Oops...Forgot to buy insurance initially....now what?

[sullins5]

Morning Dis'ers!

Here's my dilemma...I forgot to buy insurance when I put down our deposit (mainly because it was a dummy back in 2011). Our cruise is in Sept on the Wonder.

A couple of questions..

Do you include the travelling TO the port? We are driving to Galveston the night before....So on the insurance, do I include the pre-cruise driving and night stay ( if we were in a car accident)? Do you include the hotel stay as cost?

And do I go ahead and buy now or wait until just before my PIF date? And my dd is a nurse, what if they decide they won't let her off? She'll know that before our PIF date...

Thanks for any helps!

 

[Jestocost]

Morning Dis'ers!

Here's my dilemma...I forgot to buy insurance when I put down our deposit (mainly because it was a dummy back in 2011). Our cruise is in Sept on the Wonder.

A couple of questions..

Do you include the travelling TO the port? We are driving to Galveston the night before....So on the insurance, do I include the pre-cruise driving and night stay ( if we were in a car accident)? Do you include the hotel stay as cost?

And do I go ahead and buy now or wait until just before my PIF date? And my dd is a nurse, what if they decide they won't let her off? She'll know that before our PIF date...

Thanks for any helps!

It depends.

If you want anything but the cost of the cruise and any arrangements booked directly with DCL covered, you're going to have to purchase insurance from a third party and not the DCL insurance. If you go with a third party provider, you basically determine how much you want covered and include it in the cost of the trip when you price the insurance. The rate you pay will reflect whatever you choose to include.

Similarily, you'll have to check the terms of the coverage to determine if cancellation for a job-related reason is covered or not. In some cases that may be optional coverage that you would have to select and for which you would pay an additional premium.

About the only thing you won't get with most policies is a free pre-existing condition waiver. Generally you get that if you purchase the insurance within 14 days of when you made your deposit. I don't think that the DCL insurance covers pre-existing conditions under any circumstances.

At this point there's really no reason to purchase the insurance immediately or until you incur non-refundable costs that will exceed the cost of the insurance premium.

I definitely would look into third-party insurance. You can go to insuremytrip.com and compare a number of different plans from different providers. We typically wind up purchasing TravelGuard insurance as it seems to fit our needs the best.

 

[sullins5]

It depends.

At this point there's really no reason to purchase the insurance immediately or until you incur non-refundable costs that will exceed the cost of the insurance premium.

I definitely would look into third-party insurance. You can go to insuremytrip.com and compare a number of different plans from different providers. We typically wind up purchasing TravelGuard insurance as it seems to fit our needs the best.

Thanks so much!

I've been online looking at insuremytrip.com all this morning, and that's why I asked these questions. It can be so confusing !!

I never figured the cost of getting there or the pre-cruise stay, thinking that most hotels let you cancel the day of arrival before 6pm. So I wondered if most people include that? And last time, I had flight insurance through the carrier, and cruise insurance, so I wonder if I wasn't over insured?

Am I still correct that if you cancel a reservation (ie: my daughter's due to work) before PIF date, that her deposit is refundable? TIA!

 

[stsomewhere]

My husband called insuremytrip and spoke with an agent. We wanted to be covered during our driving portion. Detroit to Galveston and back.

The agent directed us to the coverage we wanted.

 

[sullins5]

My husband called insuremytrip and spoke with an agent. We wanted to be covered during our driving portion. Detroit to Galveston and back.

The agent directed us to the coverage we wanted.

Thanks! Something tells me I'm gonna have a ton of questions for insuremytrip!
I think we're healthy, think my dd is gonna make it, but want to be sufficiently covered.....just in case!

 

[outahere]

Am I still correct that if you cancel a reservation (ie: my daughter's due to work) before PIF date, that her deposit is refundable? TIA!

As long as you are not staying Concierge, any deposit is refundable prior to your PIF date. I would wait until after your PIF date to purchase the insurance. That way you know exactly who is going and your total costs. We've used insuremytrip for all our cruises and they are very reasonable and were extremely quick to pay the one time we had to file a claim.

 

[disney minnie]

I just got off the phone with insuremytrip. I find that it is easier to talk to them.

I always take the cruise price and add in hotels and non refundable dinners. We always stay at Disney the night before. Well the cancellation period I believe is five days ahead. Our first cruise we stayed at Disney five days before the cruise. The first night my daughter started with a fever. We called home and had her doctor prescribe tamiflu for all of us and we had to cancel our Luau dinner at the last moment. Disney fortunately did not charge us because I'm sure the idea of having the flu around scared them, but if they had the insurance would have covered that and the medicine - which was very expensive.

 

[sullins5]

As long as you are not staying Concierge, any deposit is refundable prior to your PIF date. I would wait until after your PIF date to purchase the insurance. That way you know exactly who is going and your total costs. We've used insuremytrip for all our cruises and they are very reasonable and were extremely quick to pay the one time we had to file a claim.

