Trip Insurance Question

[nikkistevej]

Question to you all, tried looking online and just can't seem to get the answers. I will call if no one is sure.
My in laws are taking their kids/grandkids for a cruise on August 1(a little over 30 days), of course it's paid in full, and we also have trip insurance. What happens if my sister in law does not go(she had some addiction problems a while back, "got better" for a while, now is messing up again. They don't know if she can(and will go). Believe me, I could definitely do without her, BUT not my place to decide it.
Any help would be appreciated!!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Question to you all, tried looking online and just can't seem to get the answers. I will call if no one is sure.
My in laws are taking their kids/grandkids for a cruise on August 1(a little over 30 days), of course it's paid in full, and we also have trip insurance. What happens if my sister in law does not go(she had some addiction problems a while back, "got better" for a while, now is messing up again. They don't know if she can(and will go). Believe me, I could definitely do without her, BUT not my place to decide it.
Any help would be appreciated!!

Depending on the insurance, if your sister in law has to cancel, she may or may not get her cruise fare back. Different policies have different cancellations they cover. All the way from "cancel for any reason" to "cancel for work reasons". Also, if you sister in law is sharing a room, it may affect the other person in the room (if there's only one other) if she cancels.

You'll have to read the policy to see what, if anything is covered under your specific policy.

 

[nikkistevej]

It's just a crazy situation(this the normal version of the whole scenario- believe me- ugh), they aren't sure if she is going or no(none of them travel- have never even really left the state of Maryland), so it's up to me, to let them know this info. We got trip insurance through DCL, I am probably going to have to email the TA.
Thanks for your input!!!

 

[Otimon]

Hope all works out and you have a wonderful cruise.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Another consideration is whether her insurance would consider her addiction a pre-existing condition or not. Definitely check your insurance. Is there a chance she'll get better before then?

 

[lanejudy]

It might depend if the insurance considers the issue to be a "pre-existing condition" since you indicate she has been treated previously for her addiction. To be covered, I would think she'll need to be under a doctor's care and the doctor advises no traveling. Pre-existing would look back a period of days from when the policy was purchased; if she had history within that time period, it would be considered pre-existing.

The DCL insurance does not directly carry a waiver for pre-existing conditions. The insurance itself also is not a "cancel for any reason" policy. HOWEVER, the DCL policy does have the additional benefit that if the claim is denied through the insurance, DCL will give a credit in an amount equal to (I think) 75% of the lost fare; that credit can be used within a year.

You will get your best answers by calling the insurance provider directly.

Best of luck to your SIL with her treatment and I hope the family enjoys the cruise!

 

[nikkistevej]

Another consideration is whether her insurance would consider her addiction a pre-existing condition or not. Definitely check your insurance. Is there a chance she'll get better before then?

I doubt it, she is now on a "program", that she goes to everyday and gets a substance to help her with an addiction- I don't even know if they will allow that on the cruise ship. ugh
she is still saying she wants to go, so have about 34 days to figure it all out.

 

[BigredNole]

Let me first apologize for being a little rash on this. This is another perspective to look at it.

This a tough situation and something you should not be in the middle of (my opinion). In all honesty, it is your in-laws that paid for the trip and they should be the ones concerned if they get their money back. This is a person with an addiction going to countries that are more lax on drugs than the US. There was a recent article about 4 coming back into PC with drugs and all are going to prison. Imagine her bringing something on the ship, hiding it in one of your suitcases, and you getting caught at customs? That becomes trafficking and far worse than being caught with recreational possession.

My concern would be her being around me all together, let alone her addiction problem.

 

[nikkistevej]

Let me first apologize for being a little rash on this. This is another perspective to look at it.

This a tough situation and something you should not be in the middle of (my opinion). In all honesty, it is your in-laws that paid for the trip and they should be the ones concerned if they get their money back. This is a person with an addiction going to countries that are more lax on drugs than the US. There was a recent article about 4 coming back into PC with drugs and all are going to prison. Imagine her bringing something on the ship, hiding it in one of your suitcases, and you getting caught at customs? That becomes trafficking and far worse than being caught with recreational possession.

My concern would be her being around me all together, let alone her addiction problem.

I'm good, no apologies necessary. It is very tough, unfortunately because none of them have really "traveled", they want me to do everything. They even gave me their account info to book it all. They just wanted me to "take care" of it all, that's why I was asking. I am hoping she stays "straight", but she's on her own if anything happens. She will be no where near my luggage. LOL We are only doing a 4 night(so only Bahamas and CC), and not getting off in Bahamas, so hopefully she wouldn't be able to "pick up" anything there. She is saying that she is definitely going now, no there won't be any cancelling.
Thanks for all replies.

 

[lanejudy]

I doubt it, she is now on a "program", that she goes to everyday and gets a substance to help her with an addiction- I don't even know if they will allow that on the cruise ship. ugh
she is still saying she wants to go, so have about 34 days to figure it all out.

They just wanted me to "take care" of it all, that's why I was asking.

Honestly, while you can call DCL and the trip insurance provider and ask the questions to get the answers... your SIL needs to deal with how and whether she will be able to travel. She needs to speak with her program, and do so sooner rather than later. I don't know her exact issues or treatment, but will speak in hypothetical based on the treatment centers in my area. I don't believe a rehab program will "prescribe" a week's worth of Suboxone to a patient to take on vacation. It can be abused; that's why patients must go to the clinic every day to get their dose. Now maybe SIL's treatment is something different; maybe it can be prescribed to her for one week; maybe she is far enough along in her therapy they will consider alternatives. But SHE needs to be the one to discuss that with her doctors/counselors and SHE needs to take responsibility to set that up; otherwise, you will not only have an addict along, but someone who at that point essentially drops out of her program and could suffer a major set-back. She also may not be accepted back into the program after the vacation if she doesn't handle the request responsibly and just disappears for a week; around here those waiting lists are miles long. You can contact DCL's special needs line to ask if they can even help with her situation. But that is something to be done immediately or it may not even be an option because time is too short; and it will need to directly involve SIL and her doctors/counselors, not something you can do for her.

Good luck!

 

[nikkistevej]

Honestly, while you can call DCL and the trip insurance provider and ask the questions to get the answers... your SIL needs to deal with how and whether she will be able to travel. She needs to speak with her program, and do so sooner rather than later. I don't know her exact issues or treatment, but will speak in hypothetical based on the treatment centers in my area. I don't believe a rehab program will "prescribe" a week's worth of Suboxone to a patient to take on vacation. It can be abused; that's why patients must go to the clinic every day to get their dose. Now maybe SIL's treatment is something different; maybe it can be prescribed to her for one week; maybe she is far enough along in her therapy they will consider alternatives. But SHE needs to be the one to discuss that with her doctors/counselors and SHE needs to take responsibility to set that up; otherwise, you will not only have an addict along, but someone who at that point essentially drops out of her program and could suffer a major set-back. She also may not be accepted back into the program after the vacation if she doesn't handle the request responsibly and just disappears for a week; around here those waiting lists are miles long. You can contact DCL's special needs line to ask if they can even help with her situation. But that is something to be done immediately or it may not even be an option because time is too short; and it will need to directly involve SIL and her doctors/counselors, not something you can do for her.

Good luck!

Yeah, I told them I could find out if she can even take it on the ship. I have no idea, I've never had to deal with this. I know she is on the methadone program, and she told my mother in law she could take it for the week. But a week on airlines/cruise ships/border regulations is another story. I guess we'll see. I know it seems I'm more concerned, because I know more about how all this works with TSA/cruise regulations/etc. They just have no idea.
Thanks!!!