Compare GeoBlueTravelInsurance

"We purchased a year-long, multi-trip policy, as we often travel internationally. This policy is very reasonably priced and covers all our needs without having to choose a plan every time we travel. For small pharmaceutical or medical expenses, we don't bother to make a claim, but like the security of knowing we are covered for anything major. Renewal is easy and agents always available."

"While we were traveling in Ecuador, I had an accident required hospitalization. Here are the highlights (lowlights?) of the experience with Geo Blue:

• They didn’t have information about medical facilities in Ecuador. We were told to figure it out on our own and submit our bills for reimbursement. I was transported in the back of a pickup truck to a mission hospital. They then transported me in their ambulance to the nearest community with imaging equipment, 1.5-hours away. I was hospitalized in that town and attended by a trauma specialist and an internal medicine specialist.

• The App was supposedly the fastest way to request a medical evacuation … No response was ever received via the app.

• Via phone we were eventually able to get to the department that handles medical evacuations. We spoke to a very responsive and informative agent. He assigned a case number, verified that he had received all my medical documents, and that work would begin on my evacuation. When I called 8 hours later, they said they were busy on another case and would call me back shortly. By the next day there was still no call or email. In fact, they never got back to us. In the end, we made our own arrangements to get me home.

• We submitted the claim and the automated response said that it would take 30 days to process and that we would be contacted by email if they needed more information. 46 days after submission, we received payment in the mail. They paid for my CT scans and flight changes but DECLINED PAYMENT OF MY 2 AMBULANCE RIDES AND HOSPITALIZATION because, although the hospital included detailed information on services provided (in Spanish), it seems they did not include a diagnosis code. Also, because my husband paid the bill, the hospital issued the receipts in his name, not mine, so Geo Blue wouldn’t pay, even though his name was also on our insurance policy.

• We asked for a reevaluation of their decision and for their assistance in contacting the hospital for the additional information they want, since no one at the hospital speaks English. We even enlisted the assistance of our insurance broker to contact GeoBlue on our behalf. This was the emailed reply from GeoBlue, “The documents submitted are insufficient. If the member is unable to obtain these required documents, please make an outreach to the providers.”

Throughout this experience we have dealt with polite agents, but every one of them seems to have their hands tied and be unable to provide any service beyond talking to us and emailing a claim form.

One of the realities of international travel is that the traveler often does not speak or read the local language nor know the ins and outs of their medical systems. This insurance was promoted as one that could provide resources and help if we needed medical assistance while traveling. That proved to be untrue, at least in Ecuador. One of the agents told us that they had Spanish speakers who could contact the hospital directly, but, by the response from the claims team, it doesn’t appear that they are willing to even help us in that small way."