Generali Global Assistance Travel Insurance Review 2023

It is critical that you always carry a solid insurance policy with you, especially in the backdrop of the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. Trip cancellations, loss of travel luggage, the need for medical assistance in a foreign country, and more – all of these are events that require extensive coverage. 

Known for its excellently balanced coverage, Generali Global Assistance is a favored choice among sports travelers and those visiting relatively more high-risk countries. In our Generali Global Assistance reviews, we will be providing an in-depth analysis of this insurance company, including its services, pricing, pros and cons, customer satisfaction, how it fares against competitors, and more. Continue reading. 

About the Company 

Originally known as CSA Travel Protection, Generali Global Assistance Travel Insurance was founded in 1991 in San Diego, CA. In 2008, it got renamed to Generali Global Assistance Travel Insurance after being wholly-acquired by the Italian-based Insurance giant Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. 

A particular hallmark of the insurance company has been its incredible financial strength, assessed as ‘excellent’ by numerous credit rating agencies such as A.M Ratings. Overwhelmingly positive customer ratings are another aspect the underwriter can boast on.  

How We Reviewed 

In our assessment of the insurance company, we made use of both our own independent research as well as Generali Global Assistance travel insurance ratings and reviews given by customers on major review sites including BBB, Trustpilot, and ConsumerAffairs

We checked out their website and app and noted down their quality in terms of features, responsiveness, and user-friendliness. We also contacted their customer service and judged their response time and quality. 

We looked into their coverage policies on offer, their pricing, and discounts (if any), and assessed how their service fared against that of competitors in the market.  We delved into the past financial records of the company in evaluating their outlook. 

Where Is It Available? 

Following its acquisition by S.p.A, the company received a major boost in its global presence, with its service being offered in over 60 countries. It is also licensed to operate in all states plus D.C. 

Contact details (Generali Global Assistance North America)

Phone: 800-874-2442

Email: Cu[email protected] 

Main Address: 4181 Ruffin Rd #150
San Diego, CA 92123

Generali Global Assistance Travel Insurance Review 

In the 25 years since its inception, Generali Global Assistance has certainly come to establish itself as an industry leader. 

The company features a very simplified business model, offering just three travel insurance plans – Standard, Preferred, and Premium. A brief overview of each is presented below. 

Standard   

The most basic travel protection plan offered by the company. This plan will provide you coverage for trip cancellation, trip interruption, delayed luggage, emergency medical treatment and evacuation, repatriation of remains, as well as 24/7 travel assistance. In addition, coverage for Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) for flight-related accidents is also included.  

Medical and dental expenses are covered up to $50,000 per person, and emergency evacuation and transport are covered up to $250,000 per person. 

Delayed baggage insurance is covered up to $200 per person, and for lost baggage, it is up to $1000 per person. AD&D coverage is up to $100,000 per plan.     

Preferred 

This mid-tier plan covers everything listed above plus extends AD&D coverage to all travel-related accidents. It also raises the coverage you get by adding additional coverage up to $1,500 per person for sporting equipment and up to $300 per person for sporting equipment delay. 

Medical and dental expenses are covered up to $150,000 per person, and emergency evacuation and transport are covered up to $500,000 per person. Delayed baggage insurance is covered up to $200 per person, and for lost baggage, it is up to $1500 per person.      

Premium  

Being the most expensive plan, it provides the greatest amount of coverage. It includes everything listed in the previous plan plus $25,000 in rental car damage per person as well as coverage for pre-existing medical conditions. You also have the option to avail a ‘Cancel For Any Reason’ add-on, which reimburses you 75% of any insured trip cost. 

Medical and dental expenses are covered up to $250,000 per person, and emergency evacuation and transport are covered up to $1,000,000 per person. Delayed baggage insurance is covered up to $200 per person, and for lost baggage, it is up to $2000 per person.      

As of the latest, the company has stated that all their plans do provide coverage, if you, a family member, or a traveling companion contracts COVID-19, subject to the meeting of the plan’s requirements. It should also be noted that the company currently doesn’t offer any annual travel insurance plan. 

 

What is Excluded?

While their plans are certainly comprehensive, there are certain situations for which coverage isn’t provided. These situations include: 

Self-harm

As per Generali Global Assistance policy, they will not cover any loss borne as a result of suicide, attempted suicide, or self-inflicted injury. 

Certain Sports

Any injuries sustained from extreme or organized sports, e.g., amateur competitions, martial arts, parasailing, free climbing, are not covered.   

Customs Confiscated Items

The company owes no responsibility towards the insured for any Items confiscated or broken at the customs. 

