VacationGuard® Club Plan FAQ
Discover the proven value that VacationGuard® plans add to your vacation experience by exploring these Frequently Asked Questions.* Use the enrollment link to protect your vacation experience in just seconds.
We try to make life a little easier, offering you travel protection that is simple, affordable, and works, including a money back guarantee within a 15 day review period. VacationGuard® products and services are provided by Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, one of the most trusted names in insurance. Thank you for allowing us to safeguard your vacations; VacationGuard®—Vacation Peace of Mind®.
1. There’s a lot of information here. Is there an easy way to enroll, or save time?
We designed this FAQ to give you plenty of information, and allow you to enroll while you are review more details. We provide a generous 15 day “free look“, to add comfort in your decision to trust VacationGuard®. This FAQ attempts to highlight the efforts we use in trying to meet your expectations, while demonstrating our decades-long passion for this business in the process.
2. What does VacationGuard® Club Plan do?
It can provide you with travel insurance benefits for your Member trips which are booked via your Membership Club.
3. How is the VacationGuard® Club Policy different?
VacationGuard® created customized travel insurance benefits to cover the real needs of Club Membership. Different than traditional travel protection, our customized policy covers the things that are needed for Member based travel, with simplicity and ease.
4. Who backs and services VacationGuard® plans?
VacationGuard® products and services are provided by Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, or BHTP, who has over a century of expertise amongst its executive team and is a premier baseline of travel protection. The carrier issuing the policy is Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance, proving unmatched financial strength and safety, rated A++ by A.M. Best.
5. You don’t rate by my age, or by each person traveling?
VacationGuard® premiums are based on decades of experience with these custom plans, while reflecting exposures for the provider you may purchase it through. By working closely with our partners to monitor the affinity member needs, we simplified your enrollment experience.
6. What are some of the key benefits of Club plan?
One price, one rate, providing:
- Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption
- Trip Delay
- Emergency Accident Sickness Medical Expense
- Emergency Evacuation Expense for Medical reasons
- Car Rental Collision Coverage
- Lost Baggage and Baggage Delay, and more.
- Including our 24/7/365 customer support and Global Assistance team
7. Is there a short overview where I can view the benefits?
Please visit: www.vacationguard.com/flyer/Club/EN
8. Where can I read the entire plan, to view the benefits, terms, conditions, and exclusions?
9. Is this limited only to travel with my company Provider offering this plan?
Yes. It is available for your membership based trips with the Provider, who is offering you our plan, and who coordinates your booking and manages your Member based reservations.
10. Do I need a Club plan for each membership based trip I take?
Our Club plan is offered on a per-trip or per-reservation basis, where your covered travel dates will be reflected in the enrollment you make with your provider.
11. There’s a 15 day “Free Look“ Period. What is this?
For your added comfort, we extend you a generous 21 days to review our plan after purchase. We will refund you at 100% without delay or issues, for any reason, provided you have not traveled nor incurred a claim during the “Free-look“ period. It’s part of our culture for providing Vacation Peace of Mind.
12. The enrollment only allows me to list only one traveler. Does it cover my spouse or child too?
Yes. VacationGuard® covers the plan holder, and subject to maximum occupancy of the unit will automatically extend up to 7 traveling companions without requiring to be named on the enrollment.
13. How do I know if my travel companions are covered, as the plan is issued in my name only?
While we automatically include up to 7 traveling companions, see the Traveling Companion definition in the policy, as well as the policy conditions, which states that benefits are extended to the insured and Traveling Companions of the insured, subject to state specific requirements.
14. Is there an advantage to purchasing my Club plan at time of initial booking?
Yes. One of the unique plan benefits for VacationGuard® Club plan is that the plan can waive the pre-existing medical conditions exclusion, provided you purchase the plan within 3 days of your final trip deposit, and you are medically fit to travel. Given that medical issues are unpredictable; this can provide you additional comfort at time of claim. This is why the best way to purchase when you are booking your initial reservation.
15. How long is the look back period on the preexisting medical conditions exclusion?
The look back on the policy is just 60 days, unless this exclusion is waived by a specified condition as outlined within your purchase process.
16. Who do I call if I wish to cancel in the “free look” period?
You should call whoever processed the actual enrollment for you. If via an agent, contact that distributor. If done via an on-line enrollment where VacationGuard/BHTP ran your credit card, we can process the cancellation.
17. Can my Vacation Associate enroll me in VacationGuard?
Yes. It’s actually most efficient that way, and will only take about a minute.
18. Is the plan cost per person? Do you need the names and ages of my traveling companions?
VacationGuard® is not rated by person or by age. The plan cost is for your Member reservations as coordinated by the membership club or provider offering you our plan. VacationGuard® automatically covers the planholder and up to 7 additional traveling companions, defined as someone traveling with you and staying at the same destination as you, and under your reservation.
19. Can I enroll a family member with another plan, in their name, if they are staying in another room with me under my reservation?
A non-Club member who seeks coverage on their own, beyond what is automatic for a traveling companion, would need a different plan. See our “Leisure Plus“ product, on www.VacationGuard.com.
