Elainee

Need travel insurance since we must pay safari trip in advance...first part then all. Would cancel for illness or other real reason (not just change mind). Used STA last trip but they no longer offer for non-students.

ShayTay

Check out www.insuremytrip.com. You can compare policies and coverages, then pick the one you want. I've used it for most of my travel insurance purchases.

sandi

I also use, insuremytrip. Do remember to read all drop-down menus for exclusions/inclusions and compare the various offerings, as from Travel Guard, Access America, CSA, any others.

ShayTay

Good advice, Sandi. Those notes also say if it's primary or secondary coverage (after your homeowner's insurance, for example.) To get the coverage you need, you'll probably have to get the insurance in place within a couple of weeks after your first payment.

cristeen

I also used them for my last trip. Thankfully didn't need it, but would not want to be without it on an intensive trip.
Also, if it is overwhelming checking and comparing all the drop down menus, they are very helping via phone, too.
Have a fun, safe trip.

christabir

Dont forget medical/evac insurance!

StanKase

THOUGH IT IS WISE TO USE INSUREMYTRIP.COM MY EXPERIENCE WITH TRAVELGUARD HAS BEEN SUPERIOR. I SUGGEST YOU TAKE IT OUT WITHIN 15 DAYS OF YOUR FIRST DEPOSIT SO YOU ARE COVERED FOR PRE-EXISTING CONDITUIONS. FURTHER, IF YOU TAKE THE MAX WHICH CAN COST $800+/PERSON ON MEDICAL AND EVACUATION YOU CAN NAME THE HOSPITAL YOU WANT TO B E TAKEN TO. THOUGH INITIALLY YOU LIKELY WOULD HAVE TO GO TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL IF THE COONDITION IS VERY SERIOUS ONCE YOU ARE STABILIZED YOU CAN REQUEST TO BE TAKEN TO CAPETOWN OR JOHANSBURG ON A MEDJET FOR SURGERY. I RESEARCH THE CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN THE REGION I AM GOING SO I KNOW AHEAD OF TIME WHAT WE MIGHT NEED TO REQUEST. WE HAD THE NEED 7 YEARS AGO IN ASIA IN THE REDANG ISLANDS AND WE WERE AIR LIFTED TO HONG KONG AND THE MEDICAL TRANSPORT WAS $53,000 AND THE MEDICAL BILL WAS $91,000 ALL COVERED BY TRAVELGUARD. PLUS THEY FLY MY WIFE AND I HOME AFTER RECUPERATION IN BUSINESS CLASS BASED UPON THE DOCTORS REQUEST FOR NEEDED RECLINING DURING TRAVEL WHICH WAS ANOTHER $26,000 ONE-WAY FOR BOTH OF US. THEY CANNOT BE BEAT IN MY BOOK!!

christabir

Stop yelling

StanKase

I AM NOT YELLING, DO YOUR EYES HAVE EARS?
BY THE WAY WITH TRAVELGUARD YOU ONLY PAY NOW FOR THE PORTION OF THE DEPOSIT AND YOUR AIRFARE. WHEN YOU MAKE THE FINAL PAYMENT WITHIN 15 DAYS YOU PAY FOR THE BALANCE OF THE INSURANCE COVERAGE. THAT IS NOT THE CASE WITH ALL THE INSURERS.

Iowa_Redhead

Holy buckets Stan. CapsLock is not your friend.

insuremytrip.com and squaremouth.com are the two sites I usually check for travel insurance. You definitely want to get the insurance in place with a week or so of any purchases you want to be covered so that you don't have to worry about pre-existing conditions.

Remember to read the fine print of any policy you consider to clarify exactly what it will cover.

braaiseason

Where are you ? In the UK Columbus Travel Insurance was always competitive with others on price, had 2 levels of cover. Many years ago I used to do the claims. The best advice is to compare cover for your needs, read all the policy terms & conditions & exclusions. You will also need to be insured for Personal Liability in SA, I was charged for breaking a mug in one place & another place charged us for something, I forget what.

Stan: Typing all in capitals is considered shouting worldwide ;0)

Elainee

Thanks for all the responses. I did call STA and for 22day trip, only $3000 back for hotels, etc. But good medical coverage $500 for the insurance. Will look into all your suggestions.

