Travel Health
08/05/2009
Purchasing the right travel
insurance is not an easy choice to make. Despite the many different risks they
may face when travelling, some people refuse to take out travel health plans
because they think that not all trips are worth insuring. But no matter what
type of trip you’re taking, it is always best to purchase travel insurance
before going on a vacation.
Individual health
insurance carriers, travel insurance specialists, credit card companies, and
travel agents are just some of the establishments that offer travel insurance.
Before purchasing travel insurance, it is a must for consumers to check what
vacation-related incidents are already covered by their health and auto
insurance. This is very important because purchasing extra insurance without
first noting the risks already covered by primary insurance could just be a
waste of money.
Flight insurance policies
could cost as little as $10; they provide coverage in case of death as a result
of a plane crash. Typical comprehensive policies cost around 3% to 8% of the
overall cost of the trip. One of the best features of travel insurance is its flexibility.
Consumers can choose just the kind of coverage they feel they need.
So, what are the things to
note before purchasing travel insurance? It’s just a matter of finding the
balance between coverage and price, need versus budget. Try to shop around,
like when you’re looking for typical insurance coverage. Expensive premiums
don’t always offer the best coverage. Sometimes, there are cheaper premiums
that offer the exact coverage needed. Take note of the policies offered by
travel agencies. Most of the time, they cost more than regular travel
insurance.
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08/05/2009
Depending on the coverage
needed, there are different kinds of travel insurance: trip protection, car
rental or luggage protection, and medical coverage.
The health and medical
insurance policy type of travel insurance provides coverage for medical and
dental expenses caused by injury or illness during travel. Under this type is
medical evacuation coverage, which is helpful when hospital transfer is
necessary. Typically, this is bundled with medical coverage. However, it could
also be purchased separately.
Another kind of medical
coverage is the dismemberment and accidental death policy. This covers the
duration of the vacation. Just like the usual life insurance policies,
beneficiaries get a certain amount in case the policyholder dies.
With regard to medical
policies, consumers need to check for issues about pre-existing medical
conditions, as well as age limitations. Many policies have increased rates for
senior citizens.
The second type of travel
insurance is trip protection. Under this are cancellation coverage, delay
coverage, and trip interruption protection. With cancellation coverage, your prepaid expenses would be
reimbursed if ever your trip were cancelled due to illness or death of a family
member. Delay coverage, on the
other hand, takes care of transport delays. If flights are cancelled due to bad
weather, delay coverage will shoulder your prepaid hotel expenses. Last but not least under trip
protection, an interruption protection provides coverage for travel company
bankruptcy, airline strike, jury duty, or whatever reason that cuts your trip
short.
As for the third type of
travel insurance, luggage and car rental protection provides coverage for
rental car accidents and missing/stolen baggage.
If you want to purchase any of these policies, be sure to choose the ones that
provide travel assistance aside from the monetary coverage.
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08/05/2009
Medical insurance plans
usually do not include coverage for medical issues that arise during a visit to
foreign countries. However, health issues, such as illnesses and accidents, do
arise. Travelers’ insurance guarantees that the insured need not worry about
any of these possibilities during his/her trip to foreign countries.
Medical insurance
companies offer several plans, including medical travel policies, which can assist
a traveler with his/her medical needs when traveling. The cost of this kind of
insurance policy varies, depending on the medical limits the insured person
chooses and his/her age. Some medical travel insurance policies even cover trip
interruption and evacuation benefits. Some offer one-year coverage while others
offer shorter periods of coverage.
Another type of plan, the
package travel insurance policy, covers more than just the traveler’s medical
needs. It also offers assistance with lost passports, money transfers and some
legal issues. The cost of this plan also varies depending on inclusions, age of
the insured, cost of the trip and the length of the trip.
Travelers may also
consider medical evacuation policies to be important. This type of travel
insurance provides transportation to the closest hospital in the event of
illness or accident. Other medical evacuation policies even cover
transportation back to the United States.
In the event of a
terrorist attack, some evacuation plans also allow the insured to cut short
their vacation, cancel their insurance and receive reimbursement. So when obtaining
travel insurance coverage for acts of terrorism should also be considered.
Since the cost of
travelers insurance is usually 4%–8% of the insured person’s travel cost, it is
best to explore the diverse coverage that insurance companies offer and find
the one that best suits your needs.
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08/05/2009
Travel can
be exciting, especially when it takes you to far-off places, and no one wants
that thrill ruined by thinking about serious matter like health and
safety. However, it pays to take
precautions and to at least consider the worst-case scenario if you are
planning an extended trip away from home, whether in the US or overseas. This applies especially to medical care
and health insurance.
