Travel insurance and pre-existing conditions

[Selket]

I posted on the Disney cruise board cause we are considering a cruise. I've been having a heck of a time figuring out the best way to make sure my son is covered. Here is my post:

I'm having problems figuring out how a pre-existing is covered - both with the DCL insurance and other travel insurance companies. My 5 yr old son has juvenile (type 1) diabetes and a peanut allergy.

I've called Access America directly about the DCL insurance (they are the ones who provide the DCL insurance) and have gotten some answers. It seems that my son would be covered if he had no problems within 60 days before our final payment is due. Other TI companies have a different policy of buying the insurance 14-20 days after putting down the deposit.

I'm mostly afraid of some fine print that will void the insurance should there be an issue on board the ship with him getting ill. Anyone with experience with travel insurance and pre-existing conditions? Or TI recommendations? It is so complicated for cruises! here is the link: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1381445

Anyone go down this road before with insurance?

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't have an answer.
Bumping up. Hopefully someone knows.

 

[Selket]

Sue - thanks for the bump!

I was searching around another board last night (devoted to cruises rather than Disney) and found a travel insurance agency that seems to specialize in helping people figure out this mess of pre-existing conditions and "medically stable" and all that.

http://www.tripinsurancestore.com/about.shtml

I called them last night and they sent me some quotes for travel insurance from several companies based on what I told them about my son's pre-e-c. All the companies are the usual ones but they do a really good job on their website of explaining the lookback period, etc. for each one I was trying to decide among those different insurers anyway but the info they sent really helps to make it clearer.

They seem really on the ball about being able to tell you if you're likely able to be covered (medically stable, etc). It was really just NICE to be able to talk to a person who doesn't have a vested interest in any one company and was able to tell me the pros and cons of some choices and who could answer questions about the different policies. They don't sell the DCL policy of course - but I think for us it is better to use something else.

I guess most people are like me - perhaps not traveling outside the USA so much so not really worrying about travel insurance. You get so much more financially committed in booking a cruise I figured I needed something if anything were to happen to William (or us for that matter!).

Whew! I think that little nightmare is over!

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for the update.
Insurance is kind of a tangled maze to get thru anyway. We were helping my older DD (who has no pre-existing medical conditions) sort thru the options for health insurance because she has none from her job. It was very confusing to choose the best because they are all so different on the little details.

 

[Charleyann]

My son has cystic fibrosis and Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. You can pick up travel/medical insurance and it is good as long as child has remained stable. I called the insurance company too and asked questions. They told me as long as meds have remained the same for 3 months and no hospitalizations or changes in the child's condition , then they will be covered.

I too am taking a cruise this year with my son age 11. Kind of scared for this reason. My son's health has just stablized this year. He hasn't been in the hospital for almost a year. I get nervous, waiting for the other shoe to fall. He has been in hospital approximately 300 times since birth!

We went on a wish trip and had to cut the trip short. My son's bowels obstructed and he went from plane to hospital. The next year trying to finish his trip, he got sick again and went into the hospital the day after getting home

Last year no problems! This is the first year doctors have let me take him further then the US. We opted for a shorter cruise....4 nights and 5 days. To see how he does...

My son is so very excited. When you have a child with a life -threatening and fatal illness, you want them to experience life to the fullest. To see many things and places. To have many memories to take along with them when they go off....

Wish the insurance companies could understand this....

Charleyann

 

[SueM in MN]

My son has cystic fibrosis and Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. You can pick up travel/medical insurance and it is good as long as child has remained stable. I called the insurance company too and asked questions. They told me as long as meds have remained the same for 3 months and no hospitalizations or changes in the child's condition , then they will be covered.

I too am taking a cruise this year with my son age 11. Kind of scared for this reason. My son's health has just stablized this year. He hasn't been in the hospital for almost a year. I get nervous, waiting for the other shoe to fall. He has been in hospital approximately 300 times since birth!

We went on a wish trip and had to cut the trip short. My son's bowels obstructed and he went from plane to hospital. The next year trying to finish his trip, he got sick again and went into the hospital the day after getting home

Last year no problems! This is the first year doctors have let me take him further then the US. We opted for a shorter cruise....4 nights and 5 days. To see how he does...

My son is so very excited. When you have a child with a life -threatening and fatal illness, you want them to experience life to the fullest. To see many things and places. To have many memories to take along with them when they go off....

Wish the insurance companies could understand this....

Charleyann

It seems like when you go on a trip sometimes you have to verify the the unknowable won't happen.