Does anyone not buy trip insurance?

[luv2travelgrrl]

When I first booked our cruise I spoke to the woman on the phone with carnival about insurance. What if a hurricane came up and we had to cancel our trip? Well she said that rarely happens and if that was the case, we have ways to avoid hurricanes by sailing to a diff port etc. She also said that a carnival cruise has never been cancelled due to a hurricane.
Well heck, with honesty like that I just didn't buy the trip insurance. My husband is military, and I will find out if we are medically covered outside the US. I hope this choice doesn't shoot me in the foot!:confused:

[Wolfie48]

[quote name='KroozNut']My existing medical coverage (from work) would cover that. See it all depends on each person's particular situation. It is certainly not for everyone, and not everyone needs it..[/quote]

Not sure I believe that.....hmmm

[coolcat12]

I never used to buy trip insurance until I worked for a year as a res agent for NCL. You wouldn't believe the things that can happen to people!
Anyway, I always buy it now and wouldn't you know I had to use it on my last cruise. I was on a 15 day to Hawaii on on the third day out I had a massive-really-really bad food allergy event.:eek: Never had that happen in my life prior. It was sooooo scary! The first thing the ship's nurse asked me after seeing that I was able to breathe was whether or not I had cruise insurance. The whole ship's ER visit was taken care of.
Yeah, just buy it. Get it through a third party seller if you want to save a few pennies too.

[PennyAgain]

Where I work we have way above average quality health insurance, but it does not cover medical care out of the US, cruise ship or on land.

Our medical insurance coverage is optional. Most of the people under 40 don't buy the coverage for themselves and their families.

Very sad!

[kujobie]

[quote name='S.S.Oceanlover']Just my impression from reading this thread is a lot of people don't seem to think about the medical part of the insurance, or being medivaced off the ship.

I read some post hat say we drive to the port so we don't need the insurance as we won't miss the ship.

That's what gives me the impression some people only think the insurance covers you for missing the ship.

Of course i could be way off base here. God knows I've been wrong before.:)

Bill[/QUOTE]

I think people know about it. It's just far more unlikely that you would have a serious medical condition that would require emergency transportation from the ship or a port. The vast majority of claims for travel insurance are related to missed flights, lost luggage, and routine issues like that. I don't buy the insurance because I'm relatively young, and in relatively good health. (emphasis on relatively, lol) So it's a risk I'm willing to take. I also live in Tampa area, so I don't fly when I cruise, and I'm extremely cautious when I travel to foriegn countries. Obviously, bad things happen sometimes that are out of our control, but I have never bought it and won't for a long time. That said, if I was 79 years old, and was flying to Europe, from Minnesota, in the middle of winter, with a layover in Newark, and was going on a 14 day cruise, and had high blood pressure, poor eyesight, and a bad hip, I most certainly would insure everything I own, including my hip..

[kujobie]

[quote name='coolcat12']I never used to buy trip insurance until I worked for a year as a res agent for NCL. You wouldn't believe the things that can happen to people!
Anyway, I always buy it now and wouldn't you know I had to use it on my last cruise. I was on a 15 day to Hawaii on on the third day out I had a massive-really-really bad food allergy event.:eek: Never had that happen in my life prior. It was sooooo scary! The first thing the ship's nurse asked me after seeing that I was able to breathe was whether or not I had cruise insurance. The whole ship's ER visit was taken care of.
Yeah, just buy it. Get it through a third party seller if you want to save a few pennies too.[/QUOTE]

Just out of curiosity, how much was the ER bill?

[kujobie]

[quote name='Wolfie48']Not sure I believe that.....hmmm[/QUOTE]

I agree. I'm not aware of any major group health insurance that covers you world wide. Unless you live/work overseas, maybe, and have insurance in the country you live in?

[bonniemari]

[quote name='S.S.Oceanlover']Just my impression from reading this thread is a lot of people don't seem to think about the medical part of the insurance, or being medivaced off the ship.

I read some post hat say we drive to the port so we don't need the insurance as we won't miss the ship.

That's what gives me the impression some people only think the insurance covers you for missing the ship.

