Many or all of the companies featured compensate us. Compensation and research may determine where and how companies appear. Learn more
  1. Home
  2. Travel Insurance
  3. Travel Guard Insurance Review

AIG Travel Guard Travel Insurance Review


ConsumersAdvocate.org Rating: 4 / 5 (Very good)
29 Customer Comments & Reviews - see all comments
Our content is free because we may earn a commission when you click or make a purchase using our site. Learn more.
Travel Guard is a travel insurer owned and operated by AIG, a Fortune 500 multinational insurer headquartered in New York City. Travel Guard has been in business for over 35 years and offers various travel insurance policies, travel concierge services, emergency evacuation coverage, and specialized identity theft protection for travelers.
 
GET QUOTES

How is Travel Guard Insurance rated?

Breakdown

4.0/5
Coverage
4.3/5
Extra Benefits
3.8/5
Financial Strength
3.8/5
Price & Reputation

Overall Rating: 4 / 5 (Very good)

Travel Guard offers remarkably comprehensive benefits and features through its more expensive policy packages. However, its entry-level policies may not be all that useful for many travelers. While AIG, Travel Guard's parent company, appears to be on a sound financial footing now, its past financial management caused the business to collapse and require a US government bailout in 2008. Still, Travel Guard is on par with many of its competitors, particularly concerning its premium coverage plans.

Travel Guard Insurance Plans & Coverage

Coverage - 4 / 5

Travel Guard offers four levels of travel insurance coverage. Its most expensive and comprehensive policy includes all the standard coverages, plus additional concierge and travel assistance benefits. The company's entry-level plan has higher deductibles, lower coverage limits, a longer pre-existing medical condition exclusion period, and a lengthier baggage delay look-back period. Despite the fact that some of the limits and restrictions on Travel Guard's least-expensive policy could make it seem of lesser value to frequent or long-distance travelers, their comprehensive plan more than makes up for what the former lacks.
Available Plans
Comprehensive
Trip Cancelation/ Interruption
Medical
Baggage
Accidental Death
Trip Cancellation/Interruption Coverage
Injury/Illness/Death of Traveler
Injury/Illness/Death of Non Traveling Family Member
Natural Disaster at Destination
Tour Operator/Airline/Cruise Line Ceases Operation
Victim of Crime Prior to Trip
CFAR Coverage (Cancel for Any Reason)
Emergency Medical and Emergency Transportation Coverage
Doctor, Hospital, or Other Licensed Provider
Dental
Emergency Medical Evacuation/Repatriation
Transport Family Member to Bedside
Transport Children Home
Baggage Coverage
Lost/Damaged/Stolen
Baggage Delay Coverage

Emergency Medical Coverage Details

Emergency Medical Pre-Existing Condition Coverage
Maximum Emergency Medical Reimbursement
$50,000
Maximum Emergency Medical Evacuation Reimbursement
$1,000,000

Baggage Coverage Details

Maximum Baggage Reimbursement
$2,500
Valuable Item Limit
$500
Receipts Required for Valuable items

Travel Guard Insurance Financial Strength

Financial Strength - 3.8 / 5

Although AIG, Travel Guard's parent company, required a federal bailout to survive the economic crisis of 2007–2008, the company has returned to financial stability and is now free from federal oversight. National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, another AIG subsidiary, underwrites Travel Guard's travel insurance policies. National Union has received good marks from all major financial rating agencies, so consumers should be reasonably confident in the financial strength of the companies behind Travel Guard.
Underwriter
National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh
Moody's Financial Rating
A2
AM Best Financial Rating
A

Travel Guard Insurance Price & Reputation

Price & Reputation - 3.8 / 5

Travel Guard has a high rating with the Better Business Bureau but has only a modest number of reviews on the organization's website. It has not been reviewed on TrustPilot.com, yet there are some complaints against the company on various review sites concerning their coverage limitations and demanding claims documentation process. It appears the company's "medical certificate" form requires an examining physician to fill in some 25 different fields in addition to those to be completed by the insured. Naturally, insurers need to verify the medical necessity for canceling a trip, but at some point the paperwork becomes so onerous that the process becomes an impediment to, rather than a facilitator, of honest claims resolution. A number of online reviews of Travel Guard suggest the company may have reached that point.
BBB Rating
A+
Number of BBB Positive Reviews
3
Number of BBB Negative Reviews
17
Date Collected
2018-01-15

Travel Guard Insurance Customer Assistance Services

Extra Benefits - 4.3 / 5

Travel Guard customers can initiate a claim online, but processing requires the completion of paper forms which the company says take 7 to 10 business days to arrive by mail. In this regard, Travel Guard lags behind some of its competitors who send claim forms and other documents electronically. The company does have a mobile app, but it appears to be primarily a way for the company to deliver travel information to its insureds, rather than a full-featured app through which claims can be made and processed.
24/7 Support
Mobile App

