Question about Marriott Travel Insurance

[dgf15215]

My wife handles our relationship/communication with MVC on an ongoing basis. During her most recent conversation with them while booking future uses of our points, she was pitched on their travel insurance plan but was told that it doesn't cover the lost use of points. Doing a search here on the world "insurance" I found multiple threads that indicated that lost points were or were supposed to be covered. Is there some synopsis of their insurance program posted here somewhere? As we travel internationally at least once a year and do use our points at multiple times in multiple locations, the cost point of the Marriott plan is very attractive compared to what I normally buy individually for international travel when you add in the other coverage it offers. Frankly, I believe that I'll get more on-point answers here than I will calling them and asking them. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Fasttr]

When you say "points" are you talking MR points, or DC points?

 

[dgf15215]

When you say "points" are you talking MR points, or DC points?

DC points. Sorry not be clearer on that point.

 

[Fasttr]

DC points. Sorry not be clearer on that point.

No sweat....it was this comment that made me wonder. "As we travel internationally at least once a year and do use our points at multiple times in multiple locations"

As for DC points.....All of the MVC policies over the past few years covered DC points. I have not yet purchased 2019's, so can't say 100% for sure that the current policy does, but I would be surprised if it did not.

 

[ljmiii]

The Travelex insurance covers both points and weeks...but it doesn't return the points to you. It refunds the maintenance fees you paid on those points or weeks - up to $10,000/yr. The big ticket coverage it provides is Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation up to $250,000, Accident Sickness Medical Expense up to $25,000, and Accidental Death & Dismemberment up to $25,000. It also covers a variety of incidental stuff like lost or delayed luggage, missed connections, etc. in the $200-$2000 range.

You DO need to purchase the insurance within 3 days of paying your Maintenance Fees or you will not be covered for pre-existing conditions - I wait until the last business day in November to pay all my MFs (which have different due dates) and then call to buy the insurance (with cash...the pay with points options is expensive). From the 2019 Travelex policy...

"PRE-EXISTING CONDITION EXCLUSION WAIVER: The pre-existing condition exclusion is waived if the plan was purchased
within 3 days of your payment on Maintenance charges. Please contact Member Services for further clarification."

Another thing to keep in mind is that the insurance covers the year of the points...not the year you use them. So your coverage of your 2019 points provides protection whether you use them in 2019, 2020, or 2021 but NOT a trip you take in 2019 using 2018 points. Also, it apparently does NOT cover non-MVCI uses of the points - Collette tours, Third Home, etc.

 

[tiel]

"PRE-EXISTING CONDITION EXCLUSION WAIVER: The pre-existing condition exclusion is waived if the plan was purchased
within 3 days of your payment on Maintenance charges. Please contact Member Services for further clarification."
.

Just curious. What if you own multiple weeks, and pay your MFs on the different weeks at different times? When is the 3-day restriction effective? We own 5 weeks, and spread the MFs over a couple of months to ease the pain.

 

[Steve Fatula]

And another, what happens if you use 2019 points, for which you have not paid MF yet, in 2018? How could that trip be covered?

 

[ljmiii]

And another, what happens if you use 2019 points, for which you have not paid MF yet, in 2018? How could that trip be covered?

It couldn't. MVCI has 'returned' points - sometimes into a holding account...sometimes not - depending on the circumstances. But you wouldn't have coverage for the Emergency Evacuation and all the other stuff.

 

[ljmiii]

Just curious. What if you own multiple weeks, and pay your MFs on the different weeks at different times? When is the 3-day restriction effective? We own 5 weeks, and spread the MFs over a couple of months to ease the pain.

No idea. 2018 was the first year for which I bought coverage and I repeatedly called both Travelex and MVCI to find out how to deal with the diverse due dates for my weeks and points and no one knew. So I ended up deciding to pay all my MFs on the last day I could for the earliest due date and then buying the insurance that day.

Interestingly enough, when I called in late 2017 to set all this up one of the reps (I can't remember if she was from Travelex or MVCI) said that the pre-existing condition clause only mattered the first year. When I renewed the next year I would be covered no matter what. But when I called to renew a few weeks ago the MVCI rep I spoke with had no idea what I was talking about - she didn't know how to 'renew' the policy. So she sold me a new one for my 2019 weeks/points and since I did it within 3 days I am covered.

 

[Steve Fatula]

Travelex did tell me that exchanges were covered based on the week year deposited. But not getaways.

