Travel Insurance

[billslowsky]

46 minutes ago, LeeW said:

Don't think they actually sell insurance.  

LOL  of course they do

[Moonarino]

22 hours ago, hal2008 said:

 

Both Squaremouth and Insuremyteip are just online brokers similar to Priceline and Expedia 

 

Underlying insurance policy will be almost exactly same price.

 

Yep, as I always shop for a specific policy by running the same criteria for quotes from either those two sites or insuremytrip. Just once I found a notable variation in pricing for a specific insurer's specific policy coverage level, but a few days later that policy was priced exactly the same on both sites.

 

I haven't noticed any real differences in actually buying a policy from one broker versus the other (I've bought policies through at least two of the three mentioned in this post, if not all three). Then of course in a few hours I get an email directly from the insurer, after of course getting confirmation email from the broker.

 

That said, I would always advise calling Steve if one is unsure, just because of all the good stuff I've read about him here on the various CC boards.

 

I buy trip insurance for increasingly more reasons the older I get. At first it was just for cancellation coverage, but now I look at a lot more of what a policy covers, as well as the dollar limits.

 

 

[Moonarino]

1 hour ago, LeeW said:

Don't think they actually sell insurance.  They help you decide what you need.  I found it a bit hard to look for annual plans on the site but it let me look at options eventually.  Probably easier just to call.

You can definitely buy policies through these brokers. That's what brokers do.

[Babr]

On 8/18/2022 at 1:31 PM, billslowsky said:

 

It's good to hear from someone who knows what my coverage is.  I guess that information on page 14 of my certificate of coverage about Medical Evacuation is just some sort of prank.  Or the earlier pages with information on trip interruption.

 

Thanks for letting us know that you have knowledge of what other people's coverage is.

 

Unless your employer provides additional coverage, GeoBlu is not a comprehensive travel policy. Medical evacuation is part of the medical coverage in any policy. GeoBlu is considered a medical policy because that is its primary function. Travel benefits are quite limited, and there is no cancellation coverage at all.

 

In policies for sale to the general public, GeoBlu trip interruption is limited to $1,000 whereas a comprehensive policy would reimburse all prepaid unused nonrefundable expenses plus the cost to return home. Trip delay in GeoBlu is limited to quarantine  at $500 or less depending on which policy you have, but a comprehensive policy can pay as much as $250 per person per day up to $2,500 per person for delay caused by any covered reason.

 

You are correct that people need to understand what coverage they have before buying a travel policy. Some people are well-served by policies that provide a high level of additional medical coverage. Others also want protection for travel-related risks.

[billslowsky]

1 hour ago, Babr said:

 

Unless your employer provides additional coverage, GeoBlu is not a comprehensive travel policy. Medical evacuation is part of the medical coverage in any policy. GeoBlu is considered a medical policy because that is its primary function. Travel benefits are quite limited, and there is no cancellation coverage at all.

 

In policies for sale to the general public, GeoBlu trip interruption is limited to $1,000 whereas a comprehensive policy would reimburse all prepaid unused nonrefundable expenses plus the cost to return home. Trip delay in GeoBlu is limited to quarantine  at $500 or less depending on which policy you have, but a comprehensive policy can pay as much as $250 per person per day up to $2,500 per person for delay caused by any covered reason.

 

You are correct that people need to understand what coverage they have before buying a travel policy. Some people are well-served by policies that provide a high level of additional medical coverage. Others also want protection for travel-related risks.

In employer based coverage - large group in particular - employers (including mine) can get custom plan designs which are more comprehensive.

 

But I agree, if you don't know what coverage you already have - including through credit cards - no broker or website can correctly assess your needs and the likelihood of over insurance is significant.

 

It's also why people have conflicts with their primary insurance companies - they didn't know what their actual coverage was, didn't know which providers were in and out of network, maybe just went to a specialist or lab their doctor recommended, "let's try this new drug", etc.  Doctors don't know your coverage, online brokers don't know your coverage.  You have to know more than they do.

[Babr]

53 minutes ago, billslowsky said:

In employer based coverage - large group in particular - employers (including mine) can get custom plan designs which are more comprehensive.

 

But I agree, if you don't know what coverage you already have - including through credit cards - no broker or website can correctly assess your needs and the likelihood of over insurance is significant.

 

It's also why people have conflicts with their primary insurance companies - they didn't know what their actual coverage was, didn't know which providers were in and out of network, maybe just went to a specialist or lab their doctor recommended, "let's try this new drug", etc.  Doctors don't know your coverage, online brokers don't know your coverage.  You have to know more than they do.

 

Nor is credit card insurance comprehensive. I’ve described the gaps in coverage a hundred times - here and in other threads - so I won’t bore you with the details. Anyone who is interested can find the limitations in the Guide to Benefits. Likewise, anyone who is willing to rely on something less than a comprehensive policy, also needs to be willing to self-insure those elements that are not included. 
 

Once again, the key is to know what is covered and to be comfortable with that.

