Buy insurance direct or from TA?

[choochella]

We previously purchased a yearly travel plan directly from Allianz which will expire in November. We will need to purchase another yearly plan then. Two questions:

1) Has anyone purchased the plan directly from their TA at a cheaper rate?

2) Once the current plan expires, our next cruise isn’t until March 2025. Should I wait until then to purchase the yearly plan, or purchase before final payment is due, sometime in December?
Thx!

[CDNPolar]

1 hour ago, choochella said:

We previously purchased a yearly travel plan directly from Allianz which will expire in November. We will need to purchase another yearly plan then. Two questions:

1) Has anyone purchased the plan directly from their TA at a cheaper rate?

2) Once the current plan expires, our next cruise isn’t until March 2025. Should I wait until then to purchase the yearly plan, or purchase before final payment is due, sometime in December?
Thx!

 

My experience is that TA's don't offer cheaper rates.  I find - in Canada anyway - what I buy online myself is the same price as through a broker as through a TA.

 

With MY annual plan, if I renew when the renewal date comes up, I don't have to do the health questionnaire again and I also am saved from price increases.  (This is Canada...so may not be the case with you). I did the math on this because my renewal was in April and our next travel date was September.  My agent gave me the rate if I let my policy lapse and it was significantly higher than renewing. 

[BazingAu]

Not sure about annual plans, but we purchased a single trip policy through our TA and it was significantly cheaper than what I found online via the recommended websites. It was about 40% cheaper with the same coverage by a nationally recognized brand.

 

However, IMHO, if you have no travel planned until March, it might make sense to wait until then. As long as rates aren't considerably higher in the spring than during your current renewal time. (Don't know if there are travel insurance cycles.) However, if you do end up taking any trips ahead of time, then you won't be covered.

[GeezerCouple]

44 minutes ago, CDNPolar said:

 

My experience is that TA's don't offer cheaper rates.  I find - in Canada anyway - what I buy online myself is the same price as through a broker as through a TA.

 

With MY annual plan, if I renew when the renewal date comes up, I don't have to do the health questionnaire again and I also am saved from price increases.  (This is Canada...so may not be the case with you). I did the math on this because my renewal was in April and our next travel date was September.  My agent gave me the rate if I let my policy lapse and it was significantly higher than renewing. 

 

I think in the USA, the travel insurance policies are regulated by the states (hence the occasional coverage differences by state of residence), and the final price to traveler is the same regardless of whether purchased from insurer or an agent (travel agent or travel insurance agent) -->> FOR THE SAME POLICY.

If the prices are different, chances are good that there is at least some difference in the coverage.

 

[This assumes you are purchasing actual travel *insurance* and not some sort of sound-similar "cruise protection plan" or such.  Those latter types are not regulated, so in addition to there being "any kind of pricing", there is also likely to be "any kind of coverage", especially when reading the fine print... or when comparing to actual "insurance".]

 

Importantly, we prefer to buy travel insurance from a travel insurance specialist (an agent or broker) and *not* from someone who specializes in "travel planning" rather than "travel insurance".  Given how complicated some of the insurance issues can get, we want someone who fully understands the choices.  And that's important, too:  The choices!  It's definitely NOT a "one size fits all!"

And, very importantly, someone who could assist with a claim... or help with any type of problem.

Some travelers may worry about non-traveling family members.  Some, pets.  Some, work responsibilities.  Some only/mostly care about the medical coverage.  Others want the trip costs covered.  And then there is the CFAR choice (Cancel For Any Reason)...

 

And then there is:  purchasing a policy from an insurer who is indeed going to pay a claim smoothly, without endless hoops..... (assuming, of course, that one submits all of the required documentation, which is essential).

 

We had a large claim with the *first* travel insurance policy we got.  We learned about it all here on CC, and thank goodness!  And that first claim was paid within about 2 weeks from the time we submitted all of the documentation.  That was with Travel Insured, through Steve and TripInsuranceStore.com.

 

In this case (with true insurance), there is no extra charge for using a broker, and similarly, no savings for not using a broker or agent...

We stick with that combination, and we've had several other claims, all paid promptly as well.

But "Travel Insured" may not have the "right" policy for others.  There are other travel insurers and types of policies.

 

choochella:  Make sure you double check what the coverage really is for annual policies.  We found the total package potentially falling short if there were more than one claim in the year, and by that point, it would have been *too late* for us to get the type of insurance we needed for remaining trips.  That may or may not be a problem for the types/costs of trips you take, but do double check.

