Before I tell you the good news, if you don’t like hearing about anything supernatural or religious, I suggest you don’t read any further. I am not telling you what to believe because you have the right to make up your own mind. It’s out of respect I am telling you this first.

Last week my Dad went to the doctor due to discomfort in his abdomen. The CT scan revealed a golf ball sized growth in the upper lobe of my Dad’s pancreas. Generally, anything with the pancreas is bad, so my family and others started praying for him. That included my children and I praying over the phone for him.

As you can imagine, this was in my mind all the time, so late on Sunday April 29, 2012 I put this on my Facebook page:

“Please pray for my Dad & Mom. Their names are Jim & Marilyn. A golf ball sized growth was just found in the upper lobe of my Dad’s pancreas. On May 1st they see a specialist to find out more. Rather than waiting to tell you what was found, and being desperate for a miracle, I’m putting this out there as a prayer request with the hope that the specialist says to my Dad, ‘Jim, there’s nothing to worry about. I can’t find whatever appeared on the CT scan.’ ”

Thank you to everyone who responded, whether you told us or not!

Very early today, May 3, 2012, I put this on my Facebook page:

“My Dad got great news later yesterday: the biopsy today showed there’s no cancer or anything else negative! Thank you everyone for all your prayers! We are very thankful. And, my Dad said he knows he received a miracle.”

Again, thank you to everyone for their prayers, good thoughts and compassion. If you happen to know my parents, and talk to them, they didn’t know about the Facebook part because I un-friended my Mom. I wanted it to be a surprise. She probably knows about it now, but I haven’t exactly told her.

If you want to see more about this, take a look at my personal Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/steve.dasseos

Bye for now,

Steve Dasseos

PS – I’m not giving you my usual request to come to TripInsuranceStore.com for advice.

Instead, thank you again for your support !

My name is Kathy. I am interested in low cost trip cancellation insurance to cover the costs shown below in case we need to cancel our trip and also to have our mileage reinstated in that event. Ages 72 & 66, our per person cost is $3500 for hotels, car and plane tickets:

• We bought our flight on reward points on April 12, 2012
• The hotel we have booked will be paid on the date we arrive there, 6-11-12
• We live in California
• We pay our car rental after we drop the car off

Hi Kathy,

Trip cancellation insurance reimburses you the money you lose if you cancel or interrupt your trip for a covered reason. If your costs are prepaid & non-refundable they are insurable. However, it looks like you have no prepaid and non-refundable costs:

• The credit points aren’t insurable
• You pay your hotel after you arrive so that’s not prepaid. In addition, if you have a penalty assessed to you if you fail to show up, it’s still not insurable because it’s not prepaid.
• Your car rental isn’t prepaid

I’d be happy to sell you a low cost ($429) trip cancellation travel insurance plan if I knew it would benefit you. However, since you have no prepaid and non-refundable trip costs, the $429 trip cancellation insurance would be a complete waste of $429 for you. Therefore, don’t waste your money buying a trip cancellation insurance plan.

The reason I’m being picky here is because I don’t want you spend $429 on travel insurance that wouldn’t pay you if you had a claim.

I hope this makes sense. If you want the right travel insurance advice, call us at 1-888-407-3854 and we’ll help you figure it all out.

Now, a word from our sponsor: TripInsuranceStore.com (the Most Exclusive, Informative & Friendliest Travel Insurance Comparison Site)

• Save your time & money with 6 pre-screened companies (you don’t need 100+ travel or cruise insurance plans).
• You get personalized service from Deanna, Becky, Tony or Steve at 1-888-407-3854 (US, Canada). Or email us.
• Do you want a relationship with your travel insurance supplier? If so, you’ll fit right in. If you’d rather not get to know us, you’ll still find everything you need to get the right travel insurance plan.
• Get side-by-side plan & price comparisons
• You get our exclusive Smile of Satisfaction Money Back Guarantee

• TripInsuranceStore.com is easy to use

PS – If you liked what you read, please subscribe to my Blog. You can also connect with TripInsuranceStore on Facebook.

