Princess Insurance (upgraded) vs 3rd party

[Dreamer333]

I was reading on another thread that many cruisers select a third party insurance company.

 

Because Platinum, Elite and Ruby Captain’s Circle Members receive an upgrade to Platinum Protection at Standard price, I assumed this was the better deal.

 

However, I'm wondering if you guys are finding better deals with third parties, even if you are eligible for the free upgrade from Princess?

[Colo Cruiser]

I was reading on another thread that many cruisers select a third party insurance company.

 

Because Platinum, Elite and Ruby Captain’s Circle Members receive an upgrade to Platinum Protection at Standard price, I assumed this was the better deal.

 

However, I'm wondering if you guys are finding better deals with third parties, even if you are eligible for the free upgrade from Princess?

 

 

We like the Princess cancel for any reason, full credit back.

[Pam in CA]

Do your research and compare options. Princess insurance includes "cancel for any reason" and the cost is the same no matter what your age. You can also add it to your booking at any time up to final payment. If you have to cancel, if it's a covered reason, you get a refund. If it's not a covered reason, you get a cruise credit. The negatives are that it's third party insurance and doesn't include air or hotel if not booked through Princess.

 

Independent insurance may be cheaper if you're younger and some are not third party. Plus, you can insure all of your travel expenses. Negatives are that sometimes, you have to get the insurance within a short period of time of booking and if it's not a covered reason, you won't get a refund. It's more expensive to get cancel for any reason coverage.

 

There's a lot more to insurance than this which is why you should do your research and compare. There's no such thing as the "best" or "right" insurance as everyone has different needs or expectations.

[Dreamer333]

Do your research and compare options. Princess insurance includes "cancel for any reason" and the cost is the same no matter what your age. You can also add it to your booking at any time up to final payment. If you have to cancel, if it's a covered reason, you get a refund. If it's not a covered reason, you get a cruise credit. The negatives are that it's third party insurance and doesn't include air or hotel if not booked through Princess.

Independent insurance may be cheaper if you're younger and some are not third party. Plus, you can insure all of your travel expenses. Negatives are that sometimes, you have to get the insurance within a short period of time of booking and if it's not a covered reason, you won't get a refund. It's more expensive to get cancel for any reason coverage.

There's a lot more to insurance than this which is why you should do your research and compare. There's no such thing as the "best" or "right" insurance as everyone has different needs or expectations.

 

This is very helpful. Thanks, Pam!

[geoherb]

We usually go with the Princess platinum insurance for the cancel for any reason coverage. Fortunately, we've only had to file one claim--and that was when DH saw the ship's doctor for a sinus infection. He had to file it with his regular insurance first, and then the Princess insurance paid for what his regular insurance didn't.

[Dudleydog73]

We go with 3rd party insurance via our TA even though we qualify for the free upgrade on Princess. I actually had this exact conversation with my TA and among the pros for the non-Princess insurance was the fact that the princess insurance is secondary medical only, meaning you must submit to your primary medical insurance first, then anything left gets submitted to your princess policy. The one our TA sells is a primary medical policy. There were other differences which I can dig up if needed, but I'm sure it would not be apple to apples depending on the 3rd party policy you might be looking at.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk 2

[Colo Cruiser]

TA's will always push the 3rd party ins, they get a bigger commission.

Edited February 13, 2014 by Colo Cruiser

[Happy2cruise]

We use a third party insurance because it covers us from the day we leave our house to the day we return. Plus the medical coverage and medvac amounts of coverage are much higher.

[NavyVeteran]

Although the Princess insurance is secondary medical, it is primary - when outside of the United States - if you have Medicare or Tricare as your primary insurance. I have filed some medical claims with the Princess insurance with no problems. Since they know Medicare does not cover outside of the United States, they did not require you to file with Medicare first before filing. Also, because of US laws concerning Tricare, Tricare is secondary to almost any other type of insurance - including the travel insurance. Since they know this, they did not require me to file with Tricare before filing. I filed for medical care on the ship and received prompt reimbursement without having to file first with Medicare and/or Tricare for Life.

 

I also had a dental claim for a broken tooth that was fixed at a port stop in Hawaii. For that I had to send them the Explanation of Benefits for my dental insurance, and they paid the remainder with no problem.

 

As stated by another poster, Princess insurance charges the same for people of all ages. For those of us who aren't that young anymore, it generally comes out less expensive for the same coverage than third party insurance. For younger people, that may not be true.

 

I also like the 100% credit for cancel for any reason, although I haven't used it.

 

If you have non-Princess air and other expenses before or after the cruise, the Princess insurance will not cover those expenses for cancellation, and the medical insurance will not cover shore periods before or after the cruse. Note however that the medical and trip interruption insurance may cover some costs for the travel period even if you don't book the air through Princess - you will have to read the policy for the exact coverage.

 

My brother and I were delayed in returning home from a cruise out of Houston last December because of an ice storm. Our flight - not booked through Princess - was not delayed but we were unable to drive home from the airport because the roads were closed. We stayed in a hotel by the airport for one night and drove home the next day. The Princess insurance reimbursed us for our hotel and food expenses for the extra night without any problem.