20. If I am traveling internationally, will the policy follow me?
VacationGuard® benefits will follow you globally for your qualified membership based reservations. Insurance carriers do withhold offering the plan sale or benefits for travel to a limited number of global counties which can change, and should be discovered at time of your enrollment when you disclose where your intended travel will be.
21. I read the plan is only for US residents.
While your travel can be global, the plan is limited to purchase by U.S. residents only.
22. Explain the 2-day extension VacationGuard® automatically provides?
Whether you are driving or flying, VacationGuard® plans provide benefits that can automatically start 2 days prior and after your actual covered trip dates. This allows you to have benefits 2 days before your resort check in date, and follow you up to 2 days after your covered Trip check-out date, or when you get home, whichever is sooner.
23. Can my hotel room cost prior to arrival be covered, if it is within the 2-day extension?
Yes. Provided that stay is within 2 days of a covered trip check-in, VacationGuard® plans allow for automatic extension of benefits to pre-paid and non-refundable expenses directly related to your covered trip. See the Forfeited definition in the policy.
24. Suppose I have travel dates outside the 2-day extension VacationGuard® provides?
If your trip involves travel outside the 2-day extension we provide, and you wish to have travel insurance coverage for those days, you may want to explore a different travel insurance plans for those periods. You can use our “Leisure Plus“ plan on www.VacationGuard.com., where you list the additional travel dates you need, and the trip cost you wish to insure.
25. Can my theme park tickets be covered under Club?
Yes. Provided their use is during your covered trip. See the Forfeited definition in the policy.
26. Can my airfare be covered under Club?
Yes. Provided it’s used as part of your covered trip. See the Forfeited definition in the policy. Airfare is for change fees, unless you forfeit the ticket in entirety. Further, we extend benefits for Frequent Flier redeposit fees if you used your frequent flier miles to travel for your covered trip.
27. If mixing a trip, some member Club, some personal time, does this work?
Our Club plan can respond for your membership based vacation dates shown on your club reservation., plus our automatic 2 day extension. However, the personal vacation time which is outside that window, is in fact non-membership based vacation. To insure that personal portion of your trip, you would need a different travel insurance policy to do so. View Leisure Plus or Exactcare for your personal vacation needs on www.VacationGuard.com.
28. If I buy now, am I covered immediately?
Once your transaction payment has been approved, our plan benefits take effect at 12:01am CST on the day after your approved transaction.
29. Do the policy benefits apply to each person, or are they shared?
The Benefits are shared amongst the affected traveling companions as applicable and subject to state specific requirements.
30. How are claims settled??
The plan operates on a reimbursement basis. Once your loss can be validated as caused by a covered event, you will be reimbursed for your loss.
31. Can I report my claim on line?
Yes, as it will expedite your handling. Please go to www.VacationGuard.com/claims, where you can fill in your claim on-line. All claims are handled by Berkshire Hathaway Travel protection, who provides the products and services for the VacationGuard® program.
32. How can I get you forms and receipts for my claim?
In an effort to ease the claims process, you may upload or email receipts to our system in a jpeg or PDF. And while it will take longer via hard copy in the mail, you may send your claim form verification as well:
VacationGuard® Claims
c/o Berkshire Hathaway
1265 Main Street, Suite 301
Stevens Point, WI 54481
33. Can I review my claims status on line?
Yes. To save you time and ease this process, you may view the status of your claim on line, 24/7, at www.VacationGuard.com/claims, at the sign-in area. You will need: Your policy #, your claim #, and the email used for tracking your account.
34. How fast do you typically pay claims?
We take great pride in how punctually we pay claims, to continually earn your trust. If you have experiencing challenges with a claim, please alert our executive team at comments@vacationguard.com.
*Speed of transaction varies by processing financial institution.
35. Is Car Rental Damage primary, or secondary?
Car Rental Damage is a primary benefit, meaning we can pay the rental car company directly for a covered loss with proper claims information and submission. You just provide them your policy number and our information for the claim.
Certain states do not allow this benefit to apply as part of travel insurance. Your policy documents will outline the plan benefits as allowed by your state of residence, or just contact VacationGuard to verify. Residents of states where this benefit is prohibited can inquire with their insurance agent about coverage when renting a car.
36. Is there a deductible for Car Rental Damage?
We include this valuable benefit in your plan, but there is a $100 deductible for Car Rental Damage under VacationGuard® benefits, saving you from having to worry about your personal auto insurance deductible.
37. If we rent more than one car, will VacationGuard® cover Car Rental Collision Damage on both cars?
No. Our policy extends benefits to one rental car only, for the plan holder renting it. The policy can extend this benefit to the planholder, and/or a traveling companion, for up to one car, but both people would have to be listed on that car rental agreement.
38. How do you turn in a Collision Damage claim, or not have to buy their damage waiver?
Just provide the rental car company your VacationGuard® policy number, from your confirmation of coverage you carry on your trip. They can then submit a claim referencing your specific policy number. Note that rental car providers in some countries may require you to still add their own protections, which is beyond our control.
