Am I The Only Dummy To Buy DCL Trip Insurance?

[ilovetexas]

This could very well have already been covered in the last 14 pages or so (I didn't read them all), but my issue with the DCL coverage was the limit of $30,000 for medical evacuation.

If I have to eat the cost of a lost bag and its contents or heaven forbid a total cruise fare, I'll get over it but medical evacs can run WELL over $30,000. As of yet, our family doesn't have pre-existing conditions and while I do usually get the "cancel for any reason", the only thing that I consider mandatory is a minimum of $50,000 in medical evac. I prefer $100,000. At this point in our lives, the biggest potential source of problems for us would be accidents and that's going to require treatment somewhere other than Mexico or the Bahamas!

 

[tajz90]

This could very well have already been covered in the last 14 pages or so (I didn't read them all), but my issue with the DCL coverage was the limit of $30,000 for medical evacuation.

If I have to eat the cost of a lost bag and its contents or heaven forbid a total cruise fare, I'll get over it but medical evacs can run WELL over $30,000. As of yet, our family doesn't have pre-existing conditions and while I do usually get the "cancel for any reason", the only thing that I consider mandatory is a minimum of $50,000 in medical evac. I prefer $100,000. At this point in our lives, the biggest potential source of problems for us would be accidents and that's going to require treatment somewhere other than Mexico or the Bahamas!

I haven't read the thread so forgive me if you've already answered it, but what ins do you buy? We have been using Travelex and like it but I'm always open to suggestions.

 

[scootch]

1. DCL's coverages are low and the price is high
2. DCL's insurance doesn't cover flights unless booked through DCL
3. DCL's insurance has no waiver of pre-existing conditions
4. If I have to cancel my cruise, I want my money back and not a credit for a future Disney cruise

I didn't buy for many of the reasons above. I also found a company that kids were free and since my husband doesn't cruise.... really cheaper(only had to pay for myself). They also had a cancel for any reason policy and even the extra cost of it was cheaper than DCL. I put that on as my mother was on oxygen... and if something(maybe not life threatening but something that I wouldn't want to leave her happened) I could get all my money back.

 

[alisrockin]

Always have insurance

 

[ilovetexas]

I haven't read the thread so forgive me if you've already answered it, but what ins do you buy? We have been using Travelex and like it but I'm always open to suggestions.

I go through insuremytrip.com or tripinsurancestore.com and have them issue multiple quotes for what I need, then I go with the best offer from the best rated company. I've never had to file a claim (thank goodness) but have never had any problems with the purchase or documentation process.

 

[sayhello]

I didn't buy for many of the reasons above. I also found a company that kids were free and since my husband doesn't cruise.... really cheaper(only had to pay for myself). They also had a cancel for any reason policy and even the extra cost of it was cheaper than DCL. I put that on as my mother was on oxygen... and if something(maybe not life threatening but something that I wouldn't want to leave her happened) I could get all my money back.

Make sure you check your policy. Most "cancel for any reason" policies only pay a percentage of the trip cost (like 80%) so you wouldn't get all your money back. Still way better than none, though!

Sayhello

 

[linco711]

DCL will let you cancel for ANY reason and keep the credit towards a future cruise. You would still have to go through the process of submitting a claim to have it denied.

Are you sure? That was not our experience. My husband and I both became unemployed about 2 months before sale date. The policy does cover loss of jobs but only 30 days out not 60, so we were disqualified. Not sure why the 30 day provision. We are still unemployed and are about 20 days away. It's just all the extra expenses with traveling, and with all the stress of not having any income and not knowing when or if we will be employed again, we just don't want to go anymore. It just won't be fun and will only cause more stress. And the weird thing is that it is a covered event, the timing of it was off by about 3 weeks..Oh well..live and learn..it's the first time I ever purchased travel insurance too..

 

[DCL Repeaters]

Are you sure? That was not our experience. My husband and I both became unemployed about 2 months before sale date. The policy does cover loss of jobs but only 30 days out not 60, so we were disqualified. Not sure why the 30 day provision. We are still unemployed and are about 20 days away. It's just all the extra expenses with traveling, and with all the stress of not having any income and not knowing when or if we will be employed again, we just don't want to go anymore. It just won't be fun and will only cause more stress. And the weird thing is that it is a covered event, the timing of it was off by about 3 weeks..Oh well..live and learn..it's the first time I ever purchased travel insurance too..

