Posts Tagged ‘travel insurance’

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Protect Yourself and Enjoy Your Travels with a Little Extra Peace of Mind

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

You want to take that dream trip. Plans are underway and your anticipation is mounting. What could possible go wrong? It’s not something we really want to think about when planning a fun and exciting vacation, but here it the real world, things do go wrong. Fortunately, there is a great way to plan ahead for those unfortunate what ifs that might creep up before and during your vacation! Travel insurance.

What Is Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance is an insurance policy that gives you some added peace of mind as you head out on that longed-for trip. It covers both domestic and international travel and has many perks that will cover most any thing that could go wrong. That way, you can enjoy your trip, knowing that whatever happens, you got it covered.

Coverage

There are travel insurance policies to cover both domestic and international travel, as mentioned before. There are policies for individual travelers, families and large groups. The insurance will cover minor things like lost passports, trip cancellations/interruptions and lost luggage. It will also cover major things like medical emergencies and transportation issues, among other travel services, and will even provide you with 24 hour assistance each and everyday.

There is a wide array of travel insurance options. For the most active of travelers, there are even more options. You will even find policies that will offer coverage for special equipment you may take with you, such as your golf clubs or scuba gear.

For those with special medical needs or who might anticipate special medical situations, you can go beyond the regular medical coverage and choose a specific plan best suited to meet your medical needs.

Plans are very flexible and can be built to suit your trip and preferences. You will even find specialized plans that offer airfare coverage, rental car coverage, extreme adventure coverage, sportsman’s coverage and much more. If you have a child or two or more that you plan to bring along, some plans offer additional coverage for kids age 17 and under at no extra cost.

Whatever your plans and your specific needs, that added sense of protection from a travel insurance policy is a great way to make the most of your trip. It’s well worth the expense, whether you end up needing it or not, but should you need it, you’ll be glad you had the foresight to purchase travel insurance before your trip.

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Don’t Leave Home without them: the Necessities for any Vacation

Friday, March 12th, 2010

There is nothing quite as relaxing as a vacation away from all of the stressors of life. However, it is important to be prepared for your next vacation so that it goes smoothly.

Here is our list of must-haves you simply can’t leave home without:

  1. Identification - It may seem like a no-brainer to bring your identification, but in the hustle and bustle of preparing to leave, you may have forgotten this one important piece of information. Your identification will be needed if you rent a car, board an airplane or simply head out of town for a road trip, so make sure you have it with you before you leave the house!

  2. Extra credit card - An extra credit is essential, especially if you plan on using credit cards during your trip. If, for some reason, you are unable to use your primary credit then you will need a backup. You definitely don’t want to be caught away from home without your credit cards, so always remember to carry at least two. In addition, contact your credit card company before you embark on your trip to let them know that you will be posting charges from another part of the country or world. You should also check to make sure your account is active and that you have a high credit limit to cover the expenses of the trip.

  3. An essentials bag - Everyone should pack an essentials bag when they travel. Your essentials bag should include everything in it that you would need in case of an emergency. Your essentials bag should include your identification; your passport; your wallet and money; and any medications or personal care items that are of importance. It is also important to keep your essentials bag with you at all times; do not check it with your other luggage when flying and don’t leave it in the hands of a bellman.

  4. Travelers Insurance - A vacation wouldn’t be complete without comprehensive travelers insurance. A comprehensive travelers insurance policy is a must for an extended holiday or overseas vacation, and it is a must for any individual who does not want to risk losing their hard-earned cash in case of travel problems. Don’t forget to bring along the contact information for your travel insurance policy with you when traveling.

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Common Travel Insurance Mistakes - Restrictions and Denials

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

Travel insurance can be your best friend when traveling, but if you don’t know the ins and outs of travel insurance then you could be setting yourself up to lose a lot of money in the form of travel insurance restrictions and denials.

Here is a list of the most common travel insurance mistakes to avoid:

  • Not understanding travel insurance restrictions - Every travel insurance policy will have its own set of restrictions. It is therefore up to you to read and understand these restrictions to make sure the policy you choose is right for you and the trip on which you are embarking. Many times, individuals will take out a travel insurance policy, only to find out the policy didn’t cover something major until their claim is denied.

  • Paying more attention to the bottom line than the coverage -  Because there are a number of different levels of travel insurance that you may purchase, your first instinct may be to choose the least expensive. However, purchasing the least expensive policy can end up costing you much, much more if you must submit a claim for damages or monetary losses. In the end, it pays to look at coverage before you look at price.

