HAL Platinum Protection Plan

[Archipelago]

I have purchased the HAL protection travel plan . Will I be sent a policy ? I have the confirmation but not sure how it works . It is quite a ways from my voyage .  Anyone else had experience with the HAL insurance ? Thank You !

[Alberta Quilter]

No, I don't believe you will be sent a policy unless you ask for it.  Did you check on the HAL website?  I know they have a summary but there may be a link to the full policy.  If not, ask whomever you booked with to get you a copy.

 

Can I ask, why did you purchase it so far in advance of your cruise?  I usually purchase just before final payment.  That way, if something comes up that I need to cancel, I'm not out the cost of the insurance.

[TiogaCruiser]

18 minutes ago, Archipelago said:

I have purchased the HAL protection travel plan . Will I be sent a policy ? I have the confirmation but not sure how it works . It is quite a ways from my voyage .  Anyone else had experience with the HAL insurance ? Thank You !

You can get it via this page:

https://affinitytravelcert.com/document/pdfs/HAL_LandingPage.html
 

The link to this page is on HAL’s website here:

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/us/plan-a-cruise/pre-post-travel-cruise/cancellation-protection-plan

 

[TiogaCruiser]

2 minutes ago, Alberta Quilter said:

No, I don't believe you will be sent a policy unless you ask for it.  Did you check on the HAL website?  I know they have a summary but there may be a link to the full policy.  If not, ask whomever you booked with to get you a copy.

 

Can I ask, why did you purchase it so far in advance of your cruise?  I usually purchase just before final payment.  That way, if something comes up that I need to cancel, I'm not out the cost of the insurance.

Every time I have purchased it I printed a copy from HAL’s website and taken it with me “IN CASE ”

[Archipelago]

I purchased it in advance from the website because when I was dealing with a TA she said I had to purchase in a few days from booking or I couldn't get it . I let her go( TA) for some other reasons and booked direct. 

[POA1]

FWIW, you can wait until final payment to add the plan. There's no cost difference. As long as you book it refundable deposit fare, you can wait.

[Archipelago]

Okay thanks ..I have learned something for the future . I'm Caregiving / Caretaking my 96 yo mother and anything could come up ..she will be 98 by the time of this voyage

[DeeniEncinitas]

11 minutes ago, Archipelago said:

Okay thanks ..I have learned something for the future . I'm Caregiving / Caretaking my 96 yo mother and anything could come up ..she will be 98 by the time of this voyage

🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺

Aloha Archipelago!

So enjoy your time on this wonderful cruise with your mother in the future. Brian @POA1 is right and am glad you let this TA go!! Maybe she was wanting a bigger commission! Who knows. Now next time you know about HAL insurance 

and always wait till final payment.

🌺Mahlo,

Denise🙂

[Alberta Quilter]

1 hour ago, Archipelago said:

Okay thanks ..I have learned something for the future . I'm Caregiving / Caretaking my 96 yo mother and anything could come up ..she will be 98 by the time of this voyage

I totally understand.  I’m caregiving for my DM who is not in the best of health.  It’s good to have a cruise to look forward too, isn’t it?!

[Archipelago]

Yes it is !

[TiogaCruiser]

Actually, I believe you must purchase 24 hours or more before final payment. Check the wording.

….”The CPP Platinum Plan is optional and available for purchase prior to the date on which cancellation fees begin to accrue. ”

Edited April 29 by TiogaCruiser

[yerdua]

Also, if you're booking with a non refundable deposit, you must buy the HAL insurance at the time of your deposit. This would include booking the bare bones, 'best price' fare on the website which does not include HIA (I think that thd one with HIA is called the 'best value' fare and its deposit is refundable therefore you can wait till just before final payment to purchase the insurance). If you want a refundable deposit, a later insurance purchase, but not HIA, you have to call in to a TA or HAL and ask for the 'advantage fare'. 

Edited April 29 by yerdua

[mrmoviezombie]

Yeah... read the fine print...
There are rules about purchasing before the _first_ non-refundable amount occurs.
There are also rules about the lookback period for pre-existing conditions that can be impacted by delaying until final payment.

[gadgetlady]

Does anyone know about medical coverage on the ship with Platinum Protection?  We normally bring a plethora of medicines "just in case" (antibiotics, steroids, etc.), but my understanding is medical is covered aboard with Platinum.  So if we need tylenol or a z-pack or bandaids, can we just go to the medical center and it's free?  Or would we need to pay and then submit to the insurance company for reimbursement?  And would they cover basic stuff like first aid supplies and basic medicines?

[Ileneilene123]

8 minutes ago, gadgetlady said:

Does anyone know about medical coverage on the ship with Platinum Protection?  We normally bring a plethora of medicines "just in case" (antibiotics, steroids, etc.), but my understanding is medical is covered aboard with Platinum.  So if we need tylenol or a z-pack or bandaids, can we just go to the medical center and it's free?  Or would we need to pay and then submit to the insurance company for reimbursement?  And would they cover basic stuff like first aid supplies and basic medicines?

