Community Chat

[granddi]

Do you have any recommendations?

Planning a land only trip in Alaska and insurance is recommended by the travel company. I know that policies can cover trip cancellations, trip interuptions and medical.

I have heard that it is nearly impossible to collect if a problem that ins company will require dr letters and other documents.

[Plaid Pants2]

Travel insurance is a waste of money in my opinion.

Too many hoops and hurdles to clear to get any compensation.

[queendiva]

AAA travel insurance. Purchased it for my DS when he went on a school music trip to Europe.

A really good deal. Thankfully there was no cause to use it.

[NicksmomESQ]

I always get it for piece of mind.Luckily,I never had to use it.However,my friend has had to collect on it several times due to illness & sudden death in her family.She never had a problem making a claim!! I would highly recommend it!!

[World Traveler]

@granddi I would disagree with those who say travel insurance is a waste of money or not needed. Here are instances where travel insurance really paid/pays off.

1. While in Viet Nam a few years ago, one of the travelers in my group became quite sick. We were way up in the mountains, far away from any major city. The local doctor said it was something more major than he could handle. The travel insurance paid for her to be evacuated from Dalat to Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) by way of a taxi, which took a couple of hours. She was then hospitalized and received surgery from a French doctor. After the surgery, and when she was able to travel, she was put on a plane with a nurse who accompanied her all the way back to the United States. The nurse stayed with her until her own doctor could see her (a couple of days), and the nurse then returned to Viet Nam. ALL expense (transportation, nurse, surgery, etc.) were paid by the travel insurance. Our group leader kept in contact with her at all stages of the trip and her recovery while we continued with the trip. The gal had NO out-of-pocket expenses, other than the initial couple of hundred dollars she paid for the insurance before the trip.

2. My sister went to Nepal and her luggage didn't.  The travel insurance asked her to itemize what she had in her suitcase. Tip: take a picture of your items before you put them in the suitcase. My sister received a check equivalent to what she had paid for the items, including the suitcase. It took a couple of months before the claim was closed, but she was reimbursed as though the items were new.

3. My sister and I never know when our 98-year-old mother may pass away. Thus, we always get travel insurance, which will reimburse us for any part of the trip we miss.

4. I was once stopped by the State Department from going to Israel at a time when it was deemed unsafe due to war with Egypt. My travel insurance fully reimbursed me for any money I had already spent for the trip. I have since gone to Israel, but was glad for the insurance coverage.

I always purchase the insurance thru the travel agency/company I am using. But the kind of coverage I like to have usually comes to roughly around 10% of the total cost of my trip. There are cheaper kinds of insurance; just depends upon what you are looking for. Mine also covers any pre-existing conditions I may have.

If you want any other suggestions, you might post your same question/concern on our Travel Chat thread in the Among Friends forum. You may get some other suggestions or names of insurance companies that specialize in travel.

Hope this help you!

[Mz iMac]

Don't quite know what you mean by "travel company."

If you are dealing w/a  travel agent, they should be providing you w/recommendations.  Also, the Alaskan tour company should have travel insurance.

Your job is to compare your options between each ins company that is recommended.  Most travel insurance "benefits" can be tailored to "you."  Depends on how much you want to pay for such benefits.

If you decide to purchase, make sure you go over the policy w/a fine tooth comb & a magnifying glass to read the fine print.  Anything you do not understand discuss w/the travel agency and/or tour company.

Good luck!

SIDEBAR:  My travel agency is w/AAA.  They do all the work for you.

I've only gotten travel insurance for abroad travel & cruises.  Never for travel w/in the USofA.  Personally, I do not think it is needed since my health insurance is excellent.  I've been travelling for eons & never had to use travel insurance.  My gut tells me "there's always a first time."  So I purchase it when travelling abroad for that "piece of mind."

[tobes]

I recommend it with the following caveat.  If the insured or any family member covered under the insurance has a pre-existing conditon most insurance companies will waive this if you purchse the insurance around the same time you pay your first payment for your trip.  Some companies sell a "cancel for any reason" benefit where pre-existing conditons do not matter.  Still you must purchase your insurance within a time limit (check your policy) and this benefit pays out at 75% of your trip cost.  Don't expect any insurance company to pay if you purchase your insurance after you or your family member becomes ill unless you meet the waivers.  

[patbz]

We travel widely and frequently and we usually buy both trip insurance and medical (for overseas trips).  Haven't needed to use medical yet but have used trip cancellation three times.  The one where we would have been out serious money was less than a week from departing  for a back to back to back cruise to Australia.  DH had a stroke (among other major issues resulting in a $450,000 bill.  We had bought the trip insurance through Celebrity cruises and they paid everything.  I had to fill out some paperwork and send medical confirmation but we got back over $12,000.

[Mary Bailey]

It worked for us.

When our son graduted in Portland OR, (we live in Chicagoland).  I bought Travel Insurance.  DH's Mom passed away.  I went to the graduation. DH went to his Mom's wake and funeral.  All we did to collect was fill out a form and include a copy of the obituary.

[lulu2]

We travel a lot and book vacations in advance.  We always take travel insurance. Our agent has been using ALLIANZ the last few years. We also use it for concert tickets.  Over the years we've used it twice for medical issues and once for a death in the immediate family.  (MIL) We had no trouble recouping our money in full.