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How to renew annual trip insurance

October 5, 2010 By Damian Tysdal

renew-annual-trip-insuranceWhen people go on vacations, they have to be prepared for certain unforeseen incidents to happen. Accidents, illnesses, and thefts are some of the things that can ruin vacations, and they can also cause serious financial damages. To protect themselves against unexpected financial losses, travelers should make sure that they are properly insured before they go on their vacations.

Some people travel more often than others, and they have to spend a substantial amount of money to get travel insurance for every trip they make. A better option for frequent travelers is to purchase an annual trip travel insurance plan. This type of plan offers the same benefits as a single trip travel insurance plan, but it is valid for any number of trips in a year. Instead of purchasing several single trip policies, travelers can save money by getting an annual trip plan. An annual trip policy is a more cost-effective option for those who are planning to travel more than two times every year.

Travelers who purchased an annual trip travel insurance policy have to keep track of the expiry dates of their policies. The plan will expire exactly one year after the time of purchase. Most insurance companies offer two renewal options for policyholders, and they are the auto-renewal option and the non-auto-renewal option. Those who choose auto-renewal do not have to take any action to renew their policies, because their insurance providers will automatically renew the policies for them and debit the premium amount from their credit or debit cards. They will also receive a notice of renewal from their insurance companies. This option is suitable for people who are certain that they will be traveling frequently for at least a few years.

The non-auto-renewal option gives policyholders the choice to cancel or renew their annual trip plans. A notice of cancellation will be sent to the policyholders 10 days or one month before the time of expiry, and they have to inform their insurance companies whether they want to renew their policies or not. If they fail to take any action before the date of expiry, their policies will be cancelled.

Some insurance providers require their customers to renew their annual trip travel insurance policies by mail or in person, while others offer the option of online renewal. If you are renewing by mail or in person, all you have to do is follow the instructions that are provided in the notice of renewal that you receive from your insurance company. For online renewal, you have to go to your insurance provider’s website and fill in an insurance renewal form.

Filed Under: Learning

Terror Alert Europe and Travel Insurance

October 4, 2010 By Damian Tysdal

terror-alert-europeWith the recent alert from the US Department of State regarding the terror alert in Europe, many travelers are unsure of whether or not travel insurance would cover such a situation.

Will travel insurance cover me if I cancel for the European terror alert?
If you have a standard travel insurance policy (without Cancel for Any Reason see below) a terror alert is not a covered reason for cancellation. Every travel insurance policy specifically spells out what is a covered reason for cancellation and what is not, and in general terror alerts are not.

Is there any type of travel insurance plan that would cover the terror alert europe?
As mentioned above, terror alerts and warnings are generally not a covered reason for cancellation with travel insurance. Many companies, however, offer policies with a special feature called “cancel for any reason”. This upgrade, which costs more premium, will allow the traveler to cancel their trip for any reason and receive the majority of their trip costs. There is usually a minimum time period prior to the trip in which you can cancel, such as 48 hours (which is meant to prevent travelers from purchasing the plan specifically to cancel).

What will travel insurance cover in regards to terrorism?
Even though a terror alert or warning is generally not a covered reason for cancellation, there is “terrirism coverage” included with many travel insurance policies. An actual “Terrorist Incident” is generally a covered reason for cancellation.

For example, here is the official language from Travel Guard’s Platinum plan: “Terrorist Incident” means an act of violence, that is deemed terrorism by the United States Government other than civil disorder or riot (that is not an act of war, declared or undeclared) that results in Loss of life or major damage to property, by any person acting on behalf of or in connection with any organization which is generally recognized as having the intent to overthrow or influence the control of any government.