[Dreamer333]

Lots to consider! Thank you for the advice!!

Edited February 13, 2014 by Dreamer333

[Rancher Dave]

TA's will always push the 3rd party ins, they get a bigger commission.

 

That is a broad and very misleading statement. Most car salespeeps push a premium car over a basic car and the buyer gets a different product.

 

As one who holds an insurance license, I can tell you that the 3rd party and cruise line insurance products are not the same products. So statements that one is pushed over the other based on comp alone is a crazy idea...and any TA pushing an insurance product based on comp and not best client fit is risking serious trouble.

 

As for comp Princess gets the big bucks for selling their product and the TA gets peanuts while the cruise line doesn't get a cut when sold from a 3rd part carrier.

 

Many cruise line policies have minimal medical evac which is a feature many want to ensure provides well if needed. Princess' policy offers some neat perks but leaves holes where many want enhanced coverage.

 

Key is to compare both policies being considered specific to the features important to the buyer. Each buyer has different specific needs. For me when sailing out of Texas I am mostly worries about medical evac, having primary medical, and being able to cancel if for medical covered reasons we can't go on the trip...and want to have all pre-ex conditions covered as well. If medical evac is needed I want to be flown back to Houston, not necessarily the nearest capable medical facility which could be Miami or elsewhere depending on where I am cruising.

[can786]

Unless it has changed in the past three years, Princess insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions. Yes, it would be covered under the cancel for any reason, but I believe they give you credit toward a future cruise when you do this rather than refunding your money.

 

My mother battled cancer for 4 years before she passed away and we cruised together each year during that time. We ended up going with a third party insurer that covered if we had to cancel due to her cancer as long as we bought the insurance within 2 weeks of booking. Their other requirement was that she be medically able to travel when the trip was booked.

 

Make sure you are comparing apples to apples when comparing different insurance options.

[bhopal21]

That is a broad and very misleading statement. Most car salespeeps push a premium car over a basic car and the buyer gets a different product.

 

Talk about a broad and misleading statement.

 

That is only your perception.

 

Mike:)

[Host Jazzbeau]

There's no need to get one travel insurance policy that covers all your needs. The Princess insurance may be much cheaper than 3rd party and will work fine as long as you plan to sail on Princess in the future. It doesn't cover your airfare, but a change fee allows you to rebook for that future cruise. And separate MedEvac policies are very reasonable and provide even better coverage than most travel insurance. That combination can be cheaper, with better overall coverage, than the third party plan you would need.

[Colo Cruiser]

That is a broad and very misleading statement. Most car salespeeps push a premium car over a basic car and the buyer gets a different product.

 

As one who holds an insurance license, I can tell you that the 3rd party and cruise line insurance products are not the same products. So statements that one is pushed over the other based on comp alone is a crazy idea...and any TA pushing an insurance product based on comp and not best client fit is risking serious trouble.

 

As for comp Princess gets the big bucks for selling their product and the TA gets peanuts while the cruise line doesn't get a cut when sold from a 3rd part carrier.

 

 

Hmmm my experience and my opinion Rancher Dave!

Sorry, not a crazy idea at all.

 

Are you a TA?

[rjack22]

If I booked through a TA do I have to go through that TA to buy Princess insurance or can I call Princess direct and do it? That way I can ask questions.

[Colo Cruiser]

If I booked through a TA do I have to go through that TA to buy Princess insurance or can I call Princess direct and do it? That way I can ask questions.

 

 

Best to ask Princess the questions first.

If you book through a TA then you would need to add the Princess insurance through the TA. Princess will not deal with you when it comes to adding or changing services when you book through a TA.

[Pam in CA]

Insurance is for the unexpected. :) If you knew what you'd need it for, you could get the right insurance for you. So, it's a gamble and you should determine what what your risks are and what coverage is most important to you. It could be medical, trip interruption, cancel for any reason, etc.

 

We have found that for us, the Princess insurance is the best general purpose insurance. However, because we travel frequently, we also have MedJet Assist which will fly you anywhere in the US from anywhere in the world as long as you're 150 miles from home in a medically-equipped jet.

 

Here are my two examples :

 

Four years ago, my brother-in-law got sick on the last sea day of a 14-day cruise from LA to FLL. We were too far from land to medevac him from the ship and it's rarely done at night due to the danger to everyone involved. He was in critical condition in the Medical Center for 24 hours and was evacuated to Dade County Hospital as soon as the ship was tied up. Immigration was pre-arranged. My sister and I were told to pack our bags, leave them in our cabins and go to the Medical Center to disembark. Crew were sent to our cabins for our luggage which was brought down to us. The Princess Care Team escorted us and our luggage through Immigration and Customs, and put us in a cab to a nearby hotel. They'd made arrangements at a special rate plus the hotel had a free shuttle to/from the hospital. We were there for a month while Jim was in the ICU in critical condition. Our rate remained the same even though we stayed there during the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl. After a month, he was still critical but stable. MedJet Assist flew him back to CA to our local hospital. Princess would have flown him commercially which wasn't an option. His onboard medical was $8,000 and a bill presented to my sister. It was not put on her onboard account. Once home, she submitted the bill to Anthem Blue Cross which paid $6,000. We sent a copy of the check and medical records to Berkley Care (Princess insurance) which sent a check for the remaining $2,000 within a couple of days. We also submitted our expenses under the same claim and my sisters only costs were maybe $500 for the hotel; mine was about $250. That included all expenses in Ft. Lauderdale for a month.

