Travel insurance question please

[MICHELLENDEAN]

Ok, We totally booked and paid for our 4/27 cruise and yesterday My daughter had a raging ear infection, which got me to thinking ...travel insurance..but when we called they said it was too late because it was totally paid for...
Does anyone have any suggestions...does AAA offer this kind of backup insurance.
I'd hate for my daughter to get sick the night before and we wouldn't be able to get on that plane!!

I missed a trip to Florida and had to re-book for 600 bucks more a year ago due to the same thing..HELP!

 

[taswira]

Sorry, but I don't know of any insurance company that allows you to purchase insurance after a trip has been paid in full and within 60 days of your trip. Trip insurance seems like a waste of money until you need it, but it's the same with any insurance. It is well worth the investment and no one should try to save money by opting out of the insurance. That is not directed at you personally, but at others out there who have not yet booked.

 

[MICHELLENDEAN]

EEK! No, I wasn't trying to save money..just DH didn't think ahead when he booked..duh!..I figured you could buy the insurance after...I didn't know the option is gone just because it's paid for! that stinks, after all, the ship hasn't sailed, they will still get their money..I don't get it..OK, Guess I'll just have to hope for the best..thanks for the info!!

 

[taswira]

As I said, my comment was NOT directed at you personally, but was advice for people about to book. The reason insurance companies will not let you buy it later is because they would lose a lot of money that way. If that was allowed, everyone would wait until illness or other problems just before their cruise, then make their claim. So their policy is necessary for their business. Those who travel without it and end up not needing it are happy that they saved the money. But it only take one incident to be very costly to the traveller.

 

[vicnmickey]

I have a quick question for you. Does your young one have alot of reacurring ear infections? If so, contact your pediatrician(spelling) and tell him of your upcoming cruise and ask him if you could have a prescription to cover your child for the cruise length. I know alot of docters will do this for people and kids who have alot of reacurring infections. If you don't need it than don't use it, but you will have the antibiotic just in case. Just an idea. I hope you have a great cruise.

 

[albiats]

I can't make a recommendation for a particular company but I can show you some choices. I use AAA South for both the TA and insurance, and I get it when I book the cruise. If you get insurance within 7 days of booking, it usually waives the rule about pre-existing conditions.

Here's a link to GlobalHealthInsurance, they have two different insurance companies for Trip Cancellation insurance, and they have an email link with a promise of 24 hour response:
Global Health

I do remember reading that you can indeed buy a policy after the final payment date and I believe it was even up to 7 days before the travel date, but I'm not sure where that was.

There's another thread on this same forum with more information. it's at:
Other Insurance Thread on DIS

Hope that helps.

 

[taswira]

If you do know of ANY company that will issue a policy 7 days before the travel date, please post it. I'm sure many people who made the mistake of not buying it up front would be interested. I imagine it would be pretty expensive at that late date, if available. Some companies (aside from DCL itself) will let you buy insurance after final payment, but only if it is something like 60 to 90 days out - - for the company's own protection ;-).

 

[albiats]

I used Google as my search engine and I looked for cruise travel insurance. One that showed up was at the CSA Travel Protection Website. Here's the link to it: CSA Travel Protection

As an experiment, I went to the CSA Website and entered information for 3 travelers and I specified a travel date of March 31, 2002 and a return date of April 6, 2002. I specified a deposit date of May 10, 2001 and a final payment date of Jan 25, 2002. It didn't error out or reject my request and I did a 'copy and paste' of the output of the entry form here:

Price Quote

Total Trip Cost: $3100.00
Number of Travelers: 3
Age of oldest traveler: 40
Departure Date: 03/31/2002
Return Date: 04/06/2002
Length of Trip: 7 days
Initial Deposit Date: 05/10/2001
Final Payment Date: 01/25/2002
Total Plan Cost: $155.00

Additional Information Required for Purchase
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on that response, I would say it looks like it would accept a request for insurance for travel within 7 days. It also looks like $155 is not very expensive for insurance for 3 people.

I just called their Toll Free number at 800-873-9855. I spoke to a live agent and I told him that I had a friend that was going on a cruise on April 27th and would like to get travel insurance. He said 'no problem'.

I then asked him what was the latest date that a person could buy travel insurance from CSA. He said it would not cover pre-existing conditions but that you can purchase insurance through them up to 24 hours before your trip begins. You can do it by phone or on their Website if the phones are closed.

So there is at least one company that will sell trip insurance up to the last minute without a terrible penalty. I suspect that there are others that will also sell it close to your sail date as well.

 

[taswira]

Does that include Trip Cancellation Insurance and not just trip insurance that covering only missed flights, lost luggage, onboard medical, etc.? I know I could go to the site myself and research it, but I thought you may already know the answer. That IS amazing if it does include Trip Cancellation and you can get it that cheap 24 hours prior to the trip!!!

 

[MICHELLENDEAN]

Taswira,
Oh, no, I didn't take it personally! I just feel stupid for not knowing..I figured I could probably get insurance up till 30 days before or somewhere in that neighborhood.
VicnMickey - That is an awsome Idea! I probably will do that..My DD has tubes in her ears and still gets an ear infection occasionally...She goes for a regular check up a few weeks before we leave and I'll ask...I'm sure he'll be happy to help out..THANK YOU!!

albiats: You're a saint..how very nice of you to call and check up...Thank you and I will make that call!

All I can say is, how lucky am I to find this wealth of knowledge and kindness? Thanks everyone!

 

[Jimbo564]

Are you worried about the medical aspect or losing your money if you cancel? I just booked my cruise yesterday and had a lengthy discussion with Disney Cruise about insurance and what would happen if you had to cancel for some reason. She said if you couldn't make the cruise you should reschedule the cruise vs cancel outright. Of couse being the skeptical person I am I had to look it up. Web addresses at the end.

Without insurance:
------
If the cancellation request is received 60 or more days prior to the
vacation commencement date, 100% of the amount of the vacation
price paid will be refunded. Cancellation requests received less than
60 days prior to the vacation commencement date will be assessed
cancellation fees as follows, regardless of resale of stateroom or hotel
room:
•59-30 days prior to vacation commencement date, $100 per Guest
•29-15 days prior to vacation commencement date, $300 per Guest
•14-8 days prior to vacation commencement date, 50% of vacation
price per Guest
•7 days or less prior to vacation commencement date, no refund
------
A $25 per person service fee will be assessed for any reservation
changes made within 30 days of vacation commencement date.
Consult your travel agent for details.
------

With the insurance:
------
Full reimbursement for any non-refundable penalties incurred if you must cancel or
interrupt your trip due to covered medical conditions or other specified causes
affecting you, immediate family members, or your travel companions.
------
If you purchase the Vacation Protection Plan and cancel your vacation for any
reason not covered by the insurance portion of the plan, you will receive a credit
equal to 75% of the non-refundable cancellation penalty toward a future vacation
arranged by Disney Cruise Vacations which commences within one year after the
cancellation date.
-------

If nothing else call your agent or Disney Cruise. I was on the phone over half an hour with the CM when making my ressie, she was very helpful and answered all my questions and told me to call back if I had any more questions.

I hope this helps,

Jim


http://dcl.reservations.disney.go.com/DisneyCruise/Descriptions/Popups/terms.html

http://dcl.reservations.disney.go.com/DisneyCruise/Descriptions/Popups/travel_ins.html