Summertime is a very popular travel season, especially for golfers, sportsmen, and other adventure travelers. Many travel insurance plans have exclusions for loss of equipment and other risks associated with adventure travel, so Travel Guard has designed 3 different adventure travel insurance plans to cover those needs.

Tee, Tour, & Travel
This is a package plan that is perfect for travelers who love golfing. The plan includes standard travel insurance coverage such as trip cancellation, interruption, delay, and medical expenses; but it also includes coverage specially included for golfers, including:

• Lost, stolen, or damaged golf equipment
• Non-refundable golf fees if course is closed for bad weather
• Delayed golf equipment (purchase of essential items)

AIG Travel Guard’s Golf Travel Plan features coverage for your lost, stolen or damaged golf equipment. Many standard travel insurance plans exclude coverage for this type of equipment, but golfers understand they have a lot of money invested in their gear. With this plan you are covered for $2,500 worth of lost, stolen, or damaged golf equipment.

Tee, Tour, & Travel also covers non-refundable golf fees if the course is closed within 24 hours due to inclement weather. The covered fees include green fees, cart fees, and caddy fees that are lost due to a trip being canceled for a covered reason.

Furthermore, the plan includes $750 worth of coverage allowing you to purchase necessary items if your golf equipment is delayed for more than 12 hours. So, if you arrive on a Saturday and are still waiting for your lost gear on Sunday, you would have coverage for purchasing necessary items like a bag of rental clubs, accessories, etc.

Sportsman’s Travel Protection Plan
The is a highly customized package from Travel Guard made that is ideal for travelers who love hunting and fishing. Similar to the Golf Plan above, the Sportsman’s plan includes  comprehensive travel insurance coverages like trip cancellation, interruption and delay, and medical expenses, but this plan also features coverage specific to outdoor sports enthusiasts such as:

• Lost, stolen, or damaged sportsman’s equipment
  
• Refund for a hunting or fishing license if your trip is canceled for a covered reason
  
• Additional expenses caused by delayed baggage
• Government closures of game reserves or hunting bans

Much like the Tee, Tour, & Travel above, this plan provides $2,500 of coverage for your sporting equipment if it is lost, stolen, or damaged. You have a good amount of money invested in your outdoor gear, you want to be able to protect it.

The plan also covers the cost of lost non-refundable fishing/hunting licenses if the trip is canceled for a covered reason. This is akin to the Tee, Tour, & Travel coverage for green fees, etc.

Again, like the Tee, Tour, & Travel plan, the Sportsman’s Travel Protection Plan provides coverage for the purchase of necessary equipment if your bags are delayed (more than 12 hours). So, if your equipment is delayed more than 12 hours, you would have $750 worth of coverage to purchase necessary items.

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Adventure Travel Protection Plan
This plan is ideal for the traveler looking for an extreme adventure anywhere in the world. This plan is designed with comprehensive travel insurance coverages such as trip cancellation, interruption and delay; medical expense and evacuation plus additional coverages unique to the thrill-seeking traveler. Think of it as an extreme sports travel insurance plan.

The plan is similar to the Tee, Tour, & Travel and the Sportsman’s Travel Protection Plan in that it provides coverage for lost fees, lost/stolen/damaged baggage, and delayed baggage essential item purchase.

The plan is unique in that it provides coverage for many adventure sports activities, from hang-gliding in Mexico to Colorado hiking travel, that are typically excluded in most travel insurance plans, such as:

• Adventure Travel Insurance
• Mountaineering
• Aviation
• Hang-gliding
• Skydiving
• Parachuting
• and Bungee-jumping

Here is a chart showing the standard package plan coverages for the AIG travel Guard Adventure Travel Insurance Plans:

