John Hancock Travel Insurance: Quick Overview
John Hancock Travel Insurance brings some solid credentials to the table, but your experience might vary depending on what you’re looking for.
Overall, we rated John Hancock Travel insurance 7.8 out of 10, which means it offers an acceptable service without major concerns. However, it didn’t score high enough to make 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 John Hancock Travel Insurance has to offer.
Key Strengths
- Seriously high medical coverage limits that blow past many competitors, with options up to $250,000 per person
- Rock-solid financial backing from Starr Indemnity & Liability Company (A “Excellent” rating from AM Best)
- Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage is available for eligible trips, giving you flexibility when life happens
Key Weaknesses
- The claims process can be inconsistent, with some customers reporting smooth experiences while others face frustrating delays and document requests
- Only three plan options are available, which feels limited compared to competitors that offer more variety
- Kids need their own separate policies on most plans, which can add up quickly for families
Who is John Hancock Travel Insurance Best For?
Solo travelers and couples who prioritize high medical coverage limits and want the CFAR safety net. International travelers will appreciate the comprehensive emergency evacuation coverage.
John Hancock Travel Insurance
John Hancock Travel Insurance stands out primarily for its exceptionally robust medical and emergency evacuation coverage, which is a critical factor for international travelers. The Gold plan, for instance, offers up to $250,000 in Emergency Medical coverage and $1,000,000 in Medical Evacuation, significantly higher limits than many competitors. This feature is particularly valuable for travelers visiting remote locations or areas with potentially questionable healthcare infrastructure, providing substantial peace of mind. Furthermore, all three plans offer Primary Medical Coverage, meaning John Hancock pays first before the traveler's regular health insurance, which can greatly simplify the often-stressful claims process during an emergency abroad.
A second major draw is the combination of rock-solid financial backing and the optional Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage. The insurance is underwritten by Starr Indemnity & Liability Company, which holds an "A" (Excellent) financial strength rating from A.M. Best. This strong solvency score ensures that valid claims are financially secure and likely to be paid. The CFAR add-on offers an excellent safety net, allowing travelers to receive up to 75% of their non-refundable trip cost if they must cancel for a reason not covered by the standard policy, provided it's purchased early and the cancellation is made more than 48 hours before departure.
Finally, the company offers a compelling value proposition for specific demographics. While children generally require separate policies, the Silver plan uniquely offers free coverage for children 17 and under when a parent purchases, making it a highly economical option for families whose travel needs align with that tier. For all travelers, the plans feature $0 deductibles on claims, which is a welcome benefit as it means the policyholder does not have to pay an initial amount out-of-pocket before their coverage begins. This focus on high-limit, primary medical care and valuable, segment-specific features makes John Hancock a strong choice for those who prioritize security and high-end coverage over digital convenience or a low-cost, minimal plan.
- Excellent medical and evacuation coverage limits that exceed most competitors
- Strong financial backing from an A-rated underwriter provides confidence in the ability to pay claims.
- CFAR option available for maximum flexibility (except NY residents)
- Primary medical coverage simplifies the claims process
- 24/7 multilingual emergency assistance when you're traveling
John Hancock Travel Insurance Company Overview
John Hancock Insurance Agency was founded in 1862, making it one of the oldest names in American insurance. The company operates as a subsidiary of Manulife Financial Corporation, a global financial services giant serving millions across 22 countries.
The travel insurance division is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, though it handles claims through Sedgwick Claims Management Services in Cleveland, Ohio.
One important distinction: John Hancock Insurance Agency acts as the distributor, while Starr Indemnity & Liability Company serves as the actual underwriter. This means Starr is ultimately responsible for paying out claims, not John Hancock itself.
Financial Strength & Solvency
Starr Indemnity & Liability Company holds an A.M. Best financial strength rating of “A” (Excellent), Financial Size Category XV. Additionally, AM Best has affirmed the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of “a+” (Excellent) with a stable outlook.
