Trip Insurance Recommendation

[stout]

We are doing a Seine River cruise in August. It is with a group that booked the entire boat. We have two staterooms, so $26,000 total for two adults and two kids. Not with ABD or Tauck. If something happens and we don’t get on the cruise, we are out $26,000.
We are flying into France one week early for a conference, so do have wiggle room if our flight is cancelled/delayed.
We have international medical coverage/reimbursement through my husband’s employer, so do not need that. I have checked all our credit cards, and we only have $6,000 through the credit card we booked with.
Any recommendations on travel insurance companies (to use, or to stay away from)?
I have never purchased travel insurance before.
I’m looking for something that would cover cancellation should a severed medical emergency arise before we left home.
Thank you!

 

[_19disnA]

Lots of older threads about travel insurance. Some people assume every expense would be covered if they have insurance and can't travel but that is generally not the case. Verbal comments from the insurer means nothing. Make sure to get everything in writing or the insurer can say after the fact you misunderstood what they told you.

Have never purchase travel insurance and the one time we couldn't travel due to storm damage to our home, the airline was very accommodating with our 'non-refundable' tickets and let use that as a credit for a future flight. My impression is many travel related companies have flexible rules based on specific circumstances but generally don't advertise what they are.

 

[tvguy]

First thing you need to do is review what insurance you already have that may offer coverage.
1) Did you pay for the ENTIRE trip with a credit card that offers travel coverage?
2) What does your Medical coverage provide, if anything? Some group policies cover medical evacuation for example.

Match a policy to what coverage you need. Things to consider, how is covid covered? If one person in the group gets covid, will everyone be covered if you all cancel? How are approved claims paid? Does the insurer pay directly to the providers involved like hospitals? Or will you be expected to pay all the bills and file a claim for reimbursement when you return home? Does anyone in the group have a pre-existing condition that is excluded from coverage?
Is anyone in the group on Medicare? Medicare Part A and B do not provide any medical coverage outside the U.S., however some Medicare "Gap" policies (Part G) do provide some coverage. Mine covers 75% of medical expenses outside the U.S.

 

[wanderlust7]

I use Insure My Trip. It gives you quotes from many companies. Some cover kids for free. Once you narrow it down, read over the policies carefully to see what they cover and don't cover.

 

[barkley]

Does anyone in the group have a pre-existing condition that is excluded from coverage?

i'm just going to share this b/c we learned of it years ago when our kids were still little-

really read the exclusions wording and how far back it starts counting days before you sign up for an individual company. it didn't cause us to cancel a trip/didn't end up costing us more than a couple hundred for urgent care but we learned when we put in a claim for one of our kids who ended up with an ear infection on an out of state vacation that just b/c the subject of ear infections came up at a routine kid's check up almost 3 months BEFORE the trip the travel insurance was able to deny the claim. i had a VERY NICE claims rep. who took the time to explain that if anything health wise occurred during a covered trip the insurance company would look through the individual's medical records for the entire 'look back' period so if kids had an immunization appointment and doctor just inquired if everything had cleared up from strep throat 2 months prior-sore throat on vacation not covered, if one of the adults mentioned during a routine appointment that the cold had been bothering their arthritis in their knee-trip and fall uncovered.

i ended getting in the practice of making sure all our routine appointments fell before that look back period occurred.

the one time we had to do a travel insurance (covered) claim we had Travel Guard. they were good to work with, good customer service-quick to reimburse (but we had to pay up front).

 

[tvguy]

i'm just going to share this b/c we learned of it years ago when our kids were still little-

really read the exclusions wording and how far back it starts counting days before you sign up for an individual company. it didn't cause us to cancel a trip/didn't end up costing us more than a couple hundred for urgent care but we learned when we put in a claim for one of our kids who ended up with an ear infection on an out of state vacation that just b/c the subject of ear infections came up at a routine kid's check up almost 3 months BEFORE the trip the travel insurance was able to deny the claim. i had a VERY NICE claims rep. who took the time to explain that if anything health wise occurred during a covered trip the insurance company would look through the individual's medical records for the entire 'look back' period so if kids had an immunization appointment and doctor just inquired if everything had cleared up from strep throat 2 months prior-sore throat on vacation not covered, if one of the adults mentioned during a routine appointment that the cold had been bothering their arthritis in their knee-trip and fall uncovered.

i ended getting in the practice of making sure all our routine appointments fell before that look back period occurred.

the one time we had to do a travel insurance (covered) claim we had Travel Guard. they were good to work with, good customer service-quick to reimburse (but we had to pay up front).

