Allianz Global Assistance Reviews

My family and my mother's family have purchased at least 5 policies with Access America Travel Insurance in the past 10 years. We have never submitted a claim till Aug 2009 when my uncle became terminally ill and died within 10 weeks of his diagnosis. I, along with several of my relatives, had planned to cruise in Greece in September. We purchased the airline tickets in June. Fortunately the cruise boat was through a friend that had not required a deposit. When we notified Access America (shortly after my uncle was diagnosed) that we wanted to delay our trip, we were assured that this would not be a problem. The first agent at Access America explained that they would cover the cost of our new tickets, up to the price of the original tickets, up to a year from policy purchase date.

To quote almost exactly from a prior complaint, I obtained insurance from Access America to cover a trip. I had a close family member that had cancer for 12 years die on the morning of a 4-day trip that was planned ten months in advance. They explained that this is a preexisting condition and refused to refund the claim. No doctor is involved in what they claim is a thorough review and your only option is to get a claims examiner (Roy) that asks you, "Did you read the policy?"

I am an AAA travel agent and I sell this ** insurance, but no more ... too many clients' complaints. My husband and I just had a flight from MSP to MEM delayed by 1 hour due to weather, so we missed a connection to FLL for a cruise. There were no other flights on any airline from MEM to FLL that day that would get us to FLL by 4:00 pm, the time our ship left. So, I called Access America.

And the list of denied claims grows. Our grandmother passed away at 90+ years, months after we purchased our tickets/insurance but a few days before we were supposed to attend a family wedding. Long story short, we went to a funeral instead of a wedding. We placed a claim that they have thus far denied since the “onset of death” was not listed on the death certificate, and get this, the date that her “natural death” began was not given. Now the death certificate clearly states “natural” as the cause of death. However, after months of phone calls, paper work faxed, hospitals, the merry-go-round of reps, and doctors contacted, they still refuse to pay the claim unless we can prove she did not have a preexisting condition!

When I called customer service this evening, I was told by Access America Travel Insurance that the travel insurance policy is good for payment if I die, come down with some serious illness or injury, lose my job. I made the mistake of purchasing this travel protection insurance when I bought the airline ticket. I don't see any value for their service since they hope some major catastrophe upon me in order to receive compensation for losses. Anyway, I won't be around to collect a penny from them in the event of such a disaster. They refused to cover the Northeastern winter storm of December 19-20 on the east coast that prevented me from making the international flight. I am out of over $160 for my folly. Never again!

I purchased a round trip ticket to Cabo San Lucas in August of 09 with Continental Airlines. By September, the trip had to be cancelled due to the fact that I was laid off from my job. I cancelled the flight, contacted Access America and have been run through the ringer! I have had to have my previous employer fax several things:

We had booked a cruise when we found out that my mom was recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Due to this and not knowing what might happen to her, before the 14-day period expired, we purchased trip insurance with Access America. I reviewed the policy and it appeared that our situation with my mother was covered. Over the next month, my mom saw numerous doctors and tried to fight the cancer, but everyday, she got weaker. Approximately 1 month before our cruise, we decided to cancel so that I could care for my mother. We made a claim on our trip insurance for reimbursement of what was not refunded to us by the cruise company.

I bought travel insurance through Access America for a flight on US Air. I was ill with the swine flu on the day of travel and I didn't take the flight. I called my doctor and he said not to come in to the office but gave me a Rx and some tips over the phone. Later on, when filing the claim, my doctor explained this on the form he had to fill out (which he charged me $20 for by the way) and this wasn't good enough for Access America. I would never buy insurance through this company again.

We had a cruise planned with my parents and my father died before we could go. I had to fax our info three different times. They ended up sending us the amount we paid for the insurance, and that was it. According to the plan, they were to compensate us for the price of the single accommodation for my mother. It appears they just don't want to pay. We have purchased this insurance three times. We will never pay for this insurance again.

I purchased airline tickets online with American Airlines on 5 Aug. on their website. The total charge on my receipt from them was for the price of the airline tickets only. That same day I rec'd a "policy" from Access America travel insurance? I had no idea what that was about, but I advised them I did not authorize my credit card for any more than for the ticket price. Nevertheless they charged my card. Despite submitting documentation that I was charged for something that was clearly not on my receipt, Access American insists it was a valid charge. This is $33 and not a lot of money. However this is clearly fraud and it needs to be looked at. I think the underlying thinking maybe you are not going to expend that much energy to fight $33. But, sadly they offer such a pathetic product. That this is the only way they have of making any money.