Technorati Tags: travel insurance, trip cancellation, trip cancellation insurance, trip insurance

Steve, On April 6th we (family of 3, and grandma who is 88) booked and paid in full for a cruise for June. On Saturday April 7th, grandma was hospitalized with neural seizures, and she’s not doing well. Came home yesterday, with home care required. Based on all this, we’ll probably not be going on our cruise.

I’ve searched online and have called a few other online travel insurance websites and I’m not sure they are giving me the correct information when they say “yes, you can get a plan to cover your grandma’s medical condition”. And then I found your wonderful website! Based on what I’ve read, it looks like I can’t get any pre-existing conditions coverage. Therefore, can I get your take on this? Tony

Hi Tony,

First, I am sorry to hear about your grandma. We’ll pray for her healing and recovery.

Next, while I didn’t hear your conversations with the other companies, you are correct to question whether you can get trip cancellation coverage for your cruise. Getting the Waiver of the Pre-Existing Medical Condition Exclusion is more than just buying it within the deadline. If you want to waive the pre-existing medical condition exclusion for cancellation, interruption & medical treatment, you have to fulfill these 5 requirements when you buy your travel insurance plan:

• With 2 exceptions (CSA Freestyle & Freestyle Luxe) you have to insure at least your trip’s full prepaid, non-refundable cost (you can’t round it down). If you don’t know your final trip cost, estimate it high to be safe. You can always lower to the correct trip cost prior to your departure date. If it drops you to a lower trip cost range, you’ll get a partial refund; and
• You must get your travel insurance in the first 14, 15, 21 or 30 days after you pay your earliest trip payment with some plans or no later than 24 Hours after you make your final Trip payment for other plans and
• You have to cover your trip’s full length and
• The insured travelers must be able to take the trip on the date they purchase the travel insurance. If you are one of the travelers, you must be “medically able to travel when you pay your premium (get your travel insurance)”. In other words, your doctor says you can travel. If your doctor’s saying you can’t travel, but you insist you can travel, the insurance company will always side with your doctor.and
• The person with the medical condition has to be medically stable when you get your insurance – this means that person cannot have already taken a turn for the worse. This also includes having surgery or other medical procedure(s) scheduled just before you leave.

The reason why you won’t have a trip cancellation claim paid is that your grandma is not “medically able to travel”. Unfortunately, many travel insurance sellers seem to leave this information out. In my opinion, this is the most important part of the Waiver of the Pre-Existing Medical Condition Exclusion.

I hope this makes sense. If you want the right travel insurance advice, call us at 1-888-407-3854 and we’ll help you figure it all out.

Now, a word from our sponsor: TripInsuranceStore.com (the Most Exclusive, Informative & Friendliest Travel Insurance Comparison Site)

• Save your time & money with 6 pre-screened companies (you don’t need 100+ travel or cruise insurance plans).
• You get personalized service from Deanna, Becky, Tony or Steve at 1-888-407-3854 (US, Canada). Or email us.
• Do you want a relationship with your travel insurance supplier? If so, you’ll fit right in. If you’d rather not get to know us, you’ll still find everything you need to get the right travel insurance plan.
• Get side-by-side plan & price comparisons
• You get our exclusive Smile of Satisfaction Money Back Guarantee

• TripInsuranceStore.com is easy to use

PS – If you liked what you read, please subscribe to my Blog. You can also connect with TripInsuranceStore on Facebook.

