The app in your pocket
Voucher, letters, clinics and claims in one place, in Spanish or English.
Travel assistance · Latin America retail single trip; this wording is published on the Chile site and titled Retail LA
Pulsar vs Universal Assistance.
The questions that matter when something goes wrong, answered from both contracts. Where theirs is better, we say so.
1Better with Pulsar
0Better with Universal Assistance
11Same or depends
An emergency and you could not call first: how long do you have to tell them?Same
Universal Assistance
Call before any expense; if impossible, contact them within 24 hours of the event.
Pulsar
24 hours after it happens.
You went to the emergency room without calling: what do they pay?Same
Universal Assistance
Without prior approval they may deny the claim or pay up to what their network would have cost.
Pulsar
We may refuse, or pay what our network would have cost.
How long do you have to send your claim papers?Same
Universal Assistance
60 calendar days after the service or trip ends, whichever comes first.
Pulsar
60 days after your trip ends.
How fast do they pay you back?Same
Universal Assistance
They aim to resolve within 45 days of receiving complete documents.
Pulsar
Check the issued Pulsar plan terms for claim timing.
Can you stay longer after using the service?Same
Universal Assistance
New voucher possible if requested before expiry, up to 30 days, at their discretion; not for earlier problems.
Pulsar
Yes. Up to 30 more days, if we approve it.
You are in hospital when your cover ends: what happens?Same
Universal Assistance
A covered hospital stay continues after the voucher ends until discharge or the limit is used.
Pulsar
Hospital care continues until you are discharged.
Do they cover a condition you already had?Depends
Universal Assistance
Excluded except acute heart attack and stroke; some vouchers add a pre-existing amount shown on the voucher.
Pulsar
No, except heart attack and stroke. With the extra: up to $20,000 USD.
Can you buy once you have left home?Same
Universal Assistance
Must be bought before the trip starts, except receptive products bought on arrival.
Pulsar
No.
You also ask another company for help: do they still pay?Same
Universal Assistance
No service or reimbursement if you also claimed the same problem with another company.
Pulsar
No.
Are they responsible for the doctors they send you to?Same
Universal Assistance
Doctors and providers they designate are treated as your agents, with no recourse against them.
Pulsar
No.
Do you need their approval before care?Same
Universal Assistance
All services must be requested by phone and approved in advance.
Pulsar
Yes, except in an emergency.
You change your mind before the trip: what do you get back?Better: Pulsar
Universal Assistance
Cancellation within 10 calendar days of issue if cover has not started; no later option stated.
Pulsar
Everything within 10 days of buying. After that, 80% back or free new dates until 3 business days before cover starts.
Source: General Conditions CCGGs_Retail_LA_v40 SINGLE TRIP, October 2025, 43 pages (Spanish), their document, read on Sep 30, 2026. Pulsar: general conditions, revision September 2025. Conditions vary by plan, country and edition; the one with your voucher counts. We compare contracts, not how either company treats customers. Pulsar is not affiliated with Universal Assistance. Found an error? Tell us on WhatsApp +1 (754) 324-4816.
Their promises
What Universal Assistance promises on its site, and what its contract says.
| On their site | In their conditions |
|---|---|
| Up to 12 interest-free installments; 15% off paying in one installment. source | Not addressed in their conditions. |
| Up to 50% off (35% to 50% by product) for issues from 24/08/2026 to 30/09/2026; Chile site also shows up to 50% OFF. source | Not addressed in their conditions. |
| Whatever it costs, any medical emergency on your trip costs you zero. source | Medical care is capped by the limit on the voucher table (1) d), 9) m)); a per-event deductible may apply (53)); pre-existing conditions are excluded except heart attack and stroke (8), 51) iii)). |
| Help center: reimbursement requests are evaluated and resolved within up to 30 business days of complete documents. source | Clause 7) l): they aim to resolve within 45 days of receiving complete documents (a best-efforts target, not a firm deadline). |
| Help center: you can start cancellation online before your cover starts. source | Clause 4) d): cancellation within 10 calendar days of issue, only if cover has not started and no service was used. |
| Talk to a doctor online (telemedicine). source | Clause 9) b): telemedicine may be coordinated depending on the case; prescriptions depend on the country and controlled drugs need an in-person visit. |
| Online reimbursement management. source | Clause 7) k): requests go through the app or website, or at offices by appointment. Consistent. |
Their public reviews
Ratings as shown on each platform, and what unhappy reviewers write about most.
