Now that I have booked... Please help with advice about trip insurance !

[Debby7]

Now that I have booked the EBTA , I need help choosing trip insurance. I believe that I have to purchase it it close to the time of deposit and I know that Disney offers it, but have heard many people say that an outside company might give better coverage or price. I have never bought the insurance before because our other cruises were much shorter and cheaper, but for this one I really feel we should have insurance. So , please, let me know your experiences with both Disney and outside trip insurance and feel free to make suggestions, they are much appreciated !

 

[Geomom]

Yes, book with a 3rd party insurer. Disney insurance only covers anything purchased through Disney, so if you got your own airfare/hotel, etc, it wouldn't be covered. The reason to do it close to time of deposit is if you need to buy the 'preexisting condition' clauses. Without that clause, if you have any medical conditions that cause any issues on vacation (or prevent you from travelling) then the insurance wouldn't cover it.

I use a trip insurance comparison website to see what policies are out there and compare the cost/benefits of them, then I book directly with the insurer I pick. Some companies will include children under 18 for free--which is one thing we look for. For both our cruises, we went with Travel Insured International, Worldwide Trip Protector, it was a reasonable rate and I liked the coverages. I have no idea how good they are at paying out--luckily have not needed it yet. The big thing to remember is to get receipts/doctors notes if anything happens in order to file a claim.

For trip insurance we look for a high amount for medical evacuation (lots of $ to be evacuated from a cruise ship!), coverage for terrorism (for our Europe trip), secondary medical, and just the general full trip amount if we need to cancel for a 'covered' reason.

If you're buying it before you have airfare/hotel, maybe estimate the costs? (Other people say to put in the amount you have now, then call to change the amount (and get charged more) later.) The quick quotes ask for the amounts/person you want covered. Play around with it a bit to try to get the highest coverage for the lowest cost to you--my example is that coverage amounts of $3100-$3500/person cost me the same--$3501 put me in the next category.

 

[serenitynow]

I price shopped trip insurance yesterday and went with an Outside trip insurance company with better coverage. It was considerably cheaper (over $300.00 less), they cover travelers under 17 traveling with their parents free and we have used them before. That is to say we have purchased trip insurance through them before, thankfully we did not need to make a claim.

All of the companies I researched required purchase to be made within 7-14 days after 1st payment made on the trip in order to cover pre-existing conditions.

So yes, I think it’s worth shopping around for trip insurance.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

We use the same company previous poster uses. Haven't had to file a claim, luckily.

We use them because they partner with USAA.

I called to ask about purchasing insurance after booking cruise but before air, hotel, etc. They said to purchase only what you actually pay, and call to add on whenever you pay more towards trip.

So, initially I would only buy insurance for the cruise deposit, and if I pay off on the cruise every month, I would also call them to add that bit to the insurance. Same when comes time to purchase air. They dais this way gets you pre-existing condition coverage.

As always, ask questions and get first hand answers directly from company before purchasing. Not only will everything vary by company, it could vary by what state you live in, even for the same company

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Ps. The time limit to get preexisting coverage varies a lot. Our policy says to purchase within 30 days. I've seen as low as 14 days.

 

[TikiThunderPirates]

If you don't need the coverage for Pre-existing condition, it may be worth waiting until closer to the cruise. If you are only buying coverage for events like weather, ship breaking, you get the flu 2 weeks out, break your hip a month out etc, you can wait to purchase your trip insurance until closer to your Paid in full date. That way if you do cancel your cruise you get the Disney full refund, and you haven't yet purchased things like airfare. Once you've purchased airfare (something non-refundable) you can go ahead and purchase your trip insurance. Also look into your credit cards, somethings they already have trip insurance covered with your benefits.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

After many years of comparing travel insurance policies, I almost always end up purchasing insurance from Travel Insured International. I've found they have very comprehensive coverage and very good rates. I always purchase AS SOON as I have anything that is non-refundable. I purchase the policy to cover the non-refundable amounts and then, as I add non-refundable costs, I add on to the policy from there. It's a very simple process.