Travel Assistance Services

  • Rebooking
  • Lost Passport/Document Assistance
  • Up to the Minute Travel Advisories
  • Roadside Assistance

Emergency Medical Assistance Services

  • Physician Referral
  • Emergency Prescription Replacement

Concierge Assistance Services

  • Restaurant/Event Referral and Reservation
  • Ground Transportation Recommendations
  • Weather Advisories
  • Wireless Device Assistance
  • Plane/Boat Charter Assistance
Display Less
2 More
Homepage URL
http://www.aig.com/travel-guard
Company Phone
(800) 829-5248
Headquarters Address
3300 Business Park Drive, Stevens Point, WI, 54482

Our Comments Policy  |  How to Write an Effective Comment

Leave a comment for AIG Travel Guard Travel Insurance
Minimum 12 words.
 No maximum length.
* What's Your Rating?
To make this comment as helpful as possible for our community, please provide at least 2 sentences.

29 Customer Comments & Reviews

Loading Reviews ...
B
breilly123
3/24/2022
Beware when using travel guard. We traveled with another couple on the same river cruise. Our trip was interrupted. We had the same travel guard insurance. The other couple received $2100. We received $500. They have no good explanation and refuse to make good on our claim. Joanne reilly Hockessin de

C
Cathy
2/13/2022
We bought a policy from AIG when we booked a trip with Travelocity in November 2021. Before canceling or changing my reservation, I called Travelocity and then AIG and couldn’t get any clear info on what is covered with the policy I had lurched at the time of booking ? Neither AIG insurance or Travelocity wanted to help me get basic questions answered. About the “travel insurance policy “. The AIG customer service emailed me 26 page document to read and one would need a lawyer to understand the legal terms in these 26 pages. I under that the claim forms they want filled out, to just to start a claim is ridiculous! They take your money and give you no real “coverage”. I... Read More

finger0305
8/13/2021
Not worth the money we bought it as coverage and had to cancel due to daughters medical issue. booking through the hotel directly would have been easy to cancel. Travel guard now wants a lot of documentation which violates HIPPA laws and is refusing to refund the money. This was added insurance which I paid for to cover this, What a Scam! Check the cancelation policy of the hotel before buying this coverage.

terrnra
7/12/2021
Please do not use this insurance company you will get scammed! I bought a trip package through a third party application, flight was cancelled and couldn't travel. Was not able to get ahold of anyone and when I put in the claim they just denied it and blamed the pandemic, although they had no problem taking my money for a bogus policy. Out quite a bit of money but making sure now I tell as many people as possible, and placing this on as many boards as possible!! Do not use AIG Travel Guard is a waste of money they will not honor the agreement they sell you.

cajunfisherman0505
3/12/2021
Worthless coverage and consider AIG operating in bad faith...purchased for winter ski vacation which got cancelled due to airlines cancelling all flights due to Winter Storm Uri. Filed a claim on this policy due to Trip Cancellation. Claim was denied. AIG STATED THAT WINTER STORM URI WAS NOT CONSIDERED A BLIZZARD THEREFORE NOT COVERED REASON FOR CANCELLATION.

teresabenson2
7/15/2020
Same for me. Mounds of paperwork requested for 4-5 months, my doctor’s report which was very hard to get during COVID shut down, and never would they answer the phone. Finally, this week they refused to compensate for the $1200 airline ticket because United did give me a credit. I desperately need the money. I have lupus and of course will not be traveling until COVID is over. Can they do this.

Chuck D
7/2/2020
Been waiting 3 months for my refund,all I get is a request for more documents.I have spent over 25.00 in postage sending all the documents I have ,but all I get is “under review”. I have dealt with Allianz in the past and they were honest to deal with ...lesson learned ...

P
Paul
6/30/2020
We are very upset that we were not able to receive a refund for insurance we purchased for an April 2020 cruise that was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic due to AIG's 15-day cancellation policy. They did give a voucher good for 2-years, but we would have preferred the refund. The cruise line, airline, and hotel all waived their "policy" and refunded our money. We do not understand how AIG can get to keep our money for doing nothing.

D
Deborah C
6/10/2020
I am disappointed that Travel Guard (AIG company) through Expedia's plan did not allow any future credit for paid travel insurance for trips cancelled due to Covid 19. My Tauck tour insurance was credited towards a future trip which is great. I will never use Travel Guard again as they kept everyone's premiums without giving customers any credit for this unprecedented pandemic. My husband (45 yrs experience in the commercial insurance business) said NEVER use an AIG company for insurance.

N
Nancy
3/26/2020
They won’t answer the phone. When you do get them they won’t answer your questions You will have to get an attorney to handle anything

Our Partner
  • Medical, cancellation, and baggage coverage
  • Travel concierge services with premium plans
  • Emergency evacuation and medical repatriation
  • Offers cancellation coverage due to terrorism and natural disasters
READ FULL REVIEW >
GET QUOTES

Related to Travel Insurance

Top Articles
Suggested Comparisons