it comes to travel insurance. When the insurance is offered, we make sure that we indicate that “Limitations apply” and provide a link which consumers may use if they want to review the terms and conditions.
Should you have additional questions on the outcome of your claim, or if you’d like to get a better understanding of the policy you purchased, please call our customer service line at 1-800-419-8016. Once again, we apologize that we are unable to provide you with coverage.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
Channing Rothwell says
I would NOT get insurancee through this company. Their insurance is not worth it because there are so many specifications to the plan. It is a waste of money. I have bought insurance through Funjet vacations as part of their package and they have an awesome policy. I would rather pay more money for insurance that is worth it then what Allianz has to offer. My husband and I bought airline tickets to Miami in August for a work cruise for him. I got cut down to part time hours and we are no longer able to afford to go. I called Allianz thinking it was going to be an easy process since it was TRAVEL INSURANCE but found out that I had to be laid off completely. Needless to say, I will not be buying insurance through them again and will be making it known to all of my friends and family that Allianz travel insurance is not WORTH IT.
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi Channing –
Jackie from the Help Team here. We’re sorry to hear that you had to cancel your vacation. I don’t know the exact details of your case, however, one thing I’d like to point out is that travel insurance is like any other type of insurance in that there are terms, conditions and exclusions that affect coverage. We, as well as our partners, want consumers to make informed decisions when it comes to travel insurance. When the insurance is offered, we make sure that we indicate that “Limitations apply” and provide a link which consumers may use if they want to review the terms and conditions.
Once again, we apologize that we were unable to provide you with coverage, and wish you the best.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
David Green says
There is something moat of you people don’t understand and I’m going to clue you in now.
Insurance companies are in the business to make money, the bottom line is the first priority. Assisting the policy holder and paying claims is sometimes a requirement.
One strategy most (but not all) companies use is to come up with one excuse after another to not pay, it can be 1) Paperwork not received from you when you know you send it; even if sent by registered mail; 2) Paperwork incomplete, and they often won’t tell you what is missing; 3) asking for more information that can be not only irrelevant but remote in time, 4) The ever lurking “per-existing condition.” When this is used, they will not say upon what factors the decision is based, “per-existing” in and of itself says nothing.
Another thing companies do is say the matter is reviewed by THEIR medical staff. Notice they do not say their doctors.
In many instances their “medical staff” are nurses and sometimes doctors whose full-time job is to review cases looking for any hint of a reason to deny the claim; this is sometimes called “Post-Claim underwriting.”
The companies hope many people can and will do no more than what is done here; blow off steam or send a complaint to the state AG, BBB or some other consumer agency.
So what is the answer? I’ll tell you but it’s up to you to apply it.
Put together a very nice package of all your documents and declarations (written statements signed by the person under penalty of perjury of your state). Make sure everything is there that supports your claim. If there are questions about per-existing conditions, respond to them in your declaration; same for “we never received your papers” responses or asking for the same information 2or 3 times.
Go to your local SMALL CLAIMS COURT and file a case against the company. And in your claim, add an additional $500 for “other costs.”
Have this Small Claims Complaint served and wait for the trial date.
I promise you, that the company will contact you with a very different attitude and most likely pay. Why? First, it costs them money to send someone to court to fight you, an second, they know they will probably lose in court.
People– I have done this with many companies including SONY, AMERICAN AIRLINES, DELTA AIRLINES, etc. and have resolved all of my claims to my satisfaction.
If you let this and/or any company get away with screwing you when you are legally (forget “morally” since insurance companies don’t operate under those rules) in the right, then YOU are the one to, IMO, be faulted.
And “Jackie? All canned computer responses, with most of them sent out based on key words in your post.
Let’s see if this post stays live.
Now it’s up to you. Remember: “Too err is human, but revenge – – now that’s divine.”
Oh yes, I’m an insider.
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi, David –
Jackie from the Help Team here. Thanks for reaching out and voicing your concerns, which are understandable given the comments you may have read online. Even with our emphasis on providing exceptional customer service and products that meet the majority of our customers’ needs, unfortunately, not every customer will be satisfied with the outcome of their claim. We certainly understand their frustration and we value their feedback. However, if one considers that our customers rate their satisfaction with us at better than 95%, a more complete perspective can be had.
If you’d like to have a better understanding of travel insurance and the policies we offer, please call our customer service team at 1.800.284.8300.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
Theresa says
My best friend and I had plans to fly out to boston this weekend, and we had to cancel due to the unexpected death of her grandma. I talked to a couple people at the allianz number, and they were so sweet and helpful. I submitted all of my paperwork, and my claim is being processed. I was so relieved from all the caring and helpful people on the phone, but after reading these reviews Im scared to death im not going to get reimburssed my 500.00 (I have saved over a year for this trip) for our flight. Im praying the person who handles my claim is as nice as the phone operators.
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi, Theresa –
Jackie from the Help Team here. We’re sorry to hear you and your friend had to cancel your trip due to her grandmother’s passing. Someone from our customer service team will be in touch with you soon to discuss the outcome of your claim. If you have questions in the meantime, please feel free to call our customer service line at 1-800-419-8016.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
Donovan C says
This is the worst travel insurance ever. Everyone go with whatever your credit card company recommends especially VISA or AMEX.
TRUST ME YOU WILL REGRET BUYING INSURANCE FROM THIS COMPANY!!!
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi Donovan –
Jackie from the Help Team here. We’re sorry to hear that you were dissatisfied with the product you purchased. I don’t know the exact details of your case, but please note that travel insurance is like any other type of insurance in that there are terms, conditions, and exclusions that affect coverage. If you wish to further discuss the outcome of your claim, please call our customer service team at 1.800.284.8300.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
SJV4488 says
Allianz is dreadful. I paid a significant amount of money to be a responsible traveler. Well during my trip one of my family members died. As soon as I returned in July I submitted the paperwork for reimbursement. My case is clear. An immediate family member died and I provided proper documentation. They are still working the claim and it’s September. It is over 7 weeks and they have not called me a single time to give an update or emailed a decision. I keep calling. They give me a different person or reason why it is not done. Today, I will take the next step to report them for consumer fraud. The fact is they look for ways to not pay.
Jackie, Help Team says
Hello –
Jackie from the Help Team here. We’re sorry to hear about your family’s tragedy. Further, we apologize that you are finding the claims process to be extensive; however, we do need the specified documentation in order to properly investigate our customers’ claims. Please email us at Help.Team@allianzassistance.com with your claim number and someone from our customer service team will be in touch with you shortly.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
JK says
BEWARE – This company used to be called Access America Travel but they have changed their name to try and escape their horrible reputation!!!
WARNING: This is company is a complete SCAM. They should be know as ScamAmerica. Please google search this and you will be able to find tons of stories like mine and Fergal. Please warn everyone, its the default travel insurance company for most major airlines – including United.
They tried to block my yelp review as well.
Here are others that agree with me:
http://www.consumer…
http://www.travelin…
http://www.complain…
http://www.elliott.…
MY STORY…
I purchase insurance on November 3 along with my airline ticket for November 24. On November 23, my father was diagnosed with lung cancer.
When I found out about my father’s illness – I filled out their claim – and included the doctor’s letter. The doctor’s letter stated, “my letter is to confirm your records that [the patient] was diagnosed on November 23, 2009. The circumstance of your illness necessitate prompt treatment and would preclude any planned travel that you had to California over the holiday season. Your illness is not a pre-existing condition that was present before you made your travel plans to California.”
This is their reply,
“We understand when the first “diagnosis” was made. (Note the quotations as to intimate that I am making this stuff up). That is not the event that triggers the exclusion for existing medical conditions. We need to determine when the symptoms that led to the diagnosis first appeared. There is nothing in the exclusion that requires a person to have an ultimate diagnosis for it to apply.”
So what they are asking for is evidence for when the symptoms first appeared. Well, as soon as the symptoms appeared – we took him to the hospital for diagnosis. So the evidence is the diagnosis – which is what they refuse to accept. As you can see, this is the sort of circular reasoning that they try and engage you in.. so that they do not have to honor their claims.
Ironically, all other family members — who DID NOT purchase insurance have been able to refund their airline tickets. I would have been better off not buying insurance. When I googled “Access America” and scam or fraud… several stories popped up. Don’t just take my word for it… please investigate the issue yourself.
Loren Pratt says
Save your money! Allianz is not the only game in town. There are so many loop holes in the policy that aren’s shared with you when you purchase their insurance, you don’t stand a single chance of being reimbursed. I agree with a number of the other reviews . . . it is a bunch of BS!
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi Loren –
Jackie from the Help Team here. We’re sorry to hear that you weren’t satisfied with the policy you purchased. I don’t know the exact details of your case, but please note that travel insurance is like any other type of insurance in that there are terms and conditions that determine if a claim is payable. If you’d wish to further discuss the outcome of your case, please call our customer service team at 1-800-419-8016.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
Francis Cabarle says
Hi,
I sent an email to claimsinquiry@allianzassistance.com 5 days ago to claim my insurance for delayed baggage but there’s no reply till now. My bag was left in Hongkong in 28 Aug and was delivered to me in Budapest last 31 Aug. So I had to buy some clothes for 3 days. Unfortunately when I bought the insurance from Allianz at the same time I bought my etickets, I didn’t put a State there in my profile (but I was still allowed to buy my flight etickets!). Now, my profile says I can’t edit my State anymore since my departure’s over…please help. I’d like to claim my insurance for lost baggage please…
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi Francis –
Jackie from the Help Team here. Thank you for reaching out, and our sincerest apologies in our delay in responding to you as we were looking into your claim. Someone from our customer service team will be in touch with you soon to further discuss your policy.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
andrea says
DO NOT BUY INSURANCE FROM ALLIANZ.
Allianz provides the worst service ever. This company lures people into buying “traveler’s insurance” but ensures absolutely nothing. Their certificate of claim is designed to be misleading. The way they market it out is horribly simplified to make it seem like they are looking out to ‘protect’ you, but they’re actually out to deceptively rob you of money that you don’t have to spend. Reading all these reviews just makes it clear to me that this company makes money by tricking you into buying something you don’t need by advertising false service that they don’t provide. The worst part of it all is that they BLAME YOU for not complying with their terms when their terms are jargon bullshit disguised to ROB you.
I dont want any representative of the allianz insurance company to contact me because I’m tired of their BULLSHIT.
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi, Andrea –
Jackie from the Help Team here. We’re sorry that you were unsatisfied with the product you purchased. Should you have additional questions on the outcome of your claim, please call our customer service line at 1-800-419-8016.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
Francis Cabarle says
Hi Jackie
I sent an email to claimsinquiry@allianzassistance.com 5 days ago to claim my insurance for delayed baggage but there’s no reply till now. My bag was left in Hongkong in 28 Aug and was delivered to me in Budapest last 31 Aug. So I had to buy some clothes for 3 days. Unfortunately when I bought the insurance from Allianz at the same time I bought my etickets, I didn’t put a State there in my profile (but I was still allowed to buy my flight etickets!). Now, my profile says I can’t edit my State anymore since my departure’s over…please help. I’d like to claim my insurance for lost baggage please…
Mike Shellabarger says
My wife and I had planned a land and sea cruise to Alaska. We took out insurance for our flight through Allianz.
Two days before we were to leave my Dad became critically ill. The Doctor adviced us that we should cancel our trip because he did not expect him to make it through the night. This was on July 5 2012. We canceled our trip and got in touch with Allianz to find out what we needed to do. It is now August 29 2012 and after sending in all the paper work that they requested they still are telling us they need more. How much more do they need after the Doctor’s have filled out all tthe paper work twice now telling them that my Dad was on his death bed? I truely believe they have no intention of ever paying!!! We had Travel Guard Insurance for the cruise portion of
the trip and we received a check from them without any problems at all. I personally would never think of doing business with Allianz ever again.
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi Mike,
Jackie from the Help Team here. We’re sorry to hear that you feel that the claims process is extensive, however, we do need the specified documentation in order to properly investigate our customers’ claims. By paying only legitimate claims, we are able to keep prices low for all of our customers. Can you please send your information one more time, including your policy number and all specified documentation, to help.team@allianzassistance.com? Someone from our customer service team will be in touch with you to further discuss soon.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
Gina says
Wow, a lot of negative reviews here. Can anyone recommend a good company to buy insurance from?
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi, Gina –
Jackie from the Help Team here. Thanks for reaching out and voicing your concerns, which are understandable given the comments you may have read online. Even with our emphasis on providing exceptional customer service and products that meet the majority of our customers’ needs, unfortunately, not every customer will be satisfied with the outcome of their claim. We certainly understand their frustration and we value their feedback. However, if one considers that our customers rate their satisfaction with us at better than 95%, a more complete perspective can be had.
If you’d like to have a better understanding of travel insurance and the policies we offer, please call our customer service team at 1.800.284.8300.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
Joe Esherick says
Allianz is the WORST TRAVEL INSURANCE COMPANY IN EXISTENCE. I am a frequent flyer with about 20 flights per year and have had good experiences with respectable travel insurance providers in the past. My family had scheduled a family vacation to Orlando this past April and we purchased travel insurance with Allianz in case of unforeseen medical emergencies since our daughter is prone to severe medical illness due to bilateral vesicoureteral reflux causing recurrent kidney infections and asthma which abruptly flares with any upper respiratory tract infection. Unfortunately, our daughter became very ill with an upper respiratory tract infection, purulent rhinitis, sinusitis, and an ear infection which was close to perforation, and an asthma exacerbation 2 days before we were supposed to leave.
We cancelled our trip under doctor’s orders and submitted a claim to Allianz with a doctor’s note and they DENIED EVERYTHING. We had to forfeit about $2,000 in travel costs and this did not include any of the rental car fees or lodging expenses which were also forfeited.
This ALLIANZ TRAVEL INSURANCE COMPANY IS A SCAM!!! I STRONGLY ADVISE EVERYONE TO STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY AS THEY USE THE BAIT-AND-SWITCH TECHNIQUE.
Horribly dissatisfied customer,
Joe Esherick
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi, Joe –
Jackie from the Help Team here. We’re sorry to hear that your daughter fell ill, and as a result, you had to cancel your family vacation. We apologize that we were unable to provide you and your family with coverage in your situation; one thing I’d like to point out is that travel insurance is like any other type of insurance in that there are terms, conditions and exclusions that affect coverage. As you may know, the product you purchased did not include coverage for existing medical conditions.
Once again, we apologize that we were unable to provide you with coverage, and we wish you and your family the best.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
Jim Olson says
We purchased a flight with Alaska Airlines in March and bought your flight insruance to protect us in case of an emergency. We found out last week that our Son (whom we were going to visit) has received information that he will be deployed during the time we had made our reservations.
We sent in the proper documentations for a claim, and was promptly denied. The reason given by the rep. was that I was the one that had to be deployed… WOW. what a bunch of BS…
We contacted Alaska Airlines and they were able to help us. No thanks to your company.
We would like to be rembursed for the expence of our policy with allianz.
We will not recommend or use this company in the future.
Jim Olson
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi, Jim –
Jackie from the Help Team here. We’re sorry that we were unable to provide you with coverage in your situation. I don’t know the exact details of your case but please note that travel insurance is like any other type of insurance in that there are terms, policies, and conditions that impact coverage. We’re sorry we were unable to help you, and wish you the best in your future travels.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
Jim Olson says
Jacky,
If you don’t know the exact details of my case, why are you responding? I sent you all the info. for the case. This sounds like a typical computer generated response. I don’t think you are sorry, I think you are proud of the fact that you screwed another customer, and you can bank the results…
Allianz=ALL LIES, Next time we will deal directly with the Airline, and leave you out… ( As we had to do this time). Just refund me the cost of the policy.
Jim
Pam Pittman says
I made the mistake of “not clicking the box” for travel insurance when I purchased tickets for our son to come back the USA for the summer. I called Delta and they gave me the toll free number. I called Allianz, explained the situation asking to purchase insurance I neglected to purchase when I booked online. I was not given the same policy I would have been given had I “clicked the box”. His trip was delayed due to a strike in Norway and he could not get to the airport. Because Allianz’s representative did not give me the same plan had I “clicked the box”, they are denying the claim for $580.00 claiming they cannot offer the same policy on the phone they offer on Deltas website…Really, your website has the same policy for travel delay ..I am filing a claim with our AG in Minnesota. If anyone wants to purchase travel insurance DO NOT get a policy with Allianz, they are deceptive and lie when it suits there purpose. Blame the consumer is all I heard today. I spoke with Kate and Steven today….
Alex says
I felt this insurance was totally inflexible and a joke. Delta used to use another insurance right before Allianz came along, and I simply cancelled a flight, and got a refund – it was that easy.
The process with Allianz took several weeks and although I’d send the info twice, I received letters saying they hadn’t received my paperwork. (To give them credit, it was nice of them to keep up on that though)
I book our employee’s travel, and would not buy this again.
The wife of our employee ended up in the emergency room needing to go in for immediate surgery, but because the doctor had already been talking about the possibility for scheduling surgery, they denied the claim for the employee who was flying (as the only available family member to take care of her) because it was a ‘pre-existing condition’.
I wonder if a diabetic, cancer sufferer, obese, or otherwise less than healthy person will also be denied should an emergency related to their health challenges arrise……………
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi, Alex –
Jackie from the Help Team here. We’re sorry to hear that you felt that the claims process was extensive, however, we do need the specified documentation in order to properly investigate our customers’ claims. By paying only legitimate claims, we are able to keep prices low for all of our customers. We apologize that we were unable to provide you and your employees with coverage in your situation; one thing I’d like to point out is that travel insurance is like any other type of insurance in that there are terms, conditions and exclusions that affect coverage. As you may know, the product you purchased did not include coverage for existing medical conditions. We, as well as our partner Delta, want consumers to make informed decisions when it comes to travel insurance. When the insurance is offered, we make sure that we indicate that “Limitations apply” and provide a link which consumers may use if they want to review the terms and conditions.
Should you have additional questions on the outcome of your claim, or if you’d like to get a better understanding of the policy you purchased, please call our customer service line at 1-800-419-8016. Once again, we apologize that we are unable to provide you with coverage.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
Elise K says
I have purchased travel insurance from this company for many years, but last year was the first time I had to use it. Three weeks after I booked my trip and insurance, I fell and severaly injured my ankle. The week before our tour was to depart I acknowledged that I was not well enough to go and had to cancel our trip. I called Allianz and they told me what documation was needed to process the claim. I sent in the documenation and was promptly refunded. I found their customer service to be helpful and sympathetic and would buy their travel insurance again.
I do think my situation was a pretty clearcut case, but still, happy that everything went smoothly and it wasn’t a hassle to process my claim.
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi, Elise
Jackie from the Help Team here. We’re sorry to hear about your injury, and that you had to cancel your trip as a result. We’re happy we were able to provide you with coverage in your situation; thank you for providing us with the necessary documentation in a timely manner so we could investigate and process your claim.
Once again, thank you again for getting in touch! We wish you a healthy recovery.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
evan torch, md says
I had a 24 hour delay and 30 delayed baggage. I have found Allianz to be utterly inflexible over costs that I incurred at the Dallas airport and Sydney’s also: perhaps my experience will be a learning lesson for all:
There is no fixed payment for delays, lost baggage, food or drink. Allianz demands to see every Burger King receipt, every Coca Cola receipt, every aspirin receipt. The fact that I’ve had innumerable policies and never filed a claim counted for nothing in good will. My naivete (who saves KFC checks?) counted for nothing.
Save every scrap of paper for EVERY item; Allianz otherwise presumes you didn’t need to eat or drink for 30 hours.
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi, Evan –
Jackie from the Help Team here. We’re sorry to hear that your flight was delayed, and caused an interruption in your trip. With that being said, we’re sorry if you felt that the claims process was extensive; however, we do need the specified documentation in order to properly reimburse you. By paying only legitimate claims, we are able to keep prices low for you and our other customers.
Once again, we apologize that we were unable to provide you with coverage in your situation, and wish you the best in your future travels.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
evan torch says
As this automaton illustrated, as I said, they will pay NOTHING on ANYTHING unless you save the gum wrappers. Since, on a 3 week trip for example, one could accumulate hundreds of receipts for everything , take an extra suitcase for your receipts, then send me a picture of dumping them on this crap company!
Pam Pittman says
Jackie,
Give it a break…..give up the koolaid.
Joe says
Evan, I think you can see from the other comments on this site that it would not matter one bit what documentation you had. They’ll deny your claim anyway.
Marsha Brooks says
I added travel insurance to my flight after I purchased my ticket…through Allianz it was only 21 dollars and my ticket was $250…well after two weeks of getting the insurance I had to cancel my flight and I sent over the paper work…my grandmother who lived with me had a stroke…less than a week later my check has been mailed out….so glad I got this insurance.
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi Marsha –
Jackie from the Help Team here. Thank you for reaching out and sharing your positive Allianz Travel Insurance experience with us! We’re happy we were able to help you and your family during a difficult time.
Once again, thank you again for getting in touch, and we’re pleased we were able to provide you with coverage in your situation. We wish your grandmother a healthy recovery.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
Kyle says
I’m in the process of filing a claim with Allianz right now. Due to a house fire I had to cancel my plane tickets. These people have the absolute worst service I have ever seen, I don’t know how they’re still in business. Every review I have seen for them is negative, I wish I would have done my research prior to buying their travel insurance.
They are completely inept at their jobs, and do nothing but give the run around, I’m sure Jackie will chime in and tell me that she’s sorry for the inconvenience and if I would like to further discuss my policy to contact her…. Well let me tell you the last thing I want to do is talk to anyone else from that company, I mean seriously I completely understand hiring mentally handicapped people to assemble water bottles and the like, but to have them dealing with insurance claims is completely ridiculous.
Jackie I hope you impale yourself on a feces cover rusty nail
evan torch says
My sentiments exactly, except Kyle was too restrained.
Pam Pittman says
I so know the feeling. I am filing a formal complaint with the AG in Minnesota. Jackie must get a bonus for apologizing….all I hear is blame the consumer. Sorry about your experience. I am personally contacting delta to explain how non customer oriented the insurance policy they are offering their frequent fliers, or any person for that matter. Allianz hides behind the “letter of the law”. They have deceptive business practices at best….
evan torch, md says
Pam makes a great point. Buying insurance from the carrier, Allianz seems to have the inside track there. Insurance from the entity the insurance is meant to cover will ALWAYS be rigged FOR that entity, especially on finding for the consumer!
Chuck says
I strongly advise against ever purchasing travel insurance through Allianz. They are the most ineptly run business I have ever dealt with. Even when they realize a screw up in their delivery, their only remedy is back to square one.
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi Chuck –
Jackie from the Help Team here. We’re sorry to hear you weren’t satisfied with the product you purchased; if you wish to further discuss the outcome of your claim, please call 1-800-419-8016.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
Rachel says
Allianz will ILLEGALLY deny you your claim! I came home from a trip to take care of an immediate family member who was suddenly diagnosed with cancer. I HAD 2 DIFFERENT PHYSICIANS FORMS DOCUMENTING THAT IT WAS NOT A PREEXISTING CONDITION, and they still denied the claim saying that think it was a preexisting condition! They say whatever they want and make you fill out all of these forms over months and harass your own doctors and then when the TRUTH is documented by physicians they IGNORE it!
I’m in the process of filing with the Better Business Bureau and getting a lawyer.
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi Rachel –
Jackie from the Help Team here. We’re sorry we were unable to provide you with coverage in your situation. I don’t know the exact details of your case, but please note that travel insurance is like any other type of insurance in that there are terms and conditions that determine if a claim is payable. When a claim is reviewed, it is the definition of an existing medical condition in the insurance contract that is used to determine if a loss is covered or not. Generally, if a person has had any symptoms or treatment within four months of the insurance purchase for the condition that leads to the change in travel plans, there may not be coverage.
Should you have additional questions on the outcome of your claim, or if you’d like to get a better understanding of the policy you purchased, please call our customer service line at 1-800-419-8016.
Regards,
Jackie
Pam Pittman says
Jackie,
Stop drinking the koolaid if you want took yourself in the mirror in the morning.
Daniel Hill says
RIP OFF!
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi, Daniel –
Jackie from the Help Team here. We’re sorry to hear you weren’t satisfied with the product you purchased; if you wish to further discuss the outcome of your claim, please call 1-800-419-8016.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
Daniel Hill says
I will be filing a complaint with the BBB and the Attorney General on this Co.
Allianz Peon’s monitor this web page better than they honor their contract.
IT’S JUST A JOB! RIGHT JACKIE.
■Pre-existing medical condition coverage included if plan is purchased within 14 days of initial trip deposit.
Leon says
I had a bad experience with this company. They refused to cover my trip and gave me a million excuses about why. It was impossible to get a hold of somebody to talk to, and it took them 3 moths to issue a final decision. I WILL NEVER BUY INSURANCE THRU THEM AGAIN. DON”T WASTE YOU MONEY.
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi Leon,
Thanks for reaching out and voicing your concerns. I’m sorry to hear that your claims process was frustrating. Should you have additional questions on the outcome of your case, please call our customer service line at 1-800-419-8016.
Regards,
Jackie
MZ says
I had the worst experience with this people, it was recommended by an airline when buying a flight, I thought if it had the backup of the airline it was probably a good idea to get one in case of emergency. I had to cancel my trip for medical reasons and they could not find more excuses to avoid refunding the money when they had previously said they would. They could easily save customer’s time and money if they were had the specific questions in the claim form and not trying to find excuses or referring customer to the find prints when they do not want to be responsible payments. I found the a very dishonest company and I would not recommend anybody to get travel insurance from them.
Jackie, Help Team says
Hello,
Jackie from the Help Team here. We’re sorry we were unable to provide you with coverage in your situation. Please note that travel insurance is like any other type of insurance in that there are terms and conditions that determine if a claim is payable. We, as well as our airline partners, want consumers to make informed decisions when it comes to travel insurance. When the insurance is offered, we make sure that we indicate that “Limitations apply” and provide a link which consumers may use if they want to review the terms and conditions.
Should you have additional questions on the outcome of your case, please call our customer service line at 1-800-419-8016.
Regards,
Jackie, Help team
Pam Pittman says
Jackie,
So you drank the koolaid aid…..company line regurgitated once again….all I hear is I am so sorry, ….blah, blah, blah…..I am currently filing a complaint with the AG here in Minnesota. All you want to do is place the blame on the consumer instead of doing the right thing. Your company is pathetic!
Pam Pittman says
Such a pat reply Jackie….really how do you sleep at night???
Stephen says
ALLIANZ “SERVICE” IS AWFUL
My mother in London had leukemia and we were told she had a few months to live. My family lives in Boston, US. My children and wife planned to visit her first, then when they returned, I would visit her.
I called Allianz BEFORE purchasing their coverage to clarify that we would be covered if my mother’s condition deteriorated to the extent that we had to change travel arrangements. I expressly asked if I would be excluded due to preexisting conditions.
Allianz CONFIRMED that I would be 100% covered.
On that basis, I purchased 3 return flights from Boston to London for 2 weeks via Orbitz for a total $2711.61, including insurance via Allianz for $756.51.
Within a few days, we learned that my mother’s condition had deteriorated.
Again, BEFORE doing anything, I called Allianz to confirm that I would be covered if I changed or cancelled the flights and re-booked them for 1 week rather than 2 weeks.
The Allianz sales rep was sympathetic and confirmed that I would be covered, and he recommended that I purchase the new tickets, then cancel the old ones.
I did exactly what Allianz recommended and cancelled my family’s tickets and rebooked flights for them to visit my mother for 1 week.
I filled in the insurance forms and attached my mother’s oncologist’s letter confirming her situation. That was June 29th.
Other than an auto reply from “Becky, Allianz Global Assistance Customer Service” confirming receipt of my claim and promising a response within 5-7 business days, I heard nothing from Allianz.
Unfortunately, my mother’s condition got even worse and she passed away on 17th July. I am now in London with my grieving father and brother dealing with the mountains of paperwork.
Having still heard nothing from Allianz, I called them about my claim status this morning, and was told, “IT HAS BEEN REJECTED DUE TO PRE-CONDITIONS”.
When I told the service agent that I confirmed BEFORE making any changes if I’d be covered, she told me she has my call in her logs, but that the Claims Dept has rejected my claim and I have to take it up with them.
I know insurance is a business but when it’s run in such an immoral and disgusting manner, it needs to be exposed.
It is not good enough to see a templated reply here from the “Help team”. The facts are that Allianz are happy to direct customers to purchase their insurance – even to confirm that their helpful services will there when we need them, but when that process is passed on to their claims team, you can be assured that that team is trained to say “no”.
I’m sorry, but in this case, Allianz can’t have it both ways – they needed to have either advised me that I shouldn’t buy their insurance (and save some $756.51) – or deliver on their terms.
On principle, I will not stop until I receive 100% satisfaction in this matter.
stephen randall says
I received an email from Jackie, Help Team, offering to look into my claim. This was her reply and my response to her.
On Aug 3, 2012, at 2:01 PM, HelpTeam wrote:
Hi Stephen,
Thanks for reaching out. Again, our sincerest condolences regarding your mother’s passing. We are sorry we could not provide you with coverage in your situation. Our programs do contain an exclusion for any claim arising directly or indirectly from situations/events which are known to consumers when they purchase a policy. Should you wish further clarification, please call our customer service line at 1-800-419-8016.
Regards,
Jackie
—————-
My response, August 3rd, 2012
Dear Jackie,
WITHOUT PREJUDICE
If you read the details of my claim you would recognize that your assumptions and conclusions below are erroneous.
I neither knew or could have reasonably foreseen or expected the health of my mother to decline when I purchased my plan. And I can prove that point.
I believe that your claims department acted in bad faith and that their behavior was unfair and bordering on being unethical coming at such a delicate time for me and my family. I would be grateful if you would spare a few minutes to read this email properly and reconsider the merits of my claim.
In early June, I learned that my mother (who lives in London, UK) had Leukemia. The good news was that she was responding well to treatment and her doctors told us that with regular treatment she could expect many months with good quality of life.
On June 20th, 2012, I booked flights via Orbitz for my wife and two children to fly from Boston to London to visit my parents. The trip was booked for July 2nd returning on 17th July. I purchased travel insurance from Allianz. The total price of the travel plus insurance was $2711.61.
Unfortunately, on June 26th, my mother fell down at home and needed to be hospitalized. BEFORE changing my family’s travel arrangements, I called Allianz (this would have been either on the evening of June 26th or the morning of June 27th) to confirm that my insurance covered us to change the tickets from 2 weeks to one week (returning on 10th July instead of the 17th) as my mother was now unable to spend two active weeks with her grandchildren.
I was told that I was covered. Specifically the Allianz representative (who was helpful and sympathetic) directed me to page 5 of the Allianz insurance terms (Trip Cancellation or Trip Interruption):
A family member who isn’t traveling with you is seriously ill or injured.
Specific requirement: The injury, illness or medical condition must be considered life threatening, require hospitalization, or he or she must require your care.
I was advised to purchase the new tickets, then cancel the old ones, which I did.
I’ve sent you copies of the Orbitz receipts for the cancellation of the $2,711.61 tickets and rebooked tickets $2,720.42.
I filed the insurance claim on 29th June 2012.
The following occurred AFTER my claim was submitted but is relevant as it demonstrates how your claims department treated me.
While my family was in London, they reported that my mother was back home and doing well. I then booked return flights to London from July 11th to August 8th to coincide with my family’s return to Boston. I planned on visiting my parents for an extended period (so I could also enjoy the Olympics).
Two days after I arrived in London, on July 14th, my mother had a serious setback and she decided she no longer wished to continue with her treatment. Her doctor told us that the consequence of her decision was that she would now only have a maximum of a few weeks to live, rather than months. My mother’s decline was unfortunately quite rapid and on 17th July she passed away.
I called Allianz on 19th July to inquire about the progress of my claim (I had not received a reply to my email or online claim of 29th June). I was told that my claim had been rejected due to “existing medical conditions”. I was shocked and asked to speak to a senior claims supervisor and was connected to Mr. Tayvon Harvey. I explained my situation in detail and Mr. Harvey sounded sympathetic and promised to follow up within 24 hours, which he did.
When Mr. Harvey called me back, he started by stating that he had listened to the recordings of my phone calls to Allianz and that consequently, he had an apology to make. Mr. Harvey apologized that Allianz had incorrectly declined my claim on the basis of “existing medical conditions”. HOWEVER, Mr Harvey then went on to say that he was REJECTING MY CLAIM FOR A DIFFERENT REASON! I was literally speechless – I thought that I had misheard him. He said he was rejecting my claim under the clause “any problem or event that could have reasonably been foreseen or expected when you purchased your plan”
To be clear, there was no way that I or my family could have reasonably known more than my mother’s doctors. Furthermore, as I was speaking to Mr Harvey AFTER my mother passed away, his assumption that mother’s decline was foreseeable was obviously tainted. My mother was NOT declining when we purchased the travel and the insurance, nor was it reasonable or foreseeable that she would decline during that period.
I was (and still am) deeply upset and insulted that Mr. Harvey assumed I had more insight into my mother’s condition than her doctor. When I reminded Mr. Harvey that the recordings he had of my calls to Allianz support that my cover was confirmed and that I was advised to cancel the tickets, Mr. Harvey said I’d have to subpoena Allianz if I wanted to prove that point. His attitude (especially considering that I was grieving the loss of my mother) was in my opinion, smug and unfair.
I believe my claim is fully justified and supported and I ask that I receive a full refund of $2,711.61 being the amount of the cancelled tickets.
Yours Sincerely,
Stephen Randall
David Green says
The company rep said your claim was denied as falling within the ““any problem or event that could have reasonably been foreseen or expected when you purchased your plan”provision.
