Join Early Retirement Today
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Trip insurance (medical, evacuation)
Old 01-27-2012, 01:58 PM   #1
gone traveling
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 510
Trip insurance (medical, evacuation)

I posted on Bogleheads, but aparantely those folks are in the full swing of saving and nobody travels or nobody buys such insurance. So, now I'll try my luck here in addition to googling.

We've bought flight tickets to Germany in June, but will also fly to Ireland. Maybe take a train to Vienna or Budapest (not sure yet). In the past, we never considered buying travel insurance, but now we think we should.

Have you bought such an insurance? What was your experience when you need to use it?

What are good places/websites to buy from? What insurance co. to consider? A.M.Best rating will not tell us which insurance companies device intricate/complex fine print and then find a loophole why the victim shouldn't be covered.

In order to get quotes, I need to provide my trip cost/value. What's that? Is it price of tickets or also lost wages if I'm stuck abroad for whatever reason?

E.g. We bought two separate tickets (to Germany on the US Air and then from there to Dublin on AerLingus). Let's we make it to Germany, and then oops one of us gets sick and cannot fly to DUB, will this insurance refund us the money we paid for the tickets to DUB?

Someone wrote that she got this insurance from AerLingus because it was cheap. I think the author was an American, but I'm not positive. It got me thinking: Is it risky to buy such insurance from a foreign co.? We reside in the US, though we a citizens of the countries in the EU (not sure it's an important piece or not).

Medical evacuation clause would be important for us? My question is who and when decides and how decides when the person should be flown home instead of staying in a foreign hospital? Would I have a say in this situation?

Of course, I hope we'll never need this insurance to use, but if there is an emergency what's the process? Do we pay first and insurance reimburses us or will we be able to contact the insurance company 24/7 from anywhere?

What else to consider?

Thanks
aida2003 is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 01-27-2012, 02:15 PM   #2
Administrator
Alan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: N. Yorkshire
Posts: 34,056
We've never bought travel insurance for overseas trips we've taken, except that I ensure that we have health insurance. Before our last overseas trip I got a quote from American Express and it was very reasonable. Turned out we didn't need it as my retiree coverage includes the foreign countries we travel to.
__________________
Retired in Jan, 2010 at 55, moved to England in May 2016
Enough private pension and SS income to cover all needs
Alan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-27-2012, 02:29 PM   #3
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
travelover's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,328
I like Squaremouth. I bought evacuation insurance from them when I was in Peru. I generally don't buy insurance for losses incurred due to cancellations, just huge expenditures like medical evacuation.

Compare Travel Insurance From Every Major Company
travelover is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-27-2012, 03:10 PM   #4
Full time employment: Posting here.
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 851
I looked into this a lot for a trip I took a while ago, but I never needed to use it, so I can't vouch from personal experience, but in my research, several people I do communicate with recommended MASA Assist - Emergency Air Ambulance Service to World Travelers

The price seems a little too good to be true, so it would be nice to hear some real, first-hand stores from folks that had a policy in place, and everything worked as planned.

They charge $720 for a family policy, that supposedly covers you anywhere in the world, and is good for a whole year. Cheaper plans are also available. Its worth checking them out.
farmerEd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-27-2012, 03:10 PM   #5
Moderator
MBAustin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 7,925
We don't generally buy travel insurance, but the China tour I took last November required it. I used http://www.insuremytrip.com which had good comparisons and also reviews from people who did and did not have claims. I picked one from M.H.Ross based on the coverage, cost, and reviews. Did not have a claim so I can't comment on that.
__________________
"One of the funny things about the stock market is that every time one person buys, another sells, and both think they are astute." William Feather
----------------------------------
ER'd Oct. 2010 at 53. Life is good.
MBAustin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-27-2012, 03:36 PM   #6
Moderator Emeritus
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 12,894
DW travels internationally for work and her company provides this coverage for medical repatriation:

Air Ambulance Card

I get the same coverage for an additional $100 per year. We never had to make a claim, so I don't know if they are any good.
FIREd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-27-2012, 05:12 PM   #7
Recycles dryer sheets
Packman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Desert SW
Posts: 358
Quote:
Originally Posted by MBAustin View Post
We don't generally buy travel insurance, but the China tour I took last November required it. I used http://www.insuremytrip.com which had good comparisons and also reviews from people who did and did not have claims. I picked one from M.H.Ross based on the coverage, cost, and reviews. Did not have a claim so I can't comment on that.
+1 on the insuremytrip web site. We sometimes buy insurance, but most of the time we don't. However, this web site is invaluable in comparing the differing policies - and they do differ significantly in what they cover, and the limits.
__________________
Retired in 2011 at 54
Packman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-27-2012, 05:48 PM   #8
Gone but not forgotten
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sarasota,fl.
Posts: 11,447
I buy travel insurance for longer trips . I do use "Insure my trip .com". I have had three claims over the years and I was reimbursed in full .Two trips had to be cancelled last minute due to illness or death and an expensive ring was lost on a cruise . I've never had to use the medical part but the trip cancellation comes in handy especially when you are older and have elderly parents .
Moemg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-27-2012, 06:57 PM   #9
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Chuckanut's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: West of the Mississippi
Posts: 17,171
I figure I can cover losses that might occur due to cancellations and other problems. That would be unfortunate but would not break the bank, just cost me a vacation for one year. My medical insurance covers overseas costs, but I do have to be able to 'front' the initial payments and then collect from the insurance company.

What scares me is having to be medically evacuated from a foreign location back to the states. The costs can be enormous! So, I have a policy that I buy every year. It will evacuate me from anywhere in the world to a hospital of my choice in the USA. The cost is about $250 a year if I remember correclty.
__________________
Comparison is the thief of joy

The worst decisions are usually made in times of anger and impatience.
Chuckanut is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 01-27-2012, 10:23 PM   #10
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,172
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuckanut View Post
I figure I can cover losses that might occur due to cancellations and other problems. That would be unfortunate but would not break the bank, just cost me a vacation for one year. My medical insurance covers overseas costs, but I do have to be able to 'front' the initial payments and then collect from the insurance company.

What scares me is having to be medically evacuated from a foreign location back to the states. The costs can be enormous! So, I have a policy that I buy every year. It will evacuate me from anywhere in the world to a hospital of my choice in the USA. The cost is about $250 a year if I remember correclty.
do you have any links to that company? thanks.....
kaneohe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-28-2012, 10:43 PM   #11
Recycles dryer sheets
Rich's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 245
American Express has a travel insurance policy that I use. I believe it costs me $18 dollars a month. As an aside, I also use their car rental insurance. Don't feel like looking it up, but for a modest one time cost ($28 dollars, not sure) they cover your rental car insurance needs. Much cheaper then from the rental car companies. Needs to be renewed every 45 days if memory serves.

I use American Express because I trust them. I once purchased some trip insurance and when things went south they had a bunch of reasons why I wasn't covered.

Rich
Rich is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-30-2012, 06:24 AM   #12
gone traveling
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 510
I'm so glad I posted on this forum. Thanks so much to ALL of you.
We have an AmEx Blue Cash CC. We'll call them to find out about their travel policy first and compare to others.

Chuckanut, please share the name of the company you have a policy from.

Moemg, you're the lucky one, because a few questions for you:
- Do you remember what companies you chose on the InsureMyTrip . com?
-I'm also curious how your cruise trip was insured that the insurance paid for the lost ring? Did you itemize your valuables for the insurance co. (ring, expensive evening dresses, tux, etc.) that you took to the cruise + ticket prices as the value of your trip in order to get the quote?
- What kind of proof was required to get refunded the value of the lost ring? I didn't even think that insurance would cover a person's engagement or wedding ring if by accident I lost or left in a foreign country.

Thanks again.
aida2003 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2012, 03:42 PM   #13
Gone but not forgotten
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sarasota,fl.
Posts: 11,447
Quote:
Originally Posted by aida2003 View Post

Moemg, you're the lucky one, because a few questions for you:
- Do you remember what companies you chose on the InsureMyTrip . com?
-I'm also curious how your cruise trip was insured that the insurance paid for the lost ring? Did you itemize your valuables for the insurance co. (ring, expensive evening dresses, tux, etc.) that you took to the cruise + ticket prices as the value of your trip in order to get the quote?
- What kind of proof was required to get refunded the value of the lost ring? I didn't even think that insurance would cover a person's engagement or wedding ring if by accident I lost or left in a foreign country.

Thanks again.

I have used both Travel Guard & Access America . As soon as I noticed the ring was missing I reported it at The Pursers office . I was on a cruise and the ring was lost during a snorkel trip . When we returned we submitted the claim with the receipt for the ring ( Luckily my husband had saved it ) . We received a check for the total amount of the ring .The other two claims were for the death of my FIL and for my husbands illness . The trip was reimbursed in full and a check arrived . I could easily self insure but I am more concerned about a medical evacuation or flying back from Europe or further due to a sudden death in the family . The small cost is worth it for complicated trips .
Moemg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-02-2012, 10:33 AM   #14
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Lsbcal's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: west coast, hi there!
Posts: 8,808
I'm not sure this was mentioned above, when renting a car overseas your US insurance is not generally useful. However, if you use an Amex card to rent then they provide insurance. If you rent from a company based here but you need to present that Amex card again at the overseas rent agency to make sure the insurance kicks in.
Lsbcal is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Questions about overfunding a universal life insurance policy Nords FIRE and Money 7 01-16-2012 03:20 PM

» Quick Links

 
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:54 PM.
 
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.