Critical article re: Oceania Cruise Insurance

[edgee]

Thought I would share an article by consumer columnist Christopher Elliott describing lack of coverage for prepaid shore excursion charges when a passenger became ill during a cruise. It also describes difficulties in claims process for medical expenses.

 

http://elliott.org/can-this-trip-be-saved-2/what-to-do-when-cruise-insurance-isnt-a-shore-thing/

[Mura]

Interesting, but conventional wisdom seems to be NOT to purchase the cruise line's insurance but to get outside insurance.

 

Even so, I'm not sure if outside insurance would help in this situation either.

 

I'm about to buy insurance for our next cruise and I'll certainly consider this in looking at the provisions, even though we don't expect to take any ship's tours on this cruise. (We usually do private tours but the question still exists for those as well.)

 

Mura

[LHT28]

I think most secondary policies require you to claim via any other insurance you may have & then they will pay

 

You should get primary insurance & read all the fine print BEFORE you buy

 

If not sure what is covered then call the company to clarify

 

I have been down the road of secondary policies before ..it is a long process to collect your refund

 

The article does not say what type of policy the person took out ..was it for medical only or did it cover trip cancellation/interuption?

 

Lyn

Edited February 5, 2014 by LHT28

[pacheco18]

Caveat Emptor

 

Most people just buy the insurance from the cruise line and don't even read the policy. Most all policies are secondary.

 

I don't think much of the article.

[beachwalker262]

Interesting article. We had reason to use Oceania's insurance last year. It was a tedious process in that we had to first file medicare(rejected), then file our secondary insurance (some paid, some rejected), also ha to file for medications (some paid , some rejected) and then file with Oceania who promptly paid the rest.

We had to cancel an Oceania excursion and they promptly reimbursed us the full cost for both of us.

Although the insurance was costly , we had no problems with using it.

[Hawaiidan]

Interesting article. We had reason to use Oceania's insurance last year. It was a tedious process in that we had to first file medicare(rejected), then file our secondary insurance (some paid, some rejected), also ha to file for medications (some paid , some rejected) and then file with Oceania who promptly paid the rest.

We had to cancel an Oceania excursion and they promptly reimbursed us the full cost for both of us.

Although the insurance was costly , we had no problems with using it.

 

There have been numerous threads on this. Insurance through the company is a rip. Those in the know use their credit card like UAL or Marriott which gives each person $10,000 in trip insurance if you charge it on the card.

 

Most in the know and who have been traveling have been using these cards for insurance and they pay off... for rental cars to cruise cancel.

 

Take the money you would pay, invest it and as a secondary in a few years you can self-insure and have saved thousands. Plus in the end all that money is yours

[wripro]

You remember that line from The Producers? NEVER NEVER put your own money in a show. Well, the same applies here. NEVER NEVER buy insurance from the cruise line. If there's a problem you want a third party insuring you. And while we're at it NEVER NEVER book a hotel through the cruise line unless you want to pay twice hat you will pay if you book on your own.

[edgee]

There have been numerous threads on this. Insurance through the company is a rip. Those in the know use their credit card like UAL or Marriott which gives each person $10,000 in trip insurance if you charge it on the card.

 

Most in the know and who have been traveling have been using these cards for insurance and they pay off... for rental cars to cruise cancel.

 

Take the money you would pay, invest it and as a secondary in a few years you can self-insure and have saved thousands. Plus in the end all that money is yours

 

Largest flaw in your rationale Hawaiidan is that while it may seem to make sense for some to self insure, concern I would have is that if the need arises for medical evacuation from a remote part of the world. Air evacuation home can sometimes run close to $100,000 in case of a severe illness or accident. Actually most cruise line offered policies do not cover medical evacuation to that degree either.

[JimandStan]

Actually most cruise line offered policies do not cover medical evacuation to that degree either.

 

It is not only the Cruise Line offered Policies, almost all Medical Evacuation clauses cover getting the Patient to the nearest place (or to the place that the Carrier chooses) which "has the facilities to provide the care which the ill person requires" (i.e. NOT NECESSARILY YOUR HOME CITY).

Read the fine print carefully.

It happened to me, and it was a VERY EXPENSIVE mistake.

Edited February 5, 2014 by JimandStan

[Hawaiidan]

It is not only the Cruise Line offered Policies, almost all Medical Evacuation clauses cover getting the Patient to the nearest place (or to the place that the Carrier chooses) which "has the facilities to provide the care which the ill person requires" (i.e. NOT NECESSARILY YOUR HOME CITY).

Read the fine print carefully.

It happened to me, and it was a VERY EXPENSIVE mistake.

 

You might find yourself in A Saudi hospital or Indian or New Zealand , South Africa or Japanese or Italian. They choose.

Another false selling point is evacuation of the ship. The myth is it cost tens of thousands... well it does but not you....ever

By virtue of maritime treaty all sea going nations provide air/sea/rescue of all in their territorial waters...

Our and others coast guards and navies routinely evacuate people of all shapes and nationalities to shore and medical care at no charge... might cost a million but you will never get billed a dime..... Insurance sells that fear you will have to pay for the helo or ship.

 

If you have some serious illness why buy. at all.

