American Express Travel Insurance Review

Overall Rating

I was paid for a number of elements of my claim.
They allowed me to travel back from Sweden via Paris, because I had to bring my dog back with me, and he could not fly direct from Sweden into the UK because of Pet Passport scheme restrictions.

The claims handling company, subcontracted by American Express, appeared to have gone out of business whilst handling my claim. American Express never informed me of that. I only found out by searching the web when I found enormous delays in processing my claim.
American Express repeatedly called me back on my UK mobile number (costing me roaming charges, which I couldn't claim) - despite me asking them to call a Swedish mobile number.
American Express would not pay for the travel costs incurred in collecting my dog from the police station where he was sent whilst I was sent to hospital. In effect, my personal effects were separated from me in the accident, but I had to pay to get them back.

I had picked a big brand name for my travel insurance, thinking American Express would care about the quality of their service and provide impeccable service. In the event, I had to make all the running to get I guess 90% of my claim paid.
But I wouldn't complain would I? I'm just happy to be about and walking after breaking my neck, and I am tired of writing letters and calling different people. I do hope insurers read these reviews. I cancelled my policy with American Express immediately after the bad experience, despite having been a loyal customer with no claims for six or seven years beforehand.

Members' Comments onusername1's Review

• hull4 on 4th Aug 2007

  I am sorry for your accident and glad that you're better now. Everyone should take note from this post to always read your policy or have someone explain it to you. Please be aware that you probably won't find a travel insurance that covers everything. I used to work for a company that had benefits with a similar policy and AMEX is actually an excellent policy with excellent coverage. With socialized medicine, you may have better coverage IF you can get the treatment, but private insurance is different and Travel insurance is even more limited and different from regular health insurance in some ways but filling the bill that private insurance doesn't cover in other ways..
  Without travel insurance, if your regular policy doesn't cover you away from home or out of the country, the headaches you experienced are only a drop in the bucket of what you would experience otherwise. Even getting initial treatment could be a major hassle and who needs that in an emergency? They are going to want to make sure they are paid FIRST, to heck with you. You wouldn't believe some of the horror stories I heard from people that didn't have insurance.
  Travel Insurance is actually a form of gap insurance and NO insurance covers everything. When picking out any policy, you have to pick and choose what is important to you and, often grudgingly,
  what you are willing to do without. We - all of us - would like everything covered but that's extreme wishful thinking especially in this day and time.
  Best wishes and DO consider finding another policy before your next excursion.