GeoBlue Travel Insurance Review: Costs, Coverage, and More

GeoBlue is an independent insurance company licensed through the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association that offers international travel medical insurance. You can purchase a GeoBlue travel insurance plan without having a Blue Cross or Blue Shield health plan.^[1]

These GeoBlue plans provide access to 24/7 telemedicine services for nonemergencies and a vetted list of international physicians. Injuries and illnesses can happen on any vacation or business trip, which is why you should consider travel medical protection.

Here’s what you should know about travel insurance from GeoBlue.

Our take on GeoBlue travel insurance

GeoBlue travel insurance is ideal if you’re a traveler looking to supplement your primary travel insurance policy with extensive medical insurance. GeoBlue provides healthcare insurance for travelers, which differs from most competitors. Travel insurance companies typically provide travel insurance with medical coverage.

The Voyager and Trekker plans from GeoBlue include a variety of emergency benefits, like emergency medical coverage and evacuation coverage, even in hazardous locations. GeoBlue has comprehensive health-related coverages but limited travel-related benefits.

It’s worth noting that, like many insurers, GeoBlue has poor customer reviews online. The company has a Trustpilot rating of 1.9 out of 5 and a Better Business Bureau score of 1.67 out of 5. Prior policyholders cite ineffective customer service, failure to reimburse claims, and issues with international healthcare providers receiving payments from GeoBlue.

But you should consider GeoBlue as a supplement to your primary travel insurance policy if you’re interested in more comprehensive medical coverage. For an affordable premium, you can secure extensive health coverage that standard travel insurance companies don’t offer.

Pros and cons of GeoBlue travel insurance

GeoBlue travel health insurance has both benefits and drawbacks you should consider:

GeoBlue coverage for single trips

GeoBlue’s standard travel medical coverage is the Voyager plan, which has two separate policies: Voyager Essential and Voyager Choice. Each plan applies to leisure, missionary, or business travel and offers choices for medical limits and deductibles. This coverage requires policyholders to have a primary health plan.^[2]

Compare the two policy options below.

Coverage Details	Voyager Essential	Voyager Choice
Emergency and nonemergency medical care	Yes	Yes
International medical coverage limits	$50,000–$1 million	$50,000–$1 million
Emergency medical transportation	$500,000 maximum	$500,000 maximum
Accidental death and dismemberment	$25,000 maximum	$50,000 maximum
Repatriation of mortal remains	$25,000 maximum	$25,000 maximum
Outpatient prescription drug reimbursement	50% up to $5,000 outside the U.S.	100% up to $5,000 outside the U.S.
Pre-existing conditions	180-day exclusion	Yes
Baggage and personal effects	$500 per trip period ($100 per bag)	$500 per trip period ($100 per bag)
Post-departure trip interruption transportation	$1,000 per trip period	$1,000 per trip period
Post-departure trip interruption quarantine	$25 per day, up to 10 days for lodging and incidentals	$25 per day, up to 10 days for lodging and incidentals
Primary health plan requirement	No	Yes
Deductible	$0, $100, $250, or $500 per insured person, per policy period	$0, $100, $250, or $500 per insured person, per policy period

GeoBlue coverage for multiple trips

GeoBlue understands that business travelers, retirees, and globetrotters may take multiple trips per year, which is where the multi-trip Trekker plans come in. Like the Voyager plan, the Trekker plan has Essential and Choice options. Both cover up to 69 days in a 12-month period.^[3]

Here’s how these two options differ.

Coverage	Trekker Essential	Trekker Choice
Emergency and nonemergency medical care	Yes	Yes
International medical coverage limits	$500,000 ($200,000 if age 70–95)	$1,000,000 ($200,000 if age 70–95)
Emergency medical transportation coverage	$250,000 maximum	$500,000 maximum
Accidental death and dismemberment	$0 maximum	$25,000 maximum
Repatriation of mortal remains coverage	$15,000 maximum	$25,000 maximum
Outpatient prescription drug reimbursement	100% up to $2,500 outside the U.S.	100% up to $5,000 outside the U.S.
Pre-existing conditions	Yes	Yes
Dental care for relief of pain	100% of up to $100 per trip period	100% of up to $300 per trip period
Lost baggage and personal effects coverage	N/A	$500 per trip period ($100 per bag)
Primary health plan requirement	Yes	Yes
Deductible	$200	$100

GeoBlue coverage for long-term trips

Rounding out GeoBlue’s trio of general travel medical plans is the Xplorer plan. It has two policy options: Xplorer Essential and Xplorer Premium.

Often labeled as expat coverage, these annual plans offer enrollment flexibility for U.S. residents and families who live outside of the U.S. for at least three months each year. The differences between these two policies are significant. The Essential plan has many exclusions and limitations.^[4]

Here’s how the Xplorer Essential and Xplorer Premium plans compare.

