SoloFullTime

Thanks, I follow you now.

Thanks for the feedback

13 hours ago, iamtrustworthy said:

Hi SoloFullTime,

 

Chase, nor any of the other credit card plans cover anything related to pre-existing medical conditions of you, traveling companions or non-traveling family members that could worsen and, in turn, cause you to cancel or interrupt your trip.

 

If you don't need the pre-existing medical conditions coverage, then using the GeoBlue Trekker plan is a good choice. We've sold a lot of GeoBlue Trekker plans in combination with credit card plans for this same situation.

 

I hope this helps you.

 

Steve Dasseos

Thanks for the feedback.  I did realize credit cards aren't for medical, I was asking if between GeoBlue and Sapphire combined it would cover the range of most travel incidents to medical.

On GeoBlue Trekker, I"m seeing many sources and their site showing pre-existing is covered.  Did I misunderstand your comment or are there many restrictions?

Thanks for the info (last two posts).  Will consider those depending on length of leg of trips and situation.  It seems between GeoBlue and Sapphire card I'll be reasonably covered for most situations and then will consider specialty coverage depending on any higher chances of near future unique situations.

I'm planning near full time global travels starting this summer for potentially a couple years.  Much cruising involved and staying in port towns for potentially a few weeks in between cruises around world then back in US every couple months or so for 2-3 weeks at a time, rinse repeat.  Will be maintaining primary medical insurance (early retired) in US. 

Will adding annual multitrip GeoBlue and using Chase Sapphire Preferred cover all travel/med insurance needs?  Anything else to consider?  Any additional travel insurance recommended?

Have noticed supplements are increasing and some lines like MSC are not allowing solo to be booked at times or allowing fewer solo.  Are there agencies that can get around this?  Any suggestions getting best deals for solo cruisers?  Was hoping to cruise near full time across many lines next year but might be cutting that to less than half what I was hoping for, maybe a quarter.  

On 12/19/2022 at 3:21 PM, cruiselvr04 said:

For us insurance is the biggest hurdle.  We have Geo Blue which limits us to 70 days.  We will have Medicare but a BCBS supplemental which does cover world wide but only if the place you’re taken to participates in BCBS. In a non emergency we can look that up but if it’s an emergency you won’t have that option. 
 

After discussion, we’ve decided for now to limit our travel to 70 days per trip outside the US.  Since we still have a home, a dog and grandkids this probably makes sense anyway. If we decide to do a world cruise we’ll have to figure it out.  I’ve talked with Steve and he says he’s been able to cover many of the Serenade world cruisers. 
 

Your plan sounds awesome.  If you’re not worried about cabins you can book what’s left 2 months out but if you want lowest prices and best selection you’d need to plan about 18 months in advance.  

Thanks for posting your experience with GeoBlue.  It's an option I'm considering as I do plan to be back in FL once in a while but ideally don't want to commit to 70 day returns.  Also considering Cigna Global coverage.

20 hours ago, stiej said:

The buffet had no flavor. 

I take a wide variety of hot sauce packets with me for boring eats, cruise ships allow them...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09H68BGCH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I've never been on MSC (wary of the poor reviews) but will be trying it for the first time late Jan as a test for later solo travel around world.  I at times will just need a transport ship with bed and doable healthy leaning food options, not really high expectations for a 'vacation' experience.  Expect MSC to be fine for that.  

On 12/14/2022 at 6:17 PM, Hlitner said:

What is interesting about Geoblue is that although they insist on folks have a primary policy, when GeoBlue pays a claim, they handle it as primary and do not coordinate with any other insurance.   But they still do require, on the claim form, that you list the specific policy.  Over the years we have filed two claims with Geoblue (both in the thousands of dollars) and they have paid both claims (in full) within a month.

 

Hank

Thanks for the info Hank. Good to hear experiences on claims.

^Thank you much.  Will call for details based on my travel scenario.

An approach I intend to take is to plan 2 month legs of travel at a time from say Ft Lauderdale to Southhampton, England.  Stay for up to a month in England (hotel or short term apts).  Travel to say Rome's port in any form, stay/cruise for up to a month.  While on this leg, planning the next 2 months, say fly Rome to FL, take care of local things, within days to weeks, cruise to any California port, stay until cruise available to Asia/Pacific.  Base out of a port in APAC for a month, fly back to FL. Rinse repeat around world until tired of it.

I'm hoping to stay abroad longer than 2 months at a time (not back in FL often) but depends on what med insurance plan I go with and any other requirements.

Any potential issues to think about with this 2 month pre-planning approach while on each leg?  Seems it should work out OK.

^Thank you for the helpful reply.  Great info.  Rome2rio looks like a great multimode planning tool.

Just now, Hlitner said:

In regard to the GeoBlue Trekker policy (we have had this for years) you need to keep in mind that it required you to have another "Primary Medical" policy as a condition of coverage.  The OP seemed to imply that he would not have any other medical insurance, so we never mentioned GeoBlue.  

 

Hank

Yes I do have an existing policy but open to another more comprehensive one or supplemental to existing.  Thanks for asking for clarification. 

Thank you much for the link!  This is an option I''ll consider in my research.

I do plan to maintain as a full time FL resident with FL stays no more than a couple months total per year, mostly abroad as long as I can or am up to.  And I may only do global travel for a year or two.

