http://www.zinternationalinsurance.com//blog Blog for Tourists visiting USA en insurance@zinternationalinsurance.com Copyright 2010 2010-07-26T02:46:26+00:00 http://www.zinternationalinsurance.com/blog/turbulent-flight-shows-the-need-for-flight-insurance/ http://www.zinternationalinsurance.com/blog/turbulent-flight-shows-the-need-for-flight-insurance/#When:02:46:26Z We have all experience turbulence on flights. Typically, the worst you might expect from it is a queasy stomach. But for passengers on a recent flight, turbluence turned so severe it resulted in injuries, reminding us all of the importance of international flight insurance. The flight in question occurred last week in the United States. The cross-country flight left Washington D.C. and was en route to Los Angeles, when it experienced severe turbulence while flying over Missouri. 21 people were injured on that flight, and according to a recent USA Today article, 88% of injuries on flights last year were caused by turbulence. So do not be so naive as to think that because the odds of a plane crash are low, you do not need an international flight insurance plan. The truth is, airline injuries are more common than you may realize,, and something as simple as turbulence can cause them. Your flight insurance policy will help minimize the cost of any medical fees you incur while injured during a flight. This can be the difference between spending hundreds or thousands of dollars in healthcare bills or spending a mere fraction of that. Do not take a chance the next time you take off; make sure you are covered across the friendly - and unfriendly - skies. Blogging 2010-07-26T02:46:26+00:00 http://www.zinternationalinsurance.com/blog/airport-delay-what-will-you-do-count-on-international-travel-insurance/ http://www.zinternationalinsurance.com/blog/airport-delay-what-will-you-do-count-on-international-travel-insurance/#When:03:06:43Z Recently, a security breach caused a shutdown at the Providence Rhode Island airport. The breach occurred when a passenger made it past security without being checked out, and the incident goes to show that delays can occur even at the smallest airports.With that in mind, how can you avoid, or recover from, time-consuming delays at the airport? International travel insurance offers the best solution to this problem. Even a short delay on an international flight can cause you to miss a connection, costing you time and money. Whether the delay is your fault or someone else's, airlines will often not lend you any sympathy, and more often than not the cost of rebooking is going to come out of your pocket.This is where trip cancellation insurance and travel assistance features come in handy. Trip cancellation options are offered for an additional fee with most international travel insurance policies. They way these work is simple; if for some reason you miss a flight, connection, etc., the policy will cover the cost associated with the flight itself as well as hotel accommodations, event ticketing, and other expenses.This can save you quite a bit of money when it comes to buying new tickets because of a missed connection. Travel assistance features will help make it easier to find and book new flights, communicate with your hotel, and generally make international travel simpler. These concierge desks can help you look up travel information and speak with representatives who speak languages you are unfamiliar with. It can make the task of making the best of a difficult travel situation much easier. Blogging 2010-07-24T03:06:43+00:00 http://www.zinternationalinsurance.com/blog/travel-assistance-features-add-more-value-to-international-travel-insurance/ http://www.zinternationalinsurance.com/blog/travel-assistance-features-add-more-value-to-international-travel-insurance/#When:04:49:44Z On many international vacations, trying to learn the language on the fly can be a fun and exciting experience. Many locals find it charming when a tourist attempts to speak in their language, and you as a traveler feel more like a real part of the area when doing so. But when a problem arises and you need help, not being fluent in a language can be a real problem. That is when international travel insurance plans with travel assistance features become incredibly valuable. Imagine trying to re-book a canceled or delayed flight with little to no grasp of the language of the country you are in. Or think about how hard it could be to track down bags in a country where you were unfamiliar with the language. And remember, even if you are well-versed in the language of the destination country you are headed to, there is always a possibility that you could be connecting in a country you are not familiar with. But with the concierge services offered by many international travel insurance providers, you can speak with multilingual service reps who can help work with airline personnel and anyone else you may need to resolve a conflict with. These reps can communicate seamlessly in your language and that of the customer service agents you are trying to work with at the airport. This way, you have help on your side in what can otherwise be a frustrating and difficult time. These services can be purchased at an additional fee, and some providers may even offer them to you free of charge as a perk of your coverage. Be sure you inquire about these types of helpful services before you purchase any policy. Blogging 2010-07-17T04:49:44+00:00 http://www.zinternationalinsurance.com/blog/taking-in-the-tour-de-france-dont-forget-international-medical-insurance/ http://www.zinternationalinsurance.com/blog/taking-in-the-tour-de-france-dont-forget-international-medical-insurance/#When:14:19:39Z The Tour de France serves as the cycling community's marquee event, drawing spectators from around the world. As with any international event, it is important yo protect yourself with international medical insurance before departing. Being around lots of new people from diverse locations can expose you to a lot of germs, illnesses, and viruses that could leave you sick. Even simply standing by an ill spectator could infect you with an airborne virus, ruining your trip and potentially leading to a trip to the doctor. Additionally, physical injury is always a possibility. You may find yourself inspired to do some cycling too, which always leaves the chance of falls and accidents. And auto accidents are frequently a cause of tourist injury. The insurance policy you use in your native country will likely not cover incidents occurring abroad, so any doctor or hospital visits will need to be paid for out of your own pocket. That can be extremely expensive. But an international medical insurance policy will absorb the majority of those costs, keeping your finances secure at all times. The difference between having and not having an international medical insurance policy can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Blogging 2010-07-09T14:19:39+00:00 http://www.zinternationalinsurance.com/blog/special-summer-health-risks-make-international-health-insurance-a-necessity/ http://www.zinternationalinsurance.com/blog/special-summer-health-risks-make-international-health-insurance-a-necessity/#When:04:56:47Z Rising temperatures present a whole new set of potential health risks for vacationers. So if you are planning a vacation abroad which includes spending a lot of time outdoors, be sure you buy international health insurance before leaving. High temperatures can put a stain on the human body. Heat can lead to exhaustion, dehydration, passing out, and many other problems. These are serious problems that can lead to hospitalization, and they can arise much more easily than you might guess. You do not have to be engaged in strenuous activity for the heat to take a toll on you. Simply walking around for hours or spending too much time in direct sunlight on the beach can harm you. While you should take certain precautions like using an umbrella, hats, and sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun, and drinking lots of water to stay hydrated, your best form of protection is international health insurance. Exhaustion and dehydration can lead to short hospital stays. Even an overnight stay and a few rounds of IV fluids to get you moving once again can be extremely expensive for uninsured travelers. Therefore, you will need insurance to reduce the costs of heat-related medical treatment. When you vacation in a hot climate, protect yourself from direct sun and heat exposure whenever possible, but also look into international medical insurance for total protection, Blogging 2010-07-03T04:56:47+00:00 http://www.zinternationalinsurance.com/blog/read-policies-carefully-to-get-the-most-from-international-health-insurance/ http://www.zinternationalinsurance.com/blog/read-policies-carefully-to-get-the-most-from-international-health-insurance/#When:05:36:31Z International health insurance makes for a wise investment for anyone traveling or living overseas. However, to make sure you get the maximum value from your plan, it is important that you carefully read its details. While these types of insurance policies may be much more flexible than the coverage options you are familiar with in your domestic experience, they are not without limitations and exclusions. You need to be aware of what these are so you do not expect to have a procedure covered only to find out it is not. For example preexisting conditions will not be covered by most policies. Neither will many types of preventative care. This could include anything from prescriptions to exams, so you will want to make sure you understand what is and what is not covered, because something that you consider a regular part of your wellness schedule may not be applicable. Generally, anything considered not absolutely necessary will lead to a rejected claim. This could include vision exams, birth control pills, and cosmetic procedures to name a few. But do not just assume that something is not covered. Not every policy has the same coverage rules, so you may find something that will insure the issue you need help with. Or you may find a company that offers some sort of supplemental plan. But unless you read your international medical insurance plan and consult with your insurance rep, you will never know. Blogging 2010-06-26T05:36:31+00:00 http://www.zinternationalinsurance.com/blog/offset-high-airfare-prices-with-international-travel-insurance/ http://www.zinternationalinsurance.com/blog/offset-high-airfare-prices-with-international-travel-insurance/#When:05:15:15Z Planning a vacation but concerned about the rising cost of airfare? You are not alone. Every traveler wants to find a way to save money in today's economic climate. If you are a budget-conscious traveler, one of the best things you can do to save money is make a small investment in international travel insurance. Airlines continue to tighten their flight schedules, meaning there are less seats available to consumers. However, consumer demand for seating continues to increase, which allows airlines to charge more for a ticket than they did just a couple of years ago. So