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BLAMBKY
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I have always purchased Travel insurance through travel guard. This time I used insure my trip to compare and found a "cruise specific" insurance. Choice Cruise through Nationwide. Anyone have experience with this? This is the first time I was aware of a specific travel insurance for cruising.

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No, I have always used RCL Travel Insurance. I have heard from several people who have had to use their RCL Travel Insurance that they were very well looked after and taken care of, i.e., coordination of evacuation process, escort for family members, no problem with resulting fees dues by passenger (it was legitimate).

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I hope that the guy at Nationwide that first suggested "Let's take a regular plan and market it as a CRUISE plan" got a huge bonus because this is brilliant. I've read through the fine print and have found nothing that stands out as a cruise-specific plan. That's not to say it's not a good plan but I wouldn't choose it just because it has "cruise" in its name.

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Many are including this feature with their regular "no-cruise" plans. Here's a couple of examples:

 

tRAVELsAFE

ITINERARY CHANGE

In the event Your Travel Supplier makes a change in Your Trip itinerary

after Your Scheduled Departure Date which prevents You from participating

in an event/activity Prepaid prior to departure and scheduled on Your Trip

itinerary, non-refundable Prepaid event/activity expenses will be payable

up to the Maximum Benefit Amount shown in the Confirmation of Benefits.

 

tRAVELINSURED:

ITINERARY CHANGE

In the event Your Travel Supplier makes a change in Your Trip itinerary after Your Scheduled Departure Date, which prevents You from participating in an event/activity Prepaid prior to departure and scheduled on Your Trip itinerary, non-refundable Prepaid event/activity expenses will be payable up to the Maximum Benefit Amount shown in the Confirmation of Benefits. $500

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I hope that the guy at Nationwide that first suggested "Let's take a regular plan and market it as a CRUISE plan" got a huge bonus because this is brilliant. I've read through the fine print and have found nothing that stands out as a cruise-specific plan. That's not to say it's not a good plan but I wouldn't choose it just because it has "cruise" in its name.

 

The itinerary change did get my attention. We normally book our excursions privately, so this was a way to offset problem if our ports were changed. It was comparable to what I normally get in coverage otherwise & less cost for my family too. Hopefully I will not need it at all but I was curious since I had not seen cruise specific insurance.

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When I book private excursions, I will only book with companies that will refund (if advance payment is required) if the ship misses a port.

But if I need to book through the ship at last minute, I might end up getting an excursion that cost more than one previously booked.

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But if I need to book through the ship at last minute, I might end up getting an excursion that cost more than one previously booked.

 

If your ship doesn't dock, there won't be any excursion at all.

 

If, on the other hand, the ship goes elsewhere for that same day, and you then need to book something "new" through the ship (along with *everyone* else who would like a new excursion choice that day)...

In that case, I'd suggest filing a claim for whatever losses/extra costs you incur.

Note that at best, you probably wouldn't get reimbursed for the old and new cost, as you had already planned to pay for an excursion, etc.

 

How to deal with the differential costs for a "different" level of excursion... who knows.

This might be similar to extra hotel/meal costs if someone is sick in the middle of a land trip, when one was stuck at more costly accommodations than were planned had there been no illness.

 

In precisely this situation, we found the insurer very reasonable, and we explained the reason for the extra costs, and we were reimbursed. But each situation is unique, of course. The insurer needs receipts and rationale/explanation that is covered by the terms of the policy coverage.

(Our claims with Travel Insured were handled in a very professional and prompt fashion, and we have absolutely no complaint. There was one problem getting a letter from a provider - in addition to the hospital records - but that was a language problem, and once we got that sorted out, we had a check for the full amount in about a week.)

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Many are including this feature with their regular "no-cruise" plans. Here's a couple of examples:

 

tRAVELsAFE

ITINERARY CHANGE

In the event Your Travel Supplier makes a change in Your Trip itinerary

after Your Scheduled Departure Date which prevents You from participating

in an event/activity Prepaid prior to departure and scheduled on Your Trip

itinerary, non-refundable Prepaid event/activity expenses will be payable

up to the Maximum Benefit Amount shown in the Confirmation of Benefits.

 

tRAVELINSURED:

ITINERARY CHANGE

In the event Your Travel Supplier makes a change in Your Trip itinerary after Your Scheduled Departure Date, which prevents You from participating in an event/activity Prepaid prior to departure and scheduled on Your Trip itinerary, non-refundable Prepaid event/activity expenses will be payable up to the Maximum Benefit Amount shown in the Confirmation of Benefits. $500

 

You are only covered up to a maximum of $500. My attitude is that you insure for the big stuff (medical and evacuation) and self insure for the rest. Not worth making a big fuss over a $500 max loss.

 

DON

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You are only covered up to a maximum of $500. My attitude is that you insure for the big stuff (medical and evacuation) and self insure for the rest. Not worth making a big fuss over a $500 max loss.

 

DON

 

If it's a covered loss (on a regular policy), why not file the claim?

 

Is there a concern about making too many claims, even if small, and not being able to get travel insurance in the future?

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You are only covered up to a maximum of $500. My attitude is that you insure for the big stuff (medical and evacuation) and self insure for the rest. Not worth making a big fuss over a $500 max loss.

 

DON

Just FYI, that's $500 per person

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If it's a covered loss (on a regular policy), why not file the claim?

 

Is there a concern about making too many claims, even if small, and not being able to get travel insurance in the future?

No

I think the rational is that for my wife and I,, we have sailed 13 cruises. Close to 100 days. What? 60 excursions? That would be 120 excursions between both of us. Let's say $50 pp/ per excursion,, that's $6000.

I think I can self insure and if I miss an excursion and lose my deposit,,, I'm ahead of the insurance game.

