• 30
  Sep
  2009

• Broad Student Insurance Against Illness Abroad

  
  Filed Under: Blogging
  Author: Blog Writer
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A recent study by the Institute of International Education indicates that the percentage of students taking up study abroad programs is increasing. While it’s a very heartening trend, students must be aware of foreign student insurance details before embarking on their trip.

As a first step, check with your study abroad office whether your current insurance will cover your stay abroad, and if so, the level of coverage. Remember to factor in changes in weather, temperature, and the kind of studies you will be doing. If you are going to be doing wildlife research in Africa, for instance, you may want to check for infectious diseases and other special coverage.

Remember to check the price of the college coverage, and compare it with other foreign insurance plans available. Get to know details of international health insurance plans before signing up for one.

Also connect with international students from your destination country to get a feel of the country. Is it flu season? Can you get painkillers over the counter? Also speak with study abroad scholars of earlier years. Did insurance actually work at the destination? Be better informed to tackle a new culture with a healthy mind and body!

• 29
  Sep
  2009

• How to Prepare for Your Backpacking Trip Abroad

  
  Filed Under: Blogging
  Author: Blog Writer
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Summer is gone, and the holiday season is not yet upon us. But this might just be a great time for international travel if you want to beat the crowds. The season is especially travel-friendly for backpackers.

To make your travel dollars work for you, consider the following before your trip:

1. Saturday tickets. Unless you are really pressed for time, you can probably travel a day later. Saturday tickets are sometimes more than 20% cheaper than Friday or Sunday tickets.


2. International travel insurance: Start shopping for international travel insurance deals, even if your trip is just for a week. You’re more likely to have the time to choose a perfect plan for you.


3. Live with local flavour: For adventure lovers, try inexpensive options such as couchsurfing, where locals offer their couches for travellers, or youth hostels, many of which are extremely well-maintained.

Remember that a backpacking lifestyle calls for more diligence in choosing appropriate insurance. If you’re a backpacker and are looking to perform some adventurous sports, purchase the extra coverage. It will save you a lot of trouble and tension.

Also remember to check everything that might impact you at the destination—weather, temperatures, social customs, international insurance plan reimbursement, etc. before the trip.

• 28
  Sep
  2009

• Mission Possible: Flexible Insurance Options for Missionaries

  
  Filed Under: Blogging
  Author: Blog Writer
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When you are travelling abroad to spread the word of God or that of service –whether religious, or through a non-profit organization--you want to be able to do that without any trouble. But the nature of the job might require you to travel to countries that are not well-developed. In this situation, it is imperative that you buy missionary insurance prior to departing for your international trip. The term “missionary insurance” is a hangover from the old days, and can cover most international travel for the purpose of serving others.
Before leaving, check the following with respect to your destination:

1. Recommended immunizations


2. Any travel advisory issued by the government on travel to the country


3. Political structure


4. Religious freedom accorded by the local government


5. Laws governing last rites

The last mentioned is to make sure that in case of your passing on, your family will be able to perform the last rites according to the rules of your religion. Make an informed choice about serving in a strife-torn region.
Missionary insurance plans are often modified international travel insurance plans with specific tailor-made add-on features for missionaries.

• 25
  Sep
  2009

• Swine Flu and Your International Travel Insurance

  
  Filed Under: Blogging
  Author: Blog Writer
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You are just days away from that dream international vacation, and news hits you. In that weird way that pandemics work, your destination is in the midst of a swine flu pandemic. How do your international travel health insurance and international medical insurance work in this case? Will you lose the money, or is it business as usual?

The answer, really, is in the type of international travel insurance you have purchased. It also depends on your government’s stand on travel to the destination. If you purchased “Cancel for Any Reason” coverage, then you should be refunded for any cancellation. “Cancel for Any Reason” is usually provided as an optional benefit in plans like Travel Insurance Select.

Also, let’s say that the U.S. government advises against travel to the destination for non-essential reasons and you go ahead anyway. You then fall sick (and this does not just apply to swine flu) at the destination. In this situation, your policy may not cover even your basic medical expenses.

However, if there is no warning against travel, and yet you don’t want to travel because of the flu, your trip may not be covered, unless you have purchased “Cancel for Any Reason” coverage. Once again, just check the terms and conditions of your international travel insurance policy before buying it, especially if you are planning a trip now.