What do you do for Trip Insurance???

[shaycamp21]

Just want to get the Canadian perspective on travel insurance. Where do you get coverage and what kind do you get? We always purchase year long medical insurance (from RBC) to cover us out of the country (for up to 15 days) as we often shop in Buffalo and just want to be sure that if anything happened on even one of our day trips we'd be covered. We are cruising next year in May on the Fantasy and I didn't purchase DCL insurance as with our Infinite Visa Avion card I know we have quite a bit of coverage as long as we pay for the entire trip on the card (which we will). However, after reading a sad story on the cruise line board about someone missing their cruise due to a cancelled flight I am wondering if I need additional coverage? Any thoughts??

 

[Sue M]

I'd talt to your insurance to see if trip interruption/cancellation would be good to add.
I have a yearly policy with BCAA. Because I go to WDW in August during hurricane season, I add that on.

 

[candielips]

We use the travel insurance my DH has through his work benefits. The coverage is amazing for a benefit plan and even includes trip interuption/cancellation.

 

[Brandilovesdisney]

If your credit card doesn't cover cancellation/interrruption insurance, maybe check to see what RBC has for just this one trip (RBC is the best in my opinion). I believe you can also buy the Disney Insurance after you have booked your vacation - even if you initially turned it down. Is it very expensive for cruises?

 

[shaycamp21]

Disney insurance is pretty expensive and from what I understand if you don't book your flight through Disney and it is cancelled it is not covered (correct me if I am wrong).

 

[CrystalS]

Two years ago we did WDW and a cruise and used TravelGuard.ca and found their price good considering the coverage we wanted (cancel for any reason, medical and trip cancellation/interuption).

This year we used TravelInsured.ca as they had a better price, while still covering everything we wanted (same a above).

Both cover Canadian travellers, so no problems there.

We book within the week of putting down a deposit (as both require this for better coverage options).

 

[gilsan]

Two years ago we did WDW and a cruise and used TravelGuard.ca and found their price good considering the coverage we wanted (cancel for any reason, medical and trip cancellation/interuption).

This year we used TravelInsured.ca as they had a better price, while still covering everything we wanted (same a above).

Both cover Canadian travellers, so no problems there.

We book within the week of putting down a deposit (as both require this for better coverage options).

We booked a cruise and have not purchased trip insurance yet. We don't sail for 12 months (18 if I move the cruise again). One reason was that I couldn't get quotes this far out from a lot of insurers. The second reason is that my deposit is completely refundable up until date of final payment. Right now if I book the cruise and then need to cancel I wouldn't be out any thing, but is I bought insurance at the same time I would be out that money.

We probably will not buy the insurance until we pay in full or buy airfare.

I have bought trip insurance through Disney for WDW trip. Last time I added just before I paid the final balance. The insurance for WDW did cover airfare even if you did not book it through Disney. It did not appear to be the same for the cruise insurance.

 

[Susan2771]

We always get the deluxe package with RBC. It is one of the most comprehensive packages out there and I know we have all our bases covered.

 

[Gigi22]

We just switched to annual travel insurance through FSNA (federal retirees association) which I believe uses Johnson's Insurance. We used to buy RBC insurance through CAA, and then CAA switched to Manulife. The last time we used it, the Manulife insurance set us back $900. The annual insurance for the same coverage through FSNA is about $150 for the two of us--and the portion that covers health insurance is tax deductible.

 

[Copper Queen]

We went on a cruise last year and after pricing it out, we did get our interruption/cancellation insurance through PC Financial. It was reasonably priced and we booked it several weeks after we booked our trip. Hope that helps.

 

[disneymath]

We booked a cruise and have not purchased trip insurance yet. We don't sail for 12 months (18 if I move the cruise again). One reason was that I couldn't get quotes this far out from a lot of insurers. The second reason is that my deposit is completely refundable up until date of final payment. Right now if I book the cruise and then need to cancel I wouldn't be out any thing, but is I bought insurance at the same time I would be out that money.

We probably will not buy the insurance until we pay in full or buy airfare.

I have bought trip insurance through Disney for WDW trip. Last time I added just before I paid the final balance. The insurance for WDW did cover airfare even if you did not book it through Disney. It did not appear to be the same for the cruise insurance.

