Tell me all about trip and medical insurance

[PinkMagnolia]

I have to buy travel insurance (flight cancellation and medical insurance) for 2 upcoming out-of-country trips (including one to WDW during hurricane season). I have our home/auto insurance through our bank. Please tell me ALL about insurance (or point me to a pretty good current thread) Especially if you've had to make a claim and you were satisfied with their customer service.

I want to get a fair price, but I want to make sure I'm getting a good product too.

Thanks -- I have been procrastinating at checking this out, but I thought I'd ask here first as ya'll are so knowledgeable

 

[minnie mum]

There are lots of places to get travel insurance. Just know what you need first. There are a lot of different types: trip cancellation (before you leave), trip interruption (you need to return home earlier than planned), out of province/country medical insurance, baggage loss insurance. Or you can get comprehensive policies that cover everything.

First look at what you currently have. Our credit card (RBC VISA) gives us all of the above up to certain limits. If we need more coverage we can purchase it. Some supplementary health policies provide out of country coverage. Some don't.
Almost all of the banks sell insurance as well. You can walk into your local bank and purchase what you need. CAA also sells travel insurance.

There are also online travel insurance sites. One of the ones I have seen most frequently mentioned is insuremytrip.com.

I'm sure some of the other Canadian Disers will come along shortly with their experiences with travel insurance.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Minnie mum has given you some great info.

Another thing I wanted to add is that you can also purchase trip insurance from a broker. I work for two financial planners and insurance advisors, and one of the fellows also sells health and travel coverage. Price is the same as if you purchased it direct from the company (in this case, Manulife) but you have the advantage of someone to assist in the event that a claim has to be made. A broker can also help you to get an underwritten policy in the event that you have a pre-existing medical condition which needs to be taken into account.

Manulife's rates (for our family) have always beaten RBC's rates for comparable policies.

Also, when comparing the various plans, be sure to check what your coverage limits are. There can be huge differences between policies.

For past vacations, I have also purchased coverage from Desjardins Financial, so that may be one to try. You can quote and purchase online.

 

[ChrisParker]

Just one more thought - you might want to check if you have coverage through the credit card you used to book. We have a travelVisa and when we were in the UK a few years ago I bumped the fender of the rental in the parking garage on the way to return it (don't ask) and the Visa covered all the damages.

Also, my work health insurance covers us for somethings when we're out of country. It's Manulife.

I actually need to check those policies to see if I need extra as well.

Happy Trails!!

 

[vacation_junkie]

I have to buy travel insurance (flight cancellation and medical insurance) for 2 upcoming out-of-country trips (including one to WDW during hurricane season). I have our home/auto insurance through our bank. Please tell me ALL about insurance (or point me to a pretty good current thread) Especially if you've had to make a claim and you were satisfied with their customer service.

I want to get a fair price, but I want to make sure I'm getting a good product too.

Thanks -- I have been procrastinating at checking this out, but I thought I'd ask here first as ya'll are so knowledgeable

I have an annual policy that is available to BMO mastercard owners. Since we have medical through both our places of employment we don't pay for that. Just the Trip portion of it... You can't beat it! We paid more "per trip" before we had this policy.

BMO MasterCard Travel and Medical Protection  Annual Coverage

Year-round coverage whenever and wherever you travel

You have enough to worry about when you're planning a trip. With BMO MasterCard Travel and Medical Protection, you're always covered  with the payments charged conveniently to your credit card.

Affordable Protection
Basic Coverage - $35-$70/year
Comprehensive Coverage - $80-$110/year
Total Coverage - $129/year - Save over $60/year

Basic Coverage
BMO Travel Protection - $35*/year
"Collision damage waiver insurance for car rentals
"Up to $500,000 in common carrier accidental death and dismemberment insurance**
"Unexpected return home and trip assistance
"Unlimited number of trips per year