Product	Tee, Tour, & Travel More Info	Sportsman’s Travel Protection Plan More Info	Adventure Travel Protection Plan More Info
Trip Cancellation
Cancel for Any Reason
Cancel for work Reason
Trip Interruption	150% of trip cost	150% of trip cost	150% of trip cost
Trip Interruption Return Air Only	$750 or 150% of Trip Cost	$750 or 150% of Trip Cost	$750 or 150% of Trip Cost
Coverage for Sickness, injury or death of an Immediate Family Member or Traveling companion
Offers PreExisting Condition Waiver*
Coverage for Financial Default*
Coverage for Terrorism*
Coverage for Unannouced Strike
Coverage for Inclement Weather
Coverage if home is uninhabitable by fire or weather
Coverage for military duty
Kids free
Travel Delay	$1,500	$1,500	$1,500
Missed Connection	$250	$250	$250
Deductible
Emergency Medical Transportation	$500,000	$500,000	$500,000
Optional Umbrella Package
Credit Card Protected
Baggage Delay	$750	$750	$750
Accidental Death and Dismemberment	Optional	Optional	Optional
Extra Coverage	Optional	Optional	Optional
Flight Accident Coverage	Optional	Optional	Optional
Car Rental Collision Coverage	Optional	Optional	Optional
Travel Medical Assistance
Emergency Travel Assistance
Worldwide Travel Assistance
Concierge Services
Business Assistant Services	optional	optional	optional
Roadside Assistance
Coverage for Termination of Employment of Layoff
Coverage for Felonious Assault
Coverage for Traffic Accidents
Fee Refund
Golf Course Closure
Coverage for Government Restrictions or Bans on Hunting Activities

As people in many countries live longer and retire with better health, more and more seniors are traveling farther and for longer periods than ever. Whether you are an experienced traveler, or you have been waiting all your life to take this one special trip, you want your trip to be as safe and enjoyable as possible.

The primary reason to purchase senior travel insurance is to protect themselves from highly expensive medical costs that can occur with a sudden illness or injury.

Our health is more at risk when we travel, not only because our bodies are exposed to a variety of unfamiliar germs and viruses, but also because we have the opportunity to do activities we might not engage in at home.

While a handful of countries have reciprocal health care arrangements with other countries (typically in those countries where health care is subsidized by the government) health care costs are more expensive in some countries than in others.

Furthermore, emergency health care is not covered without travel insurance. So, even if you have an adequate plan at home, it’s important to cover costs that can occur while you are traveling as well.

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As with most travel insurance plans, you can choose comprehensive benefits to cover everything from medical emergencies to lost baggage and concierge services. Or, you can stick with the basics and just obtain emergency medical and evacuation, depending on your needs.


Senior travel insurance coverage that you need to consider
Of course, every plan is different, but most travel insurance plans provide a basic level of coverage including the following benefits:

• Senior travel insurance should include emergency medical, including hospital room and board, and local ambulance services
• Emergency medical reunion to bring a family member to your bedside if you are hospitalized
• Acts of terrorism that occur in destinations on the traveler’s itinerary
• Trip cancellation, interruption, and delays that can occur for a variety of reasons
• Emergency medical evacuations and repatriation
• Return of minor grandchildren traveling without their parents with the insured
• Loss of baggage and personal effects
• AD&D
• Coverage for loss or damage to rental cars
• Pre-existing medical conditions*

Senior Travel Insurance Coverage Matrix

The following table lists the providers who offer travel insurance plans to seniors. Most plans that are designed for seniors offer the same travel protection as the company’s plans for younger travelers, but in some cases with slightly reduced maximums or higher deductibles.

Millions of travelers will attend the summer games in Beijing, China
Later this summer, millions of travelers from around the world will descend on the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China with hopes of seeing Gold medalists and exploring a fascinating new country. This can be a great adventure for travelers young and old, but there are a few things travelers need to be aware of before they go.

Olympic-bound travelers must consider their health and medical safety
Anytime you travel, your health and safety are a concern. Many travelers like to try new things; whether it’s new exotic foods, unusual activities, unfamiliar sights, and various other “foreign-land” adventures. If you are heading to Beijing to see the 2008 Olympics, you will absolutely experience a variety a “new things”. Some will be harmless, but some will increase your risk of getting sick, injured, or ill. New foods, unfamiliar surroundings, or a day-trip adventure could result in any sort of accident.

Health insurance from home won’t cover medical expenses while abroad
When traveling in your home country, a slight mishap won’t cause too much trouble as long as you have health insurance. Your insurance from your home travels with you as long as you are in your home country.

Travelers are surprised, however, to learn that the same coverage that protects them at home will not always travel with them overseas. In fact, most health insurance from the US does not provide coverage once you leave the US, including Medicare. That means that when you leave your home country, you are left with no medical coverage to protect you in case of accidents, illnesses, or sicknesses. An unexpected visit to a foreign hospital can be a scary (and expensive) experience.

Transportation to get an injured traveler home can cost $50,000 or more
The costs of having an accident or getting sick while overseas doesn’t end with the emergency medical care costs. The other downside of needing medical care while abroad is the problem of getting back home. In many cases, an injured or sick passenger cannot simply fly on a commercial airline. They might need a specially equipped medical flight, or even an emergency medical evacuation.

