GeoBlue and Chase Sapphire Preferred all I need for global travels?

[SoloFullTime]

I'm planning near full time global travels starting this summer for potentially a couple years.  Much cruising involved and staying in port towns for potentially a few weeks in between cruises around world then back in US every couple months or so for 2-3 weeks at a time, rinse repeat.  Will be maintaining primary medical insurance (early retired) in US. 

 

Will adding annual multitrip GeoBlue and using Chase Sapphire Preferred cover all travel/med insurance needs?  Anything else to consider?  Any additional travel insurance recommended?

[klfrodo]

I'd at least consider adding Medjet Assist. Discount available if you are an AARP member and purchase thru their link.

[crystalspin]

2 hours ago, SoloFullTime said:

Will adding annual multitrip GeoBlue and using Chase Sapphire Preferred cover all travel/med insurance needs?  Anything else to consider?  Any additional travel insurance recommended?

Do you have family (particularly at-risk or infirm family members) to take into consideration? I was not sure that Chase Sapphire allowed for worsening of an existing condition of a loved one, so I added Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage from Holland America and indeed, that is the one we collected on. It wasn't any particular reason, but just my worry that something would go wrong while we were in the middle of the Pacific Ocean!

[SoloFullTime]

Thanks for the info (last two posts).  Will consider those depending on length of leg of trips and situation.  It seems between GeoBlue and Sapphire card I'll be reasonably covered for most situations and then will consider specialty coverage depending on any higher chances of near future unique situations.

Edited April 1 by SoloFullTime

[iamtrustworthy]

On 3/31/2024 at 7:31 PM, SoloFullTime said:

I'm planning near full time global travels starting this summer for potentially a couple years.  Much cruising involved and staying in port towns for potentially a few weeks in between cruises around world then back in US every couple months or so for 2-3 weeks at a time, rinse repeat.  Will be maintaining primary medical insurance (early retired) in US. 

 

Will adding annual multitrip GeoBlue and using Chase Sapphire Preferred cover all travel/med insurance needs?  Anything else to consider?  Any additional travel insurance recommended?

Hi SoloFullTime,

 

Chase, nor any of the other credit card plans cover anything related to pre-existing medical conditions of you, traveling companions or non-traveling family members that could worsen and, in turn, cause you to cancel or interrupt your trip.

 

If you don't need the pre-existing medical conditions coverage, then using the GeoBlue Trekker plan is a good choice. We've sold a lot of GeoBlue Trekker plans in combination with credit card plans for this same situation.

 

I hope this helps you.

 

Steve Dasseos

[SoloFullTime]

Thanks for the feedback

13 hours ago, iamtrustworthy said:

Hi SoloFullTime,

 

Chase, nor any of the other credit card plans cover anything related to pre-existing medical conditions of you, traveling companions or non-traveling family members that could worsen and, in turn, cause you to cancel or interrupt your trip.

 

If you don't need the pre-existing medical conditions coverage, then using the GeoBlue Trekker plan is a good choice. We've sold a lot of GeoBlue Trekker plans in combination with credit card plans for this same situation.

 

I hope this helps you.

 

Steve Dasseos

 

Thanks for the feedback.  I did realize credit cards aren't for medical, I was asking if between GeoBlue and Sapphire combined it would cover the range of most travel incidents to medical.

 

On GeoBlue Trekker, I"m seeing many sources and their site showing pre-existing is covered.  Did I misunderstand your comment or are there many restrictions?

[iamtrustworthy]

45 minutes ago, SoloFullTime said:

Thanks for the feedback

 

Thanks for the feedback.  I did realize credit cards aren't for medical, I was asking if between GeoBlue and Sapphire combined it would cover the range of most travel incidents to medical.

 

On GeoBlue Trekker, I"m seeing many sources and their site showing pre-existing is covered.  Did I misunderstand your comment or are there many restrictions?

Hi SoloFullTime,

 

> On GeoBlue Trekker, I"m seeing many sources and their site showing pre-existing is covered. Did I misunderstand your comment or are there many restrictions?

 

The reason I said that about credit cards not covering pre-existing medical conditions is that there are far more trip cancellation and interruption claims due to a pre-existing medical condition that there are medical claims due to a pre-existing medical condition.

 

I wanted you to be aware of this because nearly everyone we talk with wants Geo Blue because it covers pre-existing medical conditions, yet they are surprised to hear that their credit card won't cover them if they have a trip cancellation or interruption claim due to the same pre-existing medical conditions.

 

I hope this makes better sense.

 

Steve Dasseos

[SoloFullTime]

Thanks, I follow you now.

[happy cruzer]

Planning on using the same combination of Chase Sapphire and GeoBlue Trekker,  when should we buy the GeoBlue Trekker policy?  We already have a deposit on the cruise and will buy airfare soon but the trip starts in Aug of this year. 

 

Also if your US medical insurance provider changes during the travel period does it affect the GeoBlue Trekker policy in anyway.  One of us may go from a private policy to Medicare during the time. 

 

Thanks to Steve and all the other great poster for being a great resource.

[iamtrustworthy]

8 hours ago, happy cruzer said:

Planning on using the same combination of Chase Sapphire and GeoBlue Trekker,  when should we buy the GeoBlue Trekker policy?  We already have a deposit on the cruise and will buy airfare soon but the trip starts in Aug of this year. 

 

Also if your US medical insurance provider changes during the travel period does it affect the GeoBlue Trekker policy in anyway.  One of us may go from a private policy to Medicare during the time. 

