Access America for trip insurance

[treasure4two]

Has anyone used Access America for trip insurance? If so, did you deal directly with them or through your TA? Thanks!

[tbrein]

Has anyone used Access America for trip insurance? If so, did you deal directly with them or through your TA? Thanks!
I've used it a few times . I got it through the TA. Filed a claim when DH got sick on the ship. They paid the medical expenses with no hassle.
Terri

[JudeeJim]

I purchase this insurance on my own. It was a little less expensive that offered by my TA.

[bcirish]

Price same with or without TA and we had things stolen while on vacation and they were very kind, helpful, and efficient- our check was in the mail as soon as I gave them the necessary paperwork

[TMWeddle]

I have used them in the past but never had a claim. This year I went to a site that reviews such companies and went with another company for our February cruise - hope I don't have a claim then, either!

[Loreto]

Let me tell you about my Access America experience. We have used them 12 times through our TA. Never had to call the emergency "we will help you line" until our flight to Rome was cancelled last June and rebooked for the next day. We desperately needed train times from Rome to Livorno to catch up with the ship. I called and was told "oh, we don't do that" and then connected to concierge who said 'we just book golf tee times and restaurant reservations but save your receipts and have a nice trip!"

We got the info we needed from the Rail Europe 1-800 number...a company we paid NOTHING to, yet AA to whom we paid hundreds of dollars refused to help.

Thanks to Rail Europe, we took the train and made the ship. We had to attempt to reach our destination in order to make a claim. We saved every receipt and submitted a $1000 claim..we had to buy clothes and our luggage came 4 days into the cruise. It was a real pain to submit the claim, documenting and making copies of everything. We received a check for $800 2 weeks after the paperwork was submitted, which I thought was a fair settlement. We also got reimbursed by HAL and Delta, and we got to keep the clothes we bought on the French Riviera.

You have to read the policy carefully, as you really buy it for catastrophic protection...like medical evacuation or cancelling before you leave. As for expecting them to help as promised...they didn't. Upon return TA put me in touch with the head of Customer Service who said yes, they should have given us the info we requested, and sincerely apologized. She gave me her personal # for our Sept. Eurodam cruise. My TA said I should have hung up and called again and gotten a different agent.

When we got home I Googled the Italian Train Schedule and within 5 minutes got the information I needed. I sent a copy to AA.

We will continue to use AA because I don't think you will get better coverage for the price anywhere else. They did pay. In support of AA, my TA had a client with a medical emergency while cruising the Med, and AA worked with cruiseline, doctors and airlines to get him back to the US.

You buy it hoping you won't have to use it.

Karen

[LVSue]

I bought AA on my own (partially because it was recommended by AAA). When my husband had a heart attack in Paris, they couldn't have been more helpful. I dealt with the Canadian office (where they spoke French). Because the French hospital couldn't make international calls, I called AA from a phone booth in the lobby so they knew the hospital gal was there, and they called her back. They guaranteed payment, so I had no forms to submit, nothing out of pocket; they paid the hospital directly. Needless to say, I have nothing but praise for AA.

[gooselace]

I bought AA on my own (partially because it was recommended by AAA). When my husband had a heart attack in Paris, they couldn't have been more helpful. I dealt with the Canadian office (where they spoke French). Because the French hospital couldn't make international calls, I called AA from a phone booth in the lobby so they knew the hospital gal was there, and they called her back. They guaranteed payment, so I had no forms to submit, nothing out of pocket; they paid the hospital directly. Needless to say, I have nothing but praise for AA.

Glad to hear about your experience - AA's policy of paying hospitals up front is the reason I specify it to my TA since I reached Medicare age. A friend's experience convinced me. She and her mother were traveling in Europe when the mother slipped while boarding a plane in Paris, and suffered a neck fracture and other injuries. Required several surgeries, weeks in hospital and more in an aftercare facility, eventually three 1st class seats (and payment to nurse to accompany), etc. etc. etc. Insurer paid nothing upfront - friend and her mom maxed out several high-limit credit cards, and were lucky to have them.

So I specify an insurer with a policy (and record) of paying upfront, as well as notifying my credit care companies (including some I rearely use) when I'll be traveling abroad.

[gooselace]

Strange word in the last line should be "rarely" - apparently I waited too long to make the edit.

[pms4104]

I was under the impression, perhaps wrongly, that Access America offers only secondary coverage for medical, with no option to upgrade to primary ... meaning that for medical issues, one must submit the bills to one's personal medical insurance carrier (even tho you may know out-of-country is not covered) and get a rejection of coverage before submitting to Access America.

[treasure4two]

Thanks for the info-I am deciding between Travel Guard and Access America.

[Jade13]

I was under the impression, perhaps wrongly, that Access America offers only secondary coverage for medical, with no option to upgrade to primary ... meaning that for medical issues, one must submit the bills to one's personal medical insurance carrier (even tho you may know out-of-country is not covered) and get a rejection of coverage before submitting to Access America.

Sometimes secondary is better if you have primary insurance. The reason is that it will go towards your deductible. There was a good article on tripinsurancestore.com

[avionicstraveler]

My Dad surprised my sister and I with a Mexican Riviera cruise two years ago. One month before we were supposed to sail, he became very sick. The insurance was wonderful - lots of running around and paperwork to submit, but they paid in a timely fashion and I was able to re-book the cruise later that year without difficulty - even got the same cabin! We did have to switch insurance though because of "pre-existing conditions", but other than that, they were great. Note: Cruise was purchased through AAA - agent was not at all helpful; bascially I was told we only sell the policy, after that you deal with TA.

[tbrein]

I was under the impression, perhaps wrongly, that Access America offers only secondary coverage for medical, with no option to upgrade to primary ... meaning that for medical issues, one must submit the bills to one's personal medical insurance carrier (even tho you may know out-of-country is not covered) and get a rejection of coverage before submitting to Access America.
They did not require us to do that when my husband got sick and had to visit the ship's doctor. They just paid the claim.
Terri