Access America Travel Insurance
Editor Review
The Good: Many plans to choose from cover every type of trip and traveler, very consumer friendly; Simple, easy-to-use website for quoting and buying; Only a 7 Day wait for financial default coverage. The Drawbacks: Variety of plans can be confusing; not available for quoting with all comparison sites. The Bottom Line: Access America is a very “consumer friendly” company with an easy-to-use site that’s light on insurance speak. They have a plan for every need, and their specialty plans are truly unique in the travel insurance industry. Where to Buy Access America Travel Insurance:1. Buy direct from the company- Get a quote and purchase directly from the Access America website. 2. Compare Quotes from all companies- If you are still undecided but would like to start with some quotes, the best way is to use a comparison website (similar to using Expedia or Travelocity for airline tickets). There are several, but we recommend a comparison site called Squaremouth.com to get instant quotes and purchase online. Squaremouth.com only works with reputable companies, and you can get instant quotes and purchase instantly online with a credit card. |
| Company Name |
Access America |
| Website |
http://www.accessamerica.com/ |
| AM Best Rating |
A (some states with different underwriter have A-) |
| US Travel Insurance Association Member |
Yes |
| Refund Policy |
10 Day Free Look |
| 24/7 Emergency Assistance |
Yes |
| Plans offered by Access America |
Access America Basic |
| Address/Phone/Fax/Email |
Access America P.O. Box 71533 Richmond, VA 23286-4684 1-800-284-8300 1-800-346-9265 Fax (Customer Service Inquiries) 1-804-673-1469 Fax (Claim Inquiries) |
| Policyholder Questions | 1-800-284-8300 |
| Travel Assistance/Emergencies |
1-800-284-8300 |
More about Access America Travel Insurance
Access America is a long-established travel insurance company providing several plans that fit the needs of most types of traveler. They have grouped their different plans into 3 categories: Standard Plans, Single Trip Plans, and Multi-Trip Plans. Most traveler’s needs will be satisfied by the Standard plans, which are offered as Basic, Classic, and Deluxe. Each of these plans provide the basic travel insurance that most travelers are seeking, and the coverage and benefits increase with each level.
Access America’s other 2 groups of policies are focused on unique needs. The Single Trip plans include pland for last minute trips, rental car damage, and driving-only trips. Their other category, Multi-Trip Plan, include plans for business travelers, medical evacuation plans, and annual plans for frequent year-round travelers.
Company Information-Access America is the travel insurance brand of World Access Service Corp. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, World Access was founded in 1983 with a mission to provide access to American-style healthcare to those traveling abroad.
World Access is a company of the Mondial Assistance Group, a global provider of travel insurance and assistance with offices in 28 countries. Mondial Assistance is owned by Allianz, the world’s largest insurance company (Fortune).
Access America Travel Insurance plans
Standard Plans
Access America has designed these plans for the everyday traveler. These will cover most types of trips and travelers, from the family taking a 2-week vacation in Europe to that Napa Valley honeymoon you’ve been looking forward to. The standard plans include Basic, Classic, and Deluxe.
Access America Basic- This trip insurance plan provides essential coverage and assistance for anyone who wants to protect their vacation at an affordable price. For first-time buyers or those on a budget, the Access America Basic Plan provides excellent protection and peace of mind.
Access America Classic- Protect your vacation memories with Classic - travel insurance and assistance services for everyday domestic and international travel, including cruises and tours. This plan has higher coverage limits than Basic, making it a better plan at an accordingly higher price.
Access America Deluxe- Deluxe is “first-class” travel insurance and assistance for your luxury vacation. This coverage is more expensive, but it provides higher coverage amounts, and even some additional coverages. Deluxe features primary emergency medical coverage, rental car damage protection, coverage for business-related issues, and personal concierge services.
Single Trip Plans
Access America has designed these plans for unique travel situations where a Standard plan does not fit. These plans include a last-minute-trip policy, an insurance policy specifically for rental car damage, and a plan for those taking a trip by car.
