I know many people have purchased travel policies, but of course we all want them to work when it counts—when claims are made and need to be reimbursed. Anyone have experience in making claims? How successful or not was it? How prompt was payment? Company involved?
We are heading on a trip and I am thinking of buying travel insurance, especially for evacuation coverage (that can be very costly). Insights are appreciated—good and bad experiences. Thanks!
Had a pre-Covid experience with using travel insurance (Travel Guard). Broke a bone that required surgery while in Europe. Notified the travel insurance provider before treatment plan was established and kept them updated along the way. They covered 4 overnights in private clinic post-op, a portion of the hotel for DH while I was an inpatient, the physician who assessed the injury at hotel and then traveled to xray office with us, translating as needed, and arranged for transportation and admission to clinic until I was in a room with surgery scheduled. TI also covered 2 very expensive ‘last minute’ business class tickets home on a different departure date than anticipated as it was a medical requirement for me (leg elevation)and DH was needed as a support person while flying (Dr documented that).
TI would have also covered any additional non-refundable trip expenses post-injury. We paid the clinic bill ourselves as required before discharge, but TI would have if we couldn’t. We were reimbursed promptly.after submitting all paperwork to TI once home.
While the TI called itself the primary coverage for this issue, it also sought reimbursement from our primary insurer for all items they would have covered. All in all, it worked very well and would have been even more value added if we had needed more help on the ground to find and access services.
Make sure to understand the limitations on coverage for situations related to pre existing health conditions. That can be a big issue. I ran into that trying to get coverage for my kids, who have a blood clotting disorder. It’s not a problem unless they’re in an accident and bleed, or need surgery, but then it is. If they disclose their condition, they are refused coverage.
We always buy the travel insurance offered when we buy a plane ticket. Is that what you are asking about? I got reimbursed 100% when I had to cancel a trip because my very elderly mother went in the hospital. I provided the required documentation.
As for travel insurance for the trip itself, up to 3 months abroad for instance, my kid is denied by every single company due to type 1 diabetes. We can get an emergency plan, though.
Check your credit card…IIRC, some include this…but I could be wrong…
For out of country travel I always purchase TI that includes repatriation of deceased.
My sister, in her 30s, traveling with similar aged friend who passed away unexpectedly on the trip. They had the insurance; sister said their help was invaluable.
Here’s some information on pre existing conditions and travel insurance. Short answer is if you want to be covered for a condition you have, purchase within 14 days of booking your trip. This seems pretty universal when I looked at policies.
While I have not had to use travel insurance, this company is mentioned a lot on travel boards that I frequent. So I wanted to see what their pre existing conditions wording is. Husband has some issues that need to be considered
Here’s another article that I think addresses the question you asked.
In the jsyk category, I purchased travel insurance when I purchased plane tickets. This was 7 months prior to travel. Five months prior to travel, the airline changed the times on the flights, enough so that I decided to cancel the flights and book on another airline. I received a full refund from the first airline.
I purchased insurance with the new ticket when the box offering it appeared. I then contacted the insurance company that had covered the original flight - the one I had canceled - for a refund. It was denied but I was told I could transfer it to another trip in the next 3 years.
This was a learning experience for me. Should have transferring the original policy to the rebooked flight, but as different airlines use different insurers, I wrongly assumed that if I couldn’t cancel a flight owing to the airline’s change and get a refund, I could cancel the insurance as well.
Hope someone else gets the benefit of this snafu on me part!
None of them cover type 1 diabetes. Also w/Allianz: * Certain pre-existing medical conditions are excluded from Allianz Global Assistance’s travel insurance coverage, such as mental and nervous health conditions, bipolar disorder, and Alzheimer’s disease.
I used Squaremouth to figure out how my kid could safely go to Europe for a month for music. They filter plans for you after you give them info: Insurance Quotes for Your Trip - Compare & Save | Squaremouth
I have a pre-existing condition but it’s stable and under control, as it has been for decades. I mainly want the coverage in case of one of us falling and breaking a bone or having some new issue pop up which requires hospital treatment or evacuation—like a bad case of covid.
We paid for this tour months ago and our Sapphire CC gives us some protection for smaller expenses but none for trip evacuation.
Would appreciate specific travel insurance brands folks have successfully made significant claims with, particularly for medical evacuation.
We are currently leaning towards buying an annual policy with Allianz, which will protect us for all our trips over next year, starting with our 3/27 trip.
I know the local travel agency recommends their tour participants buy policies from that company and we know of at least 2 hospitalizations in South America on a trip with that travel agency’s tour (H&W).
HImom - I’ve been looking into this to (heading to Italy, D heading to places throughout Europe after study abroad). One thing I’ve found is to specifically search for “health and travel insurance” for travel. Otherwise you’ll get those ‘reimbursing you for canceled trip’ type policies. I’m like you - definitely want the full health coverage, repatriation, etc. etc.
https://travel.usnews.com/features/the-best-international-travel-insurance-companies
Both H and I buy an annual plan from Geoblue.
It is primarily a medical insurance and covers pre-existing which is equally important because you never know what will happen. It also covers evacuation.
For an expensive prepaid trip, I buy additional travel insurance from a broker.
@cbreeze, where does it talk about not excluding pre-existing conditions in GeoBlue? I’m very curious because I don’t want to buy a fight about whether whatever is going on is a pre-existing issue or a new issue. Thanks! I tried calling the toll-free number but got a recording.
Has anyone ever made a GeoBlue claim? How did it go? How helpful were they (or not)?
I always use Squaremouth. I get travel insurance for every trip.
I used it once and can’t recall exactly which company, but certainly one that’s already been mentioned. Son left his carry on backpack on the shuttle van back to the car park at the very end of the trip. He was about 10 at the time. We pursued the claim because his Gameboy (gift from grandma) was in the backpack, along with gameboy games, Lego kits, and various other stuff. The backpack was brand new.
We were pretty mortified to realize that in total, it was all worth about $600. Luckily, we had receipts for everything. We were given a check for about $475. The total insurance cost for all four of us was maybe about $150. So yes, it was worth it. But if we hadn’t had all the receipts handy, as this was right after Christmas, it really would have been a pretty big hassle.
@HImom We also have an annual GeoBlue plan but have not had to make a claim. If you click on “learn more” under the type of plan you want, it mentions covering pre-existing conditions.
Looks like GeoBlue is for international travel only.
Can speak regarding Allianz. We got stranded in Montreal due to missing our connection due to a delayed flight. Got a hotel. Allianz reimbursed us for the hotel and our taxi rides between airport and the hotel.
Very happy with the outcome, obviously.
Same year, got stranded in Dublin due to the same exact circumstances. Didn’t have to use the insurance due to the stringent consumer protection laws in the EU. Aer Lingus paid for our hotel, (no taxis this time, hotel had a shuttle) and our dinner that evening. We had a drink each, an entree, coffee and dessert and they paid.
In both cases, reimbursement came quickly.
We have regular Medicare and Medicare supplement to cover us in the US.