John Hancock Travel Insurance Review 2024

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John Hancock Travel Insurance Overview

John Hancock Travel Insurance is a long-standing and well-regarded insurer. The company has been around for more than a century since it was founded in 1862.

We’ll cover the travel insurance policies John Hancock offers, coverage options and limits, and the premiums you can expect to pay. We’ll also compare John Hancock with other leading travel insurance providers to help you better understand the similarities and differences.

Regardless of your timeline, destination, or itinerary, it’s essential to consider the effects that an unexpected event could bring during your planned trip. Insurance could be a wise investment if you face travel-related expenses like medical costs, emergency evacuations, trip delays, etc.

John Hancock Travel Insurance Coverage

John Hancock Travel Insurance keeps it simple by offering three plans: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Each provides different coverage limits; your premiums depend on your personal details and trip specifics.

Here’s a look at the coverage limits you’ll get with each plan:

John Hancock Travel Insurance Bronze Plan

The Bronze coverage plan from John Hancock offers a comprehensive suite of benefits to ensure peace of mind during your travels. It covers 100% of your trip cost for cancellations and extends to 125% for trip interruptions, ensuring you’re compensated beyond just the money you’ve spent. In cases of medical emergencies, you’re covered up to $50K with primary coverage, and for more severe situations necessitating medical evacuation or repatriation, the coverage increases significantly to $250K. Travel delays are also considered, offering $500 for delays over 6 hours, calculated at a rate of $150 daily.

For baggage inconveniences, the plan covers $250 for delays exceeding 12 hours, and for baggage or personal item loss, you’re covered up to $750 per person, with a per-item limit of $250 and a specific item limit of $750. Missed connections haven’t been overlooked either, with a $200 coverage for delays over 3 hours. Finally, the plan provides a safety net of $25K for 24-hour accidental death and dismemberment, ensuring a comprehensive range of protections to address a variety of travel-related contingencies.

John Hancock Travel Insurance Silver Plan

The Silver coverage plan from John Hancock provides an enhanced level of protection for travelers seeking extra security. It ensures 100% reimbursement of your trip cost if you need to cancel, and for trip interruptions, it generously offers 150% coverage, going above and beyond to cover unexpected additional costs. Medical emergencies are comprehensively covered with $100K in primary coverage, and in the dire event of needing medical evacuation or repatriation, you are safeguarded with an ample $500K coverage. Travel delays are mitigated with $750 coverage for delays over 3 hours, maintaining a daily cap of $150.

For baggage delays, the plan provides a substantial $500 for delays exceeding 12 hours, and in the unfortunate event of baggage or personal item loss, you are covered up to $1,000 per person, with a per-item limit of $250 and a specific item limit of $1,000, ensuring your belongings are well-protected. Missed connections due to delays over 3 hours are also taken into account, with a $750 coverage to alleviate the inconvenience. Lastly, the plan includes a significant $100K coverage for 24-hour accidental death and dismemberment, offering a comprehensive safety net for a wide array of travel uncertainties.

John Hancock Travel Insurance Gold Plan

The Gold coverage plan from John Hancock Travel Insurance represents the pinnacle of travel protection, offering a luxurious safety blanket for those who desire the utmost in security and comfort. It guarantees 100% of your trip cost back for cancellations and escalates to an impressive 150% for interruptions, ensuring that unexpected changes are more than just compensated. Medical concerns are given top priority with a robust $250K in primary coverage for emergencies, and for critical situations that require medical evacuation or repatriation, a substantial $1M coverage is in place.

The plan takes care of travel delays with a generous $1,000 for inconveniences over 3 hours, at a rate of $200 daily. Baggage delays are addressed with a $500 compensation for waits over 12 hours, ensuring your immediate needs are met. Furthermore, for baggage or personal item loss, the plan provides an extensive coverage of $2,500 per person, with a per-item limit of $250 and a specific item limit of $2,500, offering significant protection for your belongings. Missed connections due to delays over 3 hours are also covered, with a notable $1K to help mitigate the inconvenience. Lastly, for ultimate peace of mind, the plan includes $100K coverage for 24-hour accidental death and dismemberment, making the Gold plan a comprehensive choice for those seeking premium protection in their travel insurance.

Additional Coverage Options from John Hancock (Riders)

Like many other travel insurance providers, John Hancock offers a few add-ons. These include:

These add-ons can be purchased simultaneously, as your policy for an additional cost. And the coverage amounts may vary depending on the policy purchased.

John Hancock Travel Insurance Cost

Pricing Structure

The most important thing to remember is that the cost of your policy will depend primarily on your age and the cost of your trip. So premiums can vary widely.

That said, the industry averages for travel insurance range from 4% to 8% of overall trip costs, which is a good benchmark to have in mind.

