How does non-DCL cruise insurance work?

[cruiser21]

You are looking at cancel-for-any-reason coverage, which I believe the poster who pays $80 does not get. Plus it sounds like you are covering 4 adults, 2 who likely fall into higher premium brackets; that poster may coverage 2 relatively young adults and 2 kids. And it also depends what you include as travel expenses -- airfare, pre- or post-cruise hotels, etc.

The policy you are considering requires that you purchase within 21 days. It will also only pay out 75% for last minute cancellation, and you are correct that it does not appear to cover if you cancel the day before. I really suggest you consider what might be possible reasons to cancel - do you expect problems with work, or do you think FIL might change his mind that close, or are there medical concerns? I'd suggest your in laws get a separate plan and pay for it themselves, especially if your own household fully expects to travel regardless.

Enjoy your cruise!

This is correct. I buy trip insurance that has medical 50,000 pp, medical evacuation, and trip cancellation for a valid reason. I don't take vacations expecting things to go wrong, but I do want some basic coverage. My biggest concern is always the medical part. There's been a couple of cruises where I only bought medical and that was around 40.00.

To OP. Since your inlaws are in their own room. Why not have them get their own insurance that fits their needs.

Some credit cards cover trip cancellation. My citibank Costco card is one of those.

 

[MSPeeler]

Some credit cards cover trip cancellation. My citibank Costco card is one of those.

Tell me more about this? If I've already paid my deposit with another card, how does that work ...? How do I sign up for trip cancellation coverage??

 

[cruiser21]

Tell me more about this? If I've already paid my deposit with another card, how does that work ...? How do I sign up for trip cancellation coverage??

Check the benefits of your card. It's usually included if you paid for the cruise with your card. Like rental car coverage.

 

[carolina_yankee]

I"m sure it's in my fine print, but regarding Pre-Existing, does that apply to medical issues only before the Cruise, or before the sail date? I.E., you book, 5 months later you are diagnosed with a simple cancer (say lumpectomy or prostate), go through 12 months of treatment, all seems clear, and then on the 18 month you cruise and something flares up. Is that covered as normal medical, or could that be dismissed as pre-existing if you didn't purchase a plan that had the waiver?

Dirk

 

[carolina_yankee]

My FIL fought in Vietnam... I don't know what rank he was, if he retired, was discharged or any details. He doesn't like to talk about his military time at all. It's a mystery.
I am curious to know if he would qualify through them.

My husband and I wouldn't.

If your FIL qualifies, I think your husband would qualify, and you would through him. I qualify because my father was military, and my partner qualified because we were in a civil union (now married). We're both USAA members.

 

[carolina_yankee]

- If you do have a serious pre-existing condition that could flare up and cause you to miss the trip, definitely buy insurance within the first 14 days after making the deposit on a specific cruise. Making the deposit on a placeholder shouldn't count; it's when you transfer the placeholder to an actual cruise that starts the countdown.

Some policies give you 30 days - mine does, but most do fall in the 14 day period from the quotes I've gotten. (Not sure why this suddenly went to Font Size 1 - think I fixed it.)

Also important to know the look-back period for your policy - If it's a 90 day look-back, and your last issue was 91 days ago or more, you might not need it.

Being on steady medication for which dosage did not need a change also doesn't generally count as a pre-existing condition.

Dirk

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I"m sure it's in my fine print, but regarding Pre-Existing, does that apply to medical issues only before the Cruise, or before the sail date? I.E., you book, 5 months later you are diagnosed with a simple cancer (say lumpectomy or prostate), go through 12 months of treatment, all seems clear, and then on the 18 month you cruise and something flares up. Is that covered as normal medical, or could that be dismissed as pre-existing if you didn't purchase a plan that had the waiver?

Dirk

If you have no diagnosis of cancer when you book the cruise, and when you purchase the insurance, it's not a "pre-existing" condition. A pre-existing condition is, say, you know you have diabetes, and are being treated for it when you book the cruise/get insurance. If there are any medical changes to your condition (including changes in medication) during the look back period (anywhere from 30-120 days), that could affect whether your plan will cover any losses due to it.

 

[carolina_yankee]

If you have no diagnosis of cancer when you book the cruise, and when you purchase the insurance, it's not a "pre-existing" condition. A pre-existing condition is, say, you know you have diabetes, and are being treated for it when you book the cruise/get insurance. If there are any medical changes to your condition (including changes in medication) during the look back period (anywhere from 30-120 days), that could affect whether your plan will cover any losses due to it.

So, it's pre-existing to purchase of policy, not pre-existing to embarkation? Anything that should arise for the first time in the interim that was resolved enough for you to cruise, but flared up again, would be covered even if you didn't have pre-existing coverage?

Dirk

 

[PrincessShmoo]

So, it's pre-existing to purchase of policy, not pre-existing to embarkation? Anything that should arise for the first time in the interim that was resolved enough for you to cruise, but flared up again, would be covered even if you didn't have pre-existing coverage?

