travel insurance

[LEJ]

I am cruising the Mediterranean in May. Does anyone have tips for best rates for travel insurance? My travel agent quoted $344/couple for an $8,000 coverage.

[lvtotrvl1]

take a look at www.insuremytrip.com. You can compare different insurance companies there....Hope this helps a bit!

[brandy3415]

I stumbled on STA travel insurance accidently one year and have used it ever since. Although STA is a student agency and runs great travel deals for college students, anyone can use the agency and certainly buy the insurance. I compared the policy terms with other higher priced policies and they have the pre-existing waiver, medical transport, cancellation, etc. just the same or similar. The price is not contingent on age, either, just on length of the trip.

[LEJ]

Thanks for the tips. That's a great help!

[Jsipes]

TI is a rip off, unless you're elderly, or in bad health.

[LEJ]

Insurance in general is like gambling isn't it! My husband is a pastor of a large church, and anything could happen between now and May, so I guess it feels like a necessity with all the possible ways that our trip could be waylaid.

[klfrodo]

TI is a rip off, unless you're elderly, or in bad health.

 

I guess when my wedding band was lost, misplaced, or stolen and within 2 weeks of filing my claim I was reimbursed, it was just a rip off.

 

When I got stranded 2 extra days in Jamaica on a land vaction due to a hurricane hitting Miami, I was getting ripped off when I received reimbursement checks for the extra nights of hotel, the phone charges, the internet charges, the extra meals, and flight change fee's.

 

Get a grip on reality. Stuff happens and Travel Insurance is just a basic cost of traveling these days

[iamtrustworthy]

Insurance in general is like gambling isn't it! My husband is a pastor of a large church, and anything could happen between now and May, so I guess it feels like a necessity with all the possible ways that our trip could be waylaid.

 

Hi LEJ,

 

Do you mean that something could happen in his role as a Pastor that could cause your trip to be cancelled or interrupted?

 

If so, ask it here so it can be discussed since trip insurance doesn't cover every situation.

[LEJ]

I guess I would need to know if insurance covers in case of death or serious injury of family member or church staff. Anyone have any input?

[klfrodo]

Family member...Most likely

non family member....most likely not

 

All insurance coverages are different. Your best bet is to read the policy, then call and ask questions of the potential insurance provider.

[iamtrustworthy]

I guess I would need to know if insurance covers in case of death or serious injury of family member or church staff. Anyone have any input?

 

Hi LEJ,

 

Your only option if you want coverage in case of death or serious injury of church staff is to get a "cancel for any reason" travel insurance plan.

 

These are available as long as you're still within 14 days after the date you made your initial trip deposit.

 

I hope this helps.

[RockyMtnMama]

So what about the flu? We leave in a week and my son was diagnosed with influenza today. He's been sick for 4 days now, so should be fine by the time we travel, but if anyone else gets it, we are in trouble! We bought travel insurance (mostly for medical evacuation coverage) and are hoping it would cover if one of us was sick. And no, we will not board the ship if anyone has influenza, even if we would loose money!

[iamtrustworthy]

So what about the flu? We leave in a week and my son was diagnosed with influenza today. He's been sick for 4 days now, so should be fine by the time we travel, but if anyone else gets it, we are in trouble! We bought travel insurance (mostly for medical evacuation coverage) and are hoping it would cover if one of us was sick. And no, we will not board the ship if anyone has influenza, even if we would loose money!

 

Hi RockyMtnMama,

 

Every travel insurance policy I know works the same way, but there could always be one that does it differently.

 

Any medical condition (no matter how minor) existing in the 60, 90 or 180 day Lookback Period is defined as a Pre-Existing Condition if it's been treated, consulted on or had a change of medication during those 60, 90 or 180 days prior to buying the travel insurance.

 

A Pre-Existing Medical Condition includes any condition that's been tested, treated, examined, consulted with, received advice on or had symptoms of. This also includes any adjustments or changes in any prescriptions or medication.

 

If the person has a stable pre-existing condition, then the only way the pre-existing condition exclusion can be waived is to buy the travel insurance by the deadline. Important: Keep in mind that the pre-existing condition exclusion is being waived when you buy the travel insurance by the deadline.

 

If your son's influenza developed after you got the insurance, then it's not pre-existing.

 

Also, you said "we will not board the ship if anyone has influenza, even if we would loose money". If you think this may be a problem you need to have a doctor tell you beforehand the person with influenza can't travel. Just deciding not to board the ship probably won't be covered by your travel insurance.

 

I hope this makes sense.

[klfrodo]

Hi RockyMtnMama,

 

Every travel insurance policy I know works the same way, but there could always be one that does it differently.

 

Any medical condition (no matter how minor) existing in the 60, 90 or 180 day Lookback Period is defined as a Pre-Existing Condition if it's been treated, consulted on or had a change of medication during those 60, 90 or 180 days prior to buying the travel insurance.

 

A Pre-Existing Medical Condition includes any condition that's been tested, treated, examined, consulted with, received advice on or had symptoms of. This also includes any adjustments or changes in any prescriptions or medication.

 

If the person has a stable pre-existing condition, then the only way the pre-existing condition exclusion can be waived is to buy the travel insurance by the deadline. Important: Keep in mind that the pre-existing condition exclusion is being waived when you buy the travel insurance by the deadline.

 

If your son's influenza developed after you got the insurance, then it's not pre-existing.

 

Also, you said "we will not board the ship if anyone has influenza, even if we would loose money". If you think this may be a problem you need to have a doctor tell you beforehand the person with influenza can't travel. Just deciding not to board the ship probably won't be covered by your travel insurance.

 

I hope this makes sense.

