Always Have Insurance

[azbirdmom]

3 hours ago, JF - retired RRT said:

I wonder if the Medical Center is run and staffed by an independent company rather than Princess?? That might explain the "pay me NOW" attitude.

They definitely are.  I did a search and found this on the French Princess site which was the most straightforward reference:

 

 

I couldn't find similar language on the US site but as we are accustomed to here the verbiage is buried in the fine print of the passage contract:

 

 

 

[Cruisemeister2002]

19 hours ago, WisCruiser2 said:

Also check into insurance other than the PVP if you have a pre-existing condition (especially if you would need medical attention on the trip) that may affect the 60-day "look back." I recommend taking a look at theTrip Insurance Q&A forum on the Boards mainpage for information.

 

That being said, we appreciated the Princess CFAR when we cancelled a cruise last year because my husband had a procedure scheduled for shortly after we would have returned and we didn't want to chance Covid having to postpone it. 

When I took out our insurance to cover for a forthcoming Canada and USA cruise I detailed all our pre existing conditions. If you don't and something goes wrong the insurance company will try it's hardest to wriggle out of paying. They will contact your doctor and request any health problems you have had. Unfortunately from a persons point of view the more you put down on your list of health problems the higher the premium. Last year due to prostate cancer treatment it cost me over £2000 for our insurance. This year as the treatment was successful it dropped down to just over £1000. I also changed the ports of call on my insurance as originally it was just Canada and the US but due to two ports of call changes I then told them via their website of our stop offs in France.

[Torfamm]

While it can be reasonable to risk the cost of a trip since the money is already spent, travelling without medical coverage is a huge risk. The cost of an evacuation can run well over the amount available from Princess.

 

Squaremouth.com and insuremytrip.com are good resources for finding coverage. We travel often and have an annual policy with GeoBlue as well as a MedJet membership to assist with getting back to the US in case of a medical problem while traveling.

[Kenswing]

Does anyone have any experience with Cover-More by Zurich?  We've purchased insurance from them on our last few cruises.  Thankfully we've never had to file a claim.

[DCThunder]

1 hour ago, Kenswing said:

Does anyone have any experience with Cover-More by Zurich?  We've purchased insurance from them on our last few cruises.  Thankfully we've never had to file a claim.

I've been buying Cover-More policies recently as well.  I haven't had to file a claim, but their coverage is better than Princess Premium and the price is very competitive.  You do have to have a Costco membership, though.

[ontheweb]

22 hours ago, MsSoCalCruiser said:

Oh, that’s awful. I’m sure not everyone can pay $20,000 prior to leaving a cruise ship. What would they have done if you told them you didn’t have it? Would they make you stay on the ship?  A world cruise sounds great to me. 😂

that's an excellent question. I'm guessing they would make you sign a promissory note.

[voljeep]

3 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

that's an excellent question. I'm guessing they would make you sign a promissory note.

against my will, under duress - yeah, like that will hold up

[ontheweb]

19 hours ago, tonit964 said:

I think it was just a threat to scare you into paying right then. Most people don’t have that kind of money available while away from home.

 

There is a process involved to collect a debt owed and I’m certain no collection agency would touch this for a mere 3 days deadline and especially under the circumstances of a life or death medical situation. Scare tactic much on Princess’ part.

Even if it is scare tactic, it still is not right. 

[MsSoCalCruiser]

16 hours ago, roomba920 said:

So true. We went to Greenland last September on RC, and we had to return to port after just one hour from departing due to a medical emergency. They sent a helicopter for the passenger. How sad to have this happen so early on.

I am so thankful that it did not happen on the ship. Not only would it probably not have turned out well for me, I would have possibly ruined the cruise for the rest of the passengers. 

[tonit964]

6 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

Even if it is scare tactic, it still is not right. 

I completely agree. 

[MsSoCalCruiser]

7 hours ago, JF - retired RRT said:

I wonder if the Medical Center is run and staffed by an independent company rather than Princess?? That might explain the "pay me NOW" attitude.

I think it is, but they can still tell if a passenger has the Princess insurance.

[ontheweb]

15 minutes ago, voljeep said:

against my will, under duress - yeah, like that will hold up

The unfortunate part if you do owe the money for whatever medical procedures were performed.

[voljeep]

1 minute ago, ontheweb said:

The unfortunate part if you do owe the money for whatever medical procedures were performed.

which I completely agree with

 

just the timing and procedures that come into question

[MsSoCalCruiser]

6 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

The unfortunate part if you do owe the money for whatever medical procedures were performed.

I don’t think anyone is saying that they wouldn’t owe the money. I think we all agree that it’s not right to make someone pay that amount of money before they leave the ship during a medical emergency. 