What does this actually mean for you? AM Best’s “A” rating places Starr in the “Excellent” category, indicating a strong ability to meet its financial obligations. The Long-Term ICR of “a+” is even more impressive, sitting just below the highest possible rating. The group has historically maintained risk-adjusted capitalization levels above the strongest assessment level, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio.
Translation: Your claims should be paid if they’re valid. The underwriter has been around since the 1920s and has the financial muscle to back up its policies.
John Hancock Travel Insurance Coverage Options
John Hancock offers three-tiered plans: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. All three cover the essentials, but the coverage limits increase as you move up.
Trip Cancellation/Interruption: All three plans cover 100% of prepaid, non-refundable trip costs for cancellation. For interruptions, Bronze covers 125%, while Silver and Gold cover 150% to help with additional expenses incurred getting home.
Medical Coverage: This is where John Hancock really shines. Each plan includes at least $50,000 in Emergency Medical coverage and $250,000 in Medical Evacuation coverage. Bronze offers $50,000 in emergency medical, Silver bumps it to $100,000, and Gold goes all the way to $250,000.
Emergency Evacuation: Coverage starts at $250,000 (Bronze), increases to $500,000 (Silver), and maxes out at $1,000,000 (Gold). These are legitimately impressive numbers.
Baggage Loss/Delay: Bronze covers $500 for baggage loss and $250 for delays. Silver increases to $1,000 and $500, respectively. Gold tops out at $2,500 for loss with a $250 per-article limit.
Travel Delay: Coverage starts after three hours of delays. You’ll get $150 per day up to $750 total per person on the Silver and Gold plans. Bronze offers $100 per day up to $500.
Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR): Available as an add-on for all three plans (except for New York residents, unfortunately). With this coverage, if you must cancel your trip for any reason, you can receive up to 75% of the non-refundable trip cost. You need to purchase it within 14 days of your initial trip payment and cancel at least 48 hours before departure.
Pre-existing Condition Coverage: Available on all plans if you buy within 14 days of your initial trip deposit and insure 100% of your prepaid costs. The lookback period is 60 days.
Adventure Sports Coverage: Here’s a bummer for the adrenaline junkies. John Hancock doesn’t cover extreme activities like scuba diving or hang gliding. If your trip revolves around adventure sports, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
Coverage Limits & Flexibility
The coverage limits are genuinely competitive, especially for medical emergencies abroad. You can customize your plan with add-ons like rental car collision coverage and increased accidental death and dismemberment limits.
Notable Exclusions: Computer hardware or software, cellphones, smartphones, and telephones are excluded items under the baggage coverage. This is a standard exclusion, but worth noting if you travel with expensive tech.
One quirk of the Silver plan: children 17 and under can be covered for free when a parent purchases. However, this isn’t the case for Bronze or Gold plans, where each child needs separate coverage.
John Hancock Travel Insurance Affordability & Value
John Hancock offers three plans. The Bronze plan starts at $24.00. The Silver plan starts at $31.00, and the Gold plan starts at $54.00. These are base rates, and your actual cost will depend on trip length, destination, age, and trip cost.
For context, one customer paid $205 for the Silver plan, which represented 15% of the $1,000+ they were insuring for a multi-week international trip. That’s on the higher end of typical travel insurance costs (which usually run 4-10% of trip cost), but reasonable given the comprehensive coverage and trip length.
The value proposition here is solid if you prioritize medical coverage. You’re getting significantly higher limits than many competitors at competitive prices. However, the lack of free child coverage on most plans can make John Hancock less economical for families.
No loyalty programs or significant discounts are advertised, which is standard for travel insurance. The 14-day free look period (available in most states) lets you cancel for a full refund if you change your mind before departure.
John Hancock Travel Insurance Customer Service
The company provides assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For policy questions and purchases, you can reach them at 1-833-322-1237 (US) or 1-819-566-0612 (international, collect calls accepted).
Average wait times aren’t publicly available, but this 24/7 availability is genuinely helpful when you’re dealing with emergencies abroad in different time zones.
Support Channels
Phone support is the primary channel. Online claims filing is available through their website. There’s no evidence of live chat support or robust social media customer service, which feels a bit dated in 2025.
