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This guide helped us with pre existing conditions in travel insurance: https://www.thediabetescouncil.com/diabetes-travel-insurance-guide/

The WHEN to buy travel insurance indicates what coverages you have for trip cancellation. If you did not buy travel insurance @ time of initial deposit, you likely cannot obtain trip cancellation coverages now.

http://blog.csatravelprotection.com/index.php/when-you-should-buy-travel-insurance/

For the travel insurance, Carnival insurance is not optimal--limited coverages, more expensive, and conflict of interest if you have a claim because its their cruise.

That comparison site Insure My Travel recommended CSA Travel Protection http://www.csatravelprotection.com as CSA has highest coverages on emergency medical transport even on their standard plan at affordable prices.

CSA will cover pre existing conditions up to final payment of the cruise but if you want the trip cancellation coverages for any reason you need to buy at time you put deposit on the cruise.

Royal Caribbean /cruiseline insurance is not optimal: 1. generally more expensive, 2. coverages are less--does not cover items bought outside the cruise line, 3. there is a conflict of interest if you have a claim with the cruise line. But the cruise line will insure anyone--elderly or those with pre existing conditions but at high cost.

Buying directly from the travel insurance provider is better option.

On the comparison site Insure My Trip, we found CSA Travel Protection http://www.csatravelprotection.com to have the highest coverage for medical emergency transport (which is our major need) even on their standard plan. We had to use CSA on our cruise last year due to medical issue in Greece and CSA's 24/7 center directed us to a health provider in their network that they paid directly. We had no out of pocket costs!

What my credit cards cover or not related to travel insurance is very confusing. This article helped http://blog.csatravelprotection.com/index.php/why-credit-cards-arent-great-for-travel-insurance/

but unfortunately reading both the details of the credit card policy and the travel insurance policy are time consuming. We have not found a credit card that covers all aspects of travel insurance and found it less expensive to buy direct from the insurer on a cruise by cruise basis and get a credit card that has lower annual fees.

Thank you everybody, I meant to say medical insurance for pre-existing conditions, I tried some of them that you all mentioned, there were many exclusions.... I did find GeoBlue International, its Blue Cross/Shield but overseas, wonderful best plan I found yet, 0 deductibles, 1million coverage, all pre-existing conditions, 100 payment and no out of pocket expenses and $52.91.

 

I live with a large amount of medical problems so needed some coverage as medicare won't cover me international thank you everybody for all your help!

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We have investigated the pre existing conditions dilemma (diabetes) and credit cards travel insurance does not cover. Cruise lines have to offer the travel insurance but the coverage is poor and its expensive.

Our doctor recommended this article that was very helpful coparing providers:

https://www.thediabetescouncil.com/diabetes-travel-insurance-guide/

Because of the ability to buy travel insurance to cover pre existing up until final payment of the cruise, we always buy CSA TRAVEL PROTECTION http://www.csatravelprotection.com lists a phone to call CSA and speak w/ an advisor who was very helpful on which plan to buy.

We found CSA Travel Protection http://www.csatravelprotection.com from the comparison website Insure My Trip--not expensive. We like their IN TRIP plan, I think its called post departure because it includes coverages outside the trip cancellation. Akin to your situation, you cannot get trip cancellation coverages after final payment but you are so close to departure that it probably is not important.

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

Dont see anything extraordinary with Nationwide's coverages.

CSA Travel Protection offers a "Post Departure' plan meaning it has IN TRIP coverages but not trip cancellation protection. You want the trip interruption coverages which you may not get with a $0 trip cost input. For some reason its not on http://www.csatravelprotection.com but if you call a CSA rep 800-874-2442 they can sell this plan to you. Explain your needs.

I would try http://www.csatravelprotection.com for solo. My travel companion & I priced both together (to see if cheaper) and separately which is what we really prefer --separate credit cards. There was no difference.

The cruise lines wont turn down/out price older passengers from their travel insurance. Thats the 1 benefit of cruise line insurance.

