Planning a trip can be an exciting and overwhelming experience. From finding affordable vacation ideas to booking flights, there are many decisions to make. One decision you shouldn't overlook is travel insurance. While it may not be the most fun part of trip planning, it is essential to protect yourself and your investment.
In this Atlas Travel Insurance review, we will delve into the plans offered by Tokio Marine HCC-MIS Group, also known as Atlas. We will explore what they cover and whether they are worth it for you. So, let's dive in!
Atlas at a Glance
Before we explore the insurance plans in detail, let's take a quick look at Atlas. Founded in 1998, Atlas was one of the first companies to offer insurance products and services online. They provide comprehensive trip cancellation insurance plans, along with a multi-trip travel medical plan and customizable single-trip travel medical plans.
Image source: Atlas Travel Insurance Review
Atlas Travel Insurance Products
Atlas offers a variety of travel insurance options to meet the diverse needs of travelers. Let's take a closer look at their plans.
Trip Cancellation Insurance
Atlas trip cancellation insurance plans not only protect your non-refundable deposits but also provide emergency medical coverage. They offer three comprehensive plans: Atlas Excursion, Atlas Expedition, and Atlas Enterprise.
Atlas MultiTrip
The Atlas MultiTrip plan is designed for frequent travelers. It provides coverage for all trips up to 30 or 45 days within a 364-day period. While it primarily focuses on travel medical coverage, it also includes trip interruption, trip delay, and baggage loss coverage. However, it does not include trip cancellation insurance.
Travel Medical Insurance
Atlas offers two customizable travel medical insurance plans for single trips lasting 5 to 364 days. These plans, Atlas Travel and Atlas Premium, provide coverage for trip interruption, travel delay, and lost baggage.
In this review, we will primarily focus on the trip cancellation insurance and MultiTrip plans. If you want to explore their travel medical insurance plans in more detail, you can compare them here.
Atlas Travel Insurance: What's Included?
Let's dive into the details of what's covered by Atlas travel insurance.
Trip Cancellation Insurance
Atlas trip cancellation insurance plans protect you from financial loss if you need to cancel your trip or return home suddenly for a covered reason. The basic Atlas Excursion plan includes:
- Trip Cancellation
- Trip Interruption
- Baggage Delay
- Trip Delay
- Emergency Medical and Dental Expense
- emergency medical evacuation and Repatriation of Remains
- Common Carrier AD&D
The higher-tiered Expedition and Enterprise plans offer more coverage per category and additional features like Cancel for Any Reason coverage and a Pre-existing Medical Conditions Waiver.
One thing to note is that the coverage amounts for these plans are not easily accessible on the Atlas website. You need to request a quote to see the specific coverage amounts, which can be inconvenient. It would be helpful to have this information readily available to potential customers.
Atlas MultiTrip
The Atlas MultiTrip plan is ideal for frequent travelers. It provides travel medical coverage for all trips lasting up to 30 or 45 days within a 364-day period. The plan includes coverage for emergency medical evacuation, repatriation of remains, emergency dental care, accidental death and dismemberment, personal liability, trip interruption, lost luggage, travel delay, and more.
Image source: Atlas Travel Insurance Review
It's important to note that while the MultiTrip plan includes trip interruption, trip delay, and baggage loss coverage, it does not include trip cancellation insurance. If trip cancellation coverage is essential to you, you will need to purchase it separately.
Are you ready to protect yourself and your trip? Get your free quote here.
Atlas Travel Insurance: How Much?
The cost of a travel insurance policy depends on various factors such as your age, trip duration, trip cost, and state of residence. Let's take a look at some examples to give you an idea of how the plans compare in terms of price.
Example 1: Solo Traveler
Consider a 33-year-old solo traveler from Georgia planning a two-week trip to Belgium costing $3,000. Here's what he would pay for each of the Atlas trip cancellation insurance plans:
- Atlas Excursion: $91
- Atlas Expedition: $107
- Atlas Enterprise: $126
Example 2: Family Vacation
Now, let's add the traveler's 35-year-old wife and their two children, ages 7 and 10, to the equation. With the additional airfare, let's say the trip costs $5,500. Here's what they would pay for each plan:
- Atlas Excursion: $204
- Atlas Expedition: $240
- Atlas Enterprise: $280
In both examples, the price difference between the Excursion and Expedition plans is relatively small. Considering the additional benefits provided by the Expedition plan, such as $100,000 in emergency medical coverage and a pre-existing medical conditions waiver, it might be worth the slightly higher price.
Please note that adding Cancel for Any Reason coverage to the Atlas Enterprise plan would cost an additional $182. The standard trip cancellation coverage already includes the most common reasons for trip cancellation.
Atlas MultiTrip
For frequent travelers, the MultiTrip plan offers a convenient solution. Here's how much it would cost to insure the travelers from the previous examples for all trips taken within a 364-day period:
- Solo traveler: $188 for all trips up to 30 days or $230 for all trips up to 45 days.
