Yearly Travel Insurance rather than each trip

[Tink3815]

Do any seniors out there on Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan buy trip insurance that covers trips for an entire year. I like to take short trips to Florida in the winter, and we are planning a Mediterranean cruise next April. We will also be doing a summer trip to New England this year. I am on an HMO advantage plan for my Medicare that would only cover emergency in US.

 

[Lewisc]

Previously posted. I have no experience

https://geobluetravelinsurance.com/mobile/index-2.cfm

 

[tvguy]

I have Medicare, which, of course does not cover overseas health care. But my Medicare Medigap insurance does cover 80% of the cost of overseas care. Not sure we will be doing more than one foreign trip a year, but I would certainly consider annual insurance. The cost of Travel insurance has gone through the roof since the pandemic, because of the pandemic. It was rarely used before covid, but people getting covid before or during a cruise changed that. I have only purchased travel insurance 3 times in 45 years of cruising. Once in 2003 on Disney and it cost $125 for a family of 4 for a $10,000 7 day cruise thru Disney. On Celebrity in 2019 because it was one of the perks we could choose, it cost $50 for two of us on a 7 day cruise thru Celebrity. And for this September, a 14 day land sea package, 7 days land, 7 days sea thru Princess for 2, $1,300 !!!!!! Princess' basic travel insurance premium is 10% of your trip cost, the deluxe coverage is 12% of the total trip cost.

 

[morrik5]

This site might be good to check to see what fits for you: https://www.usnews.com/insurance/travel/best-travel-insurance

 

[Akck]

We’ve purchased an annual plan from Allianz for the past 3 years. It definitely is less expensive than purchasing individual trip insurance for each cruise and we’re now covered for trips to see family. Our main reason for getting it is evacuation coverage. I’ve read where it can cost six figures to be transported back to the US. While the policy provides some medical coverage, we depend on secondary care coverage which becomes primary when outside the US.

 

[Lewisc]

. But my Medicare Medigap insurance does cover 80% of the cost of overseas care.

The popular United Healthcare plan G, marketed by AARP, has a $50,000 lifetime limit on foreign emergency travel benefits.

 

[_19disnA]

Lots of older threads on here about travel insurance. Many people think it will cover every expense when generally it does not. Be sure to read the fine print about coverage. Any company selling insurance is a for-profit business where they set the premiums high enough that they expect to take in more revenue than they pay out in claims. Annual coverage would only seem to make sense if you do a LOT of traveling during the year. Otherwise insurance for one specific trip makes more sense and probably cheaper.

Have never purchased travel insurance and the one time we had to cancel a trip due to some storm damage on our home, the airline let us change our flights to a future date with no extra charge. Not sure insurance would have been any advantage in that example. I think many airlines are more flexible about making changes when some sort of crisis arises, but don't openly advertise that.

 

[Lewisc]

Many people think it will cover every expense when generally it does not. Be sure to read the fine print about coverage. Any company selling insurance is a for-profit business where they set the premiums high enough that they expect to take in more revenue than they pay out in claims

True but the OP was asking about travel MEDICAL insurance. Much more important then covering trip cancellation penalties.

 

[Tink3815]

My main concern is the evacuation and medical. I may look into the medigap option as I just turned 65 in April .
Thank you for all the advice

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Yes, we've recently been investigating more about the travel insurance, now that we're older. We've had great peace of mind with the annual policy that gives us international medical coverage/evacuation, and also gives us extra rental car coverage domestically. It's worth it to us for a few hundred dollars - for something we hopefully never need to use. But I don't want to get caught in a foreign country where they won't treat us until we pay up front. Our medi-gap plan does offer some coverage for us (with a deductible, and partial payment), if we need it. But our purchased annual insurance plan is primary coverage and has no deductible. But there are many travel insurance options out there, and some may meet the needs of the individual travel groups better than others.

 

[Lewisc]

our purchased annual insurance plan is primary coverage and has no deductible.

Which plan did you purchase? Can you provide a link?

 

[tvguy]

The popular United Healthcare plan G, marketed by AARP, has a $50,000 lifetime limit on foreign emergency travel benefits.

I don't have United Healthcare. My employer health coverage almost always covered healthcare outside the U.S. First, because from time to time employees traveled outside the country on business. Second, because generally speaking, healthcare is cheaper outside the U.S. so the insurance company saves money,

 

[Lewisc]

I don't have United Healthcare. My employer health coverage almost always covered healthcare outside the U.S. First, because from time to time employees traveled outside the country on business. Second, because generally speaking, healthcare is cheaper outside the U.S. so the insurance company saves money,

I agree. Employer provided plans frequently offer worldwide coverage.

You said you're covered under medicare with a Medigap plan. What are the international benefits? Maximum? What carrier?

Always looking for alternatives to my AARP plan

 

[tvguy]

I agree. Employer provided plans frequently offer worldwide coverage.

You said you're covered under medicare with a Medigap plan. What are the international benefits? Maximum? What carrier?

Always looking for alternatives to my AARP plan

80% with a cap of $50,000. Blue Shield. But I have travel insurance so that will be primary if something happens on my next international trip.

 

[mikehn]

Safetywing. I have no experience but it seems to be what the jetsetters use.

 

[robinb]

We bought an annual policy from Travel Insured International (https://www.travelinsured.com/multitrip/) for our international travel. It covers only medical, evacuation, some trip delay and baggage delay. We decided to self insure for trip cancelation and trip interruption.

 

[Karen Willett]

When I know, I am going to have multiple trips or one or two plus an overseas trip, I always purchase annual trip insurance. It is much less expensive than purchasing it for each trip and last time it was only $25 more than what my Europe trip insurance would have been alone. I typically use Forbes or Allianze site to compare prices.

 

[keishashadow]

When I know, I am going to have multiple trips or one or two plus an overseas trip, I always purchase annual trip insurance. It is much less expensive than purchasing it for each trip and last time it was only $25 more than what my Europe trip insurance would have been alone. I typically use Forbes or Allianze site to compare prices.

Lucky you

My great state (commonwealth actually lol) doesn’t permit purchase of this sort of plan. There are a couple of other states still in the dark ages too.

Do primarily use insure my trip, if interested in pre-existing medical waivers when you book insurance, it’s less expensive to book as soon as you book the cruise. If you wait too long, often can’t add that feature at all.

Our medical plan is an Employee Retiree Medicare Advantage plan. Fortunately, it’s heavily subsidized as to terms of retirement contract. It does cover “some” cruise medical issues, even evacuation under rather restrictive guidelines (certain areas, X miles from the US, etc.). I’d never solely rely on it.

I check out insure my trip & USAA military vendor. For simplicity, I search for policy that overs primary coverage, usually in same ballpark pricing as those that are secondary.

As a recent example: Just back from a week on RCCL GoS. Paid $225 for 2 pp on $4,000 trip. Didn’t need to claim airfare as fully refundable via SWA. Well worth the piece of mind.

Policy had Medical coverage of $100K & emergency evacuation $500,000. Usually, look for a bit more on the evac coverage. Went with lower amount this time as the itinerary was just off Florida coast. If southern Caribbean, would’ve gone for double or triple the coverage. Even then, would’ve only been another 10% or so more.