This is a standard catchall that is used to justify anything. Again, any excuse to not pay a claim.
“Jackie” talks about the 95% of claims where there are no problems, but there is no way to verify this figure. I would like to know the average amount of the paid claims as opposed to the denied claims.
Also, looking at the details of the rejected claims above, I see no justification for them though in fairness, we see only one side.
I again say: Use your Small Claims Court.
Joe says
I think Jackie means 95% of customers are satisfied. The 95% who don’t need to file a claim.
Annie says
Allianz was the worst experience ever!! For the first time I took out travel insurance. My daughter had emergency open heart surgrey – 7 weeks in the hospital – 2 weeks on a ventilator – 4 weeks in ICU. We were given such a run around. It took from February to July to FINALLY get my travel insurance refund. HORRIBLE – STRESSFUL Experience!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Annie says
One more comment. I have a long term care insurance policy with Allianz that I have paid in full a number of years ago – i dread the day this will be needed. If the experience is anything like I have just gone through – heaven forbid. Awful. My recommendation to anyone – NEVER BUY FROM ALLIANZ!!!
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi, Annie –
Jackie from the Help Team here. We’re sorry to hear that your daughter needed an emergency open heart surgery, and we hope that she had a healthy recovery. We’re pleased we were able to provide you with coverage during a difficult time for your family. We apologize that you felt that the claims process was extensive, but we do need the specified documentation in order to properly investigate your claim. By paying only legitimate claims, we are able to keep prices low for you and our other customers.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
Stephen says
ALLIANZ “SERVICE” IS AWFUL
My mother in London had leukemia and we were told she had a few months to live. My family live in Boston, US. My children and wife wanted to visit her first, then when they returned, I would wanted to visit her.
I called Allianz BEFORE purchasing their coverage to clarify that we would be covered if my mother’s condition deteriorated to the extent that we had to change travel arrangements. I expressly asked if I would be excluded due to preexisting conditions.
Allianz CONFIRMED that I would be 100% covered.
On that basis, I purchased 3 return flights from Boston to London for 2 weeks via Orbitz for a total $2711.61, including insurance via Allianz for $756.51.
Within a few days, we learned that my mother’s condition had deteriorated.
Again, BEFORE doing anything, I called Allianz to confirm that I would be covered if I changed or cancelled the flights and re-booked them for 1 week rather than 2 weeks.
The Allianz sales rep was sympathetic and confirmed that I would be covered, and he recommended that I purchase the new tickets, then cancel the old ones.
I did exactly what Allianz recommended and cancelled my family’s tickets and rebooked flights for them to visit my mother for 1 week.
I filled in the insurance forms and attached my mother’s ecologist’s letter confirming her situation. That was June 29th.
Other than an auto reply from “Becky, Allianz Global Assistance Customer Service” confirming receipt of my claim and promising a response within 5-7 business days, I heard nothing from Allianz.
Unfortunately, my mother’s condition got even worse and she passed away on 17th July. I am now in London with my grieving father and brother dealing with the mountains of paperwork.
Having still heard nothing from Allianz, I called them about my claim status this morning, and was told, “IT HAS BEEN REJECTED DUE TO PRE-CONDITIONS”.
When I told the service agent that I confirmed BEFORE making any changes if I’d be covered, she told me she has my call in her logs, but that the Claims Dept has rejected my claim and I have to take it up with them.
I know insurance is a business but when it’s run in such an immoral and disgusting manner, it needs to be exposed.
It is not good enough to see a templated reply here from the “Help team”. The facts are that Allianz are happy to direct customers to purchase their insurance – even to confirm that their helpful services will there when we need them, but when that process is passed on to their claims team, you can be assured that that team is trained to say “no”.
I’m sorry, but in this case, Allianz can’t have it both ways – they needed to have either advised me that I shouldn’t buy their insurance (and save some $756.51) – or deliver on their terms.
On principle, I will not stop until I receive 100% satisfaction in this matter.
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi, Stephen –
Jackie from the Help Team here. We’re sorry to hear about your family’s misfortune. We would like to look into your claim further. Please email help.team@allianzassistance.com with your claim number and someone from our customer service team will be in touch with you to discuss your claim this week.
Regards,
Jackie
Elizabeth Carpenter says
DON’T BUY THIS INSURANCE!!!!!!
We are LIVID! Yesterday after many weeks of going back and forth with ALLIANZ they told us our claims are not covered due to a “pre-existing condition”.
On March 16, 2012 we purchased 5 round trip tickets to Greece (totalling $7,400). We also purchased the recommended travel insurance that was advertised on the website “just in case” anything unforseen should happen in our family we could get our money back.
Well, on May 22 my father was diagnosed with terminal, inoperable esophageal cancer and needed his family around him for daily care and support. Within 2-3 days we contacted ALLIANZ, they sent us multiple forms which we filled out. We also had my Father’s Oncologist fill out the forms with the date of diagnosis. We felt confident that we could recover our funds and focus on him at this horrible time.
The follow-up with Allianz was like having another job. THEY will not contact you. YOU have to stay on top of them.
My dad had gone to his Primary Phys in February complaining of heartburn/indigestion. He was prescribed ant-acids. He even had a CT Scan done at the time that showed EVERYTHING was clear and negative. We left well enough alone, purchased tickets and insurance and focused on the vacation ahead. In late May he was hospitalized and had an endoscopy that showed the cancer. We were all devastated!!!
Well, somehow ALLIANZ connected the heartburn to the diagnosis and denied the claim. EVERYONE GETS HEARTBURN every now and then!!!! We didn’t think anything of it. AND the CT Scan confirmed this.
I mean, God forbid you have a headache, or stomach ache or whatever ails most healthy people from time-to-time and then get a disease….you are SCREWED if dealing with ALLIANZ!!!!! Shame on them for scamming people!!!!!
But, after reading what has been posted, this seems to be common practice for them. The LOOP-HOLES are utterly ridiculous and fool people out of their money.
WE WILL CONTACT THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND YOU ALL SHOULD TOO.
Based on the outcome of our Appeal we will be pursuing legal action against this company. We would like any feedback from others who felt they were unjustly denied coverage due to unfair business practices.
email me: lizbethf@live.com
Annie says
I relate to your frustration. My daughter’s condition was a shock – not a preexisting condition; however, they never asked for “everything up front” —like you said – you had to keep contacting them and then they wanted another form filled out. The stress of trying to get my money back was as stressful as sitting in ICU for 4 weeks – in the hospital for 7 weeks and continuing to help with the family as my daughter is still in cardio rehab. Amazing how horrible we were treated. One day, I asked the lady I was speaking to at Allianz what woudl she do – and she said – I have 4 children – I would never leave them for a European vacation under the circumstances. I feel for the employees.
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi, Elizabeth –
Jackie from the Help Team here. We’re sorry to hear that your father is ill; further, we’re sorry we were unable to provide you with coverage in your situation. We wish you and your family the best.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
Gregor Gardner says
I will NEVER, EVER buy an Allianz insurance product again.
The advertising for the travel insurance on the United Airlines website is DECEPTIVE and MISLEADING . It IMPLIES that it will take care of you in case of all kinds of family and medical emergencies, but gives you no details until you buy it. And THEN, unless you are a contracts attorney and read “page 27, section 6-b”, in size 6 font, you won’t know that you’ve been ripped off–that is, until you file a claim.
I bought travel insurance for the 1st time because my father-in-law had cancer and we had no idea when he might begin to go critical. As it turned out, he severely worsened at the time that I had my business flight scheduled and so I had to cancel. It was EXACTLY for that unforeseeable contingency that I purchased the insurance.
Only afterwards did I find out from the “caring” Allianz customer service rep that because it was a “pre-existing condition” it was not covered!
How in God’s name would we know when he would go critical?? That’s why we bought the insurance for goodness sake…! Just in case. They thoughtfully informed me that if he had died prior to or on my flight date I would have been covered… but because he had not yet died, I was not covered. Dropping my business travel and going to see him on his death-bed in his last moments is apparently not reckoned as an emergency in Allianz’ world-view. Well, he has now passed away, Allianz, but too late for your damned policy.
Absolutely slimy and despicable. I am a Million-mile flyer and I will go out of my way to inform every business traveler I know to avoid Allianz like the plague. I will also lodge my complaint with United Airlines, asking them to remove your crappy service from their website; and I will notify every other consumer rights forum I can identify.
Despicable.
John, Help Team says
Hi Gregor,
John from the Help Team here. We’re sorry to hear about the death of your father-in-law. Further, we apologize that we were unable to provide you with coverage. I would like to point out that travel insurance is like any other type of insurance in that there are terms, conditions and exclusions that affect coverage. As you are aware, the product you purchased did not include coverage for existing medical conditions.
We want consumers to make informed decisions when it comes to travel insurance. As such, we encourage all of our customers to take advantage of our 10-day Satisfaction Guarantee, which provides the opportunity to go over the insuring agreement we’ve provided and make sure that the insurance will meet our customer’s needs. If our customers have any questions after reading the policy, we can guarantee that one of our dedicated representatives will be available to answer any questions. If consumers then find that their purchased policy doesn’t meet their needs, they can cancel it and receive a full premium refund.
Should you have additional questions on the outcome of your claim, or if you’d like to get a better understanding of the policy you purchased, please call our customer service line at 1-800-419-8016. Once again, we are sorry for your loss and apologize we were unable to cover you.
Regards,
John, Help Team
Ron Tess says
Hello John from Help team,
That was entirely unhelpful and useless. Please stop hurting the keyboard.
Ron from Team BSBusters
Elizabeth Carpenter says
DON’T BUY THIS INSURANCE!!!!!!
We are LIVID! Yesterday after many weeks of going back and forth with ALLIANZ they told us our claims are not covered due to a “pre-existing condition”.
On March 16, 2012 we purchased 5 round trip tickets to Greece (totalling $7,400). We also purchased the recommended travel insurance that was advertised on the website “just in case” anything unforseen should happen in our family we could get our money back.
Well, on May 22 my father was diagnosed with terminal, inoperable esophageal cancer and needed his family around him for daily care and support. Within 2-3 days we contacted ALLIANZ, they sent us multiple forms which we filled out. We also had my Father’s Oncologist fill out the forms with the date of diagnosis. We felt confident that we could recover our funds and focus on him at this horrible time.
The follow-up with Allianz was like having another job. THEY will not contact you. YOU have to stay on top of them.
My dad had gone to his Primary Phys in February complaining of heartburn/indigestion. He was prescribed ant-acids. He even had a CT Scan done at the time that showed EVERYTHING was clear and negative. We left well enough alone, purchased tickets and insurance and focused on the vacation ahead. In late May he was hospitalized and had an endoscopy that showed the cancer. We were all devastated!!!
Well, somehow ALLIANZ connected the heartburn to the diagnosis and denied the claim. EVERYONE GETS HEARTBURN every now and then!!!! We didn’t think anything of it. AND the CT Scan confirmed this.
I mean, God forbid you have a headache, or stomach ache or whatever ails most healthy people from time-to-time and then get a disease….you are SCREWED if dealing with ALLIANZ!!!!! Shame on them for scamming people!!!!!
But, after reading what has been posted, this seems to be common practice for them. The LOOP-HOLES are utterly ridiculous and fool people out of their money.
WE WILL CONTACT THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND YOU ALL SHOULD TOO.
Based on the outcome of our Appeal we will be pursuing legal action against this company. We would like any feedback from others who felt they were unjustly denied coverage due to unfair business practices.
email me at lizbethf@live.com
Liz says
WORST COMPANY EVER!!!!! The whole purpose of travel insurance is in case something unforsean happens…well that’s what happened to us and your company found in small print on the last page of a 21 page document reason to screw us!!!!! We needed to change flights due to the fact the person we were going to see went into the hospital. Sounds reasonable to me!!! apparently because the person is a Dr. we do’nt get our money!!!! Your company should be ashamed of themselves and Jetblue for using you!!!!!!!!
John, Help Team says
Hi Liz,
John from the Help Team here. We are sorry to hear about the misfortunes you experienced during your travels. Further, we apologize that we were unable to provide you with coverage in your situation. Should you wish to further discuss the policy you purchased or the outcome of your claim, please call our customer service line at 1-800-419-8016.
Regards,
John, Help Team
Ron Tess says
Hello John from Help team,
In the court of public opinion you had a chance to make a case and instead chose to provide a canned, unhelpful and useless response that’s typical of greedy corporate world. I long for the days the there was integrity in American business. Please consider getting out of the insurance business and hurting America.
Ron from Team BSBusters
Stan Krome says
My wife and i were headed on a bucket-list trip to Eastern Europe and the Baltic region this spring. We purchased the AAA travel insurance suggestion which was Allianz. Although you can choose your level of coverage, based on our ages the insurance was not cheap. As fate would have it, my wife’s back went out and we had to cancel the trip. I followed Allianz’s protocol, filed a claim, collected receipts, doctor’s statements and provided Allianz with everything they asked. Twice they asked for additional information and I complied. I was fine up to this point. Each time, I followed up with a phone call to Allianz confirming that they received my additional submissions. However 3 weeks later, they sent me a letter asking for the same information. I was livid. I called their support line, asked to speak with the supervisor. After I explained my frustration to the supervisor, he asked for MORE information. I told him that I suspected the typical insurance run-around and proceeded to threaten him with the Internet and Better Business Bureau. I simply asked him if he was on my side or not? Well guess what? He approved my claim. I received 2 subsequent phone calls and my full refund within one week. Allianz DID pay but it is a sad state of affairs when you have to use threats to get results but it worked.
John, Help Team says
Hi, Stan –
John from the Help Team here. We’re sorry to hear about your wife’s misfortune which caused you to cancel your trip, and that you had a frustrating experience filing a claim. We appreciate your feedback, and our team will be in touch soon to further discuss.
Regards,
John, Help Team
Ron Tess says
Hello John from Help team,
In the court of public opinion you had a chance to make a case and instead chose to provide a canned, unhelpful and useless response that’s typical of greedy corporate world. I long for the days the there was integrity in American business. Please consider getting out of the insurance business and hurting America.
Ron from Team BSBusters
(See, I can do canned replies too. How do you like them apples now, John from Help Team?”
Naresh says
These people are Frauds, cheaters
Please dont buy insurance from them. There is of no use..
My trip was interrupted due to some personal reasons/illness and they didnt refunded my ticket amount which is just $100. I was sick but not too seriously sick to get admitted in an emergency room and get a doctor’s statement after spending $1000 (on medical bills/prescriptions) to get reimbursed for $100 airline ticket.
Allianz Travel Insurance Company prey on innocent people’s money.
John, Help Team says
Hi, Naresh –
Jackie from the Help Team here. We’re sorry to hear that you had to cancel your trip due to medical reasons, and that we were unable to provide you with coverage in your situation. I don’t know the exact details of your case, but please note that travel insurance is like any other type of insurance in that there are terms, conditions and exclusions that affect coverage. Additionally, we offer each of our customers a 10-day free look, so they have the opportunity to carefully review their policy, and cancel it at no cost if it doesn’t meet their needs.
Should you have additional questions on the outcome of your claim, or if you’d like to get a better understanding of the policy you purchased, please call our customer service line at 1-800-419-8016. Once again, we apologize we were unable to cover you in your situation, and we wish you a healthy recovery.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
Ron Tess says
Hello Jackie from “Help” team,
In the court of public opinion you had a chance to make a case and instead chose to provide a canned, unhelpful and useless response that’s typical of greedy corporate world. It hides behind what the law allows you. Yes, we all understand it’s legal to to find loopholes and make a huge profit by being deceptive while claiming you followed the letter of the contract. But you are not fooling anyone. So far your company has changed nobody’s mind. Everyone thinks you are a crook and your words further prove that. Shame on you. Shame, shame, shame on you. Please consider getting out of the insurance business and hurting America.
Ron from Team BSBusters
JB Tyler says
Thank you to all the commenters and especially to “Jackie from the Help Team” (clearly some kind of joke). I decided NOT to purchase the insurance through Allianz (linked from JetBlue’s website) for our trip to Puerto Rico based on your experiences. I’d rather just roll the dice and take my chances rather than deal with a pile of bull dookie from a company like Allianz.
I’m heading to San Juan during hurricane season with no travel insurance…wish me luck!
Joe says
Smart move my friend.
David Gartner` says
Booked a package thru US Airways. Flight was delayed 1 hour leaving Cleveland. Missed our connection in Charlette N.C. by 7 minutes. Unable to get another flight that day thru Char or Miami, everything was booked solid. Filed claim with Allianz for 1 lost day at Sandals resort for $525.00. They requested copies of all travel documents, front and back copies of all checks used to pay for trip and/or credit card statements. Their reply was “PREPAID ITEMS ARE NOT COVERED-CLAIM DENIED’!!!! Stay away from this company. What a rip-off!!!!
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi David,
Jackie from the Help Team here. We are so sorry to hear about the misfortunes you experienced during your travels. I don’t know the exact details of your case, but please note that travel insurance is like any other type of insurance in that there are terms, conditions, and exclusions which affect coverage.
If you’d like to get a better understanding of the policy you purchased and the outcome of your claim, please call 1-800-284-8300 and someone from our team would be happy to assist you.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
Pam says
Watch out for Allianzassistance. I paid for their insurance and had to change a flight. I was told by a doctor I could not fly for several days. They will not cover it. They are crooks. Stay away
Kimberly Contento says
In October my then boyfriend and I went to Cancun and we got engaged only to find out the very next day there was a hurricane and we had to leave a day early and switch flights… we figured if we filed the correct documentation we would be reimbursed for hotel/flight for having to leave a day early – WRONG!!!!!!!!!….. Apparently the “Natural Disaster Insurance” only covers the flight and not the hotel and the flight is ONLY covered if JetBlue was shut down for more then 24 hours???? VERY FRUSTRATING…. So…. I’m wondering what is the point of even having insurance at all if those things aren’t covered. TOTALLY BOGUS COVERAGE DO NOT GO WITH THIS COMPANY EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi, Kimberly –
Jackie from the Help Team here. Sorry to hear that bad weather cut your trip short. I don’t know the exact details of your case, but please note that travel insurance is like any other type of insurance in that there are terms, conditions and exclusions that affect coverage.
Please contact us at help.team@allianzassistance.com with your policy number and full details of your case, and one of our customer service representatives will be in touch with you.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
Ron Tess says
Hello Jackie from “Help” team,
More canned, duplicitous damage control. In the court of public opinion you had a chance to make a case and instead chose to provide a canned, unhelpful and useless response that’s typical of greedy corporate world. It hides behind what the law allows you. Yes, we all understand it’s legal to to find loopholes and make a huge profit by being deceptive while claiming you followed the letter of the contract. But you are not fooling anyone. So far your company has changed nobody’s mind. Everyone thinks you are a crook and your words further prove that. Shame on you. Shame, shame, shame on you. Please consider getting out of the insurance business and hurting America.
Ron from Team BSBusters
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi, Pam –
Jackie from the Help Team here. We’re sorry that you had to change your flight at the last-minute, and that we were unable to provide you with coverage in your situation. I don’t know the exact details of your case, but please note that travel insurance is like any other type of insurance in that there are terms, conditions and exclusions that affect coverage.
If you have further questions about the policy you purchased, please call our customer service line at 1-800-284-8300.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
Jonathan Junkala says
Use another Insurance agency. Allianz made me jump through hoops after hoops, when my father collapsed and was diagnosed with Cancer, and I had to change a trip. When I complied with all their back and forth correspondence and nonsense (they even requested documents from my fathers Docter’s – a HIPPA violation), after months I was paid just 300$. This was the limit of my coverage, something neither explained forth-right in the initial purchase, nor really truth -in -advertising. (How can they claim to cover all the expenses needed in an emergency if their limit is 300$). JETBLUE- a good airline- offers their insurance in a mandatory “yes or no” check-the box during online ticket purchasing. I am campaigning to JETBLUE to offer another insurance option, or not making Allianz a mandatory “prompt” when buying a JETBLUE ticket.
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi, Jonathan –
Jackie from the Help Team here. We are sorry to hear about your father’s illness. Further, we apologize that you found our claims process to be extensive, but we do need the specified documentation in order to properly investigate your claim. By paying only legitimate claims, we are able to keep prices low for you and our other customers.
Should you wish to further discuss the policy you purchased or the outcome of your claim, please call our customer service line at 1-800-419-8016. We wish you and your family the best.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
Jonathan Junkala says
Jackie from the help team explained above that paying only legitimate claims helped keep helath cost down for other customers. During adverstising the never said in any forthright manner that The “limit” to my coverage was 300$ ( a fact that is kind of , oh, good to know).
As for legitimate expenses, I did not ask for any offset in food, lodging, rental car etc…I asked for the price of my tickets that I had to pay out of pocket with me first subtracting my origional ticket cost…and i asked for about 10$ in Rx’s and 25$ in unexpected cost I had to pay in fuel.
Lets remember they company talks about how much it takes care of you ….when they are trying to sell you the insurance. My claim was for just under $549 dollars. They paid me $300 after I had to re-send them the same documents over and over again. After paying the airline the mandatory $100 change fee for my two changed flights, that left me 100$ which didn’t even pay for new tickets. The moral of the story is that if you are any kind of wise consumer and need insurance, go the the higher rated companies. Jackies reply above, instead of looking into the claim ( obvioulsy she can easily do so to fashion her replies), was again to deflect me off to some customer Service line.
Ron Tess says
Hello Jackie from “Help” team,
That was a load. Don’t you get tired of shoveling the same BS in every post?
Ron from Team BSBusters
Renee says
I want to say thank you to everyone who has shown this companies true colors, and Allianz’s joke of a Help Team. That is the kind of customer service that will not get my business. I am truely sorry for so many of you who had their money squandered by the con-service. I can’t believe the BBB gives them and A+, but actually I can…so, so sad.
Doug says
I had to file a complaint against Allianz:
My wife and I purchased Travel Insurance from ALLIANZ GLOBAL ASSITANCE 1-800-334-725 from the United Airlines Website on April 3, 2012 when we bought our tickets. We had to cancel our trip because I received an emergency call for a kidney transplant at the Department of Veteran’s Affairs Medical Hospital in Pittsburgh, OH on April 18, 2012. I’ve been a dialysis patient for the past 6 years due to service connection and I am rated 100% disabled by the VA. On April 30, 2012 we filed a claim and faxed the required documentation. Over the course of the month of May 2012, Allianz has requested several medical records related to the kidney transplant. On Jun 7, 2012 I received a letter dated May 29, 2012 requesting even more documentation from my previous physician. I called customer service at 12:20pm and spoke with the representative (I forgot her name). I explained that all of my care was from the VA and I’ve had several doctors over the years. The rep explained they wanted my dialysis treatment sheets since December 2011. I explained that I went through dialysis on 3 days a week for 4 hours at a time and the record would be very large. She then told me that if this was true, Allianz would deny the claim because of a pre-existing medical condition. I attempted to explain I read that in the contract after it was e-mailed to me, and she replied that it’s always on the website. However, neither the exclusions nor the contract were available on the United Airlines website when we purchased the insurance. I also told them I would seek legal action against the insurance company.
I want the cost my tickets reimbursed, $519.20.
The Ohio Bureau of Insurance (Phone #800-686-1526) and my complaint # is: CSD 1157467
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi Doug,
Jackie from the Help Team here. We’re sorry to hear that you had to cancel your trip at the last-minute, and wish you a healthy recovery. Further, we apologize that we were unable to provide you with coverage in your situation; one thing I’d like to point out is that travel insurance is like any other type of insurance in that there are terms, conditions and exclusions that affect coverage. As you may know, the product you purchased did not include coverage for existing medical conditions. We, as well as our partner United Airlines, want consumers to make informed decisions when it comes to travel insurance. When the insurance is offered, we make sure that we indicate that “Limitations apply” and provide a link which consumers may use if they want to review the terms and conditions.
Also, we encourage all of our customers to take advantage of our 10-day Satisfaction Guarantee, which provides the opportunity to go over the insuring agreement we’ve provided and make sure that the insurance will meet our customer’s needs. If our customers have any questions after reading the policy, we can guarantee that one of our dedicated representatives will be available to answer any questions. If consumers then find that their purchased policy doesn’t meet their needs, they can cancel it and receive a full premium refund.
Should you have additional questions on the outcome of your claim, or if you’d like to get a better understanding of the policy you purchased, please call our customer service line at 1-800-419-8016. Once again, we apologize we were unable to cover you in your situation, and we wish you a healthy recovery.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
Ron Tess says
Hello Jackie from “Help” team,
More spin and B.S. Yeah you encourage people to use the 10 day satisfaction guarantee. Hey, genius, how does one take advantage of the 10 day satisfaction guarantee? In those 10 days nothing has been exercised, no travel has taken place, nobody has filed a claim with you. Nobody can “test” satisfaction until something goes wrong with the trip and they file for reimbursement. Your “10-day satisfaction guarantee” is complete B.S.. Those things apply to something that you actually USE for 10 days. It’s good for a 10 day spa trial. It’s good for using your service. In your line of business the 10 day satisfaction guarantee is MEANINGLESS, because during that time the service is in hibernation. Nothing is happening. You are a genius. And you are not fooling anyone. Get out of the insurance business. You are crooks.
Ron from Team BSBusters
MJ Gray says
I purchase my tickets and insurance on May 2nd for myself and my two kids. On May 15th my brother in law was killed in an accident. When I call Allianz Travel Insurance says that I am covered, but that I have to see what US Air will do for me upon cancellation…well they want to leave me the 1550.00 per ticket x 3 for me to be able to use in the next year. My husband travels a great deal and I know we will not use it for a ticket in the US and we most likely will not be able to make this trip again due to my husbands work schedule. He is in the country we were going to travel to, which is why we were going to go. But do to the death in the family he will be coming home early. My question is, is there any way to get this claim to be paid? My understand is that as long as the credit is out there from the airline(even if I lose it if I don’t use it) Allianz will not pay for the claim. Is there a way to get the airline to not give me a credit, so that Allianz can be responsible or is this all part of the illusion of having some kind of coverage?
Blessings,
Mary Jo
Jackie says
Hello Mary Jo,
Jackie from the Help Team here. Thank you for reaching out with your question. We’d be happy to further investigate your case. Can you please email the Help Team at help.team@allianzassistance.com with your name, policy number, and full details of your case and someone from our customer service team will be in touch after looking into your situation?
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
K. Schultz says
Never again! I purchased Access America (now Allianz) travel insurance many times over the past few years – but I will not do so again – nor will i recommend this company to anyone i know. I purchased two airline tickets to take my daughter to see a college down south last August – but had to cancel due to a severe onset of a kidney stone and subsequent surgery. Allianz denied my claim saying that my kidney stone was a “pre-exisintg” condition! Some hisotry – I had stomach pain six months prior this episode – my doc advised me to go to local ER – where they released me saying that they found nothing wrong and to follow up with my primary doc as needed. I didn’thave any other pain until August – which is when I had the kidney stone surgery. I appealed the claim and even had a letter from my primary doc saying that there wasn’t any diagnosis of a kidney stone until I was operated on! They denied my claim again stating that it was a pre-exisint condition – I just didn’t know it at the time! What??? So let me get this straight – if you have a medical condition but just don’t know it yet – they can deny your claim! If I get diagnosed with cancer six months from now – they can claim that is a pre-exisitng condition but I just haven’t been told yet?
I truly wonder if Allianz realizes how many people will hear about this ridiculous denail of coverage and decide not to use their company – I have already told all my friends and business associates – and working at my local chamber of commerce office – that is alot of people. I am out $500, but they will be out many many more thousand of dollars in lost business.
Jackie says
Jackie from the Help Team here. We are so sorry to hear about your misfortune, and we wish you the best. Further, we apologize that we were unable to provide you with coverage in your situation; one thing I’d like to point out is that travel insurance is like any other type of insurance in that there are terms, conditions and exclusions that affect coverage. As you may know, the product you purchased did not include coverage for existing medical conditions. Our claims department reviews the physician statement form submitted by your doctor, and bases their determination on the information we receive from your doctor.
Should you have additional questions on the outcome of your claim, or if you’d like to get a better understanding of the policy you purchased, please call our customer service line at 1-800-419-8016. Once again, we apologize we were unable to cover you in your situation.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
B Farrington says
I tried to use Allianz Travel Insurance through US Airways. After verifying coverage cancellation reasons, both US Airways and Allianz travel representatives were extremely unhelpful when I needed to file a claim (due to family medical emergency) and then the claim was rejected. The claim is a reasonably small amount of money (less the $200) and I have basically chalked it up to a learning experience: never use this insurance company.
Jackie says
Jackie from the Help Team here. We’re sorry to hear that you had to cancel your trip, and that we were unable to provide you with coverage in your situation. I don’t know the exact details of your case, but I’d like to point out that travel insurance is like any other type of insurance in that there are terms, conditions and exclusions that affect coverage.
Should you have any additional questions regarding the outcome of your claim, please call our customer service line at 1-800-419-8016 and we’ll be happy to further assist you.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
Elaine says
This out-of-the-box standardized answers I am seeing from “Jackie, Help Team” have completly turned me away from this company. Regardless of the intent, having the same answer multiple times here makes it really sound like you are not listening to your customers, and really don’t care. I will not be going with Allianz to insure any of my vacations.
linh pham says
I purchased 2 airlines tickets for a Vegas this coming June. Because I didn’t have enough mileage to purchase the tickets together & get the insurance coverage for both of us with 1 time fee (~$19), as per Alaska Airlines webpage, I called Allianz Travel directly to ask them about it. I was informed by a representative that I call in anytime after booking my reservation that I could add my husband in the insurance policy at no cost if both tickets are identical and that we are traveling together.
Now that I have purchased the tickets, and call Allianz back to add my husband in, they told me a different thing. They told my I have to purchase a different policy for my husband and that the policy always per person, not per family travel.
The customer service is not accommodating, nor do they try to make up for misinforming me. Never buy insurance through Allianz again.
Jackie says
Hi Linh –
Jackie from the Help Team here. Someone from our customer service team will contact you today to further discuss the policy you purchased.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
justcurious says
I’m reading all these complaints & Jackie’s response. I like that someone is responding to these, however, I’m wondering why they have to complain on a review website before Allianz offers to ‘look into it further’? Shouldn’t they have looked into it ‘further’ the first time? We’re getting ready to purchase airline tickets for a trip out of the country, but after reading about the hassles, I’m just not sure this is who we want to go through.
Jackie says
Hello – Jackie from the Help Team here. Thank you for voicing both praise and constructive feedback. Please let me clarify the concerns you expressed above. Of course, when one of our customers files a claim we thoroughly investigate it to ensure we are providing customized customer service. However, when we see that our customers are unsatisfied with the outcome of our claim and are posting comments online, we encourage them to contact our customer service team again, which is available 24/7/365, so that one of our dedicated representatives can answer any additional questions they may have. Even with our emphasis on providing exceptional customer service and products that meet the majority of our customers’ needs, not every customer will be satisfied with the outcome of their claim. We certainly understand their frustration and we value their feedback. However, if one considers that our customers rate their satisfaction with us at better than 95%, a more complete perspective can be had.
With that being said, the best consumer is an informed consumer. This is especially important as travel insurance is like any other type of insurance in that there are terms, conditions and exclusions that affect coverage. We want our customers to purchase an insurance product that will meet their needs, including you! We’d love the opportunity to speak with you about the benefits of travel insurance, and to help you find the plan that is best for you, so please call us at 1.800.284.8300 so we can assist you. Further, we provide all of our customers with a 10-day free look so they can carefully review their policy, and if they find it doesn’t meet their needs, they can cancel the policy at no cost.
Thank you again for reaching out, and we look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
cwh says
If you purchase a policy from this company then expect to file a lawsuit to collect on a claim.
JP says
Absolutely worthless. Like throwing your money away. I was very sick and had to take a later flight. When I tried to put my claim in was told I needed a Physician Statement. I don’t know about the average person but usually I don’t go to see a Doctor when I’m sick. I take care of myself and get better. Never ever deal with these people. The stock customer service responses to the above complaints are just a patent way to show they “care” whilst they make free money off of us. I know as I used to manage a customer service department. The difference being is that we actually would bend over backwards to compensate and satiate our customers.
Jackie says
Hi, JP –
Jackie from the Help Team here. Sorry to hear that you fell ill before your trip and had to postpone your flight; further, we apologize that we were unable to provide you with coverage in your situation. I don’t know the exact details of your case, but please note that travel insurance is like any other type of insurance in that there are terms, conditions, and exclusions that affect coverage. Additionally, we apologize that you found the claims process to be extensive; however, we do need the specified documentation in order to properly investigate our customers’ claims. By paying only legitimate claims, we are able to keep prices low for all of our customers.
Should you have additional questions or wish to further discuss the outcome of your claim, please call 1-800-284-8300 and someone from our team would be happy to assist you.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
Margarita Roderick says
I paid almost $48.00 to insurance my trip. I flew from Denver to Houston 3/11/12 UA 1655 with no problem. Then, I was on UA 4134 same day. This flight was delayed and then cancelled. I got a seat on UA 4137 and was delayed as well. I arrived to BJX at 6:40 PM. At the BJX I was told that my luggage was not on the same plane I arrived to Leon. I took a taxi to San Miguel de Allende (my final destination). United told me my luggage would be sent to my hotel in San Miguel. And yes I did get my suitcase on 3/12/12 around 8:00 PM. I thought that Allienz was a reliable insurance company. In spite of the delays, cancellation, delayed suitcase, I did not get any money back from Allianz for all of the inconveniences that I had. I just talked to one of Allianz employees and asked her to cancel my claim. When its about buying a trip policy, everything is wonderful. But it’s a nightmare to deal with Allianz when we have a claim. This is the last time I do business with Allienz. This company is not the one and only trip insurance company in the market. In the future, I can get my trip insurance policies with Travel Guard – for instance- never again with Allianz.
