What is a Travel Insurance Underwriter?

An underwriter is an insurer responsible for issuing the policy, setting its terms, and paying covered travel insurance claims. In most cases, a travel insurance underwriter is a licensed insurer that partners with a travel insurance provider to assume the policy’s financial risk.

What Does an Underwriter Do?

A travel insurance underwriter is the insurance company that backs the policy and assumes the financial risk. While a travel insurance provider or marketplace may sell or market the plan, the underwriter is responsible for making sure covered claims are paid according to the policy’s terms.

Specifically, a travel insurance underwriter:

  • Issues the policy and defines its legal terms and conditions
  • Sets coverage limits, exclusions, and eligibility requirements
  • Prices the policy by assessing risk factors like age, trip cost, destination, and primary residence
  • Pays covered claims and ensures claims are handled in accordance with state insurance regulations

In short, the underwriter is the entity that financially guarantees your travel insurance coverage, providing stability and regulatory oversight behind every policy.

Top Travel Insurance Underwriters

When comparing travel insurance on Squaremouth, you can find each plan’s underwriter within the policy details. All travel insurance products on our platform are backed by financially strong underwriters that guarantee your coverage and claims.

Trusted travel insurance underwriters you may encounter when looking for coverage include:

  • Arch Insurance Company
  • Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company
  • Centurion Casualty Company
  • Crum & Forster
  • Generali U.S. Branch
  • Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
  • SiriusPoint
  • Spinnaker Insurance Company
  • Starr Indemnity & Liability Company
  • United States Fire Insurance Company

How Do I Determine if an Underwriter is Reputable?

The underwriter matters because they are the ultimate decision-maker and the financial backer of the travel insurance product you purchase. If you purchase from an unknown or less reputable underwriter, you run the risk of a claim being denied fraudulently or due to financial reasons. On the other hand, a reputable underwriter guarantees your travel insurance claim will be handled fairly and honestly.

How Do I Determine if an Underwriter is Reputable?

The best way to determine an underwriter’s reliability is to reference its AM Best Financial Strength Rating. These scores, which range from A++ (Superior) to D (Poor), assess an insurer’s financial stability and ability to fulfill claim obligations.

Every travel insurance provider available through Squaremouth.com has an AM Best Rating of an A- (Excellent) or higher, meaning you can trust the underwriters found on our comparison marketplace to pay claims and honor policy commitments.

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