Smitheroo

OK- just read the link. At first my rebooked cruise seemed okay because I did get all the money back (in the form of Cruise Next certificates, the only payment that was given). The problem is that it is the same exact cruise- same date. *Except* I am okay with going with the original payment date for insurance purposes. It is still within the "sensitive time period" so it looks like my rebooked cruise will qualify for insurance. What kind I get will depend on what the Insurance Store says. As I said in other posts, medical is always necessary and for me, that includes pre-existing conditions must be covered in some way. (either by purchasing within the time sensitive period or the insurance covers pre-existing conditions anyway, like GeoBlue Voyager Choice)

Thank you, I will give the Store a call My email inquiry has not been answered but I know that sometimes happens with that type of contact, it disappears into cyberspace. I havent read your link to rebooking a cruise yet (but will) I will say that I agree with their reason for not allowing it but there should be some way around it, such as I suggested- using the date from the first booking *assuming everything about the cruise is the same*. in my case the only difference was how I was paying it (Cruise First instead of Cruise Next) and I cant remember why I wanted to do this. I do remember my reason made sense, just cant remember waht it was. I will check into the link. Thanks

I wish everyone the best making a choice that works for them

But the insurance is being purchased exclusively for the planned travel, no other reason. I dont see how stating that someone can travel on July 15th (an example) has any bearing on a cruise the following May 15th, the cruise that the policy is being bought for. Doesnt make an ounce of sense

I am done with Trip Insurance Not jumping through the hoops. This "able to travel" was the final "straw". As a single traveler who makes modest choices (inside cabin etc), not flying to the other side of the world to meet my cruise ship, my risk is not high. I have two cruises coming up in January and April and for these I will have GeoBlue Voyager Choice for rmedical expenses. (medical is necessary) I will also put $200 for each cruise in an account to "self insure" for the future. After these two cruises are done I plan to re-assess the situation. I have learned from this forum that the proper order is 1) get the letter from your doctor if you want a pre-existing condition waiver then 2) book the cruise and 3) buy insurance, the last two within the time sensitive period for a pre-existing condition waiver. If I were a family, going on expensive cruises with expensive flights and hotels it would be a much different scenario. That isnt my travel style. I'm not ruling out the complete package (trip cancellation plus medical) for future trips but for the next two I am just going with medical coverage.

I was booked for a cruise on NCL using CruiseNext certificates. After a few days I decided I wanted to use one of my CruiseFIRST certificates. (I forget the exact reason) The only way I could remove one type of certificate and apply the other was to cancel the first booking and make a new booking at which time I would use the CruiseFirst certificates. NCL took care of my request. Seems simple, right? NOPE While doing the extensive research I always do when I dont even know what questions to ask- I find an insurance company (and I cant remember which one)where one of the requirements for the Pre-Existing Condition Waiver is that it has to be your first booking for the cruise. I get it- people would cancel and rebook cruises to extend the "time sensitive period". So, why not ask if its the first booking and if not, allow the person to use the first day of payment of the first cruise (the one I cancelled) If that is not within the allowed time sensitive period then no insurance would be allowed to be purchased for that cruise. So now I am left wondering if this cruise that I did this maneuvering of certificates on can never have travel insurance purchased for it. I know the answer is "ask your broker" and i plan to, just wanted to point out what i found out by researching. Something you would have to have dug hard to find on your own.

I know that google translate isnt always correct with their translation. I used it to communicate with people in Mexico . One of the topics we were discussing was a man named "Jesus". Common name in Mexico. Every.Single.Time I referred to this man named Jesus ,Google translated it as "Jesus on the Cross" I am not kidding. As in "I think I will have to meet Jesus at the train station at 3 pm" was translated as Jesus on the Cross at the train station. And someone is expected to use this for serious medical conversations? Another time I was discussing a woman named "Blanca" Another common name in Mexico. Google translate insisted on translating her name as "White". I guess google translate has a problem with proper nouns

Yes, I have read the explanation. What I'm left wondering is just how being fit to travel on one day has any bearing on a cruise booked in 2 years?

