Elizabeth Rivelli has nearly five years of experience covering insurance for finance publications. She has expertise in various insurance lines, including car insurance, health insurance, travel insurance, life insurance and others. In her writing, s.
Elizabeth Rivelli Insurance WriterElizabeth Rivelli has nearly five years of experience covering insurance for finance publications. She has expertise in various insurance lines, including car insurance, health insurance, travel insurance, life insurance and others. In her writing, s.
Written By Elizabeth Rivelli Insurance WriterElizabeth Rivelli has nearly five years of experience covering insurance for finance publications. She has expertise in various insurance lines, including car insurance, health insurance, travel insurance, life insurance and others. In her writing, s.
Elizabeth Rivelli Insurance WriterElizabeth Rivelli has nearly five years of experience covering insurance for finance publications. She has expertise in various insurance lines, including car insurance, health insurance, travel insurance, life insurance and others. In her writing, s.
Insurance Writer Michelle Megna Lead Editor, InsuranceMichelle is a lead editor at Forbes Advisor. She has been a journalist for over 35 years, writing about insurance for consumers for the last decade. Prior to covering insurance, Michelle was a lifestyle reporter at the New York Daily News, a magazine.
Michelle Megna Lead Editor, InsuranceMichelle is a lead editor at Forbes Advisor. She has been a journalist for over 35 years, writing about insurance for consumers for the last decade. Prior to covering insurance, Michelle was a lifestyle reporter at the New York Daily News, a magazine.
Michelle Megna Lead Editor, InsuranceMichelle is a lead editor at Forbes Advisor. She has been a journalist for over 35 years, writing about insurance for consumers for the last decade. Prior to covering insurance, Michelle was a lifestyle reporter at the New York Daily News, a magazine.
Michelle Megna Lead Editor, InsuranceMichelle is a lead editor at Forbes Advisor. She has been a journalist for over 35 years, writing about insurance for consumers for the last decade. Prior to covering insurance, Michelle was a lifestyle reporter at the New York Daily News, a magazine.
| Lead Editor, Insurance
Updated: Aug 30, 2024, 11:09am
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AAA offers travel insurance policies in partnership with Allianz. The more robust policies include coverage for a missed port of call and free coverage for children under age 17. AAA travel insurance can be a good option for AAA members who want standard travel insurance benefits and who get other travel-related membership benefits, such as special vacation packages and hotel discounts.
AAA sells travel insurance policies that are suitable for a wide range of budgets, trip types and coverage needs. All of AAA’s travel insurance plans are offered in partnership with Allianz Travel, a reputable travel insurance company with an A+ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best.
The types of AAA travel insurance policies available to you will depend on where you live and your trip details, but four policies are offered in many states.
Trip cancellation 100% of insured trip cost 100% of insured trip cost 100% of insured trip cost Trip interruption 150% of insured trip cost 150% of insured trip cost 150% of insured trip cost Emergency medical expense Medical evacuation Travel delay $1,600 max/$200 per day after three-hour delay $800 max/$100 per day after four-hour delay $800 max/$100 per day after four-hour delay Baggage and personal effects Baggage delay $600 after 12-hour delay $300 after 12-hour delay $300 after 12-hour delay “Cancel for any reason” “Cancel any time” 80% of insured trip cost Missed port of call per person Pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver available Vehicle return See More See LessThe main difference between the Select and Deluxe plans is the coverage limits. The AAA TripProtect Deluxe plan is the most robust policy among AAA’s offerings. It includes the same coverage types as the Select plan. But the limits are twice as high for most benefits—it’s three times as high for medical expenses. The Deluxe plan provides $75,000 in travel medical expense coverage, while the Select plan provides $25,000.
In addition to core coverage types, both policies provide modest compensation for:
Other benefits of both plans include:
AAA’s TripProtect Cancel Anytime plan is identical to the TripProtect Select plan, with the same coverage types and policy limits.
The only difference is that this plan includes “cancel anytime” benefits: If you cancel your trip for almost any reason that the base policy doesn’t cover, you can get reimbursed for up to 80% of your nonrefundable trip costs. Read your policy for “cancel anytime” exclusions, which can include terrorist events and travel alerts issued by a government or public authority.
AAA offers the Rental Car Damage Protector as a stand-alone policy but also as an add-on that can be purchased when you buy any other policy.
This policy provides:
There is also a variety of benefits available exclusively for AAA members.