 

[Dolphin]

I will speak from personal experience, the answer is they will cover the points with $$. About 3 years ago we had planned a 2 week vacation with my son and daughter in law. I had my MOC week and then DC points for KL for a week. My brother and wife where with us too. Anyhow as soon as we landed my son had left a VM that my daughter in law was in Hospital and it was very serious. We had to get home ASAP (she ended up ok after a week thank God), but we had to change flights (had first class), cancel various outings during the 2 weeks. But my brother and wife stayed and used our units MOC and KL. I tried to down size but too late.

I kept all receipts and created a spreadsheet with each thing we had to change and a total for all of our expens. For MOC and KL, I went on Marriotts website using what they were asking $$ I put in my little spreadsheet. At the end I had a cost analysis with letters from DRs and the Insurance paid for everything. Including new flights we need to go to an different city, kept our First Class even and paid both MOC and KL weeks based on what Marriott asked for on their website (and brother still stayed at the units). I did not get my points or week back but I got $$ which I thought was great. I will never go on a trip without having this Insurance, it is cheap compared to what I had to lose if I did not have it.

 

[Superchief]

Last year, I learned that the coverage period is only for the two years including the paid for usage year. Therefore, if you deposit for exchange or bank DC points for 2 additional years, any usage after the 2 yr limit will not be covered. Although I haven't checked policies this year, there was a restriction in policies last year that there would be no coverage for lost use/resort closure if the check in date wast more than 30 days after the storm/event. This restriction may have been changed because there were a lot of upset people last year after extended resort closures at Ocean Pointe and St. Thomas.

 

[ljmiii]

Last year, I learned that the coverage period is only for the two years including the paid for usage year. Therefore, if you deposit for exchange or bank DC points for 2 additional years, any usage after the 2 yr limit will not be covered. Although I haven't checked policies this year, there was a restriction in policies last year that there would be no coverage for lost use/resort closure if the check in date wast more than 30 days after the storm/event. This restriction may have been changed because there were a lot of upset people last year after extended resort closures at Ocean Pointe and St. Thomas.

The 30 day restriction has indeed been removed (or at least that was what the rep said). Which is part of why the price of the policy increased from $169 to $199.

 

[Venter]

Glad I started reading this.

I always thought the concensus was that the Marriott insurance was not worth the cost. Looks like I got it wrong and that using points is not worth it but purchasing is. I will have to jump on this but have a couple of extra questions.

Does this cover all travel or just Marriott holidays?
Will this cover the whole family (my children are still young) or just the members?
Is there any medical included?

Thanks.

 

[Dolphin]

Glad I started reading this.

I always thought the concensus was that the Marriott insurance was not worth the cost. Looks like I got it wrong and that using points is not worth it but purchasing is. I will have to jump on this but have a couple of extra questions.

Does this cover all travel or just Marriott holidays?
Will this cover the whole family (my children are still young) or just the members?
Is there any medical included?

Thanks.

Yes I would buy not use points. Back when we used ours I believe we where told up to 9 people in our party would be covered. In fact some of my cost recovered was from tickets bought for my son and daughter-in-law, not members. Medical Sickness up to $25k and Emergency Evac $250K.

 

[Passepartout]

Is the medical coverage Primary, or must you submit claims to another carrier first?

 

[jeepie]

Many of the questions being asked are important, and best answered by the carrier.

https://www.travelexinsurance.com/d...ument.ashx?filename=MVCT-1015_10101_00000.pdf

You will see some answers on this document, as well as how to contact them. You may want to get a specimen policy. If you are unable to decipher how the coverage works (and this is not unusual in the murky world of insurance), ask them questions.

@Venter, the document states:

“Please note: This plan is available for Marriott Vacation Club® bookings and other travel arrangements (as defined in the Policy under Trip Cost) made in conjunction with a Marriott Vacation Club® booking; travel arrangements made through Marriott Vacation Club® that involve third party cruise lines or tour operators, as well as reservations to utilize vacation homes, are excluded.”

You may want to contact a travel insurance provider (there are a few) and have them compare this policy against your needs. Just keep in mind, they get paid to sell you something. FWIW, I do buy the MVCI coverage, but also selectively buy coverage for the occasional major non-timeshare trip (in our case, we have elderly parents and want to be covered for trip interruption in case we need to return home unexpectedly). Most of the time, I “self-insure” because of a cost-benefit evaluation and my history in only rarely canceling or interrupting a trip. Ymmv. Cheers.

