John Hancock’s Silver plan is a popular mid-range travel insurance option. It provides stronger coverage than their basic Bronze plan at a moderate price point.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll examine policy details, real customer reviews, coverage highlights, and tips for getting the most protection from the Silver plan when you travel.
Overview of the John Hancock Silver Travel Plan
The Silver plan from John Hancock Insurance sits between their Bronze and Gold plans in terms of features and pricing. Some key details:
- Covers trip cancellation/interruption, travel delays, medical emergencies, baggage issues, and more
- Up to 150% trip cancellation and 150% trip interruption reimbursement
- $750 for travel delay expenses ($150 daily limit)
- $100,000 for emergency medical treatment
- $500,000 for emergency medical evacuation
- 24/7 travel assistance services included
The Silver plan is a good choice for travelers wanting robust coverage without paying premium prices. It provides significantly higher coverage limits than the Bronze plan.
Compared to competitors like Travel Guard, Allianz, and AIG, the Silver plan holds up very well in terms of benefits. Exact coverage comparisons depend on factors like traveler age, trip cost and length. But overall John Hancock’s offerings are competitive.
Who is the Silver Plan Good For?
The Silver plan provides a nice balance of price and protection for:
- Families with children (kids 17 and under are covered free)
- Travelers going on longer, more expensive trips
- Those with concerns about health issues on their trip
- Older travelers who may be more prone to medical emergencies
- Anyone wanting higher coverage limits than the Bronze plan
The 150% reimbursement cap on cancellations/interruptions and $500 daily limit for travel delays are both advantages over lower-tier plans.
You can further customize the Silver plan with add-ons like Cancel for Any Reason, rental car damage coverage, and Lost Ski Days protection for ski vacations. This flexibility helps travelers tailor it to their specific trip.
Reviews of John Hancock’s Silver Travel Insurance Plan
Reviews of the Silver plan from actual travelers can help you evaluate if it’s a good fit. Here are excerpts of feedback from verified customers on sites like SquareMouth and InsureMyTrip:
“I looked at several plans and this seemed like the best, as well as many good reviews from people who actually filed a claim. Fortunately I did not need to file a claim.”
“Grateful that I did not need to use the insurance. I would recommend to a friend.”
“Did not need to file any claims. The price was very reasonable for the amount of coverage it included.”
“Covered what I wanted.”
“Never had a claim so don’t know how good the policy is. Looked good on paper.”
The majority of online reviews for the Silver plan are positive. Most travelers are pleased with the value and coverage when they ultimately don’t end up needing to file a claim.
However, there are some complaints around confusing policy language, difficulty using their claims process, and denied claims. This reinforces the importance of reading all details closely at the time of purchase.
Key Benefits of the John Hancock Silver Plan
Let’s take a closer look at some of the main benefits travelers get with the Silver plan and how the coverage stacks up.
Trip Cancellation and Interruption
A major highlight is 150% reimbursement for unused trip costs if you need to cancel or interrupt a trip for a covered reason, after any applicable waiting period.
Covered reasons include:
- Sickness, injury or death
- Severe weather
- Terrorist event
- Jury duty notice
- Military duty
- Involuntary job loss
- Primary residence made uninhabitable
150% coverage is very competitive and provides peace of mind in case major last minute changes are needed. Some plans only offer 100% reimbursement.
Travel Delay
The Silver plan provides reimbursement if your travel is delayed more than 5 hours for a covered reason like severe weather or mechanical issues.
It covers expenses for hotels, meals and local transportation up to $150 per day, to a maximum of $750 total. This is a step up from the Bronze plan’s $500 limit.
Baggage Loss or Damage
Lost, damaged or stolen checked and carry-on bags are covered up to $1,000 per person when traveling with the Silver plan. It’s double the limit with the Bronze plan.
Typical exclusions apply, like not adequately securing valuables. But the coverage limit is generous for the midpoint plan.
Emergency Medical and Evacuation
A key upgrade with the Silver plan is a $100,000 limit for emergency medical treatment during your trip if you become sick or injured.
That’s five times higher than the Bronze plan’s $20,000 limit. The higher cap provides much more coverage in the event of a medical crisis abroad.
Emergency medical evacuation is covered up to $500,000, which is standard. So if you require a charter flight to get home for treatment, or transport to the nearest capable medical facility, you’re covered by the plan.
Customer Service
All John Hancock plans come with 24/7 travel assistance and concierge services. This provides help booking hotels and flights, arranging local tours, filling prescriptions, and handling any urgent needs.
The multilingual team can also coordinate medical evacuations, provide translation services, and give directions to embassies or consulates when traveling internationally.
Cost of the John Hancock Silver Plan
As a mid-level plan, the Silver policy carries a moderate price tag. Exact premiums vary based on:
- Age of travelers
- Trip destination
- Length of trip
- Total trip cost
To give you an idea, here are estimated Silver plan costs for sample travel scenarios:
- 45-year-old, 7-day Canada trip, $3,000 total cost = $100
- 60-year-old, 14-day Europe trip, $7,500 total cost = $325
- 35-year-old, 10-day Caribbean cruise, $5,000 total cost = $125
These are ballpark estimates. Always get a quick quote from John Hancock’s site using your specific details for the most accurate pricing.
In general, the Silver plan runs around 25-50% higher than the Bronze plan. But you receive significantly expanded coverage that can be worth the cost. Compare carefully at the time of booking.
How the Silver Plan Compares to the Bronze and Gold
It’s helpful to see how the key benefits stack up across John Hancock’s Bronze, Silver and Gold policy tiers:
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John Hancock Travel Insurance – Company Review – AARDY
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