Filed Under: Learning

How to buy lost unclaimed airline luggage online baggage center

October 4, 2010 By Damian Tysdal

Unclaimed Baggage CenterEvery vacationer hopes that they will have a smooth and enjoyable traveling experience, but sometimes, things do not turn out as they planned. Certain incidents can happen before or during a vacation, and they can result in a lot of frustration and significant financial loss. One of the unfortunate things that can happen to travelers is the loss of luggage. Many people who travel by air have their luggage misplaced and sent to incorrect destinations. While most of them manage to get their luggage back after some time, others have to accept the fact that they will never see their bags again.

Loss luggage can result from the incompetence of airline or airport staff, personal carelessness, or theft. Most of the time, the airline’s baggage handlers are responsible for loss baggage. They either mistakenly place the bags in certain places in the airport or send them to a wrong destination. When such errors occur, the airline will take measures to reunite the bags with their owners. Usually, a global luggage tracing system will be used for this purpose. If nobody shows up to claim the bags after three months, the airline will either donate them to charities or send them to a facility where they will be sold to the public.

Most of the luggage pieces that are permanently lost in the United States will be delivered to the Unclaimed Baggage Center, which is situated in the city of Scottsboro in Alabama. This center is a 40,000-foot facility that specializes in selling unclaimed baggage, and it attracts many people who are looking for a good bargain. The items in the store are sold at prices that are much lower than their original costs, and shoppers can be assured that they will get great value for their money. Shopping in this place is a wonderful adventure because many interesting items are available for purchase. In the past, the staff at the center had uncovered treasures such as a Barbie doll with a roll of bills worth $500.00 stuffed inside, a camera that was designed for the Space Shuttle, an F16 guidance system worth about $250,000, and others.

The Unclaimed Baggage Center does not offer customers the option of buying its products online. If you want to buy unclaimed luggage in the US, you have to travel all the way to Scottsboro. Nonetheless, you can be sure that the shopping experience will be worth the trip. Whether you are going there by air or road, you should make sure that you have the necessary travel insurance coverage. A travel insurance policy will give you the peace of mind you need to enjoy your trip.

Filed Under: Learning

How to find lost luggage with an airline

October 3, 2010 By Damian Tysdal

lost-luggage-airlinePeople who go traveling expect things to go according to plan. In most cases, vacations do turn out as planned, and most travelers have pleasant memories of their holidays. Nevertheless, unforeseen circumstances can occur during the course of a vacation, and they can cause considerable distress for travelers. One of the unexpected things that can happen during travel is the loss of luggage.

In recent years, airlines and airports have taken serious measures to reduce the occurrences of loss luggage, and their efforts have been very successful. Presently, only about 0.005% of all checked luggage pieces are permanently lost, but since the number of people traveling by air has increased dramatically in the past few years, the small percentage actually represents a significant number of luggage units. Losing luggage can be a terrible experience, because travelers may lose some personal items that are irreplaceable as well as valuable items that need a lot of money to replace. It is not surprising that a loss luggage can incur financial damages that are worth tens of thousands of dollars. Some travelers keep expensive things such as jewelry, laptops, electronic gadgets, antiques, and costly sports equipment in their bags, and they will suffer great financial loss if they lose their bags.

If you lose your luggage during air travel, you should report the loss to the lost luggage claim counter immediately. Most lost luggage pieces are only temporarily misplaced, and it may take the baggage claim staff a few hours or days to recover them. While you are waiting for them to locate your luggage, you may receive complimentary food and drinks from the airline. If you spend money on things such as clothes, toothbrush, towel, razor, and other necessities, which are related to the loss or delay of your luggage, you can get reimbursement from the airline. Meantime, the airport will check every lost luggage piece that is sent to its office. If your luggage is delivered to the office and it contains a tag or document that shows your identity, the airline will contact you immediately. Bags that do not have any identification will be kept in the office, and descriptions of them will be posted in an international luggage tracing system. If you have not received news about your lost luggage after a while, you can search for your luggage in the system.

In the event that a luggage piece is permanently lost, the airline will reimburse the owner, but usually, the compensation amount is far from satisfactory. As such, it is important for you to obtain a travel insurance plan that includes loss luggage coverage. With a travel insurance policy, you can be assured that you will receive adequate compensation if you lose your luggage.

