Travel Insurance (cancellation & Interruption) - need help pls

[biggroofy]

Hello - this is my situation. Already Booked our Mar 08 trip in early November. Planning to make full payment (Disney Cruise part) this week, so I guess I will have to decide on Trip Cancellation Insurance prior to that.

We are going for 16 days, and booked things separately so would like to have opinions from you guys -
5 Day WDW Resort GF (Magic Your Way Plus Dining Package)
2 Day SSR (Room Only)
4 Night Disney Cruise
4 Night Swan & Dolphin paid one night deposit at booking
Air - Air Canada - redeemed free tickets via Aeroplan points

I read the forum and noticed that many people suggests President Choice Financial Travel Insurance, RBC Insurance. I'd add another choice to it (CAA).

My concerns are as follows:
Our total trip cost (as a family: 2 adults, 2 child) comes up to 11K.

1). I noticed that if I go for annual comprehensive plans (RBC, PC) - I can only claim up to 1,500 for trip cancellation (touch wood if anything happens).
2). I called Travel Agency and they said that RBC Comprehensive Insurance does not offer Family plans - so I have to buy insurance for each of us - even for my 7-month-old baby. So it comes to $170+GST x 4
3). PC Comprehensive Insurance - it seems to be the cheapest. $260 for a single trip. However, it does not allow me to enter trip cost for my children. Looks like trip cancellation does not cover their portion.

DW and I had a discussion. We hopefully won't need to claim any insurance, but it is basically for a peace of mind. Not sure about weather conditions in early March, in case DD4 gets sick, and touch-wood I had a 90-year-old grandma in elderly home.

Which insurance would you suggest in my situation?

 

[disneyfan2]

i think you should check with CAA. Not sure if they offer Cancellation insurance if you did not purchase with them but it is worth a shot. Our Trip insurance and Medical coverage was around $60 pp. That is alot of money to worry about. the insurance will give you peace of mind for a trip of a life time like this. unless this is an annual trip Did you book through a travel agent? They ususally offer different packages. Good luck

 

[mkmommy]

You can buy seperate coverage for trip cancellation for the children, you would buy the cancellation/medical for the adults, (which would include medical for the kids) and then buy seperate cancellation for the kids.

 

[Mickey1Fan]

For sure RBC Insurance. Go to royalbank.com and you will find a link to insurance.

You really want trip interruption and cancellation in the event children get sick before you go or a family member.

If you have to return home you want interruption as well.

When you consider the cost of a trip and what you could lose in the long run a deluxe package from RBC insurance is great peace of mind. With RBC they pay for you. I know with my work I would have to pay any emergency medical and then hope to be reimbursed.

An example - a neighbour of mine had emergency surgery in Florida and had insurance but one bill slipped through to her. It was only for the anaesthesiologist and was for $12,000

There is family insurance too - check again, I'm not sure what it covers.

 

[biggroofy]

Thank you for all the opinions. Yes, I have heard lots of positive feedbacks about RBC Insurance. However, I called them but the lady told me that the main purpose of their insurance is for medical, and the Family Plan does NOT cover trip cancellation. I have to purchase trip cancellation insurance separately, or from somewhere else.

I wanted to ask, for those who purchased RBC Insurance - were you able to get comprehensive package for family?

 

[Mickey1Fan]

The first thing I would do is go visit a travel agent selling RBC Insurance. They can go over all the various options and prices and give you the best advise.

You are spending a lot of money on your trip and I would certainly spend the extra dollars. To spend another $1500 to potentially save $11K for me is not even a second thought.

From RBC site

Deluxe Package
This package is ideal if you're under 75 years of age, are travelling outside Canada and want the most complete travel protection we offer.

Coverage under this package includes:

Emergency Medical
Cancellation & Interruption
Baggage & Personal Effects
Flight Accident
Travel Accident

end from site.

This covers pretty much everything. Luggage being lost or misdirected, missing a flight under certain circumstances. Returning home early if necessary. Visits to a hospital if a child, or you get sick.

You have to purchase this from a travel agency and you should do it soon if you have booked your trip.

