TravelGuard vs. AccessAmerica

[mhshapiro]

I posted this over on the cruise questions board, but got no response. Perhaps someone here has information to share.

I am trying to make a decision on travel insurance for a cruise on HAL in late April of 2005. The decision has come down to a choice between TravelGuard and AccessAmerica. Both offer similar coverage at roughly the same price.

If anyone has had to actually file a claim with either company, I'd appreciate learning about your experience -- good, bad, etc.

Thanks,

[Debi_D]

Mark - I just bought the AccessAmerica Policy (137.00 per couple)and it looks good to me. I don't have any experience with it but after a friend of mine lost 900.00 deposit to Princess when she cancelled 71 days prior because they found breast and lung cancer I decided from now on to buy the insurance.... I look forward to hearing from anyone else that has used it.

Deb

[mhshapiro]

Dear Debi,

Thanks. We always buy insurance. The last few times it was with TravelGuard. But AccessAmerica seems to offer equivalent coverage at a little lower cost.

What I'm trying to determine is the level of service the two companies offer if you actually have a problem (such as all the travel delays that people experienced this past week.)

[grandma bev]

Fortunately, we haven't had to file a claim yet. Have always used Travel Guard. Will ask our daughter the TA about feedback from her clients and post later.
Bev.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We buy Access America - Delux. Had to use it a couple of years ago when DH's mother died about a week before the cruise - had no problems with them.

Had friends who were on a 72 day cruise when she came down with pneumonia and they had to leave the ship in Singapore. She was hospitalized for 2 weeks. Then they had to stay in a hotel for another 2 weeks before her doctor would allow her to fly home. They also did not have any problems.

[Sage]

Thank you so much for the information about AccessAmerica. We are trying them for the first time for our cruise in December.

[peaches from georgia]

You want to be sure whether and what parts of each policy are primary or secondary coverage. If secondary, you have to go through your regular health insurance first for reimbursement before the travel policy will kick in.

On insuremytrip.com for each insurer it will show what that particular policy insures as primary or secondary coverage. There is a key- gray background is primary and yellow is secondary. Secondary sounds to me like it could be a hassle.

[jhannah]

Also carefully read the terms/conditions/limitations to make sure you're covered for what you'll be doing. TravelGuard, for instance, will not cover scuba diving ... which many people do on a cruise.

[Orcrone]

Also carefully read the terms/conditions/limitations to make sure you're covered for what you'll be doing. TravelGuard, for instance, will not cover scuba diving ... which many people do on a cruise.This is getting a little OT, but scuba divers should get seperate insurance. It will cover emergency evacuation, time in a decompression chamber, etc. DAN (Diver's Alert Network) is probably the most common one. I have that in addition to trip insurance.

[luv2cruise123]

Friends son-in-law was killed in an accident before their scheduled cruise with us and they had no problems with being reimbursed completely for their cruise costs. It was several months before the cruise.

[mhshapiro]

We decided to try AccessAmerica for this cruise... There was no negative feedback for either company, but AccessAmerica a bit less expensive, and the coverage was a little better in a few areas.

[Cruising Jake]

Has anyone had any experience with CSA? It appears to have the same coverage and be slightly cheaper?

[Debi_D]

Well I think I made the right the decision on the insurance after reading the fine print. AccessAmerica covers everything I need and was cheaper, wow that is a first for me:D

Orcrone - I too buy DAN every year just for diving. I am a Dive Master and hubby is a Master Diver so we sometimes do a little more than just recreational diving. Knock on wood I have never had to use it but all it takes is one time....

Deb

[Stevesan]

This is getting a little OT, but scuba divers should get seperate insurance. It will cover emergency evacuation, time in a decompression chamber, etc. DAN (Diver's Alert Network) is probably the most common one. I have that in addition to trip insurance.
Excellent comments. It does happen. Our ship Norwegian Sea had to leave a passenger in Roatan decompressing.

Emergency evacuation is essential coverage for all passengers. One of our tablemates had to be air evac'd from Cozumel to Houston by jet charter. Cost was in excess of $10k. She didn't have travel insurance because her hubby's health insurance covered them, but not for the air evac which they hadn't foreseen. BTW - it was another of the scooter accidents. The CD emphasized in his port talk how dangerous they are in Coz due to road conditions and driving habits.

[mhshapiro]

We used CSA until 9/11. Then they failed to pay off when we had to cancel on a cruise on 9/18 because we couldn't get to the departure point that had been moved from NYC to Baltimore.

They were within their rights because of the "fine print" in the policy, but other companies with the same "fine print" did pay off.

They were real schmucks about it.

[jschutz]

I'm having a "challange" with Access America now. I am on the Celebrity Alaska cruise - originally scheduled for 09/17 but now delayed for 3 days because of propulsion problems. So far Access America refuses to pick up ANY costs for the additional 3 days we have to spend in Vancouver. I am going "up the chain", but it does not look good. If they do not come up with something I am going to cancel my $600 Access America premium I paid for the upcoming HAL Rio to San Diego cruise on 03/30/2005.:mad:

[Giorgi-one]

My understanding is that there are two primary types of travel insurance. Trip Cancellation covers you if you have to cancel your trip for certain prescribed reasons. Post Departure Protectrion covers you once you leave your house for flight delays, lost luggage, etc. I would assume that a cruise which is delayed does not fall into either of these categories. I usually just buy the PDP insurance to cover major medical problems, evacuation, etc. Seems there are more exceptions to travel insurance than there are items covered, so I usually pass on the trip cancellation insurance. I have taken 14 cruises and saved enough by not buying insurance to cover at least one cancellation. Also, if I had to cancel for a major medical problem or death, the cost of the cruuse would be the least of my worries.

[Cruising Jake]

I looked at quotes on insuremytrip.com. Has anyone ever used Travelex (Travelite)?

[peaches from georgia]

I looked at quotes on insuremytrip.com. Has anyone ever used Travelex (Travelite)?
Yes, we use Travelex and I know I have read many others on this board do also. It's the company my TA recommends.

We had to cancel a very expensive cruise the day before sailing due to a family (not my husband or me, but a family member) medical emergency. Travelex reimbursed us in full very quickly and were wonderful to work with. All we had to provide was a statement from our family member's doctor verifying the emergency.

[HeatherInFlorida]

My mother had a huge problem with AccessAmerica when she had to cancel a cruise due to illness. They did eventually pay, but only after an attorney got involved. However, I hasten to say this was many years ago so they may be much, much better now.

We read all the fine print and the policy clearly stated she would be covered. But when it came time for them to pay up, the difficulty started. So the best bet is to get feedback from people who have had to make a claim against the company.

[Cinder]

I've used TravelGuard, Travelex and Access America, depending on which has the best deals for the particular trip. I have had to cancel 3 cruises over the years, and all of the above companies were willing to "transfer" the insurance to a later trip, once I got HAL to agree to change our cruise. Access America even agreed, although their fine print showed they wouldn't pay for acts of terrorism. (9-11 cruise) .By doing that, they didn't have to pay me, and I didn't have to buy new insurance for my new trip. Always buy your insurance as soon as you book though!