Edited August 20, 2022 by Babr

[imola]

On 8/19/2022 at 1:03 PM, LeeW said:

Don't think they actually sell insurance.  They help you decide what you need.  I found it a bit hard to look for annual plans on the site but it let me look at options eventually.  Probably easier just to call.

I found Steve very helpful.  He walked me through my needs and made great suggestions.  We agreed on the best option for us.  He wrote everything up, took payment and sent my policy as an email attachment.  Apparently companies don't send out books like they used to.  Anyway very happy with the service and product I hope I don't have to use.  lol

[vermonter16]

I didn't get travel insurance for coverage of our Alaskan trip because we were going to be primarily in the U.S. and most of this money for the cruise was just carry over from 2020, etc.  Now, I regret not getting anything because we are 4 days in Vancouver, BC and if we test positive we will have to quarantine for 10 days.  Any insurance for this scenario?  

[Babr]

1 hour ago, vermonter16 said:

I didn't get travel insurance for coverage of our Alaskan trip because we were going to be primarily in the U.S. and most of this money for the cruise was just carry over from 2020, etc.  Now, I regret not getting anything because we are 4 days in Vancouver, BC and if we test positive we will have to quarantine for 10 days.  Any insurance for this scenario?  

The Travel Delay provision of just about any comprehensive policy will reimburse hotel and meal costs for a covered reason.  Illness and orders not to travel qualify for benefits up to the policy limits so look for one with generous daily and maximum allowances. For a ten day quarantine, you may not find a policy that will cover all of it, but you can find policies that allow $250 or more per person per day capped at a 10 day equivalent.

 

Be sure that return transportation is in the separate Trip Interruption provision, not part of Trip Delay as it is in Trawick International plans. They lump it all together which makes the benefit look attractive until you realize that all costs including transportation come from the same allowance. The typical Trip Interruption covers unused prepaid nonrefundable expenses plus transportation home whereas Trip Delay covers hotel, etc.

 

Check the cruise line’s policy for reimbursement of COVID related cancellations or quarantine. Most of those assistance plans are expiring soon, but your trip may be covered.

 

I always feel better telling people to discuss their specific needs with a professional like any of the agents at Trip Insurance Store.

Edited August 23, 2022 by Babr

[vermonter16]

Thanks for the advice.  I am thinking about getting an annual plan through Allianz as I am more concerned about trip interruption, delay, etc. and they seem to provide a decent amount.  And I could just use that for our trip in January next year to an all inclusive.  Like I said, normally I buy a plan specifically for the trip as I did with Steve at the Trip Insurance Store for one in November of 2023....but this one just didn't seem like it needed a full plan.  I am more concerned about trip delay and interruption, etc with Covid and the airlines.

[rpht]

Several people mentioned using Travel Guard. I have used them in the past but never had to file a claim. The one time I used Allianz I did have a claim (not a large one) and they were very good to work with. In comparing them for an upcoming trip it looks like there is more coverage (Ie" medical and evacuation) with Travel Guard than with the Allianz plan that is the same price. Has anyone had experience with claims with Travel Guard? 

[delliemd]

I had a claim with Travel Guard & no issues, payment was prompt after all claims received.

[rpht]

31 minutes ago, delliemd said:

I had a claim with Travel Guard & no issues, payment was prompt after all claims received.

Thank you ----that is good to know!!

[Bayouqueen]

Has anyone used Chase Sapphire preferred for trip cx

[donaldsc]

On 8/23/2022 at 3:41 PM, vermonter16 said:

Thanks for the advice.  I am thinking about getting an annual plan through Allianz as I am more concerned about trip interruption, delay, etc. and they seem to provide a decent amount.  And I could just use that for our trip in January next year to an all inclusive.  Like I said, normally I buy a plan specifically for the trip as I did with Steve at the Trip Insurance Store for one in November of 2023....but this one just didn't seem like it needed a full plan.  I am more concerned about trip delay and interruption, etc with Covid and the airlines.

 

We have always bought annual policies from Allianz.  The only thing that I can say about them is that the one time I had to cancel a cruise they handled it well.

 

The main problem w Allianz is that the basic level for trip cancellation is low although you can increase it to up to $15,000.  This means that if your trip losses are more than $15,000 you are maxed out on that part of the policy and are not covered.  That is enough for me especially as I can self insure if necessary for anything more than that and my main interest is medical and evacuation.  

 

DON

[vermonter16]

17 hours ago, donaldsc said:

 

We have always bought annual policies from Allianz.  The only thing that I can say about them is that the one time I had to cancel a cruise they handled it well.

 

The main problem w Allianz is that the basic level for trip cancellation is low although you can increase it to up to $15,000.  This means that if your trip losses are more than $15,000 you are maxed out on that part of the policy and are not covered.  That is enough for me especially as I can self insure if necessary for anything more than that and my main interest is medical and evacuation.  

 

DON

I am good with the cancellation policy and saw that it could be upped.  Thanks for your input.  It definitely makes me feel better about it.