What are the advantages of buying my travel insurance plan sooner rather than later?

Additional benefits such as a waiver of pre-existing conditions or financial default coverage may be available if you purchase your travel insurance plan within 15 days of your initial trip payment.

In addition, when you purchase a Travel Guard plan that includes coverage for Trip Cancellation, the coverage will be effective at 12:01 a.m. Standard Time on the date following receipt by the Insurer. This means that the sooner you purchase travel insurance with this coverage, the sooner you can be covered and receive reimbursement for your trip, should you need to cancel.

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.

Nowadays, travelers are more cautious, and they make modify their travel plans to ensure that they will have a smooth and enjoyable trip. While being cautious can reduce the risk of accidents, it does not guarantee that accidents will not take place during travel. Sometimes, travelers may get involved in accidents because of other people’s carelessness or negligence. Also, travelers may become ill because they cannot adapt well to unfamiliar conditions in a foreign country. When unfortunate incidents occur, it is likely that travelers will experience financial loss. Therefore, there is a need for them to get travel insurance before they travel.

Travelers can find many different types of travel insurance policies in the market, and prices of policies vary greatly. Those who want to get a cheap travel insurance plan should spend some time researching their options. Most online travel insurance providers offer free quotes on their websites, and insurance seekers can find out the cost of a policy by completing a simple form. The only way that travelers can know which insurance company offers the best price is to compare quotes from a few different providers. There are also travel insurance comparison tools available to travel insurance shoppers. These tools will show the prices and benefits of policies, as well as travel assistance services that are offered by well-known insurance companies. Travelers can easily find the cheapest travel plans with these tools.

Other than looking for insurance companies that offer cheap policies, travelers can also get considerable savings by opting for the right policies. Those who travel frequently can save money by getting an annual trip travel insurance plan. Such travel insurance plans provide coverage for every trip that is made within a year, and it is a more cost-effective option than purchasing several single trip travel insurance plans. There are also policies that offer discounts for family and group travelers. These policies offer standard coverage for every member of a family or group, and they are much cheaper than the combined cost of a few individual travel plans. Budget travelers such as students and backpackers can also avail of great savings by purchasing student and backpacker policies.

Other than the price, you should also look at the quality of coverage and the reputation of the insurance provider when you are choosing a travel insurance policy. Some cheap travel plans offer very little financial compensation and they may not benefit you much if you meet with accidents during your vacation. The best thing to do is to get a policy that offers the best value for your money.

Every traveler should make sure that they are properly insured before they leave for their vacations. Many unexpected things can happen when people are traveling in a strange place, and these things can result in considerable distress. Travelers may lose their luggage or travel documents, or they may sustain illnesses or injuries during their vacations.

Travel insurance allows vacationers to have complete peace of mind when they are traveling, because it gives them financial protection against various losses that may occur during their trips. Some of the coverage options that are usually included in a travel insurance policy include medical costs, cancellation or interruption of trip, emergency medical evacuation, personal liability, loss of baggage, and loss of cash or personal possessions. All travel insurance policies have a specific duration of coverage, which can range from a few days to a full year. This means that policy holders will only get financial compensation for losses that are incurred during the period of time that is specified in their policies. If they want to extend their vacations beyond the expiry dates of their policies, they can either continue without insurance coverage or extend their policies (in some cases).

Nowadays, it is convenient for travelers to extend some types of travel insurance policies. Those who wish to extend their travel insurance have to contact their insurers a few days before their policies expire. Most insurance companies require their customers to request travel plan extensions over the phone, but some offer the option of applying for extensions online. It is easy for people to extend their travel plans online. All they have to do is visit their insurance providers’ websites and fill in a simple form. One thing that travelers should know is that most insurance providers do not allow policyholders to extend their travel insurance if they are planning to file for claims.

In general, the only types of plans that might have the option to extend are annual plans or travel medical plans (trip cancellation or “package plans” are typically not extendable). It is easy for travelers who have annual trip travel insurance to extend their policies. After they have received a notice of cancellation from their insurance companies, they can either apply for extensions in person or by mail. Some insurance providers also allow their customers to extend annual trip policies online. Those who are certain that they will be traveling frequently for a few years in a row can opt for the auto-renewal feature. With this feature, annual trip plans will be automatically renewed without any action from the policyholders.

Many people go on trips to enjoy themselves; so it is natural that they don’t like to think too much about traveling risks, like accidental death, trip cancellations, illnesses, injuries, or lost luggage. To protect themselves, the smart travelers get travel insurance. Travel insurance provides peace of mind when traveling abroad. When an unexpected emergency occurs, it’s always better to be prepared, taking the proper precautions when traveling and purchasing a quality travel insurance or travel medical insurance policy can guard your personal and financial assets in the event of an emergency. In less serious situations, travel insurance can help travelers recover their lost or stolen baggage, or receive compensation in the event of a flight delay or cancellation. To help avoid being left without your baggage, some travel insurance policies provide guidance on how to most effectively recover your property.

