Generali Global Assistance has everything that any discerning traveler would expect of one of the best travel insurance companies in the US. Formerly known as CSA Travel Protection, Generali has more than 27 years of direct travel insurance experience during which it has built a strong reputation for outstanding customer service. As part of the Assicurazioni Generali Group - one of the largest insurance companies in the world - and of The Europ Assistance Group, who pioneered the travel assistance industry in 1963, Generali services millions of customers each year via its vast global network. Some 4,700 assistance agents are employed around the world covering 208 countries, with around 425,000 service providers on call 24/7 to help solve the problems that customers might have.
Generali Global Assistance Review: Plan options
Looking to cater to the varying needs of different types of traveler, Generali offers three plan options - Premium, Preferred and Standard. At the most basic level, the Standard plan is aimed primarily at those traveling within the US, including flights, road trips and vacation rentals, and includes coverage for trip cancellation, interruption, baggage, medical and dental coverage, and more. The 24/7 assistance services also means that help should never be too far away. The next step up is the Preferred plan, which offers everything that is available under the Standard plan, but also includes more specific coverage for sporting equipment, making it the plan you will need for ski, golf, and hiking trips, international travel and more.
The top tier of travel insurance offered by Generali is the Premium plan, which is aimed at covering more expensive travel, such as cruises and tours. Premium offers the highest available benefit limits, including enhanced coverage for certain types of emergency, and will also be the plan that you need to take out if you have any pre-existing medical conditions to take into consideration. Premium is also the only option that usually provides cover if you need to cancel your trip for any reason (to 75% of the cost), but this is temporarily unavailable due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Regardless of the plan option you choose, 100% of your trip is insured for cancellation and round-the-clock emergency assistance is always available. Above and beyond what most travel insurance companies provide, identity theft resolution services are included across all plans, in case your identity is compromised on vacation, while cover for rental car damage is included in the Premium plan and available as an add-on on the other two.
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Premium | Preferred | Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trip cancellation | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Trip interruption | 175% | 150% | 125% |
| Travel delay | $1,000, max $300 daily | $1,000, max $200 daily | $1,000, max $150 daily |
| Baggage | $2,000 | $1,500 | $1,000 |
| Sporting equipment | $2,000 | $1,500 | - |
| Baggage delay | $500 | $300 | $200 |
| Missed connection | $1,000 | $750 | $500 |
| Medical & dental | $250,000 | $150,000 | $50,000 |
| Emergency assistance & transportation | $1,000,000 | $500,000 | $250,000 |
| Accidental death & dismemberment - air flight | $100,000 | $75,000 | $50,0000 |
| Accidental death & dismemberment - travel accident | $50,000 | $25,000 | - |
Generali Global Assistance Review: What to expect
The Generali website is as straightforward and informative as any travel insurance website could be. Details of all the plans are laid out side-by-side, while the quotation process will give you a price for each plan simultaneously based on the usual details, such as size of party, age, destination, travel dates, and so on. Before you purchase, you can download a sample contract with all the plan details, what is covered and what your responsibilities are if you need to make a claim. Once you've signed up, you can log in to see your policy details and make changes.
The Travel Resources section hosts numerous articles focusing on all aspects of travel, and not just travel insurance, ranging from where to find the best food and drink in Italy to tips on how to learn a new language quickly. The FAQ section is also stacked full of helpful answers to every conceivable query, while there is a dedicated and easily found coronavirus advisory page that is regularly updated with Generali's latest stance on the situation.
If you're unsure of anything, but want to get some cover in place straight away, Generali offers a "free look period" which, for most states of residence, allows a plan to be cancelled within 10 days of being purchased if you decide that it doesn't suit your needs. Note, however, that you can only cancel this way if you have not filed a claim, or left on your trip.
With Generali having recently been rated #3 in Newsweek's 2020 list of America's Best Customer Service, it is unlikely you will be disappointed anyway. A highly impressive average customer rating of 4.58 stars out of five is awarded on InsureMyTrip.com, while in terms of the ability to meet its obligations to policyholders, Generali receives an A from A.M. Best ratings for financial strength, which equates to Excellent.
Generali Global Assistance Review: Coverage
Generali usually offers some excellent value for the price that you pay. As with most travel insurances, prices were most likely to vary by the age of travelers rather than location or state of residence, but overall, Generali's prices ran below average next to comparable plans. What's more, as well often costing less, the coverage on offer through Generali usually bettered that available elsewhere too. Of particular note is the lost luggage reimbursement, while the trip delay and missed connection compensations run higher than most plans as well.
Regardless of the plan option you choose, 100% of your trip is insured for cancellation and round-the-clock emergency assistance is always available. Above and beyond what most travel insurance companies provide, identity theft resolution services are included across all plans, in case your identity is compromised on vacation, while cover for rental car damage is included in the Premium plan and available as an add-on on the other two.
Cancellation and interruption coverage
The cancellation compensations were comparable to other agencies, plus Generali offers reimbursement if you have to cancel your trip because your carrier or tour agency declares financial default. The Cancel for Any Reason provision that is normally available on the Premium plan is also something that not all travel insurers will offer. Compensation for missed connections, lost luggage and expenses incurred from delayed luggage are higher than most, making it a strong choice if you have a lot of connections that may increase the chance of your luggage making a side trip to another city. It does not arrange for non-medical evacuation, but will reimburse you for those costs.
Medical coverage
The medical coverage available through Generali is higher than most other trip insurances, particularly in relation to pure medical expense compensation and emergency medical evacuation. If you are planning a potentially dangerous adventure, going to a remote area or have another reason to expect that a medical emergency may get expensive, this insurance is worth considering. It also has a long pre-existing condition waiver of 180 days.
Generali covers lost or stolen prescription medications, and also has in-network doctors around the world, so that if you fall ill and can be seen by one of its network physicians, it pays the expenses immediately. For nearly every other instance, it reimburses you after you have made claims with your regular health insurance and received what you can from it.
Generali Global Assistance Review: Making a claim
Claims can be initiated online through the e-Claims portal or via a phone call to the claims department - calls are returned within one business day, if not on the same day that they are received. The website also lists an email address, mailing address and fax number all relating specifically to claims that could also be used if you so wish.
While claims must be submitted within one year, policyholders are advised to submit them as soon as possible to ensure a speedy resolution - under normal circumstances, the review process can take up to 30 days, although at present, Generali says that a high volume of inquiries means it could take longer. You will be assigned a dedicated representative to see the process through from start to finish, while the status of any claim can be monitored using the online portal.
On the downside, Generali perhaps lists more requirements for filing claims than most insurance agencies do. For example, it asks you to agree to be examined by one of its doctors if filing a claim for medical reasons. The list of documents required to make a claim can be found on the website, along with instructions to assist in filing.
Should you choose Generali travel insurance?
Generali Global Assistance is an excellent travel insurance service, with cheaper-than-average prices, and often better-than-average coverage. The website is accessible and should have all the information that you need, while the customer service is among the best you are likely to find. While the claims process might be slightly more stringent than other travel insurance companies, the requirements are clearly laid out at the start. Ultimately, if your travel plans arouse any concern in relation to luggage loss or delays, or the high cost of medical care and evacuation, Generali offers one of the best life insurance services that there is.
