Travel Insurance and Tuition Protection
We strongly recommend that you explore options to protect your financial investment in an Aerie Semester. Travel insurance, also known as trip insurance, can compensate you for expenses associated with travel cancellations or delays. If you decide to purchase this type of insurance, some companies offer “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) policies. In most cases, you will need to purchase trip insurance within a limited number of days after putting a deposit down on your Semester.
Travel insurance policies may also offer emergency medical or evacuation insurance. However, we encourage you to consult with your existing health insurance provider to learn about available, “in-network” health insurance coverage during an Aerie Semester.
Tuition protection programs can help cover the cost of your tuition if you withdraw for one of the reasons agreed upon in the policy – usually medical or mental health issues. However, these types of policies don’t typically pay for voluntary withdrawals, expulsion, or failing grades.
Several companies offering trip insurance and tuition protection are listed below. The travel agent listed below is familiar with outdoor programs and can assist in choosing trip insurance and tuition protection plans. However, Aerie doesn’t explicitly endorse any of these; we are merely providing you with several options as a baseline from which to begin your own research. Aerie Backcountry Medicine is not affiliated with any insurance agency, nor with the travel agent listed, and does not receive any commission for you purchasing trip insurance or tuition protection for our programs. We can, however, provide supporting documentation if you need to provide a formal statement to your insurance company about early departure or cancellation.
Please review Aerie’s Refund & Cancellation Policy.
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Travelex Insurance Services
Name: Travelex Insurance Services
Website: https://www.travelexinsurance.com/
Phone Number: 1-800-228-9792
Email: customersolutions@travelexinsurance.com
Background: Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, Travelex is a leading travel insurance provider in the United States. They are a Berkshire Hathaway specialty insurance company, which provides them with significant financial stability.
Important Notes and Ratings:
BBB Rating: A+ (Accredited)
Primary Coverage: They often offer primary coverage on medical claims, meaning students don’t have to wait for their personal health insurance to reject a claim before Travelex pays.
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Allianz Global Assistance
Name: Allianz Global Assistance
Website: https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/
Phone Number: 1-866-884-3556
Email: (Allianz directs all inquiries through their secure “Contact Us” web form or the “TravelSmart” mobile app).
Background: Allianz Partners is one of the world’s largest insurance and asset management companies. Their U.S. travel insurance division is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, and serves millions of customers annually.
Important Notes and Ratings:
BBB Rating: A+ (Accredited)
User-Centric Feature: “SmartBenefits” can automatically pay fixed amounts for travel or baggage delays without requiring the student to upload receipts, simplifying the process while in the field.
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GradGuard
Name: GradGuard
Website: https://gradguard.com/
Phone Number: 1-866-985-7598
Email: customerservice@gradguard.com
Background: Based in Phoenix, Arizona, GradGuard is an authority specifically focused on protecting the investment of college students and their families. They partner with over 400 colleges and universities across the U.S. to provide tuition and renters insurance.
Important Notes and Ratings:
BBB Rating: Not BBB Accredited (However, their underwriter, Jefferson Insurance Company, holds an A+ “Superior” rating from A.M. Best).
Note: Students should confirm that their specific Aerie program (if taken for credit through a partner university like the University of Montana) qualifies for standard tuition protection, or if they need to buy a policy directly as a “non-degree” student.