Insurance...yes or no?

[4mickeyfans]

About to pay our final balance for our February cruise Before I do...debating about the $216.00 for insurance and wondering what the consensus is among you experts! Would much rather spend that $216 on souvenirs!

So...any thoughts ...is it worth it or should we risk it?

Don't know how to do those vacation countdown clocks but ours begins in...55 DAYS!!!!

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

Right now I am in the process of looking into purchasing insurance through AccessAmerica. With two young children who will be DD6 and DS5 when we go, I do not want to take any chances. Also, I just spend six days in bed right before Christmas with the flu--I have never, never been so sick.

In the sceme of things, the cost is so minimal compared to the cost of losing the entire trip cost.

I vote for insurance.

Gloria

 

[webray]

We bought the insurance for our first cruise back in September. We did it because there was a good chance we would have been called away for medical emergency.

If I had little kids, I would probably do it.

If the weather is bad (cancelled cruise)...disney doesn't have to..but they probably will make good on another cruise.

I say better safe, than sorry. Make sure to talk with the insurance company you choose directly to make sure of all that is covered before purchasing...you don't need any surprises just in case you actually have to use the insurance.

 

[mrsfuzzmo]

Are you in good health? Are you flying down at least one day prior to the cruise? Did you book your own airlines? Is there any chance that you'll need to reschedule? Sometimes I buy it, sometimes I don't.

If you are not flying down at least one day prior to cruise (arriving the same day), definitely buy it. With the airlines now a days, you just never know and I'd hate for you to have to either miss the cruise, OR have to pay for your whole family to get to the next port. Weather is a factor as well.

If you are all in good health (no seniors, or chronic conditions), not planning any "wild and crazy" excursions (four wheeling, etc.) and have an extra day to get to the port, I wouldn't buy it.

But sometimes I do! Just depends on the situation!

mrsfuzzmo

 

[prymsu]

you just can't predict the future. I would really recommend it because it covers a lot of things from trip cancellation, to illness to loss of luggage or trip cancellation.

 

[4mickeyfans]

Well...let me add a little more information! We are driving in the day before...arriving early evening before morning departure so I think we have a few hours to spare in case of an unforseen road delay. We do have small children, though, ages 5 and 8, but we've NEVER, in all our travels missed a trip! Still, I can't help that feeling that if I forgo the insurance, fate will deal a nasty hand!

 

[mrsfuzzmo]

Well, then it looks like you won't have any trouble with lost luggage OR delayed flights. That's a big relief for all of you I'm sure!

The only thing then that you'll have to worry about is sudden illness or injury.

I guess it's up to you. If you are that worried about it and want ease of mind, purchase it. But I don't think I would in your situation. My opinion.

maureen

 

[prymsu]

one other thing it would cover is trip cancellation. The one time i didn't purchase insurance, my mother became ill, and was diagnosed with cancer. I wanted to cancel, but would have lost all our money on airfare and the cruise, and my mother insisted we go, when i would rather have had the option to rebook and not worry about it.

 

[brack]

We have always bought the insurance and not needed it. But that is the same reason we buy car insurance and have never needed it ... just in case!

 

[TootyJane]

Originally posted by 4mickeyfans
Well...let me add a little more information!...We do have small children, though, ages 5 and 8, but we've NEVER, in all our travels missed a trip!....

My motto is "Never say Never." I'd get the insurance.

 

[Lisa F]

We ALWAYS buy the insurance for the possibility of a medical emergency. Most medical insurance policies do not cover you if you are overseas OR if you require an emergency medical evacuation. It's the kind of thing that you think can never happen to you, but it happened to my parents a few years ago.

They got a free cruise to bermuda from one of the companies that my mother works with. Generally they book all of their trips on their AMEX platinum, which includes all kind of supplemental travel insurance so they never think about it, but with the freebie they didn't have that. My father got into a terrible accident on a motorbike tour of the island and shattered his ankle. They incurred a lot of medical expenses but the worst was when they thought they would have to med-evac him back to the states. The 2 hour ride would have cost more than $25k. For a few days, my mother was scrambling to come up with that kind of cash because basically you have to pay up front. Luckily he had recovered enough in a few days to be able to fly back in first class with a temporary cast (still cost several thousand dollars for last minute first class tix but NOTHING like what the med-evac would have cost). That scare was enough for them to buy yearly travel/supplemental medical insurance as they tend to go to places like aruba at least once or twice a year, and now they don't have to worry about it. We don't travel out of the US that often but I don't do it without having some kind of supplemental medical.

