Travel Insurance- Who do you use?

[Ellie D]

My boyfriend and I have just booked our first cruise (yay! :D) to the South Pacific, leaving Sydney in December with Carnival.

 

We of course want to organise travel insurance, but with the amount of choice and price difference available, we were hoping for some insight from experienced cruisers- what travel insurance company do you use and how much approx. do you pay?

 

We were recommended CHI travel insurance at $125 pp, but not sure about what they're like and the cost.

 

Any recommendations/ suggestions would be appreciated! :)

[cassamanda]

We do shop around but lately have been using Travel Insurance Direct (TID). We get an annual worldwide policy that covers unlimited overseas medical expenses and unlimited emergency evacuation plus all the usuals.

 

Cost is around $450 and covers multiple trips.

 

Have also used Medibank and QBE in the past.

[tomatosauce]

One of the problems with annual travel insurance is that the year starts when you buy the policy. As cancellation costs are only reimbursed once it is bought it means that you generally need to buy it early and then lose most of the benefit.

 

For myself I have gone with Woolworths in the past but now I use insure and go (insureandgo) as they have special cruise insurance that will give you money if you are confined to cabin, miss a port, etc. that others don't.

[goodycruising]

You need to look at the policy inclusions. We have used Southern Cross (online) and Australia Post (got the daily flat rate in store cover) in the past, but haven't had to claim. We have also paid with our platinum credit card and it has pretty good inclusions of cover too.

 

The main thing I would say is first priority is medical insurance while you are on board the ship. That can be a very big expense. You are young, but anything can happen unexpectedly. Have a great time!

[GUT2407]

Congratulations on your first cruise, if you have health insurance check with them as ours gives us a very good deal.

[two_black_dogs]

We've always received a good rate from TID and it has been easy to organise online. We've just returned from five weeks USA holiday including a 15 night canal cruise. Have never had to use the travel insurance before, but this time we will be making a claim, because my husband caught what we thought was a cold but was actually diagnosed as influenza B ( a communicable/notifiable illness for which he was confined to cabin in isolation for a number of days). We incurred about $500 of onboard medical expenses including tests and medications for both of us, so hope that we will be able to claim that back. We also left our video camera somewhere but have no evidence that we have lost it, ( or even that we had it in the first place!) so I guess we won't have any luck with that one! I'll try to remember to report back about the claim.

[Ellie D]

Thanks everyone for your quick replies.

 

cassamanda- Thank you for your suggestion. As students, we probably don't travel enough to warrant an annual policy, but I just looked on the TID website and got a quote for $109, which seems very reasonable to me! Have you had to claim with TID?

 

tomatosauce- Thanks for your reply. I like the fact that InsureandGo cater to cruisers. I had a chance to look on the website and got a quote of approx. $122 for the Gold cover.

 

goodycruising- Thank you for the reminder about looking at what the policy includes and will make sure that medical insurance is a priority. That's right, we are young, but things can happen. Thanks for your well wishes. :)

 

GUT2407- Thank you, we are super excited! :) Will have to check with them.

 

two_black_dogs- Thanks for your suggestion with TID. Looking at the quote of $109 I just got off the website, it seems like a great rate. Sorry to hear about you and your husbands health troubles! :( That would be great if you could report back.

Edited May 3, 2015 by Ellie D

[cruisine21]

Some annual policies only cover a certain number of days. We we going to use TID annual but it only covers for no longer than 38 days. Our trip is 76. Some annual policies don't core for pre-existing conditions and some don't cover for over 60. So you really need to read the PDS.

[joybook]

We have used Covermore a few times but no more. They would not even think about covering me for USA now I have even minor pre-existing conditions. We now get our cover from InsureandGo. The problem of course is that with any company you don't know how good they are until you have to claim. :)

[possum52]

We used InsureandGo for our last cruise and made a claim for on board medical expences after our return. It was easy to complete the online medical form, print it off and post. My husband had an email reply within a couple of days to confirm they had received it and then an email two days later to say the claim was approved. The refund was in our bank a/c shortly after that.

 

Leigh

[Sparky74]

As we tend to cruise twice a year we found it more cost effective to take out an annual policy. At the moment we're using CoverMore.

 

As cruiseline21 pointed out these annual policies often have a limit on the length of a single trip. I've we have long service leave coupled with a conference so will be away for 9 weeks and had to pay extra for an extension on our policy.

 

Some people have had success just using the insurance that comes with your Credit Card but I've always been a bit dubious. Of course you never really know how good your policy/company is until you have to make a claim.

 

As my father always says, "Insurance is placing a bet and hoping you lose!" :rolleyes:

[MMDown Under]

We used InsureandGo for our last cruise and made a claim for on board medical expences after our return. It was easy to complete the online medical form, print it off and post. My husband had an email reply within a couple of days to confirm they had received it and then an email two days later to say the claim was approved. The refund was in our bank a/c shortly after that.

 

Leigh

 

That is good to hear. As you don't know how good an insurance company is until you have to put in a claim.

[dizzy1948]

We use 1Cover. Had 3 claims. All covered. One was for extra days in London due to flight change. 3 days hotel and meals. 1 for a medical situation on a cruise and 1 for an ipad that got dropped during the rough crossing at NZ. All claims paid up. Oh.............and we are over 60 - (The new 21 :p)

Suits us.

Edited May 3, 2015 by dizzy1948

[LuckiePuris]

I use Covermore, you can get a quote easily online. They have three excess options, two levels on cover to choose from (Options - more comprehensive, or Travelsure - more basic), and you also select the level of cancellation appropriate to your trip cost so that you're not paying for more cover than you need.

