bogofman Posted October 7, 2016 #1 Share Posted October 7, 2016 Reading lots of threads of folks not taking travel insurance when cruising What happens with medical cover, does the US medical insurance cover traveling or would the travel insurance cover that? I've seen many medical evacuations by helicopter and i cannot begin to guess the cost of that if someone is not covered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker19 Posted October 7, 2016 #2 Share Posted October 7, 2016 (edited) I've seen many medical evacuations by helicopter and i cannot begin to guess the cost of that if someone is not covered. I would venture to guess less than once a month on say Oasis - that's one 1 in 25000 chance. "Many" is relative.;) For context, the murder rate in the US is about the same at 3.9/100000. Edited October 7, 2016 by Biker19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted October 7, 2016 #3 Share Posted October 7, 2016 ... I've seen many medical evacuations by helicopter and i cannot begin to guess the cost of that if someone is not covered. Depends where you are, but it can be tens of thousands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smyles Posted October 7, 2016 #4 Share Posted October 7, 2016 We are going on our second cruise (last was 6yrs ago). But we travel often enough. We have coverage for medical/injury/death etc but not for trip cancellation. We would never risk having to cover medical expenses (unknown cost) but we are comfortable enough covering the costs of a trip being cancelled (known cost). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DISFANS3 Posted October 7, 2016 #5 Share Posted October 7, 2016 Buy yes, but have never used... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryjaden Posted October 7, 2016 #6 Share Posted October 7, 2016 I only get insurance when cruising with my husband (about half the time). Mainly for cancellation because of his job. However we are fortunate as our health coverage already covers medical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkiegirl3 Posted October 7, 2016 #7 Share Posted October 7, 2016 Medicare will not cover you outside of the US. As for other medical insurance it depends on the company. However I will warn you that if you ever have to be airlifted off the ship, you'll be very thankful to have trip insurance. Almost no air or land ambulance providers contract with insurance companies which means they can bill you for the difference between their billed charges and your insurances allowed charges. Those bills are often in excess of $100,000. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WMQueenie Posted October 7, 2016 #8 Share Posted October 7, 2016 10 Cruises and we always buy insurance. I'm 60, DH is 65...you never know and I'm not risking the expense of a medical emergency! I just add it in to the total cost of the cruise and don't think about it again.... Thankfully, we have never used it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alfaeric Posted October 7, 2016 #9 Share Posted October 7, 2016 We've only started buying in the last 2 cruises. Out of 40. Just as we see family aging, and the needs for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
setsail Posted October 7, 2016 #10 Share Posted October 7, 2016 (edited) 33. Is this about how many cruises one has Edited October 7, 2016 by setsail Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maryjaden Posted October 7, 2016 #11 Share Posted October 7, 2016 I should maybe be clearer, Though we don't get the medical now due to our other coverage, if that situation were to change I would definitely get additional insurance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bogofman Posted October 7, 2016 Author #12 Share Posted October 7, 2016 I would venture to guess less than once a month on say Oasis - that's one 1 in 25000 chance. "Many" is relative.;) For context, the murder rate in the US is about the same at 3.9/100000. We had two on an indy cruise from Southampton to the med, helicopter on the way down and a boat came out from Spain on the way back up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
preschool teacher Posted October 7, 2016 #13 Share Posted October 7, 2016 We always get insurance..had to use it once when we had to cancel due to medical reasons ....would never go without it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonTowner Posted October 7, 2016 #14 Share Posted October 7, 2016 Being British we are covered for emergency medical treatment in other EU countries. However, we would never travel anywhere abroad without comprehensive travel insurance. I think on every cruise we have taken we have seen somebody taken seriously I'll, including having to be taken off the ship by helicopter. If you have adequate insurance you are covered for every eventuality, so we always take out an annual insurance. Even if we just pop across the Channel to France we know we would be repatriated if necessary. You never know what is around the corner, so even if you are young and healthy you can always have an accident. For me, anybody who travels without adequate travel insurance is just plain foolhardy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gopher1934 Posted October 7, 2016 #15 Share Posted October 7, 2016 We have been on 36 cruises as of yet have never purchased cruise insurance.I figure if I lost out on price of one in 10 cruises we would be even. So if we did lose out on cost of a cruise in the long run we would be ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