Travelers going to the Olympics in China need travel insurance
The answer is to purchase travel insurance for your Olympic trip to China. A travel medical insurance plan is a temporary policy that covers you for the length of your trip. A good travel medical policy will provide:

• assistance in finding a hospital
• transportation if needed
• translation assistance
• payment for covered expenses

Important! Most travel medical plans even provide coverage that pays for emergency medical evacuation and transportation costs, which can be staggering. Make sure the one you choose provides this!

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The U.S. Department of State has updated the list of travel alerts to include Mexico and Zimbabwe.

These alerts are issued to share information about short-term conditions, generally within a particular country, that pose imminent risks to the security of U.S. citizens.

Natural disasters, terrorist attacks, coups, anniversaries of terrorist events, election-related demonstrations or violence, and high-profile events such as international conferences or regional sports events are examples of conditions that might generate a Travel Alert.

Click here to read all current travel alerts

In this recent article about travel insurance and bankrupt airlines, I discussed several key elements to consider when purchasing a plan. I have a bonus tip to add, and I think it deserves a stand-alone post.

Why you should never buy travel insurance from an airline, cruise line, or tour operator

When you decide to purchase insurance for your trip, you are entering into a contract with an insurance company. You are promising to pay a certain amount of premium, and they are promising to pay you under certain circumstances (a claim).

In the case of travel insurance, you should always purchase from a third party. Even though your cruise line, airline, or tour operator offers you insurance, it is not the same as purchasing it independently.

Insurance purchased from a travel supplier may not cover financial default (bankruptcy)

There has been a string of airline bankruptcies recently, causing many travelers to shop for travel insurance. For travelers who purchased a plan through their travel supplier, however, there might not be coverage for this situation. Many insurance plans offered by travel suppliers do not cover bankruptcy and financial default.

Always purchase travel insurance from a third party source

It is always wise to purchase travel insurance from a third party source who will provide coverage in the event of bankruptcy, when airlines or other travel suppliers stop service. Don’t be left without coverage when you need it.

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With the rapid increase of airline bankruptcies and cancelled flights, many travelers are relying on travel insurance to protect their investment. Travel insurance provides many benefits, one of which is coverage for the bankruptcy or financial default of a travel provider; including airlines, cruise line, or tour operators.

This travel insurance coverage will provide reimbursement for cancelled travel plans when a travel supplier declares bankruptcy.

Not all travel insurance policies provide this coverage, it depends on the plan. Some provide great coverage for this, some have several conditions that must be met, and other do not provide coverage at all.

Here are 4 essential steps to buying financial default coverage

1. Check your policy to make sure financial default coverage is provided
There are many different travel insurance companies, and each company has several products. Financial default (or bankruptcy) is not covered by all travel insurance policies. Read the policy brochure carefully, or even better the actual policy certificate. Look for a section regarding coverage for bankruptcy or financial default.

The best way to find the policies with the best coverage for financial default is to use a comparison engine. At the end of this article, you will find a table outlining the financial default coverage for all major travel insurance companies and their products.

2. Check the list of “Covered Suppliers” to make sure your airline or tour operator is covered.
Some travel suppliers might not be covered for financial default reasons. Travel insurance companies will define the specific travel suppliers that they will cover for financial default. Look for a “Covered Supplier List” when purchasing travel insurance, and check it to make sure your airline, cruise line, or tour operator is listed.

The travel insurance company must define the specific companies due to the shear number of different providers, and the questionable stability of some of them. It isn’t hard to start a “tour company”, and many of them go out of business.

3. Buy travel insurance as soon as possible
Regardless of the financial default coverage, it is always recommended that you purchase your travel insurance policy as soon as possible to take advantage of all the coverage. This means buying it when you make you first trip payment. There are many reasons to purchase your travel insurance plan as early as possible, and it is specifically important with financial default and bankruptcy coverage.

Most companies require that you purchase the policy within a certain time period; often within 10-15 days of your first trip payment, or within 24 hours of you last trip payment. Check the details of your policy, or consult the table at the end of this article.

The travel insurance company does this to make sure travelers don’t buy coverage after they know about the bankruptcy.

4. Be aware of the “waiting period” for financial default coverage in many travel insurance plans.
Another line of fine print refers to the “waiting period”. This is a period of time after the purchase of your policy when a financial default would not be covered. For example: if a company has a 10 day waiting period, but the travel provider declares bankruptcy 6 days after the effective date of the policy, you would not be covered.

