What would you prioritize... Insurance or Saving $

[KrzyKtty101]

So trying to see people's opinions on what they would prioritize.

For background, going on the June 14-21 Treasure Cruise. We live in SC, so we drive down. We will actually be driving down a couple days early and going to Universal the 13th because that is my daughter's B-Day. Didn't want to make her spend it in the car. After the cruise we are staying 1 extra day to see the Space Center before heading home.

So here is the question.

Normally I use the discounted Disney Gift Cards to pay for our Disney Trips. On our first cruise last April, we did the same. If I use them on this trip, it would save us $477.23 on this trip when you also take our disney reward points into account. Since our first cruise last year was in April, we didn't get insurance.

This cruise though visits a lot more countries. Third party insurance like Allienz though won't pay for the value of the trip paid for in gift cards though. The cost through Allienz would be a bit under $500, almost the cost of the savings actually. Insurance through Disney is $830. I am probably more flippant with this than I should be because my family is fairly health and we have never had major medical or life catastrophes.

So questions

1. Does anyone know if I pay for the more expensive Disney Insurance, does cover things? As in 2 days before the trip we get in a major accident and can't make it. Will it pay for the trip value even if it was paid for in Gift Cards? If I can still use Gift Cards with this option, it still is a bit cheaper by $250 then option number 2.
2. Would you forgo the savings, pay normally without discounts, and get normal 3rd party coverage even though it would cost more this way?
3. Would you forgo insurance in our circumstance to save $

 

[tvguy]

It depends. We have been cruising 45 years and only purchased travel insurance on three of our cruises.

First time on Disney in 2003/04 because we were traveling between Christmas and over New Year's weekend when weather was bad and airports packed and because at nearly $10,000, the financial hit would have hurt. Travel insurance in those days cost $125 TOTAL!

Second time on Celebrity in 2019 because we had a promotion going that gave you a choice of a drink package for the week or travel insurance for $25 and the only alcohol we were buying was wine by the bottle that was not included in the drink package.

Third time, our Princess Cruise two week- land-sea trip coming up later this year. This is our first big trip of retirement and at over $10,000 would really hurt. However, thanks to Covid, travel insurance has soared in cost. Over $1,000 for this trip.


But medical evacuation and medical care has never been a consideration for us. Our employer provided group insurance always covered that. We are on Medicare now, which of course does NOT cover medical evacuation or ANY medical care outside the U.S. but out Private Medicare Supplement does. For us, the loss of the money paid for on a trip is the consideration for Travel Insurance and for most of our cruises we were willing to risk losing that money.

 

[KrzyKtty101]

It depends. We have been cruising 45 years and only purchased travel insurance on three of our cruises.

First time on Disney in 2003/04 because we were traveling between Christmas and over New Year's weekend when weather was bad and airports packed and because at nearly $10,000, the financial hit would have hurt. Travel insurance in those days cost $125 TOTAL!

Second time on Celebrity in 2019 because we had a promotion going that gave you a choice of a drink package for the week or travel insurance for $25 and the only alcohol we were buying was wine by the bottle that was not included in the drink package.

Third time, our Princess Cruise two week- land-sea trip coming up later this year. This is our first big trip of retirement and at over $10,000 would really hurt. However, thanks to Covid, travel insurance has soared in cost. Over $1,000 for this trip.


But medical evacuation and medical care has never been a consideration for us. Our employer provided group insurance always covered that. We are on Medicare now, which of course does NOT cover medical evacuation or ANY medical care outside the U.S. but out Private Medicare Supplement does. For us, the loss of the money paid for on a trip is the consideration for Travel Insurance and for most of our cruises we were willing to risk losing that money.

Thank you for your input. Your opinion on most sounds similar to ours up until now. I never thought of insurance covering out of country. I'll look into my current BCBS plan.

 

[Mango7100]

Ask yourself if you are ok with losing the whole cruise fare. If you are not, then get insurance. For any vacation where I have to pay a large amount of $$$ up front we get insurance. It doesn’t matter if you are healthy, stuff still happens. One overseas trip we had to cancel because my grandmother died 4 days before we were suppose to leave. Had insurance and recovered all our money. Last year we were supposed to to go on a Norwegian cruise with my parents—they both got sick with covid 2 days before and we had to cancel. Without insurance we would have lost the whole cruise fare, hotel, flight $$. Your kid could break their leg the day before you leave, a loved one who could become seriously ill, you could have a car wreck, you could get norovirus, etc. I am not willing to lose thousands of dollars so we get Allianz travel insurance before any cruise.

Disney insurance will only cover your cruise portion, not your travel down and back or hotels beforehand. With Allianz, we have it start the day we leave and finish the day we get home.

No one thinks they need insurance until they do. And there have been numerous posts on here about people not getting insurance because they don’t need it or don’t want to pay for it, having something happen right before the cruise, and then people being mad at Disney that they lost all that money.

