Travel Insurance.. I'm sooo confused!!

[tink1663]

I was pricing travel insurane on insure my trip.com and I got very confused. There are so many differnt companies and the cost varies considerable. Has anyone used Travelex? I want to get a good plan that covers the essentials of my trip.

 

[cjsmom97]

I was just telling someone about insurance!! Funny you should mention it... go to this website.. if you are travelling with kids, the kids are free under this plan. http://www.accessamerica.com/index....oken=xXeGWjwhRUnwfXDAOIj5uVFjS36yIkXBNFW7EFxu ...click on Trip Assist Family Care to get more info. Let me know if you have any questions as I think this is the best that works for us.

 

[SamR]

Has anyone used Travelex? I want to get a good plan that covers the essentials of my trip.

About a month ago, I purchased a Travelex policy for our cruise next month. I looked at a number of sites, including InsureMyTrip and one or two others that provide comparisons between several policies. I agree with you that it can be very confusing, as there are a lot of different companies, and doing head-to-head comparisons can be tough since some policies will be stronger in one area of coverage, but weaker in another. For me, I was looking for good medical evacuation coverage, along with basic trip interruption and cancellation. For the ones I compared, the Travelex policy worked out to be the best combination of coverage and price.

Of course, I have no experience with Travelex claim processing (and hope that I don't gain any ). Using the Search function on here, I reviewed some other threads on trip insurance and found several positive comments on Travelex, and no real negatives, so I went with it.

Good luck with your research. And more importantly, here's hoping that the only return on our insurance investments is "peace of mind".

 

[coleland]

I haven't checked out Travelex yet, but the quote I just got with Access America is fantastic! Does anyone have any experience with AA?

 

[Otisp]

Access America does come back with a good quote (although only about $10 less than Travelex). Travelex does have higher Medical/Evacuation coverage ($50,000 v. $10,000/20,000 for AA). Also be aware that if you are concerned about a pre-existing condition, you have 21-days to purchase Travelex after your initial deposit v. 14 days for AA. If you miss those deadlines (as we did on our first cruise), Travelex's pre-travel exclusion period is 90 days, while AAs is 120 days.

For the few extra $$s we have used Travelex, but there are quite a few satisfied AA clients on the Boards, too! (Have yet to read of a complaint about either).

Almost forgot: You can compare a number of policies at www.insuremytrip.com.

 

[scottygirl]

Otisp,

If you miss those deadlines (as we did on our first cruise), Travelex's pre-travel exclusion period is 90 days, while AAs is 120 days.

Can you explain this further? Thanks!

 

[Luv2Dream]

Just an FYI. The trip insurance that you purchase from DCL is thru AccessAmerica.

 

[macbaby]

Travelex offers primary insurance on all of their policies, AccessAmerica (and most others) are secondary or even tertiary. The difference? If something happens to you and you need to make a claim, Travelex pays first; the others require you to file with your own insurance companies (health, accident, credit card (if you used one to pay for the trip), the airline/cruise line...) first, then after they have paid, AccessAmerica will kick in to pay. I much prefer to deal with one company first, then all the others, if needed.

 

[cjsmom97]

Here's to not having to deal with any of them and a safe trip!

 

[smchan]

Originally posted by coleland
I haven't checked out Travelex yet, but the quote I just got with Access America is fantastic! Does anyone have any experience with AA?

Yes, I got sick and was quarantined for 48 hours and my wife for 24 hours on a 4 day cruise. I sent a letter and supporting documentation to AA asking for 1/2 the fare back for both my wife and me (2 days out of 4) arguing that my wife couldn't enjoy the cruise without me. They paid the full claim promptly. In addition, DCL kicked in a voucher for 1/2 the total cruise fare, so the cruise was effectively free (assuming I went on another DCL cruise to use the voucher - which I did last March).

Frankly, were it not for DCL sending a voucher, that first cruise where I got sick would've been my last. I felt miserable! But we had so much fun on the second cruise I'm sure we'll be repeat customers.

Sam

 

[Mjasp]

Sam...Did you purchase your AA insurance through DCL or on your own?

 

[smchan]

Originally posted by Mjasp
Sam...Did you purchase your AA insurance through DCL or on your own?