Jackie says
Jackie from the Help Team here. Sorry to hear about the mishaps you experienced during your travels to San Miguel de Allende – we can understand why you’re frustrated. We’re happy to hear that you were able to find alternate flights to arrive safely to your final destination.
We checked out the details of your claim and the baggage delay benefit your program with us provided. That benefit can reimburse “reasonable essential items for you to use until your baggage arrives”. We understand how inconvenient the experience was, but unfortunately that would not automatically trigger payment of the benefit limit.
We did close your claim at your request. However, if you aren’t reimbursed fully by the airline for any emergency items you needed to purchase, or do locate any receipts you may have, we will be glad to reopen your claim for you.
Should you have any additional questions regarding the policy you purchased, please email us at help.team@allianzassistance.com, and we’d be happy to further assist you.
Frank Sarat says
I have a pending claim for medical evacuation that Allianz is refusing to reimburse. I suffered a head injury in Mexico, I was traveling by myself, i was semi conscious in hospital for three days, my family found out about it, they tried to get treatment but the hospital demanded a line of credit of $100,000, plus the place was chaos, my family arranged for air ambulance to Houston, two days after arrival there I had seven hour cranial/facial surgery.
Allianz says they wont pay for evacuation cost because, even though it was utterly impossible for me to do so, they didn’t receive advance notice of my plight. I have no memory of anything until after the surgery. My ticket with the insurance policy and terms and conditions was in a hotel occupied by no one in Mexico.
Jackie says
Hi, Frank –
Jackie from the Help Team here. We’re so sorry for the misfortune you experienced during your vacation in Mexico. I don’t know the exact details of your case, but please note that travel insurance is like any other type of insurance in that there are terms, conditions, and exclusions which affect coverage. If you’d like us to further investigate your case, please email us at help.team@allianzassistance.com with your name, policy number, and any relevant documentation.
Once again, we are sorry to hear about your accident, and wish you the best.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
Jennifer says
Really….what is the purpose of buying travel insurance when you all make it IMPOSSIBLE to use the benefit? There are many other reasons why people have to cancel their trips and those reasons can be just as IMPORTANT. I have been burned by this 3 times over the last 15 years. I will NEVER purchase it again, and I will NEVER refer anyone else to either. This was my first experience with this company and will most definately be my last. The Physician form that is required is lengthy and it pushed my sons doctor away. He is sick, and by the “medical” standard, he isn’t too sick to travel. Well…I am glad that the airlines, and the insurance companies are able to make this decision for someone. RIDICULOUS! Take warning……you will give up trying to get your money back, and you can bet that they count on that. If you don’t believe this…..then you are very wrong.
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi Jennifer –
Jackie from the Help Team here. Thank you for reaching out to us, and sharing your concerns. We’re sorry that you had to cancel your vacation, and that we weren’t able to provide you with coverage in your situation. I don’t know the exact details of your case, but please note that travel insurance is like any other type of insurance in that there are terms, conditions, and exclusions that affect coverage. Additionally, we apologize that you found that the claims process was extensive; however, we do need the specified documentation in order to properly investigate our customers’ claims. Our claims department then reviews the physician statement form submitted by your doctor, and bases their determination on the information we receive from your doctor.
Once again, we are very sorry that we could not cover you and your family this circumstance. We wish you and your son the best.
Regards,
Jackie, Help Team
CARMEN RIVERA says
JACKIE; NECESITO QUE ME AYUDES, POR FAVOR. EL DIA 22 DE FEBRERO COMPRE UN PASAJE PARA N.Y. POR INTERNET CON HOTWIRE Y COMPRE EL SEGURO. EL DIA 24 DE FEBRERO MI HIJA ME LLAMA Y ME PIDE DE POR FAVOR QUE LE BUSQUE LA HIJA AL COLEGIO PORQUE ELLA ESTA EN SALA DE EMERGENCIA DEL HOSPITAL HERMANOS MELEDEZ EN BAYAMON P.R. CON UN DOLOR DE ESTOMAGO MUY FUERTE Y ESTA ESPERANDO QUE EL MEDICO LA EVALUARA. ESE MISMO DIA LOS LLAMO A USTEDES Y LE HABLE POR MEDIO DE UN TRADUCTOR QUE MI HIJA ESTABA EN EL HOSPITAL PERO QUE YO SABIA QUE TENIA, ESTABA ESPERANDO A VER QUE DECIA LOS MEDICO. Y QUE YO NO QUERIA CANCELAR MI VUELO ,PORQUE TAL VEZ NO ERA NADA DE EMERGENCIA, QUE SOLAMENTE QUERIA NOTIFICARCELO , POR QUE NO SABIA CUAL ERA EL DIAGNOCTICO. MI HIJA SE QUEDO EN EL HOSPITAL CON SUERO Y LE ESTABAN HACIENDO LABORATORIOS Y ESTUDIOS. AL OTRO DIA 25 DE FEBRERO VOY AL HOSPITAL CON LA IDEA DE QUE SE SENTIA MEJOR Y QUE ERAN GACES. CUANDO LLEGO LA TENIAN HACIENDO MAS ESTUDIOS Y ME INFORMARON QUE EL DR. LA IBA A HOSPITALIZAR. ESE MISMO DIA LLAME AL SEGURO Y LE INFORME TODO Y QUE TENIA QUE CANCELAR EL VIAJE,POR QUE LA IBAN A OPERAR, LA JOVEN QUE ME ATENDIO NE DIJO QUE ME IBA A MANDAR UN FORMULARIO PARA QUE EL MEDICO LO LLENARA. LE PAGUE AL DR. $25.00 Y ME LOS LLENO Y LOS ENVIE POR FAX. CUANDO LLAMO PARA SABER EL ESTATU DE LA RELAMACION, ME INFORMAN QUE NO TENGO DERECHO AL REEMBOSO DEL DINERO POR QUE MI HIJA LE ENPEZO EL DOLOR EL MISMO DIA QUE YO COMPRE EL PASAJE. PRIMERO ES QUE YO NO VIVO CON MI HIJA Y ELLA NO ME HABIA DICHO NADA DEL DOLOR, LO SEGUNDO ES QUE NADIA SABIA QUE LA IBAN A OPERAR. SI LLEGO A SABER QUE ELLA SE SENTIA MAL YO NO COMPRO EL PASAJE PORQUE ELLA TIENE UNA NENA DE 3 A~nOS Y ES MADRE SOLTERA. FUIMOS HONESTO CON USTEDES POR QUE EL MEDICO LE PREGUNTO A MI HIJA QUE DESDE CUANDO TENIA ESE DOLOR Y ELLA LE CONTESTO DESDE EL MIERCOLES 22 DE FEBRERO PERO QUE EL VIERNES 25 EL DOLOR ERA MAS FUERTE. NO ENCUENTRO JUSTO QUE NO ME QUIERAN DEVOLVER EL DINERO, YO NO SOY ADIVINA NI DOCTORA, Y LO QUE PASE EN LA CASA DE MI HIJA NO TODO ME LO DICE. LLAME A HOTWIRE Y ME PIDEN $150.00 MAS DE PENALIDAD PARA PODER VIAJAR. ESTOY DESEMPLEADA Y IBA A VER A MI MAMA QUE VIVE EN N.Y. POR FAVOR AYUDEME NO PUEDO PAGAR LOS $150.00 QUE ME PIDEN. SOLO ES $225.40 EL REEVOLSO JACKIE QUIERO SABER QUE MAS PUEDO HACER. SI LE LLEVO OTRO FORMULARIO AL DR. LE TENGO QUE PAGAR OTRA VEZ Y DECIR UNA MENTIRA QUE YA USTEDES SABEN, OTRA ME DIJO QUE LE ENVIARA EL RECORD MEDICO DE MI HIJA, AQUI ESO ES PROHIVIDO PORLA LEY HIPA. POR AMOR A DIOS TENGAN MISERICORDIA DE MI. GRACIAS POR TODO.
CARMEN RIVERA says
SE ME OLVIDO DARTE MI # H53020254 GRACIAS
Jackie, Help Team says
Hi Carmen –
Jackie from the Help Team here. Sorry we were unable to provide you with coverage; we wish you and your daughter the best of luck.
Regards,
Jackie
Linda Miller says
My parents were scheduled to go on a cruise in early December 2011. My father needed emergency surgery in mid-November and was in the hospital for 12 days. His doctor did not feel he was strong enough to travel, nor did he feel well enough to go on vacation. When the original claim was filed with Allianz, the doctor mistakenly put the date of diagnosis as September, around the time of purchase and payment. This doctor and three subsequent doctors have corrected this and indicated that the condition and surgery were in no way anticipated. This seems a clear-cut example of what travel insurance is SUPPOSED to be for, yet Allianz has now twice denied the claim. I would not deal with any travel agent that provides insurance through Allianz.
Linda Miller says
This claim was just resolved satisfactorily.
John G says
We bought Allianz Travel Insurance using a link on Delta’s website for a very reasonable fee. On our last nigh of vacationt, I fell and injured my head, meaning a trip to the emergency room. I called Allianz the next day, and everyone I spoke with in the process of filing my claim and following up on it was extremely polite and helpful. The claim form was easy to complete, as was filing it. The original contract clearly stated the documentation needed for emergency service reimbursement. Once I provided the necessary material, my claim was approved and the check reimbursing me in full was sent within a very reasonable period of time. We’ll definitely use Allianz Travel Insurance again (it’s also who AAA uses).
John says
Don’t bother to buy trip insurance from accessamerica. The company brags about the 10 day period you have to read the 23 page policy their fleet of lawyers has written. I my opinion this company will figure out some way to keep your premiun and explain some fine print in the 23 page policy why they don’t have to pay you.
Most the time you have to buy travel tickets weeks if not months in advance. Most reasonably price tickets are non-refundable, if some circumstances arrise the you can travel, travel insurance seems like a good idea.
My advise would be find a company that has a policy with less pages than your homeowners policy. My opinion is the staff on accessamerica phones are well trained to deny claims. Feels like you’re on the “Hello this is Peggy” commerical with the credit card companies.
jm says
Hello accessamerica haters! I paid for coverage that was linked with a airline. Accessamerica denied my claim as road closure is not covered for not being able to make my flight. However it was a natural disaster that closed the road…still they found a loophole. Anyway I called the airline and complained for linking this company to there website. I urge you to do the same.
jm says
The company is garbage! Total fraud. Save your money by not using this company.
I can see the 4.5 star rating in one of two ways. 1: The editor received special treatment. 2: The editor never actually used the company but instead wrote the review based on the websites design.
Tatiana says
For 10 years my husband has suffered from a condition known as benign tremors. He takes medication & has annual check-ups with a neurologist. On 9/19/11 he had a full neurological work-up which showed that he was in excellent health with no neurological problems apart from the benign tremors. The neurologist ordered an MRI as a standard work-up for the tremor disorder.
On 9/26 we purchased insurance with Access America (AA). A few days after we purchased the trip my husband went in for the MRI and we received the bad news that they had “unexpectedly” found an unknown mass. It turned out to be a tumor.
We cancelled the trip and I filed a claim with Access America. Access America responded that it was impossible that the tumor had not caused any symptoms prior to the insurance purchase. Our neurologist provided them with a written statement that said “At the time of his 9/19/2011 office visit he displayed no symptoms suggestive of a brain tumor. The tremors of his hands are unrelated to the tumor and are likely inherited.” Access America did not accept this statement and requested the neurologist’s visit notes which we provided. In the notes my husband mentions in passing that he is “forgetful”. Access America latched onto this and says this is a symptom of the tumor and therefore they refuse the claim.
Clearly Access America is operating in bad faith. They did not accept the neurologist’s statement or expert opinion and decided – without any medical training on their part – that “forgetfulness” is a sign of a brain tumor.
Stay away from this company. They are unethical and dishonest and prey on the misfortunes of American families !!!!
Rita Numan says
Had I have looked up these reviews earlier I would have been sure to stay away. I had a two day booking at a hotel out of country for New years and a few days before I got a kidney infection and followed their instructions prior to the trip on how to cancel everything. Well I got the documentation that they needed including the doctor request to cancel my trip and sent that as an attachment in a email, along with the reference number in the body text and the hotwire itinerary. I sent that email January 5th as I was on the phone with an agent from access america to make sure that I was sending it to the correct location. Well the rep told me I would receive an email conformation that they had received my documentation… well I waited and waited and waited… NOTHING (surprise)! Called them back Jan 23rd only to be told… I had never sent them anything! wow! really so I decided to foward them my first email! They told me to call back within a few days seeing as he was unable to see if he had recieved it… because some other “department” has to put my email into my “file”! Well lets fast forward until yesterday.. first I search for accessamerica to check my “claim” to my surprise they switched their name to ALLIANZ! WELL THATS GREAT! I look through my claim online only to be told once again that I did not have everything sent! Frustrated I called them to see WTH was missing this time and I was told it was the itinerary for my trip!!! ARE YOU KIDDING? IT IS NOT ONLY NOT AN ATTACHMENT BUT IT WAS RIGHT UNDER THE REFERENCE NUMBER THAT THEY TOLD ME TO PLACE IN THE BODY OF THE EMAIL!!! so she tells me “sorry your email shows advertisements and etc” after explaining time and time again are you sure because that is what the hotwire itinerary has little advertisements on the bottom… “she says something is wrong with your email”. At this point I asked for a manager because I was frustrated to get the run around without every receiving an email or anything saying I am missing anything!! She stated that the department I need to reach is closed at this time but she can have them call me tomorrow… which was today… she also asked “what time can you be reached” I RESPONDED WITH “AT ANYTIME EXCEPT THE HOURS OF 3-5PM”… since I have class at 3:30pm… I got an unknown incoming call and decided to answer.. as the other person sounded a little shocked I answered “OH HELLO MISS RITA I AM SO SORRY TO BE CALLING YOU DURING THE TIME YOU ARE NOT AVAILABLE, DO YOU HAVE TIME TO TALK? I NEED TO MAKE THE CALL BACKS BY A CERTAIN TIME”… THIS CALL CAME IN AT 3:20 PM! HOW SHADY IS THAT? AS IF THEY INTENTIONALLY CALL YOU TO GET YOUR VOICE MAIL. well I was not having it and told her I was able to speak and explained the situation.. She then explained again that the itinerary was missing… I explained that was impossible as it was in the text of the body not some attachment.. she then asked me to hold and came back to respond “oh well I did not know that because now I see it!” let me ask a general question here, but if they tell me to make sure my reference number is the first thing in my email which is directly followed by my itinerary.. how could they possibly have “missed it”? anyways after she found it.. she said “well i have to look this over and reconfirm with your doctor!” I AM SORRY WERE THE PAPERS I SENT OVER NOT ENOUGH AFTER GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND ABOUT INFORMATION I HAD SENT SINCE DAY ONE AND NOW THIS? she went to say “okay I have a meeting at 4:00 I will try to call you right before or if i can’t you will hear from me by 5:00 pm” and thanks blah blah blah “i will speak to you shortly”…. well its 12:46 am and I have not received that call back! I AM TRULY SORRY I EVEN MADE THIS PURCHASE! SEEING AS I HAVE SERIOUSLY LOST HOPE IN SEEING MY MONEY BACK EVEN THOUGH I FOLLOWED WHAT THEY WANTED TO A T… IT SUCKS THAT I HAD TO CANCEL MY TRIP DUE TO PAINFUL KIDNEY INFECTION… BUT DEALING WITH THEM FOR THE PAST MONTH AND A HALF HAS BEEN A BIGGER PAIN! i WILL FOR SURE COME BACK AND POST IF I DO END UP GETTING MY MONEY BACK… BUT I AM STARTING TO DOUBT IT NOW THAT I SEE WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS SAYING… ITS REALLY SAD BUT I PROMISE TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE I KNOW FINDS OUT WHAT KIND OF COMPANY THIS IS IF THEY DON’T GET STRAIGHT TO THE POINT AND DO WHAT THEY CLAIM TO DO… WHICH IS TO INSURE US!
WARNING ACCESS AMERICA IS NOW CALLED ALLIANZ! MAYBE THEY ARE TRYING TO BUILD A NEW REP WITH THIS NAME BUT THE OLD NAME AS FRAUD WRITTEN ALL OVER IT… I WILL MAKE SURE TO WRITE MANY REVIEWS ON ALLIANZ INCLUDING TO BBB IF I DO NOT HEAR ANYTHING BY TOMORROW!
Ann Weaver says
Save your money. Don’t bother
Jane Smith says
After reading how they denied a claim for a woman whose father had cancer, I will make sure to put this company on my BOYCOTT list!
Paniello says
Surprised Continental Airlines has this operation on their site. Scam artist. Was turned down because condition was existing. Yes, that is why I purchased the stupid insurance. Went through the claims process per their people on the phone. No one ever said it was going to be turned down because it was existing. Wish I had done my homework first. I got the small print and advised to file with the state. DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY. SCAMMERS
Mrs L from ATL says
STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY! How the state insurance departments have not found legal cause for conviction of insurance fraud is a complete mystery. What trustworthy company gives you the terms and conditions only AFTER they have your money?!?! DO NOT USE THEM FOR ANY REASON. My company purchased trip insurance for a corporate function. We were NEVER asked to include the covered employee’s dates of hire when purchasing the coverage. After we cancelled two employee flights and filed claims, we were advised that since one had not been employed for a minimum of three years, the claim would be denied. WE WERE NEVER ASKED THIS QUESTION BEFORE WE PURCHASED. This is insurance fraud 101. We spend thousands of dollars a year in airfare and I guarantee this is the last of our corporate dollars that this company will be stealing from us. DECEPTIVE PRACTICES. And how this site editor can possibly rate this company anything above a 0 is an indication of who the editor works for.
CLR says
I wish that I had read all of the comments before I purchased this insurance—I agree 100% that this is junk. I spent $387 for the insurance for a trip to Maui in December 2012–three people. the trip was a disaster from the beginning–flight delays causing a domino effect that resulted in missing a complete day of vacation and car rental gone. I thought when I filed a claim that everything would be taken care of…..one night’s accomodation that we lost, the car rental upgrade and the fact that our trip was delayed for a total of 21 hours. The agent that I spoke to was very encouraging that if I filled out everything correctly that I would be compensated—well today I received a check for the car upgrade only…..when I called them they said the hotel wasn’t covered and the trip delay /interruption wasn’t either…..she actually said that the attachment of 30 some pages that was emailed with my confirmation of purchase detailed the limitations!!!! Why the hell should anyone purchase the insurance then. Access America in my opinion is fraudulant and needs to be exposed…..it is a complete scam . Neither Continental Airlines or Access America will get my business again and I am shouting it to the high heavens that I am quite disatisfied with both. It is no wonder that the airlines are going under–I hope they all sink!! I am using their check for toilet paper.
Justin Robinson says
Do not waste your money. The actually covered conditions are nearly impossible to meet. They make it extremely difficult to understand what is and is not covered. SEEK AN ALTERNATIVE!
Jamie says
This company is very shady. My mother was diagnosed with Breast Cancer the day before her trip. She had no idea she had it and the initial mammogram was routine. She even has documentation to show that she had a mammogram performed the three years prior about the same time, but because she had had a mammogram in July but wasn’t told by the doctor until Sept. that she had cancer, Access America is claiming that it was a pre-existing condition. However, she had no idea that she had it. But to make matters worse, she lives in a very rural area (it takes 45 minutes to reach town). They have asked her for documentation from her doctors and clinicians after she asked to appeal at her claim. So she drove to the doctors got the proper forms to fill out and sent them in. THEY LOST THEM. Not once, but twice. How does that happen? They keep sending her back for more forms and papers. My mom has had the doctors fax them, email them, my mom has gone herself and they never seem to have the proper paper work and send her back for a form that is very similar to the one they had, etc. It gets exhausting (which is what I am sure they are relying on). But it makes me sad to know how horrible they are treating her, even though she has done everything they have asked. It makes me think that if you’re a diabetic, have asthma, or some other common ailment, they could deny your claim if you get sick the day before your flight, because you knew you had this before you bought your plane ticket. It’s so frustrating.
Jim says
Reading these reviews makes me sick. There are so many sleaze bag companies out there like Access America whose mission is to come up with schemes to take as much of your money as possible. Stop doing business with companies like this, stop buying overpriced food and drinks at the airports, avoid chain stores and buy from your local small business. These big companies don’t care about you, they are only after your money.
Lopez says
Access America is a total FRAUD. I bought this insurance for a trip and had to reschedule for medical reason and call the company ACCESS AMERICA and they told me that it would not cover. What is the point of this insurance to take everbody money…. PLEASE Read all review to see that there are soooooo many people that have been loosing their money to this company… TOTAL FRAUD they need to be reported!!!!!!!!!! if anyone know to whom we can report them please advise I will look around to have them reported and will get in contact with continental so they do allow them to use their website to offer their services…
Maria Vilma Cabrera says
This company is a total FRAUD. I called them before purchasing the ticket to make changes and specific ask about coverage regarding changing fly date and was told that it cover it all…. Now that I want to change my fligh to an earlier date I been told that it only coverage emergency… NOW they are claiming Pre-Existing Conditions….. I WOULD NEVER use this company again…. ACCESS AMERICA >>> IS A BIG BIG FRAUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Salsa-on2 says
Don’t use this company …..Fraud
A friend and I purchased this Insurance through American Airlines when we purchased the tickets. We both got food poisoning in Costa Rica, my friend had to reschedule his flight out and had to see the doctor several times. He filed a claim, had to obtained a letter from the Doctor with his “seal” another 40 $, Access American required the original claim form be submitted. Which he did, then the phone calls , letters asking for the original documents ,which were submitted here in the US. The claim was for less than 500$. Finally he just gave up. Total ripoff
Laurence Lasater says
Access America is a total fraud. I bought this insurance and had to cancel because of severe flooding at my destination. Naturally, they denied the claim, saying the reason was somewhere on page 5 of the paperwork. I trusted that a company who American Airlines allows to sell directly on their website would be reputable. A big mistake on my part, as they have no intention of EVER paying a claim. Save your money.
Christina says
FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD.
My mother had a stroke while out of country. We needed to fly her back to the USA 10 days in to 21 day trip after she was released from the hospital.
Since she was elderly, the first clown asked me how could it NOT be a pre existing condition… and told me we must have planned it. What a jackass.
I told him we didn’t plan for the woman to have a stroke… he said we should have known (although her doctor in the USA sent Access America a letter explaining she had no history of stroke and no propensity for it).
We sent all docs as required and twice they lost them . I then provided fax and certified mail receipts and they said they would look in to it and escalate the issue. Then they called to tell me they could not read German. Um, yea, it was a Viennese hostpital so it would be in thier language…. I had a translator translate the docs but that was not accepted as it was not an Access America staffer who translated them. Two years of being jerked around by this company and being told that elderly people “should know better” than to take on a strenuous trip like that and sorry, but it’s not their problem… I guess being Elderly is considered a pre-existing condition. This company will steal from you and rob the elderly.
DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY. I only wish I had seen the reports all over the web about them before my mother purchased her flight. I could have protected her from being scammed by them. Any class action lawsuits out there? Sign us up. I also emailed requestiong contact information for the board or CEO of the company and they refused, so apparently they do not want to know if there is an issue or if they have been abusive or rude to someone.
Jeff Varner says
I am in the process of getting a refund for a Hotwire.com hotel stay I had to cancel due to a medical emergency. I purchased the travel insurance associated with the stay from Access America. When I called Access America to cancel my reservation (6 hours after I booked it) they told me that Hotwire will refund for a medical emergency if the reservation is cancelled withing 24 hours of booking. That’s me. So they transferred me to Hotwire to start the refund process.
Let the jerking around begin. Hotwire asked for specific documentation, which I provided. They denied it saying “the signature was not from the physician.” They instructed me to go back to the doctor and get his signature. As I started that process, Hotwire emailed again saying “contact Access America since you bought a policy from them.” Access America tells me they’ll process the request, but it is unlikely to be approved as the doctor’s information was not submitted within 72 hours of the emergency. I missed that 72 hour window because Access America sent be to Hotwire first to process the refund. As Hotwire has not passed me back to Access America, I’m filing the claim after the 72-hour window is closed. I missed that window because Access America put me back in the lap of Hotwire.
So now I sit here waiting for the doctor to complete the questionnaire Access requires with Hotwire pushing back, blaming the other. I’m reserving my review of Access America until the claims process is complete. But in the interim I called the credit card company and filed a claim with them. They have refunded my money to me, requiring the Hotwire entities and Access to prove I did not prove my emergency, which they can’t do.
A dying relative on deathwatch and this is how these companies do me. They’ll tell you to fuck off with the kindest and most caring demeanor. It beats all I’ve ever seen. At the wrap of this situation I will return with a review. But for now, my advice… NEVER purchase from Hotwire and NEVER buy the trip assurance associated with it.
Wish me luck!
Jorge Campos says
I had to cancelled my flight last minute due to an important interview.
Access America told me that they would only pay for a refund if someone in my family died or if I lost the job that I had for more than 3 years.
I do travel a lot and I know several people that do the same. I will make sure I tell everybody what this company is really about…
DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY BUYING THIS INSURANCE.
Ada A Lebron says
Deseo cancelar el vuelo714 de diciembre 8 del 2911 #confirmacion es PDATXX y el # de confirmacion del seguro es EUSP2029860775 quiero que descuento me hacen.
Glenn Ross says
I too was scammed by this company. Read the small print as that is how they are wiggling out of payment. I an out $500.00 to them with no recourse. If my company had this many bad reviews, I would change my business practices. What bothers me more is that Delta Airlines refers you to this company when you buy tickets. I wish that I had read the reviews first. Shame on Delta and a SCAM by Access America.
Rob Vazquez says
I purchased a travel insurance policy as a normal component of my travel to Asia. The insurance policy was offered through orbitz.com as a checkout feature and I went ahead with the purchase. I received a confirmation email from them with the policy ID# XXXXX497. I went ahead and traveled to Asia and commenced my journey. The component of insurance that I purchased covered specifically the regional travel that I was to accomplish within Thailand. Upon my arrival to the first stop in Asia I was told that I might have my trip interrupted because there was flooding in Thailand. Since that was still over a week away I decided to wait and see and decide what to do the day before. That day came and I called the business I was going to visit and they were closed due to the flooding. Then I called the US Embassy in Bangkok and was advised NOT to travel to Bangkok because the city would likely be under water and a natural disaster had been called. I decided to stay in Singapore and not travel to Bangkok. I called Access America insurance and explained the situation. I felt relieved that this surely would be a covered item and rescheduled my return back to the US. Upon my return I went ahead and filed my claim. A couple weeks like I was shocked to find out they were not going to cover this event! They directed me to a clause in their Terms and Conditions on the checkout process in orbitz.com which excludes Travel Advisories from the covered events, along with a tremendous amount of other “events”. Since the Terms and Conditions is during the check out process at orbitz.com, you have to follow a link off to the side which most people would not do because at this point in the sale you are dealing with money from the purchase of the travel itself, and I believe that Access America uses this to their advantage to take advantage of people with this exclusions. The “exclusions” are buried in a T&C and if people had these readily available I seriously doubt that they would purchase the product. Additionally, the purchase of the insurance is checked by default on the orbitz.com which puts the purchaser at the disadvantage of unchecking the box to purchase the insurnace, this is in violation of at least (2) laws regarding interstate commerce. Unfortunately for both Access America and Orbitz, I have the resources to pursue this to the highest levels purely as a matter of principle. This morning we have files a complaint in the home state of CT with the BBB and my attorney has been advised to look at which other legal remedies we have to pursue. If anyone is interested in joining any potential action please comment.
Edwin H. Kaplan says
My dealings with Access America were the worst experience of my 86 year old life.
I filed a claim for $1,850. Senior Summer School tuition which had to be cancelled because, after enrolling, my wife needed back surgery, twice, as it turned out, once on February 16 and again on May 9. I have a file over an inch thick covering the many regular mail letters, e-mails, and telephone calls that document this sad episode in my life.with Access America.
Having dealt with about a dozen Claim Dept. agents, I am firmly convinced that none of them are customer friendly, but rather are trained to do everything possible to turn down claims on any pretext possible.
The first reason I was given for denying my claim was that, in error , the physician filled out the claim form saying that he recommended cancelling the trip on February 16. Using that date, I was supposed to get my money back from the school, but that was not in keeping with my arrangements with the school. As it happened, my wife needed a second back surgery on May 9 and we got a new and correct claim form from the doctor showing that as the recommended cancellation date. So the claim was denied again, this time because the doctor had signed forms for two dates, thus creating a “conflict”. Incidentally, we did not cancel enrollment in the school itself until about June 1.
To resolve the so-called conflict, the Claims Dept. asked that the doctor furnish a copy of all his office notes between February 16 and May 9. How unreasonable can you get? In any case, the doctor was kind enough to write a long letter summarizing his office records and apologizing for his error. Finally, the claim was paid,.but no letter or comment was received.
I found it very annoying that in dealing with the Claims Dept. you get only first names. I could not even get the full name of a supervisor when I said I wanted to file an appeal..
Finally, I strongly recommend that Access America be avoided like the plague. This whole episode was so upsetting to my wife and myself, I don’t think we have fully recovered yet.
Ancil Conley says
I would like to cancel policies 320113180069767326, 327,328.
Laura says
Wow. This coverage is complete garbage. Save your money and buy some lottery tickets instead.
My 35 year old husband had very-low grade chest pains which he thought was indigestion. We booked our trip. Weeks later, after escalating pain, an ER doc sent him for a stress test with a specialist to be safe. The specialist advised us on the day of the trip that we shouldn’t go.
Of course, Access America won’t pay because they consider it a pre-existing condition. At the time of booking we thought it was indigestion.
Wish I read this site before booking. They are criminals.
Deepak Naidu says
Completely USELESS FRAUD company, is all i have to say about this sorry shitty accessamerica… And why do i have to present them with a reason to cancel my flight in the first place? I can have many reasons which is not termed as ’emergency’ but still i should as a CUSTOMER have the right to cancel anytime. Isnt that what they are supposed to do? They are billing us for this same service! COMPLETE FRAUDSTERS!!! Stay away form this company folks !!!
Nancy Davis says
While I can understand the frustration in dealing with any insurance companies it seems that the vast majority ot complaints below deal with pre-existing conditions. There are very strict rules with all insurance companies dealing with that topic. If purchased correctly any travel insurance company will cover pre existing conditions. If not then none will. These complaints would have applied to any travel insurance company, not just Access. There also seem to be complaints pertaining to documentation for claims. Again, these are mandated and apply to all insurance companies. I sell Access along with other travel insurance and have never had any complaints. The key is to read the policy and be completely honest when you purchase the policy.
Sherrill Davis says
Buyer beware. This policy does NOT cover Alzheimer’s Disease. The policy does not explicitly state this. Rather it includes Alzheimer’s among the “others” in the “mental and nervous health disorders” it excludes. The mental and health disorder it does name are anxiety, depression, neuroses, and psychoses. The only way you’d know this is to have a claim rejected. Or be a regular reader of the International Classification of Diseases (under Mental Disorders) or the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. But then to have consulted those, you’d have to already think that a degenerative neurological condition (physical change and deterioration of the brain) was a “mental disorder”, wouldn’t you?
Bren says
This company is not reputable. I say that because I have provided everything they have requested and they still deny my claim. I spoke to a person today who lied to me about the claim luckily I had the proof in front of me. Bottom line, this company does not want to pay. Why pay for insurance if they don’t want to pay if something happens. I see here that they have stock answers for why they won’t pay their claims. I will go to my state’s Department of Insurance and see if they can help me. I just sayto allm of you, for travel insurance, find another company.
F Clark says
Just wanted to give our experience here, as a counterpoint to some of the negative reviews. My husband sliced his finger open while we were on a trip, which required quite a few stitches and cost about $2100 in hospital bills. Access America paid all of these hospital costs. Yes, it did take a little while to get the check, but the delay was generated by our own health insurance company’s delay in providing the necessary documents showing that we hadn’t met the deductible on our regular policy and not by Access America. Once we had all the pieces of paper necessary, we faxed them in and received the check within a couple of weeks. So we are very satisfied.
JIM USSERY says
DO NOT !! I MEAN DO NOT UES THIS COMPANY. WHAT A SCAM. I THOUGHT WHEN I CALLED QRBITZ AND EXPLAINED MY REASONING TO THEM THAT THEY WOULD HELP ME. NO CHANCE. THEY ARE JUST AS BAD AS ACCESS AMERICA FOR ALLOWING THEM TO PARTNER UP WITH THEM. WELL THEY GOT ME ONCE …….. NEVER AGAIN!!!
