Travel insurance. Please help !

[OceanFantasys]

I have posted this on another board but only got one response and a lot of hits so Im hoping to get more responses here.

Well I have read every single detail about the different companies at Insuremytrip.com that everyone has recommended but I am still confused as to which one to get. For example, Travelex has a lite and a travelplus. Same with others.. They all have several too choose from. I have a preexisting condition and need to book my insurance really soon. I just booked my cruise 10 days ago. Will I need the most expensive insurance if I have to cancel for a pre existing condition or can i get by with the basic? And if so, Will i get 100% of my money back. Say for example the total trip including airfare is 2600.00.. Will I get that all back if thats what I insure it for? Maybe someone can just tell me which company refunds 100% as to save me the sorrow if I have to cancel at the last minute. I appreciate your responses. Thank you.

This board has been really helpful to me and I sure hope someone can help.

[lougee1043]

all i can tell you is that we have pre-conditions and i booked travelex travel plus

[jerseygirl3]

Travelex Travel Lite policy has always covered us without any problems. As long as you purchase it within 21 days of making your initial deposit, your pre-existing condition will be covered. Just be sure when you state your trip amount that you include anything that would be non-refundable if you had to cancel and then, yes, you would receive complete, 100% reimbursement (provided it was cancelled for a covered reason). If, when I purchase my insurance, I don't have my airfare booked, I estimate the cost of air. If it exceeds the amount I initially estimate, I just call Travelex and they apply a new amount to my policy. If it causes the premium to increase, I just pay the difference, but since the policy was purchased within the proper timeframe, the pre-existing conditions waiver is still intact.

[OceanFantasys]

I have never seen such fast responses . This board is the greatest !! I am going to go book my insurance online now. It says that I will get an email policy instead of a postal one but hey if that works, it's fine with me. Thank you so much for the info. I can't wait to take my first cruise with HAL ! :) :) :) :) :)

[serendipity1499]

We also use the Travelex travel lite policy.. Our friends who travel with us also use this same policy & the DH has a pre-existing condition..We've heard that Travelex & Access America are very good companies, but neither one of us has ever had to submit a claim..Thank goodness:) Good luck & hope you don't have to cancel...

[Bases5]

On the right side on myinsurance.com there is a graft that highlights different colors as being primary secondary etc. This is important to me, I like my travel insurance to be primary.

Second thing check and see if overages are part of a whole coverage or are they independent. Example Emergency evacuation, Medical, Dental, included as one total.

A side note:

Many people do not realize that pre existing counts for all relatives or people who would make you cancel, not just the traveler.

Example. You father had a heart attack, (now pre existing) He has a relapse days before you travel and you need to cancel. If you did not get your insurance that covered pre existing you will not be reimbursed.

just a random thought.

[peaches from georgia]

We received 100% reimbursement from Travelex Lite when we had to cancel last minute for a family member's illness. Be sure to save ALL receipts for the travel expenses you might have to claim. The insurance company will want proof of all claims and also proof of the reason you had to cancel, in my case a letter from my father's doc as to why his illness necessitated our cancellation.

The whole procedure was very easy and quick. We always cover pre-existing conditions as you never know when you might have to cancel and it might not be you that gets sick. We also get 'primary' coverage so that we don't have to deal with our own insurance company first, but can claim only with the travel insurance.

[lvtotrvl1]

I have never seen such fast responses . This board is the greatest !! I am going to go book my insurance online now. It says that I will get an email policy instead of a postal one but hey if that works, it's fine with me. Thank you so much for the info. I can't wait to take my first cruise with HAL ! :) :) :) :) :)

If you have a pre-existing condition, I would call the company and ask questions! All insurance policy's are not the same. As an agent, I would never give advice until I spoke with the specific insurance company and explained the pre existing condition to them. They are the ones that make the decision. I have seen too many instances of misintrepting a policy, only to find out in the end, the people are not covered...a quick phone call could have stopped this from happening.

[grandma bev]

If you have a pre-existing condition, I would call the company and ask questions! All insurance policy's are not the same. As an agent, I would never give advice until I spoke with the specific insurance company and explained the pre existing condition to them. They are the ones that make the decision. I have seen too many instances of misintrepting a policy, only to find out in the end, the people are not covered...a quick phone call could have stopped this from happening.

Excellent advice! Purchasing insurance is like buying a new mattress - no two are alike! Always call the insurance company and ask questions. We have found Travel Guard to be most helpful on the phone and they don't push for coverage that we don't need. Other companies should do the same.
Bev

[cruiseco]

re: Travelex TraveLite and Travel Plus

With regards to the trip cancellation and trip interruption benefits they are identical. Both pay the same for the same covered reasons.

The Travel Plus plan does get you higher coverage limits on the medical and emergency evacuation coverages and some other upgrades for a much higher premium. If your primary concern is trip cancellation / interruption stick with the TraveLite plan.

[kryos]

For example, Travelex has a lite and a travelplus. Same with others.. They all have several too choose from. I have a preexisting condition and need to book my insurance really soon.
I could be wrong, but I don't believe the Travelex Lite covers pre-existing conditions. I went around about this with my travel agent on my upcoming October cruise when I was trying to figure out what to buy. My main goal with travel insurance is to be covered if I take ill and need to be transported back home. This is a real concern to me because I actually had to be flown home from Florida after a surgery as a result of a major injury in 1999. My regular medical insurance covered that because it was in the U.S. But it won't cover transport from a foreign country.

