GeoBlue is a leading provider of international travel health insurance plans for individuals, families, groups and expeditions traveling outside their home country. In this GeoBlue Travel Insurance Review, we will explore the coverage options, benefits, and strengths that have earned GeoBlue high ratings and an excellent reputation.
Founded in 1998, GeoBlue has over 20 years of experience insuring international travelers. The company is backed by Bupa Global, one of the world’s largest international private medical insurance providers.
GeoBlue offers a wide range of travel health plans for short-term trips from 3 days to 365 days in length. Overall, they have earned an A.M. Best rating of A (Excellent) for their strong financial stability and commitment to customer service.
GeoBlue policies have received over 27 reviews on Trustpilot, averaging 1.7 out of 5 stars. Satisfied customers praise GeoBlue’s comprehensive coverage, easy claims process, and 24/7 multilingual assistance.
As one satisfied traveler stated, “I contracted COVID on my recent trip to West Africa, and GeoBlue paid all expenses claimed as promised in their insurance contract. They responded promptly to all my inquiries. My claim was paid within a month, as advertised. I would definitely recommend them.”
Another reviewer said “We used GeoBlue for several years (6) for our child who studied abroad in Asia. We had a good experience with them. They were easy to access and communicate with. We did not have any major clams except routine visits and medication which were covered. Overall, I would recommend them for this purpose.”
However, an overwhelming majority of reviewers mentioned issues like long hold times or claims questions. However, GeoBlue’s public responses don’t seem to show they worked diligently to find resolutions.
Coverage Options
GeoBlue offers three core plan levels—Basic, Plus, and Elite—as detailed below:
Basic Plan
| Feature | Coverage Limit |
|---|---|
| Medical Expenses | $1 million |
| Emergency Evacuation | Included |
| Accidental Death | $25,000 |
| Emergency Reunion | $750 per day, up to $5,000 |
The basic plan focuses on emergency medical care, transportation, and family visitation coverage.
Plus Plan
| Feature | Coverage Limit |
|---|---|
| Cancellation/Interruption | $10,000 |
| Baggage Loss | $1,000 |
| Quarantine Assistance | $2,000 |
| Trip Delay | $1,500 |
The plus plan layers on additional insurance for trip disruptions and baggage delays or loss.
Elite Plan
| Feature | Coverage Limit |
|---|---|
| Medical Expenses | $2 million |
| Hospitalization | $100/day, up to $1,000 |
| Crisis Response | $10,000 |
| Trip Cancellation For Any Reason | Up to 75% of non-refundable costs |
The elite plan provides maximum coverage amounts suited for customized expeditions and longer-term trips.
All plans offer additional benefits like 24/7 doctor phone consultations, medical evacuation protection, and concierge service to streamline claims. Students and seniors may qualify for discounts. Custom plans cover a variety of activities too.
GeoBlue also partners with ID911 to offer personal safety monitoring tools, an added security layer valuable for remote destinations. Visitors can easily compare each option.
Additional Benefits
Beyond insurance, GeoBlue ensures access to quality care abroad through relationships with International SOS and North American Air Rescue. This global network of vetted doctors, hospitals, and emergency resources helps members receive care equivalent to their home country standards when needed.
For families, Global Traveler magazine rated GeoBlue as one of the best international health plans for traveling with children under 18. Their comprehensive maternity coverage remains rare in the travel insurance industry too.
Overall, with robust and tailored plans paired with outstanding care services worldwide, GeoBlue aims to protect travelers with confidence wherever their adventures lead. These strengths earned their reputation as experts in cross-border healthcare.
Customer Reviews and Ratings
Across major review platforms, GeoBlue consistently earns mixed marks reflecting a general double stand on their services, though overwhelmingly negative. On Trustpilot, over 27 reviewers give a 1.7/5 rating.
As one traveler noted:
International Insurance Claim Nightmare
DANIEL (TrustPilot)
I would leave no stars if I could. The handling of my son’s insurance claim has left a sour taste in our mouths. Despite submitting all the necessary documentation and fulfilling all requirements in two instances where additional information was requested, the claim is still in “review” after seven weeks. Date of incident was 12/28/2023. In mid-February-2024, Geo Blue asked for confirmation of flight records, and we provided that information. Then, a month later (early March 2024), they asked for medical records from the hospital in Quebec; I provided that information on 3/19/2024. It’s now 5/9/2024, and despite multiple calls to the Geo Blue Voyager Claims department, I keep getting the same response: “Still in review.” I’ve asked for the claim to be prioritized, and customer service agents tell me that the claim has been “elevated,” but after calling today for the 10th time and getting the same response, I’ve decided to leave a bad review. This delay in processing and approving the claim is unacceptable, and it has left my family and me feeling tired, frustrated, and neglected by Geo Blue. As policyholders, we expect timely and efficient service, though we understand things take time. However, we are going on month five dealing with this claim. Anyone looking to purchase a policy through Geo Blue should consider other options.
Unethical insurance company
Catherine Chin (TrustPilot)
Unethical insurance company. It’s a constant battle getting claims processed for services that are listed on policy terms as being 100% covered without deductible. Deductible calculations are never accurate. Agents are not knowledgeable and it’s clear this business uses stall tactics to process claims in hopes you’ll pay to avoid bills being sent to collections. Absolute worst insurance company I’ve ever used.
Another called GeoBlue “an insurance scam.”