Technorati Tags: cruise insurance, pre-existing, pre-existing condition, travel insurance, trip cancellation

How Do I specify I want the waiver of the pre-existing medical condition exclusion when I buy travel insurance from TripInsuranceStore.com? I don’t want to forget to ask for it and be penalized later for not specifically requesting that I have it. Thanks, Paul

Hi Paul,

I have some good news for you. All the plans you find on TripInsuranceStore.com automatically include the Waiver of the Pre-Existing Medical Condition Exclusion if you follow the rules:

If you want to waive the pre-existing medical condition exclusion for cancellation, interruption & medical treatment, you have to fulfill these 4 requirements when you buy your travel insurance plan:

1. With 2 exceptions (CSA Freestyle & Freestyle Luxe) you have to insure at least your trip’s full prepaid, non-refundable cost (you can’t round it down). If you don’t know your final trip cost, estimate it high to be safe. You can always lower to the correct trip cost prior to your departure date. If it drops you to a lower trip cost range, you’ll get a partial refund; and
2. You must get your travel insurance in the first 14, 15, 21 or 30 days after you pay your earliest trip payment (Global Alert Preferred & Plus, Travelex Select, Travelex Max, Travel Guard Gold, Travel Guard Platinum, Travel Insured and TravelSafe Classic) or no later than 24 Hours after you make your final Trip payment for CSA Freestyle & Freestyle Luxe and
3. You have to cover your trip’s full length and
4. The person with the medical condition has to be medically stable when you get your insurance – this means that person cannot have already taken a turn for the worse. This also includes having surgery or other medical procedure(s) scheduled just before you leave. Read Steve’s blog post “Will Travel Insurance Cover My Scheduled Surgery?” for more information.

So, Paul, if you fulfill the requirements above you will get the waiver of the pre-existing medical condition exclusion with your trip cancellation travel insurance plan.

I hope this makes sense. If you want the right travel insurance advice, call us at 1-888-407-3854 and we’ll help you figure it all out.

Now, a word from our sponsor: TripInsuranceStore.com (the Most Exclusive, Informative & Friendliest Travel Insurance Comparison Site)

• Save your time & money with 6 pre-screened companies (you don’t need 100+ travel or cruise insurance plans).
• You get personalized service from Deanna, Becky, Tony or Steve at 1-888-407-3854 (US, Canada). Or email us.
• Do you want a relationship with your travel insurance supplier? If so, you’ll fit right in. If you’d rather not get to know us, you’ll still find everything you need to get the right travel insurance plan.
• Get side-by-side plan & price comparisons
• You get our exclusive Smile of Satisfaction Money Back Guarantee

• TripInsuranceStore.com is easy to use

PS – If you liked what you read, please subscribe to my Blog. You can also connect with TripInsuranceStore on Facebook.

Technorati Tags: cruise insurance, pre-existing, pre-existing condition, travel insurance, trip cancellation

We are looking for travel insurance where we are able to change the dates in case of a death in the close family. We won’t want to cancel our trip, but we’d rather have the change fees paid so we can travel at a later date. Sandy

Hi,

Thanks for sending me a good question.

Travel insurance doesn’t cover changing travel dates like you want. It can give you your money back if you are forced to cancel for a covered reason, but it doesn’t pay any extra costs incurred for a pre-departure trip delay.

Along these lines, trip cancellation travel insurance doesn’t cover change fees you incur if you voluntarily change your travel dates.

However, if you are on your trip and you are forced to interrupt your trip for a covered reason, you will be reimbursed for your prepaid and non-refundable trip costs plus the one-way airfare up to 150% of your insured trip cost. Here’s more about trip delay, missed connection and trip interruption:
http://www.tripinsurancestore.com/3/travel-delay.shtml

I hope this makes sense. If you want the right travel insurance advice, call us at 1-888-407-3854 and we’ll help you figure it all out.

Now, a word from our sponsor: TripInsuranceStore.com (the Most Exclusive, Informative & Friendliest Travel Insurance Comparison Site)

• Save your time & money with 6 pre-screened companies (you don’t need 100+ travel or cruise insurance plans).
• You get personalized service from Deanna, Becky, Tony or Steve at 1-888-407-3854 (US, Canada). Or email us.
• Do you want a relationship with your travel insurance supplier? If so, you’ll fit right in. If you’d rather not get to know us, you’ll still find everything you need to get the right travel insurance plan.
• Get side-by-side plan & price comparisons
• You get our exclusive Smile of Satisfaction Money Back Guarantee

• TripInsuranceStore.com is easy to use

PS – If you liked what you read, please subscribe to my Blog. You can also connect with TripInsuranceStore on Facebook.

