Saturday, November 23, 2013

United States: Travel Insurance


                                                                                                                     


Travel & Medical Insurance


Discuss with your Doctor GP (General Practitioner) what your travel insurance policy should cover based on your unique medical history and the daily cocktail of medications that you are prescribed to inhale, inject or swallow. 
Here is a link to information about travel insurance. It is meant as a preliminary advice source only. What is the cost of travel insurance offered by your travel agent (TA) ? It makes a difference if you are after travel insurance for a single trip or an annual policy to cover a number of international trips (business and or pleasure).
Always start by asking your credit card provider whether your credit card provides complimentary travel insurance if you purchase your airline ticket with that credit card. Enquire about upgrading your credit card from bronze to silver, gold or platinum to gain complimentary travel insurance. What is the cost of the credit card upgrade? It is cost justified in your eyes. It will depend on your status with your bank etc whether you are offered a no fee upgrade. You may or may not be charged an annual fee on your existing and on your new upgraded card. Make a list of a few simple questions and phone or visit the credit card provider (bank or credit union or ?) and  ask your questions. Online tool Credit Card Navigator can also help you find out more details about the medical travel insurance available through your credit card.         
                                                                                        
What is the cost of travel insurance provided by your existing household and or car insurance provider ? Are you a member of a road service organisation ? These are some examples AAA or CAA or NRMA. What will they charge you for travel insurance ? You can also review visitor travel insurance comparison sites likeVisitorshield.com , VisitorsHealth.comnriol.netinsuremytrip.com and Squaremouth.com.
Several visitor insurance plans are available from top-rated companies based in USA which offer visitor medical insurance with health coverage protection at affordable premiums. Fixed  plans limit the medical benefit as listed in the plan brochure, while comprehensive plans cover up to the policy maximum selected. Below is a listing of popular plans are classified as fixed benefit plans or comprehensive, do a Google search on the plan name and you will find them.


Comprehensive coverage plans: 
Atlas America Insurance
Patriot America Insurance
Liaison Continent Insurance
Liaison Majestic Insurance
Diplomat America Insurance
Visit USA Insurance


Fixed benefit plans: 
Inbound USA Insurance
Visitors Care Insurance
Immigrant Secure Insurance

For international traveller - consider carrying an international travel insurance plan that provides coverage for both travel and medical emergencies. To get an idea about the pricing and the benefits, refer to site likes www.VisitorsCoverage.com(speciallizing in internnational travel insurance) or contact www.ustia.org for recommendations and assistance to obtain a suitable travel insurance policy.

For all travelers - it is also important to be aware that most travel insurance providers do not cover regions or countries which the national government considers to be unsafe.  Thus, if you intend to travel to a foreign destination which has a travel advisory warning by your national government, it is very important to contact your travel insurance provider to understand what coverage you will or will not have if you decide to go there.  Generally speaking, if your government considers it dangerous to be in a certain foreign destination, your travel insurance provider may not cover you for any problems you encounter while there.  
It's also important to consider that even for uncommon incidents like a plane crash, providers may not cover unanticipated expenses like diverted flights to a new airport, even though you incur an additional expense, such as rental car fees. Allianz, which is offered in the U.S. by most major airlines, said a rental car extra charge due to traveling to a new airport quite a distance away, would not be covered.
                                                   
In the next post, we will discuss about the travel insurance in UK

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