Trip Insurance Questions

[HeyIt'sMe]

We’ve never gotten trip insurance before and I have some questions about it.

We leave for our next trip in ~7 weeks and the balance on our package is due a week from today. I’ve been carrying a small balance because I thought that you could add trip insurance up until your package is paid off. Is that true?

The reason I’m considering trip insurance is my FIL has Stage 3 lung cancer (diagnosed in Dec 2007) and he’s going through his 3rd round of chemo. He’s doing fairly well at the moment but know that things can take a turn for the worse at any moment. I’m not so concerned if we have to cancel beforehand since the most we’d lose is $200. I’m more concerned about getting down to WDW and having to cut the trip short in case we have to return home. Does the trip insurance cover situations like this so you get reimbursed for the part of the package you don’t use?

TIA,
Debbie

 

[MHSweb79]

We booked our trip through AAA and we had to pay for the trip insurance within a week or so of booking the trip. You should check with Disney or your TA to see if there was a deadline to purchase the insurance.

 

[kycat]

Just my opinion, but I never buy trip insurance from the company supplying the travel...because their policies are usually written with their best interest in mind.

Just in case you don't know, you can go to http://www.insuremytrip.com and get quotes from many companies. I've used Travelex before and was happy with the claim process when our camera was once stolen.

 

[jjsawich]

what type of insurance to you buy? I am looking for a opinion, we are traveling in January '11 with 2 adults a 5 year old and a 2 year old. Our trip is booked through AAA and they are offering it for 133.00. what should i be concerned with besides my main concern, cancellation. thank you.

 

[Disneymama5816]

Glad to hear that your FIL is responding well to the chemo. I HIGHLY recommend to all of my clients to purchase travel insurance. You never know what can happen, especially families with small children. That being said, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. When people have a "pre-existing condition" there are insurance policies out there that may not cover you. Since he is in treatment, you need to make sure that whatever policy you purchase will cover you for this. I know with the company Access America (whom I use for a LOT of my clients) you can waive the pre-existing conditions IF you purchase the insurance within 2 weeks of your initial deposit. In your case, this policy would not work for you. After re-reading Disney's policy, this may be the best policy for you. As long as you purchase the policy prior to final payment, they will cover pre-exisiting medical issues PROVIDED the person receiving the treatment is able to travel at the time the insurance is purchased. While, I know your FIL is not going on the trip, if it is determined that he was in a state where he could not travel (if he so chose) this might be a problem. I know it can all be so confusing. Sometimes I wonder if I am a TA or insurance agent . This looks like the only policy that will cover you in case you have to cut your trip short.
Sorry this was so long, but I always feel bad when I hear about people losing so much of their vacations because of these situations.
Hope you have a great trip!!

 

[Disneymama5816]

what type of insurance to you buy? I am looking for a opinion, we are traveling in January '11 with 2 adults a 5 year old and a 2 year old. Our trip is booked through AAA and they are offering it for 133.00. what should i be concerned with besides my main concern, cancellation. thank you.

With such small children, insurance is ALWAYS a good idea, especially in the middle of flu season. The price is pretty good. Is that through Disney or is that AAA's policy? Does it cover flights as well (if you are flying)? Does it also cover pre-existing medical conditions? Will it cover trip interruption? Just in case something happens on the trip? What about weather issues? Death/sickness in immediate family?
These would be the most important things that I would be looking for.
Hope this helps!!!

 

[PolyDec2008]

Great thread!

Just looked at the Access American quotes and they look good. Are they the equivalent of the Disney sponsored trip insurance?

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

Glad to hear that your FIL is responding well to the chemo. I HIGHLY recommend to all of my clients to purchase travel insurance. You never know what can happen, especially families with small children. That being said, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. When people have a "pre-existing condition" there are insurance policies out there that may not cover you. Since he is in treatment, you need to make sure that whatever policy you purchase will cover you for this. I know with the company Access America (whom I use for a LOT of my clients) you can waive the pre-existing conditions IF you purchase the insurance within 2 weeks of your initial deposit. In your case, this policy would not work for you. After re-reading Disney's policy, this may be the best policy for you. As long as you purchase the policy prior to final payment, they will cover pre-exisiting medical issues PROVIDED the person receiving the treatment is able to travel at the time the insurance is purchased. While, I know your FIL is not going on the trip, if it is determined that he was in a state where he could not travel (if he so chose) this might be a problem. I know it can all be so confusing. Sometimes I wonder if I am a TA or insurance agent . This looks like the only policy that will cover you in case you have to cut your trip short.
Sorry this was so long, but I always feel bad when I hear about people losing so much of their vacations because of these situations.
Hope you have a great trip!!

Thanks for the information Disneymama.

I'm usually a conservative person but I might have to be a risk-taker and wing it this time ("gulp!"). My FIL was in remission for over a year but his cancer came back in July 2009. The doctors aren't telling him to get his affairs in order or anything but I lost both my parents to cancer and I know things can happen quickly. Who knows what October will bring....