insurance question

[Goplayball]

I guess I will need to get insurance on our cruise this year due to the fact we are taking friends and not sure if they would have to cancel for some unforeseen reason. I personally don't get the insurance for myself but hate to lose money for someone else having to cancel. What do you look for in a policy? Do you just get a package plan? Is the Carnival insurance better coverage for the money? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Our cruise is not until Dec. but figured quotes would be cheaper now than later.

[firefly333]

To get covered for preexisting conditions I think it has to be booked within 2 weeks of the booking date, so for buying Carnival, you might already be past that. Carnival does have some good things that most others dont cover, job loss and weather being two biggies.

 

insuremytrip has lots of policys to pick thru. Ken is the insurance expert on CC, KEN where are you, lol

[DocF]

Cancellation, loss of luggage, trip delays, missed connections and all the usual ills of travel that travel insurance covers mean little to us. What we worry about is health considerations. Both DW and I have minor, but nevertheless real health issues that could lead to serious illness and a medical evacuation. We look at these coverages as essential. The other stuff is a bonus.

 

Doc:D

[Ken076]

I guess I will need to get insurance on our cruise this year due to the fact we are taking friends and not sure if they would have to cancel for some unforeseen reason. I personally don't get the insurance for myself but hate to lose money for someone else having to cancel. What do you look for in a policy? Do you just get a package plan? Is the Carnival insurance better coverage for the money? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Our cruise is not until Dec. but figured quotes would be cheaper now than later.

 

Checkout the following summary info to see if it answers your questions. If you have specific concerns, some Policies might be slightly better than others. The rates normally aren't cheaper just because you're purchasing further in advance, but as Fire suggests, you really should be purchasing witnin the 14-21 days (based on the particular Policy) of Booking to maximize your coverages.

 

The Carnival Berkely Policy provides low Medical coverage, marginal MedEvac coverage and no "Waiver of Pre-Existing Conditions". The Policy DOES offer Future Cruise CREDIT if your claim is denied as due to a Pre-Existing Condition and now includes cancellation coverage for Hurricane Warning and Job Layoff. If you cancel your Cruise before final Payment, the Carnival Policy premium is refundable. Carnival and Berkely both claim that the Policy also covers your independently purchased AirFare. The Carnival Policy is less expensive than the 3rd party policies if you're age is in the 70’s, as Age is not factored into Carnival Berkely’s premium as it is with 3rd Party Policies.

The 3rd Party Trip Insurance Policies such as CSA, Travel-Ex and Travel-Insured offer much higher coverages and are much less expensive if you're younger. They generally offer "Waiver of Pre-Existing Conditions" (which can expedite the claims process) if you purchase w/in 14-21 days of your Cruise Deposit; CSA allows you to purchase up to Final Payment and retain the Waiver. Otherwise, you can purchase Carnival Berkely Insurance up to 14 days before sailaway, and you can purchase most other policies practically up to sailaway. You MUST be physically fit to travel the day you purchase.

Most Policies are “Secondary” meaning that you have to first file claims with your own Health and/or Homeowners Insurance and be reimbursed/rejected by them, then the 3rd party Policy will pay what your insurance doesn’t pay (up to the limits of the policy). Primary Policies pay everything (up to limits of the Policy) without requiring you to first file and coordinate benefits with your personal policies, which can help expedite the claims process.

“Cancel for Any Reason” coverage is usually offered as an option, usually for additional 50% of the premium . It’s important to read the associated Policy as many policies do not pay 100% and many policies pay LESS the later you cancel. The Princess Berkely Policy offers 75% Cancel for Any Reason Future Cruise CREDIT.

You need to select a Policy at least somewhat based on your own situation/concerns (if traveling with kids, if prior medical conditions, if over age 70, if Military, if concerned about LayOff….:

TravelEx and TravelInsured insure kids free with insured adults.

USAA offers their members discounted (about 9%) Travel-Insured Policies with some expanded coverages.

TravelEX is PRIMARY and includes kids under 16 free and offers a Business/Military upgrade.

CSA Freestyle includes Cancellation for Layoff and for School Year Extension.

