Archive for June, 2009

EXCLUSIONS OF TRAVEL HEALTH INSURANCE

Isn’t it a thrilling experience to travel abroad? We are sure it is. But what will happen if suddenly a family member of yours falls sick or meets with an accident while traveling overseas? And on top of this mishap you are informed that your medical insurance for travel policy doesn’t cover you against such medical expenses incurred by you!! Won’t that be awful for you?

You might think that you are secured against such medical emergencies by your travel insurance online policy. However, there are some clauses which are attached to every insurance policy that you purchase. There is high chance that you might overlook these clauses. However, for your own interest and safety, it is absolutely necessary for you to know what exactly your policy will and will not cover for.

If you have pre-existing medical conditions then it will not be covered by your travel insurance online. Such conditions include pregnancy and related conditions, dental or medical conditions for which you are undergoing treatment, surgical or medical condition for which you are under medication. Anxiety, mental disorder, depression, traveling against the consent of your doctor is also considered as exclusion by travelers’ medical insurance.

Medical tourism also falls under the category of exclusion. If you are going international for receiving a particular medical treatment, for example cosmetics surgery or a surgery of similar nature, then your medical insurance for travel will not cover you against your medical expenses.

Other circumstances that are excluded from travel insurance online coverage are war or war-like situations, epidemics, natural disasters, nuclear attacks etc. These are a few of the most general exclusions of all travel insurance online policies which are offered.

High risk sports also qualify the exclusion list. So if you meet with a accident while you are busy skydiving, parachuting, bungee jumping, mountaineering, skiing, riding in races, caving etc then your travel insurance online will not cover you against any such expenses. However, some policies cover travelers’ against such risky sports. This facility is available by paying an extra premium, besides having an extra rider.

Frauds, loss of passport, deception by your travel agent, or any loss arising due to your irresponsibility is not covered by medical insurance for travel. Attempt to suicide, drug abuse/alcohol abuse are also not covered by your travel insurance online policy.

The best way to secure your future against unforeseen expenses is to purchase travel insurance online. However, different travel insurance companies offer different travel insurance policy and so it is always wise to compare several travel insurance plans online before settling for one. Also keep in mind the fact that the company makes a thorough inspection about your history before giving you the policy.

ADVANTAGES OF TRAVEL INSURANCE

Though international travel promises a lot of fun and excitement, it also poses several risks that could put you in helpless situations where you may feel helpless and not know what the next step is. Hence, medical insurance for travelers is an absolute must to handles these unexpected situations that could otherwise ruin your trip.

Travel insurance policy is like a contract between you and the insurance provider which states in the agreement that the insurance company would cover the costs of certain risks as mentioned in the policy if you pay a certain premium amount in advance as stated in the policy document.

The person who takes a travel insurance policy policy can either pay the premium at once or in multiple installments as agreed with the provider.

There are various reasons why you should take travel insurance policy especially during a trip overseas. Most of them points to ensuring a safe and secured trip instead of worrying about the major risks and the related expenses. There are various choices of travel insurance policy policies which offer different coverage options. It is important that you go through the policy document and also do adequate groundwork on the benefits it offers.

Travel insurance policy comes very handy in the case of illness especially when you are away from your homeland. It covers the major medical expenses, hospitalization costs, medical procedures and doctor consultation fees in case you suddenly fall seriously ill.

In addition, in case of the death of the insured, the insurance also covers funeral expenses and the death benefits for the beneficiaries. Hence, it is necessary to designate a beneficiary while you purchase a travel insurance policy.

Travel insurance policy covers loss of baggage but the limits is fixed. Hence, while choosing your insurance policy, you need to take enough care to ensure that you are fully protected in case of any unexpected emergencies.

While many of us enjoy traveling abroad, it would be a clever step to take enough precautions than repent later about not securing for the trip and keep medical insurance for travel as the top priority in the checklist.

Package Travel Versus Independent Travel

When traveling on a budget, one of the most often questions is whether it is best to travel independently, making your own airfare, hotel and sightseeing reservations, or choose a package tour where everything is set up for you in advance. Go to Vacation Packages for further information.

There is unfortunately no easy answer to this question, as it is largely dependent on the location and the specific deals that are available.

For instance, travel to European destinations are often less costly to book on your own, especially when the airlines are running specials of European airfares in the off season.

On the other hand, travel to many exotic locations, like Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, South Africa, Thailand and India, are often much less costly when booked through a package company or travel agent.

That is because these tour operators often have special deals with the national airlines of these companies, and with very nice resort hotels, to provide considerable discounts in exchange for a steady flow of business.

For instance, last year I traveled solo to Egypt from New York for a grand total of $1,100, including airfare, an excellent hotel, daily breakfast, airport transfers, and daily sightseeing tours, including guided tours of the pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx.

This is far less than I could have booked on my own, since airfare alone would have run me over $700. The key to this great deal was the relationship of the tour operator with Egyptair and the hotel at which we stayed.

Similar deals exist for other locations, notably India, China and Taiwan. So be sure to check on the availability of these package deals when shopping for a budget travel deal.

Of course, some great deals can be had on your own as well, and this is often a great way to go, especially if you are a solo traveler. Solo travelers often have difficulty getting those great deals on package deals, since the required single supplement can often ruin the deal. Go to Africa Safari Travel for more information.

It is also important to find out exactly what is, and what is not included, in any package you are considering. Many package deals have optional excursions built in, and these extras can add considerable cost.

Be sure to ask for a detailed daily itinerary to determine if you will be left on your own if you fail to take these optionals. Also ask for a detailed list of these optional excursions, including full descriptions and prices, then carefully compare the total price to what you could find on your own.

If you are traveling on your own, be sure to start shopping early, especially if you are traveling by air. The important thing to remember is that airlines allocate only so many seats for those advertised low fares, and if you fail to act quickly you may be out of luck.

It is important to book the airfare, and the hotel, as early as possible to ensure the lowest possible prices.

Ultimately, the decision of whether to choose a package deal or independent travel is up to each individual travelers. It is important to carefully compare package prices with those for independent travel to the same location.

It is also important to take your own personal travel style into account. Some people are more comfortable with a packaged tour, particularly to an unfamiliar location, while others relish the freedom from schedules that independent travel provides. Visit Travel Deals for further information.