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Ask Travel Guard: What is “Hospital of Choice” and how does it work?

October 14, 2010 By Damian Tysdal

If I get sick or have an accident while traveling abroad and require emergency evacuation can I go to the hospital of my choice or to the first available?

Travel Guard plans offer worldwide travel medical evacuation that will transport you to the nearest adequate licensed medical facility or home for treatment or recovery, plus coverage for any qualified accompanying travel medical expenses you may incur while traveling. Transportation to hospital of your choice may be available as an upgrade depending upon the type of plan you choose. Our travel medical insurance programs are ideal for frequent international or business travelers and available as annual or per-trip plans.

Travel Guard is the nation’s leading provider of travel insurance, assistance, and service plans, covering more than 6 million travelers worldwide each year. Travel insurance plans through Travel Guard are distributed by more than 12,000 travel agents across the United States.

Travel insurance plans through Travel Guard may include coverage for trip cancellation, travel interruptions and delays, emergency medical expenses, medical evacuation expenses, and lost or delayed baggage. Most plans also include 24-hour travel assistance services* for emergency medical assistance, last-minute or emergency travel changes, lost luggage tracking, pre-trip travel advice, and more.

Filed Under: Learning

Does Travel Insurance Cover Cliff Diving?

October 12, 2010 By Damian Tysdal

travel-insurance-cliff-divingFor thrill seekers, there is nothing quite like the adrenaline rush of nailing a perfect cliff dive. In equal measure, cliff diving is as exhilarating as it is dangerous. Classified as an extremely risky sport, cliff diving involves diving over cliffs or varying heights. Olivier Favre who jumped off Villers-le-Lac in France at the height of 53.9m did the highest cliff dive ever recorded. Generally, cliff diving at heights of 20 to 30 meters is considered normal.

Now, you may be interested to try jumping off a cliff during your next vacation. You have made all your bookings, engaged a top cliff diving trainer, and you are all ready to embark on the adventure of your life. Then, you wonder if your single trip travel insurance covers it? This is certainly an interesting question.

A basic travel insurance policy provides coverage for loss of luggage, trip cancellation, medical expenses, and other normal travel risks. Cliff diving is considered an extreme sport that is not even covered under Grade 4 Activity Insurance. Some of the other activities include hang gliding, parasailing, rock climbing under 2,000m, kite surfing, and amateur high diving under 5m. The closest activity to cliff diving is amateur high diving under 5m. In most travel insurance companies, there is no coverage for the sport of cliff diving. To qualify for Grade 4 Activity Insurance, you will have to pay a much higher premium but cliff diving is specifically excluded on the list.

In this activity, the risk of injury or even death is extremely high. Performed in a natural environment in which you have little or no control over such elements like the height of the cliff, the wind conditions, and the strength of the waves, the dangers are obvious. Considering these hazards, you can understand why travel insurance companies are reluctant to provide coverage for this activity. It is unlikely that you will be covered for this by any form of basic travel insurance.

Just because most travel insurance companies would not cover cliff diving does not mean that you will not find insurance for this sport. There are specialized extreme sports insurance companies that offer travel insurance for dangerous sports, but you will have to be prepared to pay a much higher premium. In any case, the best thing to do is to talk to your travel insurance agent to find out if there’s any travel insurance policy that provides exclusive coverage for cliff diving.

Filed Under: Learning

How Can I Get a Partial Refund on Canceling My Travel Insurance Policy?

October 11, 2010 By Damian Tysdal

refund-cancel-travel-insurance-policyGoing on a vacation is a great way to unwind. It allows you to leave your worries behind and indulge in fun and adventure in a new environment. If you plan your vacation well, you will most likely have an enjoyable trip that leaves many good memories; but there is still a chance that something unfortunate will happen during travel, and it can ruin your plan and make your holiday a dreadful experience. Unfortunate incidents can also cause you to lose your prepaid travel expenses and incur other financial damages. In order to protect yourself from unforeseen financial losses, you have to make a point to buy a good travel insurance plan before you go on your vacation.

A travel insurance policy is beneficial because it gives you protection against certain accidents that can happen before or during your vacation. If an emergency arises before the date of your departure and you are forced to call off your vacation, you may be able to get a partial or full reimbursement for your prepaid travel expenses. For example, in the event that you become injured in an auto accident, you may be able to claim compensation for the medical bills that you have paid. Your travel plan will also cover loss of luggage and other personal possessions. These are the basic travel insurance coverage options, and they are included in most policies. There are also policies that offer coverage that is more extensive; including emergency evacuation, accidental death and dismemberment, personal liability, and tour company default.

After you have received your travel insurance plan from your insurance provider, you should spend some time to read your policy. This document contains important information, such as the coverage options that are included in the plan, the amounts of compensation offered, and the terms and conditions of the policy. If you are not satisfied with certain things in your policy or you wish to purchase a better policy from another insurance provider, you may choose to cancel your travel insurance plan; however it is important to be aware of any fees or charges when canceling an insurance policy. Some insurance companies offer a free-look or trial period. If you cancel your policy within this period and your travel has not begun, you can get a full premium refund from your insurance provider. The free-look period is actually a grace period for you to confirm acceptance of your policy, and it lasts for 10 to 15 days from the date of purchase. After this period is over, you will not get any refund, full or partial, if you decide to cancel your policy.

