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Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection is one of the leading insurance brands on the market. It offers several plans with key add-ons for travelers. The company also underwrites several policies sold by other travel insurance providers. Berkshire Hathaway boasts thousands of positive ratings from customers, an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, and an easy-to-use claim submission process.
This review will help you understand what Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection has to offer and guide you toward the right insurance package for your needs.
Travel insurance plans from Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection
Berkshire Hathaway offers several travel insurance policies for diverse needs. If you’re unsure of what you need, the flagship product covers the essentials. If you are planning a road trip, taking a cruise, or focusing on luxury or adventure, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection offers plans for your unique needs.
Berkshire Hathaway’s online quote generator is intuitive and easy to use. Once you submit a few details including your trip, you’ll get a list of eligible travel insurance policies and the cost comparison. You can also add bonus coverage options to your insurance shopping cart before completing the transaction online.
One-size-fits-all coverage (ExactCare)
The most popular policy, ExactCare, will work for most travelers. ExactCare’s travel-agnostic insurance package offers 3 coverage tiers: ExactCare Value, ExactCare, and ExactCare Extra. Each of these policies covers up to 100% of trip cancellation costs, a minimum of up to $750 in luggage losses, and 24/7 worldwide travel insurance.
Category-specific insurance plans are available as well for the following types of travel:
Road trip coverage (ExactCare Lite)
ExactCare Lite is a low-coverage policy for nonrefundable costs on domestic road trips such as hotel rooms, attractions, and event tickets. ExactCare Lite also includes emergency medical and medical evacuation coverage for covered events occurring more than 100 miles away from your home.
Importantly, if you have preexisting conditions that require ongoing care such as diabetes, high blood pressure, etc., a preexisting conditions waiver can be purchased within 15 days of the initial trip payment. Similarly, coverage for your kids can be included if purchased within 15 days of the initial trip payment.
Cruise coverage (WaveCare)
Coverage for preexisting conditions can only be added if insurance policy is purchased within 15 days of initial trip payment)
Comprehensive coverage (AdrenalineCare)
If you’re taking a bucket list trip with increased risk, higher costs, or complex travel details, take a look at AdrenalineCare. This comprehensive policy offers higher coverage ceilings for trip cancellation or interruption, equipment delay, license fee refunds, medical emergencies, lost baggage, and medical evacuation. This product is especially useful if you’re planning a trip with tight connections for transit, such as short times between connecting flights or a risky transfer from a vehicle to a boat or plane since the plan includes coverage for missed connections.
Additional coverage (can only be added if insurance policy is purchased within 15 days of initial trip payment)
Travelers with preexisting conditions need not worry with this plan. Coverage is included as are financial default and terrorism coverages.
High-end coverage (LuxuryCare)
LuxuryCare offers Berkshire Hathaway’s highest ceilings for coverage for those times when your trip is too important or expensive to risk your investment.
Additional coverage (can only be added if insurance policy is purchased within 15 days of initial trip payment)
Coverages for preexisting conditions and financial default are included.
Additional coverage options from Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection
Flight coverage (AirCare)
AirCare covers expenses specific to aviation travel including unexpected aircraft and tarmac delays, equipment failure, lost luggage, flight diversions, and late-night travel delays. This product is a good fit for travelers who are comfortable managing other aspects of travel risk on their own but want additional peace of mind in the event of flight-related hiccups.
AirCare sells a standalone policy or as an add-on alongside Berkshire Hathaway’s lower-tier travel insurance plans.
How much does travel insurance from Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection cost?
On average, travel insurance costs fall between 4% to 12% of your total trip costs, depending on the type of coverage you purchase. Based on the trips we tested, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection insurance plans clocked in at 3.5% to 5.5% of total travel costs on most policies. Budget plans such as ExactCare Lite and AirCare came in at 0.5% of total travel costs for basic coverage.
How do I file a claim with Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection?
Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection makes it easy to file a claim using the dedicated app, available for both iOS and Android devices. Register for an online account, upload your travel details under your insurance policy, and complete the required information to submit your claim even while you’re still on your trip.
For certain types of claims, such as lost baggage, you only need to submit a photograph of the claim you filed with the airline in addition to some basic information about the situation.
Many of the most positive customer reviews for Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection center around peace of mind. Customers didn’t have to file a claim, but enrollment was simple, and they were glad they had it. Reviews also note easy processing if you need to push your trip back (and use the same policy for your new trip). Some customers reporting to the BBB state that claims processing can be drawn out for weeks or even months. These delays may be more pronounced during high travel seasons.
If you prefer to file a claim more traditionally, you can reach Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection customer service via:
Website: https://www.bhtp.com/contact
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (844) 411-2487 (select option 5 to file a claim)
International number: +1 (715) 303-6333 (international calling rates will apply)
Customer service representatives are available between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday, and the company is closed for national holidays. Callers can also reach an emergency operator 24/7 for travel or medical assistance by selecting options 1 or 2.
Compare Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection vs. Nationwide
Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection is ranked favorably next to Nationwide, which is one of the most popular travel insurance providers in the market. You can’t go wrong picking a plan from either company. Both offer similarly priced and customizable policies for different types of travelers. These plans are highly ranked by both the Better Business Bureau and thousands of positive customer reviews.
Compare Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection vs. WorldTrips Atlas Travel
If you’re in the market for one of Berkshire Hathaway’s budget insurance policies, you may also want to consider options from WorldTrips. Like Berkshire Hathaway, WorldTrips is an industry leader providing low-cost plans with great coverage for most trips at competitive rates.
If you need travel medical insurance for a study abroad program, WorldTrips offers an international policy designed to meet students’ needs. Keep in mind, WorldTrips has exclusions for pre-existing conditions on many policies. So if you’re planning on being abroad for an extended period, you should make prior arrangements for things like diabetes, asthma, or other chronic conditions.
Compare Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection vs. credit card travel insurance
If you’re considering the ExactCare Lite or AirCare travel plans from Berkshire Hathaway, you might find equal or even superior Travel Protection through your credit card.
Some credit card providers offer travel insurance benefits with sizable payouts. This includes reimbursements for lost or delayed baggage far exceeding Berkshire Hathaway’s coverage limits. Similarly, some of the best credit cards offering travel insurance also advertise generous ceilings for medical insurance and evacuation benefits extending coverage into the million-dollar range.
Methodology
To review Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, we looked at coverage limits, cost, customer service, claim limits, how plans can be customized, and much more. Then we compared these factors with the best travel insurance companies.
We named Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection as a top pick in Insider’s best travel insurance companies guide because of the company’s long-standing reputation in insurance. Berkshire Hathaway’s travel insurance policies provide a slew of coverage options at different price points for various types of travelers. Furthermore, the company offers great customer support, intuitive resources, and a big name giving customers peace of mind. Check out our ratings guide to see how we rate travel insurance companies.