H and S are going on an Indonesian dive vacation over winter break. They are required to have dive insurance and we also want to get trip/travel insurance. Lots of flights-we planned for delayed flights which are notorious in Indonesia but there is still risk of missed flights which could derail things, booked airlines with highest safety ratings( but it’s still Indonesia), and definitely want to be covered for accidents/illness. We haven’t bought this type of insurance before. Any recommendations?
I use Squaremouth.com before every trip to compare the policies available, since my specific policy needs may vary from one trip to the next. Since many of my trips involve “adventure” activities, it’s important for me to choose a policy that covers my activities and has appropriate medical and evacuation coverages for the region.
The provider I have ended up using most often is WorldNomads, but I’ve also used AXA, HTH, and a couple others.
I used TravelGuard when we went to Italy last year.
Check the specific benefits of the card you use to book your travel on. It may have some form of trip cancellation/interruption insurance. I know our Chase and Citi cards do.
Agree about World Nomads for “adventure” coverage.
I have successfully used TravelGuard. Major medical issues that arise while one is in Indonesia may be best treated in Singapore. I’d be sure to have good med evacuation coverage.
Thank you everyone. I will make sure that they have appropriate coverage though they think it’s unnecessary. I keep reminding them that cheap can be expensive!
I have “free” insurance thru Chase Sapphire card. (It covers trips completely booked and paid for on the CC.). MedJet Assist is good for travel evacuation insurance, if they’re interested in that as well.
I just got back from Spain. I paid $74 for Allianz (Jefferson Insurance). I didn’t use it, but they have website access and phone numbers just in case.
Good to know, @HImom. Chase Sapphire card is the major card we use, and the trip is booked on this. I’ll have to look more closely at the benefits. They needed dive insurance to book the trip and bought the cheapest! I’ll have to figure out what’s already covered to figure out what more they will need. S’s flight home from school arrives 10 hours before they begin their travel to Indonesia and they’ll spend the night at a hotel near the airport. I want to make sure that this is also covered as part of the trip because a delay here could derail everything. @“aunt bea” I wish I was looking at only $74 for insurance!
I dislike tight connections, as so much can go amiss. I know many people schedule very little time for potential delays and at best can just get back some money when the timetable doesn’t work.
We have never yet filed a claim with Chase Sapphire but happy to have it without having to pay “extra,” other than the travel agency charging us a 3% convenience fee that they have to pay the lab.
I always recommend Travelex because I had to use them for D. On vacation, suspected appendicitis. They paid for a doctor and a surgical consult, even though it turned out she didn’t have it. Zero out of pocket and very easy to deal with while it was happening and afterward.
Huge thumbs up from me. We had the “Travel Lite” policy, this was in 2007.
Thank you, @OHMomof2. I was looking at Travelex because my son would be insured for free with my husband(children under 21 traveling with a parent are included on the policy at no extra charge). Though I saw a high rating for Travelex, I also saw reviews that said it was difficult getting claims paid. Still doing my research. Anyone else ever need to file a claim with their travel insurance?
I was “covered” by CC for trip cancellation. The Icelandic volcano erupted and I got a lung infection so my doc ordered us to cancel the trip to Europe and wrote a letter. I forwarded th letter to CC insurer and they refunded us the 4 cancellation fees for our 4 tickets. All agencies also allowed us to cancel and gave us refunds. Never tried or needed to make other clams for travel insurance.
Filed a claim with Travel Guard. We kept good records of all charges, dr. who went to hotel, X-rays, surgery, 4 overnights in a private room, ortho boot, dr’s notes stating business class flights with elevation was required, as well as that patient was unsteady and needed spouse in business class also. They paid for it all and would have helped with finding providers if we needed assistance. They did eventually submit some basic medical charges to our primary insurance retro-actively, but they paid up front quickly after we were home and owned any charges not covered. They also paid a portion of non-hospitalized spouse’s hotel.
If you need to use travel insurance, notify them asap and keep in touch during the process. They can email you any forms that they need completed for reimbursement and then you know what info to procure locally. Much easier while you are there. This all adds up quickly, especially when far away. You can’t leave almost foreign clinics or hospitals without your bill paid in full.
worth a quick read.
http://www.local10.com/consumer/call-christina/does-travel-insurance-cover-terrorism
also you really want to make sure to have medical/evacuation insurance. if you are in Indonesia and have a medical situation you want to get out to Singapore or Australia
Update: H and S returned from vacation a couple of weeks ago. One of their domestic flights in Indonesia was delayed and they were at risk of missing their 10 day dive boat. They bought a ticket from another airline so that they would make their connecting flight in time. They filed a claim with Travelex when they got home and we were reimbursed for the extra flight. Happy that they had no other issues!
Once again travelex comes through!
If there is a pre-existing medical condition, make sure that the overseas health insurance policy will cover it. They wouldn’t cover my son’s. 
If he is in an accident and has bleeding problems, it will not be good. And so of course, he goes out and buys a motorcycle to ride in Beirut!!