In fact, thanks for the reminder, I just bought insurance for our wonder cruise in a couple of days. We booked the cruise on points so we can't get regular insurance for the cost of the cruise, but I'm not even really worried about that. The package that covers $1k (enough for plane tickets and rental car and such) plus up to $250k in med-evac and $50k in medical expenses cost $56 for 2 people. It's a small price to pay for peace of mind. Even the loss that you will take for having to cancel a very expensive cruise cannot come close to the financial devistation that you may face if you get seriously injured overseas and your primary medical doesn't cover it.

 

[awatt]

ALWAYS take the insurance.

Even if you are in good health now,you can't know what's around the corner. I became unexpectedly seriously ill one month or so prior to a cruse two years ago. I am so glad i had insurance!

Now DH's uncle is quite ill and we don't know if he'll make it the next few weeks. So our 1/17 cruise is up in the air,and again I'm so glad we have insurance.

The cost is far less than the lost cost of a cruise.

Shop around,you will find varying costs and terms. I use Travelsafe.

 

[4mickeyfans]

Thank you all for such great responses!

I will definitely be getting the insurance...I figure the stress I won't be having in anticipation of future disaster would be worth the $216!

Prymsu- WOW! What an incredible story! I wasn't even thinking about medical situations once on board or excursions...I was just thinking about cancellation insurance...thank you for pointing that out to me!

I just love these boards...I have gained such valuable insight that I used on our summer jaunt to WDW and now the upcoming cruise!

Thanks, again!

 

[wide awake]

Lisa F...where did you get your policy ? That sounds like a great price. Thanks !!!!!!!

 

[4mickeyfans]

Actually, I was just about to post that I didn't realize you could shop around for different insurance! I'm rather naive when it comes to these things, I guess

Anyway, this is the policy that our travel agent quoted as part of the package - I assumed it was coming directly from Disney because the TA said it didn't matter to him one way or another (commission - wise) if we took the insurance or not.

The price quote is $59 each for the first 2 passengers and $49 after that. Our travel agent is a rep for Carlson Wagonlit Travel...
http://www.carlsontravel.com/
You may wish to check there

 

[AnnMorin]

on cruise number one as it was all in cash.
cruises two and three and fourwe went without insurance as it was all points for cruise two and half points for three and four. Cruise number five we are all cash again so I will probably get insurance. How far out do you have to get it? Where do folks recommend? Access America I hear alot anywhere else?

 

[prymsu]

what I have been told by more than one travel agent is that if you want it to cover any pre existing medical conditions you or the fellow travelers have, or illness of immediate family members that would cause you to cancel and reschedule, must be purchased within ten days of paying your deposit. hope this helps.

 

[awatt]

Ann Morin- I have had good results with Travelsafe. They are less restrictive with preexisting conditions and rates arre competitive. For preexisting conditions to be covered you have to get the insurance within 15 days of booking.

 

[dvarallo]

I would definitely recommend getting the insurance. Last January, I was cruising with my 5 year old son, sister, niece, nephew and friends. My friends daughter started throwing up on the 2nd day of the cruise and was quarantined for 72 hours. My niece and son showed signs of "gastrointestinal illnesses" on the 3rd day of the cruise and were also quarantined for 72 hours. We took Disney up on their offer to fly home from St. Martin on the 4th day of the cruise and because we had the insurance, we were reimbursed $200 per person per day for all the members in our party from the day we were quarantined. My sister stayed on the cruise and was reimbursed for the 3 days they were in quarantine. We retook the cruise in May and only had to pay for our airfare since we booked the original insurance through Disney, but did the airfare on our own. When we took the cruise in May, we booked our insurance directly through Access America so that airfare and transfers would be covered as well. Most people think about insurance when the elderly are involved, but children get sick and can't be left alone in the cabins, so the adults are quarantined with them.

 

[wdwmom2]

I just purchased travel insurance today through AccessAmerica. This is the first trip that I have purchased insurance for. We are doing the land/sea and with our airfare our insurance for 2 adults and 2 children is only costing us $121.00 for thier comprehensive plan which I believe is the plan that covers the most. This is a minimal amount of money for the peace of mind it gives you just in case something happens.