GeezerCouple

What a nice surprise! This reminds me of approximately 15-20 years ago, when my parents were celebrating a major anniversary. All of us are scattered around the country, and we are the furthest from the others. One daughter invited them (her grandparents, obviously) to visit both granddaughters and a few great grandchildren. They planned for the adults to go to a certain favorite waterfront restaurant for dinner that first night. Unbeknownst to my parents, it was arranged that DH and I would fly cross country and [crossing fingers; back then flights were usually vaguely on time] and we'd be already seated at a large table when they arrived. We got in very early, checked in to our hotel, and then went to the restaurant before they even opened for dinner (this was arranged). So we lingered there for quite some time, enjoying the view, watching the main door like hawks. They all approached and my parents were totally oblivous, since they had no idea that "anything was happening". They were brought to our table, and there were truly remarkable expressions on their faces as "who the strangers at the table actually were" registered. Note: It later occurred to me that we were lucky that the shock didn't cause some sort of adverse medical event. I can't even imagine if something like that had happened. IF we could have a do-over, I think we would have tried for a slightly less dramatic start. But all went well, and they talked about it for the remainder of their lives! 🙂 CC is an appropriate forum for this: My parents took the extended family on our first two cruises, back in the mid-70s. And of course, there was no looking back! GC

We looked into annual plans back when we were just starting our serious travels. Before it turned out that the limits wouldn't be enough for most of our single trips, we realized there was a different problem. IF we ended up maxing out an annual policy, we may have already been past some deadlines for certain types of policies for other trips we already had planned. If someone only plans or has deposits/paid for only one trip at a time, this wouldn't be a problem. But in the "before days", we used to plan more than one trip at a time, sometimes several. We weren't willing to run the risk that we wouldn't be able to insure an already planned future trip because of a claim on the current trip. It may also have turned out there were other restrictions, but that alone caused us to rule out annual policies, or at least those that existed at that time. The only annual policy we do choose is for MedJetAssist. MJA does have "per-trip" coverage, but since we often travel(ed!) on more than one major trip a year, the cost of the annual policy made sense. Also, this way we were covered for any shorter/lesser trips (at least 150 miles from home, of course), such as business trips or visits to friends/family. Just make sure that the strategy you are planning would actually work for the types of travel, and the scheduling, that you tend to do. GC

Thank you for the update. I think this sentence of yours captures the essence: "All things considered it is an all out miracle how well she is doing." It seems like a miracle that she is even alive, much less doing reasonably well! I hope they aren't being too "cautious" with pain meds... (That's a pet peeve of ours, both personally and a bit professionally, but I'll stop here about that...) Is she home now, or still in hospital? How are your children? That's a terrifying thing to see, and then the situation didn't get better for way too long... probably seeming like an eternity from their perspective. Thanks again for sharing. It's still *very* sobering to think about how all the planning that one can do... etc.... but nevertheless....... GC

How is your wife now? That's ultimately the most important concern! This was indeed a nightmare come true... A few years ago, we decided that there were a few "wish list" trips that we probaby were not ever going to do after all. We sort of waited too long, although unfortunate events could occur at any age and regardless of medical condition, as your experience illustrates dramatically. I can't even imagine........ By the way, your situation did cause me to double check about travel insurance that will arrange to send money or guarantee payment in situations such as where that is required before a hospital will admit someone. But as your situation demonstrates all too well, that only works if the facility will accept such a guarantee or have a way actually to receive the payment. And, of course, if one can contact the insurer from <wherever>! GC

This is the sort of thing we were trying to explain to you. There are no doubt other terms and conditions, as we've tried to explain. And it may "not matter" to *you*, but it might matter A LOT to someone else. It would be a shame if they believed that what you posted were "ALL of the terms and conditions". I have zero doubt there are others. They may not matter to you. But that doesn't mean they don't exist. And it's not clear if you understand the pre-existing condition issue. How do they define it? It may be, perhaps surprisingly, that your "condition" won't be excluded... depending upon how "pre-existing condition" is defined. It's very different with travel insurance that with regular everyday usage, and different travel insurers tend to have somewhat different definitions. I hope you are able to enjoy your trip! But please do be careful always to "read the fine print". It may matter; it may not. But you won't know unless you read it all. (Or have someone you trust AND who knows your specific situation help you with it.) GC

I strongly suspect there are indeed at least some other "terms and conditions". For example, there is nothing about any time limits to submit claims. There is nothing about providing receipts... GC