App Store · seen 2026-09-304.8 / 59,400 ratings
Most frequent complaints in the reviews we read:
- could not see a family member's coverage in the app
- notifications unrelated to travel assistance
Google Play · seen 2026-09-304.8 / 518,900 ratings
Most frequent complaints in the reviews we read:
- flight delay claim declined because the cause was a strike
- reimbursements taking weeks
- automatic renewal and cancellation of a subscription
- support reachable only by email
Pulsar is new and has no public rating yet. After each trip we ask every traveler, and we publish what they say, good or bad. How our reviews work
Also worth knowing
- The PDF URL is live and was confirmed with WebFetch on 2026-09-30 (same title v40 and same clause 7 l text); direct download returned HTTP 403, so full-text search used the copy of the same URL saved on 2026-09-28 (data/competitors/sources/universal-assistance-2026-09-28.pdf).
- Limits, deductible, age limits and optional benefits sit on the voucher table, not in the general conditions (1) f) viii), 61)).
- It states it is not insurance (1) b)). Some products include accidental death insurance with an insurer (50)).
- Cruise passengers may open a case up to the fifth calendar day after cover ends (6) a)).
- Reimbursements are paid in local currency at the official rate of the day before payment (7) h)).
- Home page counters (cases, calls, people, providers) rendered without units in the fetched page, so they are not reported here (universal-assistance.com/ar and /cl, 2026-09-30).
Want the long version? Pulsar or Universal Assistance: the full comparison, question by question, with every source
Your price in ten seconds.
No email to see a price. Nothing added at checkout.
More comparisons
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Pulsar travel medical assistance · from $2.60 USD a day
100% service.
0% friction.
Your whole trip in one app: a doctor in one tap, the hospital bills us, and a photo is the claim. Real people in Spanish and English.
The Pulsar app, on every plan
Your whole trip in your pocket. A person on WhatsApp when you would rather talk.
A doctor in one tap. Any hour, free.
Video, WhatsApp, phone or text, unlimited on every plan, and nothing comes off your medical limit. Your voucher, letters and nearby clinics on one screen.
A photo of the receipt is the claim.
On WhatsApp or in the app. A person checks it. 24 hours for most claims, never more than 5 days, paid to a virtual card or by Wise.
Your flight, watched. Delayed? Lounge pass.
Register your flights and we follow them. At 2 hours or more late, each traveler chooses a VIP lounge pass or a $50 USD gift card, automatically.
The hospital bills us. Your benefits, per traveler.
Message us before you go in: the clinic gets your Verification of Benefits and bills us, so you pay nothing at the desk. Your wallet shows what is left for each traveler.
Real screens from the Pulsar app (My trip), with sample data. Telemedicine is for non-emergencies. In a hospital, contact us first, or within 24 hours if you cannot.
Why Pulsar
Travel assistance that feels like an app, not paperwork.
Doctor in one tap
Video, WhatsApp, phone or text. Unlimited and free.
The photo is the claim
No forms. 24 hours for most claims, never more than 5 days, paid to a virtual card or by Wise.
The hospital bills us
At network clinics you pay nothing at the desk.
Flights watched for you
Lounge pass or $50 USD gift card at 2 h+ late.
A benefits wallet per traveler
See what is left for each traveler, always. Pay in your home currency.
How it works
Covered in two minutes. Looked after the whole trip.
- 1
Your price in seconds
Destination, dates and ages. No name, email or phone.
- 2
Pay and get your voucher
Pay in USD or your home currency. Your voucher arrives by email and in the app.
- 3
Travel with someone on your side
A doctor, a case manager and your documents one tap away.
Doctor by video
A doctor in your pocket.
Talk to a doctor by video, WhatsApp, phone or text, in Spanish or English. Unlimited on every plan.
- A person answers: case managers, nurses and doctors
- At network clinics, the hospital bills us
- Your voucher, letters and nearby clinics in the app
Telemedicine is for non-emergencies; prescriptions follow local law.
Flight delay, with Blink Parametric
or
Flight delayed? Wait in the lounge.
Register your flight on your voucher at least 24 hours before departure. If it leaves 2 hours or more late, you choose a lounge pass or a $50 USD gift card. No form, no receipts, no claim.
Lounge passRelax in a partner lounge at your airport.
$50 USD gift cardSent by email, spend it anywhere.
Your choice, from a 2-hour delay. Eligible flights and conditions per the terms on your voucher.
Coverage highlights
The same benefits on every plan. Only the medical limit changes.
