Warning: Do Not buy the Allianz insurance through DCL!

[su_A_ve]

I'm sorry about all OP had to go thru. But...

She did post a long thread while all of this was going on...

 

[MDennis28]

So, what is the best insurance to buy? I want something that covers it all, door to door if my MIL (heaven forbid) dies 2 days before we leave? Or I have a medical emergency and need to be air-lifted off the ship in Alaska (yup, nearly happened to me)?

 

[Bear3412]

So, what is the best insurance to buy? I want something that covers it all, door to door if my MIL (heaven forbid) dies 2 days before we leave? Or I have a medical emergency and need to be air-lifted off the ship in Alaska (yup, nearly happened to me)?

If you have USAA call them first,
then try these sites for comparisons.
www.insuremytrip.com
www.theinsurancestore.com

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

Just research what you are buying better than I did.
If this had been a cruise that was just a drive to port for me - for instance I live near Vancouver - this insurance could work for me on that one - if we got sick all I would want back is our cruise money, but I needed something more door to door, and this didn't turn out to be that.

 

[lbgraves]

If your MIL dies from a PEC, you would need to have a policy that included PECs. This is usually covered if you purchase the policy within 14 days of booking the original cruise. Many people do not realize that the PEC doesn't just involve the people who are going on the cruise.

 

[SleepyDeb]

Lollipop's Mom, I am an insurance executive, although not a lawyer, and I don't work for Allianz or in trip insurance. However, there are insurance principles, rules, and laws that carry from company to company and product to product.

If the contract could be interpreted by a reasonable person as covering your loss, it should be covered. Because insurance contracts are written by the insurance company (something that is, btw, required by law) courts always interpret any ambiguity in favor of the insured. Read the policy very dispassionately and see if you think that it would be interpreted by most people to say that your loss should be covered. Maybe show the policy to someone you know who isn't a close friend who would be biased to be favorable to you and ask them what they think.

If the Allianz representative told you that you were covered up to $150/night (not just "if you are determined to be covered, that is the per diem") that is an important fact that should be repeated to each person you speak to at the insurance company.

If the answers to both (or even one) the above are true, keep persuing it. Keep asking to speak to supervisors until you get to the president of the company. Next step would be your state's insurance dept.

Good luck. Allianz generally has a good reputation in the industry as being honest.

 

[jlwhitney]

Also, I bought directly though Allianz and it covers our flights/hotel/transfers...everything and it was a fraction of the price DCL charges. I really have never understood why their costs are so much higher if they cover less. I think that is confusing because to many of us in our society the higher priced product feels safer. Like it must cover more because it costs more. Silly how that isn't true.

It costs more through Disney because they are a middle man..there wouldnt be a need for them to sell it if they don't make a profit. So they charge more to make a profit. SImple business 101

 

[barbarasc]

I think it is important to remember that the cost of insurance is in direct relation to HOW MUCH the insurance company is covering. If the policy was covering a higher amount the cost for the insurance would he been more costly. Cruise line insurance that is purchased via any cruise line will ONLY cover the amount of the vacation that you purchased directly thru them. If your air and pre and or post hotel was handled by DCL it would have been covered.

 

[Bear3412]

Also fwiw, if you booked with Costco their insurance thru Travel Guard has the preexisting condition waiver clause available all the way to Paid in Full date for purchase, which is rare. As noted most must purchase within a week or so of deposit to get this important element covered.

 

[Beermam42]

Yes nancy that is what I said. I know it's my own fault and I'm simply warning others. I THOUGHT I had door to door coverage. Simple as that. Others might think they do too, so simply a warning.
You clearly did not read my entire post.

As a life long insurance agent, your warning should be listed to. Also suggest that people fine a good travel agency in their home area and talk with experienced agent that knows the ropes.

 

[bumbershoot]

I've always wondered about trip insurance. Generally we're traveling on points so I can't really put a $ amount on that.

DVC has travel insurance now. It ends up covering the cost of the maintenance fees on the points you would otherwise lose. You have to pay the premium per Use Year, so if you're borrowing and banking and using current UY, that's 3 premiums.

Is this also true if you don't get the insurance though? I thought they also let you do that if you can't make it. You don't get your money back but they will apply it to a new cruise. I could totally have that wrong.

No I think you have to actually buy their product. It wouldn't work for me, because living in WA I canNOT buy their product. (or rather they cannot sell me their product)

So, what is the best insurance to buy? I want something that covers it all, door to door if my MIL (heaven forbid) dies 2 days before we leave? Or I have a medical emergency and need to be air-lifted off the ship in Alaska (yup, nearly happened to me)?

You want the pre-existing condition clause (which Disney does NOT have, which is why they cannot sell in WA where it is required (and that might be why Costco's insurance has the PEC, because they are based in WA)). You want to buy it early, and every time you add something else to your trip you want to call them within the time period they tell you, even if it doesn't increase your insurance cost. For instance, we upgraded our stateroom to concierge, and we had to call them to let them know, even though it only increased our price by under $400 and didn't bring us up to the next 1K mark where the price would have changed. But we still had to let them know officially.

