Travel Insurance Review

as-seen-on-header

Travel Insurance Companies explain post-earthquake for Japan

By

Japan earthquake travel insuranceTravel Insurance Review extends deepest sympathies to everyone who lost loved ones or is otherwise affected by the recent disasters in Japan.

A s a result of the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear plant worries, many travelers are scrambling to figure out whether their travel insurance plans provide coverage for current and future travel. Travel insurance companies consider the earthquake and tsunami to be natural disasters and will provide benefits to the extent natural disasters are covered in their policies. You can read the insurance provider position statements here.

For travelers already traveling

As of Friday, March 11, 2011, the tsunami is no longer considered an unforeseen event; therefore, insured travelers in affected areas may be eligible for trip cancellation, trip interruption, and trip delay benefits as well as emergency medical and medical evacuation coverage depending on their travel insurance plans. Some travel plans provide coverage for non medical evacuations when government-issued warnings are in place.

For travelers with future travel plans

Travelers who have purchased travel to Tokyo prior to the earthquake and have not yet departed may have valid reasons to request trip cancellation benefits, but travel that is scheduled to take place later in the year may not be covered once the travel advisory is lifted. For those who purchased ‘cancel for any reason’ coverage, it’s important to cancel within the number of hours prior to your scheduled departure in order for coverage to be effective.

As always, refer to the specific terms and conditions of the policy you purchased to understand coverage terms and exclusions.

 

Heading to Japan to Aid Relief Efforts?

By

Aid workers in Japan following 2011 earthquakeIf you, like many Americans, are one of those headed to Japan to help, be sure to take along travel medical insurance.

Now, the travel insurance comparison site, InsureMyTrip.com has joined with travel medical insurance provider, HCC Medical Insurance Services (HCCMIS) to launch a special program for U.S. volunteers headed to Japan to help with the relief effort.  This initiative provides medical and evacuation coverage at a 20% discounted rate for the HCCMIS Atlas International Plan.

“By working together with HCCMIS, we are able to provide critical coverage most affordably, and protect those traveling to Japan to assist in relief efforts or to locate loved ones,” explains Jim Grace, President and CEO of InsureMyTrip.com.

Read the full press release, which includes instructions to redeem this offer.

Spring Break Travel: Insurance tips for students and families

By

Travel insurance tips for families and studentsAs the season for Spring Break travel is upon us, it’s important to note that a number of popular Spring Break destinations may not be the safest places to travel – for families or for students traveling on their own away from their families.

  • Mexico – Cancun, Acapulco, Mazatlan are all highly popular Spring Break destinations, but each comes with a number of travel warnings including situations of violence and crime.
  • Jamaica – While the two international airports in Jamaica have had regular reports of violence, many of the popular resort areas are considered safe as long as spring-breakers remain on resort property.
  • South Padre Island – Even on U.S. soil, popular Spring Break destinations come with some danger. Mexican gangs competing for control of drug trafficking routes have been in the news for many years, and with the border so close, many spring-breakers are tempted to wander near the border to enjoy cheaper alcohol and the lack of drinking age enforcement.

It is important that U.S. students who are traveling to these locations understand three things:

  • U.S. laws will not protect them outside the borders
  • Crimes against U.S. tourists often go unpunished in foreign countries
  • Law enforcement in other countries is often understaffed

How can travel insurance help Spring Break travelers?

Families and students traveling alone need to be aware of the dangers of their intended destination and purchase travel insurance protection that will provide coverage in the event something happens.

  1. Parents traveling with children can purchase a travel insurance plan with medical evacuation coverage that provides for the return of minor children if the parent or parents are hospitalized.
  2. Students traveling alone can purchase emergency medical coverage to provide coverage for necessary medical treatment and transportation.
  3. Many policies provide trip interruption coverage as well, so if the traveler is a victim of assault, they can abandon their trip and return home early while recovering their unused travel costs.

Important note: if any loss is incurred as a result of intoxication or participation in an illegal act, then the coverage is considered null and void.