I purchased three airline tickets, including one for my mother back in March for a flight in September and paid for travel insurance from Access America offered through Orbitz. My mom died one month prior to the travel date but it appeared that AA doesn't recognize death proven by the death certificate as a legitimate excuse to cancel your flight. AA sent a three-page questionnaire to my mom. I called, explained she's dead and there's no way the stupid paperwork can be filled out. Well, two month later, my mom received another letter from AA. They write, "Dear, my mom's name, since we have not received the supporting information to your claim, your claim has been closed. Please feel free to contact us with any questions..." Well, that would be difficult to do for a person whose body was cremated three months ago. I feel like Access America pooped on my front porch and then knocked at the door to ask for toilet paper. Access America is cynical fraud! This name should be posted under the "Scam Alert!" title.

It's the same thing that's been posted so much. I obtained insurance from Access America to visit my dad who is ill and in a distant city. I was not sure what would happen to his condition. As I got closer to departure date, I learned that he was going to be med-transported back home and called to cancel my flight. They explained to me that this is a preexisting condition and refuse to refund my claim. The trip protection insurance is misleading and disingenuous at best and more likely fraudulent in intent. These guys should be imprisoned.

The insurance company that provides trip protector insurance for Orbitz is a ripoff. If you read the fine print, you will never buy it or know how hard it is for them to cover your losses. We will have to battle to see if I get $900 back from them.

With a round trip scheduled to L.I., NY for a p.m. flight, my wife got deathly sick that a.m. I called and cancelled that flight and immediately called the doctor (Saturday left a message on the ans. machine). Finally, I got an appointment on Wednesday 4 days later. I called Access America, got all the paperwork, filled all out incl. doctor's statement and required code. It still was not enough. They wanted a statement from her primary doctor (who had nothing to do with her sickness that day). I emailed the so-called VP of travel insurance, Jeff **, and still nothing. They state in one of their forms, "fraud warning" They ought to take heed to that word "fraud"

I was due to fly to NY on 7/23. I took the flight insurance and on 6/21, my husband got a vertigo so badly he couldn't drive. He still has it and we sent all medical documentation to the insurance company. They refused to honor the refund because they said it was a pre-existing condition (by 2 days?). We're a retired, elderly couple on a fixed income and really can't afford to lose money. We've been waiting a long time and they didn't have the decency to notify us that they weren't going to refund. I had to call to find out we were being stiffed. They claim that it was stipulated somewhere about pre-existing conditions. Probably so small you couldn't see it without a microscope.

I took out this travel insurance barring any problems. The trip was scheduled during my wife's six months of pregnancy intentionally. Plenty of pregnant women fly at this stage in their pregnancy. She really wanted to go on the trip to Fort Lauderdale (obviously). After interviewing with her doctor and telling her of lightheadedness and a lack of sugar count, her doctor recommended she shouldn't fly. I explained all of this to the claim's agent. They sent me the correct papers to fill out, in which I did right away. I even had my doctor fill out her portion as well.

My husband and I purchased regular travel insurance for a summer trip to Seattle. Then my dad died and we had to cancel the trip in order to travel to the UK for services and family support. Despite providing a death certificate (which is all I was told was needed at the time of claim), Access America is requiring a form completed by a physician. In the UK the National Health Service provides care by any number of doctors attached to a hospital. The Access America form itself does not anywhere refer to a death situation, but is headed by traveler’s name and policy number and then physician’s statement area is to be completed.

I planned to travel with my 83-year old friend to Jamaica, but I knew with his age, travel insurance was an important component to the big and costly trip. I booked it through the airline's website, and paid for the insurance there too. Meanwhile, my friend was hospitalized after a heart attack and stroke. He recovered, only to suffer another heart attack. His doctor said no travel for awhile. The claim has been denied under the guise of pre-existing condition. If you have a heart attack, you should know this stupid insurance company calls that a pre-existing condition and your claim will be denied.

I purchased a travel insurance policy through Access America (through Orbitz website) ID # ** on April 1, 2009. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer on June 5, 2009 and underwent surgical removal of my prostate on July 28, 2009. I was told by my doctor that I could not travel for two to three months after surgery. My wife and I were scheduled to travel on August 23 - 29, 2009. I filed an insurance claim to Access America twice (August 3 and August 10, 2009) and was told that additional information was needed. My doctor provided all information and dates regarding my surgery and condition. I believe that Access America is fraudulent and should no longer be in business. I requested reimbursement of $562.80 from Access America via their claim forms and my claim has been denied. Please help me in resolving this matter. Thank you.

My son was a deployed Marine on the USS Boxer and their last stop before coming home was in Hawaii. They have a program called the "Tiger Cruise" where a family member can meet them in Hawaii and ride the ship from Hawaii to California to welcome them home after being deployed. I purchased my tickets to welcome my son home and ride the ship back with him but knowing the military and the possibility of having to turn the ship around and go back to the Middle East, I bought the insurance to protect the hard earned money for the airplane ticket to Hawaii, so that if some unforeseen problem came up, I could get the money back for the ticket.

