Showing posts with label Travel Insurance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel Insurance. Show all posts

May 22, 2008

Getting The Cheapest Travel Insurance

If you're looking to travel abroad in the near future or off on your annual holidays then Travel insurance is something you should probably be looking to purchase. Travel Insurance covers a number of eventualities that could occur whilst you're abroad Some of the areas generally covered by most Travel insurance policies are listed below
1. Loss, Damage and theft of personal effects whilst abroad this may include cash, jewellery, personal effects, luggage, clothing, cameras, cam-corders and a host of other personal effects you are travelling with. 2. Cover for Loss , damage or theft of Cash or travellers cheques

3. Personal Injury and accident cover , This is an important one , If you are unfortunate enough to be taken Ill or have an accident whilst abroad medical costs can quickly mount up. Most travel Insurance policies will include medical cost cover to a pre defined amount and you should be able to check the level of medical insurance cover provided by your insurer before purchasing your Travel insurance policy.

For obvious reasons some activities will carry a higher Travel insurance premium than others for example a Hang Gliding or Skiing holiday will probably carry a higher travel insurance price tag as insurers will deem these activities as a higher insurance risk that does not mean that Cheap Travel Insurance cannot be found for these activity style holidays. So it's well worth taking a look online at what is available.

Travel insurance due to its short term nature is generally one of the cheaper insurance policies to buy and is a definite if you're travelling abroad but you will want to check out the small print of any policy before you buy. Nowadays it's quite quick and easy to compare a few policies online by using one of the many online insurance comparison sights where you should be able to find a number of travel insurers in one place on the web and compare prices to find the best deal for you. If you're looking to travel soon then Why not spend 10 minutes looking at deals for Travel Insurance.

May 21, 2008

Protection Essential for Medical Tourists

There is constant pressure from the media for us to look good and keep up with the stars. New technologies and procedures are emerging all the time, promising to make us look ten years younger. It is not surprising therefore, that an increasing number of people are being lured abroad by cheap offers of cosmetic surgery. Many of these ‘medical tourists’ however, are putting themselves at risk by failing to check they have adequate travel insurance.
An increasing number of people are travelling abroad to receive lower cost surgery. Last year 70,000 people went overseas for surgery, 30% more than in 2006. The attraction is obvious. According to consumer watchdog Which? a dental implant, for example, which can cost around £2,200 in the UK, can cost as little as £750 in Hungary. A tummy tuck that would cost £4,000 in the UK could be half the price in Poland. Eastern Europe is the most popular destination according to Abbey, with 6% choosing to travel to countries such as Hungary and Poland.

But travelling abroad for medical treatment can be risky. A survey carried out by Which? found that 18% of UK residents who travelled overseas for medical treatment experienced problems. This ranged from a tummy tuck going septic to liposuction leading to one person’s stomach ‘leaking cellulite’. 8% had to return to the NHS for help in an emergency, after having treatment abroad and more than a quarter didn't feel they had received the follow-up care they needed.

However research carried out by Post Office Travel Services found that 25,000 of those travelling abroad for medical treatment were not adequately covered for this type of risk. One in five of these people admitted it simply did not cross their minds to check the policy. Worryingly 16% just assumed they would be covered. A further 9% checked their policy and realised they were not covered, yet still chose not to buy additional cover.

“As with all standard policies on the market, Post Office Travel Insurance will not cover tourists for pre-planned medical or cosmetic surgery so it’s vital that anyone considering this looks into buying additional specialist cover,” warns Helen Warburton, Head of Post Office Travel Services. “It’s also important to check exactly what the specialist insurance covers over and above medical treatment. Travellers may still require traditional travel insurance to cover any potential lost baggage, delayed flights or flight cancellation.”

For those planning to travel abroad for surgery it is important they check that their insurance policy covers expenses such as additional periods of hospitalisation and replacement flights, if their trip has to be extended. It is also advisable to be honest with the insurance provider about plans for surgery and to inform them of any pre-existing medical conditions.

Which? urges potential medical tourists to do their homework before heading off to the sun for surgery. It recommends checking doctors’ qualifications and registration with a professional body, and to make plans taking in to consideration possible problems that could arise. It is vital to read the fine print and be clear about what the contract actually covers. And don’t forget that legal rights differ from country to country.

Carole is an author of several articles pertaining to Insurance, Travel Insurance, and other Business and Finance articles.

