How late can I add insurance? And what happens with insurance if I move the cruise?

[mellers]

Wow! I wish I had know some of the things I just found on the link last March when I booked my trip. With needing to book DCL so rediculously far out I might not be able to get anything worth the money. We are not flying and the main reason for insurance is medical. Although I prepare months in advance to manage my illness, going as far as staying in bed the two weeks up to a trip, still life is unpredictable

Any suggestions. We sail June 1 and have a dolphin experiece at sea world the day before that I would like to cover the day or two before sailing. obviously I booked more than a year ago so what now?

Given your situation, I would recommend that you check out the trip insurance store http://www.tripinsurancestore.com/ and purchase your insurance from CSA. It is a more expensive policy than the others, but it will cover pre-existing condtions as long as you purchase within 24 hours of your final payment. If you are already ill, that is by far your best course of action.

 

[sayhello]

By "re-shopping" the cruise do you all mean moving the cruise (like a dummy date) within the DCL system so you can keep on board discounts with Disney?? This is where the 14-21 day issue is????
If I do the above then the 14-21 pre-existing clause is not good?

If I totally cancel a cruise and re-book (not using DCL discounts) a different cruise at a different time, the 14-21 day "ticker" to get pre-existing condition insurance resets for the new cruise. Right?

Yes, that's what I meant by re-shopping.

First scenario: If you move the cruise (a dummy date) within the DCL system, you are still changing the cruise as far as the insurance company is concerned. If you already purchased the travel insurance within 14-21 days of the ORIGINAL booking of the dummy date, then you get a pre-existing condition waiver on your policy (number of days and availability of the waiver depends on the policy you buy). Once you have a policy with a pre-existing condition waiver attached to it, if you move the date of the dummy cruise, even within the DCL system, you have to notify the insurance company within 14-21 days (again, the number of days depends on the policy) in order to KEEP the pre-existing condition waiver on your policy. If you do not inform the insurance company within that period (check your policy to find out the exact number of days) then you lose the pre-existing condition waiver.

Second scenario: You cancel a cruise and re-book a different cruise at a different time regardless of discounts. This works pretty similarly to the first scenario, because in both cases, the insurance company considers you to have moved to a new cruise. So if you already have the pre-existing condition waiver, you need to inform the insurance company of the change within the proper number of days, or you lose the pre-existing condition waiver. You cannot get a pre-existing condition waiver added to a policy that doesn't already have one by canceling the cruise and re-booking a different one.

Hope that makes sense!

Sayhello

 

[sayhello]

Okay, here is the information I received from the TravelInsured representative when I spoke to her after we booked our "dummy date" (We later decided to go on the cruise, anyway). You should double-check this, in case it has changed:

If you book a dummy date, you should insure it within that 21 day period. By doing that, you keep your pre-existing conditions coverage. If you change the date of a cruise, and that changes its cost, you must call TravelInsured within 21 days and make the appropriate changes to your coverage. This is also true if you add airfare, uncancellable shore excursions, etc. Each time, you have 21 days from the initial payment to change the insurance. If you do this, you will keep your pre-existing conditions coverage.

Me, I just went with a ball park figure that was on the high side and paid for the coverage, so I haven't needed to change it.

If, instead, you wait until you "re-shop" your cruise, you will lose pre-existing conditions coverage.

That's interesting. I was told you had to tell them if you changed the date, regardless of whether the cost changed or not. I suggest anyone trying to book a dummy cruise check with the insurance company before buying, because Travelex told me I had to let them know when I changed the date, since that was considered a different trip.

Sayhello

 

[mellers]

That's interesting. I was told you had to tell them if you changed the date, regardless of whether the cost changed or not. I suggest anyone trying to book a dummy cruise check with the insurance company before buying, because Travelex told me I had to let them know when I changed the date, since that was considered a different trip.

Sayhello

You are correct, and I apologize--I should have written that better. I've also edited the original post.

 

[NancyIL]

"Reshopping" is when you check the price of an already booked cruise while you are onboard a Disney cruise, and rebook it in order to get the 10% discount and onboard credit. You will get a new reservation number and probably pay a new deposit. That's different from moving a "dummy date" that was originally booked onboard a Disney cruise to a different cruise.

