• 14
  May
  2010

• Common Sense and Travel Insurance

  
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Sam Traveler (say) is a legendary international traveler. While he has traveled all over the world, he never leaves home without two things: his toothbrush, and travel insurance. For all those Doubting Thomases who wonder whether international travel insurance is even worth it, he always has a story to tell.

And because he’s traveled since he was a little kid, he has perspective on all kinds of travel and insurance: student travel insurance, trip cancellation insurance, missionary insurance, and in an unbelievable story, marine crew insurance.

The one thing that Sam lives by is this: It never hurts to be prepared. While some may consider the purchase of travel insurance as proof that you are not willing to rough it out, Sam has this to say: You can only rough it out if you’re alive!

With increasing news of common carrier accidents and a stress- and deadline-oriented work atmosphere, a trip planned is no longer a trip undertaken. It only makes sense to purchase adequate insurance to get the peace of mind that is necessary to fully enjoy the overseas trip.

• 13
  May
  2010

• Missionary Insurance and Dealing with Illnesses and Injuries

  
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Spreading the word of God or humanity has never been easy—at least, missionary travel insurance can now help you with some of the problems associated with it! A missionary or volunteer who travels abroad sometimes has to face complex political and social issues.

Unfortunately, they may also be targets of violence. They are also more vulnerable to infections and illnesses, because of the kind of hours they usually put in. When traveling as a missionary, it is important to take a step back and take care of one’s health. It is no use being a missionary with a good heart when the body is simply unable to do any meaningful work.

To protect against the financial repercussions of falling ill when on a mission,travel insurance for missionaries is ideal. Although they are basically short term health insurance plans, some of their benefits are designed especially for missionaries on religious and humanitarian missions abroad.

Missionary insurance, while helpful, can only help primarily with the financial aspect of an illness, and it is important that a missionary still follow basic safety and hygiene to have a peaceful and healthy mission for the betterment of the world.

Travel tip: Research and know some of the political layout of the place you will be working in.

• 12
  May
  2010

• The Libyan Air Crash: Is Air Travel More Dangerous?

  
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The shock of the air crash of the Libyan airplane is still settling in, and hearts go out to the families of those who lost their lives in the crash. The silver lining, of course, is the young boy who has miraculously escaped with his life. Usually, in the days following any major crash, international flight insurance and international travel insurance see an increase in enrolment, only to decrease when people get complacent.

It does seem that traveling by air has become more dangerous in recent times. Part of the reason in some parts of the world, according to experts, is overworked pilots. Deregulation in a lot of countries has also meant a mushrooming of airline operators, many of them with little or no experience in the field of aviation.

Add to that the fact that many of these countries have limited regulations and/or enforcement, and it seems like accidents are simply waiting to happen. What’s more, terrorists have taken to the skies in a big way, and one is no longer sure whether an accident was a pilot fault, a mechanical failure, an act of God, or simply a terrorist attack.

It is also true that many more people travel by air, and so, while the number of accidents has increased, the percentage of accidents per flying hour has actually not. Regardless, the Libyan accident just underscores the limitation of human technology. It also, in a limited way, emphasizes the need for prudence when undertaking an international travel trip.

• 11
  May
  2010

• Homework and Spadework to Make Your Travel Insurance Work

  
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You’ve heard this many times before: When purchasing travel insurance, read the fine print. Research the plans thoroughly before signing on. What does that mean, though? What can you practically do to ensure that the chances of any claim you make are honored? Here’s a quick tip-list.

Check the company that is underwriting the international travel insurance policy, and also the insurance company. While most plan brochures mention the company’s A.M. Best ratings, some may not. Look for a rating of A and above. Always purchase travel insurance plans from a reputed website.

Also, ensure that you are purchasing travel insurance. There are other kinds of travel protection such as travel waiver and travel protection. While travel waiver merely gives you credit for future travel if you don’t make your current plan, the term “travel protection” is simply undefined and is used to mean a variety of things. Remember that only travel insurance plans are subject to laws and arbitration.

Always ask questions. Do not assume that all is lost if you find your newly purchased travel insurance plan does not have the coverage you need. Call the company’s customer service number and find out. You might be able to upgrade to a plan that does feature the coverage, or simply cancel for a refund. Most plans allow a grace period.

Travel tip: Check your current plans to find out if any of them apply to your travel. Some homeowners’ plans, for instance, may cover the loss of your personal effects like your camera.