Cruise Insurance

[jc foster]

I just booked a Mid March cruise with HOlland America. Could anyone please tell me how soon I need to purchase cruise insurance?

[pms4104]

Depends on your current health issues, the terms of the insurance policy you're considering, and what you want/need covered. Many policies include a pre-existing condition waiver only if purchased within a specified time, like 10-15 days, after deposit is made.

[ldog]

The answer to that question depends on too many factors to answer. If you are under 60 and have no pre-existing conditions you can usually buy it at final payment time.

There is lots of info in the "Ask a Cruise Question" forum or talk to you travel agent. They have lots of info. There is a website called insuremytrip that has lots of info if you are from the US.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We are over 60 and buy our insurance right around the time when we are ready to make final payment.

[jhannah]

We always purchase insurance within the 14 to 21-day window as specified in the policy we select. Since pre-ex involves anything you're treated for or diagnosed within 90 to 180 days prior to policy effective date (again depending on the policy) you're risking having something happen later on when it's too late to get coverage for that ailment.

Better safe than sorry so far as I'm concerned. I know all insurance is a game, but I'd rather not play the risky side.

[dave&dee]

Over sixty and buy insurance at time of deposit.If you are going to buy insurance why not buy it then and not worry about pre conditions and the peace of mind knowning it's done.

[cruiseco]

Over sixty and buy insurance at time of deposit.If you are going to buy insurance why not buy it then and not worry about pre conditions and the peace of mind knowning it's done.

That's the trade-off most people need to consider:

Buy the policy right away and get coverage for things like pre-existing conditions and financial default.

or

Wait until the final payment date (when the cancellation penalties actually kick in) so that if you change your mind and cancel the cruise before there's any penalties you're not sitting on a non-refundable policy.

There's good arguments for both ways of doing it. Just remember that even though most third=party plans may not be refundable they can be transferred to replacement trips and that there are several plans that give you coverage for pre-existing conditions if purchased up to the final payment date.

There's no wrong or right way of doing it, just what's most comfortable for you.

[tsd1]

Not only does the pre-existing conditions apply to you. it applies to your immediate family, too. So say you have a family member currently battling cancer or other illness and at the time of the cruise gets sick from it (or whatever :()and causes you not being able to cruise, you won't be covered unless you bought the policy within the 14 day (usually) window from making your initial deposit. We always buy the insurance within a day or two from our initial deposit.

[msmayor]

The answer to that question depends on too many factors to answer. If you are under 60 and have no pre-existing conditions you can usually buy it at final payment time.

There is lots of info in the "Ask a Cruise Question" forum or talk to you travel agent. They have lots of info. There is a website called insuremytrip that has lots of info if you are from the US.

I always find this type of statement interesting. I've read the variation of "I have no pre-existing conditions, so I don't need to worry about that".

Maybe TODAY you don't have any pre-existing conditions, and you decide to either wait until final payment is due or forego the insurance completely.

Unfortunately, events can and will occur in the time between you booking your cruise and final payment date that will become "pre-existing conditions", and by then its usually too late to get them covered.

[tsd1]

As I understand the policy, an illness is not considered pre-existing unless you had it the day you bought the insurance. So if you develop an illness that causes you to cancel, it WILL cover you as long as you purchased the policy within 14 days of making the initial trip deposit.

[jhannah]

Not only does the pre-existing conditions apply to you. it applies to your immediate family, too. You are correct. This is a factor many people don't think about.