 

[Momma2Jax]

We are going to be buying insurance through tripinsurancestore.com We have already missed the window for the pre-existing coverage on most plans, but, as Mellers said, you can get a CSA Freestyle, or CSA Freestyle Luxe plan, and as long as you pay before or within 24 hours of FINAL payment, pre-existing conditions will still be covered.

I know we all pay different amounts for our cruises, but just for a general idea, the CSA freestyle, with pre-existing conditions covered for our 7-day Alaska cruise will be $188 for 3 of us. I can't compare that to DCL insurance, because DCL doesn't offer insurance to residents of WA.

 

[Feisty Fairy]

What would happen is I added DCL insurance to my cruise for May 2013. And if I reshop the cruise while onboard the Magic this May will I have to pay for DCL insurnace twice or it will it automatically go to the new reservations if we reshop our May 2013 cruise.

 

[NancyIL]

What would happen is I added DCL insurance to my cruise for May 2013. And if I reshop the cruise while onboard the Magic this May will I have to pay for DCL insurnace twice or it will it automatically go to the new reservations if we reshop our May 2013 cruise.

From what I understand, you don't pay for DCL's insurance until you make your final payment, so you won't be charged twice for the insurance. It also has no coverage for pre-existing conditions.

 

[sayhello]

"Reshopping" is when you check the price of an already booked cruise while you are onboard a Disney cruise, and rebook it in order to get the 10% discount and onboard credit. You will get a new reservation number and probably pay a new deposit. That's different from moving a "dummy date" that was originally booked onboard a Disney cruise to a different cruise.

Oh! Thanks for that. I've been using the wrong terminology! Because I think some of the times I used the term re-shop, I *meant* moving a dummy date. I may have to go back & edit a few of my posts. D'oh! But I think re-shopping still falls under the same category as cancelling a cruise and booking a new one. You can't add a pre-existing condition waiver to an already purchased policy that doesn't have the waiver, by re-shopping the cruise. And you have to notify the insurance company within the 14-21 days to keep a waiver you already have.

Sayhello

 

[Im_A_Princess]

Thanks so much!

So many details I never knew!

 

[mellers]

Oh! Thanks for that. I've been using the wrong terminology! Because I think some of the times I used the term re-shop, I *meant* moving a dummy date. I may have to go back & edit a few of my posts. D'oh! But I think re-shopping still falls under the same category as cancelling a cruise and booking a new one. You can't add a pre-existing condition waiver to an already purchased policy that doesn't have the waiver, by re-shopping the cruise. And you have to notify the insurance company within the 14-21 days to keep a waiver you already have.

Sayhello

Me too! I changed my post.

 

[Im_A_Princess]

Very helpful information!
Thanks everyone!
Got our insurance today. Feel much better knowing Pre-existing and Cancel For Any Reason conditions are covered.
It was $269 with Global Alert Preferred for 5 day for DH and me at insurancestore.

 

[tiggspring]

If you are within 21 days of your initial payment, you can purchase insurance from TravelInsured Worldwide Trip Protector, or, if you are within 30, from TravelInsured Worldwide Trip Protector Gold, and still have pre-existing conditions covered (there are other good policies as well--I mention this one because another poster had good luck getting a medical claim paid out.)

If you are traveling with children, make sure to insure the adult cost of the cruise, but TravelInsured will insure children for free. Also, if one of the travelers risk military deployment, TravelInsured, through USAA, is the best way to go.

When I last tried AAA travel insurance, I found them to be rather expensive for their coverage, but it might be worth a check of their website.

If you are past the 30-day mark after your initial deposit, try CSA. They will cover pre-existing conditions as long as you are within 24 hours of your final payment.

If one of the travelers is a active, reserve, or retired military, or a vet, a small discount is available through http://www.usaa.com/ on the TravelInsured policies, and if not, you can find it from http://www.tripinsurancestore.com/ . http://www.insuremytrip.com/ and http://www.squaremouth.com/ are other good sources for policies.

However, I hope you have safe travels and never need to make a claim.

