Agent reports a rise in interest.
By: Gwen McNamara
Imagine you’re on vacation, having the time of your life when out of nowhere you get injured. Would you know where to turn or what to do?
Sharon and Neil Rifkin of East Windsor recently were hit with that exact scenario, but with travel insurance were able get top-notch medical attention at virtually no out-of-pocket cost.
"It was a godsend," Ms. Rifkin said. "Not only was everything paid for, but they arranged everything. I wouldn’t have known where to turn if it wasn’t for the insurance."
For $99 a person, Mr. and Ms. Rifkin purchased travel insurance through Princess Cruises when they booked a 10-day trip to the southern Caribbean. They’re part of a growing group of travelers who laud the benefits of such policies.
Five days into the December cruise, Mr. Rifkin, 59, had a heart attack.
"We never expected he would have a heart attack," Ms. Rifkin said. "He had low cholesterol, no high blood pressure, really no risk factors other than stress.
"When it happened, the medical services people on the ship took care of him, but he needed attention in a hospital setting," Ms. Rifkin continued.
After pulling into port at Barbados, he was taken to Barbados Queens Hospital, but the facilities did not have the equipment needed to treat Mr. Rifkin properly.
"It was a very poor area," Ms. Rifkin said. "But Princess has a cruise agent in every port, and he kept in contact with us. When he learned the hospital wasn’t doing anything for my husband, he arranged through the trip insurance for a ‘life flight’, or private medical jet."
After being given the OK to fly, Mr. Rifkin was transported by ambulance to the airport where he and Ms. Rifkin boarded a jet with a doctor, nurse and two pilots bound for Miami.
In Miami, Mr. Rifkin was again transported by ambulance, this time to Mt. Sinai Hospital, where doctors discovered he had two blocked arteries and performed an angioplasty and inserted stents to alleviate the problem.
When he was discharged, Mr. and Ms. Rifkin were taken by limousine to the airport, flown first class to Newark and taken home from Newark by limousine.
"I still have to file some papers, but any medical procedure our insurance doesn’t cover first, the travel insurance picks up," Ms. Rifkin said. "It also picks up the cost of my hotel stay, the limousine rides and flights."
Ms. Rifkin never thought they’d use the travel insurance for something that happened while on the cruise.
"We always buy travel insurance, but primarily to cover the cost of the trip if we’re unable to go," she said. "We always looked at it as a good investment in case we needed a refund, but now we know better."
According to Eileen Entin, owner of Diamond Cruise & Travel, a travel agency in Hightstown, more customers are picking up on the importance of travel insurance.
"It’s definitely becoming more popular," she said.
Travel insurance can be purchased directly through a cruise or tour line, or from a separate insurance company, like TravelSafe Insurance.
"Insurance is not just for cruises," Ms. Entin said. "Even when traveling domestically it can help. I had a friend who lost a suitcase and was able to file a claim on the luggage because she purchased insurance."
The cost of travel insurance depends on the cost of the trip and age of the traveler, Ms. Entin said.
"Typically, the more expensive the trip, the more expensive the insurance," she said. "Insurance from outside companies is often less expensive than what’s offered by the cruise or tour line."
Paying for travel insurance in advance or when booking a trip can help make sure it will cover pre-existing conditions as well, she said.
"Since I use travel insurance, I recommend it to my customers," said Ms. Entin. "More older customers realize its importance, but younger people are coming around as well."
Suzie Rosenblum, a Hopewell resident and avid cruiser, says even though she has yet to file a claim or cancel a cruise, she always uses travel insurance.
"I found out 12 years ago anything can happen," she said. "I never needed surgery in my life and had to go in for emergency surgery. If I had to cancel out at the last minute, with insurance, I would have been covered."
Other factors such as weather make travel insurance a good investment as well, she said.
"It’s not inexpensive to take a vacation and the insurance is usually such a small fee it’s worth it," said Ms. Rosenblum.
Ina Heiman, an employee of the Twin Rivers branch of the Mercer County Library, agrees.
"As a senior citizen, at a certain age you realize you have no idea what tomorrow may bring, so the security of knowing things will be covered is reassuring," she said.
She recommends travelers make sure the insurance they purchase covers what they expect. During the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, she was stranded in Scotland on a tour and although she had travel insurance, it wasn’t the right kind. It didn’t cover the cost of staying extra days in a hotel until flights back to the United States were rescheduled.
"Traveling is expensive, and you don’t want to lose money even if it’s just a deposit," Ms. Heiman said. "Travel insurance is a great investment."