Travel

[granddi]

This is a follow up to my Tauck post. What happened and things I have learned about travel insurance.

It took 4 months to receive money for travel inturruption filed with AON (sold by Tauck) insurance. There were 2 elements of coverage: 1. Health/medical 2. Trip inturruption.

We were paid for the cost of changing our flights only. This was covered by trip inturruption. The claim requirred documentation as to the medical reason the trip was inturrupted. The company first said we had to have a doctor letter. We had to argue and point out their own documents said otherwise.

We had a small amount of cost in medical: cab ride to and from the covid testing and some OTC meds. The only way we could have claimed this is first getting a denial from our primary insurance which is Medicare + supplement. Medicare does not cover any care outside the US (with one exception). It is very difficult for an individual to file a claim with Medicare in order to get a denial. AON travel knows this. This made it just about impossible to get reimbursed for medical. We received no coverage for medical.

When purchasing travel insurance, understand your coverage! 

We were told that if our Tauck trip was inturruped by Covid, Tauck would reimburse a pro-rated amount. This would be calculated as the day you are diagnosed as day 1. Husband was diagnosed on day 8 of a 10 day trip. So by their rule we missed day 8,9,10 so 30% of our trip. We received 5% refund of the amount paid. 

The only other experience we have had with travel insurance and filing a claim was with American Airline. They sell through a company called Alliance. We once filed a claim with all the medical support document and were paid in 2 weeks. 

Maybe this will be of some help fellow travelers.

[Icegoddess]

We get out travel insurance through Delta which is also Alliance.  We never travel outside the country though.  I did see a travel expert the other day talking about all the Southwest travel issues and he said he gets a yearly travel insurance package throuh Alliance, so I figure it's probably good.  

We've never used it, but the friends who did have to use it for a trip recommended we get it, so they were obviously happy with what they got. 

[kaydee50]

@granddi   Thanks for the follow up.  Did the reimbursements from the insurance cover your insurance cost?  I can only remember once when we bought travel insurance and fortunately never used it.  These policies, IMO, have too many loopholes and the proof is on the consumer.  Unless it is a very expensive trip to some exotic location, I would not buy travel insurance, which isn't cheap to begin with.

[granddi]

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@kaydee50 wrote:

@granddi   Thanks for the follow up.  Did the reimbursements from the insurance cover your insurance cost?  I can only remember once when we bought travel insurance and fortunately never used it.  These policies, IMO, have too many loopholes and the proof is on the consumer.  Unless it is a very expensive trip to some exotic location, I would not buy travel insurance, which isn't cheap to begin with.

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I'm going to trust my memory, but I think the AON was about $330.00 each and our re-book with American was $650 each. 

[ALRATIBA]

I've always used Travel Guard.  Never had any claims.  Reasonably priced.

[Group 5 minus 1]

We have a friend that says if you need travel ins. you shouldn't travel. This sounds like a big scam and I am sorry.

[granddi]

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@Group 5 minus 1 wrote:

We have a friend that says if you need travel ins. you shouldn't travel. This sounds like a big scam and I am sorry.

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We have a friend who stumbled climbing stairs while in Jordan. He broke his neck! He spent 4 months trying to get home. He was a US government employee so his medical insurance covered his medical expenses. 

The problem was getting home. Since he was wearing a halo to stablize his neck, he could not find an airline that would take him even with doctors letters. The travel insurance balked at flying him private. It was finally resolved by having a fellow physician fly with him on his return to US.

It is impossible to imagine emergencies. Who could imagine 911, a broken neck, weather related, family emergencies...............

[FancyPhillyshopper]

I disagree that travel insurance is a scam.  I think it is a safety net to be used in case of emergencies.

It is not cheap, nor refundable, but can be critical if truly needed.

When we were younger we never purchased, but now we usually do, especially if we travel out of the country.  DH and I are also in great shape and somewhat adventurous--DH will ski and scuba and I snorkel and snowshoe.  

So far I have submitted two claims in my lifetime (cancelled flights/missed hotels), and after I submitted required paperwork both were fully reimbursed.

I do not worry about minor illness and missing a few days of a tour--I worry more about potentially needing medical evacuation services.

By the way, the name of the insurance is Allianz, and I use them every time I buy airline tickets as the fee is so nominal.

[Stray]

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@granddi wrote:

This is a follow up to my Tauck post. What happened and things I have learned about travel insurance.

It took 4 months to receive money for travel inturruption filed with AON (sold by Tauck) insurance. There were 2 elements of coverage: 1. Health/medical 2. Trip inturruption.

We were paid for the cost of changing our flights only. This was covered by trip inturruption. The claim requirred documentation as to the medical reason the trip was inturrupted. The company first said we had to have a doctor letter. We had to argue and point out their own documents said otherwise.

We had a small amount of cost in medical: cab ride to and from the covid testing and some OTC meds. The only way we could have claimed this is first getting a denial from our primary insurance which is Medicare + supplement. Medicare does not cover any care outside the US (with one exception). It is very difficult for an individual to file a claim with Medicare in order to get a denial. AON travel knows this. This made it just about impossible to get reimbursed for medical. We received no coverage for medical.

When purchasing travel insurance, understand your coverage! 

We were told that if our Tauck trip was inturruped by Covid, Tauck would reimburse a pro-rated amount. This would be calculated as the day you are diagnosed as day 1. Husband was diagnosed on day 8 of a 10 day trip. So by their rule we missed day 8,9,10 so 30% of our trip. We received 5% refund of the amount paid. 

The only other experience we have had with travel insurance and filing a claim was with American Airline. They sell through a company called Alliance. We once filed a claim with all the medical support document and were paid in 2 weeks. 

Maybe this will be of some help fellow travelers.

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@granddi - I do travel a lot & actually have a trip scheduled with Tauck 12/23.  I'm sorry you had this experience with them.  I did become ill twice on Tauck Tours but my experience was very different.  I had great support from the TD & this was well before Covid.  I did come down with COVID on my last trip but was home.  I went to Croatia last year and they set up all testing for us & all went well.  I think Tauck has been affected by the pandemic and probably lost some guides & I know they've lost local contacts.  This trip is a river cruise so I hope for the best 

on the subject of travel insurance, it's not a "scam" and I'd not travel without it.  My husband got very ill in Thailand when we traveled independently.   Our travel agent purchased ours thru AIG and they were fabulous.  Once I called them after my husband was admitted to ICU, they gave me a customer rep who called me every day & their doctor spoke to his physician daily.  The hospital and doctors were excellent & well trained.  The agent requested all medical information daily, started my application & I received full reimbursement about a week after our return home.   This included a five day stay, CCU two days, three in a private room with me staying as well, all pharmacy expenses and outpatient care.   They also included my cab fare back & forth to the hospital.   When we arrived at the airport to go home, a woman suddenly appeared and took us thru special security, took our baggage to the lounge & showed up later to carry our carry on bags.  

it was a wonderful service in a scary situation being so far from home but I wish I had such coverage at home! 

[bargainsgirl]

We traveled to Europe twice 2015 and 2019.  We never bought travel insurance.  But with all the world issues these days and the fact that I will be 70 in the summer,  I probably would not go without next time. Hate to spend the extra $$ but you never know....