Intoxication

Any loss caused (directly or indirectly) by the insured while they were intoxicated will not be covered. An exception includes intoxication as a result of medical prescriptions. 

Known Events 

Any loss as a result of what was a (reasonably) foreseeable event when purchasing the trip insurance is not covered.

Travel Insurance Pricing 

Generali Travel Insurance’s quote calculator is one notable aspect of their excellent service. The entire process only took a few seconds from our side. With that said, to provide a reference point for properly assessing the cost of their insurance, here are their prices for a month trip to Hawaii from Texas for a single 35-year plan (trip cost $8000). 

Standard Plan – $255

Preferred – $295 

Premium – $340

 

On average, their prices for trips insured on a Preferred plan were 15-17% more expensive compared to the Standard Plan. Meanwhile, the purchase of their Premium plan was 28-34% more expensive compared to standard.  

Refund Policy

You have a 10-day review period to cancel the subscription, should you buy their plan but decide to change your mind afterward. Generali travel insurance refunds you the full amount. 

 

Customer Satisfaction and Financial strength review

The travel insurance service has had a near-global high rating across major customer review sites. On ConsumerAffairs, the company has been given an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars based on 317 votes. On Insuremytrip.com, the ratings are equally stellar, with it receiving an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars based on 12,465 votes. However, on Trustpilot, the service received a more negative rating of 2.5 out of 5 stars, but this was based on only 4 submitted reviews. 

Good customer service, fast claim processing, and easy enrollment are positive aspects frequently highlighted by customers. The negative reviews included issues with cancellation and the exemption of certain losses in the coverage policy. 

As of now, the Better Business Bureau has to provide Generali Global Assistance’s BBB ratings. Backed by one of the world’s biggest insurance companies, the travel insurer carries tremendous financial strength as further accredited by Generali Global Assistance’s AM Best rating of A (Excellent) and. The company has managed to maintain this rating since at least 2013. 

Customer Support 

Generali Global Assistance’s customer service is noted to be overall excellent, although, as judged by reviews, recent experiences with them have not been the best. However, it may be temporary because of issues relating to the current pandemic. 

Their customer service is available 24/7 and can be reached either through phone or email. Surprisingly, dedicated chat support is found missing. For emergency assistance, the company also provides a dedicated toll-free number (877-243-4135), continuously open year-round, even on holidays. Their customer support is known to be responsive to reviews, so that is another channel through which you can get in touch with them.   

We found their customer service reps to be highly courteous and professional, in our experience with one of their customer support representatives. They were able to satisfactorily answer most of our queries. When it came to contacting through email, the overall answer quality was similar, but the response time took two days. 

In case you don’t want to reach out to a customer representative for any general queries, a lot of helpful resources are available on their website. The site has dedicated FAQ sections, and the answers provided tend to be quite concise and to the point.  

Ease of Buying 

Buying insurance from the company is fairly easy. Simply enter your basic travel details on the quote calculator, and it will show you the pricing for each plan. Review and select your desired plan, add any add-ons options you want, and note the final price. 

Then proceed by clicking the buy [plan] button and enter the name and information of each traveler you want to be insured. Designate the “Primary Traveler” (policyholder to whom all correspondence will be sent), enter your payment information, and make your purchase. Payment can be made through your debit/credit card or through net banking. A policy confirmation letter with your Description of Coverage is sent to you through mail or email shortly afterward. 

Claims Handling 

Claims can be filed by visiting Generali Global Assistance’s claims e-portal. Log in with your provided credentials and enter your policy number to file your claim. Alternatively, there is also the option to send the claim through the mail.

In addition to your claim submission, you may be requested to provide supporting documentation in order to prove your loss. What documents would be required would be detailed on the portal. You can send the documents directly to the company via the portal as a scanned copy or a high-quality photo. 

While the company’s website does a great job of giving a detailed walkthrough on how to file a claim, if you do run into an issue or need any query resolved, you can get in touch with their claims department at 1-800-541-3522 or email [email protected]. 

Once filed, you will be assigned to a dedicated claims team member to manage your claim from start to finish, and you can monitor the status of your claim through the online portal. 

Comparison With Competitors

Travelex Vs. Generali Global Assistance

Travelex is another, better-known travel insurance that, like Generali Global Assistance, is also backed by a major insurance powerhouse and features stellar reviews. 

Compared to Generali, Travelex has an advantage in experience, as it has been around for twice as much time as the former. Where Generali shines in simplicity, Travelex can boast of versatility, offering highly customized travel insurance packages.  

With that said, value-wise, Generali may stand out as a better option, offering much more coverage for the price. Overall, choose Travelex if you’re after a flexible insurance package and choose Generali if you want a well-balanced travel insurance plan.