Medical and hospital care
For a sudden illness or accident, up to your limit.
Heart attack and stroke
Covered even with a history.
Transfers and repatriation
When our doctors decide it is needed.
Dental emergencies
Up to $2,500 USD.
Baggage and passport
Plus legal help after a traffic accident.
Families and 65+
Up to age 85. We show everything before you pay.
| Plan | Medical limit | Latin America | Mexico and Caribbean | Europe | US and Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $30,000 USD (Europe €30,000 EUR) | $2.60 USD | $4.29 USD | $2.81 USD | $4.29 USD |
| Standard | $50,000 USD | $3.13 USD | $5.17 USD | $3.18 USD | $5.17 USD |
| Superior Recommended | $100,000 USD | $4.47 USD | $7.38 USD | $3.62 USD | $7.38 USD |
| Prime | $150,000 USD | $7.58 USD | $11.21 USD | $9.37 USD | $11.21 USD |
Your money
Pay in your home currency. No surprises.
Prices show in your own currency at the day's rate, and you pay in it. The price you see is the price you pay, with a full refund within 10 days before you travel.
See prices
Reimbursement
How to request reimbursement
Send your documents through the channels on your voucher. We review the claim under your plan terms.
Flight delay benefits
Flight delayed? Lounge pass or $50 USD gift card, automatically.
The terms, eligibility and payout method depend on the product and issued voucher.
Plans and prices
Every Pulsar plan has the same benefits. Only the medical limit changes.
Example: 10 days, one traveler aged 35.
On every plan
- Medical and hospital care for a sudden illness or accident, up to your limit
- Heart attack and stroke covered even with a history
- Doctor by video, WhatsApp, phone or text, unlimited and free
- Real people: case managers, nurses and doctors
- The hospital bills us at network hospitals and clinics
- Flight delay benefits according to the product and terms on your voucher
- Medical transfers and repatriation when our doctors decide it is needed
- Dental emergencies up to $2,500 USD
- Baggage, lost passport, legal help after a traffic accident
Extras, never pre-selected: trip cancellation from $21.11 USD and pre-existing conditions from $94.44 USD per person.What no plan covers
Before you buy
Each situation in full
See what happens when you need help, step by step, with the clause that decides it.
A big medical limit tells you little about the night you need it. Where our contract is stricter than you would like, we say so here, before you pay.
Who is responsible
Who is responsible
Every name behind your Pulsar voucher, and who you call if something goes wrong.
Sells your voucherAsteroid LLC, Aventura, FloridaPulsar is its brand
Runs the 24/7 medical emergency lineMDabroadAn assistance partner to us and many global brands since 2000.
Makes medical decisionsMDabroad's medical departmentNurses and doctors.
Insures the medical benefitsRedbridge Insurance Company Ltd. (Barbados)
Runs the flight delay benefitBlink ParametricLounge pass or $50 USD gift card, live now
Hears your complaintYour case manager, then our complaints teamThen the insurer and your country's consumer authority
Comparisons
Read both contracts side by side, with the date we read them. Where theirs is better for you, we say so.
Pulsar vs Assist Card Clause by clause Pulsar vs Universal Assistance Clause by clause Pulsar vs ProtegeTuViaje Their promises and their contract Pulsar vs PAX Assistance Where theirs is better, too All comparisons, and how to report an error
Destinations
All 47 destinations
Where are you going? Pulsar starts at $2.60 USD a day.
Help during your trip
Know how to reach us and make a claim.
- Contact us during your trip using the channels on your voucher.
- Before a planned visit, ask for a Verification of Benefits.
- For reimbursement, submit the documents required by your plan terms.
Your voucher and plan documents set the applicable benefits, timelines and conditions.
Reviews
We are new. Our first reviews come from travelers like you.
No invented quotes, no borrowed ratings. After your trip we ask what you thought, good or bad, and publish it with the date and the platform. How reviews work.
Travel guides
Straight answers before you fly, checked by our doctors.
Schengen: what Article 15 actually asks forEntry rules · 6 min
What a US hospital day costs, with sourcesUnited States · 5 min
Flight delayed: what the airline owes you, and your lounge pass or $50 USD gift card, live nowFlights · 4 min
Questions
What people ask before they buy Pulsar.
Is Pulsar travel insurance?
Pulsar is travel medical assistance: a service that arranges and pays for your care abroad, with a 24/7 medical emergency line. Its medical benefits are insured by Redbridge Insurance Company Ltd. (Barbados), and the assistance is operated by MDabroad. It does not replace your health plan at home.
