I am 70 and have never bought travel insurance in the past. But, I am supposed to take two trips abroad this year and plan to buy either refundable air tickets or travel insurance.
MadMikeOne
Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City
philo wrote:
In all my years of travel both in the US and elsewhere i have never had a problem. This year I'm going to South Africa for a 15day photography safari . I checked out the cost of insurance for the trip. (about $700) the trip overall cost is about $6000.
I'm in good health just old 86 years. Will be in the bush most of the time.
Question is .........what to do?
My husband and I have used Travel-guard since 2012, and have been very happy with them. In 2014, I had a serious injury that required us to cancel a trip to the Arctic. I was hospitalized mid-July and we were made whole by early September of the same year. We have used and recommended the company since then. I was extremely heathy and was the victim of a freak fall. You just never know what can happen.
I would get it just for peace of mind. I used it once when flight was delayed and it paid for all are meals while waiting
the next flight which was 12 hours.
I purchased both the airline cancelation policy and the travel insurance. thanks for all of your imput.
MadMikeOne
Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City
philo wrote:
I purchased both the airline cancelation policy and the travel insurance. thanks for all of your imput.
Glad you did that. Enjoy Africa. It's indescribably special. I'm going back in October for a photography tour, and the first thing my husband did for me after I booked the trip was to contact Travel Guard (an AIG company) to get me my travel insurance.m
Two things:
First, really check for Covid, we have an evacuation policy thru our college Alumni, no limits, but they sent a letter last year specifically stating no evacuate coverage for Covids.
Second, be careful about pre-existing condition clauses, at our age what isn't? We got nothing for a trip when an existing controlled condition went out of control and they said it was a pre-existing condition and would not cover it.
Note: Your health insurance might cover medical costs by re-imbursement, medicare covers nothing out of country.
The company probably says they offer a refund if they cancel or you cancel under certain conditions. I bet those conditions would never be met.
Years ago, our local high school was planning a trip for some kids overseas. That's when the Gulf War started. The people could cancel and get a refund in case of war. Since Congress did not declare war on Iraq, no one got a refund.
Considering how much you would lose for a cancellation, the insurance might be a good idea. However, it might be worth your while to pay a lawyer to read the contract. Insurance companies are great at collecting premiums but not so good at paying out.
MadMikeOne
Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City
jerryc41 wrote:
The company probably says they offer a refund if they cancel or you cancel under certain conditions. I bet those conditions would never be met.
Years ago, our local high school was planning a trip for some kids overseas. That's when the Gulf War started. The people could cancel and get a refund in case of war. Since Congress did not declare war on Iraq, no one got a refund.
Considering how much you would lose for a cancellation, the insurance might be a good idea. However, it might be worth your while to pay a lawyer to read the contract. Insurance companies are great at collecting premiums but not so good at paying out.
The company probably says they offer a refund if t... (
show quote)
Jerry, I don't know to whom you're responding. In my case, I took out the "cancel for any reason" coverage. There was an extra cost, but it's most definitely a must for me given the high cost of my trip plus the airfare. The company we used back in 2014 paid our claim quickly AND in full with absolutely NO attempt at nickel-and-diming us. Our claim was well into the 5 digit range, not including to the eight of the decimal point. We were very impressed with TravelGuard and haven't so much as considered using any other company for our travel insurance needs. Another point to consider is that the insurance is "transferable" to a future trip if it's necessary to cancel a trip before it's begun. That was the case with us for 2 out of the 3 trips we had scheduled for 2020 thanks to Covid.
We spend loads of time in South Africa each year and this deal you have been offered seems too good to be true. Double check the cover.
philo wrote:
In all my years of travel both in the US and elsewhere i have never had a problem. This year I'm going to South Africa for a 15day photography safari . I checked out the cost of insurance for the trip. (about $700) the trip overall cost is about $6000.
I'm in good health just old 86 years. Will be in the bush most of the time.
Question is .........what to do?
My sister and I went to the Galapagos Islands for 15 days. Very expensive trip around $8,000 ea and insurance was about $800 if I remember correctly. We got it. Luckily we didn't need it but a lady from New Zeeland was on the same adventure as we were and on the 2nd or 3rd day we were walking one of the guide trails and this clumsy lady got a tree root impaled completely thru her calf (leg). It was awful.
Long story short, she went to the hospital in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and then was flown back to NZ. She had trip insurance too and it paid for everything including all the medical care in hospital, special med flight back home and she will get another chance to go back to the Galapagos Islands in the future paid for by her insurance.
Travel insurance covers not only travel costs. It cover motels, food, transportation, medical, prescriptions travel delays and cancellations etc. while on your trip. It sounds like a lot but we’ll worth it. Check your homeowners coverage as well as a reputable carrier ie State Farm,AAA etc. your costs may be cheaper
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