I do not purchase the DCL insurance as it does not cover anything that is purchased separately from DCL (airfare, pre- or post-hotel stays, etc.).

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

After many years of comparing travel insurance policies, I almost always end up purchasing insurance from Travel Insured International. I've found they have very comprehensive coverage and very good rates. I always purchase AS SOON as I have anything that is non-refundable. I purchase the policy to cover the non-refundable amounts and then, as I add non-refundable costs, I add on to the policy from there. It's a very simple process.

I do not purchase the DCL insurance as it does not cover anything that is purchased separately from DCL (airfare, pre- or post-hotel stays, etc.).

One other note to this strategy: purchase rates are based on the ages at time of purchasing the insurance, not at the time of travel. DD turns 18 between now and summer 2019 cruise. If I wait until something is non-refundable, the insurance would be significantly more.

The only other aspect to this strategy is that you may not get pre-existing conditions covered.

 

[wanderlust7]

Besides what PPs have already mentioned, for cruises I also pay attention to the missed connection coverage. Even though we always arrive at least a day ahead, I still worry about the what ifs and more extreme flight delays.

 

[NancyIL]

After many years of comparing travel insurance policies, I almost always end up purchasing insurance from Travel Insured International. I've found they have very comprehensive coverage and very good rates. I always purchase AS SOON as I have anything that is non-refundable. I purchase the policy to cover the non-refundable amounts and then, as I add non-refundable costs, I add on to the policy from there. It's a very simple process.

I do not purchase the DCL insurance as it does not cover anything that is purchased separately from DCL (airfare, pre- or post-hotel stays, etc.).

To get the waiver of pre-existing conditions, the clock starts ticking as soon as you make the first payment of any kind for the trip (refundable or nonrefundable) - which is usually the cruise deposit. Look carefully at the policies, because some also take into account the pre-existing conditions of your family members. I get mine from the Trip Insurance Store (www.tripinsurancestore.com), and I usually go with Travel Insured or Travel Safe.

If more than 2 people are traveling, make sure that you fully cover each person, rather than the total trip cost. Since the first 2 people in the cabin pay more than 3rd and 4th passengers - you may not fully cover the first 2 people if the amount of coverage equals the total trip cost.

EXAMPLE: Passengers 1 and 2 pay $2,000 pp and passengers 3 and 4 pay $1,000 pp. The total trip cost is $6,000. If you buy $6,000 in total coverage, each person gets $1,500 in coverage - which under insures the first 2 people by $500 pp and over insures the 3rd and 4th passengers by $500 pp. It's best if you can choose different amounts of insurance coverage for each traveler.

Insurance is usually priced in $500 increments, so I round up to the next $500 increment. If my cruise costs $1,750 pp, I round up to $2,000 pp in coverage - usually for the same price.

 

[Jestocost]

To get the waiver of pre-existing conditions, the clock starts ticking as soon as you make the first payment of any kind for the trip (refundable or nonrefundable) - which is usually the cruise deposit. Look carefully at the policies, because some also take into account the pre-existing conditions of your family members. I get mine from the Trip Insurance Store (www.tripinsurancestore.com), and I usually go with Travel Insured or Travel Safe.

If more than 2 people are traveling, make sure that you fully cover each person, rather than the total trip cost. Since the first 2 people in the cabin pay more than 3rd and 4th passengers - you may not fully cover the first 2 people if the amount of coverage equals the total trip cost.

EXAMPLE: Passengers 1 and 2 pay $2,000 pp and passengers 3 and 4 pay $1,000 pp. The total trip cost is $6,000. If you buy $6,000 in total coverage, each person gets $1,500 in coverage - which under insures the first 2 people by $500 pp and over insures the 3rd and 4th passengers by $500 pp. It's best if you can choose different amounts of insurance coverage for each traveler.

Insurance is usually priced in $500 increments, so I round up to the next $500 increment. If my cruise costs $1,750 pp, I round up to $2,000 pp in coverage - usually for the same price.