Filed Under: Learning

How Can I Find a Doctor in a Foreign Country?

October 10, 2010 By Damian Tysdal

doctor-foreign-countrySometimes travel plans can be subject to change because of unexpected occurrences, and travelers who become victims of such circumstance may not be able to enjoy themselves, or have to cut their travel plans short. Some travelers may experience health problems or sustain injuries while they are traveling in a foreign country, and may feel considerable discomfort or pain. If their injuries or illnesses are serious, they will have to find a doctor immediately.

It may not be easy for travelers to find medical attention in a foreign country, because they may not be able to converse well due to a language barrier and the traveler may not know where medical facilities are located. Before traveling abroad, it is important that the traveler research their destination and locate medical facilities in the event of an emergency. Hotel employees are usually more than willing to suggest a doctor, but their recommendation may not suit one’s budget and medical needs; but do not be afraid to ask for help, most locals are happy to point travelers in the right direction. Depending on the area of travel, the cost of medical care may fluctuate. Therefore, it is important for them to have a connection with a person who can make suitable recommendations.

One of things that travelers can do to ensure that they will not experience financial troubles when they become sick or injured in a foreign country is to get travel medical insurance. A travel insurance policy does not only provide reimbursement for medical expenses incurred during travel; it also ensures that travelers will have access to reliable assistance during times of emergency. A good travel insurance company provides policyholders with information about how to get the best medical and emergency services in almost every country around the world. It also has dedicated multi-lingual representatives who can understand the needs of travelers and help them locate suitable doctors in foreign countries.

When you are searching for a travel insurance plan, you should find out if the insurance company of your choice offers medical referral and provides coverage in the area of the world you would be traveling. Most of the leading insurance providers offer this service, and it is a good idea for you to obtain insurance from these companies. Also, make sure that the policy that you are planning to purchase provides adequate compensation for medical expenses, so that you will not end up having to use your own money to pay for your medical treatment.

Filed Under: Learning

Does Flight Insurance Cover Helicopter Flights?

October 9, 2010 By Damian Tysdal

flight-insurance-helicopterIf you are vacationing in a place where helicopter tours are available, you may want to take the opportunity to experience the thrill of riding in a helicopter. A helicopter tour is fun and exciting, and it offers a spectacular bird’s eye view of the wonderful sights that can be found in your travel destination. Helicopters are considered a safer generally a safe form of transportation. Nevertheless, when helicopter accidents do happen, the consequences can be tragic. Therefore, you should make sure that you are properly insured against helicopter accidents if you are planning to go on helicopter tours during your vacation.

One thing you have to know is that ordinary flight insurance only covers air travel, and it does not provide protection against accidents that occur during helicopter flights. There are very few insurance companies that offer helicopter flight insurance, because most vacationers do not go on helicopter tours. If you spend some time searching on the Internet, you should be able to find a travel insurance provider that has a special coverage for helicopter tours. Before you decide to purchase helicopter flight coverage, you should find out from the helicopter tour operator if it provides insurance for its customers. Some helicopter tour companies carry public liability insurance, and their insurance companies will provide compensation for all customers who are involved in accidents that happen during their helicopter tours. Nonetheless, you should ask your helicopter tour company how much compensation they will be paying in case of accidents, so that you will know whether it is necessary for you to get extra coverage.

If you are planning to obtain helicopter flight insurance from an insurance company, you should make sure that the coverage offers sufficient compensation. Helicopter accidents can result in very serious injuries, and victims may have to undergo extensive medical treatment. In an affluent country that has high medical costs, treatment for serious injuries, such as fractures or brain injuries, costs at least thousands of dollars. If you do not have a travel insurance policy and you get involved in a helicopter accident, you may have to pay your hospital bills up front. This can turn a fun and wonderful holiday into a nightmare. If you are well insured against helicopter accidents, you can get partial or full reimbursement for your hospital bills.

Filed Under: Learning

Does Cruise Insurance Cover My Belongings if the Ship Sinks?

October 8, 2010 By Damian Tysdal

cruise-insuranceSpending several days or weeks onboard a cruise ship is a wonderful way to relax and have fun. Cruise vacations are usually safe, and it is almost unheard of that a cruise ship sinks. Nonetheless, you should still take the necessary precautions to ensure that you are protected against any incident that may happen during your trip. As such, you should obtain a cruise insurance plan before you leave for your cruise trip.

A cruise insurance policy for cruise-goers will give you protection against many different types of misfortunes that may occur onboard a cruise ship. In the event that you become injured or sick during your cruise vacation, you will need to get treatment on the ship. Onboard medical service is usually more expensive than medical care offered by normal hospitals, and you can get reimbursement for money that you spend on medical treatment if you have travel insurance. If the cruise ship sinks and you lose your baggage and other belongings, the insurance company will pay you compensation amount that is close the total value of your lost possessions. Your cruise insurance may also include benefits such as trip cancellation and emergency evacuation. If you feel that the compensation amount that is offered by your insurance provider is not sufficient, you can pay a little more to raise the level of coverage.

