Trip Insurance - Who has filed a claim?

[forevercruising1]

Hello, all!

We are debating which company to book our travel insurance through and would very much like to know from those who have had need of filing a claim, (1) which company you filed with, and (2) were you pleased with the results?

BTW: We are not considering HAL insurance -- just independent providers.

Thanks, in advance, for your replies!

[Krazy Kruizers]

We did - Access America - 2002.

DH's mother died just a few days before we were to fly to Montreal for a 3 day stay before taking a Canada/New Enlgnad cruise. Got everything back except the money for the insurance.

[PCruzer]

We used TravelGuard - Don't remember the exact year, but it involved the American Airlines pilot strike. Since we were traveling during President's Week, we could not get another flight to meet our cruise ship when our flight was canceled due to the strike. We ended up getting all our money back for the flight and cruise. Would use TravelGuard again.

[Bill S]

Last year I filed a medical bill claim with Travel Insured and it was paid in full with no hassle. :)

[FlorenceItaly]

Berkely insurance, no problems, they paid. They DID request the medical record's from the physician, not a problem though.

Marie

[MaxKare]

Long story made short: Booked a cruise on the Pride of Aloha for Oct 2004. Shortley after booking my only daughter informed us that she and her husband were expecting their first child (our first grand-child), due early Nov. We decided to take the cruise hoping the baby would be born after we returned. Daughter began to have complications, so we canceled. TravelGuard paid all imcluding pre and post cruise hotel and rental cars booked through PriceLine and non refundable. Easy and quick payment.

BTW: Duaghter delivered a healthy baby boy now three months old. Life is good.

[bellebaby]

Filed a medical claim -- Ear Ache while on cruise to Alaska -- Visited medical center onboard and paid charges. Reimbursed quickly by Travel Guard.

[Krazy Kruizers]

After reading all of the above stories (mine included) - i does pay to have travel insurance.

You never know what can happen before or during a cruise.

[jhannah]

You're absolutely right! The best-laid plans can be dashed in a moment by severe illness, injury, or death of a loved one. The investment in a cruise (along with its associated flights, hotel stays and the like) is far too great for me to risk having to absorb if something goes wrong. I have never had to file a claim, thank goodness. And I hope I never do. Meantime, I will still gladly pay the premium for peace of mind.

[terrascape]

We have used CSA Vacation Guarantee for all of our cruise vacations. This firm is used & recommended by our cruise travel agent. We had to use the benefits a couple years ago. We were on a 10 day Hawaii to Vancouver cruise. My dad passed away the morning we arrived in Hilo. After a few quick phone calls and switching plans, we were on a plane back to Honolulu and Seattle in a matter of hours. All I had to do was submit copies of my tickets and receipts for all expenses connected with this incident. I sent in the itinerary of the ship as well as the cost of the cruise (documents from our travel agent). Gave them a daily cost of the cruise & asked to be reimbursed for the last 5 days of the cruise. I received a check within two weeks. No cruises for us without CSA insurance.

[ROZO'SBEAU]

Our TA recommends TRAVEL GUARD. We have taken it for the last three years and have never had to use it. The peace of mind it gives us is worth the cost.
Beau

[RuffinReady]

We have used CSA Vacation Guarantee for all of our cruise vacations.

BTW, CSA is the same company that HAL uses to administer their insurance. As I have said on another thread, if you have a health insurance policy your should check to see who is primary for coverage. In my case, our health plan pays the entire cost of health care coverage outside of the U.S. Therefore, when I buy travel insurance I place more importance on the other elements of the plan then I do on the health care portion. Don't forget that Medicare does not pay anything for health care outside the U.S.

Ruffin

[Candy]

We had a lock hacked off a suitcase and digital camera stolen. TravelGuard paid claim in full, very quickly.

Candy <-- still locks the luggage

Hello, all!

We are debating which company to book our travel insurance through and would very much like to know from those who have had need of filing a claim, (1) which company you filed with, and (2) were you pleased with the results?!

[cruisinjudy]

My husband had heart problems on Westerdam. We had Travelex Insurance. They paid no problem, except that we also got reimbursed from our HMO. I found out from HMO that they are primary, so we send the check back to Travelex.

[MaxKare]

Why would you have to send the check back to Travelex. It would seem that you paid a premium for extra coverage over and above your primary health coverage. Did Travelex charge you a lower policy price because you had primary coverage than they would have if you had no other insurance?

[oliviaonthe beach]

Always buy it and actually filed a claim last summer. Got stuck in San Juan, Puerto Rico airport on the way to Anguilla. We got to stay in the airport hotel while others camped out. Travelinsured paid for everything (except the beers:) I think it is more reasonably priced compared to others. I have insured my 7/23 cruise for five people including airfare and pre-cruise hotel for less than $50 per person.

[adamsmark]

Why would you have to send the check back to Travelex.
Because when you purchase insurance you are covering the risk of a potential financial loss. It is the possible 'financial loss' that Travelex was insuring against. Once Cruisinjudy was reimbursed by her HMO (primary insurer) for her husband's medical expenses, Travelex (secondary insurer) therefore had no financial loss to cover anymore. Judy and DH had already been 'made whole' by the HMO plan.

Secondary coverage only kicks in when primary coverage either has not insured one against that particular type of loss and the secondary insurer has insured against it, or if primary coverage does not cover the entire loss. In this case there was no outstanding loss for Travelex to pay.

[cruisinjudy]

Maxkare, I could eliminate medical coverage, but I think it is bundled in with emergency evac and that is not covered by my HMO. This is the first time we had filed so I didn't really know who would cover what!