Before
embarking on your trip, be sure to check with your insurance carrier about
coverage extensions outside your usual area. Your current policy may not cover medical costs incurred out
of state for things like doctor visits, emergency room care or
medications. If you plan to stay
within the US, be sure to have close at hand a list of covered providers,
facilities and services in the area where you will be travelling in the event
of a sudden illness or injury.
Obtaining
medical treatment outside the United States can be expensive, and even simply
arriving at your destination carries risks. If a foreign government was to deny your passport because of
an infection or other condition, medical evacuation can cost upwards of
$50,000. American medical
insurance is usually not accepted overseas; Medicare and Medicaid are strictly
US programs and do not provide coverage for costs sustained while travelling
abroad. If your current medical
policy does not cover care outside the US you may want to consider purchasing a
short term or major medical plan that does.
Along with
short term policies, some companies also offer plans specifically designed to
cover travel abroad. Like short
term or major medical coverage, these can be purchased in increments of time
depending on the length of your trip—anywhere from a few days to six
months. Check online or with a
trusted insurance or travel agent to review options, benefits and costs.
Aside from
making sure your insurance coverage is in order, there are several other safety
measures you can take that will make your trip more enjoyable. If you have a medical condition that
requires prescription medication you might want to carry a note from your
physician describing your situation and any drugs you are currently prescribed,
including the generic names for those medications. Be sure to leave prescriptions in the original pharmacy
packaging with the label clearly visible.
Check with the foreign embassy of the country where you’ll be staying to
make sure your prescription is not an illegal narcotic there. Pack your medications in your carry-on
luggage and consider leaving a back-up supply in your checked baggage just in
case. If you wear eyeglasses or
contacts, take an extra pair with you; pack these in your carry-on as
well. If you suffer from allergies
or any other unique medical condition you should wear a medical alert bracelet
or carry a letter from your physician indicating proper care procedures should
you fall ill suddenly and not be able to communicate.
In taking
these few simple steps to plan your trip more completely, you can relax knowing
that you will be taken care of in the event of an emergency.
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03/04/2007
M. is a father of 5 children; he is 55 years old, married to
Z. who is 48 years old. Their children are aged between 3 and
17 years. Three of them are attending school while the other 2
are working and taking care of the family. The family fled Iraq
in January 2006 after experiencing ethnic persecution and due
to increased insecurity.
On their way to Lebanon, they faced a multitude of obstacles
and accidents that caused them trauma especially for M., the father,
who formerly had a career in commerce. He has been unable to find
employment in Lebanon, and now depends on the income of his children.
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03/04/2007
"Weekdays I wake up with the sunrise at 6 a.m. No one needs an alarm clock here thanks to nature's dynamic duo, the neighborhood roosters and the sun. The roosters crow on the hour here, from about 3 a.m. to 8 a.m., and I've started using them as a crude snooze button. But first things first: I climb our guard tower to see Kilimanjaro in the sunrise."
"I got stung by something that hurt but I have no idea what it was. I'm fine now, though. I have yet to find any jiggers in my feet, which are the things that crawl into your skin and lay eggs. I thought that was a stereotype before I came but apparently it's just no big deal here. So, great.
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03/04/2007
After sitting in the hospital waiting room in Tamil Nadu, India all day, BYU student Emily Predmore was still waiting for treatment for Ashok, a little boy with tuberculosis. The doctor said they couldn't treat him because he didn't have insurance. But Predmore stayed and hoped for a miracle.
Ashok lives with his parents in a leprosy colony in Tamil Nadu, India, and could not find treatment anywhere because of his social class. Without Predmore, he would have been turned away immediately.
Predmore and Ashok met three years ago when Predmore, a sophomore majoring in international relations, traveled to India with Rising Star Outreach.
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03/04/2007
'Checked Baggage' is any item accepted for carriage in the aircraft hold, including but not limited to suitcases, baby buggies, infant travel cots, car seats, rucksacks, tents and any mobility equipment such as, wheelchairs, scooters and walking frames. Large sports equipment and musical instruments are subject to separate charges and restrictions - see below.
A Baggage Fee is charged for the carriage of each item of Checked Baggage. The Baggage Fee may be prepaid at the current discounted rate of €6.00/ 5.00 per item of baggage/per one way flight when making your reservation.
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03/03/2007
The following is some general guidelines about staying safe abroad. Students should also refer to region-specific health and safety information in the ISEP Country Handbooks and at the US State Department's website at www.travel.state.gov.
