• 26
  Feb
  2010

• Spring Break is Coming - Get Your Travel Insurance Ready

  
  Filed Under: Blogging
  Author: Blog Contributor
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University students across the U.S. are counting down the days until spring break arrives. A few days off gives them the chance to recharge their batteries during a difficult semester, and for many students it also means the chance to get away on an exciting vacation. If you are planning to leave the country for your spring break, be sure that you purchase a travel insurance policy.

Whether you're heading away for simple relaxation, to visit family, or to do volunteer work overseas (as many more students are choosing to do these days), your plans can often be derailed by accidents, injuries, and illness. And getting sick or hurt in another country may not just ruin your spring break, it can be a long term financial burden if you are not insured.

Without insurance, the hospital visit you make in another country could wind up costing you hundreds or even thousands of dollars, depending on what sort of treatment you need. Even something as simple as food poisoning can prove to be a costly problem if you're uninsured. But with travel insurance, your health care expenses will be covered and you will only have to pay for a fraction of your visit and prescription out of pocket.

Don't let a spring break mishap ruin your adventure. Protect yourself with a travel insurance policy and you will be able to stay focused on the rest and relaxation you need during your time away from school.

• 24
  Feb
  2010

• Lufthansa Strike Shows Need for Trip Cancellation Insurance

  
  Filed Under: Blogging
  Author: Blog Contributor
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As Lufthansa pilots threaten a four day strike, many travelers could be left without flights they've already pad for. While this particular problem of striking pilots is indeed a rare one, it does underscore the fact that travel - especially international travel - is incredibly unpredictable. And because of this, it's always a good idea to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

Lufthansa is the world's second largest carrier, serving 80 countries and transporting over 42 million passengers in 2009. So a strike would threaten international travelers across the globe. Imagine holding a ticket for a Lufthansa flight this week for an important business meeting or an expensive vacation. Would you feel comfortable holding on to the ticket and hoping the labor dispute was resolved?

With trip cancellation insurance, you may be able to cancel the flight, recoup most of your expenses, and re-book your flight on another airline that is not experiencing these types of problems. You can also use trip cancellation insurance to save on costs when cancelling your flights for a number of reasons including both business and personal.

As you well know, international flights are not cheap. And as the Lufthansa problems are showing, anything can and will happen when it comes to international travel. So to make certain you are prepared to protect both your financial investment and your travel plans, you should definitely consider buying trip cancellation insurance.

• 21
  Feb
  2010

• Americans Traveling Abroad Need International Medical Insurance

  
  Filed Under: Blogging
  Author: Blog Contributor
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As Americans prepare for international travel, their to-do list will include making sure their passport and travel documentation is current, checking their hotel accommodations, planning either their business meetings or their leisure activities, and arranging for a rental car or some other form of ground transportation. But there's one other very important piece of preparation you don't want to forget: international medical insurance.

While you may never even think that a hospital stay could be in your future during your international travel, it's more likely than you think. For instance, injuries can occur while participating in recreational activities, through auto accidents, or other causes. Even a simple sprained ankle will require a doctor's visit, and without medical insurance that could be a very expensive event.

When you travel long distances, you're more susceptible to illness as well. Your body and immune system may be weakened from the fatigue of lengthy international flights. Add to that the fact you may be experiencing new environmental factors such as different altitude, increased pollution, or declining water quality, and there are many factors that could lead to you getting sick and needing to find a medical professional.

You may not plan on getting sick or injured while traveling internationally, but you can still prepare for it. And the best way to prepare to protect yourself is with international medical insurance. This will keep your costs down if a medical issue should arise during your trip, saving you lots of money in the long term.

• 19
  Feb
  2010

• Airlines Post Best On-Time Performance in 6 Years

  
  Filed Under: Blogging
  Author: Blog Contributor
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In a report recently released by the U.S. federal government, airlines delivered passengers and their baggage to their destinations on time 79.5% of the time. This represents the highest on-time rate since 2003. Even with airlines improving their performance, it's always a good idea to plan ahead with trip cancellation insurance.

With trip cancellation insurance, your travel expenses can be recouped, often up to as much as 75%, if your plans are cancelled because of flight delays, missed connections, or business reasons. While 795.5% on time is an improvement over years past, that still leaves over 20% of flights experiencing delays. And if you happen to fall into that 20%, the expenses associated with missing a flight can be very high.

You can add trip cancellation insurance to your international travel insurance policy for just a fraction of your actual travel expenses. So if you do have to use it, think of all the money you'll save from such a small investment.

While the results of this study are encouraging, it's always a good idea to approach an international flight with a backup plan in the form of trip cancellation insurance. Even if you don't have to use it, it will be worth the purchase to have peace of mind; and if you do have to use it, you'll be pleased with the money you save.