This insurance isn't worth the paper it's written on. My wife, a 20 Active Duty Military Member, purchased for me (civilian) an airline ticket to Dubai ($1151) to meet with her while she attended a conference. We purchase travel insurance to cover any possible change in her schedule as military function change with little notice. We were told at the time of purchase that the insurance would cover such an event. I was informed five days after the ticket purchase that conference dates were changed and we need to reschedule.

Access America is a fraud. Warning! It will do you no good to purchase this insurance option. I purchased it via Delta.com and am surprised a carrier like Delta is duped into offering it. I had to change my return date to the tune of $150.00, which I expected. I called Access America, and they said, "No problem. You're covered." Guess what? They lied. I'm out $150.00, but I've read stories of people out thousands due to unforeseen emergencies. If you take warnings well, you'll run, not walk, from Access America!

I purchased travel insurance through United's website because I am the caretaker for my grandfather. Two weeks before my trip, my grandfather's lung cancer came out of remission and he required 24-hour care. Even though the physician's form documented this fact, Access America denied my claim because of a pre-existing condition. When I called to inquire, the claims agent said that a cancer diagnosis "is never stable" and given that fact, that it was ** of me to plan a trip. She was incredibly cold and rude.

I purchased 3 airline tickets from JetBlue, plus insurance from Access America. My wife had surgery on her left breast. I cancelled the airline tickets. Access America will not return my money ($2,442.60).

Our travel agent set us up with Access American last October for a trip with Carnival. We had to cancel due to health problems. We had the necessary doctor's report. It was suppose to be no problem receiving our money in three months. We received our airfare back within two weeks! It's now seven months. We received $949 out of $2995. We did receive about $200 from Carnival right after cancellation. We've called the travel agent. Apparently, some mix up in how change of status was only for my husband (with health issue) and not me. Carnival was paid twice for the same room but say we gave away the room to friends because they show someone stayed in the room. How is that possible when Homeland Security, no one can go in your place on a cruise or airline ever? They have to have record of it. We paid insurance to cover health cancellation and we have to keep calling and fighting for our money. Is Carnival or Access America a charity case?

My airline cancelled that route and I had to buy ticket with another carrier at an additional cost. A rep from Access America told me to file a claim. They denied the claim and cancelled my policy before the trip! I want to sue but I don't have an address, only a PO Box. Can anyone help?

I live in Virginia and was advised in March that my mother who was 87 and in a nursing home in Florida and under hospice care was having difficulty breathing. The nursing home believed that she would live for at least another week. I booked a flight on US Air and purchased what was described on the US Air website as travel protection insurance. My mother passed away the next day requiring me to change my flight. I paid a $150 rebooking fee and filed a claim with Access America. They required me to provide them with a death certificate. They denied my claim since they claim that the policy I purchased does not cover for "any loss that results directly or indirectly from any mental or nervous health disorders."

My girlfriend and I usually try to take a trip once a year and just have a girls' week. We decided on Cancun, Mexico. We booked early in Feb. through Orbitz.com for August 2, 2009. And we bought what we thought was insurance in case "we" cancel. The insurance was Access America. Do not buy that crap. I called and the lady read a script for me over and over again. She kept repeating what the brochure had said. The explanation on Orbitz was "Protect your trip investment with Access America. This comprehensive product offers a wide range of benefits including trip cancellation / interruption coverage for non-refundable trip costs up to $10,000 and emergency medical coverage. Important limitations apply. See terms and conditions."

I booked my daughter's holiday visit through Orbitz who uses 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 through Seattle. We had trip interruption & cancellation insurance so they would cover us for the difference, right?

First of all, this is not a complaint about Disney Cruise Lines itself. They have been wonderful and we highly recommend them to anyone who wants a wonderful cruise. Our complaint is with the so-called travel insurance outfit named Access America. Last year, my wife and I had booked our annual cruise with Disney through AAA travel. No complaints there either. The trip was insured with the aforementioned Access America. Following the instruction of both AAA and Disney, we placed a deposit on the cruise and made the final payment as instructed. Just after we made the payment, my wife Victoria was diagnosed with cancer in her neck necessitating surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Her doctor forbid her to travel. Acting on her doctor's advice, we canceled the cruise (as beyond full refund cancellation date with Disney) and filed a claim to recover our money (some $4,000.00).

My husband was laid off which is an item covered when I purchased the insurance. The company states they emailed me a certificate that listed all the requirements to file a claim to my email which for some reason I did not receive. But to make a long story short, if you have switched employers in the last 3 years, no matter how long a person has worked in their life, you are not eligible for the insurance coverage. I originally purchased the insurance for it sounded like if we had bad weather and unable to attend, we would be covered; and with living in Illinois on the opposite end of Chicago (which is where the play was), I would have held on to the certificate. I purchased these tickets in November to attend in January for it was a gift.