 

Understanding Why Some Trip Cancellations are Not Covered

By

A recent news article noted a rise in complaints about travel insurance and stated that most complaints and disputes over trip cancellations occur because travelers do not understand what is covered by their policies. 

Recent Trip Cancellation Claim Denial Examples
A client purchased coverage for an airline ticket to a wedding, but the bride canceled the wedding. The insured was surprised to find that the coverage she purchased did not reimburse her for the airline ticket because the reason for the cancellation was not specifically listed as a covered reason.

A couple purchased travel insurance for a trip to South America and then canceled after a magnitude 8.8 earthquake hit Chile. The insurance company rejected their claim to cancel their trip because the cancellation was not made by the airline. In addition, the couple’s trip wasn’t for a couple of months so they would not be directly affected by the earthquake.

Purchasing a ‘cancel for any reason’ upgrade would likely have helped both of these clients.

Understanding Trip Cancellation Policies
The key to understanding trip cancellation policies is this: if a travel insurance plan does not list the situation as a covered reason for cancellation, then the cancellation is not covered. So, it’s important to review your plan certificate carefully and use the free review period to ask questions so you understand your trip cancellation limits.

If you’re concerned about having to cancel your trip, consider choosing a policy with the ‘cancel for any reason’ benefit or purchasing it as an upgrade. See more details about trip cancellation coverage and a complete list of travel insurance plans that provide ‘cancel for any reason’ coverage.

Cancer Patient Surprised by Trip Cancellation Limits

By

A recent news article: Woman Surprised By Limitations In Trip Cancellation Insurance, highlights the importance of understanding the trip cancellation details of your travel insurance policy. In the article, a woman requested a reschedule for a family vacation to Florida only to be forced to reschedule again because of her unexpected cancer treatments.

Travel insurance plans typically view rescheduling as a cancellation to the original travel and most plans only cover one cancellation per policy.

Initially, when she filed the claim, the travel insurance provider refused to reschedule the second time because the travel protection she had purchased covered only one cancellation, but later waived the fees and rescheduled for their client.

While this story has a happy ending, the client’s initial surprise could have been avoided by understanding exactly what coverage their travel insurance company is providing.

Use the free review period wisely
Most plans offer a free 10- to 15-day review period with their policies, so you have time to read through the policy certificate and information to understand your travel insurance plan.

Review covered reasons for trip cancellation
The reasons for pre-trip cancellations vary from plan to plan, but most plans cover trip cancellations due to illness as long as it’s not a pre-existing condition. It’s important to note that if an even isn’t specifically listed as a covered reason, then it’s not covered.

Filing a trip cancellation claim
For pre-trip cancellations due to an illness, the travel insurance company is going to want a little proof. So, you’ll need to see a doctor and obtain written documentation that you are too ill for travel. The key is to prove to the travel insurance provider that you are canceling for a covered reason.

Despite Travel Insurance, Trip Cancellation Frustrates Couple

By

A recent travel insurance news article about a couple who planned an Alaskan cruise and purchased trip insurance protection highlights the need for those who purchase travel insurance to obtain their policy certificate and use the free look period to understand the rules to follow.

The article describes how Peggy and Clifford Williams were forced to cancel their cruise because Peggy was stricken with a bout of vertigo, a condition that strikes without warning and leaves her dizzy and severely nauseous. Peggy was familiar with what to do to counteract the effects of vertigo, so she took her medication and stayed in bed.

Why the Trip Cancellation Claim was Rejected
Knowing that Peggy was not up to a cruise, the Williams’ cancelled their trip. Their claim was initially rejected because Peggy hadn’t seen a doctor immediately and the travel insurance company was unable to verify treatment for any illness. To be fair, the insurance company has to protect their investment as well, and the policy indicated that sicknesses must be verified by a physician before the insured terminates the trip.