[edgee]

You might find yourself in A Saudi hospital or Indian or New Zealand , South Africa or Japanese or Italian. They choose.

Another false selling point is evacuation of the ship. The myth is it cost tens of thousands... well it does but not you....ever

By virtue of maritime treaty all sea going nations provide air/sea/rescue of all in their territorial waters...

Our and others coast guards and navies routinely evacuate people of all shapes and nationalities to shore and medical care at no charge... might cost a million but you will never get billed a dime..... Insurance sells that fear you will have to pay for the helo or ship.

 

If you have some serious illness why buy. at all.

 

 

To avoid what you describe as the "they choose" scenario, I purchase "evacuation to hospital of choice" coverage up to $500,000 or more. Then, while the military may evacuate you to a foreign hospital, the coverage you purchase will pay for return to hospital near your home.

[pacheco18]

Your best bet is Medjet Assist

They fly you and your companion from the hospital you are taken to by your insurance to any hospital of your choice in the world. Considering some of the more exotic places we have been going to that do not have first rate health care (Egypt is next in 2 weeks) I wouldn't travel without it. It is surprisingly affordable.

 

it is NOT health insurance. It is medical evacuation insurance to your hospital of choice.

[Mura]

Laraine,

 

I was all set to sign up until I saw that DH (being over 75) would have to jump through hoops to sign up. No way he's going to comply with the rules for a diamond membership.

 

So I guess we look for something else.

 

As a matter of fact, Divers Alert Network has great coverage for a moderate amount. We aren't divers but a friend was, and she pointed us in their direction. I'll have to recheck the benefits ... we may not need medical evacuation depending on what they require.

 

Mura

 

P.S. I just checked ... a family membership is $55 (base rate). This includes $100K in medical evacuation insurance.

 

"Covers evacuation and transportation as directed by a physician to the nearest adequate medical facility (or home if medically required). Includes medical escort if advised by attending Physician."

Edited February 6, 2014 by Mura

[pacheco18]

Mura

There are no hoops. My husband is diamond. A simple form with three questions completed by his doctor was all that was needed

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[I_r_a]

From the article,

 

>Then it didn’t cover his entire medical bill — instead, he had to split the difference between another insurance policy.<

 

This is standard practice, otherwise a customer will be paid twice, or thrice or ... for the same claim.

 

As for not covering the shore excursions, ......

 

sometimes one has to read the fine print.

 

See http://www.oceaniacruises.com/documents/insurance/OC-Travel-Protection-Program.pdf

 

it specifically refers to "Covered Cruise", over and over again.

 

MORAL

 

Don't rely on what some salespereson tells you.

 

Ira

[Hawaiidan]

Laraine,

 

Mura

 

P.S. I just checked ... a family membership is $55 (base rate). This includes $100K in medical evacuation insurance.

 

"Covers evacuation and transportation as directed by a physician to the nearest adequate medical facility ......(or home if medically required..Includes medical escort if advised by attending Physician."

 

Boy that sounds good... but better read it again IF is in there 2 times for a reason. I read it as a double escape clause. IF...by who's judgment and by who's standard. You read it as IF your making the decision, which is what they intend.

They, the insurance and their medical folks are the ones however, as I read it, and it is their decision... You can request what ever you want till your blue in the face.. They are in control and who do you thing the attending MD is working for?

Bottom line is the old what if and and if what.....if you buy that

[Noxequifans]

When we purchase insurance offered through O, we pay the cost along with the final cruise payment. Formerly, we had to pay the TA arranged major carrier coverage within 20 days of booking ... which was in well in advance.

 

Do others see this as an advantage as we do?

[titong]

Boy that sounds good... but better read it again IF is in there 2 times for a reason. I read it as a double escape clause. IF...by who's judgment and by who's standard. You read it as IF your making the decision, which is what they intend.

They, the insurance and their medical folks are the ones however, as I read it, and it is their decision... You can request what ever you want till your blue in the face.. They are in control and who do you thing the attending MD is working for?

Bottom line is the old what if and and if what.....if you buy that

 

Excellent points. You write thorough, well thought out posts.

[Benita]

We travel a great deal and always brought insurance. It adds up if you take several trips a year. This year we purchased an annual plan from Travelguard. For a few hundred dollars, it gives us evacuation and medical insurance if out of the US. There is not much cancellation benefit unless you pay more, but if we could afford to take a trip, we could afford to lose the money we paid for it. We really just wanted the evacuation benefits and it is an economical way to get it.

[ronrick1943]

I wouldn't purchase any insurance from "O", I always buy from an outside company. That said when and if you have to use it be ready to do some work. You'll always be told no, or they need more information. Never wait until they ask, always call everyday and ask if they need anything else-otherwise you'll wait 1 to 2 weeks between every time they need something from you. This would take 3 to 6 months or longer. When I made a call everyday and e-mailed them copies of anything they asked for, it cut the time to 2 weeks and I had my check for $32,000 within that time.

Rick

[saratojo]

Compare policies and get quotes on squaremouth web site. They quite for many companies and the policy options are endless. We always buy our insurance through this site and ALWAYS buy primary insurance. Most recently I have preferred policies issued under John Hancock name (through one of their subsidiaries).