I booked a flight to Phoenix for a trial. Thought I should have insurance in case something went wrong. The judge rescheduled the trial 5 days before I was to leave. With the trip cancellation or trip interruption coverage you purchase, you really do not have coverage. It is deceptive coverage and they are allowed to continue to rob the consumer by selling this coverage to all who are foolish enough to trust them to cover you. Do not use this coverage! It is worthless! Consumers beware! I purchased this through Orbitz, which also will not allow you to change your ticket to a later date (unless you pay as much as the original ticket as a penalty!).

I bought Access America insurance a lot of times. I travel two times in year and it happens to me first time. In November, I went to China and baggage was delayed more than 24 hours by Korean Air. I have Property Irregularity Report from Korean Air Baggage Service. So naturally, I filed the claim #** with Access America. Each time, they request additional paperwork. They are burying me in bureaucracy and administrative hoops so that I give up, which is exactly what I have done. Stay away from Access America. Save your time and money.

I have had a very bad experience with Access America. Due to a misunderstanding on the original doctor's report, the doctor tried to clarify that this was not a preexisting condition. I did what Access America required (lots of letters later) and was still denied any compensation. They lap up your premium but do anything to avoid a payout. Never again! Watch out for the so-called preexisting condition. Beware of Access America!

Please do not waste your money on Access America ticket insurance or travel. They are a scam organization, and do everything possible not to pay out legitimate claims. I bought Access America ticket insurance via Ticketmaster for a tennis match; big mistake. My mother in-law died the day that my wife and I were to attend the tennis match. So naturally, I filed the claim with Access America. That was four months ago. I never heard back from them, so I called them several times. Each time they request additional paperwork, death certificates, invoices for the tickets, the unused tickets. They are burying me in bureaucracy and administrative hoops so that I give up; which is exactly what I have done. This is for a miserable $100, and a death in the family. Can you imagine if you had an illness, which was more difficult to document? It would be impossible to get payment. Stay away from Access America. Save your time and money.

I was delayed due to a family member’s illness. I called Access America who sent me a claim form. I had to pay double for airfare since I changed my flight, had to pay double for a rental car. Access America never notified me if they did receive the claim, and when I called them they said, sorry your claim was denied. I had doctor’s letters, receipts, flight numbers, cost of change in flights. All in All the illness cost me 2,000 more than my original travel charges. Access America paid 0. MORAL - NEVER EVER DEAL WITH THIS SCAM COMPANY!

I booked a hotel through Hotwire.com and also purchased the insurance through Access America in the event that I had to cancel my hotel booking. Which of course happened and I have been fighting with them for six months. The insurance industry has us by our finger nails and should be put out of business.

John of Longmont CO (09/30/08

This concerns three claims under travel insurance sold with tickets we purchased online from Northwest Airlines. The policy provides coverage for illness of immediate family member, and death of immediate family member, paying the cost of tickets and any prepaid accommodations. We purchased the tickets and policies on March 18, 2008, for my wife, and my minor children. Subsequently, my wife's father, was admitted to hospital, and the physician diagnosis, provided to the insurance company, stated that the patient was admitted with end-of-life issues.

In April I booked a flight to Kentucky to see my mother who is in an Alzheimer's facility. I decided to take the Access America Travelers Insurance which US Airways advertises on their website. I had to cancel the trip because my mother had to be moved from an Alzheimers facility in Kentucky to a nursing home in Tennessee. Access America is refusing to pay my claim. Their advertisement states: Find peace of mind before and during your trip. US Airways offers travel insurance products through Access America, a member of the Allianz group. Then the insurance services are listed as follows: Trip Cancellation, trip interruption, travel delay, emergency medical transportation, and do on.

I never purchased this policy and apparently it is included unless one unchecks the box on the internet booking page on Cheaptickets. Unfortunatley, last minute purchases are not notified until flight is on its way and then they are not refunded.

I got denied a payment of a claim for an airline ticket. I purchased it in December fully expecting to see my dad in the hospital. I had gone up to NY two other times in December as we were expecting my mom to take him home over the holidays. Unfortunately, my father passed away before I was able to get there and I had no reason to fly until a few days later. My dad had been in and out of the hospital and although he had cancer, he was not expected to die so soon. We fully expected him to go home with my mother over the holidays.

PAID:$4600.00 FOR PACKAGE TO VALENTINA TRAVEL,PAID:$167.00 TO ACCESS AMERICA FOR TRIP CANCELLATION INSURIENCE.RECEIVED:$2000.00 FROM VALENTINA TRAVEL(BECOUSE OF NATIONAL TRAGEGY TRIP CANCELLTION) RECEIVED:$00.00 FROM ACCESS AMERICA