Travel Insurance 101

Am I Eligible for Travel Protection? A Guide to Finding the Right Plan

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Summary: Travel Protection eligibility depends on your residency, pre-existing medical conditions, travel destination, and more. Plans are available for U.S. residents and specific visa holders, though certain high-risk countries are excluded. Understanding these factors is key to choosing the right plan.

Travel insurance and assistance services can help provide peace of mind when exploring new destinations, but determining eligibility for a plan can sometimes be confusing. Factors such as residency, visa status, pre-existing conditions, travel destinations, and more can play a crucial role in your ability to purchase a plan.

Here’s what you need to know to determine if a Generali Global Assistance travel protection plan is right for you.

Residency Requirements for Travel Protection

Residency is a key factor in determining eligibility. For our purposes, residency is based on where you currently reside. Here’s how we define it:

  • Primary U.S. Residence: If your main home is in the U.S., you will typically qualify.
  • Multiple Residences: If you split your time between multiple homes, your eligibility will be determined based on where you spend the majority of your time throughout the year.
  • Living Abroad: Even if you have a U.S. home, pay state taxes, and have a state-issued driver's license, you are considered an international resident if you are currently living abroad. In this case, you may not qualify for U.S.-resident travel protection plans. If you do not reside in the U.S., you may be eligible for a plan through our international partners.
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Eligibility for U.S. Territories

Your residency status if you live in a U.S. territory also affects travel protection eligibility:

We do not consider individuals residing in U.S. territories, such as Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and Samoa, as U.S. residents for eligibility purposes. We do not have an option for travelers that reside outside the 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Also Read: What to Look for in a Travel Protection Company

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F1 Visa Holders and Travel Protection

International students on an F1 visa are eligible to purchase travel protection as long as their primary residence is in the U.S. Here’s what you need to know:

  • Purchasing while in the U.S.: If you reside primarily in the U.S., you can buy a travel protection plan for both domestic and international trips.
  • Traveling Outside the U.S.: If you are traveling outside the U.S., including to your home country, you can still purchase coverage as long as your primary residence remains in the U.S.
  • Buying a Plan While Abroad: Even if you are temporarily outside the U.S. when purchasing a plan, you may still be eligible.
  • Visa Status and Coverage: Your visa status itself does not affect your eligibility for travel protection, provided you meet the residency requirement.

Also Read: Travel Visas: What They Are and Where Americans Need Them

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Pre-existing Medical Conditions

Pre-existing medical conditions may impact your travel protection coverage, and only our Premium Plan includes this feature. Here’s what you need to know:

  • To qualify for travel protection with a pre-existing conditions benefit, you must be medically able to travel at the time of purchase and insure all prepaid, non-refundable trip costs. Coverage is purchased prior to or within 24 hours of your final Trip Payment

  • There is a look-back period of 180 days in most states during which any condition you have received treatment or a diagnosis for is considered pre-existing.

  • If you do not meet the requirements, your pre-existing condition may not be covered under the plan.*

*The plan must be purchased within 24 hours of final trip payment (may vary for some states)

If you are unsure whether you have a pre-existing condition, you can take our quiz:

Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) Eligibility

For added flexibility, our Premium Plan offers an optional "Cancel For Any Reason" (CFAR) add-on. This coverage can reimburse up to 75% of your insured trip costs if you have to cancel for a reason not already covered by the Plan.

  • Eligibility & Requirements May Vary By State: To be eligible for CFAR coverage, you must purchase it within 24 hours of your initial trip deposit. You are also required to insure all your nonrefundable trip costs and have a trip cost per person of no more than $10,000. All travelers under the Plan must cancel in order for the coverage to be used.
  • Important Note: To use this benefit, you must cancel your trip at least 48 hours before your scheduled departure. Please note that this coverage is not available for residents of New York.

Also Read: Cancel ‎for Any Reason Travel Insurance: Is it Worth it?

Additional Eligibility Factors to Consider

Beyond residency and medical conditions, other factors can influence your eligibility and coverage:

  • Age: Our plans do not cover travelers over 100 years of age.
  • Trip Duration: Generali Global Assistance travel protection plans are designed to cover trips up to 180 days in length in most states.
  • Time of Purchase: The timing of your plan purchase can affect eligibility for certain benefits, such as coverage for pre-existing conditions or CFAR. Generali Global Assistance travel protection plans can be purchased up to 18 months before the trip departure date and up until the day prior to departure.

    Also Read: When to Buy Travel Insurance and Assistance Services: Timing is Everything

Travel Destinations and Coverage

Your travel destination can also influence your eligibility for travel protection. Here are a few key points to keep in mind:

Our plans exclude coverage for travel to certain destinations: 

OFAC Countries

Afghanistan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, all destinations in the Middle East, Myanmar, Niger, North Korea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela, Yemen, the Russian Federation, Crimea, and the Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples regions.

Understanding travel protection eligibility can help you make informed decisions about coverage before your trip. By considering all of these cases, you can choose a plan that meets your needs and provides peace of mind during your travels.

Before purchasing a plan, be sure to carefully review the coverages to see if it aligns with your specific situation. Get started here.

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