Another issue to be aware of with travel insurance. Just like your auto and homeowners insurance, the insurance company reserves the right to subrogate a claim. That's where they pay you your claim, then seek reimbursement from the party responsible for the claim happening.
My travel agent got caught in a court battle when one of their clients bought travel insurance through them, and the client's employer canceled his vacation the day before a cruise. Travel insurance promptly paid, then sued the employer for reimbursement. By the time it was settled the employer was ordered to pay back the insurance company, plus all court costs. Boy, THAT had to be awkward for the employee.
Consequently, my Travel Agency no longer sells Travel Insurance, and makes all clients sign an acknowledgement that they make no recommendations on whether clients should purchase travel insurance. Apparently it cost them a lot of money to legal fees to defend themselves for selling the policy, although in the end they were dropped from the lawsuit.

 

[Lewisc]

Some policies waive preexisting conditions if you buy before final payment others waive preexisting conditions if you buy within a certain number of days after your deposit.

There a couple of large brokers including www.insuremytrip.com
and https://www.squaremouth.com/

Contact either and discuss your needs

 

[kathy884]

I just bought a comprehensive travel insurance policy today for my trip in September to Paris, Disneyland Paris, and Belfast that DS 27 and I are doing. DH isn't interested and is staying home. To look at policies I looked at the Insure my Trip website and the SquareMouth website. I first called Insure my Trip to talk to an agent before purchasing, but was on hold for a 1/2 hour and hung up. Next I called SquareMouth and was only on hold for five minutes and able to talk to a super nice knowledgeable agent who was able to answer all my questions. Both consolidators offered the policy I was interested for the same price. I believe these companies will step in too if you have issues with getting a claim paid.

I just have $5150 in non-refundable expenses, most of that being premium economy air. My hotels are for the most part refundable, could loose one night on a few of them for last minute cancellations. What I was most concerned about was medical and medical evacuation as that's the main part that I would be in bad shape without. My work health insurance would cover me but has a really high deductible like 12K for out of network, and for DS he doesn't have an out of network benefit. Anyway, I picked a HTH Worldwide policy that had $500,000 in Medical primary coverage and 1 Million for Medical Evacuation coverage. They appear to be associated with GeoBlue who I have bought medical insurance from before when all I wanted was medical insurance for previous overseas trips. Because I bought the policy less than 21 days after my first non-refundable expenses, we get a waiver of any pre-existing conditions. I'm not aware of any that we have, but we could develop some before the trip, so I always prefer that. I also paid about $200 or so extra to get a cancel for any reason policy where I would get 75% of my non-refundable monies back if we cancel for any reason before the trip. For most cancel for any reason insurance you typically after to buy the policy shortly after booking your first non-refundable items too. My policy was $636 for the two of us and would have been around $400 without the cancel for any reason insurance. The basic policy covers cancelation and interruption for a medical reason, death in the family, terrorism, employment layoff, weather, etc., things like that at 100% for cancellation and up to 200% for interruption. I went for the cancel for any reason in addition, just in case my 20 something would get a new job or something like that and not be able to take these 12 days off.

There are other coverages too like loss or delay, accidental death, rental car (We aren't even doing that), but this stuff is just thrown in.

Anyway, I just purchased my policy this morning.

Note that reviews for almost all the travel insurance companies for people who filed claims are pretty bad, as with Covid almost every company has been pretty slow in getting people reimbursed.

