Can you buy travel insurance by the year?

[Charliesmom]

It has always bugged my husband that travel insurance covers so few eventualities. He says the policies are holier than a Swiss cheese. Does anybody know of policies that are sold by the year no matter where you travel? We never buy insurance. DH says he has saved the cost of a cruise by not doing so over the years. I figure at some point our luck will run out. We ARE covered by our platinum card for emergency evacuation, which is probably the most expensive part of becoming ill on a ship.

Roberta

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have the Am Ex Plat - but we still buy insurance for each trip. Twice we had to cancel cruises close to sailing. If we hadn't had the insurance we would have lost the price of the entire cruise - BIG $$$$$.

[elmorejj]

I also would like info on yearly ins. I have researched it before but can`t seem to come up with any company. We take about 8 trips a year, both cruises and land vacations and the individual insurances I am paying for cost more than my home owners and autos put together....jean :cool:

[ocngypz]

Travelex sells annual policies.

However, the coverage is not the same as an individual trip policy. it is better suited to the business traveler who makes multiple trips during the year and requires medical coverage because of Medicare, HMO's, etc. which do not provide coverage outside of the US. These annual policies also provide coverage for delayed baggage, etc.

They do not provide coverage for cancelled travel plans.

As with all travel insurance, you need to read the fine print.. is the coverage primary or secondary??? age limits, etc.

I have also had policies through LLoyds in years past.

[sail7seas]

I have researched this question and have had my Insurance Agent inquire on our behalf and we have not found any policy we can write by the year to cover all travel we do. We have wanted such a thing for years and while I have heard others say they have something like it, I have never been able to find any olicy which would suit our needs.

[jhannah]

Say ... maybe some of us should get together, form a consortium, find an underwriter, and begin a new business. We'd probably get enough referrals from this board to make a comfortable living!

[taszmom]

Access America has an annual product. I haven't read all the details, but you can have up to $1000 per year/per person for Trip Cancellation in addition to Medical, Baggage etc.

http://www.accessamerica.com/ourproducts.asp?brochure=Annual%20Product

[dewhit6959]

As one who has "shopped" the floor of Lloyd underwriters in London, I have never heard of, nor seen a primary policy underwritten, with regards to health, dental, terrorism, forced or willed evacuation, baggage, air, etc., in the case of an ordinary individual merely traveling as a tourist. Also, coverage by Lloyds is a misunderstanding by many. The principal insurors, directors, officers, and their respective companies and investment holdings are insured by Lloyd as a bonded reinsurer. Perhaps you were insured under a Sphere Drake travel policy for the individual that uses members of the exchange for various coverages.

[Charliesmom]

I went to their website and they apparently sell by state and do not serve Massachusetts. I guess we will just have to continue self-insuring or buying it from the cruise line.

Thanks for your help.

Roberta

[Globaliser]

Say ... maybe some of us should get together, form a consortium, find an underwriter, and begin a new business. We'd probably get enough referrals from this board to make a comfortable living!It's probably not a bad idea - there must be enough of a market out there to make this worthwhile.

FWIW, annual insurance is very easy to get in the UK. My policy covers me for:- Medical expenses (including air repatriation if necessary) - £10,000,000
Cancellation cover - £5,000
Baggage - £1,500
Personal liability - £2,000,000
Missed departure (extra costs to catch up) - £500
Travel delays - £100
Legal expenses (for suing others) - £50,000
Personal accident - £30,000
Money - £500
Loss of passport/travel documents (expenses in replacement) - £300
Emergency dental treatment - £600
Sending emergency prescription medications - £300
Sending emergency prescription spectacles - £300
Plus a few other odds and ends to do with domestic emergencies at home while you're away.

This cover is per trip. The policy covers me for any number of trips in a year, no trip to exceed 45 days, total travel in the year not to exceed 183 days. Effective premium - £65 for the year.

The cost of US travel insurance that I see mentioned on the boards is, frankly, staggering.

[pollux]

I don't think insurance is expensive. My Access America Policy is about 7% p.p. of the cruise fare.You sure get piece off mind. When you insure right after booking a cruise your previous health problems are covered.

Trip Cancel 1,000*
trip interrup 1,000
Medical exp 25,000
Medical Trans 300,000
Bagage Ins 1,000
Bagage delay 200
Travel delay 500
Missed connection 500

*Trip cancelation will be the price you pay for the ticket so that can vary.

[sail7seas]

Access America has an annual product. I haven't read all the details, but you can have up to $1000 per year/per person for Trip Cancellation in addition to Medical, Baggage etc.

http://www.accessamerica.com/ourproducts.asp?brochure=Annual%20Product

It isn't worth anything IMO to buy insurance that would provide $1,000 per person per year for cancellation coverage. I am hoping that's a typo or I shake my head as to who would buy it.

Thank you for the link. I'll head over there to read the details.

[sail7seas]

C|harliesmom.....Well that's a bummer. :) Wonder why they won't sell coverage to Massachusetts residents?

[sail7seas]

I made a doctor's appointment back in April and at that time, the first available appointment was December 2........yikes, eight months in advance! If I cancel that one I am sure I'll be long dead before I get another one :)

I hope anyone who does go on the Westerdam three dayer has a great time.

[jhannah]

Globaliser ... that's a fantastic policy! I sure wish it were available to us Yanks. I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

[tojofo]

In Canada you can get travel insurance with Americam Express that will cover you for a whole year or you can purchase it for one trip. One is Basic and the other is Enhanced . Hope this may help.

[Stevesan]

This cover is per trip. The policy covers me for any number of trips in a year, no trip to exceed 45 days, total travel in the year not to exceed 183 days. Effective premium - £65 for the year.

That is an absolutely fantastic premium for the coverage!!! I'm tempted to return to the mother country.

[imsulin]

Try buying trip insurance if you live in Washington or Oregon!

[sail7seas]

I have no clue how my post above re: not being able to go on the three day cruise to HMC appeared on this thread. I'm sure I posted it to the "Did you get the Invitation" thread.

Sorry.....

[dam1050]

In Canada you can get travel insurance with Americam Express that will cover you for a whole year or you can purchase it for one trip. One is Basic and the other is Enhanced . Hope this may help.

TOJOFO:

Do you have to be a member (credit cardholder) of American Express (Canada) to get this insurance?

I'm interested in insurance for coverage outside of Canada as well, on an annual basis -- the type which includes medical and trip cancellation amounts.

Dave

[tojofo]

You have to have an American Express card to apply for the travel insurance. It is called Global Assist Travel Medical Insurance Plan. You can go on the American Express web site www.americanexpress.ca/globalassist for more information. I hope this is helpful.

[dam1050]

Thanks for that info TOJOFO

Dave