Shandella says
I had the worst experience with Access America and would not recommend anyone waste their money or time buying insurance because I was unfortunately enough to have to cancel my family vacation because I got sick. They deemed it a pre-existing condition and did not re-inburse me for the four of us traveling. They are a complete Fraud much like many of the other reviewers. The made me do SO MUCH PAPERWORK it was unbelievable! The companies that sign up to have Access America as their travel insurance provider need to hear about it. Anytime you travel, tell the company that you would not sign up for their travel insurance if it is AA. I told that that it is shame to have the word “America” in their name as they are the most un-American company I have ever dealt with.
charles leidner says
i purchased 2 travel policies thru access america for a trip to spain. the first policy covered denver to madrid and return, the other from barcelona to mallorca to madrid. all was going well until our flight out of mallorca was delayed for a mysterious weather problem that did not exist. that flight was delayed for an hour. by the time we got to madrid, it was too late to check in for the flight to london, hence the next leg from london to denver was cancelled. iberia charged us 571 euros per person to rebook. i filed a claim with this sham of a company and they paid $300, or $150 more than the insurance cost me.
next stop, the court system in colorado.
why anyone would support this company is an unknown to me
Jim Duncan says
When booking through Orbitz a flight on Copa and Continental, travel insurance was automatically added. You have to affirmatively refuse it. What a crappy way to do business. I did not catch this little $57 gotcha and had to go on line to cancel afterward. I wrote an email to customer service and asked that they forward it to the CEO, who should be ashamed. Or upset with Orbitz if it was their idea.
mari says
wow!!! i read many bad reviews about this company. wish i did before i bought from them. those reviews are all true. they sell you but they don’t want to pay for any reasons. MHROSS was great. the rating of access america is excellent???? joking, right? THEY ARE AT THE TOP OF WORST COMPANY LIST. DON’T BUY!!!
mari says
i bought many policies from this company in the past, but this time really made us upset. i was told if the policy is purchased right after purchasing ticket, PREEXISTING CONDITION WAVER would be included…WRONG!!! sales persons won’t tell you some of them do and many don’t. we got so used to have the policy included and this time we did not check, then he got sick. they said it is preexisting. also was told mental disorder (caused by his illness) won’t be honored!!! BAD COMPANY!!! DON’T BUY FROM THEM.
g tassone says
I like everyone else was denied, it is a total rip off, DO NOT USE THEM.they will always find a way to not pay.
Cal Hickey says
Based on a recommendation on Delta Airlines’ website I purchased travel insurance from Access America. Subsequent to purchasing the ticket my wife received a diagnosis of cancer from the findings of a routine medical examination. We had no reason to expect this diagnosis, otherwise I would not have spent $461.80 for the ticket and $26.55 for the travel insurance. Today I received a denial of claim for refund of the ticket purchase from Access America, citing my wife’s cancer as a preexisting condition. As far as I’m concerned, Access America is a bunch of crooks and Delta Airlines is nothing more than a shill for their con.
Howard Li He says
My advise to everyone looking for a good insurance company : Do your home work and read all reviews on line before paying out your hard earned insurance money; remember the principle that you pay insurance in order to be insured and paid back for your possible loss; if an insurance company has a long bad reputation of fulfilling customer claim, then avoid this company, no matter how low its rates, how nice looking its web site; how sweet its customer service sounds. I know now that AccessAmerica is one of such companies.
Howard Li He says
This company seems offer you everything good, web presentation, easy calling, welcoming customer service, low rates, yet when you come to file a claim, you will most probably shut out of its door even you knock hard. I have learned this lesson after many years insured with this company until recently when I filed a small claim. One word, you purchase an insurance for insuring anything unprepared; yet if you are not fully prepared, you won’t get one penny from this insurance company when you suffer a loss. Avoid this Acces America.
Ida Mccarty says
One day into a Disney cruise, my husband (at home) was hospitalized w/pneumonia. One thing led to another and the end result was a by-pass blockage that required a stent. I was able to disembark, keeping receipts for all expenses incurred to get home. When things settled down, I called Access America to find out what I needed to do to file a claim. The representative was very attentive, explained the filing process step-by-step, and within a few days I had the forms to be completed. All documentation was sent to Access America; approximately 2 weeks later I called to inquire about the status of the claim. The representative checked on it, told me the amount that I would be reimbursed (not total – something about a cap limit); within a few days a check was in my hand.
I am a “seasoned traveler” and always purchase travel insurance – this was the first time I have ever had to file a claim, consequently I have no other experience to compare how this one was handled.
Rachel says
I found out i needed surgery after i bought my ticket to hawaii and by the time the trip came i only had one hand to use and the other in a cast. I wanted to get my money back to pay my dr. bills but since i had an appt before i bought the ticket they denied it. Insurance… supposed to insure you… NO, they DO NOT. Piece of shit company. No wonder they get bad reviews. The editor is over there in la la land. He must not of read about the people that died and had cancer. sheesh
Holly says
This company is as unscrupulous as they come. They are the embodiment of everything negative you hear about insurance companies. They denied a medical claim stating “pre existing conditions” even though the medical condition was not discovered until after the flights were booked. Shame on you Access America, and shame on Delta Airlines for allowing them to provide flight insurance.
North Pole Granny says
Like alot of insurance company’s if there is any way for them to wiggle out of paying they will and did with us too. However, the agent, Cynthia was very nice in telling us no. I won’t be adding their insurance coverage to any future flights, its a waist of money.
Nelli says
I would never use this travel insurance company again and strongly recommend that buyers beware. Purchased trip coverage for my 85-year-old mom and her 90-year-old friend. Makes a lot of sense–right? Sadly, they were unable to make the trip due to health issues (yes, we had doctors’ letters to support the claim). However, both were healthy and able to travel when we purchased the tickets (and insurance). Access America cited a “pre-existing condition” and denied the claim for $2,500 worth of tickets.
I contacted the State of California Insurance Commission and their representative commented that he hears this a lot about Access America and good luck getting reimbursed. And of course, because the tickets were non-refundable, the air carrier isn’t obligated to refund. I guess the lesson learned here is: 1) trip insurance is a rip-off; and 2) pay the additional bucks to buy a refundable ticket.
Peter T. Fenimore says
Access America Travel Insurance is a big joke. They take your money but do not provide you any type of protection. I am am going around to everyone I know and telling them about the insurance. Its a joke and a waste of money. If you want protection I suggest every one start calling thier own insurance company provider and finding out what kind of insurace they can get from them. Access America will not pay out. I plan on going on every site the internet offers and making this same statement. It is true because I bought the insurance. Access America has yet to pay anything when I had a trip interuption and it was the carriers fault.
Clarissa Craig says
I have traveled for a number of years and, upon recommendation of our travel agent, had always used Access America. Fortunately, I had not had to use the insurance until this last March in which my travel partner and I were enroute to Japan when the earthquake and tsunami was occurring. We ended up being diverted mid-air to Anchorage. Even if we had been inclined to continue to Japan 3 days later, we would not have been able to do what we had planned in the window we had available. Despite travel advisories advising against tourist travel and the unknown’s related to infrastructure disruption, radiation and the like, the trip was treated as a disruption to travel rather than as a cancelation. No matter how we view it, we were not able to take the trip and lost everything but a token remittance for 3 days of “trip interruption.”
Carter says
This company is a fruad. Husband had to have surgery due to a fall. They are denying claim due to pre- existing condition. Jessica custormer rep said if you have an accident 190 it is concidered pre-existing. I plan to follow up with Better Business Bureau. This is not fare to consumers who purchase. They put lots of small print undefined terms that they define when they deny your claim. We purchase with Orbit tickets Shame on you Access America.
Tom H. says
I have been using Orbitz since 2003. I am very disappointed with them at this point.
I have booked international flights with them before but had not noticed the check mark for the travel insurance on my latest booking.
Very deceptive practice that cheapens what I though was a reputable company.
Time to move on.
Patti Bennett says
The other reviewer was right,. Access America is a fraud. If you have a heart condition or have seen the doctor for a heart problem before you purchase the insurance, you WILL NOT be given a refund for your ticket if you have a heart attack and can’t fly. Amazing. When I talked to one of their agents and explained our situation she admitted the advertising was somewhat deceptive…no kidding. We insured three tickets and got nothing when we couldn’t travel….oh yeah, we had to pay Alaska Airlines 75 dollars a piece for the tickets to be changed, so by buying the insurance we actually got penalized 100.00 each ticket instead of 75.00. Some kind of insurance…boooo!
Mike says
DON”T BUY THIS SCAM!!!!!
I bought travel coverage offered by Access America via the U.S. Airways website. It was a simple process with just a couple of clicks.
However, when I needed the coverage, I was given a list of reasons why I wasn’t covered. I purchased the insurance because the “advertisement” makes a traveler believe you are covered, specifically if you get sick. However, the fine print kills the deal. It cost me an extra $500 to book the same exact (domestic) flight. U.S. Airways and Access America are running a scam.
I think Access America is a rip off and I would strongly suggest anyone looking at the program, simply save your money. They don’t pay. Period. It is just another scam.
Aaron Cohn says
Have purchased insurance through these jokers for years via the orbitz site. Finally in February, I had my return flight from NYC cancelled by Delta & had reason to file a claim. First, they told me my claim would be limited to $150 which didn’t even cover my extra night of hotel in NYC. Then they wrote me a letter asking for additional documentation, which I promptly faxed back to them at the number provided. Then nothing from them. No reimbursement, no action on the claim. Nothing.
Complaint filed with BBB of Richmond closed administratively by them when these scam artists claimed I had not provided the requested information. Further complaints filed with ic3.gov and the federal trade commission. Orbitz won’t do anything either save offering me a $50 gift certificate for future travel, which is worthless to me since I’ll never use orbitz again as a result. Considering a filing with my state attorney general, but am not sure they can do anything to help.
Scott A says
I have been trying to go to arbitration with these guys for six months now. Mr Keith McAllister keeps promissing to send the fee to this association recommended by Access America to settle this case. My next step will be to have my brother (NY attorney) get in touch with his college friend(Virgina attorney) to get my money. These guys don’t even respond to the arbitator recommended in thier letter. ACCESS AMERICA I AM NOT GOING AWAY UNTIL YOU PAY THE CLAIM. $900 aribration fee to save a 2500.00 claim. Not a very good business model.
c.CLARK says
ACCESSAMERICA USED TO BE GOOD. now THEY HAVE CHANGED TO BEING NASTY ANIMALS.THEY FIND SOME OBSCURE TECHNACALITY TO DENY,EVEN TO POINT OF USING FRAUD AG THEIR LOYAL CUSTOMERS. I REPORTED TO VIRGINIA ATTY GEN OFFICE, U COULD TOO
Lisa Kunkel says
WASTE OF MONEY. They will find a reason to deny your claim. You think you are protecting your trip, but you’d be much better off without it. It caused me a lot of stress trying to fight this company–Access America. I would love to find an attorney to represent us in a class action law suit because this is a total scam.
Jay Diamond says
Good luck ever getting a claim filed and hell will sooner freeze over that you getting a claim paid. THERE INSURANCE IS AWFUL!
Rob says
Here is a copy and paste from another site:
Updates to the review posted by author:
I’m VERY confused as to why Access America, I’m assuming, deleted their comment to my extremely frustrating experience I’m having.
Anyway, here was their original response which appears to have been removed or for some reason, no longer showing.
NOTE: This is available via Google Cached pages as well (Thanks Google):
1. Written by Access America’s Help Team on September 28, 2011
Hello @Chip01,
Access America’s Help Team here. Sorry to read about your frustrations. Like any insurance product, our programs do have terms and conditions. When severe weather impacts travel plans, our Trip Cancellation benefit is triggered when an airline stops offering all services for 24 or more consecutive hours on a route the consumer is travelling on. While your airline may not have been able to provide you with a seat for more than 24 hours, not being able to be accommodated by the airline isn’t a situation that we cover. So that consumers understand that our products are not “all risk” in nature, we state in the insuring agreement that it “covers only the specific situations, events and losses” that we include in that document. We want our customers to make informed choices when purchasing our insurance. Our partners make the terms and conditions available for review prior to the policy purchase. We also give a 10 day “free look” to examine your insurance policy after the purchase. If you decide the policy doesn’t meet your needs, you can cancel the policy within 10 days for a full refund. We also are available 24/7 365 days a year to answer any questions a consumer may have. As with just about everything else, the key is to know what you’re buying. Here’s a resource that provides information about travel insurance: http://bit.ly/dZ683i
Oct 2, 12:02 PM
In response to AccessAmerica,
Sorry, no reputable or caring insurance company would write something like this in their coverage.
Its a lose situation for the consumer as how in the world would all of the people that were supposed to fly on 8/25, get on flights the very next day? The flights on 8/26 were booked from beforehand, so you miraculously think that Jetblue would somehow snap a finger and have 6 planes available to fly all of the people from 8/25 the very next day?
Are you serious here?
The insurance coverage is worded as you say and I would have cancelled it if I would have read it better. By the way JetBlue is placing the blame on you and my understanding is that they are looking very bad in regards to this situation.
Stay away from this insurance carrier or just don’t use them as there’s probably some wording which has them covered already so they don’t pay.
Sep 28, 7:30 PM
Original review:
Access America is a joke. Hurricane Irene hit and cancelled our flight on 8/25. Jetblue had no seats available until 8/27. That’s over 24 hours. I submitted all of the paperwork including a letter from JetBlue indicating no seats available until 8/27.
They DENIED the claim. Access America states that the airline was operating on 8/26. I knew that and so did Jetblue, but there were NO SEATS AVAILABLE per JetBlue”. Apparently, Access America doesn’t care as the airline needs to stop flying completely for 24 hours to approve an insurance claim,. But since there are no seats available, I could not take my trip but Access America denied the insurance claim because JetBlue was still flying there|.
YES PEOPLE, you read correctly, its NOT a mistake;. My flight was cancelled but since the airline flew to my intended destination the next day, the claim was denied even after I sent them a letter from Jet Blue stating that there are no seats available until 8/27!.
TOTALLY deceptive and I’m disgusted/. Not only was my families trip ruined, now I’m dealing with this,.
STAY AWAY from Access America and if Jetblue doesn’t offer another insurance carrier, stay away from them as well..
You’ve been warned…..
jda says
WARNING: I bought a TripAssist family policy through AAA travel 6 months before an international trip. During the trip one flight was sent back to the gate for mechanical problems and left 5 hours late, causing us to miss 2 subsequent connecting flights, and be stuck overnight. Lost non-refundable ticket and had to buy new tix to complete trip. The Emegency Assistance line offered no help whatsoever (even though their booklet described in detail In-Transit assistance service). Submitted claim as soon as I returned with complete documentation. It was only then I was informed that Missed Connection coverage DOES NOT COVER mechanical problems. All the printed materials I was given, including the Letter of Coverage, promoted missed connection coverage without pointing exclusions. And in fact the mechanical issue isn’t an explicit exclusion, it’s just not INcluded. I’m out many hundred dollars and feel cheated. Honest disclosure of this feature before purchase would have affected my decision.
debra ortego says
BIGGEST rip off so called insurance I have ever seen. I wish I had read these reviews before buying it.
Should have thrown the money down the toilet . The airlines who post this insurance on their web sites are as much to blame for not bothering to know the company. My husband has emergency open heart and having a dr , the surgeon, signing the form wasn’t good enough.
DON”T WASTE YOUR MONEY!
Stephanie says
Just like 99% of you I agree… ACCESS AMERICA IS A FRAUDULANT SCAM AND SHOULD BE REPORTED TO THE BBB! How do these people sleep at night?! They KNOW they are stealing money from GOOD people with reasonable issues that interrupt their flight/vacation. Some of your stories are heartwrenching and I’m so sorry you experienced a loss to a dear loved one. Here’s my story:
My sister is getting married in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic in October 2011. Of course this is a very exciting time and approximately 30+ people booked their flights on Orbitz.com (including my husband and I). Although we didn’t anticipate any issues that would conflict with my sister’s destination wedding, we decided to book Access America to insure our trip. BIG MISTAKE! It’s not about the FINE PRINT… it’s about the fact that they make excuses for every little thing that is not clearly stated in the coverage!
Doctors told my husband and I that we couldn’t get pregnant. On January 15th, 2011 we booked our flights to Punta Cana. On February 2nd, 2011 we found out we were pregnant… our expected due date is 10/7/11 – the same day we are scheduled to leave for Punta Cana! What an exciting time – we should be celebrating! But instead we are soooooooo ANGRY and frustrated that AA will not reimburse us for our flight. AA advised us to file a claim. So we did… We completed paperwork, our doctor completed paperwork and we provided information from our bank as proof of payment. We spoke with customer service reps over the phone, communicated via email, and faxed or mailed every bit of information that was requested from us. Thank you for putting us through all the hurdles Acess America – it was A WASTE OF TIME! Why drag the situation on for months? You could’ve told us the first time we called that you were a FRAUD and you wouldn’t cover our trip – even if I was in the hospital delivering my first child. Thank you! (sarcasm)
Access America: here are your exact words “pregnancy is not an excuse NOT to fly”….. HELLO!!!! I will be in the hospital! Their response “You need an UNEXPECTED EMERGENCY RELATED TO THE PREGNANCY TO GET REIMBURSED”. When I spoke with a customer service rep and asked for AN EXAMPLE OF AN UNEXPECTED EMERGENCY RELATED TO THE PREGNANCY, SHE COULD NOT GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF COVERAGE. Even if I had an emergency (God forbid… I am praying for a healthy labor and delivery) I’m sure AA would find an excuse to not cover the $1,200 we paid for our flights. Would an emergency c-section be covered? The customer service rep responded, “Um, that’s a good question!” Haha – really? We’ll see what happens. In the meantime, my advice to everyone out there… DON’T BOOK THROUGH ORBITZ AND WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT USING ACCESS AMERICA TO INSURE YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES.
Neelima sheth says
Very disappointed with the handling of the claim. Our trip to Peru was cancelled due to hurricane Irene leading to Newark int. Airport closure. We live 4 hrs away from the airport and we actually drove unto the airport the night before , so that we do not miss our flight by getting stuck in traffic ( people trying to evacuate in preparation for Irene). Of douse, we had to stay in a hotel. Next day we made it to the airport and found that the airport was going to close at noon and that governor of NJ had declared emergency after 4 p.m. We hurriedly rented a car and returned home. We immediately informed our tour operator about the problem we were facing. Because the tour was cancelled on the last day, according to their terms and conditions, we were not eligible for any refund.
We contacted access America for the trip cancellation claim and submitted all the required paper work on aug. 30th. Did not hear a word until sept 14. My AAA travel agent who sold me this policy called access America on my behalf and we were told that additional document stating that the tour operator will not do any CASH REFUND is required. I promptly submitted this.
Today, to my utter disappointment I was told that
1. I will not be reimbursed for the credit that the tour company has extended to us towards future travel. I purchased this trip cancellation policy for this trip and not for any future trips. If I am not getting a cash refund, why will access America not give me the total cost without subtracting the credit that has been extended.
Will access America provide trip cancellation insurance on the credit amount from the money we have already paid ? NO. BUT THEY WILL PROMPTLY TAKE MONEY.
2. I was told that overnight hotel stay and the rental car will not be reimbursed because this expense was incurred prior to starting the trip. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS. As I mentioned earlier, we live 4 hrs away, we thought that we were doing the responsible thing by going to the airport early so that we have the best chance of going on the trip.
3. My husband and I travel for pleasure at least 2-3 times per year. And have been doing this for the past 10 years. Not once, we have put in a claim for trip cancellation or any other kind of expenses. WE LOVE TO TRAVEL AND WE’d RATHER GO ON OUR TRIPS THAN COLLECT MONEY FROM ACCESS AMERICA OR ANY OTHER COMPANY.
By not going on the trip (not due to reasons under our control), we lost money and also lost our vacation time. Could not return to work because appointments are made 6 weeks in advance and thus lost revenue. I AM NOT ASKING TO BE REIMBUSED FOR LOST WAGES OR ANYTHING BUT I DO FEEL THAT WE SHOULD GET THE FULL TRIP COST WITHOUT THE CREDIT FOR FUTURE TRAVEL BEING DEDUCTED FROM THE AMOUNT PAID OUT BY ACCESS AMERICA.
GIVE ME ONE GOOD REASON, WHY I SHOULD DO BUISNESS WITH ACCESS AMERICA IN FUTURE.
N SHETH
Murray Rubinstein says
BEWARE!!!!!
This flight insurance is only for the very healthy that happen to get hit by bus the day before their flight. If you cannot fly due to health reasons and you’ve had this condition in the past they will not pay.
So do not purchase if you have health issues they will not pay.
In fact that should be their motto:
U pay WE don’t…yeah!
James and Norma Torchia says
First posted on 8/23/11 concerning this claim. We are still waiting to be paid. Our brother-in-law has been paid for the same cancelled trip. We filed the exact information for the exact same trip cancelled for the exact same reason. I called last Friday morning and spoke with Evan, he told me he would review the claim and look at brother-in-laws claim and call me back that afternoon or on Monday. It is now late on Tuesday and “surprise, no call”. I think they play games and try to wear people down. Be aware, stall and stall and stall. Very frustrating, who has time for all this??? AccessAmerica (Bree), you can e-mail me and I will be happy to give you both claim numbers. I need help!!!
Marilynn Bachmayer says
I have read all these negative reviews and have to say, I disagree. I broke my humerus head on a trip to Romania and they were very professional. They verified my claim with the treating doctor in Cluj Napoca and sent a person form the US to accompany me home. They had excellent communication with me and I appreciate their assistance very much. Just be honest and upfront about your claim and you should be fine. Definitely worth the money I paid for the premium.
roger vaughan says
I haven’t had a claim with Access America, and have been buying their annual coverage policy for myself and my wife for 4 years. However, the last time I sent in a policy renewal payment, several months in advance of the end of the prior policy, instead of extending my existing policy they issued a new policy starting in the month I sent the renewal payment! If I hadn’t noticed that the termination date on the new policy was only 9 months from the end of the prior policy, they would have collected double premiums for a 3 month overlap of identical coverage. I am currently trying to get them to issue a policy for the correct time, which they have agreed to do only be canceling my existing policy, then issuing a new one. Funny, they didn’t have to cancel by previous policy to issue the overlapping one! Their representative on the phone sound helpful and sympathetic, but refer to a supervisor on this issue. As of this date the supervisor has not returned 4 phone calls asking for him to call me and resolve this issue.
Jan Shane says
Extremely frustrated with their services. Booked our tickets in April for a trip in August. Wife had unexpected open heart surgery (not pre-existing) and cannot receive our refund back after numerous attempts. this
place is a FRAUD, FRAUD, FRAUD! DO NOT USE THEM NO MATTER WHAT! YOU WILL NEVER SEE
A PENNY IN REFUND NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION IS.
James Lane says
Do not buy AccessAmerica products & Delta Airlines should be ashamed for giving them the veneer of legitimacy. It’s only value is comfort from the illusion that you have coverage. My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer AFTER we purchased 5 airline tickets (over $2,000) on Delta with AccessAmerica coverage. AccessAmerica refuses to pay the claim citing “symptoms”. Symptoms of cancer…really? We cancelled the family vacation so that she could have emergency surgery followed by months of chemo and radiation which she is still having to do. AccessAmerica and its accomplice, Delta Airlines, are profiting off our family tragedy.
David S. says
Absolutely horrible organization. When I filed a claim on line I received no reply for three months. When I finally did receive the reply it was to let me know they closed my case because of a lack of supporting documents. I finally called and explained that I had returned from Afghanistan early and changed my ticket to reunite with my family. They apologized but said that this is not covered.
This is a company of predators that has no intent of compensating those who pay for their services.
Brandon Garcia says
this is the worst insurnace available and the people are as crooked as the characters in a Grisham novel. we had a claim denied becuse Access America cited a breast exam 1 day prior to purchase of insurance was grounds for a pre-exisitng condition. We later found out that her exam did in fact reveal a positive test for cancer and the proposed travel plans postponed to have a bi-lateral mastectomy perfomed.
in our opinion, Access America acted in ill faith and is purposely dis-honest and represents every thing wrong with the insurance industry as a whole as well as a prime example of coporate greed.
Gayle San Filippo says
August,9,2011 I purchased trip insurance in April for a trip to Hawaii in November. My husband was diagnosed with cancer i May–requiring 8 radiation treatments and three rounds of chemo. When this is finished he will have a bone marrow transplant at Stanford. Needless to say we have cancelled our trip. The oncologist does not want to travel or be on a plane for at least a year. All parties involved have been wonderful about refunds EXCEPT Access America. I have filled their out forms, got letters from oncologists and had forms sent from business services at the hospital. This has not been enough to get a refund. Now they are asking for Dr. information from 2009. DO NOT DEAL WITH THIS COMPANY UNLESS YOU WANT TO TRHOW YOUR MONEY AWAY! Too bad because they were recommended by Cheap Tickets Dot Com.
RJ Braden says
Have made claims 2 of the 3 times we purchased this insurance and we got what I believe to be a fair payment. We provided them with every document they asked for and both times it took about 60 days to get paid.
I read all the negative comments here and I wonder how many people are frustrated because of what went wrong with their trip and that caused them to not be understanding when Access America requests the documentation they need.
I think they were both reasonable and friendly. Well worth the money!!!!!
Amy L says
Access America IS A RIP OFF! I never post reviews about a company but I HAD TO TELL EVERYONE THAT ACCESS AMERICA is a FRAUD!!!! I wish I had read all of this BAD REVIEWS before I purchase this SCAM.I wish I could safe everyone from buying this insurance online. I can’t believe that this company is probably making millions off of person and the small amount of people that fill a claim DO NOT GET APPROVED and trust me we have ALL read the policy and fall in the rules of a refund. Access American is just take everyone money. Please! please! please! READ all the other reviews before you fall in the trap which I did by purchase this insurance.
My suggestion to all this people PLEASE write an official claim as I will through the BBB… otherwise things will not change. Please! Here is the information:
http://www.seflorida.bbb.org/Business-Report/Access-America-Travel-Insurance-11008502
http://www.trustlink.org/BusinessProfile.aspx?ID=205999048
Access America Travel Insurance
Address:
100 Commerce Drive
Warwick, RI 33311
Tel: (401) 773-9300
Web Site: http://Access America
Contact: Glen Skalny –
Business Start Date: N/A
Company ID: 11008502
Nature of Business:
This company’s nature of business is Travel Agent Mills
WE ALL NEED TO PUT THIS FRAUD INSURANCE COMPANY OUT OF BUSINESS!!!!!
patrick says
Access America IS A RIP OFF — I bought tickets to go on a trip to New Orleans in June- My trip was to leave Norfolk on the 26th of Aug and return on the 28th of August. When hurricane Irene showed up we were FORCED (we live in mandatory evac site) to leave our home. The hurricane hit on a Saturday (we were forced to evacuate on Friday) and technically my flights where Friday/Sunday and they were not delayed, so I called to file a claim I was told that “this was not in the policy” — because you guessed it Friday/Sunday and they were not delayed. I am never going to buy another orbitz ticket and as well as let everyone I know that when you buy insurance from Access America don’t count on 1 single bit of help! Also when I asked to speak to a manger I was told that they were not in the office and my specialist was going to talk to him and call me back — that is nutts. I WILL NEVER BUY ANYTHING FROM ORBITZ OR ACCESS AMERICA AGAIN – ps it was only like $350 – IT WAS A FREAKING HURRICANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also they had the audacity to ask me “could they be anymore more help?” – I then explained to them that they where no help!
Antonio Silvestri says
DO NOT BUY OR RENT ANYTHING WHETHER INSURANCE PROVIDED IS ACCESS AMERICA.
THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS A SHAME AND US GOVERNMENT SHOULD AVOID THE EXISTANCE OF A SO UNRELIABLE FIRM.
I HAVE REFUSED TO CONCLUDE MANY TRAVEL BOOKINGS SINCE I REALIZED THAT ACCESS AMERICA WAS (PAID) TO COVER ALL RISKS RELATED TO THE TRAVEL.
READ HUNDREDS OF SIMILAT COMMENTS. IT CANNOT BE A COLLECTIVE MISUNDERSTANDING.
ACCESS AMERICA IS A FRAUD UNDER MANY ASPECTS. DO NOT BUY ACCESS AMERICA POLICIES: YOU WILL NEVER SEE REIMBURSEMENTS, ONLY LONG, LONG, TIRING CORRESPONDENCE WITH WELL TRAINED OPERATORS WHO WILL KID YOU REPLYING WRONGLY, OR SWITVHING YOUR CLAIM TO ANOTHER OPERATOR WHO WILL ASK YOU AGAIN ALL YOUR STORY AND AFTER WILL REPLY SOMETHING ABSOLUTELY USELESS.
DO NOT EVEN BUY A SCREW DRIVER IF IT IS GUARANTEED UNDER ACCESS AMERICA INSURANCE COVERAGE
Roy says
This is a fraud company!.
Vero Greene says
Excellent service, AA followed through on what they promised, in a timely manner!!
jorge says
THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENTS.THIS COMPANY IS A MICKEY MOUSE JOKE.I BOUGHT MY TRIP TO NEW YORK ON AG.7/11 BEFORE HURRICANE IRENE NEWS COMING TO NEW YORK .THEY STATED ON LINE THAT TRAVEL PROTECTION INSURANCE POLICIES CAN BE BOUGHT BEFORE YOUR FIRST DAY CHECK IN.I CALL THEM ON AG.28,JUST 4 DAYS BEFORE MY CHECK IN. TO BUY MY TRIP PROTECTION.THEY WILL SELL ME THE PROTECTION BUY THEY WILL NOT MAKE ANY REINBURSMENT DUE TO THE HURRICANE DISASTERS.T H I S I S N O T W R I T T E N O N T H E P O L I C Y E X E M P T I O N R U LE S P O S T E D O N L I N E..DO NOT MAKE BUSSINESS WITH THIS THIEVES.
Jennifer says
I am so very, very disappointed with this company. I purchased this insurance through American Airlines online. By the way, American Airlines does not seem to want to discuss anything about Access America with its customers. I feel that if they offer the insurance on their website, American should stand by it!
I became ill the day before my trip. I went to a doctor and received documentation. I spent 2 days filling out paperwork, making copies, going back to the clinic to receive further documentation, etc. One month after I sent in my paperwork, I got a letter saying my claim was rejected due to a “preexisting” medical condition. The letter said if you have any symptoms “at any time in the 120 days before it was purchased (the insurance policy)” this is considered an existing medical condition. I had visited the doctor twice during the time span between purchase of the policy and the departure date of my trip. However, I saw the doctor the first time for a routine check up, not a “preexisting” condition.
I DID read the fine print and still do not agree with how this company defines “pre-existing” medical condition.
I can now see why so many reviews are so negative. I feel I have been treated unfairly, and the company is a scam just taking people’s hard earned money. My family is furious. I have told friends never to bother purchasing this, as it seems near impossible to get your money back. Please read through so of the other reviews. I feel this company is NOT based on honest practices. I am calling back and writing a manager when the claims dept. is open again. I’m more upset about the principle of the matter more than the loss of money. So disheartened…. The customer service reps on the phone were very cordial and friendly, but this does not make up for everything else. Please think carefully before buying a policy from this company!
Norma Torchia says
Putting Physician Statement in the mail today. I wonder what they’ll want next since nothing else was mentioned on our unpleasant phone conversation. So much frustration, I’ve got lots of trips planned and pretty sure our travel agent used AccessAmerica to insure them. We’ll have to talk about that!!!!!
Randy Robbins says
Access America has refused to pay a legitimate claim after 5 months. They continued to ask for information (was furnished each time) and then finally asked for unavailable information and then declined the claim. They look for ways to decline to pay claims. I have filed a complaint with the insurance commission in NY.
My suggestion is, if you haven’t purchased insurance from Access America, don’t
Norma Torchia says
We are so disappointed with AccessAmerica and their stall tactics. Filed claim that they received 8/10/11 with 9 pages of records that I don’t believe anyone read past the first page before they are requesting additional information. They want Dr. statement that he has not been treated in the last 120 days when the records clearly state that the last time he was seen was 2007. Just stalling, be wary!!!!!!
Jacqueline Williams says
I have had a lot of experience with Access America. Their reason to exist is to take insurance premiums but to do all possible to find a reason NOT to pay out. Examples:
Travel delay. You leave home and there’s an accident on the freeway that holds up traffic for hours. You miss your flight at the Airport, your connection and then perhaps your cruise, or whatever. Access America should pay out on this. But oh no. Their fine print says you actually have to be INVOLVED in the accident.
Strikes: You’re in Italy or Greece. Your flight is supposed to leave at 1PM to come home. There’s a ‘wild-cat’ strike at the airport. and your flight is cancelled. You have to go back and pay for a hotel. You miss your connection in London to come home. Does Access pay? Oh no. The fine print says the strike has to be complete cessation of ALL airlines for at least 24 hours,
Scary Terrorirism: You’re scheduled to travel to Paris, or?….Some bombs go off in a tourist area in hotels or train station. And more are threatened. You choose to not go to Paris after all. Terrorist coverage as promised? Oh no. If it’s more than 30 days out, no payment. If the terrorist group is not recognised by the USA as an official Terrorist group, you’re out of luck….
I can go on.
Vadim says
This is a horrible SCAM. Do not book with this company through Hotwire. They consider everything a pre-existing condition, unless it occurs on the day of travel. My wife got food sickness the night before – the effects did not set in until the overnight and the morning. Doctor advised in the morning not to travel and they still consider this a pre-existing condition. The manager was unhelpful and just kept repeating: “pre-existing condition”. Book with ANYONE else.
BRIAN MCDONOUGH says
Having been in the insurance claims industry for over 32 years, I am quite aware of how to read a policy. When I spoke to the sales person regarding purchasing this policy, it was made clear to me that the trip cancellation/trip interruption limits applied to each person. By discussing the premium costs with him it made sense. I paid $360 for a family plan. The cruise insurance for my wife and i would have been $320 but it covered the entire cruise costs. When I had to cancel the cruise that cost $3,500 for both of us, the agent on the phone confirmed the coverage per person. Unbelievably, I only received $1,500 cancellation coverage total for everyone. The language in the policy does not support that but that’s what I was told.
Using Pat Whitaker’s from access america’s logic. I purchased a policy for five members of my family at a premium that was 20% of the value of the policy, if the maximum coverage was only $1,500. Who would buy a family plan at that cost and secondly, what family vacation only costs $1,500? The logic does not support that coverage nor my expectations and understanding when I purchased the policy. My auto policy for my $30,000 car is only $1,500. That’s 5% of the value of the car. The homeowner’s coverage is even less that that.