 

[Dean]

I always thought the concensus was that the Marriott insurance was not worth the cost. Looks like I got it wrong and that using points is not worth it but purchasing is. I will have to jump on this but have a couple of extra questions.

For most people and most situations travel insurance is not a good purchase but there are situations where it is for the Marriott product, esp when you have multiple people traveling and/or multiple big trips. We covered a 3 week HI trip with 15 people and an Aruba trip with 8 plus our other large trips that are closer to home.

 

[Safti]

Question: does the insurance plan also cover you if you are staying at a Marriott Hotel, say, using your travel package or if you go to Europe and just staying at a Marriott brand for a week on points?

 

[tiel]

For most people and most situations travel insurance is not a good purchase but there are situations where it is for the Marriott product, esp when you have multiple people traveling and/or multiple big trips. We covered a 3 week HI trip with 15 people and an Aruba trip with 8 plus our other large trips that are closer to home.

For the entire group to be covered, do they have to have the same travel itinerary...everyone traveling together at the same time?

 

[Dean]

There are others better versed on this than I.

Question: does the insurance plan also cover you if you are staying at a Marriott Hotel, say, using your travel package or if you go to Europe and just staying at a Marriott brand for a week on points?

Here's the info I have and from the above brochure.

Please note: This plan is available for Marriott Vacation Club® bookings and other travel arrangements (as defined in the Policy under Trip Cost) made in conjunction with a Marriott Vacation Club® booking; travel arrangements made through Marriott Vacation Club® that involve third party cruise lines or tour operators, as well as reservations to utilize vacation homes, are excluded.

As I read it no, nor would cruises or Collete or similar be covered.

For the entire group to be covered, do they have to have the same travel itinerary...everyone traveling together at the same time?

My understanding is they only need to be accompanying you. I asked about this at one point and was told there was no registration required and the 8 covered (used to be 12) could change during the trip.

 

[Steve Fatula]

It couldn't. MVCI has 'returned' points - sometimes into a holding account...sometimes not - depending on the circumstances. But you wouldn't have coverage for the Emergency Evacuation and all the other stuff.

I sent this question to Travelex and they assure me that the borrowed points would be covered if I had a plan. The reason this is so is that I can buy plans for the following year. This then allows me to borrow points and still be covered. You can buy plans for the current year and 2 years into the future. It's really not much different than weeks where you can arrange trips using next years week.

The biggest problem with this insurance seems to be their insistence on MVCI. So, if I go to somewhere overseas, and stop somewhere on the way that is considered a "hotel" property, it's not covered.

 

[ljmiii]

I sent this question to Travelex and they assure me that the borrowed points would be covered if I had a plan. The reason this is so is that I can buy plans for the following year. This then allows me to borrow points and still be covered. You can buy plans for the current year and 2 years into the future...

Fascinating. Which begs the question, "If you buy the coverage *before* you can pay MFs are you covered for pre-existing conditions?", and not "within 3 days of your payment on Maintenance charges" as stated in the Benefit Purchase Limitations.

 

[NJMOM2]

The 30 day restriction has indeed been removed (or at least that was what the rep said). Which is part of why the price of the policy increased from $169 to $199.

We are only Enrolled Select Owners and our insurance cost went down to $99. We actually own multiple weeks but we're only at the Select Level.

According the flyer the coverage is the same whether Executive/Presidential/Chairman’s Club/Multi-week Owners or Owners/Select/single week Owners.

 

[NJMOM2]

I haven't read the whole 24 pages of my policy but this is what my policy says about pre-existing conditions. The link in my confirmation email said click link to view your Policy based on your state of residence. I don't know what would be different based on your state of residence. (ADDED: Just quickly read through policy - New Jersey changes are on the last few pages.) However, here is link to the policy.

https://www.travelexinsurance.com/d...ument.ashx?filename=MVCB-1117F_0201_32207.pdf

Extra Coverage (when the insurance plan is purchased within 3 days of payment of the Insured’s billing statement for Maintenance Charges or the Effective Date of this plan is the date following the termination date of a previous plan purchased through the same Property Management Company) • Pre-Existing Medical Condition Exclusion Waiver

Pre-existing Medical Conditions For annual plans pre-existing medical conditions will be covered after the Insured’s insurance plan has been in effect for at least 60 days. Any pre-existing medical conditions will be covered if the Insured applies in a new plan effective immediately after the end of the annual term. If the Insured applies at a later date, the pre-existing medical conditions will not be covered until the new insurance plan has been in effect for at least 90 days.