QuickTrip Protector- This is a specialty plan for those leaving on a moments notice. Since a cancellation isn’t a factor, they have removed it from the plan. It does cover trip interruption, medical emergencies, baggage, and delays, and provides the standard 24/7 emergency assistance service.
Rental Car Damage Protector- This is a very unique plan to Access America. It simply provides coverage for collission or loss to a rental car. You could rely on your personal auto insurance to cover your rental car, but most travelers don’t want to file a claim and risk a rate increase. Rental Car Damage Protector is an affordable alternative for primary collision/loss damage, and it is much cheaper than the coverage the rental company offers at the counter.
Drive Protection- Another unique plan to Access America, this plan provides coverage and benefits specific to travelers taking a driving vacation. Most people think of air travel when they think of travel insurance, but this plan offers coverage for interruption, emergency medical, travel accidents, vehicle return if in an accident, trip inconvenience for auto insurance deductibles, and roadside assistance.
Multi-Trip Plans
If you are a traveler taking several trips throughout the year, you might want to consider an annual travel insurance plan, or Multi-Trip plan. These are designed for up to 12 months of coverage, and are targeted at everyone from the road-warrior business traveler to the frequently voyaging retirees.
Annual Business Traveler Protection- This package of plans is made for frequent business travelers and is priced on an annual basis. It provides the standard travel insurance coverages, and includes business-specific risks such as business equipment loss/rental, international assistance services, and change fee coverage for last minute travel plan changes. The business plans are offered in different varieties for different needs, including Executive, Long Haul, Road Warrior, and Essential.
Med Evac- A medical evacuation seems unlikely but even a broken leg in a remote destination or a heart attack on a cruise ship might require one. Evacuations may cost tens of thousands of dollars and they must be paid in advance. This plan provides $1,000,000 for emergency medical transportation, and a full host of Access America’s “soft” benefits such as 24/7 assistance, concierge, and travel arrangements after evacuation. This is offered in 3, 6, or 12 month coverage.
Annual Travel Protection- If you know you’ll be taking multiple trips this year, consider Annual coverage. This is designed for the everyday traveler, and provides the standard coverage for cancellation interruption, baggage, medical emergencies, evacuations, flight insurance, and rental car damage.
Where to Buy Access America Travel Insurance:
1. Buy direct from the company- Get a quote and purchase directly from the Access America website.
2. Compare Quotes from all companies- If you are still undecided but would like to start with some quotes, the best way is to use a comparison website (similar to using Expedia or Travelocity for airline tickets). There are several, but we recommend a comparison site called Squaremouth.com to get instant quotes and purchase online. Squaremouth.com only works with reputable companies, and you can get instant quotes and purchase instantly online with a credit card.
Screenshots of Access America Website
Where to Buy Access America Travel Insurance:
1. Buy direct from the company- Get a quote and purchase directly from the Access America website.
2. Compare Quotes from all companies- If you are still undecided but would like to start with some quotes, the best way is to use a comparison website (similar to using Expedia or Travelocity for airline tickets). There are several, but we recommend a comparison site called Squaremouth.com to get instant quotes and purchase online. Squaremouth.com only works with reputable companies, and you can get instant quotes and purchase instantly online with a credit card.
larry harpoer | Nov 24, 2008
THIS COMPANY IS A FRAUD. HAD UN-EXPECTED MAJOR BACK SURGERY 3 DAYS PRIOR TO TRIP & THEY REJECTED CLAIM BECAUSE I HAD SEEN THE DOCTOR BEFORE. THEY CLAIMED …PRE-EXISTING CONDITION.
ACCESS AMERICA…B I G F R A U D
Jeff Davidson | Dec 17, 2008
I submitted a claim for reimbursement for airline tickets that were unused due to my Mother’s death–they asked for a death certificate, the same certificate that has been give to Social Security, banks, etc.–they would not accept because the certifying physician did not list “the onset to death” on the certificate–therefore they will not pay. I told them that I WOULD NOT go back to the physician for this as it is rediculous and painful for me to even deal with–they said they would not pay the $400 claim without it.