Again, this is done to prevent uninsured travelers from buying coverage after the fact. Oftentimes, the imminent bankruptcy of a company is known to the general public. Without this waiting period, you might hear that your provider is about to declare bankruptcy, and you could buy the insurance hoping to be covered. The purpose of trip cancellation insurance is to cover sudden, accidental, and unknown events. This is why insurance should be purchased as soon as possible, so you can be covered for the longest period of time.

Financial Default Coverage Matrix

Here is a listing of most major travel insurance companies and their individual plans, as well as the financial default coverage provided. Note: It is also important to double check your policy when purchasing; simply use this table as a starting point. You can compare quotes from all of these companies here.

One of the web’s leading travel insurance comparison sites, Squaremouth.com, recently announced they will be the first to offer new policy benefits from CSA Travel Protection. The changes will improve benefits for both Freestyle & Freestyle Luxe.

“The new CSA product enhancements strengthen benefits for two versatile products, and most importantly this optional upgrade caters even more to the individual needs of our clients,” Squaremouth’s CEO Chris Harvey says.

One of the new improvements is their “The Cancel for Work Reasons” option, which provides coverage if travelers are forced to call off a vacation due to work obligations. Reasons for the cancellation may include a corporate merger or acquisition, your business becomes inoperable due to outlined incidents, or having your previously approved time off revoked.

Harvey states “another great benefit is return of premium, which is exclusive to CSA”.

With the purchase within 24 hours of final trip payment, CSA’s Return of Premium waiver guarantees that at a minimum, you will be refunded the cost of your premium if you cancel your trip for any reason (covered or not).

Not only that, but if your trip is cancelled due to a covered reason beyond your control, you will receive your premium back in addition to any claim you may have filed.

Enhanced benefits within the new CSA Freestyle and Freestyle Luxe travel insurance plans include:

Freestyle Plan
1) Optional “Cancel for Work Reasons” benefit if purchased prior to final trip payment
2) 20% discount when booking within 20 days of departure
3) The exclusion for Pre-Existing Conditions will be waived if the policy is purchased prior to or within 24 hours of the final payment for the trip

Freestyle Luxe Plan
1) “Cancel for Work Reasons” benefit included in standard plan
2) Optional “Cancel for Any Reason” benefit if purchased within 24 hours of initial trip deposit date
3) Return of Premium benefit included if purchased prior to final trip payment
4) 20% discount when booking within 20 days of departure

Compare these plans and more at www.squaremouth.com

After Aloha Airlines filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection 2 weeks ago, many travelers were left in the lurch. When the final flight left Sacramento at 11:25am Monday, they knew they weren’t coming back.

That means many travelers were left stranded, scrambling to find a flight home.

In a gesture of good travel karma, AIG Travel Guard has announced that it will provide their emergency travel assistance services to all travelers affected by Aloha Airlines’ announcement that it has ceased operations.

Travel Guard has offered to help stranded travelers rebook flights on other air carriers, arrange for extended hotel stays for those currently stranded at their destinations, and even help with other emergency travel needs.

Travelers wishing to take advantage of these complimentary emergency travel assistance services can call AIG Travel Guard’s 24-hour emergency hotline at 1-888-637-1739, or visit www.TravelGuard.com

Many travelers want to know, “Who has the best deals for travel insurance?”

There is no easy answer to this question. It is hard to single out 1 travel insurance company as having the best deals. Each company, and more importantly, each policy, has different coverage and levels of coverage. Therefore, they have different prices.

Cheap is not always the best way to go

The important thing its to get the coverage you need. It will do you no good to buy the cheapest trip insurance plan, but not have coverage for that lost suitcase or missed flight.

Decide what coverage is most important to you, and how much. Every plan varies. If you are going abroad, and want to make sure you have medical coverage, you will want to pay special attention to the travel medical policies. If you are concerned with a last minute cancellation due to the illness of a sick family member, you will focus on trip cancellation insurance, or “cancel for any reason” coverage.

Here are the steps to finding the best deals for travel insurance:

1. Decide what coverage is most important to you and your trip
2. Compare travel insurance using a comparison site, such as Squaremouth.com
3. Find the policies with the coverage you are comfortable with, then look for a price that works for you

It’s that simple.

To give you an idea of how the different the premiums can be, here is a comparison chart of the rates from various companies and plans. This is a quote for a 30 day trip, trip cost of $10,000, medical coverage of $10,000, for 2 32 year-old travelers:

As you can see, there is a big gap between the cheapest and the most expensive plan. You can bet there is more coverage for the Deluxe plan from Access America, and less coverage in the AIG Essential plan.