To anyone considering travel insurance...

[Mainebound]

Usually our trips are pretty relaxed, fun and blissfully uneventful, but here's what is happening to us right now...

We are staying in Windsor Hills.

Our trip was nearing its end and DS5 woke up 2 nights ago with intense ear pain, after having a cold/mild fever for a couple of days. Took him to Centra Care in Formosa Gardens (using "my" secret unpaved road to avoid travel on 192 -- who knew minivans were so much fun in the dirt?) and was told he has a severe ear inection, and "no putting this kid on a plane for 72 hours unless you want to take a moderate risk of ear drum puncture and slight risk of permanent hearing loss".

Guess how much it would have cost us to switch our flights? At least $2000. Plus lodging, food and car rental for 48 extra hours...

(Even adding in the "unused" trip insurance the past 2 trips, we still save at least 50% of what we would have spent had we never bought it.)

Now guess how relieved I am that I have trip insurance??

Just thought I'd share.

PS. Little guy is doing much better... we may even hit MK tomorrow.

 

[dougsmom98]

Wow! You were smart to get the trip insurance. I am so glad that he is doing better. Thanks for sharing.

 

[sjms71]

We too have been getting trip insurance for that reason, what if the kids get really sick!! I'm glad it worked out well and that he is feeling better. One year we spent our 2nd day in Florida at the urgent care with a ear infection. It was not fun!

 

[Jeninindy]

Wow, hope he is feeling better soon - ear infections are the worst!!!

Glad you had the travel insurance!!! We did purchase the travel insurance based on several dis members advice.....

Jennifer

 

[sympatico]

We were glad that we had medical insurance when we went to Hawaii 2 years ago. DH had a kidney stone on the plane between LA and Honolulu. Took a few days of back and forth to hospital then a laser procedure to get rid of it. When all the bills came through it amounted to $32,000. The insurance paid it all. So my motto: Insurance - don't leave home without it.
Glad you son is doing better.

 

[hannah03]

I'm so glad your son is doing better!! I may get the insurance after all

 

[Reflection]

Can someone provide recommendations for trip insurance providers?

Thanks.....

 

[hannah03]

I would also like to know and know if there are any differences. I've never been on a trip like this and want the best coverage for the best price

 

[5mins2disney]

Same thing happened to me when we were at Windsor Hills in May 06. I still get ear infections as an adult actually. While waiting in line for 3 hours at that same urgent care place, I wandered next door to the little realty office, and that's why / how we ended up buying a home there! LOL

For trip insurance the best place to check:
www.insuremytrip.com

It's an internet search / brokerage type website that goes out and queries lots of other insurance providers to find you the best deal.

 

[hannah03]

What kind of trip insurance is offered through DREAMS UNLIMITED. That is who I'm booking through, anyone know?

 

[yrdlyprincess]

Glad your DS is doing better...my DS2 had tubes put in last year around this time and I just can't bare to see either of my kids sick, and ear infections are the worse (well high there) I will definitely be getting insurance now! THANKS!

 

[5mins2disney]

What kind of trip insurance is offered through DREAMS UNLIMITED. That is who I'm booking through, anyone know?

No idea, but it doesn't really matter. You can buy it yourself, directly, through the website I mentioned, regardless of who you booked through, all you need are your receipts. You'll get better insurance, better coverage, and pay less generally speaking, because you're going direct. (Why pay the middleman?)

 

[FLParadisevilla]

Wow thats great that you had the insurance!! How horriable to have such a bad ear infection! That sounds quite painful! I am so glad it all worked out for you!

 

[Reflection]

Thanks 5MinstoDisney for the link to website that provides quotes!!!!

 

[I Love Pluto]

We book through AAA. We always get the travel insurance. We wondered if we were wasting money on it until the year I got a bad case of poison ivy right before our trip.

Poison ivy & July heat do not mix. I was able to reschedule (with a doctor's note) without penalty. GET the TRIP INSURANCE!

 

[KerriMc]

I too say always get trip insurance!! You never know!!

In 2004 we travelled with my two dd's and my youngest was only 7 months at that time. We ended up at the clinic with her and they diagnosed an ear infection ... $300!! So two days later she was progressively worse, so we took her to the hospital (Celebration?) and turns out by that point her fever was 103.5 and she actually had RSV, not an ear infection. The ear was just inflamed from her cough, which wasn't much of a cough because she was so winded really. Poor baby ... had to have x-rays done and then they did the vapour treatment to help clear her out. New meds and off we go ... much improved in a matter of a couple of days. That was almost $2000. Incredible. Of course, we aren't used to paying for actual medical treatment here in Ontario. We do pay for meds if you don't have a drug plan, but not medical stuff.

Glad your son is feeling better ... we were at Windsor Hills two weeks ago ... can't wait to go back!!

Kerri

 

[Mainebound]

Went back to Centra Care today. Here's a tip: show up at five before the 8:00am opening and you are seen very fast. We showed up Monday at 8:30 and it made a hige difference in our wait time.

DS's ear is "partially cleared" and we have the "ok" to fly out tomorrow morning provided we give him Triaminic prior to the flight and chewing gum on acsent and descent.

For others who have asked... we bought our trip insurance for the 3rd time using Insuremytrip.com, and every year we end up with Travel Guard as the price is best. So far they have been great on the phone. But I still have to do all the paperwork for reimbursement when I get home, so I can't 100% recommend them until they "show me the money".

Thanks for the well wishes. We did go to MK yesterday and had a great day after all. Although DS was not totally himself, he enjoyed getting wheeled around in the stroller and being able to pick his favorite rides.

 

[5mins2disney]

Glad you're all doing better and having fun Mainebound! When I went to the Centracare it was over a 3 hour wait, pretty crazy, and it didn't seem like there were even very many people there for as long as it took them to see me. Very slow and inefficient, and once I saw the Dr. it took another 30 minutes of waiting / paperwork for them to check me out.

Oh well, at least it beats going to the ER I suppose.

The little realty office to the right of the place is where I ended up going while waiting and ended up buying a home as a result of it by the way! LOL Sunshine Realty or something like that...hehe...wonder if they give the Drs a commission or something?

 

[kileybeth]

wow. . .

we've been to Dsiney where we ended up in ER as well. (Seizure for 2 yr old in Magic Kingdom, not fun).

we have never stayed anyplace but hotels that will refund up to day of arrival by 6pm or so and since still in US our own medical BCBS covers us . . .no problems so far (hotel extended us no prob. last time)

but getting ready to rent maybe house or very expensive Disney property (probably both and split ressie to be on site for a few days. . )

have read you need to buy this insurance before you reserve anything? or book flights or anything?

and also there are 2 levels of insureance. one that pays for illness, death cancellations and the other pays for any reason you need to cancel?

guess I need to go to recommended website and see if it is obvious there or does someone who has used this insurance have info?

one more question, cost based on length of stay or number in party?

 

[Mainebound]

Glad you're all doing better and having fun Mainebound! When I went to the Centracare it was over a 3 hour wait, pretty crazy, and it didn't seem like there were even very many people there for as long as it took them to see me. Very slow and inefficient, and once I saw the Dr. it took another 30 minutes of waiting / paperwork for them to check me out.

Oh well, at least it beats going to the ER I suppose.

The little realty office to the right of the place is where I ended up going while waiting and ended up buying a home as a result of it by the way! LOL Sunshine Realty or something like that...hehe...wonder if they give the Drs a commission or something?

I can see that happening very easily. We just stopped at the WH guest services to see about looking at a townhome (not for buying, but for renting) figuring they would at least have a "model" open, but nope -- all townhomes and condos are sold out!