jclinard

I've said for years to only take recommendations from people who have attempted to file claims, not from people who only know how fast their deposited the premiums. I also urge people to read the policy, and look up the companies on the BBB and Trustpilot. The latter two are excellent resources to find out the "gotchas" where the companies get their jollies denying claims. I know lots of people on this forum want me to go away because I say these things, but I'm going nowhere. That even includes people who have conceded their claims were not paid, and people who have tried to dissuade people from filing legitimate claims.

Read the policy and do the math. How much are you going to pay for the policy, what amount it will pay (generally as a percentage of trip cost), what form will they pay out on (cash or credits, and, if credits, what restrictions are there on their use, such as time frame to redeem them), and when can you no longer collect on the policy (I think inside 48 hours it won't pay). A cruise line policy might be more likely to be a vacation protection plan (with the credits for future sailing) or the like. You'll have to read about each plan and find somebody else to tell you about the "gotchas" where they won't pay as I have no experience buying or attempting to collect on such a plan. Third party is likely to be cash refunds, but you need to deep dive. Check out the company with the BBB and Trustpilot. Read the policy, then read those sources to see where the "gotchas" are where they deny claims.

You were warned.

Well, because if you read the policy, you'll find out just how few ways there are to collect. You don't need to take my word for it. You can read cases on the BBB where people attempted to do so. Suppose you book a cruise, and buy airline tickets (not through the cruise line) to travel to and from the port city. The cruise company cancels the cruise. Here's what the travel insurance will do. Tell you to cancel the tickets. Tell your claim is denied. High five each other at the office because now you have no recourse. You can't wait it out to see if they change the flight times enough where you can reject the new time and get a refund. Maybe they ring a victory bell or something.

Play the game if you want, but the game is rigged against the consumer. Read the policy, and understand the very limited conditions on which you can collect. Read their reviews on the BBB or Trustpilot or the like. That's very eye opening; you'll get a list of cases where people attempted to collect and were denied. There are all sorts of "gotchas" you'll find out when you read those cases and realize you can't collect. Only take recommendations from people who have attempted to collect. If all a person knows about the company is how quickly they deposited the premiums, their recommendation is worthless. Oh, and stay the hell away from Travel Guard.

Good on you for doing the research and learning that they won't pay or will only pay a pittance if you had to cancel the trip. Travel insurance companies don't want you to investigate them. They want to sell policies, deposit premiums, and deny claims. CFAR might be a better option if looking at insuring the prepaid costs (air, cruise, hotels, etc.). I've never used it, though I understand most policies leave you vulnerable for the 48 hours before the trip. Again, look into the cost of the policy verses the amount that would be paid, and deep dive into the policy and the reputation of the company issuing the policy regarding how they handle claims.

This is my philosophy is well; losses for trips are limited by the amount of prepaid expenses. Medical is unlimited. Due to the very limited conditions one where you can collect on travel insurance policies (I once did a deep dive in my most recent policy and posted the conditions where I might be able to collect), I feel the most important thing is medical. However, it was clear the person was looking at insuring the cruise fare. That means a deep dive into the policy to see what conditions under which they could collect, as well as an investigation into the company to see how it handles claims. Not being able to travel on an expensive cruise would be bad, but learning that the company won't pay (or will only pay a pittance) on the specific claim is only going to make it worse.

For some reason, CC wants to protect travel agencies, no matter what they did to screw people. As you seem primarily interested in insuring the trip costs, you'll need to read their policies before buying one. Then I suggest you read their cases on the BBB, or Trustpilot, or the like. This will give you an idea of what you're dealing with, as well as give insights into what people are getting claim denials on. You probably will find something you thought was covered had a "gotcha" where they refuse to pay. Do not take recommendations from anybody who only knows how fast the company deposits the premiums. Listen to people who have attempted to make claims, and either know what color they write their checks on or how fast they'll send a denial.

It's my experience most companies will screw you if they can. The only ones that don't are smaller ones who rely on goodwill and repeat business. Government agencies are worse. They play "watch us not care". I'm currently stalled in a claim. The police at the Port of Baltimore have given me the runaround on getting a police report item for a stolen item. I was shuffled to the port authority who wanted me to fill out a claim form, which was denied, said they didn't do police reports as they were not a police agency, and sent me back to square one. The only conclusion I can draw is that they don't care about my stolen item.

If I were you, I'd read the policy.

Travel Insured wants a police report for the stolen property. I'm having difficulty obtaining one. The Port of Baltimore's general e-mail doesn't work, and while I got one reply from the captain assigned to the port, I'm not getting directed to the right place to make the report. If I'm reading it correctly, I have 15 months to provide the documentation, so I'll have a year to figure out how to obtain this in order to complete my claim. I'd feel better if I planned to sail out of Baltimore, but I have no plans to do that in the next year, though my winter 2026 trip is not currently booked.

Oh, OK. I'm not familiar with policies that don't cover the full trip amount. I'd still read the policies and see if you can figure out the primary / secondary, and what hoops you'll have to jump through in order to collect on both. You might also look for somebody who has attempted to collect on these kinds of policies and find out their experiences.

I'd read the policy and see what it says about primary and secondary coverage. If one of them is primary, see if you have to file a claim with them first, then wait until it is processed before filing a claim with the secondary for the remainder of the money. I know people don't like me urging people to read the policies and doing research with the BBB or consumer advocacy groups, but I think you should know exactly what you're facing when attempting to collect. I'm pretty surprised that the insurance costs 25% of the trip cost. My research indicates that 6% is the usual cost. Even CFAR is about 10%. I'm going to assume you're in some kind of high risk group if they want that much money against the cost of the trip.

