Travel Insurance Overview

It’s been all over the news!

On January 15, 2009 A US Airways jetliner crashed into the Hudson River on Thursday afternoon after a flock of birds apparently disabled both its engines. Rescuers pulled the more than 150 passengers and crew members into boats before the plane sank, authorities say. FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown told the Associated Press Flight 1549 had just taken off from LaGuardia Airport en route to Charlotte, N.C., when the crash occurred in the river near 48th Street in midtown Manhattan.

On February 12, 2009 a commuter airliner carrying 49 passengers and crew from Newark nosedived into an upstate New York hamlet Thursday night, exploding in a fireball and killing all aboard, state police said. Officials said one person on the ground was killed and two were injured. It was the deadliest U.S. crash since a Comair commuter jet went down in Kentucky three years ago, claiming 49 lives. Continental Airlines Flight 3407 plunged into the heart of little Clarence Center about 10:20 p.m. while heading for Buffalo Niagara International Airport about 10 miles away.

Do you plan on traveling?

If so it can be costly when the unforeseen happens such as illness or injury, travel delay, suitcases loss, or worse. In the past 10 years medical costs have increased noticeably worldwide and even countries with sponsored National Health plans now demand payment in full from foreign visitors for medical services rendered. Consequently travel suppliers such as airlines, and tour operators worldwide have made cancellation policies more restrictive meaning only a fraction of your pre-paid travel expenses will refunded to you. If you have to cut short a trip halfway, last minute, one way fare return flight is now likely to be more costly than ever. Moreover, the reality of terrorism, increased travel business bankruptcies, worldwide financial instability, and the unpredictability of life expectancy causes many people to search for ways to reduce the sole financial risks associated with travel. Knowledgeable travelers purchase travel insurance in order to protect against the potentially astounding financial costs resulting from crises such as the cancellation of a major trip due to death or illness of a family member or a need for emergency medical evacuation.

What is travel insurance?

Travel insurance is designed to give you peacefulness when you travel. Whether you are traveling in the United States or abroad, you can have peacefulness knowing that you have travel insurance. Travel insurance plans typically reimburse you for pre paid non-refundable travel expenses if an unexpected crisis such as death, illness, airline strike, travel business bankruptcy, and other crises happens before or during your trip causing it to be cancelled, interrupted or delayed.

Travel insurance plans typically reimbursement for: Travel Cancellation, Interruption and Delay, Baggage Loss and Delay. Emergency Medical Expenses, Emergency Medical Evacuation, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, Repatriation of Bodily Remains and 24 Hour Travel Assistance Services. Although the maximum benefit limits for medical expenses are generally not as high as in Travel Medical Insurance, many businesses have recently increased these benefits and there is typically no deductible or co pay. Rental car insurance may be included, or purchased as an upgrade, or stand alone plan.

When buying travel insurance.

When buying travel insurance buy through an established insurance company because your coverage won’t be a wash if your travel company goes bankrupt. Moreover, if is extremely important to ask the following questions when buying travel insurance to insure that you are properly covered: What disasters are covered? What restrictions apply? What type of assistance does the travel insurance company give in the event of a medical emergency or other serious problem? What determines reimbursement? If you have to travel with expensive or irreplaceable items think about additional coverage. Last but not least know the value of the emergency medical assistance coverage which covers you if you need to be airlifted, receive prolonged treatment in a foreign hospital or be flown home because of death, serious sickness or injury.