Of course i could be way off base here. God knows I've been wrong before.:)

Bill[/QUOTE]

I agree with you Bill.

I could eat the cruise fare and plane tickets if I had too. Wouldn't be happy about it but it wouldn't break me. However if I had a medical issue and had to be medivaced off the ship-well that would put a pretty big dent in anyone's wallet. i used to be the same way about travel insurance until my young friend, the insurance agent found out the hard way how important travel insurance is-now I don't leave home without it.

[richkinkade]

Every consumer organization regards cruise insurance, and other forms of travel insurance as grossly overpriced for the coverage you get. You'll notice that nobody touting medical evacuation insurance points out that almost all medical evacuation coverage is secondary and not primary, and doesn't pay for your medical evacuation or treatment overseas. The insurer generally only reimburses you for whatever you paid after you've gotten home, paid the bill and filed the claim.

[bonniemari]

[quote name='kujobie']I agree. I'm not aware of any major group health insurance that covers you world wide. Unless you live/work overseas, maybe, and have insurance in the country you live in?[/QUOTE]

Mine covers medical care once I get to a hospital but not getting me there. Since I am self employed I have an individual policy and not a group policy.

[bonniemari]

[quote name='richkinkade']Every consumer organization regards cruise insurance, and other forms of travel insurance as grossly overpriced for the coverage you get. You'll notice that nobody touting medical evacuation insurance points out that almost all medical evacuation coverage is secondary and not primary, and doesn't pay for your medical evacuation or treatment overseas. The insurer generally only reimburses you for whatever you paid after you've gotten home, paid the bill and filed the claim.[/QUOTE]

I agree with you but even with secondary coverage it would still be comforting to know that you were going to be reimbursed.

I have to pay a few $$$ extra but I will only buy med ins if the coverage is primary. I feel better paying the extra and having piece of mind that the expenses will not be comig out of my retirement savings.

If you look at the cost of travel insurance vs what you are spending on travel/excursions/drinks/photos/casinos it really is not that big of a deal to purchase travel insurance.

Just like my car, home and health insurance I find it to be grossly overpriced but too me its not about the cost of the insurance its knowing that I have it.


And just so you know I don't sell insurance.

[Kurbanfan]

[quote name='bonniemari']
If you look at the cost of travel insurance vs what you are spending on travel/excursions/drinks/photos/casinos it really is not that big of a deal to purchase travel insurance.

[/quote]

That's how I feel. It really is not expensive at all.

[redhawk94]

[quote name='kujobie']I think people know about it. It's just far more unlikely that you would have a serious medical condition that would require emergency transportation from the ship or a port. The vast majority of claims for travel insurance are related to missed flights, lost luggage, and routine issues like that. I don't buy the insurance because I'm relatively young, and in relatively good health. (emphasis on relatively, lol) So it's a risk I'm willing to take. I also live in Tampa area, so I don't fly when I cruise, and I'm extremely cautious when I travel to foriegn countries. Obviously, bad things happen sometimes that are out of our control, but I have never bought it and won't for a long time. That said, if I was 79 years old, and was flying to Europe, from Minnesota, in the middle of winter, with a layover in Newark, and was going on a 14 day cruise, and had high blood pressure, poor eyesight, and a bad hip, I most certainly would insure everything I own, including my hip..[/QUOTE]

The best time to buy insurance is when you are young and in good health because it is pennies on the dollar then. If you are old and in bad health then the insurance will be a lot more expensive and the pre-existing conditions may or may not make the insurance worth the expense. Just my 2 cents.

[Kellismom]

[quote name='jff50']Just curious, what you would have lost by cancelling 2 months ahead and what you paid to cover that loss? Carnival's current policy is that a cancellation prior to 75 days in advance results in a full refund, cancellation 30-75 days in advance results in loss of deposit. Personally, I wouldn't consider that something that warrants/requires insurance?[/quote]

Because I bought it on an internet auction and paid in full. They don't give you refunds.

