First time cruiser looking for Insurance advice

dllive

Hi all

My partner and I are booked for a 2 night cruise with MSC in May. We've never been on a cruise before, so this is all new to us.

Ive got a few questions please:

1) Should I go with one of the insurance options offered by MSC? (I did do a quick check, and it will cost about £10, which is nothing really)

2) Or would I be better to go with another insurance company, if so who?

3) Is there anything in particular I should look for in the small print?

4) I dont know if this is even an option, but if it is, are we better off getting insurance as a couple, or individually?

Thanks

katejo

dllive said:

Hi all

My partner and I are booked for a 2 night cruise with MSC in May. We've never been on a cruise before, so this is all new to us.

Ive got a few questions please:

1) Should I go with one of the insurance options offered by MSC? (I did do a quick check, and it will cost about £10, which is nothing really)

2) Or would I be better to go with another insurance company, if so who?

3) Is there anything in particular I should look for in the small print?

4) I dont know if this is even an option, but if it is, are we better off getting insurance as a couple, or individually?

Thanks

I am doing a 3 night cruise next week. I contacted my insurer in December and added cruises to my  annual policy. I had to add it immediately, not just at the end of January when I renewed my policy. 

eskbanker

dllive said:

3) Is there anything in particular I should look for in the small print?

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/cheap-travel-insurance/#accordion-content-0517185084-8 highlights some cruise-specific aspects worth insuring for, and then pointers about where to find them:

Most regular travel policies will only cover you for loss or theft of goods and medical costs while you're on a cruise. You may NOT be covered for other eventualities unless you upgrade your policy. These include:

• Missed departure
• Unused cruise excursions, for instance, a day trip to a city port
• Cruise itinerary change
• Cabin confinement, for example, onboard virus

dllive

Hmm, silly question, but Im getting quotes, and theres the question "Has anyone travelling been prescribed medication, received treatment or had a consultation with a doctor or hospital specialist for any medical condition in the past 2 years?"

We've been to the doctors a few times over 2 years. But dont remember exactly what for. (silly things like my NHS Health Checks, I think I also had an appointment for RSI etc). In order to make sure I fill the form in correctly, do you think we can contact my local GP surgery to confirm what medication has been prescribed, treatment received etc? Or do I need to book a telephone appointment with the GP? 

Thanks

eskbanker

dllive said:

In order to make sure I fill the form in correctly, do you think we can contact my local GP surgery to confirm what medication has been prescribed, treatment received etc? Or do I need to book a telephone appointment with the GP?

Yes, under the Data Protection Act you're entitled to copies of personal data held about you by any UK organisation, and medical practices aren't exempt from this, so are obliged to provide you with this - check with them what their specific procedures are....

heatherw_01

dllive said:

Hmm, silly question, but Im getting quotes, and theres the question "Has anyone travelling been prescribed medication, received treatment or had a consultation with a doctor or hospital specialist for any medical condition in the past 2 years?"

We've been to the doctors a few times over 2 years. But dont remember exactly what for. (silly things like my NHS Health Checks, I think I also had an appointment for RSI etc). In order to make sure I fill the form in correctly, do you think we can contact my local GP surgery to confirm what medication has been prescribed, treatment received etc? Or do I need to book a telephone appointment with the GP? 

Thanks

You have to declare anything otherwise if you fell ill and had to claim, they could wriggle out of it and say that it is related to your last visit/health issue.
The price doesn't always go up and some insurers let you declare, but not cover that specific issue.

If you have access to your medical records, you can read what you went to the doctor for, or you can ask them.

dllive

heatherw_01 said:

dllive said:

Hmm, silly question, but Im getting quotes, and theres the question "Has anyone travelling been prescribed medication, received treatment or had a consultation with a doctor or hospital specialist for any medical condition in the past 2 years?"

We've been to the doctors a few times over 2 years. But dont remember exactly what for. (silly things like my NHS Health Checks, I think I also had an appointment for RSI etc). In order to make sure I fill the form in correctly, do you think we can contact my local GP surgery to confirm what medication has been prescribed, treatment received etc? Or do I need to book a telephone appointment with the GP? 