AAA members get access to special vacation and cruise packages. You can work with a dedicated AAA travel consultant to book your trip and plan excursions. There are also members-only discounts on car rentals and hotels, as well as dining and entertainment during your vacations.
In addition, AAA provides services you might need before your trip, like passport photos, visa services and help getting international driving permits. AAA also offers a reloadable prepaid credit card that can be used instead of cash when traveling abroad.
A TripProtect Deluxe policy costs $356 for two travelers, age 40 going to Italy for 17 days with a total trip cost of $6,000. It’s $280 for a TripProtect Select policy.
The average cost of travel insurance is 4% to 6% of your trip costs, based on our analysis of travel insurance rates.
The types of AAA travel insurance policies offered to you will depend on where you live. AAA travel insurance products and member benefits can vary by state.
Still, AAA’s travel insurance policies generally provide the following types of coverage that can help you recoup the non-refundable money you’ve laid out for a trip if the unexpected happens. The medical insurance within AAA policies is also very important, especially if you’re traveling outside the U.S.
Trip cancellation coverage: Trip cancellation insurance reimburses you for prepaid, nonrefundable expenses—for example, hotel stays, flights and excursions—if you cancel your trip because of a problem that’s listed in the policy.
Travel medical insurance: This pays for emergency medical and dental expenses if you get sick or injured during your trip. Some of the costs that travel medical insurance can compensate you for include hospital bills, lab work and prescription medication, up to the policy’s medical coverage limit.
Emergency medical evacuation: If you need a high level of emergency care, emergency medical evacuation insurance pays for transportation to the nearest hospital that can treat your condition. If this happens, AAA’s travel agents will coordinate the transportation for you.
Travel delay insurance: Travel delay insurance pays for temporary accommodations if your trip gets delayed due to a problem listed in the policy. For example, if your flight gets delayed until the next day, your insurance will pay for a hotel room and meals, up to the plan’s coverage limit. Travel delay insurance also reimburses you for prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses for missed portions of your trip. Note that required waiting periods apply to travel delay benefits.
Travel interruption insurance: If something happens during your trip and you need to leave early, trip interruption insurance can pay for your transportation home, such as a last-minute flight. It also compensates you for money lost on nonrefundable expenses for the part of your trip you miss.
Baggage and personal effects: If your luggage is damaged, lost or stolen, baggage insurance can pay you the depreciated value of your suitcases and the items you packed. If your baggage is delayed for the specified amount of time listed in your policy, baggage delay insurance can pay for the essentials you need before your baggage arrives, such as toiletries and clothing. Baggage insurance also provides coverage for your personal items that get damaged or stolen during your trip.
Here are examples of exclusions for AAA’s TripProtect Deluxe policy:
Every travel insurance plan has some exclusions. Before you take off, it’s a good idea to review your policy details to understand what isn’t covered.
The best AAA travel insurance plan depends on your coverage needs and your budget.
Both the Deluxe and Select plans provide benefits for missed ports of call and for itinerary changes for river cruises affected by water levels. If you want higher baggage and travel delay benefits, opt for the Deluxe policy.
The TripProtect Deluxe plan is a good fit for international travel because it has the highest medical expense limits ($75,000) of AAA’s offerings. It’s also worth considering if you want the highest coverage limits across the board.
If you experience a problem while traveling that’s covered by the policy, you can file a claim with Allianz Global for reimbursement. You can start the claim process online by emailing claimsinquiry@allianzassistance.com. You can also call the claims department at (888) 497-6992 or (800) 334-7525 to file a claim over the phone.
You’ll be asked to provide your policy number and a detailed summary of what happened and how much you want reimbursed. You will also need proof of your claim. This might include:
After submitting your claim, Allianz Global will take at least 10 business days to review the incident. If the claims examiner needs more information, they’ll send you an email with a formal request for additional documentation.
If you want to check on a claim, you can check the status online by entering your claim number, or you can call the claims department.
The cost of AAA’s TripProtect Deluxe plan is in line with some competitors for our example traveler profile, and offers similar benefits.
AAA’s plan has higher benefit limits for trip delays and baggage compared to Travel Insured International’s Worldwide Trip Protector plan. But Travel Insured’s policy has higher medical expense limits. The price for the TripProtect Deluxe policy is about $20 less than the Worldwide Trip Protector plan.