Dirk

If you have medical condition that's controlled when you book (and has been so for the lookback period), and sometime before you take the cruise something happens that either changes your condition, or your medication, and you subsequently cancel you cruise due to the change, it SHOULD be covered (but I'm not an insurance specialist, you'd have to clarify with your insurance provider).

If you have a medical condition that's controlled when you book, and then you have a change in condition/medication, but still take the cruise, but something happens on the cruise due to the change and you are medically evacuated, that may not be covered.

That's how I understand it. But, thankfully, I'm not in a position to "try the waters" as it were. And I find it difficult to follow insurance whys & wherefores, normally.

 

[lanejudy]

Correct, pre-existing refers to the point in time when you purchase the insurance. Any newly-diagnosed issue occurring after you purchase the policy and before you cruise would not require a pre-existing waiver but be determined based on the basic policy.

If you purchase the policy 12 months prior to sailing. Then have a heart attack 6 months prior to sailing. Then 2 weeks prior to sailing your doctor says "no cruise" due to related cardiac concerns. None of that requires a pre-existing condition waiver.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Correct, pre-existing refers to the point in time when you purchase the insurance. Any newly-diagnosed issue occurring after you purchase the policy and before you cruise would not require a pre-existing waiver but be determined based on the basic policy.

If you purchase the policy 12 months prior to sailing. Then have a heart attack 6 months prior to sailing. Then 2 weeks prior to sailing your doctor says "no cruise" due to related cardiac concerns. None of that requires a pre-existing condition waiver.

Enjoy your cruise!

Thank you. Much clearer than I was trying to say.

 

[lanejudy]

Having a pre-existing diagnosis does get more tricky, and it can depend on both the lookback period and the insurance company's definitions of "controlled."

If you had a heart attack a couple years ago and decide to take a cruise. You are considered stable and on a maintenance medication. You may be ok without a PEC. You may need documentation proving that you were considered well enough to travel at the time the insurance was purchased. However, the insurance company's definition may consider a "maintenance" dose of meds to be continued treatment and they may require a PEC waiver. The lookback period may also come into play because it can vary by policy -- a 30-day lookback means no treatment visits on your medical record for the 30 days prior to purchasing the insurance policy; some are 60 days, some are 90 days and I suppose longer is possible as well. If seen or treated for a related diagnosis in that lookback period, insurance will not cover without a PEC waiver. If anyone in your party has a OEC it is important to understand your coverage.

 

[MouseinMelbourne]

How do we know what they consider a preexisting condition and to what extent it would be considered?

I have high blood pressure and hypothyroidism. No heart problems. Is my BP considered a PEC if I had a heart attack or something?

I just booked today, so I guess I better figure this out ASAP.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

How do we know what they consider a preexisting condition and to what extent it would be considered?

I have high blood pressure and hypothyroidism. No heart problems. Is my BP considered a PEC if I had a heart attack or something?

I just booked today, so I guess I better figure this out ASAP.

Yes, I believe your BP would be considered a pre-existing condition. Now, if you've had no medical incidents related to your blood pressure, or medication changes within the look back period (varies by policy how long this is), then I think, if you were to have a heart attack and it can be connected to the BP condition, it would still be covered.

Most policies have pre-existing condition waiver, if you purchase the insurance with a specific window after initial (first) payment for trip.

 

[Neptune's Fork]

But what would they actually consider high BP for this purpose? It's sort of a controversial issue because there's a middle ground here where it could be considered moderately high, and then there's high. And how they view that has changed over time and there are also a lot of other factors that determine that at risk part.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

But what would they actually consider high BP for this purpose? It's sort of a controversial issue because there's a middle ground here where it could be considered moderately high, and then there's high. And how they view that has changed over time and there are also a lot of other factors that determine that at risk part.

I think it's the doctor's decision as to whether it's a medical issue, and if medicine is necessary.

 

[MouseinMelbourne]

That's a good point. Mine is actually kind of not-high and I'm on the lowest dose of a single med. yet...I'm on a med. sigh. I think I better price some insurance tomorrow.

 

[Neptune's Fork]

I think it's the doctor's decision as to whether it's a medical issue, and if medicine is necessary.

But doctors have differing opinions on this and there are recent studies that have come out on this addressing the risk factor. For instance, if two people have a 140/85 reading (which is considered the moderately high range) and one is a sedate person and the other a very active person, the risks are drastically different according to research. So that's what I was wondering, for these insurance purposes how do they distinguish?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

But doctors have differing opinions on this and there are recent studies that have come out on this addressing the risk factor. For instance, if two people have a 140/85 reading (which is considered the moderately high range) and one is a sedate person and the other a very active person, the risks are drastically different according to research. So that's what I was wondering, for these insurance purposes how do they distinguish?

Well, I have no actual knowledge of how insurance works in relation to any of this.

Just my opinion, but I'd think that your doctor would write up a report on the particulars of your case, and then it would be submitted to the insurance for payments. Then the insurance company then sends the report to their doctors for a decision. If the decision goes against you, there's probably some sort of appeal process.

 

[cruiser21]

I think it's the doctor's decision as to whether it's a medical issue, and if medicine is necessary.

Doctors prescribe a lot of medicine that's not necessary. They have to Cover their *&%%'s