And luckily, getting a quote from John Hancock is simple. Go to its website and enter the required information about the traveler and trip. You’ll be required to provide information including:

• Your state of residence
• Age
• Destination
• Travel dates
• The cost of your trip

We pulled a few quotes as examples to sample how much a policy from John Hancock might cost.

We’ll first look at the coverage options for a 30-year-old Kansas resident taking a two-week trip to Thailand and spending $3,000.

With premiums ranging from $111 to $160, this traveler will pay around 4% to 5% of their trip cost for coverage. This is on the lower end of the industry averages primarily due to the traveler’s age.

The next example is of the premiums for a 55-year-old Maryland resident traveling to the UK for two weeks. The trip cost is set at $6,000.

The premiums range from $305 to $451, representing 5% to 7.5% of the total trip cost, depending on your coverage level. Again, in line with industry averages.

Finally, we compared the costs for the three different John Hancock plans for a 40-year-old resident of Oregon spending $8,000 on a trip to South Africa.

In this example, the premiums range from $422 to $545. These may seem high, but they are still within 5% to 7% of the total cost of the trip.

As you can see, the coverage cost depends mainly on the traveler’s age and the total cost of the trip. That said, all of these quotes align with the average cost of travel insurance, which is between 4% and 8% of total trip costs.

Tips for Saving Money on Your John Hancock Travel Insurance Policy

Saving money on your travel insurance policy without compromising coverage is crucial for many travelers. Here are some tips to help you save money on your John Hancock Travel Insurance policy:

• Early Purchase Benefits: Buying your travel insurance shortly after booking your trip can often unlock benefits or discounts. Some policies offer early purchase advantages, such as waiving pre-existing condition exclusions or providing additional coverage options.
• Choose the Right Plan: John Hancock offers different levels of coverage (Bronze, Silver, and Gold). Assess your travel needs carefully and choose a plan that covers your essentials without paying for unnecessary extras. For instance, if you’re not bringing valuable items, you might opt for a plan with less baggage coverage.
• Leverage Group Discounts: If you’re traveling with family or a group, inquire about group discounts. Purchasing a single policy for multiple travelers can often be more cost-effective than individual policies.
• Review the Medical Coverage: If you already have health insurance that covers international travel, you might not need a travel insurance plan with extensive medical coverage. Check the details of your existing health plan to avoid overlapping coverage.
• Understand the Policy Thoroughly: Be clear about what’s covered and what’s not. This understanding can prevent you from incurring additional costs for activities or scenarios that your policy doesn’t cover. For instance, some policies might not cover adventure sports unless you purchase additional coverage.
• Consider a Multi-Trip Policy: If you travel several times a year, consider purchasing an annual or multi-trip policy instead of separate policies for each trip. This can often be more cost-effective and saves you the hassle of buying insurance multiple times a year.
• Check for Loyalty Discounts: If you’ve used John Hancock or a partner company before, check if they offer loyalty discounts or rewards. Some companies offer discounts or perks for returning customers.
• Deductibles: Some policies offer a reduced premium if you agree to a higher deductible. If you’re willing to pay more out-of-pocket in the event of a claim, this can lower your upfront costs.
• Shop Around: Travel insurance aggregators like SquareMouth will let you compare policies from multiple providers at ones, allowing you to better find the policy that matches your coverage needs at the right pricepoint.

Making a Claim with John Hancock Travel Insurance

If you need to file a claim, you can start by visiting the company’s claims website. The claims department can also be reached by phone at 855-422-6462 or by email at Affinityclaims@us.crawco.com.

Any documentation you might need to include with your claim can be emailed to the email address above or mailed to:

Claim Benefit Services
P.O. Box 459084
Sunrise, Florida 33345

Navigating the claims process with John Hancock Travel Insurance can be straightforward if you understand the steps involved and what is expected. Here’s a guide to help you navigate the claims process efficiently:

• Immediate Notification: As soon as you encounter an issue that may lead to a claim (such as a medical emergency, trip cancellation, or baggage loss), it’s crucial to contact John Hancock immediately. This can often be done through their 24/7 assistance line. Early notification can expedite the claims process and ensure you receive guidance on the necessary steps.
• Understand Your Policy: Before you make a claim, review your policy details to understand what is covered and the documentation required. Knowing your policy benefits and limitations can streamline the process and set clear expectations.
• Collect Documentation: Gathering all necessary documentation is a critical step. Depending on the nature of your claim, this may include medical reports, police reports, receipts, proof of travel or accommodation bookings, and any correspondence related to your claim (such as emails with airlines regarding lost luggage).
• Complete the Claims Form: You will need to complete a claims form, providing detailed information about your trip, the incident, and the loss or expenses incurred. Be as accurate and comprehensive as possible to avoid delays. The form should be available on the John Hancock website or upon request.
• Submit Your Claim: Once you have completed the claims form and gathered all necessary documentation, submit your claim as per the instructions provided by John Hancock. This can often be done via email, post, or an online portal.
• Claim Assessment: After your claim is submitted, it will be reviewed by a claims assessor. This process may involve additional questions or requests for further information. Prompt and complete responses can help expedite this stage.
• Claim Decision: Once your claim has been fully assessed, you will be notified of the decision. If your claim is approved, you will be informed about the compensation amount and when to expect payment. If your claim is denied, you should receive an explanation, and you may have the option to appeal the decision if you believe it was made in error.
• Receiving Payment: If your claim is approved, the payment will be processed according to the terms of your policy. The time frame for receiving payment can vary, so it’s important to have realistic expectations and keep in touch with John Hancock if there are any delays.
• Post-Claim Support: If you have questions or concerns after your claim is settled, John Hancock’s customer support can provide assistance and clarify any doubts.

