Post for “lissie” about high insurance rates

[rochelle_s]

Hello lissie and anyone else who might benefit from this information…

 

 I saw your post in another thread about your preference for taking HAL’s longer and unique itineraries but that the cost of medical insurance can almost make these cruises prohibitive. I am posting a responses  here as I did not want to go off topic.

 

I personally opt for purchasing a yearly plan for my travel insurance, which I tend to find quite reasonable. I usually purchase a plan that includes unlimited trips of either two or three weeks. When I take a longer trip the insurance company allows me to purchase a top up for the extra days, which I also find reasonable.

 

I have an upcoming trip with a friend from Scotland who has some pre existing health concerns, which meant she was quoted an extravagant sum for her upcoming holiday. I suggested she look into the yearly option. Surprisingly, although still pricey, she was able to purchase a yearly plan for just over one third of the price if she had just insured this one holiday. If she takes another holiday within the next year she will be covered at no additional cost.

 

This is perhaps something that might be worthwhile looking into.

 

Rochelle

 

 

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Thanks for sharing.

[3Shelaghs]

Thanks for posting... boy this travel insurance ordeal is a PIA ! I've had excellent travel Greenshield insurance for decades. But... now that I am actually  in the age group that really needs it just incase, it's a dreadful ball game. 90 days without drs appts, lab work, testing of any kind, new med changes, new diagnosis etc etc etc. So I started looking around to add insurance... some of them it's 6 months without all of the above! My diabetic drs are always tweeting my meds, always having routine lab work etc and always having follow up appts, but now I'm finding myself saying to them... "I'm home in few months from that date, don't order anything until then". Of course the conscientious drs are miffed as that is not part of their routine protocol, but what does a gal do???  LOL very difficult decision to make re going without and play roulette, or live life? Will look into that yearly plan.

[ghstudio]

who sells annual plans in the US?

[lissie]

Interesting - I'll look into it for our next trip. Maybe we need to take more shorter trips rather than one long trip - I could live with that 

[Florida_gal_50]

7 minutes ago, 3Shelaghs said:

Thanks for posting... boy this travel insurance ordeal is a PIA ! I've had excellent travel Greenshield insurance for decades. But... now that I am actually  in the age group that really needs it just incase, it's a dreadful ball game. 90 days without drs appts, lab work, testing of any kind, new med changes, new diagnosis etc etc etc. So I started looking around to add insurance... some of them it's 6 months without all of the above! My diabetic drs are always tweeting my meds, always having routine lab work etc and always having follow up appts, but now I'm finding myself saying to them... "I'm home in few months from that date, don't order anything until then". Of course the conscientious drs are miffed as that is not part of their routine protocol, but what does a gal do???  LOL very difficult decision to make re going without and play roulette, or live life? Will look into that yearly plan.

The yearly plans still have limitations.  Before I started my present position (I have health insurance through them) I bought a yearly plan through a company that’s highly recommended on the Canadian board.  I believe you had to be stable (no medication changes in 90 days) or you weren’t covered for that particular ailment.  I remember my mom telling the dr not to change her meds until she returned from holidays because she was always doing the same.  The dr said she would be marking that comment on my moms chart.  Needless to say she didn’t go on the holiday at that point.  People need to ask lots of questions.

[Red Haired Lady]

36 minutes ago, ghstudio said:

who sells annual plans in the US?

GeoBlue sells annual plans for health insurance. Not available for residents of a few states.  And you must already have a regular health insurance plan or Medicare to qualify. Trip length of 70 days maximum. (Since @lissie apparently lives in New Zealand it won't work for her.)

 

https://www.geobluetravelinsurance.com/products/multi-trip/trekker-5-overview.cfm

Edited May 20, 2023 by Red Haired Lady

[bundtkate]

It's actually amazing how affordable annual policies can be. I decided to purchase one for the first time this year because DH and I have enough trips planned I figured it would be worth it. Turns out our annual policy is cheaper than the cost of insuring a single 7 day cruise. We paid $126 total for the both of us for 1 year. Cost to insure just our HAL to Alaska next year? $250. Needless to say, I'll be renewing the annual policy instead of insuring that trip by itself. We're both in our mid-late 30s with no preexisting conditions so that might play a part, but I am officially mad at myself for not just getting an annual plan sooner.

