USI Affinity Travel Insurance: Quick Overview
Overall, we rated USI Affinity Travel insurance 7.1 out of 10, which means it offers an acceptable service without major concerns. However, it didn’t score high enough to secure a spot on our list of the best travel insurance companies. That doesn’t mean it might not be right for you. Read more to learn about what USI Affinity Travel Insurance has to offer.
Key Strengths
- Strong financial backing with primary medical coverage that doesn’t require coordination with other insurance
- Comprehensive trip interruption coverage up to 150% of the trip cost
Key Weaknesses
- No online claims filing system (seriously, it’s 2025)
- Customer service is only available Monday through Friday during business hours
- Mixed reviews on claims communication and processing speed
Who is USI Affinity Travel Insurance Best For?
Travelers who prioritize robust medical and evacuation coverage and don’t mind old-school claims processes. Not ideal if you need 24/7 support or prefer digital-first experiences.
USI Travel Insurance
USI Affinity Travel Insurance is an excellent choice for a specific type of traveler, particularly those affiliated with educational groups, alumni organizations, or tour operators that already partner with the company. This is due to USI's legitimate and specialized expertise in the niche of group and educational travel. Furthermore, the company's financial backing is rock-solid, with policies underwritten by Starr Indemnity & Liability Company, which holds an A (Excellent) A.M. Best financial strength rating. For travelers whose primary concern is the security and stability of their policy, the impressive financial standing should provide substantial confidence in the company's ability to pay claims.
The insurance plans are also best suited for individuals who prioritize comprehensive coverage over modern digital conveniences. A significant advantage across all plans is the primary medical coverage, meaning USI pays first without requiring coordination with a regular health insurance provider—a crucial simplification when dealing with a medical emergency abroad. For those booking expensive international trips where robust protection is paramount, the Plus plan, in particular, offers an excellent value proposition with its high limits on medical expense and emergency evacuation coverage.
In essence, USI Affinity is ideal for a traveler who is comfortable with an "old-school" service model. This includes an acceptance of the fact that general customer service is limited to weekday business hours and, most notably, that claims must be filed by printing, completing, and mailing (or faxing) physical PDF forms. If a traveler values the trade-off of rock-solid financial backing and superior primary medical coverage over 24/7 support, a mobile app, or a streamlined online claims process, USI Affinity’s Plus plan provides a genuinely competitive and strong option.
- Excellent financial backing with an A (Excellent) AM Best rating
- Primary medical coverage simplifies the claims process
- Comprehensive evacuation coverage up to $500,000
- Good trip interruption benefits (up to 150% of trip cost)
- Strong reputation in educational and group travel markets
USI Affinity Company Overview
USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services has been around since 1973, which means they’ve been in the game longer than most of us have been alive. They operate as a division of USI Affinity, which itself is part of USI Holdings Corporation, one of the largest privately held insurance brokerages in the U.S.
The company is headquartered in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, and has built its reputation primarily by serving educational travel groups, tour operators, and individual travelers. They work with over 250 insurance agents and brokers and have a powerful presence in the educational travel market.
USI Affinity operates nationwide across all 50 states and provides coverage for international destinations. The company has been accredited by the BBB since 2016.
USI Affinity Financial Strength & Solvency
Here’s where USI Affinity really shines. Their policies are underwritten by Starr Indemnity & Liability Company, which holds an A.M. Best financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and a Financial Size Category XV. For context, that’s about as solid as it gets in the insurance world.
Starr maintains risk-adjusted capitalization levels that exceed the strongest assessment level, meaning they have more than enough money to pay claims even in worst-case scenarios. The company has been operating for over 50 years, demonstrating staying power through multiple economic cycles and global events.
The financial stability here is legitimately impressive and should give you confidence that if something goes wrong on your trip, they’ll be able to pay up.
USI Affinity Coverage Options
USI Affinity offers three main comprehensive plan tiers called Trip Care Complete: Basic, Plus, and Elite. All three include the fundamentals, such as trip cancellation, trip interruption, medical coverage, emergency evacuation, and baggage protection.
Here’s what each tier offers for trip cancellation and interruption:
- Basic Plan: 100% trip cancellation coverage up to $10,000, and 125% trip interruption coverage
- Plus Plan: 100% trip cancellation up to $25,000, and 150% trip interruption
- Elite Plan: 100% trip cancellation up to $30,000, and 150% trip interruption
The medical coverage scales significantly across tiers:
- Basic: $10,000 medical expense coverage, $25,000 emergency evacuation
- Plus: $50,000 medical expense coverage, $500,000 emergency evacuation
- Elite: $250,000 medical expense coverage, $500,000 emergency evacuation
One significant advantage across all plans is that medical coverage is primary, not secondary. This means USI pays first without requiring you to file with your regular health insurance, which simplifies the process considerably when you’re dealing with a medical emergency abroad.
Trip delay coverage kicks in after six hours on all plans, which is actually better than many competitors who make you wait longer.