Patriot TRIP is PRIMARY coverage and includes Cancellation for Layoff, Cancelled Leave for Military, Fire & Police and Missed Cruise for Flight Delay.

TravelSafe includes Cancel for Hurricane Warning and Cancel for Any Reason (not always 100%).



You can compare Policies and Premiums for your specific age, destination, dates and cruise costs, at the Insurer's sites or at sites such as www.insuremytrip.com and www.buyamericaninsurance.com . Note that some Policies also have a $6 or $8 application Fee added-on.

 



If you're not into Research, checkout CSA Comfort and CSA Freestyle, and TravelInsured Trip Protector and AIG TravelGuard Premier Protect.



FIRST check your personal Health Plan for out-of-country coverage and your Homeowners and Credit Card for Trip Cancellation/Interruption & Baggage Loss/Delay coverage!!! (for example, World MasterCard includes Flight AD&D and Rental Car CDW, minimal Trip Cancellation/Delay and Baggage coverage, and Government Employee’s Blue Cross includes Out-of-Country Medical Coverage, via an out-of-country Provider Network. )

 

 

ken

[Mikure]

What do you look for in a policy? Do you just get a package plan? Is the Carnival insurance better coverage for the money?

 

 

Go to insuremytrip.com. Any package plan is good. I get one step higher than "basic" because the evacuation coverage is higher. You don't ever want to pay to airlifted off the ship.

 

I lean toward Travelex or Travel Guard. I hear Carnival's policy may not cover you when you are off the ship.

 

Travel insurance....Don't leave home without it

[Ken076]

Go to insuremytrip.com. Any package plan is good. I get one step higher than "basic" because the evacuation coverage is higher. You don't ever want to pay to airlifted off the ship.

 

I lean toward Travelex or Travel Guard.

 

I hear Carnival's policy may not cover you when you are off the ship. That part is untrue.

 

Travel insurance....Don't leave home without it

 

ken

[SunniLicious]

Definitely check out insuremytrip.com. Good comparisons, good explanations of what you're purchasing. I bought Travel Guard Gold for a very good price, even after I upgraded the medical coverage (we now have a cool million for evacuation, but more importantly, med evac will be to the hospital of our choice, not the 'nearest adequate'.) I personally would not purchase through Carnival. And buy within 15 days of deposit!

[S.S.Oceanlover]

I guess I will need to get insurance on our cruise this year due to the fact we are taking friends and not sure if they would have to cancel for some unforeseen reason. I personally don't get the insurance for myself but hate to lose money for someone else having to cancel. What do you look for in a policy? Do you just get a package plan? Is the Carnival insurance better coverage for the money? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Our cruise is not until Dec. but figured quotes would be cheaper now than later.

 

would insurance cover you if your friends canceled? If you had cancel for any reason sure but wondering about regular policies.

 

Bill

[TexasTodds]

Thanks so much for this thread! I am getting all of my "ducks in a row" so that I can book a trip once I get my tax refund! I'm going to call USAA (they carry our homeowners and auto) and then also look on insuremy trip.

[Ken076]

would insurance cover you if your friends canceled? If you had cancel for any reason sure but wondering about regular policies.

 

Bill

 

"Friends" is a little loose! Generally you are covered for your Traveling Companion (accompanying person in same cabin) canceling. ken

[Ken076]

Thanks so much for this thread! I am getting all of my "ducks in a row" so that I can book a trip once I get my tax refund! I'm going to call USAA (they carry our homeowners and auto) and then also look on insuremy trip.

 

If you're member of USAA strongly consider purchasing TravelInsured Policy thru them - the premium is slightly discounted and several coverages are increased for USAA members. Possibly the best deal around. ken

[TexasTodds]

If you're member of USAA strongly consider purchasing TravelInsured Policy thru them - the premium is slightly discounted and several coverages are increased for USAA members. Possibly the best deal around. ken

 

 

Thanks! I will call today to see what it comes up with! You would think it would be easier to deal with if your "secondary" insurance and your homeowners are the same in case the cancellation affected both...now if only I could have my medical insurance with them also!:)

[ourtimenow]

If we purchased the insurance that Carnival offered, do we need to purchase any more from another company?? Tell me what you all have done, please.