You can find numerous insurance companies that provide coverage for cruise travelers on the Internet. It is advisable that you make comparisons of offers from a few different companies first before you make a purchase. Look at the prices, coverage options, compensation amounts, travel assistance services, and reputations of the companies, and then decide which policies are most suitable for your specific situation. You should be careful if you are planning to buy cheap travel insurance policies, because such policies may not give you the level of protection you need; the best policy is one that offers good value for your money. Make sure that you are buying from a reputable provider. Leading insurance companies offer plans that cater to the specific needs of cruise travelers, and they are capable of processing claims efficiently and providing very good travel advice and emergency services.

Filed Under: Learning

How Close To Date to Buy Travel Insurance

October 7, 2010 By Damian Tysdal

how-close-to-date-buy-travel-insurancePeople make extensive plans and invest considerable amounts of money to make their trip a success, and they expect everything to go as smoothly as possible. As long as flights arrive and depart on time and travelers follow their itineraries closely, it is likely that they will have a positive travel experience. Nevertheless, not every vacation turns out that way. Certain unforeseen obstacles may arise, and they can cause serious trouble for travelers. Such situations may include illnesses, accidents, criminal victimization, emergencies that result in cancellation or curtailment of travel. To prevent these situations from ruining a trip and incurring financial damages, travelers should protect themselves by obtaining a travel insurance policy.

Travel insurance is one of things that travelers should consider getting before going on a trip. If properly insured, travelers may receive substantial financial recovery for charges or damages that occur during travel. Most travel insurance plans feature coverage options such as medical expenses for the treatment of sicknesses and injuries, loss of vacation investment due to trip cancellation, financial damages suffered because of loss baggage or personal possessions, and expenses for medical evacuation. Depending on the type of activities planned, the place visited, the travel insurance provider, the coverage that is provided by a standard travel plan may or may not be sufficient. To make sure that you will have optimal peace of mind while you are traveling, travelers can add coverage options to a policy or upgrade existing ones.

Travelers can either purchase travel insurance from an insurance company in your neighborhood, or one of the many providers on the Internet. If you are planning to purchase a travel insurance plan online, all you have to do is complete an application form at the insurance company’s website and make payment with a credit card. It is advisable that travelers purchase their policy as early as possible; avoid waiting until the last minute. If circumstances do not allow you to make your purchase early, it is possible for you to buy a plan just before the day of your departure. Travelers will only be reimbursed for losses that occur after your travel insurance is in effect. In the event that you are caught in an emergency, you have to use your own money to pay for whatever expenses that are incurred first, and then reimbursement may be provided by the insurance provider afterward.

Filed Under: Learning

How to choose trip and travel insurance

October 6, 2010 By Damian Tysdal

choose-trip-travel-insuranceTo ensure that you have a successful trip, there must be adequate planning. Prior to your trip, you should already have finalized your travel itinerary, bought your air tickets, booked your accommodations, and most importantly, obtained travel insurance. Nowadays, there are so many different types of trip and travel insurance that it may not be so easy to choose the best travel insurance policy for your purpose. Here is a little advice so you know how to choose trip and travel insurance.

Firstly, you have to know what type of traveler you are. If you are going on a short trip for a vacation or an emergency trip, a single trip travel insurance policy will offer enough coverage for your purpose. For people who need to travel constantly due to their work requirements or any other reason, it is more logical to get multi trip travel insurance. It can be frustrating to buy 20 single trip policies in a year when you can easily buy an annual trip travel insurance, which covers all the traveling you do during the insured period. One important note is to ensure that you remember to renew the policy when it has expired.

Next, you have to decide the type of coverage you need. As many well-seasoned travelers know, the basic travel insurance does not offer very good coverage when it comes to medical or health matters. For instance, basic travel insurance seldom covers emergency evacuation, which can be extremely expensive. There is also the matter of long-term medical treatment in case you get involved in a serious injury; this is why many travelers choose to purchase travel medical insurance.

Some travelers will stick to their travel plans no matter what happens. Some travelers may have to cancel or delay their trips for one reason or another. Basic travel insurance will cover most of the usual traveling risks like lost baggage, cancellation of flights due to bad weather conditions or political upheavals, accidental death or injury. Sometimes, travelers may want to cancel a trip for some other reason, which may not be normally covered. For this purpose, it is a good idea to get any cancellation trip insurance that allows you to recuperate your losses if you want to cancel your trip for any reason.

There are many other types of travel insurance. Make it a point to discuss with your travel insurance agent to ensure you get the best coverage.

Filed Under: Learning

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About this website

My name is Damian, and I started this website in 2006 to help travelers understand travel insurance.

The site features company reviews, guides, articles, and many blog posts to help you better understand travel insurance and pick the right plan for your trip (assuming you actually need travel insurance).

I am also a licensed travel insurance agent, and you can get a quote and purchase through this site as well.

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