Aft is more stabilized.Insurance: do not buy from Carnival--coverages are less and prices are higher than going direct to the insurance company. http://www.csatravelprotection.com is the best. CSA covers extended family (not just the travelers) for trip cancellation. CSA's emergency medical transport levels are unmatched ---$250,000 on the base plan. Its affordable.

CSA Travel Protection has a policy that covers pre existing medical condition @ final payment. This is rare. Their medical coverages are strong but I am not sure about the amount you want. Maybe you should call CSA because their website is not great.

If you are not concerned about potential trip cancellation or the cruise refund/credit is guaranteed, then buy @ final payment for the medical.

The other aspect of http://www.csatravelprotection.com that we like is that trip cancellation/interruption includes family members that are not just the 2 travelers. This helped us when my Grandmother passed away, she was covered in the plan.

We found CSA http://www.csatravelprotection.com/plan-details on the comparison website InsureMyTrip and have bought them ever since.

Those comparison websites give you a price comparison but you really need to dig into the coverages as they are not 1:1. CSA had the most extensive coverage amounts for the base plan. CSA's trip cancel covers family members, not just the travelers/insureds, so if your family the US caused you to cancel your trip, you are covered.

For Cancel For Any Reason coverage, you need to buy @ insurance at same time of booking Viking.

Trip Costs:

1. insure all pre-paid, non-refundable travel arrangements

2. for all travelers

We have found that CSA has the most liberal pre existing conditions coverages--covering up to final payment +24hrs. Their website http://www.csatravelprotection.com is not great but CSA's customer service is knowledgeable so call them to ensure you get the plan that best fits your needs.

1. Medical & evacuation

Even is your US health care is robust and can act as primary, travel insurance plans cover as 2ndary and often have greater coverages.

There are other benefits to travel insurance: we learned these the hard way in Jamaica but http://www.csatravelprotection.com helped.

1. Emergency contact 24/7 with a large network of hospitals abroad

2. No out of pocket: CSA has a network of medical facilities that their emergency help desk will facilitate for you and there are no out of pocket costs--meaning you dont pay and submit a claim to get reimbursed.

2. v. cruiseline insurance

We found cruise line insurance/Carnival to be more expensive and limited coverages.

3. other coverages

Travel insurance also offers other coverages that US health insurance will not --like trip interruption.

Depends on what your needs/focus are but travel insurance is small % of cruise cost and pays it forward if an unexpected event occurs.

Cruise line insurance coverages for trip costs not booked with the cruise line are not. We had disputed claim with Holland (same company as Princess) several years ago for return air & bus tickets. Since we have always insured with an independent travel insurance company because they will cover all trip costs. CSA Travel Protection has been affordable with better coverages than the cruise lines. Their customer service is good to so you can get advice from CSA regarding best fit plan for your needs. 800-874-2442

CSA sells a policy covering preexisting conditions that can be purchased at final payment. It's available through insuremytrip.

Yup, love the CSA plan that covers pre-existing conditions @ final payment. Here is the CSA policy: http://www.csatravelprotection.com/prex.do

Call them for advice/great customer service too.

1. Spring Break:

We cruised during spring break a few years ago and the passengers were a mix of spring breakers/college age, families, and retirees from the Florida area that could drive to the port/Ft Lauderdale. The cruise line was Royal Caribbean but assume its the same passenger demographic for Carnival.

2. Quiet:

There are plenty of quiet areas on the ship. After the crowds leave the main dining rooms its quiet. The library and business center area are very quiet. Relaxing in your cabin is quiet.

3. Insurance:

To cover the unexpected and in your case medical attention--CSA Travel Protection has a virtual doctor that you can video with during your trip. You download their Teladoc app before the cruise. Call them to see if you can still buy travel insurance for pre existing conditions --I think CSA has a plan that allows you to buy up until final cruise payment. 800-874-2442

What are your needs from cruise insurance?