 

[KrzyKtty101]

Ask yourself if you are ok with losing the whole cruise fare. If you are not, then get insurance. For any vacation where I have to pay a large amount of $$$ up front we get insurance. It doesn’t matter if you are healthy, stuff still happens. One overseas trip we had to cancel because my grandmother died 4 days before we were suppose to leave. Had insurance and recovered all our money. Last year we were supposed to to go on a Norwegian cruise with my parents—they both got sick with covid 2 days before and we had to cancel. Without insurance we would have lost the whole cruise fare, hotel, flight $$. Your kid could break their leg the day before you leave, a loved one who could seriously ill, you could get norovirus, etc. I am not willing to lose thousands of dollars so we get Allianz travel insurance before any cruise.

Disney insurance will only cover your cruise portion, not your travel down and back or hotels beforehand. With Allianz, we have it start the day we leave and finish the day we get home.

No one thinks they need insurance until they do. And there have been numerous posts on here about people not getting insurance because they don’t need it or don’t want to pay for it, having something happen right before the cruise, and then people being mad at Disney that they lost all that money.

We don't need travel down cost covered. We don't fly, so really the Disney portion is the only risk here.

We are definitely looking at the possibility to get it, it is just a tough pill to swallow. The difference in price with insurance and the price without (including the discount from the cards) is almost 1k LOL. The one really need to win over is my hubby; he is a penny pincher .

 

[Brian Noble]

Would it hurt---and hurt A LOT---to lose the cost of the cruise? If so, buy the insurance and pay in a way that can be reimbursed. Don't try to nickel and dime the cost along the way. If not? Don't worry about it, and chalk it up to "sometimes bad things happen" if the cruise falls through and you lose your full payment.

I self-insure most of my travel. In other words, I don't buy insurance, and when I have to, I eat the cost of something I can't do that is non-refundable. In doing so, I am betting that, in the long run, I will pay less this way.

However, there is a number for the non-refundable costs---call it $X---above which I insure the trip. If it is a substantial fraction of my travel budget for a few years, it would hurt---A LOT---to lose it.

My value for $X might be different from yours. But the idea is probably the same.

 

[tvguy]

Thank you for your input. Your opinion on most sounds similar to ours up until now. I never thought of insurance covering out of country. I'll look into my current BCBS plan.

At one of our open enrollment meetings the insurance rep was asked about why we had this in our coverage.
He said two reasons.
1) Because some employees traveled outside the U.S. on company business and this way our employer didn't have to purchase special medical coverage for those trips.
2) Because, excluding the medical evacuation coverage, the cost of medical care is lower outside the U.S. The insurance company saves money if you need a procedure done outside the U.S.

 

[lanejudy]

1. Does anyone know if I pay for the more expensive Disney Insurance, does cover things? As in 2 days before the trip we get in a major accident and can't make it. Will it pay for the trip value even if it was paid for in Gift Cards? If I can still use Gift Cards with this option, it still is a bit cheaper by $250 then option number 2.

Whether a cruise/trip is covered by insurance depends on the reason for cancelling. Since pre-cruise travel is not included in the DCL insurance unless [flights] booked via DCL, I’m not sure cancelling due to a vehicle acccident would be covered unless hospitalized/medical instructions to not travel.

However the DCL insurance includes an extra “cancel for any reason” credit of 75% if the actual insurance denies a claim. And how the cruise fare was paid won’t matter in that case.

Just to note if you purchase via a third party you can include pre- and post-cruise plans as well, not just the cruise.

 

[KrzyKtty101]

Whether a cruise/trip is covered by insurance depends on the reason for cancelling. Since pre-cruise travel is not included in the DCL insurance unless [flights] booked via DCL, I’m not sure cancelling due to a vehicle acccident would be covered unless hospitalized/medical instructions to not travel.

However the DCL insurance includes an extra “cancel for any reason” credit of 75% if the actual insurance denies a claim. And how the cruise fare was paid won’t matter in that case.

Just to note if you purchase via a third party you can include pre- and post-cruise plans as well, not just the cruise.

The reason was just a random thing I picked out. It could be for example my MIL died. I think I'm going to have to find a number and call . Because even reading through the policy, I can't seem to find the answer that if I paid for the cruise with Disney GIft Cards, if the Disney insurance would cover the cost then if my MIL passed away for example.

Granted, the fact that it allows the rebooking is really helpful. I believe that is only for people who book through their insurance partner?

Sounds like the smart thing to do is just forgo the savings from the gift cards, because it might be to complicated to recuperate if the worst were to happen.

 

[KrzyKtty101]

Would it hurt---and hurt A LOT---to lose the cost of the cruise? If so, buy the insurance and pay in a way that can be reimbursed. Don't try to nickel and dime the cost along the way. If not? Don't worry about it, and chalk it up to "sometimes bad things happen" if the cruise falls through and you lose your full payment.

I self-insure most of my travel. In other words, I don't buy insurance, and when I have to, I eat the cost of something I can't do that is non-refundable. In doing so, I am betting that, in the long run, I will pay less this way.

However, there is a number for the non-refundable costs---call it $X---above which I insure the trip. If it is a substantial fraction of my travel budget for a few years, it would hurt---A LOT---to lose it.