Compare John Hancock Travel Insurance

John Hancock Travel Insurance vs. Nationwide Travel Insurance

Nationwide and John Hancock travel insurance are well-recognized names in the insurance industry. And each makes it easy to find coverage by offering just two or three single-trip policies.

With Nationwide, you can choose between the Essential and Prime plans.

Nationwide’s Essential Plan comes with the following:

• Trip cancellation coverage of up to $10,000
• Up to $250,000 in emergency medical evacuation
• Up to $150 per day ($600 maximum) reimbursement for travel delays of 6+ hours
• Coverage for delayed or lost baggage

In comparison, John Hancock’s Silver plan comes with 100% of the trip cost in trip cancellation coverage, $500,000 in emergency medical evacuation coverage, up to $150 per day ($750 maximum) reimbursement for travel delays of 3+ hours, and baggage insurance.

As you can see, the policy from John Hancock offers superior coverage. But let’s also compare their top-tier plans.

Nationwide travel insurance’s Prime Plan, which provides even more coverage, including:

• Trip cancellations up to $30,000
• Trip interruption coverage up to 200% of the trip cost (maximum of $60,000)
• $250 per day for trip delays of 6+ hours
• Up to $1 million for emergency medical evacuation

John Hancock’s top-tier Gold plan offers 100% of the trip cost in trip cancellation coverage, 150% of the trip cost in trip interruption coverage, $1 million in emergency medical evacuation coverage, up to $200 per day ($1,000 maximum) reimbursement for travel delays of 3+ hours.

When comparing these two policies, it’s a little more difficult to declare one the clear winner as many of the coverage limits are similar.

The best thing to do when looking for coverage is to compare premiums to determine which policy and provider is right for you.

Nationwide Travel Insurance Review

John Hancock Travel Insurance vs. AIG Travel Guard

John Hancock travel insurance and AIG Travel Guard offer three primary travel insurance plans. And with each plan, you’ll find different coverage limits and various types of protection.

To compare these two providers, we’ll look at the mid-tier options from each company.

With AIG Travel Guard Preferred plan, you’ll get the following:

• Trip cancellation coverage of up to $150,000
• Trip interruption coverage up to $225,000
• Emergency medical coverage of up to $50,000
• Coverage for baggage loss, theft, or damage up to $1,000
• Travel delay coverage of up to $800

Now we can compare that to John Hancock’s Silver Plan, which offers reimbursement of 100% of the trip cost in trip cancellation coverage, trip interruption coverage of 150% of the trip cost, $100,000 in emergency medical coverage, baggage coverage for up to $1,000, and travel delay coverage of up to $750.

You can see that the policies are pretty similar in their coverage limits. But remember that several factors will determine the actual premiums for these travel insurance policies. So we recommend getting a personalized quote before deciding which provider and policy is best for you.

AIG Travel Insurance Review

John Hancock Travel Insurance vs. Credit Card Travel Insurance

If you hold a travel credit card, consider what coverages it might offer. Some insurance, like rental-car collision coverage, may be available through a card you have. That may be sufficient, depending on the trip you’re taking.

For example, if you’re renting a car to take a road trip and don’t have a lot of pre-paid, non-refundable expenses associated with your trip, the coverage offered through your travel rewards credit card may suffice. But if you’re also looking for medical coverage and don’t already have a policy that covers you while traveling, purchasing travel insurance is the way to go.

In addition, credit card coverage is usually secondary. That means you’ll have to file a claim with any other applicable insurance (like the airline travel provider) before filing one with your credit card company.

How We Reviewed John Hancock Travel Insurance

To comprehensively review John Hancock travel insurance’s insurance offerings, we compared their travel plans to those of the best travel insurance companies. We took multiple things into account when deciding, such as coverage options, claim limits, what the policy includes, available add-ons, and typical insurance policy costs. The policy that would work best for you is the one that provides the right amount and type of coverage while also being affordable and easy to use if any issues occur.

John Hancock Travel Insurance Tips