Insurance claim stories

[RNmominLA]

I would love to hear some "been there, done that" stories of actual trips where having travel insurance saved the day.

 

Convince me that I have wisely invested, lol!

[klfrodo]

One trip, lost the wedding band. Followed the rules, filed the claim, received the check.

 

Another trip was an AI land vacation in Jamaica. Hurricane shut down Miami. (Our flights connected with another airline only in Miami). We were delayed a couple of days. Unexpected extra expenses. Filed the claim, received a check.

[Bill S]

The first time we took out travel insurance, I had to visit the dispensary twice. I had blood & urine tests done and was given a 10-day supply of a broad-spectrum antibiotic. The bill was about $500. I filed the claim with our insurer and received a check for the full amount in about two weeks. We haven't cruised without travel insurance since.

Second story: we booked an Alaska cruise with another couple. We all purchased travel insurance. Three days before embarkation day, the husband of the other couple was in a motorcycle accident and sustained a broken ankle and leg requiring surgery. They were reimbursed in full for their cruise fare by the insurer.

We are believers, even though we are betting the insurance company that something bad will happen. Luckily, most of the time, we lose the bet! :) Hope this helps!

[Keith1010]

I would love to hear some "been there, done that" stories of actual trips where having travel insurance saved the day.

 

Convince me that I have wisely invested, lol!

 

Travel Insurance is important but equally important is the company you selected. So, when you ask to be convinced that you have invested wisely you need to know that the company you selected and the policy you chose is key.

 

Like most everything in life, all Travel Insurance Companies are not created equally.

[BigDRedhead]

We filed a claim because we had to cancel a 7/23/10 cruise (VERY expensive)

on 6/21/10. Access America has given us every excuse in the world, two doctors have sent in forms along with hospital records, they ask for information

and provide the wrong fax number (yes, printed on THEIR stationery) so they

then claim they have not received it, etc. etc. etc. I have spoken to at least 7

different claim adjusters and they have all said they would call me back--has

not happened. Today spoke to claims supervisor who said they had used old

forms and that fax number no longer works but "people make mistakes" and

she MAY call me back next week IF the doctor sends the forms back to the

right number (not the doctor's office's error--THEIR error). We paid $700 for

the insurance and who knows if or when we will receive any of our $6,000 back.

BigDRedhead (turning grey)

[cruiseco]

We filed a claim because we had to cancel a 7/23/10 cruise (VERY expensive)

on 6/21/10. Access America has given us every excuse in the world, two doctors have sent in forms along with hospital records, they ask for information

and provide the wrong fax number (yes, printed on THEIR stationery) so they

then claim they have not received it, etc. etc. etc. I have spoken to at least 7

different claim adjusters and they have all said they would call me back--has

not happened. Today spoke to claims supervisor who said they had used old

forms and that fax number no longer works but "people make mistakes" and

she MAY call me back next week IF the doctor sends the forms back to the

right number (not the doctor's office's error--THEIR error). We paid $700 for

the insurance and who knows if or when we will receive any of our $6,000 back.

BigDRedhead (turning grey)

 

This is why I always recommend that any info a third-party like a doctor needs to submit not be sent directly to the insurer -- it should be sent to you so you can keep a copy for your records and then you can forward it to the insurer.

 

This wrong fax number mess is just stupid enough that I believe Access America -- no one could make that up. But if you have copies of everything you wouldn't have to wait for the doctor to re-submit it.

[bug_dan]

Wife fell on a cruise in January and fractured her hip. Taken off the ship in St Thomas, operated on subsequently went home 6 days later. Cruise Insurance through Celebrity made all travel arrangements. I had to pay my hotel and air fare while insurance paid all my wife's travel cost, including a nurse escort. My HMO covered part of surgeon's and hospital's bill but none of ship board charges. Finally got paper work together and sent in at beginning of April. Have heard absolutely nothing from Insurance, neither paying nor rejecting claim, almost 4 months after filing:( Definitely would not recommend Celebrity's cruise insurance:(

[marysmith33]

klfrodo, Who did you use for insurance? Thanks

[judycruiser]

I was booked on a back to back cruise. Husband was hospitalized just days before the cruise. I had to cancel.

 

I mailed claim to insurance company on a Monday; received check from them the next Monday. Wow, great service.

 

I get travel insurance for every cruise. Have never had trouble collecting in a timely manner.

 

I buy insurance at the time I book through my travel agent.