On my previous cruise, I paid a bundle for travel insurance and wasn't about to do that again. According to my TA, I made a big mistake booking the insurance on that trip through HAL. In short I got ripped because I got a lot of coverages I didn't need ... such as pre-existing conditions and coverage for renting cars in port. I don't have any pre-existing conditions and I don't have a driver's license. The Travelex Lite worked fine for me and saved me a bundle. But, in your case, because of the pre-existing condition, you may have to go with the full-service (and thus more expensive) coverage.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[cruiseco]

I could be wrong, but I don't believe the Travelex Lite covers pre-existing conditions. . . But, in your case, because of the pre-existing condition, you may have to go with the full-service (and thus more expensive) coverage.

Blue skies ...

--rita

Both the Travelex Travel Plus and TraveLite plans will cover pre-existing medical conditions if purchased within 21 days of the initial trip deposit. There is absolutely no difference between the plans in that regard.

[jhannah]

Just a P.S. on this thread ...

Our recent return from our Noordam cruise found us spending the night enroute home when weather prevented our flying into Chicago. The plane had to divert to Detroit. Since this was a trip interruption of 5 hours or more, insurance coverage with Travelex kicked in. I called them and they jumped on it. The person on the phone thoroughly explained what needed to be done (nothing difficult at all.) I had an e-mail waiting when I arrived home with a claim form attached. They followed up with one in the mail.

I was very pleased with the response I got from them.

[serendipity1499]

Quote I could be wrong, but I don't believe the Travelex Lite covers pre-existing conditions. Unquote

Travelex lite does cover pre-existing conditions..I had to telephone Insuremytrip.com today, for another reason & they also confirmed that Travelex Lite does cover for pre-existing conditions if purchased within 21 days after booking..We never book insurance through a Cruise Line or a Travel Agent...Insuremytrip.com is one of several on-line sites that handle many insurance policies which can be compared side by side..Their handling fee is only $5.00 & it's well worth it..:)

Enjoy your cruise..Betty

[cruiseco]

Insuremytrip.com is one of several on-line sites that handle many insurance policies which can be compared side by side..Their handling fee is only $5.00 & it's well worth it..:)

Enjoy your cruise..Betty

Note that insuremytrip does not charge a handling fee themselves but they will pass on any handling fees levied by the insurers. For example, if you buy a Travelex policy you'll pay that same $5 fee whether you buy it from insuremytrip, another online site, through a travel agent, or directly from Travelex.

Travel insurance is a regulated product and an agent/broker cannot add to or subtract from the prices set by the insurer and registered with the various state departments of insurance without risking loss of license. That's why you don't see rebating in the travel insurance field like you do in other segments of the travel biz -- it's not allowed by law.

[serendipity1499]

Note that Insuremytrip does not charge a handling fee themselves but they will pass on any handling fees levied by the insurers. For example, if you buy a Travelex policy you'll pay that same $5 fee whether you buy it from Insuremytrip, another online site, through a travel agent, or directly from Travelex.

Travel insurance is a regulated product and an agent/broker cannot add to or subtract from the prices set by the insurer and registered with the various state departments of insurance without risking loss of license. That's why you don't see rebating in the travel insurance field like you do in other segments of the travel biz -- it's not allowed by law.

Thanks for the heads up on the Fee...I just assumed (yep know the meaning of the word...LOL) that the fee went to insuremytrip.com...

Also found out another thing...My friend, was in the insurance business years ago & has always insured for less than what she paid for the trip..She never insures taxes & fees even though she gets insurance to cover pre-existing conditions..She maintains if a trip cost $5,000 & she can afford to loose $1,000 she will only insure for $4,000...The important part of this is: What can you afford to loose?

I questioned this, as other Insurance sites have stated that you must insure for the full amount for pre-existing conditions to be covered..

However Insuremytrip.com confirmed to her by e-mail, that travelex lite does not require that you insure the full amount...Depending on the ages of the people being insured, insurance can be very expensive for an extensive trip...(Our Insurance for our Amazon Trip was over $900.00)

Another thing, if the price of your cruise goes down within the 10 day cancellation period after you purchase your insurance,Travelex will lower the amount for you..

I believe this is an excellent policy & will continue to use it..

Happy cruising all..:) Betty

[cruiseco]

However Insuremytrip.com confirmed to her by e-mail, that travelex lite does not require that you insure the full amount...Depending on the ages of the people being insured, insurance can be very expensive for an extensive trip...(Our Insurance for our Amazon Trip was over $900.00)


That's correct. Up until the made some changes at the beginning of this year they used to have that restriction. This is much more consumer-friendly.


Another thing, if the price of your cruise goes down within the 10 day cancellation period after you purchase your insurance,Travelex will lower the amount for you..

That's their official policy but I have never seen them deny that kind of request even after the 10-day period. Their customer service is pretty good.

[serendipity1499]

That's good to know Cruisco..:) Thanks for the information..