When to buy trip insurance

[mdgineok]

Hello,

First time planning a cruise. I was just wondering at what point in your trip planning do people buy trip insurance? I am ready to book our March 2017 cruise but obviously the airfare is not out yet so I need to wait to make the air reservations. I would buy it from a third party such as allia.. or travelinsu.. Should I wait until the airfare is booked or is there an advantage to buying the insurance soon after booking. TIA

Mark in MN

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hello,

First time planning a cruise. I was just wondering at what point in your trip planning do people buy trip insurance? I am ready to book our March 2017 cruise but obviously the airfare is not out yet so I need to wait to make the air reservations. I would buy it from a third party such as allia.. or travelinsu.. Should I wait until the airfare is booked or is there an advantage to buying the insurance soon after booking. TIA

Mark in MN

Most insurance companies require purchase with a short period (generally 14-21 days) after initial payment, for the pre-existing conditions coverage.

You can go ahead an purchase the insurance now. Most companies allow adjustments to policy coverage later. So you can add the airfare later.

 

[mdgineok]

Most insurance companies require purchase with a short period (generally 14-21 days) after initial payment, for the pre-existing conditions coverage.

You can go ahead an purchase the insurance now. Most companies allow adjustments to policy coverage later. So you can add the airfare later.

Thank you!

 

[xlxo]

Other things to consider...

• if you plan more than one trip out of the country per year.... ask what's the price difference for an annual plan.
• when they give you a rate. Ask them what is the rate for the highest "deductible". I want travel insurance, but I don't plan to use it for trivial stuff.
• are you paying with a premium credit card? There may be travel insurance coverage there too. Go check it out.

 

[xlxo]

Other things to consider...

• if you plan more than one trip out of the country per year.... ask what's the price difference for an annual plan.
• when they give you a rate. Ask them what is the rate for the highest "deductible". I want travel insurance, but I don't plan to use it for trivial stuff.
• are you paying with a premium credit card? There may be travel insurance coverage there too. Go check it out.

 

[insureman]

There are a few companies that will waive pre-existing conditions if purchased by the paid in full date.

 

[mdgineok]

Thanks everyone for the advice.

Mark in MN

 

[PrincessShmoo]

There are a few companies that will waive pre-existing conditions if purchased by the paid in full date.

Can you tell me which? The only one I've found so far is 2X the cost of purchasing with a company that has the 14 day time limit.

 

[insureman]

I purchased through the large online trip insurer. It's with Nationwide Mutual for our March cruise. Don't forget it can vary from state to state. We are in Massachusetts so someone in say New York might not have the same policy or even company available to them. Not sure what you're talking about as far as the 14 day time limit.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Not sure what you're talking about as far as the 14 day time limit.

The "must purchase with 14 days of initial trip payment for pre-existing conditions to be covered".

 

[insureman]

The "must purchase with 14 days of initial trip payment for pre-existing conditions to be covered".

From the policy jacket:

The Pre-Existing Conditions exclusion is waived if You (a) enroll in this Certificate within final Trip payment; (b) purchase this
Certificate for the full cost of Your Trip; and (c) are medically able to travel on the Effective Date.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

From the policy jacket:

The Pre-Existing Conditions exclusion is waived if You (a) enroll in this Certificate within final Trip payment; (b) purchase this
Certificate for the full cost of Your Trip; and (c) are medically able to travel on the Effective Date.

Maybe I'm not understanding this whole thing.

When I use the comparison sites, the policies that I'm being given to consider all, for the most part, have the statement that I have to purchase the insurance with 14 days of making my initial payment to get the pre-existing conditions waiver. I'm understanding that to mean, if I don't purchase the insurance within 14 days of making my deposit on the cruise, anything (medically) that I incur during my trip won't be covered if it's due to a pre-existing condition.

I did go to CSA to get a quote (apparently the pre-existing waiver is still valid as long as you buy the insurance before the final payment date), and the quote was 2 times what these other quotes are.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Can you tell me which? The only one I've found so far is 2X the cost of purchasing with a company that has the 14 day time limit.

Take a look at CSA Freestyle. It appears to be similar in price to something like Travel Guard Gold. For example, $253 for CSA and $263 for TravelGuard Gold, for 2 adults and a $5000 trip.

Coverages on some items are lower than TravelGuard Gold and higher on others, so it might not work for everyone or every trip. CSA policies cover pre-existing conditions if purchased by paid in full (assuming other conditions are also met). -- Suzanne

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Take a look at CSA Freestyle. It appears to be similar in price to something like Travel Guard Gold. For example, $253 for CSA and $263 for TravelGuard Gold, for 2 adults and a $5000 trip.

Coverages on some items are lower than TravelGuard Gold and higher on others, so it might not work for everyone or every trip. CSA policies cover pre-existing conditions if purchased by paid in full (assuming other conditions are also met). -- Suzanne

OK, CSA Freestyle says (under "Coverage for Pre-Existing Medical Conditions") "Not Available". Hovering over it shows "Pre-existing medical conditions can be accepted in the Custome Luxe plan if certain requirements are met."