 

Judy

booked on cruise number 96 in October

[6rugrats]

Wife fell on a cruise in January and fractured her hip. Taken off the ship in St Thomas, operated on subsequently went home 6 days later. Cruise Insurance through Celebrity made all travel arrangements. I had to pay my hotel and air fare while insurance paid all my wife's travel cost, including a nurse escort. My HMO covered part of surgeon's and hospital's bill but none of ship board charges. Finally got paper work together and sent in at beginning of April. Have heard absolutely nothing from Insurance, neither paying nor rejecting claim, almost 4 months after filing:( Definitely would not recommend Celebrity's cruise insurance:(

 

I would not recommend purchasing insurance through any cruiseline in most cases. I had to file a claim for my MIL who purchased insurance through Princess. I knew how to file correctly; I do this for a living. This case was not settled until she had passed away.

 

You need to call this insurance company, and ask for a supervisor to find out the status of your claim. If you provided them with the Explanation of Benefits from your primary coverage that showed what was paid and what was denied, along with any other requested documentation, I am sure there is wording somewhere in your policy about how long they have to process your claim.

 

Three months is too long. If you can't get an answer when your claim will be paid, you should file a complaint with your state's department of insurance. Be sure to document everything. Good luck.

[klfrodo]

klfrodo, Who did you use for insurance? Thanks

 

TravelGard

[KCcruisin07]

I was booked on a back to back cruise. Husband was hospitalized just days before the cruise. I had to cancel.

 

I mailed claim to insurance company on a Monday; received check from them the next Monday. Wow, great service.

 

I get travel insurance for every cruise. Have never had trouble collecting in a timely manner.

 

I buy insurance at the time I book through my travel agent.

 

Judy

booked on cruise number 96 in October

 

Could you please say which company deserves credit for this success story?

 

I usually book with CSA with the upgrade for pre-existing conditions. Has anyone filed a claim with them; how did it go?

[judycruiser]

Could you please say which company deserves credit for this success story?

 

I usually book with CSA with the upgrade for pre-existing conditions. Has anyone filed a claim with them; how did it go?

 

My travel insurance was through RBC Travel Protection. I buy at at the time of booking from my travel agent.

 

Judy

[saturn5]

3 years ago we had booked a Hawaii cruise about 7 months out. About 3 weeks before the cruise, I had to have surgery and the cruise had to be canceled. We had booked though Costco travel and had their insurance. We got everything back, less the insurance cost. We had a package of cruise, air, pre-night, shuttle, and a couple of excursions. $$$$ David

[bug_dan]

Wife fell on a cruise in January and fractured her hip. Taken off the ship in St Thomas, operated on subsequently went home 6 days later. Cruise Insurance through Celebrity made all travel arrangements. I had to pay my hotel and air fare while insurance paid all my wife's travel cost, including a nurse escort. My HMO covered part of surgeon's and hospital's bill but none of ship board charges. Finally got paper work together and sent in at beginning of April. Have heard absolutely nothing from Insurance, neither paying nor rejecting claim, almost 4 months after filing:( Definitely would not recommend Celebrity's cruise insurance:(

 

 

Just to update, we finally received payment for the Medical portion, but really, 4 months was too long, it actually only took 1 week after calling them:) Have not heard anything yet on the travel/hotel expenses I incurred nor am I sure if there is/will be any reimbursement for the 8 days of the cruise we missed:(

[RJake1]

one day into our Venice vacation - B2B cruises - mother in law had a stroke. we had to rush back to usa via rome at significant expense. lost cruises, land tours, etc. Claim is pending.

 

I don't expect to get every penny back but I'll tell you what, I feel a whole lot better knowing I can expect some of it to be covered.

[bug_dan]

Just to update, we finally received payment for the Medical portion, but really, 4 months was too long, it actually only took 1 week after calling them:) Have not heard anything yet on the travel/hotel expenses I incurred nor am I sure if there is/will be any reimbursement for the 8 days of the cruise we missed:(

 

Well more to update. Received payments today for the cruise portion that was interrupted.

They took they total cost of the cruise less prepaid gratuities(may be enough reason for some not to prepay gratuities) and cost of insurance, divided that by the cruise length(12) days and multiplied that by the number of days missed. In my wife's case that was 11 nights, for me it was 8 nights, but I received $100 per night for expenses for the 3 days my wife was hospitalized on the ship. No I don't understand that either. Also received a check for my airfare, but so far nothing for the 3 day hotel stay while my wife was in the hospital in St Thomas for 6 nights, I stayed in the hospital the other 3 nights.

