• 18
  Nov
  2009

• Insure your health and travel in the holiday season

  
  Filed Under: Blogging
  Author: Blog-Contributor
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With the holiday season beckoning, almost everyone is planning their travel. Waiting for that elusive holiday deal on air tickets and hotels, buying gifts, calling people, so much seems to be happening. In all the hurry, do not forget to buy a good international health insurance policy if you are traveling abroad. Holiday season also happens to be statistically one of the major periods requiring health care. It is best to stay covered during the time.

Another area of concern that you need to keep in mind if you are traveling by air is that chances of losing your baggage are pretty high just about now. Statistically, the are more lost baggage claims filed during these two months than in any other period of the year. It makes sense to buy an international travel insurance policy that comes with trip cancellation and lost baggage benefits.

The holiday season is meant to be time spent peacefully with your family and the last thing you want to do is worry about your lost luggage, or a cancelled/interrupted trip or escalating medical bills. Taking a chance and hoping nothing will go wrong might just not be worth it.

• 17
  Nov
  2009

• Caribbean cruise - here I come…

  
  Filed Under: Blogging
  Author: Blog-Contributor
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One of the most searched destinations on Internet to travel by a cruise is the Caribbean Islands. The most frequently asked question regarding this destination is "What is the best time to travel there?". The answer depends on who you ask the question to and what definition of "best" you are interested in. But, one thing is for sure, every travel agent will urge you to buy a good international travel insurance policy before getting on the ship.

If by "best", you mean most economical tickets, it is advisable to travel in the August to November period. It being the off-season, the tickets tend to be cheaper. Watch out for promos and offers, they can cut the costs too. But beware, for the ship may be quite crowded.

However, if by "best" you mean a lesser crowd and more privacy, be prepared to have a bigger budget. Summer is costlier, as many people prefer to experience the beaches for sun-tanning during that season.

One way or the other, it is imperative to buy an international medical insurance policy while traveling. It helps you if you fall sick, and also keeps you from worrying about exorbitant medical bills. After all, a good travel package should come bundled with peace of mind too.

• 16
  Nov
  2009

• Domestic medical coverage outside the border! Possible?

  
  Filed Under: Blogging
  Author: Blog-Contributor
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Everyone (well, almost everyone) who has a domestic health insurance policy covering medical expenditures is aware of this: the coverage stops at the American borders. When traveling overseas people have to buy a international travel insurance to cover any medical emergencies occurring abroad.

Even with the proposed changes in the universal health insurance bill, this fact is unlikely to change. That is, your domestic insurer will still not pay a cent for anything spent outside. However, some groups are raising their voices against this policy.

When the bill can set a lofty goal of health care for everyone, people are asking, why not health care everywhere too? After all, health care is among the costliest in the US, and anyone seeking care outside the borders will actually be doing the insurer a favor by filing a smaller claim.

However, as this proposed change to cover international claims is unlikely to be incorporated in the current bill, it makes sense to not take a chance while traveling internationally. If staying for an extended period of time in a foreign country, it is always advisable to buy international medical insurance.

• 13
  Nov
  2009

• Is Travel Insurance Really Necessary?

  
  Filed Under: Blogging
  Author: Blog Writer
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One frequently asked question in connection with international travel health insurance is this: If medical care is most expensive in the United States, I know I’ll probably be paying less when I get treated abroad anyway. Why should I even bother with travel insurance?

The answer lies in the very nature of a travel health insurance policy. No one expects to break the bank for a visit to the doctor because of a common cold, and you can manage that without insurance. Travel insurance is meant for sudden conditions that result in major unforeseen expenses. When abroad, there are several illnesses and conditions that might rear their ugly heads, some of them costing thousands of dollars to treat. If the condition is not treatable at the local hospital, then insurance will provide for your medical evacuation as well.

For example, if an uninsured traveler to Singapore is in a car accident, major surgery and other expenses will be involved. The trip will likely have to be postponed, and expenses related to the cancellation of tickets and hotel rooms will also have to borne by the traveler.

In this situation, international travel insurance can help protect the plan holder against a big hole in the pocket. It is, however, a good idea to find out how expensive medical care is in your destination country, in order to determine the level of coverage and deductible to choose. Traveling without insurance, however, is not an idea worth considering.