Babr

For the most part, third-party policies today treat COVID as any other illness. It is covered for cancellation, trip delay, or trip interruption. What kind of COVID issue are you thinking might require you to resort to CFAR? I’m not trying to discourage you from having such coverage - just wondering why you think you need it for COVID.

That is what I was thinking. I don’t know that people have been compensated when they were isolated for flu or noro any other illness on board. People have been waiting for COVID to be treated as any other illness. When that happens, then all special considerations associated with COVID no longer make any sense.

I’ve been wondering about this, too. Once the testing requirements are relaxed or eliminated, I expect that COVID assistance plans and lenient cancellation policies will go as well. If the cruise lines continue to quarantine positive passengers, it will be up to them to provide any compensation because insurance won’t pay for isolation on board. If you are disembarked at the next port, then trip delay/trip interruption provisions apply.

That is what I’m trying to figure out. If there is no testing required, would they still give you a refund? As long as the cruise lines provide reimbursement and last minute cancellation, they are assuming a lot of the responsibility. They’ll probably be glad to put an end to that as well.

And that may happen sooner than anyone thought. The CDC ends its COVID-19 program for cruise ships today.

Now that CDC says people can make their own risk assessment for cruising, does this mean cruise lines don’t need to feel responsible for COVID assistance plans or lenient cancellation policies? Are we back to standard operating procedures?

I’m wondering what impact that will have on COVID assistance plans. No need to reimburse if quarantine is no longer required. Does that mean plans expire, and we return to standard cancellation policies?

And when the COVID assistance plans expire, you’ll still have a pre-existing condition. Be sure you are aware of the cruise lines’ standard cancellation policies when that happens because #1 under “Benefit Does Not Apply” now refers to you.

You just can’t help some people.

Apparently you never had to cancel before COVID assistance plans were in effect.

What do you not understand about losing all your money if you cancel after final payment?

Just one last attempt at clarification - We are talking about using the credit card travel benefits as protection against loss in case of cancellation during the penalty period. Whether the look-back period is 60 days or 90 days as you first stated, it is tied to the booking date, not the travel date. Your medical history during that time must be clear of any events that could be associated with your reason for cancellation after final payment. I have already given examples of things that could be problematic. Be sure you understand the definition of pre-existing conditions. If you file a claim, they will look examine your medical records. You must agree in order for them to process the claim. Failure to comply results in claim denied. Now - that is settled. Be mindful of the look-back period before you book then you don’t have to worry. I’m glad you have a solution that works for you, and I hope you enjoy many more years of cruising.

The benefits are similar. Thanks for the link.

Which part of the Sapphire card did I misrepresent? Or was it something else I said?

https://affinitytravelcert.com/document/pdfs/Carnival_TX_05_21.pdf Actually, it does not, but the look-back is 60 days. See # 1 under restrictions. It does allow you to cancel for any reason and get 75% FCC. Always Cruising is trying to use credit card insurance rather than a comprehensive travel policy.

Why book in the first place if you know there is a related issue in the 90 days prior? You can cancel before final payment with a refundable deposit, but if you cancel after final payment because of pre-existing, then you have no coverage. That is the point.

You said “ the three months insurance won’t cover it.” That is not the same as clear history prior to booking. You are not traveling during those three months. You can’t book until they have elapsed.

Take another look. I think that three months is the look-back period. It means if there is anything related to the pre-existing condition in the three months prior to placing a deposit or booking a trip, it will not be covered. Your medical history has to be clear 90 days prior to booking each and every time.

OK, then. Happy Sailing.

Did you read just the stuff you posted here or the complete Guide to Benefits from B of A? It is in there somewhere because they have to define “covered reason” or “hazard.” It is part of the policy. If you do not find it, call them tomorrow and ask them to direct you to the written terms of the policy. You have to know before you book another trip.

This is a summary of benefits and highlights of coverage. It is not the complete plan document, which was included with your new account materials. See those sentences at the end of the section where it says “covered reason” or “covered hazard”? That is what is missing. You need to know what is covered by the policy, and more importantly, what is excluded. You’ll find it in the materials B of A sent you when you got the card - those pages of fine print. Look for the section for Cancellation and Interruption benefits. Check the Table of Contents, if it has one. There will be specific language about what situations are covered and under what conditions. There will also be a list of exclusions - things not covered, like acts of war. Pay special attention to this section. Among the things most commonly excluded is pre-existing conditions. If they are covered, they will be governed by a look-back provision. That means the insurance company will look back at your medical records for the defined number of days to determine if your cancellation or trip interruption was caused by a pre-existing condition. Any doctor’s visit, test, treatment, reported symptom, RX change during that time can be the basis for claim denial. People here, including me, are trying to help you understand your coverage. I am sorry that you are dealing with ongoing health issues. I do not want to see you suffer the financial consequences of a denied claim simply because you misunderstood.

That makes sense. Final payment is the last opportunity for NCL to sell some basic coverage for medical. Since it is described as post- departure, there are no cancellation benefits. There is no mention of FCC whereas Standard will give 75%, and Platinum will give 90% if one cancels for a non-covered reason. It appears that part of my statement in post #14 is incorrect, and my first interpretation was right. Only Platinum and Standard offer the option of FCC for cancellations not covered by insurance.

You are very gracious to apologize for something that is so confusing. You are correct that only two options are given at booking. I don’t know where the so-called Essential Plan fits in or how anyone is supposed to know about it.

May be Allianz. OneTrip Prime is the single trip policy. AllTrips Prime is the annual plan with cancellation at $3,000 for the year and medical at $20,000 - pretty low for an entire year no matter how many trips you have - but Allianz is a good company. You may find something that works for you.

Not sure what “most” you are referring to. My comments about travel coverage - not medical - were based on the Guide to Benefits for the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, which is considered to have generous travel benefits. If you know of a card with more complete coverage, please tell us.