Ambiguous language in a policy or confusing language inures to the benefit of the policyholder in all cases. That has been confirmed by every state supreme court in the country. While the Letter of Confirmation is addressed to me, the names of the insureds are Melanie McDonough, Tyler McDonough, Hunter McDonough, Connor McDonough, Brian McDonough. This is confusing as the dec page lists the 5 members of my family as “Insureds, but there is no definition in the policy for “insured”, so each member listed is a separate insured under the policy. As insured is not defined, “You” would be addressed to whichever insured is reading the policy and coverage would be applicable to that person and therefore $1,500 trip cancellation/trip interruption maximum would apply to each person.
I followed the terms, conditions and requirements of the policy. Mondial has not for the following reasons.
The claim was reported promptly and forms were received for me to complete on 6/29/11. These forms were completed and received by Mondial on 7/7/11. There was no correspondence received from BCS acknowledging my claim documents or reserving its rights under the policy when the claim was submitted. The fact that it accepted my emails and claims documents clearly show that BCS had no reservations with my claim for the $3,000 for which I am claiming under policy US01643097. Additionally, in my e-mail submission with the 18 page packet of backup documentation submitted on 7/7/11, I asked that Mondial promptly advise if it required any additional information and received no response to that email or subsequent emails or phone calls. There was no correspondence ever received from BCS acknowledging my claim documents or reserving its rights under the policy when the claim was submitted on 7/7/11.
The “bad faith” claims handling is apparent and clearly in violation of state insurance regulations that require a response within seven days of a claim submission that it was being reviewed. The first acknowledgement received was the letter of July 20 and received on July 23…13 days after submission. Finally, I would request that you advise whether Ms. Whitaker is a licensed adjuster in NH. As you know, NH Insurance Department requires all insurance adjusters, employed by insurers be licensed.
This is only a synopsis of the claim appeal letter I sent on 8/4/11.
Paul Vernaglia says
I am so sorry that I bought Travel Insurance from Access America that I am rethinking all my other insurance; home, auto, etc. I bought the travel insurance on line from Delta Airlines (another company with whom I am unhappy) on the very site where I ordered the Delta tickets. I have decided not to persue the $300 it has already cost me to redeposit my Delta Airline Frequent Flyer ticket miles, after the pile of required forms,receipts, and reports exceded one inch. My sole satisfaction is to warn others not to count on any insurance from this or any other insurance company. Insurance makes you feel good until you need it. Keep your money in your pocket, not theirs! I hope you may receive some satisfaction from my $300.00 rant. I read all the bad reports included here only after I became ill before traveling. I promised myself that I would report to you all on this site after my claim was resolved. I expected to report that I was compensated as expected. I actually have not been denied yet only drowned in paper work. I give up. Insurance companies can burry you with paper.
Melisse Sullivan says
Horrible claims service and fraudulent activity – Do not do business with this company. They’ll take your money, but never pay your claim. Exclusions galore, and most frustrating is that the “exclusions” are only known to them – You never receive a full policy doc. STAY AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReNae Bopp says
I have been selling Access America to my clients for almost 30 years and have had only wonderful service and prompt payment of legitamate claims. Many Many of the complaints in this report have to do with non payment due to Pre Existing conditions. The travel either didn’t read or was unrealistic about their policy. Access America does cover pre existing conditions as long as the policy is purchased within 14 days of the first deposit of their trip. I always make this very clear to them and incourage them to purchase within the first week. This is very generous of Access America because you cannot buy fire insurance within 14 days of your house burning down and have the insurance company build you a new house. Another complaint is the paperwork required from the doctor. Again, with all the crime in our society, Access America has to make SURE the claims are legit and will not pay just because you have a sad story. Access America is a wonderful company that I am proud to sell at my travel agency. Every travel insuance company has very similiar if not the same benifit description and policies and my experience is Access America is one of the Best. ReNae Bopp
CL says
This company is a fraud.
The unsually heavy traffic caught me on the freeway yesterday due to the sudden accident.
Fortunately I was not involved the accident.
But it caused for me to have missed the afternoon flight.
I knew my flight was full and I
called the airline immediately when I stuck.
The airline representative changed my flight to the last flight of the day.
I thought she changed my flight without any charge.
I thouged there was no difficulty to give up my previous seats
to change to a couch seat of the later flight.
Because my seats were the business and first class in the previous flights including the connection flight.
At the airport I figured out I need to pay for changing flight.
Unfortunately the flight was also full and there was no couch available.
It was an unsual situation.
I needed to pay $2000 for the business class or purchase 20000 mileages to purchase a business class seat.
Purchasing 20000 mileages cost me only $560 so I purchased the mileages.
It was the last flight of the day and unexpectedly it arrived almost 2 hour delayed.
Then they cleaned and departed quickly.
It was uufortunately overbooked.
Next morning I called Access America to file my claim.
The representative said if I was not involved or injured by the accident I was not able to file a claim.
My trip was totally inturrupted by the accident but I was not imvolved so
I am not eligible?
She also said if the delay is within 6 hours they don’t cover it.
So watch out your connecting flight should have a 6 hour layover at least.
Who will book the domestic connecting flight that has a 6 hour layover?
I will never purchase any travel insurance from the Access America again.
Kris says
continued from previous post………..
I STRONGLY CAUTION ANYONE THAT IS CONSIDERING THIS COMPANY TO LOOK ELSEWHERE. They will look for any excuse NOT to pay a claim. My son was ill and had a couple of clinic visits prior to my purchasing this “insurance”. I did not decide to cancel the trip until I found out he had been referred to an oncologist. THERE IS NO WAY ANY PARENT WOULD GO ON VACATION KNOWING THAT THEIR CHILD WILL BE EVALUATED FOR THE PRESENCE OF CANCER!!!!! I had already lost my daughter to cancer and so, OBVIOUSLY, was extremely worried!
THEY USED THE EXCUSE THAT “THE CONDITION WHICH LED TO THE CHANGE IN TRAVEL PLANS WAS EXHIBITING SYMPTOMS AND/OR BEING TREATED PRIOR TO THE PURCHASE OF THE INSURANCE PROGRAM.” They also “regret that we will be unable to honor your claim”. This company knows nothing about honor.
NEVER PURCHASE INSURANCE FROM THIS COMPANY!!!!
Kris says
I STRONGLY CAUTION ANYONE THAT IS CONSIDERING THIS COMPANY TO LOOK ELSEWHERE. They will look for any excuse NOT to pay a claim. My son was ill and had a couple of clinic visits prior to my purchasing this “insurance”. I did not decide to cancel the trip until I found out he had been referred to an oncologist. THERE IS NO WAY ANY PARENT WOULD GO ON VACATION KNOWING THAT THEIR CHILD WILL BE EVALUATED FOR THE PRESENCE OF CANCER!!!!! I had already lost my daughter to cancer and so, OBVIOUSLY, was extremely worried. Again, I purchased the insurance erecause he was first seen by a physician prior to my purchasing the insurance, they would not cover the
JL says
What a fraud! Do NOT bother purchasing this “insurance” as it truly doesn’t “insure” anything. I needed to modify my flight plans to simply get on an earlier flight. The airline (Delta) said I had to call Access America directly. I called them and they said that because my requirement was “personal”, that I was not covered.
John Savis says
I’m so sorry I bought this. I need to make a claim, but it requires me to divulge medical information about my elderly and demented mother and I just can’t bring myself to do it. If I told her about it, I know she would say no. She is in the early stages and is still a very private person.
Harinath says
Just a fraud. I filed for a claim only to be rejected online, but could not complete the claim as additional documents were needed. Because my claim was not completed and it was well within 10 days of buying the policy, I couldnt even get the policy money back. The reason – i initiated the claim. Guys.. what a fraud… My claim is not submitted, my claim is not rejected, yet I m considered i filed a claim. Moreoever this insurance has lots of clauses. Please read it before you buy it. I would never recommend this to any one
Joan Hurst says
I have no idea how they maintain a good rating. My brother was diagnosed with severe cancer after I purchased the insurance. They claim that he had a pre-existing condition because he went to the doctor for other things in the month before he was diagnosed and admitted to the hospital. There are no sufficient means to log a complaint against them.
Philip Lesorgen says
This company is a scam! We had to cancel our trip several weeks prior to leaving due to my wife’s requiring surgery. They have used numerous excuses to deny our claim, every time coming up with something different. It seems like their policy is DENY, DENY, DENY!!! Beware of this company. We are presently pursuing legal representation.
Roy says
They paid the editor for 5 star review.
Aman says
This is a fraud company. They put us on a paper work trail for two months and still didn’t pay.
Cliff Bowers says
I just learned that my claim for $300 charged to me by Delta to redeposit Delta skymiles in my wife’s and my accounts was not approved by Access America/Delta. This is especially disappointing since prior to purchasing their policy I actually spoke to one of their representatives via phone about my specific circumstances and the possibility that I might have to cancel our trip due to thymic cancer treatment as the reason I was interested in trip cancellation insurance. Since the Access America/Delta representative at no time pointed out that I might not be eligible should I need to file a claim, I went ahead and purchased their insurance policy via their web site. I am very disapponted, especially since I discussed my situation with them first, that Access America/Delta have refused to honor my claim.
BJM says
Much to our surprise we received our refund in full within one month of filing our claim. We made sure to make copies of all documents we submitted to Access America. It took a few phone calls back and forth between Access America and the doctors office, but finally they had all they needed to pay our claim. The direct number to the Customer Service Manager, Mr, Keith J. McAllister is (804) 673-1528. The President of the company is Mr. Johathan M. Ansell in case you need to go to the top to get answers. The most trouble we had was getting the information faxed from the doctors office to Access America. The doctors office tried for 3 days, and I called Access America for another Fax number, but they only have one for claims. If your doctors office can scan and send the information via email at claimsinquiry@accessamerican.com it will go faster. The Fax goes straight to a computer set up to receive the faxes, not a paper copy like I thought. The office is located a 2805 North Parham Rd. Richmond, VA 23294. Since we live in Virginia, I asked them if I needed to drive to their office and deliver the paperwork in person. As to the Physician Statement Form, make sure to have the doctor fill in the – Date symptoms first appeared or accident occurred – to coincide with the exact date the the illness happened, or the exact day you go to the hospital to be seen that caused you to delay/cancel your trip.
Scott says
They’re a fraud. Submitted documentation from the doctor and claim was denied. Do not bother purchasing anything from them or Orbitz.
RJ says
We have only purchased Travel Insurance two times but both were with Access America and they were excellent both times. The first I bought it by mistake when purchasing airline tickets for the family (6 of us) and fully intended to call and cancel but forgot to. My 3 year old son came down with pneumonia and we couldn’t take our trip. It took about 60 days but we got 100% of our airline ticket cost back, and they were very helpful throughout the whole process. Then when we rescheduled the trip about 9 months later we purchased the insurance again. During this trip we woke one night around 2am to one of my sons having trouble breathing so we had to call 911 and an ambulance came and took him to the hospital. Again Access America was awesome! They paid 100% of what our medical insurance didn’t cover, which was quite a bit. We travel 1-2 times a year as a family and have never even thought about buying travel insurance until that 1st trip were I forgot to uncheck a box online, now we will probably never travel without it.
I read all these negative reviews and find it very hard to believe after my 2 experiences went so well. They did make me provide full documentation and notes from the Dr., and the checks for the airfare did come in a separate check for each ticked passenger. However, I didn’t think they asked for or did anything that was out of line.
Brooke says
I understand that when an emergency happens your mind is on that situtation. They are an insurance company they need proper documentation like every other insurance company. The rules and regulations are all set up so you can read before you purchase any policy and they even offer a 10 day period to read it after purchasing and ask for a refund on it. They can’t cover everything in the world, it’d be impossible for them to stay in business. They also refund in checks for YOUR protection because they don’t keep credit card numbers on file (ie less of a chance for a hacker to get your number – wouldn’t that be a more a pain in the butt to deal with??) They give step by step directions for everything and information is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week because they work that schedule so any questions call, email, or go onto their website.
ACCESS AMERICA IS A FRAUD says
STAY AWAY. All this “company does is a FRAUD. They play endless games with you when you try to file a claim, and speka to you as if you are garbage. It is an endless game with them to see how far they can stretch you before you give up and say it isn’t worth it.
FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUDFRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD
Bryan says
BEWARE of this “Travel Insurance” company. I wish I could put those quotes in bold. I booked a flight with Access America insurance, thinking they would insure my flight should a legitimate reason that wasn’t death or a medical emergency arise. Isn’t that the point of flight insurance? Well something did happen, that wasn’t death or a medical emergency, and wouldn’t you know that it wasn’t one of their “specific reasons?” Putting me out over $1000 and with nary an apology or empathy.
I understand as an insurance company their policies must be finite, what with fraud and all, but if their conditions are SO specific, they should be way more up front about it at the time of booking. Sure, you can review the policy before actually taking it, but the “specific reasons” are so cloaked in the rest of the document, they lead you to believe you’re taken care of no matter what.
That, my fellow consumers, is one ridiculous lie. I wouldn’t go so far as to call them a scam, but let’s just say such deceptive business tactics are seen elsewhere, and this sham of an insurance company has mastered the art.
DO NOT risk your money–stay away and take private travel insurance from another company if you must!!
Larry says
I would not recomend purchasing this insurance because they will not pay your claim. I spoke directly to one agent who instructed me to submit the required documentation and that my claim would be paid. I submitted the documentation and then followed up with anoter agent and his supervisor and they told me that my claim would not be paid. I would suggest that you save your money and DO NOT PURCHASE THIS INSURANCE.
Rick P says
Legitimate claim denied & COMPLETELY frustrated. Feel mislead and believe they committed fraudulent marketing & sales after providing expectations that I was covered for my needs. Purely a ripped me off.
Janie Begeman says
This coverage is a complete rip-off – DO NOT BUY! Our business purchased travel insurance on 13 employees flying to New York. A short time prior to the trip, one employee was terminated for performance issues and another’s spouse was unexpectedly diagnosed with lung cancer. I submitted all requested forms — including having to inconvenience the employee with the significantly ill spouse to get Doctor sign-offs on forms — only to hear nothing for weeks. When I checked, they told me they couldn’t pay without additional information. More hoops to jump through! They wanted a letter on company letterhead detailing why employee was terminated. I asked how this was any of their business as it was protected information and reminded them that my original cover letter with claim forms was on letterhead. Of course they stated they needed another one. Ridiculous! Then, the employee with the very ill spouse had to get a Notary Public to witness her signature that reimbursemen check could be made out to the business, despite original forms showing business had paid for the coverage. I’m sure there will be more idiotic requests and that no money will ever be reimbursed. I will never use them again to cover our employees on flights.
Teresa says
WHAT A RIP OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I bought trip insurance from Access America when my husband and I planned a trip to Greece for July of 2011. With all the riots and protests going on for the past week (June 15 -21st (today), we were scared to go because it IS not safe. When I called to file a claim I was told by Terika a supervisor that they did not cover civil unrest. ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? What a waste of money getting insurance from them…CHECK YOUR CREDIT CARDS EVERYONE BECAUSE THEY PROBABLY GIVE THE SAME INSURANCE FOR FREE..DO NOT SPEND YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY AT ACCESS AMERICA,
D Lowe says
I am completely satisfied with Access America. I received a full refund of $1,100 (airfare) for a trip I cancelled 3 weeks prior to the travel date. I purchased 2 round trip tickets 6 months before the trip. My father became sick 5 months before the trip. My wife and I are staying home to care for him.
S. Bahadori says
ACCESS AMERICA…BIG FRAUD…SCAM…WHAT A SHAM…AWFUL…HORRIBLE…
I TOLD EVERYBODY IN MY OFFICE AND ALL MY FRIEND ABOUT IT.
I bought a ticket from San Fransisco to Los Angeles and I insured it with Access America.
I called 72 hours before the flight and canceled it. I have called Access America told them
that I have stomach flu and will not be able to fly.
I filed the claim and email it to Access America. Five days later I’ve received a letter they
rejected my claim.
Sina Mansouri says
this travel insurance is a total waste of money, for a $175 claim they are asking for
Hospital admission and discharge paperwork, the e ticket itenerary, proof fo payment for the trip cost and the physicain letter was insufficient telling them that the passenger will not be allowed to travel for a month due to hart condition and hospitalization. Don’t waste your money buying coverage through Delta Airline.
I used my miles to buy a ticket the cancellation cost $175 so I have nothing to show them other than Delta will charge me $175 whenever I use that ticket in the future.
Robin Lynch says
I have to agree with most every comment as this company appears to not honor most every claim.
I booked a trip to Moscow, Russia and then had to cancel as the person with whom I was to visit became ill and had to immediately return to the USA for treatment. I cancelled the trip in plenty of time and was initially told by a representative that my claim would be honored. But after not hearing from Access America for nearly two weeks I called and inquired about my claim. I was then told my cancellation was not a valid reason. NOT A VALID REASON?! What was I suppose to do make the trip anyway and visit no one?
I was told I would receive a letter explaining everything in full. That was two weeks ago and I have received nothing, yet. Needless to say I would NOT use this company again. They appear to be so helpful and then when you file a claim they act like you don’t exist.
Laurel Williams says
After 3+ months, Access America paid the claim and paid it correctly. However one must constantly birddog the claim every step of the way! Submitted papers are misplaced and must be resubmitted, the adjusters frequently do not return promised calls and their excuses as to why the claim should not be paid must be refuted. My advice is to keep asking for the supervisor. Try to find the supervisor named Patrick. He is the only reasonable person that we communicated with in the entire company. My advice is not to give up. This winter I became hospitalized in Jordan and had to come home interrupting a 3 week tour of the Middle East on day three. Access America finally did come through on the coverage we purchased. The company needs to train their people to be customer oriented, to keep their word, and to expedite matters in a timely manner.
Kelly Moore says
Had to cxl my flight which they told me I could reuse by 2112 due to several days of migraines…they are saying now that their insurance doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions…EVEN tho it was impossible for me to fly..because I’ve had a history of migraines?..I’m not eligible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! $483.30…gone! RIPOFF!!!!!!
CessieM says
Thank you for all your comments. I was on the verge of purchasing this insurance–it was an option on Iberia.com but I decided to look up the company. Although they may have paid out some claims, there are 236 reviews on here about at least 226 are negative! I have never seen so many negative reviews for a company and that is to me enough to make me not buy this insurance from them.
Catherine Martin says
I thought I was purchasing insurance but, this is a rip-off.
I booked a flight to see my best friend. Two days later, her little sister died unexpectedly. I called Access America because I’d purchased the insurance incase of an emergency. This was an emergency; I couldn’t go on my scheduled trip.
They dragged their feet for a week. I spoke to a rep, explained the situation, she had me fill out a form. I had to find the proof of death, and proof of purchse before it could be reviewed. I did everything they asked and was denied.
Their reson to me was, either “I” had to die or one of MY family members had to die. This should be illegal because it’s certainly unethical.
Mike says
This business operates similar to a scam, DO NOT BUY!!!!
Steve says
My story is like most of the others on this board. I had a flight cancellation with all of the associated expenses. The claims agent at Access were as nice as can be when processing the claim for several thousand dollars. Then, I never heard from them again. When I followed up, they denied the claim by pointing out fine print in the policy. Typical insurance scam and fraud. If you purchase from this company, be aware that there are very limited cases where you will be able to actually recover funds from a delay or cancelalation of your trip. Avoid the headache and save your money, by skipping their insurance policy.
Gary says
This company is clearly a HUGE fraud. Save your money. The policies are all worthless. I recently had a trip with flight cancellations and over 24 hours of delays. I had over $1,000 in expenses for travel to and from the airport, meals, cost of housing, etc. This company denied every one of the claims. Had an excuse why each item wasn’t covered. The end result is, it is almost impossible to ever have a loss that is actually covered under the policy.
SAVE YOUR MONEY!!! DO NOT OUR PURCHASE!!
orlando says
A fraud, editor must be getting paid to provide such a high review. I’ve provided ample documentation indicating the medical condition that forced me to cancel the trip was diagnosed well after I purchase protection. They still don’t want to reimburse because I saw a Doctor prior coverage purchase. Advise to costumers, if you are seeing a Doctor for anything, beware and don’t purchase coverage from this company. As you can see from previous reviews the “preexisting conditions” is the catch all with this company. I wonder if they have medical professional reviewing claims.
Scott A says
Scott A again #227 above. Bee reached out to me within a couple of hours of posting my problems with ACCESS AMERICA. Over 24 hours later no response. Typical company shows the public we will take another look but NEVER does. Thankfully in the good old USA I get my day in court. Ignore all Access America coments after all responses, they really don’t respond back to you. I think Bee at Access America is telling us all BEE AWARE, stay away. On to court. How does this company operate
fred cook says
I purchased a travel plan, had an accident and needed detal treatment in England, Access America paid the claim no questions, all they required was the expense invoice
G G Stanley says
Had to cancel a trip due to the reading of a will of my mother, loss of wages, and fear of flying when Osama was killed…we were on a high alert! NO MONEY BACK, NO CREDIT!!! I’ll never go with Orbitz or Access America again. NEVER~!! What a rip off.
Foldy says
Do not Buy….
this company steals your money~
Pre existing condition is Cover all rejection letter
Scott A says
STAY away from this company. My daugher had to have emergency knee surgury in March. I purchased a policy January 4th with NO idea of this surgury or her ability to travel. I was denied because of a precondition. This was not true, my daughter was able to travel and enjoy this vacation on January 4th but to our suprise I was denied over $2000.00 in expenses. I guess you take trip insurance for the unexpected which was exactly the case. Now I have to pay $175.00 to go to a arbitrator and wait mouths with not knowing if I will get my money. My advise to you is go to other online companies, these guys are hooked big time with major tour groups. Stay AWAY.
M.S. says
This site is Fraud… i took out an insurance for my self and my wife for air travel worth $1500.. at the time of my travel my wife was 35 weeks pregnant and doctors adviced us not to go… i submitted my doctors note, and they did not refund me a penny….. sooo much Bull crap Excuses….. Luckly the airline gave me one year to use that money, to travel with them anywhere. i lost $65/ for 2 ppl insurance…… soo stay away from ACCESS AMERICA…………………… SPAMMMMMMMMM
R. Shepard says
Please file complaints with the Better Business Bureau http://www.bbb.org.
With better records we can all be more informed and hold Access America accountable.
SaraSue says
All of these reviews have certainly convinced me NOT to choose this company. I will buy elsewhere and I will encourage everyone I know to always be certain to read not only the reviews, but the lame responses from this company. Shame you on Access America. You have a terrible reputation.
Gayle says
After submitting all necessary documentation, received a letter requesting yet another doctor’s form – from a doctor not involved in treating the illness.
I tried emailing Jeff Hyman, Vice President of Travel Operations, four times in the past two weeks, and have not received a response.
Two recent travel articles in our Sunday newspaper focused attention on problems fellow travelers endured after purchasing insurance from Access America.
I’ve learned my lesson the hard way, and hope these comments will prevent someone else from making the same mistake.
DO NOT PURCHASE!
Chris R. says
****TAKE LEGAL ACTION***** If Access America fails to fulfil their contractual obligation, persue legal action, in California it is called Small Claims Court. It is VERY EASY to do, there is very little cost involved (if you win, court costs will be reimbursed to you), you just need the following information:
1) The company name is: World Access Service Corp DBA Access America (located in Virginia)
2) Agent for Service (if you don’t live in Virginia); in California it is: CT Corporation System
You will need the addresses and phone #’s (just do an internet search) and file your claim.
I will never use this company’s service again. There is a reason 200+ people are complaining and this does not include the hundreds of people who simply do not bother.
Jenny says
I am shocked that airline agencies are advertising for this company on their website. I will never buy trip insurance again!!! I was denied the reimbursement because my sister died within 12 hours of me purchasing the policy. How was I to know she was going to die? Do they think I’m God and knew that? I didn’t even want them to reimburse for the original trip just simply a $150 change of tix since we had to come home and bury her within a week.
Unhappy Customer says
Access America is the Stupidest plan anyone can buy for. They fool you when you buy the policy by having smaller letter disclaimer. I had a situation and i had to cancel my ticket for unplanned infertility treatment which would cost me 15K dollar if i cancel it. THESE STUPID customer reps didn’t consider that emergency. Such a stupid ladies they have for call center who tries to be sweet but u can make out they are just acting.Well just wanted to share my experience and let you all know to not be fool in buying their insurance policy.. because its TOTALLY USELESS.
Artur H says
They will take your money but when you need cancel your trip, practically they will tell you to go pound sand.
They will ask all kinds of a paperwork, which you never can satisfy, than promptly deny the claim.
I HOPE THEY GO BANKRUPT.
Kevin GUthrie says
This company and their policies are a scam. You select the coverage that you think you need but then smoke and mirrors and fine print clauses say, “thats not covered” when you make your claim. The editors comments are correct, when they sell you the product it is very confusing and I will never do business with this company nor Delta (who recommended them) ever again.
Jane says
This place is a fraud! do NOT use them. All they do is take your money, not worth buying insurance. I missed my flight due to a traffic accident, and I didn’t make it to the airport on-time. They would not reinbursed my money, unless I submitted a police report with the information of the drivers who caused the accident! This is not worth it!
Judy Cascales says
Correction: I had to submit documentation that showed our son had not been treated for the condition 120 days before we purchased the insurance. I have taken the time to write this review as I think that people who are not satisfied are more likely to write a review than those who are.
Judy Cascales says
I buy Access America Travel Insurance every time I fly which is frequent. In 2009 my adult son, who was traveling with me and my husband, became very ill on a return flight from Paris. In Dallas, where we were to make our connection, we had to take him to a hospital in an ambulance where he remained for 10 days before we could continue home with him. He did not have travel insurance but my husband and I did. Access America paid for our hotel, rental car, and our tickets to continue from Dallas. They also reimbursed us for the airline tickets which we had purchased to make two more trips in the following two months because our son’s illness was so serious he needed round the clock care once home and we couldn’t leave him. (These tickets were covered under separate policies which I bought at the time they were purchased).
We had to supply documentation for the hospital admittance, the diagnosis, that we were his caretakers, and that he had not been treated for the condition during six months before the emergency. This latter requirement was fulfilled by a statement from our son’s doctor listing the times he had seen him during that period and the reasons for the visits. None was for the illness that caused his hospitalization. The doctor also gave us a statement that our son could not care for himself and we were his caretakers.
Presently no standard travel insurance issued in the US will cover pre-existing conditions. It is possible to get special policies for cruises or tours if the complete premium is paid when they are booked. Some will cover cancellations for any reason. I don’t know if Access America has these as I have purchased them only as part of tour packages. They cover the tour portion as well as the included airfare.
Read the policy well and don’t assume anything. Also be prepared to submit the required documentation. Your case may be legitimate, but, unfortunately, there are those who make fraudulent claims or ones for situations not covered by the policy. The process is tedious but I found the representatives of Access America courteous and helpful. I will continue to purchase their insurance.
Ted Raby says
This is a total ripoff do not buy this crap.
Julie Hopper says
Do not buy travel insurance from this company! They will think of any excuse not to reimburse you!
My mom was scheduled to have surgery, and I flew home for it for a week. However, the day before she was scheduled, her surgeon’s dad died. Her surgeon rescheduled the surgery for the following week, and I had to reschedule my flight back home for a week later. They used the excuse that her condition was pre-existing.. which yes it is, but that is not relevant to the fact that my trip had an unexpected interruption which should be covered by their policy. To make matters worse, when I called before buying the insurance, since I was unsure if anything went wrong with her surgery if they would refund me for a changed ticket- the lady answering the phone said that it should be covered. Bullshit.
Anyhow- don’t waste your 24$.
Steve says
Yes, they are fraud from the word go! They contact your doctor and from their that point on they form their own opinion to favor their position to deny claim! They are frauds and the ones who work for them are professionally trained to aid in committing fraud.
Lori Roberts says
Big hassle to get refund. First claim was denied, saying additional information was needed.
Insurance is offered by US AIR and state that you will receive 100% REFUND FOR CANCELLATIONS!!!
Crystal Cokley says
I was very dissatisfied with my reimbursement. I was not reimbursed for my pre-paid hotel expenses which was not clearly stated in the contract. The cause for missing my first night of lodging was due to a mechanical breakdown of the airplane. Thg company is offering misleading coverage. I will never use them again and I have informed all of my family and friends to do the same.
Adina says
Sure wish I had read these reviews before purchasing Access America insurance. Now my little old in laws and us are out $1000 for airline ticket change fees. AAI claims that train derailment delays are not covered in the policy, ALTHOUGH, train derailments are not specifically mentioned in the policy. What a sham!!!!!
John Greene says
I really can’t believe how bad this service is and how difficult it is to get a claim through. We had a trip delayed in January because of snow in the northeast, Jetblue cancelled the flight, and rebooked us two days later. This is all public available info (cancelled flight), our expenses were of course greater than the $240 max but still they require more info than we provided (which was a lot and they could figure out it’s not free to stay somewhere a few days). I’m not sure if their tactics are to wear you down but I give up and will never use them again . How’s travel insurance that isn’t insurance? That’s AccessAmerica. Nice logo. Sorry for the sarcasm but they deserve it.
krishna says
Access America travel insurance is waste of purchase, unless you don’t have doctor’s letter they will not consider for refund / post-phone charges.
Do not buy this insurance please.
Anne Jordan says
I purchased insurance on 2 tickets for a wedding. The bride canceled the wedding and I tried to get a refund on the tickets. What a joke…NO REFUND. First person told me had it been a meeting that was canceled that I would have gotten my $$$ back but that a wedding wasn’t …guess as important. Second person said first person didn’t know what they were talking about..that basically I needed to get sick … Wonder what the third person would have said.
NEVER NEVER buy anything from Access America…they are a rip off.
Lori Triplett says
I am absolutely appalled at the way Access America does business. I really wish I had reviewed this company before I ever purchased from them. At the time of my flight booking, this was a check box for those that may want to purchase insurance. I assumed it was reputable. After being denied my claim, I searched the reviews on this and am totally taken aback! There are absolutely NO good words to say about them.
When I first contacted them, they were so sweet and understanding and sympathetic to my situation with my sister and her new onset of cancer. Once I supplied the data they requested (and called to ask again if they had all they needed), they very easily stated that the claim was denied. There was no discussing it any further, as far as they were concerned.
Fortunately, I have some contacts that are looking into this further. If “Bree” (who seems to be contacting some or all of the more recent complaints) would like to look into MY situation too, and give me some feedback that is more than “Sorry, but this was a pre-existing condition”, then I will be happy to discuss it. As it stands now I am out of >$800. How they can rest well at night is beyond me.
ACCESS AMERICA IS A HUGE HUGE SCAM TO GET MONEY FROM THE ALREADY UPSET VICTIMS AND FEEL ABSOLUTELY NO REMORSE FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Andrew Parrorr says
I purchased a plan from Access America and had to cancel my trip due to a death. They refused to pay for the flight. They would not budge, the cumtomer support was awful and they simply said that thye would not pay anything!
This is a total scam and anyone who purchases Access America it is being robbed.
I do not recommend Access America! They are thieves and should not be allowed to do business!
RESPONSE FROM ACCESS AMERICA
Hi Andrew,
Sorry to hear about your situation. Please contact us at help.team@accessamerica.com with the name of the insured and a policy number so we can find out more.
Access America products are purchased by millions of travelers each year and we place strong emphasis on customer service. We’ve previously been named the Global Call Center of the Year by the International Customer Management Institute. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Marcia Ingram says
I am 74 years old and have had an ongoing condition of congestive heart failure which is controlled almost all of the time with medication and dietary restriction. I am able to travel without difficulty, in fact I took a 14 day European River Cruise some months prior without any problems.
The day before my trip, for which I purchased my insurance from Access America, I experienced shortness of breath, atrial fibrillation with very irruglar heart rhytrhm, weakness with lightheadedness and edema. I immediately went to my cardiologist and he strongly advised me against flying and making the trip. I had been hospitalized seven months prior for heart failure. This insurace policy was offered through hotwire.com.
I was denied the $242.30 claim on the basis that I had a pre existing condition. My doctor completed an extensive report required by this company. As I mentioned above, I had been able to funcition normally since my hospitalization seven months prior to this episode.
I have appealed to the company without success. I will never purchase insurance from Access America again and have advised my travel agent and others of their business practices. I hesitate to even give them a one star rating.
RESPONSE FROM ACCESS AMERICA
Dear Marcia,
I’m Bree with Access America’s Help Team. I’m sorry to hear about your situation. We’ve looked into your case, and unfortunately the product you purchased did not include coverage for existing medical conditions. Existing Medical Conditions is excluded from many travel insurance policies. Further, the terms of many policies exclude coverage for claims directly or indirectly related to conditions a person would have had symptoms of in the 120 days prior to the insurance purchase. However, if you have additional documentation from your doctor, please submit them to our Claims Department and they will be happy to review.
Like any type of insurance, there are terms, conditions, and limitations that impact coverage. We provide a list of covered reasons for trip cancellation and interruption in the policy, as well as a list of general and specific exclusions which we strongly encourage all customers to review when they receive it. And we offer a 10-day free look, with the opportunity to cancel the policy at no cost if it doesn’t meet your needs. Please see our FAQs: http://bit.ly/b4T45T, or email us at help.team@accessamerica.com if you have further questions. We wish you good health and safe travels in the future.
Maria Rosado says
Access American was not able to help me at all. I placed a claim because my baggage was delayed when I travelled to Switzerland Feb 12, 2011 and I provided them with my airline baggage delay claim and after the claim was filed they needed receipts for the items I purchased until my bags were delivered. I was not able to locate my receipts so that voided the claim. It is the first time I place a claim or purchase insurance for travel. I will not do that in the future because it is a waste of my time and money since my luggage was delayed and that was the claim I placed I should be receiving compensation just for that. BUYER BEWARE!!! DON’T PURCHASE INSURANCE THROUGH THIS COMPANY. They should be reported to the insurance commission. I will also let the place I purchased my insurance know of my experience.