[Florida_gal_50]

23 minutes ago, bundtkate said:

It's actually amazing how affordable annual policies can be. I decided to purchase one for the first time this year because DH and I have enough trips planned I figured it would be worth it. Turns out our annual policy is cheaper than the cost of insuring a single 7 day cruise. We paid $126 total for the both of us for 1 year. Cost to insure just our HAL to Alaska next year? $250. Needless to say, I'll be renewing the annual policy instead of insuring that trip by itself. We're both in our mid-late 30s with no preexisting conditions so that might play a part, but I am officially mad at myself for not just getting an annual plan sooner.

Yes that makes a huge difference (age and no pre existing).

[lissie]

24 minutes ago, bundtkate said:

It's actually amazing how affordable annual policies can be. I decided to purchase one for the first time this year because DH and I have enough trips planned I figured it would be worth it. Turns out our annual policy is cheaper than the cost of insuring a single 7 day cruise. We paid $126 total for the both of us for 1 year. Cost to insure just our HAL to Alaska next year? $250. Needless to say, I'll be renewing the annual policy instead of insuring that trip by itself. We're both in our mid-late 30s with no preexisting conditions so that might play a part, but I am officially mad at myself for not just getting an annual plan sooner.

I didn't bother with insurance in my 20sand 30s -no pre-existing no issues. However now its kinda not optional - we are paying aroiund US$3500 for the 2 of us for just over 2 months this year 

[dawnvip]

DAN (Dive Alert Network) Travel Insurance is available to everyone, whether you're a scuba diver or not. Their annual rates are quite good, depending on coverage options and your age. 

Even if you don't buy the travel insurance, simple membership ($60 US/year for a family plan) offers emergency medical evacuation and travel assistance. 

[bundtkate]

16 hours ago, lissie said:

I didn't bother with insurance in my 20sand 30s -no pre-existing no issues

We didn't either before COVID, but with the ever-shifting possible outcomes if you caught it during, before, or even after a cruise we decided it was worth the investment. Even today, flights still seem dodgy enough that the trip delay/interruption bit gives me some decent peace of mind. $3500 is crazy, though. My parents are both in their late 60s and I know they didn't pay close to that for the last trip we took together. Here's hoping the annual policy is more reasonable for y'all.

[HELENPSL]

I do the insurance a little differently.  First, I take the platinum insurance thru the ship.  It includes cancel for any reason amongst other things.  Age does not factor into the price.  But the ship insurance is minimal for medical and evacuation coverage.  I searched on squaremouth (search engine) and found several policies available.  Our trip is 20 days.  We are 75 & 84.  I took the policy for $500K medical and $1M evacuation.  It cost $268 for both of us.  It is also primary insurance and not secondary.  If you price it out make sure you’re not including cancel for any reason.

Helen

[Tampa Girl]

23 hours ago, rochelle_s said:

Hello lissie and anyone else who might benefit from this information…

 

 I saw your post in another thread about your preference for taking HAL’s longer and unique itineraries but that the cost of medical insurance can almost make these cruises prohibitive. I am posting a responses  here as I did not want to go off topic.

 

I personally opt for purchasing a yearly plan for my travel insurance, which I tend to find quite reasonable. I usually purchase a plan that includes unlimited trips of either two or three weeks. When I take a longer trip the insurance company allows me to purchase a top up for the extra days, which I also find reasonable.

 

I have an upcoming trip with a friend from Scotland who has some pre existing health concerns, which meant she was quoted an extravagant sum for her upcoming holiday. I suggested she look into the yearly option. Surprisingly, although still pricey, she was able to purchase a yearly plan for just over one third of the price if she had just insured this one holiday. If she takes another holiday within the next year she will be covered at no additional cost.

 

This is perhaps something that might be worthwhile looking into.

 

Rochelle

 

 

 

I don't think that naming  insurance companies is against CC policy and, if not, it would be most helpful for posters who like their annual insurance to name the company so that the rest of us can benefit  I also have a recommendation for a company, which includes both med evac and medical, GeoBlue, but it covers only non-U.S. travel.  The prices are very reasonable, and they have, I believe, an A+ rating.

