Trip Insurance

[BcIcemen]

What company and what level does everyone use?

[hubofhockey]

What company and what level does everyone use?

 

If you go through insuremytrip.com, it will give you different quotes and levels of service from all of the major providers. I know there are people who take out insurance through the cruise lines. But those packages only cover your cruise. It seems easier to cover everything with one policy. We used Travelguard last time and will do so again. I think they cover the kids for free.

[jimbo5544]

We used Travelguard last time and will do so again. I think they cover the kids for free.

They do.

[BigDfromTN]

I normally buy the CSA Luxe.

 

It is the only one I have found that covers pre-existing conditions if purchased when you make final payment.

 

I normally put off buying the insurance until final payment is due.

[BcIcemen]

If you go through insuremytrip.com, it will give you different quotes and levels of service from all of the major providers. I know there are people who take out insurance through the cruise lines. But those packages only cover your cruise. It seems easier to cover everything with one policy. We used Travelguard last time and will do so again. I think they cover the kids for free.

 

 

What level

[hubofhockey]

What level

 

I just did a check on my price our next cruise in August. We are taking the Carnival Magic Med cruise on August 5. I think the cruise price for the adults is around $4000 and flights for adults are $2000. Hotels for three days is $1200. I put in total cost at $8K for adults and $4K for kids. That is coverage level. I added in $62 coverage for upgraded medical (covers evacuation by air) and $9 for collision on a car rental in Marseille) and total price was around $400. It is called their Gold Plan.

[Animal Rescue]

Another vote here for Travel Guard Gold plan. We've used it before and had to make claims. Yes, under 17 years old are free with adult purchase. The one thing that I think is wonderful about this plan is that medical coverage from injury or illness on vacation is covered for up to one year after the incident. I know firsthand that this is something you shouldn't be without. Many times you need to see your family physician/specialist or go for further testing once returning home. It's really nice to know that these bills will be covered. You do have to prove there was a medical emergency by seeking out medical treatment while on vacation and by sending in all documents related to it.

 

As a side note, I called my local AAA company just to check and see what they deal with. Ours has a contract with Access America. When I asked the lady if that company offers post vacation coverage for medical situations that occured, she said in 15 years no one has ever asked her that. She phoned Access and was told they do not. I told her I was sorry, but I could not purchase a plan that did not offer this since I find it invaluable. I promptly called Travel Guard.

[Ken076]

What company and what level does everyone use?

 

BcIcement - some notes below on Trip Insurance:

 

The Carnival Berkely Policy provides low Medical coverage, marginal MedEvac coverage and no "Waiver of Pre-Existing Conditions". The Policy DOES offer Future Cruise CREDIT if your claim is denied as due to a Pre-Existing Condition and now includes cancellation coverage for Hurricane Warning and Job Layoff. If you cancel your Cruise before final Payment, the Carnival Policy premium is refundable. Carnival and Berkely both claim that the Policy also covers your independently purchased AirFare. The Carnival Policy is less expensive than the 3rd party policies if you're age is in the 70’s, as Age is not factored into Carnival Berkely’s premium as it is with 3rd Party Policies.

The 3rd Party Trip Insurance Policies such as CSA, Travel-Ex and Travel-Insured offer much higher coverages and are much less expensive if you're younger. They generally offer "Waiver of Pre-Existing Conditions" (which can expedite the claims process) if you purchase w/in 14-21 days of your Cruise Deposit; CSA allows you to purchase up to Final Payment and retain the Waiver. Otherwise, you can purchase Carnival Berkely Insurance up to 14 days before sailaway, and you can purchase most other policies practically up to sailaway. You MUST be physically fit to travel the day you purchase.

Most Policies are “Secondary” meaning that you have to first file claims with your own Health and/or Homeowners Insurance and be reimbursed/rejected by them, then the 3rd party Policy will pay what your insurance doesn’t pay (up to the limits of the policy). Primary Policies pay everything (up to limits of the Policy) without requiring you to first file and coordinate benefits with your personal policies, which can help expedite the claims process.

“Cancel for Any Reason” coverage is usually offered as an option, usually for additional 50% of the premium . It’s important to read the associated Policy as many policies do not pay 100% and many policies pay LESS the later you cancel. The Princess Berkely Policy and now the Carnival Berkely Policy include75% Cancel for Any Reason Future Cruise CREDIT.

The Carnival Berkely Policy covers Carnival Early Saver cancellation penalties (if you’re cancelling for a covered reason) by Carnival not issuing a Carnival Future Cruise Credit if you’re insured by Carnival Berkely (if you are otherwise insured you may need to ask to not have the future cruise credit issued).

You need to select a Policy at least somewhat based on your own situation/concerns (if traveling with kids, if prior medical conditions, if over age 70, if Military, if concerned about LayOff….:

TravelEx and TravelInsured insure kids free with insured adults.