  • Taking part in activities not covered - Activities deemed by the insurance company to be dangerous are typically not covered under a standard travel insurance policy; therefore, if you become injured when participating in one of these activities, it will likely not be covered. If you know that you might engage in any dangerous activity - from skydiving to parasailing to water skiing - you will probably want to take out additional travel insurance to cover this.

  • Engaging in illegal activities - Participation in any sort of illegal activity will certainly make your travel insurance policy null and void. In other words, damage to a vehicle and injury to yourself because you chose to drink and drive, for instance, will result in the loss of any coverage under your travel insurance policy.

  • Not going through the proper channels - Travel insurance policies typically have a set of rules that you must follow to submit a claim. If you fail to go through the proper channels you may be unable to collect money for your losses.

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Travel Insurance Mistakes: Additional Concerns to Consider

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

Yes, it’s true. There are even more travel insurance mistakes that you must know about before your embark on your next holiday!

  • Purchase your travel insurance ahead of time to make sure that you travel-related claim is covered. In other words, don’t wait until the last minute to purchase travel insurance! Plan ahead and pay for your policy before embarking upon your vacation. Remember: you can’t expect to purchase a travel insurance policy after the event already happened! Trip cancellation policies usually go into effect the day after your payment is received by the insurance company, while all other coverage starts the day of your departure.

  • Get a medical record before canceling your trip for medical-related purposes. In order to submit a travel insurance claim for medical reasons you must first visit a doctor and get a recommendation that you should not travel; otherwise, you may be unable to collect on your travel insurance policy. Always come prepared with medical records if you must cancel a trip due to illness or other medical reason.

  • Pay close attention to dates when submitting a claim. If any of your dates are wrong (departure and return dates, for example) you may be denied a claim. Check and recheck your paperwork before submitting your travel insurance claim.

  • If you fail to understand the pre-existing clause in your travel insurance claim you may not be able to submit a claim for travel reimbursement. A pre-existing condition is any condition you had before you purchased your travel insurance.  Carefully read the pre-existing condition clause in your travel insurance policy and remember to look at the look-back days. Most travel insurance policies have a look-back period of about 60 to 90 days, so read this section of the policy carefully before entering into a contract for a travel insurance policy.

  • Pay close attention to the language used in the travel insurance policy. For example, some policies may use the phrase “cancel for any reason” while others use the term “cancel at any time.” Although these phrases seem similar, they are, in fact, quite different in terms of your rights. “Cancel for any reason” allows you to cancel for any reason, such as an illness or loss of a job, while “Cancel at any time,” although it allows you to cancel at any time, will likely have a clear set of restrictions regarding the reason for canceling your trip.

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Your Common Travel Insurance Questions Answered

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

Travel insurance is often viewed as a mere inconvenience when booking a vacation; however, it can often protect your investment against unforeseen circumstances, thereby making it extremely practical for most travelers.

Perhaps the reason that many people choose to forgo travel insurance is simply because they don’t understand just how useful it can be.

The following questions and answers regarding travel insurance are designed to clear up any misunderstandings about travel insurance so you can make the best decision regarding your travel insurance options:

Q: What is travel insurance?

A: Travel insurance is insurance that is purchased to cover unforeseen travel-related expenses. Most travel insurance policies cover travel cancellations due to illness, sever weather and medical emergencies. It may cover such expenses as lost luggage, non-refundable plane tickets and medical evacuations, just to name a few.

Q: Does travel insurance cover international travel?

A: Yes; you can purchase travel insurance specifically for international trips. It can cover your travel for a weekend or as long as a 12-month stay abroad.

Q: What kind of travel insurance is right for me?

A: There are many questions that a travel agent will ask you regarding your travel plans, and your answers to these questions will often determine what type of travel insurance you need. There are numerous types of travel insurance packages available, from basic plans to premium plans. Travel insurance policies will usually differ regarding price, benefits and dollar limits.

Q: Where can I purchase travel insurance?

A: You can purchase travel insurance through a travel agent, or you can purchase travel insurance through an online company. Many times, purchasing travel insurance online saves quite a bit of time and hassle, but make sure you are dealing with a reputable company before purchasing travel insurance online.

Q: Will travel insurance cover my medical needs?

A: Perhaps. Travel insurance with medical coverage is often necessary when traveling abroad, as your standard medical insurance is often not valid in other countries. Comprehensive travel insurance with medical coverage often covers emergency medical treatment, medical evacuations and hospital stays.

Q: How much does travel insurance cost?

A: Although travel insurance will vary depending on your dollar limits and benefits, a comprehensive travel insurance policy generally costs between 5 and 7 percent of the total cost of your trip.

