Medical Evacuations in other countries

[cruiseco]

We are going to South America for 3 weeks and we are both healthy, but agree, stuff happens at the worst times sometimes... I'd be interested in purchasing medical evac insurance, but NOT trip protection as we consider the trip costs a "sunk" cost (plus the quotes we get for trip insurance are crazy ($900)).

 

If we miss the trip, we will survive. If we get sick in the middle of Brazil, not so sure. Thanks for all of your advice on this as we will begin investigating. What's the best time to purchase such insurance in terms of days before departure? Does it even matter? Also, we are registered domestic partners, but that isn't worth much in Florida in terms of "legal" rights and is only good in our city of Orlando (but we have full living wills/advance directives/etc). I'm reviewing the travelex insurance, and it says "domestic partners" are covered as a couple, but I wonder if we could run into troubles since our state doesn't even recognize our relationship (13 years and going strong! :))

 

Thanks,

Dominic

 

It doesn't matter what the state of Florida says about domestic partnerships. All that matters is what the insurer says. When you find a plan you like read the definition of a "domestic partner" that you'll find in the plan's definitions section (make sure you're using the wording for residents of Florida. It should read something like this if you're looking at Travelex (if underwritten by Stonebridge. They use several underwriters so the definitions can vary):

 

"Domestic Partner means a person who is at least eighteen years of age and you can show: 1) evidence of financial interdependence, such as joint bank accounts or credit cards, jointly owned property, and mutual life insurance or pension beneficiary designations; 2) evidence of cohabitation for at least the previous 6 months; and 3) an affidavit of domestic partnership if recognized by the jurisdiction within which they reside."

 

As you can see, if you live in a state that DOES legally recognize domestic partnerships you'd better have the proper paperwork. Since Florida apparently doesn't do this, just meeting requirements 1) and 2) is sufficient.

[Gloria Mundi]

Thanks for all the information (and personal stories!) here- I'm beginning to think DH and I need the med-evac coverage for our next cruise to Alaska even though we have good medical coverage and our itinerary will be completely in the US.

 

Question: Typically they give you a better rate (or include pre-existing) if you buy coverage within 2 weeks of putting down a deposit. Last month we put down a deposit for a cruise to be taken any time within the next 2 years before disembarking from our last one (in return for a nice discount). We haven't booked a specific date/itinerary; I don't think we could if we wanted to because we want to wait till 2014.

 

Do these insurers even issue policies that far ahead? I suppose they could start the clock ticking when we apply the deposit to a chosen itinerary, but we're likely to book over a year before the departure date.

[sail7seas]

Thanks for all the information (and personal stories!) here- I'm beginning to think DH and I need the med-evac coverage for our next cruise to Alaska even though we have good medical coverage and our itinerary will be completely in the US.

 

 

 

You don't have a stop in Canada? What about PVSA?

 

 

 

 

Question: Typically they give you a better rate (or include pre-existing) if you buy coverage within 2 weeks of putting down a deposit. Last month we put down a deposit for a cruise to be taken any time within the next 2 years before disembarking from our last one (in return for a nice discount). We haven't booked a specific date/itinerary; I don't think we could if we wanted to because we want to wait till 2014.

 

Do these insurers even issue policies that far ahead? I suppose they could start the clock ticking when we apply the deposit to a chosen itinerary, but we're likely to book over a year before the departure date.

 

 

 

 

 

When you apply that undesignated deposit to a specific cruise on a specific date, that is when the insurer considers you have made your first deposit and the clock starts.

 

[Gloria Mundi]

You don't have a stop in Canada? What about PVSA?

 

We're booking the opposite-direction itinerary of the cruise we just took, and there were no Canadian stops. Not sure what PVSA is, but our ship was US-flagged and I suspect that's why. ETA: OK. just looked up PVSA here. I think I'm right- it doesn't apply to US-flagged ships.

 

When you apply that undesignated deposit to a specific cruise on a specific date, that is when the insurer considers you have made your first deposit and the clock starts.

 

Thanks. We've got awhile till the 2014 schedules are even up, but I'll be sure to research Med-Evac coverage before then. Given that DH has 2 cardiac stents and will be 75, and I spent a lot of time hiking, kayaking and paddleboarding and went snorkeling once on this last trip, I could probably use it, too.

[sail7seas]

[/b]

 

We're booking the opposite-direction itinerary of the cruise we just took, and there were no Canadian stops. Not sure what PVSA is, but our ship was US-flagged and I suspect that's why. ETA: OK. just looked up PVSA here. I think I'm right- it doesn't apply to US-flagged ships.

 

 

 

You're right.

It does not apply to U.S. flagged cruise ships.

There are so few U.S. flagged ships spoken about on these boards, I just about forget there are any. ;)

 

[cruiseco]

[/b]

 

We've got awhile till the 2014 schedules are even up, but I'll be sure to research Med-Evac coverage before then. Given that DH has 2 cardiac stents and will be 75, and I spent a lot of time hiking, kayaking and paddleboarding and went snorkeling once on this last trip, I could probably use it, too.

 

Most of the major insurers will insure trips 2 years or more in advance. One exception is CSA which will only issue a policy within 18 months of the departure date.

[CaveDiving]

From insuremytrip.com website regarding medjet assist coverage:

 

Evacuation flights will be performed if an inpatient hospitalization is required, and the remaining in-patient hospital stay can be completed at a hospital of the member's choice near the member's home, and the member is unable to return to his home hospital via commercial airline without medical escort. Aircraft used for the medical transport of MedjetAssist members are fully equipped intensive care aircraft staffed with specially trained medical teams.

 

Thanks a lot for the information. I was not able to find this statement.

 

Scott & Karen