 

GC

[iamtrustworthy]

On 7/2/2024 at 4:04 PM, BazingAu said:

Not sure about annual plans, but we purchased a single trip policy through our TA and it was significantly cheaper than what I found online via the recommended websites. It was about 40% cheaper with the same coverage by a nationally recognized brand.

 

However, IMHO, if you have no travel planned until March, it might make sense to wait until then. As long as rates aren't considerably higher in the spring than during your current renewal time. (Don't know if there are travel insurance cycles.) However, if you do end up taking any trips ahead of time, then you won't be covered.

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

[cruisebug722]

On 6/28/2024 at 12:30 PM, choochella said:

We previously purchased a yearly travel plan directly from Allianz which will expire in November. We will need to purchase another yearly plan then. Two questions:

1) Has anyone purchased the plan directly from their TA at a cheaper rate?

2) Once the current plan expires, our next cruise isn’t until March 2025. Should I wait until then to purchase the yearly plan, or purchase before final payment is due, sometime in December?
Thx!

Not sure if you have pulled the trigger yet.  I have had annual insurance from Allianz for close to 10 years now.  Only break was during covid.  If you are loyal to a TA then you can certainly add their ACCAM number and they will get credit.  Maybe another level if you have issues?  But I have never had an opportunity for a discount.  My sister takes the same plan; I'm in FL and she in NJ and yes there is a bit of a different price by state (as I think someone said).  There is logic in waiting till your 2025 travel plans to resign up but if you have pre-existing condidtions, you would not want to wait, you would want the continuity.  (And would you really wait 5 months between trips???? and it does cover if you are just travelling locally.)  To someone elses concern, I have had numerous claims within the same year and have never had an issue (only issue was Allianz using the same claim number each time - which lead to a bit of confusion but all doable).  Hope this helps.

[choochella]

On 8/22/2024 at 1:36 PM, cruisebug722 said:

Not sure if you have pulled the trigger yet.  I have had annual insurance from Allianz for close to 10 years now.  Only break was during covid.  If you are loyal to a TA then you can certainly add their ACCAM number and they will get credit.  Maybe another level if you have issues?  But I have never had an opportunity for a discount.  My sister takes the same plan; I'm in FL and she in NJ and yes there is a bit of a different price by state (as I think someone said).  There is logic in waiting till your 2025 travel plans to resign up but if you have pre-existing condidtions, you would not want to wait, you would want the continuity.  (And would you really wait 5 months between trips???? and it does cover if you are just travelling locally.)  To someone elses concern, I have had numerous claims within the same year and have never had an issue (only issue was Allianz using the same claim number each time - which lead to a bit of confusion but all doable).  Hope this helps.

Thanks for the reply. We don’t really do much traveling after our fall cruise. We tend to stay around the house during the holidays with the exception of traveling to our son’s for Christmas which isn’t that far. So, nothing else planned until our March 2025 cruise. So, may wait until then to renew our yearly travel insurance. And, we will be assured that the plan will cover all travel we will take during the year. I’m hoping if more comes up than what we’ve already planned, we can purchase additional coverage. 

Edited August 23 by choochella

[cruisebug722]

20 hours ago, choochella said:

Thanks for the reply. We don’t really do much traveling after our fall cruise. We tend to stay around the house during the holidays with the exception of traveling to our son’s for Christmas which isn’t that far. So, nothing else planned until our March 2025 cruise. So, may wait until then to renew our yearly travel insurance. And, we will be assured that the plan will cover all travel we will take during the year. I’m hoping if more comes up than what we’ve already planned, we can purchase additional coverage. 

sound like you have looked at all your options and your schedule.  Yes, then you are a candidate for renewing next year.

[Feeling Sand-tastic]

On 7/6/2024 at 5:46 PM, iamtrustworthy said:

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

Steve,

 

The questions you posted are good and valid questions! 

 

My question to you is: "Where were you when my husband and I called and told you we needed help when I broke my ankle and broke my wrist while on vacation in Greece?" 

 

Steve Dasseos, why didn't you follow up to see if we needed assistance filing a claim? 

 

I will never recommend you or your company. 

[iamtrustworthy]

8 hours ago, Feeling Sand-tastic said:

Steve,

 

The questions you posted are good and valid questions! 

 

My question to you is: "Where were you when my husband and I called and told you we needed help when I broke my ankle and broke my wrist while on vacation in Greece?" 

 

Steve Dasseos, why didn't you follow up to see if we needed assistance filing a claim? 

 

I will never recommend you or your company. 

