Archive for April, 2009

Why it Pays to Shop Around for Travel Insurance

It should come as no surprise that the Treasury has recently announced a review into the sale of travel insurance policies with package holidays. Consumer groups, such as ‘Which’ magazine, have been clamouring for a change in the law, because it appears that consumers have been getting a raw deal, in terms of over-priced and often inadequate cover. The government has set itself the task of calling for evidence and consulting widely before making its decision, be that to keep the ‘status quo’, go for tighter self-regulation by the travel agents and tour operators or bring the industry under full FSA regulation as it does for the ‘standalone’ insurance sector.

A review is long overdue, given that some 20 million consumers purchase Travel Insurance policies in the UK each year in a market estimated to be around £670 million pounds in 2006. As ‘Which’ have recently reported, there is evidence of mis-selling by tour operators and travel agents who account for almost 50% of all travel insurance sales. Whilst, it is probably only a minority who fall into this category, it is not hard to see that getting a customer to take out a travel insurance policy at the time of booking a holiday is a very lucrative way of boosting profits from the commissions earned. That’s all well and good, provided the advice given is accurate and customers are given access to all the information they need to make an informed judgement but sadly this is not borne out by the statistics. According to the Treasury, whilst 81% of banks and insurers explained what the policy covered, this falls to a pitiful 19% when a policy is sold through travel agents.

It always pays to shop around and it is hardly surprising that the internet has seen a huge growth over the last five years and this trend is set to continue. Not only does the customer get a wider choice than what is on offer over the counter at a travel agent, but it is so much easier to tailor a policy, all by a simple click of a mouse. Moreover, internet based companies do not have the high overheads of the travel agent in the High Street, which means cheaper premiums which can only be a good outcome for the consumer.

Keith McGregor
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/why-it-pays-to-shop-around-for-travel-insurance-105821.html

Travel Insurance Review...

Expat Health Care Travel Insurance for US Citizens

Expat health care insurance is something which you ought to think about long and hard before you move overseas. There are a lot of people who travel overseas each year on holiday and find themselves falling in love with their holiday destination. This is something which occurs everyday and you have to remember that your requirement for medical insurance coverage will remain unchanged no matter where in the world you are.

You are still going to face all the same accident risks overseas which you will face at home but you could well run into a very different set of issues in terms of the cost of your own healthcare and that of your family. One thing which you most definitely do not want to encounter is being left in limbo.

Let us assume for instance that you are working abroad and that you have a motor accident and end up with a variety of minor injuries. The local police who attend the scene of the accident take you to the nearest hospital for treatment and, once the doctor has finished attending to your injuries, you are given your bill. Exactly how do you plan to pay?

If you are living abroad and continue to retain US citizenship then you will probably not be eligible for free treatment even if the country in question has a free healthcare system. You could of course look to your health insurance from back home but, unless you have only been away from home for a relatively short period of time and can claim this expense as vacation cover, it is unlikely that your insurer will meet your claim. In the end you will have no choice but to to pay your bill yourself and merely hope that you have enough money.

The wise thing to do of course is to think about getting health insurance cover which is specifically tailored to expatriates such as yourself prior to heading off abroad. There are several medical insurance plans available which cover just about every situation you can imagine and which will provide you with considerable peace of mind.

If you are going overseas to work for a company that is based in the states then they could well have an insurance plan designed to cover you and your family while you are working and living overseas. This is clearly something which you will want to investigate as almost all employers will cover at least some of the healthcare costs of their employees abroad.

If your employer does not give you the health insurance cover you want, or if the question of provision by an employer is not relevant, then you can do a search on the Internet for expatriate medical insurance plans and you will find a wealth of information from numerous companies and brokers who will be very willing to help in providing a suitable expat health insurance policy.

Should you decide to buy expatriate medical insurance online however you will need to read through the details of any policy carefully and satisfy yourself that you know exactly what is covered and what is not. You most definitely do not want to get to your destination and find when you come to submit your first claim that the insurance you have bought does not cover you for your claim or that it is void in your chosen country.

Finally, make sure that you start searching for an expat health policy as soon as you know when and where you will be going to ensure you receive the best deal.

