If you’re a Costco member, then it’s possible you’ve booked a trip through Costco Travel before.
But did you know that Costco Travel also offers amazing deals on high-quality travel insurance? For as little as $25, you could safeguard your next trip from the unexpected. Keep reading to find out how.
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How Does Costco Travel Insurance Work?
First, it’s important to note that the travel insurance available to Costco Travel customers is actually sold by a company called Zurich. As a Costco member, you can get access to exclusive Zurich rates available only through Costco Travel.
Travel insurance is not included automatically when you book a trip through Costco Travel, so you will need to purchase it separately. You can add Zurich coverage to your Costco Travel plans up to 10 days prior to departure, or you can add it to your purchase at checkout when you book your trip.
To get a quote, click here. You can also simply start booking your Costco Travel adventure here, and then click to add travel insurance coverage during checkout.
Eligibility Requirements
As far as we can tell, anyone who books through Costco Travel is eligible for travel insurance coverage. You simply have to pay to add the coverage onto your plans.
So, the only requirement is a Costco membership! Which you can get for as little as $60 a year here.
What’s Included?
Zurich travel insurance purchased through Costco Travel covers cancellations*, interruptions, and delays, overseas medical expenses and evacuation costs, baggage, accidents, and (in some cases) rental car damage.
*As far as we can tell, Costco Travel insurance only covers pre-trip cancellations in the event of…
- sickness, injury, or death of the traveler or the traveler’s family member, traveling companion, or business partner
-OR-
- an event beyond the control of the traveler, traveling companion, family member, or business partner
In other words, Costco Travel Insurance does not cover cancellations in the event that you’ve simply changed your mind about the trip.
Examples of covered events include…
- Sickness
- Injury
- Death
- Extreme weather
- Mechanical breakdowns
- Strikes
- Car accidents
- Hijackings, kidnappings, or terrorism
- Natural disasters
- Becoming the victim of a crime (such as assault or theft)
That said, your specific policy coverage will differ depending on where you live, where you’re going, and which plan you purchased. To view the full details on the Costco Travel protection plans for domestic trips, click here. For the international protection plan information, click here.
Exclusions
As with all insurance companies, there are plenty of exclusions to what Costco Travel Insurance can cover.
But it’s not super easy to define what exactly is covered and what’s not. This is because coverage is largely managed on a case by case basis, and you are responsible for proving that your claim is worth paying for.
As far as we can tell, Zurich does not cover…
- Avoidable trip cancellations (ex. deciding to go at a different time or changing your mind about your trip)
- Sickness, injury, or accidents that haven’t been well documented
- Accidents or events that happen too far in advance of the trip plans to justifiably interfere
Costs
The cost of your Costco Travel insurance will vary depending on where you’re traveling to and how many people you’re purchasing coverage for.
From what we’ve gathered, though, Zurich travel insurance is available to Costco members starting at around $25 to $30 per traveler. Coverage for domestic trips is generally less expensive than coverage for international trips.
Keep in mind that these numbers are based on a one-person trip. Your insurance costs will go up the more people are included in your travel.
Here is an example of one of Zurich’s basic international travel protection plans…
Here is the domestic plan I found…
To get your own personalized travel insurance quote through Costco Travel and Zurich, click here.
Steps To Make Claims
If you need to file a claim on your travel insurance, click here and then click the orange “FILE A CLAIM” button.
Before filing your claim, make sure you can provide the following…
- A detailed description of the loss, event, or interruption
- Your trip dates
- Your purchase date and the amount you paid
- Documentation of the loss (receipts, photos, etc.)
- Your preferred claim disbursement method (how you would like to receive your claim money)
If you’re in the US or Canada, you can also contact Zurich over the phone at 1-844-799-0331. From overseas, call 1-416-945-9802 (this is not a toll-free number).
Over the phone, claims can be filed any time between the hours of 9AM and 5PM EST, Monday through Friday. If you need to file a claim outside of these times, use the link provided above or send an email to claims@zurichtravelassist.com.
Reviews & Ratings
Unfortunately, Zurich has pretty awful reviews with the Better Business Bureau. In fact, they currently hold just 2 out of 5 stars from nearly 100 customer reviews.
Here are some of the reviews we found…
To be honest, we really had to dig to find any positive reviews from customers. But we managed to find one!
This Zurich customer was happy with their experience after having to cancel a cruise…
Is It Worth It?
Overall, because travel insurance is so affordable when you purchase it through Costco, I’d say it’s probably still worth it even though Zurich doesn’t have great reviews.
Just make sure you keep great documentation so that if anything comes up, you’ll have plenty of stuff to submit with your claim. There’s really no point in paying for travel insurance if you don’t plan on keeping good records!
FAQs
What airlines does Costco Travel use?
Costco Travel offers travel packages with the following airlines–Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Air Canada, Air France, Air New Zealand, Air Tahiti, Air Tahiti Nui, Air Transat, British Airways, Delta Airlines, Fiji Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, Iberia, United Airlines, and West Jet.
Does Costco sell travel medical insurance?
Yes. The travel insurance sold through Costco Travel (via Zurich) covers out-of-country medical expenses, although there are limitations to this coverage. To read more about Zurich Travel Protection, click here.
Is Costco Travel included in Costco membership?
Yes. All Costco members get access to Costco Travel.
Do you get money back with Costco Travel?
Yes. Executive members and anyone using a Costco Anywhere Visa card can receive between 2% and 5% rewards back on Costco Travel expenses.
