What to include in travel insurance?

[jerseygirl81]

I'm looking to purchase travel insurance for our upcoming trip to Disney in August. In the past we have purchased plane tickets and booked a resort package at a Disney resort, so I purchased insurance to cover that. Last year my DH was in an accident and we had to cancel our trip and I was happy I purchased the insurance. My Dads health isn't the best and I would like to have trip cancellation and trip interruption just in case anything should happen,and it's also hurricane season. I was able to book our flights on Southwest with reward points and would not be charged a fee if I made a change. We are renting at Bonnet Creek and would lose our money if we cancelled within 20 days of arrival. We will have a rental car and dining as we go. So I'm not sure how much to insure for, is it just the cost of the Bonnet Creek rental? I'm used to insuring for the full cost of the airline tickets and resort pkg including dining. Thanks for any help. Linda

 

[dougsmom98]

I would get two quotes, one with the airfare and one without. A lot of trip insurance has such great coverage for things like lost luggage or money to help in case of delayed or canceled flight, that I usually go ahead and cover the airfare too even though I wouldn't lose the actual flight cost. The difference is the cost of the two plans is usually minimal. I use www.*****************

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I usually use Travelguard, and when you ask for a quote, they have you state your trip cost this way:

Trip Cost refers to the total prepaid and non-refundable expenses already submitted toward the trip regardless of who booked the arrangements. This does not include estimated or anticipated costs that have not yet been paid.


Only for residents of state NY:Trip Cost refers to the total prepaid and non-refundable expenses already submitted toward the trip regardless of who booked the arrangements. This does not include estimated or anticipated costs that have not yet been paid.


Note that if you want to cover pre-existing conditions, you have to buy travel insurance within a certain number of days from booking the trip.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I would get two quotes, one with the airfare and one without. A lot of trip insurance has such great coverage for things like lost luggage or money to help in case of delayed or canceled flight, that I usually go ahead and cover the airfare too even though I wouldn't lose the actual flight cost. The difference is the cost of the two plans is usually minimal. I use www.*****************

I don't understand this. Trip insurance isn't going to pay you for an expense you didn't have (ie actual cost of airfare when you used FF miles to book tickets).

 

[pamjb]

You won't need insurance to cover the airfare. Because you booked with points thru Southwest, if you have to cancel,'the points will go back Into your account. So you won't lose them at all

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I don't understand this. Trip insurance isn't going to pay you for an expense you didn't have (ie actual cost of airfare when you used FF miles to book tickets).

This. Why pay more for insurance when flights were booked with SWA points? It's easy to cancel and have the points returned to one's SW account.

Only include items to insure that are non-refundable. Think if you had to cancel the day before or that morning you are expected to leave. What $ would you lose? That's what you want to insure.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I would get two quotes, one with the airfare and one without. A lot of trip insurance has such great coverage for things like lost luggage or money to help in case of delayed or canceled flight, that I usually go ahead and cover the airfare too even though I wouldn't lose the actual flight cost. The difference is the cost of the two plans is usually minimal. I use www.*****************

Hmm... I just re-read this. Would travel delays be covered if the flights are not covered? What if there's snow at home when you are due to fly and you need 2 nights of unexpected hotel stay? This is a good question to ask the insurance agent.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Hmm... I just re-read this. Would travel delays be covered if the flights are not covered? What if there's snow at home when you are due to fly and you need 2 nights of unexpected hotel stay? This is a good question to ask the insurance agent.

OP is going in August; I think they will avoid snow delays,

If you go to the insurance web site, all of these questions are answered.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

OP is going in August; I think they will avoid snow delays,

If you go to the insurance web site, all of these questions are answered.

lol...

I didn't know when they were going and only mentioned snow delays because this happened to my parents & my brother/SIL. The former had insurance but the latter didn't. (different trips) It cost my brother a lot post cruise finding an available hotel in San Juan.

The same could be said for risk of hurricane or anything that might cause a flight to be delayed or cancelled.

 

[tvguy]

I'd make sure the coverage you select covers trip cancellation due to the illness or death of a family member who is not going on the trip.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

lol...

I didn't know when they were going and only mentioned snow delays because this happened to my parents & my brother/SIL. The former had insurance but the latter didn't. (different trips) It cost my brother a lot post cruise finding an available hotel in San Juan.

The same could be said for risk of hurricane or anything that might cause a flight to be delayed or cancelled.

I know, the snow delay was just a reason flights could be delayed, but couldn't resist!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I know, the snow delay was just a reason flights could be delayed, but couldn't resist!

It's ok. It's my own fault for not reading OP thoroughly but some things I mention because posts like this would be helpful for people booking at any time of year.

 

[clh2]

What if you do not insure the flights, but something happens while you are on your trip, and you would need to return early? It us all well and good that you can cancel your SW flights, and not lose your points, but then how will you get home? Will you need to pay out-of-pocket (essentially list price) for the new flights, without a way to get reimbursed?

Sorry-I do not know the answer to this-but I am hoping to learn!

 

[jerseygirl81]

What if you do not insure the flights, but something happens while you are on your trip, and you would need to return early? It us all well and good that you can cancel your SW flights, and not lose your points, but then how will you get home? Will you need to pay out-of-pocket (essentially list price) for the new flights, without a way to get reimbursed?

Sorry-I do not know the answer to this-but I am hoping to learn!

You can also change your flights with out any fees, one of the reasons many people like Southwest and no baggage fees. Linda

 

[jerseygirl81]

Thanks for all the advice! I'm going to talk to an agent before I purchase a policy I have a few more questions to ask that I didn't think of. Linda

 

[distherapy]

Definitely ask about pre-existing illness policies.

 

[clh2]

You can also change your flights with out any fees, one of the reasons many people like Southwest and no baggage fees. Linda

I do agree that there are no fees to change a flight, but if you used 5000 miles to procure a round trip flight, if you need to change your return trip while you are on the trip, the new flight might not be available for the same amount of miles.

 

[jerseygirl81]

I do agree that there are no fees to change a flight, but if you used 5000 miles to procure a round trip flight, if you need to change your return trip while you are on the trip, the new flight might not be available for the same amount of miles.

I didn't think of that! Thanks, Linda