iamtrustworthy

Hi johnnyd57uk, Unfortunately, I can't give you advice about UK insurance plans. Steve Dasseos

Hi GC, Sorry about the delay responding. I was away for a few days, but thankfully I wasn't caught in the IT travel disaster. This is tricky because nearly all our customers do the same as you by arranging with private excursion companies or individuals that would give them a full refund if the ship didn't dock. A few years ago I asked all my companies this: "Are non-refundable excursions covered if a cruise ship misses or skips a port?" Most of them said "Only if due to weather or mechanical breakdown". And, a few plans also state "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. Benefits". Steve Dasseos

Hi MississippiMom, I hope you get healed quickly. I have four plans that cover pre-existing medical conditions if bought by Final Payment. Cancer's covered the same as any other medical condition with no restrictions or special requirements. If you want a specific recommendation, I'm happy to give it. Go here to give us the details: https://tripinsurancestore.com/travel-insurance-email-contact-form/ Steve Dasseos

Hi Lileesa, The reason they are different is that each State regulates what insurance products are sold to its citizens. They allow plans that meet its laws. > We always have to call a special number I've never heard of a "special number" to call to get a policy for a NY resident. Steve Dasseos

Hi 33aa, Call the insurance agent that sold you your Medigap plan and have them help you with your claim. They are obligated to help you with your claim because they earned and continue to earn a commission every time you pay your premium. I've been an insurance agent since 1989. I help all my customers with their claims if they want my help. Even though I can sell Medigap plans, Life Insurance, Annuities and a lot of other plans, I don't sell them very often because my main focus is Travel Insurance. Here's how a Medigap plan works outside the USA: https://tripinsurancestore.com/medicare-does-not-cover-you-outside-the-usa/ Steve Dasseos

Hi BazingAu, I can't speak for the "recommended websites", since I only recommend one website (https://tripinsurancestore.com/) to get a policy from. And, there's no shortage of overpriced policies. Here's what you need to be certain of: - Did you get the coverage you need? - Did your travel agent thoroughly explain what you bought and answered all your questions? - Will your travel agent help you with the claim and any changes that need to be made to your coverage? Steve Dasseos

Hi DonnaK, Unfortunately, the Annual Travel Medical Insurance I have isn't available to a NY resident. > I have had drug and dosage adjustments within the last 60 days. What date was your last medication change? Steve Dasseos

Thanks for the idea klfrodo. And, I just found out that Cruise Critic is extending this Q&A through the Summer.

Hi klfrodo, Here are the top three mistakes: 1) You get ill or injured but you don't go to a doctor. Surprisingly, we talk with many people who do this and then they wonder why their claim isn't being paid. I wrote this on November 3, 2023 about someone on a trip to Australia: https://tripinsurancestore.com/blog/you-need-to-see-a-doctor-if-you-get-ill-or-injured/ And, this past Wednesday, someone called me after returning home from a Mediterranean cruise. He had a bad fall 6 days before the cruise ended so he and his wife got off the cruise 4 days early because his foot pain was so bad. They flew home on an expensive one-way flight, too. I asked "Did you see a doctor on the ship or anywhere else before you came home?". He said he didn't want to waste his time getting a diagnosis for an obvious injury, but he did see his doctor the day after getting home. His doctor confirmed that he made the right choice to come home early and his doctor is happy to write a letter explaining what happened. SMH! I said "As a policyholder you have every right to file a claim. I cannot predetermine your claim, but it's not likely it will get paid because you never sought the advice of a licensed physician while you were on your trip." 2) They wait to buy insurance until it's too late. The vast majority of people that contact us are honest, so if it's too late to get the coverage they need, they graciously accept what we tell them and say "I'll remember that next time I plan a trip." That said, I received a call on August 25, 2011 just as Hurricane Irene was reaching the US Mainland: https://tripinsurancestore.com/blog/do-callers-think-we-were-born-yesterday/ 3) They don't insure their correct per person trip costs so their claim isn't paid in full. When we ask people what their per person trip cost is, almost everyone divides the total cost by the number of travelers. Sometimes this is the right way to do it, but not always. I wrote "How To Correctly Quote a Travel Insurance Plan" on February 27, 2008: https://tripinsurancestore.com/blog/how-to-correctly-quote-a-travel-insurance-plan/ For the last 2 weeks I was writing and re-writing another version. Thanks to @klfrodo's prompting, here's a more timely explanation: "Get Your Trip Cancellation Claim Paid in Full": https://tripinsurancestore.com/blog/get-your-trip-cancellation-claim-paid-in-full/ I hope this all makes sense. Steve Dasseos

It didn't work for today. You got me thinking and I'm gathering them by Sunday.