Edited July 30 by MsSoCalCruiser

[TRLD]

24 minutes ago, voljeep said:

which I completely agree with

 

just the timing and procedures that come into question

However they will have signed a document saying that they agree that payment is due at time of service. Usually the first form you see at check in. Same as with many urgent care facilities in the US. Same as with many hospitals in some foreign countries.

 

Bottom line is to make sure that you have access to cash, one way or another, if on an international trip.

 

Sure one can not pay at the time of service, or by not agreeing to alternatives, but not without consequences.  The medical company that provides services is not going to chase after you, thus the referral to a debt collector who will. I would also expect that one would not be welcomed back on the cruise line until the debt is paid.

Edited July 30 by TRLD

[TRLD]

4 hours ago, Torfamm said:

While it can be reasonable to risk the cost of a trip since the money is already spent, travelling without medical coverage is a huge risk. The cost of an evacuation can run well over the amount available from Princess.

 

Squaremouth.com and insuremytrip.com are good resources for finding coverage. We travel often and have an annual policy with GeoBlue as well as a MedJet membership to assist with getting back to the US in case of a medical problem while traveling.

We also use an annual medical and evacuation policy with GeoBlue.

[TRLD]

5 hours ago, Cruisemeister2002 said:

To be honest I am unaware that it is permitted to travel without insurance. P&O for instance require information of who your insurer is, emergency contact, telephone numbers relating to your insurer and at least 2 million pounds cover when travelling to the USA.

Different rules for  UK residents purchasing under UK laws  then US. In UK insurance required, not so in US

[DCThunder]

12 minutes ago, MsSoCalCruiser said:

I don’t think anyone is saying that they wouldn’t owe the money. I think we all agree that it’s not right to make someone pay that amount of money before they leave the ship during a medical emergency. 

I know this will be an unpopular take, so here goes....

 

Someone upthread made the comparison to the ship Medical Department to a free-standing Urgent Care facility.  I think this is a very apt comparison in that the ship or UC can take an X-ray or EKG or dispense/prescribe some RX type meds, but they aren't going to do any "invasive" procedures.  Do they start IVs for instance?  I don't know the policy on that type of thing at either an Urgent Care clinic or the ship medical department.

 

But the point is, you aren't leaving an Urgent Care place without settling a bill.  They might agree to file insurance for you, but the insco will reimburse the patient/policyholder, not the UC.  It's no different with the ship medical department. 

 

I broke my ankle on the ship in Buenos Aires on a cruise last year.  The ship arranged for me to go to an ortho doctor in Montevideo for a consult. I wasn't allowed to leave that medical facility without settling up an $900 bill for the facility and another couple of hundred for the doc. I paid the bill and got reimbursed by the insco, as I did for my shipboard medical costs.

 

You can't exit the ship owing the casino.  Why should the med. dept be any different?  I understand the shock on the wife if the husband's treatment on the ship is a $20K bill.  But if someone owed the casino $20K and didn't tell the wife, that would be just as big a shock and there ain't no insurance for that kind of loss.

 

Anyway, that's my contrarian point.  Flame away.

[voljeep]

2 minutes ago, DCThunder said:

I know this will be an unpopular take, so here goes....

 

Someone upthread made the comparison to the ship Medical Department to a free-standing Urgent Care facility.  I think this is a very apt comparison in that the ship or UC can take an X-ray or EKG or dispense/prescribe some RX type meds, but they aren't going to do any "invasive" procedures.  Do they start IVs for instance?  I don't know the policy on that type of thing at either an Urgent Care clinic or the ship medical department.

 

But the point is, you aren't leaving an Urgent Care place without settling a bill.  They might agree to file insurance for you, but the insco will reimburse the patient/policyholder, not the UC.  It's no different with the ship medical department. 

 

I broke my ankle on the ship in Buenos Aires on a cruise last year.  The ship arranged for me to go to an ortho doctor in Montevideo for a consult. I wasn't allowed to leave that medical facility without settling up an $900 bill for the facility and another couple of hundred for the doc. I paid the bill and got reimbursed by the insco, as I did for my shipboard medical costs.

 

You can't exit the ship owing the casino.  Why should the med. dept be any different?  I understand the shock on the wife if the husband's treatment on the ship is a $20K bill.  But if someone owed the casino $20K and didn't tell the wife, that would be just as big a shock and there ain't no insurance for that kind of loss.

 

Anyway, that's my contrarian point.  Flame away.

my folio is with Princess ... not the casino ... and not the medical department ...