Thanks!

Took me awhile to slog through all the leagal ease but I think you are right CSA is best for us. We get coverage for 313 instead of DCL's 475 and my health issues are covered to boot. Since my DH now has high BP it is necessary for him too. For us 150+ makes a big difference and there are only two reasons we wont go, our health and the world ending Guess we're going

 

[slg]

I too have booked with CSA through tripinsurancestore. I originally was worried about my mother's ovarian cancer, but just recently found out she has tested positive for the BRCA1 mutation which means I have 50/50 chance of having it too. I've been tested but won't find out until after I pay off my cruise...I don't know if that counts as a preexisiting, but I feel better that I have CSA and that even if it turns out I also have cancer (yikes!) I'll get all my money back.

Its a scary time, but I'm hoping for the best and that all will be well for my July cruise

 

[sayhello]

I too have booked with CSA through tripinsurancestore. I originally was worried about my mother's ovarian cancer, but just recently found out she has tested positive for the BRCA1 mutation which means I have 50/50 chance of having it too. I've been tested but won't find out until after I pay off my cruise...I don't know if that counts as a preexisiting, but I feel better that I have CSA and that even if it turns out I also have cancer (yikes!) I'll get all my money back.

Its a scary time, but I'm hoping for the best and that all will be well for my July cruise

First off, I'm sorry to hear about your mother and the whole BRCA1 mutation thing. I hope the news is good.

As far as the "pre-existing condition" thing is concerned, how that works is, the insurance company defines a "lookback period" before the effective date of your policy. For example "60 days prior to the purchase of your policy" (assuming the policy became effective on the date you purchased it.) If you have a new diagnosis or a change in treatment for an existing diagnosis during that lookback period, then that establishes that condition as a pre-existing condition. If it was diagnosed longer ago than 60 days before the effective date of the policy, or after the effective date of the policy then it's not a pre-existing condition. If you have been treated for a condition for a long time, and nothing changes in that treatment during the lookback period, it's not a pre-existing condition. The length of the lookback period varies by insurance company and policy. It's generally somewhere between 60 and 120 days prior to the effective date of the policy.

I agree with you, though. Having the policy with the pre-existing condition waiver is the best way to go. Then you don't have to worry about it. In most cases, you'll be covered. (And I say most cases just because nothing is ever 100% for sure!)

Sayhello

 

[SeaSpray]

Just wanted to say that this thread reminded me to buy my travel insurance, so I purchased it this afternoon on insuremytrip.com.

We went with Travelex Travel Select Plan. It had the best options at the best price for the coverages that I feel is most important to our travel party.

 

[tiggspring]

First off, I'm sorry to hear about your mother and the whole BRCA1 mutation thing. I hope the news is good.

As far as the "pre-existing condition" thing is concerned, how that works is, the insurance company defines a "lookback period" before the effective date of your policy. For example "60 days prior to the purchase of your policy" (assuming the policy became effective on the date you purchased it.) If you have a new diagnosis or a change in treatment for an existing diagnosis during that lookback period, then that establishes that condition as a pre-existing condition. If it was diagnosed longer ago than 60 days before the effective date of the policy, or after the effective date of the policy then it's not a pre-existing condition. If you have been treated for a condition for a long time, and nothing changes in that treatment during the lookback period, it's not a pre-existing condition. The length of the lookback period varies by insurance company and policy. It's generally somewhere between 60 and 120 days prior to the effective date of the policy.

I agree with you, though. Having the policy with the pre-existing condition waiver is the best way to go. Then you don't have to worry about it. In most cases, you'll be covered. (And I say most cases just because nothing is ever 100% for sure!)

Sayhello

Thanks for that explaination of Pre existing conditions! Technically I dont need the waver then.

I'm still going with CSA though just to be safe. Back in the 1990 my brother was put in the hospital for lyme disease. We were poor so my mother bought school health insurance. They denied the entire claim saying he was bitten by an animal and not covered Now that definition was supposed to be for dogs etc but got expanded to include insects like ticks the moment they might have to pay a real claim. I always count on an insuarance companies ability to twist logic in their favor.