Health insurance while cruising

[MoniMommy]

I always purchase vacation insurance. My main concern is having to cancel the vacation. With children, you never know when one will get sick. However, I always check to make sure that the policy includes medical and evacuation. Once while traveling in the US my child had an accident, my medical insurance paid, but my copay was $150, the insurance reimbursed me for the 150. After I put down my first deposit I purchase travel insurance.Many policies have a pre-existing condition exclusion which is waived if your purchase within 14 days of making your 1st deposit.Check the policy carefully to make sure that it covers what you need. I used to use RoamRight but they no longer operate. Now, I use travel guard.

[lazydayz]

Agree it is a good idea but buy wisely. My health insurance covers hubby and me anywhere. My premium credit card has medical, evacuation and cancellation coverage. My work provides international travel assistance in the event of emergency, including sickness. We don't feel the need to buy more unless traveling with grandkids and we want to make sure they are covered.

[shellunderwater]

Also note, medical insurance on some travel policies cover you from door to door, be it in the US or not.

 

Our DD had the physical manifestations of noro at lunch in Tampa after getting off the ship. We were barely able to get to the front door of the airport before another such manifestation sent her running. For the good of all, there was no way she could fly, so she and DW stay over night in TPA, ending up at the ER that evening for IVs, tests and meds. We were the group standing off to the side in the check-in area of the airport, moving items from suitcase to suitcase so they had some things to wear

 

Although the hospital was in network, the medical coverage of the travel insurance paid 100% of the costs (we had primary coverage, not secondary).

[betmust]

I always buy insurance and last year we had something happen that showed me how important it was.

 

Eleven of us did a cruise. On this cruise my friend became very sick with breathing problems. On the first day they did an xray and found pneumonia.She was given medicines and breathing treatments and had to return twice a day to be seen. On the 4th day she was worse. We were in Astoria Oregon and she was taken off the ship by ambulance and brought to the local hospital. Later that day she became worse and was taken by ambulance to a bigger hospital 3 1/2 hours away be ambulance. She was in ICU for a week and then after 2 weeks she was released.

She had Travel Insurance thru Liberty Travel who booked our cruise. The insurance worked to make sure she had a flight home booked. They made arrangements for her to leave the hospital and go right to the airport with a Nurse escorting her. That nurse stayed with them from Oregon to Boston - with a 3 hour layover in Chicago - and then had a car pick them up at the airport to bring them home. Just that trip with the nurse was over $5000. Her Medicare and regular insurance has paid almost everything. The charges for Medical on the ship was almost $800. Medicare refused to pay because not US Dr. once she gets a refusal from her insurance the travel insurance will pay it. Also the Travel insurance paid for her husband to stay at a hotel close by for 2 weeks.

 

I cant imagine what it would have cost with out travel insurance. We wiil never cruise without travel insurance. For an 8 night cruise it was $250 for 2 people - well worth the money.

Also this did cover medical evac out of the country..

[MrYellowDuck]

Medical evacuation can be surprisingly expensive. A former employer had to charter a full-sized passenger jet to fly to one of the pacific islands (some of these islands don't have daily flights) to medically evacuate a customer who could not wait one more day. Chartering the plane cost considerably more than the $100k US limit some here are talking about. A typical policy sold here has unlimited cover for medical evacuation - if it were me I'd not buy a policy that didn't have this.

[Baron Barracuda]

In comparing policies you really have to read the fine print. Coverages can be defined very differently. Is coverage primary or secondary? Will they transport you to hospital of your choice or only to one they deem provides nearest adequate care? I find insurance terribly confusing and rely on advice from Insuremytrip who do this for a living (not a paid spokesperson).

[polymedia]

I had to have emergency eye surgery in Belize a few cruises ago. My med insurance just added it to the deductible, but my cruise insurance (from Nationwide) paid the whole thing plus bill for the hospital on board the ship. Paid it within 30 days too. I used to not have it, but won't go without it anymore.

[josumello]

The

 

 

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[gliles]

I really don't think you should base your decision on other people's answer to this. You should study your own insurance coverage carefully to determine what's covered and what's not. I would guess that many people that buy travel insurance buy too much coverage because their existing insurance covers some of the things they are paying additional for with the travel insurance.

 

Exactly and our Citibank card has excellent coverage, including medivac. So check that too.

[jamesr3939]

One size doesn't fit all.

 

I have gotten Medjet for a trip to Mexico and will get it again for two upcoming trips. Medicare doesn't cover anything out of country, but my Medicare supplement will. DW's Kaiser will cover outside the country. However, all are on a reimbursement bases so having a credit card with a high limit might be a good idea.