May 19, 2008

Comparing Travel Insurance Policies

Smart travellers will always spend some time comparing travel insurance policies before deciding on the proper one for their needs. They know that travel insurance is one of the best ways to protect themselves against potentially losing the money they will invest to go on holiday.
The type of travel insurance policy you choose can be different, depending on the plans you have for your trip. If you plan to spend your holiday checking out the slopes, then you should be comparing travel insurance policies that will cover you for ski related expenses, medical assistance in case of illness or accident, trip cancellation, loss of your luggage, and more. A ski holiday can be a lot of fun, but there is always the chance of an accident while skiing. Medical bills while away from home can add up very quickly, so having the buffer of travel insurance can help to make a skiing holiday less stressful.

Or, perhaps you are planning a family holiday this year. You should be comparing travel insurance policies that will protect your family in case your trip is delayed or cancelled, and will reimburse you for the money you would have to spend to secure lodging and meals for your family until the holiday is underway again. Medical coverage is also important to families. You want benefits that will allow you to enjoy a serene holiday, free of worry.

What could happen to you on a cruise ship? You’d be surprised. If you are planning a cruise holiday, comparing travel insurance policies geared to cruise ship trips should be just as important as what cruise ship line to use! Most people take a cruise in order to relax, so the last thing you want to be doing is fretting over all the things that could go wrong. Cruise ship insurance is available to ease your mind and know that if something does happen, you will be covered, even if you are many miles away from home.

You would be surprised when you realize that comparing travel insurance policies will save you money. It is possible to buy a policy that will be tailor made for you and the activities you plan to do while on holiday. The premiums for your travel insurance will not be expensive at all. In fact, when you read your policy, you will be amazed that you are getting so much coverage for so little!

If you do a lot of travelling in a year’s time, whether on holiday or for your job, comparing travel insurance policies can save you even more money. You can take advantage of multi trip travel insurance. This type of policy covers you during every trip you make in the space of twelve months. You can settle back and relax during your many holidays, secure in the knowledge that you have saved money by not having to buy a separate policy each time you take a trip.

Of course, if you only go on holiday once each year, then you only need one single travel policy. Comparing travel insurance policies before taking that annual trip is very wise. You are sure to have safe holidays when you have travel insurance coverage to suit your needs.

May 12, 2008

Comparing Travel Insurance Policies

Smart travellers will always spend some time comparing travel insurance policies before deciding on the proper one for their needs. They know that travel insurance is one of the best ways to protect themselves against potentially losing the money they will invest to go on holiday.
The type of travel insurance policy you choose can be different, depending on the plans you have for your trip. If you plan to spend your holiday checking out the slopes, then you should be comparing travel insurance policies that will cover you for ski related expenses, medical assistance in case of illness or accident, trip cancellation, loss of your luggage, and more. A ski holiday can be a lot of fun, but there is always the chance of an accident while skiing. Medical bills while away from home can add up very quickly, so having the buffer of travel insurance can help to make a skiing holiday less stressful.

Or, perhaps you are planning a family holiday this year. You should be comparing travel insurance policies that will protect your family in case your trip is delayed or cancelled, and will reimburse you for the money you would have to spend to secure lodging and meals for your family until the holiday is underway again. Medical coverage is also important to families. You want benefits that will allow you to enjoy a serene holiday, free of worry.

What could happen to you on a cruise ship? You’d be surprised. If you are planning a cruise holiday, comparing travel insurance policies geared to cruise ship trips should be just as important as what cruise ship line to use! Most people take a cruise in order to relax, so the last thing you want to be doing is fretting over all the things that could go wrong. Cruise ship insurance is available to ease your mind and know that if something does happen, you will be covered, even if you are many miles away from home.

You would be surprised when you realize that comparing travel insurance policies will save you money. It is possible to buy a policy that will be tailor made for you and the activities you plan to do while on holiday. The premiums for your travel insurance will not be expensive at all. In fact, when you read your policy, you will be amazed that you are getting so much coverage for so little!

If you do a lot of travelling in a year’s time, whether on holiday or for your job, comparing travel insurance policies can save you even more money. You can take advantage of multi trip travel insurance. This type of policy covers you during every trip you make in the space of twelve months. You can settle back and relax during your many holidays, secure in the knowledge that you have saved money by not having to buy a separate policy each time you take a trip.

Of course, if you only go on holiday once each year, then you only need one single travel policy. Comparing travel insurance policies before taking that annual trip is very wise. You are sure to have safe holidays when you have travel insurance coverage to suit your needs.

