Good article on why you should have travel insurance -

[Anthony]

The is not a happy story for the couple involved - but - it does illustrate why travel insurance is a good deal/idea:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/travel/04prac.html

[XOXO]

Wow, Anthony, thank you for the information. We have blue cross and blue shield and I always assumed that we were covered. I will have to check.

Our vehicle policy provides coverage on our rental car--I assumed that it was the same coverage we have on our own vehicles. I should look into that and make sure I am clear on it before the next trip.

We had our eyes opened last week and I will report more on that later.

I feel so bad for that couple.

Gina

[bevm]

Very interesting Anthony. We purchase trip cancellation/interruption insurance every time we travel. One year we were on a cruise and we got a call at sea during dinner that my husband's father was dying and we needed to get home ASAP. Our ship docked in Curacao the next day. We got a flight from there to Miami. It was President's Weekend and all the flights to PHL were filled. One agent found two seats left on a flight. The tickets were $1200 each. Desperate, we took them hoping that our insurance would get us some of that money back. We were relieved to get a full refund!! My husband's father came through only to die several months later. I always recommend travel insurance to everyone. For the few extra dollars you have to spend it gives you tremendous peace of mind while you're away.

[XOXO]

So sorry about the loss Bev. My eyes are open now though and I am going to get trip insurance for now on. Usually I book everything myself but I think I am going to start getting an agent.

Gina

[California Girl]

Thanks for posting that Anthony. A situation like that is the main reason I usually buy trip insurance. Hurricanes can be a good reason, but an accident like that can happen any time, anywhere. Even in a case like Bev's... maybe YOU won't have a problem, but you will be involved in something beyond your control. It's always better to be prepared for an event that hopefully will not happen.

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[Anthony]

nyestreet - it sounds like you were very lucky! My in-laws were here last Feb. - my father-in-law fell in our bathroom, cracking several ribs. He was in the hospital here for days, and then several more in a private re-hab hospital. Medicare doesn't cover out of country - they had to pay the private hospital with a credit card, and just got the bill from the public hospital - which they thought would be covered by their private insurance, and now were just told wouldn't be. So I think in total they have spent over $4,000 on hospitals plus other misc. medical and travel expenses - that probably would all have been covered with a $300 travel ins. policy!

[XOXO]

NYStREET: I am not clear--did you have insurance? If not, how did it workout so well?

Gina

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[Anthony]

"Great Britain has socialized medical." So does Italy, as well as most of the rest of the world. But many countries are:

a.) phasing this out for non-residents
b.) cutting back and requiring co-pays from residents (there are co-pays here in Italy on some drugs and small co-pays for procedures - if you can afford them).

Also a of people in these countries (like in the UK) still have private insurances as a back up to the govt. plans. Especially in the UK - hospital procedures and sugeries, etc. there can take months of waiting. Conventional wisdom still has the Scandinavian countries and France as the best for health care - while the system in the UK is generally heavily criticized. Here in Italy is a mixed bag (for residents). For foreigners/tourists - it depends. I broke an arm here as a tourist 11 years ago. Never saw a hospital bill (probably would now - like my in-laws did!) but did have to pay $200 to a private clinic for x-rays and $300 to a private doctor.

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[traveler22]

I usually get travel insurance if we go out of country or during hurricane season but does anybody know if our mainland health Ins. (blue cross/shield) cover us in the VI's?

[RickG]

Travel insurance is a personal decision. Insurance is all about shifting risk from the insured to the insurer. One of the big things you are purchasing is predictability; some insurers call this peace of mind. You're essentially buying a hedge against unanticipated events. If it makes sense for you, then you should make purchase.

It rarely makes sense for me to purchase travel insurance.

Cheers, RickG

[petepie]

Also, you only need insurance to cover the amount of money you would actually lose if you canceled the trip. For example, if you book a $6000 trip, but $2000 is for a cancelable hotel room, then your real exposure is only $4000, not the full $6000, so don't pay for extra insurance above and beyond what you will need.

[Anthony]

Also, you only need insurance to cover the amount of money you would actually lose

True - but if you are talking about renting a villa - that money once paid is probably not-refundable (especially if you are already on-island). Say you are on St. John and break a leg - if you want to leave and cut the trip short, the CSA travel insurance we promote here (link in the left column) would cover the villa cost, as well as reimburse 150% of the insured amount of the trip to cover the higher cost entailed in having to leave on short notice.