 

[biggroofy]

.....
This covers pretty much everything. Luggage being lost or misdirected, missing a flight under certain circumstances. Returning home early if necessary. Visits to a hospital if a child, or you get sick.

You have to purchase this from a travel agency and you should do it soon if you have booked your trip.

Thank you very much Mickey1Fan! I'll go to my travel agent again tomorrow, since I would like to pay final balance of my cruise soon.

 

[traveler07]

Have you checked out Travel Guard? They have plans where kids are free, that include the trip cancellation and medical coverage that you're looking for. Hope that helps!

 

[lucky winner]

Try insuremytrip.ca

 

[nelljay1973]

We will only use RBC insurance for any of our trips. I hear you say why? On a trip back home (Australia) my DH came down sick with a stomach bug, 2 days before due to fly back to Canada. I rang the number that they give, explained situation, agent gave me a reference number told me what to do, actually advised against flying, had to go to a Dr have them fill out the medical form. We paid the expenses up front, as you do with most incidental costs, ie charges from united for changing flights, hotel room in Boston for overnight. Arrived back in Canada sent in copies of documentation and within 2 weeks our account was credited. No hassle whatsover. Yes, it covered those that were travelling with my DH, which was me and DS.

This trip, I purchased online insurance through RBC, only to discover to get trip cancellation you HAVE to get it from a travel agent(which for our 2004 trip I bought from travel agent). Trip Cancellation is only for before departure, so if you want to risk you can go without it, but like you as a parent with small children I don't want to risk it. So right now I have the medical and trip interruption for all of us. I actually rang RBC insurance and the ease dealing with them is refreshing. I told the agent that I purchased online and advised I wanted Trip Cancellation, he advised go to a travel agent discuss options and if we buy the comprehensive from the Travel agent I just had to call back in and they would cancel and refund 100% for what I purchased online. Now only if dealing with other companies were that easy!

 

[biggroofy]

First, I would like to thank everyone for your valuable opinions. I would like to update and also post another question -

Updates:
I visited my TA yesterday and intended to purchase Deluxe Package from RBC Insurance. Unfortunately, my TA told me the following:
1). I should not go for Deluxe package now since I have paid my initial deposit over a month ago (Oct 31). IF I have to cancel the trip for medical reasons, it is a bit risky since my family (e.g. my dad, my child) had visited doctor between Oct 31 and now.
2). Even if I am willing to take the risk, I should not buy the Annual (multi-trip) package since the Policy must start today in order to protect against Trip cancellation (Dec 07 - Dec 08). IF I buy only medical insurance, the policy can start upon my next travel date (MAR 08 - MAR 09).

So I ended up with the following
1). Purchased Annual Medical Plan from RBC for my family
2). Purchased Trip Cancellation & Interruption from President Choice (I think they are a reseller of Travel Guard), I can be protected as long as final payment not yet made.

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Now Questions -

RBC Insurance suggests customers to purchase Trip Cancellation insurance within 48 hours (or prior) of initial travel arrangement (i.e. Deposit).

Say, DW started to bug me about a Disney Cruise in Dec 2009. I can book today by paying $400 deposit per stateroom. The $400 deposit is FULLY REFUNDABLE until 90 days prior to cruise (i.e. Sep 2009).

According to what I have learned from my TA, I should purchase my Deluxe (or whatever) Travel Insurance within 48 hours of my initial deposit - is that worthwhile?

My point is - $400 (full refundable) vs. $600 (approx 170 per person)?

I need Trip cancellation protector but seems it is too early to purchase for a trip that is 2-year down the road

 

[holidaygirl]

You should really look into getting the Royal Bank Visa Gold Card.... That is all we have and it covers us for everything as long as the tickets were purchased with the card. We travel every year and have never had to use it yet... knock on wood.... for insurance purposes, but from the research that I have done this card covers you for everything you will need while you travel. There is an annual fee but compared to the costs you are talking about it is nothing, I think the last time the fees were $120. 1st card and $90 for the second (dont quote me on those prices) Sorry this does not help you for this trip, but it is worth looking into if you plan on doing more travelling.