Got Holiday Insurance Be Prepared and Be Protected!
With so many stresses and uncertainties in today’s age, it’s little wonder that folks look forward to their annual holiday with so much passionate enthusiasm. So important is the break away from it all that many people not only use all their hard earned savings to have one, but many go into debt too just to get as far away from it all as they can. But, putting aside the sun, sea, sand, lakes, mountains and forests, how many of us actually think seriously enough about the holiday insurance amid all the excitement?
Unfortunately, with so much focus on the holiday and all the pleasure that goes into planning it, there are a lot of people who overlook the importance of holiday insurance and especially those that plan independently without the assistance of a travel agent. Many save the cost and plough the extra into the vacation, while others take out inadequate cover. There’s also that old feeling that holiday accidents and nightmares are things that only happen to other people.
In the stupidity of my 20’s I went on a 13 month backpacking tour of the world during 1990/91 and I took out absolutely no holiday or travel insurance cover of any description. I was just 26 at the time and felt better, fitter, and more cocksure of myself than at any other time. I jugged across Europe on a real unstable Yugoslavian bus with no windows and small plastic seats, island hopped around the Mediterranean, bummed around India during the monsoon season, and trekked for a month in the Nepalese Himalayas. There was also white water rafting expeditions, unsafe boat trips across the Indonesian archipelago, and lots of jungle treks. I could go on and on, but although I was extremely lucky I could have gotten myself into some very costly and dangerous situations.
I came across a number of fellow travelers during that long journey who got so sick that they had to fly home for treatment as soon as they had the strength to board a plane, and they were the lucky ones. But the fact of the matter is that some people, sometimes, get into accidents and illnesses that run into tens of thousands, and occasionally hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of treatment. Just think about how you would pay for that without an adequate holiday insurance policy!
Luckily, on my trip, I just suffered minor complaints like worms under the skin, gardia (sever dysentery), altitude sickness, dengue fever, and some kind of airborne fungicidal rash which made my body look like and ordinance and survey map of the world. All of the afore mentioned were treated locally and relatively cheaply, but any one of these complaints could have turned the other way and become very complicated.
Whereas I was lucky, there are many thousands each year who are not. People die because they don’t have holiday insurance or the funds for treatment after a fatal accident or illness. Don’t fall pray to a holiday from hell medical disaster and put holiday insurance at the top of your planning list and make sure all your papers are in order before you set off. You deserve your vacation and you deserve to be covered, for peace of mind for both yourself and your loved ones.
On a lighter note, should you get stranded, robbed, lost and not be able to depart when you are scheduled to leave, a good holiday insurance policy will once again come to the rescue and potentially save you a fortune. There’s a holiday insurance policy to suit every type of trip for all eventualities. Happy traveling!
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Toby Hicks is a proficient writer and webmaster for Insurance Covered dot com where he writes on such issues as Temporary Health Insurance and Dental Insurance Plans. He also has many other Insurance related pieces on the site. |
Published by admin on September 19th, 2008 tagged EzyTrip2Go2 | Comment now »
Considering Travel Insurance Okanagan, B.C. Man Loses Kidney In Costa Rica Hospital!
For all the future travelers that have the opportunity to read this story, I would hope that after you finish this article, you would highly consider Travel Insurance!
As a former travel Agent, when I read sad stories about travelers that have bad medical experiences abroad, it starts to make my stomach turn because I would quickly check all my client files to make sure they have all purchased some form of medical and/or cancellation policies from me prior to their travel.
However, when he awoke in the Costa Rica hospital where he had admitted himself, he quickly found out that his kidney was removed! This young man’s jaw was never fixed and the medical doctor in Costa Rica claimed several of his internal organs were damaged, and out of all the organs that were injured, they had to remove one of his kidneys. Makes you go Hmmm!
Now in my professional opinion, I would classify Costa Rica as a popular destination that I would recommend to many of my past clients to visit for their ecotourism and exotic vacation appeal. The problem is that when we suggest these destinations that are glorified as paradises, we sometimes forget to tell them that these vacation destinations don’t have medical facilities that are comparable to North American standards, and also not all facilities operate in the best faith.
All the facts about this incident are not proven yet, but the truth of the matter is in this incident, having the proper travel medical insurance coverage could have been the difference in this gentleman coming home safely with a fixed jaw and his kidney intact.
How Does Medical Travel Protection Policies Eliminate Situations Like This, You Ask?
