Very Ill Family Member-If we can't go..?

[javabean]

We may have the situation everyone dreads. Mother is very ill and MGV week is only 3 weeks away. I know all the info is out there regarding our options but I would appreciate it if tuggers could summarize my options for me. I have just purchased Travel Guard, what should I check on or prepare for next?
Many thanks,
Deb

 

[icydog]

We may have the situation everyone dreads. Mother is very ill and MGV week is only 3 weeks away. I know all the info is out there regarding our options but I would appreciate it if tuggers could summarize my options for me. I have just purchased Travel Guard, what should I check on or prepare for next?
Many thanks,
Deb

If you have Travel Guard you are golden. I used them once and they paid all my money back. You will have to get your doc to say that this was not a
pre-existing condition, NOT anything chronic, but a new flare up of something or other. My doc said I had a flare up of arthritis and couldn't travel-- if that gives you any ideas.

 

[ciscogizmo1]

If you have Travel Guard you are golden. I used them once and they paid all my money back. You will have to get your doc to say that this was not a
pre-existing condition, NOT anything chronic, but a new flare up of something or other. My doc said I had a flare up of arthritis and couldn't travel-- if that gives you any ideas.

Actually, many travel insurance policy will cover for pre-exisiting conditions. The key is what doee your policy say. First, I would read the policy or call the insurance company to find out what your options are. Second, I would follow what the policy recommends.

I've purchased travel insurance with pre-existing illness covered. However, you must purchase the insurance within X days of booking the trip. Every policy is dfferent so, you really need to be careful and research. I use insuremytrip all the time to see all the different policies and read the fine print. Good luck!

 

[dougp26364]

If you purchased the insurance after you knew your family member was ill, chances are you won't be covered. In many instances it's the same for hurricane insurance. Once the storm has a name your not going to be covered for that particular storm.

Insurance is suppose to cover for unforseen events. They generally exclude known events or high risk (pre-existing conditions) that are very likely to occur. The time to purchase insurance is before something happens, not after the fact.

Read your policy carefully. You may not have coverage for mothers illness. Most policy's have a free look period where you can cancel and get your premium back (7 or 10 days is what sticks in my mind). If you're within that period of time and you find they will not cover a cancelation due to your mothers current illness, you may be able to get your money back.

 

[m61376]

Sorry to hear about your Mom.

Besides the insurance route, which may be questionable due to what others have already posted, your other option would be to decide within the next few days what you are going to do. If you are going to cancel, then you can deposit the week into II as long as it is over 14 days.

Keep in mind that this will only be good for a Flexchange trade, so you should call Marriott first, lock off the unit, and then deposit the two halves. That way, you will have 2 Flexchange only deposits to use. That is the only way to salvage the week as a trader at this point.

The airlines will generally let you cancel and issue vouchers good for 1 year from the date of the initial reservation, if you also have airfare to contend with.

Unfortunately, my Dad died unexpectedly last December a little over 2 weeks before we were set to go to Aruba. I know my friend was able to handle all of this on a Sunday for me, and at least I didn't lose the week completely.

I hope things turn around for you.

 

[ciscogizmo1]

If you purchased the insurance after you knew your family member was ill, chances are you won't be covered. In many instances it's the same for hurricane insurance. Once the storm has a name your not going to be covered for that particular storm.

That's not true for travel insurance. Have you been to insuremytrip dot com. I actually bought trip insurance and my Dad had a pre-existing condition cancer so, it was covered if I had to stay and help. It even covered if I had to stay take care of him since I was the primary care giver. I'd say on this site most of the policies covered pre-exisiting conditions if bought within X amount of days of booking the trip. I use to think the way you did until I went to this site.

 

[winger]

That's not true for travel insurance. Have you been to insuremytrip dot com. I actually bought trip insurance and my Dad had a pre-existing condition cancer so, it was covered if I had to stay and help. It even covered if I had to stay take care of him since I was the primary care giver. I'd say on this site most of the policies covered pre-exisiting conditions if bought within X amount of days of booking the trip. I use to think the way you did until I went to this site.

thanks for this site. but i did not see any mention of the scenario if one has to cancel a villa gotten thru an exchange, like if i used my manor club to exchange into ko olina using interval international. is this covered and how much do they value this exchange?