I was of the same mindset as you when I put the deposit down on our upcomng DCL Alaska Cruise. It was only recently (as my PIF date approached) that I realized my mistake. Very few insurance companies will cover pre-existing conditions if you do not purchase the insurance within "X" many days of your INITIAL depost. (It varies by company, but the maximum I think is 30 days.) Also, you would be surprised what constitutes a pre-exisiting condition (acne, a supposedly healed yet recently sprained ankle, a recent change in medicine dosage, etc.). This is a concern not only for medical coverage on the trip but also in terms of being able to access the cancellation or interruption benefits.

In the end, I purchased the CSA Custom Luxe coverage literally minutes before making my final DCL payment. This is one of the very few plans that covers PECs as long as it is purchased within 24 hours of your final trip payment.

In the future, I will buy the insurance when I make the deposit as they are much cheaper options available then that cover PECs. (Such as RBCs insurance which we have used before.)

You also mentioned dummy dates ... keep in mind that the insurance clock goes back to that VERY FIRST initial deposit. If you know you will be switching your cruise date, check with the insurer to make sure that it will honour such a change. (According to some of the threads on the cruiseline board, many insurers will not cover you for more than one date switch. Some won't cover any at all.)

Finally, the DCL insurance only covers what you purchase from them. There is lots of info regarding its pros and cons on the DCL forum.

 

[gilsan]

I was of the same mindset as you when I put the deposit down on our upcomng DCL Alaska Cruise. It was only recently (as my PIF date approached) that I realized my mistake. Very few insurance companies will cover pre-existing conditions if you do not purchase the insurance within "X" many days of your INITIAL depost. (It varies by company, but the maximum I think is 30 days.) Also, you would be surprised what constitutes a pre-exisiting condition (acne, a supposedly healed yet recently sprained ankle, a recent change in medicine dosage, etc.). This is a concern not only for medical coverage on the trip but also in terms of being able to access the cancellation or interruption benefits.

In the end, I purchased the CSA Custom Luxe coverage literally minutes before making my final DCL payment. This is one of the very few plans that covers PECs as long as it is purchased within 24 hours of your final trip payment.

In the future, I will buy the insurance when I make the deposit as they are much cheaper options available then that cover PECs. (Such as RBCs insurance which we have used before.)

You also mentioned dummy dates ... keep in mind that the insurance clock goes back to that VERY FIRST initial deposit. If you know you will be switching your cruise date, check with the insurer to make sure that it will honour such a change. (According to some of the threads on the cruiseline board, many insurers will not cover you for more than one date switch. Some won't cover any at all.)

Finally, the DCL insurance only covers what you purchase from them. There is lots of info regarding its pros and cons on the DCL forum.

My big problem with the insurance is that I was unable to get many quotes on a trip the was 12 months away, I have now switched and we are now are almost 18 months away from sailing. Luckily we do not have any PEC's or take any medication. I will probably not wait until final payment to get insurance but after around the time we buy airfare. Hopefully when I go to buy airfare I can some insurance quotes.

 

[Susan595]

In all the times I've travelled never gotten it ??? Bad I'm sure I know I know, I am sure that my husband has something and we're covered somewhat by his plan though, just never looked into it.

 

[networktek]

we are using travel guard i was going to use TD but they dont cover lost bags and since we are doing the disney cruise i decided to use travel guard very close in price but they cover everything

 

[minnie56]

Best to buy insurance at time of booking your vacation. Anyone of us could do something simple tomorrow..such as tear a ligament in a knee...and now, should there be further issues related to it down the road..that has now become a 'pre exisiting' problem and therefore (unless it's some time out) not covered as a reason to cancel or change plans.

We have a travel policy on our homeowners insurance...covers my family of 4 for trips up to 30 days duration and $5M per person in medical care per trip. Covers trip cancellation as well as interruption. All inclusive for $190 per year. Total. Having been one of those that didn't ever have it..and then had a $17,000 medical expense in Florida I now sleep at night! I also have medical and interruption on my RBC Avion Infinite as well as Aerogold Infinite. Very insured these days...just as I like it!

And Disney Insurance..not ideal coverage for us Canadians I am afraid.