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A trip to a foreign land can be an exciting and memorable experience. However, before you pack your bags and head off to the international airport, there are critical matters that need to be addressed before you venture beyond the sanctuary of the friendly United States boarders.

Many of the privileges and securities you enjoy in the United States are immediately left behind once you leave the boarders of American soil. While in the United States, we sometimes take for granted the liberties, freedoms and protections we have as US citizens. When we venture to a third world country, or even an industrialized European nation, many matters we take for granted in the US change dramatically when we travel to this foreign land.

So before you head merrily off to your foreign country with your favorite travel hat and travel bag, you need to make sure you are aware of how to prepare for any unplanned medical, personal or legal emergencies. You need to understand how your medical insurance coverage will change or even disappear. You need to have a basic understanding of the laws of the country you are visiting and who to contact when matters arise that you did not foresee.

YOU MAY LOSE MEDICAL COVERAGE

If you go to a foreign country, the medical care will most likely be sub-standard to the US. If you have a serious condition subject to the need of immediate medical attention, find out about the location and the quality of the medical facilities available at the locale you will be visiting. Make sure you have with you sufficient prescription medication and refill prescriptions from your doctor. In addition, you will need a letter from your doctor summarizing your condition and the medications he has prescribed. And most important, carry your medication in the pharmacy labeled container.

Your group medical coverage may or may not cover unexpected medical needs or offer limited coverage. Most medical insurance policies will cover your medical cost while you are out of the country. However, few in any will cover the cost of transporting a medical patient back to the United States, and the actual cost would be well over ten thousand dollars. If you are depending on medicare or medicaid coverage, unfortunately, once you leave the United States your medical coverage will cease. If you are going to be without coverage, then the only alternative is to purchase supplemental travel insurance and the cost normally runs between five and ten percent of the cost of your trip. For a list of reliable supplemental insurance carriers check the state departments website at: http://travel.state.gov or check with an established medical insurance agent.

YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS WILL CHANGE

Also, remember, once in a foreign land you are subject to their laws, and can be prosecuted in that country, if their laws are deemed violated. A violation that may be considered a misdemeanor in the US may be a major crime in a foreign land. For example, consider certain drug possession offenses. Foreign due process rights are quite different than due process rights in the US. In many countries you have no guaranteed right to counsel and may be deemed guilty until you prove your innocence. The United States has embassies in almost all countries and it is best to have the phone number, address and email of the US embassy in any country you enter, and be sure to contact the local US embassy immediately, even if you suspect problems with the local authorities. See the state department website above to locate the various foreign embassies, and keep a copy of the contact details in your pocket at all times.

THE UNITED STATES GOVERMENT HELPS ITS CITIZENS ABROAD

Lastly, the United States wants to protect and insure the safety of US citizens abroad. Be sure to register the details of your trip with the US State Department at: https://travelregistration.state.gov, and note their toll free number accessible twenty-four hours a day at: 1-888-407-4747. If you register with the state department, then in the event of an emergency your relatives can call the above number and you will be contacted pursuant to your registration details. Also, there is a page on your passport to leave critical medical and contact information and takes just a minute to record.

The vast majority of foreign travelers rarely have significant problems abroad, however, it is more than wise to plan ahead in the event an unfortunate medical or legal emergency develops.And, hopefully, the most you will have to deal with on your next foreign trip is just a little sunburn.

By: David Burlison

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With the credit crunch hitting us even harder just as we unpack our suitcases, people are going through extreme measures to accumulate a little extra cash. Travel insurance scams have seen an 80% increase recently as the credit crunch develops with holiday makers claiming on items which have not even been stolen or claiming for more than the items actually worth.

Some people have booked holidays but now cannot afford to go on them; you will lose your deposit if you can’t attend your holiday if pre-booked. So people are paying a visit to the doctor and pretending to be ill so they can obtain a sick note, they can then use this sick note to legally get a full refund from the holiday provider.

It is extremely hard to determine a genuine claim as the foreign police are often uninterested in lost or stolen items such as cameras or iPods resulting in low prosecution rates for fraud abroad.

With the number of claims increasing it has forced the insurance companies to act, they now look out for tell tale signs from a claimant and can determine a fraudulent claim much easier now than a genuine claim. They are however, reluctant to release these signs.

If you have a claim rejected, it will be marked on your credit rating and will remain there for three to six years.

This has also forced the insurance companies to bump up their premiums resulting in the honest genuine people paying more whilst the frauds claim the extra cash. You can still save money on travel insurance by shopping around and comparing quotes.

By: Barry Loughran

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When preparing to travel with a family, there can be a multitude of different things to sort out – from tickets to taxis to the airport, as well as packing clothes, equipment and toys in between.

In amongst all the hassle of packing, arranging and ensuring your young ones will have enough to keep them occupied until you get to the hotel or resort at your destination, the thought of arranging insurance for your holiday might slip to the back of your mind.

Checking that you have adequate travel insurance before your trip is essential in order to ensure that you and your group are covered in the event of accidents and theft during your holiday.

Annual travel insurance policies can be purchased for longer periods of time, should you be making multiple trips during a short period of time.

Such deals can often work out cheaper than single-trip travel insurance and can help cover all members of your group during your holiday your family from a range of factors.

When searching for cover it is important to shop around, research different policies and the type of cover that they offer and, most importantly, to read the small print to check for any snags which could affect any claims.

Factors will depend on location and any planned activities during the holiday. Whilst activity holidays can be fun for all, but it is important to make sure you’re covered for sports such as jet-skiing and other activities that have an increased risk of injury.

It is also essential to ensure that your possessions are covered for the duration of your trip in order to protect against any financial loss as a result of theft, luggage and passport loss, travel delays and any other legal expenses.