Donald Saunders
http://www.articlesbase.com/insurance-articles/expat-health-care-travel-insurance-for-us-citizens-252594.html

Holiday Travel Insurance – Why You Need It!

We have all faced the question, would you like to purchase holiday travel insurance? Many of us, myself included, are thinking well why would I want to spend more money on that? I know that I am travelling on this particular date, my vacation time is booked and there is nothing that is going to stop me.

Let’s think about this…

The thing about travel is that many times, no matter how far ahead we have booked or how well planned, there are many unexpected things that can occur, some may be minor things and some may not. Maybe you’ve experienced setbacks yourself.

Have you ever considered what would happen if;

1) My travel supplier just declared bankruptcy

Considering all the new travel companies that are popping up every day, not all of them are as financially stable as we think. Having trip cancellation travel insurance and trip interruption insurance can protect you and your vacation investment.

2) I’ve become ill and I’m too sick to travel

Many tickets and vacations are non-refundable. If you or another family member suddenly becomes ill, having trip cancellation travel insurance and trip interruption insurance allows you to be fully reimbursed should such a situation occur.

3) You’ve missed your flight connection due to flight delays

There are times (don’t I know it!) that you arrive at your connecting city but your connecting flight is long gone. You may need a hotel and meals for the night, or you’ve booked a cruise but your cruise ship has left, what do you do?! Having travel delay protection will cover the costs relating to your delay.

4) My wallet or purse has just been stolen!

Here is a very real fear that most of us don’t like to think about but unfortunately, even in the best of places, theft can occur. Knowing that there are 24 hr emergency services on hand to assist with reporting lost cards and having emergency funds ready to transfer ensures that help is always just a phone call away.

5) Holiday Travel Insurance covers you where your Health Insurance may not. Medical emergencies can occur when you are visiting a foreign destination. Without travel health insurance coverage, you would be responsible for footing the bill, and chances are, it’s not going to be a small amount!

These are just some of the many reasons you may want to consider before declining that offer for holiday travel insurance. If you are booking online as many people are doing these days, take a look for an online travel insurance company that can offer you a solution. Make sure to look for travel insurance comparisons, you will be able to find cheap holiday travel insurance.

Always remember that travelling is one of the best things in the world, but as with all good things, there are always unexpected circumstances that can arise. Holiday Travel Insurance may be one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family. For a small fee and the right insurance travel plan products, you can be rest assured that you are completely covered to fully enjoy that vacation!

Sarah White
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/holiday-travel-insurance-why-you-need-it-93051.html

Privacy Policy

Long Stay Travel Insurance

Long stay travel insurance for extended vacations, business trips or overseas missionary assignments is essential for peace of mind and your health.

Policies an cover you anywhere from 5 days to 365 days. The “standard” extended stay policy will cover you for 90 days. Obviously there are exceptions.

This is important because flexibility can be a key factor . Length of stay can vary,  but you don’t want a lapse in coverage, especially for the medical portion f most travel insurance policies.

With all types of insurance becoming very competitive, there are opportunities to get affordable coverage. The basic business principle of captalism applies here. The more competition, the prices will go down. Keep this in mind when looking for long stay Travel Insurance.

Ok, idf you are new to the whole travel insurance thing you might be asking a few questions here, like…

What exactly is covered by a travel insurance policy?

Where can I find the best deal?

Do I even need travel insurance?

Ok, I am going to answer to briefly answer these questions real quick.

Starting with the last question. “Do I even need travel insurance?” Yes, when you travel you should always have coverage. You never know what will happen to you.

To answer the the second question, “Where can I find the best deal?” Online, you compare several companies (I will tell you where in a minute). Comparing and reading reviews is the best way to learn about what policy you should purchase.

Lastly, to answer the first question, “What exactly is covered by a travel insurance policy?” You can buy policy that will cover just flight and luggage or you can get a policy that is more like a deluxe package covering things like…

Medical Illness or accidents emergency

Pre-existing conditions

Death / dismemberment

Flight cancellation / delays

The above list is not a complete, but I hope you get the point. The point is this, you should cover yourself by getting long stay travel insurance.