[Moonbug]

I learned by asking that when insuring a trip, you can insure your trip for any amount you want to be reimbursed for.  You do not have to insure the full price of the trip.    Hubby is over 80 so therefore prices high.   We bought a policy offered when purchasing the plane fare for 54 bucks each.  Then purchased insurance for a 6000.00 trip for just under 600.00.   To add the plane fare amount to the trip insurance would have been over 1000.00.   So something to consider.  

[lissie]

57 minutes ago, Tampa Girl said:

I also have a recommendation for a company, which includes both med evac and medical, GeoBlue, but it covers only non-U.S. travel.  The prices are very reasonable, and they have, I believe, an A+ rating.

Unfortunately most of the comments here are from the American POV.  And your comment summarizes the issue. EVERYWHERE in the world is cheaper to go to hospital in than the USA.  

 

For example if you  as a tourist stepped off a cruise ship in NZ - walked across the road - got hit by  a car because you looked the wrong way you would be picked up by an ambulance (conventional or air depending on the location) - transferred to the local hospital, assessed, admitted if necessary, treated including  surgery and discharged. What would this cost you (or your insurance  company). Zero, nothing , nada. It was an accident  and we have no fault accident coverage here. You'd only start paying at the point you needed to rearrange travel to return home. 

 

If the same tourist had collapsed with symptoms- ambulance-emergency-heart attack- emergency surgery. Yes there would be a bill - not an accident but a medical event. But you can stay a week in cardiac care and have emergency surgery probably for about US$70k - I'm guessing that's less than the US.  We don't have private insurance in NZ  my  partner's cardiac surgery was free because we are residents. But we see his preferred specialist privately and pay what he charges - its about US$150 a visit including some tests. 

 

My issue around insurance is NOT about loss of  pre-paid costs - which are the airfares and cruise costs. For our next trip that is approximately US$16k for the 2 of us. That's an annoying loss but its not life changing.  What I want insuring is the open-ended costs of ending up in the US medical system. That is where the cost is - we can't afford bills of US$200k up without seriously impacting our lifestyle. 

[cruisin'mama]

2 hours ago, Moonbug said:

I learned by asking that when insuring a trip, you can insure your trip for any amount you want to be reimbursed for.  You do not have to insure the full price of the trip.    Hubby is over 80 so therefore prices high.   We bought a policy offered when purchasing the plane fare for 54 bucks each.  Then purchased insurance for a 6000.00 trip for just under 600.00.   To add the plane fare amount to the trip insurance would have been over 1000.00.   So something to consider.  

Last Dec my brother an I were scheduled to go to Wake Island where our father had been when he fought the Japanese during the Pearl Harbor attack and was eventually captured and held as a POW for 44 months. My brother purchased the roundtrip flight from Honolulu to Guam and purchased insurance on the flight when he bought it. Well the government decided that there were too many things on Wake Island that they didn’t want civilians to see, so 2 months before we were to leave, they denied our arrival. Long story short, even though my brother had purchased insurance on his $8000 flight purchase, he was only able to get credit from United that has to be used within 12 months. So…, insurance didn’t help in his instance.

[GeezerCouple]

15 hours ago, Moonbug said:

I learned by asking that when insuring a trip, you can insure your trip for any amount you want to be reimbursed for.  You do not have to insure the full price of the trip.    Hubby is over 80 so therefore prices high.   We bought a policy offered when purchasing the plane fare for 54 bucks each.  Then purchased insurance for a 6000.00 trip for just under 600.00.   To add the plane fare amount to the trip insurance would have been over 1000.00.   So something to consider.  

 

I'd be *very* careful relying upon the above comment.

Which insurer is this?  Where are you located?  And importantly, exactly what does the policy cover?

 

We are in the USA.  To get the type of coverage we want/need, we cannot simply select "any amount" of coverage, for starters.  Or at least, we haven't found such a policy....

 

Is the "plan fare" coverage only for the cost of the plane costs?

Could you provide the name of the insurer and the specific policy type?

Naming travel insurers is *NOT* at all prohibited here on CC.  (It's only "travel agents".)