Hi klfrodo, I didn't forget about you. I'm working on coming up with the top 2 or 3 because there are more. I'll write something by Saturday afternoon. Steve Dasseos

Hi Couple4funwithithers, Thanks for writing all these details. > I assume the cruise line will not change embarkation or disembarkation ports but the itinerary. They would if a hurricane was headed towards an embarkation and disembarkation port. > We use future cruise credits I need some more information: - What do you think all your per person prepaid non-refundable trip costs including airfare, in cash and not future cruise or travel credits will be? - What does your airline's Contract of Carriage state will happen if they are unable to get you to your destination on time? Steve Dasseos

Hi luckyinpa, I haven't found an Annual Trip Cancellation plan that is good enough for me to sell due to their plan limitations, loopholes and with what's needed to cover the changes in travel since Covid started. Look at this this thread on my CruiseCritic.com TripInsuranceStore.com - Summer 2023 Q&A for more information: Steve Dasseos

Hi catspaw1, I'm a Costco member, too. Did Costco give you a copy of the Celebrity invoice so you were able to insure the correct per person trip cost? I don't know why, but some travel agents prevent their customers from seeing the travel supplier's invoice. This causes many people to not insure their correct per person trip costs which means that if they have a cancellation or interruption claim they don't get all their money back. Steve Dasseos

Hi bcruisin2alaska, I'll need personally identifiable information from you to tell you the exact policy to get. I don't want you to reveal that here. That said, when did / will you pay the first payment toward any travel arrangements on your trip? And, is the $1550 cost per person or a total for all the travelers? Steve Dasseos

Hi Gail & Marty, These are the drawback: - Get a more stripped-down plan (but you give up important coverages), - Move to a different State that's not Virginia or Washington (but's it not always worth moving) or - Take less expensive trips As for the difference in the prices for large trip costs, if the trip length is a lot more than 31 days long, then the relative price of a policy has less of a price differential as the trip cost increase versus a trip of less than 31 days long. Steve Dasseos

Hi 4catlover, No, you wouldn't need to get the cancel for any reason, too. Also, I have 3 other plans that include similar Hurricane coverage, but the FlexiPax is probably the better priced of the choices. Steve Dasseos

Hi 2InfinityNBeyond, I hope your recovery goes well. Don't buy any insurance if you cannot travel today. The insured traveler (you) must be able to travel / take a trip on the day you buy your travel insurance. It doesn’t have to be the exact trip you are insuring. Your doctor has to state that you could leave today on a trip. It doesn’t matter if your doctor says you’ll be able to travel later. You will not be covered if you buy travel insurance today. If you are unsure, ask your doctor if you can travel today. Here's more information: https://tripinsurancestore.com/what-is-medically-stable/ Steve Dasseos

Hi ontheweb, You can lower the cost of a Trip Cancellation plan but there are drawbacks. The only legal ways to lower the cost of the insurance are to: Get a more stripped-down plan (but you give up important coverages), Move to a different State that's not Virginia or Washington (but's it not always worth moving) or Take less expensive trips Steve Dasseos

Hi 4catlover, Yes, but only for a trip cancellation and not postponing or rescheduling a trip. You would have to have a plan that includes the 75% “Cancel For Any Reason” (CFAR) coverage. Here's more information: https://tripinsurancestore.com/cancel-for-any-reason-travel-insurance-plans/ Steve Dasseos

Hi rizello, Chase Sapphire Preferred's exclusion of pre-existing conditions includes you, a traveling companion or a non-traveling family member. Steve Dasseos

Hi GenXer85, > some nutty stuff with my company Are they already hinting at or talking about potential layoffs? Steve Dasseos

Hi klfrodo, What does "SMH" mean? Steve

Hi travelingla, I appreciate your kind words. You're able to buy insurance for the seven night cruise but you would still insure the entire length of the trip. Nearly all the plans I have are the same price for trip of up to 30 days long, so adding on the 10 days isn't going to affect the price. You also wouldn't need to insure any of the value of the land trip. If you cut your trip short due to a covered reason (ie - you get hit by a cement truck) and returned home early, then the travel insurance would reimburse you the money you lost on the cruise. Steve Dasseos

Hi SpokanChik, I'd pick USA, but I don't know any plans that would penalize you if you selected USA or Canada. Steve Dasseos