temple1 Posted October 7, 2016 #16 Share Posted October 7, 2016 (edited) We never bought the cruise insurance until about 2009 when my sister was concerned about her husband's health. We've bought it ever since. Edited October 7, 2016 by temple1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker19 Posted October 7, 2016 #17 Share Posted October 7, 2016 For me, anybody who travels without adequate travel insurance is just plain foolhardy. ....or has done the math and are OK with the risk.;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lady_cruiser Posted October 7, 2016 #18 Share Posted October 7, 2016 It's not only good while cruising because things do happen before you set sail. Five years ago, a month before we were set to leave on a cruise, my sister went in for a routine mammogram. In those four weeks she had her mammogram, went in for a biopsy, had a partial mastectomy and started radiation. If it wasn't for cruise insurance we would have lost thousands of dollars. Today she is a five-year breast cancer survivor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dick731 Posted October 7, 2016 #19 Share Posted October 7, 2016 Reading lots of threads of folks not taking travel insurance when cruising What happens with medical cover, does the US medical insurance cover traveling or would the travel insurance cover that? I've seen many medical evacuations by helicopter and i cannot begin to guess the cost of that if someone is not covered. My medical coverage, Blue Cross, will reimburse after I get home and submit all of the paperwork. Make sure those credit cards have high limits. I do not have limits of 100K plus for medical evacuation if the facilities are not able to resolve your condition so evacuation coverage is my priority. The only time you need insurance is when you don't have it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonTowner Posted October 7, 2016 #20 Share Posted October 7, 2016 So, if you need an air ambulance to your home, or a stretcher and accompanying nurse on a plane, or your spouse needs board and accommodation whilst their loved one is in hospital who pays for all that? Or do US citizens get it covered in their medical insurances? For the number of times my OH and self go abroad each year and the cost of the annual, worldwide insurance premium we find it worthwhile for peace of mind. We paid around the equivalent ofUSD 500 for the two of us for the year. That also includes our pre existing medical conditions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bailey & Sophie Posted October 7, 2016 #21 Share Posted October 7, 2016 We never bought the cruise insurance until about 2009 when my sister was concerned about her husband's health. We've bought it ever since. How do you purchase it? Is this the insurance that is offered fom the cruise line or is it an add-on to your basic insurance? Do you get it short term just before you leave for a month increment? I think I should start looking into this. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George C Posted October 7, 2016 #22 Share Posted October 7, 2016 We did not have insurance 1st 40 or so cruises, now we get insurance every cruise. Just finished 60th cruise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
setsail Posted October 7, 2016 #23 Share Posted October 7, 2016 So, if you need an air ambulance to your home, or a stretcher and accompanying nurse on a plane, or your spouse needs board and accommodation whilst their loved one is in hospital who pays for all that? Or do US citizens get it covered in their medical insurances? . There are thousands of insurance cos. Here and many thousands over of policies, do you have a particular one in mind? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted October 7, 2016 #24 Share Posted October 7, 2016 How do you purchase it? Is this the insurance that is offered fom the cruise line or is it an add-on to your basic insurance? Do you get it short term just before you leave for a month increment? I think I should start looking into this. Thanks. We buy third party (non-cruise line) insurance. See these websites: www.insuremytrip.com www.squaremouth.com www.quotewright.com http://www.tripinsurancestore.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaAtlCruiser Posted October 7, 2016 #25 Share Posted October 7, 2016 In the past I did not purchase insurance - but lately I have for nearly every cruise. I didn't for my 3 night one coming up because the cruise itself is not that expensive, I am driving to port so no air and we will be pretty close to the US. I get mine through USAA. I generally wait and purchase it at final payment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now