For what I wanted, this policy is the one that looked like it met my needs best. Forbes in an article also rated it as in their opinion, the best comprehensive policy for medical and medical evacuation, which was what I was most concerned about and most interested in.

As a general guideline, I have read that travel insurance usually costs about 10% of your non-refundable expenses. I would have been below that without the cancel for any reason and am a little above that with the cancel for any reason with the policy I chose.

 

[OrangeBirdGirl]

I recently researched for an upcoming ABD trip. I’ve never bought previously as even though I’ve had very expensive trips booked I could cancel everything within 24 or 48 hours and the flights I’d just get credit. A lot of companies didn’t have enough coverage for missed flight as only would prorate the trip (which like you said, you have enough leeway on that). I was looking for coverage in case an issue with our older parents and unable to go. We ended up going with Battleface. It seemed to be most reasonable for the basic coverage (us or family prohibited us from going).

 

[Lewisc]

Another issue to be aware of with travel insurance. Just like your auto and homeowners insurance, the insurance company reserves the right to subrogate a claim. That's where they pay you your claim, then seek reimbursement from the party responsible for the claim happening.
My travel agent got caught in a court battle when one of their clients bought travel insurance through them, and the client's employer canceled his vacation the day before a cruise. Travel insurance promptly paid, then sued the employer for reimbursement. By the time it was settled the employer was ordered to pay back the insurance company, plus all court costs. Boy, THAT had to be awkward for the employee.
Consequently, my Travel Agency no longer sells Travel Insurance, and makes all clients sign an acknowledgement that they make no recommendations on whether clients should purchase travel insurance. Apparently it cost them a lot of money to legal fees to defend themselves for selling the policy, although in the end they were dropped from the lawsuit.

None of this makes any sense. I'd be shocked if a travel insurance company would spend the $$ to sue the employer. Subrogation is typically done between insurance companies. Negotiation and or arbitration. The TA should have errors and omission insurance.

It's the exact opposite. TAs suggest travel insurance. The TA doesn’t want to be sued by the customer, claiming the TA has a professional obligation to review the consequences of not buying insurance.

 

[tvguy]

None of this makes any sense. I'd be shocked if a travel insurance company would spend the $$ to sue the employer. Subrogation is typically done between insurance companies. Negotiation and or arbitration. The TA should have errors and omission insurance.

It's the exact opposite. TAs suggest travel insurance. The TA doesn’t want to be sued by the customer, claiming the TA has a professional obligation to review the consequences of not buying insurance.

Of course it makes sense. The insurance company is looking to recover the thousands it would NOT have had to lay out if the employer had not canceled the vacation time. TA is now protecting themselves by making clients sign a waiver relieving them of liability related to travel insurance or the lack of.

DEFINATION:
What does subrogation mean in insurance?

"Subrogation," or "subro" for short, refers to the right your insurance company holds under your policy — after they've paid a covered claim — to request reimbursement from the at-fault party

 

[Lewisc]

Of course it makes sense. The insurance company is looking to recover the thousands it would NOT have had to lay out if the employer had not canceled the vacation time. TA is now protecting themselves by making clients sign a waiver relieving them of liability related to travel insurance or the lack of.

DEFINATION:
What does subrogation mean in insurance?

"Subrogation," or "subro" for short, refers to the right your insurance company holds under your policy — after they've paid a covered claim — to request reimbursement from the at-fault party

Do you have a link to the court case? You said the employer was ordered to pay..
That suggests the case was decided and went to verdict.

I know what subro means. There is a process to handle subro between insurance companies.

I question if an insurance company is going to trial. What was the claim? $25,000? $50,00? Does the employer have the right to cancel vacation with short notice? Maybe not but it doesn't sound like an easy win.

I'll go with fake, unless you have a link to the court case.

 

[tvguy]

Do you have a link to the court case? You said the employer was ordered to pay..
That suggests the case was decided and went to verdict.

I know what subro means. There is a process to handle subro between insurance companies.

I question if an insurance company is going to trial. What was the claim? $25,000? $50,00? Does the employer have the right to cancel vacation with short notice? Maybe not but it doesn't sound like an easy win.