BMO Travel Protection with Trip Cancellation  $80*/year
"Collision damage waiver insurance for car rentals
"Up to $500,000 in common carrier accidental death and dismemberment insurance**
"Up to $2,500 per family member and $5,000 per account towards costs associated with trip cancellation
"Up to $2,000 per family member towards costs associated with trip interruption or trip delay
"Up to $750 per trip, per family member towards costs associated with baggage delay, loss or damage
"Up to $500 per account per trip towards costs associated with delayed flights
"Unexpected return home and trip assistance
"Unlimited number of trips per year


BMO 31 Day Medical Protection $110* /year
Must be under age 65


"Up to $2 million reimbursement for eligible costs, including emergency hospital, ambulance and medical expenses
"Up to $5,000 towards the cost of a Private Duty Nurse
"Up to $2,000 per family member towards emergency dental expenses
"Emergency air transportation by air ambulance to the nearest appropriate medical facility or to a Canadian hospital
"Year-round coverage for trips up to 31 days in length
"Unlimited number of trips per year


Total Coverage
BMO Total Travel and Medical Protection - $129*/year - Save over $60/year!
"Enjoy complete peace of mind with both BMO 31 Day Medical Protection and BMO Travel Protection with Trip Cancellation
"Save over $60 every year compared to the combined $190/year price
"Protects you and your family for an unlimited number of trips per year
Age (Cardholder and Spouse) Annual Fee
Under 65 $129
65-69 $329
70-74 $459

 

[Sprockie]

I'll second that. We've had this coverage for a long time. We have a BMO world elite mastercard and we earn points toward flights, cars, hotels, etc. and we get this insurance included for $150/year. It covers all family members (have to put all or a portion of the travel on this card). We're very pleased with it.

I have an annual policy that is available to BMO mastercard owners. Since we have medical through both our places of employment we don't pay for that. Just the Trip portion of it... You can't beat it! We paid more "per trip" before we had this policy.

BMO MasterCard Travel and Medical Protection  Annual Coverage

Year-round coverage whenever and wherever you travel

You have enough to worry about when you're planning a trip. With BMO MasterCard Travel and Medical Protection, you're always covered  with the payments charged conveniently to your credit card.

Affordable Protection
Basic Coverage - $35-$70/year
Comprehensive Coverage - $80-$110/year
Total Coverage - $129/year - Save over $60/year

Basic Coverage
BMO Travel Protection - $35*/year
"Collision damage waiver insurance for car rentals
"Up to $500,000 in common carrier accidental death and dismemberment insurance**
"Unexpected return home and trip assistance
"Unlimited number of trips per year

BMO Travel Protection with Trip Cancellation  $80*/year
"Collision damage waiver insurance for car rentals
"Up to $500,000 in common carrier accidental death and dismemberment insurance**
"Up to $2,500 per family member and $5,000 per account towards costs associated with trip cancellation
"Up to $2,000 per family member towards costs associated with trip interruption or trip delay
"Up to $750 per trip, per family member towards costs associated with baggage delay, loss or damage
"Up to $500 per account per trip towards costs associated with delayed flights
"Unexpected return home and trip assistance
"Unlimited number of trips per year


BMO 31 Day Medical Protection $110* /year
Must be under age 65


"Up to $2 million reimbursement for eligible costs, including emergency hospital, ambulance and medical expenses
"Up to $5,000 towards the cost of a Private Duty Nurse
"Up to $2,000 per family member towards emergency dental expenses
"Emergency air transportation by air ambulance to the nearest appropriate medical facility or to a Canadian hospital
"Year-round coverage for trips up to 31 days in length
"Unlimited number of trips per year


Total Coverage
BMO Total Travel and Medical Protection - $129*/year - Save over $60/year!
"Enjoy complete peace of mind with both BMO 31 Day Medical Protection and BMO Travel Protection with Trip Cancellation
"Save over $60 every year compared to the combined $190/year price
"Protects you and your family for an unlimited number of trips per year
Age (Cardholder and Spouse) Annual Fee
Under 65 $129
65-69 $329
70-74 $459

 

[vacation_junkie]

I'll second that. We've had this coverage for a long time. We have a BMO world elite mastercard and we earn points toward flights, cars, hotels, etc. and we get this insurance included for $150/year. It covers all family members (have to put all or a portion of the travel on this card). We're very pleased with it.