Coverage	Xplorer Essential	Xplorer Premium
Medical maximum	$1 million	Unlimited
Coverage duration for U.S. citizens inside the U.S.	21 days per trip, three trips maximum per calendar year	Nine months
Preventative care	No	Unlimited
Inpatient prescription drugs	$1 million	Unlimited
Outpatient prescription drugs reimbursement	$1,000, limited to emergency medical care, illness, and accidental injury conditions	$2,500 for basic prescription benefit; $25,000 for prescription upgrade
Pre-existing conditions	$500 after 180-day exclusion	Unlimited after 180-day exclusion
Accidental death and dismemberment	No	$50,000
Annual physician examination/health screening	No	60% (out of network) to 80% (in network) of up to $1,000
Patient responsibility for in-network physician office visits	$50 copay per visit	$30 copay per visit
Ability to travel to U.S. for treatment	No	Yes
Elective care in the U.S.	No	Yes
Mental health benefit	No	60% for out of network and 80% (inpatient) to 100% (outpatient) for in network
Physical/occupational therapy	No	12 visits per year
Acupuncture	No	60% (out of network) to 80% (in network) of up to $2,000
Chiropractic care	No	60% (out of network) to 80% (in network) of up to $2,000
Nursing home expenses	No	Up to 50 days per calendar year
Substance abuse	No	60% for out of network and 80% (inpatient) to 100% (outpatient) for in network

What GeoBlue doesn’t cover

One of GeoBlue’s most notable benefits is that most plans cover pre-existing conditions for policyholders enrolled in U.S. health insurance plans. But plans from GeoBlue have some exclusions. It’s important to read policy details carefully, as each plan will list coverages and exclusions.

GeoBlue’s Voyager plans for single-trip leisure travelers exclude the following:

• Travelers older than 95

• Dental services

• Optometric services

• Expenses incurred in home country

• Orthopedic shoes

• Pregnancy or maternity expenses unrelated to pregnancy complications arising during the trip

• Orthodontic services

• Intentionally self-inflicted injury or illness

Cost of GeoBlue travel insurance

The cost of travel insurance varies based on factors like coverage limits, exclusions, and deductibles. The number of travelers in your group will also affect costs.

Below, you can compare average costs for GeoBlue’s Voyager plans for a few different demographics. The range of prices reflects changes in deductibles and medical limits, which you can adjust when purchasing the policy.

	Voyager Essential	Voyager Choice
26-year-old single traveler	$9–$15	$10–$17
35-year-old couple	$23–$36	$25–$43
Family of four, with two kids younger than 13	$41–$66	$45–$78

Shopping around is a great way to determine whether a plan offers the medical travel coverage you need at a reasonable rate. In this case, it might be worth it for each of the example travelers above to invest the extra few dollars into the Choice plan to maximize coverage limits.

Who is GeoBlue travel insurance best for?

GeoBlue is a healthcare-focused insurance company with limited travel protections and assistance. The coverage works best in addition to a standard travel insurance policy for travelers who want comprehensive medical coverage.

GeoBlue’s single-trip plans cover emergency and nonemergency medical care, with coverage limits between $50,000 and $1 million. Depending on coverage needs, some families, business travelers, and vacationers having a casual trip may not need this level of travel healthcare.

Frequent business and adventure travelers who engage in risky activities or travel through hazardous landscapes may benefit the most from GeoBlue coverage. GeoBlue provides emergency evacuation, accidental death and dismemberment coverage, and more.

Pairing these affordable policies with a traditional travel insurance policy is a sound option to cover any extensive medical needs that may arise.

How to buy a GeoBlue travel policy

Purchasing a GeoBlue travel health insurance plan is relatively easy. After you’ve compared the plans and identified which travel medical protection is best for your trip, follow these steps:

1. Begin the “quick quote” process by entering your travel dates, age, and ZIP code.

2. Choose one of the rates listed, noting how higher or lower medical limits and deductibles affect price.

3. Apply for the policy by entering your primary health plan and traveler information.

4. Enter your payment details and opt for physical or digital policy delivery.

5. Get immediate confirmation of your policy.

It’s always a good idea to secure your travel insurance as soon as you book your trip. That said, you can purchase a GeoBlue travel health insurance policy up to one day prior to your departure date. The company recommends that policyholders who desire a physical insurance card purchase their policy at least two weeks prior to the effective date to ensure ample delivery time.

If you prefer to speak with a live customer service representative, you can call, fax, or email the sales team. Representatives provide assistance between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern time Monday through Friday.

How to file a claim with GeoBlue

GeoBlue doesn’t provide detailed information on how to file a claim. It directs policyholders to use the member administration portal to file a claim online. You can also file a claim through the GeoBlue mobile app. You can do this by filing a digital claim or by photographing and uploading a completed paper claim form. GeoBlue doesn’t list a specific timeline for claim payment.

Generally speaking, you can never hang onto too many documents related to a claims report. You should keep physical and digital copies of the following documents for claims purposes:

• Primary health insurance plan

• Receipts from clinics, hospitals, doctor offices, and pharmacies

• Travel-related documents like flight, cruise, or vacation package confirmations

• Incident reports or medical reports filed by a hotel, cruise ship, or airline relating to your accident or injury

• Photographs of damages, if applicable (such as car crashes or slip and falls)

GeoBlue travel insurance FAQs