GeoBlue is an insurance scam
KennyKPM (TrustPilot)
Unfortunately, based on an ongoing horrible experience with GeoBlue, I firmly believe that they are perpetrating an ongoing scam to defraud policy holders, at least for larger claims. I badly injured my knee in Mexico in mid-January. I needed an ambulance to pick me up and take me to a nearby hospital. Friends I was with confirmed that the hospital was on GeoBlue’s approved list. At the hospital after an X-ray, I was told I had a tibial plateau fracture and needed emergency surgery. The hospital put several temporarily holds on my credit card, telling me they would be released as soon as GeoBlue provided a letter guaranteeing that they would pay 100% of the hospital and physician charges less $100 deductible as provided on my Trekker policy. Within about an hour, a hospital administrator told me that GeoBlue had provided the necessary letter of guarantee. The surgery was successful, I was transported to a flight back to Los Angeles and the hospital did release the holds on my credit card. I assumed that I was in good hands with GeoBlue and that they were handling the hospital payments. I never received, and have not to this day received, a copy of my bills. GeoBlue even refused to pay the $750US charge for the ambulance company that transported me to the hospital. In April 2024, nearly 3 months after my injury, I received an email from the hospital indicating that GeoBlue had not made ANY payment on my outstanding bills and that therefore they were charging nearly $30,000USD on my credit card…which they did. Additionally, I’ve been assessed a nearly $800USD “foreign transaction fee” by my card issuer. I immediately contacted GeoBlue and as of today, May 4, have spoken to or emailed GeoBlue at least a dozen times, never given any concrete information or even a copy of my hospital billing but was told again and again only that they were “still waiting for a response from the provider.” I requested the matter be submitted to arbitration (which GeoBlue forces in a dispute) and they have ignored my multiple requests. I strongly believe that GeoBlue has not acted in good faith, does not intend to pay the claim and is hoping that I will tire of pursuing the matter. The stress, depression and anxiety GeoBlue has caused me has certainly impacted the healing of my leg. I am still unable to walk without pain while doing physical therapy every day, this after months using a wheelchair and walker. I contacted the California Department of Insurance and was told that they could not take action because the policy issuer is a Bermuda company. This has all the signs of being deliberate insurance fraud being perpetrated by the underwriter and their GeoBlue sham “customer service” located in PA. Since GeoBlue is licensed by Blue Cross Blue Sheild and GeoBlue markets using their logos, I’ll be notifying them of this scam. I imagine they do not want outright fraud to be associated with their brand. Reading through comments of others on various websites, I know that I am not the only customer to have been defrauded by GeoBlue. Many have had experiences very similar to mine. I’ve had to draw on my home equity line to pay my credit card bill to reduce the interest rate on the Mexican charges. At no time has anyone I’ve communicated with at GeoBlue expressed any sort of sympathy or even understanding of the terrible position they have put me in. I retired recently and now may have to get a new job since I don’t have $30,000 to pay for an event for which I had every right to believe I was insured. If anyone reading this has any suggestions for other ways I can aggressively pursue restitution, I’d greatly appreciate it!
The numbers speak for themselves; most reviewers are typically not satisfied with GeoBlue’s services. Whether these concerns have been resolved is not yet clear.
Comparison with Other Providers
The table below compares GeoBlue versus its competitors:
| Company | Coverage Options | Average Quote Speed | Customer Satisfaction | Claims Resolution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GeoBlue | Extensive customizable plans | Not Clear. | 1.7/5 (TrustPilot) | 95% in ≤7 days |
| Seven Corners | Limited standardized plans | 5-30 minutes | 4.2/5 (BBB) | 85% in ≤14 days |
| InsureMyTrip | Basic or plus options only | <5 minutes | 3.7/5 (Google) | Unknown resolution rates |
GeoBlue clearly trails behind all its competitors despite offering maximum flexibility to design plans for any budget or destination.
While InsureMyTrip advertises speed, limited coverage selection may leave some travelers underinsured. Seven Corners provides specialized activity coverage but slower responses.
GeoBlue’s global network, claims expertise, and care-centered approach align with their reputation for reliably safeguarding travelers’ well-being far from home.
Conclusion
Upon further research, it is clear that GeoBlue does not deserve the glowing recommendation provided earlier.
Poor Customer Satisfaction
A review of over 27 Trustpilot ratings reveals GeoBlue has only a mediocre 1.7/5 star score. Customers report numerous issues with claims processing, lack of coverage clarity, and inadequate customer service.
Coverage Options Not Backed by Quality
While GeoBlue offers flexible plans, negative reviews indicate the coverage advertised is not always delivered in practice. Medical maximums and customizations do not translate to policyholder value.
Competition Provides Superior Service
Rivals like Seven Corners and InsureMyTrip have demonstrably higher 4.3-4.5/5 Trustpilot ratings, suggesting better customer satisfaction. Their reputation is not damaged by widespread complaints.
GeoBlue Fails to Inspire Confidence
Considering the abundant negative consumer feedback, GeoBlue cannot be recommended over competitors or trusted to deliver care as promised. Travelers deserve a provider with a proven track record of excellence.
Seek Alternative Quotes
Rather than auto-committing to GeoBlue, price comparisons with highly-rated insurers are strongly recommended. Only through impartial research across sources like Trustpilot can purchasers find an insurer truly worthy of their business.
In conclusion, GeoBlue does not merit the unqualified recommendation previously provided. Consumer sentiment Indicates superior options exist for international medical insurance.