Katrina says
Not sure to blame Alaska Airlines or Access America here, but buyer beware — do not purchase Access American insurance through Alaska Airlines! I spent about $75 to get trip cancellation insurance for flights for my family of 5. Though I used 50,000 miles for a fare reduction (still paying 75%) of cost, I just found out that the insurance I bought ONLY COVERS REDEPOSITING MY FREQUENT FLYER MILES, not the actual ticket price. I had NO idea this was the case as I thought I was insuring the ticket price. This was not explained on the website, and even looking at the policy forwarded to me, it is entirely unclear. Furthermore, after the fact, in discussing this with an Access America rep on the phone, it was also explained to me that the insurance I bought did not cover Pre-existing Conditions, which was the reason I bought it. Apparently no Access America insurance purchased through Alaska Airlines covers this, and you can only get this by purchasing it through them directly. In sum, the $75 I spent was a total waste of money! After talking to Access America, I now understand that they have far more restrictions than other companies (like Travelex), and therefore I would not use them again. Very disappointed in them and Alaska Airlines for complete lack of clarity on the website!
John Cardarelli says
I left a one star…. If I could leave a negative star I would. Anyone thinkig of purchasing travel insurance through Access America BEWARE. This is nothing more than an organization that will do EVERYTHING in it’s power not to pay your claim. Quite frankly, I have never, ever seen such a bad and BS organization. My “quick” story…. My mother in law who is 90 years old took this travel insurance as protection in the event she became ill on a trip to see her daughter in Santa Barbara, purchased on 11/4/10. My wife, and her daughter had a routine Dr. Appointment on 11/26, she noticed some rectal bleeding a couple of weeks prior. My wife was then sent for a colonoscopy on 12/16 and a cancerous tumor was found. She had it removed on 12/21 and found out the cancer had spread, she is now undergoing 6 months of chemotherapy and I pray this will stop this deadly disease. When she found the cancer had spead, last week of December, her mother decided to cancel her trip as she wanted to take care of her daughter (my wife). Upon filing the claim with Access America they claim they need proof the symptoms did not appear before 11/4, when she purchased the insurance, LIKE WE THOUGHT THIS WAS CANCER AND THAT’S WHY HER MOTHER PURCHASED THE INSURANCE. Our Dr. sent a note stating that the first symptom appeared on 11/7, and that she was seen on 11/26, but we did not know it was cancer until late December. I have been going back and forth with Access America for two months now!!!!! Even though they have a not from the Dr., etc…. they still refuse to pay and wan to look intio it more. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT !!!!! DO NOT BUY FROM THIS HORRIBLE COMPANY !!!!!!
Ron B says
Access America Insurance is worthless. Their business model is to deny even reasonable claims. Why? They make millions doing it. My father was very ill last fall.
His diagnosis was spinal stenosis…he had surgery…got a staff infection…was doing very poorly in the hospital. I told the family to start visiting as the future was uncertain. After travel was booked we were shocked to learn he had cancer in his upper spine. The surgeons felt terrible they hadn’t found it, and then said he might only have a few days left to live. One of his granddaughters shifted her flight to get in before he died. I had encouraged all to buy travel insurance when he was rehospitalized. So we felt confident a terminal diagnosis would be a good reason to change a flight and file a claim. WRONG.
Access Americ dismissed the claim. We then had the doctor write a very specific appeal letter explaining he did not have a pre-existing terminal condition. Access America discarded this letter and said the case was closed and they tossed the letter. If you can’t get a claim paid on a Slam-Dunk set of circumstances with a clearly written letter from a doctor…do you think you can a claim paid on anything.? Let’s face it. This insurance is BOGUS. It’s just a scam to get another piece of traveler’s money. Don’t buy Access America.
RML says
I purchased this policy on reliance of two separate Access America customer support representatives who assured me that if a cyclone was coming and I had to evacuate during my trip to Australia, would I be covered for airline, hotel, and any tour group costs. I was guaranteed that yes, if a cyclone or any natural disaster was confirmed to arrive in the destination once I was already there, I would be reimbursed for any reasonable expenses.
February 1, a cyclone of a category 3 (then 4, then 5 status) was off the coast of Australia, and it was in size bigger than the entire state of Queensland. By the end of that day, MANDATORY EVACUATIONS were announced for the area I was staying in. I was fortunate to evacuate within two hours of the airport being closed. The airport was in fact classed for the next two days which was the time I was intended to originally leave.
I attached all documentation with my claim, all receipts, everything which stated the evacuation was mandatory; that my flight would have been cancelled as the airport was closed; etc.
I was denied because my flight hadn’t YET been cancelled when I evacuated.
So, their logic (even during the appeal process) is that I should have ignored the mandatory evacuations for the category 5 cyclone; waited out for the official cancellation of my flight (assuming I wasn’t dead or otherwise incapacitated by such a deadly event); and THEN I would be reimbursed.
Bensay says
Access America Travel Insurance is a RIP OFF! I booked a flight to see my sick Dad in Dec. Within hours, I found out he passed away the night before. I changed my flight to come in earlier for his funeral. Access America claims that since my father was ill, I should have KNOWN he was going to die, so they denied the claim. Google Access America. This is their MO. What a complete rip off.
Edward Block says
I had prostrate cancer and required treatment. It was not diagnosed when I purchased the policy. I had no symptoms. However, in a normal physical exam my PSA was read. It was as high as it had been for years. It was not until several months after that my doctor wanted to do a biopsy and the cancer was found. Since ‘The policy does not require a definite diagnosis for a condition to be deemed pre-existing.” does this mean if I sneeze one year and have pneumonia the next it won’t be covered? What a fraud. When you get to be 71, you have been through a lot, most of which does not go any further. The insurance is worthless!
Ninotchka says
This company is a FRAUD! I had purchase their insurance with a $500 lost/damage baggage or property for my European trip. I lost my Iphone in Norway during my trip in Dec, 2010. I, immediately called them overseas from Norway to report the incident. After wasting money on overseas call, I was told that I did not have baggage insurance, even though, my policy said so.
I sent them an email, and finally was told that I do have coverage. I was told that I needed a police report (which I have sent them from the Norwegian Police Station), and the original receipt of my phone (which I also have). If I didn’t have the original receipt, they will just pay 80% of the current iphone value, so said the customer service via phone.
I sent them my documentation for claims, asking for $499 for my phone replacement, as per the invoice stating that the cost of the phone was $499, but with the 2 yr contract, I was charged $99, but was taxed for the original cost. Obviously, since I lost my phone within 6 months of buying it, I will have to buy a replacement with the full cost of the phone.
Dear Ninotchka,
We’re sorry to hear about your experience. It’s important to remember that travel insurance is like any other insurance in regards to damaged, lost or stolen merchandise. Your insurance indicates that baggage and possessions are covered based on the lesser of either the actual cash value (retail value minus depreciation), or replacement cost. Please refer to the details in your policy, or take a look at our FAQs here: http://bit.ly/b4T45T. Email us at helpteam@accessamerica.com if you have further questions.
James McCartney says
THIS COMPANY IS A FRAUD. HAD UN-EXPECTED OPEN-HEART QUADRUPLE BYPASS SURGERY AND HAD TO CANCEL RETURN FLIGHT TO THE WASHINGTON, DC AREA. THEY REJECTED CLAIM BECAUSE I HAD SEEN THE DOCTOR BEFORE FOR AN UNRELATED CAUSE. THEY CLAIMED …”PRE-EXISTING CONDITION.”
Access America S U C K S !!!!!
mark albers says
it’s my opinion that this company is a rip off-i’m very unhappy-i have made two claims over the last several years-the 1st claim took me almost a year to get paid-i think to get paid this time i’m going to have to use a lawer and try to coollect legal expenses-don’t buy this crap-they will loose your paper work more than once-the guy i talked to wes-ext 51068 @ 800-334-7525 told me i was going to be paid over a month ago-now they say they don’t have enough information-i’m filing a complaint with the bbb next week-what’s crazy is i only bought travel insurance onny on the most expensive part of my trip to europe-by canceling my trip i’ve lost out on several hundred dollars because i cancelled several local flites that were non refundable-who whould do that if they thought they had a pre exesting condition-it’s my opinion that this company sucks!
Adnan says
Access America is the biggest Scam I’ve ever seen. I filed a claim 40 days ago and they and they are not interested at all.
DO NOT USE ACCESS AMERICA!!!!!!
GIVE YOUR MONEY TO A CHARITY, IT WILL PROTECT YOU MORE.
Faris Meghani says
This company is a fraud and should be reported. They seem to find different reasons everytime you call and speak to a different rep. I will never ever ever do business with them again. I wish i had researched them before booking my trip. I wish i had read this website before!
Matt Victoriano says
I purchased a ticket for my fiancee to flight to North Carolina for us to get married. As I am in the military I know that my schedule can change with short notice, so I purchased Access America’s travel insurance for her flight, since it stated on the flight booking website that it will refund flights for changes in schedules. I also read the terms of service presented to me right before I purchased the insurance and the ticket. Nowhere did it give specific circumstances for refusing refunds. Only after I called them, after waiting weeks for a reply to my claim, did they state that she had to be the one in the military for us to receive a refund. They clearly false advertise and use manipulative and misleading language to draw you into the sale. This company is a fraud.
Ronnie Fischer says
Access America refuses to honor a claim regarding canceled trip to Egypt during the severe unrest that is going on. They are using the exclusion that what is going on in Egypt is not a terrorist act, as defined by the U.S. government. The U.S. government would be reluctant to call this terrorism due to political concerns, not realistic ones. Amazing.
The U.S. State Dept. has issued a travel warning telling U.S. citizens not to travel to Egypt and is evacuating its citizens, yet Access America won’t reimburse for lost costs. In addition we had to call them for three days, because they couldn’t even find our claim. What a terrible company. I will never buy travel insurance from them again.
cb says
THIS COMPANY WAS TERRIBLE TO DEAL WITH. Our April 2010 vacation was completely cancelled due to the Islandic Volcano that shut down all of Europe, and it STILL took us over 9 months to prove our case and get the insurance to pay us back. We even had to get affidavits from all our vendors stating that they did not reimburse us because Access America had rejected out claim 3 times. We never did get ANY piece of paperwork on the denials even though we asked for them 5 times. Had to get an attorney involved and even had to call the Attorney General’s office in their state to start a complaint before they would negotiate with us. I am only sorry that I did not read this blog before I booked my trip, but, I booked through Orbits and that was the default ins. they offered.
MISERABLE
Claudia Drake says
The worst experience related to services was dealing with Access America. I do not recommed this service to anyone based on my experience. I submitted my claim in September and the approved check was received in mid January. It took months of phone calls, emails, headaches, etc to get an approved check sent. Access America would not follow up on anything and promised things and did not deliver. It took escalating the issue several levels and still…it was the most awful experience. The check was approved from the very beggining but not sent until months later. Everyone was nice there but completely usless, unhelpful, and incompetent.
Vikram Singh says
I have been ripped by Access America, they dont run an insurnace company, they run a SCAM, They know how to cheat the Government and take Insurnace Licenses and Cheat the People of thier money, These Scamsters have tied up with the big Airlines offering cheap pricing to them and We trust the big airlines by thier name and Sites and Access America pockets our money in Trust in between, it seems neither the airlnes or the Virginia Dept of Insurance knows what Access America is really upto. They should be Shut permanently.
Joey Spector says
I will never buy insurance through Access America again. It have been totally screwed over by them twice now. The first time, my daughter got sick and we were not able to make the flight to our friend’s wedding. On the phone that morning, the agent told me that is my husband re-booked the flight for a day later, once my daughter could be seen by the doctor the change fees and difference in fare would be covered. We went ahead and did that for his ticket only and the additional cost to us was over $1000 which we would only have done under the guidance of the agent. Of course the ticket is bought and now the next agent we speak with says we were told wrong and would only be reimbursed the $350 cost of his ticket. Loss: $650 due to misinformation by agents.
Second incident: We (stupidly) again bought insurance for our trip to Quebec. Our flight home to Newark was canceled and re-booked 4 TIMES by continental (a whole other complaint i should file). At first we were told by their agents that we qualified for “travel delay” coverage, which would be up to $200 pp. After the first day when i called back they said that because the cancellations went over 24 hrs (it ended up being over 2 days) that the coverage would now fall under “trip Interruption” since there were no flights being offered out of quebec to Newark on Continental., which would cover up to $412.16 pp for meals/transport and accommodations related to the delay. Saved receipts filed claims…We get 2 checks for $200, claiming that when they looked up the airline info there was 1 flight that left Quebec to Newak on Continental- a flight that we were not on nor offered by the airline, and due to this, we did not actually qualify for Interruption coverage. Access America again misinformed me and again weaseled out of paying the money that their agents led us to believe would be coming. Loss #2: $320.
Pitiful!
anita chachkin says
I am trying to obtain information re: my claim #0001613136.
Kindly respond
Ken Smith says
This company is simply a fraud and should not be allowed to continue in business. While they may – and I emphasize “may” – follow their own rules in denying claims, they keep those rules to themselves, or at least make them difficult to learn beforehand. The list of tour operator they do NOT cover, for example, is only available to the consumer AFTER the policy has been paid for. The policy holder is then supposed to determine by the absence of an operator’s name, that they are not covered as they thought. Then the consumer is supposed to contact AA for a refund within 10 days. This is exactly the type of practices the credit card companies are being called to task for, but this industry is apparently unregulated. One need only look at the “editor’s rating” above of 4.5 stars vs. the customer rating of 1.5 stars to know what is really happening. One may find that AA either pays to have a good rating on this site, or owns part of it. Either way, their service and value both suck big time!
Erika Gileo says
I bought this insurance because I had planned to to take my mother to visit her sister who is ill. I purchased trip cancellation insurance because my aunt is quite elderly. Her condition deteriorated and my cousin asked that I postpone the trip. This was the reason I bought the insurance. I was told that because her condition is not life-threatening it won’t be covered. WHAT A SCAM. The entire reason I bought the insurance was because I was concerned about her health. Don’t buy this insurance.
SL says
DO NOT BUY THIS INSURANCE IF YOU ARE FLYING. The policy is exceptionally misleading and it only covers the most extreme circumstances. It does not cover you unless your airline cancels all services for 24 hours and it doesn’t cover a hotel if you have to spend the night. DO NOT BUY unless you can get an operator on the phone first and grill them about exactly what is covered. We found out the hard way. DO NOT BUY.
Hello,
I’m Bree with Access America’s Help Team. Sorry to hear you felt your policy fell short of your needs.
Like any other type of insurance, there are terms, conditions and exclusions that affect coverage. That’s why we encourage all customers to review their policy carefully. And, when you buy a policy through one of our online partners, you’re given the chance to review the terms and conditions before you finalize the purchase. We also offer a 10-day free look with the opportunity to cancel your policy if you change your mind.
Most of our products that offer trip cancellation coverage provide it for a number of unforeseen situations. You can see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about exclusions and other limitations here:
http://bit.ly/azRs8b. And, as you suggest, our call center can be reached at 1-800-284-8300.
Please let us know if we can help with any additional questions. You can contact us at help.team@accessamerica.com.
Alfred Garofalo says
Although I am sorry that so many customers of Access America felt that they were treated poorly by the Company, I would be less than honest if I did not submit an account of our experience (my spouse and I) recently with our purchase of trip cancellation insurance.
In October of this year, we flew to California to attend our grandson’s wedding. We were there ten days and while there my wife developed a problem with severe pain and swelling of the lower leg and foot which hindered our activities while away from home.
When we arrived back home, she sought medical attention and a proper course of action was started by the physician which included clearing up a foot infection.
Our plans included another trip for a wedding of a second grandson to be held in Scranton, Pennsylvania last month. We had purchased airfare tickets along with the insurance to cover trip cancellation in late spring. After discussing the health issue at length, we reluctantly decided to cancel the trip and informed the airline of our decision. We then requested a claim form from Access America and filed same with them including the physician statement with his diagnosis and treatment.
Processing the paperwork took longer than expected thru no fault of the Company. The physician’s staff had not completely filled in the form and Access America had to wait for a slow response. Each time I spoke with a representative from AA I was treated like a valued customer and with utmost courtesy. Were it not for foot dragging in our doctor’s office, I am confident that we would have received our reimbursement in the amount of $887.60 in less than four weeks after filing. We could not ask for a better response than that.
Lauren Vaughan says
Don’t expect to collect anything even if you have all required documentation. Theft of a camera which even included a police report wasn’t enough for Access america. They continued to send me the same ridiculous, canned email response over and over. Telephoning them was of no help either. Make sure if you buy travel insurance it ISN’T from access america. What a ripoff!
Opainnc says
It seems that the majority of the folks that write reviews are those that have negative experiences and complaints.
We had to cancel a Mediterranean trip due to last minute medical issues and had no problem recovering any of our cruise and airline payments. The next year we took the trip and had no luggage for five days and then emergency medical expenses on board and in the ER in NIce. France. We had no problem collecting for having to buy essential items, including clothing, and for the medical and drug expenses. We did purchase our coverage at the time of booking, so were covered for pre-existing conditions.
Trent says
Terrible Experience with Access America.
Purchased the basic policy through US Air ticketing knowing that my work schedule often requires me to work weekends. As it happens, I had to cancel my planned trip today for work-related reasons. I called Access America to find out this was not a covered reason. While I’m sure a detailed read of their 20+ page policies would have enlightened me to this fact, I think it is shameful and conniving for this policy to be readily offered without basic cancellation reasons covered. Full coverage should be offered with the option to opt out of certain types of coverage based on need. I will be filing a Better Business Bureau complaint and encourage the rest of you to do the same. Also, if it does not already exist, I will be creating a Facebook page to draw attention to the crappiness of this company. If nothing else, perhaps we can get some airlines to drop them as providers so that a well-meaning company can take their place.
It is our duty as American citizens to publicly voice our dissatisfaction and force companies to act with honor and compassion for their customers. The stories that I have read here are much more emotionally taxing and heart-wrenching than my own. Our combined voices will have an impact and we can force these guys to evolve into something more human or shut down their business.
Maggie says
This company is FULL OF IT-we were on vacation my daughter came down with a 104 fever-I called them before I even cancelled the flight they lady on the line said nothing about taking her to the doctor within 3 days, she seemed caring and said well she has to get better before you take off AGAIN nothing about a Drs visits… COME ON we were on vacation I DID NOT think an ER visit was necessary…I’ve been a mom for 14 years I can kind of tell the difference between a virus and something that’s going to need a hospital visit and GUESS WHAT it was a virus…-we just needed her fever to come down so we could board the flight… AND it did 2 days later…so WE PURCHASED new tickets and went home. Now I’m being told she had to be take to the hospital in order for this to be covered OH yeah I’m going to drop $3000 on an ER visit when all it did was delay us a few days… THIS COMPANY IS A RIP OFF
robby says
READ YOUR POLICY BEFORE PURCHASE. YOU’LL BE FINE. DONT CALL IT A SCAM BECAUSE YOU DIDNT GET YOUR MONEY BACK BECAUSE OF A NON-COVERED REASON. IN THE CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE YOU’LL SEE ALL OF THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW. IF YOU DONT LIKE THE INSURANCE, YOU HAVE 10 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE TO CANCEL AND GET A FULL REFUND! SUCK IT UP AND READ YOUR POLICY. THANKS!
david says
get ready to bend over and take it up the ass again, american consumers!! another scam in this crumbling economy. Just when they promise you your money back…suprise, surprise – they take it!! ENJOY!!!!
david says
this company is absolute BS! a typical american con that promises its customers their money back…but ends up keeping it. Suprise suprise! Get ready to bend over and take it up the ass again, american consumers! enjoy!
Eldar says
I wish I had read the reviews before buying it
I could not travel because my little daughter, who is 1.5 year old got sick. Even though I got all the needed papers and documents from doctors stating that she is not adviced to travel, the insuarance company rejected my claim right away. It was easier just to cancel the trip and use the money towards next time purchase. Remember, you will never be able to get even your money back.
Angry in Jersey says
Complete ripoff! If you are considering a policy from Access America just know this; you have a better chance of seeing returns on a lottery ticket.
Anela says
My policy only covered $2.50, need I say more. Never again!
Kathy Lupi says
Boy, now I’m getting nervous. We too had to cancel our trip due to a health issue. We received a postcard yesterday saying it’s being reviewed. Gave us a bogus website of http://www.eclaimsline.co./travel to check out. We’ll see how it goes. There’s always small claims court for anything under $3,000.
Debbie Kehl says
My friend and I booked a cruise to see the fall foliage on the New England Coast. The day after we purchased tickets, she jumped out of a perfectly good airplane and broke both ankles during the parachute landing. I contacted Access America and obtained the forms for filing a claim. That was in mid-August 2010 and I am still waiting. The most recent request for information was a physician’s statement certifying that “this was not a pre-existing condition.” Seriously???? I have written to Jeff Hyman, VP of Travel Services at Access America (2805 N. Parham Road, Richmond, VA 23294) and have not heard a word back from him. I have submitted the forms to the physician as requested (even though she is not my physician, I am not the one with the broken ankles, my friend and her doctor both live in Oklahoma, and I lived in Las Vegas, NV at the time. My husband and I were also in the process of moving from Nevada to Arizona, so the logistics of this entire effort were quite complex.) If I do not get my money back, I am filing a formal complaint with the Virginia State Corporation Commission. I will also contact the entire U.S. legislative delegation from Virginia and demand that they investigate this company. As for their 10-day “free look” program mentioned by Bree of Access America in some of the comments listed on this site, it’s a phantom program. The claim has to be filed within 10 days of purchase. I purchased on August 6th, and received the claim forms on August 16th. It took a lot of time and effort to get them completed, given the geographic distances and need to obtain so much detailed information. So much for the 10 day free look. When I spoke with Kim at Access America on Aug 16th, she also told me that I had 90 days to complete the forms and advised me to make sure that I cancelled the flight with the airline. I did as she recommended. On Sept 15th I received a no-name email from Access America telling me that if I didn’t complete and submit the forms within the next 30 days, they would consider the claim closed. If everyone who has posted a comment here, documenting unsatisfactory interaction with Access America, would contact the Virginia State Corporation Commission, the elected U.S. officials from Virginia or their own elected officials en masse, Access America would have no choice but to respond favorably or risk being put out of business.
DS says
DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY BUYING TRIP INSURANCE THROUGH THIS FRAUD OF A COMPANY!!!!! We tried to get our airline tickets back after the hurricane devasted St. Lucia..they have no running water on the island, the Prime Minister has described conditions as a “War Zone”. Access America’s response..hurricane devastation is NOT covered under the policy because it is an act of nature. I asked her what would constitute a payable claim and the rep said..”maybe if you got laid off or died” they might. This company is a text book example of everything that is wrong with an unreguated insurance agency and the CEO should be buggy whipped!
David L says
I had Access America for a 7 month round the world trip that started Oct ’09. I got sick a few times and saw the local Dr in a few countries for less than $20 a visit and never bothered filing so I cannot attest to their claim performance. After searching for insurance again and reading this site, I think I’ll get different insurance.
Molly says
My connection was missed and I had to stay in a hotel overnight. Access America paid as advertised in their policy.
Lisa Zehner says
I purchased a plan for a conference in Cancun. I am not a business traveler normally, and I never purchase travel insurance(and will not bother to again, at least with this company) the policy choices never stated that you needed a special “biz pack” but when our conference was cancelled I was out $650 because Access America would not reimburse my airfare. They stated that “interruption of a trip due to business obligation is not a named peril” Now if I wouldn’t have used the word business in my claim, it probably would have been covered!
margaretkropp says
margekroppI am so disapointed with this company!I not only lost my son but also lost 1200.00! What a fraud company!!!We paid money for insurance and travel expenses and lost it all! Everyone has prexcisting conditions.
Katharine Lancy says
Attention all people defrauded by this company. As a travel agent and one who has stupidly sold this company for years, now as a victim, I am seeking legal help. If you are interested in class action, please send me your email address, name & basic address to “tourinfo@swantonbritishtravel.com which is my personal email address. I will be visiting my lawyer Monday.
Kathy Lancy
Norma Torchia says
While traveling in Europe this last summer my brother suffered a heart attack while having a stint placed. They put him on life support and contacted the family to get home ASAP. I left our tour three days early and paid large airline fees to get home. Arrived home late Friday night and my brother died Sat. at 1:00 pm. Access America requested the death certificate which I provided. Now they want Doctor’s records and hospital records which are not easy to get since I’m not able to sign the release. Very disappointed with Access America!!!!
Rick Abbott says
Flight cancelled due to snow storm, had to emergently rebook with a different airline – avoiding the snowed-in city. Cost an extra $1700 for two tickets. Plenty of phone help from Access America at the time, and reimbursed with minimal paperwork and no hassel.
April Allen says
They lie about giving refunds!!! You literally have to be dying or attending jury duty to get a refund from these people. If something unexpected happends & you can no longer go on your trip, they will not refund you because that its not considered a legitimate excuse to cancel. What is the point in paying for insurance that doesn’t cover you? This defeats the purpose of having insurance in the first place!
Sandra Palmer says
Access America is a FRAUD! I filed a claim based on medical reasons and it was denied! Don’t waste your money! Based on most of the reviews for Access America, they will clearly use any excuse to deny claims.
Prudence says
I’m looking around for travel insurance before I buy multiple-city airfare to travel around Europe. Thank goodness for this forum. It looks like Access America has not worked well for many people. To the few people who found Access America helpful, good for you. To the MANY who have warned me from your experiences, thank you. *sigh* Insurance business (life, health, house, car, travel, etc.) is like legal robbery … buying is easy, getting refund is hard. *sigh*
Claire Redfield says
CUSTOMER40 YOUR CERTIFICATE YOU RECEIVED AND THE WEBSITE CLEARY STATES UNDER “SPECIFIC EXCLUSIONS” THAT MONEY, CREDIT CARDS, SECURITIES, BULLION, STAMPS ARE NOT COVERED. SO WHY WOULD YOU THINK THE WALLET CARRYING THESE ITEMS WOULD BE COVERED?
Customer40 says
This is the worst travel insurance you could ever get. They make you submit a bunch of supporting documents to process a claim and then turn around and not cover a single thing. I submitted a claim after my wallet was stolen in Italy, a couple of weeks later I called them to make sure they had received the supporting documents and the representative reassured me that I would be covered. I called again two weeks later and was informed the claim was denied but the representative was unable to give me an explanation of the reasons for denying it, she said I would receive a letter which never arrived so I called again two weeks later and they said they would mail me another letter but of course it never came either. This is just a scam, they are quick to take your money but won’t cover anything if you actually have to submit a claim. The didn’t even cover the cost of the wallet even though I sent them the police report and the report from the tour director.
anton kastberg says
Access America is not true trip insurance. We lost a full day of our 8 day vacation because of an airline delay. We spent 12 hours in Heathrow. True trip insurance would refund 12.5% of the trip cost. All we can get is a refund for the lousy meal we had in the airport.
Katharine Lancy says
Over all the years I’ve sold their products to clients I had few if any problems but when it came to MY insurance as an agent, they screwed me over to the tune of $5000. If you are a client, purchase carefully and if you are a travel agent, don’t touch their so called travel agent protection policy……… a real fraud
Peter Compton says
Interesting all the people that complain on here about claim denials are at the same time excusing or ignoring there responsibility as an adult to know what you are buying…whether the insurance was $15.00 or $200.00 i would at least think grown people would want to have an understanding before they bought something.
Simple question, whether its your health insurance, car, home..heck even insurance on your cell phone in order to be covered you will want to have insurance purchased prior to whatever accident that has occurred thats causing you to cancel a trip. On what planet do you actually think that you can buy a non refundable trip from (company A – Delta for example) that cost you couple hundred dollars then then go to go to (company B – Insurance company) and expect company B to refund you the traveler for a trip cost due to an event that has already taking place??????? I think i might try that with my car then…..let me drive Toyota around with no insurance, get in accident, and call Allstate, ect.. and think they would cover whatever damages that happen to my car before i gotten coverage with them. THINK PEOPLE….
Kathrine Beeman says
My husband as a “LAST WISH” wanted to go to Hawaii to see Peal Harbor before he died from Pancreatic Cancer. We purchased our trip with Orbitz with no problems, they offered 1 insurace Access America. No disclosures were ever offered about Pre Existing Conditions. Now my husband died 5 days before we were to fly out. Now Access American has denied my claims due to pre existing condition the rep even told me i should have chosen a better insurance company. So my Husbands last wish has turning into my nightmare. I can not afford sure a loss. I this Access American SUCKS. And i am very happy to spread the word to never do business with this company. Does no one do anything nice for a cancer patient?
Jennifer anderson says
Horrible and fraudulent
They have not paid on a single claim
They have an exception for every circumstance in which you need them to cover you
Don’t waste your money
They should be shut down
Mary Renolds says
Simply Google complaints and Access America Travel insurance. I wish I had done so before purchasing a policy. I filed a claim for reimbursement for airfare because I developed a medical condition. I could barely walk, let alone travel on a airplane. I was going alone and could not drive, therefore was not independent enough to travel, even if I could with the high doses of pain pills I had to consume.
I meticulously completed the forms, as did my doctor. Access America returned them claiming I did not provide enough information. After returning the forms twice, finally they changed their story. They were denying my claim because it was an existing condition. Not true. But I sincerely believe no matter what I did, or how I’d filled out the documents, they would not pay my claim. They depend on wearing you down.
Check the complaints on-line and either buy a refundable ticket for more or take your chances. You see it’s less likely something will happen to you or your trip, and completely impossible Access America will pay your claim. IMPOSSIBLE.
The claim forms are outrageously invasive, asking for social security numbers, birthdates, birth location and health histories. They are complicated, with trick questions that don’t make sense because obviously they are placed in the document in order to trap you into giving the wrong information so as to cause denial.
They do not allow you access to the claim forms until you have purchased the policy. That way you don’t see what you have to go through in order to make a claim. The doctor’s portion of the paperwork is so daunting it’s not likely the typical doc would take the time to complete it without a fee upwards of $50.00.
I am planning to research the issue and take it to the Attorney General’s office. If necessary I will approach my legislators. I encourage you, if you have had a similar experience to file a complaint on Consumer Afairs.com, BBB and any consumer friendly on-line service.
Susan Butterfield says
Appendectomy in Mexico after landing just three hours prior. Access America was great and other than keeping on them (they won’t keep up with the claim if you don’t), we had no problems. No only did they pay for unused hotel nights, but also our out-of-pocket expenses for the surgery and the international transaction fees our credit card company charged. Very pleased.
Melissa R says
FRAUD. FRAUD. FRAUD. FRAUD…..DO NOT BUY!!!!!! WASTE OF MONEY!!! HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SHOULD BE REPORTED AS INSURANCE FRAUD!!!
Deborah Taber says
We puchased tickets to Cancun throug Orbitz on Mexicana Airlines. This was a family trip over the Christmas holidays and included my older mother. Once purchased there was a direct link to Access America for trip insurance to “protect” us. The insurance was purchased and stated it included trip cancellation. Mexican declared bankruptcy and I immediately notified Access. Suddenly, it becomes very clear to them that I, the silly consummer, did not read the very back page which stated the airline was not included in the policy and we were not covered. In fact, most airlines are not covered if they cancel. Access and Orbitz are quite aware of this, but no where do they say this when you are forwarded to their insurance. No amount of discussion with them will disuade them from their stance. This is not trip assurance or insurance, but an excellent way to get more money to the two companies.
Vishnu Rajan says
I had a 24 hour trip delay when my flight from New York was got delayed by 6 hrs resulting in missed connections along the way to the final destination. I also incurred considerable travel/hotel costs and missed business because I missed my scheduled appointment at the destination. I had bought Access America trip cancellation/interruption/delay insurance. However, inspite of spending hours in filing a claim with all proof of delay (from the Airline) and new boarding passes, Access America denied my claim saying they would only cover natural disasters (such as a volcanic eruption or hurricane). I felt cheated because they do not mention this anywhere in the insurance document. Even the fine print does not specify clearly. I would warn others not to take Access America Trip interruption/delay insurance unless they are fully aware of this fact.
Anita Wonder says
Travel Insurance was a lot cheaper that the tour group package. Unfortunately I got extremely ill in South America. Not pre exiting condition. I had a second trip and policy after return. Had to cancel flight. Policy was purchased before any of the illness. That was May. To day September not a penny paid. Everytime we call they request something more. They claimed they didn’t get the second forms. Etc.
bbdentman says
I own my own company and do subcontract work for other companies. I purchased flight insurance with Access when booking a flight home on Hotwire but ended up having to drive home because my contract was terminated due to lack of work. Policy says covers termination or layoff that isn\’t your fault. Could find nothing else in the paperwork about this. Access started spouting off other rules and such not in the paper work provided me to avoid paying the claim. Total rip off. Don\’t waste your money on this insurance.
Ann Shipley says
I’ve had to use their insurance twice – the first time when in Australia when the car was totalled when a kangaroo jumped in front of the car. I had tremendous difficulties with the rental car company involved and Access America stuck with me to get through to the company and paid the tab in full.
The second time was just recently when I was on the way to a trip to the Gallapagos, got altitude sickness in Quito upon landing and was back in the air returning 7 hours later. Again they paid my claim without undue difficulty.