Keep this in perspective due to the nature of the incident. The facts are still coming in about this mans occurrence Costa Rican hospital, and I’m not totally certain he did not have travel coverage, but in my professional opinion, if he did have a reputable comprehensive travel medical policy, I truly believe this situation would not have happened.
Here is my explanation that you can apply to having quality medical coverage. When you visit your travel agent, or decide to book your vacation online, many of the agencies and online companies will offer you an insurance policy that is designed specifically for your travel protection while away from your originating country. Due to a large percentage of your medical costs that may not be covered by the country you live in, travel medical emergency policies are there to protect you from the additional costs that your country will not be covering.
Let’s take this one step further. While you’re away on vacation, the Travel Medical/Cancellation Company you purchased your policy from now has a vested interest in your physical and financial protection. However, they also have a reputation and a financial interest in their company! By saying this, they must make sure that claims that are paid out are legitimate, and are not abused by many of the un-regulated foreign medical facilities that treat patients for emergency situations.
To control these illegal practices, most, if not all, travel insurance providers (including online Insurance companies) establish worldwide relationships with a great number of medical facilities in the tourist areas, and in this relationship, the selected Travel Insurance Company regulates them with very strict rules and guidelines.
This is why it’s important to read the policy terms and conditions, and understand what is required as the policyholders must follow these terms for their own protection under emergency situations. What many conditions state are that the people who get injured due to an unexpected situation, must contact the insurer prior to admitting themselves to a hospital, or a large percentage of their claim may not be paid.
Now I know many of you may be saying that if you were not conscious at the time you were admitted to a hospital, that’s beyond your control, and you’re right! However, upon becoming aware, you must at your earliest opportunity advise the Insurance Company where you are, and if it’s not a regulated hospital on their list, they will make arrangements to remove you to their preferred medical facility.
Why Does A Travel Insurance Company Go To All This Trouble?
This is where we continue from the story about the young man that had his kidney removed. Again, I’m going by my own opinion and no one else, and like I mentioned prior I don’t have all the facts, but in my profession I strongly believe that if this person had coverage with a reputable Travel Insurance Company, he would have more than likely contacted their toll free worldwide number, and talked to professional staff that are trained in the medical field.
He would have been directed to the correct hospital, and when he arrived, upon the instructions of the Insurance staff, he would have passed this information on to the medical staff at the Costa Rican hospital. This does one of two things, it gives the Insurance Company the power to regulate and make sure that only the necessary surgeries are taking place, and because they’re paying the bill, they will ensure that every situation is medically documented for any future liability.
I can’t guarantee that having the medical coverage would have avoided this situation, but I have to say when you eliminate all the risks by working with the Medical Insurance provider, you have a better opportunity in walking out of that foreign hospital with the peace-of-mind that you’re not going back home without all your valuable functioning organs.
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About the author: William Lezubski (Accredited Cruise Counsellor (ACC), and Certified Travel Counsellor(CTC) - William is a professional in the Travel Industry and is the owner and author of “Discount Caribbean Vacations Web Site” available at http://www.discount-caribbean-vacations.com Not only a great source for Discount Caribbean Vacations, but also providing important Travel Insurance information to protect your vacation investment! We encourage you to visit our website to read many of our informative articles and tips on how you can make your vacation safe and worry free! |
Published by admin on August 7th, 2008 tagged EzyTrip2Go2 | Comment now »
Planning a Trip How To Plan For The Unexpected
Have you ever taken a trip where it seemed that everything went wrong? What should have been a care free, relaxing vacation or an efficient business trip quickly turns into a stress-filled nightmare. No one likes to dwell on the negative, but the old saying “hope for the best, and plan for the worst” has a lot of truth to it. Many things can go wrong and planning ahead will help you avoid unwanted drama, stress and hassles. Travel delays or accidents, hidden fees and costs, lost or delayed luggage, medical or dental emergencies, travel accidents, rental car damage, potential terrorist attack alerts, emergency assistance problems, identity theft and more are common problems that can, and most likely, will occur on some occasion during trip taking. In hindsight could most of the hassles on that trip have been prevented or made more bearable by planning for the unexpected? Here are some tips for doing just that.
1. Start planning your trip early. Four to six weeks before you depart is not too early to start planning. If you are purchasing a comprehensive or all-inclusive package, make sure you research the agency you are dealing with. Some offer packages that guarantee no surprise up-charges or add-ons. If you don’t understand their policies or package rates, make them explain it to you until you do understand it. Asking the right questions beforehand can eliminate disappointment over unrealized expectations. Know what you are getting for your money. Never assume that what you think you are hearing is factual until it is fully explained and you see it guaranteed in writing. If you are planning a business trip on short notice, use an agency that you trust, or one that you consider reputable.
