Babr

If you are talking about the kind of meltdowns we’ve seen lately involving cancellations caused by logistics, I think you’ll find those are not covered. Scheduling of equipment and crews is considered to be within the control of the airline so it is not covered as an unforeseen event like weather or a mechanical breakdown.

Of course. Those coverages are per trip, but it leaves you flying naked, so to speak, for cancellation. You have to be willing to accept the risk unless you want to buy a single trip comprehensive policy for the remaining trips. Sort of defeats the purpose, doesn’t it?

No. GeoBlue is a medical policy with no coverage for travel risks.

Your credit card will cover some reasons for cancellation but none for pre-existing conditions. Everyone needs to understand what that means before they depend on credit card benefits in place of a comprehensive travel policy. There is a reason it is included with all those other perks for just the cost of your annual fee.

If you are concerned that your parents’ health may cause you to cancel, the safest thing is to get a policy with a pre-existing conditions waiver that extends to non traveling family members. Such a policy must be purchased within 14-21 days of initial deposit so you may already be outside that window. There are a few that can be purchased at final payment. Without a waiver, the insurance company will examine medical records for a defined period, usually 60 days prior to the effective date of the policy. If they find anything related to the cause for the claim, it will be denied. Royal does not cover pre-existing conditions at all. It does allow Cancel For Any Reason with reimbursement in future cruise credits. If your driving trips are in the US, I see no value in an annual policy. Travel insurance does not pay direct in the same way your primary health insurance does at home. Most policies will advance payment if necessary when you must be hospitalized, but incidental care elsewhere such as on the ship or at a clinic requires that you pay then file for reimbursement. Since you seem to be unfamiliar with travel insurance, I suggest you let a professional help you find the best coverage for your circumstances. Call The Trip Interruption Store. It does not cost any more. Tell them what you’ve expressed here, and they can advise you.

The cancellation benefit is per policy per year so yes one claim could deplete that amount leaving you with no coverage for the rest of the year, depending on benefit level you choose and the cost of your cruise. The maximum is $15,000 for Allianz.

They all have look-back periods, some longer than others. You likely purchased in a time frame that allowed a waiver of pre-existing conditions. Most policies require that you purchase it within 14-21 days of initial deposit in order to qualify, but there are several companies that also allow the waiver if the policy is purchased within 24 hours of final payment. Without the waiver, you are correct that the insurance company will examine medical records for the defined period of time to see if the claim was caused by an existing illness/condition. If so, the claim will be denied. It applies to medical coverage and trip interruption as well, not just cancellation so if a problem from a known condition arises on the cruise it will not be covered.

Actually, you can. Final payment is the last opportunity to get coverage for pre-existing conditions in some policies if it is purchased within 24 hours of final payment. After that, you can still buy insurance but any known or foreseen events will not be covered. Acute illness, accidents, travel risks are still covered.

Yes, you can buy travel insurance at any time. Since you are not concerned about pre-existing conditions, you can easily get coverage for everything else.

https://coverage.archinsurancesolutions.com/description-of-coverage/EDgodKUgZgCcD1b4ZJCSD9h66uayBESRY4xFuuN2dQ5cvBYaxcOGvl7MDMgNFuQH0Q44 Illness is a covered reason for cancellation under anybody’s insurance, including Royal. See #1 under Cancellation Penalty Waiver. You just need to provide documentation in the form of a doctor’s diagnosis. If the doctor says your husband should not travel, get the supporting statement/diagnosis for filing the claim then cancel. See the section “Where to report…” You do not have to settle for CFAR. You are entitled to cash reimbursement under the terms of the policy.

https://www.ncl.com/sites/default/files/BookSafe-Travel-Protection-Plan_112514.pdf NCL coverage excludes pre-existing conditions. See page 7. Your claim was denied under both provisions of the exclusion - first, because you were receiving ongoing treatment for a previously diagnosed condition and second, because your condition is not one that is controlled solely by taking a prescription drug, like high blood pressure or diabetes. It took a lot of other tests, procedures, and treatments to get you to that temporary stage. An appeal is not likely to be successful so take the FCC and rejoice that you are healthy again and can plan another trip. Before you book, talk to someone at The Trip Insurance Store who can explain how the pre-existing conditions exclusion applies to you now and whether you can qualify for a waiver. They even have policies that will cover those FCC’s. In the meantime, I am heartened to know that your treatment was successful, not only for your sake but also for others who are facing or will face a daunting diagnosis. There is hope as long as one has access to the same level of care.

Option 1: You can insure just the deposit now and increase coverage as you add non refundable expenses. Advantages: 1. Lock in pre-existing conditions coverage 2. Lock in premium rate at current age 3. CFAR is available. Disadvantage: Policy premium is not refundable, but you can apply it to another cruise. If a life event causes you to cancel before final payment, you still have a policy that you may not be able to use before it expires. Option 2: You can wait until final payment to insure your trip. Advantages: 1. No money is at risk for either the cruise or insurance. Cancel at anytime before final payment and walk away clean. 2. Pre-existing conditions waiver is still available from some companies such as IMG, CSA, or Generali. Disadvantages: 1. The premium will be somewhat more expensive because it is based on age as well as amount insured and length of trip. 2. CFAR is not available. Since this trip represents a major investment, I recommend that you weigh your choices, then consult a professional to be sure you haven’t missed any important considerations. Talk to Steve at The Trip Insurance Store.