[ontheweb]

1 hour ago, voljeep said:

1 hour ago, MsSoCalCruiser said:

I don’t think anyone is saying that they wouldn’t owe the money. I think we all agree that it’s not right to make someone pay that amount of money before they leave the ship during a medical emergency. 

which I completely agree with

 

just the timing and procedures that come into question

Yes, I would agree. When I posted that you still actually do owe the money for whatever procedures were performed, I was just reminding that there is a balance between high pressure tactics and their legitimate concern with not being stuck with eating the bill.

[TRLD]

56 minutes ago, voljeep said:

my folio is with Princess ... not the casino ... and not the medical department ...

Sure, but you also agree under terns and conditions that your folio will be made, including medical  and other on board charges prior to leaving ship.

[DCThunder]

18 minutes ago, TRLD said:

Sure, but you also agree under terns and conditions that your folio will be made, including medical  and other on board charges prior to leaving ship.

Exactly.

[startedwithamouse]

2 hours ago, DCThunder said:

I know this will be an unpopular take, so here goes....

 

Someone upthread made the comparison to the ship Medical Department to a free-standing Urgent Care facility.  I think this is a very apt comparison in that the ship or UC can take an X-ray or EKG or dispense/prescribe some RX type meds, but they aren't going to do any "invasive" procedures.  Do they start IVs for instance?  I don't know the policy on that type of thing at either an Urgent Care clinic or the ship medical department.

 

But the point is, you aren't leaving an Urgent Care place without settling a bill.  They might agree to file insurance for you, but the insco will reimburse the patient/policyholder, not the UC.  It's no different with the ship medical department. 

 

I broke my ankle on the ship in Buenos Aires on a cruise last year.  The ship arranged for me to go to an ortho doctor in Montevideo for a consult. I wasn't allowed to leave that medical facility without settling up an $900 bill for the facility and another couple of hundred for the doc. I paid the bill and got reimbursed by the insco, as I did for my shipboard medical costs.

 

You can't exit the ship owing the casino.  Why should the med. dept be any different?  I understand the shock on the wife if the husband's treatment on the ship is a $20K bill.  But if someone owed the casino $20K and didn't tell the wife, that would be just as big a shock and there ain't no insurance for that kind of loss.

 

Anyway, that's my contrarian point.  Flame away.

Well put.

 

Same on land. You agree to pay at time of service for urgent care. 

 

Additionally, what hospitals if you get ill in another country will say, no problem,  just pay us later or not at all?

 

Princess insurance is supplemental for medical. You pay up front. Not sure why that's such a surprise to people.

[TRLD]

2 hours ago, DCThunder said:

I know this will be an unpopular take, so here goes....

 

Someone upthread made the comparison to the ship Medical Department to a free-standing Urgent Care facility.  I think this is a very apt comparison in that the ship or UC can take an X-ray or EKG or dispense/prescribe some RX type meds, but they aren't going to do any "invasive" procedures.  Do they start IVs for instance?  I don't know the policy on that type of thing at either an Urgent Care clinic or the ship medical department.

 

But the point is, you aren't leaving an Urgent Care place without settling a bill.  They might agree to file insurance for you, but the insco will reimburse the patient/policyholder, not the UC.  It's no different with the ship medical department. 

 

I broke my ankle on the ship in Buenos Aires on a cruise last year.  The ship arranged for me to go to an ortho doctor in Montevideo for a consult. I wasn't allowed to leave that medical facility without settling up an $900 bill for the facility and another couple of hundred for the doc. I paid the bill and got reimbursed by the insco, as I did for my shipboard medical costs.

 

You can't exit the ship owing the casino.  Why should the med. dept be any different?  I understand the shock on the wife if the husband's treatment on the ship is a $20K bill.  But if someone owed the casino $20K and didn't tell the wife, that would be just as big a shock and there ain't no insurance for that kind of loss.

 

Anyway, that's my contrarian point.  Flame away.

Shipboard doctors are usual trained emergency room physicians. On Princess often from South Africa where physicians are very well trained, but not very well paid.

 

Yes they can and will do IVs if the treatment required it along with everything else an emergency room would do to stabilize a patient.

[Wishing on a star]

This is an interesting discussion.

We have the Princess Platinum insurance on our upcoming booking, for the first time.

We have always had outside insurance, using the nation wide insurance provider that offers cruise specific coverage.   But, did not realize that one could not get full coverages unless you get the insurance within days of your initial booking.  (thought it was okay until Final Payment - which is not true). And, like the CFAR coverage.  Which can be hard to find.

 

It is interesting to know that, even you have the 'Princess' insurance, there is no consideration for the insurance coverage for any medical costs while onboard.  Pay 100% while onboard.

 

I am wondering if we need to make sure that we have some info with us, info for easy  financial access, etc.   We always have our regular insurance card, but maybe not other things that might be helpful.

 

Is there any other documentation or information that is recommended?