 

My other example is last year. We had booked the Diamond Princess B2B from Beijing to Vancouver in May. After final payment, I was going through port excursions and realized that we were paying a huge premium for the Whittier-to-Vancouver portion and we could book it at another time for less than half the fare. So, we canceled that segment and received a portion back from Princess and the remainder from Berkley Care as a credit minus the cost of insurance. I applied the credit towards my Royal Princess cruise in October.

 

Over the years, I've seen so many unexpected things happen to passengers that I'm a firm believer in insurance. One time, a woman was walking on the sidewalk in Acapulco and tripped and fell over uneven pavement, breaking her arm in three places. She flew home to see an orthopedist. Once, when I was waiting in the Medical Center to see my BIL that time, there was a guy there who'd broken his ankle playing basketball on deck. My daughter boarded a cruise once with a cold that turned into bronchitis. Years ago, I was on a 3-week cruise and received word after a couple of weeks that my stepfather had suddenly been diagnosed with cancer (he'd been perfectly healthy) and he had less than a month. My plans changed and I flew home early.

 

The bottom line is that you never know if or when you'll need insurance, you pray you won't but when you do, it's a relief during a stressful event.

Edited February 13, 2014 by Pam in CA

[GrammyKati]

My DH and I had a 3rd party insurance for a non-Princess cruise tour last year and had to cancel for a covered reason. It took us 4 months and many calls to the company before they decided his MD was real and that they felt she was correct in her reason for his need to cancel. They told us many different falsehoods and I had to threaten them with the State Insurnce Commision before they issued a check. Never again, it is Princess all the way for us.

[Happy2cruise]

My DH and I had a 3rd party insurance for a non-Princess cruise tour last year and had to cancel for a covered reason. It took us 4 months and many calls to the company before they decided his MD was real and that they felt she was correct in her reason for his need to cancel. They told us many different falsehoods and I had to threaten them with the State Insurnce Commision before they issued a check. Never again, it is Princess all the way for us.

 

Please do not judge all 3rd party insurance by the one you used. As with anything there are good and bad. We always buy 3rd party and had to cancel for a sudden medical condition. Submitted the necessary forms and documentation and refund was received within 2 weeks with no hassle.

[Coral]

I qualify for Princess insurance (upgraded) but go with a 3rd Party insurance policy most of the time.

 

My agents policy covers my pre-existing conditions when I buy it at final payment. Princess's pre-existing condition clause can be very confusing and I wouldn't want to count on that.

 

It has a much larger medical coverage. I find Princess's policy embarrassing on medical coverage.

 

It also covers me if my employers says that I can't go and I get a refund, not a cruise credit.

 

I want insurance for medical coverage and I don't think Princess's policy is adequate IMO.

[AE_Collector]

If you have non-Princess air and other expenses before or after the cruise, the Princess insurance will not cover those expenses for cancellation, and the medical insurance will not cover shore periods before or after the cruse. Note however that the medical and trip interruption insurance may cover some costs for the travel period even if you don't book the air through Princess - you will have to read the policy for the exact coverage.

 

We always have separate medical coverage since we are from Canada. I didn't realize that there was a medical coverage component at all with the Princess enhanced coverage. We sometimes take the Princess coverage as well as our separate medical and on more straight forward trips/cruises we may gamble (self insure) and skip the Princess coverage. We are both in our 50's.

 

I did wonder if the Princess insurance covered flights arranged through Princess or not. We have Princess coverage on an upcoming cruise and tentatively had the flight booked through Princess as well. We managed to arrange a significantly better price for the same flights on our own so we did that and dropped the Princess flights.

 

We had selected the Princess enhanced coverage for the cruise which shows up as a separate cost item but we weren't quoted a separate percentage add on for the flight. Would it have been already built in to the Princess quote for air since we had selected the Princess insurance for the cruise, added once we actually paid for the air or just have been covered out of the insurance premium for the actual cruise?

 

Terry

[Go-Bucks!]

I qualify for Princess insurance (upgraded) but go with a 3rd Party insurance policy most of the time.

 

It has a much larger medical coverage. I find Princess's policy embarrassing on medical coverage.

 

It also covers me if my employers says that I can't go and I get a refund, not a cruise credit.

 

I want insurance for medical coverage and I don't think Princess's policy is adequate IMO.

 

 

I totally agree with you. I also qualify for the upgraded Princess policy, but I have always been able to get policies with better coverages from 3rd party companies. I want high levels of medical and medivac coverage, cancel for work refund, travel disruption and delay, and luggage coverages. I'm not young, but I get reasonable prices.

 

And I want my money refunded, not a cruise credit issued.

Edited February 15, 2014 by Go-Bucks!