I can absorb a $100 loss. I can't absorb a major medical with evac back home.

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I purchased the Nationwide Cruise insurance for the first time for my upcoming cruise. I liked that I could purchase it at the time of final payment and still get pre-existing medical coverage. I looked over the policy and compared it to what we usually purchase it looked good if not better.

 

Sent from my D6708 using Forums mobile app

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CSA Travel Protection also has pre existing conditions coverages included at final payment.

 

Dont see anything extraordinary with Nationwide's coverages.

Didn't say anything was extraordinary, just said it was good if not better than our usual insurance. Since we can purchase at final payment and only have a 60 day pre-existing look back period it makes it good or better for us.

 

People buy insurance for lots of reasons so there are many companies and plans to choose from.

 

I personally have not heard a lot about CSA as we usually use another company. I happened to stumble upon Nationwide when I was researching travel insurance and know they are a reputable company and they fit our needs.

 

Happy Cruising!

 

Sent from my D6708 using Forums mobile app

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Didn't say anything was extraordinary, just said it was good if not better than our usual insurance. Since we can purchase at final payment and only have a 60 day pre-existing look back period it makes it good or better for us.

 

People buy insurance for lots of reasons so there are many companies and plans to choose from.

 

I personally have not heard a lot about CSA as we usually use another company. I happened to stumble upon Nationwide when I was researching travel insurance and know they are a reputable company and they fit our needs.

 

Happy Cruising!

 

Sent from my D6708 using Forums mobile app

 

Many companies will offer the "pre-existing condition exclusion waiver WITH a lookback" at various times.

 

CSA offers a policy, as noted by cargo13, and that offers coverage that includes any pre-existing conditions where there is NO "look back" condition to deal with.

Much better for many people, and it certainly makes any claims easier for everyone, as there is no reason for the insurer to scour through old medical records/histories.

It must be purchased within 24 hours of "final payment" (defined specifically).

 

This is similar to Travel Insured's policy that must be purchased within 21 days, and other vendors offer this within 10-14 days.

We've always purchased from Travel Insured, because we sometimes need the CFAR (Cancel For Any Reason), and if one waits for final payment with CSA, the CFAR coverage add-on is much more expensive with CSA.

Otherwise, the prices are similar. We've used CSA once, but didn't have a claim, so we can't comment on that especially critical aspect.

Travel Insured paid promptly and with no nonsense, which is what matters...

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Many companies will offer the "pre-existing condition exclusion waiver WITH a lookback" at various times.

 

CSA offers a policy, as noted by cargo13, and that offers coverage that includes any pre-existing conditions where there is NO "look back" condition to deal with.

Much better for many people, and it certainly makes any claims easier for everyone, as there is no reason for the insurer to scour through old medical records/histories.

It must be purchased within 24 hours of "final payment" (defined specifically).

 

This is similar to Travel Insured's policy that must be purchased within 21 days, and other vendors offer this within 10-14 days.

We've always purchased from Travel Insured, because we sometimes need the CFAR (Cancel For Any Reason), and if one waits for final payment with CSA, the CFAR coverage add-on is much more expensive with CSA.

Otherwise, the prices are similar. We've used CSA once, but didn't have a claim, so we can't comment on that especially critical aspect.

Travel Insured paid promptly and with no nonsense, which is what matters...

That's good to know that CSA offers a no look back pre-existing coverage. Many people will find that a huge advantage.

 

We have always used Allianz and have had to file a claim and they settled it quickly and easily. It was actually a cancel for any reason claim. And you are correct, that is what's important, quick and easy claim settlement. I am hoping that I won't have to report back to you all that Nationwide also provides quick and easy claim settlement, because that would mean I have encountered some difficulties on my upcoming cruise that caused me to file a claim.

 

 

Sent from my D6708 using Forums mobile app

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  • 2 months later...
I purchased the Nationwide Cruise insurance for the first time for my upcoming cruise. I liked that I could purchase it at the time of final payment and still get pre-existing medical coverage. I looked over the policy and compared it to what we usually purchase it looked good if not better.

 

Sent from my D6708 using Forums mobile app

Did the comparo too, I agree with what you determined. Final payment time is much better for us.

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Guest maddycat
We are trying to decide on RC insurance or Allianz. RC has a special which is about $50 less than Allianz. We have always purchased Allianz in the past. Any suggestions on which to purchase?

 

Is the coverage the same for medical and evacuation? Most cruise line coverage is lower.

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Not sure which coverages are most important to you but you might compare with http://www.generalitravelinsurance.com Generali's standard plan has much better coverages than RC and costed us less. Pre existing conditions to final payment is important to us. ALso, cancellation covers extended family members, not traveling. [Apparently, CSA re-branded to Generali and finally improved their website but the best is that they offer more plans now.]

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We are trying to decide on RC insurance or Allianz. RC has a special which is about $50 less than Allianz. We have always purchased Allianz in the past. Any suggestions on which to purchase?

It's hard to give an opinion with no details. Aside from premium rates, you need to compare what are those that are covered and the maximum limits it provide. Make sure you are not comparing apples and oranges.

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  • 3 months later...

I purchased travel insurance for my daughter who took a land trip for a month to Peru with Allianz. She got sick and went to a clinic in Cusco the bill was only $360 but Aiilanz paid us the entire amount right away. I had to submit the claim 1st to our primary insurance company blue cross and they took 2 months to deny it.

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My sister and I booked a Canadian cruise for Oct 2017, she had an accident and is unable to go. I applied for the single supplement which they paid me for, I also applied for her reimbursement which was suppose to be like $2500.00, looks like all they are willing to pay is the same as what they paid me. Has anyone else had problems with an travel insurance company? This wasn't cheap insurance. HELP!!!!

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