carl170

Maybe I didn't do enough research when purchasing insurance. It seems there is a general exclusion for civil disorder, so my upcoming trip to Kenya isn't covered by my policy. They will cover for terrorists incidents, like the US Embassy bombing, but not civil strife between political parties. At the time, I wasn't worried, Kenya seemed to be stable until just recently.

Too late now, since I got insurance back in November, but what kind of questions should you ask before getting insurance? Any one have any advice/ideas?

Thanks.

ShayTay

While more expensive, some policies have a "cancel for any reason" clause.

cary999

"cancel for any reason"
and read that coverage because it usually covers only 50% or 75% of your loss. So you still loose. And in addition to what the insurance coverage cost you.

My lecture on insurance. Insurance is to protect you from losses you can not afford to loose. Insurance is a gamble and you have the odds stacked against you because the insurance company makes the odds. Most insurance is sold/bought because it makes the buyer feel good. Not because of a rational cost analysis.
Do not insurance something (anything) if its loss will not greatly impact your life. For example, if my luggage is lost the $$$ value of it is not significant in my life. Even if my $5,000 trip were cancelled what I have really lost is the trip. The $5,000 was spent/gone/lost the day before I started the trip. While if I had a medical problem and had to be flown back home that could cost $50,000. Causing me to lose my house, I hate when that happens.

Yes, I know your Aunt/Mother/Sister recovered the cost of her trip because it was insured. What did it benefit her? Without it would she have whined and moaned to her dying day about the "lost" money? If so then it was good to have the insurance. Did she with the insurance money take another trip that she could not have afforded? If yes, it was good to have the insurance. If any answers are "no", then the insurance gamble was not wise.

regards - tom

lifelist

Kenya hasn't been covered for quite a while. The US state department has had an advisory out for Kenya for a number of years, and that's what triggers the "terrorism" or "civil disturbance" clause in your travel insurance.

The only advice I can really give is to read the fine print - know what the insurance covers and what it doesn't cover. If there's any part of the insurance you don't understand, ask the insurance company to clarify.

For example, I booked a Kilimanjaro climb with Tusker. I checked the fine print on my insurance policy, and it mentioned that mountaineering wasn't covered. So, is climbing Kilimanjaro mountaineering or is it really just trekking? I asked the insurance company, and they sent me a definition of mountaineering which specified that mountaineering involved ropes or other protection, which isn't what I was doing on Kilimanjaro - so I was covered. I also had Tusker, my outfitter, confirm with the insurance company they recommend.

Percy

cary999

That is a good analyze of Insurance and Insurance Companies in general.


Percy

cary999

Thanks Percy, happy that someone "gets it". Like you say, good when considering any insurance for: car, life, product, travel, whatever. Self insurance is the best insurance, you are always the winner.

regards - tom