- Family of 4: $282 for all trips up to 30 days or $345 for all trips up to 45 days.
Atlas Travel Insurance: What Isn't Covered?
It's important to be aware of the exclusions in any insurance policy. Here are a few notable exclusions in Atlas travel insurance plans:
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Pre-existing Medical Conditions: The coverage for pre-existing medical conditions varies based on the plan you choose. The Excursion plan does not cover pre-existing conditions at all. However, the Expedition and Enterprise plans include a pre-existing conditions waiver under certain criteria.
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Adventure Sports: Atlas does not cover certain adventure sports such as parachuting, base jumping, and whitewater rafting. If you plan to engage in these activities, it's recommended to seek alternative insurance options like World Nomads.
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Lost or Damaged Medical Items: Baggage/personal effects and baggage delay coverage do not include loss or damage to medical items such as eyeglasses, hearing aids, and prescribed medications. It's advisable to keep these items in your carry-on luggage to minimize the risk of loss or damage.
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Standard Exclusions: Atlas, like most travel insurance providers, does not cover losses related to self-inflicted harm, war, invasion, non-emergency medical treatment, and certain activities like professional sports or military training exercises.
Please refer to your plan certificate for the full list of exclusions.
Atlas Travel Insurance: Who Can be Covered?
Image source: Atlas Travel Insurance Review
Some plans have age restrictions, and others are available to a wide range of travelers. Here's an overview of who can be covered:
- Atlas Expedition and Atlas Enterprise plans cover travelers up to age 99, making them suitable options for seniors. The Atlas Excursion plan offers coverage up to age 75. The Atlas MultiTrip plan is available to travelers aged 14 days to 75 years.
Atlas Travel Insurance: Pros and Cons
Let's weigh the pros and cons of Atlas travel insurance:
Pros:
- Comprehensive trip cancellation plans with three tiers to choose from
- Pre-existing condition waiver included in Atlas Expedition and Enterprise plans
- Optional Cancel for Any Reason coverage in the Atlas Enterprise plan
- MultiTrip plan available for frequent travelers
- Coverage in Expedition and Enterprise plans extends up to age 99
Cons:
- Limited adventure sports coverage
- Atlas Excursion plan does not cover pre-existing medical conditions under any circumstances
- No annual plans that include trip cancellation insurance
- Coverage amounts for trip cancellation plans are not readily accessible on the website
Who Should Buy Atlas Travel Insurance?
Atlas travel insurance may be a suitable choice for the following types of travelers:
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Frequent Travelers: If you travel multiple times a year, the Atlas MultiTrip plan can save you money by providing coverage for all your trips.
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Travelers Who Need an All-In-One Insurance Product: If you want to insure your non-refundable trip deposits and have high levels of medical coverage, the Atlas Expedition or Enterprise plans are a good fit. They offer generous medical coverage limits of $150,000 or $200,000.
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Travelers Who Need Cancel For Any Reason Coverage: The Atlas Enterprise plan offers optional Cancel for Any Reason coverage. Although it comes at an additional cost, it may be worth it for some travelers.
Who Should Skip Atlas Travel Insurance?
There are a few groups who may find other insurance options more suitable:
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Seniors Aged 75 and Over: Seniors over age 75 are not eligible for the Atlas Excursion plan or the MultiTrip plan. They may be able to find more options elsewhere.
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Adventurous Travelers: If you plan on participating in activities like bungee jumping or mountain climbing, Atlas does not offer adventure sports coverage. Consider checking out providers like World Nomads, known for their adventure sports coverage.
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Frequent Travelers Who Need Trip Cancellation: The Atlas MultiTrip plan is an excellent choice for frequent travelers. However, if you make expensive deposits multiple times a year, the MultiTrip plan may not meet all your needs as it does not include trip cancellation insurance.
How to Buy Atlas Travel Insurance
Purchasing Atlas travel insurance is straightforward. Begin by obtaining a quote to review the coverage options. If you're satisfied with the terms, you can enter your details and payment information to complete the purchase process.
The Atlas trip cancellation insurance plans come with a 10-day review period. Within this period (prior to the start of coverage), you can request a refund if you change your mind.
For the MultiTrip plan, you can request a refund anytime before coverage begins.
How to Make a Claim
If you need to make a claim, you must contact Tokio Marine HCC-MIS, the provider of Atlas travel insurance. They will guide you on the necessary forms and information required to initiate the claims process. You can contact them online, via mail, or by phone.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Atlas travel insurance offers solid coverage options to protect your trip and health. Their Expedition and Enterprise plans provide comprehensive coverage at a reasonable price, while the MultiTrip plan is suitable for frequent travelers who don't require trip cancellation insurance.
Whether you choose Atlas or another provider, it's crucial to purchase travel insurance to ensure a worry-free trip. Stay protected and enjoy your travels!
Have you purchased travel insurance before? Share your tips and advice in the comments below!