 

I had a large $7000 claim when I was unwell overseas last year and they were fantastic.

 

Importantly for cruising they also include medical helicopter evacuation from the ship in the event of an emergency. Whichever provider you go with, this is something I personally would want to make sure I'm covered for, as it can be a matter of life and death.

 

Not at all trying to push you to go with Covermore - just strongly recommendwhichever insurance company you pick, that it includes helicopter medi evacuation.

 

A fellow TA had a client that had insurance that didn't include helicopter medi evacuation. He had a heart attack onboard. As they were sailing to a main city to get further medical assistance, he died. With helicopter medi evacuation, he may have been able to access help on land quicker.

 

Just food for thought :)

Edited May 4, 2015 by LuckiePuris

[dizzy1948]

Thanks everyone for your quick replies.

 

cassamanda- Thank you for your suggestion. As students, we probably don't travel enough to warrant an annual policy, but I just looked on the TID website and got a quote for $109, which seems very reasonable to me! Have you had to claim with TID?

 

tomatosauce- Thanks for your reply. I like the fact that InsureandGo cater to cruisers. I had a chance to look on the website and got a quote of approx. $122 for the Gold cover.

 

goodycruising- Thank you for the reminder about looking at what the policy includes and will make sure that medical insurance is a priority. That's right, we are young, but things can happen. Thanks for your well wishes. :)

 

GUT2407- Thank you, we are super excited! :) Will have to check with them.

 

two_black_dogs- Thanks for your suggestion with TID. Looking at the quote of $109 I just got off the website, it seems like a great rate. Sorry to hear about you and your husbands health troubles! :( That would be great if you could report back.

 

Insurance.......................whatever you decide - don't leave home without it :eek:

[GUT2407]

Insurance.......................whatever you decide - don't leave home without it :eek:

 

Agree about 10000%

 

Unless your finances can stand a $100,000 hit get insurance.

[cassamanda]

We have never had to claim but still get insurance. Now approaching the magical 70 and find fewer insurers will give cover for over 70 or at extra cost, so will have to shop around again.

 

Good point to make sure you have emergency ship medical evacuation even if young. Unfortunately accidents do happen. You can ring the insurer to clarify.

[MMDown Under]

We have never had to claim but still get insurance. Now approaching the magical 70 and find fewer insurers will give cover for over 70 or at extra cost, so will have to shop around again.

 

Good point to make sure you have emergency ship medical evacuation even if young. Unfortunately accidents do happen. You can ring the insurer to clarify.

 

Good idea to buy an annual policy just before your 70th birthday, if you are a frequent traveller.

[awesome girl]

We have never had to claim but still get insurance. Now approaching the magical 70 and find fewer insurers will give cover for over 70 or at extra cost, so will have to shop around again.

 

Good point to make sure you have emergency ship medical evacuation even if young. Unfortunately accidents do happen. You can ring the insurer to clarify.

 

We recently got a very good quote from COTA, DH is 75 and it was

getting harder to get travel insurance and the bonus is you speak to

someone in Australia.:D:D

[woodyren]

Like almost everything I try to purchase our cruise with our CCard. Never ever paid a cent in interest as we have an automatic deduction from our account before the 55 days interest free period expires.

 

Apart from the points which help form part of our travel cost by redeeming them at Flight Centre with a price match on the cheapest air it gives us free travel insurance provided each of us spends >$1000 on the card on any part of our travel.

 

Generally only don't use it if there is a surcharge but will pay the surcharge only for travel because a 3% surcharge (and only use it for the first $1000 in this case) still gets us our travel insurance for $30. Ours covers us for a trip of up to 6 months.

 

Also get an extended warranty on purchases.

Edited May 4, 2015 by woodyren

[Fozwald]

Australia Post Cruise Insurance seems very good. We used it on our previous cruise .... but cant vouch on claims though.

[kbfromaus]

We also use travel insurance direct ( TID ). Last year our faith in TID paid off when we were in Hawaii and my nephew became very sick and had to be hospitalised at the Queen Kapiolani Woman and Childrens Hospital, with croup. (The whole family group had travel insurance with TID) He was in for several days - the care was exemplary, including specialist respiratory paediatrician and respiratory therapist, and the only cost was the $100 insurance excess. As we were cruising back to Sydney the paediatrician provided a letter for the onboard doctor if needed and also extra medication in case my nephew needed it and the ship didn't have it. TID were extremely easy to deal with and consequently we are all are happy to stay with them :D

[dizzy1948]

We also use travel insurance direct ( TID ). Last year our faith in TID paid off when we were in Hawaii and my nephew became very sick and had to be hospitalised at the Queen Kapiolani Woman and Childrens Hospital, with croup. (The whole family group had travel insurance with TID) He was in for several days - the care was exemplary, including specialist respiratory paediatrician and respiratory therapist, and the only cost was the $100 insurance excess. As we were cruising back to Sydney the paediatrician provided a letter for the onboard doctor if needed and also extra medication in case my nephew needed it and the ship didn't have it. TID were extremely easy to deal with and consequently we are all are happy to stay with them :D

 

Wow....fabulous. Hope everyone is well - good recommendation

[Tara Jane]

Suggest you stay away from southern cross. I had to make a cancellation claim after a diagnosis of breast cancer meant i had to cancel a european trip. Took a long time to settle and I only had it sorted when my GP went in to fight for me. Southern cross tried to say it was pre existing condition even though I had always had my regular mammograms on time and they were all clear.

[clm1982]

We use Defence health which is who our private health is with. We get the cruise pack also. Isnt too badly priced and anyone can get it not just defence.