The policy’s language was very clear, however, Peggy was able to go to the doctor, prove that she missed work the day of the cancellation, and verify her condition in writing with the travel insurance company who later reviewed their decision and paid the couple’s claim.

What you can do to Avoid Trip Cancellation Confusion
To avoid this situation, you can use the free review period to understand the covered and not covered reasons for trip cancellation. Every policy varies slightly, but if the reason isn’t specifically listed in the policy as a covered reason, then you can be sure it’s not covered. You can research the plans that provide trip cancellation coverage and the reasons they cover cancellations.

The key to this story is that the couple should have known that they couldn’t cancel their trip without first having Peggy visit a doctor. It was clearly stated in the policy and the couple was lucky the travel insurance provider decided to honor their claim.

Ask Travel Guard: Are Travel Alerts and Warnings Covered?

By

How are official travel alerts and travel warnings from the US Department of State covered? If one is issued for my destination, can I cancel the trip and be covered?

Generally, travel alerts and warnings are not a listed covered reason under Travel Guard plans, but this could be coverable depending on the plan you’ve purchased. Please refer to your plan’s Description of Coverage to see it this is listed as a covered reason.

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.

Ask Travel Guard: What is the difference between primary and secondary medical coverage? Why does it matter?

By

What is the difference between primary and secondary medical coverage? Why does it matter?

Primary coverage means that the insurer will pay first, regardless of what other insurance you may have. Secondary coverage provides reimbursement only after coverage from other insurance has been exhausted. If you do not already have existing insurance coverage, secondary coverage would become primary.

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.

Planning on skiing? Travel insurance provides essential protection

By

Skiing Travel InsuranceSkiing trips have several risks:

Cancellation costs
 Trips can get canceled for a number of reasons, and travel insurance with trip cancellation coverage can help reimburse your pre-paid, non-refundable costs if you need to cancel for a covered reason. For example: you, your wife, your kids, or even your parents could get sick a week before the trip. The doctor says they cannot travel and need to stay home. This is a covered reason under trip cancellation insurance, and you would be able to recoup pre-paid expenses such as hotel, rental car, airfare, and even lift tickets.

Lost or delayed baggage
 Travel insurance also provides coverage for lost, stolen, damaged, or delayed baggage. This can provide coverage if your ski equipment is lost forever, but it can also help if the bags are just delayed the first day of your trip. You will need to rent some skis and buy a pair of gloves, hat and goggles. Baggage delay coverage reimburses a daily amount for necessary expenses while you wait for delayed baggage to arrive.

Medical costs
 Skiing can also be dangerous. If you are skiing in your home country where your health insurance covers you, medical costs are not as much of a concern. However, traveling abroad to ski add a new element if your health insurance from home stays behind. Many plans do not cover you when you leave your home country, and you would be stuck with high medical bills if an accident occured.

Regardless of foreign or domestic ski trips, an emergency evacuation would be a huge expense to be burdened with. Many helicopter evacuations can cost tens of thousands of dollars, if not over $100,000. Travel insurance with emergency medical and evacuation coverage provides financial protection against these costs.

It is important to note that medical coverage covers “regular skiing”. as opposed to heli-skiing, extreme skiing, or skiing outside marked areas. This is an important distinction and should be noted if you are purchasing travel insurance with the medical coverage in mind.

Ask Travel Guard: “Universal” Care Abroad vs. Travel Medical Insurance

By

Some countries are known for their universal health care programs where anyone can walk in and get care. Why should I buy insurance for travel medical if I can just do this?

In many countries, you may not have any coverage at all, even if you already have existing health insurance. Even if you are covered for basic emergency care, you may not have coverage for evacuation back to the US. Should the unthinkable happen, a travel insurance plan through Travel Guard can cover you for medical and evacuation expenses back to the United States. In addition, most travel insurance plans through Travel Guard include 24/7 access to multi-lingual emergency medical counselors who are able to coordinate almost any medical emergency including arranging for a medical escort home, air ambulance, arranging medical payments and more.

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.