Save money on your travel insurance today. For a free quote, visit Travel Insurance

May 9, 2008

Travel insurance for holidays at home – worth considering?

Travel insurance for holidays at home – worth considering?
Most cheap travel insurance bought in the UK is aimed at people resident in the UK and indeed, will require customers to indicate that they have lived in the UK for a period of six months. It is also a fact that most people buy travel insurance for trips and holidays abroad but insurers do offer policies for travel just within the UK. It is not uncommon to find that Ireland will be included in this definition. The big advantage of UK only cover is that the premiums can be ridiculously low - well below £5 for a 3 day break is very common place. But is it worth taking out in the first place? The answer really depends on the type of holiday planned, the length of stay and whether you want to accept the risk of not being covered if something does go wrong. It is also worth remembering that UK travel insurance cover is generally included if you take out the more expensive Europe of Worldwide cover, though do check the small print rather than assuming that this is always the case. A Europe or Worldwide annual multi-trip travel insurance policy will be more expensive as an initial payment up front but will cover you for an unlimited number of trips abroad, and in the UK, throughout the year, provided the length of stay of each trip does not exceed the policy limit, normally around 31 days away per trip.

So is a UK travel insurance policy worth considering? Probably yes if only one or two short breaks a year are planned and it will be very inexpensive to purchase for the cover provided. This can be very useful should you subsequently cancel a trip, say for illness, as your holiday costs will be reimbursed subject to any excesses to pay. Your personal effects will probably be covered too which is an important point to consider as theft and loss is not just confined to holidays on the ‘Costas’ – these things happen at home too. What you will almost certainly not be covered for will be for medical emergencies and expenses as insurers argue that the NHS is available for such instances and will point out that travel insurance is not a substitute for private medical insurance. The lack of medical cover in UK only travel insurance policies is the main reason why insurers can offer these policies for the very low prices on offer.

On balance, travel insurance for UK holidays and short breaks is probably a good buy for those holidaymakers who tend to stay at home for their breaks away and there is an increasing number of people who are doing this. One final word of warning though is do check the small print as many, if not most, insurers do require you to have proof of booked accommodation for a minimum stay of normally 2 nights away for the policy to be in force so the Sunday ‘trip out’ is definitely outside this definition!
About The Author Keith McGregor is a partner of Strawberrysoup, a web design agency with offices in Chichester and Bournemouth. Strawberrysoup specialise in creative web design, content managed websites, search engine optimisation, search engine marketing and graphic design
http://www.strawberrysoup.co.uk/

May 1, 2008

Travel Insurance - It pays to check the small print!

A common thread in most complaints over travel insurance is that ‘I didn’t realise I had to do that’ or ‘no-one told me I couldn’t do that.’ Whilst sometimes this is a totally justified call because miss-selling of travel insurance, though less frequent than in the past, still occurs, there is still a many people who take travel insurance out by simply ticking the box on the holiday booking form without as much as seeing what they are covered for. This is far from ideal when it comes to making a claim because pleading ignorance is never a strong position to come from. But you can help yourself if you follow a few simple rules:
# Always get a report from an official source within 24 hours if something goes wrong. A police report for theft, a tour operator’s reports for baggage delay and loss, an airline letter if you suffer travel delay and a Property Irregularity Report before you leave the airport if your luggage is lost or delayed. Without these, you will find that insurers will not readily settle your claim.

# Know what valuables you are taking with you and take extra care of them. Valuables will be defined in your policy but generally includes all jewellery, mobile phones, computer games and equipment and cameras. Add to this list the personal money you take with you. By extra care, we mean you should lock them away in a safe in your room or carry them with you. They should never be left unattended and never in checked in baggage otherwise this will invalidate a claim.

# Keep receipts. Not only will this help to substantiate your claim but you are more likely to get close to value of the lost items back, subject to wear and tear. If no receipt is provided then the maximum amount that will be paid back will be capped at a low level. If several unreceipted items are claimed then this will also raise suspicions that the claim is fraudulent and could be investigated.

# Do call the Medical Assistance line if you have to go into hospital abroad or need medical treatment that could be costly. It is worthwhile doing this for anything that could be above £250. Once this is on record, you are generally well covered up to the agreed amounts.