 

One trip will only take us to San Juan, Labadee, and St Marttins so I am not to concerned about those. However, the next trip will take us to Hong Kong and Maldives. I'm getting the annual Medjet policy just to be safe.

[TeeRick]

If in the US, and if you are covered by BC/BS as a primary health insurance, then check out their inexpensive international coverage called GeoBlue.

[texascruiser17]

I purchased the travel insurance through Royal Caribbean when I booked my cruise, does this include medical/evacuation? I know my current insurance will cover any medical expenses while on the ship and in Mexico, but I never thought that something might happen to cause me to have to be evacuated.

[Amtrac]

Go to RCCLs insurance web page. You'll find a description of all the Benifits

 

 

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[suzyluvs2cruise]

Have bought RCCL insurance for a a number of years. Lately have had to cancel a number of cruises with no problem. It works. Had a travel pair who needed to. Cancel for medical is Sec with no insurance and if full penalty and after 9 months he was able to get a future travel voucher for some of the lost fare. Not the best outcome but better than nothing. There may be better private plans out there but for me I'd rather have it all with one provider[emoji12][emoji12]

 

 

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RCI insurance may be good for pre-cruise cancellation but their medical coverage and evacuation limits are minimal. Something cruisers also need to consider is pre-existing coverage. Also RCI's insurance is provided by a 3rd party and not RCI.

 

Travel Insurance can be very complicated and you need to find a plan that fits your circumstances. I've found a good site that has answers to most travel insurance questions is Trip Insurance Store. https://tripinsurancestore.com/travel-insurance-frequently-asked-questions/

[waterbug123]

On our last cruise, someone was picked up by ambulance in Roatan. We were later told that that person would be flown home from a military base not too far away from the port.

 

Have bought RCCL insurance for a a number of years. Lately have had to cancel a number of cruises with no problem. It works.

 

The OP is talking about actual health insurance while out of the country, and/or medical evacuation coverage. You are talking about trip cancellation insurance. Two completely different things!

[KeywestK]

On our last cruise, someone was picked up by ambulance in Roatan. We were later told that that person would be flown home from a military base not too far away from the port. This made me wonder, do you seasoned cruisers buy supplementary insurance when you travel or are you covered by your already existing insurance? If you buy extra insurance, what should it absolutely include? I imagine the bill for something like that in Roatan would be rather big...

 

Thanks for any input on this. :)

 

Check out http://www.insuremytrip.com, put in all of your parameters, and compare different options for policies. Figure out what will work best for you and your travel needs, and make the investment. I would NEVER travel without insurance, whether it's a cruise or a land trip. Emergency medical evacuation does not come cheap. It's waaaaaaay more than the relatively inexpensive cost of the insurance.

[Barry ATL]

For true health insurance when traveling that includes a network of providors we use http://www.geobluetravelinsurance.com. My DH has several medical conditions so I am very careful about travel medical insurance. The bit attraction is they have a network of doctors and hospitals across the globe and if you visit one of them, all of the expencses are billed directly to in insurer. I do not have an extra $10,000 to float until when/if the travel insurance reimburses me. GeoBlue has an associated company (I do not remember the name) that will package tradition travel insurance with their travel medical plans.

[womack214]

For true health insurance when traveling that includes a network of providors we use http://www.geobluetravelinsurance.com. My DH has several medical conditions so I am very careful about travel medical insurance. The bit attraction is they have a network of doctors and hospitals across the globe and if you visit one of them, all of the expencses are billed directly to in insurer. I do not have an extra $10,000 to float until when/if the travel insurance reimburses me. GeoBlue has an associated company (I do not remember the name) that will package tradition travel insurance with their travel medical plans.

 

 

 

Is this strictly medical? I haven't ever bought travel insurance and the cruise we were on last year we had two medical Evacs and one was so serious they turned the ship back three hours to get the patient to a hospital. I got a quote on this geoblue website and it is $65 for four of us with a $1,000,000 medical limit? Does that sound right?

 

 

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[sptrout]

Medjet Assist has a reasonable annual fee and will evacuate in or out of country. They also have discounts for various alumni groups and all AARP members. We use them every year.

 

 

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We also have a MedJet policy, but we buy the annual package. Not much more than buying a short term policy for a single vacation. Remember that Medjet provides hospital to hospital transportation arrangements (they do NOT have their own fleet of airplanes as one may think) as long as you are at least 150 miles from home. Another point to remember is that MedJet provides only hospital to hospital transportation, not hospital to home for example.