Steve, the reason that came up was because I had found the article that I attached on "fit to travel" and it doesnt seem accurate at all. I thought maybe it was a similar situation where it was old information that must hadnt been updated. Did you see what I attached to Geezer's ? seems completely wrong about the purpose of the pre-existing condition waiver ?

that's my thinking as well. Except I get hung up on Pre-existing conditions coverage

this is complicated and I'm sure the others here can offer much better advice. I just wanted to say that I was also diagnosed in a similar way with a "lung nodule" by having a test for a completely different reason. Although it is not malignant (actually turned out to be one of many nodules that showed when a more appropriate test was done) it turned into one of my pre-existing conditions that I suppose could act up at any point in time. Right now they say treatment is not necessary. Good luck with your situation!

I agree with other comments that it depends on the policy, there are not general rules. But... since I am also one who likes to know how the moving parts work- I'll give it a go. From my research I have learned that what we would think a pre-existing condition might be is different where travel insurance is concerned. Insurers have what is called a "look back period" which differs by insurer but some are 60 days. You can have a medical condition- your example of hypertension is a good one- that might be completely stable for years, no changes in meds, no changes during the look back period. Travel insurance would not consider that as a "pre-existing condition". And it would be really hard, I would think (keeping in mind I'm not a doctor or a travel insurance agent) to say definitely that a heart attack was caused by your chronic hypertension, especially if it has been stable for a long time. I have read this in the various sources I have found. Maybe if you had changes in meds recently, or your doctor told you that you need to reduce salt or otherwise change your diet (this would be a change of advice) and then you have a heart attack....it gets murky. People have heart attacks who dont have hypertension or even high cholesterol. I have learned that its a good idea to consult someone who knows insurance, like you might consult a financial advisor or a travel agent. In order to ask questions though you need to have questions to ask and I get that by researching and reading the forum.

I like to know the moving parts too- I like that

Did you call Allianz and ask them? Because that doesnt sound right. Wait a minute- I considered multi trip (annual) policy. Is a pre-existing condition an exclusion? I seem to recall there was something different about annual policies but I didnt stick with it too long because I am over 70 yrs old and if you are that old 100,000 medical expense coverage is the upper limit and I want more than that. The TripInsuranceStore.com has quite a bit of info on their website. You could also check that out. I cant remember if they deal with Allianz but if they dont, they will tell you. And that would be good to know. Maybe someone who has had a multi trip/annual policy with them will respond but there isnt too much activity on here. I would just check the TripInsuranceStore. and go form there.

One has to start somewhere and I decided to google "what does it mean to be fit to travel for trip insurance" and that snippet is what came up (part of a much longer article) Even before consulting the TripInsuranceStore you need to know what questions to ask. I am guessing this is old information that has never been revised. Just like Steve has the 10 day "look see" period for GeoBlue which isnt the case now. The TripInsuranceStore hasnt had the information revised yet (Steve told me that). I know what I have decided. 1) I will follow through with this insurance stuff with The Trip Insurance Store for my upcoming cruise 2) I will use up my certificates and go to back to my road trips in the US because this is starting to be not too much fun and 3) give up on these forums. Everyone has to start somewhere and there will be questions. By definition , forum means discussion.Maybe a better title would be Insurance Question and Answer. I dont know, I'm just frustrated.

No, it doesnt matter for the type of policy you get because you always get a pre-existing condition waiver. I understand that. I just dont hear a lot of discussion like this on the forums. I do hear some.

But the snippet I attached is talking about obtaining a pre-existing condition waiver. Your doctor needs to agree you are fit to travel *and* that there have been no changes during the look back period. I was under the impression that the waiver eliminates considering the look back period as long as your doctor agrees you are fit to travel on the say you purchase the policy. Maybe this is old information as is often the case on the Internet. I dont know why this is printed in bold but I like it.

GC, who are you responding to? It looks like the other person but some of your response looks like it fits my concerns. I am going to call the Store tomorrow because they have not responded to my email inquiry. And being that it is Friday and my "sensitive period" is almost over its too late to consult my doctor, after i figure out which one. I can see that this would not nearly be the probem it is for me if the letter from the doctor is obtained first and *then* one starts looking at cruises.

