Corona virus and trip insurance

[EllinK]

Does trip insurance cover anything corona-virus related? I feel like insurance policies often have a lot of exclusions and wonder if a pandemic might be one of them?

 

[mousefan73]

Well it‘s not officially a pandemic; so I don’t know is that makes a difference. I know on the diamond cruise one couple‘s insurance would have airlifted them out but officials wouldn‘t let them.

 

[MarkLT1]

Also, it may very well depend on the insurance policy you purchased. Just like car, health, and life insurance have different exclusions depending on company, what coverage level you buy, etc.. so does travel insurance. So you'd really need to look into your policy and see what exclusions it has.

 

[Gentry2004]

I’m shopping for insurance right now and checking for the same thing.

 

[Lisa F]

I just re-read my trip insurance stuff because I'm going on a cruise on Saturday

There is of course no language specifically about it since it was purchased pre-corona virus

The only things that kind of refer to it is that it DOES cover trip cancellation due to a "sickness or injury that medically imposed restrictions prevented your participation in the covered trip" so that would include being denied boarding due to being symptomatic, you would just require some kind of medical note documenting that that's why you were denied boarding.

Trip interruption includes also a sickness that resulting in "medically imposed conditions" and would cover up to 150% of the trip coverage amount to include additional costs in returning home NOT requiring an emergency evacuation

Accident and sickness coverage is only during the length of your trip for sickness which first occurs during your trip, this policy will also make prepayments to hospitals and not require you to pay it of pocket BUT you must work with their emergency services and get it approved etc.

pre-existing conditions refer to conditions that existed 60 days before you purchased your policy.

it's about what you'd expect, it doesn't have any exclusions for epidemic or pandemic or anything like that. If you're sick and denied travel because you're sick, cancellation kicks in. If you get sick while on vacation - medical, potential evac and interruption kicks in.

 

[Gentry2004]

In general, not Corona virus specific, if you are denied boarding does the cruise line offer you anything? I know they technically don’t have to, but I’m wondering if quietly they do for PR reasons. Just curious.

I’m currently debating between full trip insurance and simply medical/medical evac. which is much cheaper.

 

[lanejudy]

In general, not Corona virus specific, if you are denied boarding does the cruise line offer you anything?

While possible, I would not count on it. If you want to be covered, spring for the full insurance; it's relatively inexpensive compared to the cruise fare.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[Happy100]

While possible, I would not count on it. If you want to be covered, spring for the full insurance; it's relatively inexpensive compared to the cruise fare.

Enjoy your vacation!

Is full insurance aka comprehensive?

 

[lanejudy]

Is full insurance aka comprehensive?

Probably. I was responding to a PP who used the term “full trip insurance” vs “simply medical/medical evac.” Regardless of what it is called, read your policy and be sure it has the coverage options you want. Coverages can differ from one policy to another.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[fbarker]

How about the insurance the WDW provides

 

[Mommb]

How about the insurance the WDW provides

This is based on what I have read in this description of the Vacation Protection Plan trip insurance that Disney Cruise Line sells: https://coverage.archinsurancesolut...coverage/b99c819d-fc0a-ea11-8124-1418776a18cb

If you are diagnosed after you purchase the insurance but before your departure date by a doctor who advises you not to travel, then missing a cruise due to coronavirus would be covered under the insurance.

If you are healthy when you board but become ill once onboard the ship, the insurance will pay ""Usual and Customary" medical fees.

If you simply don't want to take the cruise due to concerns about coronavirus, the insurance would not reimburse you, but it is possible that the "cancel for any reason" benefit would provide a credit of 75% of cancellation fees toward another cruise taken in the next year.

If you show symptoms on departure day and are denied boarding, it's unclear whether the cruise line would reimburse you and whether the insurance would provide benefits.

 

[vegs1]

I was looking at different trip insurance policies the other day and one actually had a banner pop up that said Coronavirus coverage would not be insured because basically, they are waiting for it to happen now. I found it strange since it’s not like everyone will get it. However, they are treating it like a pre existing condition.

https://www.insurancebusinessmag.co...ver-coronavirus-squaremouth-warns-215474.aspx
Most important, read your policy. Not all policies use the “60 day prior to purchase” clause mentioned in one of the posts above. The company we use has “60 days prior to travel” for pre existing conditions.

Call your insurance company and ask them specific questions. Most calls are recorded so if they tell you you’re covered, they can always pull the call and listen to what you were told. I always make note of the date, time and name of person I was speaking with for that very reason.

 

[Gentry2004]

I was looking at different trip insurance policies the other day and one actually had a banner pop up that said Coronavirus coverage would not be insured because basically, they are waiting for it to happen now. I found it strange since it’s not like everyone will get it. However, they are treating it like a pre existing condition.

https://www.insurancebusinessmag.co...ver-coronavirus-squaremouth-warns-215474.aspx
Most important, read your policy. Not all policies use the “60 day prior to purchase” clause mentioned in one of the posts above. The company we use has “60 days prior to travel” for pre existing conditions.

Call your insurance company and ask them specific questions. Most calls are recorded so if they tell you you’re covered, they can always pull the call and listen to what you were told. I always make note of the date, time and name of person I was speaking with for that very reason.

This makes no sense. So if you get Flu A 3 days before your trip, it’s a pre-existing condition because it’s prior to travel and we are already aware it exists?

 

[vegs1]

This makes no sense. So if you get Flu A 3 days before your trip, it’s a pre-existing condition because it’s prior to travel?

