Could the cruise industry make travel insurance mandatory? Up date page two 8-10-2020

[71 Truck]

In light of what is happening around the world with the Coronavirus and other illnesses (flu, Norovirus, etc) that people may contract prior to going on a cruise vacation, could the cruise industry make travel insurance mandatory?

The cruise industry could mandate insurance either through them or from a third party with proof at time of on line check in prior to boarding. With people spending thousands of dollars on their cruise they may not be as forthcoming with information of an illness prior to boarding the ships due to the fact they do not want to lose their money invested in their vacation. Families may spend years saving and I am sure many if not most can't afford to just walk away from that kind of investment; and some may not even realize the importantance of the insurance if this is their first trip or just don't want to spend the extra on the coverage (i.e. "we'll take a chance").

Over the last 19 years of going on cruises my wife and I have always purchased travel insurance mostly for the medical/medical evacuation portion of the policy. We live and cruise out of central Florida so even though the policy offers other benefits, the above mentioned is the most important to us.

Do you think this could happen?

 

[cwis]

Difficult to enforce, how would the cruise industry make sure the traveler is really insured?

Not because you have contracted one doesn't mean there aren't exceptions that would apply to you.

 

[71 Truck]

Difficult to enforce, how would the cruise industry make sure the traveler is really insured?

Not because you have contracted one doesn't mean there aren't exceptions that would apply to you.

When my wife and I purchase insurance we get a confirmation of benefits page that list our names and a list of covered benefits.
This would be something you would have check off on the online check in as having then you would have to present a policy cover page on the day of the cruise at check in.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Not legally in many countries.

Reality: They cannot force people to defer risk.

 

[MomOTwins]

Difficult to enforce, how would the cruise industry make sure the traveler is really insured?

Not because you have contracted one doesn't mean there aren't exceptions that would apply to you.

The exceptions are a big problem. On our first cruise we had Disney insurance, and my DH was quarantined due to noro. The ship's doctor form said he had noro. But the insurance refused to cover it as trip interruption because all we could prove was that he had noro per the ship's doctor, not that he was quarantined, which was ridiculous of course.

On top of that, a lot of us in our party have pretty significant pre-existing conditions so I'm skeptical that our claim would be accepted if one of us gets sick.

So basically, the only thing that would have value for us is the cancel for any reason 75% back coverage that DCL offers, and I live in one of the states that allows you to purchase that separate from the plan. So I called the number they say to call and they kept saying they'll get back to me but keep putting me off, and it is almost PIF for me, so they are clearly just riding out the clock to avoid having to give me what they are legally required to.

I can't say I'm surprised that insurance companies are total scam artists (I still chuckle a bit when I remember how in the first year of my twins' life, my insurance kept denying claims for one of them because they were "duplicate" claims--same treatment same day, same birthdate. Haha.) But if DCL required me to throw away hundreds of dollars on a scam, I'd stop cruising DCL.

 

[spiders]

I have insurance.

With that being said, no. This is really overreacting. Has there been anyone caught lying so far? I don't think there has. The NY/NJ case doesn't count because the ban wasn't in effect when it sailed. If you already have it or have the flu then you're not going anyway. Nobody is going to be able to show up and look fine. It has also become increasingly difficult to travel to/from/through China to begin with.

They are against requiring passports on closed loop cruises. They will be against requiring insurance. I have a passport. With that being said as well, passports are not required on closed loop cruises. Whenever someone asks, there are always numerous people giving their reasons why they feel they absolutely need to have a passport but those are still feelings that they are interpreting as requirements. Some people will also swear they'll never book a flight going home earlier than 2PM which is absolutely absurd if you ask me but that's them. It's their life and if they want to sit in an airport for hours and hours and hours in the rare event that they don't dock on time or that there is this horrific accident then go ahead.

Insurance is expensive. We spend a fortunate for insurance on many different aspects of our lives right down to phones. Some people will swear they need phone insurance. I am 100% opposed to it. I won't like it if I break my phone but if it breaks, it breaks and I'll go by a new one.

Requiring people to do something based on your own personal level of comfort is irrational.

 

[squirk]

This is not going to happen. And it's not going to work anyway, because cancelling a cruise is about a whole lot more than just the financial risk.

Even if a family has insurance, if Dad starts to develop a nasty cough two days before a cruise, he's still going to bluff his way onto that ship. He's not going to let down his kids who have been looking forward to this trip for many months by cancelling at the last minute. He's not going to flush all that planning and anticipation down the drain.

Should he cancel? Yes. Will most people in that position cancel? I don't think so.

 

[MillauFr]

People should at least get a credit card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve where you get the medical, evacuation, and cancellation coverage for free when you use the credit card to book the cruise. There is no need to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for additional coverage.