First, you need to speak with the insurer or a travel insurance broker who can handle that particular policy. There can be differences in coverage depending upon state of residence, so you don't want to get an answer from someone whose policy may be slightly different. For the policies that *we* get, from Travel Insured, we do insure the fee to change or re-bank the points, but only because our type of coverage requires that we include all non-refundable fees (and this isn't much anyway; it doesn't change the premium). We start the trip coverage from the moment we step out the door until the moment we plan to return home. One of the potential problems with insuring a trip with "freebie" awards air travel is that IF one needs to pay for a return flight, there's no "amount of insurance" to cover that. In case of trip interruption, we'd get up to 150% of the coverage. But if we needed to pay cash for business trip flights on very short notice, our trip costs never included "business class tickets" to begin with. Thus, there might not be too much available coverage to reimburse us for unused trip costs plus higher-priced short-notice cash tickets. (Hope that make sense.) Nevertheless, that is how we travel, too. 🙂 We've had several travel insurance claims (unfortunately), but most of the large ones were for trip cancellation, so that particular issue hasn't yet arisen. You might want to consult a travel insurance broker who can discuss a variety of policies with you, perhaps from different insurers, to help you find the best match for your situation. And you can ask all of your specific questions and be sure you're getting the answers that apply to whatever policy you'd actually be purchasing. We use www.TripInsuranceStore.com - but CALL them. The online policy summaries just can't capture all of the fine print, etc. GC

I don't know about geoblue, but for other regular travel insurers, one doesn't pay extra to use a travel insurance broker, such as TripInsuranceStore. And then you have their help IF you need it when there is a claim, or just if there are problems and you need some advice. TIS have been *very* helpful on a few occasions, including once when I was in hospital overseas and we really didn't know what to do because we didn't really want to end the trip at that point. We were able to get insurance coverage for a week in the middle, a change in transportation that included a private driver for one segment, and then "recover" our regular final week when we spent some very relaxing time in Bellagio/Lake Como and then Milan, before flying home on our originally scheduled flights. GC

Just a comment about MJA after age 75: We were much more concerned about the eligibility than the increased price. We haven't had a claim from MJA, but DH did get a policy after age 75 in 2019. We were quite worried about what the approval process would entail, and whether he'd "be accepted". We were hoping that MJA wouldn't exclude "seniors" because they had conditions such as controlled blood pressure or took meds for cholesterol, and a few other "conditions", etc. We figured that if those were exclusions, they'd probably reject most of the "seniors", so why would they bother to waste their own time/effort to vet the applications. In any event, the application wasn't as tedious as we had feared. A short form from DH, and something not much more involved from his physician. And they gave the approval in just a few days. That was quite a relief, as we were about to embark on the most distant trip ever, a cruise from Auckland to Sydney. GC

We have regular EmployEE health insurance still (despite our ages, DH still likes his work), and we'll then have good Retiree coverage. HOWEVER.... !??!! When we had a small claim from a foreign ER ($1-2k total), we submitted to our regular carrier. That was silly but I am SO glad that we did so that we never, ever rely upon it again. They kept losing our documents. They acknowledged receipt, then "lost them". Rinse and repeat. Several times. We had come to know the VP/Head of Benefits and turned to her. She submitted for us, yet again and got the SAME NONSENSE. Received. Lost. Still working on it. Lost again. And they ran out our clock for our travel insurance. At which point, since our healthcare plan is self insured, I remain convinced that the VP simply ordered the administrators to PAY IT! Sheeesh. She told me, "I don't think they deal with too many foreign health care bills...." Uh, no kidding!?? Given that almost all of our losses have been for cancellation or interruption (some big claims) and the medical bills have been non-existent or tiny, we're going to ignore that coverage. (They do pay plenty for us with our regular health care, so we aren't really complaining. Sort of...!) We'll stick with TIS and plans we purchase through them with Travel Insured. We KNOW that they pay, they pay in full, and they pay promptly. (But they do need receipts! The claim for a taxi tip was the only thing that was ever denied. Silly, but... I didn't get a receipt, and I'm definitely not complaining. I was supposed to have a receipt and I didn't. Full stop. Not worth one minute of arguing, for a tip on a modest taxi fare!) We are slightly ahead in our claims vs. all of our premiums, and we'd love to have that reverse. We'd much rather have the coverage and NOT use it, for sure. So we've got the reverse: Unhelpful regular insurance, but terrific travel insurance. And now we know... GC

Or might this include some sort of "other terms and conditions apply...."? I'll try to get a copy of this, because someone else we know may well be interested in getting this card if there isn't any such exclusion. Thanks.