[hjharri]

When we travel we always purchase travel insurance, except, last Easter, we travelled with a bus tour from Canada to New York. We were going only for 5 days, nah, we thought we dont need that. We were scheduled to leave New York Easter Sunday at noon, at 1 am my husband had a heart attack. To make a long story short, he was taken to St Vincents Hospital in Manhattan, had a stent put in, all the people had to leave as scheduled for home, I was left in New York alone with a sick husband. We do have World Wide Medical Coverage through Blue Cross. All his medical bills were covered which amounted to over $100,000.00 and Blue Cross allowed us 100.00 a day for miscellaneous expenses. Every try to find a hotel in New York for 100.00 a day? The hotel bill along was approx 900.00 American, the flight home one way was 1500.00 for the 2 of us. Had we purchase the 60.00 insurance everything would have been covered. But we are just grateful for the wonderful care he received, so the money cant compare to his life...But...we do travel extensively and have never given a thought to something ever happening to us, it always happens to someone else, well, I tell you being left alone in New York not knowing anyone, did happen to me.

[DqALEX]

[quote name='FirstTimeCruiser2009']I hope this isn't one of [I]those threads[/I]. I'm genuinely curious if anyone doesn't get travel insurance for their cruise. I declined it when I booked, but I'm having second thoughts. I'd love to hear both sides.[/QUOTE]
I never bought it. I don't like that act of God they use.

[Smudge49]

HI,

I wasn't sure what to do either as we are not traveling until August, but it is during hurricane season. I decided to purchase and bought through AIG. We are traveling with 2 teen children also and the cost was only a little over $100 for flight and cruise for all 4 of us. Peace of mind is a good thing!

[MonaCK]

I think what it comes down to is just making sure you have the coverage, no matter where that coverage is coming from. i could absorb the money from having to cancel a trip. I could not absorb the money if I have to be airlifted off somewhere, or if my DH does. I would rather not take the risk, and would rather put up the money for piece of mind.

If you can travel without that piece of mind, more power to you.

[Oh2Travel]

KroozNut--I'm jealous. Insurance that covers aspects of a vacation including evacuation is awesome. Unfortunately, I have nothing of the kind and I'm guessing most others don't either. We never took the trip insurance until a few years ago when the reality of mid age set in along w/ the further reality of aging parents who have multiple health problems. I'd encourage you to add it (unless you work with KroozNut) and have the piece of mind that you have all of your bases covered. It's not that costly.

[REDWITCH13]

We have never bought it and won't this time either.

I have no real reason to tell you why we don't except, we have never had a problem before. Plus, we need the money for other things...like booze and excursions. :)

Darlene

[KroozNut]

[quote name='Oh2Travel']KroozNut--I'm jealous. Insurance that covers aspects of a vacation including evacuation is awesome. Unfortunately, I have nothing of the kind and I'm guessing most others don't either. We never took the trip insurance until a few years ago when the reality of mid age set in along w/ the further reality of aging parents who have multiple health problems. I'd encourage you to add it (unless you work with KroozNut) and have the piece of mind that you have all of your bases covered. It's not that costly.[/QUOTE]

Thanks, and yes, I am very fortunate that my job offers such comprehensive coverage.. :)

[People_Mover]

we don't buy it because we drive to the ports

[julianne74]

I always decline insurance. *knockonwood* :cool:

[Oh2Travel]

Beyond the many reasons you might have to cancel a cruise.....as in unexpected health problems for you or emergency situations of a loved one, there are many other aspects of a vacation that can go askew. Take for instance, the woman we met on a cruise who was casted up to her knee and in a wheelchair. She had stepped out in to the first port of San Juan and promptly stepped into a pothole, breaking her ankle. I believe she waited until St Thomas to see an Orthopedist . Most don't think about the shore excursion risks (especially when you're doing things out of the ordinary ) and the "tropical" places one is visiting where health care practices may not be the same as the U.S. Imagine having a real medical emergency and being in Mexico or Antigua or Grenada or wherever and needing to be evacuated.......I'm not an insurance agent but I have grown to be more mindful of all of the possiblities and plan to take the insurance from now on. You can find policies that are equal to and cheaper than those offered by the cruise lines.

[Travelitis]

I've never bought the insurance. With the money I've saved, I could afford to lose 100% of a cruise and still be money ahead. However, the main reason we'd want travel insurance is considered a pre-existing condition and NOT covered.