I'm getting $685.50 on the Freestyle quote. That's pretty much what I'm getting on the other policies on the comparison site. But the Custom Luxe quote is $1,098.96 (over $300 more).

 

[insureman]

Maybe I'm not understanding this whole thing.

When I use the comparison sites, the policies that I'm being given to consider all, for the most part, have the statement that I have to purchase the insurance with 14 days of making my initial payment to get the pre-existing conditions waiver. I'm understanding that to mean, if I don't purchase the insurance within 14 days of making my deposit on the cruise, anything (medically) that I incur during my trip won't be covered if it's due to a pre-existing condition.

I did go to CSA to get a quote (apparently the pre-existing waiver is still valid as long as you buy the insurance before the final payment date), and the quote was 2 times what these other quotes are.

Here's the Nationwide definition of pre-existing condition.

Pre-Existing Condition means an illness, disease, or other condition during the sixty (60) day period immediately prior to
the Effective Date for which You, a Traveling Companion, a Family Member booked to travel with You: 1) exhibited symptoms
that would have caused one to seek care or treatment; or 2) received or received a recommendation for a test, examination,
or medical treatment; or 3) took or received a prescription for drugs or medicine. Item (3) of this definition does not apply to
a condition that is treated or controlled solely through the taking of prescription drugs or medicine and remains treated or
controlled without any adjustment or change in the required prescription throughout the sixty (60) day period before the
Effective Date.
Effective Date means 12:01 A.M. local time, at Your location, on the day after the required premium for such coverage is
received by the Company or its authorized representative.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Here's the Nationwide definition of pre-existing condition.

Pre-Existing Condition means an illness, disease, or other condition during the sixty (60) day period immediately prior to
the Effective Date for which You, a Traveling Companion, a Family Member booked to travel with You: 1) exhibited symptoms
that would have caused one to seek care or treatment; or 2) received or received a recommendation for a test, examination,
or medical treatment; or 3) took or received a prescription for drugs or medicine. Item (3) of this definition does not apply to
a condition that is treated or controlled solely through the taking of prescription drugs or medicine and remains treated or
controlled without any adjustment or change in the required prescription throughout the sixty (60) day period before the
Effective Date.
Effective Date means 12:01 A.M. local time, at Your location, on the day after the required premium for such coverage is
received by the Company or its authorized representative.

So, if I've had no medical issues for the look back period, I don't have to purchase within that 14 day window for a pre-existing condition coverage (one that I've had for years, but have had no treatment/prescription changes)?
Sorry for being so dense, but I'm just not getting it. And I'm worried about not getting the coverage I need. I want to be sure, if something comes up during our trip (medically) that we won't be socked with thousands of dollars that we'll have to pay. Our personal health coverage doesn't cover out of country, so I've got to get extra for trips.

 

[insureman]

I haven't seen your pre-existing definition but with mine you would be correct except for the 14 days which does not apply to my policy.This would also apply to traveling companions or family traveling with you. To be sure you should always contact the agency you purchased the policy from if you are uncertain.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

OK, CSA Freestyle says (under "Coverage for Pre-Existing Medical Conditions") "Not Available". Hovering over it shows "Pre-existing medical conditions can be accepted in the Custome Luxe plan if certain requirements are met."

I'm getting $685.50 on the Freestyle quote. That's pretty much what I'm getting on the other policies on the comparison site. But the Custom Luxe quote is $1,098.96 (over $300 more).

Not sure what site you are looking at for your CSA Freestyle quote and information about the unavailability of PEC waiver.

From the tripinsurancestore.com site: "You have to buy either CSA Freestyle policy no later than 24 hours after your final trip payment and insure your full prepaid trip cost to cover pre-existing medical conditions".

-- Suzanne

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I haven't seen your pre-existing definition but with mine you would be correct except for the 14 days which does not apply to my policy.This would also apply to traveling companions or family traveling with you. To be sure you should always contact the agency you purchased the policy from if you are uncertain.

And the definition may be slightly different for each policy. The main differences are the length of the look back period (some are as long as 180 days) and whether the pre-existing exclusion applies to non- traveling family members.

Another major difference in the PEC waiver among policies is whether it only applies if you insure ALL non-refundable travel expenses. -- Suzanne

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Not sure what site you are looking at for your CSA Freestyle quote and information about the unavailability of PEC waiver.

Directly from the CSA site
https://www.csatravelprotection.com/getquote_wd.do;jsessionid=EYuPNBVYY2oTSInYxhljDpU9


And, from the certificate explaining the policy (Custom) in detail (bolding mine):
We will not pay for loss or expense caused by or incurred resulting from a Pre-Existing Condition, as defined in the Definitions section, including death that results there from.

However, I see that it's listed as "Custom" there's no "Freestyle" option. I can't seem to get a "Freestyle" quote there. Maybe the Freestyle option is something that's only offered through comparison sites?