We have had this policy for a few years and LOVE it as well.

We receive rewards $ on our BMO Mastercard. No annual fee on the card..just an added perk to it.

I try to use that Mastercard instead of our debit card as we can collect the Rewards points.

Our accumulated rewards dollars usually ends up paying for our Travel policy every year!

 

[nadira36]

We get our travel insurance through TD meloche monnex and have been happy with them so far - it's $116 per year for the entire family - I don't recal the specific travel time limitations - it's either 30 days or 60 days away from home covered at a time, then as long as you return home the next trip is covered. We seldom take more than 1 trip per year, but since it's so much less than the per trip we'd seen previously we'll pay for a year at a time.

Trip cancelation, interruption, medical, additional expenses etc much better overall coverage than through my credit card.

 

[CerysG]

Last time I got trip insurance from CAA it was almost $800! That is just crazy as far as I'm concerned. Will get it from my BMO mastercard this time as it will only we about $80. Both my husband and I have health coverage through our work so we don't have to worry about that but I have gotten this through CAA and it was reasonable. I think you can get it other places like blue cross. I wouldn't step foot in the US with out extra health insurance. You might be able to get it through your credit card as well.

 

[Sprockie]

Are we talking about the same credit card? I know the BMO world elite M/c is $150/year, but that includes the total travel/medical insurance. Is that what you mean?
We also charge everything we can on the card to bounce up points. It gives you a 15,000 point bonus for singing up (which would be a round trip flight easily). We've only had it a short time, but so far so good.

We have had this policy for a few years and LOVE it as well.

We receive rewards $ on our BMO Mastercard. No annual fee on the card..just an added perk to it.

I try to use that Mastercard instead of our debit card as we can collect the Rewards points.

Our accumulated rewards dollars usually ends up paying for our Travel policy every year!

 

[montrealdisneylovers]

Last time I got trip insurance from CAA it was almost $800! That is just crazy as far as I'm concerned. Will get it from my BMO mastercard this time as it will only we about $80. Both my husband and I have health coverage through our work so we don't have to worry about that but I have gotten this through CAA and it was reasonable. I think you can get it other places like blue cross. I wouldn't step foot in the US with out extra health insurance. You might be able to get it through your credit card as well.

I can really really urge everyone to have extra health insurance when travelling out of the country.

My daughter went on a school ski trip in February to Vermont. She fell on the hill and was sent by ambulance to the local hospital. She had an xray and was given some pain killers and was released (had a severly bruised tailbone).

I received the bill from the hospital about 1 month later: $907.00 US. I called my insurance company (Manulife) and I was told that since the amount is over $200.00 and my daughter was already back home I had to first deal with my in province health insurance (Quebec RAMQ) to get a reimbursement from them. After 1 month delay we received our cheque today: $83.04. Now I must go back to Manulife and recoup the rest. They certainly do not make life easy. All this to say 2 things:

1) Always carry extra insurance2) Call your insurance company while you are still at the hospital. If you do, they will arrange the whole thing for you and you do not have to put out the money first then dance through hoops to get it back.

 

[vacation_junkie]

Are we talking about the same credit card? I know the BMO world elite M/c is $150/year, but that includes the total travel/medical insurance. Is that what you mean?
We also charge everything we can on the card to bounce up points. It gives you a 15,000 point bonus for singing up (which would be a round trip flight easily). We've only had it a short time, but so far so good.

No, with my card you receive a credit on your MasterCard annually. There is no annual fee.Instead of using my debit card I use my mastercard then go home and pay the bill online...it racks up the $'s quick. I purchase the travel policy on this card....but you can have this card without the travel policy

The BMO CashBack MasterCard®* gets you:

0.5% Cash rebate - An annual cash rebate back to your credit card account:
$1 cash back for every $200 you spend on your credit card with no limits or restrictions on how you spend it2
Triple your cash back:
1.5% CashBack at all Shell locations in Canada3
Fees and Rates:

No Annual fee
19.9% Interest rate

A fun, free way to reward yourself with CashBack on every purchase you make with your credit card! The more you spend, the more you earn no limits or restrictions on your cash rebate.