While it is perfectly understandable that any passenger who has lost their luggage to be upset, it is important that the traveler stay calm and collected and explain their situation to the appropriate personnel in a clear, concise, and appropriate manner. Please review the following information to help you recover your lost luggage.

Firstly, you have to make a trip to baggage claim to report the loss of your luggage. Present your luggage claim coupon and details of your flight to the baggage agent. At this point, you will also be required to make a full description of your bag and the contents; it is advised that all passengers use identifying tags or marks on their luggage to help to identify them quickly and correctly. With the information, the baggage agent can try to track the missing luggage, and let you know its location. Sometimes, lost baggage may be in the baggage storage area. In this case, you should be able to get your luggage without much delay, after the appropriate identification has been provided.

If the missing luggage is not in the airport, you may have to fill out the lost luggage claim form, plus all other required paperwork. Since only one percent of all checked airline baggage actually end up being lost, there is a good chance that your luggage will be found quickly. However, it is a good idea to travel with a few personal items in your carry-on, include travel-sized hygiene products. In the event that your baggage is lost for good, you have to ask for compensation. As a rule, you can start to ask after 3 working days but every airline has its own policy on the matter.

Travelers who have lost their bags would tell you that it is quite hard to get the full compensation for their losses. The potential loss of luggage is one of the primary reasons why people buy a travel insurance policy before they go on their trips.

Many vacationers choose to travel by air, because it can get them to their destinations in the shortest time possible. In most cases, air travel is indeed the most efficient form of transportation, but there are times when unexpected things happen, and passengers may not arrive at their final destinations on time. One of the most common problems that are encountered by airline passengers is flight delay.

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics has revealed that 18.75% of all commercial flights that took place in the United States in 2009 were delayed, and this means that flight delays occur about once in every five flights. Flight delays can happen because of a number of reasons, and these include aircraft arriving late, adverse weather conditions, security delay, National Aviation System delay, and others. Usually, airports with heavy air traffic have a higher rate of delayed flights.

Delay during air travel can range from a few minutes to hours. Flights are only considered delayed if they arrive at their intended destinations more than 15 minutes late. Most passengers do not make any complaint if they arrive at their final destinations just a little later than expected. Those who need to connect to other flights are more concerned about flight delays, because they may not have enough time to make a successful connection if their first flights are delayed. Missing a connecting flight can cause a great deal of hassle for air passengers, and it may even force them to change or cancel their travel plans.

If the airline is responsible for a flight delay, it will try to get passengers who miss their connecting flights on the next flights to their final destinations. In the event that the economy class seats are full, it will upgrade the passengers to first class without charging additional fees. As such, most people who miss their connecting flights will arrive at the final destinations on the same day, probably just a few hours later than their scheduled arrivals. If there are no similar connecting flights on the same day, passengers will have to wait until the next day or even later to get on the next available flights.

Some airlines do offer reimbursement for financial losses that are incurred because of flight delays, but the compensation amount may be far from satisfactory. To make sure that you do not lose your travel investment because of flight delays, you should get a travel insurance policy that provides financial protection against flight delays as well as other unexpected incidents that can happen during travel. Travel insurance will give you complete peace of mind throughout your vacation.

Airlines around the world collectively transport billions of luggage pieces every year. Errors can occur during the process of transporting luggage, and some bags do not end up at their intended destinations. Airlines use very sophisticated tracing systems to reunite unclaimed bags with their owners, and they have achieved a remarkable success rate of 99.9%. Nonetheless, since so many luggage pieces are transported every year, the total number of lost pieces is still very high.

When an airline finds unclaimed bags, it takes extensive measures to try to return them to their owners. The airline staff will search the bags to look for the owners’ identifications, and they will call the owners if they find their contact details. If they fail to find any identification, they will put descriptions of the bags in a global luggage tracer system. After three months, unclaimed luggage pieces will either be sold to the public at low prices or donated to charities. Many people are interested in buying lost luggage, because there is a chance that they will get valuable items at unbelievable prices.

