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Generali's travel insurance branch is part of the Assicurazioni Generali Group, and its support team is part of the Europ Assistance Group. Both are well-established groups within the travel insurance industry. Ideally, this would translate to a travel insurance company with first-class service and coverage. The question for many consumers is simple: does Generali live up to customers' expectations?
Types of Travel Insurance Plans from Generali Global Assistance
Generali offers three tiers of travel insurance coverage: Premium, Preferred, and Standard.
Its site has a simple plan comparison chart and quoting system to help potential buyers choose between the three options.
Generali travel insurance covers baggage delay and loss, travel delay, interruption, cancellation, and missed connection reimbursement benefits.
Here are some of the highlights for each plan to help you better understand what coverage you may need:
Premium
Generali's Premium plan offers generous coverage for various scenarios. For example, you'll enjoy up to 175% reimbursement of your trip cost if your travels are interrupted for reasons beyond your control. Generali's Premium plan also includes up to $1,000 per person in travel delay reimbursement and up to $1 million per covered individual for emergency assistance or transportation. Finally, it has up to $2,000 per person in replacement expenses (i.e., toiletries, clothing, and other necessities while you wait for your delayed bag) if your baggage is lost.
Preferred
With the Preferred plan, you can expect 150% reimbursement for inevitable trip interruptions. It also offers travelers up to $1,000 per person for travel delay reimbursement. In addition, the emergency assistance or transportation coverage drops from $1 million to $500,000 per person, and travelers can enjoy up to $1,500 per person if baggage is lost.
Standard
The Standard Plan offers the lowest coverage with more budget-friendly premiums. It offers up to 125% reimbursement for trip interruption and up to $1,000 in travel delay reimbursement. Policyholders are limited to $250,000 per person for emergency assistance or transportation. If your baggage is lost, you'd have $1,000 to replace toiletries, clothing, and other belongings.
You can compare Generali's three plans below.
Premium | Preferred | Standard | |
Trip Cancellation | 100% | 100% | 100% |
COVID Coverage | Incl | Incl | Incl |
Trip Interruption | 175% | 150% | 125% |
Travel Delay | $1K ($300/daily) | $1K ($200/daily) | $1K ($150/daily) |
Baggage | $2K | $1.5K | $1K |
Sporting Equipment | $2K | $1.5K | N/A |
Baggage Delay | $500 | $300 | $200 |
Sporting Equipment Delay | $500 | $300 | N/A |
Missed Connections | $1K | $750 | $500 |
Medical and Dental | $250K | $150K | $50K |
Emergency Assistance/ Transportation | $1M | $500K | $250K |
Accidental Death & Dismemberment - Flights | $100K per person, $200K per plan | $75K per person, $150K per plan | $50K per person, $100K per plan |
Accidental Death & Dismemberment - Other | $50K per person, $100K per plan | $25K per person, $50K per plan | N/A |
Preexisting Medical Conditions Coverage | Included w/ limitations | N/A | N/A |
Financial Insolvency Coverage | Included w/ limitations | Included w/ limitations | N/A |
24/7 Travel Support | Incl | Incl | Incl |
Telemedicine | Incl | Incl | Incl |
Concierge Services | Incl | Incl | Incl |
Identity Theft Resolution Services | Incl | Incl | Incl |
Additional Coverage Options
Trip cancellation for any reason (CFAR)
Cancel for any reason (CFAR) coverage reimburses you for nonrefundable expenses associated with canceling travel you've already paid for. Generali's Premium plan is eligible for CFAR coverage which pays you back for 60% of the total nonrefundable cost of your travel.
You must purchase CFAR coverage on your Premium plan within 24 hours of your initial deposit. However, eligible customers can take advantage of its full benefits, as the name suggests, for any reason. Medical problems, family emergencies, work scheduling issues, or just changing your mind are a few of the reasons Generali might pay a CFAR claim.
Preferred and Standard plans are not eligible for CFAR upgrades. New York residents are also not eligible for CFAR coverage. Generali's website estimates buyers will pay an additional 50% in travel insurance premiums for this rider while the max reimbursement is only 60% of the "penalty amount" (i.e., nonrefundable costs).
Rental car damage protection
Travelers can also purchase rental car coverage alongside their travel insurance policy. Premium plan customers already have up to $25,000 in rental car protection in their policy benefits. Preferred and Standard plan holders can purchase the same coverage amount.
