[biker1]

Reread my post. With the exception of mandatory gratuities on an included drink package, they don't. You, of course, don't have to accept an included drink package and therefore not pay any tips. For those instances where tips are solicited, you are free to tip or not tip and if you do tip, you can choose the amount. They provide a recommendation but you don't need to follow it. You can go on a cruise and not pay any tips at all, albeit that is a pretty despicable thing to do.

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I won't do business with any company that tells me how much to tip their employees. Period.

[Trip_Insurance_Pros]

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[Rainger99]

Back to the original question.

Does anyone know if a cruise ship can charge whatever it wants for medical treatment?

And if they can and it is within the travel insurance limits, does your travel insurance pay all of it without asking any questions??

[Trip_Insurance_Pros]

In response to your questions...

Does anyone know if a cruise ship can charge whatever it wants for medical treatment?

Cruise ship medical facilities operate independently and are not bound by standard medical billing regulations, allowing them to set their own prices for treatments. This autonomy can lead to unexpectedly high medical bills.

And if they can and it is within the travel insurance limits, does your travel insurance pay all of it without asking any questions??

Most of our plans that we recommend cover $100,000+ dollars of medical benefit and $500,000+ medical evacuation - PRIMARY coverage. Some plans even have an included benefit of international Teledoc services - so you wouldn't have to go to the ship doctor for your inital consultation.

Now to your statement "without asking any questions" - you will always have to produce documentation to substaniate the claim. If its an eligible medical reason, then yes it should be covered.

Let me know if you have any other quesitons - happy to help! - Kristen, Trip Insurance Consultants

[Rainger99]

Originally Posted by Trip_Insurance_Pros

In response to your questions...

Does anyone know if a cruise ship can charge whatever it wants for medical treatment?

Now to your statement "without asking any questions" - you will always have to produce documentation to substantiate the claim. If its an eligible medical reason, then yes it should be covered.

Thanks for the answer!!

If I have $50,000 in medical coverage and the cruise ship charges $47,000 for treatment for the flu, and I produce documentation from the cruise ship that the bill was $47,000, in your experience would the insurance company pay all of that? Even if 99% of doctors and hospitals would only charge about $5,000 for the treatment?

It seems to me that if a cruise ship knew what the policy limits were on your travel insurance that the bill might be "inflated" to about what your policy limits are!

[Stu from NYC]

We purchase an annual trip insurance policy to cover our trips out of the Country via Allianz the last few years.

[Trip_Insurance_Pros]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

We purchase an annual trip insurance policy to cover our trips out of the Country via Allianz the last few years.

Thats a great plan that we sell as well! Especailly if you travel at least 3-4 times a year! The medical benefits are per trip benefits as well.

Allianz Executive Plan — Insurance Consultants International

[Trip_Insurance_Pros]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

Thanks for the answer!!

If I have $50,000 in medical coverage and the cruise ship charges $47,000 for treatment for the flu, and I produce documentation from the cruise ship that the bill was $47,000, in your experience would the insurance company pay all of that? Even if 99% of doctors and hospitals would only charge about $5,000 for the treatment?

It seems to me that if a cruise ship knew what the policy limits were on your travel insurance that the bill might be "inflated" to about what your policy limits are!

Hi!

In the 25+ years of our company, we have never seen an insurance carrier not reimburse on any eligible cruise line bill, and realistically if someone needs that much care they'd be taken off the ship more than likely anyway.

A peronsal family friend of mine was in the BVIs and needed a potassium drip for 4 days and was charged $20,000! IMG (International Medical Group) was the insurance carrier of her policy. They covered it even though that seems excessive for the treatment in my personal opinion.

We always suggest calling the 24 hour assistance line when getting treatment from a hospital or facility so they can try to cost contain and direct bill so they can pay the facility directly.

No claim is guaranteed without the documentation to tell the entire story and we are not the claims department, but we work closely with the claims department heads of the carriers we recommend to people.

Honestly, I have ALOT of follow up questions on this article to see how the bill got so high. I wish I knew the whole story... hate hearing that he is now burdened with the bill.

-Kristen, Trip Insurance Consultants

[Nana2Teddy]

Originally Posted by asianthree

Not DVC, we do however buy points from different sites or private people. However using PH discount, we use two certain reservations cast members that get us great rooms when resort are less occupied. Since we can go anytime it works out well. We also book for the whole year for certain special events. Oldest last week did a bounce back rate for $74 a night on property.

So you have inside connections, which is obviously not the norm for ordinary people like myself, which is my point.

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by Nana2Teddy

So you have inside connections, which is obviously not the norm for ordinary people like myself, which is my point.

No Inside Connections. For Disney Cruises or Hotels.

Each Disney cast member has an Extension. I have probably spoken to 50 different members since 1971. You can ask for their extension, I have 3 in case one isn’t available. Who they are I have no idea, but 95% of the time they find a better rate, when I can’t find something online.

DVC members can use their points, bank them, sell privately, or sell to DVC companies, which sell points from their customers to you. 5 minute net search.

So that hotel you found Disney online reservation is $700, point sale can be $100-300. Cheap points can come at anytime, one just needs to take the date or pass.

So no big secrets or insider info, just a little time out of one’s day, to save $50 to hundreds of dollars, to stay on property, or book that super expensive Disney cruise, for less.

[asianthree]

Friends just returning from 7 day cruise. Flu landed one in the infirmary for 2.5 days, for fluids and meds. Started claim day one, with continuous bills added.

Prior to cruise Both complaining about how expensive their insurance was ($900 for both) due to age. Right now they are extremely happy for that purchase. No details yet on cash out.

[Rainger99]

Originally Posted by asianthree

Friends just returning from 7 day cruise. Flu landed one in the infirmary for 2.5 days, for fluids and meds. Started claim day one, with continuous bills added.

Prior to cruise Both complaining about how expensive their insurance was ($900 for both) due to age. Right now they are extremely happy for that purchase. No details yet on cash out.

Was the bill in the $47,000 range? What was the cruise line?

It will be interesting to find out how their bill compares to the NCL bill.

And do people usually go to the hospital for the flu??

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

Was the bill in the $47,000 range? What was the cruise line?

It will be interesting to find out how their bill compares to the NCL bill.

And do people usually go to the hospital for the flu??

My dad spent two nights about a year ago. In older people the flu is no joke.

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

Was the bill in the $47,000 range? What was the cruise line?

It will be interesting to find out how their bill compares to the NCL bill.

And do people usually go to the hospital for the flu??

Coming from extensive med background, witnessed many mid eighties + and the flu, may have deadly outcome. No food intake you are good, not keeping down any fluids, worth trip to the ship infirmary. Even with the flu shot, which has small percentage of whatever strain you acquire may not help.
Flu the extremely young and elderly death rate isn’t a small percentage, for any year. Since cruise ships can charge whatever they choose, doesn’t matter what line, the bill will not be standardized. So asking for hypothetical bills will never be the same from ship to ship, week to week, even in the same cruise line. Remember every ship is never registered from the US.

You seem to be worried about this cruise and the possibility of health issue and cost over and above insurance. Hope you can sail away and still enjoy without constant worry.