USAA offers their members discounted (about 9%) Travel-Insured Policies with some expanded coverages.

TravelEX is PRIMARY and includes kids under 16 free and offers a Business/Military upgrade.

CSA Freestyle includes Cancellation for Layoff and for School Year Extension.

Patriot TRIP is PRIMARY coverage and includes Cancellation for Layoff, Cancelled Leave for Military, Fire & Police and Missed Cruise for Flight Delay.

TravelSafe includes Cancel for Hurricane Warning and Cancel for Any Reason (not always 100%).

You can compare Policies and Premiums for your specific age, destination, dates and cruise costs, at the Insurer's sites or at sites such as www.insuremytrip.com and www.buyamericaninsurance.com . Note that some Policies also have a $6 or $8 application Fee added-on.

 

If you're not into Research, checkout CSA Freestyle, and TravelInsured Trip Protector and AIG TravelGuard Premier Protect.

 

..........FIRST check your personal Health Plan for out-of-country medical and MedEvac coverage, your Homeowners Insurance for Personal Property coverage, and your Credit Card for Trip Cancellation/Interruption, AD&D coverage, and Baggage Loss/Delay coverage and Rental Car DDW coverage!!! For Example:

 

· VISA Signature Card offers $500,000max Common Carrier Accidental Death & dismemberment, $3000max Lost Luggage by common carrier, $300max Luggage Delay by common carrier and Rental Car CDW.

· World MasterCard offers Flight AD&D and Rental Car CDW, minimal Trip Cancellation/Delay and Baggage coverage.

 

· Government Employee’s Blue Cross blue shield (BCBS) includes Out-of-Country Medical Coverage, via an out-of-country Provider Network.

 

 

ken

[blindrid]

I typically use http://www.tripinsurancestore.com/ as they have a great comparison tool and Steve and his crew are always available by phone for questions.

 

I have used varius companies and really don't get hung up with one over another.

 

Definitely check what coverages your medical has for out of country / vacation as mine sucks and my wife's is pretty good out of country. That will determine what coverages you are comfortable with.

[buddylover]

BcIcement - some notes below on Trip Insurance:

 

Most Policies are “Secondary” meaning that you have to first file claims with your own Health and/or Homeowners Insurance and be reimbursed/rejected by them, then the 3rd party Policy will pay what your insurance doesn’t pay (up to the limits of the policy). Primary Policies pay everything (up to limits of the Policy) without requiring you to first file and coordinate benefits with your personal policies, which can help expedite the claims process.

 

 

 

 

TravelEx and TravelInsured insure kids free with insured adults.

 

 

USAA offers their members discounted (about 9%) Travel-Insured Policies with some expanded coverages.

 

 

TravelEX is PRIMARY and includes kids under 16 free and offers a Business/Military upgrade.

 

 

CSA Freestyle includes Cancellation for Layoff and for School Year Extension.

 

 

Patriot TRIP is PRIMARY coverage and includes Cancellation for Layoff, Cancelled Leave for Military, Fire & Police and Missed Cruise for Flight Delay.

 

 

TravelSafe includes Cancel for Hurricane Warning and Cancel for Any Reason (not always 100%).

 

 

 

Wow, Ken, what a wonderful summary. I just had to highlight the info about Primary vs Secondary coverage that most people do not know about, but a BIG piece to consider. We have used TravelEx and they are very reasonable and easy to work. Well worth the money....and money that hopefully will be a "waste" and not needed!!

[truchattycathy]

Travelguard Gold. I purchase it through insuremytrip.com. I have bought a cheaper plan before, but just like the extra coverage of the Gold plan. You can compare the different plans side by side on the site, or call the 1-800 number and they will help you decide.

[jtdlmc]

The only reason I am purchasing insurance is because of the possibility of our flight being cancelled due to weather in February. I have never purchased trip insurance before. We have excellent, unlimited, out of country medical and evacuation insurance through work. Looking at many policies, it seems straight trip insurance is more expensive than policies that include some medical, so we'll go with that.

 

In the case of missing/cancelled flights, what is it that I should look for in a policy?

 

Do the airlines provide alternative flights at the same price as initial purchase or do you have to pay the going rate at the time? We are flying down the day before our cruise on an early morning flight so if there were weather related issues, there would be a possibility of getting a later flight or next morning flight.

[JennaGG]

what kind of medical insurance do you have? Sounds like a good plan, and honestly I only usually get travel insurance in case I'm seriously injured or sick somewhere. I've looked at http://www.medicalinsurance.org which has good info about travelling on different types of insurance, but was just wondering what you're covered by? :)

[jtdlmc]

what kind of medical insurance do you have? Sounds like a good plan, and honestly I only usually get travel insurance in case I'm seriously injured or sick somewhere. I've looked at http://www.medicalinsurance.org which has good info about travelling on different types of insurance, but was just wondering what you're covered by? :)

 

We are covered under my DH's employer as part of his benefit package. It is a Great West Life group plan.