For some reason, I thought it was harder or you had to pay more if it was after your PIF date, due to the closeness of your cruise? Not true? If that is true, I guess I could buy it the week that I pay in full?

I just got off the phone with insuremytrip. I find that it is easier to talk to them.

I always take the cruise price and add in hotels and non refundable dinners.

So I wonder, if we booked an excursion outside of Disney, would I include those prices too? Say the ship didn't go to that port for whatever reason or the weather was bad...Would that be included if I wanted it to be included? For example, currently pondering Nassau and Atlantis. Disney or Comfort Suites pricing, and if for some reason, the weather got bad, and it was too late to cancel Comfort Suites..Would insurance cover that if it was too late to cancel? Or if I bought a guaranteed non-refundable stay?
I just include all that in my pricing of the cost of the trip?

Thank you all so much for these helps...I'm sure I'm not the only one wondering all these issues..

 

[outahere]

For some reason, I thought it was harder or you had to pay more if it was after your PIF date, due to the closeness of your cruise? Not true? If that is true, I guess I could buy it the week that I pay in full?

The only time restriction is if you want/need to cover pre-existing medical conditions. Then, most insurance policies have to be purchased with 14 days, or so, of when you pay your deposit. We always wait until at least our PIF date, or later and have never seen any difference in price. However, they will not sell you a policy if any event has already occurred that would alter your trip, ie; named tropical storm, etc.

So I wonder, if we booked an excursion outside of Disney, would I include those prices too? Say the ship didn't go to that port for whatever reason or the weather was bad...Would that be included if I wanted it to be included? For example, currently pondering Nassau and Atlantis. Disney or Comfort Suites pricing, and if for some reason, the weather got bad, and it was too late to cancel Comfort Suites..Would insurance cover that if it was too late to cancel? Or if I bought a guaranteed non-refundable stay?
I just include all that in my pricing of the cost of the trip?

I always include any non-refundable costs we could incur. I'm not sure how they would handle bad weather, if the ship was still able to go to that port. That would be a good question to ask, but I would think they probably wouldn't cover any costs due to it being rainy, cold, etc.

Thank you all so much for these helps...I'm sure I'm not the only one wondering all these issues..

Please see above in blue. Hope that helps.

 

[sullins5]

Hope that helps.

Again, thanks so much! I think I have a list a mile long to ask insuremytrip.com and hopefully they'll lead me to the right provider?

Last cruise, I was definitely a newbie, and didn't even think about our pre-cruise stay...so don't know what would have happened in case of emergency. And didn't think about another excursion operator in lieu of Disney...so there's so much more to think about.

And on the Disney cancellation policy, I can't find where it says you're refunded the whole deposit outside of 75 days, but I'm assuming it does? For non-concierge?

Thanks again!

 

[outahere]

Again, thanks so much! I think I have a list a mile long to ask insuremytrip.com and hopefully they'll lead me to the right provider?

Last cruise, I was definitely a newbie, and didn't even think about our pre-cruise stay...so don't know what would have happened in case of emergency. And didn't think about another excursion operator in lieu of Disney...so there's so much more to think about.

And on the Disney cancellation policy, I can't find where it says you're refunded the whole deposit outside of 75 days, but I'm assuming it does? For non-concierge?

Thanks again!

The penalties are listed in the terms and conditions: http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/terms-and-conditions/?country=us

Once you hit the 74 day mark, you start losing part of your deposit (non-Concierge).

 

[Susiesark]

I also purchased from insuremytrip.com. If you call to speak with an agent, they are very helpful and will help you decide what policy is best for you. Also, easy to change if needed. Cost was much less than DCL. That being said, I haven't actually had to use the insurance, so I don't know how easy the claims process is.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Anyone thinking about buying insurance significantly after paying their depsoit should also get a quote from tripinsurancestore.com. They offer the CSA Freestyle policy that includes a waiver of pre-exisiting coverage if purchased with 24 horus after final payment, which may be the least expensive option for such coverage at that time. -- Suzanne

 

[sullins5]

The penalties are listed in the terms and conditions: http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/terms-and-conditions/?country=us

Once you hit the 74 day mark, you start losing part of your deposit (non-Concierge).

Talked to a cm today about it all,and he was great! I could ask someone else if I absolutely had to and just pay for a name change....whew! But also found out my dd who is a nurse got final approval today

I also purchased from insuremytrip.com. If you call to speak with an agent, they are very helpful and will help you decide what policy is best for you. Also, easy to change if needed. Cost was much less than DCL. That being said, I haven't actually had to use the insurance, so I don't know how easy the claims process is.

I don't know about the claims either, but better safe than sorry! I'll be calling!

Anyone thinking about buying insurance significantly after paying their depsoit should also get a quote from tripinsurancestore.com. They offer the CSA Freestyle policy that includes a waiver of pre-exisiting coverage if purchased with 24 horus after final payment, which may be the least expensive option for such coverage at that time. -- Suzanne

Thanks! I haven't seen that one. Checked on CSA freestyle on insuremytrip but didn't see it.

