How many people get trip insurance?

[PrincessShmoo]

The only insurance I think is worth buying is the medi-vac coverage. The rest is a waste of money as my health insurance covers our family outside of the US. I just wouldn't want to be admited to a hospital in a 3rd world country.

Well, many health plans don't cover out of the US (and as soon as you step onboard, you are "out of the US").

Our last cruise we priced just getting the health coverage (since it was a Hawaii one), but it actually was cheaper to get the whole plan then do it ala carte selections.

 

[slindamood]

We do not buy trip medical or cancellation insurance. Our insurance covers the ship doctor and foreign medical, albeit with a higher co-pay than at home.

We have bought evacuation insurance - it is very cheap. Just put $0 in the "value of trip" blank, and you are covererd only for evacuation, not cancellation or medical expenses while traveling.

While we would hate to cancel a trip, we figure the next year we would go on another trip, so we are in the same financial situation as if we took the trip - just out the good memories and money won't create those.

If a trip were once in a lifetime and we never could come up with the money again, that might be a different situation.

 

[Ariel224]

Travel insurance encompasses so much more than just medical needs.....

Last year my DH was unemployed for several months. Thankfully, the vacation was paid for before he lost his job. Had he been able to start a new job during the penalty period for the cruise (meaning he wouldn't have the time off to go), we would have been able to cancel and be reimbursed under the Cancel for Business Reasons clause in our policy.

Bad weather can sometimes close airports and cruise ports, causing both planes and the ships themselves to be rerouted or delayed. Insurance reimburses meals, hotels, change fees, and costs to join the ship at a different port if needed. This weekend's fog delay for the Magic into and out of Galveston is a perfect example. Those who did not book air through DCL were on there own to deal with yesterday's missed flights. One poster in another thread reported that Air Tran wanted to charge their family $2000 in change fees and differences in fare costs due to their missed flights. They were able to plead their case in the end, but they very well could have been liable for that $2000. Insurance would have covered those costs.

I tend to think of purchasing insurance not just for reimbursement of what I might have already spent. I think of it as a way to avoid the unexpected outlay of (possible large sums of) money I hadn't budgeted for should circumstances not go as planned.

 

[DahliaRW]

Travel insurance encompasses so much more than just medical needs.....

Last year my DH was unemployed for several months. Thankfully, the vacation was paid for before he lost his job. Had he been able to start a new job during the penalty period for the cruise (meaning he wouldn't have the time off to go), we would have been able to cancel and be reimbursed under the Cancel for Business Reasons clause in our policy.

Bad weather can sometimes close airports and cruise ports, causing both planes and the ships themselves to be rerouted or delayed. Insurance reimburses meals, hotels, change fees, and costs to join the ship at a different port if needed. This weekend's fog delay for the Magic into and out of Galveston is a perfect example. Those who did not book air through DCL were on there own to deal with yesterday's missed flights. One poster in another thread reported that Air Tran wanted to charge their family $2000 in change fees and differences in fare costs due to their missed flights. They were able to plead their case in the end, but they very well could have been liable for that $2000. Insurance would have covered those costs.

I tend to think of purchasing insurance not just for reimbursement of what I might have already spent. I think of it as a way to avoid the unexpected outlay of (possible large sums of) money I hadn't budgeted for should circumstances not go as planned.

Exactly. It will also cover hotel, meals, etc if you have to take a later flight. That can add up to a huge chunk of change if it's a weather issue and you have to wa it days gor a flight.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Travel insurance encompasses so much more than just medical needs.....

Last year my DH was unemployed for several months. Thankfully, the vacation was paid for before he lost his job. Had he been able to start a new job during the penalty period for the cruise (meaning he wouldn't have the time off to go), we would have been able to cancel and be reimbursed under the Cancel for Business Reasons clause in our policy.

Bad weather can sometimes close airports and cruise ports, causing both planes and the ships themselves to be rerouted or delayed. Insurance reimburses meals, hotels, change fees, and costs to join the ship at a different port if needed. This weekend's fog delay for the Magic into and out of Galveston is a perfect example. Those who did not book air through DCL were on there own to deal with yesterday's missed flights. One poster in another thread reported that Air Tran wanted to charge their family $2000 in change fees and differences in fare costs due to their missed flights. They were able to plead their case in the end, but they very well could have been liable for that $2000. Insurance would have covered those costs.

I tend to think of purchasing insurance not just for reimbursement of what I might have already spent. I think of it as a way to avoid the unexpected outlay of (possible large sums of) money I hadn't budgeted for should circumstances not go as planned.

Insurance also can cover being quarantined to your room. They will pro-rate out the daily cost of the cruise and reimburse it (as well as any excursion or activities you may have already paid for on those days).

Some insurance can cover cancel for any reason, also.

 

[DCLSailing]

I always get travel insurance.

We typically go VGT so with that your options are very limited. Compared to the cost of the trip, the insurance and peace of mind is worth it.

 

[policycobb]

We were the people who did not purchase on our July 2011 Dream cruise and should have. You do not know when one of your party has an unexpected major illness. The ambulance meet us at the dock in Port Canaveral. The doctors thought medi-vac would have been more dangerous for him. We always purchase travel insurance for cruises now.

 

[Tjaleks]

When I do purchase trip insurance I make sure the policy I choose the medical coverage is primary not secondary. Meaning I do not have to turn it into my medical insurance first to see what they will pay. WAIT. Then turn in the balance into the trip insurance.