You want to talk to the people where you're buying it (like insuremytrip), let them know what you need, and make sure what you buy meets your needs.

 

[neg58]

Yes nancy that is what I said. I know it's my own fault and I'm simply warning others. I THOUGHT I had door to door coverage. Simple as that. Others might think they do too, so simply a warning.
You clearly did not read my entire post.

I did read your entire post. You were advising people to NOT buy the insurance offered through Disney and that Disney should sell a better product. What should they sell? I was just pointing out that they can only offer to cover the vacation that they sell you. They would have no way of knowing what other components you added to the cruise vacation, such as airfare, hotels, activities because everyone books different things. Even at the 'insure my trip' comparison, you have to add airfare or hotels if you book them after purchasing insurance just for the cruise.

I bought the Disney insurance for my upcoming trip because I wanted the 'cancel for any reason' portion of it. I know it doesn't cover us until we get on the ship because that's what I paid for.

I appreciate your information, but I don't think Disney can offer a better product if you don't book the entire trip through Disney.

Nancy

 

[TLSnell1981]

OP. thank you for posting your experience.

 

[Bear3412]

..... You want the pre-existing condition clause (which Disney does NOT have, which is why they cannot sell in WA where it is required (and that might be why Costco's insurance has the PEC, because they are based in WA))......

Interesting about Costco, WA, and the PEC availability. Thanks

 

[bigtony777]

So sorry about your whole situation. I know from reading your previous thread that the initial ordeal was bad enough. I agree that one needs to really read through the policy before buying. I do have a couple of suggestions for future purchases and possibly in your situation.

1. Look into what is covered in by your credit card. Mine will cover lost or delayed baggage, rental car damage and trip cancellation due to airline cancellations. So look into what your cards cover and possible switch to another card.

2. Record all phone calls when calling into customer service for any issues. Find an app like Call Spy that will record both sides of your phone calls. As long as one side states the call is recorded, then both sides can record it. When was the last time you made a call to customer service and didn't hear, "This call may be recorded for training/quality ...." They record to cover themselves, do the same to prove what was said.

3. I agree with a previous poster. Look into Costco if you have one remotely close to you. I haven't seen anyone come close to their cash card as far as % back based on the cost of your cruise. I have found that they also partner with a great insurance company that covers more and costs less.

 

[DakotaDisneyLover]

We were on the cruise you missed - we are from the "meet" and FE exchange. We missed you both on the cruise, and along with many others, felt very bad about your situation. So unfortunate. I sincerely hope your next cruise is fabulous; you certainly deserve it after what you and your daughter went through.

 

[justmestace]

I read about your daughter before, and I am SO sorry! Very sorry for you about everything.

All I really wanted to say, other than that, is to not blame Allianz. They're a respected company who sells a good product. At least they do, when you're buying as a consumer and not through the cruise line. And no, I don't work for them, but have an extensive background in the insurance industr

 

[justmestace]

Stupid phone!

That should say "industry".

 

[mbrocker]

I've gone back through now on insuremytrip.com to see if there are any policies that would have covered you in your situation.

There are some. But mostly, they are up to a set amount per day depending on the plan level (125-200) and I've seen none that give more than 5 days.

Granted, even THAT would've been better than a big fat nothing.

Folks, this is a great lesson. People worry more about passports (another subject entirely) .. but you need to GET TRAVEL INSURANCE and READ YOUR POLICY.

The OP has unfortunately learned an expensive lesson. Thank goodness it didn't require evacuation or emergency treatment while actually ON the cruise. That can be so expensive it can financially devastate a family.

So sorry this has happened to you.

 

[lodge]

I know you are frustrated, but you bought insurance for your cruise, not for you pre-cruise stay or travel. The premium for your insurance is based on the price of your trip, and for them your price was the cruise.

Some people book everything through Disney, and basically have door to door coverage because the cost of the entire trip is used in figuring out the premium for the insurance. Say a family decided to go to WDW for a week before the cruise and had airfare and a suite at the Contemporary and got sick before they even left home. Would it be fair for the insurance company to cover those costs when another family booked the same cabin on the cruise, paid the same insurance premium (for the cruise only), but lived in Florida so only cancelled the actual cruise?

If you had booked insurance through another insurer, and you wanted the coverage from door to door, they would have based the premium on the entire cost of your vacation, not just on the cruise portion. You can buy trip insurance just from the airline for just the airfare, or you can book hotels with a cancellation policy you like (may have to pay a little more for the 'insurance' to be able to cancel). You bought cruise insurance, and that's what you got. They are refunding the cost of your cruise, correct? You weren't yet checked in to the cruise when your daughter got sick, so you weren't yet covered by the cruise insurance. Just like with auto insurance or health insurance, there is an effective time when the policy begins. If you are in an accident on the way to buy insurance, you aren't going to have coverage.

Nancy

Yes nancy that is what I said. I know it's my own fault and I'm simply warning others. I THOUGHT I had door to door coverage. Simple as that. Others might think they do too, so simply a warning.
You clearly did not read my entire post.

I read it, empathize for your situation, and appreciate you taking the time to help others to prevent this themselves. Thank you.