I now get it that *this* is something that needs to be done *before* you start booking cruises. I think I'm going to use up my cruise certificates and then quit cruising and go back to my road expeditions in the US. This is killing the fun. I have 3 doctors involved in 1 pre-existing condition. Just deciding on one of them is giving me anxiety. Yet many many people have pre-existing conditions, especially when they are older, and I dont hear a lot of talk about this, not even on forums. some yes

I just found this on the internet, put out by insurance people. Either I'm completely confused or this information is wrong. I thought that a pre-existing condition waiver *eliminated * the look back period (6 months or more depending on the insurer) I will attach it and you can read it , please tell me what you think it means.

Added: I just re-read GeoBlue's Voyager CHoice plan. It make no mention of pre-existing conditions other than they are covered like any other situation and I think this is because GeoBlue Voyager Choice is a *secondary* payer. I think. I will be making a couple of calls tomorrow. I made an inquiry to the TripInsuranceStore on their website 2 days ago and no response yet. You know, all of this is taking the fun out of cruising for me.

The way you put it sounds clear. Okay, I'll take my chances this time as its getting too close to the deadline for the "sensitive time" period. I'd go with a policy with trip cancelllation and medical expenses and not worry and it would still cover everything unless the pre-existing condition were involved *except* that when medical is included in the policy, then you'd better follow all the rules for pre-existing conditions if you expect coverage of medical expenses. Sure, you're medical expense might not have anything to do with your pre-existing condition but I wouldnt want to have to depend on that. I was under the impression that GeoBlue didnt require this "fit to travel" but I could be wrong. I will definitely look into that.

That's helpful information. Picture this scenario: You have several pre-existing conditions going on at all times. Often have advice, change of treatments, change in meds so chances are good it could happen in the look back period, or maybe not. I think I'm able to travel now. (when I am considering buying the insurance) I cant see calling up my doctor and asking him. In the situation you describe I can. I'm probably over thinking it. I think I'm just going to take the chance I wont have a big change (none of this ever keeps me from working, or traveling in the past before I ever thought of travel insurance) but the potential is there. or there wont be a blizzard or NCL wont cancel the cruise. I do have medical, I know that's very important but all this jumping through hoops is tiring. If this was July I'd be worrying a lot less. I also dont have expensive flights or hotels. So I would lose about $1200

I have read the TripInsuranceStore.com website , lots of good information there. However.... reading about pre-existing conditions and the various ifs, ands, or buts- it is ridiculous.(that's the way it is, I dont mean the TripinsuranceStore is ridiculous) The part about you having to be "medically able to travel" on the day you purchase travel insurance. What exactly does that mean? Not in ICU? Not in surgery today? The info says your doctor must agree (in retrospect as there is no official form) that you are medically stable to travel on the day you purchase the insurance (when you are being treated for a condition that will be considered "pre-existing".) So, are you supposed to get his approval? And what if he says "sure". Is he going to remember that when the insurance company comes inquiring if I was medically stable.? And the insurance company always believes the doctor. Even when he's wrong? (he cant remember saying sure) I can sort of understand this if you have a date for surgery before the cruise but just seeing a doctor for ongoing treatment for a condition that will be labeled pre-existing by the insurance company? No activity restrictions have been given. I'm supposed to ask him if he approves a cruise for me in 6 weeks? I dont see how he could answer that accurately, I've heard people say they dont bother with trip cancellation insurance and self insure. or Medical is the really important part and they'll just eat the loss of the trip. Well, that really depends on your individual situation but for a single traveler on a cheap cruise, (under $1000) I think I'm just going to take a chance and go with GeoBlue for medical. The only real fear I have is travel in January (my cruise) can by iffy with the weather. Otherwise, I think I'll take my chances Maybe I'll take out insurance with the airline for that part. Unless someone can give me a good explanation of what all of this pre-existing condition stuff really means. I have sent in a inquiry by email to the TripInsuranceStore but havent received a response yet. Yes, this is exasperating. I am fully aware of the health care field so am able to recognize the "medically stable" question as having a "maybe" as the answer

I dont know what happened here. Looks like one response piggybacked onto another post. UGH