39. If I am driving to my trip, are there benefits to help?
Yes. Uniquely, we have benefits for the drive-to vacation too. If you get in an accident or the roads are closed preventing your passage, our protection plan can reimburse you for Trip Delay benefits like food and lodging benefits until you are able to continue.
40. If I am driving to my trip destination, and my family member is flying, do we both have Trip Delay protection?
Yes. We only require your Traveling Companions be joining you at your destination under your reservation, but do not require you to physically be traveling together to get to the destination.
41. My credit card company seems to offer travel insurance or rental car benefits.
Always ask to see the insurance policy being extended. Many companies offer “services“ but not actual “benefits“ that pay. Some companies offer tiered pricing for benefits, and rate by age and by person. VacationGuard® was built to provide dependable coverage from decades of proven results.
42. Will you cover me if “I do not want to go?“
To keep this plan more affordable, VacationGuard® plans do not have a “cancel for any reason“ Trip Cancellation benefit, nor would it be represented that way.
43. What are the service hours for VacationGuard?
VacationGuard® support is open 24/7, at 866.314.9480. Our contact information is in the footer of this page.
Customer Service
VacationGuard® Claims and Support is open 24/7.
Toll Free: 866.314.9480
Collect: 715.303.6329
General Service ( Policy changes, questions, purchase )
* Rates, product descriptions, and benefits may be changed without notice. Products or Benefits may not be available to residents of all states. If there is any conflict between the contents of our website, any literature or content, or the Policy, the Policy will govern in all cases. This plan does not cover any loss caused by or resulting from: intentionally self-inflicted Injury, suicide, or attempted suicide of the Insured, Traveling Companion while sane or insane; Normal Pregnancy or Childbirth, other than Unforeseen Complications of Pregnancy, fertility treatments, or elective abortion, of the Insured, a Traveling Companion or a Family Member; participation in professional athletic events; motor sport, or motor racing, including training or practice for the same; sky diving, parachuting, hang gliding, bungee cord jumping, heli-skiing, spelunking; extreme snow-skiing; parkour; mountaineering where ropes or guides are normally used. The ascent or descent of a mountain requiring the use of specialized equipment, including but not limited to pick-axes, anchors, bolts, crampons, carabineers, and lead or top-rope anchoring equipment; war or act of war, whether declared or not, civil disorder (unless specifically covered herein), riot, or insurrection; operating or learning to operate any aircraft, as student, pilot, or crew; air travel on any air-supported device, other than a regularly scheduled airline or air charter company; commission of or attempt to commit a felony by the Insured; Mental, Nervous or Psychological Disorder; if the Insured’s tickets do not contain specific travel dates (open tickets); being under the influence of drugs or narcotics, unless administered upon the advice of a Physician, or intoxication above the legal limit; military duty; participation in underwater activities or scuba diving (if the depth exceeds 66 feet or more); any Loss that occurs at a time when this coverage is not in effect; traveling for the purpose of securing medical treatment; any Trip taken outside the advice of a Physician; a diagnosed Sickness from which no recovery is expected and which only palliative treatment is provided and which carries a prognosis of death within 12 months of the Insured’s coverage effective date; Sickness, Injury or death if insurance is purchased after entering a hospice facility or receiving hospice treatment; Elective Treatment and Procedures; or Pre-Existing Medical Conditions of an Insured or Traveling Companion (within a 60 day period immediately preceding coverage effective date). The following exclusions also apply to Accidental Death and Dismemberment: loss caused by or resulting directly or indirectly from Sickness or disease of any kind. Please refer to your policy for a complete list of plan exclusions and limitations. VacationGuard Insurance Services, CA Agency License # 0H18225. Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP) is a registered trademark of Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Concierge, LLC, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance. All products listed are underwritten by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company, 1314 Douglas Street, Suite 1400, Omaha, NE 68102; NAIC #22276 under Policy Form series (all states unless otherwise noted) PG-TS-TC-US. In AK Policy Form # PG-TS-TC-AK, CO Policy Form # PG-TS-TC-COAH and PG-TS-TC-IM, GA Policy Form # PG-TS-TC-GA, IL Policy Form # PG-TS-TC-IL, IN Policy Form # PG-TS-TC-INAH and PG-TS-TC-IM, KS Policy Form # PG-TS-TC-KS, MA Policy Form # PG-TS-TC-MA, MD Policy Form # PG-TS-TC-MD, MN Policy Form # PG-TS-TC-MN, MO Policy Form # PG-TS-TC-MO, MT Policy Form # PG-TS-TC-MTAH and PG-TS-TC-MTPC, NH Policy Form # PG-TS-TC-NH, NY Policy Form # PG-TS-TC-NYAH and PG-TS-TC-NYPC, OR Policy Form # PG-TS-TC-OR, TN Policy Form # PG-TS-TC-TN, TX Policy Form # PG-TS-TC-TXAH and PG-TS-TC-TXPC, UT Policy Form # PG-TS-TC-UT, VA Policy Form # PG-TS-TC-VA, VT Policy Form # PG-TS-TC-VT, WA Policy Form # PG-TS-TC-WAAH and PG-TS-TC-WAPC