And all these helps are why I love Disboards! Thanks Y'all!

 

[outahere]

I don't know about the claims either, but better safe than sorry! I'll be calling!

The one time we had to file a claim, we had a check within a week of sending in the paperwork. Most of the policies you see on insuremytrip are actually sold by reputable insurance companies, not insuremytrip. I don't remember which company underwrote our policy, but they were extremely easy to deal with.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Not necessarily what the thread is about but thought I'd share. Never in a million years thought I'd be in this position:

For the first time ever I thought to buy travel insurance for the 5/25 Fantasy we've had booked over a year now. A few months ago when we started making firm decisions on excursions I decided with adventurous activities it might be a good idea. Plus, the flu horror story of a Dis'er's daughter who couldn't get on the ship really got me thinking it would be smart. So, used insuremytrip.com and got coverage for under $200. Never dreamed we might need it. I bought it mostly for the medical coverage & medical transport. Fast forward to this week. DS17 is having some pretty considerable health issues that are likely to prevent us from going on our cruise. I called insuremytrip.com 2 nights ago just to be sure I understood the policy coverage, that as long as this problem is new our trip cost is covered. We're safe! We hope to know more later today after our visit with the GI doc who is making an exception to even see a minor. As stressed as I am over my son's health and trying to keep his pain under control, I cannot imagine if I was staring down the barrel of a potential financial loss of thousands of dollars on top of everything else.

If you never thought you'd need trip insurance, if you are like me & read the stories thinking "So unlikely to be us Im not springing for the extra cost"....Is it worth the risk to be wrong? I promise I will never neglect to buy travel insurance for a cruise vacation ever again.

 

[sullins5]

Not necessarily what the thread is about but thought I'd share. Never in a million years thought I'd be in this position:

For the first time ever I thought to buy travel insurance for the 5/25 Fantasy we've had booked over a year now. A few months ago when we started making firm decisions on excursions I decided with adventurous activities it might be a good idea. Plus, the flu horror story of a Dis'er's daughter who couldn't get on the ship really got me thinking it would be smart. So, used insuremytrip.com and got coverage for under $200. Never dreamed we might need it. I bought it mostly for the medical coverage & medical transport. Fast forward to this week. DS17 is having some pretty considerable health issues that are likely to prevent us from going on our cruise. I called insuremytrip.com 2 nights ago just to be sure I understood the policy coverage, that as long as this problem is new our trip cost is covered. We're safe! We hope to know more later today after our visit with the GI doc who is making an exception to even see a minor. As stressed as I am over my son's health and trying to keep his pain under control, I cannot imagine if I was staring down the barrel of a potential financial loss of thousands of dollars on top of everything else.

If you never thought you'd need trip insurance, if you are like me & read the stories thinking "So unlikely to be us Im not springing for the extra cost"....Is it worth the risk to be wrong? I promise I will never neglect to buy travel insurance for a cruise vacation ever again.

Oh my goodness, Sweetpee! I am so sorry you and your family are going through this. And so thankful that you had the foresight to get insurance! We knew we would be buying it, just didn't know WHEN to buy it. But your post really resounds with the knowledge that everyone should buy it. Will pray for your son this morning, that the doctor will have much wisdom, his pain to subside, and for a calming peace and comfort for you as mom and dad! Come back and let us know how you are! And thanks for sharing.

 

[sullins5]

The one time we had to file a claim, we had a check within a week of sending in the paperwork. Most of the policies you see on insuremytrip are actually sold by reputable insurance companies, not insuremytrip. I don't remember which company underwrote our policy, but they were extremely easy to deal with.

If you have time, would love to know who you used...

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Oh my goodness, Sweetpee! I am so sorry you and your family are going through this. And so thankful that you had the foresight to get insurance! We knew we would be buying it, just didn't know WHEN to buy it. But your post really resounds with the knowledge that everyone should buy it. Will pray for your son this morning, that the doctor will have much wisdom, his pain to subside, and for a calming peace and comfort for you as mom and dad! Come back and let us know how you are! And thanks for sharing.

Thank you.

A friend pointed out last night that sometimes your credit card companies will offer travel insurance either included (Discover Card has lots of little perks that aren't an additional cost that most people don't even know about) or for an additional fee. She said she paid her credit card company something like $99/year for travel insurance wherever/whenever. That's something I never considered! I haven't had time to go look at what my credit card companies offer but it's worth a look if you're shopping for travel insurance. Good luck!

 

[sullins5]

Thank you.

A friend pointed out last night that sometimes your credit card companies will offer travel insurance either included (Discover Card has lots of little perks that aren't an additional cost that most people don't even know about) or for an additional fee. She said she paid her credit card company something like $99/year for travel insurance wherever/whenever. That's something I never considered! I haven't had time to go look at what my credit card companies offer but it's worth a look if you're shopping for travel insurance. Good luck!

A good idea Thanks!