Be sure you understand the pre-existing conditions exclusion. It extends to relatives who are not traveling with you. That casts a fairly wide net of folks who need a clean medical history for the 60 days prior to your booking. Otherwise, your cancellation coverage is void. Know that delay is limited to $500 and reimburses only if the delay is weather, mechanical, or strike related. Trip interruption will reimburse the unused portion of your trip and change fees to get home. That’s all. If you have additional expenses of any kind including a new, more expensive ticket, you are not covered. The coverage isn’t designed to replace a comprehensive policy. That is why it can be included as part of a group of benefits in exchange for your annual fee. Just know its limitations.

And the fine print regarding pre-existing conditions. The exclusion extends to non-traveling family members so everyone’s medical history has to be clear for the 60 days prior to booking. Also, it might be worth mentioning that the trip interruption provision reimburses the unused portion of your trip and change fees for the trip home. That’s all. If you have other expenses such as hotel or meals before you can fly home or if you have to buy a new more expensive ticket, you are not covered.

Steve is The Trip Insurance Store, not the one you mentioned which is a large online marketplace.

The definition is the same, but the look-back period varies. Sixty days is fairly common; however, some can go back as far as 180 days. Obviously, shorter is better if you don’t have a waiver. Also, some policies extend the exclusion to non-traveling family members which can be a problem if you have aging parents who may need your assistance if their health takes a turn.

You’re right. They look for anything that contributed to the reason for cancellation. It could be something as innocuous as a prescription change or a reported symptom. The IMG LX policy allows a pre-existing conditions waiver if the policy is purchased within 24 hours of final payment. CSA and Generali are also companies that have such policies. If you need assistance sorting through the various options, many on CC forums recommend The Trip Insurance Store. Steve or one of his associates can guide you to the best policy for you, and it will not cost any more than buying elsewhere because insurance is regulated.

Now that you’ve downloaded the benefits guide, take the time to read it carefully. Be sure you understand the pre-existing conditions exclusion because it applies to non-traveling family members as well as you and your traveling companion. The look-back period is 60 days prior to initial deposit, so everyone needs to have a clear medical history during that time. Also check your primary medical coverage to see how it works when you are out of country.

You should know that in insurance language, evacuation means transferring you to the nearest appropriate hospital if the first facility is not capable of adequate care. Most often the patient is treated in country and returned home by commercial air, with a medical escort if necessary, when he is able to travel. In extreme cases, the patient may be repatriated by air ambulance; but such a procedure requires the approval of the attending physicians, the receiving physician/hospital, and the insurance company. As you can imagine, this is reserved for exceptional cases because of the cost. The broker who often posts on CC insurance forum once gave a figure of about $130,000 as the most expensive he has seen. I have not seen any numbers for repatriation of remains. If you want more control over the decision, MedJet Assist is a medical transportation group offering memberships that give you access to transportation on request. There are still some restrictions, of course, but you can find the details on their website.

There is no need to insure anything refundable, even the port fees and taxes for the cruise. Insurance will reimburse only non refundable expenses.

Carnival didn’t receive the payment. As you said earlier, the payment went to a company Carnival contracts to administer the billing and payments for the medical services provided on the ship. The doctors are vendors not full-time employees of Carnival. Somehow the reimbursement was misdirected, but it seems you are now on the right track to get it resolved so that you can file with your travel insurance if you have not missed the window to submit a claim since the illness was nine months ago.

Thanks to @barb in ga for mentioning an equally important reason for not wearing expensive jewelry when you travel. Loss or theft are only part of the problem. I’ve never wanted to draw the attention of possible muggers or pickpockets so the good stuff stays at home, and the plain gold band travels.

Yes is a rather broad statement. As noted, some will advance payment if necessary for hospitalization, but none of the comprehensive policies or even your own health insurance will pay on the spot if you need incidental care elsewhere.

There are some policies that will advance payment if required in order for you to be admitted to a hospital, but none of the comprehensive policies will pay “on the spot” otherwise. GeoBlue is a medical only policy that has a network of providers worldwide that will treat you as necessary without cost. The problem is that your emergency has to happen where you have access to them. The other problem is that it does not include cancellation or interruption coverage. I’d suggest you talk to a professional who can advise you if there is a solution for you. People on these boards often recommend Steve or one of his associates at The Trip Insurance Store.

That is the way I understand it. The reimbursement was only $1,400 because his insurance did not approve all the charges and may have paid at out-of-network rates as well. It appears he did not have travel insurance to pay the remaining balance.