Travel Insurance

Gerber Medicare Supplement – Anthem Medicare Supplement

2 May 2009 No Comment

Whether it’s your trip, your possessions, your luggage, or your health, travel insurance - and the most important, the right kind of travel insurance has become an essential item to pack for smart travelers. And if you don’t buy travel insurance, or the right kind, more than your trip could be ruined.

According to the U.S. Travel Insurance Association, about 30% of Americans purchase travel insurance. The top three reasons are: peace of mind, protection against the unexpected and concern over losing the financial investment in a trip.

There are hundreds of circumstances that could cause you to cancel your trip, return home early or force you to seek emergency medical treatment while traveling.

Here are 10 common examples of what could go wrong.

You are involved in an accident and adequate medical treatment is not available. Who will help arrange and pay for a medical evacuation?
Your bag was lost with your insulin inside. You need help to locate your bag as soon as possible and have your emergency prescription filled. Who do you call?
Three weeks before you scheduled arrival, a terrorist incident occurs in the city to which you are planning to visit. Who will pay if you want to cancel your trip?
You arrive at your international destination and your luggage doesn’t. If it’s lost, who will help you find it? If it’s delayed, who will pay for your necessities? If it’s stolen, who will pay to replace it?
The hospital you are entering does not accept your current health insurance card. What do you do now?
Your cruise line, airline or tour operator goes bankrupt. Who will pay for your non-refundable expenses? Who will help get you to your destination?
You are walking down the street in France and twist your ankle. Who can help you find an English speaking physician?
Your first visit to Europe, and your passport and wallet are stolen. Where do you turn for emergency cash, and how will you get your passport replaced?
You are at a beach resort in North Carolina, and you are forced to evacuate due to an approaching hurricane. Who will help you evacuate and who will reimburse your lost vacation investment?
You have a heart attack while traveling overseas…What now?

Most Popular Plans:

Trip Cancellation & Interruption.
Medical Expense & Transportation Coverage.
Lost or Stolen Baggage.
24/7 Travel Assistance Services.

Do not buy this insurance from the individual travel provider, meaning don’t buy your cruise trip insurance from the cruise ship company. Why? If that company goes out of business, chances are, so does their insurance.

Here are the Basics:
Trip Cancellation- It’s pretty straight forward. Basically if your trip is cancelled or interrupted.

Health Care Insurance – Most people think they are covered if they already have existing health insurance. Within the United States, that’s true. Outside the U.S. is a BIG IF. And often your insurance won’t even cover you it you’re traveling on a foreign-flagged vessel. This is a huge red flag, since most cruise ships, even those cruising U.S. waters, are not flagged in the U.S. Also, in almost all cases, your current health insurance does not cover you to evacuate you and repatriate you back to the U.S. This is where “Medical Evacuation and Repatriation” insurance comes into play. I believe this is essential for anyone who travels. It’s an insurance program, purchased per trip, monthly or annually, where if you get sick or injured overseas the policy will get you treated, stabilized and flown back to the U.S. There are many very good companies that provide this plan.

Baggage Insurance
Many trip cancellation and interruption policies also provide coverage for lost, damaged, delayed or stolen bags … And this is especially necessary if you’re flying overseas and checking bags.

Adventure & Extreme Sports Travel
Some Travel Insurance policies exclude coverage when it comes to adventure travel. That means specifications on how high is the mountain you’re climbing, and how deep are you scuba driving. Make sure your policy covers the above.

Please contact us if you or yoru organization have additional needs in the following areas: