Looking for recommendations for the best travel insurance that covers possible medical emergencies.
Posted by
92 posts
Rick has a good overview, in case you haven't already seen it: https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/trip-planning/travel-insurance
Posted by
OP
Arizona
5 posts
Also wondering if anyone has purchased travel insurance through Costo?
Posted by
Massachusetts
1537 posts
This question is asked regularly. Here are some previous discussions:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/insurance-for-evacuations
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
16139 posts
I also recommend you take a look at squaremouth.com and insuremytrip.com to do some comparisons.
First you need to decide what you want to cover. Is that medical emergencies while you are traveling or some kind of medical emergency you might have before you travel causing you to cancel? Does your current insurance cover international? IF you are of Medicare age then no, Medicare does not cover but yes, some of the supplements have International coverage.
Do you also want to cover the cost of prepaid expenses on a trip such as a RS or other company's tour? I usually book airfare with a legacy airline and I know what they will do if I have to cancel at the last moment but you should look at your airline of choice to see what their parameters are on the ticket level you are buying. I don't do non-refundable hotels so can cancel pretty close to my travel date.
Some like the Cancel For Any Reason insurance but I don't get that. It will typically only cover 60-75% of your insured costs AND will not really cover cancellation for ANY reason, only the reasons the company lists.
I'll also say that what I might decide is "best" for me insurance-wise might not be best for others.
Posted by
AZ 🌵
3432 posts
Carrie, first read through the links provided so you are well informed about your options.
Then read the policy fine print carefully before buying. Most comprehensive trip insurance has a pre-existing conditions clauses that require you buy insurance with in 14 to 21 days after spending the first dollar on your trip. Allianz trip insurance is often recommended on the forum.
If you only need Medical, look at GeoBlue. I know their annual policy does not have the pre-existing clause. Your US insurance might have some medical coverage.
You have more financial risk if you need medical evacuation. Look at Medjet. They are evacuation only, not medical insurance. They will get you to the hospital of your choice after you are deemed safe to travel (hospital to hospital transfer).
Posted by
California
8 posts
An option we have used is AARDY https://www.aardy.com/ After submitting some basic information about your total cost of travel, location, length of stay, etc. you receive multiple quotes. You can compare the insurance premiums; amount of coverage; etc. It is a simple way to compare options.
Posted by
Florida
57 posts
For the Costco Travel Insurance, do you have to have booked your tour/travel through Costco? If so, I don't think this would work for Rick Steves Tours as I don't think his tours can be booked through Costco Travel. That's the way I'm reading it. Can anyone shed some light? Also does anyone know what threat level is not covered by Travel Insurance. For Instance, Italy is listed at Level 2 right now - Exercise Increased Caution. I assume trip/medical insurance would still be valid under a Level 2?
Posted by
ID
351 posts
I bought travel insurance from Costco last year for an Alaska cruise bought through them. The price was good compared to others as I remember because it wasn't age based. So good option for older travelers. I didn't make any claim.
You are eligible to purchase if any part of the trip is through Costco. For instance just the rental car allows you to insure the whole trip.
Posted by
37 posts
We buy GeoBlue because we take several international trips each year in addition to RS and GeoBlue covers all trips for a full year from the purchase date.
But has anyone ever filed a claim with GeoBlue?
We have not.
Posted by
1 posts
Allianz Travel Insurance: A Disappointing and Frustrating Experience
I purchased a travel insurance policy from Allianz with the expectation of reliable coverage, but my experience with their claims process was nothing short of a nightmare. They were quick to take my money for the policy, but when I needed to file a claim, their entire approach changed.
The most shocking part of the process was when they informed me that my policy was "secondary insurance." This was never made clear during the purchase, and it immediately complicated the entire situation. They refused to even look into my claim until I had exhausted all options with my primary insurer, a requirement that was both unreasonable and a clear roadblock to getting the help I paid for.
The claims department made the process unnecessarily difficult. I was met with unreasonable requests for an excessive amount of documents, many of which were difficult or impossible to obtain. It felt like they were deliberately trying to deter me from continuing the claim, and it worked. To make matters worse, all of my attempts to get clarification or a status update were met with silence. They simply did not answer my communications, leaving me completely in the dark and feeling abandoned.
In the end, I paid for a policy that provided no real protection or peace of mind. The company's refusal to process my claim, combined with their lack of communication, has made me regret ever doing business with them. I strongly advise anyone considering Allianz travel insurance to be extremely cautious and to read the fine print very carefully.