Do I pay anything at the hospital?
Not for covered care at a network hospital or clinic, once you have contacted us. We send you a Verification of Benefits and the clinic bills us. If you cannot contact us first, do it within 24 hours.
How fast are claims paid?
Send photos of the receipts and the medical report to our WhatsApp. There is no form. Once your documents are complete: 24 hours for most claims, never more than 5 days. Send documents within 60 days of your voucher's end.
How does the flight delay benefit work?
Register your flight at least 24 hours before departure. If it leaves 2 hours or more late, you choose a lounge pass or a $50 USD digital gift card per traveler, automatically. Registration and alerts come from our partner Asteroid Assistance. Eligible flights per the terms on your voucher.
Are pre-existing conditions covered?
An acute heart attack or stroke is covered on every plan, whatever your history. Other conditions that began before the trip are not, unless you add the pre-existing extra: $15,000 USD or 20,000 for acute episodes.
What changes after 65?
From 65 your medical limit is 75 percent of the plan's, and the daily price is higher. You can buy Pulsar up to age 85. We show both before you pay.
Can I buy once I have left home?
No. Pulsar has to be bought before your trip starts. If you already hold a voucher and want to stay longer, ask us before it ends: we can issue up to 30 more days, and treatment of anything that began under the first voucher does not continue.
Can I cancel and get my money back?
Yes. Within 10 days of buying, if your trip has not started and you have not used any service, you get everything back. After that, and until 3 business days before your cover starts, you get 80% back, or you move your dates with no change fee. Later than that, or once the trip has started, it cannot be cancelled or moved.
Can I talk to a doctor without going to a clinic?
Yes. Every plan includes a doctor by video, WhatsApp, phone or text, as often as you need, at no charge, and nothing comes off your medical limit. It is for non-emergencies; prescriptions follow local law.
Does Pulsar meet the Schengen visa requirement?
Every Pulsar plan for Europe starts at €30,000 EUR of medical cover, the amount Schengen asks for. Your voucher shows your medical limit.
Can my whole family travel on one voucher?
Yes. Up to 9 travelers fit on one voucher, each with their own medical limit and their own benefits wallet in the app.
Can I see the price in my currency?
Yes. Prices show in your own currency automatically, based on where you are, and you can switch currency with the selector at the top of the page. The price you see is the price you pay.
How long can my trip be?
Up to 180 days per trip. Buy before you leave home.
Who answers when I write?
Nova, our sales assistant, is an AI and answers right away. A person is always one tap away: case managers, nurses and doctors answer on WhatsApp +1 (754) 324-4816; medical emergencies 24/7 on +1 (786) 257-0040.
Your price in ten seconds. A person in sixty.
No email to see a price. Nothing added at checkout. Cancel within 10 days for a full refund before your trip.
Step 1 of 3 · About 60 seconds to finish
Choose your medical limit. Everything else is the same on every plan.
Included in every plan
Whichever limit you choose. Amounts are per traveler.
- Medical and hospital care for a sudden illness or accident, up to your limit
- Heart attack and stroke covered even with a history
- Doctor by video, WhatsApp, phone or text, unlimited and free
- Real people: case managers, nurses and doctors
- The hospital bills us in the network
- Flight delay, with Blink Parametric: register your flight 24 hours ahead; if it leaves 2 hours or more late you choose a lounge pass or a $50 USD gift card per traveler, live now. Registration and alerts come from our partner Asteroid Assistance. Eligible flights per the terms on your voucher.
- Medical transfers and repatriation
- Dental emergencies up to $2,500 USD
- Baggage, lost passport and legal help after a traffic accident
Optional extras
Trip cancellation or interruption
For listed causes such as your hospitalization or a death in the family. Price per traveler. Not available over 70.
Pre-existing conditions
Acute episodes of listed chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and asthma. Price per traveler.
Who is responsible: sold by Asteroid LLC (Pulsar) · assistance and claims by MDabroad · benefits subject to your plan terms.
Step 2 of 3 · Travelers and payment
Your voucher is recorded.
Your voucher details are below. Save our WhatsApp number: it is the fastest way to reach us.
Voucher
1. Check how to register your flightsRequirements depend on your plan.
+1 (754) 324-4816. Un médico por video, gratis.">2. Save our WhatsApp+1 (754) 324-4816. A doctor by video, free.
3. Add passport numbersOptional now. It speeds up a hospital admission.
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