I'll go with fake, unless you have a link to the court case.

Well, it happened.
I don't have access to a subscription to the Court case index or Pacer anymore now that I am retired However, I did check on the case years ago and the case was there.
Why would you question if an insurance company would go to trial to recovery money they were forced to paid out? Happens all the time, and they not only got their money back, but the defendant was ordered to pay the insurance companies legal costs. I suspect the legal costs they recovered were more than the cost of the canceled cruise.
At least in California, employers are under no obligation to guarantee specific time off and can cancel time off with no notice. You will have to get those vacations days eventually, or be paid for them, however.

 

[allison443]

I highly recommend Squaremouth as mentioned by other posters. Their website is very clear and customer service is wonderful, in my experience. You put in your parameters, what coverage you want, etc. Squaremouth has a zero complaint guarantee- if your claim is improperly denied they will advocate for you.

 

[Jmla32]

We also use squaremouth

 

[Darcy03231]

Contact Steve at the trip insurance store. I've been using them for years. He's extremely knowledgeable about coverage and the rates are competitive. With that much money at stake I'd want to talk to someone personally who knows the ins and outs of insurance coverage. I do know that you have a limited amount of time to purchase cancel for any reason insurance from the date you made the deposit.

 

[missyinatale]

I just bought a comprehensive travel insurance policy today for my trip in September to Paris, Disneyland Paris, and Belfast that DS 27 and I are doing. DH isn't interested and is staying home. To look at policies I looked at the Insure my Trip website and the SquareMouth website. I first called Insure my Trip to talk to an agent before purchasing, but was on hold for a 1/2 hour and hung up. Next I called SquareMouth and was only on hold for five minutes and able to talk to a super nice knowledgeable agent who was able to answer all my questions. Both consolidators offered the policy I was interested for the same price. I believe these companies will step in too if you have issues with getting a claim paid.

I just have $5150 in non-refundable expenses, most of that being premium economy air. My hotels are for the most part refundable, could loose one night on a few of them for last minute cancellations. What I was most concerned about was medical and medical evacuation as that's the main part that I would be in bad shape without. My work health insurance would cover me but has a really high deductible like 12K for out of network, and for DS he doesn't have an out of network benefit. Anyway, I picked a HTH Worldwide policy that had $500,000 in Medical primary coverage and 1 Million for Medical Evacuation coverage. They appear to be associated with GeoBlue who I have bought medical insurance from before when all I wanted was medical insurance for previous overseas trips. Because I bought the policy less than 21 days after my first non-refundable expenses, we get a waiver of any pre-existing conditions. I'm not aware of any that we have, but we could develop some before the trip, so I always prefer that. I also paid about $200 or so extra to get a cancel for any reason policy where I would get 75% of my non-refundable monies back if we cancel for any reason before the trip. For most cancel for any reason insurance you typically after to buy the policy shortly after booking your first non-refundable items too. My policy was $636 for the two of us and would have been around $400 without the cancel for any reason insurance. The basic policy covers cancelation and interruption for a medical reason, death in the family, terrorism, employment layoff, weather, etc., things like that at 100% for cancellation and up to 200% for interruption. I went for the cancel for any reason in addition, just in case my 20 something would get a new job or something like that and not be able to take these 12 days off.

There are other coverages too like loss or delay, accidental death, rental car (We aren't even doing that), but this stuff is just thrown in.

Anyway, I just purchased my policy this morning.

Note that reviews for almost all the travel insurance companies for people who filed claims are pretty bad, as with Covid almost every company has been pretty slow in getting people reimbursed.

For what I wanted, this policy is the one that looked like it met my needs best. Forbes in an article also rated it as in their opinion, the best comprehensive policy for medical and medical evacuation, which was what I was most concerned about and most interested in.

As a general guideline, I have read that travel insurance usually costs about 10% of your non-refundable expenses. I would have been below that without the cancel for any reason and am a little above that with the cancel for any reason with the policy I chose.

i really appreciate this info. thank you for taking the time