- Medical expenses can be expensive, so travel insurance is a must when taking a cruise.
- Even a low-level travel insurance policy can cover medical expenses while on board.
- If you choose comprehensive travel insurance, you will be fully covered for trip cancellation and medical expenses.
Megan Ayscue went on a Caribbean cruise with her mother last year, but she didn’t expect medical expenses to cost more than the cost of the cruise.
Aiscue, a North Carolina tourist, and her mother traveled aboard the Norwegian Pearl in November to the Dominican Republic, Curacao and other islands. The couple was enjoying their trip, but a few days later, while snorkeling in the Dominican Republic, Aiscue got water in her ear.
Aiscue first went to a clinic on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, but that didn’t solve her problem. Luckily, her health insurance covered the cost of the clinic. After returning to the ship, Aiscue went to the ship’s clinic, where she was prescribed oral antibiotics, Tylenol, and ear drops. Her ears were still hurting, so she went back to the clinic the next day while the ship was underway and was diagnosed with a bacterial infection that had spread to her face.
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“My ear was completely swollen, I could no longer hear, it was very painful and I had no feeling on the left side of my face,” she said. The infection had spread to her lymph nodes, leaving the left side of her face paralyzed.
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Ayscue was given IV infusions of steroids, anti-inflammatories, antibiotics and anti-nausea medication. Doctors told her to return the next day for more infusions. Ayscue said her experience at the ship’s medical clinic was good and the infection was cured, but she was left with a bill for $5,528.29. Ayscue didn’t have the money at the time, so her mother paid it with her credit card.
After returning home, Aiscue waited six months to hear that her insurance company had refused to pay for Cruz’s medical expenses. Her parents had to scrape together money to cover Aiscue’s medical expenses, and because her mother had booked the cruise on the same credit card, they struggled to make the monthly payments.
Norwegian Cruise Line told USA Today that it “strongly encourages guests to file a claim with their health insurance company after the cruise.”
But there was one silver lining: Icecue’s mother had had a heart attack a few years earlier, and the family had purchased travel insurance for the cruise. For about $300, the policy covered all medical expenses.
“It ended up saving me and my parents from a financial crisis,” she said.
Unfortunately, experiences with ice cream are not uncommon, and typical health issues that require minor medical attention, like seasickness or infections, can be expected to incur expensive medical costs on a cruise ship.
“Unfortunately, this is extremely rare,” said Jenna Hammer, director of communications for travel insurance platform Squaremouth. “The one time we most strongly recommend medical insurance is on cruises.”
Here’s everything you need to know about travel insurance and cruising.
Why do I need travel insurance for a cruise?
First, cruise ships are almost always out of network for most health insurance plans. “You won’t have a copay, but you’ll probably have to pay out-of-network costs and if you break your ankle, you’ll get an astronomical bill,” Hamer says.
“On a cruise, if you get sick on board, obviously resources are limited so the cost of those resources is higher. It’s like eating on top of a mountain or an island, it can be more expensive because supplies are harder to come by.”
Low-level travel insurance will cover medical expenses on board, but it goes much further than that — for example, if you need medical care abroad or have to return home early. Even if you dock in a U.S. territory and go to a hospital there, the visit may be outside the insurance network.
Travelers who are prone to seasickness or who are planning “higher risk activities” such as jet skiing or scuba diving should also consider travel insurance as extra protection should the worst happen.
What does travel insurance cover on a cruise?
It depends on which option you buy. Emergency medical travel insurance is the cheapest option at around $50. That means it will cover you unless you’re considered at high risk of needing medical care, such as if you’re over 65 or going to a destination considered high-risk or harboring a contagious disease.
“Travel insurance with emergency medical and emergency medical evacuation coverage will reimburse you for emergency medical expenses up to your policy limits, whether you seek treatment on board the cruise ship or in a port of call,” says Daniel Durazo, director of external communications for Allianz Partners USA, which compares travel insurance.
If you opt for comprehensive travel insurance (which will cost 5% to 10% of the cost of your trip), you’ll be covered for all trip cancellation and medical expenses. “You’ll get 100% of your trip covered, but you’ll have the medical expense options you want, ranging from $10,000 in medical coverage to up to $1 million for medical evacuation,” Hamer says. (Medical evacuation can cost tens of thousands of dollars.)
“From a medical standpoint, it’s not a huge amount of money to insure yourself,” she says.
“I would have preferred to spend $300 for peace of mind and have it actually help,” Ayscue said.
However, if you’re intoxicated during your hospital visit, your travel insurance claim may be denied, Hamer adds, so be careful not to drink too much. Pregnancy complications also aren’t usually covered, but if you get seasick and are pregnant, you may be covered.
Just because a travel insurance plan is more expensive doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better or offers more coverage, so it’s a good idea to shop around and compare what’s included, Hammer says.
Can I purchase travel insurance through the cruise line?
Technically, you can. Most cruise lines offer some kind of insurance, but it’s not the best coverage. “There are usually very specific exclusions to be aware of, like if you get sick or for a very short period of time, you might only get a small portion of your trip price back,” Hamer says. Basically, if you want to buy cruise line insurance, read the fine print carefully.
When should I purchase cruise insurance?
In most cases, the earlier you buy travel insurance, the more coverage you’ll get, although factors like where and when you’re traveling will affect it.
“If you’re flying to Miami to catch a cruise ship and it’s the middle of hurricane season, get travel insurance now,” Hamer says. “Alaska hasn’t had a hurricane in a long time, so it’s probably OK to wait.”
Buying travel insurance the day before traveling doesn’t change the cost of the insurance like airfare does, it just changes what is covered. If a storm was predicted before you bought your insurance, the storm may not be covered at the time you buy your insurance.
“It’s wise to purchase travel insurance as soon as you book your cruise,” Durazo says.