Yes I'm sure. Have you called DCL?

 

[linco711]

Yes I'm sure. Have you called DCL?

Yes and they asked me to call the Insurance company directly. I called several times just to clarify that this was the case and there was nothing that I could do..not too happy about it, but that's the way the policy reads

 

[DCL Repeaters]

Yes and they asked me to call the Insurance company directly. I called several times just to clarify that this was the case and there was nothing that I could do..not too happy about it, but that's the way the policy reads

Did you tell DCL that you want/need to cancel? They don't need to know why. You need for DCL to tell you that they will hold your funds less insurance for a future cruise if you do cancel and the insurance is denied. You will have to submit the paperwork to the insurance company to be denied. The denial then goes to DCL. I'd ask to speak to a supervisor at DCL if you really do want to cancel.

 

[sayhello]

Are you sure? That was not our experience. My husband and I both became unemployed about 2 months before sale date. The policy does cover loss of jobs but only 30 days out not 60, so we were disqualified. Not sure why the 30 day provision. We are still unemployed and are about 20 days away. It's just all the extra expenses with traveling, and with all the stress of not having any income and not knowing when or if we will be employed again, we just don't want to go anymore. It just won't be fun and will only cause more stress. And the weird thing is that it is a covered event, the timing of it was off by about 3 weeks..Oh well..live and learn..it's the first time I ever purchased travel insurance too..

Have you actually cancelled and submitted a claim, and then told DCL your claim was denied? DCL's insurance absolutely says that if your claim is denied for any reason, then they will give you a credit for a future cruise in the amount of any non-refundable cruise costs minus the cost of insurance. Your cancellation is not covered by the insurance. Your claim will be denied. But DCL will, since you bought the insurance, give you a credit towards a future cruise. Here's the exact wording, and a link to the policy it came from:

If you purchase the Vacation Protection Plan and cancel your vacation for any reason not covered by the insurance plan, Disney Cruise Line will credit 100% of the non-refundable cancellation fee toward a future Disney Cruise Line vacation.

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/m...tomizeCruise/Insurance/VacationInsurance2.pdf

Sayhello

 

[linco711]

Did you tell DCL that you want/need to cancel? They don't need to know why. You need for DCL to tell you that they will hold your funds less insurance for a future cruise if you do cancel and the insurance is denied. You will have to submit the paperwork to the insurance company to be denied. The denial then goes to DCL. I'd ask to speak to a supervisor at DCL if you really do want to cancel.

I'll call them for the 5th time and give this a try...but I am very persistent and have spent much time on the phone with DCL and their insurance people. I did talk with two different supervisors with the same result...Between that and filling out job apps, I'm on the phone all day..but I will give it one more try...thanks for the advice..just feel like I'm fighting a losing battle..

 

[sayhello]

I'll call them for the 5th time and give this a try...but I am very persistent and have spent much time on the phone with DCL and their insurance people. I did talk with two different supervisors with the same result...Between that and filling out job apps, I'm on the phone all day..but I will give it one more try...thanks for the advice..just feel like I'm fighting a losing battle..

This is *very* confusing. What are they telling you? That they will not give you a future cruise credit after the insurance denies your claim? What reason are they giving you? It's very confusing when it's written in plain language on their insurance policy.

Sayhello

 

[linco711]

This is *very* confusing. What are they telling you? That they will not give you a future cruise credit after the insurance denies your claim? What reason are they giving you? It's very confusing when it's written in plain language on their insurance policy.

Sayhello

The policy covers job loss within 30 days, we don't qualify because our job loss was about 60 days from sailing not 30 days... DCL pretty much told me that it is up to the insurance company..they don't make the policy, which is true. If I cancel and go through the process we would lose all the money we paid for the cruise..so I just wanted to be sure all was in place before I canceled..and the answer I received was no coverage because our job loss occurred to far in advance..frustrating since both of us are still unemployed..

