American National Insurance Reviews | Pros & Cons
American National Insurance Company at a Glance
- Founded in 1905
- Offers a variety of coverages
- Offers both personal and business policies
- Coverage offered nationwide
- “A” (excellent) rating by AM Best
- Not rated by the Better Business Bureau
- Excellent customer service availability
- Offers annuities
- Multiple discounts available
- Strong financial stability
- 24/7 claims reporting
American National Pros: This company has more than a century’s worth of experience in the insurance industry. It provides multiple types of coverage including life, business, and health insurance. It offers coverage to businesses and individuals and provides 24/7 claims reporting for customers. American national has strong financial stability with coverage offered nationwide.
American National Cons: It is not a BBB accredited company and is not rated by the BBB. There are a concerning number of customer complaints filed against the carrier in recent years. There is no official claims response time frame promise and mixed customer feedback.
What Type of Insurance Does American National Offer?
American National offers a wide range of insurance options to both individuals and businesses. Their products include:
- Life insurance
- Business insurance
- Health insurance
- Auto insurance
- Homeowners insurance
- Renters insurance
- Classic car insurance
- Farm & ranch insurance
- Recreational insurance
- Annuities
This list of insurance products offered by American National is not exhaustive. The carrier offers a wide variety of coverages for both businesses and individuals alike.
What to Know about American National
American National Insurance was founded in 1905, giving the carrier more than a century’s worth of experience in offering reputable coverage to customers across the country. The carrier is ranked as having an impressive financial size category, at $2 billion or greater.
Not only does American National offer a wide variety of coverage options for both individuals and businesses, but their reach extends nationwide. American National makes their coverage offerings highly accessible to all kinds of insurance customers throughout the US. The carrier is estimated to have more than 4,500 employees.
Thanks to its well-established history, countrywide reach, and large financial size category, American National has earned itself a reputation as a stable insurance company that’s likely to be around for more centuries to come. AM Best, the leading global credit rating agency monitoring the insurance industry, gives American National Insurance an “A” rating, indicating the carrier is an excellent choice for insurance customers. A high rating from AM Best assures customers that American National is capable of offering guaranteed, secure coverage from a trustworthy and reputable carrier.
Established in 1899, AM Best is one of the oldest rating companies in the world. Reviews from AM Best indicate an insurance company’s financial strength and creditworthiness, and are based on comprehensive evaluations of the company’s operating performance, business profile, and balance sheet. For customers who aren’t as familiar with insurance companies’ respective reputations, AM Best’s ratings system allows them to make an informed decision about who they can trust to meet their needs in the short term, and who will remain a strong, financially sound company in the long term.
What Discounts Does American National Offer?
American National provides a few competitive discounts on their coverage offerings, including for their classic car insurance. These discounts include:
- Fresh start discount: This is offered to customers who apply for a new insurance policy before their current policy expires.
- Three line discount: This is offered to customers who purchase auto, home, and life insurance with American National.
- Collector’s discount: This is offered to customers who insure multiple vehicles with American National.
Working with an independent insurance agent can further help you get the most bang for your buck out of your coverage in addition to these great discounts with American National.
American National Customer Service
American National allows customers to file claims over the phone or online, any time of the week. The carrier also provides the following customer service options:
- Email contact options available
- Fax contact options available
- 24/7 claims reporting hotline available
- Bill pay and policy service hotline has the following hours restrictions:
Hours (CST)
Monday-Friday
7:00 am – 8:00 pm
Saturday
7:00 am – 7:00 pm
Sunday
9:00 am – 7:00 pm
American National sells insurance through a wide network of agents, including independent insurance agents. Independent insurance agents can help make customer service easier for you by handling claims and other concerns.
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American National FAQ
What is American National’s average claim response time frame?
While American National offers a 24/7 claims reporting service, their official website does not provide a claims response time frame promise.
What is American National’s customer service availability?
American National offers two separate phone lines for customer service/bill issues and claims filing. Their claims hotline is available for customers 24/7, and their customer service hotline has quite generous hours every day of the week. The carrier also has a social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, making them even more accessible to customers.
What is American National’s claims process?
American National allows customers to file claims online or over the phone. The carrier’s official claims process for life insurance and annuities is outlined on their website as follows:
“To report a claim by phone:
Standard Life understands that the loss of a loved one can be overwhelming, so we do our best to make the process of filing a claim as simple as possible. You can report a claim by calling our Life and Annuity Claims Center Mon.-Fri., 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST at 888.265.2393. A claims service associate will guide you through the claim process.
To download a claim form:
Claims can be made via mail by downloading a claim form, filling it out completely and returning it (along with the insurance policy and certified death certificate) to the address specified at the top of the form.”
American National allows customers to track their claim’s progress via phone or through the official website at any time as well.
Does American National create a user-friendly experience for customers?
American National’s website feels a little restrictive compared to many other modern carriers’ websites, however most information can be found fairly easily. Customers can request quotes, get matched with an insurance agent, file claims, and more right through the website. American National also has a social media presence on multiple platforms. The carrier provides a mobile app for smartphone users as well.
American National Insurance Customer Reviews
Clearsurance
“The company was very great, but the customer service was bad. This was an issue because I could not figure anything out.”
Clearsurance
“Great company. We love the cash back policies when you are claim free. We did have one claim for storm damage and they were very responsive and helpful to deal with. The process was simple and we had our check for repairs within days. Our agent is top notch and his assistants are great as well.”
Yelp
“The worst insurance EVER! My mom was looking for insurance and in the beginning this company seemed like a trusted one. Then they tried to charge my mother $2k on something she didn’t agree. She had bought a loan according to the new agents. But the old agents actually sold her policy. The money they had given her about 2k is now converted into a loan. They forged her signature and did a new policy without her concern. She had her evidence and guess what? The agent destroyed all of it. Never get this insurance! They pray on the innocent old people. You will lose money! Get something else.”
Better Business Bureau
“This company should not be in business. They treat people with claims against them totally disrespectfully. Try to ‘low-ball’ you on the worth of your vehicle when their policyholder was documented to be at fault. They must have their home office in a rented double-wide trailer in the middle of a Missouri cornfield. If they went out of business tomorrow it wouldn’t be soon enough. A total blight against reputable insurance companies.”
Clearsurance
“They help me get the best deals on insurance for my needs. I am very pleased. I recommend them highly because they helped me out a lot.”
TrustedChoice.com’s Final Review
We award American National Insurance a final rating of 3 out of 5 stars. The carrier’s long-standing history in the insurance industry is certainly noteworthy and respectable, as is their high rating from AM Best. However, the carrier is not currently BBB accredited, nor are they rated through the organization, and they’ve had a concerning number of customer complaints filed against them in recent years. The official website is good, but not excellent, and lacks an official claims response timeframe promise. Offering 24/7 claims reporting for customers is always a huge pro, however. Our biggest concern with this carrier is that customer reviews are so mixed across the board. While there are a few glowing reports of excellent service, there are an equal number of complaints about claims not being acknowledged or approved.
Bottom Line: American National offers a wide variety of coverage options across the country, so they may have exactly what you’re looking for. However, if strong customer service is important to you, we’re not entirely convinced this carrier is capable of providing that from the feedback we’ve seen. When working with your independent insurance agent, it’s worth giving American National Insurance a consideration to meet your coverage needs — just be sure to also pursue your other options as well.