Thanks

You have to declare anything otherwise if you fell ill and had to claim, they could wriggle out of it and say that it is related to your last visit/health issue.
The price doesn't always go up and some insurers let you declare, but not cover that specific issue.

If you have access to your medical records, you can read what you went to the doctor for, or you can ask them.

I spoke to my GP surgery. They told me to download the NHS app. I then had to phone them back because the app was saying my GP had to enable my records to show in the app. So hopefully over the next few days my records will start to show in the app, which is great!

I will obviously be declaring everything becuase I dont want to give the insurers any wriggle room. And thankfully, neither myself or my partner has had any 'serious' that weve seen the doctors about.

Im curious: if I were not to declare that I had (for example) brain cancer; but then tried to make a claim becuase I got covid, could they deny the claim? Or can they only deny a claim if I didnt declare something that was relevant to the claim being made?

I seem to remember about 10 years ago a law was made saying insurers had to upheld buildings insurance claims, even if the homeowner didnt declare something. But only if what the homeowner didnt declare would have had an impact on the claim. (if that makes sense)

katejo

dllive said:

heatherw_01 said:

dllive said:

Hmm, silly question, but Im getting quotes, and theres the question "Has anyone travelling been prescribed medication, received treatment or had a consultation with a doctor or hospital specialist for any medical condition in the past 2 years?"

We've been to the doctors a few times over 2 years. But dont remember exactly what for. (silly things like my NHS Health Checks, I think I also had an appointment for RSI etc). In order to make sure I fill the form in correctly, do you think we can contact my local GP surgery to confirm what medication has been prescribed, treatment received etc? Or do I need to book a telephone appointment with the GP? 

Thanks

You have to declare anything otherwise if you fell ill and had to claim, they could wriggle out of it and say that it is related to your last visit/health issue.
The price doesn't always go up and some insurers let you declare, but not cover that specific issue.

If you have access to your medical records, you can read what you went to the doctor for, or you can ask them.

I spoke to my GP surgery. They told me to download the NHS app. I then had to phone them back because the app was saying my GP had to enable my records to show in the app. So hopefully over the next few days my records will start to show in the app, which is great!

I will obviously be declaring everything becuase I dont want to give the insurers any wriggle room. And thankfully, neither myself or my partner has had any 'serious' that weve seen the doctors about.

Im curious: if I were not to declare that I had (for example) brain cancer; but then tried to make a claim becuase I got covid, could they deny the claim? Or can they only deny a claim if I didnt declare something that was relevant to the claim being made?

I seem to remember about 10 years ago a law was made saying insurers had to upheld buildings insurance claims, even if the homeowner didnt declare something. But only if what the homeowner didnt declare would have had an impact on the claim. (if that makes sense)

The claim doesn't have to be relevant to the undeclared condition. Did you see the case in the news recently of a woman who suffered a serious brain condition abroad (cancer I think) but the insurance refused to pay out because she hadn't told them that she had just started taking HRT? 

dllive

katejo said:

The claim doesn't have to be relevant to the undeclared condition. Did you see the case in the news recently of a woman who suffered a serious brain condition abroad (cancer I think) but the insurance refused to pay out because she hadn't told them that she had just started taking HRT? 

No, I didnt see that! Poor lady! 

Thanks for confirming. I suspected that may be the case.  This is why Im always super-diligent when it comes to my buildings/car/indemnity renewals as its just not worth 'getting creative' for the sake of saving a few pounds.

zagfles

Some insurers are ridiculously fussy about medical stuff, mine is fairly relaxed and only serious stuff like inpatient treatment, travelling against medical advice, terminal illness, or waiting for test results needs to be declared. Even then it's mostly only if you book something while eg awaiting test results, if already booked you'd be OK. 

The other small print issue you must check is the alcohol policy - that catches a lot of people out. I don't think any insurance will cover you if you get drunk. Some will say they won't cover you if "under the influence" which basically means it's useless unless you're a teetotaller, and others won't cover you if your judgement is impaired or words to that effect, which I think means you can have a drink or two but not 6 pints or a whole bottle of wine!

daveyjp

The risk for a two night cruise from Southampton is so low I wouldn't overthink it,  If you have a condition, or take regular medication just fill in the medical info on the quote form.

If you are ill on a ship and need evacuation by UK coastguard helicopter there is no charge.