 

Thank you!

 

GC

[tupper10]

12 minutes ago, GeezerCouple said:

 

I'd be *very* careful relying upon the above comment.

Which insurer is this?  Where are you located?  And importantly, exactly what does the policy cover?

 

We are in the USA.  To get the type of coverage we want/need, we cannot simply select "any amount" of coverage, for starters.  Or at least, we haven't found such a policy....

 

Is the "plan fare" coverage only for the cost of the plane costs?

Could you provide the name of the insurer and the specific policy type?

Naming travel insurers is *NOT* at all prohibited here on CC.  (It's only "travel agents".)

 

Thank you!

 

GC

We have done the same as this poster if we buy the airfare ourselves. When you purchase your ticket the airline offers cheap travel insurance which covers just the airfare. Then for the cruise portion of our trip we buy travel insurance and since the cost of the trip is much lower the cost of the travel insurance is lower as well.  We also do this when we do a land trip since the airline insurance is relatively inexpensive. 

[GeezerCouple]

9 minutes ago, tupper10 said:

We have done the same as this poster if we buy the airfare ourselves. When you purchase your ticket the airline offers cheap travel insurance which covers just the airfare. Then for the cruise portion of our trip we buy travel insurance and since the cost of the trip is much lower the cost of the travel insurance is lower as well.  We also do this when we do a land trip since the airline insurance is relatively inexpensive. 

 

To repeat, it really isn't particularly helpful to mention what your insurance covers if you don't name the insurer or policy.

There are countless insurers and policies.  Just listing some of the included aspects of any given trip helps... how?

 

And were you trying to explain about naming "any amount" of coverage?

Thank you.

GC

[Tampa Girl]

18 hours ago, HELENPSL said:

I do the insurance a little differently.  First, I take the platinum insurance thru the ship.  It includes cancel for any reason amongst other things.  Age does not factor into the price.  But the ship insurance is minimal for medical and evacuation coverage.  I searched on squaremouth (search engine) and found several policies available.  Our trip is 20 days.  We are 75 & 84.  I took the policy for $500K medical and $1M evacuation.  It cost $268 for both of us.  It is also primary insurance and not secondary.  If you price it out make sure you’re not including cancel for any reason.

Helen

 

Who is the insurance carrier, pls?

[HELENPSL]

1 hour ago, Tampa Girl said:

 

Who is the insurance carrier, pls?

The coverage for just the medical and evacuation is thru Seven Corners. When I was filling out the form for the quote it did not ask for the cost of the trip.  Since I was sure I filled it out wrong I called the rep at squaremouth.  He said they don’t need that info since it was only medical and evacuation.  Hope this works for you.

Helen

[Moonbug]

To those who have questioned my post.  Travel insurance comes in many sizes.  We typically purchase middle priced.  Not the cheapest/least coverage and not the most expensive/most coverage.  With little exception, prices are dependent on age of oldest insured and price of trip.  This coming trip we are using World Travel  but have used Allianz and Travel Guard  and American Express offerings in the past.

My point was not to do a sales pitch for a particular company.  What is good for us may not fit many.  My point is that often we find the airline insurance offered can save you money.  And another point to let travelers know that you give the dollar amount of the trip to the insurance company and the total you give them and the total of the trip can be different.  There is no reason to insure parts of the trip that are reimbursable.  The insurance company wont pay for losses reimbursed to you by the original vendor.   And we are in the US purchasing most insurance for foreign travel.  

[rochelle_s]

I live in Canada and bank with TD Canada Trust. 
 

 I use their website to purchase my travel insurance. The insurance company is Allianz. I have an American dollar bank account with TD which gets me a 10% discount.

 

Rochelle

 

 

[Tampa Girl]

2 hours ago, HELENPSL said:

The coverage for just the medical and evacuation is thru Seven Corners. When I was filling out the form for the quote it did not ask for the cost of the trip.  Since I was sure I filled it out wrong I called the rep at squaremouth.  He said they don’t need that info since it was only medical and evacuation.  Hope this works for you.

Helen

 

Thanks, Helen. The only insurance we need, beside CFAR thru HAL, is evacuation.  I will check their rates.  

 

Virginia