it can be difficult to find a good deal on airfare. Additionally, with weather and safety concerns, as well as personal and professional issues, it seems more and more travelers find themselves needing to cancel flights. Most airlines are none-too-forgiving when it comes to cancellations, so if you cancel you could wind up losing all the money you had invested in your travel bookings.International travel insurance protects this investment and allows you to recoup your losses - even on nonrefundable flights! So while you may not be able to find the savings you're looking for when buying your tickets, you can save a lot of money by protecting your airfare investment. Things go wrong more often than you might imagine, from missed connections to last minute personal dilemmas. Don't let an unforeseen incident cost you a small fortune, especially when you are watching your budget closely. Blogging 2010-06-15T05:15:15+00:00 http://www.zinternationalinsurance.com/blog/international-medical-insurance-just-one-way-to-make-sure-illness-doesnt-ru/ http://www.zinternationalinsurance.com/blog/international-medical-insurance-just-one-way-to-make-sure-illness-doesnt-ru/#When:06:28:50Z Nothing ruins an overseas vacation as fast as getting ill. Whether it cuts your trip short or simply leaves you feeling miserable during it, being sick on vacation is something you want to avoid at all costs. International medical insurance presents a great opportunity to make sure that when illness strikes, it doesn't ruin your overseas trip. You can take many precautions to try and avoid illness, such as updating your immunizations and getting plenty of rest on your international flight. But even with those efforts, you could still fall victim to food poisoning, airborne viruses, and other illnesses. If you are on a domestic vacation, you may be inclined to simply go back home to get better. But if you have invested in an international trip, you are less likely to be willing to forego your investment. However, getting treatment from a doctor in a strange country may be intimidating enough to prevent you from going. International medical insurance makes it easy to address your illness right away so you can enjoy the rest of your vacation. It offers you affordable care from great medical professionals around the globe, and it can alos help you locate a skilled doctor that you will be comfortable with. So you can attend to your illness and get back to enjoying your overseas stay! Blogging 2010-06-12T06:28:50+00:00 http://www.zinternationalinsurance.com/blog/world-cup-location-mandates-international-travel-insurance/ http://www.zinternationalinsurance.com/blog/world-cup-location-mandates-international-travel-insurance/#When:05:22:24Z Casual and Passionate soccer fans alike look forward to the World Cup every four years. The event is not only a showcase of great soccer, but also an exciting cultural event. However, this year's location in South Africa is drawing concern already from fans and journalists. If you are visiting the World Cup at any point over the next few weeks, be sure to come prepared with international travel insurance. While the host city of Johannesburg compares favorably with some of the world's most renowned cities, many of the surrounding areas are dangerous. And while there are certain measures you can take to avoid dangerous areas, even the most seasoned travelers can get lost. In additional to the potential of injury from area criminals, overzealous fans can also cause injuries, as seen over this past weekend. A free preliminary match resulted in a stampede that injured several people. Imagine being caught in a situation like that and NOT having access to quality health care at an affordable price. Hopefully nothing happens during your trip to this great event, but you'll want to be adequately prepared just in case. Having fast and easy access to great doctors, and keeping charges for care to a minimum are two priorities in this scenario. International travel insurance will help you in both of these areas, and it does so at an affordable price. Blogging 2010-06-10T05:22:24+00:00 http://www.zinternationalinsurance.com/blog/gulf-coast-hotel-cancellations-can-be-costly-without-trip-cancellation-insu/ http://www.zinternationalinsurance.com/blog/gulf-coast-hotel-cancellations-can-be-costly-without-trip-cancellation-insu/#When:06:44:52Z A recent article on CNN.com tackled the subject of increasing hotel cancellations from visitors who had been planning to visit the Gulf Coast. If you are looking to cancel a trip to that area, you will want to be sure to be protected with trip cancellation insurance. Many hotels and airlines will not offer even partial refunds on cancelled flights. So that means if you are put off by the tragic oil spill in the area and no longer wish to visit, then cancelling your bookings could result in simply losing some or all of the money you had invested in the trip. In this economy, who has extra money to just give away? With trip cancellation insurance, you can cancel trips on short notice while getting reimbursed from your policy. so your investment does not go for naught, and you can make sure you are only traveling when and where you are comfortable. The Gulf Coast tourism industry's members want visitors from around the world to know the area is still safe and desirable, but if current cancellations are a sign, then most people are not getting the message. If those travelers do not have trip cancellation insurance, they just may be out of their investment. Blogging 2010-06-08T06:44:52+00:00