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Exploring the Different Types of Travel Insurance

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

Travel insurance isn’t a luxury - it’s a must. Most of us enjoy vacations only after saving our money for quite some time; so it only makes sense that you take the proper precautions to protect your investment.

Choosing travel insurance is generally easy, provided you have the information needed to make an educated, well-informed decision. However, there are different types of travel insurance for different types of travel, so it pays to consider your options regarding travel insurance.

Types of Travel Insurance

  • Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance - This type of insurance protects you against any unforeseen events and circumstances that prevent you from going on your trip or finishing your trip. Most travel insurance policies that offer trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance allow you to cancel your trip due to: your illness or injury or the death, injury or illness of an immediate family member; a change in your financial status; and war or civil unrest.  Some travel insurance companies allow you to cancel for any reason.

  • Medical Insurance - Medical insurance is an incredibly important type of travel insurance, particularly when traveling outside of the country. Medical insurance may include the evacuation to a medical facility or back to the United States in the event of a serious illness or injury. Anyone on a cruise or anyone traveling to a remote destination will certainly benefit from medical insurance.

  • Flight Delay or Cancellation Insurance - If your trip is delayed or canceled due to circumstances beyond your control, flight delay or cancellation insurance is used to cover hotel stays, meals and alternative travel arrangements after your travel has been delayed for a certain period of time.

  • Baggage Loss and Delay Coverage - This type of coverage protects you in the event that your luggage is lost or stolen.

  • Travel Document Protection - Travel document protection in your travel insurance protects you in the event that your passport or other important documents are lost or stolen while on holiday.

  • Adventure and Extreme Sports Travel Coverage - If you are embarking on an adventure holiday then you are best suited for adventure and extreme sports travel coverage, as standard policies generally do not protect you when participating in extreme sports, such as rock climbing and scuba diving.

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When to Consider Extra Medical Insurance with your Travel Insurance Policy

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

The next time you set sail on a luxury cruise, consider what you would do in case of a medical emergency. In particular, consider if your medical insurance will cover your expenses.

Will your medical insurance cover the cost of medical evacuation, emergency treatment and a hospital stay? Well, in the case of cruises and other overseas trips, don’t bet on it.

In fact, as soon as you exit a U.S. port, you are more than likely considered to in overseas waters, which means that your U.S. medical insurance won’t get you very far.

Planning Ahead

Take a recent example of an older couple (in their mid 70s) who were traveling abroad when the husband became seriously sick with a perforated colon.  After the initial emergency room visit, the couple decided to arrange for a medical evacuation from their cruise ship to a United States hospital. The total cost of their out-of-pocket expenses was just $300. However, if they didn’t think ahead and purchase comprehensive travel insurance they could have wound up paying a medical bill of over $20,000.

A good, comprehensive travel insurance policy should include medical services and hospitalization, particularly when traveling abroad. These additional medical services are designed to reimburse any expenses that your standard medical insurance does not. Comprehensive travel insurance is also designed to cover the cost of your trip or part of your trip if you are not able to enjoy it due to an illness or injury.

If you plan to travel abroad and you don’t need full travel insurance, you may also secure a stand-alone policy that covers medical care and medical evacuation. It is important to realize that standard travel insurance policies do not cover the cost of medical evacuation, so consider adding this practical policy onto your travel insurance policy.

Before departing on your next overseas holiday, remember the following:

  • Contact your health insurer and ask about their coverage while traveling abroad.  Once you have this information you can then determine how much coverage and which type of coverage you will need.
  • Check travel insurance websites and compare policy prices and coverage. There are also several websites that allow you to compare a variety of travel insurance policies, side by side, according to prices and benefits.
  • Once you have purchased travel insurance, keep all information related to your policy, as well as important phone number of the company, close at hand while traveling.

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Winter Travel Disasters: When your Travel Insurance will Cover Them

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

We all love to visit our families, friends and loved ones during the winter holidays, which means that more often than not we encounter unpleasant weather conditions along the way.

From broken down trains to canceled flights and horrible road conditions, even the best laid plans for visiting our friends and family can go asunder when it comes to winter travel.

If your travel plans are interrupted because of inclement winter weather, are your expenses covered? If you have comprehensive travel insurance, then the answer may certainly be “yes.”

However, at what point can you receive a reimbursement or compensation from your travel insurance company?

  • A bankrupted airline - Most travel insurance policies will not, unfortunately, cover the cost of your travel if your airline goes under.