[rlyans]

I was wondering when you had to buy the insurance by? Does it have to be when you book your booking and pay your deposit? Or berfore your final payment? Or whenever? Thanks, Rlyans

[forevercruising1]

Hello, all, and thank you for your responses!

I've decided on the travel insurance policy I want, but I have one additional question:

Have any of you actually bought the policy FROM/THROUGH insuremytrip.com? Or, do you usually go to the actual insuring company to purchase the policy?

I ask because insuremytrip.com is offering the policy for $30 less than the insuring company's website.

Also, for those who have purchased from insuremytrip.com, do you only deal with them for policy management, or can you still call the insuring company direct for policy management?

I'm hoping purchasing through insuremytrip.com is safe and dependable.

Any info. about purchasing through their website would be appreciated.

Thanks, in advance!

[bookworm0911]

I usually purchase my travel insurance through my TA so that they can deal with the insurance company if necessary. However, one time I did purchase through insuremytrip.com and later wanted to have my policy transferred from one cruise to another. Insuremytrip.com handled the entire thing and I never dealt with the company myself. I was very pleased.

However, I am sure I could have called the insurance company myself as the policy was sent directly from the company to me. Initially that is what I thought I would have to do, but called insuremytrip just for information whether it would be possible to transfer the policy and they offered to handle it for me.

[jhannah]

I was wondering when you had to buy the insurance by?
You may purchase the insurance anytime prior to departure from home. However, pre-existing conditions will not be covered unless you purchase the coverage within 14-21 days of making your initial trip deposit. Most have a 14-day requirement, but Travelex is 21 days.

[Nasmas]

We had to cancel a cruise this past Oct. because my husband got sick. We bought insurance thru insuremytrip.com and bought Travel Guard. They paid what we filed. They did want the doctor's statement but after we sent all the info to them, we had our check in just a few weeks. I think they said they are underwritten by AIG. We will use them again.

[LAX]

I have decided to go with Travelex (after much comparing) for insurance. Now, are there any difference between purchasing the policy directly with Travelex vs. via a third party such as insuremytrip.com? I have checked quotes on both and they are identical! Any pros or cons on each one? Thanks in advance.

LAX

[forevercruising1]

I have decided to go with Travelex (after much comparing) for insurance. Now, are there any difference between purchasing the policy directly with Travelex vs. via a third party such as insuremytrip.com? I have checked quotes on both and they are identical! Any pros or cons on each one? Thanks in advance.

LAX

Hi! We decided to go with Travel Guard (it is primary insurance) and saved $30 by purchasing through insuremytrip.com. We received the exact same policy offered through Travel Guard's website -- in fact, it came right from them, not insuremytrip.com.

So far, we're very pleased with insuremytrip.com (and Travel Guard).

[kryos]

Why would you have to send the check back to Travelex. It would seem that you paid a premium for extra coverage over and above your primary health coverage. Did Travelex charge you a lower policy price because you had primary coverage than they would have if you had no other insurance?
There was a thread earlier about this exact subject, and I still say ... if you pay for auxiliary travel insurance, and then get reimbursed by both providers, that second check from the travel insurer is your's to keep. You paid the extra premium, didn't you?

Some people felt that was dishonest ... I don't think it is.

It's a different issue if say you are in an automobile accident and the other party's insurance pays your medicals. Then, yes, if your provider sends you a check, you have an obligation to return it. You're benefiting twice from the same event, without paying anything additional for the privilege.

I have very good sick benefits at work. I get full pay for up to 40 weeks in any given year that I am out on sick leave. Of course, the company's medical department will keep in touch with my doctors in such a case ... to ensure the absence is legitimate, but as long as it is, I will receive my full pay each week. I also have a disability policy which I purchased independently that pays me a much smaller daily stippend if I am out of work due to a legitimate accident or illness.

Thankfully, I only needed to avail myself of these benefits once in the 27 years I've been with my current employer. I was out for close to four months following a parachuting accident. I got my regular paycheck, plus the stippend from the secondary disability carrier, for the entire period. What's wrong with that? I paid for that extra coverage, didn't I?

Blue skies ...

--rita

[jcrandle]

There was a thread earlier about this exact subject, and I still say ... if you pay for auxiliary travel insurance, and then get reimbursed by both providers, that second check from the travel insurer is your's to keep. You paid the extra premium, didn't you? <clip ....>

--rita

Actually, rita, it depends on what you agreed to when you purchased the insurance (see the terms and conditions page of the policy). When purchasing insurance, you agree to their terms and conditions) All of the policies I've purchased state that they will coordinate benefits with other carriers. In plain English, if you suffered a $100 loss, and the primary carrier pays $80, the secondary carrier is only obligated to pay the remaining $20.

You can fuss all you want that "that's not right", but if the T&C specify coordination of benefits, that's what you agreed to, and that's what is fair.

[MaxKare]

I would agree if that were the terms of the contract. I would never buy a trip insurance policy that had a coordinating benefits. I want my policy to pay over and above all others. If it had a coordinating clause, I would expect to pay much less as the risk to the insurance company is much smaller.

[kryos]

I would agree if that were the terms of the contract. I would never buy a trip insurance policy that had a coordinating benefits. I want my policy to pay over and above all others. If it had a coordinating clause, I would expect to pay much less as the risk to the insurance company is much smaller.
Exactly. And that's how I purchase all of my "auxiliary" policies.

Blue skies ...

--rita