Pay no annual fee1
Earn cash by using your MasterCard: With 0.5% CashBack on every purchase, spending $4,000 a year gives you a $20 rebate on your BMO MasterCard account (No limits on the amount you can earn).2
See how much CashBack you can earn with this no fee CashBack credit card.
Earn even more CashBack on gas: with 1.5% CashBack at all Shell locations in Canada. Spending $100 a week on gas means you get back more than $75 at the end of the year3
Triple your cash rebate with 1.5% CashBack4 and get up to 25% off rentals5 at National Car Rental & Alamo Rent A Car locations worldwide
Additional options:

Reduce your interest charges from 19.9% to 12.9% with our low interest rate option ($45/year)6
FREE additional no fee CashBack credit cards (earn even more cash back by adding a cardholder to your account)

 

[Sue M]

Although I have medical coverage thru work, ours has a lifetime cap. So, I always buy annual medical since we go on 2 trips a year, and we live close to the border, so sometimes make day trips.
I don't want to take the chance of maxing out my Extended Medical thru work. All it would take us 1 major illness, or accident in the US. Their hospitalization cost is crazy.

I've used both BCAA & Blue Cross. I have trip interruption, baggage loss, etc with Visa so I don't buy that.

My friend had a nightmare with auto insurance thru Visa. He got hit by a car who swerved into his lane - a head on collision. His rental was totalled. The car agency, I think Avis, billed his visa for the total cost of the car. It took months, with getting police facts, to determine blame, dealing with other persons insurance. Visa finally paid out the claim but he had thousands in interest costs from carrying the balance of what Avis put on his Card fir cost if a new car. Visa never covered the interest. So beware Visa Car insurance. And many don't give you 3rd party liability. I'm sure they are fine for a little fender bender, but not a major accident.
I get an extra policy from my car insurance company, ICBC. It's an annual policy, and cheap.

 

[PinkMagnolia]

Thanks to all of you for your super useful replies! I don't know what it is about insurance, but it always makes me want to have a nap

I will check with my CC and see what they offer. I know also that my DH has medical insurance through his work, but I have a feeling that it isn't enough. Is there a "guide" to how much $$$ would be considered enough medical insurance for the US?

I'm sure nothing will happen, but that's the thing about accidents (and life!) you just never know...

 

[My 2 princesses]

I have the Scotia Bank Amex card which comes with medical and travel for the entire family. I too have travel insurance from the company, so was mainly looking for trip cancellation and trip interuption. This is a new card and I have heard great reviews for it, so I went for it. It has a 100 dollar annual fee but they waived the fee for the fist year and gave me 200 bucks credit to start off. They way I looked at it was 3 years no annual fee for travel insurance. I will see how I like this card after the first year before I look elsewhere.

 

[pipertoad]

I have insurance through My home and auto insurer. It is medical with trip cancelation and interruption but only for reason due to me or my wife getting sick or worse. It does not seemto cover having to cancel or return due to a death in the extended family or a hurricane. Is there good top up for instances like that?

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[vacation_junkie]

Regardless of what insurance package/policy you have it all comes down to the proper protocol that needs to be followed should the need arise.
Most require that they are contact immediately…not after the fact.
Be aware of what you policy requires before you leave home.

 

[pampam]

One of our trips we had Blue Cross. My mother needed to go to a clinic. When we walked in, there was a family from Hamilton waiting. They had purchased Nomad insurance from their travel agent. This clinic did not accept Nomad insurance. The reciptionst was on the phone trying to find a clinic that would accept their insurance. She waved us right through when she saw we had Blue Cross. We had seen the doctor, got our medication and left, and the poor family from Ontario was still waiting, hoping the receptionist could find a clinic to take their child to.

Lesson learned, be sure the insurance has pay med so you don't have to pay out of pocket first, and use a well known and respected insurance.