Editor Review Editor Rating:  
The Good: The three Global Alert travel insurance plans cover all the basics, at increasingly high maximums. All plans allow for a waiver of pre-existing conditions if the plan is purchased within 15 days of the initial trip deposit. Optional ‘cancel for any reason’ available with the Preferred and Preferred Plus plans (purchase within 15 days). One of the few travel insurance providers that offers secure medical record access online, which can be very helpful for patients with existing conditions or allergies. The Drawbacks: The Global Alert website is not very easy to use when you want to purchase a plan. The time frame on delayed baggage is 12 hours, which is longer than many plans. The Bottom Line: Global alert offers a nice variety of plans without overwhelming the customer with too many options. The coverage ranges from comfortable basic limits to high limits. The Essentials plan is budget-minded and one of the cheaper plans on the market without skimping on coverage. How to get a quote & buy onlineQuote and buy direct: Get a quote directly at the Global Alert website. A good choice if you know you want a Global Alert plan and are ready to enroll. Compare plans from all companies: Use our travel insurance comparison tool to compare plans from all companies, get quotes, and buy online. |
Company Information
Company Name | |
| AM Best Rating | A |
| US Travel Insurance Association Member | No |
| Refund Policy | 10-day Free Look Period |
| Travel Insurance Plans | Package plans Essentials Preferred Preferred Plus |
| Company Contact Information | Global Alert Administrators 9225 Ward Parkway, Suite 200 Kansas City, MO 64114 1-800-890-6938 |
| Policyholder Questions | 1-800-890-6938 |
| Travel Assistance/Emergencies | Inside US/Canada: 1-800-555-9095 (toll free) Outside US/Canada: call operator & connect to 1-603-894-4710 (no charge) |
About Global Alert Travel Insurance
Global Alert Travel Insurance is great general travel protection that provides all the basics you expect with travel protection and includes some additional purchasable options you may find useful. Powered by eTravelInsuranceCentral.com, this travel insurance company provides budget-conscious travelers with economical and comprehensive coverage options according to their needs.
From the Global Alert website, you can get an instant quote, research plans, and print travel insurance certificates. Activating the instant quote form lets you compare all plans and their relative charges at the same time, with side-by-side listings of the plan benefits, so choosing a plan that is right for you is quick and easy.
This travel insurance website is unique in that it provides all the details about the benefits, including complete descriptions of covered expenses, so you really know what is covered versus having to dig around to find out what the benefit means.
Optional Coverage Available in Global Alert Plans
- Optional ‘cancel for any reason’ is available
- All plans waive the pre-existing condition exclusion if purchased within 15 days of the initial trip deposit.
Highlights of Global Alert Insurance
- All plans include secure online medical record access.
- All plans include enhanced 24-hour worldwide assistance services for pre-trip advice and travel emergencies. It also includes concierge services and business services for your travel needs.
- All plans have online claim reporting at www.tripmate.com.
Global Alert Travel Insurance Plans
Package Plans
Essentials
Your essentials-only travel insurance plan for a budget price
This package provides the travel insurance essentials. Citizens of the U.S. and Canada are eligible for this coverage. Trips must be no higher than $15,000 in full trip cost and the trip must last no longer than 30 days in length.
Preferred
All of the essentials plus a few extras you may find useful
This package includes all of the benefits of the Essentials plan, but adds some additional features. The Global Alert Preferred plan does not have a maximum trip cost limit or trip length limit, but it offers the optional ‘cancel for any reason’ benefit.. It is available only to citizens of the U.S. and Canada as well.
Preferred Plus
A full-featured travel insurance plan with loads of extras
This package is the most comprehensive program with the highest levels of coverage and benefits, including rental car damage protection and the optional ‘cancel for any reason’ benefit. Trips must be no higher than $15,000 in full trip cost and the trip must last no longer than 30 days in length. It is available only to citizens of the U.S. and Canada as well.
How to get a quote & buy online
Quote and buy direct: Get a quote directly at the Global Alert website. A good choice if you know you want a Global Alert plan and are ready to enroll.
Compare plans from all companies: Use our travel insurance comparison tool to compare plans from all companies, get quotes, and buy online.
Screenshots of Global Alert Website
How to get a quote & buy online
Quote and buy direct: Get a quote directly at the Global Alert website. A good choice if you know you want a Global Alert plan and are ready to enroll.
Compare plans from all companies: Use our travel insurance comparison tool to compare plans from all companies, get quotes, and buy online.
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Heather | Aug 8, 2010
Has anyone had a bad experience with this company? I don’t see any complaints filed unlike all others. I’m guess that is a good thing?
Maryse Rhein | Oct 12, 2010
I suffered a fall when I was in Switzerland this summer. I had purchased the Global Alert Preferred insurance before my departure. I paid $554.00 for the coverage for my entire trip in Europe. When I called the claim department of the insurance company, they told me that I had to submit my claim first to AARP, which is my supplement insurance coverage in the US, not in Europe, then furthermore they told me that after a reply from AARP, I had to submit my claim to Global Alert with not only the doctor’s bill from Switzerland, but my travel itinerary and the way I paid for my trip. It is outrageous.
Mary | Nov 4, 2010
When my friends and I went to Africa, we purchased the Preferred plan. We did have to file a claim. The customer service rep was helpful and the company did reimburse us for all of our costs incurred except phone calls which were minimal. Don’t expect payment right away – it did take awhile to get payment.
Sid | May 19, 2011
My experience..
I bought air travel insurance from this company. As usual, most basic insurances are useless since there are many restrictions and the insurer is almost never eligible for recovering his losses. So its imperative that one buy the “Cancel for any reason” option. Several insurance companies dont pay out 100% refund even if you buy this option. But Global Alert Travel Insurance says on its website while buying the insurance that there will be a 100% refund. So I bought this option. Later on I actually filed a claim and they said I would only get 75% refund. They pointed me to my policy document which stated this in a convoluted manner (See below). Their website does not mention this at all. It clearly says 100% refund. Furthermore, this policy document is only available once you buy the policy, so knowing this 75% refund rule is practically pointless because by the time you realize this clause in the refund rules you have already bought the policy.
Table (in the policy document)–
If Cancellation Penalty is: % of Penalty Amount Payable is:
Up to 25% of Trip Cost 100% of Penalty Amount
26% to 50% of Trip Cost 85% of Penalty Amount
Over 50% of Trip Cost 75% of Penalty Amount