Unclaimed luggage in United States airports usually ends up at the Unclaimed Baggage Center, which is located in Scottsboro, Alabama. People travel to this center from all over the country in the hope that they will find good bargains. This 40,000-square-foot facility receives more than 7,000 items every day, and most of these items are offered for sale to the public. Visitors will find a huge selection of products, including clothes, books, sports equipment, laptops, electronic gadgets, jewelry, souvenirs, and others. Some of the interesting items that were previously found in luggage pieces at the center included a gorgeous platinum ring with a 5.8-carat diamond, a 40.95-carat emerald, a falcon mummy, a parachute, an F-16 guidance system, and a full suit of armor. The Unclaimed Baggage Center has a branch called the UBC Etc. in Boaz, Alabama.

Losing luggage can be a terrible experience for travelers, especially if they have valuable items in their bags. Most airlines offer compensation for lost luggage, but the amount is often much less than the actual value of the luggage. One thing that travelers can do to ensure that they will get adequate financial recovery is to get a travel insurance policy that features lost luggage coverage. Travelers who are bringing expensive items on their vacations should apply for higher lost luggage compensation when they purchase their travel insurance plans.

Many people want to go on vacations occasionally take a break from their hectic lifestyle. While traveling, people can put their worries aside and have a good time with their friends and families, or spend some precious time alone. Travelers spend a considerable amount of money as well as time and effort to make travel arrangements, and they expect to have a fun and enjoyable vacation. It can be very disheartening when misfortunes occur during travel, because they can ruin a perfectly planned vacation and result in significant financial loss. One thing that travelers can do to protect themselves against unforeseen losses is to obtain a travel insurance policy.

Travel insurance is beneficial to every traveler. Anyone can meet with misfortunes when they are traveling in a strange land. Those who are going to faraway places may have difficulty adapting to unfamiliar weather and living conditions, and they may fall ill during their vacations. In addition, unfamiliarity with places and roads can also make travelers more susceptible to accidents. When people sustain illnesses or injuries during travel, it is likely that they will need medical attention. In certain countries, medical treatment, especially if it involves surgery, can cost up to thousands of dollars, and some travelers cannot afford to pay their hospital bills. A good travel insurance policy provides compensation for medical expenses as well as other financial losses, and it ensures that travelers will get absolute peace of mind throughout their vacations.

Most travelers will get sufficient coverage if they purchase a standard travel insurance policy. Such a policy includes coverage options for medical expenses, trip cancellation, emergency evacuation, loss or damage of luggage, and loss or damage of personal possessions. Some insurance companies offer flexible standard travel plans, and they allow policyholders to add or upgrade coverage options. Those who are planning to travel with their family members or a large group of friends can opt for a family or group travel insurance policy, which is cheaper than the total cost of several individual policies. There are also discount policies for students and backpackers, and these policies also provide special benefits to meet the needs of these travelers.

Insurance companies do not offer standard protection for travelers who are aged 60 or above. Senior travelers have to apply for a senior travel insurance plan, which is usually more expensive than a standard plan. Those who have pre-existing medical conditions are also required to purchase a special type of travel policy, and they have to undergo medical examination to get approval for their applications. Pre-existing medical condition travel insurance policies are mostly offered on a case-by-case basis.

When people are traveling, they expect that everything will go according to plan. Nevertheless, certain unexpected incidents can occur during travel, and they can turn a wonderful vacation into a bad experience. One of the most frustrating things that can happen to travelers is flight delay. If the duration of the delay is only a few minutes and travelers are still able to get to their final destinations a little later than scheduled, there is nothing to complain about. Nonetheless, some flight delays can be as long as one or two hours, and they can cause people to miss their connecting flights. It can be a great ordeal for travelers to wait several hours to get on the next connecting flight, and this can certainly ruin their holiday mood.

There is no guarantee that a particular flight will not be delayed. All air passengers have to be prepared to deal with flight delays. Delays are usually caused by unfavorable weather conditions and congestion at airports. There is a higher chance that flights to congested airports, such as Newark Liberty International Airport, O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, Miami International Airport, and JFK in New York, will be delayed. Other factors that can result in the delay of flights include incompetence in maintenance, crew problems, and inefficient airport security screening. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the percentage of arriving flights in the United States that are delayed in the year 2010 is 17.55 %. This means that close to one out of five domestic flights do not arrive on time. During peak travel season, the percentage will rise to above 20%. Records for flight delays vary from one airline to another.

If it is the airline’s fault that a flight is delayed, passengers who miss their connecting flights will be put on the next soonest flight to their final destination. Nevertheless, if they are connecting to a flight by another airline, then it is not certain that they will get a seat on the next plane. In the event that a flight delay causes travelers to cancel their vacations, it is unlikely that the airline will reimburse them for the loss of their travel investments. Therefore, it is important for travelers to get travel insurance that includes coverage for flight delay. With the right travel insurance policy, they can be assured that they will get adequate financial compensation from their insurance companies in the event that unexpected incidents such as flight delay happen during travel.