^Excellent info.  Looks like it insurance approach could be a good fit.  I may post some followup questions to you on this thread as I dig deeper.  For now just looking for various high level insurance options, which I have ongoing in another thread.

I like that on booking.com it's easy to rent full apts for short stays, planning to do that when I can with hotels as backup.  Seems easier to deal with than AirBNB?

Thanks much for the info!

Thanks for the reply.  Conversation with Steve already started in another thread.

HI Steve, thanks for replying...

Not ideally but I could be back to US every 70 days if need be. I don't intend to plan beyond 2 months out and don't plan to stay more than a week or 3 in US with each return.

Example:

- Plan 2 cruises for upcoming 2 or so months, say...

- FL to Southhamptom, stay in that port or UK area for up to a month

- Southhampton to say Rome's port, possibly cruising or staying up to a month in that region

- Somewhere within that leg I'm planning the next 2 months

- Rinse repeat elsewhere, perhaps train to other ports at times within continental Europe

- Can cruise or fly back to US every 70 days if need be but hopefully not a requirement

- If required, back to FL every 70 days.  Pre-plan 2 more cruises while in Rome, say...

- Fly Rome to FL

- Cruise FL to CA, stay in CA for a couple weeks

- Cruise CA to APAC, stay somewhere there for up to a month.

- Back to US if need be within 70 days otherwise plan 2 more cruises elsewhere from APAC.

Something along those lines.  Of course it will depend on destinations available within the 2 month planning period.

Thanks in advance!

Yes, planning to.  This is a good start for high level understanding and will deep dive before making any moves.  Thanks much for the help.

Thanks for the response.  Understood it's medical only and not travel policy.  Am not quite clear on the 70 days limit.  So if I return to US for a week (Florida base) and just stay in US for a week or even a day, can I then travel for another 70 days, rinse/repeat?

When quoting a GeoBlue multi-date I get this...

Covered Individuals: 1     Coverage Dates: 01/01/2023 - 12/31/2023 

Treker Choice: $220

• Covers international trips (up to 70 days durations per trip) in a 12 month period.
• Quotes based on the age of the oldest traveler
• To be eligible for Trekker Choice you must currently be enrolled in a Primary Health Plan

Questions...

- It says 70 day duration, so can I travel to 3 or 4 cruises from various ports outside US, just before 70 day mark return to Florida for a week, then back to 70 days of various cruises not based out of FL?  Or can the 'per trip' be  under 70 days of travel from a UK port, under 70 days of travel from Rome port, under 70 days from Auckland port, etc.

- Will it cover plane/train other ground travel between ports?  Basically all activity outside US borders?

- It says must be enrolled in "a" Primary Health Plan.  Must that be with BCBS or any US primary health plan?

TIA

One important thing to add is that I do plan to be back in FL about every 3-5 months but probably only 1-2 weeks then back to global travels.

edit:  And everything I'm finding is per trip.  I want multi-trip that's unknown for the term of policy.

Thanks for the info.  Will report back what I find.

I'm not sure if I really need global full coverage.  If on a trip I need major planned surgery or something somewhat minor like knee surgery, would come back to FL to get any of that done and stay.  But if it's a life saving situation or emergency room visit in another country or cruise, would want that coverage.  So apparently a US primary insurance with global emergency medical procedures if needed.  And if there's injury or new permanent condition, I'd come back to FL permanently and drop travel coverage.

I do have a general primary health insurance today in FL.  I could either get secondary on top of that or if a better deal, a comprehensive FL policy that includes travel coverage.

TIA

^Thank you much for the info. 

I'm 57, no medicare yet and considering annual global cruise travel with stays up to 1 month at various ports around country.  Will be Florida based but probably staying no longer than a month as well.  May not be in US more than 2 months a year.  Ideally would have one policy for both US health and global travel.  No pre-existing conditions other than on blood pressure med.  Fit and healthy.

More details about my travel plans in thread below.  May stay in various foreign ports up to 1 month at a time.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2899572-world-cruising-short-segments-full-time-on-various-lines-50-retired/#comment-64451483

I've posted this in 50+ forum but probably better place here.  Have been reading/searching this forum but am seeking input for my scenario or links to threads that could help...

I'm retired, upper 50s, Florida based and solo cruise once in a while out of Florida, considering full time around world on various lines.  I own property in Midwest but am established as a FL resident.  Am planning to *not* own/lease in FL and use a mail forwarding service with physical address to maintain FL residency (full time RV'rs do this and I used to be in that world too).  May buy small condo at a FL port if needing to.

The thought is to base out of various key ports in world and stay at port hotels between 7-30 day cruises on various lines... mainly base out of Ft. Lauderdale for E Coast, San Diego W Coast, Southampton and Rome ports for Euro/Med/Africa tours, Aukland NZ for Asia/Pacific tours. But stays in any port town globally likely as well between cruises. Will fly/train between ports as needed.  Ft. Lauderdale will be my home port.  Stays in some countries could be up to a month.

I may only do this for months or years, as long as I enjoy it.  Seems to be the best way travel world alone.

- What are some things I should plan for and think about? 

- Best way to address health insurance if not staying long in US over year?    No issues other than on blood pressure med.

- Can I get long term travel (w/perhaps full health) insurance across many cruises/countries?

- Experiences from others doing this in context to my scenario?

TIA