 

Thanks to Steve and all the other great poster for being a great resource.

Hi happy cruzer,

 

Geo Blue only covers you outside the USA, so the time to get it is when you are closer to your departure date. You would make the effective date the day before you leave home.

 

Steve Dasseos

Edited April 21 by iamtrustworthy
typo

[SoloFullTime]

So it looks like Chase Preferred requires being back 'home' every 60 days for travel insurance.  Does it have to be at the home address or anywhere in US?  And do travels need to be booked through Chase travel site or any travel site OK?  What are similar alternatives to Chase without travel day restrictions?

[Hlitner]

On 3/31/2024 at 8:31 PM, SoloFullTime said:

I'm planning near full time global travels starting this summer for potentially a couple years.  Much cruising involved and staying in port towns for potentially a few weeks in between cruises around world then back in US every couple months or so for 2-3 weeks at a time, rinse repeat.  Will be maintaining primary medical insurance (early retired) in US. 

 

Will adding annual multitrip GeoBlue and using Chase Sapphire Preferred cover all travel/med insurance needs?  Anything else to consider?  Any additional travel insurance recommended?

For many years, we have relied on an annual travel med policy (Geoblue) which gives us $100,000 plus of medical coverage and our Chase Sapphire Reserve.  Unfortunately, we have also had to file two separate major claims (both involving medical emergencies (in one case medical evacuation) with both Chase and Geoblue.  In the case of Geoblue, it was simply a matter of filing the claim (with lots of backup documents) and a couple of quick phone calls.  With Chase, every claim does seem to become complicated, involve substantial delays, back and forth communications, etc. 

 

Keep in mind that Chase does not process their own claims, and the third-party company that does the deed can be somewhat demanding/difficult.  If one follows their procedures, meets all the requirements, is persistent, patient, and has some understanding of how to deal with claims folks...you will eventually get your claim paid.  But keep in mind that the process can take many months, which means you will need to cover most/all the related expenses out of pocke, during that interval.  

 

Buying "additional travel insurance" can actually complicate a claim because of the primary/secondary issues and possibly claims coordination complexities.  My advice to the OP, is that since they obviously have some concerns/doubts, they might want to contact a decent independent travel insurance broker for advice and even help selecting the best policy.  Here on CC, many of us suggest the Trip Insurance Store (ask for Steve) who is often featured here on CC.  

 

Hank

[rizello]

I am so glad that this question was asked.  I have Chase Sapphire Preferred and my medical insurance covers me anywhere in the world.  Do I need additional travel insurance to cover my river cruise?  I am thinking maybe medical evacuation coverage might be the only thing not completely covered.

 

Am I missing anything?

 

Thanks

[klfrodo]

34 minutes ago, rizello said:

my medical insurance covers me anywhere in the world. 

To what extent does your medical insurance cover you anywhere in the world.

 

I'll cut and paste my response to another poster about my experience.

 

I also had a good health insurance policy from my work (BC/BS) that had an international rider.

I wanted more information about exactly what this policy did and did not cover, so I gave them a call with specific questions.

 

1. Am I covered for medical expenses? (Yes, at out of network, normal & customary, after co-pay)

2. Will you direct pay? (No, reimbursement only)

3. Are there any circumstances where you will advance pay if medical provider requires upfront payment? (No)

4. Once my emergency is stable, will you reimburse to bring me to a closer hospital near my home for continued care? (No)

5. If I should die in a foreign country, will you pay to repatriate my remains? (No)

6. I asked for more specifics about evacuation. (Their answer was very ambivalent. They made it sound like evacuation was just like an ambulance. They would pay to transport you to the closest facility qualified to care for you but that 1 time ride was the end of the coverage)

 

I'm sure there were other questions I asked but cannot remember them all. At the end of the conversation, I decided that what would best fit my needs would be to cover my travels with a good travel insurance policy and to keep the BC/BS policy as a back-up in case I didn't recover all expenses from the travel insurance policy. Which, I did have to use the BC/BS one time.

 

My recommendation is to give your work policy a call and ask about specific instances and their coverage and then do what best works for you.

[Jersey42]

2 hours ago, rizello said:

I am so glad that this question was asked.  I have Chase Sapphire Preferred and my medical insurance covers me anywhere in the world.  Do I need additional travel insurance to cover my river cruise?  I am thinking maybe medical evacuation coverage might be the only thing not completely covered.

 

Am I missing anything?

In addition to what @klfrodo posted, Chase does not offer a pre-existing conditions waiver.  There is a 60 day lookback and it applies to "You or Your Traveling Companion, Your Immediate Family, Member or the Immediate Family Member of Your Traveling Companion".  Make sure you understand the pre-existing clause and are comfortable with it.  

 

The covered reasons for cancellation and interruption are also somewhat more limited that with most travel insurance.  It is not a big deal for many people, but be sure to read the Chase benefits guide.  If the reason you cancel or interrupt is not in the guide, you are not covered - the same applies to any trip insurance policy.

 

Chase always covered you if "the Cardholder charges all or a portion of a Trip to his or her Credit Card." You may want to confirm that this has not changed.

Edited Wednesday at 12:02 AM by Jersey42

[rizello]

I don't have any pre-existing conditions, and I called my medical provider and they walked me through my coverage.  They said I am covered anywhere in the world for both emergency care and urgent care.  I think the main thing I might need is evacuation.  It sounds like they would cover, but it wasn't clear.