Costco Trip Insurance? And when to buy it

[100AcreWood]

Our final payment is due July 31st. Should I buy trip insurance now or wait until July?

Also - we're planning to buy Costco's trip insurance (our cruise is through Costco as well). Is that a good idea? Should I look at other options?

Thanks!
We're a family of 5 if that makes any difference

 

[pillow]

I bought this insurance for my grandmother before our last trip. Turns out she broke something and could not go with us. We had no problems with the insurance company, and they paid her claim promptly. Their prices are very reasonable. I definitely recommend them.

Jodie

 

[Lisa Lisa]

Costco Travel provides travel insurance via Travel Guard, a highly respected travel insurance company. Quite a few people here seem to purchase their products either directly or through insuremytrip.com. We have purchased a plan through Travel Guard for our last two cruises. We are now Costco members and will be purchasing our insurance through Costco Travel for our 2014 Med cruise. I'm not sure of the price difference as we haven't gotten a quote yet, but you can get a quote directly from Travel Guard and then one from Costco Travel. You can purchase the plan up to 24 hours AFTER you have paid in full and still get full coverage, including pre-existing conditions. That is a huge perk to the Costco/Travel Guard plan. The only caveat is that you have to have either booked through Costco or transferred your booking with them (within 30 days of the initial booking) to be eligible to purchase insurance through them.

 

[PWammy]

I always get insurance through insuremytrip.com; doesn't hurt to compare based on your needs.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

I have purchased the Costco insurance (through Travel Guard as noted) for my last two cruises - including our June Alaskan cruise. I like the fact they will cover pre-existing conditions as long as you purchase the insurance w/in 24 hours of the final payment and also they cover the airfare "complimentary". I have found them to be the cheapest but insuremytrip.com is a great place to start comparing.

Heather

 

[Twohsieh]

I have purchased the Costco insurance (through Travel Guard as noted) for my last two cruises - including our June Alaskan cruise. I like the fact they will cover pre-existing conditions as long as you purchase the insurance w/in 24 hours of the final payment and also they cover the airfare "complimentary". I have found them to be the cheapest but insuremytrip.com is a great place to start comparing.

Heather

Thanks for the information, I didn't know Travel Guard insured the airfare too.

 

[Luv2Diz]

We always purchase the Costco travel insurance along with our cruise. It has excellent prices for very good coverage. I buy it as soon as I book the cruise.

 

[Green Tea]

No need to buy until you make your final payment with this great policy. And yes, you insure the cost of the cruise as booked thru Costco. They automatically insure any additional non refundable costs such as prepaid hotels and airfare.

 

[sftnslky]

Can you buy Costco Travel insurance if you did not book your cruise with/through them? Or would I book directly with Travel Guard and put in my Costco membership number? Thanks for any advise.

 

[Lisa Lisa]

Can you buy Costco Travel insurance if you did not book your cruise with/through them? Or would I book directly with Travel Guard and put in my Costco membership number? Thanks for any advise.

You must have either booked your cruise directly through Costco Travel or transferred it to them -- you need to have a Costco booking number. You purchase the insurance through Costco, not directly through Travel Guard.

 

[GatorMomInNC]

Costco Travel provides travel insurance via Travel Guard, a highly respected travel insurance company. Quite a few people here seem to purchase their products either directly or through insuremytrip.com. We have purchased a plan through Travel Guard for our last two cruises. We are now Costco members and will be purchasing our insurance through Costco Travel for our 2014 Med cruise. I'm not sure of the price difference as we haven't gotten a quote yet, but you can get a quote directly from Travel Guard and then one from Costco Travel. You can purchase the plan up to 24 hours AFTER you have paid in full and still get full coverage, including pre-existing conditions. That is a huge perk to the Costco/Travel Guard plan. The only caveat is that you have to have either booked through Costco or transferred your booking with them (within 30 days of the initial booking) to be eligible to purchase insurance through them.

Uh oh!! I booked a cruise 42 days ago and I have been meaning to go to Costco and become a member and transfer my booking, then get the insurance down the road (the cruise is still 17 months away). But I guess I missed the deadline to transfer, so I won't be able to get the insurance? Oh well.

 

[Lisa Lisa]

Uh oh!! I booked a cruise 42 days ago and I have been meaning to go to Costco and become a member and transfer my booking, then get the insurance down the road (the cruise is still 17 months away). But I guess I missed the deadline to transfer, so I won't be able to get the insurance? Oh well.

DCL changed their cancellation policy fairly recently (a few months ago?), and they now require that transfers to TAs be done within 30 days. Prior to that their policy was very liberal. I'm pretty sure you just had to transfer before you had PIF. Apparently there was a little bit of a grace period right after the change became effective, but I'm pretty sure they're enforcing it across the board now.

 

[pillow]

Uh oh!! I booked a cruise 42 days ago and I have been meaning to go to Costco and become a member and transfer my booking, then get the insurance down the road (the cruise is still 17 months away). But I guess I missed the deadline to transfer, so I won't be able to get the insurance? Oh well.

If I were you, I'd try sending in the tranfer request anyway (that is, if you don't mind spending the $55 to join Costco). I know DCL was letting some transfers slide right when the policy became effective. I'm not sure if they are enforcing this now though. I'd give it a shot. That Costco cash card is worth it!

Jodie

 

[Green Tea]

I'm pretty sure you have to already be a member to talk to the travel agents. If you were going to join anyway, give it a try.