Travel Insurance Experience?

[sfgoguy]

I'm booked on the Insignia for the Buenos Aires/Rio cruise in late February 2007 and am considering travel insurance. I used www.insuremytrip.com (http://www.insuremytrip.com) to get comparison terms/prices on the major carriers. My question of you experienced, worldly travelers is: Do you have any positive or negative comments on the following carriers: Access America, Travel Guard, Travelex?

Pricing and coverage from the 3 are similar, but how's the claims process (if, unfortunately, it's needed)?

Thanks. :)

[spindrift]

I sue "insuremytrip.com" as well. I find their rates very competitive. After World Wide Travel went belly up, I always take an outside company and use those suggested by this website.

One of my relatives owns an insurance agency, and they all are highly recommended.

Thank heavens I have not had to use them and hope I never do, but I always find using other than that those provided by the company with whom you are traveling provides much greater security.

[jagoffee]

I was forced to use my Travel guard insurance for a cruise several years ago due to a death in the family. I had no issues and my claim was paid promptly after completing the necessary paperwork.

When I had older parents in the picture, I always got insurance. Now, I do not bother to get insurance.

[frankpc]

We typically buy the Travelex Lite with a Medical Upgrade. While we've only made relatively minor claims (i.e. doctor visit aboard ship) our experience has been very good. They even have reps you can call on the phone who actually know the product !

Frank

[Benita]

I found the main differences between the travel insurance companies have to do with banckruptcy protection. Access America's site shows what cruise, tour and airlines they cover. They are very restricted in airline coverage for bankruptcy. Travelguard excludes fewer airlines, but does not cover delays due to strikes which plague many of the European based airlines, like Alitalia.
I also try to pick an airline, where evacuation coverage is primary - many of them are secondary, which means you have to make a claim to any other insurance policy that you have, before they will pay.
The difference in these companies is in the fine print.

[LKJ]

jagoffee (http://boards.cruisecritic.com/member.php?u=1441), it's the unexpected that makes you realize how important insurance might be. Last year I broke my ankle and sprained the other one at the same time (OUCH!) a month before our New England cruise. We had insurance but friends were also going so we didn't cancel..........however, after experiencing so much pain and limited mobility on the cruise, next time I would use my insurance!

[sfgoguy]

Thanks to all who responded for the information. I'll especially research the "fine print" as one of you recommended. (It's good that all 3 had at least an "A" rating from the AM Best organization.)

[Shirleya53]

I have used Travel Guard in the past except for this last trip I used Global. When I filed a claim with Travel Guard for a digital camera that got damaged from moisture on a cruise, they sent me money to replace it. No problems!!

[Rickey 88]

We have used BerkeleyCare a number of times, and all that is required is that you file your claim first with any other insurance you may have that would be Primary, and then file with BerkeleyCare for an unpaid balance.

They have always settled in a very timely and prompt manner....

[digby]

I had to cancel my first cruise in 2001on the day we were to fly to London because of a foot injury. We had NCL's insurance (Berkeley Care) which repaid our $7000. in about a month. I would never travel without it unless you feel you could walk away from the price of the cruise. Since then we have used Travel Guard and HTH which we have gotten through insuremytrip.com. We feel it is just part of the cost of cruising.

[lcand1923]

My Dad and I travel together. He has been having a rough patch healthwise for the past 18 months, so we have had to cancel three cruises for Medical Reasons.

Two of these were insured with Access America, one was insured with Travel Guard.

The biggest difference between the two was the "filing a claim" process.

With Access America everything could be done over the Internet; i.e. you could initiate a claim, print the forms and follow-up over the Internet.

With Travel Guard you had to call to initiate the claim then wait for the forms to be mailed. You could then follow-up over the Internet.

With both, the check came within a month.