travel insurance

[kisses55]

I was wondering about the cruise insurance. We had some friends that got the insurance and her husband got sick on the ship. They had to pay up front then it took them awhile before they got rembursed.

 

What happens if you don't have the money. Do you not get treated.?

 

I can see where the insurance would be good if you have to cancel your cruise but if you get sick.? Some people just don't have the extra money to pay upfront.

[klfrodo]

I was wondering about the cruise insurance. We had some friends that got the insurance and her husband got sick on the ship. They had to pay up front then it took them awhile before they got rembursed.

 

What happens if you don't have the money. Do you not get treated.?

 

I can see where the insurance would be good if you have to cancel your cruise but if you get sick.? Some people just don't have the extra money to pay upfront.

 

Since you're from the States,,,, your local doctors office, hospital, pharmacy,etc only file claims for you as a courtesy. They don't have to do it. Sometimes they won't if they don't work with that particular insurance company.

 

On a cruise ship,,, they can't hardly be expected to be able to file an insurance claim with the thousands of different insurance carriers.

 

What happens if you don't have the money ON THE SHIP? you be obligated to either get the money from family or friends, or given the opportunity to sign an officially binding IOU if you will.

 

Off the ship and can't pay. Depends on the laws of that country. Yes,,, you may not be treated. Or, if serious enough and depending on who issued you your travel insurance policy,,, they MAY issue upfront payment.

 

All travel insurance is based on "reimbursement" to you. You need emergeny flight, you pay for ticket, then file for reimbursement. You need medical care, you pay, then file for reimbursement.

If they can't afford the potential upfront costs, then they need to reevalute their travel plans. Or, go in knowing and accepting the potential risks.

[sirwired]

Yes, you have to pay up-front, and then file with insurance to receive reimbursement.

 

On the ship, medical care is charged to your on-board account. They will not refuse to treat you. If you can't cover your bill before leaving, they'll work something out with you to arrange for payment; probably give you 30 days or something.

 

If you are being treated off the ship, it depends on the destination. In the US or Western Europe, you will likely be treated first, with payment worked out after you are stable. In, say, the Caribbean... well, you better have a credit card with a nice, hefty, cash-advance limit and know your ATM PIN. On the upside, medical care is generally a LOT cheaper than it would be in the US, so this isn't quite as horrible as it sounds. For really serious problems involving serious payment, the insurance company may advance you the cash, but this is decided on a case-by-case basis, and only with some policies.