Filing a claim shouldn’t be so frustrating that you’re willing to give up.
Key Points Traveling with insurance to cover your trip makes a lot of financial sense. Allianz is one of the oldest and most trusted travel insurance companies. However, customer reviews point to significant issues once a claim is made with Allianz.
When you have a trip coming up, you might have a little worry about how much money you would lose if your trip was canceled at the last minute. What would happen if you missed your connecting flight through no fault of your own and there was no space left on the next flight? If thoughts like this cross your mind, you might want to check out Allianz Travel, one of the oldest and most well-known names in travel insurance.
At first glance
Allianz Travel has a lot to offer at a glance. I have requested a quote for travel insurance for an upcoming trip to Puerto Rico. For the mid-level package called “One Trip Basic,” I received an offer for $116 per traveler.
$116 sounds more than fair considering what we’re getting for the price. Coverage includes:
Trip Cancellation: $2,000 per personTrip Interruption: $2,000 per personEmergency Medicine: $10,000 per personEmergency Transportation: $50,000 per personLuggage/Damage: $500 per personIn an emergency
Allianz directs customers experiencing a medical emergency or crime victim to call local emergency services first. There’s a 24-hour hotline if you later want to speak to someone from Allianz.
Let’s say Sam is hiking in the Amazon and they break his leg. Once they make their way to the nearest hospital, they will likely be asked to prepay for medical care. The Allianz website makes no mention of what a traveler should do if they don’t have a credit card with them to cover the cost. When Sam is safely home (or resting comfortably in a hotel room), they file a claim with Allianz for reimbursement up to their policy limit.
documentation required
In order to make a claim, a policyholder must provide:
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A summary of what happened, including who was involved, how it happened, when and where the incident occurred, and the casualties the incident caused. How much the policyholder wants to be reimbursed. Here they list non-reimbursable travel expenses such as medical bills. For other policyholders, losses may include stolen or damaged baggage or meal and lodging expenses during a covered delay. Evidence of Claim. Allianz wants receipts, official reports or news articles, photos, a medical certificate, and reports of severe weather or travel delays. customer reviews
I rarely buy anything important without reading the reviews and was surprised when Allianz Travel received 1.04 stars out of 5 out of 417 reviews on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website.
I realize that people who go to the trouble of writing a review are often in a heightened emotional state. But even disregarding disgruntled customers, it’s difficult to overlook some of the common themes hidden in their comments:
Partial Refund: A worrying number of reviewers speak of receiving a far smaller refund than promised. In fact, several said the amount they were reimbursed was only pennies on the dollar. Circular Claim Process: Comment after comment spoke of repeatedly sending the same paperwork to be completed. A reviewer named Diane P. believes this is a tactic used by insurers to wear down claimants. Slow Processing: When Allianz customers were able to pursue a claim, the company seemed in no rush to reimburse losses. For example, one traveler spoke of first making a claim in July 2021 and finally receiving a check in February 2023. Great until you need it: Amy W. wrote in February that she’s used the alliance on seven different trips, with the seventh trip being the first time she’s filed a claim. She started the application process in September 2022 and by the end of February 2023 was no further than when she started. Like others, Amy wrote about the company requiring additional information that she had already submitted. That’s a long turnaround time for someone waiting to cash out the credit card they used to pay for their expenses. Difficult to contact. Many of the 417 reviewers say they sat on hold for hours waiting for an Allianz representative to take their call. Others said they were repeatedly told a representative would be in touch in “seven to 10 days.” Make a decision
It didn’t take long for me to ditch the alliance for now, though you might change your mind. For me it was about not wanting to pay for coverage from a company that may or may not reimburse for any losses we suffer.
Instead, I’m still looking for a travel insurance company with a stronger reputation for honoring their end of the bargain.
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