Shameful–the company is a fraud!
deepa | Feb 27, 2009
I have sold quite a few policies with them so i can tell you that if you ever have a client with a claim, they just turn it down. They absolutely refuse and will give you a different reason everytime you speak with a different rep. Dont buy. They should be reported to Insurance fraud department.
valerie joseph | Mar 2, 2009
they are leaches!!! just as the other items below, they denied my claim because of a previous condition! my mother died a little over a month ago. she was receiving treatment for leukemia and was getting beaten up by the chemo but, all her vitals were stable and she was hanging tough. i had purchased a ticket to go see her on january 19th for the following month and was looking forward to my visit. unfortunately, i got a call from my family 2 days later to get home immediately as she took a major turn for the worse. they said because the death certificate said she had certain symptoms before she died that it was pre-existing and couldn’t pay out. then they started asking for all sorts of other info about her doctors and who they might contact making it seem like they gave a crap. like i’m going to lie about my mother’s death!! i will NEVER use their service again, even if it costs me thousands of dollars in future airfare. they are leaches!!!
STEPHEN CALVERT | Mar 4, 2009
My claim was denied. The adjuster determined that the fact that we were in the worst natural disater in our state’s history (ice Storm) and our home was without power, heat, water and I had to run a generator to protect our food etc., that this fact did not make my home “uninhabitable” as defined in the policy.
jen | Mar 15, 2009
AWFUL!!!! My dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer a month after we booked our trip and it took MONTHS of phone calls and documents for us to reclaim the money, just shortly before he passed away. The customer “service” was horrendous. I WILL NEVER EVER EVER use this company again.
DL | Mar 25, 2009
DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THIS SLIME COMPANY!!
I HAD PURCHASED TICKETS FOR MY SON AND TWO COUSINS. MY SON’S WIFE DEVELOPED A MEDICAL CONDITION THAT FORCED THEM TO CANCEL THEIR TRIP. I PAID FOR BOTH THE TICKETS, AND THE INSURANCE WITH A CREDIT CARD. AFTER JUMPING THROUGH MORE HOOPS THAN A CIRCUS CLOWN, THEY FINALLY ISSUED REFUND CHECKS. NOT TO ME BUT, TO THE PEOPLE WHO I PURCHASED THE TICKETS FOR.
SINCE TWO OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAD TICKETS HAVE MOVED ON AND WE HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THEY ARE, I CALLED AND ASKED FOR A CHECK TO BE WRITTEN IN MY NAME SINCE I AM THE ONE WHO PAID FOR THE TICKETS AND THE INSURANCE. THEY REFUSED. SO THE CHECKS I RECEIVED ARE WORTHLESS.
Tamara Janssens | Mar 28, 2009
I find this company to be bogus. I thought I would try them again after my mother told me how difficult they are to deal with. She was completely right. They do not cover pre existing conditions. I asked the advisor numerous times about this and she said this will cover it. Now that I filed a claim, they do not cover the pre existing condtion.
Jim Zorn | Mar 30, 2009
Very Poor! Supplied all the information they requested and they sent me a statement via U.S. Mail saying that I didn’t supply the required information and they subsequently closed my account. DO NOT get this service because it’s a SCAM!
Dennis B | Apr 6, 2009
I have been in the travel business for 17 years now and using Access America since 2001 when I heard about them. I have only had 1 claim denied because the guest lied about their pre-existing condition. All our clients get a 10 day look at the policy and can cancel with a full full refund if they think it doesn’t suit them.
A $4000.00 trip for seniors in their 80’s is $360.00. Hard to beat and it includes, pre-existing coverage and 1-million in emergency evacuation. Hard to beat.
