Trip Insurance Question

[Shadieeie]

My mother and her friend are going on a cruise with us in September. He has been diagosed with kidney cancer. They plan on purchasing trip insurance in case anything happens before the cruise :( . Does anyone know if something happens to him before they leave for the cruise, will the trip insurance cover both of them having to cancel the cruise, and will they get all their monies back from Carnival.

[jlp20]

I assume your stating if one can’t go, the other does not “want” to go.

 

I see no problem if they get the policy together. That is one; one buys the policy and lists both names. However there might be a problem getting a policy for a “different” person other than a spouse.

 

Bottom line, pick your company and type of policy and make a phone call.

 

Remember, you have about ten days to buy a policy so that pre-existing medical conditions are covered.

[last_mango]

It is all going to depend on which policy they buy and your mother's role in taking care of he friend. For starters, they must absolutely make sure they buy a policy that covers pre-existing conditions. I think most of them do as long as you buy them at the time (or near the time) you put a deposit on a cruise, but they need to quadruple check this and make sure the insurance agent initials that part of the policy, just to be sure.

 

For the cruise insurance to cover your mom not going if something happens to her friend, they are going to want proof that she absolutely can't go on the trip, that she is a primary caregiver for her friend. Otherwise, it will cover the friend's cruise, but not your mother's. A letter from one of her friend's physicians stating that she is a primary caregiver will likely get her covered as well. If she is not a primary caregiver for her friend, her friend's illness will not be considered something that would keep her from cruising and the insurance won't pay.

 

Re: payment. If something happens before the final payment date, Carnival will refund the money. If it is after the final payment date, Carnival doesn't make the refund, the travel insurance kicks in and will pay out. Carnival will give you a small percentage of the total cruise as a refund (pro-rated based on time to sailing date) but the insurance will cut you a check for the rest.

 

Basically, the best thing to do is shop around for policies and ask specific questions before you buy.

[Mary Ellen]

To cover a pre-existing condition (which this is), most insurance needs to be bought within 7-14 days of making the deposit.

 

Read the 'fine print', but most policies cover a 'traveling companion', it doesn't have to be a spouse. Both would need to be covered on the policy - or have their own policy. One person for thier own illness, and the other person for cancelling due to their 'traveling companions' illness.

[Keith1010]

In reality all of this varies by insurance company and most of us are not experts and shouldn't give out an advice on such an important issue.

 

Contact the insurance company(s) on this question and be sure that you see the asnwer in writing.

 

Keith

[Shadieeie]

Thanks for all your replies

 

They were able to get trip insurance with CSA that will cover his pre existing condition, and my mother is his traveling companion so she is covered also if something were to happen to him.

[eh2zed]

In reality all of this varies by insurance company and most of us are not experts and shouldn't give out an advice on such an important issue.

 

Contact the insurance company(s) on this question and be sure that you see the asnwer in writing.

 

Keith

 

The only advice you should listen to. Too many variations, limitations, exclusions, riders, provisos, contingencies, etc. in that business.