Travel insurance.

[RobertGraves]

Hello,

 

Can anyone suggest a reliable travel insurance company for our cruise next month?

 

Please note we are European Union citizens, so the company should be able to accommodate us.

 

Thank you in advance!

[Host Kewlguy]

We have used insuremytrip.com. They are very reputable.

[jrowland]

Hi,

On all my past 5 cruises, I have ultimately purchased a travel Insurance policy from Travelex. Insuremytrip.com is a good site to look at. The last 3 times I have purchased through http://www.insurancestore.com/.

 

Both these sites sell various policies and provide you with a ton of infomation to help you decide. On the 3 times I have filed a claim, I sent in the receipts I received from the medical facility on the cruise ship and within a month, I had received total refund of the charge I incurred.

[TravlGrl]

Agree with the above, but also add http://www.tripinsurancestore.com to your list. There are 7 insurance companies they recommend, with easy-to-understand instructions about each of the plans. The staff there are easily accessible too, and have helped me save money on my plans. My last two were purchased from them.

[TravlGrl]

Hi,

On all my past 5 cruises, I have ultimately purchased a travel Insurance policy from Travelex. Insuremytrip.com is a good site to look at. The last 3 times I have purchased through http://www.insurancestore.com/.

 

When I clicked on this link tonight, I immediately realized that the gal in the blue polo is a co-worker of mine. How funny to go to a website and see someone you know, but didn't realize they were posing for a website. LOL

[cruiseco]

Hi,

On all my past 5 cruises, I have ultimately purchased a travel Insurance policy from Travelex. .

 

Travelex won't cover EU residents.

 

also add http://www.tripinsurancestore.com to your list.

 

Thery don't have anything for EU residents.

 

The only US-based travel insurer that will cover these folks is IMG. They are listed on insuremytrip with their Patriot TRIP plans. But you'll find more complete information and the same prices by going to IMG's web site directly:

 

http://www.imglobal.com

[iamtrustworthy]

Hi,

On all my past 5 cruises, I have ultimately purchased a travel Insurance policy from Travelex. The last 3 times I have purchased through http://www.insurancestore.com/

 

Hi jrowland,

 

Did you mean http://www.tripinsurancestore.com/ ?

[iamtrustworthy]

Travelex won't cover EU residents.

 

They don't have anything for EU residents.

 

The only US-based travel insurer that will cover these folks is IMG. They are listed on insuremytrip with their Patriot TRIP plans. But you'll find more complete information and the same prices by going to IMG's web site directly:

 

http://www.imglobal.com

 

Hi cruiseco,

 

We used to offer the Patriot TRIP plans, but I decided to stop selling them over 18 months ago. The concern I had was that their Certificate of Coverage was very vague. And when I would call IMG, I got those answers like "that should be covered...".

 

What do you think of their policy wording?

[cruiseco]

Hi cruiseco,

 

We used to offer the Patriot TRIP plans, but I decided to stop selling them over 18 months ago. The concern I had was that their Certificate of Coverage was very vague. And when I would call IMG, I got those answers like "that should be covered...".

 

What do you think of their policy wording?

 

 

They're not outstanding plans but if you're a resident of Uzbekistan traveling to Botswana how many choices are there? That's one thing about the US travel insurance market -- there's enough competition out there to keep everyone on their toes and offering good plans. That's not necessarily the case elsewhere.

 

There are some good points:

 

#1 For trip cancellation they cover for illness/injury to a traveling companion's non-traveling family member.

 

#2 Only a 60-day look back period on the pre-existing condition definition.

 

#3 The employment termination coverage only requires that you be employed one year.

 

Some weak points are:

 

#1 No coverage for pre-existing conditions if older than 70

 

#2 Travel delay requires a 24-hour delay

 

#3 Baggage loss/damage only applies to checked luggage or luggage stored in a hotel/motel

 

#4 Financial default does not apply if you booked directly with your cruise line or other travel supplier

 

#5 The "family member" definition is very restrictive compared to may other plans. No aunts, uncles, etc

 

There's a lot of other plans out there that have some of these same weaknesses so they're not uniquely weak on these things. It's just overall that they don't match up well with other good US-based plans. But if it's your only choice what can you do?

 

I think their customer service is not the greatest oveer the phone because these plans are kind of orphans -- IMG has been around for a long time and they do a great job with their other products, mostly long-term international health plans for Americans living/working abroad. But they wanted to offer a traditional leisure single-trip plan and instead of developing their own they bought out iTravelInsured to get the TRIP plans to sell. So part of the admin is with them and part is still with iTravelInsured and so no one really seems to know what's what. "Got a question? Call the other guys."

 

It is what it is. As long as the client is fully aware of what is covered and what is not covered I wouldn't be afraid to sell it. And in some instances a less-than perfect plan that at least covers the client's major risks is going to be better than nothing.

[RobertGraves]

Many thanks to all for your entlightening messages!