I’m a firm believer in travel insurance and have found AccessAmerica to be easy to work with and will use on each and every trip.
sara Mcmillan says
So i guess none of you read your policies. It will tell you what is covered. Did you see a doctor for the condition before you bought the ticket? then its going to be pre ex condition. Did you even have symptoms? its pre ex. you need to read before you buy. and buy something that actually covers for what you want. Do you really expect a basic $15 policy to cover everything? Its for emergencies and things you dont see coming. I wouldnt cover you either if you knew this was going to happen and then bought a policy. you need to realize that the company is regulated by the insurance board. They are not fraud and their policies and decisions are reviewed.
z says
PLS AVOID THEM AT ALL COST. Carefully read their fine print. Looks like all their policies are set with an objective to not reimburse!!!
Martha says
DO NOT buy travel insurance from this company. Access America will find loopholes to deny your claim. They have so many unsatisfactory reviews. I should have read the reviews before I purchased a travel policy from them. I am just thankful that I did not have a major medical problem while I was on vacation. They denied a minor claim of mine, just thankful that the claim was not for more money, for I know they would have denied that, too. BEWARE! THIS COMPANY SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.
JD says
Read the terms and Call them. There is someone there 24 hours a day 7 days a week. And they do have interpreters and translators but you may have to hold for a bit to get them. I’ve had there customer service rep inform me that since my Dad’s been sick, that unless it’s an new unexpectedillness or injury that is not related to the stroke, he or I may not be covered if he got sick and had to cancel. They said because this was the only reason I wanted to purchase the policy, it might not be what I’m looking for. Wow, an honest answer. And they also reminded me that I had 10 days to cancel and get a full refund if I changed my mind and bought a policy. Sure I can understand why some of you might be disappointed but the prexisting condition is something that is noted when a doctor examines the person, not something they automatic stamp on your form.
SEAN says
DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS INSURANCE YOU WILL BE SCAMMED!! UNLESS YOU ARE ON YOUR DEATH BED DRINKING THRU A STRAW YOU WILL NOT GET A DIME. I JUST LOST $407 TO THESE IDOTS. MY WIFE FELL ILL AND OFCOURSE THEY FOUND A LOOP HOLE NOT TO PAY. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!
Richard says
Access American is a fraudulent travel insurance company. They refuse to pay a legitimate claim for a cancelled Peru trip as Machu Picchu. Do NOT purchase any kind of insurance form this company. They make their money denying legitimate claims.
Karen Quick says
This company is nothing but a bunch of scammers. They cover virtually nothing and do their best to hide it in a multi-page, 8 pt font document they continually refer to as “their policy.” They claimed, AFTER I purchased the policy, they didn’t cover pre-existing conditions meaning that my husband could not have gone to the doctor in the previous 120 days. What’s with discriminating against chronically ill patients??? Since when can’t chronically ill patients travel?? This organization should not be in business and I will do everything I can to see that they aren’t! From all of the reviews I’ve read online, I’ve not found one person who doesn’t feel the same as I do – this company is a fraud and a huge rip off.
Karen Steiner says
I purchased $500 travel policy from Access America for 15-day trip to Europe. My USAirways flight from Charlotte to Barcelona was cancelled when the plane I was on bumped another plane waiting on the runway. Consequently it took me 2 extra days to reach my final destination in Barcelona. I lost 2 nights nonrefundable hotel in Barcelona and Access America denied my claim and said it was not a covered incident. The refuse to pay even a dime. So basically I paid $500 for insurance and $400 for hotel and received absolutely nothing. IMO, I will NEVER purchase another policy from this company again. What a SCAM!
Claire says
This company has a very simple policy that works as follows: You pay them. You or someone else gets sick or dies. You call them. They explain how their policy ACTUALLY works:
You are a human being. You are alive. Living is a pre-existing condition for dying. Therefore, you do not qualify for compensation.
Robert says
Wonder why there are SO MANY NEGATIVE REVIEWS? This company sucks! Save yor money and get your insurance from somewhere else….
Robert says
Access America used a small technicalty to reject a claim when I had to cancel my trip due to prostate cancer…when on phone with claims person and a supervisor, they promised to have a manager call me and email info on appealing a claim rejection…they never did, just wanted me off the phone. Its a scam that probably seldom pays its clients. They should be investigated by the government, something I plan to initiate.
Margerie Smith says
This travel insurance company is a complete fraud. They don’t pay out on any of their policies and rob innocent people.
Extremely unethical business practice.
Access America hires absolute imbieciles.
GET YOUR INSURANCE ELSEWHERE!
Lyn says
This company is a crock! Did you know AGE is a pre-existing condition? I’m not kidding. My Father-in-law (travel companion) found out he would need foot surgery 3 weeks before we were to leave on our Disney trip. Claim was denied because he is 73 and receives regular medical care. Of course he goes to the doctor regualrly for routine stuff, but he had NEVER seen the foot doctor until 3 weeks before our trip. It was totally unexpected and not related to any pre-existing condition and we have documentation from TWO doctors that we ubmitted to AA. I guess if you are over 70 and tale care of your health by visiting a doctor regularly then you should not travel.
Marianne Notley says
Do not purchase this insurance if you or anyone in your immediate or extended family has seen a doctor or taken a pill within the past 6 months, even if you are not aware of it. This coverage is not intended for mere mortals.
I do not understand why the insurance industry gives this company such a high rating while most customers agree that it’s a rip-off.
Kevin says
Total scam. Save your money. Unless your tradically in the hospital on the day of your flight, your claim will be denied. Uncaring coustomer service robots will quote fine print requirements in monotone as they pass time till their next coffee break. The “supervisors” are no help either.
Kristy Barclay says
I perceive this company Access America’s Money to be a fraud.
purchased trip insurance for a trip my mother and I planned. I got this insurance because she is elderly and one never knows. As it turns out, she twisted her ankle at a memorial service the day before we left and did not fell like she could make it comfortably. I called Jet Blue and cancelled. I could have just paid the $100 fee for a new ticket with Jet Blue but I did not do so as I had the insurance so THOUGHT I could get reimbursed for all. I sent the Dr.’s letter to Access. They said it was not good enough as it had to be written on their form. (PLEASE!!!!) So I had the Dr. write another letter.
Month’s later THEY DENIED THE CLAIM because in addition to the twisted ankle, my Mom is elderly and has issues associated with age and that is considered to be a preexisting condition and YOU GUESSED IT-they do not cover those.
SO the moral is-if you have all the time in the world to read the fine print and to write repeated letters so that you can collect on the insurance, by all means take a shot and buy Access insurance. But if you expect to get paid out on your policy, I would advise going elsewhere and not wasting your valuable time and money on what I perceive to be a fraudulent scam.
Kate Schreier says
I’m very pleased with the prompt payment made on my claim. I had to reschedule a trip due to an injury. When I rebooked, I filed a claim online for the rebooking fee and faxed the requested documents from the online checklist to Access America. They issued a check 10 days later. No hassles whatsoever.
R. Lewis says
Fortunately, I didn’t buy Access America coverage, especially after reading these reviews. I was about to complete my purchase on Hotwire when I read the fine print for Access America about “Pre-existing medical conditions”. My brother, who is going on the trip with me, has epilepsy. I wanted to purchase insurance on the off chance that he may have a grand mal and have to go to the hospital (this is a rare occurrence). So I called the company for more clarification, and the rep kept apologizing for my brother’s condition, and said I would be covered. When I asked for her to send a email with that clarification in it, she rudely hung up the phone on me. Seems like they’ll tell you anything to get you to purchase their insurance, but I figured if anything were to happen, they’d just say “pre-existing condition” and deny my claim. What a load of crap. It’s cheaper just to take the risk!
Tom Thoss says
What a scam. I asked customer service for the percentage of claims paid Vs claims made and was told this information is not available (LIE #1). As I climbed the supervisor chain, the answer was the same. My next step is to pressure the airlines to eliminate the option on their web page. The airlines are making so much money by letting this company insure nothing. I had no idea a scam like this would be legal.
Renee Evans says
It was very easy to purchase the policy.
Making a claim is a whole other story.
Why have a website like this only talk about the selling of policies – why not rate them on the hurdles of filing a claim, no written response until I called to follow up.
July 20 First phone call – Found out no one looked at file yet. While on the line agent reviewed all paper work- agent Mari said altho doctors narrative included date patient could not travel – the date wasn’t inserted on the correct line box just above the doctors signature.
July 20 I contacted Doctors office sent them the fax of his original statement so that doctor could insert the date and then fax to Access Am. (Talk about dotting the i’s)
July 23 Called for status. Agent Dan said the document faxed by doctor as yet reviewed. He took the time to review entire file once again.
Agent Dan said the claim could be paid if I agreed to the amount over the phone. It was a good thing I made him slow down. It seemed to me he was trying to get me to quickly agree to a payoff amount.
Going through each item agent Dan’s amount and mine differed by $500.00. Agent Dan saw reference to the extra night hotel we paid for directly and was not part of the package- Agent Dan assumes it is part of the land tour and want to give us claim amount less the $500 for extra nights hotel.
July 23- Faxed document to Access America to show the extra nights hotel is not part of the Access claim.
My instincts tell me access America Agents are trained to guide claims to accept smaller amounts- even though claimants are rightfully entitled to more.
Follow up is poor- certainly not as detailed on this website.
Troy Z says
This company is ridiculous. We took out rental insurance from them (via Orbitz) for a trip to Costa Rica, and upon arriving there, was told at the rental counter that the insurance “was not valid” in Costa Rica. We spoke with Access America support staff upon our return, and they said that their insurance is often not acknowledged as valid in Latin American countries, and promised a full refund after I fax them the bill. A few days after faxing, I called and was told I wouldn’t be getting a refund. So I spoke with a manager who again said I’d receive a refund once I sent a cleaner copy of the rental receipt. After emailing them a copy, I received an email stating that they couldn’t refund me since I’d requested a refund more than 10 days after purchasing the policy. Of course, no one mentioned this when I bought the insurance 3 months prior to our trip. And, why didn’t any of the 3 employees I spoke with mention this while as they asked for receipts, promised refunds, and generally gave me the run-around??!! No refund ever came. This company is disorganized and a joke. I have no idea why Orbitz works with them. I would never, ever get insurance from them again, especially if traveling south of the U.S.
Dr. Al Alba says
Compnay does a great service for a great price. I used them many times in the past and when a claim needed to be filed a prompr reimbursemt was awarded. I do not know why so many people in this review section had such difficulty with the company. In any event I am speaking from my experiences.
aleaser spiller-palmer says
this company is fraudulent in their practices and are a great disappointment , How are they allowed to continue to operate with their unfair practices? They have no professional medical staff on board to review claims, involving people’s health status.
I was told this information by an employee of their company. How can a lay person make informed decisions about medical diagnoses and pharmacology issues involving clients? I give this business a flat zero(0) for their performance.
Sue Moss says
My rating would be a minus number because, even tho I had a doctor’s letter stating that he advised me to change my plans because of my mom’s emergency surgery, they are denying my claim because it was due to a pre-existing condition. Unbelievable! They need to watch the movie “Rain Maker” with John Voight as the shady insurance man whose job it was to deny all claims!
Steve says
I took a trip to Nicaragua in the Spring of 2009 and the tour operator’s truck was broken into on the beach at our remote surf spot. I had the deluxe plan and I submitted my claim online when I got back. Since there were no police in the area where the theft occurred, I had to call the tour operator and request a written statement about the circumstances surrounding the theft. I got it and faxed it to AccessAmerica and they paid out the claim within two weeks. There was depreciation built into my claim, but I still got 60% of what I asked for.
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Mr Harris says
I really don’t even want to give them 1 star. Access America is a deplorable company. They take your money oh so quickly but have no interest in honoring claims. I broke my wrist 1 week before planned travel to Britain. I have filled in all their forms, called them multiple times, received really apologetic standard emails from their customer service group but no response or payment. I can’t believe with all the negative comments below that Access America can be allowed to stay in business. Where is the insurance regulation to protect consumers like us form profit hungry businesses with no caring for their customers?
Cosmo Devine says
I became somewhat concerned when my claim went unanswered for several weeks. Then I came upon this website and thought “Oh no, I’m screwed.” I never had my emails answered by them, the links were dead on their website, my phone calls were never returned, they always wanted “more information” and I never got the same person twice on the phone. Anyway, I sent them everything they wanted and kept on them with the phone calls (always documenting who I spoke with, when and what they said). In the end I got my money back but it was way too frustrating. The repetitious questions, the excuses and delays were totally unnecessary on a legitimate claim. At the end I was preparing paperwork to sue them in small claims court for unfair and deceptive business practices. I can tell you with great certainty I would have won and perhaps with triple damages to boot. I simply cannot recommend this company to anyone. That said….I’m not sure if any other travel insurance companies are better.
C. Flinn says
They have both disallowed and “lost” claims that were absolutely clearly covered in their policy as issued. Waste of money.
Gussie Brieger says
Have used this insurance several times and
have been very pleased.
Thomas EDevine says
This is the worst of the worst, I have been trying to get a refund for two months “under review ” is all I get. Anyone thinking about a class action let me know. The editor here who gave them five stars is a dam fool and not to be trusted.
Natalie says
I was turned down for a filed claim. I had a doctors note stating I had a sever ear infection, throat infection, eustachion dysfunction and sinus infection. She had stated on the note, if it did not clear up, I should go see a ENT.
The agent on the end told me to go see the ENT before they could do anything further.
DO NOT buy insurance from these company, they have a rubber stamp policy.
Traveler says
I’ve read these reviews. It appears that the main complaint is a pre-existing condition. However, having used access america before, it clearly states what is considered a pre-existing condition. And on the Access America basic, classic, and deluxe policies, there is a pre-existing condition waiver to where if you meet the pre-defined terms of the waiver, you are exempt from pre-existing condition exclusions. I was. I was paid. In a timely manner. Approved by claims after 10 days, mailed a check. Cashed the check.
Nicholas Clifford says
I have reached an age in life where buying trip insurance has seemed to me to be a prudent idea, and I have used AccessAmerica as well as several other companies. In late December 2009 I bought insurance to cover a trip that I was proposing to take in March 2010, to visit friends, but within the US.
Then, in an entirely unrelated development, but shortly before my planned departure, my brother underwent back surgery. When his recovery unexpectedly developed serious problems, I of course cancelled my trip to go visit him, and so informed the airline and the insurance company. Unfortunately the complications that set in during his recovery grew worse, and about a week after my cancellation, he died in the hospital.
Shortly thereafter I put in a claim to seek a refund of my air fare — the only expense I had incurred. After several months, howevr, AccessAmerica denied the claim, on the grounds that the problem that had led to his surgery was considered a “pre-existing condition.” In a sense that was true, for his back problems had begun several years earlier. Still, the decision made by the doctors to have him undergo surgery was made well after my purchase of the insurance.
John says
I will not buy any policy from Access America again!
I purchase the protection plan via UA and I finally realized the Airline Ticket Protector is not protecting consumers, I am asked to provide a proof from clinic, and seems that’s my fault that I did not sick enough to see a doctor.
Simple and friendly in surface, but complicated wording and process to claim what you suppose to get back from Access America.
Don’t waste money to buy the policy from this company, you have better chance to win by buying lottery.
Lyn Battien says
This is a horrible travel insurance company and Continental airlines should remove the link from their webisite unless of course they own them! We purchased this insurance with a ticket for a family wedding a year before the event, my spouse became very ill and could not travel and they denied the claim saying it was pre-existing, but how can it be pre-existing if you are not diagnosed until months after the original trip and ticket was purchased and planned for. Attempted many appeals and they even breeched my spouse’s medical privacy. No payment and no claim settled yet. Nothing helpful or of good merit with this company. Would not ever recommend this travel insurance .
CB says
I could not use my ticket and had to travel at another time due to my mother’s breast cancer surgery. Access America told me I had to file a medical claim even thought the medical condition was not mine!! Access America then denied my claim because they considered this a pre-existing condition!!! My mother’s health reasons should have nothing to do with my travel. Totally unheard of. Do not waste your time or money with Access America!!
Kelly says
With so many bad reviews I felt like I should share my experience. From the day I broke my ankle in South America they were very helpful and gave good advice. I had to fly to a hospital from an isolated area. They just asked me to keep a paper trail. When I got to a hospital and found out I needed surgery they were helpful again. The hospital wanted cash up front that I didn’t have. Access America sent them a promissory note and talked the hospital into doing the surgery. The case worker called everyday I was in the hospital to check on me. When I was ready to fly home their medical staff called the Dr. out of concern for me getting blood clots. Something I hadn’t thought of. I was put on medication 5 days prior to flying out. When I got home I sent them all my receipts and the paper trail. They have been polite, good communicators and a help during a distressing time. I have received half my reimbursements and the last two checks are on the way. All my friends are now making sure they purchase insurance before they fly out of the country. I couldn’t have asked for more.
Carol James says
Great article,
It is very important for everyone to have health insurance.If you don’t have insurance and you have to go to hospital, you’ll have to pay over $20,000.That happened to a friend of mine.I know a site that offer the cheapest possible price for health insurance, free quotes and a lot of benefits.
http://www.NationalHealthInsurance.info
Betty Maize says
This is qiute disturbing my story is no way near as tragic as the following stories I have read, we live in America and it showes we are the most selfish people in the world with no heart just give me your money and I will gladly place a pre-existing label on you that will npt only deny your claim but make you feel like a fool for purchasing this insurance. I would like to devote as much time as possible in a class action lawsuit.
Paula says
FRAUD ALERT….FRAUD ALERT….FRAUD ALERT
You have got to be kidding endorsing this company.
We just returned from my honeymoon in Mexico our luggage was broken into at the airport and jewelry & electronics taken. Access America will NOT pay because we don’t have receipts. Anyone who has ever traveled to Mexico knows you don’t get receipts. Sure wish I would have known this before we payed $500 for a policy. We assumed since we bought the insurace through Orbitz it was legite.
Anyone up for a class action lawsuit?
Wanda Payant says
This company is a complete fraud. They refused to pay on a claim after I had to return to the United States because my Father was dying. He died one day after I returned. They will not pay because I did not come back on the day he died. This company should be forced out of business. They are highly unethical. Please do not use this company for overseas travel.
Barbara Lee says
There isn’t a rating low enough for this company. When my traveling companion had a nervous breakdown (as in she was in the hospital) they would not return one penny. Yes I know mental conditions are not covered, but I thought that meant you couldn’t say I don’t feel like going.
My companion was hospitalized and is still in the hospital over a year later.
I am currently shopping for insurance for another trip. This one is off the list.
Eduardo Pinzon says
Very difficult to access my Account in English!
I want to check my inquiry status,
Eduardo Pinzon
shannon marttila says
Had a claim with this company. What a joke!!!
They continue to tell you to provide more documentation and when you continue to give them everything they ask for, they deny it anyway. I am reporting them to the attorney general in both the state I purchased them as well as in Richmond, VA where they are located. This company should not be allowed to do business. You are better off saving your money and not having insurance. Complete crooks!!! I wished I had checked this website before purchasing this insurance.
Sharon says
I had to have emergency knee surgery, and it landed right on the spring vacation I had planned with my children. The tickets were over $1,600 and I had to cancel the trip. I submitted all of the doctor’s information and was “denied” my money for the tickets because my doctor’s appointments had fallen within 120 days prior to my trip. I was supposed to have arthroscopic surgery during the summer, so it was not supposed to interfere with any part of my life. However, after further review from the doctor, he insisted that I have immediate knee replacement surgery. Who would have thought at 42 years old this would be happening?? Regardless of the circumstances, my children were under age and could not go to Orlando by themselves, so I had to cancel the tickets. Access America stands by their “policy” and repeated in a “robotic” response…”we send you the travel insurance documents for your review in an email. It is your responsibility as a consumer to review all documents prior to accepting the terms of the agreement on the website. It is also your responsibility as a consumer to read the policy when you receive it in the email. Gosh, had I known that I was going to have emergency knee replacement surgery, I certainly would have informed them prior to purchasing trip insurance…REALLY??? I guess I shouldn’t have booked any vacations with this travel insurance, since I had an emergency hysterectomy 6 years ago that led to the degeneration of my bones in my knees so bad that my legs were “bone on bone” when I was walking…guess that would be considered “pre-existing” to them as well, since that is what CAUSED the degeneration of the bone, osteoarthritis and a complete breakdown of the cartilage in my knees. Do NOT click “add travel insurance” box on ANY websites, Orbitz, Travelocity, Delta, American Airlines, Priceline, Princess Cruises…NEVER CLICK THE BOX…on ANY website, airline, travel agency, cruize…NEVER…NOTHING! It’s not the TRAVEL INSURANCE that is the problem…it’s the TICKET REFUND that you will NEVER see! My travel insurance was only a total of $75, the TICKETS were $1,600!!!!!!!
Barbara J. Mason says
Cruise roommate got sick the day we were supposed to travel. Called Access America and received the paperwork my e-mail. Once I got the paperwork into the company (our delay) we both received a check within a couple of weeks. Very professional.
David Peterson says
Access America sold me a policy which, at the time they were fully aware that I would never be able to submit a claim. I was told that there was a “foreseeable” storm and that the policy was purchased too late to be able to make a claim. If that was the case, why would they even sell me a polic? The claims examiner whom I never heard from for over 2 months (since submitting the claim) mumbled on the telephone only for me to get out of the conversation that my claim was deniable but wasn’t denied yet. I should hear from a manager in the future. I was able to salvage five days out of seven by traveling to a different airport and paying a substantial increase in fares. If it was too late to purchase the policy THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE SOLD IT!!!!!You are no different than Goldman Sachs making money off impending disaster.
Ron Nesbit says
We had items missing from our suitcase after doing onboard check in with Disney Cruises (our baggae was checked through to our final destination). We encountered resistance, and poor surly customer service from Access America trying to recoup our loss. Any item you do not have a receipt for is “depreciated.” They refuse to make good on our total loss. Bottom line, we had a very poor experience with Access America.
robert Raduenzel says
this company will NOT be there if you need them. very much a scam.
Cheryl Ellis says
I would actually rate your company a zero star. Very corrupt practices. It took me tracking down the CEO of your company, Jonathan Ansell, and the CEO of Orbitz, Bernard Harford, as well as Christopher Elliott the nationally syndicated “Travel Troubleshooter”, to get a refund after finding my mom deceased at her home 2 days before we were to leave for a vacation. This is an unscrupulous company.
Jay says
Paid for this insurance for a family member to fly out for a wedding. Family member got a kidney stone during the stay and had to be hospitalized thus missing the flight. This insurance company told me everything would be covered to change the flight but in the end nothing was covered. The claim was denied and closed in less than a week after I sent the paperwork in and they never even bothered notifying me. When I called to see the status my claim didn’t exist at first but after thirty minutes on the phone they finally found it and said it was denied due to pre existing condition. They refused to tell me anything more and I was out over a grand. Never buy insurance from this company. It is a big SCAM. I can’t believe this company is even allowed to do business. I will avoid American Airlines as much as possible because they recommended it. What a waste of money.
Kathi Rubin says
This company sold me travel insurance. I had fallen and hurt my arm before I bought the insurance, but not badly. So I bought two tickets to Cancun and bought travel insurance, just because it’s a good idea.
When the Dr. decided I needed surgery on my arm and would be in a sling for 6 weeks, I called this insurance co. and they said I was covered, but would need to fill out forms to get my money back. After submitting forms, I was denied my $886 refund. Because I didn’t tell Spirit Airlines directly I was canceling, I cannot use my tickets. The ticket info is in partnership and on the same page as the insurance company. This is fraudulent and I am not finished dealing with them.
Federico Sacerdoti says
A bad experience. The travel insurance my wife bought stated it covered cancellations due to bad weather. Great. She had bad weather on her way from NYC to Albuquerque, and was forced to spend the night in Denver airport. The next flight to New Mexico was not for more than 24 hours. However her insurance claim (worth $500) was denied because her carrier had some other flight going to some other destination within 24 hours. Their policy small print required “complete cessation of service by the airline” defined as no flights leaving the airport for 24 hours. If there was complete cessation of service for 23 hours, then one flight on the airline left for Mexico City, her claim would be denied; making this insurance worth much less than she thought. We will never buy from this company again.
Access America (AA) is offered by default by Orbitz, you just need to tick an option box. The Romans knew it, and this blog entry is a testament: Caveat Emptor, buyer beware.
Sarah says
AA.COM offered and sold me the policy despite the fact that the tickets I was purchasing were fully refundable. Call me stupid (i sure have) for buying it but I was in a hurry, bought first class expensive tickets and thought for sure they would cost a bundle to cancel or change, with elderly parents I went for the insurance. When I found out the tickets were fully refundable, I asked for a refund but was told they couldnt give one. I suggested that they could but wouldnt.
I agree, this is not a good outfit.
Frustrated says
Run away!! Our flight(s) repeatedly canceled over a 4 day period due to blizzard conditions at arrival destination. At least one carrier flight landed every 24 hours so no trip interruption coverage was allowed. Policy say “all services canceled for 24 consecutive hours” regardless if that one flight that made it did my any good. Would not touch AA ever again. read the small print. Can’t believe they are even still in business. I guess a sucker born every minute.
PO'd says
I am currently dealing with Access America and I find their service less than satisfactory!!
I was scheduled to go on a group trip, but the trip was canceled by the travel company due to natural disaster.
During my very first phone conversation with AA, the woman told me she could pretty much guaranty my claim would be denied!!
Email submissions & faxes seem to vanish so I have resorted to using certified mail! When I call AA’s office and ask to speak to the agent who is supposedly handling our group claim, they say nobody by that name works there! All emails go unanswered!
I have made numerous calls to AA only to be given the run-around, put on hold and eventually disconnected. They are very UNPROFESSIONAL and never return calls! Like everyone else here…I think they are a SHAM!!!
Sadly, the travel company has not been much help either!
Buyer BEWARE!!!
J Sullivan says
The travel interruption protection guidelines are very tight. I was stranded in Arizona during a hurricane on the east coast. Cost me $900 to get home, Access America told me I was entitled only to a travel delay and $150 because the airline did not shut down completely. I will not be purchasing this product again.
Tom Ryan says
DO NOT PURCHASE! This company is a total rip off. My doctor told me not to fly because IT MAY KILL ME. They still won’t pay. After nearly 2 months, I’m still jumping thru hoops and never actually expect to be reimbursed. I will never do business with this company or orbitz again.
Joyce Henderson says
This is the worst travel insurance I have ever bought. I intend to write letters and send an alert to media and airports to be on the watch for this company whose practices are sneaky and low and frauds!
Margaret C Taglia says
My family’s flight was cancelled due to a huge snowstorm and the airline refunded my money because they weren’t able to re-book the flight for several days. I had purchased an Access Americal Insurance Policy for my car rental. First, they cancelled my policy stating that when I called them to say my flight was cancelled, I actually cancelled my insurance. After several phonecalls, my policy was re-instated. Then, they denied my claim stating that Airtran would have had to completely cease all service for a 24 hour period in order for them to pay on my claim. I provided verification from Airtran acknowledging they could not re-book my flight for days. WHY PURCHASE A POLICY! I do not recommend Access America. They were polite but condescending in their denial. I’m sure they were bombarded with claims following that Feb, 2010 snowstorm and their response was deny, deny, deny!
Pam Gallatin says
DO NOT GET THIS INSURANCE!!! BUYER BEWARE!
I have purchased trip insurance for years and this is the first time we ever had to use it. Never again!!! This company will not read their documents you send no matter how many times you send them to several different people and finally when you back them into a corner they still come out stupid and won’t pay all. Had to have a flight routed via Pittsburg, rental car, then pit home to Jax and they say I wasn’t in Pit. The receipt shows all. NO ONE IN THAT OFFICE WILL DO THEIR JOB! BUYER BEWARE!!!
Susan Rossi says
I purchased this insurance with a plane ticket to go see my seriously ill sister. The day after I bought the insurance, my sister was operated on, and it was discovered she had an abcess,caused by a staph infection. She was placed in isolation and not allowed visitors. I cancelled my reservations and waited for a refund. After many weeks of phone calls and letter writing, I have been told that my claim was denied because she had a pre-existing condition – pain. Of course she was in pain; that’s why she went to the hospital. This is nothing short of a ripoff! People need to read these complaints before they buy from this company.
Rebecca Moon says
I purchased your travel insurance to cover a possible trip cancellation in the event of an emergency with my terminally ill Mother and because of health issues of my husband. The night before I was to leave I had to call 911 for an emergency with my husband and had to cancel my flight. I called Access America and received all the information to fill out, which I did in great detail, to be reimbursed for my trip. Apparently I am to be denied because I failed to jump through a hoop in the policy. Even if I did fill out the remaining item, the Physician Statement Form, because my husband did not see a doctor in the specified time I will be denied. I have already spent an enormous amount of time filling out forms, writing a documentary and on phone calls that it would truly be a waste if time to go to the expense of having a doctor, which he did see, fill out a form that would have an unacceptable date on it.
I have decided to instead spend my time writing this note and I will send an email to all the people on my address list and on Facebook explaining why a travel insurance policy is a bit of a joke and do not waste one’s money in hopes of ever receiving help in the event of an emergency involving a loved one.
Saddest of all, this letter will probably never reach an individual who has the authority to help a client.
Rebecca Moon
Policy # AMR00001382352
03/21/2010
TheInspectorGeneral says
Oh by-the-way, here is a little story from Consumerist.com that you may find interesting, along with some others related to “travel insurance”:
Access America’s “Comprehensive Trip Protector” Insurance Isn’t Comprehensive, So Enjoy Your Overnight Layover
http://consumerist.com/2010/02/access-americas-comprehensive-trip-protector-insurance-isnt-comprehensive-so-enjoy-your-overnight-la.html
TheInspectorGeneral says
ATTENTION: ALL OF YOU!
As long as your dealings with Access America remain on an emotional level, you will get nowhere with them. If you want results, do your homework, operate from purely business perspective when trying to get a claim resolved (much as that may hurt). Forget about the Better Business Bureau, while not totally useless, they are next to useless. Get the word out on sites like Consumerist.com, which is one of the most powerful sites out there where shoppers can BITE BACK!
Make http://www.consumerist.com/ a nightly stopping point for you and your family, and you will save yourself a ton of headaches regarding everything consumer related.
Theresa Harris says
Buyer beware! This company is a fraud. My claim was denied. I came down with bronchitits 10 days after I booked my ticket and because I had a cold 120 days yes 4 months prior! to purchasing the ticket my claim was denied. They dont ask these questions when you are purchasing your insurance.
This is company is a rip off and I will be reporting them to the Better Business Bureau! I suggest everyone do the same! Let’s put them out of business. Theresa Harris
Jp says
This insurance company is a fraud! DON’T USE IT OR YOU’LL BE SORRY! My father-in-law died the day before our flight to Hawaii to celebrate my wedding to his daughter. They refused to pay, saying the doctors aren’t filling out the forms correctly, I’ve sent them 4 four times.
Donut Buy says
I purchased travel insurance last October for a Valentine’s Day weekend trip for my wife and me. It was the first time that I had purchased travel insurance. I did so because my father had contracted leukemia in 2008. Since that time he had gone in and out of remission. I bought the insurance because I knew that there was a chance that we might not be able to make the trip. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened. His condition suddenly grew much worse and on Sunday, February 7 he was hospitalized. His wife was there to assist him, but she needed more help. I flew to Massachusetts on Feb.10 to help, but no drugs could assist him. We were able to get him discharged from the hospital, sincee wanted to die at home. One week later he died. I contacted Access America to recoup the cost of my trip. They said that they would not pay, because my father had been treated for his leukemia in the 90 days prior to my October purchase date. After discussions with two representatives the bottom line was this: Don’t buy travel insurance when a family member is ill! The standard coverage which I purchased is only of use if someone suddenly and unexpectedly dies. Caveat emptor (Let the buyer be aware)!
Safiyah says
The airline called to cancel our flights due to a severe snow storm in the North-east- Feb 10 2010. All tri-state airports JFK & EWR & Phili. were shut down. The hotel and airlines (Booked through Orbitz)were so understanding, we were promptly issued a refund with out penalty. ACCESS AMERICA refuse to refund the $129.94 trip cancellation insurance because they view it as a delay when flights can go out with in 48 hours. Access America is GREEDY. SHAME ON THEM! DO NOT USE ACCESS AMERICA. Such a useless policy. I won’t use any vacation companies that work use Access America (Orbitz, Delta)because they should be advocates for us too. LET THE BUYER BEWARE.
M Hopkins says
Avoid doing business with this company at all cost. After a visit to France, my wife and I took a train to DeGaulle airport to catch our flight home, but the train broke down and was delayed for 2.5 hours, causing us the arrive at the ticket counter 20 minutes after the flight departed. We had to stay overnight at an airport hotel, and the airline charged us $300 apiece to change our tickets. Total out-of-pocket expense: $832. Our Access America’s policy clearly stated it covered loss due to missed flights. But the company rejected our claim. When we asked why, they said they only pay if one misses a flight by more than six hours. Figure that one out. This is one sleasy company. Stay away!!
Tom henderson says
I’ve used Orbitz and bought Access America insurance for about $14. Had to cancel when my wife got diagnosed with cancer. They paid me $1,100 quickly
and with no hassle. Very courteous.
Not sure why some people here are complaining and calling this company a scam. Everyone should know insurance doesn’t cover everything, especially preexisting situations. Try buying home insurance when your house is on fire. Everyone should read the policy and if you don’t like whats covered and what’s not ask for your money back.
J. Cobb says
Fast and very courteous service. Available 24/7
with real people! Filed claim online and was paid with a week. Would recommend.
