Travel Insurance Questions

[TamieH]

We are so close to booking...finally have the dates, categories, decks, travel agency picked with only one remaining "immediate" detail....travel insurance.

10/16/05 Wonder 4 Night - Cat 6 - Family of 4

I have it narrowed down to:

Access America/Trap Assist Family Care-AAA $116 total/kids free

Travel Insured/Worldwide Trip Protector $145 total

TravelEx/Travel Lite $95 total/kids free


They all seem like they have about the same benefits except AA has $20K for medical transport where the others have $50K. Is $20 enough from the Bahamas?

Any feedback on these companies? We are traveling with another family of 4 that has a 3 year old that is currently in Remission from AML (leukemia), so they need to make sure that the pre-existing conditions are waived with up front purchase and that there are no surprises later in case they have to make changes/cancellations.

Any suggestions/feedback would be appreciate.

Thanks!

 

[pediatric-rnp]

In a previous job I had to arrange air evacs for Bermudians who needed emergent off island care - most of them went to Boston and the costs varied from $9,000 - 14,000 depending on the air ambulance company used. There are numerous air ambulance companies out of NC and FL. I would say the average cost was $12,000. We have the DCL ins policy and it states the air ambulance transports you to the nearest hospital, which I would guess would be in FL. , and their limit is 30K/person. (We booked the trip thru AAA, but when our TA compared their policy to DCL's, she said the Disney one was the better one for the money.) I would say that a policy covering 15k-20k would be sufficient, as I believe they all transport only to the closest US hospital. They also usually allow a family member on the air ambulance, if room allows - sometimes there is too much equipment needed, or extra personnel, and then it is not allowed.
I believe all travel ins plans have a pre-existing clause - I was concerned as my younger son has asthma - there is a lot of "fine print" to read, so it is best to compare. Hope this is of some help.
carol

 

[Greysword]

Consistently in my cruise research (1st timer here), two companies keep appearing with nothing but praise:

Travel Insured and Travel Guard.

One of the more concise articles about travel insurance in relation to cruising can be found on the Cruise Reviews website:

http://www.cruisereviews.com/Insurance.htm

It sums up what, pretty much, everyone else has to say on the topic (websites, Frommer's Cruise Guide, my TA, Cruising for Dummies): it is important to have an excellent claims history and extras for the money. The two mentioned are reportedly among the best in the business.

I have been told an axiom: The cruise lines are in business for themselves, and no matter how wonderful the service, they would choose themselves over their customers in a survival match. It is important to have 3rd party insurance, because the insurer is looking out for you instead of the cruise line. It sounds harsh, and I know Disney bends over backwards to be the best in the business, this is just a thought that makes sense to me. Thus, I prefer a 3rd party insurance company vice any cruise line's insurance.

A link to the two insurers can be found on the Cruise Reviews website and Travel Insured has a Satisfactory rating with the CT Better Business Bureau (I have my TA checking on them in depth). You can also find their links by typing the company names into a search engine (I used yahoo).

Hope this helps some!

 

[Greysword]

If I may add my own thoughts. If I am going to skimp and save $50-$100 on the cruise, I will cut out an excursion or souvenier. I don't think it is wise to skimp on insurance. Thats why under Travel Insured, I am getting the upgrade for $58 more.

I hope it is wasted money, but if a medical evac is required and costs $40,000 in fuel, resources (helicopters from the ship and/or aircraft from an island), and personnel, I don't want to be left with a $10,000 bill in the end.

Just my thoughts....

 

[TamieH]

Thanks for the feedback & tips! Anyone ever had to file any travel related claims with any of these companies? Any problems?