Quick take
IMG Global is one of the longest-established international insurance providers in the market, founded in 1990 and now part of the SiriusPoint Group. Their flagship products - Patriot Travel for short-term travel medical, Patriot International for non-US travel, and Global Medical Plan for long-term expats - have served millions of customers across 35 years.
The numbers are genuinely strong: 22,000+ Trustpilot reviews with 90% giving 4-5 stars, A.M. Best A- (Excellent) underwriting via SiriusPoint America and United States Fire Insurance, up to $8 million medical coverage on premium tiers, and Schengen visa compliance built in. BBB A+ accredited.
The honest caveats: claims processing is slower than newer app-first competitors (often 10-14 days), the UI feels dated compared to Faye or Insured Nomads, and Squaremouth ranks IMG 12th out of their travel insurance providers based on customer satisfaction. These are real but should be weighed against the 22,000-review dataset showing 90% positive experience.
Who IMG Global is for
IMG Global is the right choice if you fit one of these profiles:
- Travelers needing Schengen visa-compliant insurance. Patriot International Lite at $50,000 minimum with $0 deductible meets Schengen requirements out of the box. IMG issues a visa letter immediately after purchase.
- Long-term travelers (up to 36 months). Patriot Platinum can be extended up to 3 years. Most competitors max out at 1 year.
- Travelers wanting very high medical limits. Up to $8 million on Patriot Platinum is the highest in the market. Useful for high-cost regions like the US, Switzerland, or Singapore.
- Adventure travelers under 49. Sports rider on Gold/Platinum plans adds $50,000 adventure sports coverage for travelers under 49.
- Long-term expats wanting traditional insurance structure. Global Medical Plan is annually renewable expat health insurance, comparable to Cigna Global or Allianz Care, with the SiriusPoint Group backing.
IMG Global is not right for you if:
- You expect modern app-first claims experience (use Faye instead)
- You want claims processed in days rather than 1-2 weeks
- You are over 79 (most IMG plans cap at 79)
- You want subscription flexibility (use SafetyWing or Genki instead)
IMG Global product lines
IMG has a large product portfolio. Here are the ones relevant to most nomads and expats:
Patriot International Lite
Affordable short-term travel medical insurance for non-US travel. Coverage maximum $50,000 to $1,000,000. Up to 24-month duration. Approximately $50/month for a 30-year-old at $1M maximum. Schengen visa compliant. Best for most digital nomads.
Patriot International Platinum
The premium short-term plan. Coverage maximum $2,000,000 to $8,000,000. Up to 36-month duration. Approximately $72/month for a 30-year-old at $2M maximum. Includes Sports Rider option for adventure activities (under 49).
Patriot America Plus
Travel medical for foreign nationals visiting the US. Significantly more expensive than the international plans due to US healthcare costs. $50-$340/month depending on age and coverage.
Global Medical Plan
Annual renewable expat health insurance. Hospitalization, preventive care, emergency evacuation, flexible deductibles. Functionally similar to Cigna Global Silver or Allianz Care. Best for long-term expats.
iTravelInsured (Lite/SE/LX)
Traditional trip insurance with trip cancellation, interruption, baggage protection. Underwritten by SiriusPoint America for some plans and United States Fire Insurance for others. Best for vacation-style travel rather than long nomad trips.
Financial backing
IMG is a Managing General Agent. The actual underwriters are:
- SiriusPoint America Insurance Company - A.M. Best A- (Excellent). Parent: SiriusPoint Group Ltd, listed on NYSE (SPNT).
- United States Fire Insurance Company - Subsidiary of Crum and Forster, A.M. Best A (Excellent).
- SiriusPoint Bermuda Insurance Company - For non-US risks.
The change from previous third-party underwriters to SiriusPoint Group ownership (which acquired IMG in 2020) has actually strengthened the financial picture. Claims will be paid; the underwriters are publicly-listed and regulated entities.
Claims experience - the honest assessment
This is where IMG has its real weak spot. Here is what the data shows:
The positive side (22,005 Trustpilot reviews, 4.6/5 average):
- 90% of customers give 4 or 5 stars
- Purchase experience consistently praised - easy comparison, clear policies, quick application
- Customer service team is responsive and answers via email and phone (US and UK call centers)
- Direct response from IMG on reviews (responding from ratingsandreviews@imglobal.com)
The negative side (the 10% complaint pattern):
- NerdWallet notes "claim approval can be lengthy"
- Squaremouth ranks IMG 12th in customer satisfaction on their platform
- Complex claims involving trip interruption may take 1-2 months with multiple documentation requests
- Some users report being asked for "a different document every day" on claims
Our reading: IMG is fine for purchase and for straightforward emergency medical claims. For complex claims involving multiple parties or documentation gaps, expect a slower process than with Faye or SafetyWing. Plan accordingly: keep all documentation, follow up actively.
Pricing examples
Sample monthly pricing for international travel (outside US), 30-year-old, $250 deductible, verified for 2026:
- Patriot International Lite at $50,000 maximum: approximately $29/month
- Patriot International Lite at $1,000,000 maximum: approximately $50/month
- Patriot International Platinum at $2,000,000 maximum: approximately $72/month
- Patriot International Platinum at $8,000,000 maximum: approximately $130/month
For comparison: SafetyWing Essential is $56/month at $250,000 maximum. Genki Traveler is approximately $48/month at $1,000,000 maximum. IMG positions itself between SafetyWing and Genki on price, while offering significantly higher coverage maximums on the Platinum tier.
How IMG compares
| Feature | IMG Patriot Platinum | SafetyWing Essential | World Nomads Explorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum coverage | $2M - $8M | $250K | $100K |
| Founded | 1990 (35 years) | 2017 (8 years) | 2002 (23 years) |
| Trustpilot | 4.6/5 (22K reviews) | 4.6/5 (2K+ reviews) | 4.1/5 |
| Max trip duration | 36 months | Unlimited (subscription) | 12 months |
| Adventure sports | Add-on rider (under 49) | Some excluded | 200+ included |
| Schengen visa | Yes (Lite or Platinum) | Yes | Yes |
| Claims speed | 10-14 days typical | 7-14 days typical | 14-30 days typical |
Honest summary
IMG Global is a workhorse provider. It is not the most exciting product in the market - the app is dated, the UI feels enterprise-y, the claims process is slower than Faye - but the underlying insurance is solid, the financial backing is real, and 22,000 reviews showing 90% positive is genuinely impressive.
Choose IMG when: you need very high medical limits, you need Schengen visa-compliant insurance with a quick visa letter, or you want a 35-year-old established insurer rather than a startup.
Skip IMG when: you want modern app-first claims experience, you want subscription flexibility, or you are primarily price-sensitive (SafetyWing and Genki are cheaper for comparable coverage).
Our overall rating: 4.2 / 5. Solid product, established financial backing, broad coverage options. Deductions for slower claims processing and dated user experience.
NomadShield does not yet have an affiliate partnership with IMG Global. This review is based on publicly available policy documents, customer reviews, and industry data. We may pursue affiliate partnership in the future. If we do, it will not change our editorial assessment.