 

[ciscogizmo1]

thanks for this site. but i did not see any mention of the scenario if one has to cancel a villa gotten thru an exchange, like if i used my manor club to exchange into ko olina using interval international. is this covered and how much do they value this exchange?

Depends on the policy... I'd call and ask which ever one you want to use.

 

[m61376]

thanks for this site. but i did not see any mention of the scenario if one has to cancel a villa gotten thru an exchange, like if i used my manor club to exchange into ko olina using interval international. is this covered and how much do they value this exchange?

Interesting question, since if you cancel your reservation that was an ownership week the coverage is for your MF's only, I believe. My guess is that would be the coverage as well, plus perhaps your exchange fees; when you figure it out, post back.

Travelguard for a Getaway week covered the cost of the Getaway. Glad we purchased it, because we canceled a very expensive Harborside Getaway scheduled for September. I must say, they were wonderful about it and very prompt in handling things. American Airlines was very accommodating as well, and actually gave us a complete refund for 5 tickets.

 

[winger]

I guess I would purchase insurance if the actual cost were substantial. For example, if we were taking someone "of risk" with us (like DMIL) and/or we purchased non-refundable airline tickets for four of us to Hawaii.

However, so far we been fortunate and have used FF miles to Hawaii and TS weeks. So cost is not really too out there. I thought I read one FAQ in the insuremytrip that some policy may give you coach ticket cost if you used FF to obtain the seat. That would be nice!

 

[pwrshift]

If you exchange with II they have their own insurance program, for $69 if I remember correctly. I've had to use it twice and got $1000 refunds - which is the max but wouldn't cover flights, etc. At least it helps. I usually buy the insur if I'm going during hurricane season but both times I got the refund for health - once me and once my guest's. I think it's harder to get the refund for hurricanes as you have to have 'official' notification that the resort is closed.

Brian

 

[dougp26364]

That's not true for travel insurance. Have you been to insuremytrip dot com. I actually bought trip insurance and my Dad had a pre-existing condition cancer so, it was covered if I had to stay and help. It even covered if I had to stay take care of him since I was the primary care giver. I'd say on this site most of the policies covered pre-exisiting conditions if bought within X amount of days of booking the trip. I use to think the way you did until I went to this site.

Not only have I been to insuremytrip.com, I've had a claim denied from one of the companies they sell on their site. Others who suffered the same loss on my trip had claims paid. It depends on the insurance company issuing the policy what they will and what they won't pay.

Each insurance company is different. Insuremytrip.com is only a vendor and will not back up any claim made to the insurance company.

As I stated before READ the insurance policy very carefully. Some policies will pay, most won't. CSA is probably the most liberal about paying claims and the most liberal with the conditions required to pay a claim. Most strictly prohibit pre-existing conditions. A few limit pre-existing conditions but, if the condition has been "stable" according to the terms of the policy (high blood pressure, diabetes et....) then they may be coverd.

CSA does have a policy, but it's more expensice, that waives pre-existing conditions. Others wave pre-existing conditions if purchased within a set number of days after booking your trip.

It's really really important to READ the policy rather than assume your covered. Otherwise you could end up out several hundered dollars ($1,500 in our case) when you have to file a claim. If the OP is within the "free look" period and they discover they have one of the many policies that does NOT cover pre-existing conditions such as they are facing, they can get their money back. If not it could be a bad thing to just assume that they'll have their claim paid. It all depends on the terms of the policy they purchased. Insuremytrip.com has several companies, all with different rules, that they offer for sale.

This is but one example from one company of what's excluded under pre-existing conditions. However, if this particular policy was purchased within 14 days of the initial payment for the vacation, the pre-existing conditions clause is waived. Knowing when the OP purchased the policy (within the time preiod required to waive pre-existing conditions) hasn't been posted but, judging from the tone of the post I'd say it was more or less a last minute purchase.

Existing medical
condition
An illness or injury that you, a traveling companion or family
member were seeking or receiving treatment for or had symptoms of on
the day you purchased your plan, or at any time in the 120 days before
you purchased it.
You, a traveling companion or family member are considered to have
an existing medical condition if you, a traveling companion or
family member:
· saw or were advised to see a doctor
· had symptoms that would cause a prudent person to see a doctor
· were taking prescribed medication for the condition or the
symptoms, unless the condition or symptoms are effectively
controlled by the prescription, and the prescription hasn’t changed