[JG1055]

I just returned from a Canada/New England cruise on Princess. My luggage never made it to the boat.. I had insurance so I was able to purchase $500 clothes which I did at second stop in Boston.. Cruise ship was in contact with Brooklyn pier and they claimed they searched for the luggage a couple of times.. well I don't think they searched good enough because when the ship returned to brooklyn I immediately went to personnel who were kind enough to look some more and it was there the whole time.. underneath an xray machine on the gangway.. The whole incident put a damper on my trip.. Now I will have to submit the claim for the $500 and I will see how fast they are.. The insurance specifically states if luggage lost for over 24 hours they will allow $500 for clothes.

[jorapp]

Both my Carnival cruises were Christmas presents from DH. "Take a girlfriend and go have fun"! He booked them through our car club travel agent and bought insurance. He also made the flights the day before and an hotel reservation.

 

On the first trip, we were moved from one plane to another (mechanical problems I think), and my luggage did not transfer. My friend's came just fine, but not mine. Florida airport baggage claim said it would arrive on later flight and they would call my mobile phone. No such luck. Called airline, airport, TA and DH so everyone would know the status. My bag never did show up.

 

Needless to say the morning of the cruise was chaotic because I needed to buy new everything. Luckily we were in Miami and I had a credit card. LOL. So after a mad dash to every plus size store within 10 miles, one department store with a + department and a drug store, I managed to assemble the makings of a resonable wardrobe and a duffle bag to carry it.

 

Even though I asked, neither the travel insurance nor my homeowners insurance would "advance" any cash for shopping in Miami. Had to wait until I got home to file claims, so I had to use my own resources to buy the replacements. Not a huge problem for me, but might be a concern for others. Both insurances did pay after the fact.

 

So, to answer your question, the travel insurance did not really "save the day", but did keep their promise in the end.

 

DH and I still have a difference of opinion regarding travel insurance. He says we should always have it, I say never. So...when we travel together or he is "treating", we get it and when I travel alone and make the purchase, I don't. He feels it is money well spent for peace of mind "just in case. My view is that if we had all the money we had ever paid for all the insurances we have had (but never used) during our entire life, we would be much closer to our retirement $ goal. LOL!!

[Pineapple Princess]

Had cruises booked for Jan, Feb, and March. All past final payment.

Husband diagnoised with cancer in December. Two cruises insured with Travelex. Claims paid within 2 weeks of submitting forms. The one insured with Access America took about a month to be paid. We Never cruise without purchasing insurance.

Linda

[GACRUISERS2]

Company name & type of coverage you took out pls-we are booked on Allure of sea in Dec. need coverage

[greenumbrella]

We had Travelex insurance for a transAtlantic cruise to Venice, April 2010, then fly to Dublin, then one week bus tour of Ireland. The volcano erupted while we were on the cruise, then died down, then erupted again for 2 days just as we needed to fly to Dublin. Since we couldn't get there, we flew home. The tour company refunded 50% of our prepaid bus tour, Travelex paid the rest. Made me a believer in insurance!

[eurolady]

Okay....like so many others that have wondered "what if".....I now have first hand experience.....I had to have a non-elective surgery and had to cancel a cruise 6 days before leaving.....I wanted to get the insurance process started prior to surgery since I was facing an eight week recovery period and knew I would have difficulty when I returned home. I called Travelex who uses Nationwide Claims Administration and the person on the phone helped me with getting the proper forms and initiating the claim.....I filled out all the paperwork and submitted as much detail as I could lay my hands on......It took approx. 3 weeks and I received a check for full reimbursement.....I couldn't be more pleased and can say that I am now a firm believer in insurance and using Travelex.....you just never know what life will bring.

[GRAMMYTAN]

The one and only time we didn't get the insurance was the time we needed it most. We booked only 5 days prior to cruising and thought we could not get it, found out later that we could have/should have.

Sailed out of NOLA Saturday before Katrina hit. Email on ship Saturday: Father in law was dying. Lucked out getting TA via email on Sunday only because office was readying for Katrina. She booked a flight from Cozumel (first stop to Houston). All she could do with Hurricane bearing down. Call Monday to ship, FIL passed away. Off the ship Tuesday in Cozumel, flew to Houston, spent hours in airport trying to book flight with 7 days of luggage dragging behind us. Finally found flight to Atlanta. Rented a car to drive home. Arrived home early Thursday morning. Lost car parked in NOLA due to storm. No insurance: Cost us $3000 plus to get home and did not have a car for 3 weeks until car insurance would settle.

This girl will never travel without insurance again.

[amindu]

Hi

 

To those that have filed claims, when your luggage is lost of delayed and other claims what kind of proof does the insurance company require, like how do they verify that it was indeed lost, does the plane carrier give you a case number or something to give to the insurance company, same could be said with flight delay etc...Please advise

 

Thanks