Hi Feeling Sand-tastic,

 

I don't know who you are by your CruiseCritic ID.

 

And, you said "we purchased a single trip policy through our TA and it was significantly cheaper than what I found online via the recommended websites." Since you bought your policy from your TA, I don't understand, how I would be involved in your claim. Your TA should be helping you with your claim.

 

Steve Dasseos

[Feeling Sand-tastic]

10 minutes ago, iamtrustworthy said:

Hi Feeling Sand-tastic,

 

I don't know who you are by your CruiseCritic ID.

 

And, you said "we purchased a single trip policy through our TA and it was significantly cheaper than what I found online via the recommended websites." Since you bought your policy from your TA, I don't understand, how I would be involved in your claim. Your TA should be helping you with your claim.

 

Steve Dasseos

Steve, I purchased my policy directly from you. I never said I purchased a policy from a TA.

[iamtrustworthy]

5 minutes ago, Feeling Sand-tastic said:

Steve, I purchased my policy directly from you. I never said I purchased a policy from a TA.

 

Here's where you said it:

 

I still don't know who you are. If you want to email me and tell me who you are, I'll look into it

 

Steve Dasseos

Edited September 17 by iamtrustworthy
typo

[Feeling Sand-tastic]

7 minutes ago, iamtrustworthy said:

 

Here's where you said "we purchased a single trip policy through our TA":

 

I still don't know who you are. If you want to email me and tell me who you are, I'll look into it

 

Steve Dasseos

The post you quoted is NOT my post.

 

There is nothing to look into.

 

I did not receive any assistance from IMG when I was in the Athens hospital.

We called you because we needed help and IMG was not delivering.  You said you would reach out to your IMG contacts and that you would call us back.

 

You didn't call us back and IMG Emergency Travel Assistance was non-existent. 

 

When we asked IMG for translation assistance, they said no one was available at night or on weekends. They took my husband’s information and said that someone would call us back to assist. 

 

I was very disappointed that you did not follow-up and try to get assistance for a client who reached out to you when they were injured while on vacation . Especially after we have been loyal customers for years and have sent you many referrals.

 

We received the “run around” from IMG representatives. 

 

IMG did not provide any help whatsoever.  IMG did NOT provide the covered benefits/services during my urgent/emergency situation.

 

After I returned home, I wrote a letter to CEO Paraboschi, of IMG. I detailed all the issues I encountered and that IMG should have handled.  I documented all my email correspondence and all my phone calls to, and messages I received from IMG representatives.

 

It was only after my email to the CEO, that I received any assistance. I was told that my claim would be personally handled and expedited going forward because of their poor customer service and their failure to deliver services as outlined in insurance policy and schedule of benefits. 

 

I guess IMG’s definition of expedited is 10 weeks. It took 10 weeks for me to receive a check for ALL the expenses I incurred. 

 

So, thank you for your offer to look into it. When I needed your help in Athens, you failed and did not follow up. I do not need your help now. I got reimbursed for all my expenses without any help from you. 

 

 

[iamtrustworthy]

14 minutes ago, Feeling Sand-tastic said:

The post you quoted is NOT my post.

 

There is nothing to look into.

 

I did not receive any assistance from IMG when I was in the Athens hospital.

We called you because we needed help and IMG was not delivering.  You said you would reach out to your IMG contacts and that you would call us back.

 

You didn't call us back and IMG Emergency Travel Assistance was non-existent. 

 

 

When we asked IMG for translation assistance, they said no one was available at night or on weekends. They took my husband’s information and said that someone would call us back to assist. 

 

I was very disappointed that you did not follow-up and try to get assistance for a client who reached out to you when they were injured while on vacation . Especially after we have been loyal customers for years and have sent you many referrals.

 

We received the “run around” from IMG representatives. 

 

IMG did not provide any help whatsoever.  IMG did NOT provide the covered benefits/services during my urgent/emergency situation.

 

After I returned home, I wrote a letter to CEO Paraboschi, of IMG. I detailed all the issues I encountered and that IMG should have handled.  I documented all my email correspondence and all my phone calls to, and messages I received from IMG representatives.

 

It was only after my email to the CEO, that I received any assistance. I was told that my claim would be personally handled and expedited going forward because of their poor customer service and their failure to deliver services as outlined in insurance policy and schedule of benefits. 

 

I guess IMG’s definition of expedited is 10 weeks. It took 10 weeks for me to receive a check for ALL the expenses I incurred. 

 

So, thank you for your offer to look into it. When I needed your help in Athens, you failed and did not follow up. I do not need your help now. I got reimbursed for all my expenses without any help from you.

