What Travel Insurance(s) best fits our upcoming oversea plan?

[winger]

We just started planning a multi-leg international trip (departing from the US) the first half of next year to celebrate a significant life milestone and would like to see what insurance(s) works best for our scenario. Here are maybe pertinent some details to consider:

• Duration: (between 35-50 days)
• Destinations: Japan, Hong Kong (maybe a quick jump into mainland China?), Bali
• Flights: The long hauls are paid with miles on OneWorld Alliance partners, shorter flights are cash
• Accomodations: Combinations of:
  - cash for hotels
  - Marriot timeshare in Bali booked with either Marriott Abound Trust Points or exchange with Interval International (or both)
  - maybe use some saved up points with the following hotels groups - IHG, Marriott, and Hyatt family
• Credit Card Used for booking flights and accomodations: Chase Sapphire Reserve
• Existing Health Insurance: HMO based in California
• We do NOT plan on renting a vehicle

Am I missing anything?

One big concern, especially more so for an extended trip abroad, is we be both have elderly parents here at home, one not in best of health, the other is doing good. A family friend had a parent pass at home three years ago while she on an extended trip - somewhat luckily she was only one state away so it was easy to to make it back home, and most of the hotels were cancellable (at least the once more than 24/48hrs out) and she was driving her own car (no flights or car rental to deal with).

Much thanks in advance.

 

[Luanne]

I have been using Squaremouth to compare and select travel insurance plans. Got the recommendation from someone here.

 

[elaine]

One thing to consider is that for pre-existing to be covered, the policy usually must be obtained 7-21 days after 1st deposit/payment for trip. I'm guessing air fees for FF/CC miles tickets would count? I do not know if the fine print includes elderly parents (meaning if they had an illness/death related to a pre-existing illness, I don't know that travel ins. would pay for trip interruption/cancellation unless you were in the pre-existing waiver time period--bought policy right after 1st payment).
I also use Squaremouth to compare plans. If similar pricing, I get a policy that pays as primary for medical.

 

[PcflEZFlng]

I also use Squaremouth and compare the plans offered. You'll need to read each policy carefully to see specifically what it covers. You might find it necessary to buy Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) coverage. For all my trips, I always buy CFAR coverage for peace of mind, because I can't predict or control whatever unexpected situation might develop. I also make sure to get plenty of primary medical and medivac coverage.

 

[Passepartout]

@winger You might consider just getting an evacuation policy. They don't cost a lot. You are pretty well covered -depending on your health insurance coverage. You don't seem to be under Medicare which is limited outside the US. Hotels can be cancelled withing 24 hours. Flights can be changed (with charges). Get whatever coverage Chase Saphire offers.

The Good Sam Travel Assist offers good coverage at a reasonable cost, but doesn't offer to get you home if a family member there (not traveling with you) has a health issue. They'll get all of you home if a traveling companion falls ill or injured, but not for family at home.

Jim

 

[alwysonvac]

After reading Passepartout's unexpected medical emergency in Germany back in 2018 (link), we've been getting travel insurance from Squaremouth for our international trips.

For our kickoff retirement trip to Sydney last year (19 night cruise from Honolulu to Sydney plus a one week stay at the Marriott in Sydney), we added cancel for any reason (CFAR) and interruption for any reason (IFAR) since we have older parents (late 80s to 90).

 

[winger]

After reading Passepartout's unexpected medical emergency in Germany back in 2018 (link), we've been getting travel insurance from Squaremouth for our international trips.

For our kickoff retirement trip to Sydney last year (19 night cruise from Honolulu to Sydney plus a one week stay at the Marriott in Sydney), we added cancel for any reason (CFAR) and interruption for any reason (IFAR) since we have older parents (late 80s to 90).

View attachment 109323

TY for the screenshot ... approx what was the cost of adding (CFAR) and interruption for any reason (IFAR) ?

 

[winger]

@winger You might consider just getting an evacuation policy. They don't cost a lot. You are pretty well covered -depending on your health insurance coverage. You don't seem to be under Medicare which is limited outside the US. Hotels can be cancelled withing 24 hours. Flights can be changed (with charges). Get whatever coverage Chase Saphire offers.