Texas residents are not eligible for rental car coverage. If you're unsure about this rider, we recommend checking the limits of your auto insurance. Generally, US-based auto insurance extends to rental cars. But you may want to supplement your coverage depending on what you already have.
How Much Does Generali Global Assistance Travel Insurance Cost?
We priced out a 9-day trip to two European countries for a healthy 34-year-old solo traveler from Texas staying in hotels and traveling by plane and train.
Here's what Generali's travel insurance estimate generator quoted for the trip:
Premium - $115
Preferred - $100
Standard - $86
CFAR coverage for this trip would cost an additional $57.50 if purchased alongside the Premium plan. But, again, the CFAR rider is only available with the premium plan.
How to File a Claim
To file a claim with Generali's travel insurance division, start at the eClaims portal.
You can also call its claims department at 800-541-3522 for assistance. Generali promises all insurance claim calls will be returned within one business day, and most calls are returned on the same day they are received. Many people reported quick claims processing and reimbursement when we reviewed recent customer feedback.
However, several reviews described waiting over 30 days only to discover Generali had yet to review their claims submission. As such, if you are still waiting to receive a response indicating Generali is working on your claim within a few days, we recommend checking in with customer service.
You'll need to provide supporting documentation for your claim, such as proof of travel delay from the airline or relevant claim checks for lost baggage. Your eClaims portal should give you the necessary details and update you on the ongoing status of your claim.
Email the claims team for questions at claims@generalitravelinsurance.com or use the eClaims chatbot for automated assistance.
Generali Global Assistance Travel Insurance FAQs
Is Generali Global Assistance a trustworthy travel insurance company?
How do I file a claim with Generali travel insurance?
You can file your travel insurance claim with Generali travel insurance through the company's eClaims portal. However, Generali offers phone, email, and other options for customers filing claims. Generali's responses to reviews on TrustPilot indicate it aims to process all claims within 30 days.
Who owns Generali Insurance?
Generali is part of the Assicurazioni Generali Group. Across all its insurance products, it has 67 million customers across 50 countries.
Methodology: How We Reviewed Generali Global Assistance Travel Insurance
When evaluating travel insurance companies, we consider various factors, including the number of plans available, the coverage, feedback from customer reviews, average premiums, customer support, ease of filing claims, and reimbursement times. No single factor can truly determine how travel insurance companies stack up.
These factors together allow us to develop ratings for each travel insurance company. Then we break down the pros and cons, pointing out potential issues. We also aim to bring to light solutions other buyers have already found should you choose to work with the travel insurance provider being reviewed. All of this is explained further in our insurance rating methodology.
Compare Generali Global Assistance Travel Insurance vs. Nationwide Travel Insurance
This established insurance company has been in business since 1925. Its travel insurance wing offers plans and coverage options to suit diverse travelers' needs. Customer review sites like TrustPilot had reviews complaining about long wait times and claims overlooked with Generali. Nationwide's reviews described long processing times, poor communication, and other claims-based issues.
If you're solely concerned about coverage and rates, Generali is upfront about the fact that its CFAR coverage is exceptionally costly. The company's website seems to imply the CFAR rider's cost is bloated compared to its value. But its basic plans have a few more perks compared to Nationwide's single-trip plans while Nationwide offers cruise plans and multi-trip options, Generali does not match at the time of this review.
Compare Generali Global Assistance Travel Insurance vs. Allianz Travel Insurance
Both Generali and Allianz offer comprehensive single-trip coverage options for travelers. Generali's website makes reviewing and comparing its three travel insurance plans easy. However, Allianz offers annual (multi-trip) policies Generali doesn't. Both companies list rental car protections for some travelers.
Allianz customers leaving reviews online indicate the claims process may be confusing and drawn out. Most importantly, a few reviews cautioned future travelers to come in with complete documentation. In our experience, offering more paperwork rather than less with Allianz is better.
Compare Generali Global Assistance Travel Insurance vs. InsureMyTrip
Rates may not match what a provider would offer on its website. Broker websites like InsureMyTrip often charge a premium to account for third-party fees or offer discounts as a partner company knows it's competing for customers no matter what. Whatever the case, InsureMyTrip makes it easier to shop for travel insurance. However, it would not process any claims. So for some consumers, it may be more complicated to determine where to go to make a claim against their policies or get help if something goes wrong.