Battleface Travel Insurance: Quick Overview
Let’s be real for a second: travel insurance is one of those things you hope you never actually need, but you’ll be incredibly grateful to have when something goes sideways. Battleface has carved out a solid niche in the travel insurance market by positioning itself as the go-to option for adventure travelers and folks who don’t want to pay for coverage they’ll never use. Founded in 2017 and launched in the U.S. in 2018, this Columbus, Ohio-based insurtech company has quickly become a favorite among travelers who want flexibility without breaking the bank.
Overall, we rated Battleface Travel insurance 8.8 out of 10, making it one of the highest rated companies on our list of the best travel insurance companies.
Key Strengths
- Fully customizable “build-your-own” coverage through their Discovery Plan lets you pay only for what you actually need.
- Adventure sports coverage is included automatically, which is a huge perk if you’re planning to ski, scuba dive, or go mountain climbing.
- Budget-friendly pricing that consistently comes in below industry averages
Key Weaknesses
- Claims processing can be inconsistent, with some customers reporting wait times longer than expected.
- Relatively new company with a limited track record compared to industry veterans
- Maximum trip cost coverage caps at $20,000 per traveling party, which may be limiting for luxury trips
Who is Battleface Best For?
Battleface is ideal for budget-conscious adventure travelers, frequent flyers who want annual multi-trip coverage, and anyone who wants granular control over their policy without paying for unnecessary extras. If you’re the type who meticulously plans your trips and knows exactly what coverage you need, this is your jam.
Battleface Travel Insurance
The primary reason to choose Battleface is its exceptional blend of affordability and granular customization, centered around its flagship Discovery Plan. Unlike bundled competitors, Battleface offers a truly "build-your-own" policy, allowing travelers to pay only for the coverage they need, which consistently results in budget-friendly pricing below industry averages. This modularity makes it ideal for the savvy, budget-conscious traveler who can tailor a policy to their exact risk profile, often achieving 15-30% savings compared to comparable comprehensive plans.
A major draw for a specific segment of the market is Battleface’s explicit focus on the adventure traveler. All plans automatically include Adventure Sports Coverage for activities like skiing, scuba diving, and mountain climbing, which is often a costly add-on with other providers. Furthermore, the company offers a robust set of core protections, including high limits for Emergency Medical and Medical Evacuation, a notably short three-hour delay trigger for Missed Connection coverage, and the option to add Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR), providing significant flexibility for diverse and unpredictable trips.
Finally, Battleface is a modern, tech-forward insurtech with solid financial reassurance. It offers a user-friendly digital experience, a functional mobile app for accessing policy documents offline, and provides 24/7 emergency assistance through its in-house operations team, Robin Assist. While the company itself is young, its U.S. policies are underwritten by Spinnaker Insurance Company, which holds an A- (Excellent) rating from AM Best. This backing provides financial stability and solid reassurance that legitimate claims will be paid.
- Fully customizable coverage lets you pay only for what you need.
- Consistently affordable pricing below industry averages.
- Adventure sports coverage is included automatically.
- Strong customer service ratings with personalized support.
- User-friendly digital experience with a mobile app.
Battleface Company Overview
Battleface launched with a pretty bold tagline: “Travel insurance shouldn’t be a battle.” The company was founded in 2017 (with some corporate records showing related entities dating back to 2012 in the UK) and is headquartered at 800 N. High Street in Columbus, Ohio. They maintain additional operations in the UK at Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent.
What sets Battleface apart is its tech-forward, digital-first approach. They’re not your grandparents’ insurance company. As a full-stack insurtech, they’ve built everything from the ground up with modern travelers in mind. Their team of 51-200 employees handles everything from product development to their own 24/7 emergency assistance through Robin Assist.
The company is available to residents of all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, with additional operations in the UK, Europe, Australia, and Canada. They’re properly licensed with the National Producer Number 18731960, Florida License number L107363, and California License number 0M75381. They became BBB Accredited on May 5, 2021, demonstrating their commitment to customer trust and transparency.
Battleface Financial Strength & Solvency
Here’s the deal with travel insurance: your policy is only as good as the company’s ability to pay your claims. Battleface policies in the U.S. are underwritten by Spinnaker Insurance Company, which holds an A- (Excellent) rating from AM Best with a stable outlook, as reaffirmed in January 2025. This rating reflects Spinnaker’s extreme balance sheet strength and adequate operating performance.
Spinnaker is headquartered in Bedminster, New Jersey, and operates as a subsidiary of Hippo Holdings Inc. (NYSE: HIPO). The company has demonstrated strong claims-paying ability, with risk-adjusted capitalization at the strongest levels as measured by Best’s Credit Adequacy Ratio. For international operations, Battleface also works with underwriters at Lloyd’s of London, Berkley A&H, Northbridge General Insurance Corporation, Crum & Forster, and Pacific International Insurance.
While Battleface itself is a relatively young company (7+ years in business), the financial backing from established underwriters provides solid reassurance that legitimate claims will be paid.
