Travel insurance

[mymom]

Mom wants to take the family to Jamaica. We don't need to insure the villa because they are being flexible. She wanted to insure the airline tickets but because of her cancer she can't insure any of the 12 tix she is purchasing. She wanted to buy them now because it is cheaper. Trip in July. If she waits until June the tix will be insane. Is there insurance anyone here has used for travel? Are there any options or tips you have. I know some of you travel.

Thank you!!

[sosad]

Hi, when I booked a trip through Delta Airlines about 18 months ago I got the insurance offered at the time I ordered the tickets online. When I got an email from the carrier of the insurance (not the airline) that same day, I read the fine print. It said it was not valid for "prior conditions". I called them up to cancel it (you have 2 or 3 days to cancel) they asked me why and I said "Well, my husband has cancer and we never know when there may be complications that could keep us from traveling" and they told me it would be covered. I made sure they knew I had asked about cancer being a "prior condition" and made them email it to me so I had proof. Thankfully, we did not have to cancel and we had a great trip. I would check with the airline or google secondary trip insurance to find someone who may offer it for all 12 tickets.

[mymom]

I want to add we are helping with the plane tickets but that doesn't matter even if I put on my credit card. What matters is the reason for cancelling which would be because of her. I have never personally bought travel insurance when traveling with just my family.

[behconsult]

I Booked through expedia and got travel insurance as I just didn't know. Bob

[mymom]

I can buy it but if I have to use it they will look into why and obviously figure out she has a pre existing condition. Allianz seems to be the go to insurance via AAA or jet blue, etc.
I told her wait to purchase until her next scan in March but then she will have another by July but you can't wait until June because you could be paying around $2500 for the tickets.
I know we have a lot of travelers on this sight. Are we over thinking this? That's a lot of money to lose.
And no, we would NOT go if my mother wasn't with us.
This is also aside from my Dad's heart condition but I don't think that is the same thing.

[abuttigi]

When we took my dad to Daytona Beach we bought insurance for the plane tickets. As far as the lodging, we rented a condo from a family and when I told them about my dad they offered to be more lenient with the cancellation policy out of the goodness of their hearts. I usually don't insure any travel, but my dad was still on chemo at the time and it seemed like the safer option. Thankfully we didn't have to use any of it! I'd say its worth the money for the peace of mind of having that extra layer of protection.

Have fun!

[Jack&KatiesMommy]

I have been told by the travel insurance companies as well as the cruise line/ airlines that a cancellation due to a complication from a pre existing condition (cancer) would not be covered by the insurance. It is also pretty clear when you read the policies. The insurance was designed to cover unforeseeable incidents that would prevent travel.....when we have active cancer a complication is not unforeseeable. You obviously can buy the insurance but it would be a waste of money in my opinion. I have travelled a lot since my diagnosis almost 4 years again....and I do try to wait until as late as possible to book my travel (keeping in mind the cost escalation that happens as you get closer to the travel date.). It is a fine line....so far we have been lucky. Good luck...hoping for a great scan for your Mom in May which would make things a bit easier all around.

Cynthia

[mstults]

The last trip I took through a tour group I was going to decline the insurance until I started looking at it. Seems that some insurance companies have different levels of coverage (Gold, Silver, etc.) The policy included with my trip stated that If you are able to travel at time of purchasing the insurance, then pre existing conditions would be covered. That took a load off my mind since the trip had to be booked almost a year ahead of time.

[peanut_8]

I think your best bet would be to buy refundable airline tickets. Unfortunately, they are more expensive than non-refundable ones.

[SMR]

I haven't had a chance to read all of the responses yet, so I'm sorry if I am repeating previous info. We had a big trip planned and we took out travel insurance. What we needed was a note from my husband's oncologist stating that at the time of the purchase of the trip that he was cleared to travel AND that the onc reasonably believed that in six months (which happened to be the timeframe of our travel) he would still likely be able to take the trip. In the end, my husband got sick and neither of us made the trip and insurance covered it.
I'm not on the board as often these days, but if you want more info I can try to find my old info and get you more specifics- just PM me.

[kirac]

I believe that there is are several kinds of travel insurance. Some will cover for illness, pre-existing, and some won't. Some of the ones offered at the time of purchase may not cover treatment... just check before you buy.

[sjring]

I recommend purchasing the trip insurance through a 3rd party travel insurance instead of through the travel provider (airline, tour operator, etc.) as frequently those policies, aside from pre-existing conditions being excluded, do not cover the bankruptcy of that travel provider.

I use an online broker www.tripinsurance.com. They present you a variety of policies at various price points and you can pick a policy that has the features you want (like cancel for any reason, or does not exclude pre-existing conditions). I recommend a trip insurance policy especially for people traveling internationally and cruises, not only for the cancellation issues, but these policies will also typically include medical coverage and or medical evacuation coverage. Your US health insurance may not cover you internationally. Pays to check with your carrier.

As always, read the sample policy carefully before you purchase.

[jgall]

We have insured a few trips since cancer. Kathryn Finn-Blume, a beloved member who passed away last year, was a travel agent and she hooked me up with travelguard.com insurance, gold plan. Most of the insurance that you can buy at the time of purchase through an airline will not cover pre-existing conditions. Whatever you buy, make sure you get pre-existing condition coverage. And it usually will cover all traveling companions if the tickets are purchased at the same time.

Have fun in Jamaica!

Julia

[abuttigi]

I think your best bet would be to buy refundable airline tickets. Unfortunately, they are more expensive than non-refundable ones.

THIS is what we did, not buy insurance! Now I remember! We didn't buy insurance because the condo owner offered to be more flexible with us. Refundable tickets worked out really well for us!

[mymom]

This may help. So I called Allianz directly and they DO cover pre existing medical conditions so I have no idea what the guy at AAA was talking about. FYI.