 

[sayhello]

The policy covers job loss within 30 days, we don't qualify because our job loss was about 60 days from sailing not 30 days... DCL pretty much told me that it is up to the insurance company..they don't make the policy, which is true. If I cancel and go through the process we would lose all the money we paid for the cruise..so I just wanted to be sure all was in place before I canceled..and the answer I received was no coverage because our job loss occurred to far in advance..frustrating since both of us are still unemployed..

I understand that. But did you buy the Insurance through DCL? Because, if you did, it's true, you will not get a refund from the insurance company. BUT, and this is a big BUT, once the insurance company denies your claim, DCL will step in (after you inform them of the denial) and give you a credit for a future cruise. At least you'd be able to postpone the cruise until a better time. Of course, it wouldn't cover your airfare if you didn't purchase that through DCL.

Sayhello

 

[Zeppelin]

Jeeesh, reading some of the threads I now feel like I've been taken because I opted to use DCL trip insurance. Is it really the worst on earth? I mean, I did look into the other sites people are recommending, but kept coming back to the point that if for some reason we cancel I can atleast transfer that money to a future cruise. And the insurance didn't seem all that much different on things covered. So what am I missing, why are people making me feel like a fool for choosing DCL trip insurance?

We are cruising the Disney Dream in June of 2012 with the podcasters.

i've been on four cruises and have taken the insurance every time- and have signed up for it for our fifth cruise next August....so i guess we are both dummies!!!

 

[mellers]

i've been on four cruises and have taken the insurance every time- and have signed up for it for our fifth cruise next August....so i guess we are both dummies!!!

While it is very nice that you can apply the cost towards a future cruise if you can't take a cruise, for those of us with pre-existing conditions which will fail the look-back periods, the huge medical bills which could come to us on the cruise, and which DCL insurance won't pay for, it's a really bad deal. If your family is healthy, and if your insurance covers you outside the country for medical evacuation and treatment, it's not as critical you use another carrier--although, I prefer the lower cost of other insurers.

 

[linco711]

I understand that. But did you buy the Insurance through DCL? Because, if you did, it's true, you will not get a refund from the insurance company. BUT, and this is a big BUT, once the insurance company denies your claim, DCL will step in (after you inform them of the denial) and give you a credit for a future cruise. At least you'd be able to postpone the cruise until a better time. Of course, it wouldn't cover your airfare if you didn't purchase that through DCL.

Sayhello

Hmmmm....no one at DCL told me that....Shouldn't they have given me that information? I've talked with several different people..

 

[linco711]

While it is very nice that you can apply the cost towards a future cruise if you can't take a cruise, for those of us with pre-existing conditions which will fail the look-back periods, the huge medical bills which could come to us on the cruise, and which DCL insurance won't pay for, it's a really bad deal. If your family is healthy, and if your insurance covers you outside the country for medical evacuation and treatment, it's not as critical you use another carrier--although, I prefer the lower cost of other insurers.

that's the main reason I purchased the DCL insurance was to cover medical. I didn. 't realize it didn't cover pre - existing..My DH has a bad back and had surgery about 5 years ago, although he is ok now, you never know when it will start bothering him again. Are you saying they would not cover something like that? Guess I didn 't do my homework or ask the right questions when I purchased their insurance. so disappointed...what a waste of money...just hoping we have no health issues while onboard...

 

[mellers]

that's the main reason I purchased the DCL insurance was to cover medical. I didn. 't realize it didn't cover pre - existing..My DH has a bad back and had surgery about 5 years ago, although he is ok now, you never know when it will start bothering him again. Are you saying they would not cover something like that? Guess I didn 't do my homework or ask the right questions when I purchased their insurance. so disappointed...what a waste of money...just hoping we have no health issues while onboard...

If it was 5 years ago, and he hasn't had to visit the doctor or have his medication changed within the look-back period (you'll have to check what that is--I don't know off the top of my head) it will probably cover him, even if he hurts his back, so you might be okay. My family requires frequent monitoring and changes in medication, so we would be in deep trouble if we bought DCL insurance.