 

[kuhltiffany]

We have amazing travel insurance (trip, medical, cancellation, flight, rental car, etc.) on our credit card. As long as we charge the whole trip on it, we're covered. That's what everyone I know does here in Canada, maybe you don't have that kind of coverage in the US?

 

[3princessMommy]

Alright - you all convinced me. TA purchasing our trip insurance tomorrow.

 

[TXinmyheart]

Many people have brought up their medical needs as a reason for Travel Insurance. However, what would you do it your mom or dad or immediately family member died right before the cruise. Could you absorb the cost you would lose if you had to cancel?

In addition, the Magic was delayed coming into Galveston yesterday. Many of those people had to change their flights at a very high cost due to no fault of the airlines. Having enough travel insurance would also help with those costs. Also, many travel insurance companies have 24/7 help desks and with one quick phone call, you could have them sit on hold with their airlines making alternative arrangements as well as arranging for a hotel room if needed.

Just something to think about when thinking about whether or not you should purchase travel insurance.

 

[sgoney]

I normally don't get insurance, but for this trip I did! We had a family concern (my grandfather was very sick).

 

[allears]

I have purchased trip insurance for each cruise I've taken. Firstly because I can't afford to loose the money should something and I have to cancel at the last minute. Came very, very close once and the only peace I mind I had to a stressful pre-cruise week is that if we had to cancel we'd get our money back.

However, after that close call, I've acutally had to use the travel insurance on three seperate trips. Each invloved weather related delays and TI covered all of the extra expenses that were incurred as a result. And what I was reimbursed was way more than I paid in a premium. Well worth it in my mind.

 

[tvguy]

The only insurance I think is worth buying is the medi-vac coverage. The rest is a waste of money as my health insurance covers our family outside of the US. I just wouldn't want to be admited to a hospital in a 3rd world country.

I wouldn't cruise without it. I can absorb the cost of the cruise, if necessary, but the cost of any medical evacuation would bankrupt me. If I, or one of my family members, gets seriously hurt onshore, I want to be able to be evacuated to a US hospital to get treatment. Those evacuations are EXPENSIVE!

http://blogs.squaremouth.com/press-room/how-much-medical-evacuation-is-enough-asks-squaremouth/

That would be free if you are a U.S. Citizen and on an Alaskan/Hawaiian/Mexican or Caribbean cruise.

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/air-drop-delivers-blood-cruise-passenger-15443765

 

[Started With a Mouse]

Heck, yes!

 

[MillauFr]

Many people have brought up their medical needs as a reason for Travel Insurance. However, what would you do it your mom or dad or immediately family member died right before the cruise. Could you absorb the cost you would lose if you had to cancel?

Absolutely I could eat the cost of the cruise if I had to cancel. If I couldn't eat the cost of the cruise I wouldn't have bought the cruise to begin with. So I had to shell out $5,000 if I had to cancel I would be upset but it would not bankrupt me. I don't buy cruise insurance for peace of mind because getting or losing money does very little to improve or decrease my well being.

 

[ilovetexas]

That would be free if you are a U.S. Citizen and on an Alaskan/Hawaiian/Mexican or Caribbean cruise.

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/air-drop-delivers-blood-cruise-passenger-15443765

No, it wouldn't. If you are seriously hurt while in Nassau, Costa Maya, etc. and end up in a hospital that is not properly equipped to handle your situation, the US Coast Guard isn't going to come get you and take you to a better medical facility in Houston or Miami.

Maybe you stay on the ship your entire cruise, I don't. Or maybe you don't mind the idea of getting treatment for a major medical issue in a hospital in Belize, I do. Regardless, the US Coast Guard is not going to cover all the issues that can come up on a cruise.

 

[tvguy]

No, it wouldn't. If you are seriously hurt while in Nassau, Costa Maya, etc. and end up in a hospital that is not properly equipped to handle your situation, the US Coast Guard isn't going to come get you and take you to a better medical facility in Houston or Miami.

Maybe you stay on the ship your entire cruise, I don't. Or maybe you don't mind the idea of getting treatment for a major medical issue in a hospital in Belize, I do. Regardless, the US Coast Guard is not going to cover all the issues that can come up on a cruise.

My Primary Care Doctor is from Belize.

Certainly not every medical issue will the U.S. Coast Guard come get you, but I suspect if medical evacaution isn't to that level, iTravel Insurance isn't going to pay for a Private medical evacaution either. Check the fine print. It only covers medically necessary medical evacuation, not evacuation to take you to a hospital you want to go to.

 

[CdnCarrie]

trip cancellation - pay $80 a year on our credit card to have it

medical - my work benefits cover out of country emergencies. Would never leave Canada without coverage.

car rental - get it from our socialized car insurance in our provice. It's a small fee per day.

 

[ilovetexas]

My Primary Care Doctor is from Belize.

Certainly not every medical issue will the U.S. Coast Guard come get you, but I suspect if medical evacaution isn't to that level, iTravel Insurance isn't going to pay for a Private medical evacaution either. Check the fine print. It only covers medically necessary medical evacuation, not evacuation to take you to a hospital you want to go to.

Are you just feeling the need to be argumentative? I'm fully aware of what my policies cover and what they don't; I read the fine print.

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