Are you making plans to travel soon? Sometimes we need a vacation from all the planning! Hotel accommodations, rental cars, flights or other transportation, packing all the luggage, getting everyone ready, and then checking in, everywhere it seems, and whew! You need a break.
Whether traveling solo, with family, or friends, it's easy to see how things can get forgotten or overlooked - and costs can easily escalate before you know it.
One thing you don't want to overlook is travel insurance. This can help you with any unexpected delays or hiccups. Searching for the right insurance to accommodate your itinerary is the key to being free from stress.
Does AAA Offer Travel Insurance?
If you are one of the thousands of people who have an AAA membership, you're likely familiar with the various benefits they offer, including options for AAA travel protection.
They also have travel agents who can help plan your next vacation and even provide you with many discounts for hotels, flights, and other expenses.
But the question is: Does AAA travel health insurance offer sufficient coverage to meet your individual medical and travel needs? Should you purchase travel insurance through AAA, or should you explore alternative travel medical insurance options?
Does AAA Have Travel Insurance?
AAA offers three travel insurance plans through their partnership with Allianz. With varying degrees of coverage, AAA trip insurance plans include the Premier, Classic, and Basic.
What Does AAA Travel Insurance Cover?
AAA travel insurance plans are trip protection plans, meaning they offer coverage for trip hiccups such as trip cancellation, trip delay, and trip interruption.
These plans can also offer coverage for baggage delay, rental car collision, and decent coverage for emergency medical expenses.
Plans can cover both international and domestic travel (for U.S. citizens traveling domestically or internationally only).
.png)
How Much Does AAA Travel Health Insurance Plans Cost?
We entered a 45 year old female traveling to the Virgin Islands for a one week stay estimating a $3,000 total trip cost. Starting with the most affordable option, here is what each AAA travel insurance plan offers and the cost of each.
The Basic Plan - $117.00
- Trip Cancellation: Up to amount purchased
- Trip Interruption: Up to amount purchased
- Travel Delay: $300
- Baggage Coverage: $500
- Baggage Delay: $200
- Emergency Medical/Dental: $10,000
- Emergency Transportation: $50,000
The Classic Plan - $154.00
- Trip Cancellation: Up to amount purchased
- Trip Interruption: Up to 150% of amount purchased
- Change Fee Coverage: $500
- Loyalty Program Redeposit Fee Coverage: $500
- Travel Delay: $800
- Baggage Coverage: $1,000
- Baggage Delay: $300
- Emergency Medical/Dental: $50,000
- Emergency Transportation: $500,000
The Classic Plan has another version with RTW for an additional $36 bringing it to $204, with the benefits the same except the Emergency Medical/Dental Coverage is lower at $25,000.
The Premier Plan - $168.00
- Trip Cancellation: Up to amount purchased
- Trip Interruption: Up to 150% of amount purchased
- Change Fee Coverage: $500
- Loyalty Program Redeposit Fee Coverage: $500
- Travel Delay: $1,600
- Baggage Coverage: $2,000
- Baggage Delay: $600
- Emergency Medical/Dental: $50,000
- Emergency Transportation: $1,000,000
The question you have to ask yourself is if AAA travel health insurance is enough coverage for your needs? These figures are also based on where you depart from within the United States so each state may have different options and prices. There also doesn't seem to be coverage for trip cancellation or interruption, nor any coverage for flight delays, missed or delayed connecting flights, or baggage loss.
Our goal is to offer options that make sense, for not only your basic travel expenses, but for your individual medical needs as well. It's easy to say "nothing will happen to me, I'm healthy," but sometimes the unexpected happens. It's good to be prepared.
Which AAA Travel Insurance Plan Is Best?
The AAA travel protection Basic plan might suffice for weekend domestic trips, especially if you already have comprehensive health insurance through an employer or private plan. The $10,000 emergency medical coverage could be adequate for minor issues within the U.S.
However, for international travel or longer domestic trips, this coverage might prove insufficient. Even out-of-state medical costs can escalate quickly, and the $50,000 emergency transportation limit might not cover all expenses for international medical evacuations, which can easily exceed $100,000 depending on location.
The AAA travel insurance Premier Plan does offer more for transportation, but it would also be beneficial to have higher medical coverage benefits. $100k in travel medical coverage is preferable since hospital care, at an average of $4k per day, can quickly cut into that $50k should you have a serious injury.
The Classic Plan is one step below the Premier Plan, however, the question we had was why pay $36 more for $25k less in benefits? Especially when you can find plans that have significantly higher coverage at lower costs.
Are AAA Travel Insurance Plans Better Than Other Travel Insurance Options?
Comparing AAA plans against other travel insurance plans can help you find plans that are cheaper or plans that have stronger coverage. However, the ideal travel insurance choice depends on your individual circumstances, trip details, and personal risk factors. While AAA travel insurance provides decent trip protection benefits at a decent price, travelers with specific medical concerns or those heading to international destinations may benefit from exploring additional options.
For those needing specialized coverage options like coverage for canceling your trip for any reason, high medical coverage, pre-existing condition, or a plan for a specific destination or visa requirement, comparing multiple providers can often reveal more suitable options.