MONEY AND VALUABLES
Students should take traveler's checks, cash, some host country currency (for use before you find somewhere to exchange money), and an ATM/debit card or a credit card with them. Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) are widely available in most large cities. When traveling to more remote areas, take local currency with you.
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03/03/2007
But after a slow start to the season, fresh snow is now falling in some areas, and this will prompt many of us to dig out our sunglasses and salopettes, and head for the slopes before the season ends in April.
Thanks to low-cost airlines and great exchange rates, more of us are opting for newer and cheaper destinations such as Bulgaria and Slovenia - although France and Switzerland remain firm favourites.
But wherever you choose to ski or snowboard, the golden rule is always the same: buy insurance. While a few tumbles are par for the course, you could end up out of pocket in the event of a serious injury - unless you have adequate cover.
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03/03/2007
Emergency medical care came under scrutiny earlier this year when a 30-year-old Pakistani man died after being turned away from an emergency ward in Sharjah. As reported in Gulf News, the man suffered a heart attack and died after he was turned away from a hospital.
But what constitutes an emergency? And what are the procedures followed in each emirate? Gulf News takes a closer look at emergency care in the UAE.
ABU DHABI
Government hospitals
Emergency cases received at Al Mafraq Hospital are sorted and each patient is categorised and classified according to the severity of the case.
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03/02/2007
ATII highlights concerns over sales of travel insurance
1st March 2007
By Julia Chan
Responding to the UK Treasury review on travel insurance, the Association of Travel Insurance Intermediaries has voiced its concern over the inconsistency of point of sale material for prospective purchasers of travel insurance by both regulated and non-regulated outlets.
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03/01/2007
There are no specific inoculations or health precautions necessary for a trip to Austria. Reciprocal Health Agreements Members of the EU, citizens of the UK and Ireland receive free emergency hospital treatment in Austria on production of their passport, though there may be a charge for any medication. It is recommended to have a comprehensive travel and medical insurance as medical treatment is expensive in Austria.
The sun and the cold are probably the worst enemies in Austria. Sunburns are easy to get in the mountains due to the combination of a thin atmosphere and reflection off snow, ice and/or water.
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03/01/2007
America is in the midst of a nursing shortage that is expected to get worse as baby boomers age and the need for health care increases. Complicating the nursing shortage problem is the fact that nursing schools and universities across the country are having difficulty maintaining enrollment levels that remain insufficient to meet the projected demand for nursing care.
Based on a recent survey, it is common knowledge that there is a nursing shortage and this is viewed as a serious issue. The study revealed that 75% of Americans think that the nursing shortage is a very real and very important health care concern.
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03/01/2007
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03/01/2007
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Cheaper environmentally friendly car insuranceThomas Cook takes FSA regulation for travel insuranceGlobal warming affects travel insurance for skiiersUK house insurance advised for DIY workNFU Mutual Insurance customers to have bonusNorwich Union extends critical illness protection insuranceOne in three NHS doctors take private UK health insuranceLib Dems call for cheaper green car insuranceMore News & Articles
Insurancewide.
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03/01/2007
The Global Volunteer Network currently has opportunities to teach conversational English through our partner organization in Cambodia. This will allow you to help students improve their English skills while at the same time immersing yourself in urban Cambodian life.
.: The Program
Volunteers will be working as language teachers in a school project which provides affordable conversational English language courses for students. The aim of this project is to raise money for a local NGO working to improve livelihoods in rural communities in Cambodia. Students pay a small fee to attend the classes. .
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03/01/2007
Workers from China's vast rural hinterland are often forced to work overtime and are fined for infractions such as being late or not meeting production quotas, the London-based rights group said.
Pay is also routinely withheld to keep migrants from changing jobs, a practice that has helped keep wages down despite rising demand for workers and annual economic growth of more than 10 percent, the report said.
Click here to view this article
03/01/2007
Gastric dengue attacks vital organs - such as the liver, heart, lungs or brain - and can cause death within hours.
Other patients died of dengue haemorrhagic fever, a variant which can lead to enlargement of the liver, and in some cases, circulatory failure.
Doctors working in state-run hospitals are planning to hold a demonstration outside the health ministry on Friday, in protest at what they describe as government inefficiency.
Private-sector doctors have accused the authorities of underestimating the impact of the outbreak, saying official figures represent 10% of real cases.
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02/28/2007
(PRWEB) February 28, 2007 -- In their response to the Treasury review on Travel Insurance, the Association of Travel Insurance Intermediaries has identified that the main area of concern is the inconsistency of point of sale material provided to prospective purchasers of travel insurance by both regulated and non regulated outlets.
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