I am under the impression that the CPP Platinum Plan reimburses the cost of the cruise if you need to cancel. I was unaware of an additional medical benefit once you are on board. I am interested to hear more if anyone knows.  Or, maybe you’re referring to a different plan? 

Edited July 5 by Ileneilene123

[oakridger]

4 minutes ago, Ileneilene123 said:

I am under the impression that the Platinum Plan reimburses the cost of the cruise if you need to cancel. I was unaware of an additional medical benefit once you are on board. I am interested to hear more if anyone knows.  

 

Cruise Cancellation Protection Plan | Holland America

 

[TiogaCruiser]

You have to submit a claim for covered medical.

 

“

• Medical Expense Coverage: Should you become injured or sick during your vacation, you could be reimbursed up to $20,000 for medical expenses.
• Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation: In the event that serious illness or injury requires air or ground transportation to a specialized facility or to return home, you could be provided up to $75,000 in covered medical services and supplies (coordinated by our 24-hour assistance provider) to help ensure your safe transport. Repatriation coverage provides for shipment of remains in the event of death during the cruise vacation.”

 

You can go to the website and download the policy.

Edited July 5 by TiogaCruiser

[mrmoviezombie]

I would also assume it’s secondary coverage, meaning you would have to summit to your primary insurance first.

[bartexas]

Note for the future:

 

If you travel frequently, you may want to look into an annual plan.

[gadgetlady]

10 hours ago, TiogaCruiser said:

You have to submit a claim for covered medical.

 

“

• Medical Expense Coverage: Should you become injured or sick during your vacation, you could be reimbursed up to $20,000 for medical expenses.
• Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation: In the event that serious illness or injury requires air or ground transportation to a specialized facility or to return home, you could be provided up to $75,000 in covered medical services and supplies (coordinated by our 24-hour assistance provider) to help ensure your safe transport. Repatriation coverage provides for shipment of remains in the event of death during the cruise vacation.”

 

You can go to the website and download the policy.

 

I called HAL today and asked, and they said when you go to the infirmary onboard, they will know you have the Platinum Plan and they won't charge.  Of course, the answers they give are not always correct so I was hoping someone had some experience with it.  If that is indeed the case, my guess is submitting a claim would be if you had non-ship medical expenses.

[smokesmom]

3 hours ago, gadgetlady said:

 

I called HAL today and asked, and they said when you go to the infirmary onboard, they will know you have the Platinum Plan and they won't charge.  Of course, the answers they give are not always correct so I was hoping someone had some experience with it.  If that is indeed the case, my guess is submitting a claim would be if you had non-ship medical expenses.

Over the years, my husband and I have both been to the infirmary on different HAL ships. We had the Platinum Plan each time. Our on-board account was charged for the services each time. I always requested the detailed printout of the infirmary services before we left the ship (small extra charge). When we returned home, I had to submit the charges to our primary health insurance first and wait to see if the primary insurance would reimburse us or not. If the primary insurance denied the claim, I would then submit the claim and the denial paperwork to the Platinum Plan to finally receive the reimbursement. I find it a lengthy process.

 

I take a variety of over-the-counter medications/supplies with us on the trips.

[Ileneilene123]

Great info in this thread!

We purchased the platinum plan through our HAL PCC. I don’t recall receiving any information from her about the plan following our purchase — not the policy itself, declarations page nor policy number.
 

I plan to follow up, but what is usually provided when you purchase the plan? 

Also, is anyone able to confirm whether this is the correct emergency contact info for the 24 hour assistance that comes with the Platinum Plan? Thank you:

CareFree Travel AssistanceTM can be accessed by calling 877-303-5909 or, from outside the US or Canada, call collect: 516-342-4594.

[Tampa Girl]

On 4/29/2024 at 9:48 PM, mrmoviezombie said:

Yeah... read the fine print...
There are rules about purchasing before the _first_ non-refundable amount occurs.
There are also rules about the lookback period for pre-existing conditions that can be impacted by delaying until final payment.

 

Where are you getting the information re pre-existing conditions?  The HAL provided descriptions clearly say that there are no such provisions.  

[Billthekid]

During the pandemic, HAL would let you cancel and the paid-in funds would be deposit into your account for a later cruise within one year.  No refund would be issued.  In our case, they failed to deposit the funds, which was corrected ten months later giving us and extra year to take a cruise.  Since HAL will provide no refund, I was wondering how the insurance company would handle the payment for canceling for any reason.  Would they convert my future nonrefundable credits to cash, or redeposit the credits.  So if I wanted my credits back, buy the insurance and then cancel.  I would be out the premium.  The policy does not mention how the funding of the cancelation would occur. 

[TiogaCruiser]

5 hours ago, Ileneilene123 said:

Great info in this thread!

We purchased the platinum plan through our HAL PCC. I don’t recall receiving any information from her about the plan following our purchase — not the policy itself, declarations page nor policy number.
 

I plan to follow up, but what is usually provided when you purchase the plan? 

 

Go to the link posted in #16 above, scroll down and select your state. Then click and download your policy information.