Robert Flindell | Apr 13, 2009
I booked my daughter’s holiday visit thru Orbitz who use Access America as their supplier of trip insurance.
My daughter’s Boxing Day flight out of Victoria to Vancouver was canceled due to a snow storm. Air Canada’s first available rebooking was 5 days later and it required an extra day layover in San Salvador so we were looking at a 6 day interruption on a 16 day vacation. I went online and found flights for the next day on American Airlines thru Seattle. We had trip interruption & cancellation insurance so they would cover us for the difference right? Well I got my daughter to call Access America to double check (I couldn’t call because Access America doesn’t accept collect calls from Belize) and they told her “no problem”. I booked the flights & got my daughter to cancel the rebooks. I also went to Access America’s website & initiated a travel claim.
The net cost to us for the flight changes totaled $536US but Access America is refusing to pay. In the fine print of their insurance policy under cancellations due to weather it states “Your airline, cruise line, or tour operator or travel supplier stops offering all services for at least 24 consecutive hours where you’re departing, arriving or making a connection…”
So it does not matter that Air Canada couldn’t fly between Victoria & Vancouver for 2 days or they couldn’t get us replacement flights until 5 days later, as long as they could make one flight to Timbuktu, we aren’t getting reimbursed.
InAccessible America, besides not having a collect number from Belize, have a claims appeal department that appears to be blocking my email and a claims inquiry department that manages to lose email attachments.
Maribel | Apr 22, 2009
I AM COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY DISGUSTED WITH THIS SORRY EXCUSE FOR AN INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEIR INSENSITIVITY TO ANY GIVEN SITUATION.
Access America would not accept my claim because they did not know the cause of death. After explaining the cause to the representative they still needed an incalculable amount of details, all of which were hard for me to deal with and given the situation I thought it was not worth it. To me I was better off forgetting the $2000.00 reimbursement. This is the maximum amount of reimbursement they would give me, even though my travel expenses were nowhere NEAR this amount. I spend more than $2000.00 traveling with my family every time, given I have a very large family.
My sister had passed away at the age of 49. Nobody expected her to die. As painful as this was, dealing with this poor excuse for an insurance company was more painful. This hit my family hard and the fact that this company kept prying and wanting more details is simply sickening. It was not enough that I sent them the death certificate, they still needed more. Their needs are insatiable and they look for reasons, whatever they may be, not to pay your claim. I will never use their services again and I DO NOT recommend anybody else does.
I spoke to multiple representatives. They were very rude and extremely insensitive. No matter how many travel invoices I sent them it wasn’t enough.
Ona Turner | May 18, 2009
I would not recommend this company to anyone.
I would rate it VERY POOR.
I was flying home to be with my mother following Major Surgery her surgery date was postponed so I had to reschedule and Access America refuses to pay the flight cost difference because her condition was pre-exisiting.
I was denied coverage. What a SHAM !!
matiu | May 30, 2009
r6IZio my best site http://horror.com
Paola Dooly | Jun 4, 2009
This company is AWEFUL!!!! Don’t touch them with a 10 foot pole! If I could give them a negative 10 rating I would. Very poor company - stay away at ALL costs!!!!!!!
Doug | Jun 4, 2009
It appears to me that the policy I bought for a trip does nothing that I could not do myself. Its useless!
Connie Phillips | Jun 17, 2009
I am very pleased with Access America Ins. After reading so many reviews regarding re-imberstments, i figure i would not receive a dime back. Every review i read was negative and every one was very unhappy with them. My husband and i took a trip out of the country back in April 09. We had a emergency back home and had to cut our trip short after only being there for 2 days. My father became very ill and had to have emerg surgery. I filed a claim and was re-imbersed almost 2 months to the day. There was some paper work that had to be done but thats to be expected in cases like this. Customer Service was always so polite and friendly each time and very helpful when i called. I cant say a bad word about this insurance co. i guess i can consider myself lucky to receive money back. Thanks Access America.