TC

Our travel insurance company was Campbell Irvine Direct in tne UK. Contact via email:  [email protected]  The insurance underwriter is AXA Insurance UK.  I checked them out on the UK Financial Srvice Authority (www.fsa.gov.uk.register).  AXA is a reputable company.  On our $20,000 trip, the coverage cost $172 GBP per person.  That was about $524 total in 2010.  I think today's rate is approximately 1GBP=1.61USD
 
The standard coverage summary was as follows:
 
Medical Expenses 5,000,000 (all amounts are in GBP)
Emergency dental 250
Transport of remains 7500
In Patient Benefit 200 per day
In Patient benefit due to criminal injury up to 5,000 per day
Personal Liability 2,000,000
Personal Accident 25,000
Cancellation or Curtailment 6000 each
Delayed Departure or Arrival 100
Cancellation due to delayed departure 1000
Hi-jack of aircraft 3000
Failure of flight connections 150
Interruption of transport 300
Personal Effects coverage 2000
Lost Money 500
Passport or visas replacement 250
Ticket replacement 1000
Temp loss of luggage 100
Legal expenses 15,000
 
We also carry an annual MedJet policy through AARP.  The cost for the two of us is $315 USD per year.
www.medjet.com/AARP
 
 
 
 
 
 

cary999

Personally, I insure only that which I can not afford to loose. Which is medical. My USA medical insurance covers me for 30 days outside USA. Then I add emergency medical evacuation. Those are the big ticket items. If my luggage is lost, or I lose some cash, or a camera, or my flight delayed and I have to pay for a hotel, those I can handle without life impacting financial burdens. Most people buy insure for "peace of mind", but in reality it is a gamble between you and the insurance company. Guess who wins in the long run??

regards - tom

StanKase

SORRY FOR CAPS BUT THE KEYBOARD IS ON THE FRITZ> THE COVERAGE LOOKS TERRIFIC BUT I WOULD NOT WANT A MAJOR SURGICAL PROCEDURE PERFORFORMED IN THE KILAMONJARO MEDICAL HOSPITAL> THAT"S WHY IF I CAN DIRECY MY MEDICAL EVACUATION TO A CENTER OF EXCELLENCE AS I DID IN HONK KONG I WOULD ANTICIPATE THE SURGICAL TEAM WOULD HAVE SUPERIOR TRAINING>

OregonMaiden

What resources do you use to research/assess the level of hospital excellence?

TC

Stan, that is why we have MedJet. They bring you HOME for surgery....no questions asked, no insurance company deciding if you get treatment here or there....if you are stable enough to fly, they fly you and your companion HOME. Worth every penny. For minor injuries (a sprained ankle, a minor cut, infection or a broken arm from a fall) it was reassuring to have inexpensive coverage. This policy also covers, as many do not, trekking safari -- gorilla, and SCUBA diving.

The cost of the insurance from Campbell was less than the cost of replacing a lost piece of luggage or out of pocket for a couple of hotel nights. Why not have it? Many travel companies insist on insurance coverage. I'd rather research my own than to buy their highly inflated policy.

JMHO

StanKase

THE REASON I WENT TO HONK KONK FROM MALAYASIA_REDANG ISLANDS WAS THE SURGERY COULD NOT WAIT AN ADDITIONAL EIGHTEEN HOURS> I HAVE MEDJET AS WELL AND THINK IT IS GREAT WHERE PRACTICAL> I CONTACT THE US EMBASSIES IN THE COUNTRIES I AM TRAVELING TO AS WELL AS THEIR DELEGATE AT THE UN TO DETERMINE THE CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN HEART < LUNG< ETC>DOES THAT EXPLAIN MY APPROACH? IT MAY BE WRONG BUT IT IS MY WAY>

DonTopaz

Stan:
New keyboards are very, very inexpensive.

sandi

For anyone who travels regularly, even if not leaving the States, MedJet's annual policy is worth considering. At $315-325 (family... less for a single), they're there for you, even if a problem only 100/miles from home.

If not MedJet, any Trip Insurance should, at minimum, include medical and evacuation.

I don't leave the US, whether to Canada, Caribbean, Europe*, let alone far distant exotic destinations, without. It's worth it for me to pay even $35 up to Canada. If I can't afford to pay for insurance I might as well stay at home. It's for peace of mind and thankfully I've never needed to put in a claim.

*you can just as easily break a leg on cobblestone streets and require care and 2/seats on the homebound flight

Most of us never put in an insurance claim, whether home, car, jewelry, etc... but you'll be glad you have it should the need arise.

Still remember: Insurance is always to the benefit of the insurance provider.