Babr

Sure you can - but it won't necessarily cover pre-existing conditions.

Advice to consult a professional supersedes all opinions on a public forum, but the answer is really pretty simple. If one wants pre-existing conditions coverage, buy the policy in the time sensitive period defined by the policy. Most are tied to initial deposit within 14 to 21 days, but some allow it at final payment. A professional can help one sort through the possibilities and find a policy that meets specific needs.

You are referring to the look-back period, which can be 60 to 180 or even more depending on the policy. That is the number of days a company will look back at your medical records to see if you have anything in your medical history related to the cause of cancellation. If they can determine that any symptom, diagnosis, test, RX changes -anything - was there before you bought the policy, then they will not pay unless you have the pre-existing conditions waiver. To qualify for the waiver, purchase in the window defined in the policy, either initial deposit or final payment. If the look-back period in your medical history is clear, then pre-existing conditions is not an issue.

Most policies today cover Covid as any other illness. In that case, purchase of the policy is not time sensitive. You do have to be mindful of time windows if you want a waiver for pre-existing conditions. Celebrity coverage is a bit different because its cancellation fee waiver is provided by the cruise line and is not part of the insurance underwritten by Arch. It does not cover a condition that is diagnosed or treated in the sixty days prior to purchase, but it allows you to cancel for any reason with 90% FCC. On the other hand, third-party policies require you to purchase within a window related to initial deposit in most cases in order to qualify for a wavier of the pre-existing conditions exclusion. There are some policies such as IMG LX that will allow the waiver if purchased at final payment. The advantage is that you do not have to buy the policy until your money is at risk, assuming you have a refundable deposit. One purchased, insurance is not refundable beyond the initial inspection period, but it may be transferrable to another cruise. The key is in understanding what a pre-existing condition is. Without the waiver, something as simple as a change in RX, a reported symptom, or a diagnostic test occurring in the look-back period can result in a claim denial if it can be tied to the reason for cancellation.

Just about any comprehensive travel insurance policy would pay for it under Missed Connection/Trip Delay/Trip Interruption. The dollar caps vary by policy. People who depend on their credit card for travel risks will find that the $500 max does not go very far when delayed for several days. They’ll also find that it will not pay for the difference in cost for a new flight - just change fees. The real problem is for those who don’t have coverage.

Good. You likely got something that more accurately meets your needs though it may not be the best choice for everyone.

The cruise line merely sells you a policy with its name on it. The policy is underwritten by a major company like Nationwide, and the claims are administered by a company contracted for that service like AON Affinity or TripMate. The cruise line does not have anything to do with the process. Not sure what your TA is telling you; but if she is selling you a policy from her agency, she is making a commission.

Any cruise line is obligated to provide a cash refund for a cruise it cancels; however, if you accept FCC and use it to book another cruise, the cruise line considers that you have been compensated and have accepted the terms when you booked the subsequent cruise. Initially, cruise lines offered bonus FCC as an incentive, but it became a trap for people who found the price had increased for the cruise of their choice or for those who needed/wanted to cancel.

Insurance reimburses 100% cash for cancellation as a result of a covered reason. Covid is covered as any other illness. If you’d rather have a full refund instead of 90% FCC, then insurance will provide that as well as coverage for other medical and travel risks such as trip delay or trip interruption if quarantine is still an issue depending on Celebrity’s assistance policy at the time of your sailing. Whether you choose to get cruise line insurance or third-party insurance depends on your needs. Third-party insurance considers age in the premium calculation so that and the relatively low dollar limits for medical coverage are factors you’ll need to weigh in your decision.

Prime does still exist. It is available on insuremytrip website, but it may not show up in the search results depending on where you live. It is not sold in some states. There are other Nationwide policies that cover itinerary change after departure which causes you to miss a prepaid nonrefundable excursion. It does not cover such a loss under other circumstances. Not sure if that is what you are looking for. Read carefully because some Nationwide policies have a COVID disclaimer. They do not cover it in places under CDC travel warning.

If covered, it probably comes under Missed Connection; but there will be stipulations such as how many hours you were delayed and the cause, such as weather or mechanical problems. That may trigger other provisions which will combine to settle the claim. Those details will be in the policy. Rather than trying to sort through multiple policies on your own with only hope that you get it right, follow the advice here: call the professionals and explain what you are looking for. Let them help you find the right coverage. Many here rely on Trip Insurance Store.

Yes.

