Buying Vacation insurance

[CaliDave]

I know RCI will not let you take out insurance on your exchange after a hurricane or disaster strikes.. but could someone with a New Orleans exchange take out insurance today, to be covered tomorrow?

 

[dougp26364]

No. Insurance is to cover a possiblity of a loss from a known risk. In the case of NOLA, this is no long the possibility of a loss and has become a very high risk of loss. It's similar to trying to take out health or disability insurance after you're sick or life insurance after you've been told you have a terminal illness. It doesn't happen.

 

[Laurie]

The RCI guide I spoke to earlier today said yes, a NOLA xchange would be covered, since the event hasn't happened yet.

Last time I bought insurance based on the fact that both RCI Guide + Berkely Care told me that yes, I would be covered in my circumstance, my subsequent claim was denied. So I don't put much credence in her representation.

But, you can buy it today, and have 14 days to cancel it and get a refund. So you theoretically have nothing to lose. That's what I just did. Tomorrow I may call Berkely Care and see what they have to say. Not that their phone reps can be trusted to speak the truth either, but I still have 14 days to gather opinions/evidence one way or another, and then chase my refund, if I choose to spend the time.

Edited to add: They (RCI and Berkely Care) will let you - in fact encourage you to - take out the insurance, and are happy to take your $$, after an event but before you or the resort or RCI knows whether your resort was damaged and if so, how long it will be closed. They just won't pay the claim.

 

[gw1400]

Don't you have to take out RCI vacation insurance 30 days out from your checkin date. If you do that, can they refuse your claim?

 

[caribbean]

I bought RCI insurance the day BEFORE Ivan the terrible hit Cayman and I was covered and collected with no problem. As long as you buy it before the storm hits and your exchange meets the minimun days out ( 30 I think ). It is not the same as attempting to buy insurance after being diagnosed with a disease. Even though it looks real bad right now, the storm could change course and there is no guarantee that the TS will be damaged. Although if I were a betting person.....

If you have an exchange there in the next 6-8 months, I'd buy it.

 

[ronandjoan]

Still have annual coverage?

Does RCI still offer the annual covreage for $39 or have they gone back to just the $25 for each EXChange

 

[Bootleg]

Dave - If you book an exchange more than 45 days prior to check-in, you may purchase Vacation Insurance up to 30 days prior to your arrival date; If you book within 45 days, you may purchase vacation insurance up to 15 days prior to arrival.

Laurie - RCI will sell you Vacation Insurance, however, most RCI Guides don't understand the concept of "Pre-existing Condition". If you purchase insurance for a vacation in an area that has been affected by a hurricane, and then have to cancel weeks later because of hurricane damage, your claim will be refused (you already knew the area had been hit by the hurricane, and your cancellation was due to the area or resort not being able to accept you). But, the other aspects of the coverage still apply. If you cancel due to medical reasons, or if you go and claim for medical or lost/damaged luggage you will be reimbursed, since these issues are not pre-existing at the time the insurance was purchased.

ronandjoan - RCI no longer offers the annual vacation protection; The only option is once again individual vacation insurance for each confirmation.

 

[Laurie]

Bootleg,

Do you agree with RCI reps I spoke to, and Berkely Care rep, that those of us who purchased the insurance on Sunday are covered, if our exchanges are more than 30 days away?

(I'm not too surprised that some RCI reps don't understand it, but was surprised the Berkely Care people didn't, last year.)

I sure wish the annual coverage would be offered again! I had put off buying individual week's coverages, hoping it would come back.

 

[Bootleg]

If you have an exchange to the New Orleans/Gulf Coastal area that has been affected by Hurricane Katrina, you may purchase insurance.

If your exchange has to be cancelled due to hurricane damage to the resort (the resort is unable to re-open by check-in) you will not be able to recover your exchange fee. This is a pre-existing condition.

If you cancel because of an injury or illness to you or any member of the travelling group, you will be reimbursed your exchange fee. Likewise, if your luggage is delayed, damaged or lost, or if you or any member of the travelling party have unexpected medical expenses while on vacation, that portion of the Insurance Coverage will still be in effect.

Hope this helps!