Be it for work or for pleasure, travelling can at times get risky and it is always wise to be prepared for unforeseen events. Like any other insurance policy, Travel Insurance covers all the risks that are related to the subject insured. Hence a travel insurance policy covers your entire journey from commencement to the end of the journey. Any such policy is valid from the time the insured starts his/her journey to the time the journey is complete or the time the contract expires or whichever is earlier.

Some of the best policies in the market allow you to extend the policy in case the stay is extended and the reasons for extension are beyond one’s control. Most of the policies automatically extend the tenure for 7-10 days in the event when there is a delay due to some strike or any other happening that is not in direct control and no other travel arrangements can be made. However during your stay abroad on payment of additional premium the policy can be extended as per the terms and conditions of the insurer.

Travel Insurance covers almost everything that can cause damage or loss to you while you are travelling during that insured period. It can include the following:

• Accidental injuries
• Third party liability
• Loss of baggage

In case of lost baggage however the claim is a certain percentage of the valuation of the baggage and not the whole amount. Mostly it is half of the value and valuables. Perishables and consumables are not valued under this provision.

Though Travel insurance covers medical expenses that you may incur in case of any accident or illness, it does not cover medical expenses in case one has gone for medical treatment. Travel Insurance only covers expenses that occur due to any sudden unforeseen incident during travel. Any illness or disease contracted during the travel would be settled subject to the insured possessing the required documents. (more…)

For years, buying travel insurance has been looked upon with question and caution. It was a great unmentionable in making travel transactions, as travel agents were afraid that the subject would compromise their deals in totality. It was considered as negative and something unnecessary. However, today travel insurance provides protection for you and family during times that are supposed to be relaxing, not stressful. Whether it’s your trip, your luggage, health, or possessions, the right kind of travel insurance has come to play a prominent role for smart travelers.

According to a recent study conducted by the US travel Insurance Association, about 30% of Americans purchase travel insurance, which represents a 10% increase before 9/11. Some reasons for this increase may be peace of mind, protection against the unexpected, and concern over losing financial investment in a trip. For cruise travelers, this number increases to 70%. Many people are still relatively unaware of travel health insurance, baggage coverage, and even medical evacuation insurance. There is yet another kind of insurance that’s available to air travelers that airlines have been more hush-hush about excess valuation insurance. Trip cancellation and interruption insurance is a policy you should consider, but the key here is price point. If you’re flying on a budget $60 flight then it wouldn’t make much sense to buy, but if you look on the other hand, a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the other side of the world, this kind of travel insurance will surely come in handy and give you peace of mind. If by chance you get sick, miss your trip, or your travel provider goes out of business, you’re not left high and dry. You’re covered. However, another caution you should know about is, do not buy this type of insurance from the individual travel provider, meaning if you’re going on a cruise, try not to buy this insurance from the cruise ship company, because should their company goes out of business, chances are, their insurance will too, leaving you uncovered.

Baggage travel insurance is also a very useful policy, since it provides coverage for lost, damages, delayed, or stolen bags. This is especially important for those flying overseas and checking in bags. However, if you’re just flying between US cities and think about things like items that are not covered like jewelry, furs, financial documents, etc. Then consider depreciation. Airlines have a 3,000 dollar liability limit, but that limit is per incident, not per bag and all based on depreciated value, and hardly anyone has ever received the full $3000. (more…)

With many Australians becoming more dependent on the internet, it’s not surprising why many companies offer web-based travel insurance. Australia has many advertisements for this insurance category and many companies offering this often have thorough ad campaigns. As a result, many people are now lining up and becoming more eager to hit the “buy” button. The following are some pointers consumers should keep in mind before clicking on their mouse and buying insurance on the net.

Know the going rates

Like all other endeavours that will cost money, it’s important to know the rates also for online travel indemnity. Australia clients should be aware that some companies offer lower charges than others do due to several factors such as the company’s need to attract more clients, the premiums behind the policy, and the company’s reputation in the insurance trade.

For example, a startup web-based travel insurance company can set its policy price for flight insurance lower because they want to attract more buyers. This could mean the company is doing some long term planning and they’re looking out for their company’s future when offering travel indemnity. Australia consumers who are wary of such offers should remember that they have buying discretion and walk away if they don’t like dealing with such establishments.

Find out more about the company

Many people like to believe that an attractive and informative website is all it takes when they need to assess an online travel insurance company. The reality, however, is farther from this notion as a well designed website is not a key indicator of a company’s reputation in travel indemnity. Australia clients who wish to be safe rather than sorry should always check the online travel insurance company’s background first.

Clients should begin asking questions about the company’s business registration, the firm’s reputation, customer ratings about the business, and its possible trade affiliations too. The mentioned factors are usual indicators whether the online travel indemnity company is reputable or not. For instance, if the company has affiliations with a trade association like the chamber of commerce, then it could mean that they have a reliable business. Many trade associations screen their members and this is important when you find a company for your needs. (more…)