Insurance

[cicero]

Can someone briefly discuss the pros and cons of getting insurance - we (2 adults + 2 kids) are scheduled for the 2/12/04 3-night Wonder - and are most likely flying to Orlando either from Newark or Laguardia Airport on the day/evening prior. Would I be inviting trouble NOT to get it? Thanks.

 

[yourtravelpro]

Traveler's Insurance is going to cover you in the event that you need to cancel due to medical and death reasons.

Let me give you an example of what can happen, through experience. It's one week before the cruise and one of your children come down with Chicken pox. You would have to cancel and your cruise would be totally non refundable. OUCH!

Have you made your payment in full? Usually after this has been made you can no longer add on the insurance.

 

[prymsu]

I would recommend it. If some unexpected emergency came up, then you would be covered. For instance, the one and only time i didn't purchase insurance, my mother was diagnosed with cancer, and of course she wanted us to go, and we did, but i really would have liked to have the option to cancel and reschedule. Without the insurance, that wasn't an option. It was a lose all situation.

 

[Billinaz]

I got trip insurance, but I went through another online insurance company.

The same coverage (if not better) for a much lower price.

 

[yourtravelpro]

Originally posted by Billinaz
I got trip insurance, but I went through another online insurance company.

The same coverage (if not better) for a much lower price.

Travelguard is a good one. Just go to Travelguard.com.

 

[kcashner]

I use the insurance except when I do a "last minute" booking. The coverage thru Disney will cover only what you book thru DIs. THus, if you do your own air or do a private carrier for transfers, these will not be covered. If you do it thru your TA, anything they booked is covered. My experience is that I can do air for about 1/2 of what it costs thru Disney, so that difference alone more than pays for the insurance. On transfers, the cost cut off is 3 adults. If you are travelling with more than 3 adults, private transfers are cheaper. Fewer than 3 people, DIsney transfers are cheaper.

More than you asked? Sorry.

 

[The4OfUs]

Originally posted by yourtravelpro
Travelguard is a good one. Just go to Travelguard.com.

I second that...it also covers pre-existing situations - like the fact my DD has asthma, should something along those lines come up, we'd be all set. Plus, in addition to covering the trip cost up to 2000 for DH and I, and 1000 for DS and DD, it covers all the following for us:

AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION -- Per Insured
BAGGAGE & TRAVEL DOCUMENTS $750.00 Per Insured
BAGGAGE DELAY $200.00 Per Insured
EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORT $300000.00 Per Insured
EVENT TICKETING -- Per Insured
FLOWER ORDERING -- Per Insured
LIVETRAVEL SERVICES -- Per Insured
MEDICAL EXPENSES $25000.00 Per Insured
RESTAURANT REFERRALS -- Per Insured
TEE TIME RESERVATION -- Per Insured
TRAVEL DELAY $1000.00 Per Insured
TRAVEL GUARD ASSISTANCE -- Per Insured
TRIP CANCELLATION Trip Cost Per Insured
TRIP INTERRUPTION Trip Cost Per Insured




PRE-EXISTING CONDITION WAIVER 15 DAY BENEFITS -- Per Insured
DEFAULT PROTECTION 15 DAY BENEFITS Trip Cost Per Insured
15 DAY BENEFITS

This was actually like $75 cheaper than the one thru DCL, which we had the TA cancel for us. Forgot to mention, they have 24/7 phone coverage for any issues that may arise. =)

 

[kcashner]

Oh yes, another thing to consider.....your medical insurance may not cover you outside of the US. You'll need to check the fine print in your policy to know for sure. It also very likely does not cover a medical evacution should one be needed. Put in perspective, a helicopter to take you off the ship on a sea day can easily cost $25,000 (no, I'm not kidding!). Now the chance of needing it is remote, and it is much cheaper on a land day...but these are things worth thinking about.

 

[Little Twin Stars]

It is costly but I think we have no choice but to buy it.

Imagine: what wil happen if the plane is delayed due to a heavy snow storm and you miss the cruise?

At least we can be compensated for the monetary loss, although the emotional loss can NEVER and has no way to be compensated!

 

[MrsPete]

I think the need for insurance varies widely based upon your circumstances.

We opted NOT to get insurance for our cruise last month for several reasons:

We were driving down in our own car the day before, thus a travel delay was unlikely. There was little chance that we'd lose our own luggage.
We are young and healthy (though this is not a guarantee, it's unlikely that anything would happen to us during that time period). We checked our medical insurance and found that we WERE covered outside the US -- including medical evac.
We were not doing any sports-type excursions, and injuries were not likely to occur lying by the pool.
We went on a short cruise in the low season and paid for only a category 11 cabin; thus, our bill was small. If we'd had a family tragedy the week before that had prevented us from traveling, the money we'd spent would not have been devestating to us.

It turned out to be a good choice: we were fine without insurance.

