Chase Sapphire Reserve travel insurance?

[*pixie*]

I'm new to CSR, and one of the perks I keep reading about is the great travel insurance, but I'm unsure if it is "great" enough to cover a cruise outside of the US? I had always purchased trip insurance when we cruise, and this would be a great cost savings and benefit if I could just use the CSR travel insurance instead. Anyone have any experience with it?

 

[mlayman7]

As long as you purchase the entire trip and airline tickets with that card you are eligible for the benefits. This was one of the reasons why we got the preferred card, that and the 100k points. I don't think it covers as much as individual travel insurance will but for us and most of ours trips, it gives us enough peace of mind to not purchase separate insurance.

 

[BrokeMack]

CSP is a great travel card in general, and I always recommend it, but it only covers the cost of the vacation. The biggest reason Disney (and most travel agents) recommend separate insurance is for medical. I'm a professional helicopter pilot (we are obligated to say that any time it comes up) and let me tell you, if you need to be medevac'd from a ship or port you're looking at $30k minimum. Get additional coverage.

 

[byurick]

CSP is a great travel card in general, and I always recommend it, but it only covers the cost of the vacation. The biggest reason Disney (and most travel agents) recommend separate insurance is for medical. I'm a professional helicopter pilot (we are obligated to say that any time it comes up) and let me tell you, if you need to be medevac'd from a ship or port you're looking at $30k minimum. Get additional coverage.

Isn't that considered an "emergency evacuation?"

If you or a member of your immediate family are injured or become sick during a trip 100 miles or more from home that results in an emergency evacuation, you can be covered for medical services and transportation up to $100,000.

 

[BrokeMack]

Isn't that considered an "emergency evacuation?"

Oh, nice! I missed that part.

 

[*pixie*]

CSP is a great travel card in general, and I always recommend it, but it only covers the cost of the vacation. The biggest reason Disney (and most travel agents) recommend separate insurance is for medical. I'm a professional helicopter pilot (we are obligated to say that any time it comes up) and let me tell you, if you need to be medevac'd from a ship or port you're looking at $30k minimum. Get additional coverage.

This was one of my concerns!

 

[tvguy]

CSP is a great travel card in general, and I always recommend it, but it only covers the cost of the vacation. The biggest reason Disney (and most travel agents) recommend separate insurance is for medical. I'm a professional helicopter pilot (we are obligated to say that any time it comes up) and let me tell you, if you need to be medevac'd from a ship or port you're looking at $30k minimum. Get additional coverage.

Well, as they say, your mileage may vary, depending on where you are cruising and if you are an American citizen. Is PRIVATE medical evacuation expensive? Yes. I have witnessed three medical evacuations, all in the Caribbean, all conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard, including one from the Magic at sea. The other two were from private cruise line islands in the Caribbean. And of course, U.S. Coast guard evacuations are free, since it is illegal for the Coast Guard to charge for it's service. And if you have ever watched the show Deadliest Catch and see fisherman evacuated from fishing boats around Alaska, those are all U.S. Coast Guard helicopter.
The reality is, in the Caribbean and Alaska, for example, the only Helicopter crews qualified to do evacuations from a cruise ship at sea will be the U.S. Coast guard.
But the most important point about insurance when traveling, CHECK what coverage you already have. My last two employers group health insurance included overseas coverage and medical evacuation, because employees from time to time. Check your coverage.\
I am retired and on Medicare now, Medicare covers NOTHING outside the U.S. However my Medigap insurance (known as Medicare Part G) does cover Medical care anywhere in the world and Medical evacuation. I HAVE purchased travel insurance for my next cruise, more for the travel interruption coverage as this is a two week, land sea package I am taking.
And remember, even with travel insurance, the travel insurance company is going to expect you to pay out of pocket in most cases for any covered care. And they will check to see if your regular Medical insurance will cover anything, as they will always be your primary insurance.

 

[BrokeMack]

Well, as they say, your mileage may vary, depending on where you are cruising and if you are an American citizen. Is PRIVATE medical evacuation expensive? Yes. I have witnessed three medical evacuations, all in the Caribbean, all conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard, including one from the Magic at sea. The other two were from private cruise line islands in the Caribbean. And of course, U.S. Coast guard evacuations are free, since it is illegal for the Coast Guard to charge for it's service. And if you have ever watched the show Deadliest Catch and see fisherman evacuated from fishing boats around Alaska, those are all U.S. Coast Guard helicopter.
The reality is, in the Caribbean and Alaska, for example, the only Helicopter crews qualified to do evacuations from a cruise ship at sea will be the U.S. Coast guard.
But the most important point about insurance when traveling, CHECK what coverage you already have. My last two employers group health insurance included overseas coverage and medical evacuation, because employees from time to time. Check your coverage.\
I am retired and on Medicare now, Medicare covers NOTHING outside the U.S. However my Medigap insurance (known as Medicare Part G) does cover Medical care anywhere in the world and Medical evacuation. I HAVE purchased travel insurance for my next cruise, more for the travel interruption coverage as this is a two week, land sea package I am taking.
And remember, even with travel insurance, the travel insurance company is going to expect you to pay out of pocket in most cases for any covered care. And they will check to see if your regular Medical insurance will cover anything, as they will always be your primary insurance.