Thanks!!

[GetWetToo]

I purchased from squaremouth.com but insuremytrip.com looks just as good--they offer the same products essentially. Both sites allow you to do side-by-side comparisons of the policies offered. I found the CSA custom policy to offer everything I needed and at the most reasonable rate. Good Luck! ($54.00)

[Ken076]

If we purchased the insurance that Carnival offered, do we need to purchase any more from another company?? Tell me what you all have done, please.

Thanks!!

 

 

No. The so-called 3rd Party Policies just offer generally higher coverages at a lower price (especially if you're younger). See my post, #4 above. ken

[ourtimenow]

Thanks Ken. Is there anything about cruising (and every possible topic that can come up!) that you don't know??

So appreciate you!

[Ken076]

Thanks Ken. Is there anything about cruising (and every possible topic that can come up!) that you don't know??

So appreciate you!

 

If only "my three sons" shared this view! Thanks, Ken

[blindrid]

would insurance cover you if your friends canceled? If you had cancel for any reason sure but wondering about regular policies.

 

Bill

 

That's what I was thinking - I'm not sure on this one. If they get sick and have to cancel, their expenses would be covered but not yours.

 

I prefer www.tripinsurancestore.com because Steve and his staff have been very helpful in answering my off-the-wall questions. I haven't always liked their answers but at least I believe they know what they are talking about. Try to contact them about what is covered and what isn't (short of "cancel for any reason" policies.

[njmomof2]

Ken, you mentioned above that policies cover you for travelling companions in the same room with you, but what about when you are travelling with other couples or families on the same itinerary? If something should happen to one of them and they cancelled, and you didn't want to go without them, since you are all on the same itinerary, would you be covered?

 

I believe that Access America covers you if your travelling companions have to cancel (and not just in the same room).

[LHP]

If you're member of USAA strongly consider purchasing TravelInsured Policy thru them - the premium is slightly discounted and several coverages are increased for USAA members. Possibly the best deal around. ken

 

Thanks for that info...

 

YOU ROCK!!!!

[Ken076]

Ken, you mentioned above that policies cover you for travelling companions in the same room with you, but what about when you are travelling with other couples or families on the same itinerary? If something should happen to one of them and they cancelled, and you didn't want to go without them, since you are all on the same itinerary, would you be covered?

 

I believe that Access America covers you if your travelling companions have to cancel (and not just in the same room).

 

Since this is an important consideration in your choice, you'll want to read the different policies for this specfic coverage, and checking their definition of "Traveling Companion" - I know one I looked at was limited to "roomate" - For Access America tTraveling companion IMO is defined as someone on your Booking, so you'd have to all be on the same multi-cabin booking. ken

[Mikure]

I hear Carnival's policy may not cover you when you are off the ship. That part is untrue

 

 

 

 

I Happily stand corrected. Thanks Ken

[stargate fan]

I guess I will need to get insurance on our cruise this year due to the fact we are taking friends and not sure if they would have to cancel for some unforeseen reason. I personally don't get the insurance for myself but hate to lose money for someone else having to cancel. What do you look for in a policy? Do you just get a package plan? Is the Carnival insurance better coverage for the money? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Our cruise is not until Dec. but figured quotes would be cheaper now than later.

 

Out of curiosity...why would you cancel if your friends did?

[happy cruzin]

Out of curiosity...why would you cancel if your friends did?

 

I wonder the same thing :confused:. If we had plans to travel with friends and they cancelled I am pretty sure we would still go.

[happy cruzin]

That's what I was thinking - I'm not sure on this one. If they get sick and have to cancel, their expenses would be covered but not yours.

 

I prefer www.tripinsurancestore.com because Steve and his staff have been very helpful in answering my off-the-wall questions. I haven't always liked their answers but at least I believe they know what they are talking about. Try to contact them about what is covered and what isn't (short of "cancel for any reason" policies.

 

A couple of years ago we had to cancel out of a family cruise - for serious health reasons. My sister - who had insurance through Berkley - had her losses (cruise and air) covered because we cancelled. All of our bookings were linked - so I am not sure if that is what made the difference - or not.