We're in the process of planning another cruise, however, and we probably WILL purchase travel insurance for it. Why the change? We'll be purchasing a more expensive verandah cabin, and we'll be cruising for a whole week. The cost will be more than double that of our first cruise -- this is more than we are willing to risk.

My advice: Consider your family's needs carefully and make an informed decision.

 

[jgalecpa]

Look at it this way. You could make two mistakes:

Type I:

Buy it and not need it. Then you're out about $200 and had a great time on your trip.


Type II:

Need it and Not Buy It. Then your trip is ruined AND you're out at least $5,000.


Which mistake would you rather make????


We used accessamerica, another reputable travel company.

Our premium amounted to only $167 for four people.

This was only 2% of the cost of the trip, and only about 1/2 what I'm going to give over in tips.


A tremendously SMALL price to pay for piece of mind.



Remember Murphy's Law:

If you don't get it, you very well may need it.

Jim

 

[airbusdrvr]

Another place you might check is Insuremytrip.com they offer numerous policies and allow you to compare coverage between different Companies .

 

[IrishCowboy]

Just my opinion, but I think trip insurance can reflect the sort of person that you are. The more conservative you are, the more likely you are to purchase it.

We've cruises 5 times and have never purchased it. We fly down a day in advance.

Barb and Tony have cruised over 30 times and I believe I have read that they don't purchase insurance either.

Most Blue Cross plans will provide coverage outside of the United States, but it is a good idea to check with your Plan. Your mileage may vary!

FYI: BlueCard Worldwide Hospitals in St Thomas - Roy L. Schneider Hospital (340) 774-2888

BlueCard finder 1-800-810-BLUE

Have a great cruise!

 

[SandraLee]

My first trip I did not have the insurance -- didn't know any better. Then, I read about a child that was hit by a car walking on the street on one of the islands. That was all I needed to see. I have since purchased the trip insurance every time

And, my DH's Aunt were just on the new Carnival ship. They were on the Western itinerary. I'm not sure of all the details, but the Uncle fell on the first night coming out of dinner. He broke his hip. He couldn't walk. When they got to Cozumel, he went ashore via ambulance to the hospital there. They barely spoke english. To get back to the States, the air ambulance would have been > $20,000! Her regular medical insurance would not cover that amount. To make a long story short, they got a regular commercial airplane out via Houston and then back home. He will be in the hospital here for over 3 days.

Never again, will I take the chance. At first I thought the insurance was very pricey, but after looking at the numbers, it was the best $125 of the trip.

 

[off2disney]

A friend of mine went on a cruise 3 months before we did - we booked (5 of us, and bought the trip insurance). She decided she wouldn't get it. While on their cruise, her husband had a heart attack in Cozumel and the hospital staff at the hospital spoke little or no English. I never did get the full story but the ship would not let them back on the ship (she was in the same clothes for four days). They had to sign a $10,000 promissary note to ******* Cruise lines (not Disney) to have him medivaced to Miami. It was a nightmare. We, who had purchased the insurance, had no problems at all. Isn't that why most people purchase insurance - on your house, your car or yourself -- in the hopes that you never have to use it?

 

[airbusdrvr]

I just paid $125 for trip insurance , which I consider is money well spent . The main reason is the emergency medical evacuation , second is the trip cancellation insurance . We will be on the Jan. 31 Magic sailing and there is chance one of us could have the flu just before sailing . The cost /benefit of the insurance I bought is a baragin IMHO .

 

[Nancy@Toronto]

I know I'm replying quite late to this post, but my advice .... GET INSURANCE!

Several years ago, my aunt & uncle were on a Princess cruise when my uncle suffered a major stroke the night before disembarkation. The weather wasn't great and helicopters couldn't make it to the ship to get him off; his condition worsened through the night (thus the 'major' stroke rather than what may have been 'minor') and he spent time in a Florida hospital when the cruise was over. Those bills added up ... and then he had to be flown home (Toronto) via Air Ambulance (I believe that alone was $20,000). They did NOT have insurance and it was devastating.

Whatever you do, get insurance!!!! No illness is ever planned.

Nancy

 

[professorandmom]

I think the fact that there are kids is the big indicator for insurance - flu, fever, broken arm..and a huge list of things that seem to crop up in my life whenever something important is happening at work and my child needs to be at home...I also used access america (same insurer as Disney uses) - their family plan includes the kids for free and the cost is based on the cost of the cruise...a three day may be minimal cost - so low that it wasn't an issue. For my cruise the cost was only $67 (three kids and me - no one under 18 costs anything...the cost was based only on MY cost of the cruise). I did have to get the TA to break the individual costs down for me. No brainer in my mind.

With all that said, if I was a solo adult traveler I would say I wouldn't bother...'course if I had ill parents or other issues, then I say yup! - all this assumes that your medical coverage will work (I checked and I was OK)

Barbara

 

[Buckleybunch]

Originally posted by Billinaz
I got trip insurance, but I went through another online insurance company.

The same coverage (if not better) for a much lower price.

could you send me the link to this please..
Rob& Linda

buckleybunch@cox.net