Travel insurance and Leave

[Skipper07]

Hello all, I’m soliciting advice on travel insurance and the possibility of USNA spring leave being locked up.

I’m looking to insure a trip for March 2021 through Travel Insured International, a USAA affiliate. Per the insurance policy, I am insured if the trip is cancelled due to “revocation of Your or Your Traveling Companion’s or Your Family Member’s previously granted military leave or re-assignment. Official written revocation/re-assignment by a supervisor or commanding officer of the appropriate branch of service will be required;”

The one question I can’t seem to find an answer for is what counts as “previously granted leave” as it applies to USNA? Leave is scheduled on the academic calendar. Is my leave only “previously granted” if it has been approved by my CO in MIDS? Should a scheduled leave block suffice?

I understand that this is a very narrow question that you all may have no advice for. I also appreciate any and all advice or experience that you have. I anticipate that a letter from my CO regarding leave being cancelled will suffice, but I really have no idea.

EDIT: To answer a few questions that I'm sure will pop up:

No, frankly it isn't possible to wait for more than a month to schedule this trip and place a deposit.
Yes, I have spoken to the insurance company and they were largely unhelpful. I plan on trying to push the issue up a supervisor this week.
Yes, I will speak to my CO after the conclusion of plebe summer.

 

[Capt MJ]

Usually an active duty individual has signed leave papers approving their leave. I don’t recall if midshipmen going on regular leave during the scheduled breaks to non-foreign destinations get individual leave papers. I know leave papers for international travel are required.

If you don’t get leave papers, and it’s domestic, then I would suspect a USNA letterhead letter signed by the Midshipman Personnel Officer affirming that you would have been in an approved leave status between X and Y dates in March 2021, but all leave for USNA midshipmen was canceled, or all foreign travel for DOD personnel was restricted, or whatever, should do the trick.

You are also subject to DOD travel policy, which has impacted millions of people in uniform since COVID restrictions began. People have not been allowed to execute orders, have had personal travel securely curtailed, been stuck. I’d have to do some research to determine if military personnel personal foreign leisure travel has started being approved again. All that is being managed very closely, and will quickly go more restricted if warranted.

@Kierkegaard as a resident current mid, any thoughts?

 

[Skipper07]

@Capt MJ I appreciate your wisdom and advice. SL and PC had similar thoughts.

 

[Capt MJ]

@Capt MJ I appreciate your wisdom and advice. SL and PC had similar thoughts.

I’ve had to get various things done for external entities at various times. The letterhead, some officialese, and a “by direction” signature usually does it. Senior officers usually have a number of people who have been delegated the power to sign routine admin.

What you will want to research is every snick of fine print in the travel package itself, and every bit in the travel insurance policy. Look for any date by which, if you do not cancel, no refund is owed, and any date or circumstance the insurance will not cover, regardless of whether your leave is officially granted and then revoked, and especially any COVID-related language. Prior to COVID, DH and I traveled regularly on cruises, and usually use the USAA affiliated insurance vendor. It does not cover everything, and you will be the hook for some amount of risk.

USNA has been waiting until a reasonable go-no go time to determine if leave is on or not, or other major decisions. They can’t really tell you right now if everything next year that is in the schedule will actually happen. If the scenario is a go until the Wed before spring break, and something happens where leave is canceled, what is your coverage that close to departure?

Both the travel company and the travel insurance vendor are in the money-making business, evaluating the risk-reward. Proceed accordingly.