Insurance or No Insurance?

[Juligan]

We are planning to visit WDW in Dec. 2 Adults, 5 nights at POP with park hopper, and dining. The insurance part of the deal is 119.90. I need some opinions please.

 

[michellex2]

I read thru Disney's policy carefully and for us it was a bad deal. I'm taking my mother who is 84 and in very poor health. The policy basically did not cover pre-existing conditions or chronic conditions that had required a medication change in 90 days if I recall correctly. I purchased insurance through another company that covered all pre-existing conditions if purchased within 14 days of initial trip deposit. If you are younger, you may well be able to buy better coverage at a lower cost as well. Two well known companies are www.csatravelprotection.com and www.travelguard.com. (Can anyone tell me it is OK to list websites like this on this forum?) Both cover all possible conditions if purchased close to the time of the initial trip deposit (the exact time frames vary by company), and if you are under 50 years old, the cost may be lower than the cost of Disney's insurance. I'd do some comparison shopping, then decide if Disney's insurance is the best value for you or not.

 

[GailT]

It wasnt worth it for me. I cancelled 45 days before arriving and I got it all back but $100.00. I rebooked because my father seemed better but he now isnt doing so goodnow. I callled, 45 days before you get it all back but $100.00 5 days before all but $200.00. I am not sure what happens the day before in case of a death, I would hope Disney is a llittle more sensitive to something like that. I didn't get the insurance the sencond time, I would never get it again. Good luck in no matter what you decide to do

 

[Frantasmic]

I purchased the insurance, but I booked the trip back in January. I would think the closer you are to the beginning of your trip when you purchase, the easier it is to determine if prevaling conditions might preclude your taking the trip.

This close to your vacation date would leave only unforeseen circumstances arising to mess up your trip.

I probably wouldn't purchase it in that situation.

 

[NancyIL]

If you decide to get insurance, go to www.insuremytrip.com to compare policies. You can probably do better than $119. I have purchased trip insurance for cruises, but not for WDW trips...but then I've never purchased a package.

 

[Juligan]

I just talked to a CM and booked a package with the new YQE code. She was very helpful in regard to the insurance. This is what she said...

You can wait to 45 days before your arrival to purchase the insurance.
If you have to cancel 6-44 days before arrival you only lose $100.
If you have to cancel 0-5 days before arrival you only lose $200.
You have the option to change your ressies for $50 up to your arrival date.

It doesn't seem worth it to spend $120 on the chance you might have to cancel 0-5 days out. I think I'd rather gamble it, the gamble will only cost $80 more if something happens.

 

[LisaRay]

Yes, I agree with the gamble thoughts!
I was very unsure about the ins. as well and had never booked a package before. But when my AAA agent said that it was $100 up to 5 days before and $200 if less then 5 days I thought the same as you. Why spend $120.00 when I am already 45 days out and not planning on having to cancel. However, if something would come up I will not be out the $2600 for my package just $100 or $200 depending on when I would have to cancel. So I am just going to save that $120 and assume we are not canceling! She also told me that if i just needed to change the dates there was no fee for that.

Plus another of my ins. worries was the fine print. What if I bought the ins. and then the reason for our canceling didn't fit in with their rules.

 

[MHTeacher]

I agree ! I did not take out the insurance either. If something did happen 0-5 days before arrival, you lose $200. That's only $80. I guess we will take the gamble and keep our $120 right now.

2001-All Star Sports
2003-CSR
Nov./Dec. 2005 WL CAN'T WAIT

 

[Dznypal]

I had planned a surprise trip to Vegas back in Feb for my DH.
(I gave it to him the day I booked it)

Since he has a problem with vertigo we talked to the TA about the insurance.

she said no problem even if you have to cancel the day of! (never was going to the dr mentioned)

to make a very long story short--I had to cancel the day of--he said he just wasnt feeling good enough to travel although he seemed fine to me he did take me to lunch--large deal!!!


SO called TA to see what we needed to do she gave me a phone # for claims
I asked there what I needed to do--all I was told was to fill out the forms (again nothing was mentioned about dr.)

I get the forms to find out that he needed to see his dr within 3 days of canceling the day I got the forms was already over the 3 days!!!

I filled out the forms and his dr filled out the drs forms but in it the dr was supposed to have the say whether or not he should cancel--none of this was explained to us when we took out the insurance yet the we explained everything to the TA.

So I mailed in the forms hopping for the best--I just called today after waiting 2 weeks without hearing anything--I knew it they rejected the claim!!

for no drs claim or visit.--Even though I knew this wasnt going to be easy my ?s were not not answered correctly.

So now we have to write a letter of appel. this should be fun!!

I asked the guy why no one told us of the drs claim or visit-he said it should have been in a brouchre from the TA (which we never got)

when I asked what we needed I should have been told-fill out forms--the dr needs to fill out one and the insurred needs to see his dr within 3 days of canceling.

I said to the guy "when I asked what we all needed I should have been told this this this and this" all he said was we just assumed you knew!!!