If short notice trips are normal for you, or if you know that travel could be required on short notice due to an emergency situation, keep a bag packed in your closet with the things you consider basic necessities. Include at least one complete change of clothes, and necessary toiletries. Also include a small amount of your regular medication, if applicable, and important account numbers and phone numbers. If packing space is at a premium, purchase sample size toiletries to keep in your “short notice” bag. Make sure it is of carry-on size for airline travel. This will take some stress off in the event that plans must be made quickly. If your luggage is lost or delayed, you will be glad you took the time to pack your carry-on bag in this manner.
2. Research your trip thoroughly. The Internet is a good choice for doing this. To get the best deals and the best accommodations to suit your preferences, there is no substitute for being informed and fully aware of what is available. In the information age, there are huge amounts of travel information available on the World Wide Web. Tickets, and even permits, in some cases, can be printed on your home computer printer from the Internet. Rental car reservations, hotel reservations are made easy for convenient prices and quality comparisons on-line.
3. Plan for the unexpected: Troubles can occur when you least anticipate them, so take along some peace of mind and protect your trip investment by purchasing travel insurance. Make sure the travel insurance you purchase covers job loss or transfers, uninhabitable accommodations, emergency assistance, travel accidents, delays, lost or delayed luggage, weather-affected cancellation, medical and dental expenses, terrorism, and identity theft. In addition, plans should offer flexible coverage periods for pre-existing medical conditions. Choose a company that answers all calls with a live person, not an automated attendant. Confirm all your purchases and reservations at a later time either on the Web or by phone to ensure no glitches have occurred.
4. Make sure you will have all the arrangements and paperwork you’ll need- airline tickets, passports, visas, maps, rental car and hotel reservations, permits as well as health and travel insurance documentation. Carry enough cash for emergencies, phone calls or unexpected fees. Don’t carry large amounts of cash. Traveler’s checks and credit cards are a better alternative. Make a list of all the pertinent numbers of your credit card, driver’s license, visas, passport, ticket, reservation, prescriptions and any other important documentation. Include any emergency phone numbers to call if any of these items are lost or stolen. Put a copy of this list in your carry-on, and carry the other one on your person.
Have someone you trust watch your home or apartment, or house-sit while you are away. Think about the things that need to be done in your absence- watching and feeding your pets, watering your plants, etc. If you don’t have a house/pet-sitter, have a light left on inside your residence so it would appear that someone is home at night. If you have someone checking up on things periodically, have them rotate the lighting and retrieve your mail and your newspapers. Another option to this is to have your newspaper and mail delivery temporarily suspended. You can also put your lighting on inexpensive timers, which can closely imitate your normal lighting routines.
5. Write out an itinerary- before you head out the door, give someone you know and trust a written copy of your trip plans. This should include: Your estimated time of departure, mode of transportation (flight numbers and/or make, model and license plate numbers), the names, addresses and phone numbers (especially cell phone numbers) of all group members traveling, any relevant medical conditions that may affect you or your travelling companions. Also include your travel insurance policy names, numbers and beneficiary information, your hotels’ phone number and address and expected time of arrival, time of return, and all pertinent return travel information.
Make arrangements to contact the person holding your itinerary at specific intervals during the trip, and then again when your trip is over. Agree with your contact person on a procedure for contacting the authorities if you do not report in by a certain time. This can be especially important when traveling in high-risk areas of the world, or even anywhere outside the United States. In some cases, if you have a pet and choose to hire a reputable pet-sitter or house-sitter, this can be your contact person.
In short, the quality of your trip depends largely on proper planning for the unexpected. Most of us like to think that things will come off without a hitch, but the truth is that even with the best of planning, things can, and will go wrong from time to time. Planning early, thorough research, double checking arrangements, coverage and documentation, and writing out an itinerary may not completely dispel unexpected problems, but it does produce a peace of mind and assurance knowing that there is a plan in place to deal with the unexpected if it does come about.
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This article was written by Rita R. Powers with support from CSA Travel Protection, providers of Travel Insurance and travel assistance services. For information on how travel insurance can add to your travel experience, please visit http://www.csatravelprotection.com. Any reproductions of this article must provide a link back to CSA Travel Protection. |