Regardless of which provider you choose, the most important thing is ensuring you have appropriate coverage before departing on your journey. Taking time to research and compare options can provide significant peace of mind during your travels.
The VisitorsCoverage Advantage
Our goal is to offer options that make sense, for not only your basic travel expenses, but for your individual medical needs as well. It's easy to say "nothing will happen to me, I'm healthy," but sometimes the unexpected happens. It's good to be prepared.
You may have pre-existing conditions that we can help find solutions for, as well as medical coverage, to meet the requirements of any country you are intending to visit. It’s important to note that many countries now are requiring travelers to have travel insurance for entry. We can help get you the right coverage for your entire trip.
If you venture beyond domestic borders, it's crucial to consider international travel insurance coverage. While AAA travel health insurance international provides options for international travel, some may seem insufficient given the risks, such as unfamiliar healthcare systems and potential emergencies overseas. Using a comparison tool can help you find more comprehensive and advantageous international travel insurance plans rather than immediately getting travel insurance through AAA without comparing your options
If you are a visitor to the U.S. or looking for options for someone visiting the U.S., VisitorsCoverage can help you find the best travel insurance plans with emergency medical coverage for foreign visitors traveling to the United States.
VisitorsCoverage Is Here for You
As you get ready for your next trip, all of us at VisitorsCoverage want to make the planning process as easy as possible. If you have any questions, our licensed travel insurance experts are available to help. We'll send you on to your trip as hassle-free as possible.
- AAA offers three types of travel insurance plans - the basic, the classic, and the premier plan.
- AAA travel insurance offers trip-related protection, such as trip cancellation, trip interruption, trip delay, baggage coverage, and emergency medical coverage.
- The cost of travel insurance through AAA will depend upon your destination, length of trip, total nonrefundable expenses, and the type of plan you choose.
- While convenient for members, AAA travel protection plans focus on trip protection rather than comprehensive travel health coverage.
- Travelers should compare AAA plans with other providers to ensure they find the most suitable coverage for their specific needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does AAA travel insurance cover medical emergencies while traveling abroad?
AAA health insurance plans for trips do provide some emergency medical coverage abroad, but with relatively modest limits ($10,000 on the Basic plan and $50,000 on the Classic and Premier plans). However, these amounts may be insufficient for serious medical emergencies, especially for older travelers.
Is AAA travel insurance cheaper or better than other travel medical insurance options?
Not really, AAA travel insurance is decently priced for basic trip protection, but may not offer the best value for those primarily concerned with medical coverage or want a bigger bang for their buck. Specialized travel medical insurance plans often provide substantially higher benefit limits for medical coverage (up to $2 million) or comparing other travel insurance options against AAA plans can help you find plans with coverage and prices closer to your budget and needs.
Are pre-existing medical conditions covered under AAA travel insurance?
No, AAA travel protection plans typically exclude medical coverage for pre-existing conditions. For elderly travelers with conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or past surgeries, it's crucial to verify the specific terms of coverage or consider specialized plans with more comprehensive pre-existing condition coverage.
Does Medicare cover me outside the U.S.?
No, Medicare generally does not cover healthcare services outside the United States, with very limited exceptions. This creates a significant coverage gap for seniors traveling internationally. Medical travel insurance for seniors is designed specifically to fill this gap with coverage tailored to older travelers' needs, often with higher medical limits than standard AAA medical insurance provides.
Does the AAA plan include medical evacuation or repatriation back home?
Yes, AAA trip insurance includes emergency transportation benefits ranging from $50,000 (Basic plan) to $1,000,000 (Premier plan). This coverage can facilitate transport to adequate medical facilities or repatriation home if medically necessary. The Premier plan offers the most robust coverage for these potentially expensive services.
Does AAA offer international travel insurance?
Yes, AAA offers travel insurance plans that offer coverage for international trips. However, it is important to review the coverage details of AAA international travel insurance to ensure that it meets your individual needs and budget, and to compare international travel insurance plans to find the right fit for you.
What does AAA travel insurance cover?
Travel insurance with AAA offers coverage for unforeseen trip-related hiccups during one’s travels such as cancellations, delays, medical emergencies, rental car damage, lost luggage, and more.
Does AAA membership include travel insurance?
AAA membership does not include travel insurance, travel insurance must be purchased. However, AAA does offer membership exclusive plans such as their TripAssist plan.
Is there anything that AAA trip insurance doesn’t cover?
Depending on the plan you purchase, there may be limitations and exclusions in AAA international travel insurance coverage such as for pre-existing conditions, routine care, or participation in adventure sports. It's important to review AAA travel protection and compare your international travel insurance options to find a policy that will offer you a sufficient safeguard abroad.
Does AAA membership include travel insurance for seniors?
While AAA travel insurance provides adequate coverage for some travelers, seniors may find specialized travel insurance for seniors more suitable for their needs. Senior-focused plans often offer more generous medical benefits, higher coverage limits, fewer age restrictions, and better coverage for pre-existing conditions.
