Allianz Global Assistance is one of the biggest travel insurance companies in the world, and one of the oldest. They offer a wide range of different plans and optional add-ons, offering comprehensive coverage for most travelers.
Puerto Varas, Chile (Photo: M. Foubister via Flickr/ CC BY-SA 2.0)
Not all travelers, though. Depending on your destination, your planned activities, and your overall health, your coverage needs may vary.
This Allianz travel insurance review will help you understand the various plans and whether or not they’ll work for you, as well as some alternatives so you’ll get the most value for your money.
Allianz Travel Insurance Plan Overview
So your trip deposit is made, and now you need insurance. Allianz Global Assistance has some basic plans that cover things like trip cancellation only, but their more comprehensive plans cover everything from trip interruption to medical emergencies.
Making sure you have proper coverage should be your priority. Here’s more about the different Allianz travel insurance policies.
Allianz Global Assistance
Allianz Global Assistance is the umbrella name given to all of their trip insurance policies and add-ons.
That includes these single-trip plans:
OneTrip Basic – Ideal for any traveler looking for low-cost plans
OneTrip Prime – The most popular trip insurance, thanks to its broad coverage
OneTrip Premier – This plan has the most coverage for everything
OneTrip Emergency Medical – For anyone who needs basic emergency medical coverage
OneTrip Cancellation Plus – For anyone who doesn’t need medical coverage but is worried about incurring travel expenses
Allianz also has several multi-trip/annual travel insurance plans that frequent travelers and business travelers will find useful for coverage.
If you’re opting for multi-trip coverage keep in mind that there’s only a set amount of coverage available for trip cancellation or interruption (rather than the 100+ percent you’ll get with a single-trip plan).
On the other hand, with a multi-trip plan, you’ll also get rental car damage coverage with their Rental Car Damage Protector option and Accidental Death and Dismemberment. Rental car insurance is not included in any other plan (although AD&D is covered under the Emergency Medical policy).
It’s a good idea to request an insurance quote via the Allianz site to weigh the pros and cons (and affordability) of each plan. Next up, you’ll learn more about three of the most popular single-trip plans.
OneTrip Basic Plan
This policy is perfect for travelers who want a budget-friendly travel insurance policy. For example, a OneTrip Basic Plan starts from about $99 USD. It covers everything from medical and dental (including emergency medical transportation) to emergency evacuation and trip cancellation, but the cost of the plan may increase depending on factors like the duration of the trip, your age, the destination, and any optional add-ons.
Although the Allianz Basic Plan is one of their most comprehensive plans, its coverage limits aren’t as high as others. You’ll get $10,000 for medical and dental coverage, and $50,000 for medical evacuation. That might sound like a lot of money, but it may not cover all your expenses.
You’ll also be reimbursed up to $500 for lost or stolen baggage, and $200 for delayed baggage.
If you’re traveling in a high-risk country, or if you’re participating in higher-risk activities, you may need to look for higher coverage. Plus this Basic Plan doesn’t cover missed connections or airline change fees.
OneTrip Prime Plan
This policy is the most popular option for the average traveler because of its high coverage levels for not much more than what you’d pay for the Basic Plan (starting from about $130 USD).
This classic trip insurance policy will cover you for $50,000 in medical and dental coverage, and up to $500,000 for emergency transportation. That’s significantly more than the basic plan.
This Allianz travel insurance also covers up to $1,000 for lost and stolen luggage (but only $500 per bag, which isn’t great if you’re carrying expensive gear), and $300 for delayed baggage. There’s also travel insurance protection for missed flight connections and airline change fees, which is not available with the basic plan.
Finally, you’ll get reimbursed for up to 150 percent of your prepaid expenses if you have to cancel or interrupt your travels.
OneTrip Premier Plan
The Allianz OneTrip Premier Plan offers the most coverage and starts from about $188 USD. It has up to $50,000 in emergency medical, $1-million in emergency evacuation, and up to $2,000 for lost or damaged luggage.
There’s also coverage for missed flight connections and airline change fees.
Again, keep in mind that many factors may affect the cost of your plan, including age and destination. On the Get a Quote page, you can compare these three plans side by side.
Whatever travel insurance you choose, take the time to study your policy and the fine details. There’s a lot of information to unpack. If you’re still unclear about anything, call up the 24-hour hotline assistance for additional information.
Allianz Travel Insurance Features
Remember: no two trip insurance plans are the same! When you’re considering your travel insurance options, think about the features you’d like to have and whether or not the extra expenditure is worth the higher coverage. (Hint: even for the average traveler, it often is.)
Emergency Medical
Emergency medical means you’ll be covered for losses due to medical and dental emergencies that might happen on your trip, and often emergency medical evacuation coverage is also included (but not always).
So if you’re hiking and you break a leg—or if you lose a tooth—you’ll be covered for most of your expenses. If the injury is more serious, you may require evacuation back to your home country.
Don’t underestimate the cost of medical care abroad. If you don’t have insurance, and you need these medical services, you may end up paying tens of thousands of dollars. Even a simple doctor’s visit could cost you hundreds.
Most of Allianz’s plans cover between $10,000-$500,000 in emergency medical, dental, and evacuation.
Trip Cancellation and Interruption
When you’ve already invested so much time and money into your travel plans, the last thing you want to do is lose money on a canceled or interrupted trip.
With this feature, you’ll get reimbursed for your prepaid, non-refundable expenses if you have to cancel your trip (up to $100,000), or return home early (up to $150,000). However, it must be a covered reason, like a natural disaster occurring at your destination or a family member dying while you’re away.
Again, review your policy terms!
Pre-Existing Medical
This is one area where Allianz Global Assistance is lacking. Allianz’s look-back period for pre-existing conditions is 120 days.
This means that if you have been diagnosed with a condition 120 days before any trips, you won’t be able to claim any medical bills that may happen as a result of this diagnosis while abroad.
However, depending on the insurance policy, you do have the option to add this feature.
Allianz Travel Insurance Alternatives
Out of options? Different people have different needs. If Allianz Travel insurance doesn’t work for you, here are two alternatives.
Travelex
Travelex is a good insurance company option for anyone who wants better pre-existing coverage. All of Travelex’s policies have short look-back windows: just 60 days. Plus they’ll hand you a medical condition exclusion certificate for when you’re abroad, and there’s no age limit on their policies.
Other than that, Travelex offers well-rounded policies for all types of trips and is also great for families (children under 18 are covered for free). The most basic policy starts from about $80 USD.
World Nomads
If you’re going to be embarking on more adventurous trips, World Nomads is your best option for travel insurance. Their Standard Plan has coverage for over 200 types of sports and activities, while their Explorer Plan covers more high-risk activities and countries (up to $100,000 in emergency medical).
The Explorer Plan also has a Collision Damage Waiver to cover up to $35,000 in damage fees to your rental car.
These plans start from about $70 USD.
The Bottom Line
Allianz offers some fantastic travel insurance policies, but not for everyone. World Nomads is a preferred travel insurance company for backpackers on big adventures, while Travelex simply has better coverage for pre-existing conditions.
Make sure you read reviews, follow up on more information, and be sure to talk to customer service if you have any further questions. You can’t underestimate the value of having good travel insurance.