Coverage Limits & Flexibility
Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR): Available as an add-on that covers 75% of your trip cost, but you must purchase it within 21 days of your initial trip deposit.
Pre-existing Conditions: Coverage is available, but it must be purchased within 14 days of your initial trip payment. This is standard in the industry.
Adventure Sports: Coverage is available for many activities, though you’ll want to verify your specific activity is covered.
Baggage Coverage: Ranges from $500 on the Basic plan to $2,500 on the Elite plan, with per-item limits.
Rental Car Damage: Available only on the Elite plan with $5,000 coverage.
Standard exclusions include the usual suspects like intentional self-harm, illegal activities, and pre-existing conditions if you don’t purchase the waiver. What’s less common is the Basic plan’s lack of accidental death and dismemberment coverage, which feels like a notable gap.
USI Affinity Affordability & Value
Let’s talk real numbers. For a 35-year-old traveling alone on a 10-day international trip to Sri Lanka with a total trip cost of $2,500, here’s what you’d pay:
- Basic Plan: $123
- Plus Plan: $135
- Elite Plan: $187
The Plus plan offers the best value proposition. For just $12 more than the Basic, you get significantly better coverage across almost every category. The jump from Plus to Elite costs $52 more but mainly just increases medical expense coverage and adds rental car protection.
Compared to industry averages, USI’s Basic and plans are competitively priced. However, the Elite plan is among the most expensive available and costs more than comparable plans offered by other companies.
The company doesn’t advertise specific discounts, and pricing isn’t as transparent as some competitors since you need to fill out a detailed form to get a quote. There’s no quick “ballpark estimate” tool available.
One important note: Unlike some competitors, USI doesn’t automatically cover dependents under 18 on the same plan as a covered adult, so families need to budget accordingly.
USI Affinity Customer Service
This is where things get frustrating for anyone used to modern service standards. Customer service is only available Monday through Friday from 9 am to 7 pm EST. No weekend support. No late-night help. In 2025, this feels outdated.
There is an essential 24/7 worldwide assistance hotline for emergencies. But for general questions, policy changes, or non-emergency issues, you’re limited to business hours.
Emails received Monday through Friday are answered within 48 hours; weekend and holiday emails are replied to on the following business day.
Support Channels
- Phone: Primary contact method during business hours
- Email: Available but with slower response times
- Live Chat: Not available
- Social Media: Limited responsiveness
The company operates in English, Spanish, and both Simplified and Traditional Mandarin, which is a plus for diverse travelers.
Customer Service Quality
Reviews on this are genuinely mixed. Some customers praise helpful customer support before their trip, while others report frustrations during the claims process.
Customer service ratings show 4.21 out of 5 before the trip, but drop to 3.16 during the trip and 3.0 during claims. That pattern tells you a lot. Buying the policy is smooth, but getting help when things go wrong is where issues emerge.
USI Affinity Online & Digital Experience
The USI Affinity website is functional but hasn’t been updated since 2010. The quote process requires answering multiple questions about your travel organization, residency, and destination before recommending a plan type. While this ensures you get the right product, it’s not as streamlined as competitors’ offerings, which let you quickly compare options.
Once you know what you need, purchasing is straightforward. Policy management features exist, but are basic.
Mobile App
There isn’t one. In an era where most people manage everything from their phones, this is a significant gap. You’ll need to access everything through a mobile browser, which isn’t optimized for small screens.
iOS App Store Rating: N/A Android Google Play Rating: N/A
Digital Tools
Here’s the deal-breaker for many digital-first millennials: USI doesn’t offer online claims filing. You have to print PDF forms and mail them to a P.O. Box in Pennsylvania. Or fax them. Remember faxing?
You can access your policy documents online, and there are some basic travel assistance resources, but the overall digital experience feels a decade behind where it should be.
USI Affinity Customer Satisfaction & Reputation
Better Business Bureau (BBB)
USI Travel Insurance Services holds an A+ rating with the BBB and has been accredited since December 2016. However, there’s little publicly available complaint data, making it hard to assess patterns. The few reviews were mixed, with one customer noting that their trip interruption claim was denied despite having coverage.
Trustpilot
USI Affinity has a 4.1 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot. The limited reviews available show frustration with refund processes and policy rollover issues, particularly from customers who had to postpone trips due to COVID-19.
One reviewer detailed how USI refused to roll over their premiums when a National Geographic trip was postponed multiple times, forcing them to purchase entirely new coverage while keeping the original premium. That kind of inflexibility doesn’t sit well in our current travel environment.
Reddit & Social Media Sentiment
Reddit discussions about USI Affinity are sparse, which is telling in itself. When the company does come up, it’s usually in the context of group travel or educational trips. The lack of robust online discussion suggests either a smaller customer base than major competitors’ or customers who aren’t motivated to share their experiences online.