  • A delayed flight - If your flight has been delayed due to inclement weather, your standard travel insurance will most likely reimburse you. Most policies include some fine print about the number of hours you must be delayed in order to receive compensation, so check your policy beforehand. Typically, a travel insurance policy will cover the cost of food and accommodations during your delay.

  • A canceled flight - If your flight has been canceled, your travel insurance will likely not provide you with compensation; however, it is important to point out that the airline will likely offer a refund or alternative travel arrangements in this case.

  • Illness - If you become too sick to travel due to flu or virus, your travel insurance policy will likely cover the cost of your travel. Likewise, if your travel companion is too sick to travel, you may also be covered under your travel insurance policy.

  • Trip abandonment - If you decide to cancel your trip due to hazardous weather conditions or a severe airport delay, you may or may not be covered under your insurance policy. Most insurers will demand that a variety of circumstances take place before they will cover an abandoned trip, so check with your insurer before you make any decisions.

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The Top Four Scenarios that prove why Travel Insurance is a Necessity

Monday, December 14th, 2009

If you are one of those individuals who think travel insurance is a waste of time then you may want to read the rest of this article.

Travel insurance, in short, protects your investment. After all, losing all of your deposits and your airline tickets because you didn’t plan ahead and purchase travel insurance doesn’t feel too great.

If you think travel insurance is only for destinations where natural disasters may strike, think again. Here are some worst-case scenarios in which travel insurance may save you a bundle:

  1. You’re packed and ready to go on a wonderful family vacation to Disney World, and the night before you’re due to leave your son walks into your bedroom with a red-hot forehead and a serious case of chickenpox. Traveling and vacationing are clearly out of the question, and you have four, non-refundable plane tickets to Orlando. If you have adequate, comprehensive travel insurance, fear not. Simply report the claim and re-book the trip for a time when chickenpox isn’t running rampant in your household.

  2. You’ve booked a relaxing cruise and the flight to your port is delayed for hours because of a terrible storm. As a result, you miss your cruise departure. Without travel insurance, you can kiss your cruise good-bye, along with all of the money you shelled out to book it. However, comprehensive travel insurance will refund your money so that you can re-book your cruise.

  3. Your tropical vacation is put on hold because of a hurricane blowing through the Atlantic. There’s no way you’re getting anywhere near the island anytime soon, so what do you do with airline tickets and hotel deposits? Well, if you have adequate travel insurance you can be reimbursed for all of your lost expenses so that you can plan for another tropical vacation - minus the hurricane.

  4. You’ve finally embarked upon your European holiday only to have your pocketbook - with your passport and wallet in it - stolen while you are out of the country. Comprehensive travel insurance often comes with emergency service, which includes expediting a passport replacement and providing you with much-need cash so you can resume your vacation.

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Are you Underinsured for Travel Insurance?

Monday, December 7th, 2009

You are the responsible traveler: you pack days in advance; you make a clear list of things to do before embarking on your trip; you check and double-check your itinerary and flight arrangements; you always remember to bring an extra memory card for your camera; and of course you always buy comprehensive travel insurance.

Would you be surprised to find out that you may be underinsured? It’s important for everyone to consider that they may just be paying too much for their travel insurance and not getting the coverage that they need in return.

It’s true! Many individuals purchase travel insurance without really reading the fine print, only to find themselves in a precarious - and expensive - situation while traveling.

The fact of the matter is that not having adequate travel insurance can cost you time, money and even your health.

An underinsured traveler may find him or herself:

  • Paying out of pocket for emergency medical treatment - from emergency room treatment, to tests, blood work and hospital stays
  • Paying out of pocket to return home unexpectedly - if your travel plans change and you must return home early, you may have to pay out of pocket for your flight and other travel arrangements
  • Paying out of pocket for legal counsel overseas - if you find yourself in a situation where legal counsel is needed, such as a personal liability suit, you may need to secure legal counsel and pay for it out of your pocket
  • Paying for an emergency medical evacuation
  • Losing money from lost wages

It is because of this that you must read and re-read your travelers insurance policy carefully, particularly if you are traveling abroad. Being stuck in a foreign country without the money or insurance coverage to pay for medical expenses, legal expenses and travel expenses can be devastating, and can even inhibit an individual’s ability to return home.

Before you leave for your travel destination, take the time to read the fine print of your travel insurance policy and contact the insurance company if there is anything in the policy that you don’t understand. Remember that it is up to you to understand your policy and make sure that you are adequately insured. If you fail to make sure that you have secured the proper travel insurance you could end up in a difficult situation and without any money.

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