Technorati Tags: travel delay, travel insurance, trip cancellation, trip insurance

In my last post I said “I am working on adding another smart and pleasant associate here in the near future.” I did that and now that my life is getting back to normal, I was planning on writing a Blog post about our new associate Tony.

Instead, I’m going to write another “Vent my Spleen” post. This time it’s directed at all the people, companies and websites who offer travel insurance just to make a quick buck, but who, unfortunately don’t quite understand how it works.

I don’t know exactly why these people come to us, but Tony noticed it right away. He said, “I have never received calls like some of the ones that call here.”

A disclaimer: most travel agents are responsible and hard workers who take care of their clients. The following comments are not for you. If you are a good travel agent, I suggest you push Crtl W on your keyboard now.

On the other hand, if you are one of the people in the next three examples, please stop calling us:

1) Travel Agents & Travel Insurance company sales reps who tell their prospective customers that because they are past the deadline to get the Waiver of the Pre-Existing Medical Condition Exclusion, they can just cancel and re-book their trip.

Besides the fact that they are committing Insurance Fraud, I think it’s stupid advice. Here’s more:
http://www.tripinsurancestore.com/blog/can-i-re-book-to-reset-my-initial-deposit-date/

2) Travel Suppliers and Travel Agents who want trip insurance coverage for events that will be a guaranteed claim.

Whenever a travel agent calls us, the first question we ask is “Do you sell travel insurance?” The answer is nearly always “Yes”. We then ask, “Since you sell travel insurance why are you calling us?”. It’s shocking how many times they say, “I have a client with a special situation”. Sounds harmless, doesn’t it? But, the truth eventually comes out which tends to be that the travel agent made a mistake and they want us to rescue them.

Here’s my answer. And I expect all you future travel supplier and travel agent callers to read this so we don’t have to waste another moment on you:

I’m sorry that you don’t quite understand how travel insurance works, but TripInsuranceStore.com does not exist to bail you out nor does trip cancellation insurance exist to pay out money to someone who absolutely knows they have to cancel their trip before they buy the insurance. We will not sell you the insurance. Please go somewhere else and stop bothering us!

3) Lazy Travel Agents who want us to figure out which policy their client needs and once we waste time with them, they want us to pay them a commission for the lead.

I know greed is a powerful motivation. But, the combination of greed and laziness gets me mad. I have never been a fan of anyone selling travel insurance who doesn’t understand how the policies work, but if you want me to give you money because you are too lazy to get travel insurance licensed, that’ll never happen!

Wow – I feel a lot better now!

I hope this makes sense. If you want the right travel insurance advice, call us at 1-888-407-3854 and we’ll help you figure it all out.

Now, a word from our sponsor: TripInsuranceStore.com (the Most Exclusive, Informative & Friendliest Travel Insurance Comparison Site)

• Save your time & money with 6 pre-screened companies (you don’t need 100+ travel or cruise insurance plans).
• You get personalized service from Deanna, Becky, Tony or Steve at 1-888-407-3854 (US, Canada). Or email us.
• Do you want a relationship with your travel insurance supplier? If so, you’ll fit right in. If you’d rather not get to know us, you’ll still find everything you need to get the right travel insurance plan.
• Get side-by-side plan & price comparisons
• You get our exclusive Smile of Satisfaction Money Back Guarantee

• TripInsuranceStore.com is easy to use

PS – If you liked what you read, please subscribe to my Blog. You can also connect with TripInsuranceStore on Facebook.

Dr. Mercola recommends 14 Smart Phone and Tablet Apps.