Is this the same as what you mentioned above with a $5k pp/per trip (or annual) max for cancellation/interruption? That won't do it for us, so that would rule this out anyway. Thanks. GC

[Emphasis added] Are you sure there is no exclusion for pre-existing conditions? Which credit card is this, specifically? We'd love to know about something like this where if we charged the trip (we're going to charge it on one card or another, after all!) we'd have the protections even if some pre-existing condition was involved. Thanks! GC

I think adding MedJetAssist could make sense (we always carry it, except when we are homebound by, er, pandemics! 😞 ) but that is a different type of coverage. It doesn't include any of the actual medical/hospital costs. But the option for US to decide to get medevac'd to a hospital of OUR choice, if warranted (and if stable enough), is the big appeal. And if we aren't stable enough for a full medevac with medical professional(s?) on board, then we probably would have other concerns, unfortunately. At least some other inclusive travel insurance policies will include some sort of evacuation or transfer. However (!) that would be to something like "the nearest suitable facility". What the beancounters consider "suitable" may not be at all what we consider suitable. Further, even if it's a "good" facility, if there's any sort of extended stay, then spouse is at a hotel rather than the comfort of home, which can affect the comfort of both of us, etc. MJA only kicks in if one has already been ADMITTED (not ER/etc.) to a hospital, so again, it's not a substitute for most of the other coverages. I did discuss annual coverage with Steve some years ago. It was clear that given what we spend on trips, it wasn't going to work. Also, IF we topped out the annual limit, it could be too late to get the type of coverage we'd want for any single trip. Finally, I'm not sure about pre-existing conditions... that may have been a consideration, too, but I'm not sure. You might want to call TripInsuranceStore.com and speak to Steve or one of his associates to compare the coverages you are asking about, and then also ask about what MJA "adds" that isn't already included. (To us, MJA is really different, and doesn't overlap much at all. We also keep the annual policy, as it covers any trip more than 150 miles from home, so that could be business trips or trips to visit friends/family.) GC

First, we wouldn't consider the $50k limit for foreign medical costs to be sufficient "just in case" something really bad happened. Is that the same with the other policy? Also, are there differences between the coverages, such as whether/how pre-existing conditions are defined or excluded, etc.? Other differences? It's hard to determine simply by price alone. GC

You don't have a cursor so that you can select a position to start typing something, somewhere? So how do you start typing in a response "box", for example? GC

I think the waters near Hubbard Glacier are jinxed! The NCL Sun hit a mini iceberg near Hubbard Glacier about 2 (?) weeks ago, and she then limped home. There was some really nice video of the event. Someone apparently was recording when it happened. She just resumed sailing again, from Seattle. GC

An example would be to have your cursor hover over *your* own name on the left side of your post. You'll see the number of posts (perhaps rounded) plus the category (just another measure of the number of posts) and then... something about "badges"... but that seems to be blank all the time. Or, at least, I don't remember ever seeing anything listed there. GC

The magic word will be "layers". 😉 I'd bring a sweater/cardigan (button or zip, not just an over-the-head) in case it's needed. Maybe one very light weight, especially if you have a lot of sleeveless tops, and perhaps one heavier. You might want to carry one of them with you to the dining room (or wherever else you go) in case you need it, especially at the start. After a while, you'll have a better idea of how the temps (and humidity) are, although that could always be a surprise in common areas. And don't forget that on outdoor decks, it may be breezy or actually windy, depending upon the speed and direction of both the ship and the wind, regardless of the actual temperature. And of course, average temperatures are just that, "averages". What *you* get could be similar or not so much... At least in April, you shouldn't have to worry about hurricane season. (That can always make for a lively cruise!) Hopefully, the weather will be mostly wonderful. The Caribbean has a "reputation" (a nice one, to be sure) for a reason. Bring along extras of any meds, in case of any delay, and bring OTC meds, too. They may be hard to find or very expensive (especially if purchased on the ship), and you also don't want to waste time searching for some common headache med. And ALWAYS (!!) keep any meds in carry-ons. NEVER pack those in luggage to be checked, especially if being separated from them will interfere with your trip. There won't be a CVS on the next corner 24/7 (thank goodness!). If you haven't already, look for the "Roll Call" for your particular cruise and sign up. On the main Table Of Contents page of CC, look for "Roll Calls", then your cruiseline, and then the date/destination of your cruise. There will be others on your cruise starting to interact, perhaps planning to share some excursions, or meeting on board at the beginning of the cruise. And start browsing the excursions, whether they be sponsored by the cruiseline, or private (that won't be on your cruise itinerary, of course). Some of the best ones may fill up before the cruise sails. You can also find more info on the Ports Of Call section of CC.... look for each city/port for discussions of "what to do", etc. Enjoy! 🙂 GC