Filed Under: Learning

How to file a travel insurance claim

October 2, 2010 By Damian Tysdal

Travelers have to be prepared to deal with certain unfortunate incidents that can happen during their vacations, and one of the best precautions that they can take is to buy a travel insurance policy. When insured travelers get involved in accidents that incur financial damages while they are traveling, they can file for compensation claims with their insurance companies. Filing a travel insurance claim can be a complicated process, and it involves substantial paperwork and extensive communication with an insurance company. Nevertheless, travelers can make compensation claims with greater efficiency and efficacy by following these tips.

Right after you have purchased your travel insurance, you should read through the entire policy to find out the types of coverage that are included in your plan, as well as the terms of the policy and the rules that apply to compensation claims. When you encounter an unfortunate incident during your vacation, you should inform your insurance company right away, so that you can start working on your claim sooner. In addition, you have to ask the company what kind of claim form you should use. There are different claim forms for different types of coverage in a policy, and submitting a wrong one will slow down the processing of your claim. Then, find out what information and documents you need to provide. Normally, those who file for claims have to submit information such as the name of the travel agency, travel date, mode of transport, and others, as well as documents such as purchase or reservation receipts. After you have submitted all the necessary information and documents, you have to work with the insurance company’s adjuster to verify your claim and calculate the loss. Lastly, you have to keep track of your claim status by monitoring it online or calling the company occasionally.

There are a few different types of claims that you can make, and each of them requires a different set of documents. If you are filing for medical expenses claim, you have to provide information about the treatment and prescriptions you received, as well as receipts for all medical expenses that were incurred. For flight delay or cancellation claim, you need to produce proof of travel, a copy of your airline ticket, and an estimation of the total amount of money lost. If you are claiming for loss of baggage, you have to submit a police report, list of items lost, and an estimation of the financial damages incurred.

Filed Under: Learning

How to handle travel emergencies

September 30, 2010 By Damian Tysdal

travel-emergenciesPeople go on vacations to escape from the monotony of their everyday lives. They want to spend some carefree moments with their close friends and family members, discovering new places and cultures together. While most vacations turn out to be a wonderful and memorable experience, others may be ruined by the occurrences of accidents and other unfortunate incidents. Usually, accidents are unavoidable, and they can happen to the most cautious people. In the event that travelers meet with a serious accident, they may suffer great physical pain and mental trauma, and they may also experience significant financial loss.

The worst kinds of misfortunes that people can encounter during travel are road accidents and sports or recreation accidents. These accidents can cause very serious injuries, ranging from fractures to brain injuries, and they may even result in fatalities. Those who are badly injured in an accident during a vacation in a foreign country may have trouble getting emergency assistance, because they may not be able to converse effectively in the native language of that country. Also, some countries do not have efficient rescue services and adequate medical facilities. It will be great if travelers can avail of emergency assistance from someone they can trust during times of emergency.

A travel insurance policy does not only offer financial protection during travel; it also allows policyholders to gain access to valuable emergency services when they are in trouble. Leading insurance companies have connections with emergency service providers in almost every country in the world, and they have multi-lingual employees who can make the necessary arrangements to get unfortunate travelers out of a bad situation. They can also provide helpful advice, recommend medical facilities, send instant cash, and perform other essential services. This is the main advantage of getting a travel insurance plan from a good insurance provider. It may cost you a little more, but the benefits it offers can be invaluable during times of emergency.

In the event that you are caught in an emergency during your vacation, all you have to do is give your insurance company a call. If you can speak the native language of the country that you are visiting, you can also call the local police. Your country’s embassy can also provide assistance in certain situations. It is advisable that you keep a list of important phone numbers with you everywhere you go while you are on vacation.