 

[MillauFr]

With people spending thousands of dollars on their cruise they may not be as forthcoming with information of an illness prior to boarding the ships due to the fact they do not want to lose their money invested in their vacation.

Even if they had insurance I doubt if it would change how forthcoming they are.

 

[MillauFr]

Insurance is expensive.

Just get a credit card where you get the insurance for free.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

I think it's a great idea and would love to see that happen. They can make drivers carry insurance, so it's not outside of the realm of possibility to make cruisers do the same. It's unlikely to happen now, but not impossible in the future. Who knows, we might just be a pandemic away from such a requirement. It would help improve public safety because it would at least reduce people's likelihood to lie on those forms, thereby spreading communicable diseases.

There are plenty of reputable insurance companies, btw. My travel insurance company of choice is great. Affordable plans, and on the two recent occasions when I had to cancel trips (one for medical reasons & one "cancel for any reason" cancellation), I submitted the required documentation and then was reimbursed promptly.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I think it's a great idea and would love to see that happen. They can make drivers carry insurance, so it's not outside of the realm of possibility to make cruisers do the same. It's unlikely to happen now, but not impossible in the future. Who knows, we might just be a pandemic away from such a requirement. It would help improve public safety because it would at least reduce people's likelihood to lie on those forms, thereby spreading communicable diseases.

There are plenty of reputable insurance companies, btw. My travel insurance company of choice is great. Affordable plans, and on the two recent occasions when I had to cancel trips (one for medical reasons & one "cancel for any reason" cancellation), I submitted the required documentation and then was reimbursed promptly.

Drivers aren't insuring themselves. They're insuring for the other guy. It's different.

 

[insureman]

I always get travel insurance. That being said I don't think the cruise industry is going to make one more thing like buying travel insurance mandatory, people just won't cruise then.

 

[Mainsail Minnie]

Drivers aren't insuring themselves. They're insuring for the other guy. It's different.

Many jurisdictions require comprehensive coverage of all drivers, and many drivers in other jurisdictions choose comprehensive coverage regardless of whether it's required or not. Drivers certainly can and do insure themselves.

Basic health insurance is also mandated. Of course different types of insurance (car, health, travel) have differences from one another. They also have the similarity in common that they mitigate individuals' risks and are a benefit to the broader society.

 

[vegs1]

I can't say I'm surprised that insurance companies are total scam artists (I still chuckle a bit when I remember how in the first year of my twins' life, my insurance kept denying claims for one of them because they were "duplicate" claims--same treatment same day, same birthdate. Haha.) But if DCL required me to throw away hundreds of dollars on a scam, I'd stop cruising DCL.

I don’t believe that insurance companies are total scam artists. Some may definitely be unscrupulous, and it sounds like you definitely had issues, but ours has been wonderful.

We have had many claims for travel insurance, some quite serious and for a lot of money, and we were asked for the documents proving the claim and they were paid out. Saved us thousands of dollars. We have had a couple of claims through our auto insurance and they have been paid also.

Insurance is a high fraud business. Millions of dollars are lost on fraudulent claims yearly so they must do their due diligence and ask questions accordingly.

 

[DisKaren]

[QUOTE="Mainsail Minnie, post: 61536878, member:

Basic health insurance is also mandated.

This isn’t true any more. It was overturned on the federal level. There are a few states that are still requiring people to carry health insurance, however.
I think it’s a good idea to have travel insurance for cruises, but don’t like the idea of being forced to do so. I like @MillauFr’s suggestion of a cc that has the insurance included.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I like @MillauFr’s suggestion of a cc that has the insurance included.

I'm not sure I'd like whatever mass insurance policy some big credit card company would come up with.

There are credit cards that do include insurance, but it's quite limited.

 

[DisKaren]

I'm not sure I'd like whatever mass insurance policy some big credit card company would come up with.

There are credit cards that do include insurance, but it's quite limited.

Agreed. One would have to look over the fine print carefully.

 

[Starwind]

Agreed. One would have to look over the fine print carefully.

And especially so if there are any pre-existing conditions. The CC available here with travel coverage all have pre-existing condition clauses that require 60-90 days stability. For our family, that doesn't work, so though we have and use a card with some travel insurance coverage, we purchase additional separate insurance so pre-existing conditions are properly covered [and even then, the shortest stability period available is 7 days].

SW

 

[MillauFr]

I'm not sure I'd like whatever mass insurance policy some big credit card company would come up with.

There are credit cards that do include insurance, but it's quite limited.

Agreed. Many credit cards offer insurance, but the benefits are rather limited. From what I've read online and first hand accounts of making claims it seems like the Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of the best. I get it for the trip cancellation insurance and the medical evacuation insurance. This site does a pretty good job explaining the benefits.

https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/travel/your-guide-to-chase-sapphire-reserve-travel-insurance/