Understand the following items: 1) Check to see if the cruise line offers true insurance, or a vacation protection plan. Understand the difference. 2) Read any policy in advance. Take careful note under what conditions you can collect. Understand all exclusions. Consider all the things that might want you to make a claim, then check to see if it is covered. 3) Read up on the company on consumer affairs websites. I recommend the Better Business Bureau. Read the complaints. See the conditions on which people attempted to collect and were denied, and see if the company acts in good faith. Note things like them ignoring claims, denying them without notifying the customer, disclaiming, dragging out claims by asking for documentation that has already been provided. You'll get an idea if the company prefers to pay valid claims, or play games with the goal of making the consumer abandon the claim. 4) Don't take any recommendations from people who only know how quickly the company deposits the premiums. Listen to people who have attempted to make claims. See if they were paid promptly, ignored, denied, or if the company played games by claiming they "lost" things that were already submitted.

I've submitted my claim. I'll let everybody know when it is denied or approved. Jeffrey

I'm not even close to making travel insurance issues a hobby on the level of some of the other people here (two of which have posted in this thread). Why pick on me while they seem to be making it a part time job?

Oh, I'd advise them to fight. I already know you'd advise them to give up the claim, as that position was made crystal clear by you in the past. Of course, it's possible you have evolved your thinking since then and agree a claim should be made.

I thought I provided everything here on my last complaint. I finally decided I was played for a sucker. I resolved to never be played for a sucker again, and that they don't get to make me a sucker for free. Since then I've constantly done the following things people here don't like: Tell people to read the policy before they buy, and understand the very limited conditions on which they can collect. Tell people to only take insurance recommendations from people who have attempted to make claims, instead of people who only know how quickly the company deposits the premiums. Tell people to research the company offering policies, including an examination of issues with the Better Business Bureau. I will see how it goes with my claim for stolen property and a damaged bag. My guess is that they will deny the claim, after I've provided receipts for the stolen item, the damaged bag, and documentation of the damage, and I'll pay out of pocket for them. I've repeatedly stated I only want insurance for medical bills, but as the annual policy should cover this, I'm curious to see how the treat me. If there are more "gotchas" it's probably better I find out now on a small claim than learn the hard way over a major claim. And, yes, if I've been played for a sucker again, I will make it one of my hobbies to warn people about this company like I do about Travel Guard. The amount is actually less than the cost of my entree on my last date. The principle is priceless.

Insurer: Travel Insured. Like I put right in the title of the thread. It wasn't destroyed by an airline. It was destroyed by the Port of Baltimore. I have no idea what they did to cause the seams to rip from a bag I just bought in August and only traveled with once before, but when I picked it up, stuff started falling out of it from where they ripped it apart. The same port authority also stole from me on the way in. What they want is to make it impossible for me to file a claim because their system won't accept an image file that shows the damage. It took the PDFs of my receipts, but their "gotcha" is to refuse to accept image files. What they want is for me to give up on my claim. This is a small claim on an annual policy. I can only imagine that they won't pay a cent of medical bills if I incur any because they'll fix it so they won't accept the documents.

I'm trying to make a claim for a damaged bag and stolen TSA lock. Their system wants proof of the damage. I tried uploading a photo of the destroyed bag. It won't accept it. I don't think they are going to pay.

Only take recommendations from people who have tried to file a claim, not people who only know how fast the company deposits the premiums. Read BBB reviews to see how they deal with claims. Find out if there is a pattern of them wanting more documentation, losing documentation you've already provided, and months or years of "claim under review" while they hope you give up and take the loss. Read the policy carefully, with an eye towards understand how they will deny any claim you try to make. Stay the hell away from Travel Guard.

My father had extensive treatment in Canada, and the hospital refused to provide the itemized bill he needed to get insurance to cover the charges. He ended up flagging the charges on his credit card as fraudulent. They didn't like that, but suddenly they figured out how to send the itemized bill he needed.

That's why I tell people to read the policy, and to never take recommendations from people who only know how fast the company deposited the premiums. When it comes to things prepaid (cruise and air fares, hotels, excursions), you can only collect under very limited circumstances with traditional travel insurance. With CFAR, you need to know what the policy costs, and how much you'll get back to examine the benefits to cost, and even then, they won't pay if you want to cancel very close to the cruise date.

Read the policy before you buy. You might want to look at CFAR. If you just decide you don't to go, they might refund you (though I'd look them up on BBB). Most insurance won't pay under those conditions. Keep in mind, you won't get all of your money back with CFAR. Look into how much you are going to pay for a policy and how much they will refund. Also, look up the policy to see when the last day you can collect on it is (part of reading the policy). Only take recommendations from people who have attempted to collect. Don't even think about taking a recommendation from somebody who only knows how fast the company deposits the premiums. Read the BBB complaints and reviews of any company so you know who you are dealing with. When you realize most of them exist only to collect premiums and will take months to "process" claims, "lose" the documentation, refuse to pay, or attempt to settle for pennies on the dollar, you're going to be ahead of the game.

I have had Allianz and I now have Trip Insured. Do not take recommendation from me. I only know how fast they deposit the premiums and have not attempted to make a claim. I only hope if I have to make one they will pay instead of finding out I've been played for a sucker like Travel Guard.