The Good Sam Travel Assist offers good coverage at a reasonable cost, but doesn't offer to get you home if a family member there (not traveling with you) has a health issue. They'll get all of you home if a traveling companion falls ill or injured, but not for family at home.

Jim

Not Medicare yet, just basic HMO coverage.
The evacuation policy seems like a good idea since we will be around the world. TY for the Good Sam ravel Assist , I will look into that.

 

[winger]

One thing to consider is that for pre-existing to be covered, the policy usually must be obtained 7-21 days after 1st deposit/payment for trip. I'm guessing air fees for FF/CC miles tickets would count? I do not know if the fine print includes elderly parents (meaning if they had an illness/death related to a pre-existing illness, I don't know that travel ins. would pay for trip interruption/cancellation unless you were in the pre-existing waiver time period--bought policy right after 1st payment).
I also use Squaremouth to compare plans. If similar pricing, I get a policy that pays as primary for medical.

For your getting a travel policy that offers "primary for medical" - what is the reason for this as opposed to using my own HMO coverage (Kaiser Permanente)?

 

[1Kflyerguy]

For your getting a travel policy that offers "primary for medical" - what is the reason for this as opposed to using my own HMO coverage (Kaiser Permanente)?

Does your current medical, Kaiser Permanente HMO, provide coverage outside of the US? Medicare and many private insurance plans provide coverage inside the US, thus you become uninsured while traveling internationally.

If your plan does cover you internationally, you should confirm how it works. My employer's medical does provide coverage internationally, which has been good so far.

 

[Passepartout]

For your getting a travel policy that offers "primary for medical" - what is the reason for this as opposed to using my own HMO coverage (Kaiser Permanente)?

'Primary for Medical' means that your travel insurance will pay the claim without first being submitted to your HMO, then being turned down and you having to resubmit the claim to them. It simply streamlines the claim process. Often the international provider requires being paid before you are released. The good news is that International medical care is substantially cheaper than it is in the USA. When I got my bill for 9 days in cardiac care in Germany, a shiny new pacemaker and treatment for heart failure, the bill was on a half sheet of paper and ~$10,000! I could've put it on a credit card, but primary travel insurance paid it as well as accompanied (by a flight nurse) lie-flat First Class transportation to my door at home. I never got a bill for the transportation. My DW had to ride in coach.

 

[elaine]

For your getting a travel policy that offers "primary for medical" - what is the reason for this as opposed to using my own HMO coverage (Kaiser Permanente)?

what others said...I'd rather not have to pay OOP in a foreign country and then wait to be reimbursed (possibly at a reduced rate), then have to submit to the travel insurance after that. I have a PPO (love the coverage-hate the admin/paperwork), so there can be lots of pieces (hospital, dr., radiology, etc.) that can be a pain to chase around to get the payments correctly applied/reimbursed; an HMO might deal with all of that for you.
For me, primary is just a little (less hassle) bonus on the policy if it's around the same price as another comparable one that pays as secondary.

 

[alwysonvac]

TY for the screenshot ... approx what was the cost of adding (CFAR) and interruption for any reason (IFAR) ?

It will vary based on your situation (age, total cost of trip, etc). I believe we may have paid $300 to $400 more. The site is easy to use with real time quotes and filters which allow you to modify your options (see screen captures below).

NOTE: Cancel for any reason and Interruption for any reason are time-sensitive, you must purchase your policy within 14-21 days of your initial trip deposit in order to be eligible for coverage (as shown in the screen capture below).

 

[alwysonvac]

https://www.usnews.com/insurance/travel/travel-insurance-for-seniors

https://www.usnews.com/insurance/travel/best-travel-insurance

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[WinniWoman]

For our 2 flights last year we bought refundable tickets and then we bought cancel for any reason travel insurance for the trips. Plus we have Medicare supplements for emergencies.

 

[elaine]

We have actually started "self-insuring" more trips (and have $6K/PP canx/interruption from our CC). We add a medical/evacuation insurance. Sometimes we get a cruise line ins policy that includes canx for any reason (credit for future cruise) if it's a decent price (they do not increase pricing for age) and add an extra medical/evac to cover the extended legs of the trip.