But first: No, I didn’t get hit by that cement truck I talk about. Instead, thanks to the many friends of TripInsuranceStore.com Becky, Deanna & I have been very busy. In fact, I am working on adding another smart and pleasant associate here in the near future.

I don’t know how many of you subscribe to Dr. Mercola’s free Natural Health Newsletter. If you don’t, click here to do it today. I get no benefit out of your subscription other than the knowledge that your quality of life will improve.

Dr. Mercola starts his article with these money-savings hints on how to use the iPad:

“There is no question that for the foreseeable future the iPad will dominate the tablet market. Hopefully Android tablets will provide some competition down the road, but for now the iPad rules. If you haven’t purchased one, it is my suggestion to not purchase one with a wireless modem for several reasons. They cost $100 more, you need to pay monthly fees, and the current 3G connection is slow compared to 4G. So get the Wi-Fi version for $100 less. If you can afford more memory, go for it, if not, the base model at $499 is just fine.

One key to making the iPad a great tool is the speed of your connection, as many of the useful apps may be slow for some people to use at typical 3G speeds. So you can hook up to your home or office Wi-Fi, or when you are mobile you can hotspot into a phone that has 4G LTE. I got the first phone with the service from Verizon in March and it is extraordinary. I only use it when traveling but it is amazing. No more internet connection fees at hotels or airports.”

Next, he gives an detailed explanation of the 14 apps. Even though I’ve had an iPhone for 2 years I don’t have any of these apps, so I’ll be getting some of these. These apps range from fitness to news.

Click here to read Dr. Mercola’s 14 Smart Phone and Tablet Apps.

I hope this helps you.

Now, a word from our sponsor: TripInsuranceStore.com (the Most Exclusive, Informative & Friendliest Travel Insurance Comparison Site)

• Save your time & money with 6 pre-screened companies (you don’t need 100+ travel or cruise insurance plans).
• You get personalized service from Deanna, Becky or Steve at 1-888-407-3854 (US, Canada). Or email us.
• Do you want a relationship with your travel insurance supplier? If so, you’ll fit right in. If you’d rather not get to know us, you’ll still find everything you need to get the right travel insurance plan.
• Get side-by-side plan & price comparisons
• You get our exclusive Smile of Satisfaction Money Back Guarantee

• TripInsuranceStore.com is easy to use

PS – If you liked what you read, please subscribe to my Blog. You can also connect with TripInsuranceStore on Facebook.

Technorati Tags: android, apps, Health, ipad, iphone, medical

Hi Steve, There’s been a price reduction on the air portion of our trip. We have already paid up front for the higher price, and the savings that we will receive will come in the form of a credit toward future air travel, once I go about this procedure online. My Travel Insured policy states (page 19, part 1) concerning the pre-existing conditions waiver, “You must purchase the policy for the full non-refundable cost of Your Trip.”

Does the amount that I should insure to get the pre-existing conditions waiver and Cancel For Any Reason remain the amount with the higher air charges, or can I insure up to the new lower amount, even though the higher amount has been paid, and there will be no cash refund? Thanks, Elizabeth

Hi Elizabeth,

You won’t be able to lower your trip cost. That’s because the savings is coming in the form of a future credit and not a refund to you. If you can get the airline to refund you the money in cash you can lower your trip cost.

If you don’t get a cash refund and keep the credit, be sure to insure your plane ticket’s cost after the credit is applied so you don’t over-insure your ticket and pay too much for the trip insurance.

I hope this makes sense. If you want the right travel insurance advice, call us at 1-888-407-3854 and we’ll help you figure it all out.

Now, a word from our sponsor: TripInsuranceStore.com (the Most Exclusive, Informative & Friendliest Travel Insurance Comparison Site)

• Save your time & money with 6 pre-screened companies (you don’t need 100+ travel or cruise insurance plans).
• You get personalized service from Deanna, Becky or Steve at 1-888-407-3854 (US, Canada). Or email us.
• Do you want a relationship with your travel insurance supplier? If so, you’ll fit right in. If you’d rather not get to know us, you’ll still find everything you need to get the right travel insurance plan.
• Get side-by-side plan & price comparisons
• You get our exclusive Smile of Satisfaction Money Back Guarantee

• TripInsuranceStore.com is easy to use

PS – If you liked what you read, please subscribe to my Blog. You can also connect with TripInsuranceStore on Facebook.