Minor (pedantic) point of professional pride, but the 301st Rescue Squadron out of Patrick SFB near Port Canaveral also does cruise ship rescue (far less frequently than the Coast Guard). But your point stands, as an Air Force squadron, US taxpayers have already paid for that evac as well. I'm not trying to be a "well actually" guy. I'm a defense contractor and I've trained a bunch of their crews so I had to brag on them.

 

[tvguy]

Minor (pedantic) point of professional pride, but the 301st Rescue Squadron out of Patrick SFB near Port Canaveral also does cruise ship rescue (far less frequently than the Coast Guard). But your point stands, as an Air Force squadron, US taxpayers have already paid for that evac as well. I'm not trying to be a "well actually" guy. I'm a defense contractor and I've trained a bunch of their crews so I had to brag on them.

Thanks for the information.

 

[ironz]

Please keep in mind that a Coast Guard evac from, say, a ship to mainland, or island to mainland, does not equal a subsequent transfer to the mainland U.S. Case in point, Alaska. USCG might get you from the ship or an excursion to Ketchikan, but not all high level care is performed in Ketchikan and there may be paid Medivac services to get you to Seattle or Bellingham.
Much less Skagway, which has more of a clinic than a hospital.

 

[Girl of the South]

You really need to read what is covered with the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. It does have good TRAVEL insurance.

It does have Emergency Evacuation Insurance up to $100,000. That’s for a helicopter or maybe a medical flight to a large hospital.

BUT it only covers $2,500 in MEDICAL insurance.

 

[Girl of the South]

My Cigna Medigap Plan G does NOT cover Medical Evacuation and the foreign medical coverage is capped at a $50,000 lifetime amount.

I have purchased a supplemental year long medical evacuation policy for about $225 if I plan to travel out of the country in any given year.

 

[*pixie*]

According to my medical insurance, I do have out of the country coverage for urgent and emergency care. I have to call for more specific information which I haven’t done. So, assuming medical coverage through my health insurance is adequate, would the $100,000 in evacuation coverage and the other travel coverage be enough for most trips that don’t exceed $20,000 in total?

Also, is this coverage only for the primary cardholder and additional authorized users? I’m assuming if I booked and paid for my adult children they wouldn’t be covered?

 

[Girl of the South]

You can look up the travel insurance info on the Chase website. It says “immediate family” which I believe would mean wife and children. I don’t think there’s an age limit on the “child”.

Is $100,000 enough if you were traveling with Your wife and 2 adult children and you all needed to be evacuated? Better than nothing. Of course depends on circumstances.

 

[eticketplease]

CSP is a great travel card in general, and I always recommend it, but it only covers the cost of the vacation. The biggest reason Disney (and most travel agents) recommend separate insurance is for medical. I'm a professional helicopter pilot (we are obligated to say that any time it comes up) and let me tell you, if you need to be medevac'd from a ship or port you're looking at $30k minimum. Get additional coverage.

The CSP doesn’t have emergency evacuation coverage. Luckily the OP is discussing the CSR which does have that coverage.

 

[Girl of the South]

Yes, sorry, the Chase Sapphire Reserve does have evacuation insurance but still only $2500 in medical care. Although healthcare is cheaper pretty much everywhere else on the planet!

Both Sapphire cards have decent travel insurance and would cover more than just your time on the ship but the days before and after if you extended your trip, making it IMHO, better than insurance offered through DCL.

 

[jimmymc]

It has very good travel and evactuation insurance, but it does not have complete medical coverage. So you still want to check with your medical insurance coverage and consider getting extra if they don't cover outside of the US. Definitely check though, because some US insurance companies will cover emergencies anywhere in the world (but not things like primary care or specialist visits).

For what it's worth, I put my whole cruises on CSR and don't get supplemental insurance.

 

[BrokeMack]

The CSP doesn’t have emergency evacuation coverage. Luckily the OP is discussing the CSR which does have that coverage.

Oops. That's on me.

 

[*pixie*]

It has very good travel and evactuation insurance, but it does not have complete medical coverage. So you still want to check with your medical insurance coverage and consider getting extra if they don't cover outside of the US. Definitely check though, because some US insurance companies will cover emergencies anywhere in the world (but not things like primary care or specialist visits).

For what it's worth, I put my whole cruises on CSR and don't get supplemental insurance.

Thank you!

 

[pjacobi]

Several years ago, I filed a claim with CSP for a canceled trip. Chase covered the trans-Atlantic airline ticket charged to the card and also the tour portion paid by personal check.

As with almost any travel insurance, filing a claim is a long process! Be prepared to scan documents to PDF format and upload them to a website. This process may require computer skills that may be beyond some people.


-Paul