Universal Assistance

What Universal Assistance does

Universal Assistance is a Buenos Aires-headquartered travel-assistance provider operating across 18 Latin American markets (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Uruguay). Founded in 1980 and operating as part of the Zurich Covermore group under the Zurich Insurance Group, the company provides medical, baggage, cancellation and trip-delay assistance to individual travelers, families, students, seniors, business travelers and athletes, with country-specific product, pricing and regulatory localization in each market.

The product portfolio is anchored on tiered per-trip plans (Value, Excellence, Maximum, Exclusive, Million, Best), annual multi-trip subscriptions covering up to 12 months of travel with 30-day-per-trip limits, and Long Stay plans extending to 365 days for digital nomads. Underlying technology consists of a mobile-first platform with iOS and Android apps, a 24/7 video teleassistance stack for medical consultations, an in-app self-service medical management module ("Autogestión médica"), QR-based coverage access ("Mi Cobertura QR"), and integrations with ChatGPT for travel recommendations and the Collinson Group for VIP Delay lounge access. A network of 15,000+ healthcare providers across more than 150 countries, supported by ISO 9001:2015, ISO 27001 and PCI DSS certifications, underwrites the in-trip service delivery.

Revenue is generated through per-policy premiums paid by individual consumers (B2C) and through distribution via a Siebel-based travel-agency portal (B2B2C), supplemented by phone-based televenta, WhatsApp sales, and a physical retail location in Santiago, Chile. The company covers 10M+ travelers, processes 150K+ cases and 500K+ calls annually, and supports country-specific payment rails including PIX, Boleto, SPEI, Webpay/Transbank, and major credit card networks. It is also expanding into adjacent travel utilities through an eSIM partnership covering 150+ countries.

Name

Universal Assistance

Legal name

Universal Assistance Sociedad Anónima Unipersonal (SAU)

Website

https://universal-assistance.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Universal Assistance is a Zurich-owned travel-assistance provider offering tiered medical, baggage and trip-delay coverage to individual travelers across 18 Latin American countries via mobile app, country-specific websites, and a travel-agency partner portal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Travel Assistance Insurance

NAICS

Health Care and Social Assistance (62), All Other Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services (561599)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Travel Medical Insurance (Individual) (FSAIAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Travel Medical & Health Insurance Platforms (THALALAC), Travel Assistance & Concierge Services (Non-Insurance) (FSAJAJAF), Trip Cancellation/Interruption & Refund Protection Platforms (THALALAB)

Keywords

• Travel assistance insurance
• Medical travel coverage
• Travel insurance services
• International travel protection
• Emergency medical assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Buenos Aires

HQ country

Argentina

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Travel Assistance Insurance - Day Modules: One-time purchase travel assistance plans priced per day of coverage, with various tiers (Value, Excellence, Maximum, Exclusive, Million, Best) offering different coverage limits and benefits
2. Annual Multi-trip Plans: Subscription-based annual plans covering multiple trips (up to 30 days per trip) throughout the year, with family benefits including free coverage for minors when adults purchase
3. Extended Stay Plans: Long-term travel assistance for extended trips up to 365 days, targeted at digital nomads and extended travelers
4. Add-on Modules: Additional coverage options including pre-existing conditions, sports activities, pregnancy, flight cancellation, and baggage loss

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Universal Assistance sells travel assistance insurance and related services to individual travelers across 18 Latin American countries. Its core offering consists of tiered travel assistance plans (Value, Excellence, Maximum, Exclusive, Million, Best) priced per day of coverage, supplemented by annual multi-trip subscriptions and long-stay plans for trips up to 365 days. The company provides medical assistance, teleconsultations, baggage coverage, and reimbursement management through its mobile app and 24/7 call centers, leveraging a network of 15,000+ healthcare providers worldwide.

