• 31
  Aug
  2009

• Marine yacht crew insurance

  
  Filed Under: Blogging
  Author: Blog Contributor
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Among the most adventurous and glamorous jobs (at least for the outside world) is to be a crew member on a yacht. Continuous travelling, visiting new places everyday, enjoying the sea in all her majesty. Life is a never-ending adventure.

But, of course, there are quite a few practical problems for the crew members aboard these ships. One of them is difficulty in finding a good health insurance policy that caters to the specialized needs of this demographic.

Since members of a marine yacht crew will be constantly crossing international borders and will not stay in any one country long enough, it poses a new set of challenges. Normal travel insurance plans provide coverage for visitors for fixed dates and venues. So, your typical travel insurance will be inadequate for this need.

Enter marine yacht crew insurance. A policy specially designed with all these needs in mind. It covers all aspects of the needs of this industry in a portable and comprehensive policy. Depending on the assignment, either short term or long term insurance can be chosen. Coverage can be bought for a period starting from 5 days up to 2 years. Also, there are comprehensive group plans available for the entire crew.

Travel with the peace of mind that comes from off-loading your health care worries (read costs) to a marine yacht crew insurance plan.

 

• 28
  Aug
  2009

• Where to buy international travel insurance?

  
  Filed Under: Blogging
  Author: Blog Contributor
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The travel plan is finalized, tickets are booked and you are looking for a good international travel insurance to buy. A choice now has to be made between travel insurance offered by insurance companies in your native country and those based in the USA.

It is generally a better idea to buy your travel insurance from an American company. This suggestion might seem weird considering the fact that travel insurance bought from US based companies might be a tad costlier. But, there are some valid reasons that makes this a better option

1. The local insurance companies have a wider network of doctors and hospitals which accept their insurance. Only a few of the doctors accept overseas insurance.


2. Since the payments to doctors and clinics are handled easily and directly from all major US based insurance providers, there will be an option of cashless transactions. That option might not be so easily available from overseas insurers. Usually, money has to be paid upfront to the doctor, and later reimbursement needs to be claimed.


3. If there is any clarification that needs to be sought with the insurance company, it will be easier if the insurance company is based in the US. Not really an option with overseas providers.

Keep these in mind before deciding on buying international travel insurance.

• 27
  Aug
  2009

• Is international health insurance worth the price?

  
  Filed Under: Blogging
  Author: Blog Contributor
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There are many who question the need of an insurance policy that covers medical expenses when travelling abroad. Is it not but another extra expense that might never be of any use? Well, it is true that you will most probably not use the benefits of a policy.

At the end of a journey, generally lasting less than a week, it sometimes seems futile that you bought a health insurance policy and simply wasted your money. But, that is also probably the time that you should be feeling lucky that you were in good health, and didn't need to use the benefits. We could present numbers on how costly international health care is. We could discuss how a domestic policy doesn't cover medical expenses incurred abroad. But, rather than dwell on that, let us look at another angle.

People buy life insurance not because they want to use the benefits. It is a way of keeping the family and dependents safe and covered, should they be forced to use it. Health insurance is a similar concept too. It is a small loss if you have insurance, and don't actually use it. Compare it to a situation when you need one and you don't have it.

Get a policy now. It could save you a lot tomorrow. Sometimes things are worth it because they help you maintain your peace of mind.

• 25
  Aug
  2009

• Pre-existing conditions - What they are, and why they aren’t covered

  
  Filed Under: Blogging
  Author: Blog Contributor
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Most health insurance policies have a clause that states clearly and up-front that pre-existing conditions are not covered. Now, what exactly is meant by pre-existing conditions? And, why aren’t they covered?

A pre-existing condition is any health issue that has shown symptoms, been diagnosed, received care or has been treated prior to the start of the effective date of insurance coverage.

To understand the reason as to why such a condition is not covered, one has to understand the way in which the whole concept of insurance works. Insurance is the name given to something that covers a certain kind of risk. Premiums are paid before the event occurs to reduce the financial burden should the covered event occur. The amount of premium paid is calculated by considering the chances of such an event occurring. More the chances of an event occurring, higher is the premium.

With that in mind, one has to look at a pre-existing condition. The event has already occurred. In other words, the chances of it happening are 100%. Such an event cannot be covered for this reason. It is like trying to insure a vehicle after it has met with an accident. That accident cannot be covered in a policy that is bought after the accident. Any further claims (but unconnected to this accident) will be covered.

Essentially, what it means is, buy health insurance when you are healthy so that you can use it should you become ill.