# And finally, whilst this guidance is for travel insurance policies, many people will have a household policy in force that should cover ‘all risks’ up to a set value and this could also be used for a claims for personal belongings lost or stolen whilst on holiday but do check the small print again to see what exclusions apply.
About The Author Keith McGregor is a partner of Strawberrysoup, a web design agency with offices in Chichester and Bournemouth. Strawberrysoup specialise in creative web design, content managed websites, search engine optimisation, search engine marketing and graphic design http://www.strawberrysoup.co.uk/

Apr 25, 2008

Insurance Policies For Business Travel

If you have ever tried to acquire a business travel policy, you will realize that they are fairly different from the regular travel policies. Insurance companies take cognizance of the fact that travel for business purposes may involve different kinds of risks as compared to travel for pleasure. Which is why they customize the business travel policies to match the risk assessment.

In a business trip, one is likely to carry certain kinds of equipment for work related purposes. Laptops, Palmtops, printers, cell phones, additional luggage to make a few are certain kinds of equipment that one may carry while on a business trip. Since these are high value items they are at a considerable high risk of theft and damage.

While developing a business travel insurance plan there are various factors to take into account to ensure that all the possible risks are covered and assessed. Some of the elements that are considered are the time taken to travel, the destinations that the business personnel is visiting and the purpose of travel. To give an example, a journalist traveling to Afghanistan will probably be offered a business travel plan with a higher premium as compared to a sales executive traveling to Boston to make a sales pitch. Some insurance companies may offer joint insurance plans.

Before and after you have chosen a particular insurance plan make sure that you go over the booklet provided along with the insurance documents. A few minutes spent on the information may prove to be very useful if the need arises to file a claim.

This booklet contains useful data like the policy number that needs to be quoted in all communication that is made with the insurance company. Some insurance companies insist that the policyholder contact the company within a certain period of time of an incident if a claim is required. Which is why it is vital that this small book be with you all the time. Some companies have a 24 hour hotline which can be accessed in times of an emergency and if cash is required immediately. If the claim is mad on the basis of a medical situation relevant proof and documentation shall be required. Avoid sending the original bills and prescriptions and send only copies unless if is mandatory and mentioned in the policy guidelines.

Be careful also to review the document before deciding where you plan to stay since some companies stipulate that the policyholder should stay in company provided accommodation to be eligible for the claim.

Know your insurance better to be able to utilize it more efficiently and judiciously!

Apr 21, 2008

Travel Arrangements and Insurance

There are some assorted types of traveller. There are playing men and women who are air from digit municipality to added for short meetings, then there are families attractive a digit hebdomad pass to the solarise with teen children, then there are students or notch assemblage travellers who module be carry around foreign locations on extremely baritone budgets. There are rattling most as some assorted types of individual as there are assorted types of person.

There are some assorted approaches you crapper verify to engagement your movement arrangements. Your essential antecedency haw be convenience, for warning if you hit a gathering nearby the airfield you module requirement airfield improvement and lowercase else, however, if you are travelling for pleasure, you are probable to hit farther inferior restrictions and module be selection to study every types of arrangements. You crapper hit these unreal for you by a movement businessperson or you could do it for yourself online. Or alternatively, you haw desire to exclusive movement to a municipality or land with dead no plans and meet wager what happens when you intend there.

On of the things you should ever movement with is comely upbeat and movement insurance. Obviously your requirements module again depart depending on what category of movement you are undertaking. If you are travelling for business, flooded movement shelter that module wage you with deciding flights if yours is cancelled or suspended module be important. For most pass travellers, this haw not be quite as important. If you are travelling with children you haw desire to study it, but otherwise you haw be quite pliant and unbigoted if delays do occur. But you haw be more worried most your case and possession and desire to hit beatific programme for expiration or alteration to your property. All these options are acquirable today with the different movement shelter companies that are operative in the market.

Generally speaking, you module ever requirement upbeat shelter when you travel. You cannot give to verify the venture that an happening or earnest trauma occurs and you do not hit comely coverage. There are some parts of the word where liberated domestic upbeat shelter is not provided and if you do order scrutiny treatment, it module exclusive be provided if you crapper clear for it. Particularly if you are travelling with children, you should ever hold competent movement shelter with scrutiny coverage. This is exclusive a venture that you do not poverty to be direction yourself especially when the outlay of movement shelter is so affordable.

Joseph Kenny is the webmaster of the shelter place http://www.insure121.com/ where you module encounter information, programme and course to the directive providers of movement shelter in the UK.