Battleface Coverage Options
Battleface offers three main product lines that cater to different traveler needs. Their flagship Discovery Plan is the first entirely à la carte travel insurance policy available on major marketplaces like Squaremouth. The Scout Plan is a streamlined option with pre-selected benefits for travelers who don’t want to spend time customizing. The Multi-Trip Annual Plan is designed for frequent travelers who want year-round coverage with up to 40 days per trip.
Core Coverage Areas
- Trip Cancellation: Up to 100% of your trip cost (maximum $20,000 per traveling party)
- Trip Interruption: Up to 150% of the trip cancellation limit for returning home early
- Emergency Medical: Up to $100,000 ($50,000 in NH), including COVID-19 coverage
- Medical Evacuation: Up to $500,000 ($1,000,000 in NH)
- Baggage Loss/Delay: Up to $2,500 for lost items; up to $500 for delayed baggage essentials
- Travel Delay: Up to $200/day, $2,500 maximum
- Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR): 75% reimbursement (50% in FL), available as an add-on.
- Adventure Sports Coverage: Included automatically for skiing, scuba, kayaking, mountain climbing, and more
- AD&D Coverage: Up to $500,000 per person at four coverage levels
Coverage Limits & Flexibility
The Discovery Plan is where Battleface really shines. You can mix and match eight optional add-ons to create a policy that fits your specific trip. This modularity means you’re not paying for cruise coverage when you’re backpacking through Europe, or baggage protection when you’re traveling light with just a carry-on.
Pre-existing medical conditions can be covered if you purchase within 15 days of your initial trip deposit (7 days for Scout) and insure your full trip cost. The policy exclusion waiver for the Multi-Trip Annual Plan kicks in after 60 days. CFAR requires purchase within 15 days of initial deposit, insuring full trip cost, and cancellation more than 48 hours before departure. It’s not available to New York residents.
Unique coverage options include Rental Vehicle Damage (up to $35,000), Vacation Rental Damage ($1,500 to $5,000 options), Pet Travel Insurance (up to $2,000 for vet expenses), and Missed Connection coverage with a notably short 3-hour delay trigger.
Battleface Affordability & Value
This is honestly where Battleface crushes it. Their unbundled approach means you can get meaningful coverage without paying for a bloated comprehensive plan. According to Squaremouth’s comparison data, Battleface consistently comes in below the industry average for similar coverage levels.
The cost depends on several factors, including your trip cost, the ages of travelers, the trip length, and the destination. For reference, a 7-day international trip with basic coverage can start at around $22-30 CAD in Canada. U.S. pricing varies, but the modular approach often results in 15-30% savings compared to comparable bundled plans.
The value proposition is straightforward: pay only for what you need. If you’re a savvy traveler who understands your risk profile, you can build a genuinely affordable policy. However, if you want “set it and forget it” comprehensive coverage, you might find the customization process overwhelming and potentially end up paying more than expected.
Price transparency is solid. The quote process clearly shows the cost of each add-on, and there are no hidden fees. Multi-traveler policies get a 10% discount when covering more than one person.
Battleface Customer Service
Battleface provides 24/7 emergency assistance through its in-house operations team, Robin Assist. You can reach them by phone at 1-855-998-2928 (U.S.), by email, or through their website. For international emergencies, they maintain multilingual support across different time zones.
Customer reviews frequently mention specific support representatives by name, which suggests a personalized experience rather than an endless call center maze. Customers consistently praise agents like Maxine, Sue, Linda, and others for going above and beyond.
Support Channels
- Phone: Available during business hours with a 24/7 emergency line
- Email: Responsive, typically within 1-2 business days
- Online chat and portal for policy management
- 24/7 Robin Assist emergency hotline for urgent travel situations
Customer Service Quality
The pre-sales and general inquiry experience is consistently praised. Staff are described as knowledgeable, friendly, and quick to resolve issues. The company advertises a 94% satisfaction rate from global customers.
However, some reviews note that when it comes to complex claims questions, agents occasionally struggle to provide clear answers about coverage specifics. This is a common pain point across the travel insurance industry, but it is worth noting.
Battleface Online & Digital Experience
The Battleface website is clean, modern, and genuinely user-friendly. The quote process takes about 5 minutes and walks you through each coverage option with clear explanations. You can easily add or remove benefits and see real-time price updates. Policy documents are available immediately after purchase.
Information clarity is good, though some users have mentioned that the modular approach can feel overwhelming if you’re new to travel insurance. The site does a decent job explaining what each coverage does, but it could benefit from more comparison tools.
Mobile App
Battleface offers a mobile app for both iOS and Android. The app requires iOS 12.4 or later and allows you to view policy numbers, documents, and emergency contacts even when offline. This is actually really practical when you’re in a location without reliable internet.
App features include access to policy documents, emergency contact information, and claims filing. The interface is functional if not particularly flashy. It does what it needs to do without unnecessary bells and whistles.
Digital Tools
- Online claims filing through any device
- Document upload capabilities for claims
- Instant policy document access
- Travel Tool for destination-specific information
- API integration for partner distribution
Battleface Customer Satisfaction & Reputation
Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Battleface holds an A+ rating with the BBB, which is impressive for a relatively young company. They’ve been BBB Accredited since May 2021 and have maintained minimal complaints. The BBB profile shows they’re responsive to customer concerns and committed to resolving issues.
