A travel insurance benefits app may be the last place you’d look when you’re concern about safety. But for experiences travelers, it is becoming a first stop.
Take Rasa Urbonaite, who always relies on the Allianz travel insurance app when she travels. It supplies her with safety information about her destination, including places to avoid and notifications of any potential dangers.
Travel Insurance Benefits
My first concern when traveling alone is safety,” says Urbonaite, the chief marketing officer for a wedding planning platform in California. The smartphone apps are a huge assistance. Also i receive travel alerts, which helps me be aware of my surroundings. I feel more safe because of the app’s information about surrounding locations.
Travel insurance is a popular add-on to vacations, and that includes trips planned for this fall and winter. The Generali Global Assistance 2024 Holiday Barometer, a measure of travel behavior, suggests that 42 percent of Americans will buy travel protection this year — a significant increase from the 38 percent of Americans who bought travel insurance in 2022.
A travel insurance app can make your next trip safer, but you don’t have to download a smartphone app to take advantage of all of its safety features. Many travel insurance companies offer similar services by phone or online. The latest safety features include upgraded travel alerts and telemedicine support. Experts say it’s better to focus on these benefits than on the platform.
But can travel insurance really keep you safer? The latest generation of smartphone apps is trying.
For example:
- 1.The ravel insurance smartphone apps allow travelers to receive real-time alerts about their destination and access their policy information.
- 2.There are many comprehensive travel insurance policies also include 24-hour global assistance services that give you immediate access to help in emergencies — everything from medical referrals to emergency evacuations.
- 3.You can also expect support — either through a smartphone app or through the insurance company’s website — for your pre-trip planning.
“Travel insurance benefits are designed not just to protect financial investments in travel but also to enhance safety and provide assistance during trips,” explains Robert Gallagher, who runs a travel insurance curated news site. “These features collectively work to mitigate risks and offer solutions promptly, making travel safer and more secure.”
Travel Insurance for Safer Travel
Most of the major travel insurance companies already have well-develop apps using for purchasing insurance or claims.
For example, the newest version of Faye’s app includes your destination’s visa and vaccine requirements, health mandates, and even the plug type you should bring along with you. We also provide local emergency numbers and medical assistance information like nearby pharmacies to save you time,” says Lauren Gumport, a spokeswoman for the travel insurance company. That’s in addition to the app’s core features that provide customer support and let you file claims.
The latest version of Allianz’s smartphone app, Allyz, also features robust security features. For example, it will quickly connect you to the Allianz 24/7 travel assistance team to guide you through any stressful situation on the road. Whether you need help with a claim due to an accident on the road, or you want reassurance on the best hospital care nearby, having a trusty app and access to a live team who are dedicated to your safety can make all the difference during a stressful situation,” says Daniel Durazo, director of external communications at Allianz Partners USA.
Global Medical
This help isn’t limit to an app or phone number. Generali Global Assistance also includes a suite of services that provide immediate help with unexpected problems during a trip. That includes 24/7 travel assistance, roadside travel service, telemedicine and ID theft resolution services. Generali also has a concierge service that promises to make your upcoming trip “smoother and more enjoyable,” which allows policyholders to schedule golf tee times, buy tickets for events and make restaurant reservations.
INF Visitor Care, which provides visitor insurance for inbound travelers to the U.S., offers a robust presence on WhatsApp, where travelers can ask questions about safety and security and get an answer from a real person. “I think most travelers need to be cognizant of insurance companies being able to meet their needs at a moment’s notice,” says PK Rao, INF’s president.
Travel Insurance Safety Alerts
So how does travel insurance keep you safer? Many of the features are preventative, which is to say the insurance company will send you safety alerts before your trip or inform you about any medical requirements, like vaccines.
But sometimes they can help you get to safety when you run into trouble. Chris Yang recalls when one of his clients ran into trouble on a recent trip to Spain.
His rental car broke down, and he uses his travel insurance app to get help,” recalls Yang, a financial consultant who often advises clients on travel matters. The insurance company’s app permitted live GPS location-sharing with the local assistance team, speeding up the rescue. This experience showing exactly how relevant it is to have a strong travel insurance policy that enables access to modern safety features.”
Travel Insurance Checklist
Is there a checklist of must-have safety features you should look for when you buy insurance? Actually, there is, says Jenna Hummer, a spokeswoman for Squaremouth.
The most safety-forward policies include virtual MD options, roadside assistance for car travel, a 24/7 nurse advice line, access to emergency travel funds, an emergency message relay service, and legal consultation services.
Travelers should look for these emergency benefits when searching for a policy,” she adds. “More coverage or benefits does not always mean a higher premium, so it’s important to review and compare policies to find the best option for your trip.”
Applicatons
Is an app require? Many large travel insurance policies have a smartphone app that includes all of the safety features you need, but it’s not absolutely necessary. Some insurance companies use a different platform, like WhatsApp, but the results are generally the same.
The transformation of travel insurance from a dry contract to a dynamic, life-saving tool reflects our changing relationship with travel. In an era where global uncertainties loom large, we’re not just looking for new experiences — we need safety in those experiences. So as you plan your next adventure, a great souvenir might just be the story of how your travel insurance app saved the day.
Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems.
Travel Insurance: The Fine Print
Following a summer marred with travel disruptions and delays, travel insurance claims have risen 21% over last year. With travel up 8% this fall and trip costs continuing to reach record numbers, protecting your trip expenses with travel insurance is more important than ever.
Leading travel insurance comparison site, Squaremouth, reveals the top three reasons travel insurance claims are denied, and how travelers can give themselves the best chance of getting their claim approved.
You Were Inconvenience, Not Interrupt
Travelers often think their insurance will pay out because their trip didn’t go as smoothly as they planned. However, in order for a traveler to be covered by their travel insurance, their trip must be disrupted by a circumstance listed in their policy. If the disruption is covered and occurred after they purchased a policy, they can refund for out-of-pocket trip payments, as well as additional expenses incurred.
Tip: Don’t assume you’re automatically covered if anything goes wrong. If you have specific concerns, make sure they are covered by your policy. Also If you realize your policy falls short of your coverage needs, you may be able to cancel the policy for a full or partial refund.
Didn’t Keep Your Receipts
In order to reimburse, you must provide proof of the expenses you incurre. Receipts are requires to authenticate a claim, whether it’s for a cancellation, delay, or medical emergency.
Tricks: Ask for receipts to document any expenses incurre. If you forget, or if receipts are not available, your bank or credit card statement will usually prove you made the payments you are claiming for.
You Bought the Policy Without Knowing You Were Ineligible
Most travel insurance policies provide coverage for unforeseen medical emergencies, however, many travelers think they can buy travel insurance after they become sick. If a traveler is already sick when they buy their policy, any claim relate to that same illness will not cover.
Tip: Some policies offer Pre-Existing Condition coverage, which can extend benefits to a traveler if their trip is impacted by an illness or injury that exist when they purchase their policy. To get this coverage, you usually must buy a policy within 14-30 days of making your first trip payment. However, even with this coverage, you must be medically able to travel when you buy a policy.
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