 

As for medical transportation costs, even within the lower 48 plan on any medical evacuation to be very expensive. A few years ago we had to transport my dad from the west coast of Florida (Venice, FL to be exact) to northern Indiana. The going rate for a air transport was around $17,000. The cost is determined by the total miles from hospital "A' to hospital "B", paid in advance.

[Barry ATL]

Is this strictly medical? I haven't ever bought travel insurance and the cruise we were on last year we had two medical Evacs and one was so serious they turned the ship back three hours to get the patient to a hospital. I got a quote on this geoblue website and it is $65 for four of us with a $1,000,000 medical limit? Does that sound right?

 

 

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This is strictly medical. If you call the 800 number the will give you the name of their companion company. The companion company will offer a package of the GeoBlu insurance along with trip cancelation, delay, etc.

[xxoocruiser]

Insurance gets really tricky regarding medical coverage. Following are some important points that didn't seem to be addressed in the previous post.

 

RCCL's insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions, To have pre-existing conditions waived the policy has to be purchased thru a third party insuranc. Additionally the policy must be purchased within a specific numbers of days from the initial booking date in order to a pre-exiting condition waiver included. The number of days varies and is usually 10 -14 depending on the insurance company .

 

Medicare and Medicare Supplements will not cover once outside the USA. Some Medicare Advantage plans have a minimal $ of medical coverage but absolutely no medical evac coverage. Specific to Alaska cruises the most common reason for not purchasing medical insurance is that USA citizens think it's not needed as they'll =be taken to USA hospital when in fact most of the time during the cruise the nearest hospital is most likely in Canada. The same can apply to New England/Canada cruise depending where at sea the ship is when the need arises.

 

If airlifted off by the USA Coast Guard and you're a USA citizen you won't be charged for the air evacuation . However in most cases the nearest hospital is not in the USA . You also have to consider the cost involved get yourself home and or have a family flown to wherever you. Repatriation back to the USA when a medical condition is involved can be very costly. Not to mention if you have require second evac to a hospital that can better meet ones medical need or have to be med evac. home.

 

Most employer insurance has limited to no foreign medical coverage let along medical evacuation coverage. However if you job requires you to travel internationally as mine did, the company generally adds a rider to that employees standard policy to be insured international as was the case when I was working internationally.

[Kamloops50]

The USCG and Canadian armed forces don't charge anyone for medivac. By international law medivacs done by armed forces can't be to the rescued.

 

 

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[cruisinfanatic]

Insurance gets really tricky regarding medical coverage. Following are some important points that didn't seem to be addressed in the previous post.

RCCL's insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions, To have pre-existing conditions waived the policy has to be purchased thru a third party insuranc. Additionally the policy must be purchased within a specific numbers of days from the initial booking date in order to a pre-exiting condition waiver included. The number of days varies and is usually 10 -14 depending on the insurance company .

 

Medicare and Medicare Supplements will not cover once outside the USA. Some Medicare Advantage plans have a minimal $ of medical coverage but absolutely no medical evac coverage. Specific to Alaska cruises the most common reason for not purchasing medical insurance is that USA citizens think it's not needed as they'll =be taken to USA hospital when in fact most of the time during the cruise the nearest hospital is most likely in Canada. The same can apply to New England/Canada cruise depending where at sea the ship is when the need arises.

 

If airlifted off by the USA Coast Guard and you're a USA citizen you won't be charged for the air evacuation . However in most cases the nearest hospital is not in the USA . You also have to consider the cost involved get yourself home and or have a family flown to wherever you. Repatriation back to the USA when a medical condition is involved can be very costly. Not to mention if you have require second evac to a hospital that can better meet ones medical need or have to be med evac. home.

 

Most employer insurance has limited to no foreign medical coverage let along medical evacuation coverage. However if you job requires you to travel internationally as mine did, the company generally adds a rider to that employees standard policy to be insured international as was the case when I was working internationally.

That term "preexisting conditions" scares some. If you haven't had any change of health requiring a doctors visit or have had you prescriptions changed in the last 6 months ( depends on insurance), preexisting doesn't apply

[martyap]

Again make sure what you are buying is primary coverage. If it is secondary the travel insurance company will only pay after your regular insurance is exhausted. If you compare policies on insuremytrip secondary coverages are indicated

 

 

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[womack214]

Again make sure what you are buying is primary coverage. If it is secondary the travel insurance company will only pay after your regular insurance is exhausted. If you compare policies on insuremytrip secondary coverages are indicated

 

 

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So why is it important to be a primary if you have a health ins in the states but that ins doesn't cover anything outside the US. So then the travel plan you purchased should kick in right? Since the employer ins won't cover anything out of the country. Am I missing something here?

 

 

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