I have located one carrier--Nationwide--who offers a pre-existing condition waiver as long as you purchase the insurance before the final payment is due, provided you are fit to travel on the effective date of the coverage and that you cover ALL non-refundable pre-paid expenses under the plan. I purchased their Luxury Cruise policy for our January/February cruises next year and the cost was very reasonable

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

I have located one carrier--Nationwide--who offers a pre-existing condition waiver as long as you purchase the insurance before the final payment is due, provided you are fit to travel on the effective date of the coverage and that you cover ALL non-refundable pre-paid expenses under the plan. I purchased their Luxury Cruise policy for our January/February cruises next year and the cost was very reasonable

If your cruise is summer 2019, PIF day is next spring. It is possible that by then, Nationwide may change their policy to no longer allow pre-existing conditions like this.

Just a thought.

 

[NancyIL]

I have located one carrier--Nationwide--who offers a pre-existing condition waiver as long as you purchase the insurance before the final payment is due, provided you are fit to travel on the effective date of the coverage and that you cover ALL non-refundable pre-paid expenses under the plan. I purchased their Luxury Cruise policy for our January/February cruises next year and the cost was very reasonable

Some CSA and Global Alert policies also have the waiver of pre-existing conditions, as long as the insurance is purchased before you make the final payment.

If your cruise is summer 2019, PIF day is next spring. It is possible that by then, Nationwide may change their policy to no longer allow pre-existing conditions like this.

Just a thought.

A policy change would affect only future purchases. What's in writing when you purchase your insurance is what the company abides by.

 

[o&smom]

We had heard how you had to purchase soon after initial payment, too, but we have been buying our trip insurance through Costco just a few months before our cruises the last few times and getting great coverage and great rates. Also agree that since there is such a long time before you would lose any money with Disney it seems a little redundant to also have insurance that whole time.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Some CSA and Global Alert policies also have the waiver of pre-existing conditions, as long as the insurance is purchased before you make the final payment.



A policy change would affect only future purchases. What's in writing when you purchase your insurance is what the company abides by.

Yes, but they are suggesting waiting until PIF to make the initial purchase of the insurance. If they wait a year to make the initial purchase of the insurance, what ever policy they have next year will abide, not the policy now (when cruise is booked).

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

We had heard how you had to purchase soon after initial payment, too, but we have been buying our trip insurance through Costco just a few months before our cruises the last few times and getting great coverage and great rates. Also agree that since there is such a long time before you would lose any money with Disney it seems a little redundant to also have insurance that whole time.

We just joined Costco. Where do they hide their trip insurance? I can't find it.

 

[Geomom]

One other note to this strategy: purchase rates are based on the ages at time of purchasing the insurance, not at the time of travel. DD turns 18 between now and summer 2019 cruise. If I wait until something is non-refundable, the insurance would be significantly more.

The only other aspect to this strategy is that you may not get pre-existing conditions covered.

No one in our family has pre-existing conditions, so we did wait until we had non-refundable items before purchasing insurance--but before our oldest turned 18 this past February. I was very happy to get hers for free--I wasn't sure if they were going to go by purchase date or birthdate and date of trip.

 

[NancyIL]

Yes, but they are suggesting waiting until PIF to make the initial purchase of the insurance. If they wait a year to make the initial purchase of the insurance, what ever policy they have next year will abide, not the policy now (when cruise is booked).

The poster you quoted is sailing next January/February and already purchased the Nationwide insurance. However, the policy details could change down the road for anyone who waits until closer to the PIF date before purchasing insurance. For that matter, one could be injured or develop a pre-existing condition in the interim, no matter what insurance policy they choose.

When I'm not sure if I'm going to keep a cruise I have booked, I'll hold off on purchasing insurance. If I decide I'll definitely take the cruise, I usually purchase my insurance through Travel Safe, as it takes into account the pre-existing conditions of the travelers only - and not those of non-traveling family members.

 

[n2mm]

I always use the comprehensive website that lets you compare policies for your needs. If you need to cover preexisting conditions, you need to do it now. I don’t need that right now, so always wait until my PIF date

 

[o&smom]

We just joined Costco. Where do they hide their trip insurance? I can't find it.

My husband has phoned into the travel area and been connected that way.