When plans change because of health issues. How do you cope?

@gingerw
As you know, we did cancel a much anticipated vacation to the Caribbean, we should be there now, but just felt it was not worth the risk. We canceled despite not knowing if we will get any of the money we paid in advance for our hotel and our airfares refunded. We did purchase travel insurance but this is a grey area. If you buy the CFAR (Cancel For Any Reason) option it would be covered but CFAR is quite a bit more money and we never even thought of that as being something we would need. The travel insurance may consider the cancellation to be purely our choice in which case it is not covered. If they accept the letter from my transplant team telling them that I was advised not to travel we may be covered. If our insurance does not reimburse us the hotel has given us a credit that we can use if we go there within a year, but who is to say if we will be able to. Travel insurance also does not generally cover epidemics and pandemics. I don't think Coronavirus has been labeled as such yet.

I think this article might be a help to people struggling with the question of whether or not to cancel.

This question is one many of us do not think about.
"Would your regret be manageable if you or a family member caught COVID-19?"
We did think of it, not for family but considering ourselves since we don't have family close by who might be exposed if we caught it, but since we are both well beyond 60 and I am immunosuppressed we are within the at-risk group.

https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp
JK

@contentandwell
I watched a meeting with the president and airline executives yesterday I think, The airline representatives said they were loosening restrictions because of the virus. Hopefully that means returning any money or at least a credit until this mess is over with. If this Isn’t over with in a year maybe the hotel will change it’s policy accordingly.
My fingers are crossed for you,
Jake

@contentandwell I think the link was not complete. I did not access anything...
Yes, having to cancel an anticipated trip was surely disappointing. Can you use your imagination to create a stay-cation and decorate your house in the manner of where you would have gone? Have a meal themed like your destination? Take a day or two and do something similar to what you may have participated in at your destination?
Ginger

@gingerw What a good topic for right now. I don't have any travel plans till Oct and by then we hope this is over with. I stay in right now and go to store when I need to also Dr.s . Just learned we have 3 cases here where I live but they are self contained and 1 in hospital .

@lioness My sister lives about 5 miles from the nursing home in Seattle area, where there have been so many cases. She has related how her daily activity has changed for now, and the businesses/schools/places of worship also.

Just tonight, at the city council meeting, the coronavirus was brought up. People are fairly blase about it, as we are in a very small [less that 900 people] town. The general concensus [sp?] is to follow the normal winter/spring precautions of washing your hands, and stay home if you are sick.

As someone with a wacky immune system, I attempt to monitor myself and places I visit at any time, just am "stepping it up" a bit.

Take care of yourself, and please let us know what you see for changes in the way your senior living complex is taken care of, in light of the cases around you.
Ginger

@gingerw Thanks Ginger Im trying to You too take care of yourself we all have to take this serious but there are a lot of people who are still blasé . We have more housekeeping being done ,posting on the board about how to take care of yourself ,we will be having a meeting so to hear more about what the company is going to do . I hope your sister is alright . Praying for us all.

@jakedduck1 The airline we were booked on is American and they have issued a policy for flights booked after 03.01 I believe, no help for us. I booked in February. United as issued a more generous policy. If we cannot get our travel insurance to pay then I think American will give us a credit toward future flights. Right now we are just working on getting our travel insurance to pay since we canceled on the advice of my healthcare team.
The hotel is an independent hotel, not part of a chain. I think the credit they gave us toward a future stay if we go there within a year is as far as they will go. I had to pay three days non-refundable so that is what they credited us. Nice, but who really knows what the next year will be bring, particularly as we get older. I can just see myself, really sick or something, saying to my kids "use the hotel credit"!

@gingerw
I am inserting the link again. It did work for me but maybe something got left off in the posting.
https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=228732&ecd=mnl_day_030920

I basically have little or no imagination and zero creativity. We are OK just living our regular daily lives though. Some people might appreciate the little touches you mention but they really are not things that we would find to be a worthwhile substitute. Thanks though, I appreciate the suggestions.
JK

@gingerw
My entire family and myself had made travel arrangements for Ireland and Scotland the end of May. My son and daughter in law planned an additional visit to Italy and Spain. We were to meet up in Ireland to celebrate my daughters 25th wedding anniversary , one of my grandsons 21st birthday in early
June and my youngest grandsons high school graduation. Luckily all refunds have been made and now they are planning a trip to NC and SC. Hopefully next year we will be able to visit Ireland and Scotland. My son in law had always talked about going to Ireland for their 25th wedding anniversary and all the kids were so excited. We’ll make our own good times elsewhere. Much debate about this when the coronavirus first came upon the scene and I was the first one to say “no way am I going”.

FL Mary

@imallears Last night I spoke with my husband, who is currently 800 miles away, working his last few weeks before retirement and closing escrow on his condo. He is supposed to return to his job as a temporary contract engineer, and work on developing new product, starting in May, in three to five week chinks. He talked to the HR department yesterday about how this COVID-19 will affect these plans. He is a kidney transplant recipient. Rather than flying he may opt to drive back and forth.

Your precaution created disappointment, no doubt, but more peace of mind.
Ginger

@imallers Sorry you can't go this year but you where wise to postpone your trip . I would love to see Ireland but can only dream of it . Just do something at home to keep the feeling of Ireland and all maybe you can get or have a DVD on the places you want to visit .