I have a one-way flight from Seattle to Ft.Lauderdale, FL to join a cruise ship for work. I don’t know when I’ll return home. The flight arrives in Ft. Lauderdale at 11:20 am and the ship leaves 5:30 pm same day. I only want insurance to cover me if I miss the ship due to delayed flight and I need to catch up to the cruise. This is a re-positioning cruise so I would need to stay in a hotel for 6 days until the ship reached its first port. Is there an insurance that would cover me for this specific need? Thank you, Alana

Hi Alana,

Unfortunately, travel insurance won’t cover you for what you want because you have a one-way flight.

That’s because your one-way trip both starts and ends on the same day, which means that any travel insurance policy you get will both begin and end on the same day.

If you were returning home after your trip, you could get a travel insurance plan to cover you for the entire length of your round trip.

I hope this makes sense. If you want the right travel insurance advice, call us at 1-888-407-3854 and we’ll help you figure it all out.

Now, a word from our sponsor: TripInsuranceStore.com (the Most Exclusive, Informative & Friendliest Travel Insurance Comparison Site)

• Save your time & money with 5 pre-screened companies (you don’t need 100+ travel or cruise insurance plans).
• You get personalized service from Deanna, Becky or Steve at 1-888-407-3854 (US, Canada). Or email us.
• Do you want a relationship with your travel insurance supplier? If so, you’ll fit right in. If you’d rather not get to know us, you’ll still find everything you need to get the right travel insurance plan.
• Get side-by-side plan & price comparisons
• You get our exclusive Smile of Satisfaction Money Back Guarantee

• TripInsuranceStore.com is easy to use

PS – If you liked what you read, please subscribe to my Blog. You can also connect with TripInsuranceStore on Facebook.

Technorati Tags: cruise, travel, travel delay, trip insurance

Steve: Briefly, I paid for my trip in August. I’m in good health but I am in my 80s. My question is if I just don’t feel good, will any of your trip insurance policies cover me if I cut my trip short and come home? Thanks for your help. Helen

Hi Helen, Thanks for visiting TripInsuranceStore.com and writing.

My Dad just turned 80 a few weeks ago. Both my parents are in great health and travel a lot. In fact, they are on an Azamara cruise in Brazil right now.

Travel insurance plans don’t cover you for anything related to cutting your trip short just because you don’t feel good.

On the other hand, if you “don’t feel good” because you just got hit by a cement truck walking across the street, then that’s a covered reason to come home early. Any unexpected injury or illness that causes your attending physician to advise you to return home is covered. Click here to see what else is covered.

I hope this makes sense. If you want the right travel insurance advice, call us at 1-888-407-3854 and we’ll help you figure it all out.

Now, a word from our sponsor: TripInsuranceStore.com (the Most Exclusive, Informative & Friendliest Travel Insurance Comparison Site)

• Save your time & money with 5 pre-screened companies (you don’t need 100+ travel or cruise insurance plans).
• You get personalized service from Deanna, Becky or Steve at 1-888-407-3854 (US, Canada). Or email us.
• Do you want a relationship with your travel insurance supplier? If so, you’ll fit right in. If you’d rather not get to know us, you’ll still find everything you need to get the right travel insurance plan.
• Get side-by-side plan & price comparisons
• You get our exclusive Smile of Satisfaction Money Back Guarantee

• TripInsuranceStore.com is easy to use

PS – If you liked what you read, please subscribe to my Blog. You can also connect with TripInsuranceStore on Facebook.

Technorati Tags: cruise, cruise insurance, travel, travel insurance, trip, trip cancellation, trip insurance, trip interruption