Industry Awards & Recognition
USI Affinity was named to Forbes Advisor’s list of Best Travel Insurance Companies for four consecutive years, most recently recognized for having superior coverage. This recognition is legitimate and based on policy benefits and coverage options.
USI Affinity Claims Process
The claims process is where USI Affinity shows its age. There’s no online claims filing system. Instead, you need to print claim forms, complete them by hand, gather supporting documentation, and mail everything to their claims administrator.
For medical claims, the process goes through Co-Ordinated Benefit Plans (CBP). For other claims, you’re mailing documents to a P.O. Box in Collegeville, Pennsylvania.
Customer feedback reveals significant communication issues. Multiple reviewers report waiting weeks without updates, receiving conflicting information about whether their claims have been received, and struggling to get responses from adjusters. One customer mentioned that their adjuster never called or emailed with questions, instead sending letters requesting information that had already been provided.
The positive experiences tend to come from straightforward claims. One reviewer praised the helpful initial contacts when filing a medical cancellation claim. But when claims get complicated or denied, getting clear explanations and recourse seems genuinely difficult.
The average processing time is unclear because the company doesn’t publish this data. Based on customer reviews, expect several weeks minimum, with complex claims potentially taking months.
USI Affinity Unique Features & Differentiators
USI Affinity offers some genuinely helpful extras that set them apart:
Primary Medical Coverage: This is huge. You don’t need to coordinate with your regular health insurance before filing a claim, which simplifies everything when you’re dealing with a medical emergency abroad.
Identity Theft Assistance: If your wallet is stolen while traveling, USI assists in obtaining credit report records to monitor for fraudulent charges. Most competitors don’t offer this.
Strong Educational Travel Focus: If you’re traveling with a university alum group, a study abroad program, or an educational tour operator, USI has specialized expertise here that generic providers lack.
Concierge Services: 24/7 assistance with finding hotels, restaurants, and other travel logistics.
Trip Interruption for Any Reason: This rare add-on is offered by some competitors but not all.
USI Affinity Pros and Cons
Pros
- Excellent financial backing with an A (Excellent) AM Best rating
- Primary medical coverage simplifies the claims process
- Comprehensive evacuation coverage up to $500,000
- Good trip interruption benefits (up to 150% of trip cost)
- Strong reputation in educational and group travel markets
- Identity theft assistance included
- Trip delay coverage kicks in after just six hours
Cons
- No online claims filing (paper forms and snail mail only)
- Customer service is limited to weekday business hours
- No mobile app whatsoever
- Claims communication issues are frequently reported
- Elite plan pricing is expensive compared to similar coverage elsewhere
- Dated website interface
- Mixed reviews on claims processing speed and transparency
Our Verdict and Overall Rating: 6.3/10
USI Affinity is a financially stable company offering comprehensive coverage that’s backed by strong underwriting. But they’re operating with a service model that feels increasingly out of step with how people expect to interact with companies today. The coverage is there. The customer experience often isn’t.
For some travelers, particularly those in educational or group settings, that trade-off works fine. For others who prioritize convenience and modern service, the friction points will outweigh the coverage benefits. Know what matters to you before you buy.
Who Should Choose USI Affinity
Consider USI Affinity if you’re traveling with an educational group, alum organization, or tour operator that partners with them. The company’s expertise in this niche is legitimate, and its financial backing is rock-solid. If you value robust medical and evacuation coverage and don’t mind picking up the phone or mailing documents, the Plus plan offers genuine value.
The primary medical coverage is a real advantage that simplifies things when you need it most. And if you’re booking expensive international travel where comprehensive protection matters more than convenience, the coverage quality is there.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
If you’re a digital-native traveler who expects to manage everything from your phone, you’ll find USI Affinity frustrating. The lack of online claims filing isn’t just inconvenient; it’s a red flag about how the company approaches customer experience in 2025.
Anyone who travels frequently outside business hours or needs weekend support should consider alternatives with 24/7 customer service. The business-hours-only limitation could leave you stuck if issues arise on Saturday morning as you’re trying to catch a flight.
Budget-conscious travelers might find better value with competitors offering similar basic coverage at lower prices. And if you’ve read the claims reviews and worry about communication issues, there are providers with more transparent, responsive claims processes.
About Our Methodology
We use a weighted scoring system for travel insurance reviews. We compared 20 companies on key factors, including their travel insurance rates, to inform our ratings. Once we scored each company, we applied a curve based on the best overall product. Here’s what we look for:
- Financial Strength & Solvency: 20%
- Affordability & Value: 15%
- Customer Service: 20%
- Online & Digital Experience: 10%
- Customer Satisfaction & Reputation: 20%
- Claims Process: 15%
How USI Scored
- Financial Strength: 9/10
- Affordability: 6/10
- Customer Service: 5/10
- Online Experience: 4/10
- Customer Satisfaction: 6.5/10
- Claims Process: 5/10
You can learn more about how each company scored and what curve was applied here: Travel Insurance Reviews.