Complaint themes are limited but typically revolve around refund eligibility disputes and expectations for claim timing. The company actively responds to BBB complaints, providing detailed explanations and making resolution attempts.
Trustpilot
Battleface maintains an “Excellent” 4.7/5 rating on Trustpilot with over 2,200 reviews. This is genuinely strong for any insurance company, let alone one in the travel insurance space. Common praise themes include easy purchasing process, helpful customer service representatives, reasonable pricing, and quick responses to inquiries.
Negative reviews almost exclusively focus on claims processing, which is a recurring theme we’ll dive deeper into. Some customers report slow response times and a lack of communication during the claims process.
Squaremouth
On Squaremouth, Battleface carries a 4.27/5 rating. Reviews consistently highlight that customer service agents are attentive and helpful. The primary criticism centers on variability in claims processing and occasional confusion around policy terms, such as the distinction between “cancellation” and “interruption.”
Industry Awards & Recognition
Battleface won the International Travel & Health Insurer of the Year award in 2020 from the International Travel & Health Insurance Journal (ITIJ). This is a significant recognition from one of the industry’s leading publications, particularly impressive for such a young company.
Battleface Claims Process
Okay, let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Claims processing is where Battleface has historically struggled, and to their credit, they’ve been transparent about it. In 2022, they brought their U.S. claims operations in-house after previously outsourcing, specifically to address customer feedback about slow and frustrating claims experiences.
The current claims process is fully digital. You can file through their website or app, upload documentation, and track your claim status. According to Battleface, claims are typically processed within 5-10 business days once all required documentation is received.
Required documentation varies by claim type but generally includes completed claim forms, travel itinerary, proof of payment, confirmation of the reason for cancellation/interruption/delay, penalty letters from travel providers, and documentation of any refunds received.
Customer feedback on claims is mixed. Many recent reviews describe quick, straightforward experiences with claims paid promptly. However, a significant minority still reports delays, communication gaps, and frustration. Some customers mention waiting 13-25+ business days without clear updates.
One notable issue is the clarity of policy language. Some customers have had claims denied due to confusion about terms like “cancellation” versus “interruption.” This suggests room for improvement in how policy benefits are communicated upfront.
Battleface Unique Features & Differentiators
Innovative Offerings
Battleface has pushed boundaries with some creative offerings. They’ve developed space tourism insurance packages for those heading to the final frontier (yes, really). Their embedded insurance API enables partners to integrate travel protection into booking flows seamlessly.
The Robin Assist platform, launched in 2023, enables partners to handle multilingual customer support, claims, and emergency case management. This tech-forward approach means travelers can access their benefits regardless of where they purchased the policy.
Standout Benefits
- First truly à la carte travel insurance available on major marketplaces
- Automatic adventure sports coverage is included in all plans
- Coverage available for remote and unconventional destinations
- Can purchase while already traveling (with a 24-hour waiting period)
- Notably short 3-hour trigger for missed connection coverage
- Robin Assist provides in-house 24/7 multilingual emergency services
Battleface Pros and Cons
Compare the pros and cons of Battleface.
Pros
- Fully customizable coverage lets you pay only for what you need
- Consistently affordable pricing below industry averages
- Adventure sports coverage is included automatically
- Strong customer service ratings with personalized support
- User-friendly digital experience with a mobile app
- A- (Excellent) rated underwriter provides financial stability
Cons
- Claims processing can be slow and inconsistent
- $20,000 max trip cost may be limiting for luxury travelers
- Younger company with a less established track record
- Policy language can be confusing (cancellation vs. interruption)
- Customization may overwhelm travelers new to travel insurance
- CFAR is not available to New York residents
Our Verdict & Overall Score for Battleface Travel Insurance
The bottom line? Battleface has built something genuinely different in the travel insurance space. Their modular approach and adventure-friendly coverage fill a real gap in the market. Yes, claims processing has been their Achilles’ heel, but they’ve acknowledged it and taken steps to improve. For the right traveler, especially those who are willing to put in a few minutes to customize their coverage, Battleface offers excellent value and solid protection. Just go in with realistic expectations about the claims process, document everything meticulously, and you’ll likely have a positive experience.
Choose Battleface if you’re: A budget-conscious traveler who wants control over your coverage, an adventure enthusiast who needs sports coverage without paying extra, someone who travels frequently and wants affordable annual coverage, or a tech-savvy traveler who appreciates a modern digital experience.
Look elsewhere if you’re: Planning a luxury trip exceeding $20,000, someone who prefers established companies with decades of track record, a traveler who wants white-glove claims handling with guaranteed fast resolution, or someone who finds insurance customization overwhelming and prefers simple bundled packages.
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 Battleface Scored
- Financial Strength: 7.5/10
- Affordability: 8.5/10
- Customer Service: 7.5/10
- Online Experience: 8/10
- Customer Satisfaction: 7.8/10
- Claims Process: 6.5/10
You can learn more about how each company scored and what curve was applied here: Travel Insurance Reviews.
