Trip Cancellation Insurance?

[rickyd]

Does anyone have experience with the various trip cancellation insurance offerings? I'm planning on a 16 day trip to Indonesia, and thinking an additional $150-200 may be worth it, just in case...

I already have DAN Preferred, and included is diving cancellation coverage. $250 deductible, and only effective if diving is impacted.

DAN has separate trip coverage that looks fairly attractive - and it's not age biased, like some of the others are. I've also see brochures from TripAssist; age biased, and has a deductible. There are probably many more out there.

Any thoughts, or, real experiences???????

 

[jakubson]

Does anyone have experience with the various trip cancellation insurance offerings? I'm planning on a 16 day trip to Indonesia, and thinking an additional $150-200 may be worth it, just in case...

I already have DAN Preferred, and included is diving cancellation coverage. $250 deductible, and only effective if diving is impacted.

DAN has separate trip coverage that looks fairly attractive - and it's not age biased, like some of the others are. I've also see brochures from TripAssist; age biased, and has a deductible. There are probably many more out there.

Any thoughts, or, real experiences???????

I use this site to compare various plans side by side:
http://www.tripinsurancestore.com

I have been using HTH, since it seems to give me more bang for the buck. YMMV

 

[divebuddy68]

For expensive/complicated trips I always get it. I shopped around a lot and found that http://www.travelinsured.com has the best prices and more importantly were very easy to file a claim with. On a previous trip I missed one of my connecting flights which caused me to arrive a day late and miss a day of diving. I filed a claim for the 1/7 of my trip cost and they paid no questions asked. Got the check in 2 weeks.

The only catch with most insurers is that in order to get 100% full coverage you need to buy it within 10 days of when you put a deposit on the trip.

 

[Tim Ingersoll]

Never bought it . . .never regretted not buying it. I figure if I have a problem in the future I have already saved thousands of dollars in the past by not buying insurance. If that makes any sense.

 

[DiveMaven]

I buy insurance for expensive, non-refundable reservations...like liveaboards and cruises. Since these usually have a 60 days non-refundable time period, I buy insurance when I book so any pre-existing conditions are covered (even though we don't have any). It's nice that the insurance typically covers medical evacuation, etc., which isn't dive related, so between my personal policy, DAN, and my travel insurance, I shouldn't ever have an out of pocket medical expense!

We always think of older people who get air lifted off the cruiseship for a heart condition, etc. However, on a cruise a few years ago, a young woman (20's) fell down a set of stairs and severely broke her leg and sustained a head injury. She was air lifted off the ship in the middle of the Caribbean and taken to a hospital since waiting 6 hours to reach port was not an option. I always think of this incident when I debate whether or not we should carry the insurance.

 

[rickyd]

Thanks for the links. So many choices........

 

[divekraz]

Does anyone have experience with the various trip cancellation insurance offerings? I'm planning on a 16 day trip to Indonesia, and thinking an additional $150-200 may be worth it, just in case...

I already have DAN Preferred, and included is diving cancellation coverage. $250 deductible, and only effective if diving is impacted.

DAN has separate trip coverage that looks fairly attractive - and it's not age biased, like some of the others are. I've also see brochures from TripAssist; age biased, and has a deductible. There are probably many more out there.

Any thoughts, or, real experiences???????

I've always used Access America for any trip. They've replaced a camera lost while white water rafting. They paid for a lost day due to a hurricane. Never a hard time with any claim, Paid within a couple weeks and in the case of the camera they paid more than what I read the policy would allow for. It covers more than just a missed boat or plane. Depending on age the cost is about $95 for a $1,500 policy which is what I usually get even if the trip cost is $2000. I've looked at other carriers and costs and have found them to be the best when it comes to paying claims. 800 284 8300. Enjoy your trip.

 

[geraldp]

Does anyone have experience with the various trip cancellation insurance offerings? I'm planning on a 16 day trip to Indonesia, and thinking an additional $150-200 may be worth it, just in case...

I already have DAN Preferred, and included is diving cancellation coverage. $250 deductible, and only effective if diving is impacted.

DAN has separate trip coverage that looks fairly attractive - and it's not age biased, like some of the others are. I've also see brochures from TripAssist; age biased, and has a deductible. There are probably many more out there.

Any thoughts, or, real experiences???????

I used Travel-Guard International on my cruise a couple of years ago. It seemed reasonable, and fortunately I didn't have to collect. fwiw, Travel-Guard International was recommended by Clark Howard on his website. As others have posted when you're shelling out big non-refundable bucks for a vacation it's nice to have a fall-back in case something goes wrong.

Jerry

 

[Chel]

csatravelinsurance.com

It is age biased but often pretty decent. Pre exsisting conditions coverage is optional but it takes the price up a LOT!

Nice thing about trip insurance more than the cancellation coverage is the delayed benefits. Your flight or luggage gets delayed and you end up digging into your pocket til you get there or get your stuff back, they will reimburse you. Especially nowadays with the airlines tightening their belts.
We are leaving for Costa Rica at the end of this week. A month ago our airline (a big one) changed their schedule and caused us to misconnect the one flight a day into Liberia. Airlines wont put you on another airline anymore. We were offered do the first part of the journey a day early and pay for our own hotel, leave on one of their flights out of a city 200 miles away or take a refund and buy our own tickets on another airline (now costing double what we originally paid). Long story short, we took an extra day off work and shelled out for the hotel in Miami out of our own pockets.
Had we bought insurance, they would have paid the additional to go on another airline or paid for the hotel in Miami. I never bother with insurance , now I am kicking myself.