If I knew I wouldnt be asking--

and we all knew what assume means


(making an A** out of you and me) *** u me


sorry to get so carried away but I wanted this to be a special trip---I saved and had the money to pay for everything---my hubby said we could go see Barry Manilow for my b-day--this was only 2 weeks before we were supposed to go!!

this is the last big surprise I ever do!!!!

do this why Im not a big fan of the insurance. They make it sound so easy until you need to use it and then its a big fight!!!!

Last year when we took our family trip to Hawaii the TA just added the insurance on and for 16 people it was quite a chunck!!

 

[Debs1963]

We went to WDW in May and purchased the insurance. We went on a budget and were ceratainly looking for ways to save money. But, I kinda figured that if we were spending all that money what was another $100 bucks. Besides, we went with our 2 kids and kids are notorious for getting sick a a minutes notice.

 

[FARMGIRL]

I've been wondering the same question, whether to purchase the insurance or not. My main concern is we live in Iowa and are taking our trip in Jan., we live 2 1/2hrs from the airport, what if we can't get there when we're suppose to. I'm confused about the whole thing, is weather covered with the trip insurance, or if we have to cancel or postpone are you saying we would only lose $200? Thanks for any input!

 

[WDWfor5]

As much as I hate paying for insurance, sometimes it's very worth it. A few years ago, I purchased trip insurance for our trip to Jamaica and made sure it covered my pre-existing pregnancy. Well everything was fine and we packed to go, but the day before I started to have preterm contractions. My doctor said there was no way I could go, and the insurance reimbursed us over $2,000 for airline tickets/penalties/etc.

Needless to say, we purchased trip insurance for our upcoming trip to WDW. Not planning to need but then again that's why they call it insurance. I did however choose to buy my package and trip insurance from AAA.

Jennifer, counting down to POR 1/28/06 - 2/5/06

 

[Juligan]

I can see paying the insurance for other trips but I don't see the value in the WDW insurance if you will only loose a maximum $200 if you have to cancel the trip. I'd rather keep the $120 now and gamble with $80. You only lose $200 if you cancel 0-5 days out and only $100 if you cancel 6-44 days out. Anything more than 44 days you loose NOTHING. Even the CM eluded to it not being a sound investment.

If WDW charges even more for insurance if your total is higher then it doesn't make sense at all.

JMHO

 

[TN Traveler]

Wow, what a great thread and one that needs to be discussed. As a travel agent I am asked this question many times so I'll share what I tell my clients.

If you are booking your trip several months in advance I STRONGLY encourage my clients to purchase the insurance. All cruise and tour companies offer "penalty protection insurance". The coverage offered by the majority of cruise lines and tour companies is for MEDICAL REASONS ONLY. This coverage is extended to you, your children, spouse, parents, grandchildren, siblings, grandparents and traveling companions. It does not cover your best friend, aunts, uncles or cousins. Even if you were raised by your Aunt and she is more of a mother figure to you than your own mother, that is still not covered. There are a few tour companies that offer "cancel for any reason" insurance which is usually more expensive but worth the extra $20 or so. I have had several clients that have had to cancel their trips due to work problems--that is not covered. Some insurance companies will cover you if you are called to work Jury Duty, experience a fire or flood to your home. As w/all insurance policies you really need to read the fine print and get all the details. Your travel agent should also explain this to you in detail. Before 9/11 and the min 2 hr check in time, I had people miss their flight b/c they had a flat tire on the way to the airport. Thankfully that hasn't happened lately. In the last 10 yrs I've had 2 or 3 honeymoons cancelled and the weddings called off. Insurance won't cover this.

I have 2 different policies that I offer my clients--the tour/cruise company's and another company that actually gives much better coverage at a lower price. You need to ask your travel agent to explain all your options. Also remember that the insurance covers more than just having to cancel the trip before you go. The coverage also protects you while you're on your trip, if your luggage is lost, if there's an emergency evacuation and many other situations. Yes, you may have health and accident insurance through your work but many policies will not cover you when you're out of the company AND if it will the medical costs are so high it'll break your bank to pay the bills. It would be nice to have a 2nd policy to pick up the slack.

I also encourage my clients to purchase the insurance if they have younger children or elderly parents. We all know that when a 2 yr old gets an ear infection there is NO WAY that child could handle getting on an airplane.

Dznypal....your TA was DEAD WRONG in not explaining that YES YOU MUST HAVE A DR'S or HOSPITAL STATEMENT THAT SHOWS YOU WERE UNABLE TO TRAVEL. This to me is a no brainer. How else is the insurance company going to have proof that you were really sick? For all they know you and your spouse, children or friend got into a huge argument and decided not to go on the trip together. You wouldn't think of turning in a repair bill to your automobile insurance company w/o proof of an accident right? On behalf of your travel agent, I apologize.

Overall I think it is to your advantage to purchase insurance. I remember several years ago I booked a honeymoon to Las Vegas for a client. I tried and tried to get her to take the insurance. She refused. It was only $49 pp, her trip was well over $2000. Three days before the wedding her father had a massive heart attack and was very touch and go for a while. Thankfully he survived but the wedding AND honeymoon had to be postponed...which meant she lost all of the money she paid on the trip. You just never know what might happen.

Hope my comments help.

Karen