Buying & using trip medical insurance

[snickerboo]

Who do you use for trip medical insurance and have you ever had to use you medical insurance. If so, how was the company to deal with. Dh has insurance through his CC but it's only for the cardholder o I'll have to buy for the kids and I. President's Choice is cheapest but I'm leery about something so cheap.

 

[KerriMc]

We originally had insurance through the travel agent the first year we travelled ... I don't remember the name (RBC? but that is a guess) ... we ended up using it as my youngest was just 8 mos old then and came down with RSV while on holidays. We had a visit to the clinic (300) and I prepaid that not knowing I should have called them first and they would send a form ahead to cover us. So when we ended up rushing her to emerg we did that and she got in really fast and had x-rays done and a vapour treatment. We didnt' have to pay out of pocket at all. I could look and see what company that was. It was so nice not to have to pay and wait to be reimbursed.

This past year we went and just had the TD travel insurance which is what I usually buy. My dad ended up at the hospital with severe jaw pain and high blood pressure (so thinking possible heart attack or abcess ... what a variance lol). It took a long time but my parents got all of their money reimbursed as well. That is pretty cost affective too ... probably similar in cost to PC and likely a similar insurance company.

We think we have it through dh's work too ... but I usually just buy some to be sure!

 

[Remmy]

I have always bought insurance through Manulife, on line. I think you can also find it under the CoverMe website. I work with insurance plans at work and have always enjoyed dealing with them for non-trip issues.

A long time back, my parents and I went to the States and had this same insurance. My dad had a kidney stone attack and we rushed him to a hospital. He was treated like a king due to insurance and they never had to pay a cent. We just called first as per the number and stipulation they give you. If it was an emergency where you couldn't call, no worries, I have asked and you just need to call as soon as possible or someone from your traveling party does.

I would never travel without insurance and found them to be cheaper than through CAA (even though it is the same company they use) and the Royal Bank. It is a company I trust thus that is why we always used them. In January I purchased travel insurance for my whole family and for I think 22 days of out of province (always pay for a few days before and after for full coverage and if an emergency and you cannot leave on the day you planned) it came to roughly around the $80.00 mark. I thought this was well worth the peace of mind for our trip. Of course prices charged are usually for the ages of your family and past medical information, thus it could be lower or higher depending on your personal information.

My advice would be feel really comfortable dealing with whatever insurance company you choose and make certain to read all the fine details of the policy.

Remmy

 

[grover]

We buy ours thru Blue Cross..have had to use in the USA and never had any problem..they direct billed for us. For one year of coverage it cost us about 100.00

 

[wannago2disney]

we use CIBC to top up our coverage...DH's work covers 80% and we pay to upgrade the rest. Of course you can get 100% coverage as well. We personally have not had to use it, but friends of ours did last year when they were in an accident in the US and it worked the same as PP who mentioned RBC...call ahead and they handle everything. We find it to be more cost effective than CAA (which we belong to).

 

[Charleyann]

We use BMO . We are covered for medical, trip interruption and cancellation. We are going for 33 days and family insirance was $158!

Charleyann

 

[Calgary DISHeads]

I haven't looked into at all and final payment is due on Friday. I am the worst procrastinator! I haven't bought cancellation insurance/trip interruption since the kids were small and we are covered on the medical side by sunlife through work. However this time do want to purchase especially because of H1N1, and the fact that DS15 dislocated and fractured his shoulder on Friday which easily could have been done the day we were due to leave. Has anyone just purchased this type of insurance - any idea of the best providers, reasonable cost etc? Thanks in advance for help.

 

[Charleyann]

I haven't looked into at all and final payment is due on Friday. I am the worst procrastinator! I haven't bought cancellation insurance/trip interruption since the kids were small and we are covered on the medical side by sunlife through work. However this time do want to purchase especially because of H1N1, and the fact that DS15 dislocated and fractured his shoulder on Friday which easily could have been done the day we were due to leave. Has anyone just purchased this type of insurance - any idea of the best providers, reasonable cost etc? Thanks in advance for help.

Try BMO, you can buy it the day before....I got 33 days, family plan for $158.

Charleyann

 

[Calgary DISHeads]

Try BMO, you can buy it the day before....I got 33 days, family plan for $158.

Charleyann

Great thank you! Wow 33 days lucky you that is quite a trip!

Interestingly enough last trip we were almost stuck overnight in Toronto due to a massive storm and when I called visa about delayed travel insurance they were confused as to whether we would be covered because although the trip was booked via visa and the tax etc for the airline tickets was charged to via the actual tickets weren't (on points). I couldn't get an answer at the time and forgot about it as we didn't have to use it. Should check into that again...

 

[snickerboo]

Thanks for the info. I bought the Manulife health family plan. We booked using our American Rewards Miles. They're the only thing we'd lose and we didn't think trip cancellation insurance would cover those, though they'll cost us about $500 to get reimbursed if we cancel. This was one year we did not prepay everything!

 

[P&L@WDW]

I always use RBC. I find them really affordable, and they will prepay everything if you call ahead, like other posters have mentioned. I've had to use my medical insurance twice, on two separate trips! You can buy insurance right up to, and including the day you leave, with RBC, at any bank branch. They have a 1800 number too, somewhere.

I haven't looked into at all and final payment is due on Friday. I am the worst procrastinator! I haven't bought cancellation insurance/trip interruption since the kids were small and we are covered on the medical side by sunlife through work. However this time do want to purchase especially because of H1N1, and the fact that DS15 dislocated and fractured his shoulder on Friday which easily could have been done the day we were due to leave. Has anyone just purchased this type of insurance - any idea of the best providers, reasonable cost etc? Thanks in advance for help.

 

[Calgary DISHeads]

I am such a procrasinator I am trying to persuade DH to move from POR to AKL! Wish me luck....

On the insurance front, since Thursday DS15 has disclocated and fractured his shoulder, and I have been tested for H1N1 and am on tamiflu. You just never know what/when will hit.

 

[mkmommy]

We use BMO . We are covered for medical, trip interruption and cancellation. We are going for 33 days and family insirance was $158!

Charleyann

How did you get this rate? I got a quote on line for only a 10 day trip for family and it was almost $400. $158 is a big difference, and I think that was about the price without cancellation.

 

[Calgary DISHeads]

How did you get this rate? I got a quote on line for only a 10 day trip for family and it was almost $400. $158 is a big difference, and I think that was about the price without cancellation.

I just called CIBC and was quoted $122.04 EACH for cancellation insurance - no medical - I just about choked. To add medical would be about $45 each. Where did you get the quote for $400? Mind doesn't even include airfare as we are flying on points!

 

[minnie56]

How much is the total value of your trip Calgary DISheads?

 

[Calgary DISHeads]

How much is the total value of your trip Calgary DISheads?

$7200 US (without airfare - on points) so around $8K cdn.

 

[minnie56]

How many days? Kids ages?

 

[Calgary DISHeads]

How many days? Kids ages?

14 days, 15 and 12

 

[Charleyann]

How did you get this rate? I got a quote on line for only a 10 day trip for family and it was almost $400. $158 is a big difference, and I think that was about the price without cancellation.

I got this online. But you can call BMO directly I google under BMO travel insurance....

Then I called. You can add different things. I took medical and trip interruption for 33 days and got quoted $155. I'll go find it and post the link!

Charleyann

 

[mkmommy]

I got this online. But you can call BMO directly I google under BMO travel insurance....

Then I called. You can add different things. I took medical and trip interruption for 33 days and got quoted $155. I'll go find it and post the link!

Charleyann

Ok you just have trip interruption only, not cancelation that explains the difference.