It's a busy time for travel insurance companies as they reach out to help stranded travelers, those who've had trips canceled and travel agents trying to assist clients.
Allianz has received more than 3,200 claims, while their customer service center has fielded more than 1,200 calls, from customers seeking support following Hurricane Irma.
Allianz has also received more than 2,400 claims related to Hurricane Harvey along with a handful for Hurricane Jose.
Help Is on the Way
For those seeking assistance, Allianz has created an alert page on its website that is a one-stop resource for important information and for those with questions about their travel insurance coverage.
"Hurricane Irma has caused thousands of our customers to cancel their trips to Florida," said Daniel Durazo, director of communications at Allianz Global Assistance USA.
For those who don't need immediate assistance, Durazo notes that claims can be filed directly on the Allianz website or through its TravelSmart mobile app.
"For those customers who no longer have access to reliable mail delivery, they should select the debit card payment option when they file a claim," Durazo added. "That allows us to send their payment directly to their debit card shortly after their claim is approved."
Visitors will find policy information on the dedicated website, information on travel delays, information for filing claims, emergency contact phone numbers and tips for what to do if travel is delayed or canceled.
What to Do First
Durazo recommends that anyone whose travel is affected contact their travel supplier first before they cancel their trip: "Many travel suppliers, including airlines and hotels, are waiving change fees to allow rescheduling without penalty. If our customers are able to change the dates of their trip, they just need to visit our website and we will change the dates of their travel insurance policy to correspond to the new dates of travel."
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Durazo also reminds travelers to read their travel insurance policies and get to know the benefits and services that they have access to.
"It's also a good idea to download our TravelSmart mobile app which includes one touch dialing to reach our travel assistance department, which can help with finding new flights, accommodations and solutions to other travel related problems," he added.
Assistance for Travel Agents
Many of these same strategies also apply to travel agents.
"Travel agents who have clients impacted by Irma-who purchased a travel insurance policy before the storm was named on August 30-should contact travel suppliers before they cancel a client's trip," notes Durazo.
"Allianz knows that our travel agent partners appreciate the resources we provide to help clients and pay their claims quickly. While we are heartbroken to see the devastation caused by major hurricanes, we find that these events do remind travelers about the importance of purchasing travel insurance when booking a trip to provide peace of mind in an uncertain world."
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