We would strongly suggest that travelers explore travel insurance policies from a travel insurance professional. We use www.TripInsuranceStore.com (also mentioned above by klfrodo. https://tripinsurancestore.com We also suggest that you (or anyone) CALL them, and not rely upon online summaries of policies. Travel insurance (probably any insurance?) policies include some very important "fine print", and some of that fine print uses terminology that may not be the same as in "everyday life". ("Pre-existing condition" is one term where there can be unfortunate confusion, possibly leading to claim denial because the coverage was never valid in the first place.) A travel insurance broker can explain these issues with the traveler, and also have additional discussions that help one to get a policy that matches their particular trip and insurance needs. They will deal with more than one travel insurance vendor, and help each client to get the best match for their particular needs and preferences. Not everyone has elderly/frail family members at home. Not everyone has "pre-existing conditions" as defined in the policy, but some do... Not everyone realizes that plain Medicare rarely covers foreign medical care, and that most add-on policies have a $50k *lifetime* limit. Some travelers don't want coverage for trip costs, such as for cancellation or interruption; others do. Etc... We've used TIS for quite a few policies since learning about them here on CruiseCritic. We've had several claims, including some large ones. All were paid without any nonsense. The policy that we get may or may not be what is best for other travelers, etc. We were fortunate to learn about these complexities before our first major trip; DH had a medical emergency less than 2 weeks before our planned departure date, when the penalties were 100% of our pre-paid non-refundable costs, which were considerable. Our only travel for several weeks was for medical care, and there were many times when we mumbled to each other, "At least we won't have to pay AGAIN when we reschedule this trip!" Had we not had that insurance, we may have had such an unpleasant "non-experience" with what was to be our first big trip that we wouldn't have planned another. Instead, we've had many truly amazing trips. GC

[emphasis added] Best wishes to both of you. 🙂 I have to ask: Is one of you actually arriving in a wedding gown? I HOPE SO! That would be the most festive thing to see when boarding a ship! BIG GRINS (either way)! GC

Are you referring to that large almost rectangular Therapy Pool (if that's the name?) on the Spa Terrace? We love that! However, that's on the Riviera, and this thread has "Marina" in the header. To avoid confusion, or disappointment, as far as I know, the Marina still has two smaller hot tubs instead of the larger "Therapy Pool" that is on the Riviera. I'm sure we'd be happy with the hot tubs if the Marina had an itinerary we preferred, but that larger Therapy Pool is a favorite of ours. GC

We STRONGLY suggest that anyone planning to use (or possibly use) any new medicine while traveling TRY IT AT HOME FIRST. If you are going to have any kind of reaction, find that out while you are in the comfort of your own home and also near your regular medical care. It doesn't matter if "most people don't have a reaction" or not. You are just one person, with your own biology/etc., plus whatever types of meds (or even foods) that you take. No one else is exactly the same. Hopefully this will also save you from wasting some time during your trip finding out what you could have found out at home in advance. Or something worse... GC

Almost all travel insurance for medical costs requires the traveler to pay for the services/supplies and submit receipts for reimbursement later. We always travel with several charge cards with high credit limits (our regular cards, nothing special for travel, but we take several with us, if for no other reasons in case one goes missing or gets compromised, etc.) in case ... There are some insurers who may help with payment guarantees (or perhaps in the moment?) if it's required, but that's not common - but neither is the need for ultra-high cost care. We saw one overseas ER, obviously an English-speaking tourist area, where the billing office had a sign displaying something like, "Cash or credit card only. No travel insurance unless it is <and the names of a few major travel insurance companies>." I handed a credit card over, while DH was being taken to the ER from the ambulance. When we had to have a hotel call a physician to see me, and then come back again, and then direct the hospital to call an ambulance, he (physician) required cash on the spot. So we had to ask the hotel to help us with local currency in the middle of the night, which they did. But the physician wouldn't take charge cards or check, etc. Just cash. He gave us a "receipt" that was just a statement of what he had collected and the date, on a piece of his letterhead. That was accepted without issue by our travel insurer. But you *NEED* to have RECEIPTS! That isn't always thought of in the moment. (I forgot when tipping a taxi driver. We had a receipt for the fare, but not for the tip. Small amount, no problem, but it reminded me of the importance of receipts.) In the section I quoted, it sounds like the travel insurance was "secondary", meaning it REQUIRES that you get a denial (for all or part) of the costs before they'll pay anything at all. We get "primary" insurance coverage, so nothing needs to be submitted elsewhere first. NOTE: For those with some Medicare add-ons, there is a $50k lifetime limit for foreign care. Much better to have primary travel insurance and *not* need to use up any of that $50k. Also, apparently Medicare can be slow to issue the denial, so you can't collect from the travel insurer until that denial arrives. GC

I doubt they'll just "take it" out of your luggage, or just take anything at all out. That would be inviting theft charges (bogus or not). They'd more likely hold the luggage for you to retrieve from the "naughty room". Then you can either pay the corkage fee, or have the wine returned to you at the end of the cruise. GC