I bought it through DCL, but my claim was managed through AA. DCL had no involvement in my claim other than offering to provide whatever supporting documentation I needed for the claim.

IIRC, the supporting documentation included the bill from the ship's doctor, the letter from Capt Henry telling me I was quarantined, and the receipt showing the cruise fare I paid.

Sam

 

[LuvindisCruiser]

Do you have to have the insurance before you book your cruise, or does it not matter. Do regular ins. companies not carry travel insurance : State Farm, Farmers, etc....... I'll need to get insurance within the next few weeks, and am just starting my search.........

 

[JC Butterfly]

I'm on information overload. I already booked my 2005 trip and it's been more than 30 days since I made the deposit. does that mean it's too late to get insurance?

I'm confused by the whole "pre-existing" condition clause. Can someone explain that more?

As far as health benefits, is this so I have coverage beyond my current policy?

And travel insurance will pay for a percentage of my trip if for some reason I can't go?

I've never purchased it before and the whole concept is confusing!

Brenda

 

[Greysword]

It is not too late to buy insurance. You can get it while you are out to sea, if you want

A pre-existing condition is one that arise within or before the time frame noted. For instance, if you are diagnosed with an ulcer at 100 days before your cruise (3+ months), then on a 180 day condition, you are considered to have had it "before" the time of the cruise. Thus if your ulcer starts bleeding profusely from stress, food, etc, then the insurance will not cover those expenses unless you bought the insurance before the time limit ran out.

If an injury was not diagnosed before the trip, such as breaking a leg during the cruise, catching malaria or need to be evacuated for major heartburn, then the condition can be covered by the insurance if something happens during the vacation.

 

[Greysword]

Brenda,

As far as your other questions, the benefits of travel insurance may be in two forms: Either as a secondary to your current health/credit card protection programs (that is, the insurance will pay after the primary does) or you can get Travel insurance as the primary, which pays immediately. i would recommend the latter (primary version), since many of our American health insurance providers do not cover in foreign countries.

If you get travel insurance as the secondary insurer to your current health insurance, I would call your normal provider and ask what they will cover in the ports of call and otu to sea.

Another great part of travel insurance is coverage should something happen and you can't go. Canelation coverage is normally part of it and you will get a refund up to the trip amount (or amount of coverage you requested, whichever is lower) should you have a death in the family, terrorists strike a place on your trip, you are burglurized, have a weather event at home, and other possible conditions (each plans have different conditions on this). This could include all prepaid costs including hotel and rental car deposits.

Besides cancelation, many policies cover you if you missed a connection and need to fly to a port to catch the ship enroute, a lost luggae stipend to replace your cloths, and other potential costs.

Here is an example of what my insurance covers:

Benefits

Trip Cancellation Protection (if the trip is canceled by me or the cruise for designated reasons) .....................Up to the trip cost

Bankruptcy and Default Protection (if the airline I am flying, Delta, goes bankrupt or Disney does, I can get a refund for unused services)..............Up to $20,000 per person

Trip Interruption (I need to cut my trip short due to injury, weather or illness) .........................................150% of the trip cancellation limit

Travel Delay (hotel/food costs for missing the boat) $500 (after 6 hours)

Missed Connection (dad'gum airlines! )....................................$300

Loss of Baggage / Personal Effects (has some restrictions such as medication, but will pay for new cloths!).............$1,000 (primary benefit)

Baggage Delay (to tide me over until luggage hits the next port) ..........................................$200 (after 24 hours)

Emergency Medical and Dental (dental with this plan is $750, others may vary. This is important to me)...................$10,000 (primary benefit)

Emergency Medical Transportation (need to helo'd off liek the guy on the QM2 last month? see Coast Guard site for details)..............$50,000

24-hr Accidental Death & Dismemberment....$10,000

24-hr Assistance Services...........................Included

Flight Insurance (if you get it, refunds the cost of your plane tickets).........................................Optional $100,000 or $250,000

Medical Benefit Updgrade (i took this just to be safe)...........................Optional $25,000 Medical/ $100,000 Evacuation

Different plans have different benefits. Travel Insured (above) have higher rates ($175 for Laurie and I), but they are a good company with lots of coverage.

Good Luck!!