We help everyone with claims, so I don't know why you won't let me know who you are. Your profile says Sarasota, but I can't find a customer named Deb who is in Sarasota.

 

Over 18 months ago we had a customer, that we were already helping with their claim, send a letter to the President of IMG expressing their frustration about the amount of time the claim was taking. That claim was settled well over a year ago.

Edited September 17 by iamtrustworthy
typo

[iamtrustworthy]

Hello,

 

I was wrong - the post I attributed to Feeling Sand-tastic was not from Feeling Sand-tastic. In my haste to respond to Feeling Sand-tastic's comments about me, I mistakenly thought Feeling Sand-tastic quoting the post meant the post was from Feeling Sand-tastic.

 

Steve Dasseos

[rowval]

On 6/28/2024 at 2:02 PM, CDNPolar said:

 

My experience is that TA's don't offer cheaper rates.  I find - in Canada anyway - what I buy online myself is the same price as through a broker as through a TA.

 

With MY annual plan, if I renew when the renewal date comes up, I don't have to do the health questionnaire again and I also am saved from price increases.  (This is Canada...so may not be the case with you). I did the math on this because my renewal was in April and our next travel date was September.  My agent gave me the rate if I let my policy lapse and it was significantly higher than renewing. 

I am also In Canada, who do you purchase your trip cancellation and interrruption insurance thru? 

[CDNPolar]

2 hours ago, rowval said:

I am also In Canada, who do you purchase your trip cancellation and interrruption insurance thru? 

 

I have learned through experience and now only purchase through Manulife.

 

I personally prefer the PPP or Premium Protection Plan which in my opinion is the best coverage you can buy in Canada.  Currently PPP includes medical, cancel, and interruption.  Manulife is coming out with a non-medical PPP soon - I hear.

 

The only restriction with the PPP (which has built in CFAR on steroids) is that you must purchase it within 72 hours of placing a deposit / booking the trip.  You can however only insure your deposit and add to the coverage as you make payments.

[rowval]

16 hours ago, CDNPolar said:

 

I have learned through experience and now only purchase through Manulife.

 

I personally prefer the PPP or Premium Protection Plan which in my opinion is the best coverage you can buy in Canada.  Currently PPP includes medical, cancel, and interruption.  Manulife is coming out with a non-medical PPP soon - I hear.

 

The only restriction with the PPP (which has built in CFAR on steroids) is that you must purchase it within 72 hours of placing a deposit / booking the trip.  You can however only insure your deposit and add to the coverage as you make payments.

Thanks so much for this info, do you r3commend that I call directly to Manual Life ? Do you purchase the multi trip? We have quite a few cruises booked but I bought my insurance thru Vacations to Go. For some reason for the cruise that I want to book,the insurance has doubled , even though it is only a few hundred more than a cruise I booked the other day.

[CDNPolar]

8 hours ago, rowval said:

Thanks so much for this info, do you r3commend that I call directly to Manual Life ? Do you purchase the multi trip? We have quite a few cruises booked but I bought my insurance thru Vacations to Go. For some reason for the cruise that I want to book,the insurance has doubled , even though it is only a few hundred more than a cruise I booked the other day.

 

You cannot buy through Manulife in the USA.  John Hancock is the Manulife alternative in the US.

 

I was referring to coverage in Canada.

[rowval]

10 minutes ago, CDNPolar said:

 

You cannot buy through Manulife in the USA.  John Hancock is the Manulife alternative in the US.

 

I was referring to coverage in Canada.

Thanks I typed Manualife in error! Gotcha thanks so much

[GeezerCouple]

1 hour ago, CDNPolar said:

 

You cannot buy through Manulife in the USA.  John Hancock is the Manulife alternative in the US.

 

I was referring to coverage in Canada.

 

@rowval seems to have dual residences, in "Canada/Vero Beach Fl".

Two different climates (and maybe "especially!", depending upon just where in Canada!).

 

That is, unless "Canada/Vero Beach Fl" is something like a "neighborhood" in/near Vero Beach, FL 😄

 

GC

[rowval]

15 minutes ago, GeezerCouple said:

 

@rowval seems to have dual residences, in "Canada/Vero Beach Fl".

Two different climates (and maybe "especially!", depending upon just where in Canada!).

 

That is, unless "Canada/Vero Beach Fl" is something like a "neighborhood" in/near Vero Beach, FL 😄

 

GC

You are very observant! We live in Canada and we winter In Vero Beach!