My value for $X might be different from yours. But the idea is probably the same.

We have been similar to date. That is why I insured the Japan trip. That one was too expensive to just eat lol.

 

[lanejudy]

The reason was just a random thing I picked out.

Right, that’s why I said pay-out will depend on the reason for cancelling.

If your primary question is whether a claim would refund fare paid exclusively by gift cards — DCL insurance is “regular” travel insurance and they also sell other coverage so likely the same rules. I recommend retaining all gift card receipts to prove to show you purchased gift card #1234 and put its value to the cruise fare. Combining gift cards makes that difficult to prove the trail.

 

[KrzyKtty101]

Thank you everyone! Your points helped the conversation between hubby and I!!

 

[mjkacmom]

Honestly it’s not the cost of the cruise (already spent) that causes me to buy insurance, it’s healthcare. Ours does not cover us outside of the country. Medical emergencies are emergencies, not having many in the past does not decrease your chances. Two of my kids have broken bones, two of us have had appendicitis (son was a healthy 15 year old). Definitely want evacuation coverage. You could literally lose everything if things ho wrong.

 

[LaDonna]

Oh man I’m glad I stumbled upon this thread. I pay for a majority of my Disney trips with gift cards….. already purchasing some for a cruise I’m planning on booking in 2026. I had planned on getting insurance…… so I really need to find out what the insurances are going to cover gift cards as payments
Please let me know if any of you have any suggestions or know of some
Are you found out the answer to the Disney insurance

 

[kiford]

Does anyone know if I pay for the more expensive Disney Insurance, does cover things? As in 2 days before the trip we get in a major accident and can't make it.

I believe that the Disney insurance only covers you from the time you board the ship (or at least day of) until you leave it. If something happens to prevent you from getting there, there may not only not be coverage for the added expenses but there is a possibility that it may not cover the cruise itself because the incident that prevented you from getting there is not a covered incident under the policy - you'd have to read the coverage to get the specifics. We never purchase Disney insurance. We always find our own that will cover what we want to cover and the dates we want it covered. That allows us to decide if we need cancel-for-any-reason, cancel for specific reasons, trip interruption, baggage coverage, medical insurance, etc. and ensure that we are only covering the non-refundable portion or additional expenses incurred.

For me, my medical and some other potential expenses are covered by my work insurance so I don't generally need that, but things like lost baggage, additional expenses due to trip interruption, etc. are not. One time we did purchase cancel-for-any-reason (which is usually quite expensive) because there was a deal on at the time that would give you a discount on that if you booked everything including flights through the travel agency. We'd purchased very expensive flights and weren't entirely sure if our friends would be changing their flights that would mismatch. So every trip is a consideration of what you can afford to lose or whether the additional expenses might be incurred if things go sideways before or during the trip are something you can manage versus the cost of the insurance.

 

[cwis]

Your own insurance may require that you consult their doctors before seeking medical advice, at least where I live. This makes it impractical to guarantee anything happening on the ship. Also, most insurances do not cover sea evacuation, and that does not come cheap.
That's two reasons I usually enjoy my cruise more when I take the cruise insurance.

 

[Girl of the South]

You can buy separate Medical Evacuation Insurance. Also check the credit card you used to pay for the trip (or maybe just part of it?) to see if you have some travel coverage. Chase Sapphire is good.

https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/...rred-card-travel-insurance-benefits-explained

 

[Mommb]

I believe that the Disney insurance only covers you from the time you board the ship (or at least day of) until you leave it. If something happens to prevent you from getting there, there may not only not be coverage for the added expenses but there is a possibility that it may not cover the cruise itself because the incident that prevented you from getting there is not a covered incident under the policy - you'd have to read the coverage to get the specifics.

Just to clarify: insurance purchased through Disney Cruise will reimburse you if you need to cancel the trip for something that happens before the trip that is a covered event. It will not reimburse for other costs associated with the cancellation (hotel, airfare, etc.) unless those costs were booked through Disney Cruise. The covered events include death or illness of a traveler, traveling companion, or traveler's or companion's family member; auto accident en route to the cruise for which a police report was completed; natural disaster that makes a home uninhabitable within 30 days of the trip; and a few others.

For all events, additional documentation may be required. For example, I had a medical crisis shortly after making final payment on a cruise and my doctor advised me not to travel. To get reimbursement from the insurance company I needed to get a signed statement from my doctor that my medical condition was first diagnosed after my insurance was in place. After that, I started booking third-party insurance that can cover preexisting conditions if purchased shortly after a reservation is made.

If you are concerned about insurance covering payments made via gift cards, you could pay for the cruise in cash/credit and use the gift cards to prepay gratuities and pay for everything else charged to your account -- excursions, adult dining, souvenirs, spa treatments, etc.

 

[Budzooka]

I pass on cruise insurance and pay with gift cards.

 

[insureman]

I get a comprehensive policy that covers trip cancellation, medical evacuation ,medical and a pre-existing waiver through an online insurance aggregator. Mostly for medical evacuation. Link below from John Hopkins Medicine.
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/hea...al-information-for-americans-traveling-abroad