Product overview

Universal Assistance is a comprehensive travel assistance and insurance company offering a multi-tiered product portfolio. The core offering consists of medical assistance, teleassistance, baggage coverage, and reimbursement management accessible through a unified mobile app. The product lineup includes tiered plans (Value, Excellence, Maximum, Exclusive, Million, Best) available as Day Modules (up to 60 days) or Annual Multi-Trip plans (12 months, 30 days per trip), plus Long Stay plans (up to 365 days). Add-on modules include VIP Delay (flight delay lounge access), pregnancy, sports, pre-existing conditions, and cancellation coverage. The app integrates AI-powered features including ChatGPT for travel tips and self-service medical triage. The company also offers supplementary tools like iCovid info, translator, currency converter, and eSIM benefits. Universal Assistance operates across 18 Latin American countries as a company of Zurich.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Travel Assistance Day Module Plans

Quantifiable outcome

• 150K+ cases and 500K+ calls handled annually with 24/7 availability
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration15 records

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Zurich Insurance GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversal Assistance is a company of Zurich, operating as part of the Zurich Covermore group. This provides brand credibility, financial stability, and access to global insurance infrastructure and expertise.
• Collinson GroupcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides the VIP Delay service offering access to VIP lounges worldwide for travelers experiencing flight delays over 60 minutes. Service available through app registration.
• eSIM PartnerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership providing 20% discount on eSIM data plans for travelers, offering connectivity in over 150 countries as an add-on to travel assistance coverage.
• Travel Agencies NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of travel agencies across Latin America accessing Universal Assistance products through Siebel portal for policy issuance to end customers.
• Healthcare Provider NetworkcoreOthers15,000+ healthcare providers worldwide forming the service delivery network for medical assistance, hospitalizations, and emergency services.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Assist Card: Direct LatAm-headquartered competitor offering individual travel medical assistance and insurance across Latin America with similar day-module and annual plan structures and a comparable travel-agency B2B2C distribution model.

Broad incumbents

• International SOS: Global leader in travel risk management, medical assistance, and security services for corporate and individual travelers; overlaps with Universal Assistance's assistance platform and provider network, but at a much larger, enterprise-focused scale.
• Allianz Travel Insurance: Global travel insurance and assistance provider offering individual and group plans; competes with Universal Assistance in LatAm for both retail travelers and corporate travel programs, leveraging Allianz's worldwide brand.
• AXA Assistance: Global assistance and travel insurance arm of AXA, providing 24/7 medical, roadside, and travel assistance with international provider networks; directly comparable product offering to Universal Assistance's day-module and annual plans.
• AIG Travel: AIG's travel insurance business offers individual, group, and corporate travel medical and trip protection products globally; competes with Universal Assistance in higher-tier and corporate travel segments, especially for cross-border LatAm corporate accounts.
• Generali Global Assistance: Generali's travel insurance and assistance division providing individual and group travel medical products; competes with Universal Assistance in LatAm and globally with comparable assistance services and 24/7 contact centers.

Emerging players

• World Nomads: Digital-first travel insurance brand targeting backpackers, adventure travelers, and long-stay nomads; competes with Universal Assistance's Long Stay and sports add-on products, and exemplifies the direct-to-consumer insurtech threat in the region.
• SafetyWing: Digital nomad and remote worker travel health insurance provider with a subscription model; directly comparable to Universal Assistance's Long Stay and annual multi-trip plans, particularly for LatAm-origin digital nomads.
• GeoBlue: International travel and expatriate health insurance provider with global provider networks and direct-billing arrangements; overlaps with Universal Assistance's higher-tier Million/Best plans and senior/expat traveler segments.
• April International: International health, travel, and assistance insurance provider; comparable to Universal Assistance in serving expatriates and frequent international travelers with multi-tier plans and provider network settlement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/universalassist
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCYaYk0Q3CyyTj7fHAVChMGQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/universal.assistance/#
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/universal-assistance-s-a-
• Instagraminstagram.com/universal.assistance
• TikToktiktok.com/@universal.assistance?_t=8qePIrylWir&_r=1

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Universal Assistance