Filed Under: Learning

How to get a travel insurance discount

September 29, 2010 By Damian Tysdal

travel-insurance-discountOnce in a while, people need to take a break from their hectic lifestyles. Traveling allows them to escape to a new place, where they can forget their worries and have a great time with their families and good friends. Nevertheless, things don’t always turn out as expected during a vacation, and some travelers find themselves getting caught in undesirable situations. While some incidents only cause minor frustrations, others can result in serious problems, ranging from injuries to loss of travel documents. In most cases, misfortunes that occur during travel will also lead to financial loss, and travelers should get the best financial protection they can before they leave for their vacations.

Travel insurance makes it possible for travelers to have a worry-free vacation. It may not be able to prevent misfortunes from occurring, but it can reduce the financial damages that are incurred because of certain unforeseen incidents. An ordinary travel insurance policy offers financial compensation for things such as medical expenses, cost of emergency evacuation, loss of travel investment due to cancellation of vacation, loss of baggage, as well as loss of personal belongings. Such a policy is usually sufficient for ordinary travel, because it provides protection against the most common misfortunes that happen during travel. Those who wish to get a more elaborate policy can purchase additional coverage options or a policy that features special benefits.

Since travel insurance is affordable to most people, insurance companies do not offer discounts for standard policies. Nonetheless, there are policies that offer great savings for certain types of travelers. Those who travel frequently can save some money by opting for an annual trip travel insurance plan. With this plan, travelers can get financial protection for an unlimited number of vacations that they go on within a year. This plan costs much less than the combined cost of a few single trip travel insurance plans. Also, people who are traveling with their families or in groups can get better insurance rates if they purchase family or group travel insurance policies. These policies cover everybody in a family or group, and they may offer special benefits as well.

Other types of travel insurance that offer savings for travelers are the student and backpacker policies. Students and backpackers are mostly budget travelers, and they enjoy taking part in sports and outdoor activities. As such, they need affordable insurance policies that include coverage for high-risk activities. Student and backpacker policies are the best insurance solutions for these travelers.

Filed Under: Learning

How to file a claim for stolen luggage

September 28, 2010 By Damian Tysdal

claim-stolen-luggagePeople should exercise extra caution when they are traveling. Whether they are vacationing in their own countries or overseas, they have to keep a close eye on their belongings wherever they go. Tourists are the ideal prey for criminals because they carry a lot of money and expensive items, and they are not familiar with criminal practices in a foreign land. It is not uncommon that people have their bags stolen while they are on a vacation, and some of them have to suffer great financial losses because they do not have travel insurance. Therefore, it is essential for vacationers to get a travel insurance policy that provides adequate coverage for stolen luggage.

If you have bought travel insurance and your luggage is stolen during your vacation, you can file a compensation claim with your travel insurance provider. Immediately after you have lost your luggage, you should report the loss to the police. At the same time, you have to call your insurance agent and inform him or her about the loss too. It is a good idea to let your insurance agent know as early as possible, because it will help the insurance company process your claim faster. Also, ask the agent what you need to do to file your claim. Usually, those who lost their luggage have to submit a copy of police report, list of all the items that are lost, and an estimation of the total financial loss. In some cases, the insurance company may also ask for receipts of lost items. Collect all the necessary documents and submit them, and then, meet with the insurer’s claim adjuster to negotiate the total value of the claim. After that, all you have to do is monitor the status of the claim.

If you are bringing expensive items and a lot of cash on your vacation, it is advisable that you upgrade the coverage for stolen baggage in your policy. Standard coverage may not provide adequate compensation, and many people who file for stolen luggage claims end up getting reimbursement that is much lower than the actual value of items in their lost bags. The best thing to do is to calculate the total worth of your luggage before you purchase a travel insurance plan. Then, you should look for a policy that offers a maximum compensation amount that is higher than the value of your belongings. Also, it is recommended that you buy your travel plan from a leading insurance provider that has the experience and resources to process claims efficiently.

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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