SmartBenefits Offers Faster Payments, Easier Claims, More Value

For millions of American travelers affected by travel disruptions every year, navigating delays in travel and baggage is going to get a little easier.1 Over the next several months, we’re launching our enhanced Allianz Travel Insurance plans with SmartBenefitsSM and other customer-centric product improvements, which add greater convenience and value to your customers.

Developed by analyzing feedback from thousands of customers to make travel insurance easier to use, our redesigned trip protection benefits give travelers even better financial protection and more covered reasons to get reimbursed.

“No Receipts” Claims for Travel and Bag Delays

We’re continually pushing the envelope in claims automation to expedite processing times and payments. Travel and bag delay claims are now easier for customers with a new option to receive a faster, fixed-amount payment for their inconvenience, without uploading any receipts. After a qualifying travel delay or baggage delay, customers who file a complete claim online can receive electronic payments in less than a week. Thanks to our rapid payments, approved claims can be paid to customers within hours on their debit card or 24-48 hours via direct deposit.

Travel delay benefits typically are $75 per day per person impacted by the delay. If a customer’s reasonable expenses exceed that, they can simply upload their receipts to be eligible for a higher daily reimbursement.

Recent efficiency improvements enable us to reduce our average claims lifecycle for a significant portion of the complete claims we receive from seven business days to two days, under normal operations. Using our innovative Next Generation Claims platform, “no receipts” claims can be approved for payment as quickly as two business days. Additionally, we’re in the process of rolling out SMS notifications to provide customers with automated claim status updates.

More Ways to Be Covered

We redesigned our Travel Delay benefit to help customers reach their destination sooner by alternative means, such as when severe weather or storms causes an extended delay by a carrier. Also, when a customer misses their cruise or tour for a covered reason such as travel carrier delay, a new benefit can cover their lost prepaid expenses and additional travel expenses to meet up with the cruise ship or group tour along its planned route.

One new, unique offering for our hotel protector products is the Added Night Price Guarantee. The policy can cover the difference between a traveler’s average booked room cost and current room rates if they need to add up to two additional nights for a covered reason, such as for a family member’s extended medical stay or for additional rounds in a sports tournament.

Enhanced Emergency Medical Coverage

All travel plans come with primary emergency medical coverage, which helps customers get quicker access to medical payments on qualifying claims up to their coverage limits. Over the past year, we’ve worked hard to ensure that now all plans with trip cancellation benefits include pre-existing medical conditions (EMC) coverage. For greater ease of filing claims involving EMC, we’ve also eliminated the Physician Statement Form.

Finally, as we continually striving for transparency, our policies were simplified last year by eliminating “insurance speak” and rewriting descriptions of benefits and coverages to make it easier for all customers to understand what situations can be covered.

Learn more about other recent customer experience improvements.

Terms, conditions and exclusions apply.
Customers must opt in and provide flight information for monitoring and flight/benefit alerts. Standard message/data rates apply to SMS alerts. SmartBenefits automated claims system and payment availability is not guaranteed. All claims subject to policy terms, conditions, and exclusions.
Insurance benefits underwritten by BCS Insurance Company (OH, Administrative Office: 2 Mid America Plaza, Suite 200, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181), rated “A-” (Excellent) by A.M. Best Co., under BCS Form No. 52.201 series or 52.401 series, or Jefferson Insurance Company (NY, Administrative Office: 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233), rated “A+” (Superior) by A.M. Best Co., under Jefferson Form No. 101-C series or 101-P series, depending on your state of residence and plan chosen. Plans only available to U.S. residents and may not be available in all jurisdictions. Allianz Global Assistance and Allianz Travel Insurance are marks of AGA Service Company dba Allianz Global Assistance or its affiliates. Allianz Travel Insurance products are distributed by Allianz Global Assistance, the licensed producer and administrator of these plans and an affiliate of Jefferson Insurance Company. The insured shall not receive any special benefit or advantage due to the affiliation between AGA Service Company and Jefferson Insurance Company. Any Non-Insurance Assistance services purchased are provided through AGA Service Company. Except as expressly provided under your plan, you are responsible for charges you incur from third parties. Contact AGA Service Company at 800-284-8300 or 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233 or customerservice@allianzassistance.com.

Citations:

1. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 2018