 

 

GOOD JOB

 

Wouldn't it be nice if insurance policies were written in this type of well thought out, clear and concise language?

[RockyMtnMama]

Thanks Steve, that makes perfect sense. We will definitely go back to the doctor if anyone else becomes ill, and ask him to write a note for insurance.

 

Mostly what I mean is that we would never risk passing this on. We only bought the insurance for the medical coverage at sea, but it is certainly bring us peace of mind now. If only the cost of the cruise was at stake, we would not have purchased the insurance. We wouldn't walk into a nursing home with influenza, and I think boarding the Dawn with it's older population would be even worse. That would be putting other's life in danger.

[Dall]

TI is a rip off, unless you're elderly, or in bad health.

Beg to differ. My husband had bad auto accident 2 weeks before our Hawaii vacation. I'm not sure what kind of trip insurance we had, but we only had to call the TA and cancel. Did not even have to provide proof of accident or Dr statement. We were fully reimbursed, air and hotel.

[BaileyandBella]

When a website asks about the cost of the trip, do you add in the airfare as well?

[Bill S]

With trip insurance, you are betting that you will become sick, etc. and the insurance company is betting you will not. The insurance company usually wins; that is how they stay in business.

 

However, TI is not a ripoff to those who have become ill enough on cruise ship to require medical services, who have to be evacuated or put off the ship, or who have sustained a debilitating accident or the death of a close family member just days prior to leaving for a cruise.

 

TI paid all of my medical bills on a cruise and I was totally healthy before embarkation. It also reimbursed my friend's cruise fare when he was in a motor vehicle accident and broke both bones in his leg only 3 days before his cruise.

 

I agree though, that purchasing travel insurance through the cruise line, is usually not a good deal as compared with commercial insurers. It pays to shop around.

[iamtrustworthy]

When a website asks about the cost of the trip, do you add in the airfare as well?

 

Hi lovemythreeguys,

 

Your trip cost is your total prepaid, non-refundable costs. Start with this list to determine your trip cost:

 

• All payments, including deposits, towards your cruise, tour, hotel, etc

• Non-refundable airline tickets

• Pre-arranged transportation to the airport (ever tried getting to JFK?)

• Tuition for a class you're taking (for example - a cooking class in France)

• The rent on the property you're staying in (for example - the Italian villa)

• Theater tickets, Disneyworld passes, etc

 

Here's what are typically not prepaid, nor non-refundable trip costs:

 

• Lodging costs that aren't subject to cancellation penalties

• The cost of meals

• Day trips, excursions and other side trips you arrange while traveling

• The cost of souvenirs, gifts, or other items you expect to buy on your trip

• Rental cars

• Visa, passports

 

Also, Frequent Flyer tickets are considered to have a $0 trip cost.

 

I hope this helps.

[Pika8347]

Insurance in general is like gambling isn't it! My husband is a pastor of a large church, and anything could happen between now and May, so I guess it feels like a necessity with all the possible ways that our trip could be waylaid.

 

 

Insurance = Legalized Gambling. For everyday that you don't file a claim, your agent wins. Right?

[iamtrustworthy]

Insurance = Legalized Gambling. For everyday that you don't file a claim, your agent wins. Right?

 

Hi Pika8347,

 

I wouldn't say it's a gamble, though there's risk involved. Here's what we say:

Buying travel insurance is a risk: You are trading a known certainty (your hard earned money) for an unknown quantity - the promise of the insurance policy doing what it says it will do. This is why we pre-screen our plans.

People manage the risk of losing money on a trip different ways: (none are right or wrong, they )

• Some people stick with the same insurance company for every trip
  
• Some self-insure
  
• Some ignore travel / trip / cruise insurance altogether
  
• Some take their agent's advice
  
• Some shop around
  
• Some forget

Imo, getting travel insurance is a personal decision, therefore none of these choices are right or wrong, they are just a matter of personal preference.

[kahunalady]

The real gamble is not having trip insurance. Three years ago at the age of 50 my husband; slender, active, good diet, etcetera, had a heart attack on the third day of our vacation in the Mayan Riviera. It was a nightmare, but insurance helped. They provided the medical evacuation flight to Texas, reimbursed the un-used portion of our trip, paid for my hotel in Texas for two weeks, our trip home with a medical escort, a translator, and an international coordinator, just to name a few of the services. Just to give you an idea of services and costs, the med vac flight was $39,000.00.

 

Whether a heart attack or a simple broken leg, I wouldn't ever want to be out of the United States without protection.

[Dr_DNA]

Insurance of any kind is always a rip off until you need it. :D It is amazing how many people don't get insurance and then complain because something happened, they couldn't go on their cruise, and the heartless Cruise Line didn't give them their money back. We all know the threads becasue they always state somewhere that "in this case, an exception should be made because..." I'm in my 30's and I get insurance because the cost is miniscule compared to what the cost could be if I got hurt in a foreign land or at sea. Heck, some people pay more for drinks in a day than what it costs to insure a whole trip. ($61/pp on next years 12 nighter).

[leelee9878]

My boyfriend and I will be sailing on the Carnival Triumph going to the Eastern Caribbean on Aug.31. My boyfriend is only 23yrs old and I am 25yrs old, I am thinking about getting the insurance because you never know what is going to happen. Can someone please tell me what kind of plan I should get for us and which company to use...I am completely clueless about this stuff!!!

[leelee9878]

My boyfriend and I will be sailing on the Carnival Triumph going to the Eastern Caribbean on Aug.31. My boyfriend is only 23yrs old and I am 25yrs old, I am thinking about getting the insurance because you never know what is going to happen. Can someone please tell me what kind of plan I should get for us and which company to use...I am completely clueless about this stuff!!!