If the WS agent is telling you that you are responsible for quarantine ashore, I’d take it to heart and plan accordingly. You’ll be isolated onboard until reaching port, but then you can expect to be disembarked to finish any required quarantine. In unusual circumstances as described by r&rd where there might not be available facilities or appropriate medical care shoreside, you might be given an option to remain on board, but it is not stated policy so don’t count on it. Buy adequate travel insurance.

If you feel overwhelmed, consult a professional like Steve Dasseos or one of his agents at Trip Insurance Store. They can help you get the right policy for you. Make a list of your questions and priorities before you call. You can study any policy they recommend before you decide whether to buy. It does not cost any more to benefit from their expertise and assistance because insurance is regulated.

Be sure to read the Guide to Benefits and the responses to the thread you started here before you get too excited about your credit card coverage. If your husband has had some health issues recently as stated in the other thread, he may well have a pre-existing condition. In that case, you are not covered for a cancellation caused by that condition. The policy does not provide coverage for trip delay, and trip interruption will not pay for return travel. If you are looking for rock-solid coverage, this is not it.

https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/a-z-list-of-countries/greece/ Here is a link from the Greek government that stipulates 5 days of isolation. You are permitted to utilize a hotel of your choice as long as it has availability for the required length of your stay. The question remains whether HAL will offer logistical assistance if your hotel can’t accommodate you. Travel insurance can easily cover 5 days; however, it depends on the dollar limits of your policy’s trip delay provision. Trip interruption will reimburse unused prepaid nonrefundable expenses and your return travel.

If trip delay is a major concern, take another look at that provision in each policy along with trip interruption. It appears that Trawick combines costs for delay and return travel in its trip delay provision whereas IMG provides a per person per day allowance up to a cap for hotel, meals, misc. resulting from trip delay. The trip interruption provision in IMG covers return transportation as well as unused prepaid nonrefundable expenses. The consequence is that the trip delay provision under Trawick may not be as generous as it first appears because it has to cover everything - meals, hotels, and return travel. IMG separates those expenses into two provisions. Do some math to determine the level of coverage that makes you comfortable.

The question is not so much whether Chase will pay a claim as it is whether you know what is covered. The two main travel benefits that Chase offers are cancellation and trip interruption, and even those are limited. The covered reasons for cancellation are listed in the Guide to Benefits but do not apply to cancellations caused by a pre-existing condition. The dollar limits are adequate if you are using the premium card. Trip interruption coverage reimburses unused prepaid nonrefundable expenses but not return transportation. There is language about change fees but no allowance for increased cost. Trip delay is only $500 and covers common carrier delay only. It will not pay hotel or meals for other kinds of delay. There are some odds and ends such as baggage delay. The premium card offers $2500 coverage for emergency medical expenses. In the end, Chase leaves some significant gaps in coverage compared to standard travel coverage, but it depends on your needs and your comfort level with the risks involved.

Yes, but that does not make any difference unless OP is insuring both parties on one policy. I thought each was individually responsible. I have an incomplete understanding of the arrangements. As a side note, the time-sensitive period applies only to CFAR and financial default.There are some policies that allow the pre-existing conditions waiver at final payment as well as the initial deposit window. Otherwise, one can buy insurance at any time.

Yes, third-party insurance operates quite differently, but why can’t you buy a policy that covers single supplement? You are not the one cancelling. You do not need CFAR. I suppose it depends on how it is booked, but if each is financially responsible for his own share and each has insurance to cover it, it seems you should be able to buy a policy now to meet your needs. Your companion is the one who needs the HAL policy if he has to cancel for something other than a reason covered by a standard policy.

All is not lost. There are plenty of policies out there that address single supplement. I suggest you call a broker like Trip Insurance Store and explain your situation to them. They can help you find a policy that works.

Thanks for pointing that out. It is an interesting quirk in travel insurance, but it does solve some common problems with cancellation. I always thought it was a very generous CFAR policy without realizing that it does not allow for standard cancellation at 100% under covered reasons. That makes it less attractive to me since medical coverage is low, but I can see how some people might find such a policy useful.

The tax is not a sales tax on the cost of the cruise. It is a tax assessed by the port along with other fees that are calculated on a per person basis and ship tonnage basis. That is why they are the same for everyone. The amount is assigned to each person; so if you don’t go, you don’t owe the fees and taxes.

I’m pretty sure they are legally required to return port fees and taxes because those are collected on behalf of governmental agencies. They are not part of the funds the cruise line is entitled to keep per their cancellation and refund policy.

Refund posted to credit card today. About four weeks to FCC, another three to convert to refund. Complete at last.