Customer Service Quality
This is where things get mixed. John Hancock is known for its excellent pre-trip service, with a 4.5 out of 5 customer rating and only 0.2% negative reviews on Squaremouth for pre-purchase and policy modification interactions.
However, the claims experience tells a different story. Some customers have positive experiences, while others report frustration. One customer described their initial emergency call as confusing, though the situation improved with follow-up contact. Multiple reviews mention that customer service is invaluable with policy modifications and questions before you travel, but the claims team operates separately, and experiences vary significantly.
John Hancock Travel Insurance Online & Digital Experience
The quote process is straightforward. You can get quotes through John Hancock’s website or through aggregator sites like Squaremouth and InsureMyTrip. One reviewer complained that the website timed out frequently during purchase, forcing them to restart the entire process multiple times. This suggests technical issues that need to be addressed.
Policy documents are available online, and you can file claims through their web portal. The interface isn’t winning any design awards, but it’s functional.
Mobile App
There’s no dedicated John Hancock Travel Insurance mobile app. In 2025, this is a significant gap. Most competitors offer apps that let you file claims, upload documents, and access policy information on the go. You’re stuck with the mobile website, which isn’t optimized for smartphone use.
Digital Tools
Online claims filing is available and works reasonably well once you get past the initial documentation requirements. You can upload supporting documents digitally, which saves time versus mailing everything. However, the system for tracking claim status could be more transparent. Some customers report not knowing where their claim stands in the process.
John Hancock Travel Insurance Customer Satisfaction
Learn more about what the internet is saying about John Hancock travel insurance.
Better Business Bureau (BBB)
John Hancock Life Insurance Company has an A- rating with the BBB, but has 3 locations with a failure to respond to 5 complaints filed against the business resulted in them not being BBB-accredited.
The travel insurance division specifically doesn’t have a separate BBB profile, so complaints are lumped in with the broader John Hancock organization. This makes it harder to assess the travel insurance division’s specific performance.
Trustpilot
This is where things get concerning. John Hancock Travel is rated 2.3/5 on Trustpilot, based on just six reviews. The general John Hancock site has a 1.9/5 rating with 37 reviews, though many of these relate to life insurance and long-term care products rather than travel insurance specifically.
Recent negative reviews focus on claim denials, slow processing, and poor communication. John Hancock denied two policy claims totaling $5000 for 7 months, according to one frustrated customer. They also mentioned that after contacting the BBB, the company stopped communicating with them directly.
The positive experiences tend to come from customers who didn’t need to file claims or had straightforward trip cancellations that were processed smoothly.
Reddit & Social Media Sentiment
Travel insurance discussions on Reddit don’t frequently mention John Hancock specifically, which could be interpreted either as a lack of significant issues or simply lower market visibility compared to giants like Allianz. When John Hancock comes up, the discussion centers on comparing medical coverage limits rather than on customer service horror stories.
Social media presence is minimal. The company doesn’t actively engage with customers on Twitter or Instagram regarding travel insurance
Industry Awards & Recognition
John Hancock doesn’t prominently advertise recent travel insurance-specific awards. Squaremouth, a primary travel insurance comparison site, describes John Hancock as one of the most trusted names in travel insurance, which carries some weight given Squaremouth’s industry position.
John Hancock Travel Insurance Claims Process
Ease of Filing Claims: You can file online or by mail. One customer described the online claim process as quick and easy, with immediate acknowledgment and requests for additional documentation within 2 days.
Required Documentation: Be prepared for extensive paperwork. You’ll typically need credit card statements showing trip payments, physician statements for medical claims, and proof of the event that caused your cancellation or interruption. Some customers report slow communication and time-consuming paperwork when filing a claim.
Average Processing Time: John Hancock typically reviews claims within 5-10 business days. However, complex claims may require additional time. Once approved, funds are usually deposited into the policyholder’s account within 5-7 business days. This gives you a total timeline of roughly 2-3 weeks for straightforward claims.
One successful claim example: A customer filed on April 15 and received payment by April 29, for a total of about 2 weeks. However, another customer reported struggling with their claim for months, repeatedly submitting the same documents.
