texasbookworm

Do you purchase trip insurance; if so, why; if so, from whom?

We have never purchased trip insurance; it is not the volcano that has me rethinking but a possible situation that would require me and perhaps my traveling companions to tend to an elderly relative during/after heart surgery. So what is your opinion about the wisdom of trip insurance—for a self-planned tour of the UK? We have a trip scheduled July 28-Aug.13. We could not reschedule if we did not go at this time, due to school schedules. Airline tickets secured; each night’s lodging reserved; car reserved.

Trying to imagine if we had to cancel:
Used FF miles (so would get them back into account minus some fees)
Have mostly B&B’s reserved; there is a non-refundable deposit on the one in London. All the others have a pretty liberal 24-72 hour cancellation policy. A very few (2-3?) would not return a negligible deposit. These deposits are the only pre-payment for rooms I have done. There are also 2 nights with hotel rooms with 24 hour cancellation policies.
Have car reserved but that’s easily cancelled.
Bought GB Heritage passes which I think are a done-deal now—can read fine print if it comes to that.

Comments? I think my concern is if the medical situation became emergent and I was so busy tending to that that I didn't have the time to make all the cancellations or that we would be on the trip when something dire happened and we had to return early and again would be so busy/stressed that couldn't attend to all the cancellations. Or if we had to cancel and I got it all done but lost a few small deposits, would insurance cost more than I might lose in those forfeits? (I don't need actual specific money amounts, just general experiences/opinions in general figures.)

djkbooks

<<possible situation that would require me and perhaps my traveling companions to tend to an elderly relative during/after heart surgery>>

First and foremost, you have to find a plan under which your "reason" would be a covered reason.

Generally speaking, any reason, if covered, must also be "unforeseen", "unexpected", etc. They can, and will, demand medical records to support your claim. So, if surgery was recommended or scheduled ahead of the day you purchase a policy, you may not be covered for that situation, especially since the condition is, obviously, "pre-existing".

You do have to comply with all requirements when filing a claim.

thursdaysd

I haven't purchased trip cancellation insurance myself, but I believe that pre-existing conditions are usually only covered if you buy within 14 days of your first trip payment. You need to read any candidate policies very carefully. I have seen a number of recommendations for insuremytrip.com as a place to compare policies.

Bokhara2

I'm not rich enough to cover the cost of my medevac home to Australia from some foreign shore, or unknown medical costs there in the event of illness/accident. Reimbursement for lost accommodation/flights is the least of my considerations, but nice to have in cases such as the current volcano.

In my teens, I thought I was bullet proof & nothing would ever happen to me. Not much has, but I grew out of that mindset.

I wouldn't even contemplate travelling offshore without travel insurance. In my experience, the cost has been less than 10% of the trip & to my mind, it's a "no-brainer".

thursdaysd

Bokhara2 - I, too, travel with medical evacuation insurance (my regular medical insurance covers me abroad) but that is different from cancellation insurance, which I don't buy, and which is what the OP needed.

spcfa

This is certainly an issue that has been on my mind in the last few years as both of our mothers are rather elderly. We've tried to circumvent the insurance issue with FF miles that can be redeposited, and no non-refundable hotel/car reservations. We sprang for the insurance when we went to Africa, but I don't think I'd ever do it again. It was very, very expensive - I could have had a week in Europe instead!

suze

I've never bought trip insurance, but then I've never gone anywhere too exotic, for too long a time, or spent much money up front on the arrangements. So yes I think it is valueable in many situations, but honestly, no, I've never purchased it myself.

Sue878

We bought Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance last couple of times when we went to Europe. We both have elderly parents and I have a sister who is ill. It didn't cost that much, alot less then the airlines' fee to change our tickets.