[melodystrother]

sounds like alot to deal with and research..

[sjcruiser]

I purchased trip/cruise insurance for the first time to cover our cruise next week. I went through http://www.tripinsurancestore.com, as they were easy to use and had side by side comparison of what I was looking for/needed. We purchased insurance from Travelex, with the pre-existing, and cancel for any reason clause. Since this will most likely be the type of insurance we'll be getting on every trip, we may just buy it directly from Travelex.

[skittl1321]

sounds like alot to deal with and research..

 

It sure is. But if it comes a time that you need it, it will likely be well worth the hassle.

 

(I think of it as an umbrella- if I bring one, it probably won't rain. If I don't, I'll have a medical emergency in the middle of the ocean and a $100k medical evacuation bill...)

[blindrid]

I purchased trip/cruise insurance for the first time to cover our cruise next week. I went through www.tripinsurancestore.com, as they were easy to use and had side by side comparison of what I was looking for/needed. We purchased insurance from Travelex, with the pre-existing, and cancel for any reason clause. Since this will most likely be the type of insurance we'll be getting on every trip, we may just buy it directly from Travelex.

 

Not sure why you would go directly through Travelex as I prefer having an agent I can call and take care of miscellaneous things for me. The premium will be the same as it is as they are approved by the state insurance office so why not use Steve and trip insurance store anyway.

 

I don't know how many policies I've bought through them and it's been different carriers based on my individual needs i.e. wife's trip to China (her insurance is great out of the country so I went with secondary) and when I book my stuff, I book primary as my insurance sucks out of the states.

[holdon216]

I have always bought the travel insurance through Carnival. The insurance cost for our next cruise is 109.00 for each adult and 79.00 for the 14 year old who is paying the 3rd passenger rate.

Are there a few "simple" things i can check into to see if this is enough coverage for us? TY

[Ken076]

I have always bought the travel insurance through Carnival. The insurance cost for our next cruise is 109.00 for each adult and 79.00 for the 14 year old who is paying the 3rd passenger rate.

Are there a few "simple" things i can check into to see if this is enough coverage for us? TY

 

Almost any non-basic policy has better coverages than Carnival's (altho Carnival has recently added some enticing added coverages). Their $10,000 medical is totally inadequate and their $30,000 MedEvac is considered marginal.

 

Since you have a kid, checkout TravelEx (which is also PRIMARY, which is good) and Travel-Insured (their $25K medical can be optionally increased) who both insure kids free with insured adult. $25K minumum Medical per person and at minimum $50K MedEvac per person (most of the policies are much higher than this). If you're eligible for USAA, checkout TravelInsured Policies thru them - a bit less expensive and some increased coverages. Be aware that some Policies (inluding TravelInsured) only provide for emergency medical coverages during the travel, but not for continuing treatment after you return from your trip (at which time hopefully, presumably your own Health Insurance would cover you).

 

You can calculate the Premuims (based on your ages and the cost of the trip/airfare/pre- and post- lodging) on-line on the insurers sites or at insuremytrip.com or at USAA if you're a member.

 

Make sure you check your Health Insurance's out-of-country coverage and/or if they will reimburse at out-of-network rates for out of country charges.

 

ken

[holdon216]

Thanks! I just went on the Travel Ex site and the 14 year old did not come up free.

Also on the Travel Insured site i could not just get quotes. I had to enroll.

So i did not go any further with that.

[Ken076]

Thanks! I just went on the Travel Ex site and the 14 year old did not come up free.

Also on the Travel Insured site i could not just get quotes. I had to enroll.

So i did not go any further with that.

 

There's no enrollment at travelinsured.com. If you went to the USAA site, yes you have to me a Military-qualifed member to get quotes and to purchase (they do now allow former reservists to enroll).

 

TravelEx has (recently changed) to only offer kids free with their Select Advantage policy (age 21 and under) and TravelLite Policy (age 18 and under) - when I checked these two policies they came up same rate for 2 Parents + kid and for just 2 parents.

 

ken

[nbsjcruiser]

We purchase a yearly travel plan from Blue Cross for approximately $320. It covers trip cancellation and interruption plus medical. The yearly plan allows us to take an unlimited number of 15 day trips.

[deborahjo]

We use Travelguard. Not really expensive but covers what we need.

[brnsnbrws]

We use Travelguard. Our last cruise was interuppted due to the death of my mother-in-law. We were reimbursed for the remaining days of our cruise, transportation to the Belize airport and our airfare home from Belize. As soon as we obtained the death certificate we filed our claim and we had a check in 2 weeks.