Claims Approval Rate: Not publicly disclosed.
Customer Feedback on Claims Experience: Wildly inconsistent. Some customers praise the process as smooth and professional. Others describe it as bureaucratic and frustrating, with repeated requests for documentation they’ve already submitted and poor communication from Sedgwick, the third-party claims administrator.
Payment Methods and Speed: Checks are mailed, which feels outdated in 2025. Direct deposit options aren’t clearly advertised. Once approved, you’re looking at standard mail delivery times, in addition to the processing period.
Unique Features & Differentiators
Exceptionally High Medical Coverage: The $250,000 emergency medical coverage on the Gold plan and $1,000,000 medical evacuation coverage genuinely stand out. Many competitors cap medical coverage at $100,000.
Primary Medical Coverage: All three plans offer primary medical coverage, meaning John Hancock pays first before your regular health insurance kicks in. This simplifies the claims process significantly.
Free Coverage for Kids on Silver Plan: If you have children 17 or under, the Silver plan offers free coverage for them when a parent is insured. This is unusual and valuable for families, though it’s strange that this benefit isn’t extended to the other plans.
Terrorism Coverage: The Gold plan includes coverage for trip cancellation and interruption due to terrorism at your destination or in your home city within a specified timeframe before your trip.
No Deductibles: All three plans feature $0 deductibles on claims, which is appreciated when you’re already stressed about a trip disruption.
Pros and Cons of John Hancock Travel Insurance
Pros
- Excellent medical and evacuation coverage limits that exceed most competitors
- Strong financial backing from an A-rated underwriter provides confidence in the ability to pay claims.
- CFAR option available for maximum flexibility (except NY residents)
- Primary medical coverage simplifies the claims process
- 24/7 multilingual emergency assistance when you’re traveling
Cons
- Claims experience is inconsistent, ranging from smooth to frustratingly bureaucratic
- Only three plan options feel limiting compared to competitors offering more variety
- No mobile app in 2025 is a significant digital experience gap
- Children must purchase separate coverage on Bronze and Gold plans, increasing family costs
- Extreme sports aren’t covered, limiting appeal for adventure travelers
Our Verdict & Overall Rating for John Hancock Travel Insurance
John Hancock Travel Insurance offers solid coverage backed by strong financials, but the customer experience doesn’t consistently match the quality of the underlying product. The company is coasting on its legacy reputation rather than innovating in areas like digital experience and claims processing. It’s a safe choice if you prioritize coverage limits over cutting-edge service, but it’s not the obvious winner it could be with some modernization efforts. Worth comparing quotes against competitors, but don’t write them off entirely, especially if medical coverage is your top priority.
Who Should Choose John Hancock:
If you’re a solo traveler or a couple planning an international trip and you want robust medical coverage, John Hancock deserves serious consideration. The medical and evacuation limits are genuinely impressive, and if you’re traveling somewhere with questionable healthcare infrastructure, that coverage matters. The CFAR option also offers valuable flexibility if you’re booking far in advance or are unsure about your ability to travel.
Families traveling with teens on the Silver plan can benefit from the free child coverage. The strong financial backing means your claim will likely be paid if it’s legitimate.
Who Should Look Elsewhere:
If you have young children and aren’t using the Silver plan, consider competitors that offer free child coverage, such as Travelex. Adventure travelers need coverage that includes extreme sports, but John Hancock doesn’t provide it. If you’ve had bad experiences with insurance bureaucracy in the past, the mixed claims reviews might give you pause.
Anyone who values digital convenience should also consider competitors with better mobile apps and more modern online experiences. And if you’re a New York resident interested in CFAR coverage, you’re out of luck with John Hancock and should explore other options, like Faye.
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 John Hancock Scored
- Financial Strength: 8.5/10
- Affordability: 7/10
- Customer Service: 6.5/10
- Online Experience: 6/10
- Customer Satisfaction: 6/10
- Claims Process: 6/10
You can learn more about how each company scored and what curve was applied here: Travel Insurance Reviews.