1. If you are not interested in the trip cancellation coverages--nothing is going to stop you from going on your cruise, then you can insure $0 trip cost. Sounds like you may have already made final payment of your cruise--travel insurance companies require purchase of policies with trip cancellation at time of final payment so they can insure. Cruise lines will let you buy up to departure time.

2. The pricing should reduce as you get closer to departure because the coverage window becomes smaller. but check the pre-existing medical clauses. I dont know how insurance companies booking engines work but Csa's pricing is dynamic and goes down as closer to departure. https://www.csatravelprotection.com/getquote_wd.do

Cruise line insurance:

1. does not cover any pre cruise or post cruise travel that you book--like air, hotel, or rental car.

2. is insurance for issues on its own asset/cruise (conflict of interest)

3rd party insurance can cover your entire cruise vacation and its no conflict if there is a claim. We have received great customer service from CSA Travel Protection--including for a claim. And its been affordable but we are not 84.

1 of the those shopper sites (travelinsurnce.com) directed us to CSA when buying up to final payment with pre-existing conditions but you have to call CSA Travel Protection's agents to buy it. 800-874-2442.

I think 3rd party insurance providers will sell you insurance up to departure but the coverages (like trip cancellation, pre-existing conditions) will change.

Before you buy travel insurance, the provider has to provide the detailed description of coverages. If the comparison websites do not have them displayed, contact the insurance provider directly.

We have found CSA Travel Protection to include broad definition of travel companions:

FAMILY MEMBER means

•Traveling Companion(s)

•Insured’s or Traveling Companion’s Spouse

•Insured’s, Traveling Companion’s or Spouse’s:

• child;

• parent;

• sibling;

• grandparent, great-grandparent, grandchild or greatgrandchild;

• step-parent, step-child or step-sibling;

• son-in-law or daughter-in-law;

• brother-in-law or sister-in-law;

• aunt or uncle;

• niece or nephew;

• legal guardian;

• foster child or legal war

CSA Travel Protection offers a plan covering pre existing conditions with payment on final deposit of cruise. You have to call for the policy--800-874-2442 because its not on the http://www.csatravelprotection.com website for some reason.

I shop on those comparison websites but buy directly from the insurance provider.

We dont buy the cruise line /NCL insurance because its generally more expensive, only covers the cruise dates (not pre or post times w/ air fare, hotels, rental cars), and its counter intuitive for the provider to insure its own cruise.

Compare with http://www.csatravelprotection.com where we have experienced great customer service & CSA paid our claim.

If you are booking close to departure and are 100% going you wont need trip cancellation coverages. You can book IN TRIP /post departure coverages--medical, medivac, delays, lost baggage, trip interruption, which in my view are a must because an accident could really wipe you out financially--but call to order this insurance plan from CSA. Its cheaper.

Reasons for buying cruise line insurance:

1. You can buy right up to departure (insurance providers generally require you to buy travel insurance within 14-21 days of deposit to cover pre existing conditions.

Note, we did find a CSA Travel Protection policy that covers pre existing 21 days from final deposit but you have to call CSA for this plan specifically.

2. Cruise line will insure the elderly with pre existing conditions (travel insurers become very pricey after 80years)

Reasons to buy direct from travel insurance provider (NOT from cruise line)

1. Coverages for ENTIRE trip including pre & post cruise dates

2. Coverages are usually better/enhanced

3. Price is usually less

4. For cruise cancellations, the travel insurance company will reimburse you the $$. Some cruise lines give you a cruise credit.

5. Claims--generally processed faster and you will can deal directly with the company that pays the claims (not the cruiseline intermediary).

Side by side comparison websites help compare but still recommend that you buy direct from the travel insurance provider.

We took my parents on cruise last spring and we had major concerns about travel insurance for my Father. Yes, it gets more expensive the more baggage he has but its worth the potential of an accident, medivac, major emergency that could wipe us out. This article helped us on pre-existing conditions & age https://www.thediabetescouncil.com/diabetes-travel-insurance-guide/

Looks like CSA Travel Protection is the most flexible on pre-existing conditions and time of purchase. We called CSA to get direction. Very helpful customer service.