There are also a wide range of companies that specialise in and offer family travel insurance. These policies can be catered to meet the needs of your holiday and help to cover costs should you or your children require any medical assistance during your trip.

By: David Collins

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A family booked a rental cottage last summer, arrived safely and just loved the cottage. However, on the second day of their two week stay, the mom got a call to say her father was seriously ill and not expected to live. The family packed up and returned home, and sadly, her dad died a few days later. After the funeral, the renter called the cottage owner and asked what sort of refund she could expect as they had only used 2 days of their 14 day booking. The owner refused to pay any refund with the explanation that she relied on the cottage rental income to pay the costs of her cottage and it was always fully booked through the season. She was not able to find a replacement rental party at the last minute and as the rental agreement stated; if that was the case no money would be returned. Of course the rental group did not have travel insurance, which would probably have covered trip curtailment due to the illness and/or death of a close relative. The rental cost the family over $4000 and they were not able to recover a penny of that money.

Many people believe that trip insurance is only necessary if there is a flight involved; where delay, lost baggage, and the risk of the airline going bust, is covered; and medical cover is required in a foreign country. It’s not considered important, or not considered at all, to buy insurance to cover a trip taken by road to a self catering property in the same province or the same country.

Think again! Most cottage bookings are made several months in advance and many things could happen after you have booked to change your circumstances. Illnesses of any member of the traveling party, redundancy or a call to jury service are just a few of the situations that would be covered by a travel insurance policy. A few insurance companies also offer a ‘change of mind’ clause, allowing you to cancel for any reason after a booking has been made and paid in full. This normally pays out an amount sufficient to cover any cancellation fee the rental agency or owner may apply.

When you book your vacation rental property, check the property owners or agencies cancellation policies carefully. If it is not clear, ask the question. In general, most private owners and rental agencies will attempt to rebook a property if it is cancelled, and refund your money for the period they have rebooked, less a cancellation fee.

The premium paid for trip insurance becomes less significant, the more you are paying, however it is worthwhile at any price, for your peace of mind.

By: Heather Bayer

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With this you can make your trips safer. If you are setting out for your trip and planning to do a lot, then ensure your future plans with travel insurance. It will give you coverage necessary to deal with unforeseen situations that may occur while you travel. This is certainly useful, but not all of travelers have enough money to afford it.

With affordable travel insurance, you can spend your money with care, as it is affordable even to those with tight budget. It is available for a lower rate, but the coverage is not the same in some cases. For this reason, it is essential that you carefully look through the coverage offered by a package. Generally, this type of insurance doesn’t cover your whole travel costs; it covers only a part of it. However it is still better than nothing.

Approximately, you can get affordable insurance for about 3 per cent of the cost of your trip. In comparison with paying 5 per cent of the cost for traditional travel insurance. If you are purchasing your travel package online or if you are consulting with a travel agent you will find better prices for it than if you seek for it by yourself.

Affordable travel insurance doesn’t essentially mean that the quality is lower and is not similar to traditional travel policies. Travel agencies realize that most individuals do not look at it as a need. They have also worked out that if they offer it at an affordable cost than their rivalry it can be a key feature for some individuals to make their choice in favor of them.

When purchasing affordable insurance, remember to compare prices. As well as this, make comparison of the coverage offered by several companies. It is important to get clear information about everything you are interested in; if you do not understand even a single issue then you can ask any question to the insurer that comes into your mind.

Certainly you never know when an unforeseen occasion, like illness or some other health problems, will cause you to call off your travel plans. And that can really get a thing of disappointment without having travel insurance, as it makes everything easier. In this case the insurer will help you to postpone it or will give you a compensation for it. Even though if you can just manage to pay for affordable insurance, you will get a partly reimbursement and you can use that money on the purpose of rearranging your travel plans.

By: David Hunter

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If you’re having a retired life and are looking out for a holiday package then, don’t overlook your insurance cover. It’s indispensable to get yourself insured while you travel so that if you happen to fall sick or break down due to some illness you don’t have to incur a huge medical expense in a foreign country. Avert any astronomical medical expenses. Enjoy your vacation. Look out for your options under Senior Citizen Travel Insurance cover.

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Such Insurance covers any illness or accident whilst traveling? You’re at the right place; special insurance policy such as a Senior Citizen Travel’s offers a good insurance cover for senior citizens in the age 65 to 89 years.

Other Travel Insurance covers available are:

Single Trip Insurance:

Cheap holiday insurance is available as and when you need it. Single trip cover is simple to arrange and offered at fantastic prices online.

Annual Travel Insurance:

Ideal for families, annual cover can often be cheaper than arranging single trip insurance every time. Best of all, it means you only have to think about it once and every time you go away you can relax in the knowledge that you’re protected.

Backpackers Insurance:

The longer the trip, the higher the risk of mishap and the more you’ll need to be backed by excellent cover in the event of an emergency. Online backpackers travel insurance won’t blow your budget and covers a wide range of trips – from a month’s jaunt around Europe to your next global adventure.

Business Travel Insurance:

Business travel can be stressful, infinitely worse if something goes wrong. Stay stress-free with our cost effective and tailor made business travel insurance packages.

Golf Insurance:

Golf insurance is vital, and not only for the reasons you may imagine. In addition to the risk to themselves, golfers can accidentally cause injury to others and even damage to property. An excellent insurance deal may make your next game less expensive!

With Senior Citizen Travel Insurance avail annual multi-trip policies for people up to the age of 79. Over 65 tour insurance policies are designed for mature and retired people in UK looking for good all round holiday cover at a competitive price. Try your online route for more options.

By: Kirthy Shetty

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