InsureMyTrip

While it's true that you will not qualify for CFAR, you are still able to purchase a comprehensive travel insurance policy through a third-party like InsureMyTrip - technically you can purchase a policy the week before you depart (though your coverage options will be limited).

On InsureMyTrip.com – you can filter through plans that have a pre-existing condition waiver. Simply, click the “get a quote” button on our homepage – fill in your trip info and then click the “See Plans & Prices” button. You will be taken to a page with a list of providers and plans. Next to the price column you will see a column that default to “TRIP CANCELLATION” if you click it you can change the filter to “PRE-EX WAIVER” this will then show the plans that have a “pre-existing condition waiver” available.

If you were to wake up on the day of departure too sick to travel and have to cancel your trip, the amount of money that you would be out is what you would want to insure to fully cover your trip cost and be eligible for certain benefits that require the full trip cost to be insured. If the cost of the trip is not a concern, there are a couple options. If the cruise is outside of the U.S., they may consider a travel medical policy which focuses on emergency medical and emergency medical evac. benefits. If the trip is within the U.S., they can consider a comprehensive plan with a $0 trip cost. This would give medical benefits and some other post departure coverage, but would not offer any coverage for the cost of the trip if they had to cancel or interrupt. Again, it may also invalidate certain benefits that require the full trip cost to be insured.

You would need to check with the cruise line/insurance provider to confirm this I the process for using medical coverage. As for third party insurance plans, you would probably have to pay out of pocket for smaller expenses that may be incurred, but in the event of a larger issue, you would want to contact the provider’s emergency assistance line as there may be some options for medical referrals and direct payment in some cases if it can be arranged.

Yes! Unlike other types of insurance, you can purchase a travel insurance plan for someone else. All you need to purchase a policy for someone else is basic information about the travelers - like their age, gender, home address, and birthdates. When you purchase a policy for someone else, you will need to ensure the traveler is the person listed on the policy. If they need to make a claim, they will need to provide proof of your payment for their prepaid, non-refundable trip costs. It will then be the traveler who is reimbursed for the claim, not the purchaser.

In this case, as it’s not clear which insurance company may be covering the trip, it may be best to contact the insurance company so that they can advise. Typically, the person that is paying the money would be the one to insure it as they would need to be made whole in the event of a covered claim. We also recommend that you insure the full prepaid non-refundable cost of the trip. Think, if you had to cancel the trip on the day of departure, how much would you stand to lose? Although, certain costs may be refundable up to a certain point before departure, if you don’t insure them, you’re still taking a risk once they become non-refundable, even if just for a few days. Also, some benefits on certain insurance plans may require you to insure the full cost of the trip.

Some comprehensive plans may offer Trip Interruption benefits that can offer coverage if the flight is canceled or delayed for a covered reason and may reimburse up to the specified limits for additional transportation expenses to get you to your destination. Some plans may also offer benefits to cover change fees associated with having to change an airline ticket from your original travel arrangements, typically for the covered reasons listed under trip cancellation/interruption or travel delay in the policy. In most cases, if covered, the policy would pay out one benefit or another, not both. It’s important to look at the covered reasons listed in the policy as the reason for the flight delay/cancellation must be covered. When looking at a policy, review the Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption/Travel Delay and Change Fee coverage sections. Also, look at policy exclusions as that can show what is not covered.

Emergency medical coverage is just one component of travel insurance. A comprehensive travel insurance plan will also cover travel delay/interruption, trip cancellation, medical evac, baggage loss/damage, 24-hour assistance – and for qualifying trips “Cancel for Any Reason” coverage can be added to a comprehensive plan. Whenever you’re traveling out of the country, we always recommend at least emergency medical coverage – because your domestic health insurance will likely not cover medical bills abroad (this includes Medicare).

As klfrodo commented, you can insure the prepaid non-refundable cost you paid so far - as well as the known trip dates. As you make subsequent payments and add additional legs to the trip, you can update the policy to include them. As you increase the trip cost and/or trip duration, the cost of the policy could increase. One important thing to remember, if you have certain time sensitive benefits included on your policy, such as the pre-existing condition waiver or Cancel for Any Reason (to name a couple), you need to insure any subsequent payments right after making them. It’s important to know the ‘time sensitive period’ for your plan – typically 10-21 days after making the payment. If you wait too long to add a subsequent payment or extend the dates of your trip, you could lose certain time sensitive benefits. Good rule of thumb, if you make any updates to your trip your next call should be to update your insurance policy.

On InsureMyTrip.com – click the “Get a Quote” button on the homepage. You’re then prompted to put in your trip info – after you do this you will be taken to a page with travel insurance policy/provider options. To the left of these options, you will see a column “Filter Results.” There is a tab that says “International Medical” – if you click that it will take you to the stand-alone travel medical options. You will notice that the price of the policy decreases, and the “Trip Cancellation” column will say “Not Available”.

If looking at a travel insurance policy, we recommend you cover your full prepaid, non-refundable trip cost on one policy. There are a few reasons for this. First, if you insure different portions of the trip under different policies, you would have to file separate claims, meaning more work on your end to work with different insurers. Different policies may not cover the same things. So, an event that may be covered under one may not be covered by another. Also, some coverages on the plan may require you to insure the full prepaid non-refundable cost of your trip in order to be eligible. One coverage that typically requires this to be eligible is Cancel for Any Reason. Third party comprehensive travel insurance plans will typically have more coverage than a credit card, and you may be able to compare and find a plan that better fits your needs. In the event that your credit card may offer coverage, read the policy to know what is actually being covered.

This can differ by policy. Some will list traveling companions and non-traveling family members in the definition of a pre-existing condition. If that is the case, they would look back into the medical records of those people if making a claim related to a medical issue. Some plans may offer a pre-existing condition waiver, but there are certain eligibility requirements that must be met. Typically, you have to be purchasing the policy within 10-21 days after making your initial trip payment or deposit and everyone has to be medically fit. Some plans may only list those that are traveling when defining a pre-existing condition. This is an important coverage, and one thing to keep in mind, even a simple recommendation for a test or a change in a prescription prior to purchase of the policy could cause a condition to be considered pre-existing. When reviewing a policy, it is helpful to look at the wording under the trip cancellation section, how the policy defines a pre-existing condition as well as how the pre-existing condition exclusion is worded. As this can be a lot to navigate, it can also be helpful to reach out to the provider or company selling the policy if you have questions.

Comparison is key. It’s important to do your homework and know exactly what is and is not covered by a policy through the cruise line. InsureMyTrip researchers analyzed popular cruise lines and found while many plans offer basic travel insurance perks, few offer robust trip cancellation insurance or expansive emergency medical care coverage. Cruisers will likely discover that comprehensive travel insurance plans aka 3rd party travel insurance available on InsureMyTrip will offer far more coverage options, often at a lower price. Here is the link to our cruise travel insurance comparison page for reference: https://www.insuremytrip.com/insuring-your-trip/insuring-cruise/

We are a travel insurance comparison site/marketplace. While we can help you find the right policy for you, and allow you to purchase through our website - you are technically purchasing a policy from the provider. Similar to travel booking sites.

If only one destination is asked for, you can list your first international port. Comprehensive travel insurance plans are designed to cover you throughout your trip. Some destinations, including those that the U.S., currently have sanctions against or where travel may be very dangerous. If you have any questions regarding a specific destination, you can always contact the insurance provider or the company selling the plan for further clarification.