David Clark says
Our round trip DFW-SLC on 2/12-2/14 was delayed because of 12inches of snow at DFW. The airport was closed. The next avail flight was 12/14, so no point for the trip. After calling AccessAmerica and asking them what they recommended and what our options were, We rented a car and drove. Policy stated $200/person with a max of $150/day. Our actual costs were > $850. They paid us $375 (Pro-rated because we rented 2-way rental and did not pick up the return flight in SLC on 14th.) One-way rental car was $1400 – we declined. By saving money and trying to stay close to the $800 max, we were penalized, even though they had suggested this before we rented the car. They also said they would pay in full ($310 per person) as a travel cancellation, they later claimed it was only a travel delay. Thankfully Delta refunded our ticket money for the flights, so we did not lose too much. However, Insurance is supposed to pay when the correct conditions are met. AccessAmerica found to a way to minimize their payments. To get to the reduced payment, I have so far made about 12 calls to them (Average wait time 15-20 minutes per call), sent 4 emails, faxed 22 pages of documentation, and finally filed a complaint against them with the BBB, requesting the additional amount that was not yet paid.
Bottom Line: Unless you want to make it a lifelong quest to get your claimed money back from them, save your money for something else. This flight insurance is a scam and should be avoided. I am disappointed that Delta airlines have a link to them from their web site. PS: It took 2 weeks, 3 emails and 4 calls to Delta with an hour wait time on each call to get my ‘non-refundabe’ tickets refunded.
Warren says
The worst!!! Dont waste any time or money on this company. Paid for this insurance off a USAirways flight and had a death in the family the morning of preventing me from going. They determined after gathering up and sending physician forms that this family member (grandfather) was not included in this policy. WHAT A JOKE!!! The BBB will hear from me, and I encourage all to to do the same using the link provided down the page. Absolute scam. Avoid at all costs!
Ed says
Thanks for all the honest reviews here that we are not falling on their trap.
EWILL says
What a scam!
Orbitz really pushes this product stating you can purchase this up to the day of travel. Received injury prior to purchasing insurance; however, doctor determined that I could not travel afterwards when an infection set in.
Claims agent very rude and defensive (I believe her name was Crystal) –must be accustomed to denying claims.
Don’t waste your money on this product.
Edo Kaluski says
I had my wifes parent visiting from Ukraine. Unfortunately they were involved in a car accident. Access America provided them with exceptional service. They arranged for them flight tickets, compensated them for trip interuption and were very attentive to their needs. I can only say wonderful things about this company.
Don Cardinal says
The “trip cancellation” insurance ad on the American Airlines site makes it sounds like any cancellation is covered.
Only when you read the 26-page coverage document will you see the exact items it does cover and nothing else. If it is not listed it it not covered. period.
Judy says
Do not buy insurance from this company! They are very expensive for what you get, and if you file a claim, they find an excuse not to cover it, no matter how clearly the are responsible.
The are affiliated with Orbitz, so if you buy trip insurance with Orbitz this is what you’ll get.
Go to other places. AAA has cheaper insurance. Available to all.
t wright says
SCAM THIS COMPANY IS A RIP OFF. It should be turned in to the consumer protection agency for misleading consumers. Do not purchase. Company did not provide any support or monetary reimbursement it advertised and stated it the “policy”!
Regina Welch says
I only wish I had read these reviews before I purchased the policy. I would love to find out if any one ever got their claim paid. I believe like the others that it is a fraud. We had to suddenly leave a trip and return home because of a sudden illness to one of our children and was told it was not covered. Will advise others as I feel that I have been taken.
Carol AnnHroch says
My mother in law watches her daughters children while she works. Since my sister in law doesnt pay her for her time, my mother in law lives on a fixed income and cannot afford the nicer things in life, which brings me to my complaint. We decided to purchase a ticket to Mexico as a Christmas present for her as we were going and wanted her to come. My sister in law children went to their grandmother and told them that there mother had been both physically and verbally abusing them to a point where she was dragging the one daughter out of the car because she didnt get out fast enough and while the child was running because her hair was being pulled by her mother, she tripped and fell and her mother began kicking her in the head. Needless to say my Mother in law requested custody of these 2 precious children 6 & 7. My sister in law is an alcoholic and attempted to take her life. She was hospitalized for 28 days of Detox, those 28 days fell into the week that we were going to Mexico, There was no way that those children were going to be given back to their mother. Luckily ( I thought) i purchased travel insurance with Access America. I thought I was insured and didnt even think that our claim would be denied, BUT I was wrong they denied our claim. I think this is a scam of an Insurance Company – I hold Orbitz responsible for having list them on their site. A class action lawsuit should be initiated because something just doesnt smell right or fair. If any one would like to be part of a class action lawsuit, email me at cahroch@gmail.com– I will speak with an attorney and he will advise whether or not we have a case
Julie says
I purchase travel insurance from Access America along with my airline ticket — a few weeks later my father was diagnosed with lung cancer. I sent the company a letter from my father’s oncologist — clearly stated when he was diagnosed well AFTER the tickets had been purchased.
Ironically, all other family members — who DID NOT purchase insurance have been able to refund their airline tickets. I would have been better off not buying insurance. When I googled “Access America” and scam or fraud… several stories popped up. I was wondering what other people’s experience has been with Access America or any other travel insurance company, for that matter. Please investigate for yourself before purchasing.
Janice Mcleod says
I booked a flight from MI to Az with plans to go visit my father who was sick and was given 3-6 months to live. 3 weeks after his diagnosis, he collapsed and was given 48 hours to live. I had taken insurance with Access America for this flight. I always insure trips and flights. Delta changed my flight and I left the next day. I stayed with my father for 13 days. I filed a claim for the difference in the price of the flight when I got home. They required a certified death certificate, which I sent. After that, they requested that a form be filled out by the Dr. I got that completed by both the social worker at the hospice and the Dr. That was mailed and faxed to Access America along with a letter from the hospice explaining that they requested that I get there quickly. Now, I have received a request for my fathers medical records outlining the diagnosis.
I live in MI and I am in FL for the winter. My father died in AZ. This paperwork has been a nightmare on top of all of the things that have been required after a death in the family.
I am convinced they are just trying to bury me in paperwork in hopes that I will give up and forget it.
The paperwork from the Dr and the death cert both stated a cause of death and described his illness. I feel like that type of info is an invasion to his privacy.
Dad passed away Nov 1. His small estate has all been settled but I am still trying to get this settled with Access America. What next, where is the end? How many ways can I justify this?
Do I have any rights here? How about HIPPA and common consideration. I have more then answered any reasonable questions that should pertain to changing the flight. This is nuts.
I WILL NEVER BUY INSURANCE FROM THEM AGAIN AND WILL BE SURE TO SPREAD THE WORD TO ANYONE THAT MAY THINK OF DOING SO.
And it still isn’t settled……..
Gordon says
I just received a letter from Access asking for a doctors report on my dead father-in-law. Apparently, the death certificate was not enough. He had been sick for several years and his health was getting worse. They explained to me if his medication changed they would not cover my trip interuption. Pre-existing conditions are not covered. As I read through the reviews, this is a trend for this company. Do your homework and find a better comany.
Brian says
To everyone that has provided reviews, note that your feedback will be more helpful to others and influential on the company if you complain to the Better Business Bureau in the the state they are registered. Below is the link: http://www.bbb.org/connecticut/business-reviews/real-estate/century-21-access-america-in-stamford-ct-17001997
Linda B. Cane says
I wish I could leave LESS than 1 star. This company should not be listed here. If you check the internet, you will see that they do not pay claims. You will see that they ask for the same paperwork over and over and over again. They try to wear you out so you will go away and not collect when you have to cancel a trip. It took me almost 6 months to get a refund that I was absolutely entitled to, and it wasn’t even for a large amount. I The entire trip, which I booked myself, was less than $2500! I was only successful because I wouldn’t give up, but it took many hours of letters, emails and phone calls. Your rating should be changed or at least a warning posted about their poor record of taking care of claims. Thank you!
Ed Terry says
Tried to change flight plans for my mother-in-law after my mother died. We needed my mother-in-law to stay at my house to care for my dependents while my wife and I traveled to the funeral. Access insurance refused to honor their agreement.
Swaran Dhaliwal says
And the list of denied claims grows… Our grandmother passed away at 90+ years, months AFTER we purchased our tickets/insurance but a few days before we were supposed to attend a family wedding. Long story short, we went to a funeral instead of a wedding. We placed a claim that they have thus far denied since the “onset of death” was not listed on the death certificate and, get this, the date that her “natural death” began was not given. Now the death certificate clearly states “natural” as the cause of death. However, after months of phone calls, paper work faxed, hospitals, the merry-go-round of reps, and doctors contacted, they still refuse to pay the claim unless we can prove she DID NOT HAVE a pre existing condition!
However, unlike many here that that have given up in frustration, we will win this war of attrition if it takes an act of congress, or a class action lawsuit! We are even considering creating a web page designed to bring to the attention of insurance regulators the unscrupulous practices utilized by this company. This should have been a cut and dry case but instead it has now turned into quest for justice. Really mad and getting angrier by the day!
If this claim is not resolved quickly by Access America we are going to repost an e-mail address here and on other sites to rally the troops, collect interested parties info, and set into motion a class action lawsuit that will make Access America wished it had never insulted the memory of our loving grandmother by insisting we provide them with more then adequate proof of her “natural” and untimely death.
James McRae says
Disney and the companies that utilize Access America should be ashamed of supporting this company. They claim to not speak “insurance talk” on their website which is great until you file a claim and they sure speak it then. I have made several complaints to them and will be asking Disney to discontinue their association with them.
S. Williams says
My parents are 80 years old and were planning a trip to Orlando. They are very prudent and careful in planning, and elected to purchase the American Airlines option of “travel insurance”. My father has successfully fought prostate cancer for 20 years now. After he purchased his policy and his airline tickets, he was continuing his usual cancer treatments, but unfortunately developed a dangerously low white blood count which precluded him from traveling since it increased his risk of contracting a life threatening infection during the trip. His doctor told him not to travel. This so called insurance company of course decided that his cancer was a preexisting condition, so they denied his coverage despite the development of his low white blood cell count was a completely new diagnosis he hadn’t experienced in the previous 20 years. What a joke. Do not buy this scam insurance!!
Laurel Huckans says
I agree with the statement that this company is a total fraud! My husband and I were on our way home from a trip. We were in a foreign country and could not get home. Called them and they assured us we had insurance and would help us get home. Now they have decided they will not give some of the massive amounts of money we had to spend to get home, even though it was NO fault of our own! We have gotten 3 totally different reasons and the run around! Can’t even get a copy of any kind of policy! Do NOT trust this company with your vacation!
kelly white says
I had a very snotty kid tell me it was my fault for not noticeing I had purchased a plan that I am sure I didnt want ,on orbitz I unchecked the annoying little box that was prechecked to add travel insurance and some how it still got added
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Violet Walton says
I recently purchased insurance through your company. You were recommended by a family member who travels and has used your insurance.
My daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer
5 days before I purchased my airline ticket.
she did not inform me & her father until she
knew about her survival chances and treatment.
I had no way of knowing when she was diagnosed
until after she notified us.
Of course after my claim was denied I was told
of all the loop holes that your underwirters use to keep from paying a claim. I purchased the polciy in good faith and was devasted to find you would not honor the claim. I have to make several trips back and forth because she is having chemo and radiation. We are elderly
and live on social security and this is a fanancial blow. I will not, nor will I recommend your coverage or lack of. I do intend
to notify my senator Bill Nelson and write to the better business bureau. The least you can
do is refund the purchase price for the policy
that turned out to be of no use.
Bill Murphy says
Will not waste my premium again. I could not travel for illness; I saw the doctor 5 days earlier but at that time did not ask about traveling because I hope to recover quickly. My claim was denied because the doctor had not advised me to cancel and could not say that in the report. Not only am I out money for the cancellation but also for the doctor’s visit needed to get the form completed so that it could be rejected.
Carmon Comunale says
90 year young Mother-in-law scheduled a trip. Her son died the day before leaving. Will not pay up until lack of pre-existing condition is proven for her son. MUST read these comments from other previous customers. Call Congress, the news media, AARP. Obviously a morally bankrupt company.
Cheryl says
Bought airline insurance with them in July ’09 for a trip the end of August. My mother was going along with me and my daughter when she developed a blood clot a week before the trip. I filled out ALL the paper work and had the doctor at the hospital do his section. Access America turned our claim down. I’m very upset with this company. Can this be legal??? I would NOT reccomend purchasing their insurance. Stay away and warn everyone you know!
Jodi Myers says
My mother-in-law had been diagnosed with lung cancer in May 2009, with a dire prognosis of only 6-9 months to live. She’d been doing pretty well, any medical concerns she’d had were unrelated to that disease but due to issues with her diabetes. We had the need to purchase a flight and thought “just to be sure” we ought to cover ourselves with the trip cancellation insurance offered through Orbitz and provided by Access America. The flight was relatively inexpensive ($138), with the cost of insurance a little over 10% of that @ $15. This seemed like a reasonable ratio given the situation.
We did receive the policy, and I have to confess I did not read it thoroughly (thus the warning here to save others from this issue.) In any regard, several days days after I bought the plane ticket, my mother-in-law came down with pneumonia. Within 48 hours she was admitted to hospice care and passed away.
I submitted the claim, assuming that it would be covered since at the time of purchase we were of the mind that we were very likely looking at another 2-5 months. The claim was denied based on the fact that this was a pre-existing condition.
I understand that it was my responsibility to fully read the policy. The agent I spoke with explained that the reason the cost of the plan was so affordable (10%+) was to cover events like getting hit by a bus, sudden on-set illnesses, etc. I happen to disagree that this is affordable in relation to the odds associated with completely unknown instances. I am not likely to assume I have a 1 in 10 chance of getting hit by a bus, etc; to me, the relative cost is exorbitant given the odds that something completely unforeseen and unavoidable would happen. I will not make the mistake of purchasing the insurance again!
We each need to make up our own minds as to what makes sense to us, I just wanted to make sure everyone was aware of the potential nuance to this type of policy.
Tony says
yup, i got scammed… wish i would have read all the comments here before buying… my company went out of business, so i cancelled my trip… and after supplying the info they requested, they denied my coverage… i missed in the the fine print, that i needed to have worked for the comapny longer then three years… wtf! DO NOT BUY TRAVEL INSURANCE FROM ACCESS AMERICA it is a SCAM!!! You will never get any monies back…
billy thompson says
i have always purchased travel insurance for extra protection…i tried to use this access america insurance today for the first time…what i have to do to get it to cover me as they promised is absolutely outrageous…THIS COMPANY IS A SCAM….THERE INSURANCE IS UNUSABLE WHEN YOU NEED IT AND THAT’S WHY THEY HAVE SUCH A LOW RATING….I SHOULD HAVE RESEARCHED BETTER…..WATCH OUT FOR ACCESS AMERICA TRAVEL INSURANCE…IT IS USELESS!!!!!
Rachel says
Access America does not provide the coverage that it implies it does in its advertising. It only covers very limited, rare situations. Do not trust the misleading information. If you cannot read the actual policy would for word first, don’t buy it. (And once you read the actual policy, you probably won’t want to buy it anyway.)
Ro Peabody says
The company is a fraud. Who owns them? They claim they have 24 travel assistance. “Our staff of multilingual problem solvers is available to help with any medical, legal, or travel-related emergencies.” I made a $64 long-distance call, was put on hold, talked briefly with a young girl who know nothing. She admitted they had no multilingual anything, no understanding of passport issues, etc. It turns out that the long list of exceptions in the policy I never received exempts them from loss of nearly anything one might lose. They demand purchase receipts for all claimed losses, even things purchased 40 years ago. The fact that this company has the right to exist is a scandal.
Noel says
After reading so many negative reviews, I decided to do my own investigation. Access America is a reputable company. They pay a lot more claims than they reject and have received an A- rating from A.M. Best. No insurance company that I know of will pay every single claim. There are times where an individual’s situation does not meet the scope of coverage. Consumers also have to understand that they have some responsibility in understanding their own situations and to understand the coverage that they are purchasing. All the answers to all of your questions are contained in the policy. I have seen their policy and it is not lengthy and is easy to understand. I have done business with them for several years and only once did I have to file a claim and low and behold, it was paid in quick time. So for everyone who says this company is a scam, tell that to the many people who have been helped out by this company over the years. Just because your situation did not meet their scope of coverage don’t hate on them for doing their jobs.
delinda burger says
the guy who wrote this article is full of #%&!. NOT consumer friendly. Have you seen the movie where the insurance company tells its employee’s deny,deny,deny?? Don’t walk from this compay. Run.
Galen Gatten Sr. says
My wife purchased a travel policy with her Northwest Airlines ticket for a flight to visit her father. A week before her flight I was shocked to be diagnosed with cancer requiring immediate chemotheropy. My wife promptly advised access america and cancelled the ticket per their instructions. We were shocked to later be advised that they would not honor our claim because I had a preexisting condition as I had complained of muscle pain to my MD before my wife purchased the ticket.
Kim says
FRAUDULENT….If you’ve seen a doctor before, THEY CLAIMED …PRE-EXISTING CONDITION.
ACCESS AMERICA FRAUD..FRAUD…FRAUD…WILL NEVER BUY.
John Shifferd says
Pre-existing Conditions have convinced me to not get the cruise insurance. Not only would it be for a very short time, but the cost is way too high for any benefit I could possibly gain from making the purchase.
Combined with their history, which is pre-existing, pre-purchase, we thank all reviews for the information provide. Thanks a million, or should I say $320.
Party On Access America, but w/o me paying you.
kathy says
I’m rather shocked to find my experience was so abnormal. I had a dental filling fall out and AA paid the dental claim ($236?) to have a new filling put in. I’m currently looking for travel insurance and due to all the negative claims, I’ll not go with AA again even though my experience was quite good. They were timely and courteous on the phone also. Claim was October/November 2008
Linda B. Cane says
I really believe that the primary basis of an insurance review should be based on “do they pay” when it is needed. So far, my recent experience with Access America is that they do not.
A friend and I booked a 2 1/2 week trip to Provence, which involved 2 flights and a villa rental. We insured with Access America 1 day before their “pre-existing condition” clause took effect. Less than 2 months before the trip, my friends 92 year old mother died. We could have still traveled, but her 96-year old father was very lost and depressed. His doctor advised my friend not to leave her father at that time. My friend had booked 1st class, and the airline company refunded her whole fare immediately. We filed the appropriate forms, including one from her father’s doctor, and the information on the villa rental deposit and my airfare. So far, Access America has requested those items again, said her mother’s illness and death were a pre-existing condition for her father (???), and then closed out our request for refund because we didn’t refile! I immediately sent a certified letter and have been ignored.
We are not talking a tremendous amount of money here, since it is a deposit of less than $1,000 and an airfare of a little over $1000. This is not a tour for 2 which would have been many thousand more! We are upset and disappointed in Access America. I certainly cannot recommend this company that sells insurance but keeps the money, no matter what!
Anonymous says
One thing everyone should remember when purchasing any type of insurance whether, auto, health, home, travel insurance, etc. you are give a policy that when you make the purchase it is almost like signing a contract stating you understand and agree to the terms of the contract. What is different about Access America is that they are open 24 hours a day 7days a week, 365 days a year and that includes Christmas and any holiday in between to speak to a live person who is very knowledgeable to help you. Second, If you have any questions about the insurance or policy you can call them any time before you purchase the policy or after for up to 10 days and if you change your mind they care refund you your premium. There isn’t any other insurance that I know of that will do that for you. Third, the policy may be lengthy and sometimes confusing however their representatives can explain any of the policies to you anytime day or night. Fourth, their company paid out on my claim thousands of dollars and yes I had to send them documentation they requested, but anything they could request from the travel agent or doctor once I completed their HIPPA form they obtain. So, please everyone keep in mind you may hate insurance companies and things may not always work out as plan but if you are paying a low premium for insurance but I’m sure they pay out hundreds of thousands of dollars on claims every day. If you choose to not educate yourself and read and understand a contract or policy you accepted or paid for, you could suffer the consequence which is not having your claim paid. Lastly, what would you do if travel insurance didn’t exist?
Robert Blum says
UPDATE, MAKE SURE YOU GO THEIR SITE AND PLINT A CLAIM FORM Read your paperwork and understand that they (or which ever company you pick) are 2nd to your prime USA insurance. Understand your prime insurance also. Make copies of everything… That being said, Access America was fast to respond and provided outstanding service. Make sure you have all of the Bills, Names and Places that provided services to you. Do not wait until you receive the bills in USA before you submit the start of your claim to Access America. It has been 9 months and I am still getting additional bills from Europe. You are responsible for all services that you get; Access America sends the check to you NOT the provider of the service. I will use Access America again. Do NOT travel without some type of secondary insurance.
Robert Blum says
Read your paperwork and understand that they (or which ever company you pick) are 2nd to your prime USA insurance. Understand your prime insurance also. Make copies of everything… That being said, Access America was fast to respond and provided outstanding service. Make sure you have all of the Bills, Names and Places that provided services to you. Do not wait until you receive the bills in USA before you submit the start of your claim to Access America. It has been 9 months and I am still getting additional bills from Europe. You are responsible for all services that you get; Access America sends the check to you NOT the provider of the service. I will use Access America again. Do NOT travel without some type of secondary insurance.
robert giordano says
Fraud-Liars_Fraud-Liars/What everyone below says, the customer service sucks, they lie to you and have to fill out bogus paperwork. they try and make it hard on you so you will give up. They did not want to give us our money back for 3 months. I sicked our lawyer on them and 5 days later we received the checks. BEWARE FRAUD
Andres says
Worst customer service. Very rude. They don’t do their due diligence properly. I was laid off, and filled out all of the information in order to obtain my reimbursement. The adjuster was rude always inventing a different excuse. Never saw a dime of the $1,300.00. Please, do not get insurance from this company. They don’t honor their word. I learned the hard way.
Eric says
Thank you everyone for your reviews. My girlfriend and I were looking to insure our cruise over Thanksgiving and were planning to use AccessAmerica. These reviews convinced us otherwise.
Typical insurance company: they want the premiums, but do not want to pay claims. Good business model for them, but bad for the customer.
Karen S says
I wish I could give no stars to this piece of crap company, it’s not even worthy of being considered an INSURANCE company. I echo what many others have told which is a shocking, unplanned emergency illness keeping me from departing on a trip and despite completing all their paperwork including medical paperwork signed by my Dr etc. the claim was denied. What a rip off. The denial letter was even so tacky and unprofessional. They didn’t even take the time to properly assess the claim like “normal” Claims Adjusters at normal “Insurance Companies” would do. I think they basically deny any and all claims and are only in business to take our money. I’ll NEVER use them ever again and I will tell everyone I know not to use them plus I will take every opportunity to publicly tell my story and warn others from being sucked into this rip off organization. They should be called DENIAL America, not AccessAmerica! They do nothing but profit themselves. Shame on all the travel companies such as Orbitz or big airlines like Delta for attempting to promote them.
In your campaigns to do as I am doing don’t forget to notify Consumer Services, BBB and more importantly the big Travel companies or airlines that continue to believe this is an up-standing company.
ACCESS AMERICA………H U G E F R A U D!!!!
PAG says
I was thinking of getting travel insurance so I read all the comments listed below. I checked with the Best Business Bureau and there are absolutely no complaints… my suggestion to all is to write an official complaint through the BBB… otherwise things will not change. Here is the information:
http://www.seflorida.bbb.org/Business-Report/Access-America-Travel-Insurance-11008502
http://www.trustlink.org/BusinessProfile.aspx?ID=205999048
Access America Travel Insurance
Address:
100 Commerce Drive
Warwick, RI 33311
Tel: (401) 773-9300
Fax:
Web Site: http://Access America
Contact: Glen Skalny –
Business Start Date: N/A
Company ID: 11008502
Nature of Business:
This company’s nature of business is Travel Agent Mills
Lorie Lambert says
This is a SCAM! Easy to use, more accurately easy to purchase. Don’t try to collect on a claim – it is a run around.
I bought trip insurance for my daughter. Several days before her scheduled departure, my father had a severe and unexpected decline in his health and went from independent living to hospice to death within 6 days. He died the day my daughter was supposed to depart on the trip.
Access America denied my claim because of my father’s preexisting condition. Since my father has been diagnosed the year prior, and since the reason for my daughter canceling her trip was because her grandfather died, Access America denied the claim.
DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY OR YOUR TIME and tell everyone you know!
Tim Tuchscherer says
My wife purchased rental car insurance through Access America by using Orbitz website; however she had to cancel the travel package. She immediately called Access America to cancel and was told to fax a letter indicating the rental car was also canceled. It’s been three weeks and now they want Orbitz to send them a fax too! If I hadn’t followed-up with Access America I would never have been notified about the additional fax needed. Now, it’s still not over as their customer service rep, Carmin, said the refund may or may not be give as it depends on their Sales Support review of the information sent them. They will not receive anymore of my business that’s for sure! I will challenge my credit card company with this one so Access America will be out my money, my future business and this little bit of bad PR!
Aggie Jones says
This is the biggest rip off I have ever done business with. It seems to me what ever excuse you have they deny it. My daughter and I and a friend were going to fly Florida for a vacation we made our plane reservations and had to cancel because my daughter got called back to work. She would have lost her job and unemployment if she went on the trip. Guess what the denyed the claim. I think these jack asses would deny any claim no matter what the reason.
Kirbiejo says
I filed a claim with Access America, unfortunately a death in the family (father) due to cancer is seen as a pre-existing medical condition and is NOT covered by them. Please read EVERYTHING – we are out $1700- and their customer service is horrible!
Ben says
Bought the full travel insurance package from these crooks. The day of travel my grandfather lost his battle with parkinson’s and died. Since it was preexisting they denied the claim.
Two reps gave two different stories about lost paperwork. Death certificate has been emailed twice and faxed once. The rep today said it was preexisting and not covered. He would not answer me when I asked what good is an insurance policy if it doesn’t cover death?
DO NOT BUY!
Joan W says
My experience unfortunately mirrors others that have been posted. Access America repeatedly asked for more documents, including a death certificate when no one had died. It seems that the plan is to drag out the process so that the customer gets finally gives up. I have still not gotten payment, months after making the initial claim.
Connie Phillips says
I am very pleased with Access America Ins. After reading so many reviews regarding re-imberstments, i figure i would not receive a dime back. Every review i read was negative and every one was very unhappy with them. My husband and i took a trip out of the country back in April 09. We had a emergency back home and had to cut our trip short after only being there for 2 days. My father became very ill and had to have emerg surgery. I filed a claim and was re-imbersed almost 2 months to the day. There was some paper work that had to be done but thats to be expected in cases like this. Customer Service was always so polite and friendly each time and very helpful when i called. I cant say a bad word about this insurance co. i guess i can consider myself lucky to receive money back. Thanks Access America.
Doug says
It appears to me that the policy I bought for a trip does nothing that I could not do myself. Its useless!
Paola Dooly says
This company is AWEFUL!!!! Don’t touch them with a 10 foot pole! If I could give them a negative 10 rating I would. Very poor company – stay away at ALL costs!!!!!!!
Ona Turner says
I would not recommend this company to anyone.
I would rate it VERY POOR.
I was flying home to be with my mother following Major Surgery her surgery date was postponed so I had to reschedule and Access America refuses to pay the flight cost difference because her condition was pre-exisiting.
I was denied coverage. What a SHAM !!
Maribel says
I AM COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY DISGUSTED WITH THIS SORRY EXCUSE FOR AN INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEIR INSENSITIVITY TO ANY GIVEN SITUATION.
Access America would not accept my claim because they did not know the cause of death. After explaining the cause to the representative they still needed an incalculable amount of details, all of which were hard for me to deal with and given the situation I thought it was not worth it. To me I was better off forgetting the $2000.00 reimbursement. This is the maximum amount of reimbursement they would give me, even though my travel expenses were nowhere NEAR this amount. I spend more than $2000.00 traveling with my family every time, given I have a very large family.
My sister had passed away at the age of 49. Nobody expected her to die. As painful as this was, dealing with this poor excuse for an insurance company was more painful. This hit my family hard and the fact that this company kept prying and wanting more details is simply sickening. It was not enough that I sent them the death certificate, they still needed more. Their needs are insatiable and they look for reasons, whatever they may be, not to pay your claim. I will never use their services again and I DO NOT recommend anybody else does.
I spoke to multiple representatives. They were very rude and extremely insensitive. No matter how many travel invoices I sent them it wasn’t enough.
Robert Flindell says
I booked my daughter’s holiday visit thru Orbitz who use Access America as their supplier of trip insurance.
My daughter’s Boxing Day flight out of Victoria to Vancouver was canceled due to a snow storm. Air Canada’s first available rebooking was 5 days later and it required an extra day layover in San Salvador so we were looking at a 6 day interruption on a 16 day vacation. I went online and found flights for the next day on American Airlines thru Seattle. We had trip interruption & cancellation insurance so they would cover us for the difference right? Well I got my daughter to call Access America to double check (I couldn’t call because Access America doesn’t accept collect calls from Belize) and they told her “no problem”. I booked the flights & got my daughter to cancel the rebooks. I also went to Access America’s website & initiated a travel claim.
The net cost to us for the flight changes totaled $536US but Access America is refusing to pay. In the fine print of their insurance policy under cancellations due to weather it states “Your airline, cruise line, or tour operator or travel supplier stops offering all services for at least 24 consecutive hours where you’re departing, arriving or making a connection…”
So it does not matter that Air Canada couldn’t fly between Victoria & Vancouver for 2 days or they couldn’t get us replacement flights until 5 days later, as long as they could make one flight to Timbuktu, we aren’t getting reimbursed.
InAccessible America, besides not having a collect number from Belize, have a claims appeal department that appears to be blocking my email and a claims inquiry department that manages to lose email attachments.
Dennis B says
I have been in the travel business for 17 years now and using Access America since 2001 when I heard about them. I have only had 1 claim denied because the guest lied about their pre-existing condition. All our clients get a 10 day look at the policy and can cancel with a full full refund if they think it doesn’t suit them.
A $4000.00 trip for seniors in their 80’s is $360.00. Hard to beat and it includes, pre-existing coverage and 1-million in emergency evacuation. Hard to beat.
Jim Zorn says
Very Poor! Supplied all the information they requested and they sent me a statement via U.S. Mail saying that I didn’t supply the required information and they subsequently closed my account. DO NOT get this service because it’s a SCAM!
Tamara Janssens says
I find this company to be bogus. I thought I would try them again after my mother told me how difficult they are to deal with. She was completely right. They do not cover pre existing conditions. I asked the advisor numerous times about this and she said this will cover it. Now that I filed a claim, they do not cover the pre existing condtion.
DL says
DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THIS SLIME COMPANY!!
I HAD PURCHASED TICKETS FOR MY SON AND TWO COUSINS. MY SON’S WIFE DEVELOPED A MEDICAL CONDITION THAT FORCED THEM TO CANCEL THEIR TRIP. I PAID FOR BOTH THE TICKETS, AND THE INSURANCE WITH A CREDIT CARD. AFTER JUMPING THROUGH MORE HOOPS THAN A CIRCUS CLOWN, THEY FINALLY ISSUED REFUND CHECKS. NOT TO ME BUT, TO THE PEOPLE WHO I PURCHASED THE TICKETS FOR.
SINCE TWO OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAD TICKETS HAVE MOVED ON AND WE HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THEY ARE, I CALLED AND ASKED FOR A CHECK TO BE WRITTEN IN MY NAME SINCE I AM THE ONE WHO PAID FOR THE TICKETS AND THE INSURANCE. THEY REFUSED. SO THE CHECKS I RECEIVED ARE WORTHLESS.
jen says
AWFUL!!!! My dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer a month after we booked our trip and it took MONTHS of phone calls and documents for us to reclaim the money, just shortly before he passed away. The customer “service” was horrendous. I WILL NEVER EVER EVER use this company again.
STEPHEN CALVERT says
My claim was denied. The adjuster determined that the fact that we were in the worst natural disater in our state’s history (ice Storm) and our home was without power, heat, water and I had to run a generator to protect our food etc., that this fact did not make my home “uninhabitable” as defined in the policy.
valerie joseph says
they are leaches!!! just as the other items below, they denied my claim because of a previous condition! my mother died a little over a month ago. she was receiving treatment for leukemia and was getting beaten up by the chemo but, all her vitals were stable and she was hanging tough. i had purchased a ticket to go see her on january 19th for the following month and was looking forward to my visit. unfortunately, i got a call from my family 2 days later to get home immediately as she took a major turn for the worse. they said because the death certificate said she had certain symptoms before she died that it was pre-existing and couldn’t pay out. then they started asking for all sorts of other info about her doctors and who they might contact making it seem like they gave a crap. like i’m going to lie about my mother’s death!! i will NEVER use their service again, even if it costs me thousands of dollars in future airfare. they are leaches!!!
deepa says
I have sold quite a few policies with them so i can tell you that if you ever have a client with a claim, they just turn it down. They absolutely refuse and will give you a different reason everytime you speak with a different rep. Dont buy. They should be reported to Insurance fraud department.
Jeff Davidson says
I submitted a claim for reimbursement for airline tickets that were unused due to my Mother’s death–they asked for a death certificate, the same certificate that has been give to Social Security, banks, etc.–they would not accept because the certifying physician did not list “the onset to death” on the certificate–therefore they will not pay. I told them that I WOULD NOT go back to the physician for this as it is rediculous and painful for me to even deal with–they said they would not pay the $400 claim without it.
Shameful–the company is a fraud!
larry harpoer says
THIS COMPANY IS A FRAUD. HAD UN-EXPECTED MAJOR BACK SURGERY 3 DAYS PRIOR TO TRIP & THEY REJECTED CLAIM BECAUSE I HAD SEEN THE DOCTOR BEFORE. THEY CLAIMED …PRE-EXISTING CONDITION.
ACCESS AMERICA…B I G F R A U D