Dependent on what your policy says, yes. For the policy I have, if I get sick prior to departure, I can cancel as I didn’t have it prior, but I would not be covered for the medical out of country portion (for anything flu related) because I was sick prior to leaving. But only for flu. If I broke my arm or leg, that would be covered.

If you change the word “flu” for “cancer or heart attack” (more serious diagnosis) you can understand why they wouldn’t cover you. The risk involved becomes much higher that you would be hospitalized while away incurring a lot of expenses for the insurance company. BUT....it depends on YOUR policy wording. That is what mine says.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We are going to Africa at end of March. We have trip insurance for medical reasons only. My TA called just to confirm they would not cover if we wanted to cancel ahead of time and were not sick. Nope. Probably should have got cancel for any reason in hindsight but our trip is very expensive and the additional cost of adding cancel for any reason was almost $3000. On the other hand I’m not really a worrier and there’s nothing to be done about it. I’ll worry about being quarantined somewhere if it happens. We see in our 70s healthy and no underlying heart or lung conditions. So I’m not even worried about getting the flu.

 

[vegs1]

We are going to Africa at end of March. We have trip insurance for medical reasons only. My TA called just to confirm they would not cover if we wanted to cancel ahead of time and were not sick. Nope. Probably should have got cancel for any reason in hindsight but our trip is very expensive and the additional cost of adding cancel for any reason was almost $3000. On the other hand I’m not really a worrier and there’s nothing to be done about it. I’ll worry about being quarantined somewhere if it happens. We see in our 70s healthy and no underlying heart or lung conditions. So I’m not even worried about getting the flu.

Medical insurance when travelling out of country is a smart purchase. Go with a positive mindset and have fun. We loved Africa. Have been twice and they were our absolute favourite trips!

 

[Mommb]

This makes no sense. So if you get Flu A 3 days before your trip, it’s a pre-existing condition because it’s prior to travel and we are already aware it exists?

This article is not clear, but it appears to be referring to people cancelling due to the outbreak of coronavirus even though they are not personally infected. Cancellations due to conditions that you were aware of when you purchased insurance (such as a named hurricane) are typically not covered.

I doubt the 208% increase in people seeking trip cancellation coverage cited in the article is from people actually diagnosed (or fearing they are about to be diagnosed) with coronavirus before their trip. It's from people afraid that due to external circumstances they will be unable or unwilling to take their trip (for example, because the cities they want to travel to are quarantined). This applies more to private arrangements than to organized trips such as cruises, where cancellations by the trip provider typically result in full refunds.

Historically, when a Disney Cruise has been cancelled, passengers on that cruise have received a full refund of their fare, whether or not they had insurance. Passengers who did not have insurance may have incurred additional costs, such as as airfare, hotels or other lodging during the time they'd planned to be on the cruise, transportation between cities (if the cruise was one-way), and so on. It is possible that some insurance companies will not provide coverage for additional expenses if a cruise is cancelled, delayed, or extended due to coronavirus. This is more likely for insurance purchased in the past month or moving forward. It is likely that some insurance companies will not cover reimbursements to travelers who cancel due to concerns about coronavirus when their trip itself is not cancelled.

It is not likely that someone who purchased insurance at the time of final payment over 2 months ago who later contracts a disease that prevents travelling would be denied coverage. However, it is possible that someone in Milan or Seattle who has been exposed to someone with coronavirus and buys insurance after knowing about that exposure would be denied trip cancellation coverage if she later tests positive for the virus.

 

[MillauFr]

This makes no sense. So if you get Flu A 3 days before your trip, it’s a pre-existing condition because it’s prior to travel and we are already aware it exists?

Insurance providers can be very slimy. They are out to deny claims to increase their profit margins.

 

[BadPinkTink]

I'm in Europe so the policies are different but this is what I'm covered for


Travel Disruption
Travel Disruption optional cover provides the following cover:

• If your flight is cancelled or delayed for more than 12 hours, it covers additional accommodation and travel costs up to €1,000.
• If your flight is cancelled or delayed for more than 12 hours, then you can claim back up to €1,000 for irrecoverable unused travel and accommodation costs should you cancel.
• Claim back up to €1,000 for accommodation if you have to be moved from your current location or cut your trip short because of flood, earthquake, volcanic eruption etc.
• Covers cancellation or curtailment charges should the Foreign & Commonwealth Office or World Health Organisation advise against travel to the country or specific area you are travelling to.
• Gives you control of the situation and the added security that you have sufficient cover should an airline cancel, delay or redirect your flight after take-off.

Please keep in mind that Travel Disruption cover will take 7 days to be effective and won't provide cover for anything existing or being publicly announced at the time of purchase.

 

[vegs1]

Insurance providers can be very slimy. They are out to deny claims to increase their profit margins.

I agree there are some unscrupulous providers just as there are unscrupulous doctors, dentists, bankers, etc. Insurance is a business so of course they want to increase their profit margins. The same way DCL is a cruise line and charges higher prices, sometimes making cuts to things people like to increase their bottom line.

We all need to read and understand our policies. It is unfortunate that it is confusing but if you aren’t sure what you’re covered for, call and ask.
Many people don’t realize that going for a change to their medications changes the stability period. It’s these small things that cause problems. If you know what you are and aren’t covered for, there shouldn’t be a problem with being denied coverage. Buy through a reputable provider.

We have had to use our insurance quite a few times for medical issues and not once did we have an issue. It’s great to have people on these forums to answer questions for us but insurance can be very tricky and policies vary greatly between providers.